Is Questrade Safe? How Your Investments Are Protected (2026)

At a glance

How each Questrade account is protected
Account or risk	Protected by	Up to	What it covers
General accounts: cash, margin, TFSA and FHSA	CIPF	$1,000,000 combined	Cash and securities missing if Questrade, Inc. becomes insolvent
Retirement accounts: RRSP, RRIF and LIF	CIPF	$1,000,000 combined	The same, as a separate category
RESPs	CIPF	$1,000,000 combined	The same, as a separate category
A trade you didn't make, caused by a breach of Questrade's systems	Questrade's Online Security Guarantee	100% of your direct financial loss	Not losses from your own password, device or email being compromised

Is Questrade regulated in Canada?

Yes. Questrade, Inc. is a registered investment dealer and a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), which oversees investment dealers across Canada.

It's also a member of the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). Questrade notes that CIPF's protection is limited to the activities of Questrade, Inc., the company that holds your account.

What happens if Questrade goes bankrupt?

CIPF steps in. If a member firm becomes insolvent, CIPF compensates eligible clients for the cash and securities the firm was holding for them that are missing, valued on the day of the insolvency.

Coverage is up to $1,000,000 per account category, not per account. Your TFSA, FHSA and non-registered accounts share one limit; your RRSP, RRIF and LIF share another; RESPs have a third.

Claims have to be filed within 180 days of the firm's insolvency.

CIPF account categories
Category	Includes	Limit
General accounts	Cash, margin, TFSA, FHSA	$1,000,000 combined
Registered retirement accounts	RRSP, RRIF, LIF	$1,000,000 combined
Registered education savings plans	RESPs	$1,000,000 combined

infoQuestrade CIPF coverage is custodial

It replaces property Questrade was holding for you and can't account for. It doesn't cover investments losing value, unsuitable investments or poor advice.

Are Questwealth Portfolios protected the same way?

Questwealth Portfolios are run by Questrade Wealth Management Inc. (QWM), a registered portfolio manager that isn't itself a CIRO or CIPF member.

QWM decides what to buy and sell. Questrade, Inc., the CIPF member, holds the account and provides its custody, trade execution and reporting.

How safe is Questrade from hackers and fraud?

Questrade's Online Security Guarantee reimburses 100% of your direct financial loss from an unauthorized transaction caused solely by a breach of Questrade's systems.

It doesn't apply if the breach came from your side: a compromised password, device or email account. Questrade calls security a shared responsibility, and the protections below are yours to turn on.

check_circleTwo-step verification: a time-sensitive code by text or phone call once you verify your phone in your profile.
check_circleMobile authenticator apps, trusted devices and biometric sign-in.
check_circle256-bit SSL encryption for data moving between you and Questrade.
check_circleEmail alerts when your account is accessed from a new device, and optional confirmation alerts for every order.

warningYour password is the weak point

Questrade says it will never ask for your Questrade ID and password. A message that does is not from Questrade.

Is Questrade legit?

Yes. Questrade has been in business since 1999, and Questrade, Inc. is held to the same CIRO rules and CIPF protection as any other member dealer.

What each protection does, and doesn't, cover:

What protects you at Questrade, by risk
If this happens	What protects you
Questrade, Inc. becomes insolvent	CIPF, up to $1,000,000 per account category
Someone trades in your account through a breach of Questrade's systems	The Online Security Guarantee
Someone signs in with your stolen password	Not the guarantee: it excludes compromised credentials
Your investments fall in value	Nothing: that risk is yours

Sources

Every fact on this page comes from these pages, checked on the date shown.

open_in_new Questrade: Online Security Guarantee (last updated May 29, 2026) · checked Sep 28, 2026
open_in_new Questrade: Account security centre · checked Sep 28, 2026
open_in_new Questrade: Questrade Reserve (CIRO, CIPF and QWM disclosures) · checked Sep 28, 2026
open_in_new CIPF: About CIPF coverage · checked Sep 28, 2026
open_in_new CIPF: Canadian Investor Protection Fund · checked Sep 28, 2026

Questrade safety FAQ

Is my money safe with Questrade? expand_more

Yes, up to CIPF's limits. Questrade, Inc. is CIRO-regulated and a CIPF member, so the cash and securities it holds for you are protected up to $1,000,000 per account category if it becomes insolvent.

Is Questrade CIPF protected? expand_more

Yes. Questrade, Inc. is a CIPF member. Coverage is $1,000,000 for general accounts combined, $1,000,000 for retirement accounts combined and $1,000,000 for RESPs.

What happens to my TFSA if Questrade goes bankrupt? expand_more

It's covered by CIPF with your other general accounts, up to $1,000,000 combined, for cash and securities that are missing when the firm becomes insolvent. Claims are filed within 180 days.

Is Questrade a bank? expand_more

No. Questrade, Inc. is an investment dealer regulated by CIRO. Your investments are protected by CIPF, not by CDIC deposit insurance.

Does Questrade have two-step verification? expand_more

Yes. Verify your phone in your profile to get codes by text or phone call, or set up a mobile authenticator app. Questrade also supports trusted devices and biometric sign-in.

Can I lose money with Questrade? expand_more

Yes, if your investments fall in value. CIPF and the Online Security Guarantee protect against the firm failing and breaches of its systems, not against market losses.

edit_note Written and reviewed by the Referral Hub editorial team. We check every fact against the company's or regulator's own pages, and we may earn a referral bonus when you sign up through our links. How we research and get paid.

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