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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009

OR

1-16725

(Commission file number)

PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

711 High Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50392

(Address of principal executive offices)

(515) 247-5111

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.   Yes x   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x   No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o   No x

The total number of shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, $0.01 par value, outstanding as of July 29, 2009, was 318,935,780.

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PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

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PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

Principal Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

See accompanying notes.

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes.

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes.

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (continued)

(Unaudited)

See accompanying notes.

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

June 30, 2009

(Unaudited)

1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“PFG”), its majority-owned subsidiaries and its consolidated variable interest entities (“VIEs”), have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial statements and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2009. These interim unaudited consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our annual audited financial statements as of December 31, 2008, included in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The accompanying consolidated statement of financial position as of December 31, 2008, has been derived from the audited consolidated statement of financial position but does not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.

We have evaluated subsequent events through August 5, 2009, which was the date our consolidated financial statements were issued.

Reclassifications have been made to prior period financial statements to conform to the June 30, 2009, presentation. See Recent Accounting Pronouncements for impact of new accounting guidance on prior period financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On June 30, 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 168, The FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM and the Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, a replacement of FASB Statement No. 162 (“SFAS 168”). This statement replaces SFAS No. 162, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and establishes the FASB Accounting Standards CodificationTM (“Codification”) as the source of authoritative accounting principles recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities in the preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. Rules and interpretive releases of the SEC under federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants. All guidance contained in the Codification carries an equal level of authority. SFAS 168 is effective for financial statements issued for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. We do not anticipate that SFAS 168 will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

On June 12, 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 166, Accounting for Transfers of Financial Assets, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 140 (“SFAS 166”). The objective of SFAS 166 is to improve the relevance, representational faithfulness, and comparability of the information that a reporting entity provides in its financial reports about a transfer of financial assets; the effects of a transfer on its financial position, financial performance, and cash flows; and a transferor’s continuing involvement in transferred financial assets. The most significant change is the elimination of the concept of a qualifying special-purpose entity. Therefore, formerly qualifying special-purpose entities (as defined under previous accounting standards) should be evaluated for consolidation by reporting entities on and after the effective date in accordance with the applicable consolidation guidance. SFAS 166 will be effective for us on January 1, 2010. Earlier adoption is prohibited. We are still evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

Also on June 12, 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R) (“SFAS 167”). SFAS 167 amends FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), to require an enterprise to perform an analysis to determine whether the enterprise’s variable interest or interests give it a controlling financial interest in a VIE. This analysis identifies the primary beneficiary of a VIE as the enterprise that (1) has the power to direct the activities of a VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE. SFAS 167 requires ongoing reassessments of whether an enterprise is the primary beneficiary of a VIE. In addition, SFAS 167 requires enhanced disclosures that will provide users of financial statements with more transparent information about an enterprise’s involvement in a VIE. The enhanced disclosures are required for any enterprise that holds a variable interest in a VIE. SFAS 167 will be effective for us on January 1, 2010. Earlier adoption is prohibited. We are still evaluating the impact this guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements.

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2009
(Unaudited)

1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

On April 9, 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS 115-2 and FAS 124-2, Recognition and Presentation of Other-Than-Temporary Impairments (“FSP FAS 115-2”). FSP FAS 115-2 provides new guidance on the recognition and presentation of an other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) and requires additional disclosures. The recognition provisions within FSP FAS 115-2 apply only to debt securities classified as available-for-sale and held-to-maturity, while the presentation and disclosure requirements of FSP FAS 115-2 apply to both debt and equity securities. An impaired debt security will be considered other-than-temporarily impaired if a holder has the intent to sell, or it more likely than not will be required to sell prior to recovery of the amortized cost. If a holder of a debt security does not expect recovery of the entire cost basis, even if there is no intention to sell the security, it will be considered an OTTI as well. FSP FAS 115-2 also changes how an entity recognizes an OTTI for a debt security by separating the loss between the amount representing the credit loss and the amount relating to other factors, if a holder does not have the intent to sell or it more likely than not will not be required to sell prior to recovery of the amortized cost less any current period credit loss. Credit losses will be recognized in net income and losses relating to other factors will be recognized in other comprehensive income (“OCI”). If the holder has the intent to sell or it more likely than not will be required to sell before its recovery of amortized cost less any current period credit loss, the entire OTTI will continue to be recognized in net income. FSP FAS 115-2 requires a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption with a corresponding adjustment to accumulated OCI. We adopted FSP FAS 115-2 effective January 1, 2009. The cumulative change in accounting principle from adopting this guidance resulted in a net $9.9 million increase to retained earnings and a corresponding decrease to accumulated OCI. The required disclosures have been included in our consolidated financial statements.

On April 9, 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-4, Determining Fair Value When Volume and Level of Activity for the Asset or Liability Have Significantly Decreased and Identifying Transactions That Are Not Orderly (“FSP FAS 157-4”). FSP FAS 157-4 amends SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”), 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 normal market activity for the asset or liability and clarifies that the use of multiple valuation techniques may be appropriate. FSP FAS 157-4 also provides additional guidance on circumstances that may indicate a transaction is not orderly. Further, this FSP requires additional disclosures about fair value measurements in annual and interim reporting periods and supersedes FSP FAS 157-3, Determining the Fair Value of a Financial Asset in a Market That Is Not Active. We adopted FSP FAS 157-4 effective January 1, 2009, and this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements. See Note 9, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, for further details.

Also on April 9, 2009, the FASB issued FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1, Interim Disclosures About Fair Value of Financial Instruments (“FSP FAS 107-1”). FSP FAS 107-1 extends the annual disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 107, Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments (“SFAS 107”), to interim financial statements of public companies. We adopted FSP FAS 107-1 effective April 1, 2009. The required disclosures have been included in Note 9, Fair Value of Financial Instruments.

