News Release

Principal Financial Group Offers Added Protection For Customers

DES MOINES, Iowa – Estate planning professionals estimate that 70 percent of Americans don’t have a will¹. In an effort to reduce that number and to help participants protect their assets, the Principal Financial Group^® is offering free will preparation services and identity theft resources. These services, provided by ARAG^®, are available to all group term life customers.

“We don’t want to think about what will happen after we’re gone, but will preparation is one of the most important planning tools to ensure financial security for our loved ones. Every adult should have a will to protect the assets they have worked hard to accumulate,” said Theresa McConeghey, group life product director for the Principal Financial Group. “At the same time, we’re introducing identity theft resources so our customers can protect their assets now and into the future.”

Will preparation services are available to all employees covered by group term life insurance from The Principal^® at no additional cost. New and existing customers including employees and their spouses have access to online will preparation services where they can create a standard will, a living will, a healthcare power of attorney and financial power of attorney. As needs change, employees can return to the documents they created to update or to develop new documents with no additional cost.

“Our legal services are designed to help individuals protect their rights and assets,” said David Murray, chief financial officer for ARAG. “We welcome the opportunity to assist Principal group term life customers by offering peace of mind to them and their families.”

The Principal is also offering free online access to an Identity Theft Prevention Kit and an Identity Theft Victim Action Kit. The kits give employees and family members tips and information about preventing identity theft and how to speed their recovery should they ever become a victim.

“By adding these services, we are providing one more way to help our customers plan ahead and get added value from their life insurance coverage,” noted McConeghey.

To learn more about group life insurance offered by The Principal, brokers should contact their Principal Financial Group representative or visit www.principal.com.

About ARAG
ARAG (www.ARAGgroup.com) is a global leader of legal insurance. The company has an international premium base of more than $1.75 billion and protects 15 million individuals and their families – worldwide. ARAG offers comprehensive legal plans that provide a smart and trusted path for resolving legal issues. This enables people to protect their families, finances and futures.

About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group^® (The Principal ^®)² is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment services, life and health insurance, and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies and national network of financial professionals. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $256.9 billion in assets under management³ and serves some 17.6 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

Insurance products and services issued by Principal Life Insurance Company.

¹National Association of Estate Planners and Councils, “Wills 101: Everything You Know But Don’t want to Think About” June 1, 2006.
² "The Principal Financial Group" and “The Principal” are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
³As of December 31, 2006

Video: Learn the basics
of an ARAG Legal Plan

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