Fee-based investing

Invest confidently with expert advice and no hidden fees.

Clarity and confidence for your investment journey

Step into your investment journey with expert advice, straightforward fees and accounts tailored to your financial goals. With fee-based investing, you can count on no hidden costs and no surprise fees—just a straightforward path toward financial wellness.

Why fee-based investing?

Plan for your future

Budget and plan for your future with expert advice and predictable investment fees. Anticipate and manage your costs so you can make informed decisions at every turn.

Personalized advice

Get the advice you need to make each step on your financial wellness journey the right one for you. Our advisors have insights and strategies to help you reach your goals on your timeline.

No surprises

Invest with ease knowing there are no hidden fees, trade commissions or transaction costs eating into your returns. No surprise fees means more peace of mind.

Aligned interests

Your fee-based advisor puts your financial well-being at the forefront of their recommendations–so your financial success is their top priority.

Explore your fee-based investing options

Credential Securities OnPoint Fee-Based Accounts¹

Handling the day-to-day details of managing your portfolio. Lean on expert advice when you need it—our advisors are always here to help, but the final decision is yours.

One clear fee you can pay monthly, quarterly or annually
Unlimited advice from a Gulf & Fraser Credential Securities Investment Specialist
Pre-set number of free trades each year
Exclusive access to proprietary research
Non-discretionary account: you’re making all the decisions
Investments include F-Class mutual funds, index funds, exchange traded funds, stocks and bonds²

Right for you if:

Your household has a minimum of $100,000 to invest
You want expert advice and long-term growth
You want to manage your own investments
You want one transparent fee

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OnPoint Managed Portfolios³

Set your goals and parameters, and let our professionals do the rest. With your financial goals top of mind, our advisors manage the everyday details of your investments to help you succeed.

One annual fee based on a percentage of your assets and including all advisory fees, active portfolio management, transaction costs, reporting and administration fees
Investment expertise from leading Canadian investment management firms
Non-discretionary account: you’re making all the decisions

Right for you if:

Your household has a minimum of $100,000 to invest
Want a strong, trusted relationship with an advisor who works for your best interest, with personalized advice
Want peace of mind, knowing our experts are managing the day-to-day details of your investments
Want one clear, comprehensive fee and predictable upfront costs

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Ready to manage your investments with OnPoint?

Boost your investing know-how

How do I invest responsibly?

You want to figure out the best way to invest your money. You also want to choose investments that are good for others. Gulf & Fraser's advisors can help.

Read on

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Get advice on the go

Life gets busy, but don't let that stop you achieving your goals. Whether you’ve got $50 or $50,000, we want to help power your possible – and we'll come to you to do it.

Learn more

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Your fee-based investing questions answered

Are investment management fees tax deductible in Canada?

As with most things tax-related, the answer is: it depends. In general, most investment fees are not tax deductible for individual investors in Canada. But there are exceptions.

Any fees relating to investments held in registered accounts are not tax deductible. However, mutual fund management fees for investments held in non-registered accounts are tax deductible. Trading fees and commissions are not.

There are tax-efficient ways to set up your investments. Our financial advisors would love to help you make a plan.

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How do I choose the right investments?

Choosing the right investments is different for everyone. Here are some things to consider:

What are your goals? Are you saving for a big goal like buying a house or sending your kids to college? Maybe you're thinking about retirement or a trip around the world. Knowing your goals will help you choose the right investments, timeline and risk-level.

Think about how comfortable you are with taking risks. Some investments go up and down a lot (like stocks). Others are usually steadier but may not give you as much growth (like bonds). If you're okay with some ups and downs, you might lean towards stocks. If you prefer less risk, bonds or a diversified portfolio might be a better choice.

Diversifying means spreading your money across different types of investments. This often helps lower your risk because if one investment doesn’t do well, others might do better.

How long do you want to invest? If you're saving for something like retirement and that’s still a couple of decades away, you have more time to ride the ups and downs of the market. But if your goal is coming soon, you’ll probably want to be more cautious.

Our financial advisors can help you work out your next step.

How much are investment management fees in Canada?

Fees depend on who you're working with, what kind of investments you're making and how much help you need. Here’s a bit about how those fees work:

Mutual funds – These are like investment bundles, and they have fees called Management Expense Ratios (MERs). An MER is an ongoing fee that pays for all the costs of managing the fund, including taxes. You don’t pay the MERs directly—they’re paid from the fund.
Full-service financial advisors – If you have a full-service financial advisor, their fees can be different too. They might take a percentage of your money they're managing, which typically ranges from 0.75–1.5%. They might also charge extra for financial planning.
Private wealth management – For people with large investments who want more care, private wealth management is an option. The fees here can vary widely depending on how complex your money situation is and how much help you want. Private wealth advisors often charge a percentage of the amount they’re managing, which can often range from 1–2%.

There are rules in Canada to make fees more transparent and easier to understand, so you can feel confident about your choices.

Have more questions? Get in touch

What’s a non-discretionary investment relationship?

In a non-discretionary investment relationship, you're the boss of your own investments. Your advisor offers advice and suggestions based on your goals and how much risk you’re comfortable with. But you get to decide what to do with your money.

You’ll have more control over your money and learn about investing along the way. It's like having a guide to help you, but you're still the one driving the investment car.

Are managed funds worth the fees?

With managed funds, you have a professional managing your portfolio. The fees pay for their time and expertise.

Whether or not those fees are worth it depends on a few things, including how much you have to invest, how much the advisor charges and, most importantly, your investment priorities.

If what you value most is your time and the peace of mind of an experienced advisor managing your investments, then the fees can be worthwhile.

If you prefer being hands-on and like the cost savings of self-directed investing, then you may not want a managed fund.

Have more questions?

Don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re just a live chat, video, or phone call away when you need us.

Get in touch

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Other investments you may be interested in

Mutual funds

Whether you’re just starting out or already have a growing portfolio, enjoy access to a full array of affordable investments professionally managed for you.

Explore mutual funds

Stocks & bonds

Take advantage of our wide range of stocks and bonds to build a powerful, diversified investment portfolio – guided by our experienced advisors.

Explore stocks & bonds

¹ OnPoint Fee-Based Accounts are offered by Credential Securities. Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Credential Securities, a division of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc.. Referral fees, commissions, management fees, and expenses all may be associated with managed accounts or the investments therein. Investment accounts, and the investments therein, are not insured nor guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

²Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Credential Securities, a division of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc. Credential Securities is a registered mark owned by Aviso Wealth Inc. Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Unless otherwise stated, mutual funds, other securities and cash balances are not covered by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation or by any other government deposit insurer that insures deposits in credit unions. Mutual funds and other securities are not guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.

³OnPoint Managed Portfolios are distributed by Credential Securities. Mutual funds and other securities are offered through Credential Securities, a division of Credential Qtrade Securities Inc. Referral fees, commissions, management fees, and expenses all may be associated with managed accounts or the investments therein. Managed accounts, and the investments therein, are not insured nor guaranteed, their values change frequently and past performance may not be repeated.