Plain English Finance

Tré Bynoe CFP®, CIM®
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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. 

  1. 1d ago

    Why You Might Not Be The Right Client For Me | Ep. 69

    Send us Fan Mail How do you know if a financial planner is actually the right fit for you? In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast, Tré and Sierra talk through what it is like to work with Tré, who he does his best work with, who may not be a good fit, and what he believes a financial planner is supposed to do. This episode is designed to help potential clients understand the way Tré thinks, how he approaches financial planning, and whether his process fits the way they want to make decisions. Tré explains that he tends to work best with people who want a system, want evidence, ask questions, and do not want major financial decisions made based on feelings. He also talks about why engineers, corporation owners, and analytical clients often fit well with his process because they want to understand the assumptions, the logic, and the evidence behind the plan.   In this episode, we discuss: - Who Tré does his best work with - Why evidence, systems, and repeatable decision-making matter - Why analytical clients and engineers often ask the right questions - Who probably should not work with Tré - Why stock picking, speculation, and “vibes-based” decisions are not the focus - Why a financial planner should tie everything together - How retirement, tax, investments, insurance, and estate planning interact - Why compensation and conflicts of interest matter - What working with Tré can feel like - Why some people may find the process overwhelming - Why others may find it relieving to finally have a clear system - What happens when Tré disagrees with a client - Why he will not simply agree with a client to keep the relationship - What the financial industry gets wrong - How Tré thinks about investments and assigning each dollar a job - Why underperformance is one of the biggest risks investors face - How he approaches uncertainty when there is no perfect answer - What his planning process looks like from the first meeting onward A good financial planning relationship is not just about credentials or investment products, but also about the personal fit. If you want someone to simply validate what you already believe, this may not be the right fit. If you want a clear process, evidence-based thinking, direct conversations, and a planner who is willing to challenge assumptions, this episode will give you a better idea of what working with Tré feels like. Website | Youtube | Linkedin

  2. Sep 18

    The Truth About Cash Hoarding: It’s Costing You More Than You Think | Ep. 68

    Send us Fan Mail Cash feels safe, but too much cash can become a problem. In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast, Tré and Sierra discuss why successful savers often end up hoarding cash in savings accounts or short-term GICs instead of putting their money to work. The issue is not that cash is bad. The issue is that cash needs a clear job, a clear ceiling, and a system that keeps the rest of your money moving toward something useful. The episode argues that money not needed within the next year should usually have a better purpose than sitting indefinitely in a savings account.  Tré explains his preferred system: keep a defined amount of safe, accessible money available as a war chest, then invest or deliberately spend the rest. The goal is not to eliminate cash completely. The goal is to avoid letting fear, uncertainty, or “what if” thinking turn into years of idle money losing purchasing power.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why people keep too much cash  Why money in a savings account should have a cap  The difference between actually needed cash and “maybe someday” cash  How to think about an emergency fund or war chest  Why a portfolio can sometimes fund major spending before cash does  Why lines of credit can be useful before you need them  Why high-income savers can still get stuck hoarding cash  Why repeated short-term GIC decisions can become a long-term problem  Why having no purpose for money leads to inaction  Why cash can feel safer than it really is  How inflation quietly reduces purchasing power  Why assets often adjust better to inflation than idle cash  Why successful savers need a system after the mortgage is paid off  Why investing gradually can prevent the fear of lump-sum decisionsLearn more about working with Tré Bynoe, CFP®, CIM®: TreBynoe.ca This podcast is provided as a general source of information and should not be considered personal investment, tax, legal, credit, or financial planning advice. Consult your financial, legal, tax, and credit professionals before making changes to your financial plan. Website | Youtube | Linkedin

