PNC Private Bank Research Reveals Business Owners Increasingly Want Integrated Financial Advice to Help Align Business, Personal Goals

PNC Private Bank (NYSE: PNC) released the inaugural Business Owner Wealth Insights report on April 1, 2026, from a national Ipsos survey of 300 middle-market business owners.

Rhea-AI Summary

PNC Private Bank (NYSE: PNC) released the inaugural Business Owner Wealth Insights report on April 1, 2026, from a national Ipsos survey of 300 middle-market business owners. Findings show 89% value integrated business-and-personal financial advice while only 55% currently use one advisor for both.

The report highlights succession gaps (31% lack a plan), strong philanthropic focus (81%), and widespread interest in additional tax guidance (82% would benefit).

Positive

• 89% of owners value integrated business-and-personal financial advice
• 81% say charitable giving is core to business identity
• 77% are actively engaged in tax planning
• 100% of family business owners reassess decisions for alignment with personal growth

Negative

• 45% of owners lack a single advisor for both business and personal finances
• 31% of business owners have no succession plan
• 33% cite managing cash flow as a top business challenge
• 40% occasionally or rarely reassess business decisions to align with personal goals

Argus Apr 1 session

+0.55% close to close Open Argus

Details

News Market Reaction – PNC

On Apr 1, the day this news came out, PNC closed 0.55% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Apr 1 session.

Market Context

This announcement centers on PNC Private Bank’s Business Owner Wealth Insights report, highlighting ...

Analysis

This announcement centers on PNC Private Bank’s Business Owner Wealth Insights report, highlighting that 89% of surveyed owners value integrated business and personal advice and 84% of family owners view formal succession plans as essential. The findings reinforce themes of holistic planning, philanthropy, and tax strategy rather than near-term financial impacts. In context with recent event- and governance-related news, this fits an ongoing narrative of franchise positioning and client engagement rather than a direct earnings catalyst.

Key Figures

Integrated advice valued: 89% Advisor understands both: 88% Using one advisor now: 55% +5 more

Integrated advice valued

89%

Business owners valuing advice that considers both business and personal needs

Advisor understands both

88%

Respondents seeing value in a dedicated advisor for business and personal finances

Using one advisor now

55%

Business owners currently working with one advisor on both business and personal finances

Succession plan essential

84%

Family business owners saying a formal succession plan is essential to continuity

No succession plan

31%

All business owners reporting they do not have a succession plan in place

Philanthropy core

81%

Respondents saying charitable giving is core to business identity and legacy

Survey sample size

300 owners

Private business owners and co-owners surveyed in Business Owner Wealth Insights 2026

Survey margin of error

± 8%

Margin of error at 95% confidence level for each 150-respondent segment

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 11

5 events

1. Mar 11

   Philanthropy initiative

   24h Move

   -0.4%

   PNC-backed Taste of the Draft event to fund school meal grants and fight hunger.

2. Mar 11

   Trading integration

   24h Move

   -0.4%

   Investortools adds PNC Capital Markets to its Dealer Network to enhance connectivity.

3. Mar 04

   Earnings call notice

   24h Move

   +0.4%

   PNC schedules Q1 2026 earnings release and virtual annual shareholder meeting details.

4. Feb 24

   Conference appearance

   24h Move

   -1.3%

   Executive to present at RBC Capital Markets Global Financial Institutions Conference.

5. Feb 24

   Leadership promotions

   24h Move

   -1.3%

   Harris Williams, affiliated with PNC, announces senior promotions and leadership expansion.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

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PITTSBURGH, April 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- PNC Private Bank® today revealed research findings exploring the intersection of business ownership and personal wealth. The findings are outlined in the inaugural "Business Owner Wealth Insights" report, which draws on a national survey conducted with Ipsos. The survey explores how middle-market business owners balance growth, succession and legacy for their businesses and personal finances.

The research revealed strong interest in integrated financial planning among business owners. Nearly nine in 10 respondents (89%) value financial advice that considers both business and personal needs, and 88% see value in working with a dedicated financial advisor who understands both. However, only 55% currently work with a financial advisor on both their business and personal finances.

While nearly all business owners surveyed (98%) – and all family business owners (100%) – said they reassess their business decisions to ensure alignment with personal growth goals, about 40% do so only occasionally or rarely.

Additional findings include:

• About two-thirds of business owners manage their business and personal finances separately.
• Managing cash flow (33%) and keeping pace with evolving technology (32%) are cited as the top business challenges.
• While 26% say balancing business reinvestment with tax strategy is challenging, 40% are willing to sacrifice tax efficiency in favor of reinvesting in their business.

