.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Tim Stumpff’s career has been a jump from one new challenge to the next. With an accounting degree from the University of Missouri – Kansas City and a law degree from Harvard Law School, he practiced law for about 10 years, primarily in Washington, D.C., before joining the investment firm Leucadia International Corp. In 2003, he moved to Des Moines to work in Principal Financial Group Inc.’s capital management division. Now he has made another switch, becoming vice president of provider networks in Principal’s health division.

.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Describe the transition from capital management to health care.

In acquisition, you’re always trying to find a negotiated solution that works for both parties, and in the role I’ve got now, we’re trying to find more creative solutions to provide a win-win situation for ourselves as well as the health-care providers, the hospitals and physicians as well as our members and our employers. So in a lot of aspects, the problem-solving and creative-solution skill set is the same, though the subject matter is quite different.

Is there a project or goal you’re especially focused on?

We’re trying to have a more interactive and proactive dialogue and relationship with our providers. For a long time, the focus has been on more of a cost shift across the industry. You see higher deductibles and more [responsibility] shifting from employers to employees. We’re trying to become more of a true cost-reduction player in the industry, and that requires much more collaborative partnerships and relationships with providers. We have a lot of wellness-based programs and wellness-based initiatives not only for our own company but for our customers as well, and we really think that’s the wave of the future.

Did you intend to be a lawyer your entire career?

When I went to law school and paid for law school, I was intending to be a lawyer. I practiced law for about 10 years and then decided to make the switch over to the business side.

What was the focus of your law degree?

It was more a general background, and then after law school, I worked for a federal judge for a couple of years and then practiced overseas, actually on a small island, for two and a half years. Then I worked for a large corporate law firm in Washington, D.C., afterwards.

Why did you choose to work in the Pacific?

I was finishing up my partnership with the judge and was interested in trying something new and different and found out about an opportunity on a tiny island that used to be a U.S. territory. I worked for the attorney general’s office there and helped supervise the police department, jail, airport security, fire department. We did a lot of economic development work. It also had great scuba diving and fishing.

What attracted you to investment?

When I worked for the law firm in D.C., I got the opportunity to work on a number of transactions and situations like that, and getting involved more with the business analysis and operation side of things and doing the financial analysis became more appealing to me. I still rely on my law degree. It’s helped me to analyze, think through things and try to find weaknesses and holes we need to work through.

What do you like most about Des Moines?

The ease of living here. People are so friendly. Just this morning, I was stuck in my driveway with the ice storm, and my neighbor comes over and starts throwing sand under my car.

As you’ve changed jobs, has there been one career goal?

I don’t focus on what would this specific job lead to; it’s always a new challenge, new opportunity and new situation where I can hopefully bring my skill set to make a difference.