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Blue Chip Fund
BLUE CHIP FUND
Objective:
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):    None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Institutional Plan
PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares
Blue Chip Fund
Blue Chip Fund, Institutional Class
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) 0.70%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): [1] 0.51%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 1.21%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement [2] 0.46%
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 0.75%
[1] Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[2] Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s expenses attributable to Institutional class shares by paying, if necessary, expenses normally payable by the Fund, excluding interest expense, through the period ending December 31, 2013. The expense limit will maintain a total level of operating expenses (expressed as a percent of average net assets on an annualized basis) not to exceed 0.75% for Institutional class shares, excluding interest expense. It is expected that the expense limit will continue through the period disclosed; however, Principal Funds, Inc. and Principal, the parties to the agreement, may agree to terminate the expense limit prior to the end of the period.
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example - Institutional Plan (USD $)
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years
PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Blue Chip Fund Blue Chip Fund, Institutional Class
77 339
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. From June 13, 2012, date operations commenced, through August 31, 2012, the Fund’s annualized portfolio turnover rate was 7.3% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in equity securities of companies with large market capitalizations (those with market capitalizations similar to companies in the Russell 1000 Growth® Index (as of September 30, 2012, this range was between approximately $743.1 million and $610.3 billion) at the time of purchase. The Fund invests in foreign securities.
The Fund invests in growth equity securities; growth orientation emphasizes buying equity securities of companies whose potential for growth of capital and earnings is expected to be above average.

Principal Risks
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for investors seeking long-term growth of capital and willing to accept the potential for short-term fluctuations in the value of investments.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, in alphabetical order, are:
Currency Risk. Risks of investing in securities denominated in, or that trade in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies include changes in foreign exchange rates and foreign exchange restrictions.
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities could decline if the issuer’s financial condition declines or in response to overall market and economic conditions. A fund's principal market segment(s), such as large cap, mid cap or small cap stocks, or growth or value stocks, may underperform other market segments or the equity markets as a whole. Investments in smaller companies and mid-size companies may involve greater risk and price volatility than investments in larger, more mature companies.
Foreign Securities Risk. The risks of foreign securities include loss of value as a result of: political or economic instability; nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation; settlement delays; and limited government regulation (including less stringent reporting, accounting, and disclosure standards than are required of U.S. companies).
Growth Stock Risk. If growth companies do not increase their earnings at a rate expected by investors, the market price of the stock may decline significantly, even if earnings show an absolute increase. Growth company stocks also typically lack the dividend yield that can lessen price declines in market downturns.
Performance
No performance information is shown because the Fund has not yet had a calendar year of performance. The Fund’s performance will be benchmarked against the Russell 1000 Growth Index.
Bond Market Index Fund
BOND MARKET INDEX FUND
Objective:
The Fund seeks to provide current income.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):    None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Institutional Plan PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Bond Market Index Fund
Bond Market Index Fund, Institutional Class
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-1
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-2
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-3
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-4
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-5
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) 0.25% 0.25% 0.25% 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees   0.35% 0.30% 0.25% 0.10%  
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): 0.01% 0.54% 0.46% 0.33% 0.29% 0.27%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 0.26% 1.14% 1.01% 0.83% 0.64% 0.52%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement [1]   none none none none none
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 0.26% 1.14% 1.01% 0.83% 0.64% 0.52%
[1] Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s expenses attributable to Class R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5 shares by paying, if necessary, expenses normally payable by the Fund, excluding interest expense, through the period ending December 31, 2013. The expense limit will maintain a total level of operating expenses (expressed as a percent of average net assets on an annualized basis) not to exceed 1.18% for Class R-1, 1.05% for Class R-2, 0.87% for Class R-3, 0.68% for Class R-4, and 0.56% for Class R-5, excluding interest expense. It is expected that the expense limit will continue through the period disclosed; however, Principal Funds, Inc. and Principal, the parties to the agreement, may agree to terminate the expense limit prior to the end of the period.
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example - Institutional Plan PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Bond Market Index Fund (USD $)
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Bond Market Index Fund, Institutional Class
27 84 146 331
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-1
116 362 628 1,386
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-2
103 322 558 1,236
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-3
85 265 460 1,025
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-4
65 205 357 798
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-5
53 167 291 653
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s annualized portfolio turnover rate was 144.0% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in debt securities held by the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (the "Index") at the time of purchase. The Index is composed of investment grade, fixed rate debt issues, including government, corporate, asset-backed, and mortgage-backed securities, with maturities of one year or more. The Fund employs a passive investment approach designed to attempt to track the performance of the Index. Under normal circumstances, the Fund maintains an average portfolio duration that is in line with the duration of the Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, which as of August 31, 2012 was 4.99 years. The Fund actively trades portfolio securities.
Principal Risks
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for investors interested in investing in a fixed-income mutual fund and preferring a passive, rather than active, management style.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, in alphabetical order, are:
Active Trading Risk. Actively trading portfolio securities may accelerate realization of taxable gains and losses, lower fund performance and may result in high portfolio turnover rates and increased brokerage costs.
Fixed-Income Securities Risk. Fixed-income securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit quality risk. The market value of fixed-income securities generally declines when interest rates rise, and an issuer of fixed-income securities could default on its payment obligations.
Index Fund Investment Risk. More likely than not, an index fund will not provide investment performance that matches the index performance due to cashflows and the fees and expenses of the fund.
Portfolio Duration Risk. Portfolio duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed-income security and its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The longer a fund's average portfolio duration, the more sensitive the fund will be to changes in interest rates.
Prepayment Risk. Unscheduled prepayments on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may have to be reinvested at lower rates. A reduction in prepayments may increase the effective maturities of these securities, exposing them to the risk of decline in market value over time (extension risk).
Real Estate Securities Risk. Real estate securities are subject to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, including declines in value, adverse economic conditions, increases in expenses, regulatory changes and environmental problems. Investing in securities of companies in the real estate industry, subjects a fund to the special risks associated with the real estate market including factors such as loss to casualty or condemnation, changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.
Risk of Being an Underlying Fund. A fund is subject to the risk of being an underlying fund to the extent that a fund of funds invests in the fund. An underlying fund of a fund of funds may experience relatively large redemptions or investments as the fund of funds periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions may cause the underlying fund to sell portfolio securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest cash from such investments, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result increase transaction costs and adversely affect underlying fund performance.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Yields available from U.S. government securities are generally lower than yields from many other fixed-income securities.
U.S. Government Sponsored Securities Risk. Securities issued by U.S. government-sponsored or -chartered enterprises such as the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, the Federal National Mortgage Association, and the Federal Home Loan Banks are not issued or guaranteed by the U.S. Treasury.
Performance
The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the investment returns of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for each full calendar year of operations for 10 years (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund). The table shows, for each share class of the Fund and for the last one, five, and ten calendar year periods (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund), how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of one or more broad-based market indices. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You may get updated performance information online at www.principal.com or by calling 1-800-222-5852.

Life of Fund returns are measured from December 30, 2009, the date the Institutional, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5 Class shares were first sold.
Total Returns as of December 31 each year (Institutional Class shares) [1]
Bar Chart
The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2012 was 3.77% for Institutional shares.
