Podcast
Plain English Finance
Hosted by Tré Bynoe CFP®, CIM® · EN
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.
25episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
RRSPs Aren’t a Scam, But This Mistake Is Costly | Ep. 55
5d ago00:32:08Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailRRSPs are not a scam, but using one without a withdrawal plan can create an avoidable tax problem.In this episode, we explain when RRSP contributions help, when they don't, and why retirement withdrawals need to be planned years in advance.What I cover:• Why an RRSP is best understood as a tool for moving income between years• The mistake people make when they spend their RRSP tax refund• How one client’s decision may have cost approximately $12,000• Why taking no RRSP income in early retirement can backfire• How RRIF withdrawals, pensions, CPP, and OAS can stack together• Why automatically maximizing your RRSP is not always the best strategyChapters:00:00 Are RRSPs a scam?01:12 What an RRSP actually does02:18 The problem with spending the tax refund04:40 The RRSP decision that may have cost $12,00006:35 Why the withdrawal strategy matters08:28 How a large RRSP can become a retirement tax trap13:12 Using lower-income years for withdrawals25:02 When maximizing your RRSP may be the wrong moveRRSP planning is not a way to get a tax refund. Deciding when you want to recognize the income and pay the tax is what they're designed for.Subscribe for more practical conversations about Canadian retirement, tax, and financial planning.Website | Youtube | Linkedin
Transcribe →FHSA Explained: The Best Account for First-Time Home Buyers in Canada? | Ep. 54
2w ago00:19:17Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailThe First Home Savings Account is more than a home-buying account. Used well, it can be one of the most powerful planning tools available to younger Canadians. Used poorly, it can create tax mistakes, missed deductions, or money trapped in the wrong place.In this episode, Tre Bynoe, CFP®, CIM®, is joined by Amy to break down how the FHSA works, who qualifies, and why it often beats the RRSP as the default savings account for first-time home buyers. They cover contribution limits, tax deductions, investment choices, spouse-related eligibility rules, and what happens if you never buy a home.This episode is especially useful for young professionals, parents helping adult children, and Canadians deciding between a TFSA, RRSP, and FHSA.What listeners will learn How the FHSA combines the best parts of a TFSA and RRSP Why young Canadians may want to open an FHSA early How to delay FHSA deductions for higher-income years When a TFSA may still come before an FHSA What happens if you do not use the FHSA to buy a home Why FHSA contributions must still be reported on your tax returnWebsite | Youtube | Linkedin
Transcribe →Are You Paying Too Much to Invest? | Ep. 53
3w ago01:03:59Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailPaying more for investing does not automatically mean you are getting better advice, better products, or better returns. In this episode, Tre breaks down what Canadians should understand about investment fees, advice fees, product costs, commissions, and the difference between active and passive investing. He explains why new fee disclosures matter, how fees can quietly drag down returns, and why investors need to know exactly what they are paying for. This episode is especially useful for professionals, business owners, and DIY investors who want to make informed decisions instead of assuming higher cost means higher quality. The goal is simple: know your fees, understand the value, and stop overpaying for complexity that may not help you. You’ll learn: Why higher investment fees do not always mean better performance How active and passive investing costs compare What management expense ratios mean in plain English Why commission-based products can create conflicts How advice fees, product fees, and robo-advisor fees differ Why good financial planning should be clear about cost and value Follow, review, and share the Plain English Finance Podcast with someone who needs to check what they are really paying for financial advice.Website | Youtube | Linkedin
Transcribe →Conversations on Money, Values, and Parenthood | Ep. 52
4w ago00:24:52Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailWhat changes when a financial planner becomes a parent? More than you think—and less than you might expect. In this episode, Tre shares the practical money moves he made after having a child, from updating the family will to reviewing life insurance, adjusting cash flow, and setting money aside early for future needs. He also talks about the bigger parenting challenge: teaching kids how money works without spoiling them, scaring them, or making money the centre of everything. This episode is for Canadian parents, soon-to-be parents, and professionals who want to raise financially capable kids while protecting their family first. You’ll learn: Why parents need a will, guardianship plan, and proper life insurance How to budget for a child before and after they arrive Why cash flow is the foundation of family finances How to teach kids delayed gratification and responsible spending Why children should learn to earn, save, invest, and give How to raise kids with healthy money values in a privileged environment Follow, review, and share the Plain English Finance Podcast with someone who wants to make better financial decisions for their family.Website | Youtube | Linkedin
Transcribe →Too Good to Be True? Investment Red Flags Explained | Ep. 51
