We automatically create an employer account for you when you open or transition to a new Principal retirement plan or group insurance policy.

If you’re the Primary Administrator, you’ll receive an email from us to activate your account. (Don't see it in your inbox? Check your junk folder.) You must click the activation link in the email within 72 hours of receiving it. Then, follow these easy steps:

1. After clicking the link in the activation email, provide a few personal details so we can verify your identity.
2. Confirm that you agree to do business electronically, so you can start accessing your account information online.
3. Create your username and password.
4. Choose your customer service security questions and answers. (We’ll use these to verify your identity when you call customer service.)

Want to give someone else access to your account?

As Primary Administrator, you can designate a Secondary Administrator and give them full or limited account permissions. Not sure how? Review the instructions for managing security access (PDF).

We’ve got you covered.

If you forgot your username:

• Go to the Forgot username page.
• Choose “Employers & Plan Sponsors” as your role and click “Continue”.
• Enter the email address you use to do business with us, and we'll send you an email with your username.

If you forgot your password:

• Go to the login page.
• Click the “Forgot password?” link under the Log in button.
• Enter your username.
• We'll provide you a verification code by text, business email, voice call, or an authenticator app. Which one we send it to depends on the option(s) you registered.    
• After you've correctly entered your code, you'll be prompted to reset your password.
• You can then use this new password to log in to your account online.

Just follow these simple steps:

1. Click “Log In” at the top right corner of any Principal.com page.
2. Enter your username and password.
3. Click the “Log in” button
4. Follow any instructions provided.

If you don’t have the email or receive an error message when you click the activation link (you need to click it within 72 hours of receiving the email), call us and we’ll get you set up.

• Group insurance clients: 800-621-6280
• Retirement/401(k) clients: 877-475-3436

You can administer employee retirement plans and group insurance policies (disability, life, vision, dental, and critical illness) for your business.

An online employer account lets you:

• Administer benefits
  • Add or remove employees and their coverages
  • View and update employee information and changes
  • Update salaries—one at a time or all at once
  • View and order ID cards
  • Track online transactions
• Review benefit information
  • View plan information
  • Electronically sign eService agreements
  • Search, print, and order group insurance booklets and policies
  • Access and complete disability and life claim forms
  • View, download, print, or order forms and documents
  • Access reports for life and disability claims and dental maximum accumulation
• Manage account billing and payment information
  • Download or view billing statements
  • Set up and pay premiums electronically

• Log in and access your profile to change your password or 2-factor authentication security settings.

• If you are the Primary Administrator, all you need to do is activate your online account.
• If you are not the Primary Administrator but need to access your company’s online account, you will have to ask your Primary Administrator for permission. They can give you access as a Secondary Administrator.

The Primary Administrator has full access to your employer account on principal.com. This person can grant full or limited access to other individuals (Secondary Administrators).

If you don’t know who your Primary Administrator is, call us:

• Group insurance clients: 800-621-6280
• Retirement/401(k) clients: 877-475-3436

The Secondary Administrator is designated by the Primary Administrator to perform transactions or tasks on the employer website. This person will have full or limited access to your account, based on permissions set by the Primary Administrator.

Your account information with Principal is kept secure and confidential through multiple security features and procedures:

• Your company and employee account information can only be accessed with a combination of your unique username, password, and verification code. It’s your responsibility to keep your login information confidential.
  • Don’t share your username or password with anyone. We’ll never ask you for your password.
  • Never keep your password where others may see them.
  • Contact us immediately to change your password if you suspect someone has discovered it.
• Our website uses 2-factor authentication to verify your identity when logging in and is strongly encrypted, ensuring that your communications and sensitive information stays private and protected.
• We use cookies to allow you to process transactions on our website.
• Your account information is not permanently stored on our web server. It is, however, permanently stored on our highly secure corporate network systems.
• We have data security staff whose sole responsibility is to ensure the security of the information we process and store.
• We put policies and procedures in place to limit access to your information to only those who have a business need to view it.