PNC Private Bank Research Reveals Business Owners Increasingly Want Integrated Financial Advice to Help Align Business, Personal Goals
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
News Market Reaction – PNC
In the Apr 1 session, PNC gained 0.55%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 11 | Philanthropy initiative | Positive | -0.4% | PNC-backed Taste of the Draft event to fund school meal grants and fight hunger. |
| Mar 11 | Trading integration | Positive | -0.4% | Investortools adds PNC Capital Markets to its Dealer Network to enhance connectivity. |
| Mar 04 | Earnings call notice | Neutral | +0.4% | PNC schedules Q1 2026 earnings release and virtual annual shareholder meeting details. |
| Feb 24 | Conference appearance | Neutral | -1.3% | Executive to present at RBC Capital Markets Global Financial Institutions Conference. |
| Feb 24 | Leadership promotions | Neutral | -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.
Recent PNC headlines on events, philanthropy and corporate actions have generally produced modest, mixed price reactions, suggesting limited trading impact from non-earnings news.
Over the last few months, PNC’s news flow has focused on philanthropy, platform integrations, investor events and governance. A March 2026 philanthropic initiative to tackle student hunger and a trading network integration both coincided with slight share declines. Announcements about the upcoming Q1 2026 earnings call and a virtual annual meeting saw a small positive move. Executive speaking engagements and leadership promotions at Harris Williams coincided with modest declines. Today’s research-driven Private Bank survey fits this pattern of largely strategic and reputational updates rather than direct financial catalysts.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
The research revealed strong interest in integrated financial planning among business owners. Nearly nine in 10 respondents (
While nearly all business owners surveyed (
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
"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 (
"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 (
"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
CONTACT:
RJ Tamburri
(412) 762-9614
rj.tamburri@pnc.com
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SOURCE PNC Private Bank