individualfield11k.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing
UNITED STATES 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
Washington, D.C. 20549 
 
FORM 11-K 
 
 
    (Mark One)   
    [x]  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
  EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934   
   For the fiscal year ended: December 31, 2009 
 
OR 
 
 
    [ ]  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES 
  EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934   
For the transition period from ____________ to ____________ 
 
   Commission file number: 1-16725
 
The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field 
(Full title of the plan) 
 
 
Principal Financial Group, Inc. 
(Name of Issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan) 
 
711 High Street 
Des Moines, Iowa 50392 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                  Page 1 of 21 
                                                                  Exhibit Index - Page 20 

 



Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Management Resources Committee 
Principal Life Insurance Company 
 
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of 
The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field as of December 31, 2009 and 2008, and 
the related statements of changes in net assets available for benefits for the years then ended. 
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is 
to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. 
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting 
Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain 
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were  
not engaged to perform an audit of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included 
consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit 
procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an 
opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, 
we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence 
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting 
principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall 
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our 
opinion. 
 
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, 
the net assets available for benefits of the Plan at December 31, 2009 and 2008, and the changes 
in its net assets available for benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with U.S. generally 
accepted accounting principles. 
 
Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the financial statements 
taken as a whole. The accompanying supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of 
December 31, 2009, is presented for purposes of additional analysis and is not a required part of 
the financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s 
Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income 
Security Act of 1974. This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. 
The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audits of 
the financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to 
the financial statements taken as a whole. 
 
 
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP 
 
June 29, 2010 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                     Page 2 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
 
 
                   December 31 
  2009    2008 
Assets       
Investments:       
   Unallocated investment options at fair value:       
     Guaranteed interest accounts  $       2,915,965  $     3,613,821 
     Separate accounts of insurance company  117,701,725    99,359,168 
   Principal Financial Group, Inc. ESOP  16,864,037    12,871,794 
   Notes receivable from participants  2,834,515    2,612,545 
Total invested assets  140,316,242    118,457,328 
 
Contribution receivable from Principal Life Insurance       
   Company  120,897    124,766 
Contributions receivable from participants  247,592    216,242 
Net assets available for benefits  $  140,684,731  $ 118,798,336 
 
See accompanying notes.       
 
 
 
 
      Page 3 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
 
 
          Year Ended December 31 
  2009    2008 
Investment income (loss):       
   Interest  $         279,260  $       338,597 
   Dividends  337,543    189,713 
   Net realized and unrealized appreciation (depreciation) in       
       aggregate value of investments  22,871,270    (66,596,717) 
Total investment income (loss)  23,488,073    (66,068,407) 
 
Contributions:       
   Principal Life Insurance Company  3,160,473    3,989,907 
   Employees  7,997,111    9,195,693 
   Transfers from affiliated and unaffiliated plans, net  536,219    294,917 
Total contributions  11,693,803    13,480,517 
  35,181,876    (52,587,890) 
 
Deductions:       
   Benefits paid to participants  13,261,029    16,476,968 
   Administrative expenses  34,452    30,484 
Total deductions  13,295,481    16,507,452 
Net increase (decrease)  21,886,395    (69,095,342) 
 
Net assets available for benefits at beginning of year  118,798,336    187,893,678 
Net assets available for benefits at end of year  $  140,684,731  $ 118,798,336 
 
See accompanying notes.       
 
 
 
 
      Page 4 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Notes to Financial Statements
 
December 31, 2009
 
1. Significant Accounting Policies 
 
The accounting records of The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field (the Plan) are 
maintained on the accrual basis of accounting. 
 
Valuation of Investments 
 
The unallocated investment options consist of guaranteed interest accounts under a guaranteed 
benefit policy (described in ERISA 401(b)) and separate accounts (described in ERISA 3(17) of 
insurance company; Principal Life Insurance Company (Principal Life). The guaranteed interest 
accounts and separate accounts are reported at fair value as determined by Principal Life. The 
Principal Financial Group Inc. ESOP, which consists of common stock of Principal Financial 
Group, Inc., the ultimate parent of Principal Life, is reported at the quoted closing market price 
of the stock on the last business day of the Plan year. 
 
