Principal 10-31 FYE 485BPOS Combined Document

485BPOS 1 filingbody.htm Principal 10-31 FYE 485BPOS Combined Document

volPRINCIPAL FUNDS, INC. (“PFI”)

Class A, Class B, Class C, and Class P Shares

The date of this Prospectus is March 1, 2013.



Ticker Symbols
	Share Class
Fund	A	B	C	P
Bond & Mortgage Securities	PRBDX	PROBX	PBMCX
California Municipal	SRCMX	SQCMX	SRCCX
Diversified International	PRWLX	PRBWX	PDNCX	PDIPX
Equity Income	PQIAX	PQUBX	PEUCX	PEQPX
Global Diversified Income	PGBAX		PGDCX	PGDPX
Global Real Estate Securities	POSAX		POSCX	POSPX
Government & High Quality Bond	CMPGX	CBUGX	CCUGX	PGSPX
High Yield	CPHYX	CBHYX	CCHIX	PYHPX
High Yield I	PYHAX
Income	CMPIX	CMIBX	CNMCX	PIMPX
Inflation Protection	PITAX		PPOCX
International Emerging Markets	PRIAX	PIEBX	PMKCX	PIEPX
LargeCap Growth	PRGWX	PRGBX	PLGCX	PGLPX
LargeCap Growth I	PLGAX
LargeCap S&P 500 Index	PLSAX		PLICX
LargeCap Value	PCACX	PCCBX	PLUCX
MidCap (formerly MidCap Blend)	PEMGX	PRMBX	PMBCX	PMCPX
Money Market	PCSXX	PMBXX	PPCXX
Principal Capital Appreciation	CMNWX	CMNBX	CMNCX	PCFPX
Principal LifeTime Strategic Income	PALTX	PLTSX
Principal LifeTime 2010	PENAX
Principal LifeTime 2020	PTBAX	PLIBX
Principal LifeTime 2030	PTCAX	PTCBX
Principal LifeTime 2040	PTDAX	PTDBX
Principal LifeTime 2050	PPEAX	PLTFX
Real Estate Securities	PRRAX	PRLEX	PRCEX	PIRPX
SAM Balanced	SABPX	SBBPX	SCBPX
SAM Conservative Balanced	SAIPX	SBIPX	SCIPX
SAM Conservative Growth	SAGPX	SBGPX	SCGPX
SAM Flexible Income	SAUPX	SBUPX	SCUPX
SAM Strategic Growth	SACAX	SBCAX	SWHCX
Short-Term Income	SRHQX		STCCX	PSTPX
SmallCap Blend	PLLAX	PLLBX	PSMCX
Tax-Exempt Bond	PTEAX	PTBBX	PTBCX

The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these securities or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

TABLE OF CONTENTS



Balanced/Asset Allocation Funds
Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Fund	4
Principal LifeTime 2010 Fund	11
Principal LifeTime 2020 Fund	17
Principal LifeTime 2030 Fund	24
Principal LifeTime 2040 Fund	31
Principal LifeTime 2050 Fund	37
Strategic Asset Management (“SAM”) Flexible Income Portfolio	43
Strategic Asset Management (“SAM”) Conservative Balanced Portfolio	49
Strategic Asset Management (“SAM”) Balanced Portfolio	55
Strategic Asset Management (“SAM”) Conservative Growth Portfolio	60
Strategic Asset Management (“SAM”) Strategic Growth Portfolio	65
Global Diversified Income Fund	70
LargeCap US Equity Funds
Equity Income Fund	77
LargeCap Growth Fund	82
LargeCap Growth Fund I	86
LargeCap S&P 500 Index Fund	90
LargeCap Value Fund	94
Principal Capital Appreciation Fund	98
Small/MidCap US Equity Funds
MidCap Fund (formerly MidCap Blend Fund)	102
SmallCap Blend Fund	106
Real Estate Funds
Global Real Estate Securities Fund	110
Real Estate Securities Fund	116
International Equity Funds
Diversified International Fund	120
International Emerging Markets Fund	124
Fixed-Income Funds
Bond & Mortgage Securities Fund	128
California Municipal Fund	133
Government & High Quality Bond Fund	137
High Yield Fund	141
High Yield Fund I	146
Income Fund	150
Inflation Protection Fund	155
Tax-Exempt Bond Fund	159
Short-Term Fixed Income Funds
Money Market Fund	163
Short-Term Income Fund	167
Additional Information About Investment Strategies and Risks	171
Portfolio Holdings Information	193



