Tips for Self-Directed Investing in Canada

While investing your money can seem like a very daunting task to reach your financial goals, managing your own investments is actually easier than you may think. With today’s technologies, it’s actually easier than ever before to self-direct your own investments and take control of your financial future.

Bonds vs. GICs – Which should you Invest in?

If you’re in the market for low-risk investments, two of the main options investors look at are bonds and GICs. However, which one you decide to invest in will depend on your portfolio and what kind of return you’re looking for on your investment. Both of these types of investments are great for those with low-risk tolerance, though.

Complete Guide to Stock Lending in Canada

In Canada, there are plenty of ways to make extra money, and many of these ways include investing in different securities, including stocks. Did you know that you can also make money with your investments by stock lending?

The Best Canadian Dividend Stocks in 2026

For those who choose to invest in the stock market, whether that’s just in Canada or all over the world, there are plenty of different types of stocks to choose from. However, many of those who do choose to diversify their portfolio and increase their cash flow with dividend stocks. These types of stocks are ones that distribute funds to the shareholders on a monthly, quarterly or semi-annual basis.

How to Efficiently Invest in Bonds in Canada

When it comes to investing, there are so many different investment options to choose from. Most investors want a diverse portfolio in order to protect themselves from significant loss. Bonds are one of the most common investment options that investors use as part of their investment strategy.

A Guide to Buying OTC Stocks in Canada

Investing in the stock market can be a very overwhelming process to start. There are so many different factors to consider. There are also multiple different types of stocks to purchase, and different ways to purchase them.

Safe Investments with Potential High Returns in Canada

Savings money is always a good idea. That said, it can be difficult to know where to put your money in order to get the best bang for your buck. There are plenty of options out there, but most of them are a gamble

Can AI Help you with Investing?

With today’s advancements in technology, it probably isn’t shocking to learn that you actually can use AI to help with investing.

How to Buy and Trade Stocks in Canada

Trading stocks in Canada is surprisingly easy. You certainly don’t need a business degree. But what you do need is an investment account or a cash account with either a bank or a broker, which is a go-between an investor and a stock exchange. Major banks like CIBC, with its Investor’s Edge service or TD Direct Investing, offer full-service platforms that put trading in your hands but charge fees for the service. However, banks aren’t your only option. Online brokers like Wealthsimple Trade and Questrade offer pure online stock investing services with no physical storefronts. Their overhead is lower than banks and can afford to offer no-fee trades (Wealthsimple) or fees substantially lower than banks (Questrade). Before setting up an investment account with either the brokers or banks, you should have some starting capital, a sum of money ready to invest, and perhaps some idea of what kind of investment vehicle you are looking for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds, or another kind of investment. One more way to buy and sell stocks in Canada is to use a human broker with a brokerage firm – generally someone who works at a financial institution specialized in equities trading. This is a highly personalized service usually reserved for investors with large sums to deploy into the market. It also comes with the highest fees, and typically not the right starting point for a new investor with limited capital. That said, everything will need to be done during stock market hours. Things to Do Before You Invest Working with a broker is a great first step when it comes to investing as a beginner. That said, you shouldn’t stop there. It’s important that you do your research and pay attention to the markets. Study a bit and get a handle on the terminology as well as some of the ins and outs of stocks you’re interested in. This gives you a baseline to start with. From there, there are brokers that can help you discern the details. If you choose to go with an online broker, there are plenty of online resources that help you learn how the markets work and show the history of different stocks. They can also you figure out new companies, those who have new IPOs (intial public offerings) for stock investments. These often have the lowest trading prices, lower market capitalization, and are available on online investment platforms. These investment decisions can be hard to make, so developing a trading strategy to meet your investment goals is key.  How to Trade Stocks Online in Canada You’ve probably seen the images of online traders with their multiple computer monitors displaying endless reams of financial data. Online trading doesn’t have to be that complicated. Today’s online trading services are user-friendly and as easy to use as any other type of online banking platform. In fact, many young investors are using mobile apps for their stock trading. A stock trade can be done in a few clicks on your phone. The leading online brokers in Canada are Wealthsimple and Questrade. Wealthsimple has soared in popularity thanks to its ability to offer no-commission trading, while Questrade charges fees that start at a penny per share. In that scenario you would pay one dollar for every 100 shares you buy or sell. For comparison, banks typically charge a flat fee of around $10 per trade. Another major difference between Wealthsimple and Questrade is the former requires a minimum $1,000 savings to get started trading with a brokerage account. Wealthsimple, meanwhile, has no such restrictions, which should appeal to new investors with limited capital. These brokers also offer more passive investing options, meaning you don’t need to spend all your time researching companies and trading stocks. That can be too much commitment for some. A “robo-advisor” is a term used to describe a process where you essentially let a computer invest for you. The computer, or robo-advisor, uses algorithms to find high-performing ETFs and other securities that bring you a positive rate of return over time. It’s an option for those who have a “set it and forget it” mentality for stock market investing. When to Buy Stocks as a Beginner Buying stocks can be tricky. When you’re starting to purchase, it’s important to pay attention to what the current price of the stock was and what it is now. Ideally, you want to purchase stocks at a lower price in order to be able to sell them at a higher price. The history of the stock will show you what you need to know and help you make an educated guess on what the future of the stock will be. Once you start to get the hang of stocks, then you can start experimenting with market orders, and primary markets as well as secondary markets. Many online brokerages also allow you to invest in different accounts such as Registered Education Savings Plans or non-registered accounts.    How to Trade Stocks Through Your Bank in Canada Most of the major banks in Canada offer platforms for Direct Investing, which allows you to buy and sell stocks yourself or with the assistance of a bank associate. Each bank will charge a broker fee, usually per transaction. For example, TD Direct Investing charges a $9.99 flat fee for every online trade you make – whether it is a US stock or Canadian. RBC Direct Investing has a $9.95 flat fee per online or mobile trade. In true Canadian bank fashion, the price difference between competitors is negligible. It might suit you to shop around for the best fee rates before opening an account. However, the path to least resistance might also be to set up an account with a bank you are already using. That way you can easily transfer funds from your other accounts when it comes time to make a stock trade or other investment. How to Trade Canadian Stocks The TSX and Canadian Securities Exchange are the main stock exchanges in

A Guide to Penny Stocks Investing in Canada

For most people, when they think of ways to earn money that involve investing, the first thing that comes to mind is stocks. What a lot of people don’t know is that there are different types of stocks as well as different types of investing.