PODCAST · business
The Pete the Planner® Show
by IBJ Media
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
-
Wait a second. What in the world is a home equity investment?
Your house has gone up in value. Your checking account hasn’t. Now a company is offering you cash from your home equity—with no monthly payments. Home Equity Investments promise access to housing wealth without another monthly bill. But what do you surrender in exchange, and where will the money...
-
Does Retirement Require a More Aggressive Asset Allocation in Today's World?
Traditional retirement advice has encouraged investors to gradually reduce risk as they approach retirement. But with retirements potentially lasting 30 years or longer, inflation threatening purchasing power, and retirees increasingly responsible for generating their own income, is that advice...
-
You promised to pay for college. Did you promise to go broke?
“We’ll pay for college” is easy to say when your kid is wearing diapers. What happens when they pick a private school, change majors, or need a fifth year? This week, we tackle three listener questions about how much to save, where parents can draw the line, and what to do when a college promise...
-
He Makes $168,000—and Still Can’t Afford to Retire
A 53-year-old newly divorced man earns $168,000, kept the family home, and believes his best earning years are ahead of him. From the outside, he appears financially secure. But he has only $315,000 left for retirement, spends more than his monthly paycheck, carries 22% credit-card debt, and...
-
51 and starting over
After 26 years of marriage, a 51-year-old listener is learning how to manage money on her own. She has a solid income, retirement savings, home-equity proceeds, temporary spousal support—and a persistent fear that one wrong decision could ruin everything. Should she buy another house? Pay off her...
-
Is the great generational wealth transfer real?
Millennials are expected to inherit approximately $46 trillion over the next 25 years, making them the largest beneficiaries of the so-called Great Wealth Transfer. But that enormous number hides an uncomfortable reality: much of the money belongs to a very small number of families, many...
-
The case for outsourcing all your chores
We’ve all heard “it takes a village," but what if you have to pay for yours? From house cleaners and lawn care to childcare and grocery delivery, outsourcing can give us back time and capacity. But when is it a smart financial choice, and when is “buying back your time” just a fancy way to…
more -
Americans Would Be Shocked by Canadian Personal Finance
What if you lived just a few hundred miles north—but the rules of your financial life were completely different? This week, we cross the border to examine the surprising realities of personal finance in Canada. From mortgages that regularly reset and government-funded healthcare to tax-free...
-
The Second Best Thing To Do
Personal finance advice has a bad habit of sounding pass/fail. Save 15% for retirement. Have six months of expenses in cash. Put 20% down on a house. Never carry a credit-card balance. Have a will. That advice isn't wrong. In fact, most of it is excellent. The problem is what happens when the...
-
The S&P 500 isn't what you think it is
The S&P 500 has become the default investment for millions of Americans, but what exactly are you buying when you buy “the market”? We break down how the index actually works, why a handful of enormous companies increasingly determine its performance, how the S&P 500 has transformed over the...
-
The financial distractions keeping you broke
Some financial decisions feel productive without actually making much of a difference. We obsess over coffee, credit scores, investment returns, subscriptions, and finding the perfect savings account while much bigger financial levers go untouched. This week, we identify the financial…
more -
The $300k 401k Mistake
A 1% contribution increase doesn’t sound life-changing. Neither does a slightly higher investment fee or a small piece of an employer match. But over an entire career, these tiny percentages can become six-figure decisions. This week, Pete reveals the flashy math hiding inside your...
-
Financial marketing, translated
Every financial company wants your attention. To get it, they rely on polished language, compelling statistics, and phrases that sound reassuring—but often leave out the context that actually matters. In Financial Marketing, Translated, we decode the ads, websites, brochures, and sales pitches…
more -
You Need HOW Much to Live Comfortably in Indiana?! The $220,000 Headline Everyone Is Getting Wrong
A listener clicked on one of those irresistible CNBC headlines claiming a family of four in Indiana needs more than $220,000 a year to live comfortably. Is that actually true... or is it another example of statistics being stretched beyond recognition? This week, we unpack the difference between…
more -
The $50,000 Mistake Hiding Inside Your House
Your house is probably the biggest purchase you'll ever make—but for most people, it's the least managed asset they own. This week, Pete and NeighborServe CEO Dan Hanrahan break down what every homeowner should know: what your home needs, when it needs it, what it should cost, and who you should...
-
The best financial metric you've never heard of
Most people measure their financial lives by the wrong numbers. Income. Net worth. Debt. Credit score. Those numbers tell you where you are—but they don't tell you whether you're actually moving toward financial freedom. In this solo episode of Worth with Pete the Planner, Pete revisits one of…
more -
When Doing the Right Thing Feels Like Financial Failure
You spend years making smart financial decisions. You save aggressively, live below your means, and watch your retirement accounts grow. Then life happens. The family grows, the starter home no longer works, and suddenly your mortgage payment triples. Even when you can afford it, why does it feel...
