Transparent pricing
Fees don't have to be complicated. Here's a breakdown, so you'll know exactly what you'll be paying and why.
You can start investing with a minimum of $1,000
What's included in your fees
An account fee covers professional portfolio management (those experts are monitoring and rebalancing your investment!) and support from a team of investment advisors should you have any questions or need any help.
MER fees explained
SmartFolio accounts are made up of ETF portfolios, and all ETFs have management fees and expenses that are calculated as Management Expense Ratio (MER) in addition to the advisory fee. The MER is included within the pricing of the ETFs themselves and will not appear as an expense item on your account statement(s). The MER of the ETFs held within your portfolio will likely be a weighted average of 0.20% to 0.35% of the value of your SmartFolio account.
A look at our fee schedule
Account fees are calculated as a percentage based on how much you’ve invested.
| Asset value | Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| First $100,000 | 0.70% |
| Next $150,000 | 0.60% |
| Next $250,000 | 0.50% |
| Next $500,000 | 0.40% |
For example, if Paul invests $275,000, his total yearly fee would be $1,725.
Here’s the breakdown of how he’s charged:
First $100,000 at 0.7% = $700Next $150,000 at 0.6% = $900Next $25,000 at 0.5% = $125
SmartFolio fees compared to traditional investing fees
Annual advisory (or account) fees based on a $60,000 investment
The cost of traditional investing is based on a 1.75% traditional advisory fee.
What else you may want to know
From time to time, you may need to make changes to your account – here’s a breakdown of what you will be charged to cover those administrative tasks.
Transfer-out of a Non-Registered or Registered Account (Full and partial) - $135 per account
Cheque requests - $10 per request
Fees are charged per account unless otherwise stated and are subject to change. You’ll receive 60 days notice for any new or increased fee.
Interest on a credit balance in your account is subject to change without notice, and may vary. Please check your BMO SmartFolio Investment Management Agreement for more details. Interest isn’t paid if the amount accrued is less than $5 per month. BMO Nesbitt Burns may earn revenue from the use of cash credit balances.
If foreign currency conversions are needed in your account, BMO Nesbitt Burns will act as principal, unless we notify you otherwise. Exchange rates for foreign currency conversion are established or determined by BMO Nesbitt Burns or parties related to us in our sole discretion and are subject to change without notice. Exchange rates will vary according to the market, type of currency and the value of the trade. Along with other fees that may apply, we’ll earn spread revenue of up to 1.8% from a foreign currency conversion.
If you close your account, any accrued unpaid advisory fees must be paid. These fees are subject to GST, QST, and/or HST where it applies. You’ll also be charged for any sales, use, goods and services, harmonized sales, value added, and transaction taxes that are a result of transactions made in your account.
Not sure if SmartFolio is right for you?
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Have questions? That’s what we’re here for.
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