LWBJ Financial LLC announced the retirement of Jeff Bartling, the firm’s managing partner and one of the original founders, effective Dec. 31, 2009. He intends to market succession planning concepts nationally to other certified public accounting firms. A committee of partners, headed by Marv Debner, will guide the firm through April 30, 2010, at which time it anticipates announcing a new managing partner.

Principal Financial Group Inc. announced today that its board of directors declared a cash dividend of $1.39075 per share on its 5.563 percent Series A non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock and a cash dividend of 40.7375 cents per share on its 6.518 percent Series B non-cumulative perpetual preferred stock. The dividends are payable on Dec. 30, 2009, to stockholders of record as of Dec. 14, 2009.

U.S. Congressman and former presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul will visit Iowa on Nov. 13-14. At around 7 p.m. on Nov. 13 he will speak at a free event in Benton Auditorium in the Scheman Building at Iowa State University in Ames. At 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 14 he will appear at a fund-raiser for state Rep. Kent Sorenson, who is running for the Iowa Senate, at the Des Moines Airport Holiday Inn, 6111 Fleur Drive.

Stephen Lacy, president and chief executive officer of Meredith Corp., has been named the American Heart Association’s 2010 Greater Des Moines Start! Heart Walk chair. He will head the executive leadership team and provide strategic leadership to maximize participation of companies and the community. The walk will be June 5, 2010. To inquire about company sponsorship opportunities or to register a walk team, call (515) 246-4566 or e-mail Joani.Matalone@heart.org.