  3. Sep 11

    Are You Contributing to Your RRSP for the Wrong Reasons? | Ep. 67

    Send us Fan Mail Should you contribute to your RRSP just because tax season is coming? In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast, Tré and Sierra discuss how to think about RRSP contributions more deliberately, especially if your goal is wealth creation rather than simply retirement savings. An RRSP can be a useful tool, but it is not automatically the right place for every available dollar. The key idea is that an RRSP moves income from one year into another. That can be valuable when you are contributing in a high-income year and withdrawing in a lower-income year. But if you are still building your career, starting a business, saving for real estate, or trying to keep capital available for opportunity, locking too much money inside an RRSP may create a real opportunity cost.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why people often rush RRSP contributions during tax season  Why an RRSP refund should not be the whole reason you contribute  How RRSPs move income from one year to another  Why your current and future tax brackets matter  Why wealth creation may require access to capital  Why TFSA and non-registered accounts may be better in lower-income years  Why low taxable income may reduce the value of RRSP contributions  Why business owners and entrepreneurs should think differently about accessible cash  Why corporation owners may have more flexibility with retained earnings  Why saving for opportunity can matter more than saving for retirement alone  Why “I can contribute, so I should contribute” is weak planning  Why the word “retirement” can cause people to under-save for nearer-term goalsWebsite | Youtube | Linkedin

  4. Sep 4

    The Dangerous Reality of Managing Other People’s Money | Ep. 66

    Send us Fan Mail If you are making financial decisions for someone else, the bar is higher. In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast, Tré and Sierra discuss what it means to manage other people’s money responsibly. This can show up when you are acting as power of attorney, sitting on a condo board, serving on a not-for-profit board, or acting as executor of an estate. The common issue is simple: the money is not yours, but your decisions can still create serious consequences for someone else.  The episode focuses on the idea of a defensible decision. It is not enough to avoid making a decision because you are uncomfortable, scared, or unsure. If you have accepted responsibility for someone else’s financial affairs, you need a reasonable process, proper information, and professional help when the situation is outside your ability.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why managing someone else’s money creates a higher standard  Why power of attorney decisions need to be taken seriously  Why “that’s what they would have done” may not be good enough  How poor money management can lead to someone running out of money  Why condo boards and not-for-profit boards need a real cash management strategy  How poorly managed reserve funds can lead to cash calls  Why holding long-term money in cash or GICs may not be defensible  Why ignorance is not a good excuse when you accept responsibility  Why executors can become personally liable for estate mistakes  Why probate can protect an executor in Saskatchewan  Why money and estates often bring out conflict  Why asking for help is part of the responsibility, not a sign of failure When the money belongs to someone else, avoiding the decision is still a decision. Whether you are helping a parent, serving on a board, or settling an estate, you need a process. You do not need to know everything yourself, but you do need to know when to get help. Website | Youtube | Linkedin

  5. Aug 28

    A Good Decision Can Still Have a Bad Outcome | Ep. 65

    Send us Fan Mail You cannot judge the quality of a decision based only on the outcome. In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast, Tré and Sierra discuss how to make better financial decisions by focusing on the information you had, the range of possible outcomes, and whether the decision would still make sense if you repeated it many times under similar circumstances. The episode starts with a simple illustration: one person drinks and drives but gets home safely, while another takes a taxi and gets into an accident. The outcome looks backwards, but the taxi was still the better decision because it reduced unnecessary risk.  The same idea applies to personal finance. A bad investment decision can occasionally work out. A good financial decision can still lead to an uncomfortable result. That does not mean the decision was wrong. It means decisions should be judged by process, not hindsight.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why outcomes alone do not tell you whether a decision was good  Why likely outcomes matter more than perfect hindsight  Why a good decision should improve your odds, not guarantee success  Why bad decisions can sometimes lead to good outcomes  How to think about decisions you would repeat 1,000 times  Why too much information can lead to decision paralysis  How to decide what information actually matters  Why people often get stuck on small financial details  Why every decision has a downside  Why “safe” options can still carry risk  How to compare real alternatives instead of imaginary risk-free choices  Why worst-case scenarios matter  Why a financial plan should focus on avoiding unacceptable outcomes  When to revisit a decision after it has been madeGood decisions do not guarantee good outcomes. They improve the odds, protect you from avoidable mistakes, and give you a defensible reason for acting when certainty is impossible.  Website | Youtube | Linkedin