Highest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q3 '11
3.76
 %
Lowest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q4 ‘10
-1.31
 %
Average Annual Total Returns - Institutional Plan PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Bond Market Index Fund
Label
1 Year
Since Inception
Inception Date
Bond Market Index Fund, Institutional Class
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes 7.45% 6.61% Dec. 30, 2009
Bond Market Index Fund, Institutional Class After Taxes on Distributions
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions 6.53% 5.79% Dec. 30, 2009
Bond Market Index Fund, Institutional Class After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distribution and Sale of Fund Shares 4.84% 5.16% Dec. 30, 2009
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-1
Class R-1 Return Before Taxes 6.48% 5.66% Dec. 30, 2009
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-2
Class R-2 Return Before Taxes 6.69% 5.81% Dec. 30, 2009
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-3
Class R-3 Return Before Taxes 6.79% 5.99% Dec. 30, 2009
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-4
Class R-4 Return Before Taxes 7.10% 6.22% Dec. 30, 2009
Bond Market Index Fund, Class R-5
Class R-5 Return Before Taxes 7.18% 6.34% Dec. 30, 2009
Barclays Aggregate Bond Index
Barclays Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 7.84% 7.09% Dec. 30, 2009
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and would be different for Class R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 shares.
Diversified Real Asset Fund
DIVERSIFIED REAL ASSET FUND
Objective:
The Fund seeks a long-term total return in excess of inflation.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Institutional Plan
PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares
Diversified Real Asset Fund
Diversified Real Asset Fund, Institutional Class
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) 0.84%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): 0.03%
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 0.87%
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example - Institutional Plan (USD $)
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Diversified Real Asset Fund Diversified Real Asset Fund, Institutional Class
89 278 482 1,073
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund's annualized portfolio turnover rate was 107.3% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by allocating its assets among the following general investment categories: inflation-indexed bonds, securities of real estate companies, commodity index-linked notes, fixed-income securities, securities of natural resource companies, master limited partnerships (MLPs), publicly-listed infrastructure companies, and floating rate debt. The Fund actively trades portfolio securities.
The Fund concentrates its investments (invests more than 25% of its net assets) in securities in the real estate and energy/natural resources industries.
In managing the Fund, Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the Fund’s investment advisor, determines the Fund's strategic asset allocation among the general investment categories described below, which are executed by multiple sub-advisors. The allocations will vary from time to time, and the Fund may add additional investment categories. Except for its policy to concentrate in the real estate and energy/natural resources industries, the Fund retains considerable latitude in allocating its assets.
A portion of the Fund's assets is invested primarily in inflation-indexed bonds issued by the U.S. and non-U.S. governments, their agencies or instrumentalities and U.S. and non-U.S. corporations. Inflation-indexed bonds are fixed-income securities that are structured to provide protection against inflation. The value of the bond's principal or the interest income paid on the bond is adjusted to track changes in an official inflation measure.
A portion of the Fund's assets is invested in a combination of commodity index-linked notes and fixed-income securities. Commodities are assets that have tangible properties, such as oil, coal, natural gas, agricultural products, industrial metals, livestock and precious metals. In order to gain exposure to the commodities markets without investing directly in physical commodities, the Fund invests in commodity index-linked notes. Commodity index-linked notes are derivative debt instruments with principal and/or coupon payments linked to the performance of commodity indices. These notes are sometimes referred to as "structured notes" because the terms of these notes may be structured by the issuer and the purchaser of the note. The value of these notes will rise or fall in response to changes in the underlying commodity index and will be subject to credit and interest rate risks that typically affect debt securities. The fixed income securities are primarily short-term U.S. Treasury and Agency notes and bonds.
A portion of the Fund's assets is invested in the real estate industry. The Fund invests in equity securities of global companies principally engaged in the real estate industry ("real estate companies"). A real estate company has at least 50% of its assets, income or profits derived from products or services related to the real estate industry. Real estate companies include real estate investment trusts ("REITs"), REIT-like entities, and companies with substantial real estate holdings such as paper, lumber, hotel and entertainment companies as well as building supply manufacturers, mortgage lenders, and mortgage servicing companies.
A portion of the Fund's assets is invested in securities of companies that primarily own, explore, mine, process or otherwise develop natural resources, or supply goods and services to such companies. Natural resources generally include precious metals, such as gold, silver and platinum, ferrous and nonferrous metals, such as iron, aluminum and copper, strategic metals such as uranium and titanium, hydrocarbons such as coal, oil and natural gas, timberland, undeveloped real property and agricultural commodities.
A portion of the Fund's assets is invested in MLPs. Generally, MLPs are engaged in the transportation, storage, processing, refining, marketing, production, or mining of natural resources. The Fund invests primarily in the mid-stream category of MLPs, which is generally comprised of pipelines used to gather, process, transport, and distribute natural gas, crude oil, and refined petroleum products.
A portion of the Fund’s assets is invested in domestic and foreign publicly-listed infrastructure companies. Publicly-listed infrastructure equity securities trade on an exchange and include, but are not limited to, companies involved in the ownership and/or operations of infrastructure assets within the transportation, communications, water, electricity transmission and distribution, and oil and gas storage, processing and transportation industries.
A portion of the Fund’s assets is invested in below-investment-grade (sometimes called “junk”) or comparable unrated floating rate debt (also known as bank loans, syndicated loans, leveraged loans or senior floating rate interests). Floating rate debt has a variable coupon that resets periodically, with interest payments determined by a representative interest rate index (e.g. LIBOR or the federal funds rate) plus a fixed spread. As a result, the coupon payments vary, or “float” with prevailing market interest rates.
Principal Risks
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for investors seeking to maintain their purchasing power, who are willing to accept the risks associated with investing in commodity index-linked notes, fixed-income securities, inflation-indexed bonds, equity securities and real estate.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, in alphabetical order, are:
Active Trading Risk. Actively trading portfolio securities may accelerate realization of taxable gains and losses, lower fund performance and may result in high portfolio turnover rates and increased brokerage costs.
Asset Allocation Risk. A fund's selection and weighting of asset classes may cause it to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective.
Bank Loans Risk. Changes in economic conditions are likely to cause issuers of bank loans (also known as senior floating rate interests) to be unable to meet their obligations. In addition, the value of the collateral securing the loan may decline, causing a loan to be substantially unsecured. Underlying credit agreements governing the bank loans, reliance on market makers, priority of repayment and overall market volatility may harm the liquidity of loans.
Commodity Index-Linked Notes Risk. The value of commodities may be affected by overall market movements and other factors affecting the value of a particular industry or commodity. These notes expose the fund to movements in commodity prices. They are also subject to credit, counterparty, and interest rate risk. Commodity index-linked notes are often leveraged. At the maturity of the note, the fund may receive more or less principal than it originally invested. The fund may also receive interest payments on the note that are less than the stated coupon interest payments.
Commodity-Related Investment Risk. The value of commodities investments will generally be affected by overall market movements and factors specific to a particular industry or commodity, which may include weather, embargoes, tariffs, and economic health, political, international regulatory and other developments. Exposure to the commodities markets may subject the fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the counterparty to a derivatives contract or repurchase agreement, the borrower of a portfolio’s securities, or other obligation, will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest, or settlement payments, or otherwise to honor its obligations.
Currency Risk. Risks of investing in securities denominated in, or that trade in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies include changes in foreign exchange rates and foreign exchange restrictions.
Derivatives Risk. Transactions in derivatives may increase volatility, cause the liquidation of portfolio positions when not advantageous to do so and produce disproportionate losses.
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities could decline if the issuer’s financial condition declines or in response to overall market and economic conditions. A fund's principal market segment(s), such as large cap, mid cap or small cap stocks, or growth or value stocks, may underperform other market segments or the equity markets as a whole. Investments in smaller companies and mid-size companies may involve greater risk and price volatility than investments in larger, more mature companies.
