This edition of the Roundup looks at unusual behaviour in the deals and promotions section, zeroing in on one bank-owned online brokerage’s uncharacteristic decision to pause an already live offer. Also we highlight the new website launch of a previously household name to see what a chance at a new start could offer in terms of opportunities to connect with new audiences.

This mega-edition of the Weekly Roundup features in-depth reviews of Canadian online brokerages in 2021. Be sure to check out the analysis of the Look Back / Look Ahead feature for the top online brokerage trends for 2021 and 2022. Also, we highlight the biggest news from Canadian online brokerages in 2021. Tune in for great memes and important themes!

If you thought 2021 was an eventful year (and it was!) at Canada’s online brokerages, wait until you see what’s in store for 2022. In this milestone issue of the Look Back / Look Ahead series, we hear from leaders at Canadian online brokerages about what they saw as the biggest highlights, as well as what they’re working on to impress self-directed investors in the next year. Also, we’ve got the scoop on four new online brokerages moving into the commission-free trading game.

Big news this week as bank-owned online brokerages lead the way with cash back promotions for RSP season. Also on our radar, the strange flight away from Twitter for several Canadian online brokerages points to a wider trend.

From new branding, to new pricing, to new features, this week’s Roundup covers exciting developments at online brokerages on both sides of the border. Dive in to read more about customer service at Robinhood, the launch of CI Direct Trading, and BMO adviceDirect’s move to make their service more accessible to online investors.

This week’s Roundup features a review of what’s powering Interactive Brokers’ account growth stats higher and new features, like cryptocurrency trading, that are poised to add more momentum to this brokerage’s growth. Also, we review the upcoming Virtual Brokers rebrand and what it might signal for other Canadian online brokerages this fall.

In focus this week, more online brokerage data. Check out a deep dive on the 2021 MoneySense online brokerage rankings, including an interesting discovery about the connection between commission pricing and service experience.

This Roundup features a big announcement on commission-free ETFs at BMO InvestorLine and the latest results from the Canadian online brokerage rankings. Dive into data and the latest trends emerging for DIY investors in this edition.

The DIY investing datapalooza continues this month. Check out the latest in-depth review of online brokerage pricing to find out which brokerages rank as the cheapest, and why measuring cost isn’t quite as simple as it sounds.

This week, we review the rebrand and launch of Qtrade Direct Investing, including how their new logo, colour scheme, and design direction are changing what an online brokerage in Canada looks and sounds like.

It’s fitting that after so much discussion about “shorts” in the news, we also now have a short(er) trading week upon us. With one fewer trading day, it also means the deadline for RRSP contributions is ticking closer, adding to the pressure that is evidently already building at Canadian online brokerages this month. In this […]

February is now well underway. In case you might have missed it, a forty-something quarterback managed to nab yet another Super Bowl win, and for the moment, it appears that the forty-something-plus crowd on Wall Street managed to squeeze out a win over the younger investors – at least for now. History is in the […]

Just because the month is short, doesn’t mean we can’t be long on fun! From Lunar New Year to Valentine’s Day to Family Day, there is much cause for celebration – with safe social distancing in mind, of course. Another reason for DIY investors to rejoice: there’s still time to meet the RRSP contribution deadline […]

So. Much. To. Unpack. Unlike most pundits this week, we’re not going to talk about GameStonks, at least not in the kind of depth we normally would. No, for the moment we’ll save the commentary for the forum chatter and DIY investor feedback from Twitter. There’s plenty on the menu for this edition of the […]

2020 is now officially behind us. 2021 will be one of those years that most of us will not have any trouble remembering to write correctly, even in the first few weeks. And, speaking of easy to remember, this month and year are off to a memorable start. Once again cryptocurrency FOMO is sweeping through […]

Update: January 8 Cheers to 2021! While 2020 marked a year full of surprise and change – both inside and outside the DIY investing space – we believe it is safe to say we are all ready for a fresh start. To help you ring in the new year and celebrate in (financial) style, Sparx […]

The phrase that’s been a mantra for many of us in 2020 – aside from “You’re on mute” – has been “Is it over yet?” Finally, it’s a lot closer to being true than at any previous point in the year. Thank goodness. In keeping with the sentiment of a very long year, this end-of-year […]

Take a deep breath. Believe it or not, December is here, and with it, news of several COVID-19 vaccines, stock markets making record highs, and hope on the horizon. Certainly not a coincidence. Another non-coincidence at this time of year is the appearance of special treats and the idea of wrapping things up with a […]

After making it through 2020, there are few things that would count as truly surprising anymore. Between COVID-19, the wild US presidential election and everything else that has unfolded this past year, 2021 can’t come fast enough for many of us. For Canadian DIY investors and Canada’s online brokerages, despite a wild year of volatility, […]

Update: December 18 After what has simultaneously felt like the fastest yet slowest year ever, we have finally made it to December! In true holiday fashion, Sparx Trading is here to spread old-fashioned cheer and merry updates as we take a (cautious and socially distanced) step into the final month of 2020.  Bargain-hunting DIY investors […]