These unallocated investment options are non-benefit-responsive and are valued at fair value. 
The guaranteed interest accounts’ fair value is the amount Plan participants would receive 
currently if they were to withdraw or transfer funds within the Plan prior to their maturity for an 
event other than death, disability, termination, or retirement. This fair value represents 
guaranteed interest account values adjusted to reflect current market interest rates only to the 
extent such market rates exceed contract crediting rates. This value represents contributions 
allocated to the guaranteed interest accounts, plus interest at the contractually guaranteed rate, 
less funds used to pay plan benefits and the insurance company’s administrative expenses. The 
separate accounts of insurance company represent contributions invested in pools of domestic 
and international common stocks, high-quality short-term debt securities, real estate, private 
market bonds and mortgages, and high-yield fixed-income securities which are slightly below 
investment grade, all of which are valued at fair value. 
 
The notes receivable from participants are reported at cost (unpaid balances), which 
approximates fair value. 
 
Risks and Uncertainties 
 
The Plan invests in various investment securities. Investment securities are exposed to various 
risks such as interest rate, market, and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with certain 
investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment 
securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts 
reported in the statements of net assets available for benefits. 
 
 
 
 
                                                                                                  Page 5 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
1. Significant Accounting Policies (continued) 
 
Use of Estimates 
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting 
principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts 
reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from 
those estimates. 
 
New Accounting Pronouncements 
 
In April 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Staff Position 
157-4, Determining Fair Value When the Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability 
Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly (FSP 157-4). 
FSP 157-4 amended FASB Statement No. 157 (codified as Accounting Standards Codification 
(ASC) 820) to provide additional guidance on estimating fair value when the volume and level of 
activity for an asset or liability have significantly decreased in relation to its normal market 
activity. FSP 157-4 also provided additional guidance on circumstances that may indicate that a 
transaction is not orderly and on defining major categories of debt and equity securities to 
comply with the disclosure requirements of ASC 820. The Plan adopted the guidance in FSP 
157-4 for the reporting period ended December 31, 2009. Adoption of FSP 157-4 did not have a 
material effect on the Plan’s net assets available for benefits or its changes in net assets available 
for benefits. 
 
In September 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2009-12, Investments in 
Certain Entities That Calculate Net Asset Value per Share (or Its Equivalent) (ASU 2009-12). 
ASU 2009-12 amended ASC 820 to allow entities to use net asset value (NAV) per share (or its 
equivalent), as a practical expedient, to measure fair value when the investment does not have a 
readily determinable fair value and the net asset value is calculated in a manner consistent with 
investment company accounting. The Plan adopted the guidance in ASU 2009-12 for the 
reporting period ended December 31, 2009 and has utilized the practical expedient to measure 
the fair value of investments within the scope of this guidance based on the investment’s NAV. 
In addition, as a result of adopting ASU 2009-12, the Plan has provided additional disclosures 
regarding the nature and risks of investments within the scope of this guidance. Refer to Note 5 
for these disclosures. Adoption of ASU 2009-12 did not have a material effect on the Plan’s net 
assets available for benefits or its changes in net assets available for benefits. 
 
 
 
 
Page 6 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
 
 
 
1. Significant Accounting Policies (continued) 
 
In January 2010, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2010-06, Improving 
Disclosures about Fair Value Measurements, (ASU 2010-06). ASU 2010-06 amended ASC 820 
to clarify certain existing fair value disclosures and require a number of additional disclosures. 
The guidance in ASU 2010-06 clarified that disclosures should be presented separately for each 
“class” of assets and liabilities measured at fair value and provided guidance on how to 
determine the appropriate classes of assets and liabilities to be presented. ASU 2010-06 also 
clarified the requirement for entities to disclose information about both the valuation techniques 
and inputs used in estimating Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. In addition, ASU 
2010-06 introduced new requirements to disclose the amounts (on a gross basis) and reasons for 
any significant transfers between Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the fair value hierarchy and present 
information regarding the purchases, sales, issuances and settlements of Level 3 assets and 
liabilities on a gross basis. With the exception of the requirement to present changes in Level 3 
measurements on a gross basis, which is delayed until 2011, the guidance in ASU 2010-06 
becomes effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2009. 
 
