Plain English Finance
Episodes
What Q1 2026 Taught Investors About Volatility and Speculation | Ep. 48
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Why Smart Financial Decisions Start With a Default Option | Ep. 47
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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”...
How to Find the Right Financial Planner in Canada | Ep. 46
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
The Retirement War Chest: How to Stay Invested When Markets Crash | Ep. 45
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Can you stomach market drops? Most investors say they can handle them, but that confidence usually disappears when the portfolio actually falls.In thi...
AI, Expensive Markets, and Why Ownership Matters | Ep. 44
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 expe...
Ep. 43 | Investment Location: The Tax Decision Most Investors Miss
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 42 | Cash Flow, Step by Step: How the System Actually Works
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 41 | Index vs Factor vs Alpha: What Type of Investor Are You?
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Not all investing is created equal. In this episode, Tré Bynoe, CFP, CIM, unpacks the three core investment approaches—indexing, factor investing, ...
Ep. 40 | Salary vs Dividends: How to Pay Yourself
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 39 | Behind the Planner: A Candid Conversation with Tré Bynoe
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this special off-script episode, Sierra flips the mic and asks Tré Bynoe, CFP, CIM, some personal and thought-provoking questions—from career pa...
Ep. 38 | Notional Accounts: The Hidden Tax Rule Every Incorporated Investor Should Know
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Notional accounts may sound like accountant-speak, but they’re critical if you're investing through a corporation. In this episode, Tré Bynoe ...
Ep. 37 | Is It Interest? Understanding the Real Source of Your Investment Returns
06 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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, b...
Ep. 36 | A Story for My Daughter
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 spe...
Ep. 35 | How to Get Out of Debt in Canada: A Step-by-Step Plan
23 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 d...
Ep. 34 | One Car Loan Can Wreck Your 30s
16 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 deci...
Ep. 33 | RESPs: Free Money for Your Kid’s Future (If You Use It Right)
09 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 fam...
Ep. 32 | How to Build Credit in Canada: Equifax and TransUnion Guide
02 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Tré breaks down how credit scores work in Canada using best practices given directly from Equifax and TransUnion. Using information ...
Ep. 31 | Your Financial Order of Operations When Starting a Business in Canada
26 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 30 | Teachers — How to Retire Without Mistakes
19 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Ep. 29 | Stop Guessing: The Employee's Guide to Financial Order of Operations
12 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most employees guess their way through financial decisions. That leads to debt, missed opportunities, and slow progress. In this episode, Tré lays ou...
Ep. 28 | The Smart Path to Buying Into Your Firm
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Plain English Finance, host Tré Bynoe, CFP®, CIM®, breaks down the step-by-step plan for professionals thinking about buying int...
Ep. 27 | Case Study: What Comes After “We’re On Track”?
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...
Ep. 26 | Investing Basics: Understanding Risk
21 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Plain English Finance, Tré Bynoe, CFP®, CIM® breaks down the foundations of smart investing. Joined by Sierra, he walks through ...
Ep. 25 | The 4% Fallacy: Why Lazy Planning Hurts Clients
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some financial planners still use the same flat “4% return” rate for every client’s retirement plan. Tré and Sierra explain why that’s not ju...
Ep. 24 | Should You Incorporate? What Canadians Should Know
07 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Should you incorporate your business, or stick with a sole proprietorship? In this episode, Tré and Sierra unpack what a corporation really is, how i...
Ep. 23 | The Real Purpose of Insurance
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most people think insurance is for “what if I die?” scenarios—but that’s not the real risk. In this episode, Tré and Sierra break down how sm...
Ep. 22 | Buy Now, Regret Later.
24 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Buy now, pay later” sounds harmless. Four easy payments, no interest, and you’re done. But in this episode, Tré and Sierra Bynoe break down wh...
Ep. 21 | The Right Way to Use Your TFSA
17 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
“Tax-Free Savings Account” is a bad name. It’s an investment account, not a savings jar. In this episode, Tré explains what the TFSA really is...
Ep. 20 | Compounding, Inflation, and Stock Splits — Made Simple
10 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want a $40,000 car but only pay $10K out of pocket? That’s the power of understanding time, interest, and inflation. In this episode, Tré and Sierr...