On March 19, 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities — an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS 161”). This statement requires (1) qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, (2) quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of gains and losses on derivative instruments and related hedged items and (3) disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative instruments. The disclosures are intended to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of how and why derivative instruments are used, how they are accounted for and the financial statement impacts. We adopted SFAS 161 on January 1, 2009. See Note 3, Derivative Financial Instruments, for further details.

On December 4, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), Business Combinations (“SFAS 141(R)”). Among the changes, the standard requires that the acquiring entity in a business combination establish the acquisition-date fair value as the measurement objective for all assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including any noncontrolling interests, and requires the acquirer to disclose to investors and other users all of the information they need to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effect of the business combination. In addition, SFAS 141(R) requires direct acquisition costs to be expensed. We adopted SFAS 141(R) on January 1, 2009. All requirements of SFAS 141(R) are applied prospectively.

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2009
(Unaudited)

1. Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Also on December 4, 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an Amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (“SFAS 160”). Under this statement, noncontrolling interests are to be treated as a separate component of equity, rather than as a liability or other item outside of equity. In addition, SFAS 160 changes the way the consolidated income statement is presented. Under this statement, net income includes the total income of all consolidated subsidiaries, with separate disclosures on the face of the income statement of the income attributable to controlling and noncontrolling interests. Previously, net income attributable to the noncontrolling interest was reported as an operating expense in arriving at consolidated net income. Finally, SFAS 160 revises the accounting requirements for changes in a parent’s ownership interest when the parent retains control and for changes in a parent’s ownership interest that results in deconsolidation. We adopted SFAS 160 on January 1, 2009. Presentation and disclosure requirements have been applied retrospectively for all periods presented. All other requirements of SFAS 160 should be applied prospectively. Certain separate account arrangements involve ownership of mutual funds to support the investment objective of the separate account. It is possible that, through a separate account arrangement, greater than 50% of the mutual fund shares could be owned. The accounting guidance for this circumstance is not well defined, but we, like many other insurers, do not consolidate the mutual fund as we believe the arrangement qualifies for the exemption afforded investment companies. In January 2009, the FASB asked the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) to consider a topic entitled “Consideration of an Insurer’s Accounting for Majority Owned Investments When the Ownership is through a Separate Account.” It is anticipated that the EITF will consider the issue in 2009. It is not possible to predict the outcome of the deliberations with any certainty; however, one outcome could be the recognition of the portion of the mutual fund not held via the separate account arrangement as a noncontrolling interest in equity.

Separate Accounts

As of June 30, 2009, and December 31, 2008, the separate accounts include a separate account valued at $159.9 million and $207.4 million, respectively, which primarily includes shares of our stock that were allocated and issued to eligible participants of qualified employee benefit plans administered by us as part of the policy credits issued under our 2001 demutualization. These shares are included in both basic and diluted earnings per share calculations. The separate account shares are recorded at fair value and are reported as separate account assets and separate account liabilities in the consolidated statements of financial position. Changes in fair value of the separate account shares are reflected in both the separate account assets and separate account liabilities and do not impact our results of operations.

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2009
(Unaudited)

2. Investments

Fixed Maturities and Equity Securities

Fixed maturity securities include bonds, mortgage-backed securities, redeemable preferred stock and certain nonredeemable preferred stock. Equity securities include mutual funds, common stock and nonredeemable preferred stock. We classify fixed maturity securities and equity securities as either available-for-sale or trading at the time of the purchase and, accordingly, carry them at fair value. See Note 9, Fair Value of Financial Instruments, for methodologies related to the determination of fair value. Unrealized gains and losses related to available-for-sale securities, excluding those in fair value hedging relationships, are reflected in stockholders’ equity, net of adjustments related to deferred policy acquisition costs (“DPAC”), sales inducements, unearned revenue reserves, derivatives in cash flow hedge relationships and applicable income taxes. Unrealized gains and losses related to trading securities and hedged portions of available-for-sale securities in fair value hedging relationships are reflected in net income as net realized capital gains (losses).

The cost of fixed maturity securities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accrual of discounts, both computed using the interest method. The cost of fixed maturity securities and equity securities is adjusted for other-than-temporary impairments recognized in net income. For loan-backed and structured securities, we recognize income using a constant effective yield based on currently anticipated prepayments using a tool that models the prepayment behavior of the underlying collateral based on the current interest rate environment.

The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses, other-than-temporary impairments in OCI and fair value of fixed maturities and equity securities available-for-sale as of June 30, 2009, are summarized as follows:

The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities available-for-sale as of June 30, 2009, by contractual maturity, were as follows:

Actual maturities may differ because issuers may have the right to call or prepay obligations.

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Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
June 30, 2009
(Unaudited)

2. Investments (continued)

Our portfolio is diversified by industry, issuer and asset class. Credit concentrations are managed to established limits.

Net Realized Capital Gains and Losses

Net realized capital gains and losses on sales of investments are determined on the basis of specific identification. In general, in addition to realized capital gains and losses on investment sales and periodic settlements on derivatives not designated as hedges, gains and losses related to other than temporary impairments, trading securities, certain seed money investments, fair value hedge and cash flow hedge ineffectiveness, mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives not designated as hedges, changes in the mortgage loan valuation allowance and impairments of real estate held for investment are reported as net realized capital gains (losses). Investment gains and losses on sales of certain real estate held for sale, which do not meet the criteria for classification as a discontinued operation, are reported as net investment income and are excluded from net realized capital gains (losses). The major components of net realized capital gains (losses) on investments are summarized as follows: