A new program from the Principal Financial Group® cuts the approval process for life insurance dramatically to 48 hours or less. Principal Accelerated UnderwritingSM program expedites the industry average of 30-days to process by eliminating the need for paramedical exams or lab testing for qualifying individuals.

"Our studies found almost 50 percent of eligible individuals tend to have a high number of favorable health factors so the need for lengthy exams and blood work are simply not necessary," said Neal Halder, assistant vice president and chief underwriter of individual life insurance for The Principal®. "This faster turnaround vastly improves the individual's experience."

Through the Principal Accelerated UnderwritingSM program, information is gathered through traditional underwriting sources including an application and a check of MIB, motor vehicle reports and prescription records. The industry leading Principal TeleApp is completed through a brief telephone interview between a TeleApp interviewer and the applicant to collect the applicant's personal history. For qualifying individuals their application can be approved within 48 hours or less with a Super Preferred or Preferred rating. Eligible applicants include individuals aged 18-60 applying for any retail life insurance products for face amounts up to $1,000,000.

"Advisors want a hassle-free way to fast track applying for and obtaining life insurance for their valued clients," adds Halder. "This program does just that by ensuring our advisors can offer high-quality insurance protection for the lowest cost."

For more information, call the National Sales Desk at 800.654.4278.

About the Principal Financial Group

The Principal Financial Group® (The Principal®)1 is a global investment management leader offering 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 $483.2 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 19.4 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.

1 "The Principal Financial Group" and "The Principal" are registered service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group.

2 As of Dec. 31, 2013.

The Principal
Erica Jensen, 515-362-0049
jensen.erica@principal.com