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Daniel Houston

Executive Chairman, Principal Financial

Search every verified Daniel Houston interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Dan Houston, the retired chairman and former CEO of Principal Financial Group, has continued to speak publicly on leadership, financial security, and community involvement. In a March 2026 podcast, he discussed his leadership philosophy, stating that he believes "95 out of a hundred people don't leave the company, they leave their boss." He expressed skepticism about fully remote leadership, saying he has "more challenges with someone in a capacity where they're providing leadership in a complete remote environment." Houston also emphasized the importance of casting a "much broader net" when identifying future leaders and prioritizing cultural fit in acquisitions, which he called the factor that "generally gets shortchanged." Houston has also been active in community and industry discussions. In a December 2025 forum, he described a personal effort to preserve the historic Jordan House in West Des Moines, saying he and another individual made a "significant financial contribution" to prevent a warehouse from being built nearby. He has continued to advocate for retirement savings, reiterating his view that saving 15% of income over a career can replace 85% of pre-retirement income. Houston has also commented on the financial services industry's role in providing lifetime income and the importance of financial literacy, stating that "financial literacy is weak around the world."

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