Principal Financial DEF 14A Definitive proxy

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant ☒

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ☐

Check the appropriate box:

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

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Definitive Proxy Statement

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Definitive Additional Materials

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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

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No fee required.

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Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

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Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a6(i)(l) and 0-11

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Dear Fellow Shareholders:

You are invited to attend the annual meeting of shareholders on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at 9:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time. Due to the continuing public health impact of the coronavirus outbreak (i.e., COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of our shareholders and other stakeholders, we have decided that this year’s annual meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of shareholders, which will be conducted solely online via live webcast. You will be able to participate in the annual meeting online, vote your shares electronically and submit your questions prior to and during the meeting by visiting: www.meetnow.global/MVFPDCX. There is no physical location for the annual meeting. As we’ve done in the past, Principal is taking advantage of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rule that allows companies to provide proxy materials for the annual meeting via the internet to registered shareholders.

The notice of annual meeting and proxy statement provide an outline of the business to be conducted at the meeting. We will also report on the progress of the Company and answer shareholder questions.

We encourage you to read this proxy statement and vote your shares. You may complete, date and sign a proxy or voting instruction card and return it in the envelope provided (if these materials were received by mail) or vote by using the telephone or the internet. Thank you for acting promptly.

Sincerely,

Daniel J. Houston
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

April 4, 2022

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Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

Meeting date:

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Time:

9:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time

Location:

This will be a virtual only meeting which you can join at:
www.meetnow.global/MVFPDCX.

Agenda:

Elect three Directors;

Advisory approval of the compensation of our named executive officers;

Ratify the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for 2022;

Transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

The Company has not received notice of other matters that may be properly presented at the annual meeting.

You can vote if you were a shareholder of record on March 23, 2022. It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. Please vote by any one of the following methods:


	Through the Internet: visit the website noted in the notice of internet availability of proxy materials shareholders received by mail, on the proxy or voting instruction card, or in the instructions in the email message that notified you of the availability of the proxy materials.			By telephone: call the toll-free telephone number shown on the proxy or voting instruction card or the instructions in the email message that notified you of the availability of the proxy materials.			Complete, sign and promptly return a proxy or voting instruction card in the postage paid envelope provided.

By Order of the Board of Directors

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Mark S. Lagomarcino
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

April 4, 2022

Approximate Date of Commencement of Mailing of Proxy Materials: April 4, 2022

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS
FOR THE SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 17, 2022:

The 2022 Annual Report, 2022 Proxy Statement and other proxy materials are available at
www.principal.com/annualmeeting.

Your vote is important! Please take a moment to vote by internet, telephone, or proxy or voting instruction card as explained in the How Do I Vote sections of this document.

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Table of Contents

	Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders					1
	Table of Contents					2
	Director Qualifications, Director Tenure, Process for Identifying and Evaluating Director Candidates and Diversity of the Board					4

	Proposal One—Election of Directors					8

	Corporate Governance					15
	Board Leadership Structure					15
	Role of the Board in Risk Oversight					16
	Succession Planning and Talent Development					16
	Majority Voting					17
	Director Independence					17
	Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions					17
	Board Meetings					18
	Global Corporate Code of Conduct					18
	Board Committees					18
	ESG at Principal					20

	Directors’ Compensation					23
	Fees Earned by Non-Employee Directors in 2021					24
	Non-Employee Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan					24
	Restricted Stock Unit Grants					24
	Other Compensation					25
	Directors’ Stock Ownership Guidelines					25
	Audit Committee Report					25

	Executive Compensation					27
	Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”)					27
	2021 Company Performance Highlights					28
	2021 Compensation Highlights					29
	Highlights of 2022 Compensation Program Changes					29
	Compensation Program Philosophy and Policies					30
	Summary of Compensation Elements					31
	How We Make Compensation Decisions					33
	2021 Executive Compensation Decisions					35
	Base Salary					36
	Annual Incentive Compensation					36
	Long-Term Incentive Compensation					39
	Timing of Stock Option Awards and Other Equity Incentives					40
	Benefits					41
	Change of Control and Separation Pay					41
	Stock Ownership Guidelines					42
	Hedging and Pledging Policy					42
	Repricing Policy					42
	Clawback Policy					42
	Gross-Up Policy					43
	Human Resources Committee Report					43
	Risk Assessment of Employee Incentive Plans					43
	Summary Compensation Table					44
	Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal Year End December 31, 2021					46

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	Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End December 31, 2021					47
	Option Exercises and Stock Vesting					48
	2021 CEO Pay Ratio					48
	Pension Plan Information					49
	Pension Distributions					51
	Pension Benefits					52
	Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation					53
	Qualified 401(k) Plan and Excess Plan					53
	Severance Plans					54
	Change of Control Employment Agreements					55
	Potential Payments Upon Termination Related to a Change of Control					58

	Proposal Two—Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation					59

	Proposal Three—Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accountants					61
	Audit Fees					61
	Audit Related Fees					61
	Tax Fees					61
	All Other Fees					61

	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management					63
	Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance					65

	Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting					66

	Appendix A Executive Compensation Benchmarking Study Participants					A-1
	Appendix B Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations					B-1

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Director Qualifications, Director Tenure, Process for Identifying and Evaluating Director Candidates and Diversity of the Board

The Board Nominating and Governance Committee (the “Committee”) regularly assesses the expertise, skills, backgrounds, competencies and other characteristics of Directors and candidates for Board vacancies considering the current Board composition and the Company’s existing strategic initiatives, risk factors, and all other relevant circumstances. The Committee also assesses Directors’ and candidates’ personal and professional ethics, integrity, values and ability to contribute to the Board, including current employment responsibilities. In addition to personal attributes, the Board values experience as a current or former senior executive in financial services, in international business, and with financial management or accounting responsibilities. Competencies valued by the Board include strategic and results orientation, comprehensive decision making, risk management skills and an understanding of current technology issues. The Committee often uses an independent consultant to assist with this responsibility, and these assessments provide direction for searches for Board candidates and in the evaluation of current Directors. The Committee reviews the performance of each Director whose term is expiring as part of the determination of whether to recommend his or her nomination for reelection to the Board. Input to this process is also received from the other Directors and management and an independent consultant may be, and usually is, engaged to assist with these reviews. Director performance and capabilities are evaluated against desired characteristics and relevant considerations, including those noted above. Following the Committee’s discussion, the independent consultant, if one is used, or the Committee Chair provides feedback to the Directors who were evaluated. The Board annually conducts a self-evaluation regarding its effectiveness, and the Audit, Finance, Human Resources and Nominating and Governance Committees also annually evaluate their respective performance.

All Board members have:

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Personal character that supports the Company’s core value of integrity;

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Training or experience that is useful to Principal in light of its strategy, initiatives and risk factors; and

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A demonstrated willingness and ability to prepare for, attend and participate effectively in Board and Committee meetings.

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Several current independent Directors have led businesses or major business divisions as Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), President, or Executive Vice President (Mr. Auerbach, Ms. Beams, Mr. Dan, Mr. Hochschild, Mr. Mills, Mr. Muruzabal, Ms. Nordin, Mr. Pickerell, Ms. Richer, and Mr. Rivera.). The following chart shows areas central to the Company’s strategy, initiatives and operations for which independent Directors have specific training and executive level experience that assists them in their responsibilities.

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Diversity of the Board is a longstanding and valued objective, as reflected in the Board’s Diversity Policy. Therefore, in addition to other considerations, the Nominating and Governance Committee reviews the Board’s diversity, including in terms of backgrounds, experiences, expertise, gender, generation, national origin, and race when recruiting new Directors. The current Board reflects these values, for example, in the gender (42% female) and racial (33% people of color) composition of our independent Directors. The below chart provides the details of the entire Board.as of March 19, 2022.

Board Diversity Matrix (As of 3/19/2022)

Total Number of Directors

	Female		Male		Non-Binary		Did Not Disclose Gender
Part I: Gender Identity
Directors		5		8		0		0
Part II: Demographic Background
African American or Black		1		1		0		0
Alaskan Native or Native American		0		0		0		0
Asian		0		0		0		0
Hispanic or Latinx		0		2		0		0
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander		0		0		0		0
White		4		5		0		0
Two or More Races or Ethnicities		0		0		0		0
LGBTQ+						0
Did Not Disclose Demographic Background						0

The Board’s diversity objective reflects the values of the Company as well. Principal has long been recognized as an exceptional place to work.

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In 2021, Pensions and Investments placed Principal on its list of Best Places to Work in Money Management for companies with 1,000 or more employees for the 9th consecutive year;

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IDG’s Computerworld named Principal one of the 100 Best Places to Work in Information Technology for the 20th year, ranking No. 29;

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Earlier this year, Fortune magazine named Principal one of its 2021 Most Admired Companies. Principal is consistently recognized for its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where employees can thrive, advance, and share their unique perspectives;

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In 2021, Principal was again named to Forbes’ list of Best Places for Women to Work;

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Principal was recognized as one of the 2021 Seramount Top Companies for Executive Women—Hall of Fame 20+ years;

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Forbes named Principal one of America’s Best Employers for Diversity, ranking 109;

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Principal earned a perfect score on Disability:IN’s Disability Equality Index;

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We have 10 employee resource groups (“ERG”) connecting 3,725 ERG members based on similar interests or aspects of diversity, including disabilities, gender, military experience, race, sexual orientation, and sustainability;

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Principal ranked #12 on Diversity MBA’s 50 Out Front: Best Places to Work for Women and Diverse Managers;

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Principal was named a member of the 2021 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index;

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And we received a score of 100/100 on the Corporate Equality Index, naming us one of the Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality for the 7th straight year.

The Board’s effectiveness benefits from Directors who have the necessary skills, backgrounds, and qualifications and who also increase the Board’s diversity. Director tenure and Board refreshment are important topics that receive considerable Board focus. The Board believes that its thorough Director performance reviews and healthy Board refreshment processes better serve Principal and its stakeholders than would mandatory term limits. Strict term limits would require that Principal lose the continuing contribution of Directors who have invaluable insight into Principal and its industry, strategies and operations because of their experience with Principal. Nevertheless,

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Directors’ terms must not extend past the annual meeting following their 72nd birthday. The Board tenure of the independent Directors as of March 18, 2022, is reflected in the chart that accompanies this text. The average tenure of Principal’s independent Directors as of that date is 7.58 years. Sandra L. Helton, who has served on the Board since 2001, will retire immediately following our 2022 Annual Shareholders Meeting continuing our process of regularly refreshing the talent and perspectives reflected on our Board.

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The Board tenure of the Directors, as reflected in the chart, balances deep knowledge of the Company, the industries in which it operates, and relevant issues, with fresh perspectives and additional expertise, while providing the oversight and independence needed to meet the interests of our shareholders and other stakeholders.

Communicating with stakeholders including clients, customers, employees, and investors, has always been an important part of how Principal conducts its business. Principal has had in place for some time a formal engagement process with shareholders around matters of corporate governance. These discussions provide us with helpful insight into shareholders’ views on current governance topics, which are then discussed with the Nominating and Governance Committee and the full Board. This continuing process regularly supplements relevant communications regarding corporate governance and other topics made through the Company’s website and by its Investor Relations staff.

The Nominating and Governance Committee will consider shareholder recommendations for Director candidates sent to it c/o the Company Secretary. Director candidates nominated by shareholders are evaluated in the same manner as Director candidates identified by the Committee and search firms it retains. In addition, a shareholder or group of up to 20 shareholders, owning 3% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock (“Common Stock”) continuously for at least 3 years, can nominate director candidates, constituting up to 20% of the Board.

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Proposal One—Election of Directors

The Board has three classes, each having a three-year term. All of the nominees are currently Directors of Principal. We expect that all the nominees will be able and willing to serve if elected. However, if, prior to the annual meeting of shareholders, any nominee should become unable for any reason or unwilling for good cause to serve, proxies may be voted at the 2022 Annual Meeting for another person nominated as a substitute by the Board, or the Board may reduce the number of Directors.

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “For” all the nominees for election at the Annual Meeting.

Nominees for Class III Directors with Terms Expiring in 2025

	Michael T. Dan Age: 71 Director Since: 2006			Committees: Human Resources and Nominating and Governance Mr. Dan was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Brink’s Company, a global provider of secure transportation and cash management services, from 1999 until 2011. The Brink’s Company had 70,000 employees worldwide, operations in over 100 countries and $3.8 billion in revenue in 2011. Prior to joining Brink’s, Mr. Dan served as President of Armored Vehicle Builder, Inc. Skills and Qualifications: In addition to leading and being responsible for financial management of Brink’s, Mr. Dan has executive level experience in accounting and finance, executive compensation, financial services, human resources and talent management, international operations, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, product development, risk management, and strategic planning. Education: Studied business and accounting at Morton College in Cicero, Illinois, and completed the advanced management program at Harvard Business School.
	Blair C. Pickerell Age: 65 Director Since: 2015			Committees: Finance and Nominating and Governance Public Directorships: Link Real Estate Investment Trust (Nomination Committee and Chair of the Remuneration Committee); Dah Sing Banking Group Limited (Chair of the Risk Management and Compliance Committee); First Pacific Company Limited (Finance and Corporate Governance Committees) Former Public Directorships/Past 5 Years: Dah Sing Financial Holdings Limited Mr. Pickerell served as Head of Asia of Nikko Asset Management from 2010-2014 and Chairman Asia from 2014-2015. From 2007-2010, he was CEO, Asia, at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. He has also served as Chief Executive, Asia Pacific, of HSBC Asset Management and as Chairman of Jardine Fleming Funds. Mr. Pickerell’s current international service includes memberships on the Supervisory Committee for the Tracker Fund of Hong Kong; on the International Advisory Council of the Faculty of Business and Economics of The University of Hong Kong; and Chairman of the Harvard Business School Association of Hong Kong. Skills and Qualifications: In addition to his extensive leadership record in the investment and asset management and financial services industries, Mr. Pickerell has executive level experience in accounting and finance, asset and investment management, retail consumer, executive compensation, financial services, human resources and talent management, international, marketing, mergers & acquisitions, product development, risk management, strategic planning and sustainability/ESG. He is fluent in Mandarin Chinese. Education: Bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

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Clare S. Richer

Age: 63
Director Since: 2020

Committees: Audit and Finance (Chair)

Public Directorships: Bain Capital Specialty Finance Co. (member of the Audit, Compensation and Nominating/Governance Committees), State Street Global Advisors SPDR ETF Mutual Funds (member of the Audit Committee), Trustee of the University of Notre Dame (member of the Compensation, Investment, Finance and Faculty Affairs Committees), and the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH.

Ms. Richer was Chief Financial Officer of Putnam Investments from 2008-2017 and has more than 25 years of investment management experience. Prior to joining Putnam, Ms. Richer held several roles at Fidelity Investments from 1983-2008.

Skills and Qualifications: In addition to having deep experience in governance, compliance and risk in highly volatile, heavily scrutinized environments, Ms. Richer has executive level experience in accounting and finance, asset and investment management, executive compensation, financial services, human resources and talent management, product development, risk management, strategic planning and technology.

Education: B.B.A. from University of Notre Dame.

Continuing Class I Directors with Terms Expiring in 2023

Jonathan S. Auerbach

Age: 59
Director Since: 2019

Committees: Finance, and Nominating and Governance

Mr. Auerbach has been Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy, Growth and Data Officer of PayPal, Inc., a financial technology company, since 2015. In his role, he leads PayPal’s global strategy, data science, business development, and M&A initiatives. Prior to joining PayPal, he was Chief Executive Officer of SingTel’s Group Digital Life from 2013-2014 and spent over 26 years with McKinsey & Company serving in a variety of executive roles in Asia and North America, including leading the Asian Telecommunications, Media and Technology Practice, the Singapore Office, and Southeast Asia Region, and the North American High-Tech Practice.

Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Auerbach has executive level experience in consumer, executive compensation, financial services, human resources and talent management, international, marketing, mergers & acquisitions, retail consumer, strategic planning, sustainability/ESG and technology.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College, and a B.A. and M.A. from Oxford University.

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Mary E. Beams

Age: 65
Director Since: February 2021

Committees: Audit and Finance

Public Directorships: FNZ Trust U.S. Board (Chair of the Board), The Long-Term Stock Exchange Group (Board member), Salesforce (Strategic Advisory Board Member for America’s), Mount Auburn Hospital—the Beth Israel Lahey System (Board Member and Member of Finance Committee)

Former Public Directorships/Past 5 Years: BrightSphere Investment Group (Audit and Compensation Committees), Aretec (Parent of Cetera Advisors) (Chair of Audit Committee, Member of Risk and Compensation Committees).

Ms. Beams has been Co-CEO, LTSE Group and Services at Long Term Stock Exchange since 2021. She served as the CEO of Retirement Solutions at Voya Financial Inc. from 2011 until 2015. She also served as Counselor at the Department of State from June to December 2017. Prior to joining Voya, she served as President and CEO of TIAA-CREF Individual & Institutional Services, LLC from 2004 to 2010; Partner and President, Global Business Development, Head of Scudder Offshore Business, President, Scudder U.S. Brokerage Services, and Head of U.S. Direct Retail Business from 1997 to 2003, Senior Managing Director of Fleet Investment Advisors, Inc. from 1993 to 1997; Director of the Consumer Card Group of American Express Company from 1988 to 1993; and Senior Vice President of Retail Banking of Citibank from 1984 to 1988.

Skills and Qualifications: Ms. Beams has executive level experience in accounting and finance, asset and investment management, retail consumer, institutional, executive compensation, financial services, human resources and talent management, international, marketing, distribution, mergers and acquisitions, product development, risk management, strategic planning, sustainability/ESG, and technology.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in English from Boston College, a Certificate of Special Studies in Strategic Planning from Harvard University, and an M.B.A. in Marketing and Finance from Columbia University.

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	Jocelyn Carter-Miller Age: 64 Director Since: 1999 (Principal Life), 2001 (the Company)			Committees: Human Resources (Chair), Nominating and Governance and Executive Public Directorships: Arlo Technologies, Inc. (Audit Committee, Chair of Compensation Committee); Interpublic Group of Companies, Inc. (Audit and Executive Committees, Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Chair), Backblaze, Inc. (Compensation Committee Chair, Audit Committee member, and Nomination and Governance Committee member) Former Public Directorships/Past 5 Years: Netgear, Inc. (Audit and Compensation Committees) Ms. Carter-Miller has been President of TechEd Ventures since 2005, which specializes in the development and marketing of high performance educational and personal empowerment programming. She was Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Office Depot, Inc. from February 2002 until March 2004, with responsibility for the company’s marketing for its 846 superstores, contract, catalog and e-commerce businesses in the United States and Canada and operations in 15 other countries. Before joining Office Depot, she was Corporate Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Motorola, Inc. with overall responsibility for marketing across its $30 billion revenue base and diverse businesses. She also had general management responsibility while at Motorola for network operations in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Prior to joining Motorola, she was Vice President, Marketing and Product Development at Mattel, Inc. She serves on nonprofit boards and is a NACD National Board Member and a former President of the League of Women Voters of Broward County. Ms. Carter Miller was a 2013 NACD Directorship 100 Honoree, a Savoy Power 300: 2016/2021 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors, a 2017 Directors & Boards Director to Watch, and a 2018 Most Influential Corporate Directors by WomenInc. Skills and Qualifications: In addition to her marketing leadership background, Ms. Carter-Miller has executive level experience in accounting and finance, brand management, retail consumer, executive compensation, advertising, sales, multinational companies, international operations, human resources and talent management, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, product development, project management, strategic planning, sustainability/ESG, technology and leadership development and training. She also has passed the certified public accountant exam. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. in Finance and Marketing from the University of Chicago.
	Scott M. Mills Age: 54 Director Since: 2016			Committees: Audit, Human Resources and Executive Mr. Mills has been Lead Director since January 2020. Mr. Mills has been President and Chief Executive Officer of BET Networks since September 2021. Prior to that, he was President of BET Networks from 2018 through September 2021, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Viacom, Inc. from 2015 through 2017 and Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Administration from 2012 to 2015. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Viacom’s BET Networks unit, where he previously served as Chief Financial Officer and President of Digital Media. He worked in investment banking and served as Deputy Treasurer for the City of Philadelphia before joining BET. Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Mills has executive level experience in accounting and finance, asset and investment management, executive compensation, financial services, human resources and talent management marketing, product development, strategic planning and technology. Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

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Claudio N. Muruzabal

Age: 61
Director Since: 2021

Committees: Human Resources and Nominating and Governance

Mr. Muruzabal is President of SAP, Cloud Success Services. With over 25 years of experience heading large technology organizations, he joined SAP in August 2015 and was previously President of SAP EMEA South and Chairman of SAP Latin America & Caribbean. Prior to this date he was CEO of NEORIS for ten years and evolved the Latin American born company into a global management and IT consulting business. Previously, he was Vice President of Teradata Corporation in Latin America and the Caribbean and worked at NCR Corporation for over 20 years, where he held various senior executive positions.

A strong advocate of education and an entrepreneurial mindset as a means to advance social wellbeing and economic growth, Muruzabal serves as Americas Co-Chair of nonprofit Junior Achievement. He is also a Board Member of the Council of the Americas, and has been recognized consecutively from 2016-2020 with the HITEC 50 Award, as one of the top 50 most influential and notable Hispanic Professionals in the IT industry. In 2019, he was recognized by the Council of the Americas organization with the “Technology Leader of the Year” Bravo Award.

Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Muruzabal has executive level experience in accounting & finance, retail consumer, executive compensation, human resources and talent management, international, marketing, mergers & acquisitions, product development, strategic planning, sustainability/ESG and technology.

Education: Bachelor’s degree from the Catholic University of Argentina with double major in Business Administration and Accounting, and Global Executive M.B.A. from The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Continuing Class II Directors with Terms Expiring in 2024

Roger C. Hochschild

Age: 57
Director Since: 2015

Committees: Finance and Nominating and Governance (Chair)

Public Directorships: Discover Financial Services

Mr. Hochschild has been Chief Executive Officer and President of Discover Financial Services since October 1, 2018. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Discover Financial Services since 2004. He served as the Chief Administrative Officer, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Morgan Stanley from 2001 to 2004, Chief Marketing Officer of Discover Financial Services from 1998 to 2001 and a Senior Executive Vice President of MBNA America Bank from 1994 to 1998. He has been a Director for Chicago Public Media since October of 2016.

Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Hochschild has executive level experience in asset and investment management, retail consumer services, executive compensation, financial services, human resources and talent management, marketing, mergers & acquisitions, product development, risk management, strategic planning. and Sustainability/ESG.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in economics from Georgetown University, and an M.B.A. from the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College.

