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The Pete the Planner® Show

The Pete the Planner® Show

By: IBJ Media
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About this listen

 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.868329 Career Success Economics Personal Finance Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Is the Retirement Our Parents and Grandparents Had Even Possible Anymore?

    Is the Retirement Our Parents and Grandparents Had Even Possible Anymore?
    Jan 30 2026
    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.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Am I crazy, or is the economy teetering on the edge of boom and bust?

    Am I crazy, or is the economy teetering on the edge of boom and bust?
    Jan 23 2026
    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.
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    1 hr
  • If You Need Cash: Ranking Debt from Least Bad to Absolutely Not

    If You Need Cash: Ranking Debt from Least Bad to Absolutely Not
    Jan 16 2026
    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 which debt options hurt the least, which ones quietly wreck your future, and which should be avoided almost entirely. The conversation starts with why people reach for the fastest money instead of the smartest option. Stress, fear, and urgency push otherwise rational people into bad decisions—especially during emergencies, income gaps, or unexpected medical or home expenses. The goal here isn’t perfection; it’s minimizing damage when options are limited. From there, the team works through a tiered ranking: The least bad (situational) options, like already-open HELOCs and family loans—tools that can work, but only with serious guardrails and clear boundaries. The middle ground, including personal loans and 401(k) loans, where predictability and structure help—but behavioral traps and long-term costs still loom. The high-risk zone, where credit cards, payday loans, and title loans turn short-term problems into long-term financial pain. Along the way, they break down why “easy” money is usually the most expensive, how minimum payments create dangerous illusions, and why slowing the decision—even briefly—can be the biggest financial win. If you’ve ever thought, “I just need some cash to get through this,” this episode helps you ask a better question: Which mistake does the least damage—and which ones should never be on the table? Plus, the episode wraps with BWOM and the latest financial news.
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    1 hr and 11 mins
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