Accounts & headline costs
Sections ↑Qtrade Direct Investing is the online brokerage division of Aviso Financial Inc. Its current self-directed tariff charges no online commission for stocks, ETFs or mutual funds. Cash and margin accounts sit alongside registered plans; the separately operated Guided Portfolios service manages a portfolio for an annual fee.[14][1][17]
Account and service routes
| Route | Available structure | Practical condition |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | Individual, joint or group account | No minimum opening balance.Source 5 |
| Margin | Approved non-registered account | Borrowing and short selling require the relevant account approval.Source 5 |
| Registered | TFSA, FHSA, RRSP, RRIF, RESP, LIRA/LRSP and LIF | Choose the plan appropriate to the savings or retirement purpose.Source 6 |
| Guided Portfolios | Separate managed investment service | Cash is invested once the account reaches $2,000.Source 18 |
Current self-directed trading commissions
| Investment / action | Online charge | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | $0 | Canadian and U.S. trading; FX and certain market charges remain separate.Source 1 |
| Options | $0 base + $0.75 per contract | Each leg is charged; assignment is a separate $30 fee.Source 1 |
| Mutual funds | $0 dealing commission | Early redemption and fund-company charges can apply.Source 1 |
| Bonds and exchange-traded debentures | $1 per $1,000 face value | $24.99 minimum; $250 maximum.Source 1 |
Products & investment scope
Sections ↑Markets and investments
| Product | Published access | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| Shares | Canadian exchanges; U.S. and foreign-company shares listed on NYSE/Nasdaq; OTC securities | A foreign issuer’s U.S. listing does not establish direct access to its home exchange.Source 8 |
| Options | Long calls/puts, spreads and covered or uncovered writing | Strategies depend on account approval.Source 8 |
| Debt and cash instruments | Government/corporate bonds, commercial paper, strips and Treasury bills | Price, yield and maturity differ by instrument.Source 8 |
| Funds, GICs and new issues | Mutual funds, GICs and selected new offerings | Issue allocation and fund conditions apply.Source 8 |
Registered accounts can hold the broker’s broad investment menu, including stocks, ETFs, eligible options, bonds, GICs and mutual funds. Retirement-income plans support scheduled payments; a withdrawal from a plan is a different instruction from transferring that plan to another institution.[6]
Fees & holding costs
Sections ↑Trading exceptions
| Event | Charge or condition |
|---|---|
| Mutual-fund redemption/switch within 90 days | 1%, minimum $45; money-market funds excluded.Source 1 |
| Telephone assistance | $45 minimum; exercise orders use assisted pricing.Source 1 |
| ECN charges | Normally absorbed; repeated high-volume active Canadian trading can lead to pass-through after attempted contact.Source 1 |
| Currency exchange / U.S. sales | FX revenue and applicable U.S. regulatory sales fees are additional.Source 1 |
Administration and account-event fees
| Event | Published fee |
|---|---|
| USD registered RSP/RIF/TFSA | US$15 per quarter per account; FHSA excluded; Investor Plus waiver.Source 2Source 4 |
| Transfer out | $150.Source 2 |
| Closure during the first year | $100.Source 2 |
| Paper statement / confirmation | $6 quarterly / $2.50 per trade; Investor Plus statement waiver.Source 2 |
| Partial deregistration | $50; RESP, TFSA and FHSA excluded.Source 2 |
| Full deregistration | $125, including TFSA; FHSA excluded.Source 2 |
| Formal trust | $100 setup; $50 annually after the first year.Source 2 |
| Electronic statements, EFT and DRIP | No service charge.Source 2 |
Cash and margin rates
| Account / balance | Rate basis |
|---|---|
| Standard margin below $100,000 | Currency prime + 1.55%.Source 3 |
| Standard margin $100,000 or more | Currency prime + 1.00%.Source 3 |
| Investor Plus margin | Prime + 1.25% below $100,000; +0.75% from $100,000.Source 3 |
| Negative cash or registered-account balance | 21% annually in either currency.Source 3 |
| Positive cash up to $2 million | 0.00% for CAD and USD.Source 3 |
Interest is calculated daily and posted monthly on the 16th or the following business day. The schedule’s charge on a registered-account deficit is an overdraft cost, rather than permission to use that account as an ordinary margin account.[3]
Platforms, orders & execution
Sections ↑Trading platform controls
| Tool | Function |
|---|---|
| Web order entry | Market, limit, stop-loss, stop-limit and trailing-stop instructions.Source 7 |
| Market monitoring | Real-time quotes, watchlists and alerts.Source 7 |
| Research | Screeners, technical analysis and Morningstar material.Source 7 |
| Account reporting | Valuation, performance, allocation and transaction history.Source 7 |
| Mobile access | Biometric sign-in and mobile options trading.Source 9 |
Orders expire that day unless a longer duration is accepted. Market orders accept the obtainable market price; execution creates the settlement obligation.[15]
Funding, withdrawals & transfers
Sections ↑Bank links and payments
| Route | Published process | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Online bank link | Connect a bank account electronically for EFT. | The online connection can avoid a paper void cheque.Source 9 |
| Paper EFT setup | Provide a void cheque or bank confirmation with the setup form. | This form covers CAD transfers; account-holder names must match.Source 11 |
| EFT in or out | Use the linked-account authority. | The service tariff lists EFT as free.Source 11Source 2 |
| Registered income payments | RRIF/LIF payments can be scheduled. | Additional unscheduled payments may incur an administration fee.Source 6Source 2 |
The EFT bank authority remains in force until written instructions change or cancel it. The form requires those instructions at least ten business days before the requested effective date.[11]
Portfolio transfer and reimbursement
| Step | Current terms |
|---|---|
| Assets transferred | Cash or investments from another financial institution.Source 10 |
| Qualifying size | Transfer $15,000, or bring the account to $15,000 within 30 days after completion.Source 10 |
| Fee reimbursement | Up to $150 plus applicable tax for each qualifying transfer.Source 10 |
| Evidence | Submit the transferring institution’s statement showing its charge, with the Qtrade account number.Source 10 |
