Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. said that its board has approved a plan to reorganize the company into a mutual holding company that will be called Farm Bureau Mutual Holding Co. Farm Bureau Mutual will be reorganized as a stock property and casualty insurance company to be called Farm Bureau Property & Casualty Insurance Co. whose shares will be owned by Farm Bureau Multi-State Services Inc. There are no plans to sell stock to investors, although that could happen in the future, Farm Bureau Mutual said in a news release. The changes will not affect existing policies. The plan is subject to approvals by the Iowa Insurance Commissioner and the company’s policyholders.

Participants in 401(k) plans with services provided by Principal Financial Group Inc. increased contributions by 19.2 percent in 2008, according to a recent report released by the company. Since the beginning of 2009, Investment Advisor reported, 4.9 percent of employers with Principal plans have changed their matching contribution formula, compared to 4.7 percent for all of 2008. “Things are much less negative than people believe,” said Barrie Christman, Principal’s vice president of individual investor services. “We are hearing that a substantial percentage of employers are looking to reinstate their offerings as they were before.” Considering an economic environment in which job losses and pay cuts have run rampant, the big question, said Christman, is whether 401(k) participants will continue to put money into their retirement plans this year. But people seem willing to “stay the course,” she said.

Meredith Corp. stock jumped to a 52-week high on heavy volume Thursday, which analysts pin on the brightening outlook for the media industry. Meredith has been making presentations to investors this week, but analysts said they didn’t hear anything that would spur the stock gains. Instead, Benchmark’s Edward Atorino said the market today may be favoring media companies that are best positioned for a turnaround, noting that Meredith is in a stronger financial position than its peers.

The Iowa Economic Development Board has approved funds for companies with innovative products. Energy Control Technologies in West Des Moines will receive $150,000 for a process efficiency system for the manufacture of biofuels and for the oil and gas industries and eDossea Inc. in Ankeny will receive $75,000 for a Web system that will allow dentists to share digital health records. The board also approved funds for projects in Ames, Carroll and Marion.

Marsh & McLennan Cos. has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 20 cents, payable on Nov. 16 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 9.

Don DeWaay ranks 34th on Barron’s magazine’s Top 100 Independent Financial Advisors. Earlier this year, the business publication listed DeWaay, founder of DeWaay Capital Management in Clive, among the top 100 financial advisors.