Principal Financial Group Careers, Benefits, Review

We've created a work environment rooted in integrity, respect, community, and trust, enabling our employees to realize their full potential and do their best work. Our focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion is central to how we operate as a company and furthers our mission to help people achieve financial security throughout their lives.

For example, in April 2022 and in partnership with the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr), we launched the Global Financial Inclusion Index, which uncovers key drivers shaping financial inclusion and exclusion across governments, employers, and the financial services industry in more than 40 markets. In addition, through our supplier diversity program, we facilitate the purchase of products and services from businesses owned or operated by people from traditionally underrepresented groups. You can read more about our work here.

Diversity in leadership
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion starts at the top. Dan Houston, our chairman, president, and CEO, serves as sponsor of our Executive Inclusion Council. This team, comprised of cross-functional business leaders, are the architects of our global inclusion strategy. Our senior management and Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors make diversity, equity, and inclusion a priority, which is why they closely monitor our progress. Today, women make up more than a third of our C-suite, and women and people of color represent 62% of the total members of our Board of Directors.

In our communities
As part of our long history and culture of giving back, Principal Foundation® and our community relations team supports the communities where our employees live and work. Our community investment priorities include housing and nutrition security, financial empowerment, small- to mid-sized business support, disaster relief, and cultural and social connections.

Charity Miles, an app that can be download to your mobile device, tracks an employee’s movement and mileage (using a wheelchair, walking, jogging, biking), and logs a USD $1-per-mile donation for a variety of disaster relief agencies.

Employee Resource Groups
We have eight Employee Resource Groups that focus on cultivating relationships and contributing to business growth. With global events each year, our Employee Resource Groups create opportunities to increase capabilities and connections within our employee population.

Our Employee Resource Groups are built on the following three pillars:

• Attract and acquire: Build a workplace that supports diverse talent.
• Develop and retain: Develop and advance talent through cultural competency with an equitable lens by offering inclusion-focused education, intentional career connection, and social advocacy.
• Customer and community: Engage by investing in social equity and meeting our customer base with inclusive engagement.

Our Employee Resource Groups include:

• African American/Black Employee Resource Group
• Asian Employee Resource Group
• Green Team Employee Resource Group
• Hispanic/Latino Employee Resource Group
• LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group
• OneAbility Employee Resource Group
• Veterans Employee Resource Group
• Women in Technology Employee Resource Group

Principal is a diversified, Fortune 500® financial services leader, helping individuals and businesses plan, protect, invest, and retire.

Put simply, our work helps others build confidence in their financial futures. It’s a meaningful investment—one we don’t take lightly—in the world around us and for the ever-changing needs of the customers, families, and communities we serve.

Through our trusted brand, growing customer experience and digital capabilities, we have a clear vision for the path forward. This path is led by our employees, who are committed to doing what’s right, energized by change, and inspired by the opportunity to reimagine a more purpose-led future for financial services.

Learn more about us. 

Just as our employees are invested in the change needed for a more financially secure world, we’re committed to empowering them with the resources and opportunities they need to thrive. That means creating a community that promotes collaboration and meaningful connections; helping our employees chart their own career journeys across function, industry, and geography; and ensuring their overall well-being with flexibility and total rewards designed with financial, physical, mental, and social support in mind.

A community that cares
We lead with integrity, empathy, and authenticity, valuing relationships and connection on a personal level. Our collaborative culture prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusion, shared core values, and genuine support for all our employees around the world.

In practice, this looks like our Global Mentoring Program, which helps employees shape their career aspirations, a broad network of Employee Resource Groups where employees can connect with one another, and an array of learning opportunities that enable us to embed inclusivity into all that we do.

A tailored approach to life and work
We know flexibility is never one-size-fits-all. Ours is a culture of trust, where we take a tailored approach to flexibility that fits your needs and enables you to prioritize life and work. This is nothing new for us—we have a long history of emphasizing flexibility, ensuring our people live their best lives both in and outside of the workplace.

We offer a wide array of flexible options for establishing work arrangements, ranging from generous time away policies to remote work options. No matter your location, all our employees can be an active contributor to our organization.