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	Daniel J. Houston Age: 60 Director Since: 2014			Committees: Executive (Chair) Mr. Houston has been Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and Principal Life Insurance Company (“Principal Life”) since 2016. Prior to that, he was President and Chief Executive Officer from August 2015—May 2016. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer from November 25, 2014—August 17, 2015. He joined Principal Life in 1984 and had several management positions, being named Senior Vice President in 2006 and President of Retirement and Income Solutions in 2008. He is past Chairman of the board of directors of the American Council of Life Insurers and also serves on the boards of the Iowa Business Council, Greater Des Moines Partnership, Employee Benefits Research Institute, Iowa State University Business School Dean’s Advisory Council, Partnership for a Healthier America and Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Houston has operational expertise, global awareness, and deep talent leadership skills. During his career with the Company, he has worked in sales, managed numerous businesses, and helped lead the transformation of the Company to a global investment management leader. He has extensive operational experience, as well as expertise in risk management, executive compensation, talent management, marketing and sales, and mergers and acquisitions. Education: Bachelor of Science degree from Iowa State University.
	Diane C. Nordin Age: 63 Director Since: 2017			Committees: Audit and Finance Public Directorships: Fannie Mae (Vice Chair of the Board, member Audit, Risk Policy and Executive Committees, Chair of the Compensation Committee) Ms. Nordin was a partner of Wellington Management Company, LLP, a private asset management company, from December 1995 to December 2011, having originally joined Wellington in 1991. Throughout her tenure, Ms. Nordin’s responsibilities spanned product management, client relationship management and ultimately the oversight of Wellington’s Fixed Income group where she was responsible for approximately 20 investment approaches and 130 investors globally. During her time at Wellington, Ms. Nordin served as Vice Chair of the Compensation Committee and Audit Chair of the Wellington Management Trust Company in addition to other committee service throughout her tenure. Prior to joining Wellington, she worked at Fidelity Investments and Putnam Advisory. Ms. Nordin is a Director of Fannie Mae (since 2013) where she serves as Vice Chair of the Board, member of the Executive, Audit and Risk Policy Committees and chairs the Compensation Committee. Also, she is a director of Antares Capital, where she is Chair of the Compensation Committee (since 2016). She is a governor of the CFA Institute (since 2016) where she is past Chair of the Board of Governors as well as the Audit, Risk and Nominations Committee and currently serves as a member of the Risk, Executive and People and Culture Committees and as Chair of the Governance Committee. Ms. Nordin is an Emeritus Trustee of Wheaton College (2010-present) where she chaired the Investment Committee and served on the Audit Committee and was appointed Trustee of Financial Analysts Foundation (2022). She formerly served as a Board member, Executive and Compensation Committee member and Investment Committee Chair of the Appalachian Mountain Club, the oldest conservation organization in the United States. Ms. Nordin also serves on the NY State Common Fund Investment Advisory Committee in a pro bono capacity. Skills and Qualifications: In addition to her extensive experience in the asset management business, Ms. Nordin has executive level experience in accounting and finance, asset and investment management, executive compensation, financial services, human resources and talent management, international operations, marketing, product development, risk management and strategic planning. Education: Bachelor’s degree from Wheaton College (MA). Ms. Nordin is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

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Alfredo Rivera

Age: 61
Director Since: 2020

Committees: Audit and Human Resources

Public Directorships: Coca-Cola HBC AG

Mr. Rivera has been President of the North America Operating Unit of The Coca-Cola Company since 2020. In his role, he helps lead the company’s transformation to emerge stronger as a total beverage company, enabled by a globally-networked organization. Mr. Rivera has been a veteran of the global Coca-Cola system for 35 years and joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1997. Prior to his current role he served as President, Latin America from 2016-2020, President, Latin Center Business Unit from 2013-2016, Vice President of Operations Mexico from 2006-2012 and prior to 2006 held other global positions with Coca-Cola.

Skills and Qualifications: Mr. Rivera has executive level experience in accounting and finance, retail consumer, executive compensation, human resources and talent management, international, marketing, strategic planning, sustainability/ESG, and technology.

Education: Bachelor’s degree and M.B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi and completed the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School.

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Corporate Governance

The Company’s Board and management regularly review best practices for corporate governance and modify our policies and practices as warranted. Our current best practices include:

•

Proxy access for shareholders owning three percent or more of the Company’s Common Stock for a minimum of three years;

•

Super-majority of independent Directors (12 out of 13);

•

All key committees (i.e., Audit, Finance, Human Resources and Nominating and Governance Committees) are composed entirely of independent Directors;

•

Strong independent Lead Director;

•

Director resignation policy if the support of a majority vote of shareholders is not achieved;

•

Policy regarding Directors’ service on other public company boards;

•

Board and committee self-assessments conducted annually;

•

Director evaluations conducted no less frequently than in connection with Director nomination process;

•

Robust stock ownership guidelines for Directors;

•

Board Diversity Policy and a diverse and inclusive Board membership in terms of age, background, experience, gender, ethnicity and tenure;

•

Robust shareholder engagement program to obtain valuable feedback on our compensation and governance programs;

•

Annual review of CEO succession plan by the independent Directors with and without the CEO present;

•

Annual Board review of senior management long-term and emergency succession plans;

•

Multiple executive sessions involving solely independent Directors (“Executive Sessions”) at each regularly scheduled Board meeting; and

•

Robust policies and procedures concerning the identification of and monitoring for conflicts of interest across the organization.

Board Leadership Structure

The Board exercises flexibility in establishing a leadership structure that works best for Principal at any given time. Historically, the positions of Chairman of the Board and CEO have been held by two people or combined and held by one person, depending on circumstances. Currently, Daniel J. Houston is the Chairman and CEO. Since 1990, the Board has had a Lead Director because it believes that it is important that the independent Directors have a formally acknowledged leader in addition to the Chairman of the Board who leads the Board generally. The Board regularly reviews the effectiveness of this shared leadership. Whether to separate or combine the Chairman and CEO positions is based on factors such as the tenure and experience of the CEO and the broader economic and operating environment of the Company. Principal has separated the roles of Chairman of the Board and CEO during periods of senior executive management transition, with the prior Chairman retaining that position as the newly appointed CEO assumes new responsibilities. The Board prefers this flexible approach to a requirement that the positions of Chairman and CEO be combined or separate. Mr. Mills, the current Lead Director, was selected by the independent Directors and assumed this role in 2020. The Nominating and Governance Committee reviews the appointment of Lead Director annually.

The Lead Director and the Chairman jointly decide on the Board’s agenda for each regular quarterly meeting, and the Lead Director seeks input on the agenda from the other independent Directors. The Lead Director and Chairman share the duties of presiding at each Board meeting. The Chairman presides when the Board is meeting as a full Board. The Lead Director presides when the Chairman is not present; plans and leads Executive Sessions of independent Directors; leads the Board’s annual self-evaluation; calls special Board meetings if the Chairman is unable to act; and leads the Board’s CEO succession planning discussions. Executive. Sessions generally occur at the start and end of each regularly scheduled Board meeting and were held in conjunction with each regularly scheduled Board meeting during 2021.

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Role of the Board in Risk Oversight

Risk management is an essential component of our culture and business model. Management within our business units and functional areas is primarily responsible for identifying, assessing, monitoring and managing risk exposures. The Company’s Enterprise Risk Management program includes a Chief Risk Officer, whose team operates independently from the business units, and an Enterprise Risk Management Committee, composed of members from the executive management team, that provides enterprise-wide oversight for material risks. The Company also has a robust internal audit and risk consulting function.

The Board oversees management’s execution and performance of its risk management responsibilities. The Board reviews strategic threats, opportunities, and risks Principal and its businesses or functions are managing. This includes oversight of risks such as credit, market, liquidity, product, operational, cybersecurity, reputational and general business risk that are handled directly by the Board or by Board Committees as discussed below:

The Audit Committee: risk and mitigation related to accounting, financial controls, legal, regulatory, ethics, compliance, operations and general business activities. The Audit Committee also oversees the framework and policies with respect to enterprise risk management.

The Finance Committee: risk and mitigation related to liquidity, credit, market, product and pricing activities. The Finance Committee also oversees capital management, capital structure and financing, investment policy, tax planning, and key risks associated with significant financial transactions. The Finance Committee also provides guidance to the Human Resources Committee on the appropriateness of Company financial goals used in annual and long-term employee incentive compensation arrangements.

The Human Resources Committee: risk and mitigation related to the design and operation of employee compensation arrangements to confirm they are consistent with business plans, do not encourage inappropriate risk taking and are appropriately designed to limit or mitigate risk. The Human Resources Committee annually reviews an analysis of the Company’s incentive compensation plans to ensure they are designed to create and maintain shareholder value, provide rewards based on the long-term performance of the Company and do not encourage excessive risk. The Human Resources Committee also oversees succession planning and development for senior management.

Nominating and Governance Committee: risk and mitigation related to the Company’s environmental, sustainability and corporate social responsibilities as well as the Company’s political contribution activities. The Nominating and Governance Committee also monitors whether the Board and its committees have the collective skills and experience necessary to monitor the risks facing Principal.

The Chief Risk Officer and other members of senior management provide reports and have discussions with the Board and its committees on our risk profile and risk management activities, including reviews of ongoing adherence to policy, impacts of external events, and how strategy, initiatives, and operations integrate with our risk objectives. The Board also receives input on these issues from external entities such as our independent auditor, regulators and consultants. These activities provide the Board with a greater understanding of the material risks we face, the level of risk in matters presented for Board approval, and how risks are related.

The Board views cybersecurity risk in the context of the overall management of risk for our global enterprise, involving people, processes, and technology. As a financial services company, the Board understands the persistent and dynamic nature of cyber threats and the importance of remaining prepared to defend against and respond to these threats. It is treated as a Board level matter, and the Board receives regular reports from the Chief Information Officer, the Chief Information Security Officer, and other professionals to ensure management has established and is proactively maintaining an enterprise-wide cyber risk program with necessary policies, practices and controls to manage the risk and ensure resiliency.

Succession Planning and Talent Development

The Board believes that succession planning for future leadership of the Company is one of its most important roles. The Board is actively engaged and involved in talent management and reviews succession at least annually. This includes a detailed discussion of our global leadership and succession plans with a focus on CEO succession planning as well as succession planning for all key executive positions.

In addition, the Human Resources Committee regularly discusses the talent pipeline for critical roles at a variety of organizational levels, including CEO. A comprehensive review of executive talent, including assessments by an independent consulting firm, determines participants’ readiness to take on additional leadership roles and identifies the developmental and coaching opportunities needed to prepare them for greater responsibilities. High potential leaders are given exposure and visibility to Board members through formal presentations and informal events and

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the Human Resources Committee also receives regular updates on key talent indicators for the overall workforce, including diversity, recruiting and development programs. In addition, the Company has an emergency succession plan for the CEO that is reviewed by the Board annually.

Majority Voting

In uncontested Director elections, Directors are elected by the majority of votes cast. If an incumbent Director is not elected and no successor is elected, the Director must submit a resignation to the Board, which will decide whether to accept the resignation. The Board’s decision and reasons for its decision will be publicly disclosed within 90 days of certification of the election results.

Director Independence

The Board determines at a Director’s initial appointment, and thereafter at least annually, whether each Director is independent, using its independence standards in these determinations. These independence standards include the Nasdaq standards for independence and are on the Company’s website, www.principal.com. The Board considers all commercial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable, family and other relationships (either individually or as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization) a Director (or Director candidate) may have with the Company and its subsidiaries. The Board most recently made these determinations for each Director in February 2022, based on:

•

A review of relationships and transactions between Directors, their immediate family members and other organizations with which a Director is affiliated and the Company, its subsidiaries or executive officers;

•

Questionnaires completed by each Director regarding any relationships or transactions that could affect the Director’s independence;

•

The Company’s review of its purchasing, investment, charitable giving and other records; and

•

Recommendations of the Nominating and Governance Committee.

The Board affirmatively determined that the following Directors have no material relationship with the Company and are independent: Mr. Auerbach, Ms. Beams, Ms. Carter-Miller, Mr. Dan, Ms. Helton, Mr. Hochschild, Mr. Mills, Mr. Muruzabal, Ms. Nordin, Mr. Pickerell, Ms. Richer, and Mr. Rivera. The Board also determined that all current members of the Audit, Finance, Human Resources and Nominating and Governance Committees are independent. No Director other than Mr. Houston has been employed by the Company at any time.

Some Directors have categorically immaterial relationships and transactions with Principal:

•

Ms. Helton, Mr. Pickerell, and Mr. Rivera are customers of the Company’s subsidiaries.

•

Ms. Nordin and Mr. Pickerell are directors, and Messrs. Auerbach, Hochschild, Mills and Rivera are executives of for-profit entities with which the Company’s subsidiaries conduct ordinary commercial transactions.

Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions

As of December 31, 2021, the Vanguard Group, Inc. managed funds holding in the aggregate approximately 10.89% of the Common Stock. For 2021, investment companies sponsored by Principal paid the Vanguard Group $93,352 and paid Vanguard Brokerage Services $15,474, in each case for sub-transfer agent services. During 2021, Vanguard paid $504,692 in rent for lease of space to a borrower of the Principal Life general account. Vanguard provides mutual fund distribution services pursuant to a contract with Principal Funds Distributors, Inc. (“PFD”), for which PFD paid Vanguard $11,038 in 2021. Principal Life accounts held approximately $62,434,750 in privately-placed debt issued by Vanguard. These holdings carry interest rates varying from 1.94% to 3.13% and paid Principal Life 1,625,433 during 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, BlackRock, Inc. (together with its affiliates “BlackRock”) and certain subsidiaries collectively owned or managed funds holding in the aggregate approximately 8.5% of the Common Stock. During 2021, Principal Global Investors, LLC paid BlackRock Fund Advisors $1,555,029 in management fees associated with the Principal Funds, Inc. In 2021, Principal affiliates paid BlackRock $4,212,776 for fees in connection with the use of, and services and consulting furnished in connection with, the Aladdin system. Principal Life and affiliates hold, or manage accounts holding, securities issued by BlackRock, Inc. BlackRock affiliates manage investment funds in which affiliates of the Company invest for their own or managed accounts.

As of December 31, 2021, Nippon Life Insurance Company (“Nippon Life”) held approximately 6.9% of the Common Stock. Nippon Life is the parent company of Nippon Life Insurance Company of America (“NLICA”). Nippon Life,

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NLICA and Principal Life have had business relationships for more than 20 years. In 2021, Nippon Life and NLICA paid the following amounts to Principal Life or its affiliates: $287,897 for pension services for defined contribution plans maintained by NLICA and an affiliate (mostly paid by plan participants), $4,520 for deferred compensation plan services, and $8,549,828 for investment services. The Company owns 1,096 shares of the common stock of NLICA and Principal received $391,119 in dividends from such stock in 2021. Principal Life general and separate accounts hold privately-placed bonds issued by Nippon Life with a market value at the end of 2021 of $79,375,468, and $7,565,600, respectively. The general account holdings carry interest rates varying from 2.065% to 5.1% and paid Principal Life $3,520,000.00 in interest in 2021. The separate account holdings carry an interest rate of 2.75% and paid Principal Life $109,725 in interest in 2021. Nippon Life Americas, Inc. (formerly known as NLI US Investments, Inc. (“NLAI”)), owns approximately 19.02% of Post Advisory Group, LLC (“Post”), an affiliate of the Company. During 2021, Post paid NLAI an aggregate of $4,206,678 in dividends. A Principal affiliate in Japan paid Nippon Life $3,308 for administration of its defined contribution plan. Principal affiliates hold, and manage accounts holding, securities issued by Nippon Life, and Nippon Life invests in funds managed by Principal affiliates.

As of December 31, 2021, Capital Research Global Investors owned or managed funds holding approximately 5.7% of the Common Stock. There were no relationships or related party transactions to report in 2021.

As of December 31, 2021, State Street Corporation (“State Street”) owned or managed funds holding approximately 5.11% of the Common Stock. During 2021, Principal Life was a mortgage lender on a loan to a State Street affiliate which mortgage loan was paid in full during the year ($4,490,273 in principal and $190,175 in interest). Principal Life and affiliates hold, or manage accounts holding, securities issued by BlackRock, Inc. BlackRock affiliates manage investment funds in which affiliates of the Company invest for their own or managed accounts.

Dwight Soethout, Vice President-Chief Actuary, is the spouse of Deanna D. Strable-Soethout, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Soethout has been an employee of the Company since 1993. In 2021, he received $744,978 in base salary, annual bonus and long-term incentive compensation from Principal Life. His compensation is commensurate with that of his peers. His employment and compensation were approved by the Human Resources Committee.

The Company maintains robust policies and procedures for the identification and monitoring of arrangements with related parties. The Nominating and Governance Committee or its Chair must approve or ratify all transactions with related parties that are not preapproved by or exempted from the Company’s Related Party Transaction Policy (the “Policy”). At each quarterly meeting, the Committee reviews transactions with related parties and ratifies any transaction that is subject to the Policy if it determines it is appropriate and may attach conditions to that approval. Transactions involving employment of a relative of an executive officer or Director must be approved by the Human Resources Committee. The Company’s Related Party Transaction Policy is publicly available at www.principal.com.

Board Meetings

The Board held 21 meetings in 2021, five of which were two-day, in person or virtual meetings. No Director then in office attended less than 75% of the aggregate of the meetings of the Board and the committees of which the Director was a member. While Director attendance is not mandatory, the Company’s annual shareholder meeting is scheduled on a date that coincides with a regularly-scheduled quarterly Board Meeting. In 2021, all Directors then on the Board attended the annual shareholders meeting virtually.

Global Corporate Code of Conduct

Each Director and officer of the Company has certified they comply with Principal’s Global Code of Conduct, the foundation for ethical behavior across the organization. The Code is publicly available at investors.principal.com/investor-relations/our-business/corporate-governance/default.aspx.

Board Committees

Only independent Directors may serve on the Audit, Human Resources and Nominating and Governance Committees, and while not required by its charter, the Board’s Finance Committee currently is composed of only independent Directors. The Committees review their charters and performance annually. Committee charters of the Audit, Finance, Human Resources and Nominating and Governance Committees are publicly available on the Company’s website, www.principal.com.

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Membership and responsibilities of each of the Board Committees:

Committee	Responsibilities	Members (*Committee Chair)	Meetings held in 2021
Audit	• Appointing, terminating, compensating and overseeing the Company’s independent auditor and selecting the lead audit partner; • Reviewing and reporting to the Board on the independent auditor’s activities; • Approving all audit engagement fees and preapproving compensation of the independent auditor for non-audit engagements, consistent with the Company’s Auditor Independence Policy; • Reviewing internal audit plans and results; • Reviewing and reporting to the Board on accounting policies and legal and regulatory compliance; • Reviewing the Company’s policies on risk assessment and management; and • All members of the Audit Committee are financially literate and are independent, as defined in the Nasdaq listing standards, and are financial experts, as defined by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.	Sandra L. Helton* Mary E. Beams Scott M. Mills Diane C. Nordin Clare S. Richer Alfredo Rivera	8
Human Resources	• Evaluating the performance of the CEO and determining his compensation relative to his goals and objectives; • Approving compensation for all other officers of the Company and Principal Life at the level of Senior Vice President and above (“Executives”); • Approving employment, severance or change of control agreements and perquisites for Executives; • Overseeing Executive development and succession planning; • Overseeing our global inclusion strategy; • Approving employee compensation policies for all other employees; • Approving equity awards; • Administering the Company’s incentive and other compensation plans that include Executives; • Acting on management’s recommendations for broad-based employee pension and welfare benefit plans; and • Reviewing compensation programs to confirm that they encourage management to take appropriate risks; discourage inappropriate risks and act consistently with the Company’s business plan, policies and risk tolerance.	Jocelyn Carter-Miller* Michael T. Dan Scott M. Mills Claudio N. Muruzabal Alfredo Rivera	6
Nominating and Governance	• Recommends Board candidates, Board committee assignments and service as Lead Director; • Reviews and reports to the Board on Director independence, performance of individual Directors, process for the annual self-evaluations of the Board and its performance and committee self-evaluations, content of the Global Code of Conduct, Director compensation, and the Corporate Governance Guidelines; and • Reviews environmental and corporate social responsibility matters as well as the Company’s political contribution activities.	Jonathan S. Auerbach Jocelyn Carter-Miller Michael T. Dan Roger C. Hochschild* Claudio N. Muruzabal Blair C. Pickerell	8

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Committee	Responsibilities	Members (*Committee Chair)	Meetings held in 2021
Finance	• Assists the Board with financial, investment and capital management policies; • Reviews capital structure and plans, significant financial transactions, financial policies, credit ratings, matters of corporate finance, including issuance of debt and equity, shareholder dividends, proposed mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; Reviews and provides guidance on financial goals; • Oversees investment policies, strategies and programs; and • Reviews policies and procedures governing the use of financial instruments including derivatives; and assists the Board in overseeing and reviewing information regarding enterprise financial risk management, including the policies, procedures and practices to manage liquidity, credit market, product and pricing risks, and tax planning.	Jonathan S. Auerbach Mary E. Beams Sandra L. Helton Roger C. Hochschild Diane C. Nordin Blair C. Pickerell Clare S. Richer*	22
Executive	• Acts on matters delegated by the Board which must be approved by its independent members. Has the authority of the Board between Board meetings unless the Board has directed otherwise or as mandated by law and in the By Laws.	Jocelyn Carter-Miller Sandra L. Helton Daniel J. Houston* Scott M. Mills	None

ESG at Principal

Principal aims to foster a world in which financial security is accessible to all. To fulfill this commitment, our ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) approach harnesses the power of our people and our products while creating sustainable practices. We measure our continued progress by focusing on the following material ESG impacts: employee engagement, financial inclusion, governance, ethics and risk, environmental impact, sustainable sourcing, consumer product impact and responsible investing, through which we aim to create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world. In 2021, we joined the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, at the Participant level to publicly demonstrate our commitment to human rights, fair labor practices, environmental impact, and anti-corruption. We also joined the UN Global Compact CFO Task Force in recognition of our ongoing commitment to balancing our business objectives with responsible business practices.

A full review of Principal’s environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) practices can be found on www.principal.com/sustainability. We plan to share progress on our ESG initiatives and outcomes in our 2021 Sustainability Report, which will be released in May 2022.

While maintaining strong corporate governance, our ESG strategy is informed by sustainability factors that are important to our stakeholders and that contribute to a positive social and environmental impact. We have gathered feedback from clients, institutional customers, employees, and investors to understand their priorities and performance expectations for ESG material topics. Based on this process and our findings, a summary of our ESG strategy and outcomes is below.

Employee Engagement

We’re committed to nurturing an inclusive culture and diverse workforce based on the highest ethical standards and a dedication to fairness, respect, integrity, and trust, across and throughout all levels of the organization.

•

In 2021, we maintained a strong level of employee satisfaction with a 79% Employee Engagement Index and captured workplace belonging with an Inclusion Index score of 79%.

•

Principal currently manages 10 Employee Resource Groups (“ERGs”) connecting 3,725 employees based on similar interests or aspects of diversity, including disabilities, gender, military experience, race, sexual orientation, and sustainability.

•

Principal was named a member of the 2022 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, which emphasizes gender pay equity, strong diversity metrics and talent management.

•

For the 7th straight year, we received a score of 100/100 on the Corporate Equality Index, naming us one of the “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality.”

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Financial Inclusion

We exist to enable financial security and work to reach more people every day.

•

Annually, Principal Foundation contributes more than $30 million through grants, employee and match giving, sponsorships, pro bono, and in-kind donations.

•

We launched our first Sustainability Bond in August 2021 that highlights financial inclusion among our eligible assets, as seen in our Sustainable Financing Framework.

•

Together with Kiva, Principal Foundation is providing micro loans to 31,554 female entrepreneurs in 35 countries, increasing access to capital.

•

Principal Foundation is funding financial coaching for diverse entrepreneurs in five cities across the U.S. through a grant to Cities for Financial Empowerment.

Governance, Ethics & Risk

The Nominating and Governance Committee monitors risks and mitigation related to our environmental, sustainability, and corporate governance responsibilities, as well as our political contribution activities. The committee also monitors whether the Board and its committees have the collective skills and experience necessary to monitor the risks facing Principal.

•

Over 95% of employees were trained on our global code of conduct, cybersecurity, and data privacy policies
in 2021.

Diversity of the Board is a longstanding and valued objective, as reflected in the Board’s Diversity Policy. Therefore, in addition to other considerations, the Nominating and Governance Committee reviews the Board’s diversity, including in terms of background, experience, expertise, gender, generation, national origin, and race, when recruiting new Directors. The current Board reflects these values, for example, in the composition of our independent members on the Board of Directors, as of December 31, 2021 (see pages 5-6 for additional detail).

•

Independent members currently represent 92% of our Board of Directors (12 out of 13 members).

•

67% of our independent members are either women or people of color (8 out of 12).

Environmental Impact

We recognize that our vision of a more secure world is intertwined with the health and wellbeing of the planet. As such, we continue to be mindful of our operating realities and how our daily functions contribute to our impact on the environment. To combat the climate crisis, we remain dedicated to taking actions to mitigate our climate impact.

•

We reduced our U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 48% between 2010 and 2019.

•

Principal Real Estate Investors received a 4-star rating from GRESB, the global ESG benchmark for real estate for the 6th consecutive year.

•

Principal was named in the top 10 of the Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies in 2021, ranking in 7th place.

Sustainable Sourcing

Including qualified diverse businesses in our procurement process is an important aspect of our commitment to diversity. We are very committed to achieving year over year improvement in our diversity inclusion and spend metrics.

•

We consistently award 7-10% of our eligible spend base to diverse suppliers.

