Portfolio Analyst, Asset Allocation

What You'll Do

Join our Principal Asset Allocation (“PAA”) Portfolio Management team supporting Target Date Funds. In this role, you’ll deliver investment forecasts, risk analytics, portfolio modeling, and research insights that help optimize portfolio positioning and performance.

• Portfolio Construction: Support asset class research, risk modeling, scenario analysis, and efficient frontier work. Create reports that monitor key investment criteria, risk characteristics, and attribution trends. Provide insights and recommendations to the portfolio management team based on independent analysis.
• Distribution & Client Support: Participate in client and consultant due‑diligence meetings. Communicate portfolio positioning, performance, sub‑advisor updates, and active risk drivers. Assist in preparing and publishing performance commentary.
• Model Portfolios: Under senior PM guidance, build and optimize model portfolios across U.S. and global platforms. Select asset classes and investment vehicles (funds, ETFs, etc.) and update models as capital market assumptions and market conditions evolve.
• Research & Intellectual Capital: Contribute to white papers and other thought‑leadership materials. Continue developing advanced analytical skills to support investment research and portfolio insights.

Principal Asset Management is the global investment solutions business for Principal Financial Group® (Nasdaq: PFG), managing about $580 billion in assets and over 60 years of experience. Principal Asset Management has been recognized as a “Best Places to Work in Money Management” for 14 consecutive years! Check us out at

• Bachelor's degree with an emphasis in finance, economics, accounting, or similar technical field.
• General knowledge of investment vehicles, economic and investment theories, the investment environment, and an understanding of Principal Asset Management’s network of specialized investment groups and affiliate product offerings.
• Advanced Excel (XLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, SUMIFS/COUNTIFS).

• 2+ years of relevant investment-related experience.
• Python or similar coding tools.
• CFA designation, or progression towards it.
• Experience with Morningstar, Bloomberg, Fact Set, Barra and performance attribution/risk decomposition tools.
• Charles River experience.
• Ability to efficiently and effectively research, compile and analyze information.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, work independently in a non‑structured environment, and drive results.

Salary ranges below reflect targeted base salaries. Non‑sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program. Sales positions are eligible for sales incentives, and in some instances a bonus plan, whereby total compensation may far exceed base salary depending on individual performance. Actual compensation for all roles will be based upon geographic location, work experience, education, licensure requirements and/or skill level and will be finalized at the time of offer.

$89,300 – $120,650 / year

Flexible Time Off (FTO) is provided to salaried (exempt) employees and provides the opportunity to take time away from the office with pay for vacation, personal or short‑term illness. Employees don’t accrue a bank of time off under FTO and there is no set number of days provided.

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The position will be located in Des Moines, IA. You can check out what our Global Headquarters in Des Moines looks like here:

At this time, we're not considering applicants that need any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but is not limited to: F1‑OPT, F1‑CPT, H‑1B, TN, L‑1, J‑1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please use the following links.

For Principal Asset Management positions, you’ll need to follow an Investment Code of Ethics related to…