Complaints
This profile includes complaints for Principal Financial Group's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see
Customer Complaints Summary
- 284 total complaints in the last 3 years.
- 64 complaints closed in the last 12 months.
If you've experienced an issue
Submit a ComplaintThe complaint text that is displayed might not represent all complaints filed with BBB. Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business.
Initial Complaint
Date:05/20/2025
Type:Status:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
Sincerely,
******* ****
Business Response
Date: 05/21/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainant.Initial Complaint
Date:04/28/2025
Type:Status:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
Sincerely,
****** ********Business Response
Date: 04/28/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainantInitial Complaint
Date:04/25/2025
Type:Status:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Complaint: 23247943
I am rejecting this response because:
I do not trust them to actually take care of this situation.
Sincerely,
******** ******Business Response
Date: 04/25/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainant.Business Response
Date: 04/29/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainant.Initial Complaint
Date:04/25/2025
Type:Status:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Complaint: 23247575
I am rejecting this response because: They have promised to contact me repeatedly but consitantly fail to do so.
Sincerely,
******* BuckbyBusiness Response
Date: 04/25/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainant.Business Response
Date: 04/28/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainant.Initial Complaint
Date:04/23/2025
Type:Status:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Complaint: 23237924
I am rejecting this response because:I have contacted Principal on SEVERAL occasions, and none of these conversations have resulted in a resolution. I have now also been in touch with the previous employer even further, and they have sent Principal correspondence in regards to this situation and Principal is doing nothing. The previous employer states they have reached out to their contacts at Principal as well, and have not heard back. I have an email chain between myself and the previous employer. They are trying their hardest to help me but with Principal turning me away every time I call, it's not getting resolved. This is unacceptable as again, I have been trying to get this resolved since DECEMBER.
een able to gain online access. Both accounts were held with the same company and previous employer so I am really unsure why we are having issues. I was also told that there is no contact name or number of someone that the previous employer can get in touch with to help me on my end. My fianc is incarcerated and will be until 2028. He cannot call Principal to give them his permission or speak with them, which is why we got the Power of Attorney to begin with. We need to be able to withdraw what is in his 401k account to get us through the next few years. He paid into that account, and it should not be this difficult to gain access to his money. This has been an extremely frustrating experience and I am at a total loss on what to do. But no one from Principal seems to want to help me with this. I am sincerely asking that someone help us. I have attached the Power Of Attorney so that you can see this is a legitimate request.
Sincerely,
******* ******Business Response
Date: 04/23/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainant.Business Response
Date: 04/24/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainantInitial Complaint
Date:04/21/2025
Type:Status:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
OK, back in August we filed for 401(k) hardship loan withdrawal due to how our house was in foreclosure. We were asked to submit proof of everything ofthe foreclosure we sent multiple times paperwork of the court dates. The amount with the bank told us requesting and still, nothing was resolved. They kept asking for more info which the banks stated we were receiving everything that they normally would send out for a hardship loan and thenI went to the court office multiple times and received the same paperwork and paid for this paperwork multiple times, but principal said it was not Enough. They needed more info so it was on the sale day of our house and I finally cracked and I called them asking if I would have somebody bail us out on our bare minimum would we still be able to receive a hardship loan the gentleman Italked to stated yes, because our sale date and everything else was proved that everything was going on well, we did receive help at the very last and when I went to go back and asked for why we have not got a hardship loan. It was stated that we got bailed out, which I respondedthe person that said that if we received help, we would still be able to get a hardship loan. Well they refused to give it to us so now I have no way of this person back.And then again when they went back and reviewed the tapes, they receipt and paperwork they said that they dropped the ball. They said that wejust basically got screwed and nothing they can do now Im beyond angry. I know this happened in August and now I feel like Im giving peanuts to this person back and they need the money urgently and I cant do it and Ive broken their trust. Principal broke my trust and my family trust cause a bunch ofheartache. Im just beyond angry with them. Theyre the worst company ever I do not recommend them.Business Response
Date: 04/22/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainant.Initial Complaint
Date:04/11/2025
Type:Status:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
I have been trying to liquidae my deceased fathers 401k for 12 months. I have been told 2 separate times it would be liquidated withing 5-7 business days which did not happen. now im told theres errors with paper work i have resent several times. Everytime i call i get transferred multiple times and asked the same questions only to be told someone will call back and they never do. We have had to extend the probate through the courts due to the negligence of this company refusing to pay out my deceased fathers 401k. This is now costing us money out of our pockets through the court. If this isnt resolved in the next 30 days we have no option but to take legal action and hire a lawyer.Business Response
Date: 04/15/2025
Thank you for forwarding.Principal will respond directly to the complainant.Initial Complaint
Date:04/11/2025
Type:Status:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Better Business Bureau:
I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and find that this resolution is satisfactory to me.
