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Business Profile

Life Insurance

Principal Financial Group

Headquarters

Reviews

This profile includes reviews for Principal Financial Group's headquarters and its corporate-owned locations. To view all corporate locations, see

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Principal Financial Group has 48 locations, listed below.

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    Customer Review Ratings

    1.04/5 stars

    Average of 210 Customer Reviews

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    Review Details

    • Review fromBen L

      Date: 05/20/2025

      Run. Run. Run! My former employer recently converted 401k providers from another company to Principal and it has been the worst retirement plan on earth. They do not have many options to place your funds, and the "expense ratio" fees on the funds are absolutely outrageous. For example, my target date fund at Principal had an expense ratio of 29 basis points (0.29%) and the same target date fund at the prior employer had an expense ratio of 5 basis points (0.05%). In other words, I was being charged nearly 6x to have my money at principal for the same service. As a result of this, I tried to convert my plan to my new employer, and Principal charged me $100 to mail the check and refused to waive it. Keep in mind I never signed up for principal, my former employer did this without my consent. To top it all off, their website is horrendous and does not let you create an account - I had to call them to create the account like it was the year 1995.If you're an employer thinking about using Principal, PLEASE do not subject your employees to this garbage. If you're an employee, get your money out of there as soon as you can.Believe these BBB reviews. This is the worst company of all time in its industry.
    • Review fromGabriel B

      Date: 05/18/2025

      ************************************************************************************************************************************************** I was on Family Medical Leave since 11/15/17, Principal never deposited any Benefits even with a ** of Chiropractor review. They state they never receive faxes and say they never received a doctor's note. Principal sends letters stating they approved benefits without depositing the money. NJS 2C:21-13; NJS 2C:21-19, NJS 2C:20-2.
    • Review fromLee H

      Date: 05/13/2025

      My employer was bought out by ********************* recently and their first act was to ****** up every employees 401k funds and transfer it without notice to principal investments. Great.They have a higher overhead charge for services the funds, and again no employee was consulted before the change.I recently submitted for hardship withdrawal and was told to submit paperwork, I submitted all the paperwork requested for the hardship. This one was in response to finding out my homes foundation was giving way due to excess ******* insurance does not cover structural integrity so I applied for the hardship referral and was assured that I would be able to get the funds if I submitted a claim through insurance and sent a denial letter to them after it was kicked down the line by the insurance *********** I've submitted the papers and am told that they will not be allowing the withdrawal because the damages aren't cataclysmic and were over time or not unexpected.All of this done and now I cannot access the funds, nor can I repair my home. Topping all of that, as I made the claim after they told me to do so my insurance rates have now gone up.
    • Review fromAndrea E

      Date: 05/05/2025

      Very dissatisfying company. **************** is rude and unprofessional, language barrier. Unsettling that this company is in charge of mine as well as the future of others. Please, if you have any choice in this matter go elsewhere where!
    • Review fromMario D

      Date: 04/28/2025

      My experience with ********* was abysmal. She delayed communications by requesting additional documents at the end of the day and never asking for things in advance when we spoke. What turned out to be a simple cash sale and needing to send a purchase agreement turned into more and more documents every time I emailed something. Not clear at all in what was needed and the time in responding was always after an entire day had past. We would send a document, hear nothing and then receive an email the following day at 4pm after she was gone for the day that new documents were needed. I never had more trouble with a cash purchase real estate deal than working with Principal
    • Review fromWendy C

      Date: 04/22/2025

      My employer required that I create an account with ******************** and mandated that a certain amount of my paycheck go in it. I complied. After two years and putting thousands of dollars with Principal, I was sent a letter requiring me to set up an online account. To do so I had to send a picture of my passport, my drivers license, and a selfie all uploaded over the Internet. This seems like a great way to get my identity stolen, so I called the company to find out other more secure ways to set up the account. Everyone I spoke with barely had a command of English. Im not sure what country their customer service is located in, but it is not *****************. Apparently they do not have ANY secure ways to create an account. Also how does a selfie prove Im me - couldnt someone just lift stuff like that off social media anyway? The letter I received from *** ******** - VP - says my account is a target for identify theft but I think their online process and third world customer service set up is a guarantee for woes. Not sure why my employer would opt to work with such a shady organization. Perhaps some state senator could take on this mess as a pet project and get all of us our money back / put these guys out of business. This place is the metaphorical equivalent of putting money in a jar then burying it in a hole in the ground in your backyard. If you do not need to do business with these clowns, dont.
    • Review fromLOU A

      Date: 04/16/2025

      My former company uses Principal for their 401 ********* this company. They push their annuities endlessly. There website is horrible. They made an error when I tried to make a RMD withdrawal and moved ALL the funds I had in the 401 K out! Huge tax consequences. Impossible to get anyone to fix this at Principal. I had to get my former company involved to make this work.
    • Review fromRandy H

      Date: 04/07/2025

      This is the worst company ever don't waste your time, just get your money and run.
    • Review fromAnthony G

      Date: 04/02/2025

      Terrible company with terrible customer service. For a company that is holding YOUR money for you. they make it as hard as possible on their customers in hardships. I suggest switching to another **** company
    • Review fromJohn D

      Date: 04/02/2025

      Worst company ever!!!!!!! Avoid them like the plague! They take your money and refuse to give it back!

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