Management of the Funds	193
Pricing of Fund Shares	202
Contact Principal Funds, Inc.	203
Purchase of Fund Shares	204
Redemption of Fund Shares	207
Exchange of Fund Shares	209
Dividends and Distributions	211
Frequent Purchases and Redemptions	212
Tax Considerations	213
Choosing a Share Class and the Costs of Investing	214
Distribution Plans and Intermediary Compensation	220
Fund Account Information	222
Financial Highlights	223
Appendix A – Description of Bond Ratings	266
Additional Information	271

PRINCIPAL LIFETIME STRATEGIC INCOME FUND


Objective:	The Fund seeks current income, and as a secondary objective, capital appreciation.

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. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in Principal Funds, Inc. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Choosing a Share Class and The Costs of Investing” beginning on page 214, of the Fund’s prospectus and “Multiple Class Structure” beginning on page 66 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)



	Class A	Class B
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	3.75%	None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the offering price or NAV at the time Sales Load is paid, whichever is less)	1.00%	5.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)



	Class A	Class B
Management Fees	0.03%	0.03%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%	1.00%
Other Expenses	0.25%	4.01%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	0.59%	0.59%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	1.12%	5.63%
Expense Reimbursement⁽¹⁾	0.12%	3.88%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Expense Reimbursement	1.00%	1.75%

⁽¹⁾

Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s expenses attributable to Class A and Class B shares by paying, if necessary, expenses normally payable by the Fund, excluding interest expense and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, through the period ending February 28, 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 and 0.41% for Class A and 1.16% for Class B shares, 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 assumes conversion of the Class B shares to Class A shares after the eighth year. 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:



	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class A	$473	$704	$956	$1,675
Class B	$678	$1,674	$2,622	$4,348

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:



	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class A	$473	$704	$956	$1,675
Class B	$178	$1,274	$2,422	$4,348

Portfolio Turnover

As a fund of funds, the Fund does not pay transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells shares of underlying funds (or “turns over” its portfolio). An underlying fund does pay transaction costs when it buys and sells portfolio securities, and a higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the examples, affect the performance of the underlying fund and the Fund. During its most recent fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 31.1% of the average value of its portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund invests in underlying Principal Funds, Inc. (“PFI”) domestic and foreign equity, real asset and alternative investments, and fixed-income Funds according to an asset allocation strategy designed for investors primarily seeking current income and secondarily capital appreciation. The Fund's asset allocation is designed for investors who are approximately 15 years beyond the normal retirement age of 65. The Fund invests in PFI Institutional Class shares of underlying funds. It is managed by Principal Management Corporation (“Principal”); Principal has hired a sub-advisor, Principal Global Investors, LLC (“PGI”), to assist in managing the Fund.

Principal, with assistance from PGI, develops, implements and monitors the Fund's strategic or long-term asset class targets and target ranges, is also responsible for an active rebalancing strategy designed to identify asset classes that appear attractive over the short term and sets the percentage of Fund assets to be allocated to a particular asset class. Principal selects the underlying funds for each asset class and the target weights for each underlying fund. Principal, with assistance from PGI, may shift asset class targets in response to normal evaluative processes, the shortening time horizon of the Fund or changes in market forces or Fund circumstances. Principal may add, remove, or substitute underlying funds at any time.

In selecting underlying funds and target weights, Principal considers both quantitative measures (e.g., past performance, expected levels of risk and returns, expense levels, diversification and style consistency) and qualitative factors (e.g., organizational stability, investment experience, investment and risk management processes, and information, trading, and compliance systems). There are no minimum or maximum percentages of assets that the Fund must invest in a specific asset class or underlying fund.

The underlying funds invest in equity securities, growth and value stocks, fixed-income securities (including high yield or “junk” bonds), domestic and foreign (including those in emerging markets) securities, investment companies (including index funds), real estate securities, derivatives, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, and U.S. government and U.S. government-sponsored securities.

