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Investing fee calculator
See what a year of investing costs at every major Canadian broker, and how that compares with a robo-advisor.
Fees checked Updated weekly
Cheapest broker for you
$0/yr
BMO InvestorLine Self-Directed · $239.76 a year less than Scotia iTRADE
Or have it managed
Robo-advisor fees on $25,000
| Robo-advisor | Management fee | Fund MER (est.) | Total per year | All-in rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Questwealth Portfolios | $62.50 | $26.25 | $88.75 | 0.36% |
| Wealthsimple Managed Investing | $125 | Not published | $125 | 0.5% |
| CI Direct Investing | $150 | Not published | $150 | 0.6% |
| RBC InvestEase | $125 | $40 | $165 | 0.66% |
| Justwealth | $125 | $50 | $175 | 0.7% |
| BMO SmartFolio | $175 | $68.75 | $243.75 | 0.97% |
Over 10 years at a 6% return, investing $25,000 yourself in a one-ticket ETF (~0.2% MER) grows to about $43,934; with Questwealth Portfolios (~0.36% all-in) it grows to about $43,294. The $639 difference is what you pay for automatic rebalancing and advice.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to invest with an online broker in Canada?
With 24 trades a year and $25,000 invested, BMO InvestorLine Self-Directed costs $0 a year while Scotia iTRADE costs $239.76. Most of the difference is per-trade commissions.
Do I pay fees to convert to US dollars?
Usually yes: most brokers charge about 1.5%–2% on each currency conversion. Interactive Brokers charges a tiny fraction of that. Holding a USD account lets you avoid converting back and forth.
Is a robo-advisor more expensive than doing it yourself?
A robo-advisor charges a yearly management fee (often 0.4%–0.7%) plus fund MERs. On $25,000 the cheapest one here costs about $88.75 a year, versus roughly $50 in ETF fees if you buy a one-ticket ETF yourself at a $0-commission broker.
Why do small fees matter over time?
Fees are taken every year from a growing balance, so they compound. A 0.5% difference can cost thousands of dollars over a decade on a mid-sized portfolio.
WalletReturn is independent. We may earn a commission when you open an account through some links; that never changes our scores or our numbers. Fees and offers change — confirm them with the provider before you open an account. This is general information, not investment advice. Investments are not guaranteed; CIPF protection covers missing client property if a member firm fails, not market losses.