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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.1

                         EXPENSE AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

         This Expense and Indemnity Agreement (this "Agreement") is entered into
as of o, 2003, by and between Principal Life Insurance Company, an Iowa life
insurance company ("Principal Life"), and U.S. Bank Trust National Association,
as trustee (the "Trustee"), on behalf of itself and on behalf of each Trust
organized in connection with the Program.

         WHEREAS, in consideration of the Trustee providing services to each
Trust created in connection with the Program and pursuant to the Program
Documents under which the Trustee will have certain duties and obligations,
Principal Life hereby agrees to the following compensation arrangements and
terms of indemnity with the Trustee and reimbursement arrangements and terms of
indemnity with each Trust organized in connection with the Program; and

         WHEREAS, the Trustee is entering into this Agreement on behalf of
itself and on behalf of each Trust to be organized in connection with the
Program and, therefore, this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon each such Trust.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set
forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of
which is hereby acknowledged, each party hereby agrees as follows:

                                    ARTICLE I
                                   DEFINITIONS

         Section 1.01 Definitions. All capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein will have the meanings set forth in the Standard Indenture Terms attached
as Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-______ filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission by Principal Life and Principal Financial
Group, Inc. on o, 2003, as may be amended. The following terms, as used herein,
have the following meanings:

         "Excluded Amounts" means (i) any obligation of any Trust to make any
payment to any Holder in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture
or such Trust's Notes, (ii) any obligation or expense of any Trust to the extent
that such obligation or expense has actually been paid utilizing funds available
to such Trust from payments under the applicable Funding Agreement or the
Guarantee, (iii) any cost, loss, damage, claim, action, suit, expense,
disbursement, tax, penalty or liability of any kind or nature whatsoever
resulting from or relating to any insurance regulatory or other governmental
authority asserting that: (a) any Trust's Notes are, or are deemed to be, (1)
participations in the applicable Funding Agreement or (2) contracts of
insurance, or (b) the offer, purchase, sale and/or transfer of any Trust's Notes
and/or the pledge and collateral assignment of the applicable Funding Agreement
by any Trust to the Indenture Trustee on behalf of the Holders of such Trust's
Notes (1) constitutes the conduct of the business of insurance or reinsurance in
any jurisdiction or (2) requires such Trust or any Holder of such Trust's Notes
to be licensed as an insurer, insurance agent or broker in any jurisdiction,
(iv) any cost, loss, damage, claim, action, suit, expense, disbursement, tax,
penalty or liability of any kind or nature whatsoever imposed on the Trustee
that results from the bad faith, misconduct or negligence of the Trustee, (v)
any costs and expenses attributable solely to

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the Trustee's administrative overhead unrelated to the Program, (vi) any tax
imposed on fees paid to the Trustee, (vii) any withholding taxes imposed on or
with respect of payments made under the applicable Funding Agreement, the
applicable Indenture or a Trust's Note and (viii) any Additional Amounts paid to
any Holder.

         "Fees" means the fees agreed to between Principal Life and the Trustee
as set forth in the fee schedule attached as Exhibit A to this Agreement.

         "Obligation" means any and all (i) costs and expenses reasonably
incurred (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), relating to
the offering, sale or issuance of any Notes by any Trust under the Program or
the administration of any Trust and (ii) costs, expenses and taxes of each
Trust; provided, however, that Obligations do not include Excluded Amounts.

                                   ARTICLE II
                                SERVICES AND FEES

         Section 2.01 Fees. Principal Life hereby agrees to pay the Trustee its
Fees. Such Fees may be subject to amendment upon the written agreement of
Principal Life and the Trustee in the event of a substantive change in the
nature of the Trustee's duties under the Program, as agreed to by the Trustee
and Principal Life.

         Section 2.02 Repayment of Fees. In the event that the Trustee resigns
or its appointment is revoked pursuant to any of the Program Documents under
which the Trustee has duties or obligations, the Trustee will repay to Principal
Life such portion of any Fee paid to it as may be agreed between the Trustee and
Principal Life.

