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Questrade regulation

Your expert
Adam N.
Fact checked by
Updated
3d ago
Personally tested
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Independent

Is Questrade regulated?

Trying to find out whether Questrade is regulated? Not sure which authorities are overseeing Questrade and why this matters?

Rest assured, the lack of regulation at Questrade is not a reason for worry. Our brokerage experts have determined that Questrade is a fully regulated broker, overseen in Canada. We gathered all the information on the regulatory profile of Questrade and will explain why this matters.

Why Questrade is trustworthy
Adam
Adam Nasli
Forex • Algo Trading • Market Analysis

I have personally tested several brokers globally and I am familiar with the regulatory and licensing procedures of at least a dozen financial authorities globally. Here are my key insights into the regulatory status of Questrade as of December 2024:

  • Questrade operates under a very strict regulator, which is vital for the safety of your money if you have an account with the broker.
  • Questrade must separate client funds/assets from its own operations; this makes all the difference for the safety of your investments.
  • Explore the services of Questrade in our comprehensive Questrade review for 2024 and browse other top-tier regulated brokers with our unique Find My Broker tool.
Overall score
4.3/5
Minimum deposit
$1,000
Stock fee
Low
FX fee
Average
Inactivity fee
no
Account opening
1 day
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Questrade has top-tier regulation

Think of a broker with strict regulatory oversight like a lifeguard at the beach. Just as the lifeguard keeps you safe in the water, offering immediate help when you need it, brokers operating with top-tier regulation protect your investments. They make sure your investments are secure and handled with integrity and transparency.

Questrade has the following regulation:

  • All clients - Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)

Why does all this matter? We are contacted by an alarming number of people who ended up working with unregulated brokers and they share with us some sad and frightening stories. Here’s an example.

Your can protect your money by choosing a well-regulated broker.

Marco invested a substantial amount using what appeared to be a credible online trading platform. Initially, his investments showed gains, and he was able to make several withdrawals without issues. Encouraged, he increased his investments, but when he tried to withdraw some profits after a successful trade, his requests went unanswered, and customer service became unreachable. Further investigation revealed the broker was not regulated by any financial authority. Eventually, the platform vanished overnight, taking John's investments with it, leaving him with no recourse to recover his funds.

Choosing a broker with top-tier regulation means you're in safe hands. This level of strict oversight ensures that your investments are protected, you're getting fair pricing, and trading conditions are transparent and favorable.

Client fund segregation: your ultimate safeguard

As a broker with top-tier regulation, Questrade is legally required to keep the funds and assets of its clients separate from its own money. This is a game changer in terms of the safety of your investments.

Client fund segregation is like having your money in a separate safe from Questrade’s own cash. Thus, if your broker ever runs into financial trouble, your funds won't be touched to settle their debts - they're entirely off-limits. It’s a crucial setup because it protects your money, ensuring that what you’ve invested stays secure and accessible only to you. This segregation is a requirement imposed by top-tier regulators and not something you can request your broker to do. You will only have access to this safety net if your broker has the appropriate regulation.

In the highly unlikely event that Questrade commits fraud and uses client assets for its own purposes, you can still recover your money if you have access to investor protection.

This is important for you, because the investor protection amount and the regulator differ according to the legal entity you belong to. However, this is not an issue with Questrade, asall customers are covered by Questrade, Inc., which is a member of CIPF. This means that you are eligible for the CAD 1 million coverage offered by CIPF.
On top of this, each account is covered by additional insurance up to CAD 10 million. This is a great service, as most other brokers don't provide such a high level of insurance.

Questrade investor protection
Country of clients Protection amount Regulator Legal entity
All countries CAD 1 million Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) Questrade, Inc.

Questrade does not provide negative balance protection.

Get to know Questrade better and browse other top-tier regulated brokers

For detailed insights into trading conditions, costs, and service quality at Questrade, check out BrokerChooser's Questrade review for 2024. All our broker reviews are based on the analysis of nearly 600 data points and direct experience. When we review a broker, we go hands-on by opening a real-money account and trading on its platforms, giving us a complete view of what it offers and how it performs.

The BrokerChooser team has personally tested and reviewed more than 100 brokers globally, all of which have top-tier regulation. All our experience and expertise is included in the Find My Broker tool. Simply answer a few questions and get a personalized broker list.

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Further reading

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.

author
Adam Nasli
Author of this article
I bring extensive financial expertise as one of BrokerChooser's earliest team members. Personally, I tested nearly all 100+ brokers on our site, opening real-money accounts, executing trades, assessing customer services, and providing firsthand assessment. My professional background includes roles in the banking sector and a degree from Central European University, where I teach finance. My passions lies in in-depth research of the financial industry, building trading algorithms, and managing long-term investments.
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