Choosing a way to invest your money can be tough, and the growing popularity of robo-advisors gives you even more choices. US-based online bank and investment company, Stash, provides online financial services that make investing easy by creating a portfolio based on your unique preferences and financial goals.
But can you take advantage of Stash’s great features if you live in Canada? Are there any competitive alternatives for Canadian investors?
Is Stash available in Canada?
Unfortunately, no. Stash is only available to people who meet certain residency requirements. To open a Stash account, you must have at least $5 to make your first investment and:
A US bank account
A Social Security number (SSN)
US citizenship, a Green Card or one of the following visa types: E1, E2, E3, F1, H1B, L1, O1 or TN1
(Residents with B1, C1, H2B, H3 or K1 visas are no longer eligible. Existing account holders can still continue to use their accounts but won’t be able to open new accounts.)
Foreigners living in the States can possibly fulfill these requirements. But if you live in Canada, you’re out of luck. As of the time of writing, Stash has not announced any plans to begin offering services to customers based in Canada.
Are there alternatives to Stash in Canada?
Yes. There are a number of investment companies in Canada that offer low fees, diverse investment options, professional investment guidance and more.
Robo-advisors are a popular alternative to brokerage firms and self-directed investing platforms because of super low costs and the ability to “set and forget” your investments.
Robo-advisors use advanced algorithms to create and automatically rebalance portfolios customized to suit your individual financial preferences, risk tolerance and investment goals. Many robo-advising services also come with the option of connecting with real, human professional advisors for additional advice and guidance.
Check out the table below to compare some of Canada’s most popular robo-advisors, and read our reviews of each to decide which one is right for you.
What features should I look for in an investment company?
There’s no investment platform that’s right for everyone, and each comes with its own features, fees, pros and cons. Consider the following points when shopping around to find the right investment service for your needs:
Is there a minimum upfront investment?
If you’re just starting out, chances are you don’t have much to invest upfront. Or perhaps you have accumulated savings and are ready to make it grow faster. Newbies may find themselves drawn to investment companies with low barriers to entry including low (or even $0) upfront investments. Companies that require higher minimum investment amounts are often for investors with some level of experience or who have sizeable portfolios to manage.
Will your investments be managed for you, or do you have to monitor your own portfolio?
If you have some investing experience and enjoy getting your hands dirty tracking stock prices and following the latest business news, you might prefer a little more autonomy in managing your investments. However, if you’re still getting your feet wet and don’t understand all of your options, having securities selected for you based on your own risk-tolerance, financial goals and personality can be enormously helpful. That’s where robo-advisors shine.
What are the trading fees? For managed funds, what is the MER?
Most platforms charge a fee every time you buy and sell stocks. Over time and after many trades, this can add up. If you’re investing in mutual funds or other professionally-managed investment pools, you’ll be charged a fee that encompasses both trading costs and management expenses. This fee is known as a management expense ratio, or MER. The lower the MER, the faster your money will grow.
Are there any monthly or yearly account maintenance fees?
Some investment companies charge no account maintenance fees, drawing profits instead from trading fees, commissions and other forms of revenue. Other companies waive monthly fees if you keep up a certain level of trading activity or earn a certain amount on your investments within a given time period. Some companies prefer to keep things simple with a predictable monthly fee. Check out online reviews and read the fine print of your investment agreement to make sure you know what costs to expect.
What kind of professional help or customer support is available if you need it?
Customer service might sound like a less-interesting facet of an investment company. But don’t underrate its importance. When you want to take advantage of market trends and every passing second affects the value of an investment, having round-the-clock, on-demand service from company representatives can be crucial. Even if you aren’t independently managing your investments, it can be frustrating to be limited by short customer service hours or under-trained representatives when you need to ask a question or make a request.
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Trading costs, account fees and features across 10+ stock trading platforms and apps are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score, the better the platform—it's that simple.
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.
Stacie Hurst is an editor at Finder, specializing in loans, banking, investing and money transfers. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Writing, and she has completed FP Canada Institute's Financial Management Course. Before working in the publishing industry, Stacie completed one year of law school in the United States. When not working, she can usually be found watching K-dramas or playing games with her friends and family.
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