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Save On Transfer Fees When Changing Discount Brokers

If you are considering switching from one discount brokerage to another – you should try to get the new broker to pay for the transfer-out fees.  Most brokerages in Canada will pay these fees as long as you have enough assets to make it worth their while.  I believe in most cases $25k in assets would be enough but check with your new institution to find out the exact deal.

Follow through with the transfer fees

Recently I switched from Questrade to RBC Direct to take advantage of their 1% deal (no longer active). Part of the offer was to pay for any transfer fees that are normally charged by the relinquishing institution.  I had assumed this would be taken care of automatically and had forgotten about it until I recently was looking at my Questrade statements for tax purposes and noticed the $125 transfer fees. I decided to check my RBC account for any credit for the fees and sure enough – there wasn’t anything.

I phoned RBC and they told me I had to fax a copy of the statement showing the transfer fee before crediting my account. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is normally the case for where transfer fees are being covered.  For anyone else who did the RBC deal then the fax number is 1-888-722-238.  Indicate your rbc account numbers on the fax.

Summary

  1. Get the new brokerage to pay for any transfer fees.
  2. Follow up and make sure they pay the fees – send documentation if necessary.

If you are planning to move back to Questrade then read about the Returning to Questrade deal on transfer fees.

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