Fees, fees, fees! What are investors paying for investment management services in Canada? (2024)

  • byStephan Desbiens
  • inFeatured, Retirees and Pre-Retirees

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Fees, fees, fees! What are investors paying for investment management services in Canada? (1)

I often get asked about investment management fees. “How much am I paying?” or “How much will you charge to manage my money?” are the 2 most often asked questions. Of course it would be nice to receive any advice or service for free, but to quote Stephen King: “You pay for what you get, you own what you pay for… and sooner or later whatever you own comes back home to you”. This is especially true with investment fees in Canada.

Here’s a rundown of the fees you can expect to pay for the most common types of investment strategies in Canada:

For the “Do-it-yourselfer” or DIY

This type of investor has the time, interest, knowledge and inclination to tend to their portfolio through all market conditions, as well as, the decisiveness to execute their chosen strategy. Like constructing a home, DIY is the most cost-effective way to build, but the above factors will determine the quality of the construction of your home and how well you will sleep in it at night.

Do-it-yourself Fees: Self-directed annual administration fees between $0 and $59 per year. Trading fees ranging from $0 to $30 per trade for stocks and exchange traded funds (ETF). ETF fees range from a few basis points to slightly over 1% annually.

“Robot”, “Smart” or “Simple” Portfolios

The target market for these relatively new products are millennials who are fee sensitive and do not require or believe in the value of the traditional advice channel.

Robot Fees: Usually these are held within a fee-based platform which means they charge a percentage on your assets under management. The fee range is usually between .50% and 1% per year depending on the chosen service levels.

Big Bank Advisors

Bank clients are usually dedicated to their bank’s brand and the perceived security represented by it. Banks host a small army of portfolio counsellors, investment advisors and mutual fund sales people. You’ll find the widest range of products and solutions with banks. Advisor work experience, education and knowledge base will also vary greatly, as will the client experience.

Bank Fees: Portfolio Counsellor all-in fees range between 75 basis points and 1.25% annually on managed portfolios. Investment Advisors can charge per transaction from 1% to 3% or make fee-based arrangements with clients. Fee-based programs range mostly between 50 basis points (5M+) and 1.5% per year. Add administration, custodial, sub-advisor and/or other fees as negotiated with your Advisor. Bank in-branch advisors usually focus on the bank’s smaller investment clients. They mostly use mutual funds or ETFs and charge fees which are imbedded in the product (clients don’t see the charge as it is drawn from the fund itself). These typically range between 1.5% to 3% annually. Account size minimums usually apply with banks, so checking with your financial institution and being in the appropriate channel is an important aspect of investing within banks.

Insurance Agents

When you think insurance, think insurance premiums. Just like auto or home policies, premiums are charged to insure your portfolio. Insurance clients are typically people that need life, disability or critical illness first. Insurance company investment product line-ups are often complex and expensive. An insurance agent’s investment knowledge and business focus varies greatly.

Insurance Fees: Fees for investment products typically range between 2% and 4% annually. Most insurance agents make use of sub-advisors (where someone else manages the money I.e. Mutual funds). Annual administration and other fees may also apply.

Portfolio Managers

Most Portfolio Managers (PM) hold CFA or CIM designations. Portfolio Managers typically work directly with private clients or as sub-advisors for institutional clients, like pension funds and mutual funds. They are often smaller boutique type firms where the lead PM will be an owner in the firm.

PM Fees: Portfolio Managers usually work within a fee-based program ranging between 50 basis points to 1.5% on assets managed by the firm. Administration, trading and custodial fees may also apply.

How does it add up?

The illustration below is based on a $100,000 investment earning 6% over 25 years (income taxes are not factored).

Fees, fees, fees! What are investors paying for investment management services in Canada? (2)

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  • AboutStephan Desbiens
  • Stephan Desbiens joined Exponent as a partner after 16 years of working with retail and institutional investors, mainly with 2 of Canada’s largest banks. Having successfully served private and corporate clients as an Investment Advisor, he recognized the need for truly dedicated portfolio management.

