2019 saw many US Discount Brokerages announce zero commissions. While this is not entirely true for all types of trades, it is a step in the right direction. I live in Canada where commission rates are too high, particularly among the big banks which hold a monopoly of sorts on financial transactions of all kinds.
For investors commission rates eat into profits. There is no doubt about it. People who invest in mutual funds are often paying large commission rates which many are unaware of. The same holds true for option traders. In Canada competition is limited among discount brokers so it is important to shop around. I think probably one of the best companies for keeping rates in check is Interactive Brokers. In Canada they charge in Canadian dollars which is a plus for Canadian investors. In the US, they naturally are charging in US dollars and seem to have the best rates of any brokerage.
Like all companies, they have to make a profit and one of the areas they make a profit in is with small charges for such things as being short stocks. Some clients pay as much as $8.00 a month to short a stock. They also have exchange streaming fees which depending on the number of transactions can be as high as $40.00 a month or more.
On my website I felt it was important to show a balanced commission rate when detailing out my trades. Therefore on my positions I have used the following commission rates. Per trade $5.00. Per option contract $0.25. Per Assignment or Exercise – $5.00
Rates vary with differing brokers. I use Interactive Brokers for my Margin and US Portfolio accounts who I believe offer the lowest commission rates available. Commission rates are very important when trading and you should seek a quality discount broker with decent commission rates.
Actual Commission Rates Vary Among Brokers
It is important to shop around and check commission rates among brokers. In Canada the field is somewhat limited and competition not as great as in the United States. Therefore some of the fees charged by Canadian discount brokers tend to be too high and definitely not fair to investors in my opinion. It is important to call your discount broker and keep requesting for lower rates.
Here are a few Canadian discount brokers where you can view Commission rates or call them if you are unable to find their commissions listed on their websites:
Questrade
Scotia Bank I-Trade
TD Waterhouse
They have a wide range of rates depending on how much money you have and the number of trades. You should consider calling and speaking with an account representative to get all their rates.
Think Or Swim Canada
Remember they charge in US dollars for Canadians, for ALL trades.
Contact TD Direct at 1-800-668-1972 and they will direct you to all the information on Think or Swim Canada.
Interactive Brokers
It is best to call them and go over all their fees.
BMO Investor Line
RBC Direct Investing
CIBC Investor Edge
Credential Direct
Disnat
National Bank Direct Brokerage
QTrade Investor
Virtual Brokers
Commission fees and various service charges are a big concern. Many of the discounters make it difficult to view all their various service charges. Everything from money transfers in and out to RRSP fees and more, add up. TD Waterhouse is the largest discount broker in Canada. There is no other brokerage as large. In fact, there isn’t a brokerage that even comes close! They have 24 hour phone support, are great at transferring funds and can assist with just about any problem. Yet their fees are high on things like exercise and assignment.