Fixed-Income Securities Risk. Fixed-income securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit quality risk. The market value of fixed-income securities generally declines when interest rates rise, and an issuer of fixed-income securities could default on its payment obligations.
Foreign Securities Risk. The risks of foreign securities include loss of value as a result of: political or economic instability; nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation; settlement delays; and limited government regulation (including less stringent reporting, accounting, and disclosure standards than are required of U.S. companies).
High Yield Securities Risk. High yield fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as "junk bonds") are subject to greater credit quality risk than higher rated fixed-income securities and should be considered speculative.
Industry Concentration Risk (Energy/Natural Resources). A fund that concentrates investments in a particular industry or group of industries has greater exposure than other funds to market, economic and other factors affecting that industry or group of industries. A fund concentrating in energy/natural resource companies may be affected by numerous factors, including events occurring in nature, inflationary pressures, international politics, the success of exploration projects, commodity prices, energy conservation, taxes and other government regulations. In addition, interest rates and general economic conditions may affect the demand for energy/natural resources. For example, events occurring in nature (such as earthquakes or fires in prime energy/natural resource areas) and political events (such as coups, military confrontations or acts of terrorism) can affect overall supply of energy/natural resources and the value of companies involved in energy/natural resources.
Industry Concentration Risk (Real Estate). A fund that concentrates investments in a particular industry or group of industries has greater exposure than other funds to market, economic and other factors affecting that industry or group of industries. A fund concentrating in the real estate industry can be subject to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, securities of companies in the real estate industry, and/or real estate investment trusts.
Leverage Risk. Leverage created by borrowing or certain types of transactions or investments, such as reverse repurchase agreements, loans of portfolio securities, and the use of when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment transactions, or derivative instruments, may impair the fund’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility of the fund’s net asset value, or diminish the fund’s performance.
Master Limited Partnership ("MLP") Risk. MLPs are publicly-traded limited partnership interests or units. An MLP that invests in a particular industry (e.g., oil and gas) will be harmed by detrimental economic events within that industry. As partnerships, MLPs may be subject to less regulation (and less protection for investors) under state laws than corporations. In addition, MLPs may be subject to state taxation in certain jurisdictions, which may reduce the amount of income an MLP pays to its investors.
Portfolio Duration Risk. Portfolio duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed-income security and its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The longer a fund's average portfolio duration, the more sensitive the fund will be to changes in interest rates.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) Risk. A REIT could fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code, and fund shareholders will indirectly bear their proportionate share of the expenses of REITs in which the fund invests.
Real Estate Securities Risk. Real estate securities are subject to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, including declines in value, adverse economic conditions, increases in expenses, regulatory changes and environmental problems. Investing in securities of companies in the real estate industry, subjects a fund to the special risks associated with the real estate market including factors such as loss to casualty or condemnation, changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.
Risk of Being an Underlying Fund. A fund is subject to the risk of being an underlying fund to the extent that a fund of funds invests in the fund. An underlying fund of a fund of funds may experience relatively large redemptions or investments as the fund of funds periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions may cause the underlying fund to sell portfolio securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest cash from such investments, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result increase transaction costs and adversely affect underlying fund performance.
U.S. Government Securities Risk. Yields available from U.S. government securities are generally lower than yields from many other fixed-income securities.
Performance
The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the investment returns of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for each full calendar year of operations for 10 years (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund). The table shows, for each share class of the Fund and for the last one, five, and ten calendar year periods (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund), how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of one or more broad-based market indices. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You may get updated performance information online at www.principal.com or by calling 1-800-222-5852.
Life of Fund returns are measured from March 16, 2010, the date the Institutional Class shares were first sold.
Performance of a blended index shows how the Fund’s performance compares to an index with similar investment objectives. Performance of the components of the blended index are also shown. The Diversified Real Asset Custom Index was composed of 30% Barclays U.S. Treasury TIPS Index, 20% MSCI U.S. REIT Index, 25% Dow Jones UBS Commodity Index, 15% S&P N.A. Natural Resources Index, and 10% Tortoise MLP Index. Effective January 31, 2012, the weightings for the Diversified Real Asset Custom Index changed to 30% Barclays U.S. Treasury TIPS Index, 20% Dow Jones UBS Commodity Index, 10% S&P N.A. Natural Resources Index, 10% Tortoise MLP Index, 10% Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure Index, 10% Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index, and 10% FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Index. The custom or blended index returns reflect the allocation in effect for the time period(s) for which fund returns are disclosed. Previous weightings or allocations of the custom or blended index are not restated.
Total Returns as of December 31 each year (Institutional Class shares) [2]
Bar Chart
The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2012 was 8.17% for Institutional shares.
Highest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q4 '11
7.18
 %
Lowest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q3 '11
-9.16
 %
Average Annual Total Returns - Institutional Plan PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Diversified Real Asset Fund
Label
1 Year
Since Inception
Inception Date
Diversified Real Asset Fund, Institutional Class
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes 0.83% 9.00% Mar. 16, 2010
Diversified Real Asset Fund, Institutional Class After Taxes on Distributions
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions 0.20% 8.47% Mar. 16, 2010
Diversified Real Asset Fund, Institutional Class After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distribution and Sale of Fund Shares 0.89% 7.47% Mar. 16, 2010
Barclays US Treasury TIPS Index
Barclays US Treasury TIPS Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 13.56% 10.42% Mar. 16, 2010
MSCI US REIT Index
MSCI US REIT Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 8.69% 14.22% Mar. 16, 2010
Dow Jones UBS Commodity Index
Dow Jones UBS Commodity Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) (13.32%) 3.32% Mar. 16, 2010
S&P North American Natural Resources Index
S&P North American Natural Resources Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) (7.35%) 6.85% Mar. 16, 2010
Tortoise MLP Index
Tortoise MLP Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 13.73% 22.36% Mar. 16, 2010
Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure Index
Dow Jones Brookfield Global Infrastructure Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 13.75% 14.07% Mar. 16, 2010
Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index
Credit Suisse Leveraged Loan Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 1.82% 5.26% Mar. 16, 2010
FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Index
FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) (5.82%) 5.28% Mar. 16, 2010
Diversified Real Asset Custom Index
Diversified Real Asset Custom Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 2.80% 10.63% Mar. 16, 2010
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Global Multi-Strategy Fund
GLOBAL MULTI-STRATEGY FUND
Objective:
The Fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation with an emphasis on positive total returns and relatively low volatility.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):    None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Institutional Plan
PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares
Global Multi-Strategy Fund
Global Multi-Strategy Fund, Institutional Class
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) 1.60%
Component1 Other Expenses 0.70%
Component2 Other Expenses 0.08%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 2.38%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement [1] 0.03%
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 2.35%
[1] Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund's expenses attributable to Institutional class shares by paying, if necessary, expenses normally payable by the Fund, excluding I think expense and short sale dividends and interest, through the period ending December 31, 2013. The expense limit will maintain a total level of operating expenses (expressed as a percent of average net assets on an annualized basis) not to exceed 1.65% for Institutional class shares, excluding interest expense and short sale dividends and interest. It is expected that the expense limit will continue through the period disclosed; however, Principal Funds, Inc. and Principal, the parties to the agreement, may agree to terminate the expense limit prior to the end of the period.
