About CI Financial
CI Direct Investing elevates the robo-advisor model by bringing true institutional-grade wealth management to the retail investor. It stands alone by offering 'Private Investment Portfolios,' granting clients unprecedented access to alternative asset classes—such as private real estate, private equity, and infrastructure—historically reserved for pension funds to hedge against public market volatility. Coupled with unlimited access to Certified Financial Planners (CFPs) for every client regardless of account size, it provides a profoundly holistic, high-net-worth experience.
The Good
- Management fees drop automatically as your assets grow
- Very low $100 minimum to start investing
- Access to "Private Portfolios" like real estate
The Bad
- Combined cost of management fee + ETF MER is high
- No self-directed trading option within the same app
- Private portfolios have significantly higher expense ratios
Fee Structure
Updated 2026| Fee Type | Details | Cost |
|---|---|---|
|
Portfolio Management Fee
|
Management fee for the first $150,000.
|
0.60% |
|
Portfolio Management Fee
|
Management fee for the next $350,000.
Min Bal: $150001
|
0.40% |
|
Portfolio Management Fee
|
Management fee for balances above $500,000.
Min Bal: $500001
|
0.35% |
|
Fund MER (Embedded Cost)
|
Weighted average embedded MER for standard ETF portfolios (approx 0.17% - 0.23%).
|
0.21% |
|
Fund MER (Embedded Cost)
|
Weighted average MER for Private Investment Portfolios (higher due to alternative assets).
|
1.50% |
|
Transfer Out Fee
|
CI Direct Investing does not charge a fee to transfer out (Custodian fees may still apply).
|
Free |
Key Features
Automatic Rebalancing
The platform automatically buys and sells assets in the background to keep your portfolio perfectly aligned with your target risk level.
Goal-Based Investing
Set specific financial targets (like a down payment or retirement) and track your progress with dedicated, optimized portfolios.
Access to Human Advisors
Speak directly with licensed financial planners or portfolio managers for personalized wealth strategy and advice.
CIPF Protected
Your account is safeguarded by the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) against the insolvency of the brokerage.
No FX Fee
Avoid paying the standard percentage-based markup when converting Canadian Dollars to US Dollars.
Passive Indexing
Low-cost portfolios built with Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) designed to simply track the broad market index.
RateBuddy Verdict
undefined stands out for its comprehensive tools for active traders. With competitive pricing and a solid reputation backed by CI Financial, it remains a top contender in the Canadian market.