Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Explore Principal Financial Group
Core profile pages, annual revenue records, and related research hubs for this company.
Founders
Edward Temple, Simon Casady · Founded 1879 · Des Moines, Iowa, United States
Quick Answer
Principal Financial Group was founded by Edward Temple, Simon Casady in 1879 in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. The company is currently led by Deanna D. Strable.
Principal began in Des Moines in 1879 as The Bankers Life Association. Edward Temple saw a practical problem: bankers and their employees needed dependable life insurance at affordable cost.
Des Moines banker who founded The Bankers Life Association in 1879 to provide affordable life insurance for bankers and employees.
Edward Temple founded the company that became Principal Financial Group.
Early investor and Iowa banker who helped back The Bankers Life Association with Temple.
Simon Casady was among the early financial backers of the Bankers Life Association.
Deanna D. Strable
Chair, President and CEO
Named CEO in 2025 after decades at Principal and leads the company across retirement, benefits, asset management, and financial security.
Dan Houston
Former Chairman, President and CEO
Led Principal through portfolio changes, retirement scale expansion, and the Wells Fargo IRT integration era.
Principal Financial Group's founding story traces to Edward Temple and early Bankers Life Association backers.
Principal Financial Group's founding story dates to 1879.
Edward Temple's focus on affordable life insurance for bankers and employees established Principal's long-running workplace financial-security orientation.
It shaped the first customer focus, operating model, and long-term competitive position described in this profile.