•

We are an active member of the Financial Services Roundtable for Supplier Diversity, a group dedicated to building strong supplier diversity practices in the financial services industry.

•

We partnered with four D&I firms as active co-managers in our recent debt issuance as part of our initiative to work with more diverse third parties within capital markets.

Consumer & Product Impact

Over the next 5 years, we will double the number of small- to mid-sized businesses we support which are owned by women and people of color through product access, micro-finance, community development, and financial education.

•

In fall 2021, we launched Spanish-language capabilities in the Principal® App, providing equitable access to retirement plan information for a growing U.S. population.

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•

Focusing on digital channel access, micro-finance, and financial education, we expanded financial wellness to a broader audience in 2021.

Responsible Investing

At Principal Global Investors, our commitment to responsible investing and ESG issues revolves around a key factor—our fiduciary responsibility to our clients. Acting in their best interests comes first and foremost. Our approach to responsible investing is driven by that priority.

•

Principal Global Investors (“PGI”) integrates ESG investing principles into its approach to portfolio management across all actively managed asset classes.

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PGI’s signatory status to the United Nations sponsored Principles for Responsible Investing gives us a voice in defining and shaping the ongoing global ESG discussion.

•

Local country investment teams of Principal Asset Management in Malaysia and CUPRUM in Chile have also become signatories to the UN PRI, further shaping our global ESG voice.

•

We manage over $11.3 billion of client directed socially responsible assets.

Looking Forward

For decades, we’ve embraced ESG as a core strategy to strengthen our business, advance our mission, and build a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable global community. As we continue to embed sustainability into our business, we have solidified our strategic pillars and have developed public commitments to measure our progress toward long-term responsible actions. Visit www.principal.com/sustainability to learn more about our public commitments.

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Directors’ Compensation

Directors serve on the Boards of the Company, Principal Life and Principal Financial Services, Inc. Any Director who is also an employee does not receive any compensation for his or her service as a Director. The Company provides competitive compensation to attract and retain high quality non-employee Directors. A substantial proportion of non-employee Director compensation is provided in the form of equity to help align such Directors’ interests with the interests of shareholders.

The non-employee Director compensation program is reviewed annually. The Nominating and Governance Committee uses the Board’s independent compensation consultant for this purpose. During 2021, Compensation Advisory Partners conducted an annual comprehensive review and assessment of Director compensation. The Company targets non-employee Director compensation at approximately the median of the peer group used for Executive compensation comparisons (“Peer Group”) (see page 34), which aligns with its Executive compensation philosophy. As a result of Compensation Advisor Partners’ November 2021 review and the Committee’s discussion, Directors’ annual cash retainer was increased from $110,000 to $115,000 and their annual Restricted Stock Unit (“RSU”) retainer increased from $165,000 to $170,000. These changes position Directors at the median of compensation within Principal’s Peer Group.

	Annual Cash Retainers(1) (Effective November 21, 2021)
Board		$	115,000
Audit Committee Chair		$	35,000
Human Resources Committee Chair		$	25,000
Finance Committee Chair		$	25,000
Nominating & Governance Committee Chair		$	25,000
Other Committee Chairs		$	10,000
Lead Director		$	50,000
Annual Restricted Stock Unit Retainer(2)		$	170,000

(1)

Paid in two semiannual payments, in May and November, on a forward-looking basis.

(2)

Grants are made at the time of the annual meeting.

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Fees Earned by Non-Employee Directors in 2021

Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash			Stock Awards(1)			Total
Jonathan S. Auerbach		$	112,500		$	164,988		$	277,488
Mary E. Beams(2)		$	138,900		$	203,013		$	341,913	��
Jocelyn Carter-Miller		$	137,500		$	164,988		$	302,488
Michael T. Dan		$	112,500		$	164,988		$	277,488
Sandra L. Helton		$	147,500		$	164,988		$	312,488
Roger C. Hochschild		$	137,500		$	164,988		$	302,488
Scott M. Mills		$	162,500		$	164,988		$	327,488
Claudio Muruzabel(3)		$	99,696		$	144,998		$	244,694
Diane C. Nordin		$	112,500		$	164,988		$	277,488
Blair C. Pickerell		$	112,500		$	164,988		$	277,488
Clare S. Richer		$	143,500		$	164,988		$	308,488
Alfredo Rivera		$	112,500		$	164,988		$	277,488
Elizabeth E. Tallett(4)		$	0		$	0		$	0

(1)

These amounts reflect the grant date fair value of awards made in 2021 determined in accordance with FASB Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 718. These awards do not reflect actual amounts realized or that may be realized by the recipients. While the Principal Financial Group, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (which was approved by shareholders) allows some discretion in determining the value of RSUs that may be awarded annually, it imposes a maximum limit for stock awards plus fees and retainers of $750,000 ($1,000,000 for an Independent Chairman) on the size of the annual award that may be made.

(2)

Mary E. Beams’ Board service began on February 23, 2021. Ms. Beams received a prorated stock award on March 5, 2021, for the May 2020-May 2021 Board year.

(3)

Claudio Muruzabel’s Board service began on July 1, 2021. Mr. Muruzabel received a prorated stock award on July 1, 2021 for the May 2021-May 2022 Board year.

(4)

Elizabeth E. Tallett retired from Board service in May 2021.

Non-Employee Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan

Non-employee Directors may defer the receipt of their cash compensation under the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors of Principal Financial Group, Inc. This Plan has four investment options, and each option represents “phantom” units tied to the funds listed in the table below (parenthesized information indicates share class):

Investment Option	1 Year Rate of Return (12/31/2021)
Principal Financial Group, Inc. Employer Stock Fund		50.72%
Principal LargeCap S&P 500 Index Fund (R5)		28.14%
Principal Real Estate Securities Fund (R5)		39.40%
Principal Core Plus Bond Fund (R5)		0.84%

Restricted Stock Unit Grants

Non-employee Directors receive an annual grant of time-based RSUs under the Principal Financial Group, Inc. 2021 Stock Incentive Plan. RSUs are granted at the time of the annual meeting, vest at the next annual meeting, and are deferred at least until the date the Director leaves the Board. At payout, the RSUs are converted to shares of Common Stock. Dividend equivalents become additional RSUs, which vest and are converted to Common Stock at the same time and to the same extent as the underlying RSU. The Nominating and Governance Committee has the discretion to make a prorated grant of RSUs to Directors who join the Board at a time other than at the annual meeting. The 2021 Stock Incentive Plan (which was approved by shareholders) imposes a combined maximum limit for stock awards plus fees and retainers of $750,000 ($1,000,000 for an Independent Chairman).

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As of December 31, 2021, each non-employee Director who served during 2021 had the following aggregate number of outstanding RSUs, including additional RSUs received as the result of dividend equivalents.

Director Name	Total RSUs Outstanding Fiscal Year End 2021 (Shares)
Jonathan S. Auerbach		7,202
Mary E. Beams		667
Jocelyn Carter-Miller		64,071
Michael T. Dan		35,063
Sandra L. Helton		61,572
Roger C. Hochschild		21,615
Scott M. Mills		17,053
Claudio Muruzabel		0
Diane C. Nordin		12,968
Blair C. Pickerell		20,203
Clare S. Richer		4,469
Alfredo Rivera		1,593
Elizabeth E. Tallett		0

Other Compensation

Principal Life matches charitable gifts up to $16,000 per non-employee Director per year. These matching contributions are available during a Director’s term and for three years thereafter. Principal Life receives the charitable contribution tax deductions for the matching gifts.

Directors are reimbursed for travel and other business expenses they incur while performing services for the Company and are allowed the use of corporate owned or leased aircraft when traveling to in-person meetings of the Board and its Committees. When Directors’ spouses/partners accompany them to the annual Board strategic retreat, Principal pays for some of the travel expenses and amenities for Directors and their spouses/partners, such as meals and social events. Directors are also covered under the Company’s Business Travel Accident Insurance Policy and Directors’ and Officers’ insurance coverage. The Human Resources Committee approved Directors’ participation in Principal Global Asset Management investment products on a reduced or no fee basis. In 2021 the total amount of perquisites provided to non-employee Directors was less than $10,000 per Director.

Directors’ Stock Ownership Guidelines

To encourage Directors to accumulate a meaningful ownership level in the Company, the Board has had a “hold until retirement” stock ownership requirement since 2005. All RSU grants must be held while a Director is on the Board and may only be converted to Common Stock when the Director’s Board service ends. The Board has a guideline that Directors own interests in Common Stock equal to five times the annual Board cash retainer within five years of joining the Board. Directors have been able to achieve this level of ownership through the RSU hold until retirement requirement. Once this guideline is met, Directors do not need to buy additional stock if the guideline is no longer met due to a reduction in stock price, if the Director’s ownership level is not reduced because of share sales.

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process. Company management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the systems of internal controls. The Committee reviewed with management the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, and discussed the quality, not just the acceptability, of the accounting principles, the reasonableness of significant judgments and the clarity of disclosures in the financial statements.

The Committee discussed with Ernst & Young LLP, the Company’s independent auditor, the matters required to be discussed by the applicable Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) standards. These standards require the independent auditor to communicate (i) the auditor’s responsibility under standards of the PCAOB; (ii) an overview of the planned scope and timing of the audit; and (iii) significant findings from the audit, including the qualitative aspects of the entity’s significant accounting practices, significant difficulties, if any, encountered in

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performing the audit, uncorrected misstatements identified during the audit, other than those the auditor believes are trivial, if any, any disagreements with management, and any other issues arising from the audit that are significant or relevant to those charged with governance.

The Committee discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the critical audit matters included in its audit report. These are audit matters relating to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and involved especially challenging, subjective or comply auditor judgment.

The Committee received from Ernst & Young LLP, the written disclosures and letter required by applicable requirements of the PCAOB regarding the independent auditor’s communications with the Committee concerning independence. The Committee has discussed with Ernst & Young LLP its independence and Ernst & Young LLP has confirmed in its letter that, in its professional judgment, it is independent of the Company within the meaning of the federal securities laws.

The Committee discussed with the Company’s internal and independent auditors the overall scope and plans for their respective audits. The Committee meets with the internal and independent auditors, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, their evaluations of the Company’s internal controls and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.

In reliance on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Committee recommended to the Board (and the Board approved) that the audited financial statements be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The Committee has also approved, subject to shareholder ratification, the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022.

In determining whether to reappoint Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s independent auditor, the Audit Committee annually conducts a formal evaluation that takes into consideration a variety of factors, including the firm’s tenure; the firm’s independence, and its processes and controls for maintaining that independence; the firm’s local, national, and global presence; the quality, consistency, effectiveness, and timeliness of the firm’s communications with the Audit Committee and business areas; management’s evaluation of the firm; data related to audit quality and performance, including recent PCAOB inspection reports; and the appropriateness of the firm’s fees.

In accordance with SEC rules, the lead or concurring audit partner for the Company may not serve in that role for more than five consecutive fiscal years. The Audit Committee ensures the regular rotation of the audit engagement team partners as required by law.

The Committee does not have the responsibility to plan or conduct audits or to determine that the Company’s financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. That is the responsibility of the Company’s independent auditor and management. In giving our recommendation to the Board, the Committee has relied on (i) management’s representation that such financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, and (ii) the report of the Company’s independent auditor with respect to such financial statements.

Sandra L. Helton, Chair
Mary E. Beams
Scott M. Mills
Diane C. Nordin
Clare S. Richer
Alfredo Rivera

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Executive Compensation

Contents:	Page
Compensation Discussion & Analysis (“CD&A”)		27
• 2021 Company Performance Highlights		28
• 2021 Compensation Highlights		29
• Highlights of 2022 Compensation Programming Changes		29
• Compensation Program Philosophy and Policies		30
• Summary of Compensation Elements		31
• How We Make Compensation Decisions		33
• 2021 Executive Compensation Decisions		35
• Base Salary		36
• Annual Incentive Compensation		36
• Long-term Incentive Compensation		39
• Timing of Stock Option Awards and Other Equity Incentives		40
• Benefits		41
• Change of Control and Separation Pay		41
• Stock Ownership Guidelines		42
• Hedging and Pledging Policy		42
• Repricing Policy		42
• Clawback Policy		42
• Gross-Up Policy		43
• Human Resources Committee Report		43
• Risk Assessment of Employee Incentive Plans		43
Compensation Tables
• Summary Compensation Table		44
• Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal Year End December 31, 2021		46
• Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End December 31, 2021		47
• Option Exercises and Stock Vesting		48
• 2021 CEO Pay Ratio		48
• Pension Plan Information		49
• Pension Distributions		51
• Pension Benefits		52
• Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation		53
• Qualified 401(k) Plan and Excess Plan		53
• Severance Plans		54
• Change of Control Employment Agreements		55
• Potential Payments Upon Termination Related to a Change of Control		58

Compensation Discussion and Analysis (CD&A)

The CD&A describes Principal Financial Group, Inc.’s Executive compensation objectives and philosophy. It also describes our 2021 compensation program and reviews the outcomes, including the Company’s financial performance in 2021. Our “Named Executive Officers” in 2021 were:

•

Daniel J. Houston, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Houston has overall responsibility for all businesses of the organization. He joined the Company in 1984 and assumed his current position in 2015. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all our U.S. and global businesses.

•

Deanna D. Strable-Soethout, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Ms. Strable-Soethout plays a central role in driving and managing long-term strategies for innovation-fueled company growth, including responsibility for corporate strategy and capital markets. She joined the Company in 1990 and assumed her current position in 2017. She previously served as Executive Vice President and President of U.S. Insurance Solutions with overall accountability for individual life, non-qualified deferred compensation, individual disability, and group benefits.

•

Patrick G. Halter, Chief Executive Officer, Principal Global Investors. Through November 6, 2020, Mr. Halter had responsibility for overseeing the operations of Principal Global Investors, its 15 investment boutiques, and the

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fund and distribution teams. Effective November 7, 2020, he was promoted to President, Principal Global Asset Management and assumed responsibility for overseeing all of Principal’s asset management capabilities including Principal Global Investors, Principal International investment operations, and the Principal Life Insurance Company General Account. Mr. Halter joined the Company in 1984.

•

Amy C. Friedrich, President, U.S. Insurance Solutions. Ms. Friedrich is President of U.S. Insurance Solutions. Serving nearly 125,000 employers and more than 3.5 million people, she leads 3,100 employees responsible for group employee benefits, life insurance, disability insurance, and nonqualified deferred compensation, along with the distribution arm, which includes Principal’s broker-dealer organization and network of affiliated financial professionals. Ms. Friedrich joined the company in 2000 and assumed her current position in 2017.

•

Renee Schaaf, President, Retirement and Income Solutions. Ms. Schaaf leads the Principal U.S. retirement business, one of the top three providers of retirement solutions in the nation. She joined the company in 1980 and assumed her current position in 2019. She previously served as the Chief Operating Officer for Principal International where she led global business development, strategy and operations in Latin America and Asia. Ms. Schaaf recently announced her plan to retire in May 2022.

2021 Company Performance Highlights:

2021 was transformational for Principal. We successfully completed the integration of the Institutional Retirement & Trust business (IRT), one of the largest acquisitions in company history which solidified Principal as a top 3 retirement provider in the U.S. October 2021 marked the company’s 20th anniversary as a public company, a turning point that launched two decades of exponential customer and assets under management (AUM) growth. And perhaps the most significant milestone—the completion of an intense strategic review of the company’s business mix and capital management approach. Our go-forward strategy is focused on our growth drivers of retirement in the U.S. and emerging markets, global asset management, and U.S. benefits and protection. We’re improving capital efficiency and returning excess capital to shareholders.

In 2021, Principal reported $1.7 billion of net income and $1.8 billion of non-GAAP operating earnings, or $6.77 per diluted share (EPS)—a 37% increase in EPS compared to 2020. This strong operating performance allowed us to return nearly $1.6 billion of capital to shareholders in 2021, including $921 million of share repurchases and $654 million of common stock dividends.

At the end of the year, we reported $714 billion of AUM managed by Principal, a 7% increase from 2020, and over $1.6 trillion of assets under administration (AUA), which includes AUM. Note that we changed our AUM definition at the end of 2021 to exclude assets managed by third parties where the company does not earn a fee for investment management services; under our prior definition, 2021 AUM would have been over $1 trillion compared to $981 billion at the end of the third quarter.

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Our one-year and three-year total shareholder return (TSR) performance was positioned well ahead of our asset management and insurance peers, while our 5-year total shareholder return performance was slightly below.

1, 3 and 5-Year Total Shareholder Return1: PFG vs. Peers

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Insurance Peers include Ameriprise, Lincoln National Corporation, ManuLife, MetLife, Prudential, Sun Life Financial, Unum, and Voya. Equitable Holdings was added to our peer group as part of the 2020 executive compensation review. Their stock has only been trading since May 2018 so they are not included in the 5-year TSR number above.

Asset Manager peers include Affiliated Managers Group, Franklin Resources, Invesco, and T. Rowe Price.

2021 Compensation Highlights

•

In 2021, the Company’s shareholders voted to approve the Company’s Executive compensation program. Of the votes cast, 93.12% supported the Executive compensation program. The Company considered the shareholders’ approval of the compensation program to be approval of the Company’s compensation philosophy, which has not changed since that vote.

•

Mr. Houston’s base salary remained at $1,000,000 in 2021. Additionally, his annual incentive target remained at 375% of his eligible earnings and the grant date fair value of his long-term incentive award was $8,550,000. His Principal Financial Group Incentive Pay Plan (PrinPay Plan) payout for 2021 was $6,075,000.

•

Based on our 2021 annual performance achievements, many of which are outlined above, our 2021 PrinPay score in the annual incentive program was earned at 162% of target and the individual modifiers for our Named Executive Officers ranged between 95% and 120%.

•

Based on the Company’s three-year average return on equity (“ROE”)2 and three-year average book value per share3 performance, the 2019-2021 Performance Based RSUs (“PSUs”) vested on December 31, 2021, and 77% of the target number of shares were paid out in February 2022, according to the established performance scale, and approved by the Human Resources Committee.

•

Our new stock plan (approved by shareholders in May 2021) provides equity governance enhancements including a new minimum one-year vesting requirement on equity awards and a prohibition on share recycling (i.e. shares withheld for tax purposes will not be added back into the share reserve).

Highlights of 2022 Compensation Program Changes

For 2022, the Company made certain enhancements to the long-term incentive (LTI) program for our executive officers based on shareholder input and the company’s future strategy.

•

Eliminated stock options;

•

Increased PSU weighting to 70% of total LTI mix, with remaining 30% granted in time-based restricted stock units (RSUs);

Our total shareholder return methodology includes the share price return and cash dividends paid during the time period December 31, 2020, through December 31, 2021 (1-year TSR), December 31, 2018, through December 31, 2021 (3-year TSR) and December 31, 2016, through December 31, 2021 (5-year TSR).

Return on equity (“ROE”) is defined as non-GAAP operating earnings divided by average stockholders’ equity available to common stockholders excluding accumulated other comprehensive income other than foreign currency translation adjustment. See non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations in Appendix B.

Book value per share is defined as total ending common equity excluding accumulated other comprehensive income divided by the number of common shares outstanding at end of year. This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations in Appendix B.

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•

Changed the ROE definition to reflect the exclusion of the cumulative mark-to-market adjustment on funds withheld embedded derivative on exited businesses through reinsurance;

•

Added a three-year relative total shareholder return (“TSR”) modifier to our PSU awards relative to the constituents of the S&P 500 Financials index; and

•

Eliminated the Book Value modifier previously used for the ROE measure.

Compensation Program Philosophy and Policies

Compensation Philosophy—Our Executive compensation program is designed to align the interests of Executives and shareholders. Our objective is to attract and retain high caliber executive officers to deliver sustained high performance for our customers and shareholders. The philosophy underlying our program is to provide market driven, performance-based total compensation.

Our executive compensation philosophy is based on the principles outlined below:

•

Attract and retain talented Executives and motivate them to perform at the highest level and contribute significantly to the Company’s long-term success.

•

Reinforce the Company’s pay for performance culture by making a significant portion of total compensation variable and by differentiating awards based on Company and individual performance in achieving short and long-term financial and strategic objectives.

•

Have a greater percentage of compensation to be at risk for Executives who bear higher levels of responsibility for the Company’s performance.

•

Align the interests of Executives and other stakeholders, including shareholders, customers and employees, by having a significant portion of the Executives’ compensation in stock and requiring Executives to hold stock.

•

Support important corporate governance principles and established best practices.

Compensation Policies—Principal’s Executive compensation program incorporates the following best practices:

✓

Independent Consultant. Compensation Advisory Partners is selected and retained by the Committee to advise on the Executive compensation program, and also advises the Nominating and Governance Committee on compensation for non-employee Directors.

✓

Risk Review. Reviews and analysis of the Company’s employee incentive compensation plans are conducted on a regular basis to determine whether the plans are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

✓

Emphasis on Variable Compensation. Most compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers is variable and at risk, linked to meeting our short-term and long-term financial and strategic goals and to the performance of the Company’s stock over time.

✓

Executive Ownership. Executives are required to own a meaningful amount of stock in the Company to ensure their interests are aligned with the shareholders’ interests and with the Company’s long-term performance.

✓

Prohibition on Hedging. Principal prohibits all employees, including Named Executive Officers, from purchasing any Principal securities on margin (except for exercising stock options); engaging in short sales or trading in any put or call options; and purchasing, directly or indirectly, any financial instrument (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds) that is designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of Principal securities.

✓

Clawback Policy. The Committee has adopted a compensation recovery policy that applies to Executives.

✓

Market Severance Protection. Executives are eligible for market-based severance protection under The Principal Financial Group, Inc. Executive Severance Plan if they are terminated because of layoffs, position elimination or similar reasons.

✓

Limited Perquisites. Modest additional benefits to help attract and retain Executive talent and enable Named Executive Officers to focus on Company business with minimal disruption are offered.

✓

No Repricing of Stock Options. Principal has not repriced underwater stock options and will not do so without shareholder approval.

✓

Tax and Accounting Efficiency. The Committee considers the tax and accounting consequences of each element of compensation.

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✓

No Gross Ups. Executives do not receive any income tax gross-ups, except that all employees, including Executives, receive an income tax gross-up in connection with benefits provided with relocation.

Summary of Compensation Elements:

Compensation
Component

Objective

Description and 2021 Highlights

Base Salary

Provides fixed income based on the size, scope and complexity of the Named Executive Officers’ role, performance and relative position compared to market pay information.

In 2021, the Committee increased Executives’ base salaries, as detailed on page 36.

Annual Incentive Compensation

Motivates and rewards overall corporate objectives as well as the Named Executive Officers’ contribution to achieving our annual objectives.

A range of earnings opportunity, expressed as a percentage of base salary, is established for each Named Executive Officer. Actual bonuses depend on individual employee results and overall Company performance and profitability, as outlined on pages 36-39.

Based on the Committee’s assessment of our 2021 PrinPay score, bonuses were earned at 162% of target and the individual modifiers for our Named Executive Officers ranged between 95% and 120% as detailed on pages 37-38.

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Compensation
Component

Objective

Description and 2021 Highlights

Long-Term
Incentive
Compensation

Motivates and rewards long-term corporate performance as well as the Named Executive Officers’ contribution to achieving our long- term objectives. Reinforces the link between the interests of the Named Executive Officers and shareholders. Encourages retention.

Each year, the Committee establishes the long-term award opportunity for each Named Executive Officer. Through 2021, one half of the award was granted in stock options and the other half in PSUs. Using equal amounts of PSUs and options created a balance between achieving operating performance objectives and increases in shareholder value.

Stock Options were intended to align participants with the company’s long term value appreciation and participants only receive value from this vehicle if there is stock price appreciation between grant date and exercise of the option. Options vest ratably over 3 years with an exercise period of up to 10 years.

PSUs are intended to incentivize participants to deliver on the company’s defined financial goals. The value to participants varies based on the degree of achievement against those goals. PSUs typically have a 3-year performance period and are measured on 50% average ROE and 50% Pre-Tax Return on Net Revenue. The ROE portion of the award is also subject to a Book Value per share threshold. We believe these are important metrics because Pre-tax Return on Net Revenue measures profitability across our businesses and ROE measures our efficiency in managing capital. ROE is also a key measure for our shareholders.

The PSUs granted in 2019 for the 2019-2021 Performance Cycle were based on three-year average ROE and Pre-Tax Return on Net Revenue, each weighted 50%. Payout on the ROE metric is modified based on three-year Book Value per Share vs. certain threshold goals. For the 2019-2021 Performance Cycle, the awards vested and paid out at 77% of the target number of PSUs based on our ROE performance of 12.8%, Pre-Tax Return on Net Revenue of 29.1%, and Book Value per Share of $52.07.

The performance periods for the 2020-2022 and 2021-2023 PSUs were modified from three years to two years due to a change in accounting rules for publicly traded companies with significant life insurance and annuity businesses that was intended to take effect on January 1, 2022, but the implementation was delayed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) until 2023. The change may result in significant variability of reported earnings each year for companies with significant life insurance and annuity businesses such as Principal Financial. For the 2020-2022 and 2021-2023 Performance Cycle, PSUs will continue to vest at the end of the three-year cycle.

As stated above, the PSUs granted in 2020 for the 2020-2022 Performance Cycle were based on two-year average ROE and Pre-Tax Return on Net Revenue, each weighted 50%. Payout on the ROE metric is modified based on two-year Book Value per Share vs. certain threshold goals. For the 2020-2022 Performance Cycle, the awards vested at 87% of the target number of PSUs based on our ROE performance of 12.6%, Pre-Tax Return on Net Revenue of 28.7%, and Book Value per Share of $53.70. The PSUs granted in 2020 are subject to an additional year of service-based vesting.

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Compensation
Component

Objective

Description and 2021 Highlights

Commencing in 2022, long-term awards will be granted 70% in PSUs and 30% in time-based RSUs. Details of the program are outlined on pages 39-40.

Benefits

Protects against catastrophic expenses and provides retirement savings opportunities.

Named Executive Officers participate in most of the same benefit plans as the Company’s other U.S.-based employees, including health, life, disability income, vision and dental insurance, an employee stock purchase plan, 401(k) plan and pension plan. Certain of the Named Executive Officers also participate in non-qualified retirement plans (defined benefit and defined contribution). Mr. Halter participated in the pension and non-qualified plans prior to 2010, when changes were made to eliminate these programs for investment professionals.

Perquisites

Modest additional benefits to help attract and retain Executive talent and enable Named Executive Officers to focus on Company business with minimal disruption.

Named Executive Officers are eligible for one physical examination per year, business spousal travel and gifts of nominal value given to all sales conference attendees. The Human Resources Committee approved Named Executive Officers the ability to participate in Principal Global Asset Management investment products on a reduced or no fee basis. The Human Resources Committee also approved our CEO’s use of our corporate aircraft for limited personal travel.

Termination Benefits

Provides temporary income following a Named Executive Officer’s involuntary termination of employment, and, in the case of a change of control, helps ensure the continuity of management through the transition.

Refer to page 41 for a discussion of our change of control and separation benefits. These benefits do not include excise tax gross ups.

How We Make Compensation Decisions

Human Resources Committee Involvement

The Human Resources Committee

•

Oversees the development and administration of the Company’s compensation and benefits policies and programs;

•

Sets and approves CEO goals in conjunction with the Board of Directors;

•

Evaluates CEO performance results;

•

Makes the compensation decisions for the CEO;

•

Approves the compensation program and compensation for Executives;

•

Reviews and approves corporate incentive goals and objectives relevant to compensation; and

•

Evaluates the competitiveness of each Executive’s total compensation.

Compensation Advisory Partners is selected and retained by the Committee to advise on the Executive compensation program. Compensation Advisory Partners also advises the Nominating and Governance Committee on compensation for non-employee Directors (see pages 23-26). Compensation Advisory Partners receives compensation from the Company only for its work in advising these Committees. Compensation Advisory Partners does not and would not be allowed to perform services for management. The Committee assessed the independence factors in applicable SEC rules and Nasdaq Listing Standards and other facts and circumstances and concluded that the services performed by Compensation Advisory Partners did not raise any conflict of interest.

No member of management, including the CEO, has a role in determining his or her own compensation; and the CEO is not present when the Committee discusses his compensation. The Committee consults with the independent

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Directors regarding the CEO’s performance and then determines the compensation earned by the CEO for the current year and the CEO’s compensation opportunity for the following year.

Each year the CEO, with input from the Human Resources Department and the compensation consultant, recommends the amount of base salary increase (if any), annual incentive award and long-term incentive award for Named Executive Officers other than himself. These recommendations are based on the Executive’s performance, performance of the business areas for which the Executive is responsible (if applicable) and other considerations such as retention. The Human Resources Committee reviews these recommendations and approves compensation decisions for Executives.

The role of the Independent Compensation Consultant & Interaction with Management

The Human Resources Committee has the sole authority to hire, approve the compensation of and terminate the engagement of the compensation consultant.

The compensation consultant usually conducts a comprehensive review of the Company’s Executive compensation program every other year. In the years in which the compensation consultant does not conduct a compensation study, the Committee makes compensation decisions, in part, on survey data provided by the Human Resources Department and input provided by the compensation consultant. The last review of executive compensation was conducted in 2021. The study of Executive compensation conducted by the Committee’s compensation consultant reviewed all aspects of the incentive program design and structure of the Company’s total Executive compensation program, and includes:

•

A competitive review of compensation opportunities for each of the Named Executive Officers compared to the pay opportunities of similarly situated executives at the Peer Group companies (see below);

•

An analysis to ensure that total share dilution and the economic costs of long-term incentives are reasonable and affordable for the Company; and

•

A comprehensive market analysis of termination-related benefits related to cash severance and equity termination provisions.

The compensation consultant:

•

Attended six meetings of the Committee in 2021, as requested by the Committee Chair; and

•

Reviewed and commented on drafts of the Compensation Discussion & Analysis and related compensation tables for the proxy statement.

Use of Compensation Data

The Committee determines the Peer Group of companies it uses to compare Executive compensation as part of the compensation consultant’s biennial study. The compensation consultant recommends an appropriate Peer Group of public, similarly sized, diversified financial services, insurance and asset management companies, considering the Company’s and the competitors’ strategy, mix of business and size, as measured primarily by annual revenues, market capitalization and total assets. These companies are the major competitors in one or more of the Company’s businesses, but none represent the exact business mix of the Company. Principal targets compensation for the Named Executive Officers at the median of the compensation of the named executive officers at the Peer Group companies. The companies in the Peer Group were reviewed in 2020 as part of our typical compensation review and Equitable Holdings was added based on the size of its revenue, market capitalization, assets under management, and operating profit relative to Principal. Equitable Holdings also has similar business lines. The peer group used for 2021 compensation decisions included the following companies:

	Insurance			Asset Managers
	• Ameriprise Financial • Equitable Holdings • Lincoln National • ManuLife • MetLife • Prudential Financial • Sun Life Financial • Unum Group • Voya Financial			• Affiliated Managers Group • Franklin Resources • Invesco • T. Rowe Price

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The Committee also uses annual data from third party industry surveys for its compensation decisions4.

Our Executives participate in the same broad-based employee benefit programs as other employees. Every two to three years, the Company’s non-cash employee benefit programs are compared to a custom peer group representing both proxy peer group members and select employers we believe we compete for talent with, including several local employers.

Each year, the Committee reviews the total compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers by reviewing tally sheets, which include base salaries, annual and long-term incentive awards earned, deferred compensation, outstanding equity awards, benefits, perquisites, and potential payments under various termination scenarios.

The Committee uses this information to analyze the value of compensation actually delivered vs. the compensation opportunities established by the Committee. The information is also used in making compensation and compensation plan design decisions.

2021 Executive Compensation Decisions

In general, Principal’s pay philosophy is to target the market median of the Peer Group for an Executive’s total compensation, with actual compensation varying based on performance and tenure.

The Committee made compensation decisions for the Named Executive Officers based on:

•

The Company’s strategic and human resources objectives;

•

Competitive data for the Peer Group and for a broader group of diversified financial services companies (see Appendix A for a complete list of these companies);

•

Corporate and individual performance on key initiatives;

•

Corporate performance compared to our competitors;

•

Economic conditions;

•

Retirement benefits;

•

The CEO’s compensation recommendations for Named Executive Officers;

•

Advice of the Committee’s consultant; and

•

How the elements of compensation contribute to and interrelate to total compensation.

The Committee also considers the tax and accounting consequences of each element of compensation. Following changes in the tax laws in 2017, Principal generally cannot deduct annual compensation paid to certain covered employees in excess of $1 million for each such employee, subject to limited grandfathered arrangements. While the Committee considers the tax consequences of compensation decisions, the Committee’s primary focus is designing competitive and effective compensation programs. Accordingly, these and other factors often result in compensation opportunities that will not be fully tax deductible.

The charts below show the 2021 target total compensation for our Named Executive Officers as well as the proportion of their compensation tied to Company performance. Most compensation paid to our Named Executive Officers is variable and at risk, linked to meeting our short-term and long-term financial and strategic goals and to the performance of the Company’s stock over time.

The surveys used were the McLagan Investment Management survey, Towers Watson U.S. Financial Services Studies Executive Database and the Towers Watson Diversified Insurance Study of Executive Compensation. The names of the companies participating in these surveys are included in Appendix A.

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Base Salary

When determining base salary for each Executive, the Committee considers the Peer Group median for comparable executive positions as well as the survey data referenced above, the Executive’s performance and work experience, the importance of the position to the Company and how difficult it would be to replace the Executive. The table below provides the historical base salaries(1) of the Named Executive Officers. The 2021 salary increase for Ms. Strable-Soethout was made to align her with the median salary levels among our peer companies.

Director Name	2019			2020			2021			Percent increase 2020-2021
Houston		$	900,000		$	1,000,000		$	1,000,000		0%
Strable-Soethout		$	595,000		$	645,000		$	661,000		2.5%
Halter		$	575,000		$	575,000		$	575,000		0%
Friedrich								$	579,000		NA
Schaaf								$	577,500		NA

(1)

Salaries displayed in the table are as of December 31 of year noted. This information differs from salary information in the Summary Compensation Table as the table includes salary earned and paid in the year noted. Changes in base salary are effective in March of each year.

Annual Incentive Compensation

Named Executive Officers participate in the PrinPay Plan, the Company’s broad-based annual incentive compensation plan for employees. Awards are calculated based on eligible earnings during the plan year. The PrinPay Plan links annual incentive pay to individual employee results and overall company performance and profitability. After establishing the company score, an employee’s individual performance is assessed to determine the individual performance score. The corporate component emphasizes the importance of overall corporate results and includes non-GAAP operating earnings and a variety of other financial and non-financial metrics. The Human Resources Committee may also consider factors that could not have been anticipated when corporate goals were established and adjust the corporate score up or down.

The Committee set and approved the following target awards for Named Executive Officers in the past year:

Annual Incentive Targets (as a percentage of base salary)

Named Executive Officer	2021
Houston		375%
Strable-Soethout		175%
Halter		400%
Friedrich		110%
Schaaf		110%

In establishing the target award opportunity for Messrs. Houston and Halter and Mses. Strable-Soethout,
Friedrich and Schaaf, the Committee considered the median incentive targets for comparable executive positions in the Peer Group companies, as well as the survey data referenced above.

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Performance Goal Setting

September: The Board meets to review the Company’s long-term strategy.

November: The CEO, CFO and Division Presidents recommend preliminary financial goals for the Company and business units and strategic initiatives for the next year. The Finance Committee reviews the proposed goals, underlying assumptions of the goals and initiatives, key drivers of financial performance, trends and business opportunities and advises the Board and Human Resources Committee on the appropriateness of the financial goals.

February: The Committee reviews and approves the final goals for the Company, the CEO and the other Executives with input from the Finance Committee and Board based on prior year-end financial results. All employees develop individual performance goals with their leaders that support the Company’s goals.

Final Annual Incentive Pay Award Determination

In determining final awards for PrinPay participants, the Committee uses the following approach:

Step 1: Review Operating Earnings results vs. Plan to determine initial award funding.

	Threshold			Target			Maximum			Actual 2021 Performance
Operating Earnings ($Mil.)		$	1,219		$	1,625		$	2,031		$	1,873
Payout			50%			100%			200%			162%

Step 2: Determine final PrinPay company score based on a review of performance against goals across multiple dimensions included in the Company’s annual Balanced Scorecard (e.g., Financial Measures, Customer Measures, Internal Measures and Learning and Growth Measures, etc.)

Step 3: Determine the individual performance modifier as shown below:

Individual Performance Modifier

The Individual Performance Modifier in the PrinPay Plan is used as a multiplier and is based on performance compared to 2021 goals. The Committee assessed each Named Executive Officer’s performance against the individual performance objectives identified and approved individual performance modifier payouts as shown below:

Named Executive Officer	Individual Performance Modifier		Individual Performance Objectives
Houston		100%	• Enterprise financial goals (including profit margin, assets under management, net cash flows, revenue and others); • Enterprise operational effectiveness and efficiency goals; • Capital efficiency and re-allocation objectives; • Enterprise digitalization capabilities with specific digital modernization and adoption targets, among other measures; • Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement Trust integration scorecard with specific operational and financial targets, among other measures; • Diversity and inclusion objectives; and • Other company-wide strategic priorities.
Strable-Soethout		120%	• Enterprise financial goals (including profit margin, assets under management, net cash flows, revenue and others); • Enterprise operational effectiveness and efficiency goals; • Capital efficiency and re-allocation objectives; • Enterprise strategy objectives; • Lead Management Team in strategic review in partnership with Board Finance Committee and full Board; • Narrow focus of business to better position Principal to offer an integrated set of solutions in more capital-efficient, higher-growth spaces; • Announce strategic review outcomes in conjunction with Investor Day in June. Provide targets/timelines regarding total company ROE, EPS, free capital conversion, capital deployment (buyback and dividend), and business unit earnings growth; and • Other company-wide strategic priorities.

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Named Executive Officer	Individual Performance Modifier		Individual Performance Objectives
Halter		110%	• Enterprise financial goals (including profit margin, assets under management, net cash flows, revenue and others); • Principal Global Investors financial goals (including business operating earnings, ROE, margin, cash flow, investment performance, and others); • Business unit capabilities and enterprise impact, enhancement of PGI core performance and other business unit objectives; and • Other company-wide strategic priorities.
Friedrich		100%	• Enterprise financial goals (including profit margin, assets under management, net cash flows, revenue and others); • U.S. Insurance Solutions financial goals (including business operating earnings, ROE, margin, cash flow, investment performance, and others); • Capital efficiency objectives; • Business unit technology and client solutions objectives; • Enhancement of core performance of USIS; and • Other company-wide strategic priorities.
Schaaf		95%	• Enterprise financial goals (including profit margin, assets under management, net cash flows, revenue and others); • Retirement and Income Solutions financial goals (including business operating earnings, ROE, margin, cash flow, investment performance, and others); • Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement Trust integration scorecard with specific operational and financial targets, among other measures; • Capital efficiency objectives; • Business unit digital transformation objectives; • Enhancement of core performance of RIS; • Customer and asset retention objectives; and • Other company-wide strategic priorities.

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Step 4: Calculate final award amounts

Name	2021 Eligible Earnings			2021 Target		PrinPay Score		Individual Modifier		Final Award
Houston		$	1,000,000		375%		162%		100%		$	6,075,000
Strable-Soethout		$	657,308		175%		162%		120%		$	2,236,161
Halter		$	575,000		400%		162%		110%		$	4,098,599
Friedrich		$	575,769		110%		162%		100%		$	1,026,021
Schaaf		$	571,154		110%		162%		95%		$	966,906

Executives may defer annual awards into the Excess Plan, as illustrated in the footnote to the Non-Equity Incentive Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table, on pages 44-45.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation

The long-term incentive compensation program is designed to align the interests of Executives and shareholders. The compensation the Executives receive reflects the degree to which multiyear financial objectives are achieved and shareholder value is increased. Our retirement, life insurance and asset management products support our clients’ needs throughout different phases of their lifetimes which is why the long-term focus of the compensation programs is particularly important. The long-term incentive compensation program also encourages collaboration among Executives in pursuing corporate wide goals.

When determining long-term incentive awards to be granted to Named Executive Officers, the Committee primarily considers competitive market levels based on Peer Group and survey data, and the advice of its independent compensation consultant. The Committee also uses the following factors in determining the award to be granted to each Named Executive Officer (“Award Granted”):

•

The Named Executive Officer’s performance;

•

The importance of the Named Executive Officer to the Company over the long term;

•

The potential impact the Named Executive Officer could have on the Company’s results;

•

The Executive’s performance relative to the Named Executive Officer’s peers within the Company;

•

Company performance compared to our competitors;

•

Retention concerns; and

•

Tenure in role.

The compensation ultimately received by Named Executive Officers may vary considerably from the grant date fair value of the Award Granted, due to the Company’s performance and changes in share price that occur after the grant.

2021 Long-Term Incentive Grant
Named Executive Officer	Award Granted
Houston		$	8,550,000
Strable-Soethout		$	2,016,050
Halter		$	2,443,750
Friedrich		$	1,418,550
Schaaf		$	1,328,250

Executives’ long-term compensation in 2021 was granted as non-qualified stock options and PSUs, with each representing 50% of the total grant date fair value. The awards granted were based on the executive’s performance and compensation compared to pay opportunities of similarly situated executives at the Peer Group companies. PSUs entitle the Executive to earn shares of Common Stock if certain levels of performance are achieved. The Committee uses stock options as part of the long-term incentive program because options are an effective way to link an Executive’s compensation to changes in shareholder value. The weighting is not based on a specific formula or algorithm and is intended to create a balance between the achievement of specific operating objectives and changes in shareholder value based on the Committee’s judgment, which may change from time to time.

Stock options have a ten-year term and an exercise price equal to the closing price on the date of grant. Stock options vest in three equal annual installments starting on the first anniversary of the grant date.

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After a threshold ROE or operating income goal is achieved or exceeded5, PSUs vest based on continued service and achieving an average ROE and Pre-Tax Return on Net Revenue6, each weighted 50%, typically over a three-year period (with each three-year period treated as a “Performance Cycle”). For the 2020-2022 and 2021-2023 performance cycles, a two-year performance period was approved by the Committee due to accounting changes that may have significant impact on our reported results. The accounting change was originally going to impact our 2022 results, but the implementation was delayed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) until 2023. We have reverted to a full three-year performance cycle for awards in 2022 and beyond.

Executives may defer the receipt of PSUs.

2021-2023 PSU Performance Cycle
Performance Level	Threshold Award		Target Award		Maximum Award (150% of Target)
Payout (% of Target)(1)		50%		100%		150%
Average ROE		7.5%		12.5%		16.3%
Average Pre-tax RONR		14.6%		29.1%		37.8%

If neither the ROE nor the OI threshold
performance
objective is met, no PSUs will
be earned or paid out.

(1)

Straight line interpolation is used to determine awards for performance between threshold and target and between target and maximum.

The Book Value per Share7 threshold tied to ROE performance measure:

If the average Book Value per Share is between $46.72 and $51.91, the ROE performance score will be reduced by 50%.

If the average Book Value per Share is below $46.72, the ROE performance score will be reduced to 0%.

The PSUs granted in 2022 for the 2022-2024 Performance Cycle will vest based on performance scales for three-year average ROE and Pre-Tax Return on Net Revenue, each weighted 50% over the performance period. Payout will be modified based on a three-year relative Total Shareholder Return metric. This change was driven to align our long-term incentive programming with the strategic objectives of the organization. For the 2022-2024 Performance Cycle, PSUs will vest at the end of the three-year Performance Cycle, based on continued employment or service.

Timing of Stock Option Awards and Other Equity Incentives

Annual grants of stock options and PSUs for Principal Executives are determined by the Committee at its February meeting which occurs following the release of the prior year’s results. The Committee’s equity grant policy proves that the grant date for all stock options and other stock-based awards will never be earlier than the date of approval, and shall be:

•

For all annual awards to Executives, the date of approval by the Committee;

•

For new employees and promotions, the later of the date of approval or the employee’s hire/promotion date;

•

In the event of an award connected with an established stock program for non-Executives, the later of the date of approval or the grant date established by the stock program; and

•

For any other awards, the date of approval.

For the 2021 PSUs, the performance threshold is met if either of the following goals is met:

•

Two-year average operating ROE of 7.5%; or

•

$1.3 billion cumulative non-GAAP pre-tax operating income (“OI”)

Operating ROE is defined as non-GAAP operating earnings divided by average stockholders’ equity available to common stockholders excluding accumulated other comprehensive income, other than foreign currency translation adjustment.

Non-GAAP pre-tax operating income is defined as income from continuing operations before income taxes per the audited Consolidated Statements of Operations less net realized capital gains (losses) less net income attributable to noncontrolling interest.

Average operating ROE was selected because it reflects the efficient use of Company capital in generating profits. Average pre-tax return on net revenue was selected as a measure because it is common among asset management peers and reflects the efficient use of Company expenditures in generating profits.

See non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations in Appendix B.

Pre-tax return on net revenue is defined as non-GAAP pre-tax operating earnings, divided by net revenue. Net revenue is defined as total non-GAAP operating revenues less benefits, claims, and settlement expenses less dividends to policyholders. See non-GAAP financial measure reconciliations in Appendix B.

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Given the proximity of the date of approval by the Committee to the date Principal entered into a cooperation agreement with Elliott Investment Management L.P. in February 2021, the Committee agreed it was appropriate to allow time for the market to price in the new information so that employees who receive stock weren’t overly benefited or disadvantaged by this volatility. Therefore, the grant date was delayed.

Benefits

The Named Executive Officers participate in Principal Life’s broad-based employee benefits program, including:

•

A qualified pension plan (except Mr. Halter8);

•

A 401(k) plan;

•

Group health, dental, vision and disability coverage and life insurance;

•

A discounted employee stock purchase plan;

•

Flexible time off; and

•

Flexible spending account plans.

Principal Life also offers all Named Executive Officers (except Mr. Halter) a non-qualified defined contribution plan (“Excess Plan”) and a defined benefit non-qualified retirement plan (“NQDB”). These benefits are offered to attract and retain talent and provide long-term financial security to employees. The NQDB helps the Company attract midcareer Executives and retain Executives by providing competitive retirement benefits. The NQDB is coordinated with the qualified pension plan and is designed to restore benefits that otherwise would accrue to Executives in the absence of Tax Code limitations on the qualified pension plan. The narrative to the Pension Benefits Table on pages 49-52 provides additional information about the NQDB and the qualified pension plan. Principal Life maintains the Excess Plan to help attract and retain Executives by allowing Executives to save for retirement and to provide matching contributions on those savings, without regard to the limitations imposed by the Tax Code on 401(k) plans. The narrative to the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Table on page 53 provides additional information about the Excess Plan.

The value of the retirement and savings plans for Non-Grandfathered Participants (see page 50) is targeted to be, in the aggregate, slightly above the median of diversified financial services companies because a large portion of the Company’s business centers on the sale of retirement products. The defined benefit pension plan for Grandfathered Choice Participants (see page 49) has a market value above the median and the 401(k) plan match for Grandfathered Choice Participants is below market median. These benefits were also originally designed to be slightly above market median to attract and retain employees.

All other benefits are targeted at market median in the aggregate, which supports the Company’s benefit strategy and aids in attracting and retaining talent.

Change of Control and Separation Pay

The Committee believes it is in the best interests of Principal and its shareholders to:

•

Assure that Principal will have the continued service of its Executives;

•

Reduce the distraction of these Executives that would result from the personal uncertainties caused by a pending or threatened Change of Control;

•

Encourage the Executives’ full attention and dedication to Principal; and

•

Provide the Executives with compensation and benefits upon a termination related to a Change of Control that are competitive with those of similar businesses.

For these reasons, Principal has entered into Change of Control Employment Agreements with each of the Executives. These agreements would help align the financial interests of management with the Company, particularly when the acquisition would result in termination of the Executive’s employment. These Change of Control Employment Agreements are based on market practice and do not affect other components of the Executives’ compensation. When entering into these agreements, the Committee reviewed survey data and practices of other public insurance and financial services companies. The Committee continues to review market practices in this area for potential changes in these agreements.