Sincerely,
******* *****that the would send a check in the mail after that phone call I keep getting told my repayment is under a ongoing investigation they have already given me a date to apply for another loan but still no resolution to my overpayment and the supervisor only responded that I would be contacted on the 15th with their teams resolution Im not being taken seriously about my hard earned money and feel like Im being told anything to just get off the phone I would like my problem resolved and I feel like a overpayment over a week ago should of been resolved by now times are hard and money is hard to come by.Business Response
Date: 04/11/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainant.Initial Complaint
Date:04/10/2025
Type:Status:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
My husband had insurance thru his employer and when I call they can locate his file under ****** ******* soc sec *********. Dob ********** and they can locate a account but won't give be me any info about the account or why it was closed and my husband is deceasedBusiness Response
Date: 04/22/2025
Written correspondence was sent to the complainant today as a follow up to our phone conversation with her on April 11, 2025.
Initial Complaint
Date:04/07/2025
Type:Status:ResolvedMore info
Complaint statuses
- Resolved:
- The complainant verified the issue was resolved to their satisfaction.
- Unresolved:
- The business responded to the dispute but failed to make a good faith effort to resolve it.
- Answered:
- The business addressed the issues within the complaint, but the consumer either a) did not accept the response, OR b) did not notify BBB as to their satisfaction.
- Unanswered:
- The business failed to respond to the dispute.
- Unpursuable:
- BBB is unable to locate the business.
Dear *** or madam:My legal name is **** Hwaseong Park ****.On-line it displays as FIRST NAME, MIDDLE INITIAL, LAST, therefore it should be **** H. ****, but Principal persists in writing it out as **** P. ****.I have been trying for about the last 24 months to have the Principal Group revise the name in my investment account to what is shown ******** this end, I have sent numerous correspondence, sent legal proof of my legal name, only to have them keep it as **** P ****.I now request the BBB to intervene so that my name as **** Hwaseong Park **** when written in full, and **** H. **** when it is abbreviated.Otherwise this will pose difficulties in the case of passage of these assets to next of kin.Business Response
Date: 04/08/2025
Thank you for forwarding. Principal will respond directly to the complainant.
BBB Business Profiles may not be reproduced for sales or promotional purposes.
BBB Business Profiles are provided solely to assist you in exercising your own best judgment. BBB asks third parties who publish complaints, reviews and/or responses on this website to affirm that the information provided is accurate. However, BBB does not verify the accuracy of information provided by third parties, and does not guarantee the accuracy of any information in Business Profiles.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
BBB Business Profiles generally cover a three-year reporting period, except for customer reviews. Customer reviews posted prior to July 5, 2024, will no longer be published when they reach three years from their submission date. Customer reviews posted on/after July 5, 2024, will be published indefinitely unless otherwise voluntarily retracted by the user who submitted the content, or BBB no longer believes the review is authentic. BBB Business Profiles are subject to change at any time. If you choose to do business with this company, please let them know that you checked their record with BBB.
As a matter of policy, BBB does not endorse any product, service or business. Businesses are under no obligation to seek BBB accreditation, and some businesses are not accredited because they have not sought BBB accreditation. BBB charges a fee for BBB Accreditation. This fee supports BBB's efforts to fulfill its mission of advancing marketplace trust.