Arming Financial Advisors with Tools to Help Business Owners

New Buy-Sell Review available from The Principal
DES MOINES, Iowa--(Business Wire)--
Now more than ever, business owners need to take a fresh look at their business
continuation plans. As the business environment changes, the owner`s buy-sell
agreement should adapt to reflect how the business will continue once the owner
is gone.

Financial advisors can help owners ensure buy-sell agreements are more effective
through a new service available from the Principal Financial Group®.

The Buy-Sell Review provides an in-depth look at this essential business
continuation document. By gathering a few key pieces of information, financial
advisors are able to give business owners a more accurate picture of their
current business valuation, provisions of their agreement and funding needs.

"A buy-sell agreement is a critical document that not only protects the business
against the unexpected, but also the owner`s family from the added stress of
worrying about the business during an already difficult time," said Mark West,
assistant vice president of Advanced Solutions for the Principal Financial
Group. "In our experience, these agreements contain a surprising number of
inaccuracies due to the fact they are often filed away and not revisited. By
correcting these today, business owners are often able to enhance the stability
and value of their business."

The Buy-Sell Review, designed for financial advisors to share with business
owners, provides a simple, customized report including:

* Buy-Sell Review Summary - highlights issues and recommendations regarding the
existing agreement.
* Buy-Sell Review Detailed Report - an in-depth analysis including any buy-sell
funding needs.
* Business Valuation Proposal - a free informal business valuation using five
commonly used methods.

Once the Review is complete, it serves as a starting point for the owner to meet
with tax and legal advisors to either address potential issues or confirm the
agreement meets the owner`s current objectives.

For more information contact your Principal Financial Group financial
representative or visit www.principal.com

About the Principal Financial Group

The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)1 is a leader in offering
businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial
products and services, including retirement and investment services, life and
health insurance, and banking through its diverse family of financial services
companies. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $247.0
billion in assets under management2 and serves some 19.1 million customers
worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United
States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange
under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

Insurance products from the Principal Financial Group are issued by Principal
National Life Insurance Company (except in New York) and Principal Life
Insurance Company.

#3523042011

1 "The Principal Financial Group" and "The Principal" are registered service
marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial
Group.

2 As of December 31, 2008

The Principal Financial Group
Sonja Sorrel, 515-362-2431
Sorrel.Sonja@principal.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009