2. Description of the Plan 
 
The Plan is a defined contribution plan (401(k) plan) that was established January 1, 1985. The 
Plan is available to substantially all field management and agents holding a Career Agent 
Contract from Principal Life (the Company). On January 1, 2006, Principal Life made several 
changes to the retirement program. Participants who were age 47 or older with at least ten years 
of service on December 31, 2005, could elect to retain the prior benefit provisions under the 
qualified defined benefit retirement Plan and the 401(k) Plan and forgo receipt of the additional 
benefits offered by amendments to Principal Life’s 401(k). The participants who elected to retain 
the prior benefit provisions are referred to as “Grandfathered Choice Participants.” Matching 
contributions for participants other than the Grandfathered Choice Participants were increased 
from 50% to 75% of deferrals, with the maximum matching deferral increasing from 6% to 8%. 
Participants are eligible for immediate entry into the Plan upon contract effective date with 
vesting at 100% after three years. The funds accumulate along with interest and investment 
return and are available for withdrawal by participants at retirement, termination, or when certain 
hardship withdrawal specifications are met. The participants may also obtain loans of their 
vested accrued benefit, subject to certain limitations described in the Plan document. The federal 
and state income taxes of the participant are deferred on the contributions until the funds are 
withdrawn from the Plan. 
 
 
 
 
Page 7 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
2. Description of the Plan (continued) 
 
At December 31, 2009 and 2008, forfeited nonvested account balances totaled $10,267 and 
$105,139, respectively. In 2009 and 2008, employer contributions were reduced by $587,648 and 
$325,054, respectively, from nonvested accounts. 
 
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right to terminate the 
Plan subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 
(ERISA). In the event of Plan termination, participants will become fully vested in their 
accounts. 
 
Information about the Plan agreement, eligibility, and benefit provisions is contained in the 
Summary Plan Description. Copies of the Summary Plan Description are available from the 
Benefit Administration Department or the Intranet. 
 
3. Income Tax Status 
 
The Plan has received a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (the IRS) dated 
February 28, 2003, stating that the Plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue 
Code (the Code), and therefore, the related trust is exempt from taxation. Subsequent to this 
determination by the IRS, the Plan was amended and restated. Once qualified, the Plan is 
required to operate in conformity with the terms of the Plan document and the Code to maintain 
its qualification. The Plan sponsor intends to operate the Plan in conformity with the provisions 
of the Plan document and the Code. The Plan sponsor acknowledges that inadvertent errors may 
occur in the operation of the Plan. If such inadvertent errors occur, the Plan sponsor represents 
that it will take the necessary steps to bring the Plan’s operations into compliance with the Code, 
including voluntarily and timely correcting such errors in accordance with procedures 
established by the IRS. 
 
 
 
 
Page 8 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
 
 
 
4. Investments     
 
Contributions are invested in unallocated guaranteed interest accounts supported by the general 
account of insurance company (a pooled account invested primarily in fixed income securities 
having a range of maturities); in separate accounts of insurance company, the portfolios of which 
are primarily invested in domestic and international common stocks, high-quality short-term debt 
securities, real estate, private market bonds and mortgages, and high-yield fixed-income 
securities which are slightly below investment grade, as appropriate for each separate account; 
and The Principal Financial Group Inc. ESOP, which consists of common stock of Principal 
Financial Group, Inc., the ultimate parent of Principal Life. Participants elect the investment(s) in 
which to have their contributions invested.     
 
