The Pete the Planner® Show

The Pete the Planner® Show

Discussing money can be emotionally charged, but not here on the Pete the Planner® Show where Personal Finance Expert, former comedian, and author Peter Dunn breaks down personal finance with humor, practical advice, and real-life scenarios to help you make smarter money moves. Pete and his co-hosts Kristen and Damian lead a guilt-free discussion of budgeting, investing, retirement planning, and any number of other topics meant to help you thrive in the present and future. Part of the IBJ Media Podcast Network.

Episodes

Midlife Money Panic

August 22, 2025 • 64 mins
This week’s listener email comes from a 40-something who admits they’ve fallen behind on retirement savings—and they’re wondering if it’s too late to catch up. Pete and the team tackle the emotional weight of realizing you’re behind, the math of what’s still possible, and the practical moves to make right now. From cutting expenses and boosting savings, to making the most of peak earning years and catch-up contributions, we’ll show...
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Does downsizing your house always make sense?

August 15, 2025 • 68 mins
Downsizing sounds like a simple way to save money—sell the big house, pocket the cash, live leaner. But real life isn’t that tidy. In this week’s episode, Pete, Damian, and Kristen unpack the hidden math, emotional pull, and lifestyle trade-offs behind the “should we move?” question. From rising taxes and leaky roofs to property tax freezes and priceless neighborhood ties, we dig into when staying put might secretly be the better d...
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Should I buy a house with my in-laws?

August 8, 2025 • 68 mins
When one listener gets a job offer in the Midwest with a 40% pay bump, it sparks more than just career contemplation—it opens the door to a bold family experiment: combining households with the in-laws. In this episode, Pete, Kristen, and Damian tackle the emotional and financial complexities of multigenerational living. From structuring ownership and avoiding sibling drama to protecting retirement assets and managing expectations,...
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How Do I Spend My 401(k)? Turning a Lifetime of Saving Into a Retirement Paycheck

August 1, 2025 • 73 mins
After 40 years of saving diligently, listener Jeff is retiring next month—and like many new retirees, he’s asking the question the industry rarely answers: How do I actually spend my 401(k)? In this episode, Pete and Damian walk through the critical decisions that come after the last paycheck: how much to withdraw, which accounts to pull from first, and how to invest your portfolio for a retirement that could last 30+ years. From ...
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DIY Financial Planning: Can You Really Do It All Yourself?

July 25, 2025 • 74 mins
This week on The Pete the Planner Show, we tackle a question from a listener couple in their 30s who’ve nailed the basics—no debt (besides the mortgage), a healthy emergency fund, steady retirement savings, and even monthly money check-ins that end in high fives, not fights. So… do they really need a financial planner? We dive into when DIY is good enough—and when a second set of (professional) eyes might help you uncover what you...
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Let’s Talk About the Thing No One Wants to Talk About -- Funerals

July 18, 2025 • 72 mins
This week’s episode begins with a heartfelt listener question that cuts to the core of a topic we all tend to avoid—death, and the financial planning that surrounds it. Pete, Kristen, and Damian explore whether prepaying for funeral arrangements is a sound financial decision—or an expensive emotional shortcut. With compassion and clarity, the team breaks down the pros (like locking in today’s prices and reducing stress on loved on...
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You down with OBBB?

July 11, 2025 • 66 mins
Congress just dropped the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (yes, that’s really what they’re calling it), and it could reshape everything from your paycheck to your student loans. In this fast-moving episode, Pete, Kristen, and Damian unpack what OBBB actually is—and more importantly, how it affects you. Segment 1 sets the stage: from expiring 2017 tax cuts to new SALT caps, we simplify the headlines and help you emotionally prepare for wh...
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How to trust your portfolio over the long haul

June 27, 2025 • 67 mins
When the market is a rollercoaster and headlines won’t stop screaming, even the savviest investors can start second-guessing everything. In this episode, Pete, Damian, and Kristen unpack what confidence in investing actually means—and how to build it, rebuild it, and protect it when doubt creeps in. Segment 1 kicks off by normalizing the fear that even seasoned investors feel, especially in today’s world of economic whiplash and g...
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Are the Rules for Teaching Kids About Money Different Now?

June 20, 2025 • 61 mins
Summer break is here—which means your kids are home, your fridge is empty, and your wallet is… nervous. In this episode, Pete, Kristen, and Dame explore whether the old rules of teaching kids about money still hold up, or if today’s world demands something new. From toddler toy budgets to teen summer job paychecks, we break down how to raise money-smart kids without turning into a lecture machine (or losing your mind). You’ll lear...
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Are You Actually Making Financial Progress… or Just Busy With Money?

