The Pete the Planner® Show

Latest Episodes:

The hot take Olympics May 08, 2026

Show notes

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.

3 Money Decisions You’ll Either Regret Forever… or Be Glad You Made May 01, 2026

Show notes

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.

Money and Marriage -- When 50/50 stops making sense Apr 23, 2026

Show notes

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.

Did Boomers have it worse than Millennials at their age? Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

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.

Oil prices aren't hurting who you think Apr 10, 2026

Show notes

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.

Pete on the IBJ Podcast: Recession, Iran, and Petrodollars Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

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 disrupted the global oil market, and stock investors have yo-yoed along with mixed signals from Washington, D.C., about America’s goals for the war.

IBJ personal finance columnist Pete the Planner sees signs that point toward recession in the U.S., as well as a humanitarian crisis in Asia. In this week’s podcast, Pete parses a passel of new challenges and layers on the potential impact of tariff refunds and rising mortgage rates. He also is concerned about the Trump administration’s apparent attempts at influencing investor sentiment with statements about America’s intentions in Iran.

How to start your financial life right out of school, and not mess everything up Apr 03, 2026

Show notes

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 between. But instead of just talking about it, they turn it into a game: can each of them build a working monthly plan… without wrecking the future?

Along the way, they uncover the real tension every new grad faces: how do you balance survival, stability, and actually enjoying your life?

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing okay… or already behind?”—this episode is for you.

Just moved into our new house. We feel...less excited than we thought we'd be Mar 27, 2026

Show notes

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 psychological weight of a bigger life, they explore why even smart, responsible decisions can come with unexpected stress.

If you’ve ever made a move that made your life better—but also made your brain a little louder—this episode is for you.

HS students are learning about money now. Are they being taught the wrong things? Mar 20, 2026

Show notes

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 really progress… or just a tradeoff?

In this episode, Pete, Damian, and Kristen break down what’s changing—and what might be getting lost in the process. Is the goal of high school to create informed citizens who understand the economy, or functional adults who can manage their own money? And can we realistically do both?

Then the team builds the ultimate personal finance class from scratch. What do teens actually need to know before they leave home? From cash flow and credit to compounding and big life decisions, they cover the essentials—and call out what most adults still get wrong.

Finally, they bring it home. Because let’s be honest—most of us didn’t get this class either. So what can parents and families do now to teach these lessons in real life, without turning dinner into a lecture?

If you’ve ever thought, “Why didn’t anyone teach me this?”—this episode is for you.

Why leaving money to your kids can backfire Mar 13, 2026

Show notes

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 news sent Lucas down a deep research rabbit hole involving wills, trusts, and something called a third-party special needs trust.

What started as a plan for early retirement has now become a much bigger question:How do you financially protect a child who may depend on you forever?

To help answer that question, Pete and the crew are joined by estate planning attorney Shawn Scott, who specializes in helping families navigate these exact situations.

In this episode we discuss:

What a special needs trust actually is
The difference between first-party and third-party special needs trusts
Why leaving money directly to a child with disabilities can create major problems
Common mistakes families make with DIY estate planning
When online legal tools are okay — and when you really need an attorney
How grandparents and other relatives should structure gifts or inheritances

Lucas’s story reminds us that estate planning isn’t just about wealth.Sometimes it’s about love, protection, and making sure your child is cared for long after you’re gone.

Also: Pete attempts a North Carolinian accent (results may vary).