The following presents investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s net assets available 
for benefits in 2009 and 2008. Principal Life is a party in interest with respect to these 
investments.     
 
  December 31 
  2009  2008 
 
     Principal Financial Group, Inc. ESOP  $    16,864,037  $    12,871,794 
     Money Market Separate Account  14,835,808  15,890,573 
     International Emerging Markets Separate Account  11,975,630  6,688,312 
     Diversified International Separate Account  11,132,426  9,140,563 
     U.S. Property Separate Account  8,133,174  11,123,522 
     Mid-Cap Blend Separate Account  7,065,216  * 
  
     *Less than 5% of the fair value of net assets available for benefits at respective date. 
 
During 2009 and 2008, the Plan’s investments that are related to Principal Life (depreciated) 
appreciated in value by $22,871,270 and $(66,596,717), respectively, as follows: 
 
  Year Ended December 31 
  2009  2008 
 
     Guaranteed interest account  $       (10,452)  $               8,743 
     Separate accounts of insurance company  18,048,529  (57,703,831) 
     Principal Financial Group, Inc. ESOP  4,833,193  (8,901,629) 
  $   22,871,270  $   (66,596,717) 
 
 
 
    Page 9 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
 
 
 
5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments 
 
Valuation Hierarchy 
 
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset in an orderly transaction 
between market participants at the measurement date (an exit price). The fair value hierarchy 
prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels. 
 
   •    Level 1 – Fair values are based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for 
    identical assets. Our Level 1 assets include the Principal Financial Group, Inc. ESOP. 
 
   •    Level 2 – Fair values are based on inputs other than quoted prices within Level 1 that are 
    observable for the asset, either directly or indirectly. Our Level 2 assets are separate 
    accounts of insurance company and all transactions are being transacted at the NAV price 
    at the day of the transaction. 
 
   •    Level 3 – Fair values are based on significant unobservable inputs for the asset. Our 
    Level 3 assets include guaranteed interest accounts, real estate separate accounts of the 
    insurance company, and notes receivable from participants. 
 
Determination of Fair Value 
 
The following discussion describes the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair 
value on a recurring basis. The techniques utilized in estimating the fair values of financial 
instruments are reliant on the assumptions used. Care should be exercised in deriving 
conclusions based on the fair value information of financial instruments presented below. 
 
Fair value estimates are made at a specific point in time, based on available market information 
and judgments about the financial instrument. Such estimates do not consider the tax impact of 
the realization of unrealized gains or losses. In addition, the disclosed fair value may not be 
realized in the immediate settlement of the financial instrument. We did not make any significant 
changes to our valuation processes during 2009. 
 
 
 
 
  Page 10 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
 
 
 
5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued) 
 
Guaranteed Interest Accounts 
 
The guaranteed interest accounts cannot be sold to a third party, thus, the only option to exit the 
guaranteed interest accounts is to withdraw the funds prior to maturity. The fair value of the 
account is the value paid when funds are withdrawn prior to their maturity. If the applicable 
interest rate is greater than the interest rate on the account, the fair value is the contract value 
reduced by a percentage. This percentage is equal to the difference between the applicable 
interest rate and the interest rate on the account, multiplied by the number of years (including 
fractional parts of a year) until the maturity date. 
 
