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The Market Online
4 days ago
- Business
- The Market Online
5 essentials to investing with a small account
The material provided in this article is for information only and should not be treated as investment advice. For full disclaimer information, please click here. When it comes to investing in the stock market, we all have to start somewhere, and today, that can be for as little as the price of one share of a company on your watchlist. This ease of access to the market, miles ahead of the egregious fees of yore, means that small accounts are now the norm, making it more important than ever for beginner investors to master the essentials about what to expect when they put money to work. Set your expectations in terms of scale and time. Keep costs low through planning and strategy. Stick to established sources for your investment research. Diversify away from going to zero. Modify your strategy as your circumstances change. Investing essential #1: Set your expectations in terms of scale and time The most important pillar of investing with a small account, with perhaps a few thousand or even a few hundred dollars, is to calibrate your expectations about potential growth and returns. If you're investing for the long-term – say, a few decades or more – it's reasonable to expect an average return of 6-7 per cent per year, according to data from McKinsey on the S&P 500, though you may want to cut that by a percentage point or two depending on how diversified your portfolio is, which we'll address with investing essential #4 below. Short-term investors, on the other hand, will be bound by the outcome of their thesis, which may build a case for share-price momentum based on earnings, a new product or service, or some other potential catalyst for positive sentiment. When it comes to scaling your portfolio, it can help to perform a little exercise with compound interest to illustrate what your path forward may look like. Suppose you open a Tax-Free Savings Account with C$1,000 and decide to contribute C$50 per month. Using a compound interest calculator, we see that, if you carry on in this way for 10 years, earning a 6 per cent annual return, you end up with a grand total of C$10,013.36. However, if you make it C$100 per month, you end up with C$18,207.33, and if you extend contributions over 20 years, you get C$49,514.29, almost 50 times your initial investment. Experiment with the technology to determine a contribution rate you can stick to for the long term, setting a sustainable path to fulfilling your financial goals. Investing essential #2: Keep costs low through planning and strategy Now that you have a working picture of what your time in the stock market might look like, we can begin to consider how to keep costs associated with your investments as low as possible, thus maximizing the gains that remain in your pocket. Here are three tips to consider: Choose the account provider best suited to your needs. Canadians can start investing commission-free with Wealthsimple for as little as C$1 and with Questrade for as little as C$1,000, though these institutions offer self-directed investors only minimal educational resources and limited access to financial advisors for more personalized planning. If you're looking to talk to a certified professional to run you through investing basics, make an appointment where you do your banking to get started. Just be aware that these advisors may be incentivized to sell you bank-owned investment products they receive a commission on, so make sure to ask, should it come up in discussion. Resist the temptation of trading too much in an effort to fast-track or maximize returns. Study after study shows that the majority of day traders – investors that jump in and out of stocks based on short-term predictions – end up taking a loss, no matter their level of education, compared to those who make regular contributions over their investing lifetimes. Make sure the stocks in your portfolio offer attractive long-term prospects by running them through a thorough due diligence process, where you evaluate products, services, financial reports and broader industry tailwinds. This will optimize your ability to buy-the-dip and benefit from stocks' proven long-term returns, with the MSCI World Index delivering 8.61 per cent annually since 1987. With foundational principles about the stock market and its inner workings in place, we will now turn our attention to portfolio construction and maintenance, with eyes on best practices to keep your investments aligned with your financial situation and life goals. Investing essential #3: Stick to established sources for your investment research If you're intent on taking the leap from index funds into active investing in individual stocks, you'll want to build your investment theses through proven sources of financial data, reporting and analysis, ensuring the strength of your conviction when the market inevitably turns sour and stocks take a hit on