Plain English Finance
The Plain English Finance podcast is hosted by Tré Bynoe CFP® CIM®, a financial planner with TCU Wealth Management and Aviso Wealth.
While Tré specializes in working with families with more complicated finances, typically involving corporations and trusts, this podcast is for anyone wanting to learn how to make high-quality decisions based on evidence, to give themselves the highest likelihood of financial success.
You should always consult with your financial, legal, and tax advisors before making changes.
This podcast is provided as a general source of information and should not be considered personal investment advice or solicitation to buy or sell any securities.
The views expressed are those of the individual and are not necessarily those of Aviso Financial Inc.
Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Aviso Wealth, a division of Aviso Financial Inc.
Episodes
52 episodes
Too Good to Be True? Investment Red Flags Explained | Ep. 51
Have you ever looked at an investment and wondered if it was too good to be true? In this episode, we walk through the red flags that can show up in private investments, real estate deals, mortgage funds, and other “exclusive” opportun...
Why Smart People Make Bad Money Decisions | Ep. 50
Your calm self is not always a good judge of what your stressed self will do.In this episode, we talk about why smart people still make poor financial decisions under pressure.What I cover:Why good intentions do ...
Popular Money Advice vs What the Research Says | Ep. 49
Most money advice is popular because it’s easy to follow — not because it’s right. In this episode, I break down what academic research says about personal finance versus what popular financial books and gurus recommend.What ...
What Q1 2026 Taught Investors About Volatility and Speculation | Ep. 48
Q1 2026 was volatile, but the headlines weren’t the real story. Here’s what actually happened in the markets, and what long-term investors should take from it.What I cover What happened in Canadian, U.S.,...
Why Smart Financial Decisions Start With a Default Option | Ep. 47
Most bad financial decisions do not come from a lack of information. They come from inaction.In this episode, Tré Bynoe explains why “it depends” is technically true but often useless when people need to act. He lays out a better ...
How to Find the Right Financial Planner in Canada | Ep. 46
Choosing a financial planner shouldn’t feel like throwing darts at a board and hoping for a bullseye. In this episode, Tré breaks down how to find an advisor who actually fits your needs, not just someone with a title and a sales target. He exp...
The Retirement War Chest: How to Stay Invested When Markets Crash | Ep. 45
Can you stomach market drops? Most investors say they can handle them, but that confidence usually disappears when the portfolio actually falls.In this episode, Tré Bynoe explains the idea of a retirement “war chest” — also called...
AI, Expensive Markets, and Why Ownership Matters | Ep. 44
AI is driving markets, headlines, and a lot of investor anxiety. In this episode, Tré and Sierra talk through why the U.S. stock market looks so expensive right now, what investors may be missing about AI valuations, and why this trend could be...
Ep. 43 | Investment Location: The Tax Decision Most Investors Miss
Most investors focus on what they invest in and ignore where they hold it. That mistake can quietly cost hundreds of thousands of dollars over time.In this episode, Tré Bynoe, CFP, CIM, explains investment location—how placing the...
Ep. 42 | Cash Flow, Step by Step: How the System Actually Works
If cash flow still feels confusing, this episode fills in the gaps. Tré Bynoe, CFP, CIM, walks through his real-life cash flow system from January to December—account by account, decision by decision.This is a practical breakdown ...
Ep. 41 | Index vs Factor vs Alpha: What Type of Investor Are You?
Not all investing is created equal. In this episode, Tré Bynoe, CFP, CIM, unpacks the three core investment approaches—indexing, factor investing, and alpha strategies—and how to know which one fits you.Whether you're DIY or worki...
Ep. 40 | Salary vs Dividends: How to Pay Yourself
Should you pay yourself a salary or dividends from your corporation? If you’re a Canadian business owner, this decision shapes your long-term wealth. In this episode, Tré Bynoe, CFP, CIM, breaks down why it’s not a binary choice and what...
Ep. 39 | Behind the Planner: A Candid Conversation with Tré Bynoe
In this special off-script episode, Sierra flips the mic and asks Tré Bynoe, CFP, CIM, some personal and thought-provoking questions—from career paths not taken to his philosophy on helping people who actually want to be helped.This is t...
Ep. 38 | Notional Accounts: The Hidden Tax Rule Every Incorporated Investor Should Know
Notional accounts may sound like accountant-speak, but they’re critical if you're investing through a corporation. In this episode, Tré Bynoe CFP CIM breaks down what these invisible accounts are, how they work, and why ignoring them could quie...
Ep. 37 | Is It Interest? Understanding the Real Source of Your Investment Returns
What do you actually earn from the stock market? If you think it's all "interest," think again.In this episode, Tré Bynoe, CFP, CIM, breaks down the three types of investment income in Canada—dividends, capital gains, and other ...
Ep. 36 | A Story for My Daughter
This episode is different. It's a reading of a children’s story called The Four Money Bears, recorded for our daughter, Ariyah.It’s about spending, saving, investing, and giving — but more than that, it’s about balance, care, and intent...
Ep. 35 | How to Get Out of Debt in Canada: A Step-by-Step Plan
Many Canadians are stuck under a mountain of debt. Some with no idea how much they owe, or how to get out. In this episode, Tré breaks down what to do right now if you’re facing serious consumer debt. From making your first net worth s...
Ep. 34 | One Car Loan Can Wreck Your 30s
Think taking out a car loan in your 20s is no big deal? Think again.In this episode, Tré breaks down the long-term consequences of everyday debt decisions using real-life modelling to show how a single $40,000 car loan can quietly derail...
Ep. 33 | RESPs: Free Money for Your Kid’s Future (If You Use It Right)
Most Canadian parents know about RESPs, but few use them to their full potential. In this episode, Tré exposes the common RESP mistakes that cost families thousands and shows you how to actually make the most of this powerful tool.You’ll...
Ep. 32 | How to Build Credit in Canada: Equifax and TransUnion Guide
In this episode, Tré breaks down how credit scores work in Canada using best practices given directly from Equifax and TransUnion. Using information straight from Equifax and TransUnion, he explains exactly what goes into your score and how to ...
Ep. 31 | Your Financial Order of Operations When Starting a Business in Canada
In this episode, Tré lays out the clear financial steps to follow if you’re thinking about starting a business in Canada. If you’re a Canadian professional or aspiring business owner, this episode is your practical roadmap.
Ep. 30 | Teachers — How to Retire Without Mistakes
Teaching comes with one of the best pensions in Canada. But that doesn’t mean your retirement is “set and forget.” In this episode, Tré walks through the financial decisions every teacher needs to get right—before and after retiring.Defi...
Ep. 29 | Stop Guessing: The Employee's Guide to Financial Order of Operations
Most employees guess their way through financial decisions. That leads to debt, missed opportunities, and slow progress. In this episode, Tré lays out a clear, step-by-step plan for employees who want better results and are willing to do the wo...
Ep. 28 | The Smart Path to Buying Into Your Firm
In this episode of Plain English Finance, host Tré Bynoe, CFP®, CIM®, breaks down the step-by-step plan for professionals thinking about buying into their firm — lawyers, engineers, accountants, and doctors alike.Tré expl...
Ep. 27 | Case Study: What Comes After “We’re On Track”?
In this episode of Plain English Finance, Tré Bynoe, CFP®, CIM® walks through a real-life case study (with names changed) to explore what happens when you’ve already “made it” — when your retirement savings are on track, your de...