View most recent results

Surviscor produces the most comprehensive online brokerage analysis in North America. Surviscor reviews Canadian discount brokerage firms who offer online brokerage service to both investors and traditional day-traders in Canada. The minimum requirements are:

1. Transactional capabilities in Canadian and US markets
2. At minimum, the firm must be registered for business in Ontario and Quebec
3. Minimum account opening balance requirement no greater than $50,000 CDN

As of Summer 2009, the Online Discount Brokerage Review is broken down into two reports. The two reports are:

1. Online Investor Site
2. Online Trader Site

The Overall ranking which was used from 2006 until 2008 is no longer in use.

Surviscor defines an Investor as a self-directed individual who typically:

• Has the ability to understand the value of investing
• Requires a well-diversified portfolio and a structured financial plan
• Is self-reliant and prefers to self-direct his/her portfolio
• May retain an advisor for part of his/her investments
• Requires various tools and resources to make investment decisions

The Investor is typically in an accumulation stage of life in which the following lifecycle traits exist:

• Financial stability
• Steady income
• Mortgage
• Saving for retirement

Surviscor has defined an Investor as one who trades on average 0 to 29 trades per month.

Surviscor defines a Trader as a self-directed individual who typically:

• Has a sophisticated and almost professional understanding of the investment world and its operations
• Requires immediate real-time information regarding the markets and his/her account information
• Is self-reliant and treats his/her account activity as a job and a passion
• Has little to no reliance on an advisor for the majority of the investment decisions
• Demands sophisticated and real-time tools and resources to make investment decisions

The lifecycle of a Trader is more difficult to define. It appears that Traders come from all walks of life and financial stability points; however, they all understand the value of determining market risk and reward. A Trader typically has a larger amount of disposal income available for short-term investing, and is constantly looking for market opportunities.

Surviscor has defined a Trader as an individual who trades on average more than 30 trades per month.

The Online Discount Brokerage Review analyses 7 main categories which are further broken down into over 30 sub-categories. The main categories were re-designed for better sub-category classification in the Summer 2009 Online Investor Site review. The main categories in the review are:

1. Getting Started – Public Site Review
2. Website Design
3. Account Services
4. Market Intelligence
5. Website Transactions
6. Online Resources
7. Cost of Services

• Trader: TBD
• Investor: Winter 2009
• Investor: Summer 2009