The Pete the Planner® 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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226
Ep. 358: Coronavirus Domino Effects + Pete Was ...
Have a question? Get answers. Email us: askpete@petetheplanner.com This week on the show we return to the fundamentals: Q&A!  Pete and Damian answer some tough questions. In these trying times, people all over and across income levels are weathering th...
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227
Ep. 357: What Is The Future of Our National Debt?
Have a question? Get answers. Email us: askpete@petetheplanner.com This week on the show... Pete and Damian answer questions? Eh, maybe not. But they do shed light on a very important topic as we all seek to recover from the “Economic Pandemic”!
40 min
228
Ep. 356: Economic Pandemic; Rebuilding from Rec...
Have a question? Get answers. Email us: askpete@petetheplanner.com This week on the show... Pete and Damian visit all kinds of thoughts on saving the world? Eh, maybe not; keeping it local takes center stage! ::whisper:: Remember,
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229
Ep. 355: Can We Call This An Economic Pandemic?
Have a question? Let us know! askpete@petetheplanner.com This week on the show... Pete and Damian ask questions, too!  ::whisper:: Remember, keep this link in your bookmarks! — HEY MONEY! Can’t listen? Check the Show Notes!
40 min
230
Ep. 354: The CARES Act Stimulus Bill: An Overview
Have a question? Let us know! askpete@petetheplanner.com This week on the show, the team discusses the CARES Act. Pete and Damian bring in a special guest: “The Queen of the Desert” herself, Kristen!  ::whisper:: Hey, you should keep this link in...
40 min
231
Ep. 353: The Most Interesting Week of 2020, So Far
Have a question? Let us know! askpete@petetheplanner.com This week on the show, everyone is trying to find a new normal. Pete and Damian are social distancing, not for the first time as they pull out common questions from the mailbag.  ::whisper::...
40 min
232
Ep. 352: Financially Preparing Yourself for Tou...
Have a question? Let us know! askpete@petetheplanner.com This week…oh boy. Pete and Damian talk about what’s important about money right now.  ::whisper:: You should keep this link in your bookmarks — HEY MONEY! Can’t listen? Check the Show Notes!
40 min
233
Ep. 351: The Refinancing Boom!
Have a question? Let us know! askpete@petetheplanner.com This week, SPECIAL SHOW ALERT!  Coronavirus is back as our special guest (with all due respect to its seriousness) and Pete and Damian dedicate the entire show to the recent spate of questions ab...
40 min
234
Ep 350: Coronavirus! But More Importantly, Reti...
Have a question? Let us know! askpete@petetheplanner.com This week, VIRUS ALERT! And yet, all things considered, we still understand that things in the market cycle. Pete and Damian return with a special offer for the new consumer service, HEY MONEY!
40 min
235
Ep. 349: The Launch of Hey Money!
Have a question? Let us know! askpete@petetheplanner.com This week, we’ve got something really special for your listening ears!  Pete and Damian are back to formally introduce our new product for you, HEY MONEY! Oh,
41 min
236
Ep. 348: All Things Considered, Should We Reloc...
Have a question? Let us know! askpete@petetheplanner.com Peter Dunn and Damian Dunn — no relation — take questions from our listeners and offer their financial expert-level responses on the air (with a bit of humor to make it go down... Read More
40 min
237
347: Do We Make Enough Money? Is There Hope?
Have a question? Let us know! askpete@petetheplanner.com Pete and Damian are back to solving financial issues for a new week. Oh! But first, here’s a quick prelude: We are so excited for the soft launch of Hey Money tomorrow exclusively for... Read More
40 min
238
Ep. 346: What Should We Do With Our Cashflow?
Get ready to dive in! In this episode, Pete and Damian spare no details exploring our writers’ financial lives. There is far too much to discuss; let’s get into it, post haste!Can’t listen? Check the Show Notes!Show Notes:* Scenario: Writer, Jake and his wife bring in over $250,000 jointly, per year. She’s maxing out her 401K, he’s contributing 11% and increasing it by 2% each year. He currently has $20,000 saved, she has $50,000 saved. They are renters at $2100 per month, have student loans, car payments, live in Southern California, and are considering IVF ($20,000) in their family planning. They want to take out a $235,000 mortgage on an investment property.* Question 1: – Should they make this home purchase or do something else with cash flow? — Pete and Damian have a lot to say about this! Using every bit of information, they present some compelling arguments for not going through with this move. Click PLAY to hear how they dissect the facts!* Question 2: Pete and Damian help settle a 5-year debate between co-workers: Co-worker #1 says his 401(k) – comprised of 6 funds – is more diversified than the S&P 500. Co-worker #2 believes the S&P is in itself (already) diversified because it’s made up of 500 different holdings. …Who’s right? — Peter swings for the fences saying, “Having a large number of financial holdings…IS in itself a diversity of money, but not diversification of styles. The S&P 500 is not diverse enough to be your only holding.”  Listen to understand more about what that means.* Question 3: A young, 19 year-old student needs to learn how a credit card works, asking: “What happens when you hit your limit? Do you just get more?” — Pete speculates if the absence of “No” has created so many financial behavior issues…Something Special* REMEMBER: We’re rolling out a new thing! Hey Money – our new service for everyone! Get instant access to financial experts whenever you need it to help you solve your toughest (or easiest) money conundrums. Get on the Hey Money Launch List (https://petetheplanner.com/heymoney) for EXCLUSIVE first access. The Launch List (https://petetheplanner.com/heymoney) is the only way to access Hey Money for the first few weeks when we launching in early February.