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example - Institutional Plan (USD $)
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Global Multi-Strategy Fund Global Multi-Strategy Fund, Institutional Class
238 740 1,268 2,714
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. From October 14, 2011, date operations commenced, through August 31, 2012, the Fund’s annualized portfolio turnover rate was 196.0% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the Fund's investment adviser, allocates the Fund's assets among one or more of the investment strategies described below, which are executed by one or more of the Fund's sub-advisors. In making these allocations, Principal seeks to combine the strategies of the sub-advisors efficiently and systematically so that the Fund generates, through a diversified set of investment strategies, a positive total return with relatively low volatility and low sensitivity or correlation to market indices. By allocating the Fund’s assets among a variety of investment strategies, which will vary from time-to-time, the Fund seeks to lessen risk and reduce volatility. Principal may also direct a sub-advisor to reduce or omit its investment in certain assets or asset classes in an effort to achieve its desired combination of the Fund's strategies.
In pursuing its strategies, the Fund invests in a broad range of instruments including, but not limited to, equities, bonds, currencies, convertible securities and derivatives such as futures, options, swaps (including, for example, credit default, interest rate, and currency swaps) and forwards. The Fund intends to engage in derivative transactions to gain exposure to a variety of securities or attempt to reduce risk. The Fund intends to invest in securities that are tied economically to a number of countries throughout the world, including the U.S.; however, the Fund has no requirements as to the amount of its net assets that it invests in foreign securities. The Fund is considered non-diversified, which means it can invest a higher percentage of assets in securities of individual issuers than a diversified fund. The Fund actively trades securities.
Some of the strategies take long and/or short positions. When taking a short position, the Fund may sell an instrument that it does not own and then borrow to meet its settlement obligations. The Fund may take short positions in futures, forwards or swaps. A short position will benefit from a decrease in price of the underlying instrument and will lose value if the price of the underlying instrument increases. Long positions will profit if the value of the instrument increases. Simultaneously engaging in long investing and short selling reduces the net exposure of the overall portfolio to general market movements. Relative value positions may be taken as well in the various strategies. Relative value strategies capitalize on price differences between similar securities or relative value among securities of the same company.
The Fund may use all or some of the following strategies to varying degrees, depending on market conditions, and may add additional strategies. Principal may allocate 0 to 100% of the Fund’s assets to any of these strategies at any time.
Credit Long/Short and Distressed Credit. This strategy utilizes a flexible investment approach that allocates investments across a global range of investment opportunities related to credit, currencies and interest rates, while employing risk management strategies. This strategy invests in fixed income securities and instruments and may invest in both investment-grade securities and below investment grade bonds (sometimes called “high yield bonds” or "junk bonds") which are rated at the time of purchase Ba1 or lower by Moody's and BB+ or lower by S&P (if the bond has been rated by only one of those agencies, that rating will determine whether the bond is below investment grade; if the bond has not been rated by either of those agencies, the Sub-Advisor will determine whether the bond is of a quality comparable to those rated below investment grade). This strategy may also invest in the following securities: securities denominated in foreign currencies and in U.S. dollar denominated securities of foreign issuers, preferred securities, convertible securities, Rule 144A securities, mortgage or asset-backed securities, floating rate debt (including bank loans), distressed investments, emerging markets, equities and derivative instruments, such as options, futures contracts, forwards or swap agreements. This strategy may utilize derivative instruments in an effort to minimize volatility. Also, at times, this strategy expects to gain its investment exposure substantially through the use of derivatives. The notional value of this strategy’s long and short investment exposures may at times each reach 100% of the assets invested in this strategy (excluding instruments used primarily for duration, yield curve, and interest rate management and short-term investments), although these exposures may be higher or lower at any given time. This strategy may purchase or sell securities on a when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment basis and may engage in short sales. The strategy may, without limitation, seek to obtain market exposure to the securities in which it primarily invests by entering into a series of purchase and sale contracts or by using other investment techniques (such as buy backs or dollar rolls).

Equity Long/Short. This strategy provides long and short exposure to a diversified portfolio of equities which involves simultaneously investing in equities (i.e., investing long) the sub-advisor expects to increase in value (securities the sub-advisor believes are undervalued) and either selling equities (i.e., short sales or short selling) the sub-advisor expects to decrease in value (securities the sub-advisor believes are overvalued) or hedging equity market exposure in another way (i.e., by using derivatives such as futures or options). Long/short equity expresses industry views by emphasizing certain industries and it also seeks to exploit pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities. An example of exploiting pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities is building a portfolio containing long positions in the strongest companies of several industries and taking short positions in companies showing signs of weakness in the corresponding industries. This strategy has available two methods of analysis: fundamental analysis, a method of security analysis that involves examining a company's financial statements and operations, especially sales, earnings, products, management and competition and quantitative analysis, a method of security analysis that involves use of mathematical models to examine a company's measurable characteristics such as revenue, earnings, margins and market share.
Equity Market Neutral. This strategy seeks to profit by exploiting pricing inefficiencies between related equity securities and neutralizing exposure to market risk by maintaining long and short positions. Equity market neutral is not expected to have industry overweights.
Dedicated Short Bias. The dedicated short bias strategy seeks to profit by shorting stocks that have negative market sentiment and neutralizing exposure to market risk by maintaining long and short positions.
Global Macro. Global macro strategies seek to profit from movement in the prices of securities that are highly sensitive to macroeconomic conditions, across a broad spectrum of assets. This strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country equities, currencies and bonds markets.
Emerging Markets. This strategy seeks to profit from investing in equities, bonds, and currencies of issuers in emerging markets. This strategy provides long and short exposure to emerging country equity, debt, and currency markets, and long and short exposure to a basket of liquid equity securities traded on emerging and developed market exchanges.
Convertible Arbitrage. Convertible arbitrage strategies seek to profit from the complexity of the pricing of convertible bonds (which contain elements of both a fixed income security and an equity option) by structuring trades using multiple securities within the capital structure of a convertible bond issuer. The Fund may purchase the convertible bond of a given issuer and simultaneously sell short the common stock of that same issuer to take advantage of a mispricing of either security. This strategy takes positions in various global convertible debt and preferred securities and an offsetting position in various global equities directly linked to the convertible securities. In implementing this strategy, the Fund may use derivatives to hedge against a decline in interest rates or credit exposure.
Currency Instruments, Futures Contracts, Futures-Related Instruments and Equity Swaps. These strategies seek to profit from the design and implementation of quantitative selection models to help predict upcoming movements in any combination of fixed income, currency, or equity markets. This strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country equities, bonds and currency markets and long and short exposure to emerging country equity and currency markets.
Event Driven. Event driven strategies seek to profit from investing in the securities of companies based not on a value or growth investment style but rather on the basis that a specific event or catalyst will affect future prices. This strategy attempts to capitalize on price discrepancies and returns generated by corporate activity, such as merger arbitrage. In merger arbitrage, the Fund will employ a diversified, disciplined strategy to attempt to capture the returns from holding a long/short portfolio of stocks of companies involved in mergers.
Fixed Income Arbitrage. Fixed income arbitrage seeks to profit from exploiting mispricing of various, liquid fixed income or interest rate sensitive securities. This strategy provides long and short exposure to developed country bond and currency markets, long and short exposure to investment grade credit markets and long and short exposure to forward mortgage-backed securities trading in the to be announced (“TBA”) market.
Principal Risks
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for investors who seek long-term capital appreciation and who can accept the risks of investing in a variety of global markets and a variety of instruments.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, in alphabetical order, are:
Active Trading Risk. Actively trading portfolio securities may accelerate realization of taxable gains and losses, lower fund performance and may result in high portfolio turnover rates and increased brokerage costs.
