The Pete the Planner® Show

The markets are soaring, the economy is expanding, and everyone's wondering—are we in a bubble? In today’s CalmCast, Pete breaks down the difference between market momentum and market mania, explores what real economic growth looks like, and helps you focus your energy on what matters most: your personal financial vision. Whether you’re tempted to chase hot stocks or just trying to make sense of t...

Sometimes the markets have confidence, well at least their investors do. And sometimes the market struggles to find conviction. What helps you understand the difference between the two? Volume. In this episode of Navigating Now, Pete helps you understand what you can learn from volume. Additionally, he'll chat through the trade deficit and then touch on net worth as well.

Think being smart protects you from financial blunders? Think again. In this episode of The Pete the Planner Show, we uncover why even the most intelligent, high-earning individuals routinely make money mistakes. From gym memberships we never use to inflated lifestyles we never questioned, we explore the sneaky psychological traps—like overconfidence, present bias, and lifestyle creep—that derail...

The markets are nervous, the economy’s acting weird, and housing feels increasingly out of reach. In today’s CalmCast, we walk you through three critical signals: what investor sentiment is telling us (and why it’s not the whole story), what stagflation is and whether we’re in danger of it, and why housing affordability is straining the budgets of millions. We’ll help you make sense of what’s happ...

We know it’s bad for us—and we still buy it. In today’s Storytime with Pete, we dig into the bizarre economics of spending money on things that actively hurt us: alcohol, junk food, and those late-night dopamine bombs we call “treats.” Why do we do it? Blame your brain chemistry. Pete unpacks the science of dopamine, the illusion of indulgence, and the very real cost of self-sabotage—with just eno...

In this episode of CalmCast, we break down one of the most misunderstood stock market tools: the circuit breaker. What triggers it, why it exists, and what it actually means for your investments. Then, we zoom out to explore how a sharp drop in U.S. markets can ripple through the global economy — impacting everything from oil prices to your grocery bill. Finally, we bring it back to you: how to se...

AI isn’t coming for your wallet—it’s already living in it. In this episode, Pete unpacks the surprising ways artificial intelligence is reshaping your financial life, from how your bank detects fraud to how scammers clone your voice. We explore the good (smart budgeting tools), the bad (AI-generated investment scams), and the weird (why your insurance premium changed without a human decision). Whe...

In today’s episode, Pete peels back the curtain on three numbers that get tossed around like financial gospel — but may not tell the whole story. We kick off with market cap: what it actually means, how it defines a company’s identity, and why share price alone can be misleading. Then, we dive into the often-misunderstood unemployment rate — a metric that sounds solid on headlines but misses huge...

In this episode of Storytime with Pete, we tackle the awkward truth about spending money on your health. Sure, it doesn’t come with rewards points or Instagram clout, but ignoring your body’s maintenance needs? That’s a financial strategy with a guaranteed crash. Pete breaks down why co-pays feel like emotional theft, how preventative care is the least sexy but most valuable expense in your budget...

Reading the Signals: What Charts, Indicators, and Your Wallet Are Telling You In this episode of CalmCast, Pete the Planner breaks down three of the most important tools for staying steady in a shaky economy: Technical Analysis – Why traders are obsessed with charts, and what you can learn from their patterns. Leading Indicators – The economic signals that whisper “recession” before anyone makes i...

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 buil...

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...

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 f...

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 infla...

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 sh...

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...

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 diffe...

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 i...

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...

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 spot...

You won’t always have perfect data, unanimous advice, or a spreadsheet that answers all your questions—and that’s okay. In this episode of Storytime with Pete, we break down how to take in feedback, sort the good from the garbage, and make smart, confident financial decisions right now, not just “someday when you know more.” Featuring Maya Angelou, a baking metaphor, and a few spicy takes on bad a...

The latest GDP numbers are in—and they tell a story of a cooling economy amid policy shifts and global uncertainty. In today’s CalmCast, Pete breaks down what that actually means for your wallet. We’ll look at which parts of the economy are shrinking, what sectors are still showing strength, and how tariffs and interest rates are shaping the growth story. Then we shift gears to explore why asset a...

When a pipe burst turned their dream townhouse into a soggy mess, this week’s listener found themselves with a surprise $84,000 insurance check and a big decision: buy the forever home now or wait out the madness of the housing market? In this episode, Pete, Dame, and Kristen break down whether selling a damaged home as-is is a smart financial move, what “forever home” really means in an unpredict...

In today’s episode, Pete the Planner breaks down three key money topics that matter more than you think: why time in the market always wins over timing the market, what the Federal Reserve's latest pause means for your wallet, and how your debt-to-income ratio quietly controls your financial stress level. Whether you're investing for the long haul, waiting for mortgage rates to drop, or just tryin...

In today's Storytime with Pete, we get honest about something success stories often skip: luck. Pete shares a personal realization about being born on third base — and why acknowledging luck doesn’t diminish hard work, it actually makes success more meaningful. We explore why hearing about privilege feels complicated, how luck factors into building careers and wealth, and how you can put yourself...