  6. Aug 21

    Why You Can’t Stop Fighting About Money (And How To Fix It) | Ep. 64

    Send us Fan Mail Why do couples keep having the same money arguments? In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast, Sierra and Tré talk about the money conversations couples avoid and why many financial arguments are not really about the dollars. They're often about safety, security, freedom, control, fairness, guilt, or feeling unheard.  The conversation touches on money scripts, financial infidelity, hidden accounts, different upbringings, perpetual relationship problems, and why couples can share the same financial goal but still disagree about how to get there. Sierra also connects the conversation to relationship research around recurring conflict, while Tré explains how these patterns often show up in financial planning conversations with couples.  In this episode, we discuss:  Why money fights are often about deeper emotional needs  What “money scripts” are and why they matter  Why couples can see money through completely different lenses  How safety, security, control, freedom, fairness, and guilt show up in money decisions  Why hidden savings accounts can sometimes be tied to fear or insecurity  Why some money conflicts become recurring “perpetual problems”  Why couples often stay stuck arguing about the surface issue  How to reframe money arguments by asking what the real concern is  Why outside guidance can help when couples are gridlocked  How Tré and Sierra use systems to reduce daily money friction  Why separate spending accounts can reduce unnecessary conflict  Why check-ins still matter even when systems are in place  Why curiosity usually works better than criticismWebsite | Youtube | Linkedin

  7. Aug 14

    Do Financial Planners Judge Your Money Decisions? | Ep. 63

    Send us Fan Mail What is it actually like to be married to a financial planner? In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast, Sierra and Tré talk about the pros, cons, myths, and awkward social dynamics that come with being married to someone who works in financial planning. The conversation covers financial literacy, complacency, money mistakes, judgment, family expectations, lending money, and the pressure people sometimes feel when money comes up socially.  One of the biggest benefits is having someone deeply invested in the family’s financial picture. But one of the biggest risks is becoming too dependent on that person and not developing your own financial knowledge. Sierra talks about the temptation to default to Tré, while Tré explains why he still wants her involved in day-to-day financial decisions.  In this episode, we discuss:  The obvious pros of being married to a financial planner  Why financial knowledge can create complacency  Why both spouses still need to understand the family finances  Why financial planners are still human and make mistakes  A real example involving property taxes early in marriage  Why people sometimes over-explain their spending around financial professionals  Whether financial planners are silently judging your choices  Why social money conversations can feel awkward  Why one-off financial decisions usually lack enough context to judge  The pressure to appear successful when people know what you do  Driving an older car while working in wealth management  First-generation wealth and family expectations  The difference between helping and enabling  Why lending money to friends or family can damage relationships  Why gifts and loans should be treated very differentlyWebsite | Youtube | Linkedin

  8. Aug 7

    The Default Retirement Decisions Most People Get Wrong | Ep. 62

    Send us Fan Mail What retirement decisions should you make if you don't know where to start? In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast, Tré and Sierra discuss a “default decision” framework for retirement planning. The goal is not to pretend there is one perfect answer for everyone. The goal is to start with a reasonable default, then ask: why might this not apply to me? This episode focuses on several major retirement decisions: when to withdraw from RRSPs, when to take CPP and Old Age Security, how to think about investment allocation, and which retirement risks are worth taking versus avoiding. For retirees with enough assets that they are not forced to withdraw just to pay bills, the planning question often shifts from “where do I get income?” to “how do I draw income tax-efficiently?” That can make RRSP withdrawals, CPP timing, OAS clawback planning, and investment structure much more important. In this episode, we discuss:  Why default decisions can help simplify retirement planning  When to start withdrawing from RRSPs  Why low-income retirement years may be useful RRSP withdrawal years  Why RRSP taxes will eventually be paid either during life or at death  Why delaying CPP and Old Age Security can be powerful  Why CPP and OAS are more than just “extra pension money”  How OAS clawback can make certain income ranges very expensive  Why the fixed-income part of a portfolio should have a clear job  Why reducing volatility is not the only reason to own fixed income  How a cash wedge or war chest can protect retirement spending  Why each dollar in retirement should have a purpose  Why inflation may be more dangerous than market volatility  Why individual business risk can be disastrous in retirement  Why diversification should make every bad thing hurt a little, but nothing hurt a lotWebsite | Youtube | Linkedin

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About

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. 

Information

  • Creator
    Tré Bynoe CFP®, CIM®
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Plain English Finance
  • Show Website
    Plain English Finance

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