Arbitrage Trading Risk. The underlying relationships between securities in which the fund takes arbitrage investment positions may change in an adverse manner, in which case the fund may realize losses.
Asset Allocation Risk. A fund's selection and weighting of asset classes may cause it to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective.
Bank Loans Risk. Changes in economic conditions are likely to cause issuers of bank loans (also known as senior floating rate interests) to be unable to meet their obligations. In addition, the value of the collateral securing the loan may decline, causing a loan to be substantially unsecured. Underlying credit agreements governing the bank loans, reliance on market makers, priority of repayment and overall market volatility may harm the liquidity of loans.
Basis Risk. A hedge using derivatives and/or securities could expose the fund to basis risk. Basis risk could arise when the change in price of the hedge may not match the change in price of the asset it hedges. In other words, the hedge moves in a direction that does not match the asset it is trying to hedge.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the counterparty to a derivatives contract or repurchase agreement, the borrower of a portfolio’s securities, or other obligation, will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest, or settlement payments, or otherwise to honor its obligations.
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities can be bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stock or other securities which are convertible into common stock. Convertible securities are subject to both the credit and interest rate risks associated with fixed income securities and to the stock market risk associated with equity securities.
Currency Risk. Risks of investing in securities denominated in, or that trade in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies include changes in foreign exchange rates and foreign exchange restrictions.
Derivatives Risk. Transactions in derivatives may increase volatility, cause the liquidation of portfolio positions when not advantageous to do so and produce disproportionate losses.
Distressed Investments Risk. A fund’s investment in instruments involving loans, loan participations, bonds, notes, non-performing and sub-performing mortgage loans, many of which are not publicly traded, may involve a substantial degree of risk for the following reasons. These instruments may become illiquid and the prices of such instruments may be extremely volatile. Valuing such instruments may be difficult and a fund may lose all of its investment, or it may be required to accept cash or securities with a value less than the fund’s original investment. Issuers of distressed securities are typically in a weak financial condition and may default, in which case the fund may lose its entire investment.
Emerging Market Risk. Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk than those in developed market countries because the emerging markets are less developed and more illiquid. Emerging market countries can also be subject to increased social, economic, regulatory, and political uncertainties and can be extremely volatile.
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities could decline if the issuer’s financial condition declines or in response to overall market and economic conditions. A fund's principal market segment(s), such as large cap, mid cap or small cap stocks, or growth or value stocks, may underperform other market segments or the equity markets as a whole. Investments in smaller companies and mid-size companies may involve greater risk and price volatility than investments in larger, more mature companies.
Event-Driven Trading Risk. Event-driven trading involves the risk that the special situation may not occur as anticipated, if at all, and that the market price of a stock declines.
Fixed-Income Securities Risk. Fixed-income securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit quality risk. The market value of fixed-income securities generally declines when interest rates rise, and an issuer of fixed-income securities could default on its payment obligations.
Foreign Securities Risk. The risks of foreign securities include loss of value as a result of: political or economic instability; nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation; settlement delays; and limited government regulation (including less stringent reporting, accounting, and disclosure standards than are required of U.S. companies).
High Yield Securities Risk. High yield fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as "junk bonds") are subject to greater credit quality risk than higher rated fixed-income securities and should be considered speculative.
Leverage Risk. Leverage created by borrowing or certain types of transactions or investments, such as reverse repurchase agreements, loans of portfolio securities, and the use of when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment transactions, or derivative instruments, may impair the fund’s liquidity, cause it to liquidate positions at an unfavorable time, increase volatility of the fund’s net asset value, or diminish the fund’s performance.
Non-Diversification Risk. A non-diversified fund may invest a high percentage of its assets in the securities of a small number of issuers and is more likely than diversified funds to be significantly affected by a specific security’s poor performance.
Portfolio Duration Risk. Portfolio duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed-income security and its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The longer a fund's average portfolio duration, the more sensitive the fund will be to changes in interest rates.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities are junior subordinated securities in a company’s capital structure and therefore can be subject to greater credit and liquidation risk. An issuer of preferred securities could redeem the security prior to the stated maturity date and reduce the return of the security.
Prepayment Risk. Unscheduled prepayments on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities may have to be reinvested at lower rates. A reduction in prepayments may increase the effective maturities of these securities, exposing them to the risk of decline in market value over time (extension risk).
Risk of Being an Underlying Fund. A fund is subject to the risk of being an underlying fund to the extent that a fund of funds invests in the fund. An underlying fund of a fund of funds may experience relatively large redemptions or investments as the fund of funds periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions may cause the underlying fund to sell portfolio securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest cash from such investments, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result increase transaction costs and adversely affect underlying fund performance.
Short Sale Risk. A short sale involves the sale by the fund of a security that it does not own with the hope of purchasing the same security at a later date at a lower price. A fund may also enter into a short derivative position through a futures contract or swap agreement. If the price of the security or derivative has increased during this time, then the fund will incur a loss equal to the increase in price from the time that the short sale was entered into plus any premiums and interest paid to the third party. Therefore, short sales involve the risk that losses may be exaggerated, potentially losing more money than the actual cost of the investment. Also, there is the risk that the third party to the short sale may fail to honor its contract terms, causing a loss to the fund.
Value Stock Risk. The market may not recognize the intrinsic value of value stocks for a long time, or they may be appropriately priced at the time of purchase.
Performance
No performance information is shown because the Fund has not yet had a calendar year of performance. The Fund’s performance will be benchmarked against the HRFI (Hedge Fund Research Inc.) Funds-of-Funds Composite Index.
Global Opportunities Fund
GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
Objective:
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Institutional Plan
PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares
Global Opportunities Fund
Global Opportunities Fund, Institutional Class
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) 0.85%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): [1] 3.14%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 3.99%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement [2] 3.04%
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 0.95%
[1] Based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[2] Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s expenses attributable to Institutional class shares by paying, if necessary, expenses normally payable by the Fund, excluding interest expense, through the period ending December 31, 2014. The expense limit will maintain a total level of operating expenses (expressed as a percent of average net assets on an annualized basis) not to exceed 0.95% for Institutional class shares, excluding interest expense. It is expected that the expense limit will continue through the period disclosed; however, Principal Funds, Inc. and Principal, the parties to the agreement, may agree to terminate the expense limit prior to the end of the period.
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example - Institutional Plan (USD $)
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years
PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Global Opportunities Fund Global Opportunities Fund, Institutional Class
97 632
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. This is a new Fund and does not yet have a portfolio turnover rate to disclose.
Principal Investment Strategies
The Fund invests primarily in equity securities. The Fund intends to invest in securities that are tied economically to a number of countries throughout the world, including the U.S. and emerging markets; however, the Fund has no requirements as to the amount of its net assets that invests in foreign securities. The Fund has a flexible investment strategy and may invest in equity securities regardless of market capitalization (small, medium, or large) and style (growth or value). The Fund invests in value equity securities, an investment strategy that emphasizes buying equity securities that appear to be undervalued. The Fund also invests in growth equity securities; growth orientation emphasizes buying equity securities of companies whose potential for growth of capital and earnings is expected to be above average. The Fund actively trades portfolio securities. The Fund uses derivative instruments. Specifically, the Fund engages in certain options or swaps transactions and enter into futures contracts for portfolio and cash management purposes.
