The company employs roughly 9,000 people in Des Moines, Iowa, and owns and operates several buildings in the downtown area.

[8] In 2021, activist investor firm Elliott Investment Management took a stake in Principal, saying it will push for changes at the company.

[10] In 2024, Principal agreed to acquire the employee stock-option plan (ESOP) business from Ascensus.

Eddie's television and print ads often depicted him facing challenges and using the Principal Edge logo to solve his financial, business, and everyday life problems.

On August 20, 2020, the company announced that Ken McCullum would become the new chief risk officer, following the retirement of Julia Lawler.