Look up the word “responsible” in the dictionary, and you’ll find definitions you can probably relate to— “accountable for one's actions,” “having an obligation to do something,” or “reliable, trustworthy.” But what does it mean to be a responsible company? More and more, individuals, institutions, and companies themselves are asking just that.
Sometimes, that answer can be found in internal policies and priorities—a company deciding for itself what it means to be responsible. Insight might also come from outside acknowledgements and awards.
At Principal®, our answer to that question has been taking an inclusive approach to financial security and accessibility.
An internal focus on responsibility
As a business, Principal has a primary fiduciary responsibility to deliver returns to shareholders. Corporate governance also directs management to do what’s good for customers and shareholders—and to do it with integrity; that’s known as the Global Code of Conduct. “Our strategy is grounded in our purpose,” says Dan Houston, chairman, president, and CEO of Principal. “We are united and inspired by our belief that everyone deserves access to financial security.”
We are united and inspired by our belief that everyone deserves access to financial security.
That can (and does) look like a lot of different things in practice, and impacts everything from sourcing to data governance to hiring. For example, when it comes to hiring, we are committed to a diverse, inclusive workplace. Once employees are onboarded, we provide an environment where they can earn a fair and decent wage and thrive. For accountability, we measure employee satisfaction and sentiment on key inclusion factors, including a sense of belonging, respect, learning, and ability to try new things.
Our fiduciary responsibility also figures into guidelines for ESG—environmental, social, and governance. Often misunderstood, ESG is very much connected to a company’s integrity as well as the ethical and social choices that support its values.
Take the “E” in ESG: If a company dumps waste illegally, it may be more at risk, legally and financially; that, in turn, may impact its potential for growth. Investing in that company may pose a risk to our goal of maximizing returns for shareholders over time. “S” is found in our commitment to provide greater financial access to businesses owned by women and people of color, or in the dedicated time off provided to employees volunteering in their communities. “G,” in turn, refers not just to transparency in record keeping, but in our promise to build an inclusive leadership team.
“When it comes to investing, there are a lot of factors that figure into an analysis,” says Syd del Cid, senior ESG research analyst for Principal Asset ManagementSM. “Those ESG factors are another way of thinking about how to mitigate risk and maximize return in a holistic way. It’s additional information that’s material to help make those investment choices.”
External recognition of responsibility
All sorts of awards aim to help people substantiate the responsibility claims that companies make. But are they reliable or even relevant? One of the more well-known is the Newsweek list of America’s Most Responsible Companies.
The Newsweek ranking reviews a whole assemblage of data: sustainability and corporate social responsibility reports, a survey asking U.S. citizens about perceptions, and financial report information, to name just a few. The final list of 500 gives a nod to the most responsible companies in the United States, representing 14 industries.
In 2023, Principal made notable progress on this list: Not only did it move up from the 334th position in 2022 to 79th in 2023, but it also moved up 20 spots in its industry and was the highest-ranking investment company on the list.
The Newsweek award is just one step along a continuous journey for Principal: Create more solutions for greater financial inclusion so more people can create their own version of financial security. That includes everything from external efforts like the 2022 launch of the Global Financial Inclusion Index to public promises like our 2020 commitment to double support of small businesses owned by women and people of color by 2025.
“Helping our customers build a strong financial future while increasing financial inclusion within communities worldwide is important work we are deeply passionate about,” Houston says.
