Principal Financial Group, Inc. 401(k): best low-cost funds
The Principal Select Savings Plan · Plan #003 · DES Moines, IA
Suggested simple Boglehead mix
- US stocks (~60%): Large-Cap Stock Index Separate Account
- International stocks (~20-30%): Prin/BR International Equity Index (collective investment trust)
- Bonds (~10-20%): Prin/BR Aggregate Bond Index (collective investment trust)
Fund names from the plan's public SEC Form 11-K filed 2025-06-25 (fund list in the annual report). Confirm they are on your current menu and check expense ratios. Adjust the bond share for your age and risk tolerance.
Know this plan's fund menu? Submit it and we'll add a fund-by-fund pick list.
Pooled funds named in the filing (Schedule D)
These are collective trusts and similar pooled funds the plan reported holding. Names that look like index funds are tagged index by keyword, so check them yourself. Mutual funds are not listed by name in the free data.
| Fund | Manager | Type | Plan's holding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prin Lgcp S&P 500 IDX Sa-ne index | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $680.1M |
| Prin Midcap SEP Acct-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $404.3M |
| Prin Largecap Growth I Sa-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $274.8M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2040 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $272.8M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2030 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $233.4M |
| Prin Smcap S&P 600 Index Sa-ne index | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $228.1M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2050 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $214.6M |
| Prin Diversified Intl Sa-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $202.4M |
| Principal U.s. Property Sa-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $189.7M |
| Prin Blue Chip Sa-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $185.0M |
| Prin Equity Income Sa-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $177.6M |
| Prin Core Plus Bond SEP Acct-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $130.8M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2035 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $121.1M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2045 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $105.4M |
| Prin Smcap Growth I SEP Acct-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $97.2M |
| Prin Glbl Emerg Markets Sa-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $96.6M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2055 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $83.2M |
| Morley Stable Income Bond Fund | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $83.0M |
| Morley Income Fund III | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $74.6M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2060 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $69.2M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2020 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $66.2M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2025 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $49.9M |
| Prin Smcap Value II SEP Acct-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $49.5M |
| Prin Govt & HQ Bond Sa-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $43.3M |
| Prin Inflation Protect Sa-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $41.1M |
| Prin Lifetime HY INC CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $37.7M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2065 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $23.8M |
| Prin/br Intl EQ Indx CIT N | SEI Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $21.7M |
| Prin/br AGG BD Index CIT N index | SEI Trust Company | Common/collective trust | $20.2M |
| Prin Midcap S&P 400 IDX Sa-ne index | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $17.9M |
| Principal DIV Real Asset Sa-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $12.7M |
| Prin Liquid Assets SEP Acct | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $5.9M |
| Prin Lifetime HY 2015 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $3.5M |
| Prin Lifetime HYB 2070 CIT T | Principal Global Investors Trust CO | Common/collective trust | $2.5M |
| Principal Select Stable SA | Principal Life Insurance Company | Master trust | $0 |
| Prin ORG EMG Mkts SEP Acct-z | Principal Life Insurance Company | Pooled separate account | $0 |
How plan assets are invested
| Category (Schedule H) | Amount | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Common/collective trusts | $1.5B | 32.4% |
| Pooled separate accounts | $2.8B | 61.9% |
| Insurance co. general account | $67.0M | 1.5% |
| Employer securities (company stock) | $119.7M | 2.6% |
| Participant loans | $25.2M | 0.6% |
| Other investments | $43.7M | 1.0% |
Fees paid from plan assets
| Contract administrator fees | $1.0M |
| Other administrative fees | $2,609 |
| Total administrative expenses | $1.0M |
Reported administrative expenses were about 0.023% of average plan assets, or about $58 per participant with a balance. This usually excludes fund expense ratios netted inside mutual funds and trusts.
Source: DOL EFAST2 Form 5500 & Schedules H/D, filing ID 20251015163209NAL0002755331001. EIN 421520346.
FAQ
What are the best low-cost funds in the Principal Financial Group, Inc. 401(k)?
Based on public filings, index options include Large-Cap Stock Index Separate Account (US stocks), Prin/BR International Equity Index (collective investment trust) (international stocks) and Prin/BR Aggregate Bond Index (collective investment trust) (bonds). Confirm them against your current plan menu and fee disclosure.
Can I build a three-fund portfolio in the Principal Financial Group, Inc. 401(k)?
It appears so: the filing lists a US stock index fund, an international index fund and a bond index fund. The split between them depends on your own goals and risk tolerance.
How big is the Principal Financial Group, Inc. 401(k) plan?
The plan reported about $4.6B in net assets and 17,454 participants with balances for plan year 2024, according to its DOL Form 5500 filing.
Where does this data come from?
From public U.S. Department of Labor Form 5500 filings (EFAST2) and, where noted, the plan's SEC Form 11-K. Data can be outdated or incomplete, and this page is not financial advice.
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