the long road to differentiated returns. Here's a working list of trusted brands in the financial space to get to know and potentially integrate in your research process: Stockhouse, the top financial portal in Canada, with more than 1 million unique visitors per month and a leadership position in shaping discussions on small-cap stocks in North America. Barron's, one of the world's pre-eminent sources for financial news, analysis and commentary on stocks, investments and the markets they move. The Globe and Mail, one of Canada's top newspapers, whose financial coverage is reliably incisive and actionable. Morningstar, a beloved education-oriented research organization whose publications are designed to improve the average investor's outcomes in the market. After you delve into a handful of articles and start to fill your watchlist with high-potential stocks, you'll want to validate them through your aforementioned research process to determine if they deserve a place in your portfolio. If you're not sure where to start, worry not. We'll cover the basics in investing essential #4. Investing essential #4: Diversify away from going to zero Rule number one in investing is never go to zero and we achieve this through diversification, which means to spread your investments around, across company size, industries and geographies, and with them the inherent risks you take by buying stakes in businesses whose futures can be forecasted but never fully known. This means setting limits on maximum position size, how much you're comfortable investing in any given sector or country, and how much to hold in less volatile assets such as cash and bonds to make sure you don't have to sell stocks to fund near-term needs, interrupting compound interest. Take the global market portfolio as your guide and feel free to modify from there to suit your financial situation. Most investors stick to a mix of stocks, bonds and cash, but may add positions in real estate, cryptocurrency, private equity or even collectibles, depending on their particular interests. From a research perspective, as you cast your gaze for prospective names to add to your portfolio, you should know that risk increases exponentially the farther you stray from financial results. The gold standard for a potential investment, in this case, would be rising revenue and net income or free cash flow, ideally over multiple years, with ample data in support of this trend continuing into the future – including market tailwinds, value-added products and a management team of proven capital allocators – giving the stock reasons aplenty to trend higher. The coal standard, on the other hand, involves money-losing companies or those experiencing a dip in profitability, whose shiny stories, lacking in terms of supporting data, offer minimal conviction towards re-rating their often pessimistically priced stocks. In sum, diversification and a data-driven research process, calibrated to your needs, will align your stock portfolio with the high-probability outcomes required for long-term success. Investing essential #5: Modify your strategy as your circumstances change The stock fundamentals now firmly secured in your back pocket will help you step into the market, but an openness to the inevitability of change is what will keep you invested over the long term. The truth is, the goals you set in your 20s and 30s will most surely change in your 40s, 50s and 60s, to some degree at least, because your personality will naturally evolve as you discover new passions, suffer hardships and modify your worldview accordingly. It may be difficult to imagine from your armchair, but these changes will have direct financial consequences, leading Future You to make decisions that Today's You may consider ludicrous. While maximizing contributions to your investment accounts may make the most sense when you're younger, for example, the unique nature of your journey may force you to take your foot off the pedal of compound interest and save cash for nearer-term catalysts to your quality of life. These include but are not limited to a family, a house, a car, a business, a degree, a year off, a career change, or whatever fulfillment happens to require from you at the time. In this way, if you keep an open mind and meet the person you are becoming with open arms, your portfolio will always be built to perform in your best interest. On a final note Now that you have a firm grasp on turning your small investment account into a significant amount over the coming decade or two, you can focus on what really matters; namely, being intentional about the experiences and major purchases that money will facilitate for you in due time. There's no wrong answer, so long as you have an answer, and it's meaningful enough to keep you invested through the market highs and lows that populate every path to long-term returns. Join the discussion: Find out what readers are saying about the essentials of investing with a small account on Stockhouse's stock forums and message boards.