June 13, 2025 • 68 mins
In this episode, we tackle a sneaky problem: confusing financial motion with actual progress. Just because you’re constantly doing money-related tasks—paying bills, checking balances, moving money around—doesn’t mean you’re getting ahead. Pete opens with a gym analogy that hits a little too close to home, then brings in Kristen and Dame to break down why so many people feel stuck despite their efforts. We explore what real progres...
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Navigating Now: How do market bubbles pop?

June 12, 2025 • 11 mins
The markets are soaring, the economy is expanding, and everyone's wondering—are we in a bubble? In today’s CalmCast, Pete breaks down the difference between market momentum and market mania, explores what real economic growth looks like, and helps you focus your energy on what matters most: your personal financial vision. Whether you’re tempted to chase hot stocks or just trying to make sense of the noise, this episode will help yo...
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Understanding the markets's tell -- Volume

June 10, 2025 • 11 mins
Sometimes the markets have confidence, well at least their investors do. And sometimes the market struggles to find conviction. What helps you understand the difference between the two? Volume. In this episode of Navigating Now, Pete helps you understand what you can learn from volume. Additionally, he'll chat through the trade deficit and then touch on net worth as well.
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Why smart people make dumb money decisions

June 6, 2025 • 60 mins
Think being smart protects you from financial blunders? Think again. In this episode of The Pete the Planner Show, we uncover why even the most intelligent, high-earning individuals routinely make money mistakes. From gym memberships we never use to inflated lifestyles we never questioned, we explore the sneaky psychological traps—like overconfidence, present bias, and lifestyle creep—that derail even the best of us. You’ll learn ...
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Is Stagflation Inevitable?

June 5, 2025 • 11 mins
The markets are nervous, the economy’s acting weird, and housing feels increasingly out of reach. In today’s CalmCast, we walk you through three critical signals: what investor sentiment is telling us (and why it’s not the whole story), what stagflation is and whether we’re in danger of it, and why housing affordability is straining the budgets of millions. We’ll help you make sense of what’s happening—and what you can do to stay ...
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Paying for your own destruction...for the dopamine

June 3, 2025 • 6 mins
We know it’s bad for us—and we still buy it. In today’s Storytime with Pete, we dig into the bizarre economics of spending money on things that actively hurt us: alcohol, junk food, and those late-night dopamine bombs we call “treats.” Why do we do it? Blame your brain chemistry. Pete unpacks the science of dopamine, the illusion of indulgence, and the very real cost of self-sabotage—with just enough sarcasm to keep you from crying...
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Navigating Now: Understanding Circuit Breakers

June 3, 2025 • 11 mins
In this episode of CalmCast, we break down one of the most misunderstood stock market tools: the circuit breaker. What triggers it, why it exists, and what it actually means for your investments. Then, we zoom out to explore how a sharp drop in U.S. markets can ripple through the global economy — impacting everything from oil prices to your grocery bill. Finally, we bring it back to you: how to set meaningful financial goals when t...
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How AI is changing how we manage money

May 30, 2025 • 74 mins
AI isn’t coming for your wallet—it’s already living in it. In this episode, Pete unpacks the surprising ways artificial intelligence is reshaping your financial life, from how your bank detects fraud to how scammers clone your voice. We explore the good (smart budgeting tools), the bad (AI-generated investment scams), and the weird (why your insurance premium changed without a human decision). Whether you’re intrigued or uneasy, on...
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Navigating Now: Understanding Market Caps

May 29, 2025 • 11 mins
In today’s episode, Pete peels back the curtain on three numbers that get tossed around like financial gospel — but may not tell the whole story. We kick off with market cap: what it actually means, how it defines a company’s identity, and why share price alone can be misleading. Then, we dive into the often-misunderstood unemployment rate — a metric that sounds solid on headlines but misses huge swaths of the American workforce. ...
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Your body called - it wants a line item in your budget

May 28, 2025 • 6 mins
In this episode of Storytime with Pete, we tackle the awkward truth about spending money on your health. Sure, it doesn’t come with rewards points or Instagram clout, but ignoring your body’s maintenance needs? That’s a financial strategy with a guaranteed crash. Pete breaks down why co-pays feel like emotional theft, how preventative care is the least sexy but most valuable expense in your budget, and what it really means to inves...
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Navigating Now: What is technical analysis?

May 27, 2025 • 11 mins
Reading the Signals: What Charts, Indicators, and Your Wallet Are Telling You In this episode of CalmCast, Pete the Planner breaks down three of the most important tools for staying steady in a shaky economy: Technical Analysis – Why traders are obsessed with charts, and what you can learn from their patterns. Leading Indicators – The economic signals that whisper “recession” before anyone makes it official. Cash F...
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