-
The 2.75% mortgage trap: When a great interest rate keeps you stuck
This week, we tackle one of the biggest financial dilemmas facing homeowners today: what do you do when your life outgrows your house, but your mortgage rate is too good to give up? A listener and her husband are raising two kids, both working from home, caring for aging parents, and trying to...
-
The strange reality of the brand new Trump accounts
The government wants to give newborns a $1,000 investment account. Depending on who you ask, it's either a bold step toward building generational wealth or a cleverly branded headline with limited real-world impact. This week, we're breaking down the new Trump Accounts: who qualifies, how they...
-
The most overrated financial goals
Everyone has financial goals. Pay off your mortgage.Retire early.Get an 850 credit score.Pay cash for everything. But what if some of the most celebrated financial goals in America are actually overrated? This week, Pete, Dame, and Kristen debate the financial goals people chase that may not...
-
The Millionaire Math: How to Become a Millionaire in Your 20s, 30s, or 40s
Everybody wants to become a millionaire. Almost nobody wants to hear the actual math required to do it. This week, we break down the old-fashioned path to building a million dollars depending on when you start. What does it actually take if you begin in your 20s? Your 30s? Your 40s? We’re talking...
-
The role your house should play in retirement
For decades, Americans have treated their homes like both a dream and an investment strategy. But when it comes to retirement planning, your house has a very specific role to play — and it’s probably not what social media tells you. This week, Pete, Kristen, and Dame tackle one of the most...
-
Love, marriage, and relationship exit strategies
This week on The Pete the Planner Show, Pete, Kristen, and Dame sit down with divorce attorney Elisabeth Edwards for a brutally honest conversation about the financial side of relationships — before, during, and after marriage. From prenups to hidden debt, alimony to asset division, we unpack the...
-
The hot take Olympics
Welcome to the first-ever Hot Take Olympics — where financial opinions aren’t just shared… they’re defended like gold medals are on the line. This week, Pete, Kristen, and Dame each bring their hottest financial take to the table and battle it out. From housing and retirement to debt, investing,...
-
3 Money Decisions You’ll Either Regret Forever… or Be Glad You Made
Three questions. No overthinking. Just real answers. This week, we’re tackling three financial decisions that feel simple on the surface… but can completely change the direction of your life. Do you walk away from a once-in-a-lifetime real estate deal—or risk blowing up your early retirement plan...
-
Money and Marriage -- When 50/50 stops making sense
What happens when one spouse downshifts their career—and the money dynamic in a marriage suddenly changes? This week, Pete, Kristen, and Dame tackle a thoughtful (and spicy) listener dilemma: after years of splitting everything 50/50, one partner takes a step back from full-time work and plans to...
-
Did Boomers have it worse than Millennials at their age?
Millennials say the system is broken. Boomers say, “Try buying a house at 18% interest.” So… who’s right? This week, Pete, Damian, and Kristen step into one of the most emotionally charged financial debates out there—and do something rare: they put numbers behind the noise. From income to…
more -
Oil prices aren't hurting who you think
Gas prices are climbing again, and if you’re like most people, it feels like your entire financial life just got more expensive overnight. But did it? This week, we take a step back from the headlines and ask a better question: who is actually feeling the impact of higher gas prices—and who just...
-
Pete on the IBJ Podcast: Recession, Iran, and Petrodollars
The U.S. economy has been sending troubling signals for months now in the form of high energy prices, rising inflation, modest hiring and slowing growth of gross domestic product. Then the United States began attacks on Iran in late February. Stalled tanker traffic at the Strait of Hormuz has...
-
How to start your financial life right out of school, and not mess everything up
You just graduated, landed a $52,000 job, and moved to Des Moines. You’ve got $35,000 in student loans… and suddenly, real life is very real. This week, Pete, Kristen, and Dame break down what life actually looks like on that salary—from take-home pay to rent, groceries, debt, and everything in...
-
Just moved into our new house. We feel...less excited than we thought we'd be
You finally upgrade your home. More space, better fit for your family, and—on paper—you can absolutely afford it. So why does it suddenly feel… heavier? This week, Pete and Kristen unpack the emotional side of a financial upgrade that no one really talks about. From “payment shock” to the...
-
HS students are learning about money now. Are they being taught the wrong things?
High schools across the country are making a big shift—replacing traditional economics classes with personal finance. On the surface, it sounds like a win. After all, most of us could’ve used a better understanding of credit cards, debt, and how money actually works when we were 18. But is this...
-
Why leaving money to your kids can backfire
Last Valentine’s Day, listener Lucas from North Carolina wrote in about retiring early and “taking our foot off the gas.” This year, life looks very different. Lucas and his wife recently received a diagnosis for their almost two-year-old daughter that means she may never live independently. That...
