employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

Principal Financial Group

Engaged Employer

Principal Financial Group reviews

3.8

71% would recommend to a friend

(2,585 total reviews)
avatar

Deanna Strable

81% approve of CEO

67% positive business outlook

Principal Financial Group has an employee rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars, based on 2,585 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have a good working experience there. The Principal Financial Group employee rating is in line with the average (within 1 standard deviation) for employers within the Finanzas industry (3.7 stars).

Reviews by job title

3K reviews
3.0
May 20, 2025

Not terrible, but slowly decling

Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There is generally great work-life balance and flexibility. A great company for people with families. Benefits outside of medical like a pension, stock option discounts, and gym reimbursements are a big plus. Depending on your department, leadership is generally competent and have realistic expectations. Principal is a stable, "boring" company; so there is typically good job security.

Cons

While our benefits are a definite plus, there's a growing feeling among the team that our overall compensation isn't keeping pace with the market. This isn't just a whisper; it's become a topic of open conversation, even in our all-hands meetings. It really points to a deeper issue with our current compensation structure. When raises are tied to strict budgets, often leading to minimal or even zero increases, and we're not accounting for inflation or loyalty through years of service, it creates a tough situation. Employees can feel like they're in a constant race for a small slice of the pie, which inevitably affects morale. We're seeing a pattern where talented people realize they might actually get a better offer by leaving and then potentially coming back. That's a strong signal that our approach to retaining talent might need a fresh look. The current bonus structure, while well-intentioned, seems to be causing some confusion and disappointment. Employees are often given an expected bonus percentage, but the reality is that the company and individual performance multipliers rarely hit 100% simultaneously. This means an anticipated 15% bonus can often land closer to 11-12%. This gap between expectation and reality can be really deflating and makes the bonus feel less like a true reward for hard work. If you're within a certain distance to the office, you're required to be in office at least 3 days a week. Many teams have several remote employees, so all meetings are still conducted over web.

avatar
Principal Financial Group Response
1y
Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback. As a leading provider of retirement solutions and employee benefits, we offer our employees a competitive benefits package. One of our guiding principles of our global pay philosophy is to be market driven. This means that total pay is set and administered in alignment with the external labor markets in which we compete for talent. We use third-party market data to help ensure base salary and incentives are appropriately aligned. We remain committed to flexibility and supporting a variety of work arrangements to help balance the value employees place on flexibility with the value of working together in person when and where we can.
4.0
May 19, 2025

Overall good policies

Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Work life balance is good

Cons

Hikes perks and rewards are low

avatar
Principal Financial Group Response
1y
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback and experience. We appreciate you taking the time to share your perspective. As a leading provider of retirement solutions and employee benefits, we offer our employees a competitive benefits package. One of our guiding principles of our global pay philosophy is to be market driven. This means that total pay is set and administered in alignment with the external labor markets in which we compete for talent. Decisions about annual compensation changes are based on employee performance levels and business results.
4.0
May 18, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Very good place to work

Cons

Management change is taking pgs towards a service based organization like environment

avatar
Principal Financial Group Response
1y
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We value your inputs. Principal Global Services has implemented a multi-year strategy in line with the global enterprise strategy focused on creating value for the organization through innovative solutions. We encourage you to have an open conversation with your leader and team about how you contribute to our success.
Viewing 199 - 201 of 2,585 Reviews

Glassdoor has 3,076 Principal Financial Group reviews submitted anonymously by Principal Financial Group employees. Read employee reviews and ratings on Glassdoor to decide if Principal Financial Group is right for you.