Separate Accounts of Insurance Company 
 
Net asset value (NAV) of each of the separate accounts is calculated in a manner consistent with 
U.S. GAAP for investment companies and is determinative of their fair value and represents the 
price at which the Plan would be able to initiate a transaction. Several of the separate accounts 
invest in publicly quoted mutual funds or actively managed stocks. The fair value of the 
underlying mutual funds or stock is used to determine the NAV of the separate account, which is 
not publicly quoted. Some of the separate accounts also invest in fixed income securities. The 
fair value of the underlying securities is based on quoted prices of similar assets and used to 
determine the NAV of the separate account. One separate account invests in real estate, for 
which the fair value of the underlying real estate is based on unobservable inputs and used to 
determine the NAV of the separate account. The fair value of the underlying real estate is 
estimated using discounted cash flow valuation models that utilize public real estate market data 
inputs such as transaction prices, market rents, vacancy levels, leasing absorption, market cap 
rates and discount rates. In addition, each property is appraised annually by an independent 
appraiser. Currently, this specific separate account has a temporary withdrawal limitation related 
to turmoil in the credit markets that resulted in a sharp slowdown in the sale of commercial real 
estate assets. The uncertain environment led to significantly increased requests for withdrawals. 
To allow for orderly administration and management benefiting all separate account investors, 
Principal Life implemented a pre-existing contractual limitation to delay withdrawal requests. 
Currently, certain, high need payments, such as death, disability, certain eligible retirements, and 
hardship withdrawals, are not subject to the withdrawal limitation. Other withdrawal requests are 
subject to the limitation until certain liquidity levels are achieved, mainly via proceeds from sales 
 
 
 
 
Page 11 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
 
 
 
5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued) 
 
of underlying properties, rents from tenants and new investor contributions. Since the inception 
of the withdrawal limitation, all sources of cash are first used to satisfy cash requirements at the 
properties, meet debt maturities, maintain compliance with debt covenants and meet upcoming 
separate account obligations. Outstanding withdrawal requests will be paid in multiple payments. 
Except for certain de minimis payments, payments will be made proportionately among all other 
outstanding withdrawal requests, based upon available liquidity. All withdrawals are being 
transacted at the NAV price at the date of distribution. Currently, there is no estimate of when 
this restriction will end. The restriction has been in place since September 26, 2008. 
 
Principal Financial Group, Inc. ESOP 
 
The Principal Financial Group Inc. ESOP, which consists of common stock of Principal 
Financial Group, Inc., the ultimate parent of Principal Life, is reported at the closing quoted 
market price on the last business day of the Plan year. 
 
Notes Receivable from Participants 
 
Participant loans are reported at unpaid balances which approximates fair value. There is no 
existing external exit market for these loans as all transactions are restricted to participants. 
These loans cannot be assumed or sold to outside parties. There is no credit risk involved with 
these loans as any participant defaults are deemed taxable distributions to the participant. 
 
 
 
 
Page 12 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
 
 
 
5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)     
 
Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis   
 
Assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of 2009 and 2008 are 
summarized below.         
 
    As of December 31, 2009   
  Assets                      Fair Value Hierarchy Level
  Measured at      
  Fair Value Level 1 Level 2 Level 3
Assets         
Guaranteed interest accounts  $     2,915,965  $               –  $                   –  $     2,915,965 
Separate accounts of         
  insurance company:         
    Fixed income security  21,617,589    21,617,589   
    Lifetime balanced asset         
          allocation  14,955,713    14,955,713   
   U.S. large cap equity  25,460,308    25,460,308   
   U.S. small/mid cap equity  24,426,885    24,426,885   
   U.S. real estate  8,133,174      8,133,174 
   International equity  23,108,056    23,108,056   
Principal Financial Group,         
  Inc. ESOP  16,864,037  16,864,037     
Notes receivable from         
  participants  2,834,515      2,834,515 
Total assets  $ 140,316,242  $ 16,864,037  $109,568,551  $ 13,883,654 
 
    As of December 31, 2008   
  Assets                     Fair Value Hierarchy Level 
  Measured at      
  Fair Value Level 1  Level 2  Level 3 
Assets         
Guaranteed interest accounts  $     3,613,821  $                  –  $                  –  $          3,613,821 
Separate accounts of         
  insurance company  99,359,168    88,235,646  11,123,522 
     Principal Financial Group,         
       Inc. ESOP  12,871,794  12,871,794    –– 
Notes receivable from         
  participants  2,612,545      2,612,545 
Total assets  $  118,457,328  $ 12,871,794  $   88,235,646  $         17,349,888 
 
 
 
