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. 3d ago

    Are You Paying Too Much to Invest? | Ep. 52

    Send us Fan Mail Paying 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

    1h 4m

  2. May 22

    Conversations on Money, Values, and Parenthood | Ep. 52

    Send us Fan Mail What 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

    25 min

  3. May 15

    Too Good to Be True? Investment Red Flags Explained | Ep. 51

    Send us Fan Mail 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” 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

    28 min

  4. May 8

    Why Smart People Make Bad Money Decisions | Ep. 50

    Send us Fan Mail 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 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.pdf https://dtg.sites.fas.harvard.edu/Gilber%20t&%20Ebert%20%28DECISIONS%20&%20REVISIONS%29.pdf Website | Youtube | Linkedin

    57 min

  5. May 1

    Popular Money Advice vs What the Research Says | Ep. 49

    Send us Fan Mail 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 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 mortgages Good 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

    39 min

  6. Apr 24

    What Q1 2026 Taught Investors About Volatility and Speculation | Ep. 48

    Send us Fan Mail 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., 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

    22 min

  7. Apr 17

    Why Smart Financial Decisions Start With a Default Option | Ep. 47

    Send us Fan Mail 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 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 learn Why 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

    14 min

  8. Apr 10

    How to Find the Right Financial Planner in Canada | Ep. 46

    Send us Fan Mail 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 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 learn Why 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

    41 min
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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
    54
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Plain English Finance
  • Show Website
    Plain English Finance

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