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At Kindred Credit Union, we believe in empowering our members to make informed financial decisions that reflect their values and goals. Through our partnership with Qtrade Direct Investing, members can manage their own investments with confidence, stewardship, and support.
1. What is Qtrade Direct Investing?
Qtrade is a Canadian online brokerage that lets you invest your money in a secure, easy-to-use platform. It can be a great choice for members who feel comfortable selecting and monitoring their own investments or using ready-made portfolios. You can buy and sell a wide range of options — including stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds, mutual funds, and GICs — all in one place. Qtrade recently introduced $0 commission trades, making it even more affordable.
2. Who owns and operates Qtrade Direct Investing?
Qtrade Direct Investing is a division of Aviso Wealth Inc., one of Canada’s largest independent wealth management firms. Aviso is jointly owned by credit union partners and is regulated under Canadian financial standards, ensuring member investments are protected and professionally managed. By working together with shared goals and values, we can offer you investing choices designed to help you Make Peace with Your Money®.
3. What does this mean for me as a Kindred member?
You can continue working with us just as you do today for investment solutions and advice. If you’re drawn to self-directed investing, we can help you get started with a Qtrade account. If online investing is not for you, our Wealth and Investment team can help you with a plan for your retirement goals.
4. How does Kindred make money if you’re not charging fees?
Through our partnership, Kindred may receive revenue from Aviso, based in part on overall asset growth. These funds help us continue investing in services that support our members.
5. Do I need to be a member to access this promotion?
No — membership isn’t required as the Qtrade offer is available for Canadians online. For some people, this becomes a great reason to join Kindred. Instead of trying to get started on your own, we can ask the right questions to ensure you have the right risk profile to invest online and choose your own investments, and we can help with account setup.
6. What types of accounts can I open?
Qtrade offers a variety of account types, including:
- Registered plans such as TFSAs, RRSPs, RRIFs, and LIFs;
- Non-registered accounts, both individual and joint; and
- Specialised accounts, like corporate, trust, and margin accounts.
7. Is there a minimum deposit required to get started?
No minimum deposit is required. You can open a Qtrade account and start investing at your own pace.
8. What are the trading fees?
As of October 2025, Qtrade introduced $0 commission trading for all online trades, including stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds. They’ve also removed quarterly administration fees — making investing more affordable and accessible for everyone.
9. What investment tools and resources are available?
Qtrade provides a robust set of research and planning tools to help you make informed choices, including:
- Portfolio Simulator™ and Portfolio Creator™, to test and build investment strategies;
- Access to expert research, including Morningstar reports; and
- Portfolio analysis and performance tracking.
10. Can I buy fractional shares?
At this time, Qtrade requires you to purchase whole shares — fractional share trading isn’t yet available.
11. Can I invest in international markets?
Qtrade offers access to Canadian and U.S. markets. International markets beyond these are not currently supported.
12. What’s the difference between Qtrade and working with a Financial Planner or Advisor at the branch? Can I still come in with questions?
Absolutely — you’re always welcome to ask us anything. Our Financial Services Advisors help members understand their options for investing given their risk tolerance and goals.
The main difference with Qtrade is that it’s a self-directed investing platform, which means Aviso Wealth Advisors at Kindred do not provide investment advice for these accounts. Members using Qtrade need to be comfortable selecting and monitoring their investments on their own.
For big goals like retirement or education savings, most members benefit from working with an Advisor who can build a personalized plan. An Advisor will help determine the right account type, select suitable investments, ensure that you’re making the most of available government savings programs to reduce the impact of tax and take advantage of any available matching programs. They’ll also help you monitor your progress over time. A portion of the fees that you pay for investments goes to Kindred (typically ranging between 1.5% to 2.5%). One of the benefits of working with an advisor who is paid a salary is that their guidance is focused on your goals, not on earning a commission.
13. How do I fund my Qtrade account?
You can add funds to your Qtrade account using an electronic funds transfer (EFT) from your Kindred account. Many members complete this online with ease, and we are happy to offer advice or a helping hand if you prefer. Other payment methods, such as credit cards or digital wallets, are not supported.
14. What about the mobile app?
Qtrade’s desktop platform is widely recognised for its strength and usability. The mobile app offers convenient access to your portfolio and trading functions, though some advanced research tools are best experienced on desktop.
15. Is Qtrade Direct Investing safe?
Yes. Qtrade is regulated in Canada and offers investor protection through the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). It also uses advanced security measures to protect your personal information and investments.
16. How does Qtrade align with Kindred’s values?
We believe that managing your finances — including your investments — should reflect your values. Qtrade helps members:
- Invest responsibly and transparently;
- Learn and make informed financial choices; and
- Take ownership of their financial future, with tools that support good stewardship and integrity.
17. How do I get started?
You can open an account or learn more by visiting Qtrade.ca or by speaking with a Kindred team member. We’re here to help you explore whether self-directed investing is the right choice for you.