Principal Risks
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for investors seeking long-term growth of capital in global markets, including emerging markets, who are able to assume the increased risks of higher price volatility and currency fluctuations associated with investments in international equity securities which trade in non-U.S. currencies.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, in alphabetical order, are:
Active Trading Risk. Actively trading portfolio securities may accelerate realization of taxable gains and losses, lower fund performance and may result in high portfolio turnover rates and increased brokerage costs.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that the counterparty to a derivatives contract or repurchase agreement, the borrower of a portfolio’s securities, or other obligation, will be unable or unwilling to make timely principal, interest, or settlement payments, or otherwise to honor its obligations.
Currency Risk. Risks of investing in securities denominated in, or that trade in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies include changes in foreign exchange rates and foreign exchange restrictions.
Derivatives Risk. Transactions in derivatives may increase volatility, cause the liquidation of portfolio positions when not advantageous to do so and produce disproportionate losses.
Emerging Market Risk. Investments in emerging market countries may have more risk than those in developed market countries because the emerging markets are less developed and more illiquid. Emerging market countries can also be subject to increased social, economic, regulatory, and political uncertainties and can be extremely volatile.
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities could decline if the issuer’s financial condition declines or in response to overall market and economic conditions. A fund's principal market segment(s), such as large cap, mid cap or small cap stocks, or growth or value stocks, may underperform other market segments or the equity markets as a whole. Investments in smaller companies and mid-size companies may involve greater risk and price volatility than investments in larger, more mature companies.
Foreign Securities Risk. The risks of foreign securities include loss of value as a result of: political or economic instability; nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation; settlement delays; and limited government regulation (including less stringent reporting, accounting, and disclosure standards than are required of U.S. companies).
Growth Stock Risk. If growth companies do not increase their earnings at a rate expected by investors, the market price of the stock may decline significantly, even if earnings show an absolute increase. Growth company stocks also typically lack the dividend yield that can lessen price declines in market downturns.
Risk of Being an Underlying Fund. A fund is subject to the risk of being an underlying fund to the extent that a fund of funds invests in the fund. An underlying fund of a fund of funds may experience relatively large redemptions or investments as the fund of funds periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions may cause the underlying fund to sell portfolio securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest cash from such investments, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result increase transaction costs and adversely affect underlying fund performance.
Value Stock Risk. The market may not recognize the intrinsic value of value stocks for a long time, or they may be appropriately priced at the time of purchase.
Performance
No performance information is shown because the Fund has not yet had a calendar year of performance. The Fund’s performance will be benchmarked against the MSCI All Country World Index (ACWI).
International Equity Index Fund
INTERNATIONAL EQUITY INDEX FUND
Objective:
The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):    None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Institutional Plan PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares International Equity Index Fund
International Equity Index Fund, Institutional Class
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-1
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-2
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-3
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-4
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-5
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) 0.25% 0.25% 0.25% 0.25% 0.25% 0.25%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees   0.35% 0.30% 0.25% 0.10%  
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): 0.07% 0.59% 0.51% 0.38% 0.34% 0.32%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01% 0.01%
Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 0.33% 1.20% 1.07% 0.89% 0.70% 0.58%
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement [1]   none none none none none
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 0.33% 1.20% 1.07% 0.89% 0.70% 0.58%
[1] Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s expenses attributable to Class R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5 shares by paying, if necessary,expenses normally payable by the Fund, excluding interest expense and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, through the period ending December 31, 2013. The expense limit will maintain a total level of operating expenses (expressed as a percent of average net assets on an annualized basis) not to exceed 1.28% for Class R-1, 1.15% for Class R-2, 0.97% for Class R-3, 0.78% for Class R-4, and 0.66% for Class R-5, excluding interest expense and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses. It is expected that the expense limit will continue through the period disclosed; however, Principal Funds, Inc. and Principal, the parties to the agreement, may agree to terminate the expense limit prior to the end of the period.
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example - Institutional Plan PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares International Equity Index Fund (USD $)
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
International Equity Index Fund, Institutional Class
34 106 185 418
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-1
122 381 660 1,455
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-2
109 340 590 1,306
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-3
91 284 493 1,096
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-4
72 224 390 871
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-5
59 186 324 726
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s annualized portfolio turnover rate was 53.5% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in securities held by MSCI EAFE NDTR D Index (the "Index") at the time of purchase. The Index is a weighted equity index designed to measure the equity performance of developed markets (Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Far East), excluding the United States and Canada. The Fund employs a passive investment approach designed to attempt to track the performance of the Index. The Fund invests in index futures and options and exchange-traded funds ("ETFs") on a daily basis to gain exposure to the Index in an effort to minimize tracking error relative to the benchmark.
Principal Risks
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for investors seeking long-term growth of capital, willing to accept the potential for volatile fluctuations in the value of investments and preferring a passive, rather than active, management style.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, in alphabetical order, are:
Currency Risk. Risks of investing in securities denominated in, or that trade in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies include changes in foreign exchange rates and foreign exchange restrictions.
Derivatives Risk. Transactions in derivatives may increase volatility, cause the liquidation of portfolio positions when not advantageous to do so and produce disproportionate losses.
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities could decline if the issuer’s financial condition declines or in response to overall market and economic conditions. A fund's principal market segment(s), such as large cap, mid cap or small cap stocks, or growth or value stocks, may underperform other market segments or the equity markets as a whole. Investments in smaller companies and mid-size companies may involve greater risk and price volatility than investments in larger, more mature companies.
Exchange-Traded Funds ("ETFs") Risk. An ETF is subject to the risks associated with direct ownership of the securities comprising the index on which the ETF is based. Fund shareholders indirectly bear their proportionate share of the expenses of the ETFs in which the fund invests.
Foreign Securities Risk. The risks of foreign securities include loss of value as a result of: political or economic instability; nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation; settlement delays; and limited government regulation (including less stringent reporting, accounting, and disclosure standards than are required of U.S. companies).
Index Fund Investment Risk. More likely than not, an index fund will not provide investment performance that matches the index performance due to cashflows and the fees and expenses of the fund.
Risk of Being an Underlying Fund. A fund is subject to the risk of being an underlying fund to the extent that a fund of funds invests in the fund. An underlying fund of a fund of funds may experience relatively large redemptions or investments as the fund of funds periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions may cause the underlying fund to sell portfolio securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest cash from such investments, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result increase transaction costs and adversely affect underlying fund performance.
Performance
The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the investment returns of the Fund’s Institutional shares for each full calendar year of operations for 10 years (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund). The table shows, for each share class of the Fund and for the last one, five, and ten calendar year periods (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund), how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of one or more broad-based market indices. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You may get updated performance information online at www.principal.com or by calling 1-800-222-5852.
Life of Fund returns are measured from December 30, 2009, the date the Institutional, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5 Class shares were first sold.
Total Returns as of December 31 each year (Institutional Class shares) [3]
Bar Chart
The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2012 was 9.89% for Institutional shares.
Highest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q3 ‘10
17.39
 %
Lowest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q3 ‘11
-20.25
 %
Average Annual Total Returns - Institutional Plan PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares International Equity Index Fund
Label
1 Year
Since Inception
Inception Date
International Equity Index Fund, Institutional Class
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes (12.39%) (3.52%) Dec. 30, 2009
International Equity Index Fund, Institutional Class After Taxes on Distributions
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions (12.60%) (3.76%) Dec. 30, 2009
International Equity Index Fund, Institutional Class After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distribution and Sale of Fund Shares (7.44%) (2.87%) Dec. 30, 2009
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-1
Class R-1 Return Before Taxes (13.22%) (4.38%) Dec. 30, 2009
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-2
Class R-2 Return Before Taxes (13.20%) (4.32%) Dec. 30, 2009
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-3
Class R-3 Return Before Taxes (12.93%) (4.12%) Dec. 30, 2009
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-4
Class R-4 Return Before Taxes (12.79%) (3.89%) Dec. 30, 2009
International Equity Index Fund, Class R-5
Class R-5 Return Before Taxes (12.68%) (3.79%) Dec. 30, 2009
MSCI - EAFE NDTR D Index
MSCI - EAFE NDTR D Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) (12.14%) (2.47%) Dec. 30, 2009
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and would be different for Class R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 shares.