         Section 2.03 Payment of Obligations. (a) In the event that the Trustee
delivers written notice and evidence, reasonably satisfactory to Principal Life,
of any Obligation of the Trustee or any Trust, Principal Life shall, upon
receipt of such notice, promptly pay such Obligation. Notice of any Obligation
(including any invoices) should be sent to Principal Life at its address set
forth in Section 4.05, or at such other address as such party shall hereafter
furnish in writing.

         (b) The Trustee will (i) from time to time execute all such instruments
and other agreements and take all such other actions as may be necessary or
desirable on behalf of itself or any Trust, or that Principal Life may
reasonably request, to protect any interest of Principal Life with respect to
any Obligation or to enable Principal Life to exercise or enforce any right,
interest or remedy it may have with respect to any such Obligation, and (ii)
release to Principal Life any amount received from Principal Life relating to
any Obligation or any portion of any Obligation, immediately after any such
amount relating to such Obligation, or any portion of any such Obligation, is
otherwise received by the Trustee or any Trust from a party other than Principal
Life.

         (c) Principal Life and the Trustee, on behalf of itself and each Trust,
hereby agree that all payments due under this Agreement in respect of any
Obligation shall be effected, and any responsibility of Principal Life to pay
such Obligation pursuant to this Agreement shall be discharged, by the payment
by Principal Life to the account of the person to whom such Obligation is owed.

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                                   ARTICLE III
                                 INDEMNIFICATION

         Section 3.01 (a) Subject to the remaining sections of this Article III,
Principal Life covenants to fully indemnify and defend the Trustee and its
executive officers and directors (each, a "Trustee Indemnified Person") for, and
to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, claim, damage or
reasonable expense (including the reasonable compensation, expenses and
disbursements of its counsel) arising out of the acceptance by the Trustee, in
its capacity as Trustee, of administration of the applicable Trust Agreement or
any Trust and/or the performance of the Trustee's duties and/or the exercise of
the Trustee's respective rights under the applicable Trust Agreement, including
the costs and expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim of
liability in the premises, except to the extent such loss, liability, claim,
damage or expense arises out of or is related to the bad faith, misconduct or
negligence of the Trustee (collectively, "Claims"). Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary, Principal Life shall have no obligation to indemnify or defend the
Trustee for any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense relating to (i) any
costs and expenses attributable solely to the Trustee's administrative overhead
unrelated to the Program or (ii) any tax imposed on the Fees paid to the
Trustee.

         (b) Subject to the remaining sections of this Article III, Principal
Life covenants to fully indemnify and defend each Trust and its respective
executive officers and directors (each, a "Trust Indemnified Person," each Trust
Indemnified Person and each Trustee Indemnified Person are referred to herein as
an "Indemnified Person") for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage or reasonable expense (including the reasonable
compensation, expenses and disbursements of its counsel) arising out of the
performance of each Trust's duties and/or the exercise of each Trust's
respective rights under the applicable Trust Agreement, including the costs and
expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim of liability in
the premises, except to the extent such loss, liability, claim, damage or
expense arises out of or is related to the bad faith, misconduct or negligence
of any Trust.

         Section 3.02 The indemnification provided for herein supersedes in all
respects any indemnification provision contained in any other Program Document
or any other agreement relating to the Program to which any Trust or the Trustee
is or becomes party.

         Section 3.03 An Indemnified Person shall give prompt written notice to
Principal Life of any action, suit or proceeding commenced or threatened against
the Indemnified Person. In case any such action, suit or proceeding shall be
brought involving an Indemnified Person, Principal Life may, in its sole
discretion, elect to assume the defense of the Indemnified Person, and if it so
elects, Principal Life shall, in consultation with such Indemnified Person,
select counsel, reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Person, to represent
the Indemnified Person and pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel.
In any such action, investigation or proceeding, the Indemnified Person shall
have the right to retain its own counsel but Principal Life shall not be
obligated to pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel unless (i) Principal
Life and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the retention of
such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such action, investigation or
proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both Principal Life and the
Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.
Subject to the immediately preceding sentence, it is understood that Principal
Life shall

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not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
(in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons.