        Page 13 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
 
 
 
5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments (continued)       
 
Changes in Level 3 Fair Value Measurements         
 
The reconciliation for all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using 
significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, are 
as follows:                 
 
 
        Year Ended December 31, 2009   

Changes in
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
Included in
Statements of
Changes in
Net Assets
Available for
Benefits
Relating to
Positions Still
Held

          Purchases,
Sales,
Issuances,
and
Settlements
**
   
  Beginning
Asset Balance
as of
January 1,
2009
Total
Realized/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
   
    Ending Asset
Balance as of
December 31,
2009
  Transfers in
(Out) of
Level 3
 
 
Assets                 
Guaranteed interest accounts $       3,613,821 $        89,925  $  (787,781)  $          –  $ 2,915,965  $           (10,452) 
U.S. real estate   11,123,522    (3,585,351)  595,003    8,133,174  (3,630,115) 
Notes receivable from                 
  participants    2,612,545      221,970    2,834,515   
Total  $    17,349,888  $   (3,495,426) $     29,192  $          –  $ 13,883,654  $     (3,640,567) 
 
        Year Ended December 31, 2008    Changes in
Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
Included in
Statements of
Changes in
Net Assets
Available for
Benefits
Relating to
Positions Still
Held
          Purchases,
Sales,
Issuances,
and
Settlements
**
   
               Beginning
           Asset Balance
            as of
            January 1,
           2008
Total
Realized/
Unrealized
Appreciation
(Depreciation)
   
    Ending Asset
Balance as of
December 31,
2008
  Transfers in
(Out) of
Level 3
 
 
Assets                 
Guaranteed interest accounts  $        2,813,830  $         116,637  $     683,354  $                 –  $     3,613,821  $               8,743 
Separate accounts of insurance               
   company    15,718,644    (1,668,464)  (2,926,658)    11,123,522  (3,269,220) 
Notes receivable from                 
   participants    2,766,013      (153,468)    2,612,545   
Total  $       21,298,487  $     (1,551,827)  $  (2,396,772)  $                 –  $     17,349,888  $      (3,260,477) 
 
** Includes contributions, transfers from affiliated and unaffiliated plans, transfers to other investments via participant direction, benefits 
   paid to participants, and administrative expenses.           
 
 
 
 
                Page 14 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
 
Notes to Financial Statements (continued)
 
 
 
 
6. Notes Receivable From Participants 
 
The Plan document provides for loans to active participants, which are considered a participant- 
directed investment of his/her account. The loan is a Plan investment but only the borrowing 
participant’s account shall share in the interest paid on the loan or bear any expense or loss 
incurred because of the loan. The rate of interest is 2% higher than the Federal Reserve “Bank 
Prime Loan” rate at the time of the loan. The rate is set the day a loan is approved, and the rate 
for the loans issued in 2009 and 2008 ranged from 5.25% to 9.25%. The notes receivable balance 
was reduced by $418,015 and $249,692 in 2009 and 2008, respectively, for terminated 
participants that received their account balance, net of the outstanding loans, as a benefit 
distribution. 
 
7. Transactions With Party in Interest 
 
In addition to the transactions with parties in interest discussed in Notes 4 and 5, Principal Life 
provides recordkeeping services to the Plan and receives fees, which are paid through revenue 
generated by Plan investments, for those services. Principal Life may pay other Plan expenses 
from time to time. 
 
8. Form 5500 
 
Certain line items of net asset additions and deductions in the 2009 and 2008 Forms 5500 differ 
from similar classifications in the accompanying financial statements. However, such differences 
are not considered material and create no differences in net asset balances at December 31, 2009 
and 2008. 
 
