SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                               ------------------



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT



                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                         Date of Report: August 5, 2003
                        (Date of earliest event reported)



                         PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


    Delaware                          1-16725                     42-1520346
(State or other jurisdiction    Commission file number        (I.R.S. Employer
  of incorporation)                                       Identification Number)


                     711 High Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50392
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (515) 247-5111
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                               ------------------



                                       1
<PAGE>


ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS

99.1 Table of realized  capital  gains and losses on a pre-tax basis for various
reporting periods.

ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

Investors have asked for additional  information  regarding  Principal Financial
Group, Inc.'s Realized Capital Gains and Losses.  Exhibit 99.1, attached,  shows
our Realized Capital Gains and Losses (including  unrealized gains and losses on
derivatives  and seed money) for various  reporting  periods,  including the six
months ended June 30, 2003. The format is  essentially  the same as the required
footnote  contained in our most recent  annual  report on Form 10-K for the year
ended  December 31, 2002,  filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.




                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                          PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.


                          By:      /S/ THOMAS J. GRAF
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                          Name:    Thomas J. Graf
                          Title:   Senior Vice President - Investor Relations



Date:  August 5, 2003


                                       2
<PAGE>


                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Pre-tax Realized Capital Gains and Losses
In $ millions

                               FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED                      YEARS ENDED
                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             JUNE 30, 2003       JUNE 30, 2002         2002           2001          2000

Fixed Maturity Securities
<S>                              <C>                  <C>               <C>            <C>          <C>
Gross Gains*                     45.6                 144.5             176.3          76.7         29.1
Gross Losses                    (156.9)              (307.4)           (538.6)       (408.9)      (155.0)

Equity Securities
Gross Gains                       1.4                   2.8               4.1           9.4         84.2
Gross Losses                    (15.4)                (15.7)            (32.8)        (76.9)        (5.0)


Commercial Mortgages            (11.8)                 (9.9)            (10.3)         10.7          8.6

Real Estate                       2.9                  18.2               9.3         (19.0)        82.3

Seed Money                       32.2                    -              (83.5)           -            -

Derivatives                      (5.3)                 (8.8)            (73.2)        (45.2)        (1.1)

Other                            19.7                 182.9             193.9         (60.8)        96.5
                          --------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ------------ ----------

Net Realized Capital
  Gains (Losses)                (87.6)                  6.6            (354.8)        (514.0)      139.6
                          =====================  ================ ================ ============ ==========

</TABLE>

*Included in the gross gains number in 2003 is $12.0 million in gains related to
credit impaired securities.


                                       3
<PAGE>
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP INC", "cik": "0001126328", "assigned-sic": "6321", "irs-number": "421520346", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-16725", "film-number": "03822445"}, "business-address": {"street1": "711 HIGH STREET", "city": "DES MOINES", "state": "IA", "zip": "50392", "phone": "5152475111"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                               ------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                         Date of Report: August 5, 2003
                        (Date of earliest event reported)

                         PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

    Delaware                          1-16725                     42-1520346
(State or other jurisdiction    Commission file number        (I.R.S. Employer
  of incorporation)                                       Identification Number)

                     711 High Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50392
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (515) 247-5111
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                               ------------------

                                       1
ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS

99.1 Table of realized  capital  gains and losses on a pre-tax basis for various
reporting periods.

ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

Investors have asked for additional  information  regarding  Principal Financial
Group, Inc.'s Realized Capital Gains and Losses.  Exhibit 99.1, attached,  shows
our Realized Capital Gains and Losses (including  unrealized gains and losses on
derivatives  and seed money) for various  reporting  periods,  including the six
months ended June 30, 2003. The format is  essentially  the same as the required
footnote  contained in our most recent  annual  report on Form 10-K for the year
ended  December 31, 2002,  filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

                                    SIGNATURE

         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                          PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP, INC.

                          By:      /S/ THOMAS J. GRAF
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                          Name:    Thomas J. Graf
                          Title:   Senior Vice President - Investor Relations

Date:  August 5, 2003

                                       2
Exhibit 99.1
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
Pre-tax Realized Capital Gains and Losses
In $ millions

                               FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED                      YEARS ENDED
                   ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             JUNE 30, 2003       JUNE 30, 2002         2002           2001          2000

Fixed Maturity Securities
Gross Gains*                     45.6                 144.5             176.3          76.7         29.1
Gross Losses                    (156.9)              (307.4)           (538.6)       (408.9)      (155.0)

Equity Securities
Gross Gains                       1.4                   2.8               4.1           9.4         84.2
Gross Losses                    (15.4)                (15.7)            (32.8)        (76.9)        (5.0)

Commercial Mortgages            (11.8)                 (9.9)            (10.3)         10.7          8.6

Real Estate                       2.9                  18.2               9.3         (19.0)        82.3

Seed Money                       32.2                    -              (83.5)           -            -

Derivatives                      (5.3)                 (8.8)            (73.2)        (45.2)        (1.1)

Other                            19.7                 182.9             193.9         (60.8)        96.5
                          --------------------- ----------------- ---------------- ------------ ----------

Net Realized Capital
  Gains (Losses)                (87.6)                  6.6            (354.8)        (514.0)      139.6
                          =====================  ================ ================ ============ ==========
*Included in the gross gains number in 2003 is $12.0 million in gains related to
credit impaired securities.

                                       3