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Principal Financial Group

Engaged employer

No appreciation - Marketing Advisor Principal Financial Group Employee Review

2.0
Nov 8, 2015
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Corporate benefits, onsite gym, views from the top floor windows

Cons

After the 2008 financial crisis, the company took away a lot of the extra perks and laid off the more 'expensive' employees. The ones that were left were stuck absorbing all the extra work, with little to no raises each year. There is a yearly bonus, but nothing to be too excited about. Goals are a joke just like other corporations and there is 'never any money' for raises or promotions. Employees work their butt until they realize that is getting them nowhere. The culture was depressing with good reason. My department continuously did very poorly on the employee survey, and one year, we even 'got in trouble' for having such bad company reviews! If you manage to get a promotion/raise, there are 10 additional duties/goals added and you're on the chopping block for the next round of layoffs. And portfolio managers and other non-marketing leadership run the marketing department.

Explore other reviews about Principal Financial Group

5.0
Jun 24, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

good FTO policy good opportunity for career development flexible work arrangements

Cons

health insurance sucks - United annual reviews- everything's made up and the points don't matter more and more pressure to be in-office despite team members being remote

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Principal Financial Group Response
2d
Thank you for taking the time to provide this feedback. Your input is valuable as we work to improve as an employer.
2.0
Jun 4, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Decent work life balance and benefits. Principal offers a pension which is unheard of in today’s age.

Cons

Pay is below average and Principal does not offer inflation raises. Once you hit the midpoint of your salary, you will get a 0% raise until you’re promoted, which will take multiple years regardless of performance. Performance reviews are vague and often used against employees to avoid promotions. At least in my department, I’ve yet to see any of the remote workers be promoted. This is starting to affect attrition and we’re already starting to see people leaving. It’s well known at this point that the best way to get promoted is to leave Principal and get rehired, which even leadership has stated publicly. This is a huge frustration and blow to morale, as it starts to feel like employees need to compete against their co-workers for raises.

1
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Principal Financial Group Response
1w
We appreciate you sharing your feedback. As a leader in retirement solutions and employee benefits, we strive to provide our employees with a competitive benefits package. Our global pay philosophy is guided by market-driven principles. and we leverage third-party market data to ensure our base salary and incentives remain appropriately competitive.
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