 
 
 
Page 15 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
  EIN: 42-0127290  Plan Number: 004   
Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets
(Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2009
 
Identity of Issue  Description of Investment  Current Value 
Principal Life       
Insurance Company*  Deposits in guaranteed interest accounts  $ 2,915,965 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Small-Cap Value II   
Insurance Company*     Separate Account    1,868,875 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Money Market   
Insurance Company*     Separate Account    14,835,808 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company U.S. Property Separate   
Insurance Company*     Account    8,133,174 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Bond and Mortgage   
Insurance Company*     Separate Account    5,480,460 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Diversified   
Insurance Company*     International Separate Account  11,132,426 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Governmental and   
Insurance Company*     High Quality Bond Separate Account  1,301,321 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Medium Company   
Insurance Company*     Blend Separate Account  7,065,216 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Large-Cap Stock Index   
Insurance Company*     Separate Account    6,715,057 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Partner Large-Cap   
Insurance Company*     Blend I Separate Account  5,786,758 
 
 
 
      Page 16 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
  EIN: 42-0127290  Plan Number: 004   
Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets
(Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2009
Identity of Issue  Description of Investment  Current Value 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Partner Mid-Cap   
Insurance Company*     Growth Separate Account  $ 5,088,411 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Small-Cap Stock Index   
Insurance Company*     Separate Account    6,566,044 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Large Company   
Insurance Company*     Growth Separate Account  4,222,535 
Principal Life  Deposit in insurance company International Emerging   
Insurance Company*     Markets Separate Account  11,975,630 
Principal Life  Deposit in insurance company Principal Financial   
Insurance Company*     Group, Inc. Stock Separate Account  1,732,194 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Partner Large-Cap   
Insurance Company*     Value Separate Account  3,206,153 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Lifetime2010 Separate   
Insurance Company*     Account    1,454,845 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Lifetime2020 Separate   
Insurance Company*     Account    4,232,719 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Lifetime2030 Separate   
Insurance Company*     Account    3,714,729 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Lifetime2040 Separate   
Insurance Company*     Account    2,911,807 
 
 
 
      Page 17 of 21 

 



The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field
  EIN: 42-0127290  Plan Number: 004     
Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets
(Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2009
Identity of Issue  Description of Investment  Current Value 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Lifetime2050 Separate     
   Insurance Company*     Account    $ 1,624,513 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Large Company Value     
   Insurance Company*     Stock Separate Account    1,326,088 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Partner Large-Cap     
   Insurance Company*     Growth I Separate Account    2,471,523 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Lifetime Strategic     
   Insurance Company*     Income Separate Account    1,017,100 
Principal Life  Deposits in insurance company Partner Small-Cap     
   Insurance Company*     Growth II Separate Account    3,838,339 
Principal Financial  701,499 shares of Principal Financial Group, Inc.     
   Group, Inc.     ESOP      16,864,037 
Various participants  Notes receivable from participants with interest rates     
     ranging from 5.25% to10.25%    2,834,515 
Total invested assets      $ 140,316,242 
*Indicates party in interest to the Plan.       
 
 
 
 
        Page 18 of 21 

 



SIGNATURE
 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the administrator of The 
Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field has duly caused this annual report to be signed 
on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized. 
 
           THE PRINCIPAL SELECT SAVINGS PLAN FOR 
                                                    INDIVIDUAL FIELD
           by Benefit Plans Administration Committee 
 
 
Date: June 29, 2010           By  /s/ Ralph C. Eucher                                                   
               Ralph C. Eucher 
               Committee Member 
 
 
 
 
  Page 19 of 21 

 



Exhibit Index
The following exhibit is filed herewith:     
      Page 
23  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP      21 
 
 
 
 
      Page 20 of 21 

 



                                                                                               Exhibit 23 
 
 
 
 
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8, No. 333- 
72002) pertaining to The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field of Principal Financial 
Group, Inc. of our report dated June 29, 2010, with respect to the financial statements and 
schedule of The Principal Select Savings Plan for Individual Field included in this Annual 
Report (Form 11-K) for the year ended December 31, 2009. 
 
 
                                                                         /s/ Ernst & Young, LLP 
 
 
Des Moines, Iowa 
June 29, 2010 
 
 
 
 
Page 21 of 21