Pete Peterson serves as Executive Director of Corporate Solutions at Balefire, working primarily with public and private corporations, healthcare organizations, and executive leadership teams to develop and oversee retirement plans, executive benefit programs, and institutional investment strategies. His day-to-day work includes meeting with boards and finance committees, advising clients on strategic financial initiatives, and coordinating with Balefire’s internal specialists to build customized solutions that support each client’s long-term financial and organizational goals.
Pete co-founded Balefire in 2010, and over more than two decades in the industry has built deep expertise in institutional wealth management, executive compensation, and retirement plan consulting. He holds the AIF, CRPS, CPFA, and C(k)P designations, credentials that reflect his sustained focus on fiduciary governance and institutional investment strategy. Since Balefire’s founding, Pete has expanded his practice to include non-profit consulting and the design of non-qualified deferred compensation plans, always working to develop strategic, personalized solutions that drive real outcomes for the organizations he serves.
Pete works with a broad range of employers, including public and private corporations, hospitals, health systems, physician groups, and other mid- to large-sized organizations, helping them design and manage retirement plans, executive compensation programs, and institutional investment strategies. He partners closely with boards of directors, finance committees, and executive leadership teams to build financial solutions that support both employees and long-term organizational goals. His specialties include the design, implementation, and ongoing consulting of 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), defined benefit, ESOP, SERP, and nonqualified deferred compensation plans, along with executive benefit strategy, fiduciary governance, and deferred compensation funding solutions that help employers attract and retain key talent.
Healthcare organizations make up a significant part of Pete’s practice. He understands the complex financial environment hospitals and health systems operate in, balancing a mission of patient care against reimbursement pressures, workforce shortages, regulatory demands, and significant capital needs. Over 26 years, Pete has worked closely with hospital boards, finance committees, retirement plan committees, and executive leadership teams, building a deep understanding of the governance, fiduciary, and financial challenges unique to healthcare organizations. He draws on that experience, combined with his institutional investment and executive benefits expertise, to help healthcare leaders make informed decisions while staying focused on patient care.
Colleagues and clients rely on Pete to translate complex financial concepts into practical, understandable guidance, whether he’s presenting to a board of directors or working one-on-one with a client. He is known for being responsive and relationship-driven, turning technical topics into meaningful conversations that build confidence and lead to informed decisions.
Originally from rural Northeast South Dakota, Pete now lives in Dallas, Texas. A proud father and active mentor, he dedicates much of his free time to supporting his family, serving his community, and coaching young athletes. A lifelong sports enthusiast, he has competed in soccer, football, basketball, volleyball, and even international-level darts.