Plain English Finance

Send us Fan Mail How do you know if the way you are managing wealth inside your corporation is actually working? In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast , Tré and Sierra discuss three warning signs that a corporation owner may not have a real financial plan: too much idle corporate cash, an advisor who is not discussing taxes, and no clear exit strategy for the business. The episode a...

Send us Fan Mail Should you use your TFSA to buy a home, or leave it invested and use a different strategy? In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast , Tré and Sierra work through a real planning puzzle: someone wants to buy a home, has money in both a non-registered investment account and a TFSA, and needs to decide whether using the TFSA creates a better long-term outcome. The answer...

Send us Fan Mail Investing gets more complicated once you move beyond RRSPs, TFSAs and simple registered accounts. For Canadian corporation owners, incorporated professionals, and investors with taxable accounts, the type of income your investments generate can matter almost as much as the return itself. In this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast , Tré and Sierra discuss three core inves...

Send us Fan Mail Do you know someone who keeps saying they’ll start investing “later”? This episode is for the person who knows investing is important but feels overwhelmed by where to begin. Tré and Sierra talk through the simplest possible starting point for a young Canadian or beginner investor: understand compound interest, stop waiting to learn everything, open a TFSA, start investing, and le...

Send us Fan Mail RRSPs 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...

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...

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 ki...

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 consiste...

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 decisions How hot-cold empathy gaps affect investing, retirement, and estate planning Why people misjudge how they will feel during market...

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 i...

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   Th...

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...

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 mat...

Send us Fan Mail 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 a cash wedge — and why it can help people stay invested when markets get ugly. He breaks down the tradeoff clearly: holding cash may lower long-term re...

Send us Fan Mail 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 far bigger than most people think. Tré explains why he believes the real race is not just to build better chat tools, but to build systems...

Send us Fan Mail 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 right assets in the right accounts can matter more than fund selection or provider choice once your finances get complex. This is especially relevant f...

Send us Fan Mail 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 of how to separate spending from income, handle irregular pay, and avoid constant budgeting without losing control. It’s designed for people who want st...

Send us Fan Mail 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 working with an advisor, understanding the difference can mean the difference between steady growth and unnecessary risk. You’ll learn: What an index fu...

Send us Fan Mail 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 most professionals and incorporated entrepreneurs get wrong. You’ll learn the real tax impact of each strategy, why RRSP room and CPP contributio...

Send us Fan Mail 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 the human side of financial planning, where mindset, motivation, and money collide. You’ll learn: The financial myth Tré really can’t stand What h...

Send us Fan Mail 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 quietly cost you thousands in tax. If you don’t know the difference between a CDA and an RDTOH—or worse, you’re holding GICs inside your c...

Send us Fan Mail 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 income—and explains how each one is taxed. This isn’t just technical terminology, but essential knowledge for anyone investing outside regi...

Send us Fan Mail 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 intention, and a reminder that how we use money should help us take care of ourselves and each other. However someone finds this episode, I hope it...

Send us Fan Mail 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 statement to choosing between the avalanche and snowball methods, this is your guide to regaining control. Whether you’re a professional, business ow...

Send us Fan Mail 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 your financial trajectory for decades. It isn’t only about interest—it's about financial stress, lost time, and missed opportunities. If yo...