Questrade is betting that the next era of online investing will be defined by more than lower trading fees.
The Toronto-based financial services company has unveiled a major expansion of its platform that includes AI-connected accounts, automated trading strategies, zero-dollar options contracts and access to private companies before they go public.
At the centre of the rollout is Flows, which Questrade describes as Canada’s first native financial automation engine. The feature allows clients to describe an investment strategy in plain language, after which the platform builds and runs the automation, including executing trades on the client’s behalf.
Questrade is also introducing a secure integration designed to connect client accounts directly with AI assistants including ChatGPT and Claude.
Through Questrade MCP, clients will be able to view and analyze account information, research potential opportunities using market data and instruct an AI platform to initiate an order on their behalf. Questrade says the integration makes it the first Canadian-based financial institution to connect client accounts directly and officially with popular AI assistants.
“Since its inception, Questrade has never accepted the status quo,” said Edward Kholodenko, founder and chief executive officer of Questrade. “Today’s announcement continues to honour that commitment, maintaining Questrade’s position as the definitive financial platform for Canadians who never settle for average.”
The new capabilities signal Questrade’s move into what it calls “agentic finance,” where AI systems go beyond presenting information and help clients take action through connected financial accounts.
Alongside its AI initiatives, Questrade is expanding the pricing and benefits attached to its trading platform.
After introducing zero-commission trading in 2025, the digital brokerage is eliminating per-contract fees on U.S.-listed equity options. Members of its Questrade Plus subscription program will also receive five cents in cashback for each options contract traded.
The updated subscription will include new partner perks, a one per cent RRSP match and early access to pre-IPO investment opportunities. Questrade says it plans to add further benefits to the program as its product lineup expands throughout the year.
Pre-IPO access, which is listed as coming soon, will allow accredited investors to invest in private companies before a potential public listing. Questrade says it will become the first self-directed brokerage in Canada to offer the capability, with minimum investments intended to lower the traditional barriers to accessing private-market opportunities.
The rollout also includes several tools designed to give clients a more complete view of their finances.
A personalized streaming news feed will provide market developments alongside real-time insights showing how they could affect a client’s portfolio and watched investments.
Questrade is also developing a Personal Balance Sheet that will bring deposits, investments, loans and real estate into a single view, including accounts held outside the company. The forthcoming feature is expected to scan a client’s financial position for potential opportunities, such as switching mortgage or insurance providers.
Another feature, called Equity Engine, will automate the setup and ongoing management of the Smith Manoeuvre, a strategy that uses home equity to build an investment portfolio while potentially creating tax-deductible borrowing costs.
The product expansion is being accompanied by a new visual identity, including a redesigned logo and updated aesthetic.
“Today, Questrade begins our next chapter with first-in-Canada products and a new brand identity that mirrors the ambitious mindset of our clients,” said Rob Galaski, president of Questrade Financial Group. “This is a declaration of intent: a financial platform that performs like nothing else in Canada, built for Canadians who refuse to accept the traditional trade-offs in financial services.”
With established banks and digital challengers both incorporating artificial intelligence into their services, Questrade’s latest expansion puts automation at the centre of the client experience. Its Flows and MCP offerings, in particular, move beyond AI-powered research toward systems capable of helping investors initiate and carry out financial actions.
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