Pensions & Investments Recognizes The Principal for 401(k) Education

The Principal receives four Eddy Awards for education best practices
DES MOINES, Iowa--(Business Wire)--
Pensions & Investments, the international newspaper of money management, has
recognized the Principal Financial Group® with four Eddy Awards for best
practices in providing investment education to defined contribution plan
participants.

"We believe an effective education program is essential to a retirement plan`s
success. As individuals continue to work to rebuild their finances, investment
education takes on an even more critical role," said Monica Kirgan, vice
president - national service director, The Principal®. "We strive to help plan
sponsors increase the value of their retirement programs and are honored to be
recognized for it."

The award-winning entries include:

* First place: An ongoing education campaign for Bailey Nurseries, Inc.,
launching its "nearing retirement" program. According to the judges, "the
materials, offered in both English and Spanish, were easy to read and digest."
* Second place: A campaign for participants in Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.`s
retirement plan to increase their 401(k) deferrals. Judges noted "one unusual
feature: a postcard with a detachable magnet directing employees to the plan`s
Web site."
* Second place (tie): a "train-the-trainer" campaign for human resource
directors at Community Health Systems, Inc., to successfully transition
participants to The Principal. Judges highlighted the "separate brochure to list
actions that needed to be taken during the conversion, rather than burying that
information."
* Third place: An effort to address the financial crisis through a series of
articles available in participant statements, online and via direct mail from
The Principal. The pieces were "written clearly and laid out cleanly," said
judges.

The Eddy Awards, presented annually by Pensions & Investments since 1995,
recognize plan sponsors and service providers that epitomize the best practices
in providing investment education to defined contribution plan participants.

For more information, visit Pensions & Investments at www.pionline.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 $284.7
billion in assets under management2 and serves some 18.9 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 and plan administrative services are provided by Principal
Life Insurance Company, a member of the Principal Financial Group® (The
Principal®), Des Moines, IA 50392.

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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, 2009

The Principal Financial Group
Jaime Naig, 515-247-0798
naig.jaime@principal.com
or
Terri Hale, 515-283-8858
hale.terri@principal.com

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