The Principal Financial Group Helps Business Owners Prepare for the Unexpected

Business Wire, Sept 2, 2008

The Principal Women in Business Teleclass Series Features Victoria Colligan

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Principal([R]) Women in Business Teleclass Series will feature Victoria Colligan, founder of Ladies Who Launch and co-author of Ladies Who Launch: Embracing Entrepreneurship and Creativity as a Lifestyle, September 30 at 12 p.m. (CT). The theme for this complimentary teleclass is, "Are You Prepared? How Every Business Owner Can Plan for the Unexpected."

Ladies Who Launch is a lifestyle and business-focused media company that provides a network for entrepreneurial and creative women. During the teleclass, Colligan will share savvy tips on preparing for unexpected situations including: steps to developing a succession plan, how to prepare for a technical disaster and tips on creating a crisis communication plan.

To take part in the program, participants must register at www.principal.com/women.

"From beginning her career as a corporate lawyer to starting her own business, Victoria can speak from experience on what it takes to grow a company," said Michelle Swanson, assistant director, Advertising, The Principal([R]). "Victoria captured the attention of women professionals by creating a community that provides social networking opportunities, business tools for success and so much more to help them get ahead."

"Ladies Who Launch and The Principal have similar interests in that they both are resources for women business owners," said Colligan. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to team up with this program to provide insight from my experience and offer tips to business owners."

Prior to starting Ladies Who Launch, Colligan worked as director of content and business development for Amsale, a high-end wedding gowns designer, where she re-launched their Web site, started an online magazine, and developed numerous strategic partnerships. Colligan began her career as a corporate lawyer at Kelley Drye and Warren in New York. She holds a JD / MBA from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, and a bachelor's degree with honors from Brown University.

About The Principal([R]) Women in Business Teleclass Series

Held on "Teleclass Tuesdays," the series of 10 complementary teleclass sessions are exclusively designed to meet the needs of women business owners by supplying them with expert advice. Each session allows the audience unique interaction in a casual format with nationally-recognized business leaders and thinkers, from bestselling author and "Today" show financial contributor Jean Chatzky to chocolate visionary and multi-million dollar business owner Katrina Markoff. Class summaries of all past programs are available for download at www.principal.com/women.

The program's moderator is Pamela Mitchell, CEO and founder of The Reinvention Institute and Women in Business contributor for Inc.com.

About the Principal Financial Group

The Principal Financial Group([R]) (The Principal([R]))1 is a leader in offering businesses, individuals and institutional clients a wide range of financial products and services, including retirement and investment services, life and health insurance, and banking through its diverse family of financial services companies. A member of the Fortune 500, the Principal Financial Group has $308.0 billion in assets under management2 and serves some 19.0 million customers worldwide from offices in Asia, Australia, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Principal Financial Group, Inc. is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PFG. For more information, visit www.principal.com.

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

2 As of June 30, 2008