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Written by: Adam N. Updated: Nov 2022
Expert verified

How to get to your first trade at Questrade?

Reading time: 6 minutes

We know that opening a brokerage account is a huge step, and it might not be your main expertise just yet. But it is ours, as we have opened accounts with over a hundred brokers and analyzed them based on more than 40,000 data points. We are here to help you! So let's jump right in! Registering at Questrade takes only a few minutes and your future self will appreciate the foresight!

To give you a brief summary: Questrade is a Canadian online brokerage firm. Questrade is a member of Canadian self-regulatory industry body IIROC and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF).

THE ESSENCE:

  • Signing up just takes 15 minutes on average, while the approval of your account could take 1 day
  • You will need to prove your identity and residency with documents. Some examples:
    • Proof of identity: national ID / driver's licence plus social insurance number for Canadians / tax identifier number for internationals
  • Questrade is a reliable broker regulated by a top-tier regulator
  • Visit Questrade's site and start registering now!

First, let's see if Questrade is available in your country?

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How to get to your first trade at Questrade?
How to get a verified trading account at Questrade?

First you need to fill a registration form to apply for an account. Your application needs time to be verified [1 day] after which you can deposit and start trading.

The journey at Questrade

Questrade account opening step-by-step guide

  1. Go to Questrade's website to start the account opening process.
  2. Follow the account opening process: it is self-evident, but you might need help at some point. Don't worry, we cover the main issues here.

Which Questrade account to choose?

If you want to explore the possibilities offered by this broker, you will need to choose an account type, and for that, you should consider how experienced you are in trading and investing.

We have more details about the available account types in our review for you to explore.

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Which base currency to choose?

Why does this matter? You can cut your costs.

  • If you fund your trading account in the same currency as your bank account, or you trade assets in the same currency as your trading account base currency, you don't have to pay a conversion fee.
  • A convenient way to save on the conversion fees is by opening a multi-currency bank account at a digital bank, which is fast and easy.

The base currencies at Questrade are: USD, CAD.

Once you have filled out the form, uploaded your documents, chose your account type, base currency and finished the trading survey, Questrade will verify your account very shortly.

Why do I need to fill the trading experience survey?

It might seem scary at first, but it is nothing to worry about. This is standard procedure, as brokers need to make sure that you have a basic financial knowledge and you are aware of the risks of trading.

Also don't worry if the broker asks questions about your financial background e.g. your available assets, salary range. This is also part of the risk assesment process - to make sure you don't take on investments and trades you can't afford.

How to get to your first trade at Questrade?
How to deposit and start trading at Questrade?

To do your first trade, you have to fund your account. Generally, brokers offer a Bank transfer / ACH / Credit or debit card / E-wallet transfer solution.

This is where you stand at the account opening at Questrade

Is there a minimum deposit at Questrade?

Unfortunately, yes. At Questrade, the minimum deposit amount is $1,000.

This means that you have to deposit at least $1,000 to be able to start trading.

However, if you feel like this service is not your cup of tea: no worries. After depositing, you can opt out and withdraw your funds anytime.

If you received your verification email, you are good to go to fund your account and start investing!

Here's how to start after funding your account:

  • First, check the products on the platform. You can also search for assets using its search tool,
  • Here, you'll see a list of assets by certain categories, like asset classes,
  • Click/tap on an asset to see its chart,
  • After this step, it is easy to specify the transaction size, order types, and terms.

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How to get to your first trade at Questrade?
Is Questrade safe?

Yes, Questrade can be considered a legit broker, as it is regulated by at least one top-tier regulator, which is a great sign for reliability.

For you, this means that your money is in good hands and you will most probably not become a victim of a scam by Questrade.

Throughout the account opening process at Questrade, you won't be required to pay anything to create your account. Also, you can close your account anytime you like.

Every time you are planning to dive into finances, make sure you know who you trust your money with. Make sure that the broker is considered trustworthy. We, at BrokerChooser, only recommend regulated brokers on our site, meaning the broker's operations are overseen by a trusted body.

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How to get to your first trade at Questrade?
Wrap-up

You are awesome for having read through this article! Opening an account might seem cumbersome at first, but the best time to start dealing with your finances is always right now.

We want to help you along the way, so if you are stuck somewhere, have a question, or a suggestion, please drop us an email at [email protected].

Author of this article

Adam Nasli

Author of this article

Adam is a motivated finance expert. He joined BrokerChooser in 2018 and has since tested almost all 100+ brokers covered by BrokerChooser. Adam holds a professional degree from CEU and he helps teach finance and programming courses at his alma mater. Previously he worked in the banking sector, including at Citi Bank. He loves researching the financial industry, managing his long-term investments, and trading with algorithms.

Adam Nasli

Analyst Head

Adam is a motivated finance expert. He joined BrokerChooser in 2018 and has since tested almost all 100+ brokers covered by BrokerChooser. Adam holds a professional degree from CEU and he helps teach finance and programming courses at his alma mater. Previously he worked in the banking sector, including at Citi Bank. He loves researching the financial industry, managing his long-term investments, and trading with algorithms.

Everything you find on BrokerChooser is based on reliable data and unbiased information. We combine our 10+ years finance experience with readers feedback. Read more about our methodology

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