The confidence divide: Inside the widening gap between small and large businesses

The latest Principal Financial Well-Being Index shows a widening confidence gap between large and small businesses — and the divide is accelerating. Host Chris Conetzkey sits down with Principal’s Nate Schelhaas to break down why bigger companies remain relatively resilient while small and midsize firms are struggling with rising costs, tariff uncertainty, and limited pricing power. The result: Overall sentiment has dropped to one of its lowest readings in four years, driven largely by the challenges smaller firms can’t easily absorb.