HSBC InvestDirect [2021 Review]…

HSBC InvestDirect is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC Bank Canada. It is a self-directed, online investing brokerage firm in Canada.

The platform is best for trading on North American and international markets. 

HSBC InvestDirect grants access to 30 domestic and international markets and allows to settle transactions in 10 different currencies. A client can freely trade in key international markets of the U.S., Hong Kong, London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

The platform offers a robust collection of investment products and accounts including equities, MFs, Canadian and US options, ETFs, IPOs, fixed income, and GICs.

It also provides protection of accounts from unauthorized access with its security guarantee.

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HSBC InvestDirect Summary

Here is a summary to get you started, but there is a lot more information below if you want to get into the details.

Choosing a discount broker is a personal choice and the discount broker should satisfy your requirements. Know what you need above and beyond the fees.

HSBC InvestDirect FAQ

Can I have the fees waived with HSBC InvestDirect?

There are no indications that any of the transaction fees can be waived.

Moreover, HSCB InvestDirect charges a $25 inactivity fee if no transactions are made during the quarter. But this fee can be waived off if you maintain a fund balance of $10,000 or more in your account. 

You can have your trading fee reduced to $4.88 if you are an active trader but that’s still more than Questrade if fees are important to you

How do I deposit money into my HSBC InvestDirect?

The fastest way to deposit money to your account is through Electronic Funds Transfer or Bill Payment from your banking account.

You can also make a direct cheque deposit at any HSBC branch or transfer funds from a third-party institution.

There is no minimum balance required to open an HSBC InvestDirect account.

How can I contact HSBC InvestDirect customer support?

By email or phone in multiple languages. The details are clearly outlined on their site.

Trading Costs

North American trades can be executed for as low as $6.88 and a 20% discount can be availed on international phone trades. It also has a $4.88 fee for active traders making more than 150 transactions per quarter.

This fee structure is applicable for online trades in North America. For international market trades, there are additional commission fees as well. 

HSBC InvestDirect does not offer any commission-free ETF compared against leading peers such as Qtrade, Questrade and Virtual Brokers.

HSBC also offers a banking and brokerage preferred pricing if one has combined assets at HSBC Bank.

Accounts

HSBC InvestDirect provides registered accounts like all-in-one, TFSA, RRSP, RRIF, RESP, LIRA/LRSP, and LIF/LRIF. It also offers a demo account for potential clients.

HSBC InvestDirect offers preferred services like HSBC Premier and Advance client investing benefits, Active Trader Pricing, Global Investing, and SIP.

HSBC client investing benefits include preferred pricing, exclusive trading rates, preferential rates on debit and margin balances, and dedicated support 24/7. The active trader pricing offers the lowest flat-fee for online trades and preferential rates on debit and margin balances.

To qualify for HSBC InvestDirect Active Trader pricing of $4.88, customers must have an active HSBC InvestDirect account and trade more than 150 times per quarter. A SIP allows users to start with as little as $100 a month.

Usability

HSBC provides a simple, intuitive platform to its users for direct trading. HSBC InvestDirect’s trading platform is gaining popularity given its improved design and user experience, a wide range of research tools, and enhanced trading capabilities.

Transactions

The firm allows investing in ETFs without any minimum investment requirements. It also allows trading in 4,000 commission-free mutual funds if mutual funds are part of your plan but be aware of mutual fund fees eating your returns.

Clients can place market, limit, or stop-loss orders with a minimum transaction fee of $6.88.

The transaction fee of $6.88 beats all of the bank discount brokers except for CIBC Investor’s Edge but it’s still behind Questrade and Wealthsimple. It comes ahead of the big banks by a dollar in the end.

Performance Monitoring

Users can monitor global markets and manage their accounts 24/7. HSBC InvestDirect provides quotes and news alerts to stay up-to-date on your portfolio performance and global financial markets. 

It also provides investor tools like comparison charting and customizable screens for stocks, ETFs, or Mutual Funds.

Mobile Capabilities

HSBC InvestDirect does not have a mobile trading app.

Investment Research

HSBC InvestDirect does not provide investment advice or recommendations regarding any investment decisions.

The company provides comprehensive investment tools to analyze markets, identify investment trends, in-depth equity reports from S&P, and mutual fund reports from Morningstar.

There are ratings to choose top-performing funds. It provides reports from global leaders in financial market intelligence as many of the other discount brokers.

Customer Service

HSBC Investment representatives provide support and advice in English, French, Mandarin, and Cantonese. The support team is adept at answering technical questions about HSBC’s online trading system.

Discount Brokers Available

While the easiest path to selecting a discount broker is to use the one affiliated with your bank, there are options available with different feature set and cost that may best fit your needs. Be sure to review all of your options.