Principal Risks

The broad diversification of the Fund is designed to cushion severe losses in any one investment sector and moderate overall price volatility. However, the Fund is subject to the particular risks of the underlying funds in the proportions in which the Fund invests in them, and its share prices will fluctuate as the prices of underlying fund shares rise or fall with changing market conditions. If you sell your shares when their value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money. The Fund operates as a fund of funds and thus bears both its own expenses and, indirectly, its proportionate share of the expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. An investment in the Fund is not a deposit in 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 that are inherent in the fund of funds, in alphabetical order, are:

Asset Allocation Risk. A fund's selection and weighting of asset classes may cause it to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective.

Conflict of Interest Risk. The Advisor and its affiliates earn different fees from different underlying funds and may have an incentive to allocate more fund-of-fund assets to underlying funds from which they receive higher fees.

Investment Company Securities Risk. Fund shareholders bear indirectly their proportionate share of the expenses of other investment companies in which the fund invests.

Target Date Fund Risk. There is no guarantee that this fund will provide adequate income at or through retirement.

The principal risks of investing in the Fund that are inherent in the underlying funds, in alphabetical order, are:

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Investment Company Securities Risk. Fund shareholders bear indirectly their proportionate share of the expenses of other investment companies in which the fund invests.

Leverage Risk. Leverage created by borrowing or certain types of transactions or investments 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.

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.

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

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 Class A shares for each full calendar year of operations for 10 years (or, if shorter, the life of the Fund). These annual returns do not reflect sales charges; if they did, results would be lower. 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.principalfunds.com or by calling 1-800-222-5852.

Class A shares commenced operations on June 28, 2005, and Class B shares commenced operations on March 15, 2006. The returns for Class A and B shares, for the periods prior to those dates, are based on the performance of the Institutional Class shares adjusted to reflect the fees and expenses of Class A and B shares. The adjustments result in performance for such periods that is no higher than the historical performance of the Institutional Class shares. Institutional Class shares were first sold on March 1, 2001.

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. Effective March 31, 2012, the weightings for the Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Blended Index were 19.40% Russell 3000 ^® Index, 5.60% MSCI EAFE Index NDTR D, and 75.00% Barclays Aggregate Bond Index. Effective March 31, 2013, the weightings for the Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Blended Index will be 19.45% Russell 3000 ^® Index, 5.55% MSCI EAFE Index NDTR D, and 75.00% Barclays Aggregate Bond 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 (Class A shares)



Highest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:	Q3 '09	9.69	%
Lowest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:	Q4 '08	-11.34	%



Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2012	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes	4.92%	1.87%	4.50%
Class A Return After Taxes on Distributions	4.20%	0.76%	3.42%
Class A Return After Taxes on Distribution and Sale of Fund Shares	3.29%	0.95%	3.29%
Class B Return Before Taxes	3.28%	1.52%	4.38%
Barclays Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	4.21%	5.95%	5.18%
Russell 3000 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	16.42%	2.04%	7.68%
MSCI EAFE Index NDTR D (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	17.32%	-3.69%	8.21%
Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Blended Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	7.05%	5.03%	6.67%

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 Class A shares only and would be different for Class B shares.

Management

Investment Advisor and Portfolio Managers:

Principal Management Corporation


•	James W. Fennessey (since 2007), Vice President


•	Jeffrey R. Tyler (since 2011), Vice President


•	Randy L. Welch (since 2007), Vice President

Sub-Advisor(s) and Portfolio Manager(s):

Principal Global Investors, LLC


•	Matthew Annenberg (since 2013), Managing Director, Asset Allocation


•	Dirk Laschanzky (since 2001), Portfolio Manager

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Purchase minimums per fund (some exceptions apply):



• Initial Investment		$1000
• For accounts with an Automatic Investment Plan (AIP)		$100
• Subsequent Investments		$100
• For accounts with an AIP, the subsequent automatic investments must total $1,200 annually if the initial $1,000 minimum has not been met.

Effective March 1, 2010, Class B shares of the Fund are no longer available for purchase, except through exchanges and dividend reinvestments.

You may purchase or redeem shares on any business day (normally any day when the New York Stock Exchange is open for regular trading) through your Financial Professional; by sending a written request to Principal Funds at P.O. Box 8024, Boston, MA 02266-8024 (regular mail) or 30 Dan Road, Canton, MA 02021-2809 (overnight mail); calling us at 1-800-222-5852; or accessing our website (www.principalfunds.com).

