USAA vs Principal Financial Group
Side-by-side comparison of AI visibility scores, market position, and capabilities
Military-exclusive financial services with $36B revenue; top 5 US auto insurer serving 13M members with highest customer satisfaction scores through banking, insurance, and investments.
About
USAA (United Services Automobile Association) is a Fortune 500 financial services company providing banking, auto and home insurance, life insurance, investments, and retirement products exclusively to US military members, veterans, and their eligible family members. Founded in 1922 by 25 US Army officers in San Antonio, Texas, USAA operates as a reciprocal inter-insurance exchange — members are both policyholders and partial "owners" — generating approximately $36 billion in revenue and serving approximately 13 million members. USAA consistently earns among the highest customer satisfaction ratings of any US financial institution.\n\nUSAA's product suite spans a full financial services lifecycle: auto insurance (USAA is one of the top 5 US auto insurers by premium), homeowner's insurance, banking (USAA Bank provides checking, savings, auto loans, mortgages), credit cards, life and health insurance, brokerage and retirement accounts, and financial planning. The military-exclusive membership (requiring active duty, veteran, or eligible family member status) creates exceptional customer loyalty — USAA members stay with the company through multiple life stages and refer family members as they become eligible.\n\nIn 2025, USAA competes with GEICO, Progressive, State Farm, and Navy Federal Credit Union for military and veteran financial services. The company's digital capabilities are particularly strong — USAA pioneered mobile deposit technology and has consistently been ranked among the most digitally advanced financial services providers. USAA's 2025 strategy focuses on deepening digital self-service (reducing call center volume), expanding eligibility pathways for more family members, and growing its investment and wealth management services among the mid-career military officer segment.
Des Moines retirement and asset management (NASDAQ: PFG) at $16.13B 2024 revenue (+18%), $753B AUM; new CEO Deanna Strable (Jan 2025), Ascensus ESOP acquisition (2024), $1.7T AUA competing with Empower for mid-market 401(k).
About
Principal Financial Group, Inc. is a Des Moines, Iowa-based financial services company — publicly traded on NASDAQ (NASDAQ: PFG) as an S&P 500 Financials component — providing retirement savings, asset management, and group insurance and benefits to 61 million customers worldwide through approximately 20,000 employees with $753 billion in assets under management (AUM) as of Q2 2025, $1.7 trillion in assets under administration, and $16.13 billion in 2024 annual revenue (up 18% year-over-year) with net income of $1.57 billion. Founded in 1879 as The Bankers Life Association by Edward Temple and Simon Casady to provide affordable life insurance to Iowans, Principal demutualized and completed its IPO in 2001. Deanna Strable became President and CEO in January 2025 (succeeding Dan Houston), with Joel Pitz named CFO. Principal operates through three segments: Retirement and Income Solutions (RIS — 401(k), 403(b), defined benefit plans, nonqualified executive benefits, pension risk transfer, and individual retirement products), Principal Asset Management (equity, fixed income, real estate, and alternative investments for institutional clients), and Benefits and Protection (group dental, vision, life, and disability insurance). Key acquisitions include AFP Cuprum (Chilean pension, $1.5B, 2012), Wells Fargo's institutional retirement and trust business ($1.2B, 2019, adding 401(k)/pension/ESOP plans), and the 2024 agreement to acquire Ascensus's ESOP business (800 plans, 165,000+ participants). Principal's market capitalization stands at approximately $18.3 billion.
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