On January 1, 2010, Executives in the Company’s asset management operations were no longer eligible to participate in the qualified pension plan, NQDB Plan or Excess Plan as these are not common benefits for executives in that industry. This change also applied to other investment professionals.

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All benefits provided to the Executives upon a Change of Control are paid after both a Change of Control and qualifying termination of employment have occurred (sometimes referred to as a double trigger), except that the then current value of the Executive’s Excess Plan and NQDB will be paid upon a Change of Control to ensure that the value of those plans is not reduced if the Company is sold. These agreements do not provide excise tax gross ups. See pages 55-58 for details.

As noted on page 34, the Committee worked with the independent consultant on a comprehensive market analysis of termination-related benefits related to our Executive Severance Plan, which provides benefits to Executives whose employment is terminated by the Company due to a reorganization or reduction in the workforce. Additional payments may be permitted in some circumstances as a result of negotiations with Executives, particularly when Principal requests additional covenants from the Executives. See pages 55-58 for details regarding benefits under the Executive Severance Plan.

Stock Ownership Guidelines

Executives are required to own a meaningful amount of stock in the Company to ensure their interests are aligned with the shareholders’ interests and with the Company’s long-term performance. Once the Executive achieves the required stock ownership level based on market value, the ownership requirement remains at the number of shares owned at the time, regardless of subsequent changes in stock price or salary. Upon promotion, the Executive is required to meet the next level of stock ownership.

Until the ownership guideline is met, Executives are required to retain a portion of the “net profit shares” resulting from equity-based long-term incentive plan grants. Net profit shares are the shares remaining after payment of the option exercise price and taxes owed at time of exercise, vesting of RSUs and PSUs or earn out of performance shares.

The percentage of net profit shares that must be retained until ownership requirements are met are shown below:

Executive Level

Retention
Ratio

Multiple of
Base Salary

Chairman (Houston)

75%

7 times

Divisions Presidents & Executive Vice Presidents (Friedrich, Halter, Schaaf & Strable-Soethout)

50%

4 times

All Named Executive Officers comply with these guidelines.

Hedging and Pledging Policy

Principal prohibits all employees, including Named Executive Officers, from purchasing any Principal securities on margin (except for exercising stock options); engaging in short sales or trading in any put or call options; and purchasing, directly or indirectly, any financial instrument (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds) that is designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of Principal securities.

Principal prohibits the Company’s board of directors and those employees subject to Section 16 reporting requirements, including Named Executive Officers, from directly or indirectly pledging, hypothecating or otherwise encumbering Company securities as collateral for indebtedness. This includes, but is not limited to, holding Principal securities in a margin account and pledging Principal securities as collateral for a loan. This does not apply to the exercise of employee stock options.

Repricing Policy

Principal has not repriced underwater stock options and we will not do so without shareholder approval.

Clawback Policy

The Committee has adopted a compensation recovery policy that applies to Executives. Principal can recover any incentive compensation if the amount of the compensation was based on achievement of financial results that were subsequently restated if the Committee decides that the Executive engaged in fraud or intentional misconduct that caused the restatement of the Company’s financial statements, and if the amount of the Executive’s incentive compensation or equity award would have been lower had the financial results been properly reported. Principal can

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also cancel or recover incentive compensation, received in the event of either reputational or financial harm to the Company that arises directly or indirectly from an Executive’s misconduct, gross negligence, misfeasance or nonfeasance.

Gross-Up Policy

Executives do not receive any income tax gross-ups, except that all employees, including Executives, receive an income tax gross-up in connection with benefits provided with relocation.

Human Resources Committee Report

The Committee has reviewed and discussed the foregoing Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management, and, based on such review and discussion, the Committee recommended to the Board that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

Jocelyn Carter-Miller, Chair
Michael T. Dan
Scott M. Mills
Claudio N. Muruzabal
Alfredo Rivera

Risk Assessment of Employee Incentive Plans

The Human Resources Compensation Department and the chief risk officers in the business units conducted a review and analysis of the Company’s employee incentive compensation plans to determine whether the plans are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company and reviewed their processes and conclusions with the Chief Risk Officer. The following factors, among others, were assessed:

•

Plan design;

•

Performance metrics and quality of goal setting;

•

Administrative procedures, including governance practices;

•

Plan compliance, communications and disclosures;

•

Potential risks created by the plans;

•

Risk control factors and their effectiveness; and

•

Inherent and residual risk ratings.

Some key factors that mitigate risks to the Company of its incentive plans are the Company’s stock ownership guidelines for Executives, the compensation recovery policy and the Human Resources Committee’s ability to exercise its judgment in evaluating the quality of performance achievements when determining earned compensation. Employees are prohibited from purchasing the Company’s securities on margin (except for the exercise of stock options); engaging in short sales or trading in any put or call options; and purchasing, directly or through a designee, any financial instrument (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds) designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of Company securities.

A summary of the assessment process and conclusions was reviewed with the Committee. Based on this analysis, the Company has determined that its employee incentive compensation plans are designed to encourage behaviors that create and maintain shareholder value, do not encourage excessive risk, and are not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on Principal.

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Summary Compensation Table

The following table sets forth the compensation paid to the Named Executive Officers for services provided to the Company and its subsidiaries during 2019, 2020 and 2021.

Name	Year		Salary(1)			Bonus			Stock Awards(2)(3)			Option Awards(2)			Non Equity Incentive Compensation(4)			Changes in Pension Value and Non- Qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings(5)			All Other Compensation(6)			Total(7)
Houston		2021		$	1,000,000		$	0		$	4,275,014		$	4,275,011		$	6,075,000		$	1,699,323		$	241,815		$	17,566,163
		2020		$	890,385		$	0		$	3,874,991		$	3,874,991		$	2,671,154		$	4,010,196		$	292,701		$	15,614,418
		2019		$	900,000		$	0		$	3,487,482		$	3,487,500		$	3,375,000		$	3,277,616		$	220,453		$	14,748,051
Strable-Soethout		2021		$	657,308		$	0		$	1,008,005		$	1,008,051		$	2,236,161		$	670,792		$	110,389		$	5,690,706
		2020		$	588,923		$	0		$	886,859		$	886,880		$	824,492		$	1,944,503		$	102,767		$	5,234,424
		2019		$	595,500		$	0		$	818,807		$	818,800		$	990,019		$	1,389,310		$	79,569		$	4,692,005
Halter		2021		$	575,000		$	0		$	1,221,894		$	1,221,868		$	4,098,599		$	42,537		$	32,886		$	7,192,784
		2020		$	535,192		$	0		$	891,256		$	891,266		$	1,609,430		$	591,232		$	21,125		$	4,539,501
		2019		$	575,000		$	0		$	848,113		$	848,150		$	2,072,875		$	669,048		$	14,250		$	5,027,436
Friedrich		2021		$	575,769		$	0		$	709,265		$	709,303		$	1,026,021		$	511,779		$	56,471		$	3,588,608
Schaaf		2021		$	571,154		$	0		$	664,140		$	664,095		$	966,906		$	1,495,317		$	36,400		$	4,398,012

(1)

Includes 2021 salary deferred into the qualified 401(k) Plan and the Excess Plan, as shown below (information on deferrals for 2020 was included in last year’s proxy statement):

Named Executive Officer	401(k) Employee Contribution			Excess Plan Employee Contributions			Total Employee Contributions
Houston		$	21,385		$	80,000		$	101,385
Strable-Soethout		$	26,000		$	65,731		$	91,731
Halter		$	15,346		$	0		$	15,346
Friedrich		$	8,942		$	46,062		$	55,004
Schaaf		$	14,662		$	45,693		$	60,355

(2)

Amounts represent the grant-date fair value of Option awards granted in 2021, 2020 and 2019 under the ICP. Values in respect of Options and PSUs were determined in accordance with Topic 718, and the assumptions made in calculating them can be found in Note 18 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of our 2021 Form 10-K. The Option awards granted in 2021 are described in more detail in the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table on page 46.

(3)

PSUs will be earned and paid in shares of Common Stock only if performance requirements are met or exceeded. The PSUs are eligible for dividend equivalents, and the dividend equivalents are subject to the same performance requirements as the corresponding PSUs and are only earned if the performance measures are met or exceeded. The maximum payout for the 2019, 2020, and 2021 PSUs is 150% of the target number of PSUs. If the PSUs granted in 2021 are earned at the maximum payout, the grant date value of such PSUs would be as shown in the following table, and the amounts reported in the Stock Awards column, above, would be increased by the amount shown in the column to the far right of the following table. The table below shows the maximum payouts for the 2021 Performance Awards included in this column of the “Summary Compensation Table.”

Named Executive Officer	Grant Date Values Assuming Payout at Maximum
Houston		$	2,137,507
Strable-Soethout		$	504,003
Halter		$	610,947
Friedrich		$	354,633
Schaaf		$	332,070

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(4)

The amounts shown represent annual incentive compensation awards earned in 2021 and paid in 2022 and include the following amounts deferred into the qualified 401(k) Plan and Excess Plan:

Named Executive Officer	Employee Contributions on Incentive Pay
Houston		$	491,615
Strable-Soethout		$	1,122,674
Halter		$	11,654
Friedrich		$	11,842
Schaaf		$	89,268

(5)

The amounts accrued each year differs from the amount accrued in prior years due to increases in age, service and pay. The change in pension value is also highly sensitive to changes in the interest rate used to determine the present value of the payments to be made to the executive. In particular, incremental increases for Mr. Houston and Mss. Strable-Soethout, Friedrich and Schaaf are especially sensitive as they are still earning benefits under the Traditional Formula. Assumptions underlying the determination of the amount of increase in actuarial value for both the qualified and non-qualified pension plans are disclosed on page 52. Changes in these assumptions and compensation changes will impact this value annually. There are no above market earnings on deferred compensation.

(6)

All Other Compensation for the Named Executive Officers consists of the following:

Named Executive Officer	Perquisites & Other Personal Benefits(a)			Principal Life Contributions to Defined Contribution Plans(b)			Total
Houston		$	21,546		$	220,269		$	241,815
Strable-Soethout		$	21,481		$	88,908		$	110,389
Halter		$	18,261		$	14,625		$	32,886
Friedrich		$	7,842		$	48,629		$	56,471
Schaaf		$	6,307		$	30,093		$	36,400

(a)

Represents the incremental aggregate cost to Principal for all perquisites provided during the year, including the value of an annual physical examination, business spousal travel, and gifts given to all sales conference attendees. Mr. Houston’s information includes the use of the Company’s corporate aircraft for limited personal travel. In addition, we have included director fees for Ms. Strable-Soethout and Mr. Halter for serving on the boards of certain international affiliates.

(b)

The amounts shown below are Principal Life’s matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan and the Excess Plan. The Excess Plan’s matching contributions are also included in Principal Life’s contributions in the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation table on page 53.

Named Executive Officer	401(k) Matching Contribution Made by Principal Life			Excess Plan Matching Contribution Made by Principal Life			Total
Houston		$	14,625		$	205,644		$	220,269
Strable-Soethout		$	14,625		$	74,283		$	88,908
Halter		$	14,625		$	0		$	14,625
Friedrich		$	14,625		$	34,004		$	48,629
Schaaf		$	8,692		$	21,401		$	30,093

(7)

Sum of the total dollar value of the other columns in this table.

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards for Fiscal Year End December 31, 2021

	Grant Date		Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards									Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards(2)							Other Stock Awards	Other Option Awards(3)		Exercise Price(4)			Fair Value(5)
Name	Grant Date		Threshold			Target			Maximum(1)			Threshold		Target		Maximum			Other Stock Awards	Other Option Awards(3)		Exercise Price(4)			Fair Value(5)
Houston				$	0		$	3,750,000		$	11,250,000
		03/05/2021											18,213		72,853		109,280									$	4,275,014
		03/05/2021																			272,815		$	58.68		$	4,275,011
Strable-Soethout				$	0		$	1,150,289		$	3,450,866							��
		03/05/2021											4,295		17,178		25,767									$	1,008,005
		03/05/2021																			64,330		$	58.68		$	1,008,051
Halter				$	0		$	2,300,000		$	6,899,999
		03/05/2021											5,206		20,823		31,235									$	1,221,894
		03/05/2021																			77,975		$	58.68		$	1,221,868
Friedrich				$	0		$	633,346		$	1,900,038
		03/05/2021											3,022		12,087		18,131									$	709,265
		03/05/2021																			45,265		$	58.68		$	709,303
Schaaf				$	0		$	628,269		$	1,884,808
		03/05/2021											2,830		11,318		16,977									$	664,140
		03/05/2021																			42,380		$	58.68		$	664,095

(1)

The maximum award shown is the maximum aggregate award payable under the PrinPay Plan for the Named Executive Officers.

(2)

These columns reflect PSUs granted on March 5, 2021. These PSUs will vest, if at all, according to the 2021-2023 PSU performance scale outlined on page 40, subject to continued employment through the end of the performance period. The maximum payout for the 2021 PSUs is 150% of the target number of PSUs.

(3)

Amounts represent the grant date fair value of the award determined in accordance with Topic 718. All assumptions made in calculating the aggregate fair value can be found in Note 18 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of our 2021 Form 10-K.

(4)

The per-share option exercise price is the closing price of the Common Stock on the date of grant.

(5)

Represents the grant date fair value of the award at target.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End December 31, 2021

	Option Awards									Stock Awards
	Option Awards									Number of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested(2)		Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested			Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units, or Other Rights that Have Not Vested(3)			Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or payout value of Unearned Shares, Units, or Other Rights that Have Not Vested(4)
Name	Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Exercisable(1)		Number of Securities Underlying Unexercised Options Unexercisable		Option Exercise Price			Option Expiration Date		Number of Shares or Units of Stock that Have Not Vested(2)
Houston		59,060		0		$	44.88		02/24/2024
		70,210		0		$	51.33		02/23/2025
		224,465		0		$	37.38		02/22/2026
		161,660		0		$	62.78		02/27/2027
		227,275		0		$	63.98		02/26/2028
		232,500		116,250		$	53.09		02/25/2029								57,850		$	4,184,291
		133,990		267,980		$	51.73		02/24/2030								71,648		$	5,182,300
		0		272,815		$	58.68		03/05/2031							$	74,938		$	5,420,278
Strable-Soethout		16,210		0		$	30.70		02/25/2023
		10,590		0		$	44.88		02/24/2024
		21,780		0		$	51.33		02/23/2025
		68,040		0		$	37.38		02/22/2026
		50,475		0		$	62.78		02/27/2027
		55,140		0		$	63.98		02/26/2028
		54,586		27,294		$	53.09		02/25/2029								13,582		$	982,386
		30,667		61,333		$	51.73		02/24/2030								16,398		$	1,186,067
		0		64,330		$	58.68		03/05/2031								17,670		$	1,278,047
Halter		33,005		0		$	62.78		02/27/2027
		35,340		0		$	63.98		02/26/2028
		56,543		28,272		$	53.09		02/25/2029								14,068		$	1,017,538
		30,818		61,637		$	51.73		02/24/2030								16,479		$	1,191,926
		0		77,975		$	58.68		03/05/2031								21,419		$	1,549,235
Friedrich		6,390		0		$	51.33		02/23/2025
		11,865		0		$	37.38		02/22/2026
		11,710		0		$	62.78		02/27/2027
		35,680		0		$	63.98		02/26/2028
		43,166		21,584		$	53.09		02/25/2029								10,740		$	776,824
		24,420		48,840		$	51.73		02/24/2030								13,059		$	944,557
		0		45,265		$	58.68		03/05/2031								12,433		$	899,275
Schaaf		9,585		0		$	37.38		02/22/2026
		7,180		0		$	62.78		02/27/2027
		8,005		0		$	63.98		02/26/2028
		34,500		17,250		$	53.09		02/25/2029		1,149		$	83,107
		21,395		42,790		$	51.73		02/24/2030								11,440		$	827,455
		0		42,380		$	58.68		03/05/2031								11,642		$	842,061

(1)

All options vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversaries of the grant date. Each of these options is also subject to accelerated vesting in certain events, such as the Named Executive Officer’s death, disability or retirement (awards granted prior to January 1, 2016), or upon the occurrence of a Change of Control.

(2)

All RSUs vest on the third anniversary of the grant date.

(3)

The PSUs granted in 2019 vested on December 31, 2021 and are disclosed at 77% of target in accordance with ASC Topic 718. The PSUs granted in 2020 are disclosed at 87% of target in accordance with ASC Topic 718 and are subject to an additional year of service-based vesting. PSUs granted in 2021have a two-year performance period and are subject to continued performance through December 31, 2022. They will pay out based on performance against certain ROE and Book Value/Share performance goals, but only if either the ROE or operating income threshold performance measure is met as approved by the Human Resources Committee and will have an additional year of service-based vesting.

(4)

Assumes a stock price of $72.33 per share, the closing price of a share of Common Stock on the last trading day of the year, December 31, 2021, reported for the Nasdaq.

Named Executive Officers may defer PSUs that are earned and would otherwise be paid shortly after the performance period. Annual cash incentive awards, as shown in the Non-Equity Incentive Compensation column of the Summary Compensation Table, may also be deferred into the Excess Plan.

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested

The following table provides information concerning the exercise of stock options and the vesting of RSUs and PSUs during calendar year 2021 for each Named Executive Officer on an aggregated basis.

	Option Awards					Stock Awards
Name	Number of Shares Acquired on Exercise		Value Realized on Exercise(1)			Number of Shares Acquired on Vesting		Value Realized on Vesting(2)
Houston		0		$	0		57,850		$	3,394,638
Strable-Soethout		15,915		$	598,558		13,582		$	796,992
Halter(3)		0		$	0		20,782		$	1,205,388
Friedrich		0		$	0		10,740		$	630,223
Schaaf(4)		0		$	0		10,104		$	589,711

(1)

Represents the difference between the market price of the underlying shares of Common Stock on the date of exercise and the exercise price of the exercised option.

(2)

Represents the market value of PSUs granted in 2019 that settled on February 28, 2022, at $70.64 upon Committee approval of the final performance modifier of 77%. The actual payout was determined applying negative discretion.

(3)

Mr. Halter’s Stock Awards represent the market value of 15,975 PSUs granted in 2019 that settled on February 28, 2022, at $70.64 upon Committee approval of the final performance modifier of 77%. The actual payout was determined applying negative discretion. Additionally, Mr. Halter’s Stock Awards represent 6,714 RSUs granted in 2018 that settled on February 26, 2021, at $56.58.

(4)

Ms. Schaaf’s Stock Awards represent the market value of 9,748 PSUs granted in 2019 that settled on February 28, 2022, at $70.64 upon Committee approval of the final performance modifier of 77%. The actual payout was determined applying negative discretion. Additionally, Ms. Schaaf’s Stock Awards represent the market value of 1,520 RSUs granted in 2018 that settled on February 26, 2021, at $56.58.

2021 CEO Pay Ratio

There were no significant changes to our global employee population and our compensation plans remained consistent with the prior year. As such, we do not reasonably believe there have been changes that would result in a significant change to our pay ratio disclosure and, accordingly, are using the same median employee to calculate this year’s pay ratio. This employee works in the U.S.

We calculated the median employee’s annual total compensation in the same manner as the CEO’s annual total compensation, and then added the value of the Company’s 401(k) plan, pension plan, medical benefits and welfare benefits. Adding the value of these benefits to our CEO’s total compensation resulted in total of $17,799,496, for purposes of determining the ratio, which amount differs from his Total Compensation reported in the Summary Compensation Table as this includes certain benefits. The median employee’s annual total compensation was $75,348. Based on this information, for 2021, the ratio of the annual total compensation of the CEO to the annual total compensation of the median employee was 236:1.

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Pension Plan Information

Participant Group	Pension Benefit Formula
Grandfathered Participants Grandfathered Participants were age 47 or older with at least ten years of service on December 31, 2005 and elected to retain the prior benefit provisions under the Defined Benefit (“DB”) Plan and the NQDB and to forego receipt of the additional matching contributions offered under the 401(k) and Excess Plans. • Ms. Schaaf is a Grandfathered Participant.	Defined Benefit Plan (Traditional Formula) 39.2% of Average Compensation (the highest five consecutive years’ total Payout of the past ten years of Pay. “Pay” is the Named Executive Officer’s base salary and annual incentive bonus up to the Tax Code limits) below the Integration Level(1) plus 61.25% of Average Compensation above the Integration Level. Cash Balance Plan—The Annual Pay Credits are calculated using the table below.
		Annual Pay Credit
	Age+ Service Years (Points)	Contribution on All Pay	Contribution on Pay Above Taxable Wage Base(2)
	< 40	4.00%	2.00%
	40 – 49	5.50%	2.75%
	50 – 59	7.00%	3.50%
	60 – 69	9.00%	4.50%
	70 – 79	11.50%	5.75%
	80 or more	14.00%	7.00%
	NQ Defined Benefit The NQDB benefit formula for Grandfathered Participants hired before January 1, 2002, is the greater of: • 65% of Average Compensation, offset by Social Security and DB Plan benefits; or • The greater of the traditional or cash balance DB Plan benefit for Grandfathered Participants without regard to Tax Code limits, offset by the benefit that can be provided under the DB Plan. (1) The Covered Compensation Table in the Tax Code. (2) The Social Security Taxable Wage Base.

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Participant Group

Pension Benefit Formula

Non-Grandfathered Participants

Non-Grandfathered Participants will receive the greater of the benefit provided under the Traditional Benefit Formula or the Cash Balance Formula.

•

Mr. Houston and Mss. Strable-Soethout and Friedrich earn benefits under the Traditional and Cash Balance Formulas. When benefits begin, they will receive the greater of the benefit under the Traditional Formula or Cash Balance Formula.

•

Mr. Halter has not accrued any benefit under this plan since January 1, 2010. When the frozen benefits are payable, he will receive the greater of the Traditional Formula of Cash Balance Formula.

Defined Benefit Plan

Traditional Formula—35% of Average Compensation below the Integration Level plus 55% of Average Compensation above the Integration Level.

Cash Balance Formula—The Annual Pay Credits are calculated using the table below

Annual Pay Credit

Age+
Service Years
(Points)

Contribution on
All Pay

Contribution on Pay
Above Taxable
Wage Base(2)

< 40

3.00%

1.50%

40 – 59

4.00%

2.00%

60 – 79

5.50%

2.75%

80 or more

7.00%

3.50%

Non-Qualified Defined Benefit

The NQDB benefit formula for Non-Grandfathered Participants hired before January 1, 2002, is:

•

The traditional or cash balance pension plan benefit for Non-Grandfathered Choice Participants (whichever is greater) without regard to Tax Code limits, offset by the benefit that can be provided under the DB Plan.

For employees who were active participants in the plan on December 31, 2005, their accrued benefit will not be less than their accrued benefit determined as of that date.

There is a reduction for benefits paid under the Traditional Formula that begin prior to the Named Executive Officers attaining Normal Retirement Age:

•

Principal subsidizes early retirement if the Named Executive Officer remains employed until Early Retirement Age (age 57 with 10 years of service), which is the earliest date an employee may begin receiving retirement benefits.

•

The early retirement benefits for Grandfathered Choice Participants (and Non-Grandfathered Choice Participants for benefits accrued prior to January 1, 2006) range from 75% at age 57 to 100% at age 62. The early retirement benefits for Non-Grandfathered Choice Participants for benefits accrued after December 31, 2005, range from 75% at age 57 to 97% at age 64.

•

If the Named Executive Officer terminates employment before reaching Early Retirement Age, Principal Life does not subsidize early retirement. The early retirement benefits range from 58.6% at age 57 to 92.8% at age 64.

•

Benefits under the Traditional Formula are eligible for a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) after retirement benefits begin. For Non-Grandfathered Participants, only benefits accrued as of December 31, 2005, receive this adjustment. The COLA is based on the Consumer Price Index.

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Participant Group

Pension Benefit Formula

Changes Effective January 1, 2023

The Company has announced participant benefit accruals under the Grandfathered and Non-Grandfathered Traditional Formulas in the Defined Benefit and Non-Qualified Defined Benefit Plans will stop effective December 31, 2022. Effective January 1, 2023, participants will begin accruing benefits solely under the Non-Grandfathered Cash Balance Formula. For participants impacted by this change, benefits earned prior to January 1, 2023, will continue to be paid based on the greater of the Traditional or Cash Balance benefit. Benefits earned after December 31, 2022, will be payable as an additional Cash Balance benefit.

