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Home→Financial Institutions→Principal→Preparing your estate

How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Principal

Covers 14 insurance, and 5 retirement accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online

OverviewPreparing your estateWhen someone dies

Principal

Subsidiary of Principal Financial Group, Inc.

principal.com→
Principal logo
Phone1-800-986-3343
Mailing Address

Principal Financial Group, 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-0001

Individual Life/Disability Insurance
1-800-247-9988
Retirement Plans
1-800-547-7754
Annuities (Servicing)
1-800-852-4450
Group Benefits/Disability
1-800-245-1522
Group Insurance
1-800-843-1371
Mutual Funds
1-800-222-5852
Principal Bank
1-800-672-3343
Spanish Language Support
1-800-243-1404
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-986-3343
Mailing Address

Principal Financial Group, 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-0001

Individual Life/Disability Insurance
1-800-247-9988
Retirement Plans
1-800-547-7754
Annuities (Servicing)
1-800-852-4450
Group Benefits/Disability
1-800-245-1522
Group Insurance
1-800-843-1371
Mutual Funds
1-800-222-5852
Principal Bank
1-800-672-3343
Spanish Language Support
1-800-243-1404
WebsiteLearn more→

Life Insurance Claims

Phone1-800-331-2213
EmailIndClaims@exchange.principal.com
Fax1-866-894-2096
Mailing Address

Principal Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 10357, Des Moines, IA 50306-0357

Individual Life Claims Questions
1-800-422-3788
Group Life Claims
1-800-245-1522
Individual Life Policy Service
1-800-247-9988
Group Claims Email
SBDClaims@principal.com
Group Claims Fax
1-800-255-6609
Grief Support (Empathy)
1-720-408-7491
Grief Support (Alternate)
1-800-546-3718
Verified May 2026

Beneficiary designations are the foundation of estate planning for Principal policies. Unlike bank accounts, insurance products cannot be retitled into a trust. Instead, the beneficiary designation itself determines who receives the proceeds and how quickly they're paid. Naming a trust as beneficiary is an option when more control over distributions is needed.

Principal has 19 product types, and the estate transfer rules differ across them. Some support beneficiary designations, some can be retitled into a trust, and others will require probate if nothing is set up. Each is covered below.

401(k) Plan403(b) PlanPension PlanTraditional IRARoth IRA
1
Log in to your Principal account at principal.com
2
For retirement accounts:
  • Click the account card on the left menu, then select "View the full account"
  • Click "Overview" from the top menu and scroll down to "Beneficiaries"
  • Follow the on-screen prompts to add or edit primary and contingent beneficiaries
3
For annuities: select the "My beneficiary" tab from your account dashboard and click the account to view current elections
4
On the mobile app: click on each account, then tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner to find "Beneficiaries"
5
Each account's beneficiaries must be updated separately
6
Certain beneficiary designations (such as trusts) may require completing a paper form instead
Online Portal→

Required Documents

  • Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

  • Trusts can be named as beneficiaries on all Principal products (life insurance, annuities, and retirement accounts)
  • Each retirement account must have its beneficiaries updated separately
  • Spousal consent may be required for qualified retirement plans (401(k), 403(b), pension) when naming a non-spouse beneficiary
  • Certain beneficiary designations cannot be completed online and require a paper form
  • Do not alter beneficiary change forms with white-out; cross out errors and initial corrections
  • Beneficiary designations override instructions in a will

Principal

Subsidiary of Principal Financial Group, Inc.

principal.com→
Principal logo
Phone1-800-986-3343
Mailing Address

Principal Financial Group, 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-0001

Individual Life/Disability Insurance
1-800-247-9988
Retirement Plans
1-800-547-7754
Annuities (Servicing)
1-800-852-4450
Group Benefits/Disability
1-800-245-1522
Group Insurance
1-800-843-1371
Mutual Funds
1-800-222-5852
Principal Bank
1-800-672-3343
Spanish Language Support
1-800-243-1404
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-986-3343
Mailing Address

Principal Financial Group, 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-0001

Individual Life/Disability Insurance
1-800-247-9988
Retirement Plans
1-800-547-7754
Annuities (Servicing)
1-800-852-4450
Group Benefits/Disability
1-800-245-1522
Group Insurance
1-800-843-1371
Mutual Funds
1-800-222-5852
Principal Bank
1-800-672-3343
Spanish Language Support
1-800-243-1404
WebsiteLearn more→

Life Insurance Claims

Phone1-800-331-2213
EmailIndClaims@exchange.principal.com
Fax1-866-894-2096
Mailing Address

Principal Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 10357, Des Moines, IA 50306-0357

Individual Life Claims Questions
1-800-422-3788
Group Life Claims
1-800-245-1522
Individual Life Policy Service
1-800-247-9988
Group Claims Email
SBDClaims@principal.com
Group Claims Fax
1-800-255-6609
Grief Support (Empathy)
1-720-408-7491
Grief Support (Alternate)
1-800-546-3718
Verified May 2026

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Learn how to protect your Principal accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.

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