May 1500:27:35Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailHave 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” opportunities.What I cover: Why high returns with low risk should immediately raise questions The problem with returns that look too smooth or consistent How urgency can push people into poor investment decisions Why you need to understand how an investment makes money Why you also need to understand how you could lose money The hidden risk in private or illiquid investmentsThis episode is for education only and should not be considered personal investment advice. Always speak with your financial, legal, and tax advisors before making investment decisions.Subscribe for more plain-English conversations about investing, financial planning, and avoiding costly money mistakes.Website | Youtube | Linkedin
Transcribe →Why Smart People Make Bad Money Decisions | Ep. 50
May 800:56:39Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailYour 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 not guarantee good financial decisionsHow hot-cold empathy gaps affect investing, retirement, and estate planningWhy people misjudge how they will feel during market crashesThe difference between risk capacity and emotional willingnessHow too many options can create analysis paralysisWhy pre-deciding rules and automating good behaviour can help protect your future selfPlanning is easier before life gets emotional. Subscribe for more plain-English conversations about investing, retirement, tax planning, and better financial decision-making.References: https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/sds/docs/loewenstein/hotColdEmpathyGaps.pdfhttps://dtg.sites.fas.harvard.edu/Gilber%20t&%20Ebert%20%28DECISIONS%20&%20REVISIONS%29.pdfWebsite | Youtube | Linkedin
Transcribe →Popular Money Advice vs What the Research Says | Ep. 49
May 100:39:20Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailMost 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 I cover Why “save 10–15%” is simple, but not always optimal The difference between smooth consumption and rule-of-thumb saving Why dividend investing is often overrated How to think about portfolio risk based on time horizon, not just age Where passive investing beats active management What the data says about debt repayment and mortgage choices Chapters 00:00 Why finance advice conflicts 01:00 The paper comparing gurus vs professors 03:30 Saving 10–15% vs controlling consumption 09:00 The real key: separate income from expenses 18:00 Portfolio mix: age vs time horizon 24:30 Dividend investing vs tax efficiency 31:20 Small value, international diversification, and indexing 35:00 Debt repayment and fixed vs variable mortgagesGood financial decisions usually come from better frameworks, not better slogans. Subscribe for more plain-English financial education, and watch the next episode if you want more evidence-based investing and planning conversations.Website | Youtube | Linkedin
Transcribe →What Q1 2026 Taught Investors About Volatility and Speculation | Ep. 48
Apr 2400:21:53Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailQ1 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., international, and bond markets in Q1 2026 Why short-term market drops can look worse than they really are Why crash predictions are easy to make and costly to act on The difference between investing, hedging, and speculating Why productive businesses are different from commodities like gold or wheat How long-term investors can think more clearly during volatile periods Chapters 00:00 Q1 2026 in context 01:52 Why quarterly returns only tell part of the story 02:30 What happened in Canadian, U.S., international, and bond markets 04:04 The sharp drop before quarter-end and quick recovery after 05:29 Why market-crash predictions are so tempting 08:16 Why pessimism can sound smart but cost you 12:55 From market review to speculation vs investing 14:03 Farmer, jeweler, and gold examples explained 18:10 Hedging risk vs adding speculative risk 20:15 The real lesson from this quarter If you want calmer, evidence-based thinking about money and markets, subscribe for more videos. And for a deeper look at long-term investing behaviour, check out my other videos on market volatility and portfolio decision-making.Website | Youtube | Linkedin
Transcribe →Why Smart Financial Decisions Start With a Default Option | Ep. 47
Apr 1700:13:43Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailMost 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 way to make financial decisions: start with a strong default, then look for reasons not to use it. Tré walks through three areas where people get stuck most often—investing, budgeting, and choosing between debt repayment and investing—and shows how to make progress without overcomplicating things.This episode is especially useful for Canadian professionals, business owners, and anyone who tends to delay money decisions because they want the perfect answer first.What listeners will learnWhy inaction is still a financial decisionHow to use a smart default instead of freezing upWhy a low-cost globally diversified equity fund is the investing defaultHow to think about budgeting as cashflow managementWhen investing should beat paying down low-interest debtWhy numbers should lead before emotion steps inWebsite | Youtube | Linkedin
Transcribe →How to Find the Right Financial Planner in Canada | Ep. 46
Apr 1000:41:04Tap to summarizeSend us Fan MailChoosing 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 explains why CFP certification is the minimum standard, why insurance-only licensing is a red flag, and why your stage of life or business matters more than most people realize.You’ll hear how to vet an advisor properly, what questions to ask before sharing your financial details, and why the best planner for you is usually someone who already works with people in a situation like yours. This episode is especially useful for Canadian professionals, business owners, and anyone serious about making smarter financial decisions.What listeners will learnWhy CFP credentials should be the baselineHow to spot red flags in financial adviceWhich type of planner fits your stage of life or businessWhat questions to ask in an advisor interviewWhy investment philosophy and values matterHow to avoid becoming the wrong-fit clientWebsite | Youtube | Linkedin
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