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Fees, fees, fees! What are investors paying for investment management services in Canada? (2024)

FAQs

What are the fees for investment management? ›

‍Advisor (Management) Fees

The industry typically refers to this as an investment management fee and averages between 1-2% of assets (i.e. A $100,000 investment could cost you between $1,000 - $2,000 annually).

What is the average investment advisor fee in Canada? ›

This usually averages around 2.4% of your investment for the initial advice and set-up, followed by around a 1% annual fee for ongoing advice and management.

What is an investor service fee? ›

Investment fees are fees charged to use financial products, such as broker fees, trading fees, and expense ratios. Investment fees are one of the most important determinants of investment performance and are something on which every investor should focus. Over time, minimizing fees tends to maximize performance.

Can I claim investment management fees in Canada? ›

Fees in a registered account

Advisory and other investment fees charged on registered assets, regardless of the investments held, are not tax deductible. However, you have the option to pay the investment fees charged on a registered account from the registered account itself or from outside the account.

What is the average management fee for a fund? ›

Managed fund fee types
DescriptionApplies toWhat's normal
Investment or indirect cost ratio How much you have to pay to your investment manager.Account balance0.15% to 1.5%
Performance Bonus fee paid to your investment manager if they do very well.Account balance0.1% to 0.5%
4 more rows

What is the average investment broker fee? ›

The standard commission for full-service brokers today is between 1% to 2% of a client's managed assets. For example, Tim wants to purchase 100 shares of Company A at $40 per share.

What is the average mutual fund management fee in Canada? ›

It typically ranges from 0.25% to 1.5% of the value of your investment each year. It is to pay for the services and advice the advisor and their firm provide to you. The firm may pay all or part of the commission to your financial advisor.

Is 2% fee high for a financial advisor? ›

Without knowing the full scope of services delivered by the advisor, 2% may be too expensive for a portfolio of your size and for a relationship in which tax advice is not provided. This immediate, high-level evaluation is based on benchmarks for typical advisory fees, which we'll dive into shortly.

Are financial advisors worth 1% fee? ›

But, if you're already working with an advisor, the simplest way to determine whether a 1% fee is reasonable may be to look at what they've helped you accomplish. For example, if they've consistently helped you to earn a 12% return in your portfolio for five years running, then 1% may be a bargain.

Is a 1% management fee high? ›

Are you paying too much to your financial adviser? Many financial advisers charge based on how much money they manage on your behalf, and 1% of your total assets under management is a pretty standard fee. But psst: If you have over $1 million, a flat fee might make a lot more financial sense for you, pros say.

What does Edward Jones charge to manage accounts? ›

Edward Jones invests and manages your account. Annual Program Fee of 1.35%, with lower tiers and reduced rates for higher asset levels. Annual Portfolio Strategy Fee of 0.09% or 0.19% depending on account type, with lower tiers and reduced rates for higher asset levels.

Are investor fees worth it? ›

Investment fees aren't all bad. They cover some important costs to help ensure that your investments are managed well. You just want to make sure you're getting good value from your investments without letting excessive fees cut into your returns. You should never invest in anything until you understand how it works.

How much do financial advisors charge in Canada? ›

Different fees for different services

According to AdvisoryHQ, for a $1,000,000 portfolio, the average financial advisor fee is 1.02% per year. This means that you would pay $10,200 per year in advisory fees on that $1,000,000 portfolio. As your assets get bigger, this fee drops.

How are investment management fees charged? ›

A simple management fee is applied as a percentage of the total assets under management. Suppose you're planning to invest $100,000, and an investment firm offers you an investment opportunity with a management fee of 0.45% per year. In this case, you would be charged $450 a year in management fees.

Are investment management fees negotiable? ›

In the pre-investment due diligence phase, management fees represent the largest estimable cost. [1] Therefore, they are an excellent candidate for negotiation.

What is the investment management charge? ›

A management fee is a charge levied by an investment manager for overseeing an investment fund. The fee is intended to compensate managers for their time and expertise in selecting stocks and managing the portfolio.

How much should I pay an investment manager? ›

Your adviser's fees will be based on many things: what advice you need, how much time it will take, and the size of the assets involved. Advisers often charge between 1% and 2% of the asset in question (e.g. a pension pot), with lower percentages being charged for larger assets.

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