This week on The Pete the Planner Show, we tackle a question from a listener couple in their 30s who’ve nailed the basics—no debt (besides the mortgage), a healthy emergency fund, steady retirement savings, and even monthly money check-ins that end in high fives, not fights. So… do they really need a financial planner?

We dive into when DIY is good enough—and when a second set of (professional) eyes might help you uncover what you don’t know you don’t know. Whether you love spreadsheets or break into a cold sweat at the word “fiduciary,” this episode will help you figure out if it’s time to level up your planning—or if you’re already crushing it on your own.

You’ll learn:

The tipping point between DIY and delegation

What a financial planner can (and can’t) do for you

How to avoid blind spots even when you're doing everything "right"

It's a practical, honest conversation for anyone who's ever wondered: Do I need help, or am I just fine?

This week’s episode begins with a heartfelt listener question that cuts to the core of a topic we all tend to avoid—death, and the financial planning that surrounds it. Pete, Kristen, and Damian explore whether prepaying for funeral arrangements is a sound financial decision—or an expensive emotional shortcut.

Congress just dropped the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (yes, that’s really what they’re calling it), and it could reshape everything from your paycheck to your student loans. In this fast-moving episode, Pete, Kristen, and Damian unpack what OBBB actually is—and more importantly, how it affects you.

When the market is a rollercoaster and headlines won’t stop screaming, even the savviest investors can start second-guessing everything. In this episode, Pete, Damian, and Kristen unpack what confidence in investing actually means—and how to build it, rebuild it, and protect it when doubt creeps in.

Summer break is here—which means your kids are home, your fridge is empty, and your wallet is… nervous. In this episode, Pete, Kristen, and Dame explore whether the old rules of teaching kids about money still hold up, or if today’s world demands something new.

From toddler toy budgets to teen summer job paychecks, we break down how to raise money-smart kids without turning into a lecture machine (or losing your mind). You’ll learn how to:

Use summer moments as money teaching tools

Talk to kids at different ages without getting eye-rolls

Help teens manage their own money—without a meltdown

Equip them for real life, not just allowance life

Plus, the team shares their favorite (and most hilarious) wins and fails from teaching their own kids about money.

In this episode, we tackle a sneaky problem: confusing financial motion with actual progress. Just because you’re constantly doing money-related tasks—paying bills, checking balances, moving money around—doesn’t mean you’re getting ahead. Pete opens with a gym analogy that hits a little too close to home, then brings in Kristen and Dame to break down why so many people feel stuck despite their efforts.

We explore what real progress looks like—both on paper and emotionally. From Power Percentage and savings rate to the peace of mind that comes with financial confidence, we’re separating the signal from the noise.

And with the year halfway over, we wrap with a "mid-year compass check" to help you course-correct before it’s too late. If January’s goals are now a blurry memory, this is your wake-up call. Don’t wait for December to figure out whether you made progress—let’s find out now.

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 the noise, this episode will help you zoom out, calm down, and plan forward.

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.

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 even the best of us.

You’ll learn why financial IQ doesn’t always translate to good behavior, and more importantly, how to bridge that gap with practical tools rooted in behavioral science. Whether you're making six figures or just trying to make ends meet, this episode will help you stop being your own financial enemy.

Segments include:

You Know Better, But Do You Do Better? – Why knowing isn’t doing.

The Smart-People Traps – The surprising ways confidence costs you.

How to Outsmart Your Smart Self – Tactical strategies to outwit your own brain.

Smart doesn’t equal invincible. Let’s get better together.

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 happening—and what you can do to stay grounded, no matter the economic weather.

Topics Covered:

Stay calm. Stay informed. Stay on course.