The Pete the Planner® Show

IBJ Media Podcast Network
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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.

  1. Emergency Pod: Stagflation

    3D AGO · BONUS

    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 entire economy, how stagflation happens when inflation and economic slowdown collide, and why energy shocks have historically been the trigger. More importantly, he explains what this moment actually means for households, your budget, and the broader economy. Is stagflation coming… or is this just another scary economic headline? Pete separates the signal from the noise.

    8 min
  2. She built the wealth...he feels weird about it

    6D AGO

    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 account and cash savings. Her partner, the same age, entered the workforce later after earning an advanced degree and currently makes about $60,000 while saving 12%. They’re planning to get married soon, combine finances, buy a home in the next few years, and maybe even retire early someday. But here’s the twist. She’s comfortable with the idea that her early savings created a large portion of their future financial security. Her partner isn’t so sure. Coming from a blue-collar, dual-income household built around pensions and Social Security, he feels uneasy about benefiting from wealth that largely came from her earlier discipline and opportunity. In other words: When the traditional earning dynamic flips, how do couples navigate the psychology of fairness, partnership, and shared success?

    1h 6m
  3. The Curious Case of Having More Money Than Time

    FEB 27

    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. They mow their own lawn. Scrub their own bathrooms. Meal prep every Sunday. Fix everything themselves. They optimize every dollar. Then a simple debate changes everything. A cleaning service would cost $4,200 a year. Invested for 20 years? Roughly $100,000. Or… 40 Saturdays back with their kids. That question hits hard: At what point does buying time become wiser than squeezing every dollar? In this episode, Pete, Dame, and Kristen tackle one of the most uncomfortable financial transitions of midlife — shifting from survival mode to optimization mode. You’ll hear: • Why scarcity mindset can linger long after you’re financially secure • The three currencies of life: money, time, and energy • When convenience spending is actually smart leverage • How to tell the difference between efficiency and lifestyle creep • The “Regret Test” that instantly clarifies big decisions Is hiring help irresponsible… or strategic? Is frugality always virtuous… or sometimes just fear in disguise? If you’ve ever calculated the future value of skipping Starbucks while secretly wishing for one less thing on your weekend to-do list, this one is for you. Because the goal isn’t to die with the highest net worth. The goal is to use money in a way that honors your finite time. You can always earn more money. You cannot earn another Tuesday.

    1h 1m
  4. The Great 2026 Rent or Buy Crossroads

    FEB 19

    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 month with taxes, insurance, and PMI. On paper, that’s only a $150 jump. In reality? It feels like stepping into a financial thunderstorm. Because everywhere they turn, they hear the same thing: “Terrible time to buy.” “Wait for rates to drop.” “The market’s about to shift.” So the question becomes: Are they crazy for even considering it? This week, Pete, Dame, and Cricket break down what Americans everywhere are wrestling with in 2026: Is this actually a “bad” housing market — or just an uncomfortable one? What does 8% down really mean in terms of risk and flexibility? How much emergency savings should a young family protect at all costs? Is a $2,900 payment on $155,000 income responsible… or reckless? And most importantly — what’s the real cost of waiting? We’ll walk through the math, but we’ll also unpack the psychology. Because this isn’t just about interest rates. It’s about stability. Kids. Lifestyle. Career mobility. And whether owning a home still means what it used to mean. Plus, we’ll tackle the dangerous myth floating around right now: that there’s some magical “perfect time” to buy. If you’re renting and wondering whether to jump into the market… If you’re watching rates like they’re a playoff game… If you’re scared to move but scared to stay… This episode is for you. Because sometimes the smartest financial decision isn’t about timing the market. It’s about knowing your own numbers — and your own tolerance for risk. Are Lauren and her husband crazy? Or are they just standing at the most normal financial crossroads of their generation? Let’s find out.

    57 min
  5. Prediction Markets: Are They Smart Money or Just Smart-Sounding Gambling?

    FEB 13

    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 about the economy, politics, and our collective anxiety about the future. Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi claim that markets can forecast the future better than polls, experts, or pundits. But can they actually predict what’s going to happen—or are they just pricing fear, confidence, and narrative momentum? In this episode, we break down: How prediction markets work (in plain English) Why they sometimes outperform polls—and when they completely fall apart The role of incentives, emotion, and thin liquidity Why “probability” often gets mistaken for “certainty” What prediction markets get dangerously wrong during volatile moments Most importantly, we translate all of this into real life. Because while betting on the future can feel productive, it often replaces the boring, effective work of financial planning. If your financial plan requires you to correctly predict elections, rate cuts, or recessions… your plan is already broken. This episode isn’t about whether prediction markets are legal, smart, or fun. It’s about what they reveal: not about the future—but about us. Because fear has always been a terrible financial advisor.

    1h 8m
  6. Why the markets are unsettled right now

    FEB 6

    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 panicking or crashing, but is deeply skeptical and increasingly impatient. We’ll explain why gold can fall even when people are uneasy, why silver drops harder when growth expectations soften, and how rising real yields, industrial demand, and investor fatigue all collide at the same time. This isn’t fear-driven selling. It’s narrative exhaustion. And understanding the difference matters for how you invest, rebalance, and stay disciplined when markets stop being exciting. If you’re feeling uneasy, bored, or quietly annoyed by your portfolio right now, this episode is for you.

    1h 5m
  7. Is the Retirement Our Parents and Grandparents Had Even Possible Anymore?

    JAN 30

    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 homes, and far less anxiety about markets or running out of money. Today, even people doing “everything right” feel like retirement is something they have to constantly manage and second-guess. In this episode, Pete breaks down what actually changed, why retirement feels more fragile now, and what we’re really chasing when we say we want “that kind of retirement.” This isn’t a nostalgia tour or a lecture about saving more — it’s a clear, honest look at how responsibility shifted from institutions to individuals, and what that means for modern households. If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind despite being responsible — or wondered whether peace of mind is still attainable — this episode is for you. Because retirement didn’t disappear. The system did.

    1h 4m
  8. Am I crazy, or is the economy teetering on the edge of boom and bust?

    JAN 23

    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 it’s definitely not a “everything’s great” episode either. We dig into why households feel financially exhausted even as incomes rise, why good headlines don’t translate into confidence, and how higher prices, frozen decisions, and lingering uncertainty are quietly changing behavior. People aren’t panicking—but they are pulling back. Less splurging. More hesitation. A constant sense of “we’re fine, but only barely.” The show explores whether this tension is temporary or if we’re entering a new era of permanent caution—where trust takes longer to rebuild than balance sheets, and reassurance alone doesn’t calm nerves. Because maybe the real question isn’t whether a recession is coming… It’s whether people believe things will actually get easier. Plus, we close with BWOM and the latest news shaping how all of this plays out in real life.

    1 hr
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4.6
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246 Ratings

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 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.

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