The Pete the Planner® Show

Latest Episodes:

How to get addicted to good money habits May 23, 2025

Show notes

We usually talk about money problems like they’re something to fix. But what if the real breakthrough is getting addicted—in the healthiest way possible—to the right financial habits? This week, Pete breaks down how to rewire your brain to crave progress instead of purchases. From the neuroscience behind smart money decisions to the financial routines that actually stick, we’ll explore how to build a habit loop that pays off (literally). No shame, no spreadsheets—just practical psychology, positive momentum, and a few weirdly satisfying tips for getting hooked on financial success.

Navigating Now: Finally understanding yield curves May 22, 2025

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Today’s markets aren’t just noisy—they’re downright confusing. In this episode, Pete breaks down three financial forces shaping the current economy:

What short selling tells us about investor anxiety
Why the yield curve just returned to normal after a historic inversion
And how a simple act like rebalancing your portfolio can protect your future

If you’ve been wondering whether the calm is real or just the eye of the storm, this episode is for you.

Storytime with Pete: What you didn't learn from your parents May 21, 2025

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In this episode of Storytime with Pete, we unpack the messy, funny, and sometimes frustrating financial lessons we inherited from our parents. From "Don’t get a credit card" to "Buy a house ASAP," we explore what stuck, what was missing, and how to move forward without passing on the same money blind spots. Whether your parents taught you to budget or just told you to “figure it out,” this one’s for you. It’s time to stop surviving and start building.

Understanding ETFs vs Mutual Funds May 20, 2025

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In today’s CalmCast, we untangle three big ideas you need to understand right now: why ETFs are outpacing mutual funds, what “core inflation” actually means (and why the Fed cares more about it than you might think), and how distinguishing fixed from variable expenses can give you immediate power over your budget.

We’ll explain:

The sneaky fees and tax quirks hiding in mutual funds
What core inflation says about where the economy’s really headed
Why knowing the difference between a grocery bill and a rent check might just save your financial plan

This episode is fast, practical, and built to calm the chaos in your money life.

Storytime with Pete: How to break bad money habits May 17, 2025

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Why is it so easy to blow $30 on takeout but so hard to cancel that Amazon auto-ship of things you didn’t even know you were buying? In this episode of Storytime with Pete, we unpack the psychology behind our worst financial habits—like dining out, impulse shopping, and spending to soothe our emotions. Pete breaks down the science of habit loops, explains why willpower alone doesn’t cut it, and shares six practical strategies to finally kick those budget-busting behaviors to the curb. Spoiler: deleting an app might change your financial life.

Pete's Ideal Budget Gets Roasted May 16, 2025

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Years ago, Pete created the Ideal Household Budget, a simple-yet-spicy allocation model for how Americans should be spending their money. It lit up inboxes and dinner table debates across the country. But today, the gloves are off. Dame and Kristen come ready to challenge the old model—armed with data, real-world messiness, and a whole lot of sass. Will Pete’s golden ratio survive the scrutiny? Or is it time to retire the “Ideal” in favor of the “Real”? Let’s find out.

Navigating Now: What the highs and lows of stock can teach you May 15, 2025

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In today’s episode, we explore how the market’s emotional extremes—its 52-week highs and lows—can mess with our perspective if we’re not careful. Then we shift to Main Street with the latest retail sales numbers and what they say about how Americans are really feeling financially. Finally, we bring it home with a simple but powerful financial move: a subscription audit.

Because sometimes the difference between financial stress and stability is as small as canceling that streaming service you forgot you had.

Topics covered:
-What 52-week highs and lows really signal
-Why retail sales are flashing mixed messages
-How to cut your spending without feeling the pain

Watch. Listen. Breathe. Then make one good financial decision.

Navigating Now: The average car payment is what?!?! May 13, 2025

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In today’s CalmCast, we’re following the money — from Wall Street to your driveway.

P/E Ratio – Is the stock market overvalued? We unpack what investors are really paying for and whether the math makes sense.
Producer Price Index (PPI) – A leading indicator of inflation. If it costs more to make things, guess who eventually pays more? (Hint: It’s you.)
Car Affordability – The average car payment is now over $700 a month — and that’s not including insurance, maintenance, and rising loan terms. For many households, the new car smell now comes with old mortgage vibes.

We’ll help you make smarter decisions in the face of rising costs and financial pressure.

Waiting for the world to change will crush you May 09, 2025

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There’s always a reason to wait. Maybe it’s the Fed. Maybe it’s student loan forgiveness. Maybe it’s the housing market finally “cooling off.” But here’s the truth: financial progress doesn’t happen in theory—it happens in action. In this episode, we’re talking about the dangerous game of waiting for someone else to fix your financial life. Whether it’s PSLF hanging in the balance, interest rates hovering, or the SAVE plan in limbo, you still have decisions to make. Good medicine is still good medicine—even when the world feels like a mess. Let’s stop outsourcing our momentum to headlines and hypotheticals.

Navigating Now: Three Tools to Calm Your Finances in a Shaky Economy May 08, 2025

Show notes

In today’s CalmCast, Pete breaks down three essential tools for staying steady in a shaky economy. First, we look at how diversification can protect your portfolio from market swings — because when one sector zigs, you want another to zag. Then, we wade through the latest economic data and recession chatter to explain what a slowdown really means and how often it actually happens. Finally, we spotlight the unsung hero of financial calm: the sinking fund. It’s not glamorous, but it is how you survive a car repair, a vacation, or the holidays without panic.

This episode is your friendly reminder: you can’t predict the economy, but you can prepare for it.