Three new regional directors focus on growth in the RIA channel

Company Website: http://www.principal.com
DES MOINES, Iowa -- (Business Wire)

Principal Funds has added three new regional directors to the firm’s investment only team: Marcel Dawson, Gary Nakamura and Pamela Suing. Each will focus on growth within the registered investment advisor (RIA) distribution channel.

Marcel Dawson, based in Charlotte, N.C., covers the South Central region. Most recently, Dawson was a regional vice president with Pioneer Investments/UniCredit SpA, where he directed sales to institutional RIA clients in 15 states. He graduated from Appalachian State University with degrees in economics and Spanish/information systems.

Gary Nakamuracovers the West and is based in Golden, Colo. He mostrecently worked for MFS Investment Management as a director of sales within the firm’s RIA division. Nakamura graduated with bachelor’s degrees in economics and information/computer sciences from the University of California, Irvine. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst designation.

Pamela Suing is based in Chicago and covers the North/Northeast. Suing previously worked for Nuveen Investments, where she was an RIA consultant. She graduated from Southern Illinois University with a bachelor’s in marketing and holds the Certified Financial Planner^TM and Chartered Life Underwriter designations.

“The addition of Marcel, Gary and Pamela boosts our expertise in the RIA channel while allowing us to apply a more dedicated focus in all of our channels, including defined contribution investment only and bank/trust,” said Tim Hill, Principal Funds national sales director. “As a leader in investment management, we’re committed to delivering top-quality investment options and value-added sales and service to advisors and their clients.”

Investment only sales for Principal Funds reached $2.3 billion at the end of 2011, compared to $400 million in 2007, the year Principal Funds first entered the investment only space.

With the addition of Dawson, Nakamura and Suing, the investment only team now consists of eight regional directors and five internal wholesalers.

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About Principal Funds
Principal Funds is a leading provider of mutual funds, with $68.9 billion in assets under management.¹ Principal Funds brings expertise in global investment management, asset allocation and retirement leadership to financial professionals and investors. Including its target-risk and target-date offerings, Principal Funds is the fifth largest manager of lifecycle funds in the industry.² The companies that make up Principal Funds are members of the Principal Financial Group^®. For more information, visit www.principalfunds.com.

About Principal LifeTime Funds
The Principal LifeTime Funds, which are target-date funds, invest in underlying Principal Funds. Each Principal LifeTime Fund is managed toward a particular target (retirement) date, or the approximate date the participant or investor starts withdrawing money. As each Principal LifeTime Fund approaches its target date, the investment mix becomes more conservative by increasing exposure to generally more conservative investment options and reducing exposure to typically more aggressive investment options. The asset allocation for each Principal LifeTime Fund is regularly re-adjusted within a timeframe that extends 10-15 years beyond the target date, at which point it reaches its most conservative allocation. Principal LifeTime Funds assume the value of the investor's account will be withdrawn gradually during retirement. Neither the principal nor the underlying assets of the Principal LifeTime Funds are guaranteed at any time, including the target date. Investment risk remains at all times.

About the Principal Financial Group
The Principal Financial Group^® (The Principal ^®)³ is a global investment management leader including retirement services, insurance solutions and asset management. The Principal offers businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement, asset management and insurance through its diverse family of financial services companies. Founded in 1879 and a member of the FORTUNE 500^®, the Principal Financial Group has $335.0 billion in assets under management⁴ and serves some 18.0 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

Investors should carefully consider a fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses prior to investing. A prospectus, or summary prospectus if available, containing this and other information can be obtained by contacting a financial professional, visiting principalfunds.com, or calling 800-222-5852. Read the prospectus carefully before investing.

A mutual fund's share price and investment return will vary with market conditions, and the principal value of an investment when you sell your shares may be more or less than the original cost.

Principal Funds, Inc. is distributed by Principal Funds Distributor, Inc., member of the Principal Financial Group^®. Principal Funds Distributor, Principal Shareholder Services, Principal Management Corporation and its affiliates, and Principal Funds, Inc. are collectively referred to as Principal Funds.

¹ As of December 31, 2011. Includes all share classes of the Principal Funds, Inc. and Principal Variable Contracts Funds, Inc.
² FRC Mutual Fund Lifecycle Report Q411.
³ “The Principal Financial Group” and “The Principal” are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.
⁴ As of Dec. 31, 2011.

Contacts:

The Principal Financial Group
Jaime Naig, 515-247-0798
naig.jaime@principal.com

Source: Principal Financial Group