Pension Distributions

Participants receive an annuity under the traditional benefit formula in the DB Plan. The qualified cash balance benefit formula in the DB Plan allows for benefits as an annuity or lump sum. NQDB benefits may be paid as a lump sum at termination/retirement, or as an annuity. Distributions may also be allowed at death or a change of control. For participants in the plan prior to January 1, 2010, a mandatory payment occurs at age 65, and they may elect for payments on a specified date between age 60 and 65.

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Pension Benefits

Named Executive Officer	Plan Name	Number of years Credited Service(1)		Present Value of Accumulated Benefit at Normal Retirement Age(2)			Payments During Last Fiscal Year
Houston	Qualified Pension		37		$	1,801,892		$	0
Houston	NQDB				$	16,529,756		$	0
Strable-Soethout	Qualified Pension		31		$	1,235,474		$	0
Strable-Soethout	NQDB				$	5,388,467		$	0
Halter	Qualified Pension		26		$	1,202,467		$	0
Halter	NQDB				$	3,611,139		$	0
Friedrich	Qualified Pension		21		$	922,906		$	0
Friedrich	NQDB				$	2,376,671		$	0
Schaaf	Qualified Pension		39		$	3,025,764		$	0
Schaaf	NQDB				$	5,557,245		$	0

(1)

As of December 31, 2021.

(2)

Benefit calculations have been made using the following assumptions:

•

Annuity Basis Discount Rate (for Traditional Benefit): 2.50% for December 31, 2020, and 2.75% for December 31, 2021.

Cost of Living 1.50% for December 31, 2020, and 1.6875% for December 31, 2021.

Mortality: PRI-12 White Collar for December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2021.

Improvement: For December 31, 2020, RPEC-2014-v2020 model using historical data through 2018 (graduated from 2016). For December 31, 2021, RPEC-2014-v2021 model using historical data through 2019 (graduated from 2017).

Convergence: For December 31, 2020, 10-year to SSA 2010-2088 improvement scale (SSA Trustees Report 2014). For December 31, 2021, 10-year to SSA 2010-2088 improvement scale (SSA Trustees Report 2021).

Traditional benefits under the qualified DB Plan must be paid as annuity. Under the NQDB Plan, Named Executive Officers may elect whether benefits will be paid as an annuity or in a single sum payment. Mss. Strable-Soethout, Friedrich, Schaaf and Mr. Halter have elected their NQDB benefit to be paid as an annuity.

•

Lump Sum Basis Discount Rate (for Traditional Benefit): for those Named Executive Officers who have elected to receive their traditional NQDB benefits in a single lump sum payment (Mr. Houston), the present value of their Traditional NQDB benefits has been determined using a discount rate as follows: For December 31, 2020, 6.65%. For December 31, 2021, 6.85%.

•

Lump Sum Mortality: For December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2021, 2021 IRS Mortality for 417(e).

•

Cost of living increase: 1.50% for December 31, 2020, and 1.6875% for December 31, 2021.

•

Retirement age of 62 for Ms. Schaaf and 65 for Messers. Houston and Halter and Mss. Strable-Soethout and Friedrich (who will have reduced benefits prior to that point.); and

•

Cash balance interest for participants crediting rate of 5.0% for December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2021, 4.0% if hired on or after July 1, 2019.

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Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

Named Executive Officer	Executive Contributions in Last Fiscal Year(1)			Principal Life Contributions in Last Fiscal Year(2)			Aggregate Earnings in Last Fiscal Year			Aggregate Withdrawals / Distributions			Aggregate Balance at Last Fiscal Year End(3)
Houston		$	293,692		$	205,644		$	1,602,711		$	0		$	9,597,537
Strable-Soethout		$	477,977		$	74,283		$	704,896		$	0		$	5,085,136
Halter		$	0		$	0		$	54,897		$	0		$	248,047
Friedrich		$	46,062		$	34,004		$	78,032		$	0		$	551,374
Schaaf		$	80,270		$	21,401		$	329,417		$	0		$	2,047,827

(1)

The amounts shown as “Executive Contributions” have either been included in the Salary column of the Summary Compensation Table on page 44 or represent annual incentive payment deferrals earned in 2020 and credited to the Named Executive Officers’ accounts during 2021.

(2)

The amounts shown as “Principal Life Contributions” are included in the “All Other Compensation Column” of the Summary Compensation table on page 44.

(3)

The end of year 2021 aggregate balances include the following deferrals and matching contributions from years prior to 2021:

Named Executive Officer	Employee Deferral Prior to 1/1/2021			Principal Life Match Prior to 1/1/2021			Total
Houston		$	2,314,510		$	1,558,336		$	3,872,846
Strable-Soethout		$	2,169,129		$	562,944		$	2,732,073
Halter		$	47,714		$	35,785		$	83,499
Friedrich		$	174,080		$	114,425		$	288,505
Schaaf		$	298,767		$	58,989		$	357,755

Qualified 401(k) Plan and Excess Plan

Plan Feature

Qualified 401(k) Plan

Excess Plan

Deferrals

1-50% of base salary and up to 100% of annual incentive compensation awards (1-100% of base pay if not contributing to the Excess Plan) up to the limits imposed by the Tax Code.

1-50% of base salary and up to 100% of annual incentive compensation awards.

Investment Options

There are 20 investment options. Investment and investment returns are based on the participant’s direction.

The investment options represent “phantom” units tied to the results of the reference funds listed on page 54. Investment and investment return is based on the participant’s direction.

Distributions

Allowed at various times including termination, death and disability.

Allowed at various times including termination, death, specified date, change of control, unforeseen emergency and mandatory payment at age 65.

Vesting

3-year cliff

Immediate

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The following are the investment options available to all participants in the Excess Plan; each option represents “phantom” units tied to the listed funds (parenthesized information indicates share class):

Investment Option	1 Year Rate Of Return (12/31/2021)
Principal Blue Chip Fund (Institutional)		25.14%
Principal Equity Income Fund (Institutional)		22.33%
Principal LargeCap S&P 500 Index Fund (Institutional)		28.42%
Principal LargeCap Growth Fund I (Institutional)		21.71%
Principal MidCap Fund (Institutional)		25.32%
Principal SmallCap Value II Fund (Institutional)		32.34%
Principal SmallCap S&P 600 Index Fund (Institutional)		26.20%
Principal SmallCap Growth I Fund (Institutional)		7.24%
Principal Real Estate Securities Fund (Institutional)		39.64%
Principal International Emerging Markets Fund (Institutional)		-0.15%
Principal Diversified International Fund (Institutional)		9.57%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2015 Fund (R6)		8.20%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2020 Fund (R6)		10.00%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2025 Fund (R6)		11.99%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2030 Fund (R6)		13.96%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2035 Fund (R6)		15.69%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2040 Fund (R6)		17.13%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2045 Fund (R6)		18.14%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2050 Fund (R6)		19.14%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2055 Fund (R6)		19.80%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2060 Fund (R6)		20.09%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid 2065 Fund (R6)		20.21%
Principal LifeTime Hybrid Income Fund (R6)		5.16%
Principal Core Plus Bond Fund (Institutional)		-0.64%
Principal Inflation Protection Fund (Institutional)		5.35%
Principal Government & High-Quality Bond Fund (Institutional)		-1.64%
Principal Financial Group, Inc. Employer Stock Fund		50.72%
Principal Diversified Real Asset Fund (Institutional)		17.34%
Principal Select Stable Value Fund		0.03%

Severance Plans

All Named Executive Officers are eligible for severance under the Company’s executive severance plan if they are terminated because of layoffs, position elimination or similar reasons. They are not eligible for severance benefits if they take a comparable job with Principal Life, fail to sign a release of claims against Principal Life, and/or for other specified reasons. The benefit payable under the severance plan is as follows:

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	Named Executive Officer			Lump sum severance payment calculated as follows:
	Houston			The sum of the following three components: an amount equal to two times annual base salary; an amount equal to two times the average amount of the bonuses paid for the last three complete calendar years; and an amount equal to two years of health benefits premiums, intended to compensate the CEO for COBRA premiums.
	Strable-Soethout			The sum of the following three components: an amount equal to one and a half times the participant’s annual base salary; an amount equal to one and a half times the average amount of the bonuses paid the participant for the last three complete calendar years; and an amount equal to one and a half years of health benefits premiums, intended to compensate for COBRA premiums.
	Halter			The sum of the following three components: an amount equal to one and a half times the participant’s annual base salary; an amount equal to one and a half times the average amount of the bonuses paid the participant for the last three complete calendar years; and an amount equal to one and a half years of health benefits premiums, intended to compensate for COBRA premiums.
	Friedrich			The sum of the following three components: an amount equal to one and a half times the participant’s annual base salary; an amount equal to one and a half times the average amount of the bonuses paid the participant for the last three complete calendar years; and an amount equal to one and a half years of health benefits premiums, intended to compensate for COBRA premiums.
	Schaaf			The sum of the following three components: an amount equal to one and a half times the participant’s annual base salary; an amount equal to one and a half times the average amount of the bonuses paid the participant for the last three complete calendar years; and an amount equal to one and a half years of health benefits premiums, intended to compensate for COBRA premiums.

In circumstances in which the severance plan does not apply, the Human Resources Committee would determine whether any severance benefits would be paid to Messrs. Houston and Halter and Ms. Strable-Soethout, Ms. Friedrich and Ms. Schaaf.

The following table illustrates the severance or contractual benefits that the Named Executive Officers would have received had they qualified for such benefits on December 31, 2021.

Named Executive Officer	Severance			Outplacement Services			COBRA Reimbursement			Total
Houston		$	7,726,769		$	40,000		$	33,444		$	7,800,213
Strable-Soethout		$	2,259,256		$	40,000		$	9,001		$	2,308,257
Halter		$	4,312,500		$	40,000		$	34,590		$	4,387,090
Friedrich		$	1,592,451		$	40,000		$	35,644		$	1,668,095
Schaaf		$	1,514,573		$	40,000		$	22,778		$	1,577,351

Change of Control Employment Agreements

Principal has Change of Control Employment Agreements with each of the Named Executive Officers currently employed. These Agreements provide market-based severance protection and do not provide excess tax gross ups. The Agreements have an initial term of two years and will automatically renew for successive one-year periods unless Principal provides a notice electing not to extend the term. If during the term of these agreements a Pre-Change of Control Event or a Change of Control occurs, the term of the agreements will extend until the second anniversary of a Change of Control. These agreements provide that if payments upon termination of employment related to a Change of Control would be subjected to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Tax Code, and if reducing the amount of the payments would result in greater benefits to the Named Executive Officer (after taking into consideration the payment of all income and excise taxes that would be owed as a result of the Change of Control payments), Principal will reduce the Change of Control payments by the amount necessary to maximize the benefits received, determined on an after tax basis.

The severance and other benefits provided under these agreements will be available to Named Executive Officers upon a Change of Control if their employment is terminated following or in connection with a Pre-Change of Control Event, or if any third party ends or adversely changes the terms and conditions of their employment. For a termination

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prior to a Change of Control, such termination or change in employment is deemed to have occurred immediately following the date on which a Change of Control occurs, rather than at the time the termination or change in employment actually occurs.

Under these Agreements, a Pre-Change of Control Event means:

•

An offer that would result in a third party owning 40% or more of the Company’s voting securities;

•

A proxy solicitation or contest for the election of one or more members of the Company’s Board; or

•

An agreement that would result in a Change of Control.

Under these Agreements, a Change of Control means:

•

Any person becoming an owner of 40% or more of the Company’s Common Stock;

•

Directors on the Board on the date of the Agreements (or those thereafter nominated for election, or elected to replace such Directors by certain incumbent Directors) are no longer a majority of the Board;

•

A merger, reorganization, consolidation or similar transaction in which the shareholders of Principal do not continue to own more than 60% of the voting securities of the surviving corporation or its ultimate parent corporation; or

•

Approval by the shareholders of Principal of a sale of its assets or a plan of liquidation.

These Agreements also provide:

•

That the Named Executive Officers receive specified salary, annual incentive compensation and benefits for two years following a Change of Control if their employment continues after the Change of Control;

•

That if the successor to Principal agrees to issue equity to replace the equity awards they received from Principal, the outstanding equity awards will continue or will become equity related to the common stock of the successor company (“Successor”). Any outstanding performance-based equity awards will be converted into time vesting restricted stock or RSUs for Principal stock (or the stock of the Successor). If the Successor does not or cannot agree to such substitution, then any such awards that are not converted will become fully vested, exercisable and/or distributable upon the Change of Control. In addition, the Agreements and equity award agreements specify that the Committee (as made up immediately prior to the Change of Control) determines whether awards will be settled in cash;

•

For severance and other benefits if their employment is terminated without “Cause” or by the Named Executive Officer voluntarily for Good Reason. Termination without Cause or by the Named Executive Officer for Good Reason is referred to as a Qualifying Termination; and

•

That they will vest in all benefits previously accrued under the NQDB and Excess Plans, and these benefits will be paid in accordance with these plans.

The benefits received upon a Change of Control without termination of employment include the current vested account balance in the Excess Plan and the current vested benefit in the NQDB, according to change of control distribution elections on file for these plans.

For purposes of the Agreements, Good Reason means negative changes in the terms and conditions of the Named Executive Officer’s employment, consisting of:

•

Failure to pay base salary;

•

Failure to pay the annual bonus or a reduction in annual bonus opportunity;

•

Material adverse change in position, authority or duties;

•

Material reduction in the aggregate compensation and benefits;

•

Relocation to any office or location more than 50 miles from where the Named Executive Officer worked immediately before the Change of Control;

•

Any material breach of the Change of Control Employment Agreement;

•

Any purported termination the Company claims is for Cause, but fails to satisfy the requirements for a Cause termination; or

•

The failure of the Successor to be bound by the Agreements.

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Cause means any one or more of the following:

•

Commission of certain crimes;

•

Misconduct or habitual neglect of duties; or

•

Willful or intentional breach of the Change of Control Employment Agreement.

The benefits to be paid or provided under the Agreements if termination occurs for Good Reason or without Cause consist of:

•

Lump sum severance benefits equal to two times the sum of the annual base salary and target annual bonus;

•

Immediate vesting of all stock options, stock appreciation rights, shares of restricted stock, PSAs, PSUs, performance units, RSUs and deferred stock units;

•

A prorated annual bonus for the year of termination minus the amount paid for the bonus at the time of the Change of Control; and

•

The reimbursement for legal fees and other related expenses to enforce the Agreements.

In addition, until the third anniversary of the date of the Named Executive Officer’s termination, he or she and his or her eligible family members will receive medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, group term life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment coverages comparable to those received by Executives whose employment continues.

Pursuant to these Agreements, the Named Executive Officers agreed that for one year following a termination of employment that results in the Named Executive Officer receiving the severance benefits described above, he or she will not work for a competing business, solicit employees or customers, or interfere with the relationships of the Company, its affiliates and subsidiaries with their employees or customers.

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Potential Payments Upon Termination Related to a Change of Control

The following table describes the potential payments upon involuntary termination without Cause or voluntary termination for Good Reason following a Change of Control. The calculations provided in the table assume:

•

the Change of Control and termination of employment occurred on December 31, 2021;

•

per share price of the Company’s Common Stock was $72.33, the closing price as of December 31, 2021, the last trading day of the year.

Named Executive Officer	Cash Severance(1)			Spread on Previously Unvested Options			Value of Previously Unvested Restricted Stock & Performance Shares(2)			Benefits Continuation(3)			Accelerated Pension Benefit(4)			Total Termination Benefits (before taxes)
Houston		$	9,500,000		$	11,480,963		$	14,786,868		$	79,193		$	0		$	35,847,024
Strable-Soethout		$	3,635,500		$	2,666,695		$	3,446,500		$	59,088		$	0		$	9,807,783
Halter		$	5,750,000		$	2,878,021		$	3,758,700		$	94,704		$	0		$	12,481,425
Friedrich		$	2,431,800		$	2,039,235		$	2,620,657		$	94,704		$	0		$	7,186,396
Schaaf		$	2,425,500		$	1,791,851		$	2,373,505		$	76,664		$	0		$	6,667,520

(1)

Cash severance varies by executive and is described on pages 54-55.

(2)

Equals the full value of unvested restricted shares and unearned performance shares as of December 31, 2021, where vesting would be accelerated, at a stock price of $72.33. Performance shares granted in 2018 and 2019 are valued at target, based on Company performance to date as of December 31, 2021.

(3)

Includes the estimated cost of continued medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage for three years after the Named Executive Officer’s termination and outplacement services.

(4)

Represents the lump sum present value of the accelerated vesting of unvested retirement benefits. All of the Named Executive Officers are fully vested in their pension benefit.

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Proposal Two—Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

The Company’s Executive compensation program is designed to reward Executives who contribute to the achievement of the Company’s business objectives and to attract, retain and motivate talented Executives to perform at the highest level and contribute significantly to the Company’s success. The program is designed to tie the delivery of Executive compensation to the achievement of the Company’s long- and short-term financial and strategic goals and to align the interests of Executives and shareholders. The purposes and objectives of, and the rationale behind, the Company’s compensation program are described in significant detail in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, starting on page 27. Of particular note are the following policies and practices aligned with recognized corporate governance best practices:

•

Our Executive compensation is, in large measure, highly variable and directly linked to our short-term and long-term financial and strategic goals and the performance of the Company’s stock price over time.

•

Executives receive a significant portion of total compensation opportunity in the form of equity-based long-term incentives and are required to own stock in Principal to ensure their interests are aligned with the shareholders’ interests and long-term performance of Principal.

•

Principal prohibits all employees, including Executives, from: purchasing Company securities on margin, except for the exercise of employee stock options; short sales; trading in put or call options; and purchasing, directly or through a designee, any financial instrument (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds) that is designed to hedge or offset any decrease in the market value of Company securities.

•

Principal has a compensation recovery policy to recover incentive compensation paid to Executives if the amount of the compensation was based on achievement of financial results that were subsequently restated, if, in the opinion of the Human Resources Committee, the Executive engaged in fraud or intentional misconduct that caused the restatement of the Company’s financial statements, and if the amount of the Executive’s incentive compensation or equity award would have been lower had the financial results been properly reported.

•

Our Executive Change of Control Employment Agreements provide market-based service protection and do not contain excise tax gross ups.

•

We provide limited perquisites to Executives—one physical examination per year, business spousal travel, and gifts of nominal value given to all sales conference attendees. The Human Resources Committee approved our Named Executive Officers participating in Principal Global Asset Management investment products on a reduced or no-fee basis. The Human Resources Committee also approved our CEO’s use of our corporate aircraft for limited personal travel.

•

Our programs are designed to be financially efficient from tax, accounting, cash flow and share dilution perspectives. We make efforts to ensure tax deductibility to Principal of all compensation to the extent practicable.

Shareholders are being asked to vote on the Company’s compensation policies and procedures for the Named Executive Officers, as described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the compensation tables and the accompanying narratives in this Proxy Statement.

This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but the Company’s overall compensation related to our Named Executive Officers. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Board and will not overrule any decision by the Board or require the Board to take any action. However, the Human Resources Committee, which is responsible for designing and administering the Company’s Executive compensation program, values shareholder opinions and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for the Named Executive Officers.

In 2017, 89.17% of shareholders who cast ballots voted to retain an annual advisory vote on Executive Compensation, and the Board approved continuing this practice. Say on pay votes will be held annually until the next vote on the frequency of this advisory vote is conducted in 2023, or until the Board determines that a different frequency would be in the best interests of the Company’s shareholders.

This proposal, commonly known as a “say on pay” proposal, gives shareholders the opportunity to vote on an advisory, nonbinding basis to approve the compensation of our Named Executive Officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to SEC rules through the following resolution:

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RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s Named Executive Officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby approved.

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “For” this resolution.

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Proposal Three—Ratification of Appointment of
Independent Registered Public Accountants

Subject to shareholder ratification, the Audit Committee has appointed the firm of Ernst & Young LLP to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022. In order to assure continuing auditor independence, the Audit Committee periodically considers the advisability and potential impact of selecting a different independent external audit firm. Ernst & Young LLP has served as the Company’s independent registered public accountant since it became a publicly traded company in 2001, and Principal Life has used Ernst & Young LLP as its independent registered public accountant for many years prior thereto. The Audit Committee and the Board of Directors believe, after the consideration of a variety of factors, that the continued retention of Ernst & Young LLP is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders. Ratification of the appointment of the independent registered public accountants requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares represented at the meeting and voting on the matter. If the shareholders do not ratify this appointment, the Audit Committee will consider the matter of the appointment of the independent registered public accountants.

RESOLVED, that the appointment of Ernst & Young, LLP to audit the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022, be ratified.

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “For” this resolution.

Representatives of Ernst & Young LLP will participate in the Annual Meeting, will be given an opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions relating to the audit of the Company’s 2021 consolidated financial statements.

Audit Fees

The aggregate fees billed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm in 2021 and 2020 for professional services rendered in connection with regulatory audits in accordance with US GAAP, statutory, or foreign accounting principles; consultation on matters addressed during these audits; review of documents filed with regulators including the SEC; other engagements required by statute; or engagements that generally only the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm can reasonably provide, such as comfort letters or consents, were approximately $11,973,000 in 2021 and $11,910,000 in 2020.

Audit Related Fees

The aggregate fees billed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm in 2021 and 2020 for professional services rendered in connection with audit-related services such as financial statement audits of employee benefit plans, financial statement audits not required by statute or regulation, accounting consultations in connection with proposed transactions or emerging accounting standards, and other attest and related advisory services not required by statute or regulation totaled approximately $3,357,000 in 2021 and $2,178,000 in 2020.

Tax Fees

The aggregate fees billed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for professional services rendered in connection with tax services consisting primarily of tax compliance totaled approximately $109,000 in 2021 and $188,000 in 2020. Tax compliance generally involves preparation, assistance or attestation related to tax filings in various domestic and non-domestic jurisdictions. Tax consultation generally involves assistance in connection with tax audits, filing appeals, and compliance with tax related regulations.

All Other Fees

The aggregate fees billed by the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for professional services rendered in connection with other services totaled approximately $97,000 in 2021 and $0 in 2020.

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy on auditor independence that calls for the Committee to preapprove any service the Company’s independent registered public accountant proposes to provide to the Company, its majority owned subsidiaries, employee benefit plans or affiliates which the Company controls or significantly influences. The policy also calls for the Committee to preapprove any audit service any independent auditor proposes to provide to these entities. The purpose of the policy is to assure that the provision of such services does not impair any auditor’s independence. The policy provides for the general preapproval of specific types of Audit and Audit-Related services

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and fees up to an established individual engagement and annual threshold. The policy requires specific preapproval of all other services. Pursuant to the policy, each quarter Principal management presents to the Committee a detailed description of each particular service that meets the definition of services that have been generally approved and each service for which specific preapproval is sought, and an estimate of fees for each service. The policy accords the Audit Committee Chair authority to preapprove services and fees for those services that arise between regularly scheduled meetings of the Audit Committee. In considering whether to preapprove the provision of non-audit services by the independent registered public accountant, the Audit Committee will consider whether the services are compatible with the maintenance of the independent registered public accountant’s independence. The Audit Committee does not delegate its responsibilities to preapprove services performed by an independent auditor to management.

The Audit Committee did not approve the services described above under the captions “Audit Related Fees,” “Tax Fees,” and “All Other Fees,” by utilizing the de minimis exception of SEC Rule 2-01(c)(7)(i)(C).

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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

Except as otherwise indicated below, the following table shows, as of March 1, 2022, beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock by (i) the only shareholders known to the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, (ii) each Director, (iii) each Named Executive Officer and (iv) all current Directors and Executive Officers as a group. Except as otherwise indicated below, each of the individuals named in the table has sole voting and investment power, or shares such powers with his or her spouse, for the shares set forth opposite his or her name.