Ep. 19 | How to Leave Money to Your Kids Without Screwing Them Up
03 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most wills don’t plan for reality. They ignore messy family dynamics, future kids, or the financial chaos that hits when parents die unexpectedly. I...
Ep. 18 | Why RRSPs Are Overrated (Unless You Know What You’re Doing)
26 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most Canadians treat RRSPs like a retirement silver bullet, and most are using them wrong.In this episode, Tré explains why Registered Retirement Sav...
Ep. 17 | How to Give More to Charity and Pay Less Tax
19 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want to support a cause and cut your tax bill? This episode is for you.Tré explains how to give to charity in a smarter, more tax-efficient way — w...
Ep. 16 | Why Most Canadians Miss Out on Free Money Through RDSPs
12 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
https://www.rdsp.com/calculator/ - LinkMost Canadians eligible for the RDSP have never opened one. That’s a costly mistake.In this episode, Tré bre...
Ep. 15 | How Tré Invests — And What Most Investors Get Wrong
05 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most Canadians think investing is about picking the right stock, timing the markets, or chasing returns. It’s not. In this episode, Tré breaks down...
Ep. 14 | Budgeting on $400K+: Why High Income Doesn’t Equal Wealth
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Earning over $400,000 a year puts you in a privileged position, but it also comes with bigger decisions, bigger risks, and bigger tax bills. In this e...
Ep. 13 | How to Set Up a Cashflow System That Actually Works
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most people “budget” by looking backward at what they’ve spent. That's reactive.In this episode, Tré walks through the exact system he and...
Ep. 12 | Why a 100% Equity Portfolio Could Be Your Best Bet
15 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Investing Simulator: https://buildyourstax.com/Most people think bonds are “safe” and stocks are “risky.” But what if that’s exactly backwar...
Ep. 11 | Should You Invest or Pay Down Debt? Here's What the Numbers Say
08 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
If you’re torn between paying off your mortgage or investing, you’re not alone, and there’s a lot of bad advice out there. This episode breaks i...
Ep. 10 | The Middle-Class Trap — How Households Earning $100K–$200K Fall Behind
01 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Earning six figures used to mean financial security. Now? That mindset could be a trap.In this episode, Tré tackles the hidden risks for Canadian hou...
Ep. 9 | Tax-Efficient Debt: How the Right Structure Can Save You Thousands
25 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most Canadians treat debt as a burden and taxes as a given. But what if you could flip that thinking and turn your debt into a tax advantage?In this e...
Ep. 8 | High-Income Budgeting: How $200K+ Earners Can Start Building Wealth
18 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you earning over $200,000 but still feeling like your money disappears too fast? In this episode, we dig into budgeting for high-income earners an...
BONUS | Q2 2025 Review
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What Really Drove Market Gains in Q2? (Hint: It's Not What You Think)Markets bounced back in Q2—but it’s not all good news. In this bonus qua...
Ep. 7 | What Is Money, Really?
11 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most people think of money as cash in the bank. But in this episode, Tre unpacks a bolder truth: money is just a middleman for value. Joined by his wi...
Ep. 6 | Why You Should Track Your Net Worth
04 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wondered why tracking your net worth is essential for your financial health? In this episode, we break down exactly what net worth means, clearly...
Ep. 5 | Why ‘Low-Risk’ Investments Can Be Your Biggest Risk
27 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most people misunderstand risk — and it's costing them.In this episode, Tre breaks down how the financial industry defines risk (hint: it’s m...
Ep. 4 | The Truth About Seg Funds (and Why You Should Think Twice)
20 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are you paying thousands in hidden investment fees—and not even realizing it? In this episode, Tre gets a little... passionate discussing segregated...
Ep. 3 | How We Built Wealth by Ignoring Bad Advice
13 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 3: How We Built Wealth by Ignoring Bad AdviceMost financial advice is either too generic or completely off base. In this episode, Tre Bynoe CF...
Ep. 2 | How I Help Clients Make Better Financial Decisions
06 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
IIn this episode of the Plain English Finance Podcast, Tre Bynoe, CFP, CIM, explains why good financial planning isn’t about crunching numbers — i...
Ep.1 | Introduction to Plain English Finance: Who is Tre Bynoe?
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Most people get their financial advice from the wrong sources—and it shows. In this first episode of Plain English Finance, Tre Bynoe CFP, CIM share...