As with everything, investing comes with a price – you just need to figure out what it is, and whether it’s worth paying for. Many fees are unavoidable, but some can be reduced or completely eradicated with some planning. Find out how to navigate the choppy waters of investment fees to help you make your money go further and compare the fees involved with each provider.
What are the different types of investment fee?
Each broker might have slightly different names for its fees, but in general, these are the ones you’ll come across:
Custody fee. This is paid to the provider for holding and investing your money. This is sometimes called a “platform fee” or “annual charge”.
Commission fee. This is a transaction fee. It’s the cost of buying stocks and shares.
Management fee. This is paid to the fund’s advisor for their advisory and management services. Depending on the company, this fee may also cover administrative services related to the fund.
Advice fee. This is if you have a financial adviser, so not every platform charges this.
What is each fee for?
These fees can have different names across various platforms. Likewise they can come bundled together or be charged separately to add a bit more confusion. Let’s go into a bit more detail about what each one means.
Name of fee
Also known as…
What’s it for?
Custody fee
Platform fee, annual charge
Similar to the management fee and in some instances may be bundled with it. This covers the people responsible for holding and investing your money as well as the people managing the associated legal structure of your investments.
Commission fee
Brokerage fee, transaction fee, entry and exit costs, front-end load or back-end load (mutual funds only)
This fee can be charged every time you make a transaction, whether it be a buy or a sell. These fees can be either a set amount per trade or a percentage of the transaction amount. If you are buying and selling lots of small shares, these fees can add up quickly.
Management fee
Ongoing charges, fund management fee, total expense ratio (TER), internal expenses, total annual charge (TAC), annual account fee.
This fee is generally paid as a percentage of the managed fund and is paid to the fund’s advisor for their advisory and management services. Depending on the company, this fee may also cover administrative services related to the fund as well.
Advice fee
Ongoing advice fee, financial advisor fee
This is the fee you will pay if you choose to seek the advice of a financial advisor to assist you with your investments and the related decision making.
Know your fees
As we’ve seen, fees vary hugely between brokers. They can also vary between types of investing. Some trusts, for example, may have the management and custodian fees bundled as they will probably be offered by the same provider.
What kind of investing will you be doing?
This is an important question to ask when working out what fees you will pay. Will you buy and sell individual stocks or invest in mutual funds? Will you be dealing in lots of small stocks or fewer big ones? Will you seek the assistance of a financial advisor or go it alone? These are all questions that will affect the type and amount of investment fees you will pay.
Finder survey: Are men or women more likely to consider fees when choosing a stock trading platform?
Response
Female
Male
Fees
74.56%
68.42%
Source: Finder survey by Pollfish of 1001 Canadians, January 2024
How much will I pay in fees?
This depends on how much you’re planning to invest. Obviously, if you’re investing bigger amounts, you will pay more in fees. However you will also (hopefully) be making more profit to hopefully make the fees worthwhile.
If you are “hobby investing”, a term to mean dealing in only small amounts of money, you should be especially careful of fees as they may end up adding up quickly and your return may not be enough to make the fees worthwhile. Some total investment fees can be up to 2% per year or even higher of your total investment value, this will really add up over the years.
If you find a broker who charges 0.5% annually but does very little to help you grow your investment and you find a broker who charges 2% but spends hours and hours working to improve your financial position, then you may actually be better off for paying that 2%.
How can I find out how much I’m paying?
If you’re already investing then ask your broker directly for a breakdown of the fees they charge. Make sure they include all the admin fees and how much you pay in transaction fees per trade.
If you are thinking about trading, do your homework and compare brokers. Remember not only to focus on how much each provider is charging, but also what exactly you get for your money.
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Compare some of Canada’s most popular online stock brokers below. Check out our guide on how to buy stocks to learn more on how to get started.
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Important information: Powered by Finder.com. This information is general in nature and is no substitute for professional advice. It does not take into account your personal situation. This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for most investors. You do not own or have any interest in the underlying asset. Capital is at risk, including the risk of losing more than the amount originally put in, market volatility and liquidity risks. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Tax on profits may apply. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination for the product on the provider's website. Consider your own circumstances, including whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money and possess the relevant experience and knowledge. We recommend that you obtain independent advice from a suitably licensed financial advisor before making any trades.
Zoe was a senior writer at Finder specialising in investment and banking, and during this time, she joined the Women in FinTech Powerlist 2022. She is currently a senior money writer at Be Clever With Your Cash. Zoe has a BA in English literature and a Diploma for Financial Advisers. She has several years of experience in writing about all things personal finance. Zoe has a particular love for spreadsheets, having also worked as a management accountant. In her spare time, you’ll find Zoe skating at her local ice rink. See full bio
Zoe's expertise
Zoe has written 14 Finder guides across topics including:
Qtrade offers free trades for 100+ ETFs and discounts for active and young investors. But the platform has some drawbacks.
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