Name	Number of Shares Beneficially Owned(1)		Percent of Common Stock Outstanding
The Vanguard Group(2) 100 Vanguard Boulevard Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355		28,877,510		10.89
BlackRock Inc.(3) 55 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10055		22,496,639		8.5
Nippon Life Insurance Company(4) 3-5-12 Imabashi Chuo-ku Osaka, 541-8501, Japan		18,137,000		6.9
Capital Research Global Investors,(5) a division of Capital Research and Management Company (CRMC)(5) 333 South Hope Street Los Angeles, CA 90071		15,228,210		5.7
State Street Corporation(6) State Street Financial Center 1 Lincoln Street Boston, MA 02111		13,547,492		5.11
Jonathan S. Auerbach		7,202		*
Mary E. Beams		667		*
Jocelyn Carter-Miller		64,241		*
Michael T. Dan		48,323		*
Sandra L. Helton		62,684		*
Roger C. Hochschild		21,615		*
Scott M. Mills		17,053		*
Claudio N. Muruzabal		0
Diane C. Nordin		12,968		*
Blair C. Pickerell		20.203		*
Clare S. Richer		4,469
Alfredo Rivera		1,593
Amy C. Friedrich		217,556		*
Patrick G. Halter		291,396		*
Daniel J. Houston		1,369,017		*
Renee Schaaf		142,779
Deanna D. Strable-Soethout(7)		517,256		*
All Directors and Executive Officers as a group (23 persons)		3,112,360		1.17

The number of shares represents less than one percent of the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding.

(1)

Includes beneficial ownership of shares which each person named in this table has the right to acquire on or before May 17, 2022, pursuant to previously awarded stock options, RSUs, and performance units that, although scheduled to be paid in shares in more than 60 days, would be paid immediately

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upon termination of service, as follows: Mr. Auerbach, 7,202; Ms. Beams, 667; Ms. Carter Miller, 64,071; Mr. Dan, 35,063; Ms. Helton, 61,572; Mr. Hochschild, 21,615; Mr. Mills, 17,053; Mr. Muruzabal, 0; Ms. Nordin, 12,968; Mr. Pickerell, 20,203; Ms. Richer, 4,469; Mr. Rivera, 1,593; Ms. Friedrich, 179,235; Mr. Halter, 214,797; Mr. Houston, 1,359,400; Ms. Schaaf, 119,310; Ms. Strable-Soethout, 365,448; and all other executive officers as a group, 216,868.

(2)

The information regarding beneficial ownership by The Vanguard Group is based solely on an amended Schedule 13G filed by it with the SEC on February 9, 2022, which provided information as of December 31, 2021. According to the Schedule 13G, Vanguard has sole voting power with respect to 0 shares; shared voting power with respect to 419,374 shares; sole dispositive power with respect to 27,816,975 shares; and shared dispositive power with respect to 1,060,535 shares.

(3)

The information regarding beneficial ownership by BlackRock Inc. is based solely on an amended Schedule 13G filed by it with the SEC on February 2, 2022, which provided information as of December 31, 2021. According to the Schedule 13G, BlackRock has sole voting power with respect to 19,831,588 shares; shared voting power with respect to 0 shares; sole dispositive power with respect to 22,496,639 shares; and shared dispositive power with respect to 0 shares.

(4)

The information regarding beneficial ownership by Nippon Life Insurance Company is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed by it with the SEC on February 28, 2008, which provided information as of February 21, 2008. According to the Schedule 13G, Nippon Life has sole voting power with respect to 18,137,000 shares; shared voting power with respect to 0 shares; sole investment power with respect to 18,137,000 shares; and shared investment power with respect to 0 shares. The Percentage of Common Stock Outstanding has been updated to reflect the outstanding Common Stock as of December 31, 2021.

(5)

The information regarding beneficial ownership by Capital Research Global Investors is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed by it with the SEC on February 14, 2022, which provided information as of December 31, 2021. According to the Schedule 13G, Capital Research Global Investors has sole voting power with respect to 15,228,210 shares; shared voting power with respect to 0 shares; sole dispositive power with respect to 15,228,210 shares; and shared dispositive power with respect to 0 shares.

(6)

The information regarding beneficial ownership by State Street Corporation is based solely on a Schedule 13G filed by it with the SEC on February 10, 2022, which provided information as of December 31, 2021. According to the Schedule 13G, State Street Corporation has sole voting power with respect to 0 shares; shared voting power with respect to 12,095,767 shares; sole dispositive power with respect to 0 shares; and shared dispositive power with respect to 13,491,017 shares.

(7)

Includes shares owned by Ms. Strable-Soethout’s spouse.

In addition to beneficial ownership of Common Stock, the Company’s Directors and Executive Officers also hold different forms of “stock units” that are not reported in the security ownership table but represent additional financial interests that are subject to the same market risk as Common Stock. These units include shares that may be acquired after May 17, 2022, pursuant to previously awarded stock options, RSUs, performance share units and nontransferable accounting entry units such as phantom stock units issued pursuant to Company stock-based compensation and benefit plans. The value of such units is the same as the value of the corresponding number of shares of Common Stock.

See “Directors’ Compensation” on pages 23-25 for a discussion of the options and RSUs granted to Directors under the Principal Financial Group, Inc. 2020 Directors Stock Plan and the phantom stock units credited to Directors who participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan for non-employee Directors of Principal Financial Group, Inc. See “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” beginning on page 27 for a discussion of the performance units credited to officers who defer receipt of awards under a long-term performance plan, the options and RSUs granted under the 2014 Stock Incentive Plan, and phantom stock units credited to officers that defer salary into an employer stock fund available under the Excess Plan.

As of March 1, 2022, the Directors and Executive Officers named in the security ownership table hold a pecuniary interest in the following number of units: Mr. Auerbach, 2,584; Ms. Beams, 2,584; Ms. Carter-Miller, 2,584; Mr. Dan, 2,584; Ms. Helton, 2,584; Mr. Hochschild, 2,584; Mr. Mills, 2,584; Mr. Muruzabal, 2.325; Ms. Nordin, 2,584; Mr. Pickerell, 2,584; Ms. Richer, 2,584; Mr. Rivera, 2,584; Ms. Friedrich, 69,685; Mr. Halter, 108,793; Mr. Houston, 408,494; Ms. Schaaf, 63,782; and Ms. Strable-Soethout, 104,035.

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Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s Directors, Executive Officers and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities (Reporting Persons) to file with the SEC and Nasdaq reports of ownership of the Company’s securities and changes in ownership. Reporting Persons required to provide the Company with copies of all Section 16(a) reports they file. Based on a review of the reports provided to the Company or written representations from Reporting Persons, the Company believes that during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, all Section 16(a) reports were filed on a timely basis, except for one Form 4 report filed on behalf of Ms. Strable-Soethout covering a single transaction. This report, while filed, was not filed prior to the filing deadline due to an administrative error.

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Questions and Answers About the Annual Meeting

How can I attend the Annual Meeting?

The Annual Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of stockholders, which will be conducted exclusively by webcast. You are entitled to participate in the Annual Meeting only if you were a stockholder of the Company as of the close of business on March 23, 2022 (the “Record Date”), or if you hold a valid proxy for the Annual Meeting. No physical meeting will be held.

You will be able to attend the Annual Meeting online and submit your questions during the meeting by visiting: www.meetnow.global/MVFPDCX.

To participate in the Annual Meeting, you will need to review the information included on your Notice, on your proxy card or on the instructions that accompanied your proxy materials.

The online meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time. We encourage you to access the online meeting 10-15 minutes prior to the start time leaving ample time for the check in.

If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance of the meeting and no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, May 12, 2022. Please follow the registration instructions as outlined below under “How do I register to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the internet?”

How do I register to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the Internet?

If you are a registered shareholder (i.e., you hold your shares through our transfer agent, Computershare), you do not need to register to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the internet. Please follow the instructions on the notice or proxy card that you received. If you cannot locate your notice or proxy card but would like to attend the meeting, you can enter as a guest.

If you hold your shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, you must register in advance to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the internet. Registration will require you to contact your bank or broker and request a legal proxy which provides proof of your proxy power. Once received, to register to attend the Annual Meeting online by webcast, you must submit proof of your proxy power (legal proxy) reflecting your ownership of Principal Financial Group, Inc. common stock along with your name and email address to Computershare. Requests for registration must be labeled as “Legal Proxy” and be received no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on Thursday, May 12, 2022. If you do not have a legal proxy but would like to attend the meeting, you can enter as a guest.

Requests for registration should be directed to us at the following:

By email: Forward the email from your broker, or attach an image of your legal proxy, to legalproxy@computershare.com.

By mail:

Computershare
Principal Financial Group, Inc. Legal Proxy
P.O. Box 43001
Providence, RI 02940-3001

You will receive a confirmation of your registration by email.

Why are you holding a virtual meeting instead of a physical meeting?

Due to the ongoing public health impact of the coronavirus outbreak (i.e., COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of our shareholders and other stakeholders, we have decided that this year’s annual meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of shareholders, which will be conducted solely online via live webcast. You will be able to participate in the annual meeting online, vote your shares electronically after following the above directions, and submit your questions prior to and during the meeting by visiting: www.meetnow.global/MVFPDCX.

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Why didn’t I receive a copy of the paper proxy materials?

The SEC rules allow companies to notify shareholders that proxy materials are available on the internet and to provide access to those materials via the internet. You may obtain paper copies of the proxy materials free of charge by following the instructions provided in the notice of internet availability of proxy materials.

Why did I receive notice of, and access to, this proxy statement?

The Board is soliciting proxies to be voted at the Annual Meeting of shareholders to be held on May 17, 2022, at 9:00 a.m., Central Daylight Time, and at any adjournment or postponement of the meeting. Due to the continuing public health impact of the coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) and to support the health and well-being of our shareholders and other stakeholders, we have decided that this year’s Annual Meeting will be a completely virtual meeting of stockholders, which will be conducted solely online via live webcast. You will be able to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting online, vote your shares electronically and submit your questions prior to and during the meeting by visiting: www.meetnow.global/MVFPDCX. There is no physical location for the Annual Meeting.

When the Board asks for your proxy, it must provide you access to proxy materials that contain information required by law. These materials were first made available, or sent to shareholders, on April 4, 2022.

What is a proxy?

It is your legal designation of another person to vote the stock you own. The other person is called a proxy. When you designate someone as your proxy in a written document, that document is also called a proxy or a proxy card. Principal has designated two of Company’s officers to act as proxies for the 2022 Annual Meeting: Deanna D. Strable-Soethout, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Christopher J. Littlefield, Executive Vice President.

What will the shareholders vote on at the Annual Meeting?

•

Election of three Directors for three-year terms;

•

An advisory vote to approve Named Executive Officer compensation; and

•

Ratification of the appointment of independent auditors.

Will there be any other items of business on the agenda?

Principal does not expect any other items of business because the deadline for shareholder proposals and nominations has passed. However, if any other matter should properly come before the meeting, the people authorized by proxy will vote according to their best judgment.

Who can vote at the Annual Meeting?

Shareholders as of the close of business on the Record Date (March 23, 2022) can vote at the Annual Meeting.

How many votes do I have?

You will have one vote for every share of Company Common Stock you owned on the Record Date.

What constitutes a quorum?

One third of the outstanding shares of Common Stock as of the Record Date. On the Record Date, there were 252,236,219 shares of Common Stock outstanding. A quorum must be present, through live virtual attendance or by proxy, before any action can be taken at the Annual Meeting, except an action to adjourn the meeting.

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How many votes are required for the approval of each item?

•

Each nominee for Director will be elected if there are more votes for the nominee than votes against the nominee. Directors are elected by the majority of votes cast in uncontested Director elections;

•

The advisory vote to approve the Company’s Named Executive Officer compensation will be approved if there are more votes for the proposal than against the proposal; and

•

The appointment of the independent auditors will be ratified if there are more votes for the proposal than votes against the proposal.

•

Abstentions and broker non-votes will be treated as being present at the meeting for determining a quorum but will not be counted as votes for the proposals. They have no impact on the Director nominees, the advisory vote to approve Named Executive Officer compensation, or the ratification of independent auditors.

What are Broker Non-votes?

If your shares are held in a brokerage account, your broker will ask you how you want your shares to be voted. If you give your broker directions, your shares will be voted as you direct. If you do not give directions, the broker may vote your shares on routine items of business, but not on non-routine items. Proxies that are returned by brokers because they did not receive directions on how to vote on non-routine items are called “broker non-votes.”

How do I vote by proxy?

Shareholders of record may vote by mail, by telephone or through the internet. Shareholders may vote “for,” “against” or “abstain” from voting for each of the Director nominees, the advisory vote to approve Named Executive Officer compensation, and the proposal to ratify the appointment of the independent auditors.

•

By Mail. Sign and date each proxy or voting instruction card you receive and return it in the prepaid envelope. Sign your name exactly as it appears on the proxy. If you are signing as a representative (for example, as an attorney in fact, executor, administrator, guardian, trustee or an officer or agent of a corporation or partnership), indicate your name and your title or capacity. If the stock is held in custody for a minor, the custodian should sign, not the minor. If the stock is held in joint ownership, one owner may sign on behalf of all owners.

•

By Telephone. Follow the instructions on the proxy or voting instruction card or the instructions in the email message that notified you of the availability of the proxy materials. If you vote by telephone, do not return your proxy or voting instruction card.

•

Through the Internet. You may vote online at www.investorvote.com. Follow the instructions provided in the notice of internet availability of proxy materials or on the proxy or voting instruction card. If you vote through the internet, do not return your proxy or voting instruction card.

How do I vote shares that are held by my broker?

If you own shares held by a broker, you may direct your broker or other nominee to vote your shares by following the instructions that your broker provides to you. Most brokers offer voting by mail, telephone and through the internet.

How do I vote in person?

Because the 2022 Annual Meeting will be entirely virtual by webcast, you will not be able to vote your shares in person. We encourage you to vote in advance of the meeting by mail, telephone or through the internet. In addition, you can vote at the virtual meeting by using the instructions provided above at “How do I register to attend the Annual Meeting virtually on the internet?”

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How do I vote my shares held in the Company’s 401(k) plan?

The trustees of the plan will vote your shares in accordance with the directions you provide by voting on the voting instruction card or the instructions in the email message that notified you of the availability of the proxy materials. Shares for which voting instructions are not received are voted in the discretion of the trustees. Voting instructions must be received by 1:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time on May 13, 2022.

How are shares held in the Demutualization separate account voted?

Principal became a public company on October 26, 2001, when Principal Mutual Holding Company converted from a mutual insurance holding company to a stock company (“Demutualization”) and the initial public offering of shares of the Company’s Common Stock was completed. Principal issued Common Stock to Principal Life, and Principal Life allocated this Common Stock to a separate account that was established to fund policy credits received as Demutualization compensation by certain employee benefit plans that owned group annuity contracts. Although Principal Life will vote these shares, the plans may give Principal Life voting directions. A plan may give voting directions by following the instructions on the voting instruction card or the instructions in the message that notified you of the availability of proxy materials. Principal Life will vote the shares as to which it received no direction in the same manner, proportionally, as the shares in the Demutualization separate account for which it has received directions. Voting instructions must be received by 1:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time on May 13, 2022.

How do I vote my shares held in the Company’s Employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)?

Who counts the votes?

Votes will be counted by Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

What happens if I do not vote on an issue when returning my proxy?

If no specific instructions are given, proxies that are signed and returned will be voted as the Board of Directors recommends:

•

“For” the election of all Director nominees;

•

“For” approval of the Company’s named executive officer compensation; and

•

“For” the ratification of Ernst & Young LLP as independent auditors.

How do I revoke my proxy?

If you hold your shares in street name, you must follow the instructions of your broker or bank to revoke your voting instructions. Otherwise, you can revoke your proxy or voting instructions by voting a new proxy or instruction card or by voting during your participation in the virtual meeting via webcast.

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How do I contact the Board?

You may contact the Lead Director through the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.principal.com, or by writing to:

Lead Director, c/o Mark Lagomarcino
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Des Moines, Iowa 50392-0300

All emails and letters received will be categorized and processed by the Company’s Secretary and then sent to the Company’s Lead Director.

How do I submit a shareholder proposal or nominate a director for the 2023 Annual Meeting?

The Company’s next annual meeting is scheduled for May 16, 2023. Proposals should be sent to the Company’s Secretary. To be included in next year’s proxy statement, proposals must be received by December 4, 2022. In addition, the Company’s By-Laws provide that any shareholder wishing to propose any other business at the annual meeting must give Principal written notice between January 17, 2023, and February 16, 2023. That notice must provide other information as described in the Company’s By-Laws, which are on the Company’s website, www.principal.com.

For proxy access nominees to be considered at the 2023 annual meeting, the nomination notice must be received by the Office of the Secretary no earlier than November 4, 2022, and no later than December 4, 2022. Among other things, the notice must include the information and documents described in Section 1.17 of the Company’s By-Laws.

What is “householding?”

We send shareholders of record at the same address one copy of the proxy materials unless we receive instructions from a shareholder requesting receipt of separate copies of these materials.

If you share the same address as other shareholders and would like Principal to send only one copy of future proxy materials, please contact Computershare Trust Company, N.A. at 866-781-1368, or P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940-3078. You can also contact Computershare to receive individual copies of all documents.

Where can I receive more information about the Company?

We file reports and other information with the SEC, which are available on the Company’s website at www.principal.com and at www.sec.gov. You may also contact the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The Audit, Finance, Human Resources and Nominating and Governance Committee charters, the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, and Principal’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics are also available on the Company’s website, www.principal.com.

The Board urges you to vote by using the internet or telephone or by returning the proxy or voting instruction card.

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Appendix A
Executive Compensation Benchmarking Study Participants

Towers Watson
2021 Financial Services Executive Compensation Survey Participants

Participant List—Standard Analysis

AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah

Advisor Group

AFLAC

AgFirst

AIG

Alliance Data Systems

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty North America

Allianz Life Insurance

Allstate

Ally Financial

Alter Domus

American Enterprise

American Property Casualty Insurance Association

Amica Mutual Insurance

AmTrust Financial Services

Anthem

Aon

Arthur J Gallagher & Company

Aspen Insurance

Assurant

Asurion

Atradius

Auto Club Group

Bar Plan Mutual Insurance Company

Barclays

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana

Blue Shield of California

Boston Private Wealth

Bremer Financial

Brighthouse Financial

Broadridge Financial Solutions

Brotherhood Mutual Insurance

Bryn Mawr Trust

Caliber Home Loans

Cambia Health Solutions

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Capital One Financial

CardWorks

Caterpillar Financial Services

CBRE Group

CFA Institute

Chicago Board Options Exchange

CIBC Bank USA

Cigna

Citigroup

Citizens Property Insurance

City National Bank

Nasdaq

CME Group

CAN Financial Corporation

CNO Financial

Cobank

Coamerica

Commerce Bancshares

Compeer Financial

Computershare

CO-OP Financial Services

Corporate One Federal Credit Union

Country Financial

Coverys

CPP Investment Board

Credit Suisse

CSAA Insurance Group

CTBC Bank

Cullen Frost Bankers

Delta Dental of California

DentaQuest

Deutsche Bank

East West Bank

Edward Jones

Element Fleet Management

Emblem Health

Employers Mutual Casualty Company

Empower Retirement

Encore Capital

Equitable

Erie Insurance

Experian Americas

Farm Credit Bank of Texas

Farm Credit Foundations

Farmers Group

Federal Farm Credit Banks Funding

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Federal Reserve Board

Fifth Third Bancorp

FINRA

First American

First Banks

First Citizens Bank

First Financial Bancorp

First National of Nebraska

Fiserv

Progressive

Flagstar Bank

Foresters Financial

Freddie Mac

GATX

Genworth Financial

Global Payments

GNY Insurance

Great American Insurance

GreenStone

Guardian Life

Hanover Insurance Group

Harley-Davidson Financial Services

Hartford Financial Services Group

Highmark

Hiscox

Hitachi Capital America

Horace Mann Educators

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Huntington Bancshares

ICW Group

IMT Insurance

Insurance Auto Auctions

Intact Insurance

InterAmerican Development Bank

IQ-EQ

Irvine

Island Insurance

Jackson National Life

Kemper Services Group

KeyCorp

Legal & General America

Liberty Mutual Insurance

Lincoln Financial

London Stock Exchange Group

M&T Bank

Manulife Financial

MAPFRE U.S.A.

Marsh & McLennan

Massachusetts Mutual

MasterCard

Mercury Insurance

MetLife

MoneyGram

Moody’s

Morgan Stanley

Mortgage Guaranty Insurance

Mr. Cooper

Munich Re Group

Mutual of Omaha

Synovus Financial Corporation

2022 Proxy StatementA-1

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National Life Group

Nationwide

Navy Federal Credit Union

NCCI Holdings

New York Life

NJM Insurance Group

Northern Trust

Northwestern Mutual

Nuclear Electric Insurance Limited (NEIL)

Oak Street Health

Ohio National Financial Services

OneAmerica Financial Partners

Pacific Life

Pacific Life Re

Partner Re

PayPal

Penn Mutual

People’s Bank

Pinnacol Assurance

Plymouth Rock Assurance

PMA Companies

Popular

Portfolio Recovery Associates

Primerica Life

Principal Financial Group

Protective Life

Prudential Financial

QBE the Americas

Rabobank

Radian Group

Realogy

Regions Financial

Reinsurance Group of America (RGA)

Resolution Life

Resource Pro

Rialto Capital Management

Ryan LLC

S&P Global

Sammons Financial Group & Affiliates

SchoolsFirst FCU

Securian Financial Group

Society Insurance

Southern Farm Bureau Life

State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio

Sun Life Financial

SVB Financial

SWBC

Symetra Financial

Synchrony Financial

T. Rowe Price Group

Texas Life

Texas Mutual Insurance

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Tokio Marine HCC

Transamerica

Transatlantic Holdings

TransUnion

Travelers

Two Harbors Investment Corp

UBS

UMB Financial

Unico American

UnitedHealth Group

Unum

USAA

Voya Financial Services

Webster Bank

Wellmark BlueCross BlueShield

Western Alliance Bancorporation

Western Union

Westfield

Wintrust Financial Corporation

YMCA Retirement Fund

Zurich North America

Towers Watson
2021 Diversified Insurance Compensation Survey Participants

AFLAC

AIG

Allstate

Brighthouse Financial

Cigna

CNO Financial

Equitable

Genworth Financial

Guardian Life

Hartford Financial Services

John Hancock

Lincoln Financial

Massachusetts Mutual

MetLife

Nationwide

New York Life

Northwestern Mutual

OneAmerica Financial Partners

Pacific Life

Principal Financial Group

Protective Life

Prudential Financial

Securian Financial Group

Sun Life Financial

Symetra Financial

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Transamerica

Unum

USAA

Voya Financial Services

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McLagan
2021 U.S. Asset Management—Traditional Investments Survey Participants

abrdn plc

Acadian Asset Management

Adams Funds

AEW Capital Management

AllianceBernstein

Allianz Global Investors

American Century Investments

Ameriprise Financial

Amherst Capital

AMP

Amundi Pioneer

Annaly Capital Management

Apollo Global Management

Artisan Partners Limited Partnership

Atlanta Capital Management

Aviva Investors

AXA Investment Managers

Bank of New York Mellon

Barings

BlackRock

BlueBay Asset Management

BNP Paribas Asset Management Holding

Brandes Investment Partners

Brandywine Global Investment Management

Bridgewater Associates

Brown Advisory

Brown Brothers Harriman

Calamos Investments

Capital Group

Causeway Capital Management

Ceredex Value Advisors LLC

Charles Schwab & Co.

Clark Capital Management Group

ClearBridge Investments

Cohen & Steers

Commonfund Group

Conning and Company

D. E. Shaw Group

Delaware Investments

Diamond Hill Capital Management

Dimensional Fund Advisors

Direxion

DoubleLine Group

Driehaus Capital Management LLC

Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co.

DuPont Capital Management

DWS

Eaton Vance Management

Epoch Investment Partners

Federated Hermes, Inc.

Fidelity Investments

Fiera Capital Corporation

First Eagle Investment Management

First Sentier Investors

Franklin Templeton Investments

Fred Alger Management

GAM

Glenmede Trust Company

GMO

Goldman Sachs & Co.