Preferred Securities Fund
PREFERRED SECURITIES FUND
Objective:
The Fund seeks to provide current income.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):    None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Institutional Plan PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Preferred Securities Fund
Preferred Securities Fund, Institutional Class
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-1
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-2
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-3
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-4
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-5
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) 0.71% 0.71% 0.71% 0.71% 0.71% 0.71%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees   0.35% 0.30% 0.25% 0.10%  
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): 0.04% 0.53% 0.45% 0.32% 0.28% 0.26%
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 0.75% 1.59% 1.46% 1.28% 1.09% 0.97%
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example - Institutional Plan PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Preferred Securities Fund (USD $)
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
Preferred Securities Fund, Institutional Class
77 240 417 930
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-1
162 502 866 1,889
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-2
149 462 797 1,746
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-3
130 406 702 1,545
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-4
111 347 601 1,329
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-5
99 309 536 1,190
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s annualized portfolio turnover rate was 22.9% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in preferred securities at the time of purchase. Preferred securities generally pay fixed rate dividends (though some are adjustable rate) and typically have "preference" over common stock in the payment of dividends and the liquidation of a company's assets, but are junior to all forms of the company's debt. Most of the securities purchased by the Fund are preferred securities of companies rated at the time of purchase BBB- or higher by Standard & Poor's Rating Service ("S&P") or Baa3 or higher by Moody's Investor Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or, if unrated, of comparable quality in the opinion of the Sub-Advisor. The Fund also invests up to 15% of its assets in below investment grade bonds (sometimes called “high yield bonds” or "junk bonds") which are rated at the time of purchase Ba1 or lower by Moody's and BB+ or lower by S&P (if the bond has been rated by only one of those agencies, that rating will determine whether the bond is below investment grade; if the bond has not been rated by either of those agencies, the Sub-Advisor will determine whether the bond is of a quality comparable to those rated below investment grade).
The Fund concentrates its investments (invests more than 25% of its net assets) in securities in the U.S. and non-U.S financial services (i.e., banking, insurance and commercial finance,) industry. The Fund also regularly invests in the real estate investment trust (i.e. REIT) and utility industries.
Principal Risks
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for investors who are seeking dividends to generate income or to reinvest for growth and are willing to accept fluctuations in the value of the investment.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, in alphabetical order, are:
Currency Risk. Risks of investing in securities denominated in, or that trade in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies include changes in foreign exchange rates and foreign exchange restrictions.
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities could decline if the issuer’s financial condition declines or in response to overall market and economic conditions. A fund's principal market segment(s), such as large cap, mid cap or small cap stocks, or growth or value stocks, may underperform other market segments or the equity markets as a whole. Investments in smaller companies and mid-size companies may involve greater risk and price volatility than investments in larger, more mature companies.
Fixed-Income Securities Risk. Fixed-income securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit quality risk. The market value of fixed-income securities generally declines when interest rates rise, and an issuer of fixed-income securities could default on its payment obligations.
Foreign Securities Risk. The risks of foreign securities include loss of value as a result of: political or economic instability; nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation; settlement delays; and limited government regulation (including less stringent reporting, accounting, and disclosure standards than are required of U.S. companies).
High Yield Securities Risk. High yield fixed-income securities (commonly referred to as "junk bonds") are subject to greater credit quality risk than higher rated fixed-income securities and should be considered speculative.
Industry Concentration Risk (Financial Services). A fund that concentrates investments in a particular industry or group of industries has greater exposure than other funds to market, economic and other factors affecting that industry or group of industries. A fund concentrating in financial services companies may be more susceptible to adverse economic or regulatory occurrences affecting financial services companies. Financial companies may be adversely affected in certain market cycles, including periods of rising interest rates, which may restrict the availability and increase the cost of capital, and declining economic conditions, which may cause credit losses due to financial difficulties of borrowers. Because many types of financial companies are especially vulnerable to these economic cycles, the Fund’s investments in these companies may lose significant value during such periods.
Portfolio Duration Risk. Portfolio duration is a measure of the expected life of a fixed-income security and its sensitivity to changes in interest rates. The longer a fund's average portfolio duration, the more sensitive the fund will be to changes in interest rates.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities are junior subordinated securities in a company’s capital structure and therefore can be subject to greater credit and liquidation risk. An issuer of preferred securities could redeem the security prior to the stated maturity date and reduce the return of the security.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) Risk. A REIT could fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code, and fund shareholders will indirectly bear their proportionate share of the expenses of REITs in which the fund invests.
Real Estate Securities Risk. Real estate securities are subject to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, including declines in value, adverse economic conditions, increases in expenses, regulatory changes and environmental problems. Investing in securities of companies in the real estate industry, subjects a fund to the special risks associated with the real estate market including factors such as loss to casualty or condemnation, changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.
Risk of Being an Underlying Fund. A fund is subject to the risk of being an underlying fund to the extent that a fund of funds invests in the fund. An underlying fund of a fund of funds may experience relatively large redemptions or investments as the fund of funds periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions may cause the underlying fund to sell portfolio securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest cash from such investments, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result increase transaction costs and adversely affect underlying fund performance.
Performance
The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows the investment returns of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares for each full calendar year of operations for 10 years (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund). The table shows, for each share class of the Fund and for the last one, five, and ten calendar year periods (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund), how the Fund’s average annual total returns compare to the returns of one or more broad-based market indices. Past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future. You may get updated performance information online at www.principal.com or by calling 1-800-222-5852.
The Institutional Class shares were first sold May 1, 2002. The R-1 Class shares were first sold on November 1, 2004. The R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5 share classes were first sold on June 1, 2004. For periods prior to the date on which the R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 class shares began operations, their returns are based on the performance of the Fund’s Institutional Class shares adjusted to reflect the fees and expenses of these classes. The adjustments result in performance (for the periods prior to the date these classes began operations) that is no higher than the historical performance of the Institutional Class shares.
Performance of a blended index shows how the Fund's performance compares to an index with similar investment objectives. Performance of the components of the blended index are also shown. The weightings for the Preferreds Blended Index are 50% BofA Merrill Lynch Fixed Rate Preferred Securities and 50% Barclays U.S. Tier I Capital Securities Index. The custom or blended index returns reflect the allocation in effect for the time period(s) for which fund returns are disclosed. Previous weightings or allocations of the custom or blended index are not restated.
Total Returns as of December 31 each year (Institutional Class shares) [4]
Bar Chart
The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2012 was 15.67% for Institutional shares.