Yahoo
10-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
It's a three-peat! Questrade leads annual ranking as MoneySense's Best Online Broker in Canada again for 2025
Online brokerage applauded for its surprise move to offer $0 commission trading, as well as its stellar investing platforms, customer service, and financial education offerings MoneySense Seal TORONTO, June 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questrade ( -- Canada's #1 rated* online brokerage -- is honoured to share that it has retained the title of MoneySense's Best Online Broker in Canada for 2025, landing atop the ranking for a third consecutive year. The annual MoneySense review, conducted in partnership with research firm Surviscor, assesses and compares Canadian online brokerages across four pillars of investor experience including desktop and mobile platforms, service efficacy, and commissions and fees. 'Reclaiming the title of Best Online Broker in Canada adds to an already eventful year for Questrade with our move to offer $0 commission trading alongside our introduction of real-time fractional trading and Questrade Plus,' said Rob Galaski, Chief Journey Officer, Questrade. 'This recognition stands as another powerful acknowledgement of our team's work to deliver Canada's most complete and compelling investment offering, furthering our mission to help all Canadians become much more financially successful and secure.' In another standout year where Questrade outperformed its peers across many of the investor experience categories, it was applauded for its surprise move to introduce $0 commission trading, as well as its reliable customer service experience, industry-leading digital investment platforms, and ongoing commitment to investor education. 'We're proud to once again name Questrade as MoneySense's Best Online Broker in Canada for 2025,' said Natasha Macmillan, Senior Business Director, MoneySense. 'Questrade leads the way with a robust, user-focused platform that prioritizes accessibility, innovation, and exceptional service, delivering genuine value to investors at every experience level. Its unwavering commitment to enhancing the investor experience, education, and ongoing support truly sets Questrade apart from the competition.'Adding to the repeat recognition, MoneySense's 2025 review also named Questrade as best broker for new and seasoned investors, $0 commission trading, user experience, and account experience, highlighting the online brokerage's attention to the evolving needs and preferences of active and passive investors alike. For a full breakdown of the rankings and explanation of all the criteria used, please visit the following link: Questrade Questrade, Inc. ('Questrade') is changing the Canadian financial services industry by leveraging technology to lower fees while providing a viable alternative to traditional financial investment options, thereby allowing Canadians to Keep More of their Money. As a leader and innovator in financial services, Questrade is a trusted ally that advocates for consumers, focused on improving value. With 25 years of challenging the status quo as one of Canada's leading, non-bank online brokerages and over $50 billion in assets under administration, Questrade and its affiliates provide financial products and services, including securities and foreign currency investments. For more information, visit or on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) @Questrade. Questrade, Inc. is a registered investment dealer, a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). Questrade is a wholly owned subsidiary of Questrade Financial Group Inc. *MoneySense 2025 Media Contact For more information, please contact J.R Gabriel, Questrade Financial Group at: jgabriel@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Winnipeg Free Press
31-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Choose your own adviser
Opinion A common downside about being a Canadian consumer is a lack of choice. Be it cell phones, cable and internet or even banking, it can feel the fight for our dollars is performative, opposed to being a matter of survival of the fittest among providers of goods and services. Surprisingly, that's less so when it comes to our investments. FREEPIK We have tens of thousands of advisers, more than a dozen robo-advisers and a similar amount of do-it-yourself (DIY) online discount brokerages to choose from. So much choice can be a challenge unto itself. Fortunately, if you are trying to pick an investment lane or just curious about what's out there beyond your own adviser, you can lean on a few annual studies to provide clarity. Among them is the J.D. Power Canada Investor Satisfaction Study, which rates full service brokerages — investment advisers — and discount brokerages, online trading platforms catering to do-it-yourself (DIY) investors. Among its notable findings is, 'contrary to popular belief, younger investors are even more interested in advice than older ones,' says Kapil Vora, senior director of wealth intelligence at J.D. Power. (Which makes sense given younger adults just starting out generally have less knowledge about investments.) Of course, the most notable facet of the study are the offerings that ranked first this year: National Bank Financial for full service brokerages; Wealthsimple Trade for the discount brokerages. National Bank comes out ahead because it's not too small. It's the sixth Big Bank, after all, with all the benefits, such as a wide shelf of products and services. Yet it's also not so big clients feel like numbers, Vora adds. Wealthsimple is prized by its users for innovation. It was among the first robo-advisers in Canada — offering automated portfolios of low-cost exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to suit investors' risk appetite and goals, all in a mobile app format. Then, Wealthsimple Trade launched in 2019 — a DIY platform that brought the widely successful no-commission trade trend in the U.S. to Canada. The platform is also a leader in making investing feel seamlessly easy. That said, most discount brokerages are pretty good at that, Vora says. 