| Credit timing | The published allowance is credited within 60 days of the account transfer.Source 10 |
Custody, regulation & client protection
Sections ↑Aviso Financial Inc. is the carrying legal dealer named in Qtrade’s current disclosures. CIRO’s directory lists it as an Investment Dealer and Mutual Fund Dealer. The predecessor names Credential Qtrade Securities Inc. and Credential Asset Management Inc. refer to the entities amalgamated in 2024.[14][19][20]
CIPF coverage groups for an eligible individual
CIPF addresses eligible property missing on a member’s insolvency; investment losses and issuer defaults are outside that protection.[21]
Account-agreement custody provisions
Support, complaints & security
Sections ↑Support and complaint contacts
| Purpose | Route |
|---|---|
| Client service | 1-877-787-2330 or 604-605-4199; Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–8 p.m. Eastern Time.Source 12 |
| General email | [email protected].Source 12 |
| Written complaint | Designated Complaints Officer, [email protected].Source 14 |
| 700–1111 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 4T6; the office does not accept walk-in visits.Source 12 |
For complaints involving possible rule infractions, the agreement specifies acknowledgement within five business days and a final decision within 90 calendar days, or 60 for Quebec residents.[15]
Account-security controls
| Control | Operation |
|---|---|
| Two-factor authentication | Required on Qtrade accounts.Source 13 |
| New device | An email alert and approval process protect access from an unrecognized device.Source 13 |
| Online-security guarantee | Reimbursement of qualifying unauthorized online losses requires prompt reporting and cooperation.Source 13 |
| Exclusions | Customer-authorized access or shared credentials, and taxes, legal fees or consequential losses, fall outside the stated guarantee.Source 13 |
Special services & tools
Sections ↑Portfolio analysis and planning
| Tool | Function |
|---|---|
| Portfolio Score | Diagnostics for an existing portfolio.Source 9 |
| Portfolio Simulator | Explore proposed allocation changes and portfolio analysis.Source 9 |
| Options Lab | Trading Central options research and strategy tools.Source 9 |
| Goal Planning | Model goals and progress toward them.Source 9 |
Investor Plus eligibility
| Route | Benefits relevant to costs |
|---|---|
| At least $500,000 in Qtrade assets | Eligibility reviewed periodically.Source 4 |
| Alternatively, at least 150 trades in the previous quarter | Dedicated phone line and USD registered-account fee waiver.Source 4 |
| Physical certificates / DRS | Canadian and U.S. deposit/withdrawal fees waived; rush requests still cost $150 plus tax.Source 4 |
Guided Portfolios: separate blended annual fee
Guided Portfolios applies its fee by marginal asset band, using household aggregation and quarterly billing based on average daily value. Applicable taxes, underlying fund expenses and any separately agreed adviser service fee are additional. The managed service builds and rebalances the portfolio after its $2,000 investment threshold is reached.[17][18]
Company, entity & operating context
Sections ↑Qtrade Direct Investing at a glance
| Measure | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Legal dealer | Aviso Financial Inc. | Source 14 |
| Location | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. | Source 12 |
| Brand history | Qtrade began in 2000 as an online investing service. | Source 16 |
| Dealer transition | CIRO-approved amalgamation and dual registration effective 1 April 2024. | Source 19 |
| Self-directed interfaces | Qtrade web and mobile. | Source 7Source 9 |
- Headquarters
- Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Founded
- 2000
Legal entities & licences
These are source-dated records, not a blanket assessment of the broker. Read each issuer, identifier, status and scope together.
Aviso Financial Inc.
No separate licence entry is recorded in this panel.
Additional information
Sections ↑Sources & further reading
- Current trading commissions and dealing exceptions Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Administration, transfer and registered-account fees Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Cash and margin interest rates Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Investor Plus eligibility and fee waivers Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Popular cash, margin and registered accounts Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Registered account menu Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Trading platform and order tools Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Investment choices and market access Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Online bank linking, account opening and analytical tools Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Transfer process and transfer-fee reimbursement Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Electronic funds transfer setup form Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Client-service contact details Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Two-factor authentication and online-security guarantee Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Current legal entity and complaints officer Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Customer Agreement and Disclosure Document, August 2026 Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Qtrade company history Qtrade Direct Investing · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Guided Portfolios management-fee schedule Qtrade Guided Portfolios · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Guided Portfolios minimum investment and operation Qtrade Guided Portfolios · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Aviso Financial Inc. amalgamation and dual registration Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Current regulated-dealer directory: Aviso Financial Inc. Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- CIPF coverage, account groupings and exclusions Canadian Investor Protection Fund · Accessed 29 Oct 2026
This profile reports dated public information, including broker-published services and terms. It does not independently test or guarantee execution, pricing or withdrawals. Inclusion is not an endorsement. Permissions and protections apply only to the named legal entity, service and client category; check the current official records and your contract.