Back in the 1980s, when investors relied on telephone orders and newspaper stock listings to manage their investments, TD Direct Investing was already helping Canadians who wanted to take charge of their financial futures.
More than four decades later, while the tools have changed dramatically, the TD Direct Investing commitment to empowering self-directed investors endures. TD Direct Investing continues to evolve its platform as a trusted resource clients can rely on, no matter where they are in their investing journey.
From its earliest days, TD Direct Investing has focused on giving Canadian do-it-yourself investors greater control over their investments by providing the information and tools needed to make informed decisions.
"It was built around the purpose and the mission, which was to make investing accessible to everyone," said Tony Ierullo, Vice President, TD Direct Investing.
Throughout its 40-year history, TD Direct Investing has celebrated a lot of firsts. It was the first bank-owned self-directed brokerage in Canada, the first online brokerage platform in the country, and in more recent decades, among the first to introduce mobile trading and the first Canadian bank-owned brokerage to introduce partial shares.
TD Direct Investing continues to be recognized as one of Canada’s leading online brokerages, recently earning accolades from both Forbes Advisor and MoneySense, as well as continued recognition from longtime investing columnist Rob Carrick, who described the platform as “still the king” in a February Substack post.
“The recent acknowledgement that TD Direct Investing has received reflects our ongoing commitment to innovation and delivering a more intuitive, accessible investing experience for Canadian do-it-yourself investors,” said Scott Ignall, Executive Vice President, TD Direct Investing.
Continuing to set the standard
Carrick noted that the TD Direct Investing apps have an “everything-in-its-place layout,” highlighting how easy it is for investors to perform key tasks such as reviewing asset allocation, monitoring portfolio income, and managing their investments.
That focus on supporting investors throughout their journey was also recognized by MoneySense, which named TD Direct Investing the top online brokerage in Canada in 2026.
TD Direct Investing ranked first in four categories: Trading Experience, Investor Resources, New Investors, and Bank-Owned Online Broker. It also finished among the top three in seven of eight eligible categories.
“A pioneer in Canada’s self-directed investing industry since the launch of TD GreenLine in the late 1980s, TD Direct Investing continues to set the standard for investors seeking a comprehensive brokerage experience,” MoneySense said in its analysis of TD Direct Investing.
MoneySense also highlighted TD Direct Investing's ability to support investors at every stage of their investing journey. New investors have access to educational content, learning resources and planning tools, while more experienced investors can benefit from advanced research, market data, and sophisticated trading capabilities.
Ierullo said the breadth of TD Direct Investing platforms allows it to support investors with different needs, whether they're just starting out or actively managing their portfolios. He added that TD Direct Investing remains committed to educating the next generation of do-it-yourself-investors through videos, articles, and learning resources available at no cost to clients.
Further reinforcing its standing among Canada's top online brokerages, TD Direct Investing earned a 4.6-star rating from Forbes Advisor Canada. The publication highlighted the platform's advanced trading tools and depth of research available to investors.
“It’s nice to have this depth of research without having to pay extra account fees,” the Forbes article said.
The Globe and Mail’s Digital Brokerage ranking highlighted how TD Direct Investing clients are offered “a great deal of flexibility” with a wide range of registered accounts. The ranking also highlighted the strong customer support available for TD Direct Investing investors.
That emphasis on support resonates with Ierullo, who said that while technology has transformed direct investing, access to human expertise remains important for many investors.
With TD Easy Trade, a TD Direct Investing platform, clients can access support 24 hours a day, five days a week.
For Ierullo, that's what sets TD apart: TD Direct Investing’s continued focus on providing not only a best-in-class digital experience for self-directed investors but also access to human expertise and support when they need it.
Making investing more accessible at TD Direct Investing
To make investing even simpler for Canadians, TD Direct Investing recently expanded access to investing by lowering barriers and expanding tools for investors at every stage of their journey.
Recent enhancements to TD Easy Trade include:
- No account fees and no minimum balance requirements
- Fractional investing starting at $1
- Built-in learning tools and market insights
For anyone who wants to kick off their investing journey but isn't sure where to start, Ierullo says to start early and refer to built-in learning tools for further information. For those unable to invest large amounts right away, TD also offers partial shares, allowing investors to get started with smaller contributions.
"You don't have to have a lot of money to get started," Ierullo said.
The TD Easy Trade app is now available on the App Store and Google Play. Canadians can open an account and start investing with as little as one dollar through a TFSA, FHSA, RRSP, or cash account.
To learn more, visit the TD Easy Trade website.
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