One company, boundless opportunity
As a Principal employee, you set the tone for your career. With opportunities across a wide variety of geographies, industries, and functions throughout our global network, you can put your ambitions and curiosity to work in different ways throughout your career journey with us.

Examples of how we support our employees include: a robust internship program, a leadership development program for recent grads, rotational program opportunities, and education assistance and licensing support to cover some costs for employees looking to enhance their personal and professional skillsets.

Contributions that count
We’re reimagining a more purpose-led future for financial services.

At Principal, you can apply your unique perspectives, passions, and expertise to help us further access to financial inclusion of our customers, transform growing business, and drive positive change in the communities where we live and work.

Our impact extends well beyond our walls. At the enterprise level, we’re proud of our purpose-led strategies—from our sustainability commitments to our Principal® Foundation grant programs that support partner organizations and institutions. Our employees are making a difference, too, and take advantage of our Volunteer Time Off policies to give back to their communities or our Principal Foundation match giving to contribute to the causes that matter most to them.

Valuable total rewards
As a leading provider of retirement solutions and employee benefits, we support you the same way we support our customers—through holistic, competitive offerings designed to help protect your financial and physical wellbeing.

• Financial security options. We offer a 401(k) plan with a company match of 75% of your contribution (up to 8% of your pay) and a 100% company-paid pension plan, along with disability, life, and accident insurance. We also offer an employee stock purchase plan, free access to financial professionals, and a Principal employee retail discount program for both local and national businesses.
• Health and wellness. Feeling your best is key to living your best life. With Principal, you’ll have a selection of plans for medical, dental, and vision coverage options for you, your spouse/domestic partner, and/or your children. In addition to our employee assistance program, we also offer wellness resources, on-site wellness centers, and even some qualifying fitness reimbursements.

We’re more than a provider of retirement, insurance, and asset management solutions. We’re a client-first, technology-focused financial services company that, through innovation and top-notch talent, are focused on creating more relevant and intuitive experiences that build trust. And for 20 consecutive years, we’ve been recognized by IDG’s Computerworld as one of the Best Places to Work in IT.

To meet the evolving needs of the customers and communities we serve, our talented team of technologists has continuously and relentlessly developed forward-thinking, industry-leading financial services products. Our collaborative community strengthens our team’s work, allowing us to attract and invest in the best technology talent.

As a Principal technologist, you’ll be immersed in a culture of collaboration, curiosity, and growth, honing your skills through cloud fluency programs, interactive development opportunities, and the ongoing events we offer, including proprietary Hackathons, Code Jams, and a technology team-wide mentoring program.

You’ll also have a front row seat to the impact of your work—whether it’s developing digital tools that help small and midsized businesses offer benefits and retirement plans for their employees or creating solutions to tackle some of the most complex market challenges of the day.

Our tech team members have access to many remote work options (with more than 60% of our open roles being remote), competitive retirement and stock purchasing programs, comprehensive health coverage, flexible time off, mental health resources, and much more.

Visit our tech page to learn more about our technology careers and open roles.

As a member of our global finance community, you’re afforded a wide range of career growth opportunities, all in alignment with our focus on helping more people achieve their financial goals.

We offer real support—not just training—to equip our financial professionals to tackle whatever task or challenge may come their way. You’ll work in partnership with seasoned representatives who enjoy mentoring others and our administrative staff whose goal is to support you and your clients.

Beyond training and learning opportunities, you’ll be exposed to many opportunities for career mobility such as our rotational and student programs.

For more information, visit our careers site.

Making financial security more accessible starts with helping our customers feel more confident in the financial choices they make for today and for the long term. Through digital and human interactions, we readily share the insights and expertise we’ve gained along the way. This experience can help our customers deepen their knowledge and understanding, setting them up to make good financial decisions.

Team members in our Customer Care group make this mission a reality and have a firsthand view of our purpose in action through their efforts to provide the best experience possible for our customers. At Principal, you’ll have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the clients we serve in a collaborative work environment, surrounded by a supportive team and community.

We’re currently hiring for innovative problem solvers in our customer engagement center. For more information, please visit our careers page.