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239
Ep. 345: Brendan, This One's For You
In an uncommon feat, This episode is dedicated to Brendan. Pete and Damian feel so much gratitude to our writer's email that he earned the entire show dedicated to his three questions Click PLAY below to see if you could use any of the same answers they came up with for Brendan.Can't listen? Check the Show Notes!Show Notes:* Scenario: Writer, Brendan and his Wife are both about 30 years old and have three young children. After expenses and student loan payments, they have about $1500 cash left.* Question 1: Should they put that #1500 toward 529s (https://petetheplanner.com/considering-a-529-plan-heres-exactly-how-to-create-one/) for their kids and just pay the minimums to student loans? — Damian says, "Do both." Reap the benefits of compound interest and pay down debt. Have a plan for how much you want to accumulate in the 529 plans. Listen to hear if Pete actually agrees..* Question 2: Brendan needs life insurance. He currently pays for a $400,000 policy and has a preexisting medical condition. Would he be better off getting a term policy (https://petetheplanner.com/ep-165-life-insurance/)? — Damian says, "Look into a 20 or 30-year fixed term for yourself and have the agent shop you around with respect to your medical condition. Can't hurt to look."* Question 3: Should they save to pay for their kids’ future weddings (among all the quality-of-life benefits they enjoy)? Brendan and his spouse disagree. —— This is about your priorities. — Damian says, "This is a nice-to-do. Don’t put the psychological weight of identifying money for that on yourself. Not saving for a wedding, specifically, is the best move here."
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240
Ep. 343: Bridging the Financial Questions Gap, ...
FIRST SHOW OF THE NEW DECADE! Starting 2020 off in the right way, Pete and Damian are…still here.  Seriously, to welcome us all into a new season, it’s only right that the team introduce you to something new. Click play to hear... Read More
40 min
241
Ep. 342: What Can I Do With My Money?
Coming up this week: Pete and Damian try even harder to try to figure out what they can disagree on!  For the final show of 2019, the dynamic duo try to empty out the mailbag and answer what they can... Read More
39 min
242
Ep 341: 2019 Holiday Variety Pack
It’s almost 2020, people! As we wrap up 2019, we’re digging deep into the mailbag to discuss more of our listeners’ questions.  Listen to this show to hear a variety of situations  and Pete and Damian’s expert insights. Perhaps you’ve been... Read More
40 min
243
Ep. 340: The Ultimate Retirement Question: $ or %?
This week’s show is, in a word: focused.  Pete and Damian really drill into the most general area there is: Retirement. The mailbag was opened and brought out a question from a listener that Pete could get excited over: “Here’s my financial... Read More
40 min
244
Ep. 339: After Job Loss, What Happens to my 401...
New this week, Pete and Damian spend the entire show on The 401(k). Our writer is suffering a crushing blow with this from the mailbag: “I lost my job after 27 years of employment there. What should I do with my 401(k).”... Read More
39 min
245
Ep. 338: Inheritance Is Coming. What Should I Do?
Familiar and funny as ever, Pete and Damian disagree. Our regular listeners will know what an occasion this is. "I'm going to receive a $130,000 inheritance. What should..." WAIT! Before you tune out the rest of the question, there are some home-buying gems you should hear in this show.Can't listen? Check the Show Notes!Show Notes:* The writer has a $130K inheritance coming. While we listen with jealous ears, he writes should he use it to pay down his current mortgage, or save the $130k for the next home purchase? How should he use the inheritance in the smartest way possible?* Without knowing all of the details, Pete and Damian discuss the range of options with two different time horizons: 10 years from retirement and 30+ years from retirement.* Peter and Damian disagree, one claiming a better option would be to grow the $130 through market instruments, and the other backing a more cashflow-forward approach. 
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246
Ep. 338: Inheritance Is Coming. What Should I Do?
Familiar and funny as ever, Pete and Damian disagree. Our regular listeners will know what an occasion this is. “I’m going to receive a $130,000 inheritance. What should…”  WAIT! Before you tune out the rest of the question, there are... Read More
39 min
247
Ep. 337: New Home Buyer’s Remorse!
Up next on the new show, Pete and Damian wince as their writer begins his question with a stunning headline: “I just bought a new home and I instantly regret it.” You have got to check this one out. Can’t listen?... Read More
39 min
248
Ep. 336: Signs of a Chaotic Financial Life
This week, we’re talking about the chaos that can ensue in your financial life. Can’t listen? Check the Show Notes! Show Notes: Chaos—while fun to spell and fun to say is not so fun when it comes to your financial... Read More
38 min
249
Ep. 335: With $1M Saved, I Can Retire Now, Right?
Back into the mailbag! New on the show, Pete and Damian try to find balance in their skepticism toward a retirement-bound writer. With over $1M in investable assets and a continuing part-time job, why is he still concerned about outliving his... Read More
39 min
250
Ep. 334: Am I Saving TOO MUCH Money? Help.
New week, new show! This time, Pete is joined by… Damian! They wax so poetic about retirement and advisors that they had to extend the segment! Is it possible to be saving TOO MUCH money for retirement? Find out when... Read More
39 min