'You don't need a lot of money; you just need an app' is the credo of Wealthsimple and many other online trading platforms, including Questrade — which also now offers no-commission trading, he adds. Questrade ranks first among discount brokerages in another annual study. published a report earlier this year, evaluating online brokerages based on metrics such as desktop quality, mobile app functionality, fees and overall service. Questrade would have scored even higher, says Natasha Macmillan, business director of everyday banking at But the discount brokerage announced no-commission trading about a month after the Ratehub study was published. The Big Banks did well, too, in the report, with TD Direct Investing ranking best among them. 'It scored well because TD has a lot of learn-to-invest videos and in-depth analysis information,' Macmillan notes. As for robo-advisers, another study, this one by MoneySense, ranked Questwealth Portfolios (offered by Questrade) as the leader in the Canadian market. Notably, all studies found no full-service brokerage, online discount brokerage or robo-adviser is a terrible choice. All have strengths and weaknesses, and if you have a good investment strategy that is diversified, low-cost and well-suited to your goals, you are likely to make out OK, no matter your choice. Still, a few basic rules can help find the right fit. First off, do you want to invest on your own? If not, a full service brokerage — an adviser-guided experience — is a better match, says Marko Bilandzija, spokesperson for Manitoba Financial Services Agency. 'A financial adviser is a great fit for … people who don't have time or the interest to manage their investments.' Discount brokerages are for individuals with an interest in investing. 'You don't need to be an expert, but you have to be willing to do research,' Bilandzija says. Not everyone wants to do that, he adds. That said, you can always test drive the DIY experience. Many online brokerages offer practice accounts. The investment performance data is real, but the capital invested is not. Online resources also offer help in making a choice. That includes the Ontario Securities Commission's 'We recommend using the investor personality quiz because it helps you understand just what kind of investor you are,' says Theresa Ebden, vice-president of the OSC investor office in Toronto. Of course, whenever choosing an adviser or brokerage, make sure the individual and organization are registered with regulators. This is easy to do; just web search 'Check before you invest' or 'Are they registered?' Both take you to the Canadian Securities Administrators search database where you can find all licensed/registered brokerages and investment advisers in Canada. Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. Not all advisers — like fee-only financial planners — may show up in searches, 'so if you're unsure, contact your local securities commission,' Ebden says. What's important above all else when making a decision is not to rush, she adds. 'Even though our world emphasizes speed, with investing, it's often best to slow things down.' Joel Schlesinger is a Winnipeg-based freelance journalist joelschles@
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Questrade offers Canadians a new, value-packed way to supercharge their investment decisions with Questrade Plus
Questrade Plus enables inexperienced and seasoned investors alike to take their trading approach to the next level with a comprehensive set of financial tools and investment resources TORONTO, May 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questrade ( -- Canada's #1 rated* online brokerage -- is excited to introduce Questrade Plus to customers across Canada, beginning today. The new, curated offering is designed to help investors and traders of all experiences make more informed investment decisions with advanced tools, better guidance, and savings on high-value services. 'We are so excited to unveil Questrade Plus to our customers, who are investing time and effort every day to become better investors,' said Hwan Kim, Chief Product Officer, Questrade. 'Whether just starting out or seasoned veterans of the market, Questrade Plus provides a value-filled set of tools and resources to help Canadians get further ahead on their investment journey and, ultimately, become much more financially successful and secure.' Taking into account direct feedback from Questrade customers, Questrade Plus was designed with accelerating customers' growth in-mind, catering to a wide range of needs for all investors with real-time streaming, advanced tools, free online journaling, and more. Ensuring that shifting investment priorities were also factored in, customers can start and cancel at any time. All customers can try Questrade Plus free for 30 days and, after that, it's $11.95/per month + tax. Some of the key benefits of Questrade Plus include: Full level 1 real-time streaming data for all primary U.S. equities and options Automated portfolio rebalancing (currently provided with Passiv Elite subscription) No cost, unlimited journaling requests Custom trading alerts to never miss an opportunity Premium educational content to help level-up investing Advanced charting tools, P&L calculator, and more Questrade continues to solidify its position as a leading provider of innovative