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      <periodOfReport>09-30-2016</periodOfReport>
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      <isAmendment>true</isAmendment>
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        <amendmentType>NEW HOLDINGS</amendmentType>
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      <filingManager>
        <name>PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>711 HIGH STREET</com:street1>
          <com:city>DES MOINES</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>IA</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>50392-0300</com:zipCode>
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      <reportType>13F COMBINATION REPORT</reportType>
      <form13FFileNumber>028-10106</form13FFileNumber>
      <otherManagersInfo>
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          <form13FFileNumber>028-10449</form13FFileNumber>
          <name>Columbus Circle Investors</name>
        </otherManager>
        <otherManager>
          <form13FFileNumber>028-3943</form13FFileNumber>
          <name>Edge Asset Management, Inc</name>
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          <name>Origin Asset Management, LLP</name>
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          <name>Post Advisory Group, LLC</name>
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          <name>Spectrum Asset Management, Inc</name>
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      <name>Jill Hittner</name>
      <title>Chief Financial Officer, Principal Global Investors, LLC</title>
      <phone>515-248-2153</phone>
      <signature>Jill Hittner</signature>
      <city>Des Moines</city>
      <stateOrCountry>IA</stateOrCountry>
      <signatureDate>11-29-2016</signatureDate>
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