M&G Investments

MacKay Shields

Mackenzie Financial Corporation

Macquarie Bank

Mairs and Power Investment Counsel

Makena Capital

Manning & Napier Advisors

Manulife

Mercer

MFS Investment Management

Morgan Stanley

Neuberger Berman Group

New York Life Insurance Company

Newfleet Asset Management

Nikko Asset Management

Ninety One

Nomura Securities

Northern Trust Corporation

Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance

Nuveen Investments

Oaktree Capital Management

Orbis Investment Management

Pacific Investment Management Company

PanAgora Asset Management

Parametric Portfolio Associates

Performance Trust Investment Advisors, LLC

Perpetual Limited

PineBridge Investments

Polar Capital

PPM America

Principal Financial Group

ProFund Advisors LLC

Prudential Financial

Punch & Associates Investment Management

Putnam Investments

Pzena Investment Management

Quantitative Management Associates

Raymond, James & Associates

Resolute Investment Managers, Inc.

Robeco Group

Rockefeller Capital Management L.P.

Rothschild & Co.

Russell Investments

Sands Capital Management

Schroder Investment Management

SCS Financial

SEI

Seix Investment Advisors LLC

Silvant Capital Management LLC

Southeastern Asset Management

State Street Corporation

Sun Life Financial

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Sustainable Growth Advisers, LP

Symphony Asset Management

T. Rowe Price Associates

TCW Group

Thornburg Investment Management

Thrivent Financial

UBS Asset Management

Van Eck Associates

Gresham Investment Management LLC

GuideStone Financial Resources

Harding Loevner

Hardman Johnston Global Advisors LLC

Heartland Advisors

Hennessy Advisors

Horizon Investments

IFM Investors

Impax Group

Insight Investment

Intact

INTECH

Invesco

J O Hambro Capital Management

Jacobs Levy Equity Management

Janus Henderson Investors

Jennison Associates

JPMorgan Asset & Wealth Management

Kayne Anderson Rudnick Investment Mgmt

LaSalle Investment Management

Lazard Asset Management

Legal & General Investment Management

Lombard Odier Asset Management

Loomis, Sayles & Company

LOS ANGELES CAPITAL

Vanguard Group, Inc.

Vaughan Nelson Investment Management

Virtus Investment Partners

Voya Financial

Wasatch Global Investors

Wellington Management Company

Wells Fargo Bank

Western Asset Management Company

Westwood Holdings Group

William Blair & Company

WisdomTree Investments

A-42022 Proxy Statement

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Appendix B
Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliations

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

	For the year ended Dec. 31
(in millions, except as indicated)	2021			2020			2019			2018			2017
Net income attributable to PFG
Net income attributable to PFG		$	1,710.6		$	1,395.8		$	1,394.2		$	1,546.5		$	2,310.4
Net realized capital (gains) losses, as adjusted(1)			137.0			(29.4)			174.9			51.0			(307.3)
Other after-tax adjustments			—			—			—			—			(524.5)
Non-GAAP operating earnings		$	1,847.6		$	1,366.4		$	1,569.1		$	1,597.5		$	1,478.6

(1)

This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See reconciliation below.

Net realized capital gains (losses)
GAAP net realized capital gains (losses)	$	2.5	$	302.6	$	(52.8)	$	(75.4)	$	524.2
Recognition of front-end fee revenues		(2.9)		11.4		8.5		0.4		(0.2)
Market value adjustments to fee revenues		(0.6)		(1.6)		—		0.1		(0.1)
Net realized capital gains (losses) related to equity method investments		(24.0)		(1.5)		2.6		(5.4)		1.4
Derivative and hedging-related revenue adjustments		(160.3)		(132.9)		(80.4)		(64.9)		(59.4)
Sponsored investment fund adjustments		21.3		17.3		23.6		12.9		6.3
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs		(0.2)		(0.5)		(15.7)		(25.6)		47.4
Capital gains distributed—operating expenses		(69.4)		(41.7)		(31.6)		15.7		(38.9)
Amortization of other actuarial balances		11.3		(26.3)		(25.1)		(1.4)		7.6
Market value adjustments of embedded derivatives		79.8		(55.0)		66.6		18.5		48.1
Capital gains distributed—cost of interest credited		(37.3)		(8.2)		(36.6)		(1.3)		(16.1)
Net realized capital gains (losses) tax adjustments		56.2		(28.2)		(1.3)		71.4		(209.1)
Net realized capital gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interest, after-tax		(13.4)		(6.0)		(32.7)		4.0		(3.9)
Total net realized capital gains (losses) after-tax adjustments		(139.5)		(273.2)		(122.1)		24.4		(216.9)
Net realized capital gains (losses), as adjusted	$	(137.0)	$	29.4	$	(174.9)	$	(51.0)	$	307.3
Diluted earnings per common share
Net income	$	6.27	$	5.05	$	4.96	$	5.36	$	7.88
Net realized capital (gains) losses, as adjusted		0.50		(0.11)		0.62		0.17		(1.05)
Other after-tax adjustments		—		—		—		—		(1.79)
Non-GAAP operating earnings	$	6.77	$	4.94	$	5.58	$	5.53	$	5.04
Stockholders’ equity
Stockholders’ equity	$	16,125.8	$	16,617.3	$	14,685.8	$	11,456.0	$	12,921.9
Noncontrolling interest		(56.4)		(58.4)		(67.8)		(66.0)		(72.6)
Stockholders’ equity attributable to Principal Financial Group, Inc.		16,069.4		16,558.9		14,618.0		11,390.0		12,849.3
Net unrealized capital (gains) losses		(3,519.2)		(4,156.5)		(2,815.3)		(207.3)		(1,455.1)
Net unrecognized postretirement benefit obligation		344.7		460.5		435.6		512.9		371.1
Stockholders’ equity, excluding AOCI other than foreign currency translation adjustment, available to common stockholders	$	12,894.9	$	12,862.9	$	12,238.3	$	11,695.6	$	11,765.3
Net income ROE available to common stockholders (including AOCI)
Net income ROE available to common stockholders (including AOCI)		10.5%		9.0%		10.7%		12.8%		20.0%
Net unrealized capital (gains) losses		3.1%		2.5%		1.4%		0.9%		2.1%
Net unrecognized postretirement benefit obligation		-0.3%		-0.4%		-0.4%		-0.5%		-0.7%
Net income ROE available to common stockholders (x-AOCI other than FCTA)		13.3%		11.1%		11.7%		13.2%		21.4%
Net realized capital (gains) losses		1.0%		-0.2%		1.4%		0.4%		-2.8%
Other after-tax adjustments		0.0%		0.0%		0.0%		0.0%		-4.9%
Non-GAAP operating earnings ROE (x-AOCI other than FCTA)		14.3%		10.9%		13.1%		13.6%		13.7%
Book value per common share including AOCI
Book value per common share including AOCI	$	61.40	$	60.59	$	52.85	$	40.75	$	44.46
Net unrealized capital (gains) losses		(13.45)		(15.20)		(10.17)		(0.74)		(5.03)
Net unrecognized postretirement benefit obligation		1.32		1.68		1.57		1.83		1.28
Book value excluding AOCI other than foreign currency translation adjustment		49.27		47.07		44.25		41.84		40.71
Foreign currency translation		5.98		4.80		4.85		4.51		3.18
Book value per common share excluding AOCI	$	55.25	$	51.87	$	49.10	$	46.35	$	43.89

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	For the year ended Dec. 31
(in millions, except as indicated)	2021			2020			2019			2018			2017
Total revenues
Total revenues		$	14,262.7		$	14,741.7		$	16,222.1		$	14,237.2		$	14,093.2
Net realized capital (gains) losses, net of related revenue adjustments			164.0			(195.3)			98.5			132.3			(472.2)
Adjustments related to equity method investments			31.5			33.5			72.5			55.3			82.3
Operating revenues		$	14,458.2		$	14,579.9		$	16,393.1		$	14,424.8		$	13,703.3
Net revenue
Net revenue		$	7,212.6		$	6,267.7		$	6,363.3		$	6,092.9		$	5,716.5
Operating expenses			(4,917.7)			(4,604.3)			(4,456.6)			(4,126.8)			(3,832.3)
Non-GAAP pre-tax operating (earnings) losses attributable to noncontrolling interest(1)			(33.5)			(26.5)			(17.4)			(11.6)			(10.5)
Pre-tax net realized capital gains (losses)			(179.8)			63.6			(140.9)			(126.4)			520.3
Pre-tax other adjustments			—			—			—			—			(70.0)
Certain adjustments related to equity method investments and noncontrolling interest			2.0			(7.0)			(55.1)			(43.7)			(71.8)
Income before income taxes		$	2,083.6		$	1,693.5		$	1,693.3		$	1,784.4		$	2,252.2
Income before income taxes
Income before income taxes		$	2,083.6		$	1,693.5		$	1,693.3		$	1,784.4		$	2,252.2
Net realized capital (gains) losses			(2.5)			(302.6)			52.8			75.4			(524.2)
Net realized capital (gains) losses pre-tax adjustments			182.3			239.0			88.1			51.0			3.9
Non-GAAP pre-tax operating (earnings) losses attributable to noncontrolling interest(1)			(33.5)			(26.5)			(17.4)			(11.6)			(10.5)
Income taxes related to equity method investments			31.5			33.5			72.5			55.3			82.3
Other after-tax adjustments: Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. contribution			—			—			—			—			70.0
Non-GAAP pre-tax operating earnings		$	2,261.4		$	1,636.9		$	1,889.3		$	1,954.5		$	1,873.7

(1)

This is a non-GAAP financial measure. See reconciliation below.

Income from continuing operations before income taxes
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	2,083.6	$	1,693.5	$	1,693.3	$	1,784.4	$	2,252.2
Net realized capital (gains) losses		(2.5)		(302.6)		52.8		75.4		(524.2)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest		(46.8)		(32.7)		(49.9)		(7.2)		(14.1)
Non-GAAP pre-tax operating income	$	2,034.3	$	1,358.2	$	1,696.2	$	1,852.6	$	1,713.9
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	$	46.8	$	32.7	$	49.9	$	7.2	$	14.1
Income taxes attributable to noncontrolling interest		0.1		(0.2)		0.2		0.4		0.3
Net realized capital gains (losses) attributable to noncontrolling interest, after-tax		(13.4)		(6.0)		(32.7)		4.0		(3.9)
Non-GAAP pre-tax operating earnings losses attributable to noncontrolling interest	$	33.5	$	26.5	$	17.4	$	11.6	$	10.5

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SCAN TOVIEW MATERIALS & VOTE PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC. 711 HIGH STREETDES MOINES, IA 50392 ATTN: CINDY BLUMHARDT VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com or scan the QR Barcode aboveUse the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information. Vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2022 for shares held directly and by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 2022 for shares held in the Principal Financial Group, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"). Have your proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF FUTURE PROXY MATERIALSIf you would like to reduce the costs incurred by our company in mailing proxy materials, you can consent to receiving all future proxy statements, proxy cards and annual reports electronically via e-mail or the Internet. To sign up for electronic delivery, please follow the instructions above to vote using the Internet and, when prompted, indicate that you agree to receive or access proxy materials electronically in future years.VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions. Vote by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 16, 2022 for shares held directly and by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 2022 for shares held in the Plan. Have your proxy card in hand when you call and then follow the instructions.VOTE BY MAILMark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717. TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: D72962-P69894 KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY 1a.Michael T. Dan!!!1b.Blair C. Pickerell!!!1c.Clare S. Richer!!!ForAgainstAbstain2.Advisory Approval of Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers!!!3.Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accountants!!!

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The Principal Financial Group, Inc.’s Annual Meeting will be held on May 17, 2022 via live webcast at meetnow.global/MVFPDCX at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time.Due to the continued public health impact of COVID-19 and to support the health and well-being of our employees and shareholders, the Annual Meeting will be held in the virtual format only via live webcast.There will not be a physical location for the Annual Meeting, but you may vote and ask questions virtually via live webcast by following the instructions available in our proxy statement andat www.principal.com/annualmeeting.You may participate and vote via the Internet during the Annual Meeting. In order to participate in the virtual Annual Meeting, please contact your bank, broker or other nominee to request alegal proxy no later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on May 12, 2022. We encourage you to vote your shares in advance.Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual Meeting:The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.D72963-P69894Principal Financial Group, Inc.This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Principal Financial Group, Inc. for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held virtually via live webcast at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time, May 17, 2022.The shareholder signature(s) on this form hereby appoints Deanna D. Strable-Soethout and Christopher J. Littlefield, and each of them, proxies with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. common stock held in the name of the shareholder, including those held in the Principal Financial Group, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "Plan"), at the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and at any adjournment thereof, upon all subjects that may properly come before the meeting, including the matters described in the Proxy Statement, subject to any directions indicated on the reverse side.If no directions are given, the proxies will vote for the election of all listed nominees and in accordance with the Board of Directors recommendations on the other matters listed on the reverse side, and at their discretion, on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting.If you hold your shares in the Plan, your voting instructions must be received by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on May 12, 2022 to be included in the tabulation.Continued and to be signed on reverse side

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MMMMMMMMMMMM MMMMMMMMMMMMMM C123456789 000004ENDORSEMENT_LINE______________ SACKPACK_____________ 000000000.000000 ext000000000.000000 ext000000000.000000 ext 000000000.000000 ext000000000.000000 ext000000000.000000 ext MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1ADD 2ADD 3ADD 4ADD 5ADD 6 Your vote matters – here’s how to vote!You may vote online or by phone instead of mailing this card.OnlineGo to www.investorvote.com/PFGor scan the QR code — login details are located in the shaded bar below.PhoneCall toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories and Canada Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. 1.Election of Directors: q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. qForAgainst Abstain+ 01- Michael T. Dan02- Blair C. Pickerell03- Clare S. Richer 2.Advisory Approval of Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers ForAgainst AbstainForAgainst Abstain3.Ratification of Appointment of Independent RegisteredPublic Accountants Please sign exactly as name(s) appears above. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title.Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. C 1234567890J N T1 U P X5 3 5 6 0 8 MR A SAMPLE (THIS AREA IS SET UP TO ACCOMMODATE 140 CHARACTERS) MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND MR A SAMPLE AND 03LNKC

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.’s Annual Meeting will be held on May 17, 2022 via live webcast at meetnow.global/MVFPDCX at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time.To access the virtual meeting, you must have the 15-digit control number that is printed in the circle in the shaded bar located on the reverse side of this form.Due to the continued public health impact of COVID-19 and to support the health and well-being of our employees and shareholders, the Annual Meeting will be held in the virtual format only via live webcast.There will not be a physical location for the Annual Meeting. Instructions to participate in the virtual meeting are available in our proxy statement and at www.principal.com/annualmeeting.q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. qThis proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Principal Financial Group, Inc. for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held virtually via live webcast at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time, May 17, 2022.The shareholder signature(s) on this form hereby appoints Deanna D. Strable-Soethout and Christopher J. Littlefield, and each of them, proxies with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. common stock held in the name of the shareholder at the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders and at any adjournment thereof, upon all subjects that may properly come before the meeting, including the matters described in the Proxy Statement, subject to any directions indicated on the reverse side.If no directions are given, the proxies will vote for the election of all listed nominees and in accordance with the Board of Directors recommendations on the other matters listed on the reverse side, and at their discretion, on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting.If you participate in (i) The Principal Select Savings Plan for Employees or The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field (the “401(k) Plans”), or (ii) The Principal Financial Group, Inc. Stock Separate Account (the “Stock Separate Account”), then this proxy will also constitute voting instructions authorizing, in the case of the 401(k) Plans, Bankers Trust Company, NA of Des Moines, Iowa, as Trustee, or in the case of the Stock Separate Account, Northern Trust Investments, Inc., as Portfolio Manager and agent for Principal Life Insurance Company, respectively, as holder of plan assets invested in Principal Financial Group, Inc. common stock, to vote virtually or by proxy all shares credited to your account as of March 23, 2022, the record date, at the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders to be held on May 17, 2022 or at any adjournment or postponement thereof.Your Principal Financial Group, Inc. shares, or those that are allocated to your 401(k) Plan or to the Stock Separate Account, will be voted in accordance with the directions on the reverse side. If you sign this proxy but no directions are given for your shares, the proxies will vote for the election of all listed nominees and in accordance with the Board of Directors recommendations on the other matters listed on the reverse side, and at their discretion, on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting. If you do not complete and submit this proxy, then in the case of your 401(k) Plan, the trustee will vote your shares as the trustee determines in its discretion, and in the case of the Stock Separate Account, Northern Trust will vote your interests in the same proportion as the shares held in the Separate Account as to which Northern Trust has received voting instructions. Instructions must be received by 1 a.m. Central Daylight Time on May 13, 2022 to be included in the tabulation.Change of Address — Please print new address below.

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Your vote matters – here’s how to vote!You may vote online or by phone instead of mailing this card.OnlineGo to www.investorvote.com/PFGor scan the QR code — login details are located in the shaded bar below.PhoneCall toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) within the USA, US territories and CanadaUsing a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. 1.Election of Directors: q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. qForAgainst Abstain+ 01- Michael T. Dan02- Blair C. Pickerell03- Clare S. Richer 2.Advisory Approval of Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers ForAgainst AbstainForAgainst Abstain3.Ratification of Appointment of Independent RegisteredPublic Accountants Please sign exactly as name(s) appears above. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title.Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. 03LNKC

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MMMMMMMMMMMM Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. 1.Election of Directors: q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. qForAgainst Abstain+ 01- Michael T. Dan02- Blair C. Pickerell03- Clare S. Richer 2.Advisory Approval of Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers ForAgainst AbstainForAgainst Abstain3.Ratification of Appointment of Independent RegisteredPublic Accountants Please sign exactly as name(s) appears above. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title.Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. 03LNLB

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.’s Annual Meeting will be held on May 17, 2022 via live webcast at meetnow.global/MVFPDCX at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time.Due to the continued public health impact of COVID-19 and to support the health and well-being of our employees and shareholders, the Annual Meeting will be held in the virtual format only via live webcast.There will not be a physical location for the Annual Meeting. Instructions to participate in the virtual meeting are available in our proxy statement and at www.principal.com/annualmeeting.q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. qThis proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Principal Financial Group, Inc. for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held virtually via live webcast at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time, May 17, 2022.The shareholder signature(s) on this form hereby appoints Deanna D. Strable-Soethout and Christopher J. Littlefield, and each of them, proxies with full power of substitution, to vote all shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc. common stock held in the name of the shareholder at the 2022 annual meeting of shareholders and at any adjournment thereof, upon all subjects that may properly come before the meeting, including the matters described in the Proxy Statement, subject to any directions indicated on the reverse side.If no directions are given, the proxies will vote for the election of all listed nominees and in accordance with the Board of Directors recommendations on the other matters listed on the reverse side, and at their discretion, on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting.

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Using a black ink pen, mark your votes with an X as shown in this example. Please do not write outside the designated areas. 1.Election of Directors: q IF VOTING BY MAIL, SIGN, DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. qForAgainst Abstain+ 01- Michael T. Dan02- Blair C. Pickerell03- Clare S. Richer 2.Advisory Approval of Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers ForAgainst AbstainForAgainst Abstain3.Ratification of Appointment of Independent RegisteredPublic Accountants Please sign exactly as name(s) appears above. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, corporate officer, trustee, guardian, or custodian, please give full title.Date (mm/dd/yyyy) — Please print date below.Signature 1 — Please keep signature within the box.Signature 2 — Please keep signature within the box. 03LNLB 1 U P X+

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MMMMMMMMMMMM+C 1234567890000004ENDORSEMENT_LINE______________ SACKPACK_____________ MR A SAMPLE DESIGNATION (IF ANY) ADD 1ADD 2ADD 3ADD 4ADD 5ADD 6 OnlineGo to www.investorvote.com/PFGor scan the QR code — login details are located in the shaded bar below. Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for thePrincipal Financial Group, Inc. Annual Meeting to be Held via Live Webcast on Tuesday, May 17, 2022When you go online, you can also consent to receive electronic delivery of future materials.Under Securities and Exchange Commission rules, you are receiving this notice that the proxy materials for the annual shareholders’ meeting are available on the Internet. Follow the instructions below to view the materials and vote online or request a paper or email copy. The items to be voted on and instructions on how to access the annual meeting are on the reverse side. Your vote is important!This communication presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials that are available to you on the Internet. We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting. The Proxy statement and annual report to shareholders are available at:Easy Online Access — View your proxy materials and vote.Step 1:Go to www.investorvote.com/PFG.Step 2:Click on the icon on the right to view meeting materials.Step 3:Return to the investorvote.com window and follow the instructions on the screen to log in. Step 4:Make your selections as instructed on each screen for your delivery preferences.Step 5:Vote your shares.When you go online, you can also consent to receive electronic delivery of future materials.Obtaining a Copy of the Proxy Materials – If you want to receive a paper or email copy of the proxy materials, you must request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request as instructed on the reverse side on or before May 3, 2022 to facilitate timely delivery. 03LNMC 2 N O T C O Y+

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Shareholder Meeting NoticePrincipal Financial Group, Inc.’s Annual Meeting will be held on May 17, 2022 via live webcast at meetnow.global/MVFPDCX at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time.To access the virtual meeting, you must have the 15-digit control number that is printed in the circle in the shaded bar located on the reverse side of this form.You do not need to participate in the Annual Meeting to vote.The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR all of the nominees listed and FOR Proposals 2 and 3:1.Election of Directors: Michael T. Dan, Blair C. Pickerell and Clare S. Richer2.Advisory Approval of Compensation of Our Named Executive Officers3.Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public AccountantsPLEASE NOTE – YOU CANNOT VOTE BY RETURNING THIS NOTICE. To vote your shares you must go online or request a paper copy of the proxy materials to receive a proxy card.Due to the continued public health impact of COVID-19 and to support the health and well-being of our employees and shareholders, the Annual Meeting will be held in the virtual format only via live webcast.There will not be a physical location for the Annual Meeting. Instructions to participate in the virtual meeting are available in our proxy statement and at www.principal.com/annualmeeting.Here’s how to order a copy of the proxy materials and select delivery preferences:Current and future delivery requests can be submitted using the options below.If you request an email copy, you will receive an email with a link to the current meeting materials.PLEASE NOTE: You must use the number in the shaded bar on the reverse side when requesting a copy of the proxy materials.—Internet – Go to www.investorvote.com/PFG.—Phone – Call us free of charge at 1-866-641-4276.—Email – Send an email to investorvote@computershare.com with “Proxy Materials PFG” in the subject line. Include your full name and address, plus the number located in the shaded bar on the reverse side, and state that you want a paper copy of the meeting materials.To facilitate timely delivery, requests for a paper copy of proxy materials must be received by May 3, 2022.

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+OnlineGo to www.investorvote.com/PFGor scan the QR code — login details are located in the shaded bar below.Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for thePrincipal Financial Group, Inc. Annual Meeting to be Held via Live Webcast on Tuesday, May 17, 2022When you go online, you can also consent to receive electronic delivery of future materials.Under Securities and Exchange Commission rules, you are receiving this notice that the proxy materials for the annual shareholders’ meeting are available on the Internet. Follow the instructions below to view the materials and vote online or request a paper or email copy. The items to be voted on and instructions on how to access the annual meeting are on the reverse side. Your vote is important!This communication presents only an overview of the more complete proxy materials that are available to you on the Internet. We encourage you to access and review all of the important information contained in the proxy materials before voting. The Proxy statement and annual report to shareholders are available at:Easy Online Access — View your proxy materials and vote.Step 1:Go to www.investorvote.com/PFG.Step 2:Click on the icon on the right to view meeting materials.Step 3:Return to the investorvote.com window and follow the instructions on the screen to log in. Step 4:Make your selections as instructed on each screen for your delivery preferences.Step 5:Vote your shares.When you go online, you can also consent to receive electronic delivery of future materials.Obtaining a Copy of the Proxy Materials – If you want to receive a paper or email copy of the proxy materials, you must request one. There is no charge to you for requesting a copy. Please make your request as instructed on the reverse side on or before May 3, 2022 to facilitate timely delivery. 03LNMC 2 N O T+

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Principal Financial (PFG) DEF 14ADefinitive proxy