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions you receive are generally subject to federal income tax as ordinary income or capital gain and may also be subject to state and local taxes, unless you are tax-exempt or your account is tax-deferred in which case your distributions would be taxed when withdrawn from the tax-deferred account.

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

If you purchase the Fund through a broker-dealer or other financial intermediary (such as a bank, insurance company, investment adviser, etc.), the Fund and its related companies may pay the intermediary for the sale of Fund shares and related services. These payments may create a conflict of interest by influencing the broker-dealer or other intermediary and your salesperson to recommend the Fund over another investment, or to recommend one share class of the Fund over another share class. Ask your salesperson or visit your financial intermediary’s website for more information.

PRINCIPAL LIFETIME 2010 FUND


Objective:	The Fund seeks a total return consisting of long-term growth of capital and current income.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)



	Class A
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	3.75%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the offering price or NAV at the time Sales Load is paid, whichever is less)	1.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)



	Class A
Management Fees	0.03%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%
Other Expenses	0.21%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	0.63%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	1.12%
Expense Reimbursement⁽¹⁾	0.08%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Expense Reimbursement	1.04%

⁽¹⁾

Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s expenses attributable to Class A shares by paying, if necessary, expenses normally payable by the Fund, excluding interest expense and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, through the period ending February 28, 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 0.41% for Class A shares, 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:



	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class A	$477	$709	$960	$1,679

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:



	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class A	$477	$709	$960	$1,679

Portfolio Turnover

Principal Investment Strategies

The Fund operates as a “target date fund.” It invests in underlying Principal Funds, Inc. (“PFI”) domestic and foreign equity, real asset and alternative investments, and fixed-income Funds according to an asset allocation strategy designed for investors having a retirement investment goal close to the year in the Fund’s name. The Fund's asset allocation will become more conservative over time as investment goals near (for example, retirement, which is assumed to begin at age 65) and investors become more risk-averse. The Fund invests in PFI Institutional Class shares of underlying funds. It is managed by Principal Management Corporation (“Principal”); Principal has hired a sub-advisor, Principal Global Investors, LLC (“PGI”), to assist in managing the Fund.

The underlying funds invest in equity securities, growth and value stocks, fixed-income securities (including high yield or “junk” bonds), domestic and foreign (including those in emerging markets) securities, securities denominated in foreign currencies, investment companies (including index funds), real estate securities, derivatives, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, and U.S. government and U.S. government-sponsored securities.

Within 10 to 15 years after its target year, the Fund's underlying fund allocation is expected to match that of the Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Fund. At that time, the Fund may be combined with the Principal LifeTime Strategic Income Fund if the Board of Directors determines that the combination is in the best interests of Fund shareholders. It is expected that at the target date in the Fund’s name, the shareholder will begin gradually withdrawing the account's value.

Principal Risks

The broad diversification of the Fund is designed to cushion severe losses in any one investment sector and moderate overall price volatility. However, the Fund is subject to the particular risks of the underlying funds in the proportions in which the Fund invests in them, and its share prices will fluctuate as the prices of underlying fund shares rise or fall with changing market conditions. If you sell your shares when their value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money. The Fund operates as a fund of funds and thus bears both its own expenses and, indirectly, its proportionate share of the expenses of the underlying funds in which it invests. 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 that are inherent in the fund of funds, in alphabetical order, are:

Asset Allocation Risk. A fund's selection and weighting of asset classes may cause it to underperform other funds with a similar investment objective.

Investment Company Securities Risk. Fund shareholders bear indirectly their proportionate share of the expenses of other investment companies in which the fund invests.

Target Date Fund Risk. There is no guarantee that this fund will provide adequate income at or through retirement.

The principal risks of investing in the Fund that are inherent in the underlying funds, 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.

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.

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.

Investment Company Securities Risk. Fund shareholders bear indirectly their proportionate share of the expenses of other investment companies in which the fund invests.

U.S. Government Securities Risk. Yields available from U.S. government securities are generally lower than yields from many other fixed-income securities.