-
Emergency Pod: Stagflation
A surge in oil prices tied to rising tensions involving Iran has economists and investors whispering a word we haven’t heard much since the 1970s: stagflation. But what exactly is it—and should you be worried? In this episode, Pete breaks down why spikes in oil prices can ripple through the…
more -
She built the wealth...he feels weird about it
This week’s listener question comes from a self-described “Type-A podcast listener girlie” who—financially speaking—is absolutely crushing it. At 32 years old, she’s earning about $100,000, saving 25% for retirement, and has already built roughly $450,000 in Roth accounts, plus a brokerage…
more -
The Curious Case of Having More Money Than Time
They’re 42. They’re doing everything right. $185,000 household income. 15% to retirement. Emergency fund solid. Almost no debt. And yet… they’re exhausted. This week’s email comes from a couple who can absolutely afford help — but still live like they’re one missed paycheck away from disaster.…
more -
The Great 2026 Rent or Buy Crossroads
Lauren and her husband are 35. Two kids. Solid income. No credit card debt. $70,000 saved. They’re doing everything right. And now their landlord just dropped the bomb: he’s probably selling the house. They’ve been paying $2,750 a month in rent. Buying a similar home would run about $2,900 a…
more -
Prediction Markets: Are They Smart Money or Just Smart-Sounding Gambling?
You can now bet on inflation, elections, interest rates, wars, and whether the Fed blinks—and people are calling it “information,” not gambling. This week on The Pete the Planner Show, we dig into prediction markets: what they are, why they’ve exploded in popularity, and what they really tell us...
-
Why the markets are unsettled right now
Gold is pulling back. Silver is getting smacked. Tech stocks feel heavy, crypto feels frozen, and investors everywhere are asking the same question: If things are so uncertain, why aren’t the “safe” assets working? This week, Pete breaks down the psychology of a cranky market — one that isn’t...
-
Is the Retirement Our Parents and Grandparents Had Even Possible Anymore?
Did retirement get harder — or did it just change? A listener writes in with a question a lot of people are quietly asking: Is the kind of retirement our parents and grandparents had even possible anymore? They remember a time when retirement felt automatic — pensions, Social Security, paid-off...
-
Am I crazy, or is the economy teetering on the edge of boom and bust?
Jobs are still there. Markets are still standing. Inflation isn’t spiraling. So why does everything feel… off? In this episode, Pete the Planner tackles the growing disconnect between what the economic data says and how people actually feel about their money. This isn’t a recession episode—but…
more -
If You Need Cash: Ranking Debt from Least Bad to Absolutely Not
Nobody wants debt. But sometimes life forces the issue. In this episode, Pete, Damian, and Kristen tackle a reality most people face at some point: needing cash quickly. This isn’t an endorsement of borrowing and it’s definitely not a how-to. It’s a ranking of consequences—a clear-eyed look at...
-
Why most people will retire later than they expect
Most Americans believe retirement is just a math problem: invest consistently, ride the market, and everything will work out. The data says otherwise. In this episode, Pete digs into new retirement research that reveals a hard truth—retirement success isn’t being derailed by bad investing, it’s...
-
Pete's 2026 predictions
Pete the Planner's predictions for housing, higher ed, energy and a potential tariff mess We’re in the midst of the holidays—always a good time for reflection. And this week that means holding Pete the Planner accountable for bold predictions he made in January about the economy and U.S. fiscal...
-
The Pete the Planner origin story
Pete the Planner on Humor, Habits and the Psychology of Money On this episode of Off the Record, host Nate Feltman sits down with Peter Dunn, better known as Pete the Planner, one of America’s most trusted voices on personal finance. Dunn shares how a sixth-grade stock market contest launched his...
-
The New Year's Resolution Draft
Let’s be honest: most New Year’s resolutions don’t make it to Valentine’s Day. So instead of pretending this year will be different, we’re drafting financial resolutions that actually survive real life. In this episode, we run The Financial Resolution Draft—fantasy-football style—selecting the...
-
The 10 financial mistakes you need to try to avoid
In this week’s episode, Pete breaks down the ten biggest financial mistakes Americans are making right now — from investing too little and too late, to overspending on housing, to making car decisions that haunt their budgets for years. With the economy shifting under everyone’s feet, these...
-
Can this emailer retire at 54? Eh
This week on The Pete the Planner Show, we tackle a classic early-retirement temptation: what happens when you want out of the workforce before 59½, but almost all your money is locked inside qualified retirement accounts? A listener from Dayton writes in with solid savings, a paid-off home, and…
more -
Encore -- Regretting a home purchase
Pete and Kristen read a listener email who seems to indicate they greatly regret their recent home purchase
-
The money questions HR shouldn't answer
This week on The Pete the Planner Show, Pete, Damian, and Kristen dive into one of the most universal workplace mysteries: why everyone treats HR like a certified financial planner… even though HR can barely tell you which parking pass to choose without checking a binder. Open enrollment…
more
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
ABOUT THIS 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.
HOSTED BY
IBJ Media
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Pete the Planner® Show have?
The Pete the Planner® Show currently has 541 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Pete the Planner® Show about?
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...
How often does The Pete the Planner® Show release new episodes?
The Pete the Planner® Show releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 541 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to The Pete the Planner® Show?
You can listen to The Pete the Planner® Show on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Pete the Planner® Show?
The Pete the Planner® Show is created and hosted by IBJ Media.
URL copied to clipboard!