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Questrade regulation

Across a hundred brokers, the licence is what separates the field fastest. Here is Questrade's regulatory record in full.

Facts last checked . Read the full Questrade review.

Regulation and safety

Regulated by
Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)
Regulator tier
Tier 1
Register entry
CIRO Dealer Member Register, Questrade, Inc.
Client money segregated
Yes
Held at
Canadian regulated financial institutions/custodial arrangements
Negative balance protection
No
Compensation scheme
Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), generally up to CAD $1 million per eligible account category
Audited by
Independent external auditors
Not available to
Primarily available to Canadian residents; FX & CFD accounts subject to Canadian eligibility requirements

What this means

Across a hundred brokers, the licence is what separates the field fastest.

Questrade holds a tier-one authorisation from CIRO. That matters more than any headline spread: it determines your leverage cap, whether losses can exceed your deposit, and what happens to your money if the firm fails.

CIRO oversees Canadian investment dealers, and few international brokers hold the licence.

Client money is held separately from the firm's own money, at Canadian regulated financial institutions/custodial arrangements. That separation is what makes your balance recoverable if the company fails, rather than part of the pool its creditors divide up.

There is no negative balance protection. In a fast market a position can gap straight through your stop, and without this the resulting debt is legally yours - you can lose more than you deposited.

Covered by Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF), generally up to CAD $1 million per eligible account category, which pays eligible clients up to its limit if the firm fails owing client money.

Questions about Questrade regulation

Who regulates Questrade?

Questrade is regulated by Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO).

Is client money segregated at Questrade?

Yes. Questrade holds client money separately from its own funds, at Canadian regulated financial institutions/custodial arrangements.

Does Questrade offer negative balance protection?

Negative balance protection at Questrade is recorded as: No.

Regulation at brokers under the same regulator

More about Questrade