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

Class A shares commenced operations on June 28, 2005. The returns for Class A, for the periods prior to those dates, are based on the performance of the Institutional Class shares adjusted to reflect the fees and expenses of Class A shares. The adjustments result in performance for such periods that is no higher than the historical performance of the Institutional Class shares. Institutional Class shares were first sold on March 1, 2001.

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. Effective March 31, 2012, the weightings for the Principal LifeTime 2010 Blended Index were 32.40% Russell 3000 ^® Index, 11.60% MSCI EAFE Index NDTR D, and 56.00% Barclays Aggregate Bond Index. Effective March 31, 2013, the weightings for the Principal LifeTime 2010 Blended Index will be 31.35% Russell 3000 ^® Index, 11.15% MSCI EAFE Index NDTR D, and 57.50% Barclays Aggregate Bond 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 (Class A shares)



Highest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:	Q2 '09	13.95	%
Lowest return for a quarter during the period of the bar chart above:	Q4 '08	-16.36	%



Average Annual Total Returns
For the periods ended December 31, 2012	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
Class A Return Before Taxes	7.38%	1.22%	5.16%
Class A Return After Taxes on Distributions	6.77%	0.35%	4.28%
Class A Return After Taxes on Distribution and Sale of Fund Shares	4.95%	0.57%	4.04%
Barclays Aggregate Bond Index(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	4.21%	5.95%	5.18%
Russell 3000 Index(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	16.42%	2.04%	7.68%
MSCI EAFE Index NDTR D(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	17.32%	-3.69%	8.21%
Principal LifeTime 2010 Blended Index(reflects no deduction for fees, expenses, or taxes)	9.41%	3.39%	6.51%

Management

Investment Advisor and Portfolio Managers:

Principal Management Corporation


•	James W. Fennessey (since 2007), Vice President


•	Jeffrey R. Tyler (since 2011), Vice President


•	Randy L. Welch (since 2007), Vice President

Sub-Advisor(s) and Portfolio Manager(s):

Principal Global Investors, LLC


•	Matthew Annenberg (since 2013), Managing Director, Asset Allocation


•	Dirk Laschanzky (since 2001), Portfolio Manager

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

Purchase minimums per fund (some exceptions apply):



• Initial Investment		$1000
• For accounts with an Automatic Investment Plan (AIP)		$100
• Subsequent Investments		$100
• For accounts with an AIP, the subsequent automatic investments must total $1,200 annually if the initial $1,000 minimum has not been met.

Tax Information

Payments to Broker-Dealers and Other Financial Intermediaries

PRINCIPAL LIFETIME 2020 FUND


Objective:	The Fund seeks a total return consisting of long-term growth of capital and 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. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in Principal Funds, Inc. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in “Choosing a Share Class and The Costs of Investing” beginning on page 214, of the Fund’s prospectus and “Multiple Class Structure” beginning on page 66 of the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)



	Class A	Class B
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.50%	None
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the offering price or NAV at the time Sales Load is paid, whichever is less)	1.00%	5.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)



	Class A	Class B
Management Fees	0.03%	0.03%
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees	0.25%	1.00%
Other Expenses	0.19%	0.45%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses	0.68%	0.68%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	1.15%	2.16%
Expense Reimbursement⁽¹⁾	0.06%	0.32%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses after Expense Reimbursement	1.09%	1.84%

⁽¹⁾

Principal Management Corporation ("Principal"), the investment advisor, has contractually agreed to limit the Fund’s expenses attributable to Class A and Class B shares by paying, if necessary, expenses normally payable by the Fund, excluding interest expense and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, through the period ending February 28, 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 0.41% for Class A and 1.16% for Class B shares, 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.



	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class A	$655	$889	$1,142	$1,865
Class B	$687	$1,040	$1,325	$2,206

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:



	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class A	$655	$889	$1,142	$1,865
Class B	$187	$640	$1,125	$2,206

Portfolio Turnover

Principal Investment Strategies

The underlying funds invest in equity securities, growth and value stocks, fixed-income securities (including high yield or “junk” bonds), domestic and foreign (including those in emerging markets) securities, securities denominated in foreign currencies, investment companies (including index funds), real estate investment trusts, real estate securities, derivatives, mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, and U.S. government and U.S. government-sponsored securities.