The Pete the Planner® Show

Hosted by IBJ Media

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523

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Jun 2026

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About the 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.

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60 recent

June 11, 20261 hr 9 min

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 work, and whether they're actually a game changer for American families. We'll run the numbers to see what a single $1,000 investment at birth can become over a lifetime, examine whether the accounts help close the wealth gap or widen it, and compare them to existing options like 529 plans and Roth IRAs. Most importantly, we'll ask a bigger question: Is the real value of this program the money itself, or the idea that every child should begin life as an investor? Politics aside, this episode is about ownership, opportunity, and the power of time. Because when it comes to building wealth, a head start may be worth more than a handout. Plus: If someone gave your child $1,000 to invest tomorrow, would it actually change your financial behavior? We think the answer reveals a lot more than the account itself.

June 4, 20261 hr 2 min

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 deserve the hype. From perfect credit scores to early retirement, they explore whether some money milestones are helping people build better lives—or simply giving them something to obsess over. Because sometimes the smartest financial move isn't reaching a goal. It's choosing a better one.

May 29, 20261 hr 6 min

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 real numbers: how much to invest how long it takes what income levels help what lifestyle choices matter most No day trading. No crypto miracles. No “7 passive income streams.” Just the surprisingly boring math behind how ordinary Americans quietly become wealthy.

May 22, 20261 hr 4 min

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 misunderstood retirement concepts in personal finance: why entering retirement without a mortgage can dramatically improve financial flexibility, lower stress, and reduce the amount of money you actually need to retire. But there’s an important distinction here: this is not an episode about draining your retirement accounts to aggressively pay off your mortgage tomorrow. In fact, that can sometimes make your situation worse. The crew explores: Why cash flow matters more than net worth in retirement The psychological power of owning your home outright Why a paid-off house lowers retirement pressure When keeping a mortgage into retirement can still make sense Why “I could pay it off” is very different from “I should pay it off” The hidden danger of becoming “house rich and cash poor” How today’s low-rate mortgages complicate the conversation Plus: Pete explains why many people misunderstand what financial advisors mean when they say your home is part of your retirement strategy.

May 15, 20261 hr 1 min

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 money conversations couples avoid until it’s way too late. Are prenups romantic sabotage or financial maturity? What actually happens to retirement accounts in divorce? Why do smart people make terrible financial decisions when emotions get involved? And what are the biggest money mistakes Elisabeth sees over and over again? Whether you’re single, married, remarried, or just financially nosy, this episode pulls back the curtain on how money shapes modern relationships — and what happens when those relationships end. It’s part financial planning, part relationship psychology, and part “oh wow, people really do that.”

May 8, 20261 hr 2 min

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, and the financial rules everyone blindly follows, nothing is safe. Some takes might make you nod in agreement. Others might make you yell at your speakers. But that’s the point. Because personal finance isn’t always personal consensus. The goal isn’t to “win” the debate. The goal is to challenge the assumptions we all carry about money — and maybe rethink a few of our own. Expect strong opinions, smart arguments, and at least one take that will absolutely start a fight in the group chat.

May 1, 20261 hr 7 min

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 to take it? How do you get a $25,000 raise and still feel broke? And before you get married… do you combine finances, or protect your independence? These aren’t spreadsheet decisions. They’re life decisions. And the tricky part? Smart people land on both sides of every one of them. So we’re speed-running each scenario—what matters, what doesn’t, and how to think about these moments when there’s no obvious “right” answer. Because sometimes the biggest financial mistake… is thinking there’s only one way to do it.

April 23, 20261 hr 2 min

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 fund their share of expenses by pulling $30,000 a year from investments. The other partner says… absolutely not. Is this about taxes? Fairness? Control? We dig into the emotional and financial layers of modern marriage: Does everything have to stay 50/50 forever? Is selling investments for “independence” actually costing more than it’s worth? And how do couples redefine “fair” when life changes? Because sometimes the biggest money decisions aren’t about math—they’re about identity.

April 17, 20261 hr 8 min

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 housing, college costs to overall wealth, the crew breaks down what each generation actually faced at the same stage of life. And the results aren’t as clear-cut as social media would have you believe. Yes, Millennials are dealing with sky-high home prices and student loan debt that follows them for decades. But Boomers battled double-digit inflation and mortgage rates that made monthly payments brutal. And when you zoom out? Millennials may actually be ahead in net worth at this point in life—though Boomers still control the majority of total wealth in America. So what’s really going on? This episode reframes the entire argument: it’s not about who worked harder or who had it worse—it’s about timing. When you entered the economy shaped what was possible for you, from buying a home to building wealth. The bigger takeaway? Most people, regardless of generation, feel like the game is harder now. And that might be the most important signal of all. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking, “They had it easier,” or “Why does this feel so hard?”—this conversation will give you clarity, context, and a much-needed reset. Here’s why it matters: You don’t get to choose your economy. But you do get to choose how you operate within it.

April 10, 20261 hr 8 min

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 thinks they are? Because the truth is, a 50-cent jump at the pump doesn’t hit everyone the same way. For some households, it’s real financial pressure. For others, it’s more of an emotional reaction than a budget breaker. We break down: The hidden ways oil prices sneak into your daily spending The lifestyles that are most exposed (and least exposed) Why convenience might be costing you more than you think And how to calculate your own personal “gas price impact” By the end of the episode, you’ll know whether rising gas prices are something you need to change your behavior over… or just change your mindset about. Because when it comes to your money, not every headline deserves your stress.