         Section 3.04 If the indemnification provided for herein is invalid or
unenforceable in accordance with its terms, then Principal Life shall contribute
to the amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of such
liability in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by Principal Life and the Trust (if the Trust is not an Indemnified
Person), on one hand, and the Trustee or the Trust (if the Trust is an
Indemnified Person), on the other hand, from the transactions contemplated by
the Program Documents. For this purpose, the benefits received by Principal Life
or the Trust (if applicable) shall be the aggregate value of the relevant
Collateral, and the benefits received by the Trustee shall be the Fees it has
been paid up to that point as the Trustee less costs and unreimbursed expenses
incurred by it as Trustee in relation to such Collateral, and the benefits
received by the Trust (if applicable) shall be determined by the Trustee and
Principal Life. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding two sentences is not permitted by applicable law, then Principal Life
shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by the Indemnified Person in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but
also the relative fault of Principal Life and the Trust (if applicable), on the
one hand, and the Trustee or the Trust (if applicable), on the other hand, in
connection with the actions or omissions which resulted in such liability, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations.

         Section 3.05 Principal Life shall be subrogated to any right of the
Indemnified Person in respect of the matter as to which any indemnity was paid
hereunder.

         Section 3.06 The Indemnified Person may not settle any action,
investigation or proceeding without the consent of Principal Life, not to be
unreasonably withheld.

         Section 3.07 Notwithstanding any provision contained herein to the
contrary, the obligations of Principal Life under this Article III to any
Indemnified Person shall survive the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
Section 4.03.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                                  MISCELLANEOUS

         Section 4.01 No waiver, modification or amendment of this Agreement
shall be valid unless executed in writing by the parties hereto.

         Section 4.02 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts
of laws principles.

         Section 4.03 This Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force
and effect upon the date on which (i) there is no Obligation due and payable
under this Agreement and (ii) each Program Document has terminated; provided,
however, that this Agreement shall continue to be effective or shall be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Trust or the Trustee must
restore payment of any sums paid under any Obligation or under this Agreement
for any reason

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whatsoever or the Trustee or a Trust becomes subject to a claim. This Agreement
is continuing, irrevocable, unconditional and absolute.

         Section 4.04 Principal Life understands and agrees that each Trust
shall be a third party beneficiary of the obligations of Principal Life under
this Agreement, subject to the limitations set forth in this Agreement. Other
than each Trust, the Trustee and each Indemnified Person, no other Person shall
have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this
Agreement or any covenant, condition or provision contained herein.

         Section 4.05 All notices, demands, instructions and other
communications required or permitted to be given to or made upon either party
hereto shall be in writing (including by facsimile transmission) and shall be
personally delivered or sent by guaranteed overnight delivery or by facsimile
transmission (to be followed by personal or guaranteed overnight delivery) and
shall be deemed to be given for purposes of this Agreement on the day that such
writing is received by the intended recipient thereof in accordance with the
provisions of this Section. Unless otherwise specified in a notice sent or
delivered in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section, notices,
demands, instructions and other communications in writing shall be given to or
made upon the respective parties thereto at their respective addresses (or their
respective facsimile numbers) indicated below:

         To the Trust:

         Principal Life Income Fundings Trust (followed by the appropriate
            number of the Trust designated in the Omnibus Instrument)
         c/o U.S. Bank Trust National Association
         100 Wall Street, 16th Floor
         New York, NY 10005
         Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration
         Telephone:  (212) 361-2458
         Facsimile:   (212) 509-3384

         To Principal Life:

         Principal Life Insurance Company
         711 High Street
         Des Moines, IA 50392
         Attention:
         Telephone:
         Facsimile:

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         To the Trustee:

         U.S. Bank Trust National Association
         100 Wall Street, 16th Floor
         New York, NY 10005
         Attention: Corporate Trust Administration
         Telephone: (212) 361-2458
         Facsimile: (212) 509-3384


             [The remainder of this page left intentionally blank.]

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Expense and
Indemnity Agreement by their duly authorized officers as of the date hereof.

                                     PRINCIPAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                     By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                     Name:
                                     Title:

                                     U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as
                                     Trustee on behalf of itself and each Trust
                                     organized in connection with the Program

                                     By:
                                         ---------------------------------------
                                     Name:
                                     Title:


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                                                                       EXHIBIT A

                                      FEES

The Trustee shall be entitled to receive the following fees at the times set
forth below:

                  [TO COME.]