and accessible investment options for Canadian investors with its introduction of zero-commission online trading for Canadian and U.S. listed equities, and real-time fractional stock and ETF trading earlier this year. For more information on what's ahead, join the r/Questrade community on Reddit where you can learn more and provide direct input to Questrade's teams. About QuestradeQuestrade, Inc. ('Questrade') is changing the Canadian financial services industry by leveraging technology to lower fees while providing a viable alternative to traditional financial investment options, thereby allowing Canadians to Keep More of their Money. As a leader and innovator in financial services, Questrade is a trusted ally that advocates for consumers, focused on improving value. With 25 years of challenging the status quo as one of Canada's leading, non-bank online brokerages and over $50 billion in assets under administration, Questrade and its affiliates provide financial products and services, including securities and foreign currency investments. For more information, visit or on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) @Questrade. Questrade, Inc. is a registered investment dealer, a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). Questrade is a wholly owned subsidiary of Questrade Financial Group Inc. *MoneySense 2024 Media Contact For more information, contact Susan Willemsen at The Siren Group Inc. Tel: 416-461-1567 or M: 416-402-4880, or email: susan@ in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Canadian disruptor, Questrade, introduces $0 trade commissions
TORONTO, Feb. 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questrade ( -- Canada's #1 rated¹ online brokerage -- eliminates trading commissions on its platforms, further empowering Canadians. 'We are continuing our tradition of disrupting the industry,' said Edward Kholodenko, president and CEO, Questrade. 'We believe Canadians should keep more of their money, and $0 commissions, coupled with our industry-leading platform, will help them do just that - whether they are just starting out or are highly sophisticated traders.' The new $0 pricing, which is now live, will allow Questrade customers to trade Canadian and U.S. listed equities and ETFs commission-free, with options as low as 75¢ per contract². Because news this big needed a launch to match, Questrade partnered with actor Gabriel Macht. Known for portraying characters who 'get theirs,' Gabriel introduces Canadians to the idea of $0 commissions being the way for you to finally 'Get Yours.' Macht says, 'I really respect what Questrade stands for as a brand, to me the partnership was the perfect fit.'Questrade, a 100% Canadian-owned independent brokerage, has a long history of providing value to Canadians. It was first to reduce trading fees to $9.95, when most brokerages charged $30 or more. Then, Questrade introduced the $4.95 stock trade, and shook things up again with stock trading for as little as one cent per share. However, the company's innovation isn't just its pricing. On top of $0 commissions, Questrade has an unmatched suite of offerings, such as: Being the first Canadian broker to offer the First Home Savings Account (FHSA), helping customers save for a home faster Award-winning customer service³ Edge platforms for advanced traders, available on mobile, web, and desktop Complex order types, such as multi-leg options Seamless integration with 30+ platforms, including TradingView and Passiv Lower fees for better returns with Questwealth Portfolios⁴ Free U.S. dollar (USD) accounts 'We are obsessed with helping our customers build a better financial future - that's our mission,' said Kholodenko. Awards and Recognition Ranked best online broker in Canada by MoneySense in 2024 Awarded best mobile experience (2024) and best service experience (2025) by Surviscor Awarded the DALBAR Seal of Service Excellence for the seventh consecutive year in 2025 About Questrade Questrade, Inc. ('Questrade') is changing the Canadian financial services industry by leveraging technology to lower fees while providing a viable alternative to traditional financial investment options, thereby allowing Canadians to Keep More of their Money. As a leader and innovator in financial services, Questrade is a trusted ally that advocates for consumers, focused on improving value. With 25 years of challenging the status quo as one of Canada's leading, non-bank online brokerages and over $50 billion in assets under administration, Questrade and its affiliates provide financial products and services, including securities and foreign currency investments. For more information, visit or on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) @Questrade. Questrade, Inc. is a registered investment dealer, a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), and a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). Questrade is a wholly owned subsidiary of Questrade Financial Group Inc. ¹MoneySense 2024 ²For options trades placed online through the Questrade, Inc. website or mobile apps, the base commission has been reduced to 0.99¢ per contract. The per contract rate for online options trading is further reduced to 0.75¢ if subscribed to an active trader plan. ³In 2025, Questrade was awarded the DALBAR Seal of Service Excellence for the seventh consecutive year. The recognition is given to firms across the financial services industry that demonstrate standout customer service and an exceptional standard of care, including telephone interactions and service delivery. ⁴ Media Contact For more information, contact Susan Willemsen at The Siren Group Inc. Tel: 416-461-1567 or M: 416-402-4880, or email: susan@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