"Our research clearly shows that many business owners are seeking holistic advice that brings together their personal finances and business goals," said Don Heberle, head of PNC Private Bank. "This highlights the importance of working with advisors who understand the complexity of managing both – and who can help owners make informed decisions that support long-term growth, succession and legacy."

The PNC research also examined business owner perspectives on succession planning, family dynamics, philanthropy and tax planning.

Succession planning emerged as a critical priority, with 84% of family business owners saying a formal plan is essential to business continuity and nearly as many expressing that family dynamics affect exit and succession decisions. Among all business owners, nearly one-third (31%) do not have a plan in place. Common barriers include the lack of a clear successor, a focus on daily operations, family conflicts, the complexity of planning, financial uncertainty and unclear long-term business goals.

"Exiting or transitioning a business is often one of the largest, and most personal and emotional decisions an owner will make," said Heberle. "That's why it's critical for owners to have the right advisors and resources -- to help owners navigate complexity, balance business and personal priorities, and achieve their goals."

Philanthropy also plays a central role for many business owners. More than eight in 10 respondents (81%) said charitable giving is core to their business identity and legacy, and the same percentage structure their investment strategies to support philanthropic goals. While 80% believe it is important to involve the next generation in giving, only 43% currently do so.

"Engaging family early and establishing clear frameworks are key to ensuring an owner's philanthropic vision carries forward," said Heberle. "When charitable giving is thoughtfully integrated into business and wealth planning, it becomes a lasting expression of values and a powerful part of an owner's legacy."

The research also found that a significant majority (80%) said they are extremely or very confident in making tax-related decisions, and 77% are actively engaged in tax planning. Yet roughly eight in 10 (82%) said they would benefit from additional expert guidance.

"Taken together, these findings reinforce what we hear from business owners every day — that their business, personal and financial lives are deeply interconnected," said Heberle. "They want advice that brings it all together, and that integrated perspective is essential to helping them build, transition and sustain their legacy over the long term."

To view the full Business Owner Wealth Insights report and other findings, visit PNC's website.

PNC Private Bank is part of the PNC Asset Management Group (AMG), which is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC AMG is a relationship-based provider of investment, planning, banking and fiduciary services to wealthy individuals and institutions through the proactive delivery of value-added ideas and solutions. PNC AMG offers personal asset management for high and ultra-high net worth individuals and families through PNC Private Bank® and PNC Private Bank Hawthorn®; and institutional asset management services to corporations, healthcare systems, insurance companies, unions, municipalities and nonprofits through Institutional Asset Management. For more information about PNC Asset Management Group, visit www.pnc.com.

Methodology
The Business Owner Wealth Insights 2026 study was conducted online from Nov. 19 to Dec.10, 2025, and surveyed 300 private business owners and co-owners aged 25 and older who hold primary responsibility for their companies' operations. The research incorporated national panel samples of 150 Commercial business owners with annual revenues between $10 million and $50 million, and 150 Lower Middle Market business owners with annual revenues between $50 million and $125 million. Each sample carries a ± 8% margin of error at the 95% confidence level. To ensure national representativeness, results were weighted using Dun & Bradstreet data. The study was conducted by Ipsos.

CONTACT: 

RJ Tamburri
(412) 762-9614
rj.tamburri@pnc.com

 

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SOURCE PNC Private Bank

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did PNC Private Bank (PNC) report about demand for integrated financial advice on April 1, 2026?

Nearly nine in ten business owners value integrated advice and 88% prefer a dedicated advisor who understands both needs. According to the company, 89% value advice that considers both business and personal finances, but only 55% currently use one advisor for both.

How many business owners in the PNC (PNC) study lack a succession plan and why does that matter?

About 31% of surveyed business owners reported having no succession plan in place. According to the company, common barriers include lack of a clear successor, daily operations focus, family conflict, planning complexity, and financial uncertainty—risking continuity at exit.

What tax-planning attitudes did PNC Private Bank (PNC) find among business owners in 2026?

A strong majority feel confident in tax decisions, yet many want more help: 80% are very/extremely confident, 77% engage in tax planning, and 82% would benefit from additional expert guidance, according to the company.

How prevalent is philanthropy among business owners in PNC's (PNC) Business Owner Wealth Insights report?

Philanthropy is widespread: 81% say charitable giving is core to their business identity and structure investments to support giving. According to the company, only 43% currently involve the next generation in giving despite 80% valuing such involvement.

What operational challenges did PNC (PNC) identify for middle-market business owners in the April 1, 2026 report?

Top operational challenges include cash-flow management (33%) and keeping pace with evolving technology (32%). According to the company, balancing reinvestment with tax strategy is also difficult for 26%, and many prioritize reinvestment over tax efficiency.