How do ETFs work?
Your guide to how ETFs work and whether this type of investment is right for you.
Read more…Top Canadian stock discussion forums
We look at 6 popular stock discussion groups from Canada and overseas.
Stock forums in Canada cater specifically to our economy, laws and stock exchange. There are a multitude to pick from whether you’re just starting to invest or a veteran who wants to share their knowledge.
Here are our picks for the best Canadian and international stock forums of 2024.
Canadian stock forums
1.Canadian Investor – Reddit
More than 200,000 members interested in market opportunities share dozens of posts each day, making this the largest stock forum on our list. Articles, discussion threads, breaking news and general advice can all be found on the Canadian Investor subreddit. Reddit’s Canadian Investor page is one of the best stock forums around for those looking to get as much information as possible in a short amount of time.
You can even use Reddit’s own advice to potentially buy stocks in Reddit itself. The company is reportedly planning an IPO, although the rumours have yet to be confirmed. Click here to check out our guide on how to buy Reddit stock if the company goes public.
Remember that Reddit is completely anonymous and other users may not have your best interest at heart though.
Features
- More than 200,000 members
- Easy to read and find older posts
2.Canadian Money Forum
Posts and advice about real estate, stock portfolios, taxes, retirement and investing are shared by more than 160,000 users daily. You can navigate this stock message board on your own or find some of the top users to hopefully get some more substantial advice. Like Reddit, users are anonymous and can add anything they like to the conversation, so always double-check your information.
Features
- Peer-vetted content lets users decide what hits your homepage
- Thousands of users with a wealth of knowledge on almost any financial topic
3.RedFlagDeals – Investing
What started as a website for sharing sales and deals has evolved into one of the most useful resources for all things money on the Internet. RedFlagDeals now covers investing and personal finance on its forums, with more than 250 pages worth of posts since 2010. This stock forum is packed with thousands of posts that dive into how to properly invest and grow the money you might’ve saved already with RedFlagDeals.
Features
- Reputable name that has become synonymous with saving money
- The community is always on the hunt for low price stocks – the site was founded to find deals after all
4.Stockaholics
One of the smaller options for Canadian stock forums, Stockaholics’ members discuss everything from penny stocks to trade journals and even crypto trading. If you’re looking for a slightly older crowd than you’d normally get on r/WallStreetBets, you might want to check out this forum. For a quick read on what penny stocks are and how they work, check out our guide here.
The site’s TIFU forum even lets users share their trading blunders for readers to get a laugh at their expense.
Features
- Tighter knit community than some of the big players in the stock forum game
- Subforums started by industry experts can dive into almost any aspect of investing
International forums
1.The Lion
The Lion is a solid resource for both the depth of forum posts and its links to informative and relevant articles. The homepage is simple and easy to navigate although some readers may find the text size to be small.
Features
- It’s free to join this community and benefit from the interaction with thousands of members
- It’s possible to see how other investors’ portfolios are performing
2.r/WallStreetBets
Operating for over 9 years, this forum now has 9 million users euphemistically termed “degenerates.” That number has grown from 5 million just a couple of weeks before writing.
This Reddit forum is one of the most active out there. It has been responsible for some of the largest speculative gains (some would say mania) in stock history. For that reason, caution is advised when using this forum as a tool for information on investing.
Despite this, it’s well worth a look, even if just for entertainment purposes.
Features
- An entertaining (and sometimes crazy) look at the world of rash, speculative investing
- Keep your thumb on the pulse of dramatic stock movements (like the GameStop stock surge)
Finder survey: Which investment services do Canadians with different incomes use?
| Response | Prefer Not To Say | Middle Income | Lower Income | High Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I do not use any investment services | 45.24% | 30.81% | 47.76% | 26.9% |
| Financial advisor | 26.19% | 36.13% | 24.04% | 37.59% |
| Micro-investment app | 21.43% | 6.44% | 8.33% | 7.93% |
| Full-service stock broker | 19.05% | 8.68% | 8.97% | 7.93% |
| Cryptocurrency exchange | 11.9% | 14.57% | 13.46% | 18.62% |
| Portfolio management service | 11.9% | 12.89% | 11.86% | 11.38% |
| Other investment app | 7.14% | 8.12% | 8.97% | 15.17% |
| Robo-advisor | 7.14% | 9.8% | 6.41% | 7.93% |
| Share trading platform | 7.14% | 15.41% | 11.22% | 14.83% |
| CFD trading platform | 2.38% | 6.44% | 6.73% | 5.86% |
Source: Finder survey by Pollfish of 1001 Canadians, January 2024
Compare stock trading platforms
Once you’ve read up on what it takes to get into stock trading, check out popular stock trading platforms below, or check out our guide to the best trading platforms in Canada.
1 - 6 of 6
Finder Score for stock trading platforms
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Trading costs, account fees and features across 10+ stock trading platforms and apps are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the platform - simple.
Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, CFDs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as investment advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involves substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Trading CFDs and forex on leverage comes with a higher risk of losing money rapidly. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades. Read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product on the provider's website.
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