Highest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q2 ‘09
38.94
 %
Lowest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:
Q3 ‘08
-20.90
 %
Average Annual Total Returns - Institutional Plan PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Preferred Securities Fund
Label
1 Year
5 Years
Since Inception
Inception Date
Preferred Securities Fund, Institutional Class
Institutional Class Return Before Taxes 1.53% 4.38% 5.21% May 01, 2002
Preferred Securities Fund, Institutional Class After Taxes on Distributions
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distributions (0.46%) 2.16% 3.31% May 01, 2002
Preferred Securities Fund, Institutional Class After Taxes on Distributions and Sales
Institutional Class Return After Taxes on Distribution and Sale of Fund Shares 1.34% 2.48% 3.39% May 01, 2002
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-1
Class R-1 Return Before Taxes 0.71% 3.49% 4.29% May 01, 2002
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-2
Class R-2 Return Before Taxes 0.94% 3.62% 4.44% May 01, 2002
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-3
Class R-3 Return Before Taxes 1.03% 3.81% 4.63% May 01, 2002
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-4
Class R-4 Return Before Taxes 1.20% 3.99% 4.80% May 01, 2002
Preferred Securities Fund, Class R-5
Class R-5 Return Before Taxes 1.33% 4.10% 4.93% May 01, 2002
BofA Merrill Lynch Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index
BofA Merrill Lynch Fixed Rate Preferred Securities Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 4.11% (1.19%) 2.42% May 01, 2002
Barclays U.S. Tier I Capital Securities Index
Barclays U.S. Tier I Capital Securities Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) (0.53%) 1.71% 4.87% May 01, 2002
Preferreds Blended Index
Preferreds Blended Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes) 1.81% 0.01% 3.38% May 01, 2002
After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. After-tax returns are shown for Institutional Class shares only and would be different for Class R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4 and R-5 shares.
Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund
SMALL-MIDCAP DIVIDEND INCOME FUND
Objective:
The Fund primarily seeks to provide a relatively high level of current income and long-term growth of income, and
secondarily long-term growth of capital, while investing primarily in small- to mid-capitalization companies.
Fees and Expenses of the Fund
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.
Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment):    None
Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Annual Fund Operating Expenses - Institutional Plan
PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares
Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund
Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund, Institutional Class
Management Fees (as a percentage of Assets) 0.80%
Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): 0.04%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses 0.10%
Net Expenses (as a percentage of Assets) 0.94%
Example
This Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds.
The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example - Institutional Plan (USD $)
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years
PFI Prospectus - Institutional Class Shares Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund Small-MidCap Dividend Income Fund, Institutional Class
96 300 520 1,155
Portfolio Turnover
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s annualized portfolio turnover rate was 19.1% of the average value of its portfolio.
Principal Investment Strategies
Under normal circumstances, the Fund invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in dividend-paying equity securities of companies with small to medium market capitalizations (those with market capitalizations ranging from between $200 million and $7 billion) at the time of purchase. The Fund invests in value equity securities, an investment strategy that emphasizes buying equity securities that appear to be undervalued. The Fund invests in the securities of foreign issuers, real estate investment trusts, preferred securities, convertible securities, fixed-income securities, master limited partnerships, and royalty trusts.
Principal Risks
The Fund may be an appropriate investment for investors who seek dividends to generate income or to reinvest for growth and who can accept fluctuations in the value of investments and the risks of investing in equity securities, the securities of foreign issuers, real estate investment trusts, preferred securities, convertible securities, fixed-income securities, master limited partnerships, and royalty trusts.
The value of your investment in the Fund changes with the value of the Fund's investments. Many factors affect that value, and it is possible to lose money by investing in the Fund. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The principal risks of investing in the Fund, in alphabetical order, are:
Convertible Securities Risk. Convertible securities can be bonds, notes, debentures, preferred stock or other securities which are convertible into common stock. Convertible securities are subject to both the credit and interest rate risks associated with fixed income securities and to the stock market risk associated with equity securities.
Currency Risk. Risks of investing in securities denominated in, or that trade in, foreign (non-U.S.) currencies include changes in foreign exchange rates and foreign exchange restrictions.
Equity Securities Risk. The value of equity securities could decline if the issuer’s financial condition declines or in response to overall market and economic conditions. A fund's principal market segment(s), such as large cap, mid cap or small cap stocks, or growth or value stocks, may underperform other market segments or the equity markets as a whole. Investments in smaller companies and mid-size companies may involve greater risk and price volatility than investments in larger, more mature companies.
Fixed-Income Securities Risk. Fixed-income securities are subject to interest rate risk and credit quality risk. The market value of fixed-income securities generally declines when interest rates rise, and an issuer of fixed-income securities could default on its payment obligations.
Foreign Securities Risk. The risks of foreign securities include loss of value as a result of: political or economic instability; nationalization, expropriation or confiscatory taxation; settlement delays; and limited government regulation (including less stringent reporting, accounting, and disclosure standards than are required of U.S. companies).
Master Limited Partnership ("MLP") Risk. MLPs are publicly-traded limited partnership interests or units. An MLP that invests in a particular industry (e.g., oil and gas) will be harmed by detrimental economic events within that industry. As partnerships, MLPs may be subject to less regulation (and less protection for investors) under state laws than corporations. In addition, MLPs may be subject to state taxation in certain jurisdictions, which may reduce the amount of income an MLP pays to its investors.
Preferred Securities Risk. Preferred securities are junior subordinated securities in a company’s capital structure and therefore can be subject to greater credit and liquidation risk. An issuer of preferred securities could redeem the security prior to the stated maturity date and reduce the return of the security.
Real Estate Investment Trusts (“REITs”) Risk. A REIT could fail to qualify for tax-free pass-through of income under the Internal Revenue Code, and fund shareholders will indirectly bear their proportionate share of the expenses of REITs in which the fund invests.
Real Estate Securities Risk. Real estate securities are subject to the risks associated with direct ownership of real estate, including declines in value, adverse economic conditions, increases in expenses, regulatory changes and environmental problems. Investing in securities of companies in the real estate industry, subjects a fund to the special risks associated with the real estate market including factors such as loss to casualty or condemnation, changes in real estate values, property taxes, interest rates, cash flow of underlying real estate assets, occupancy rates, government regulations affecting zoning, land use and rents, and the management skill and creditworthiness of the issuer.
Risk of Being an Underlying Fund. A fund is subject to the risk of being an underlying fund to the extent that a fund of funds invests in the fund. An underlying fund of a fund of funds may experience relatively large redemptions or investments as the fund of funds periodically reallocates or rebalances its assets. These transactions may cause the underlying fund to sell portfolio securities to meet such redemptions, or to invest cash from such investments, at times it would not otherwise do so, and may as a result increase transaction costs and adversely affect underlying fund performance.
Royalty Trust Risk. A royalty trust generally acquires an interest in natural resource or chemical companies and distributes the income it receives to its investors. A sustained decline in demand for natural resource and related products could adversely affect royalty trust revenues and cash flows. Such a decline could result from a recession or other adverse economic conditions, an increase in the market price of the underlying commodity, higher taxes or other regulatory actions that increase costs, or a shift in consumer demand. Rising interest rates could adversely affect the performance, and limit the capital appreciation, of royalty trusts because of the increased availability of alternative investments at more competitive yields. Fund shareholders will indirectly bear their proportionate share of the royalty trusts' expenses.
Value Stock Risk. The market may not recognize the intrinsic value of value stocks for a long time, or they may be appropriately priced at the time of purchase.
Performance
No performance information is shown because the Fund has not yet had a calendar year of performance. The Fund’s performance will be benchmarked against the Russell 2500 Value Index.
[1] The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2012 was 3.77% for Institutional shares.
[2] The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2012 was 8.17% for Institutional shares.
[3] The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2012 was 9.89% for Institutional shares.
[4] The year-to-date return as of September 30, 2012 was 15.67% for Institutional shares.