Principal®

Great improvements over the prior app, linking in more account types as well as seamless links without logging in again to the full website on a mobile browser for content not included in the app. The only thing I miss: Personalized Rate of Return for each investment subaccount within 401(k) plans. It is available for the composite portfolio, just not for the individual investments used like it is on the full site. I REALLY miss this feature in the app!

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A pet peeve of mine is when the “new and improved version” of something means lost functionality. Exhibit A would be the fact that you no longer get calculated monthly contribution feedback when you are deciding what percentage to contribute to each account. This was incredibly helpful in the “old” app. And the fact that I cannot see how the varying contributions will affect my family's finances until after I commit my changes is not an improvement. Am I expected to sit there with a calculator next to my phone so that I can make an informed decision. How is that an improvement? Plus I now have to navigate into sub menus to do things that were previously easy and informative. As far as I can see there is nothing new, they just moved stuff around and dumbed down the interface.

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Touch ID - finally! Overall interface is much improved over previous version - however, half of my account information is missing, showing $.00. When selecting, gives error message “try again later”. This is a major problem! I’m switching back to the older version until this is fixed. Rolling out an updated version without adequate testing is unacceptable. You guys can do better. Updated version STILL doesn’t work! Unable to see half of my account information. I’ve called multiple times and talked to people at Principal to no avail. This app is worthless. Test stuff before you roll it out. Unbelievable failure - again!

Disclosure, I have a 401k with self trading ability within the account. Account is much more iPhone screen friendly. Layout is better and more information with less clicks then previous app. But app is still lacking options to make changes to my self trading account. In fact it missing all information of the account (at least previous app opened a web browser). This “NEW” app doesn’t even acknowledge I have the ability. Overall I would say better but not the were it should be.

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I would agree with the 3/20 review - there isn’t much to the app and for any little thing extra (like viewing your loan balance) you need to go to the website. However if you access the website via a smartphone (iPhone in my case) instead of a computer , that isn’t a very pleasant experience either. I had trouble retrieving statements and I finally had to give up looking for my loan balance via the phone and went in through my computer. If you want some quick stats like your account balance and rate of return, then it’s fine. To be fair, i didn’t try to change my investment options so I don’t know how that works.