I found this link online that listed some of the top Canadian startups. It’s always good to see some risk-taking entrepreneurs out there. The blog has the details but check each one yourself:

1. ThoughtFarmer
2. Status.net
3. Shopify
4. Geotoko
5. HootSuite
6. Well.ca
7. Freshbooks
8. CommunityLend
9. Mobio
10. Mobify

This video caught the collapse of the Metrodome roof – which happened earlier this weekend.

Five years ago, when friends asked me about how to start investing, I usually suggested getting a discount brokerage account and buying a good mutual fund. However, over the past few years, exchange-traded funds (ETF’s) have exploded and now give people a much better option to start investing. The Toronto Star highlights some advantages to investing in ETF’s.

I’ve always wondered about this. The Globe and Mail just reported on the cost for foreign exchange transactions at the discount brokers. Turns out TD Waterhouse is the cheapest.

They based their findings on buying 100 shares of a $25 stock, which would cost:

• TD Waterhouse 2,541
• CIBC Investor’s Edge 2,575
• Questrade 2,584
• Virtual Brokers 2,589
• Qtrade 2,599
• BMO InvestorLine 2,610
• HSBC InvestDirect 2,610
• RBC Direct Investing 2,610
• National Bank Direct Brokerage 2,620
• Credential Direct 2,623
• Scotia iTrade 2,625
• ScotiaMcleod Direct Investing 2,625
• Disnat 2,629

The Globe and Mail released a ranking of Canada’s online brokers. Qtrade ended up on top, with Royal Bank the top-rated large back with 2nd place.

1. Qtrade
2. RBC Direct Investing
3. BMO Investorline
4. TD Waterhouse
5. Credential Direct
6. Scotia iTrade
7. Questrade
8. CIBC Investor’s Edge
9. Disnat
10. National Bank Direct Brokerage
11. ScotiaMcLeod Direct Investing
12. HSBC Investdirect
13. Virtual Brokers

I stumbled on this blog about new brands, called Brand New. With a concentration on marketing, they seem to focus on displaying the new brands (logos) of companies. They covered GapGate quite well, and I also found out that PriceWaterhouseCoopers finally changed their name to something useable: PWC.

Trading will get a little bit cheaper. TD Waterhouse now allows customers to get $9.99 trades with $50,000 in assets – down from $100,000 as of November 4th.

I don’t really know much about US history, but this documentary caught my eye last night and was I glued to the TV for it’s entire length. It’s a fascinating tale about the release of confidential papers by Daniel Ellsburg that led to the revelation of the misinformation the government gave about the Vietnam war.

The Globe and Mail ran a great article on how to lower your brokerage fees. At the end of the article they summarized some “fee traps” that can be avoided:

• Account under $50,000 to $100,000 normally pay commissions of $19 to $29. Questrade charges a minimum of $4.95 to all clients.
• Small starter RRSPs have annual admin fees of $50 to $100. Questrade, Scotia iTrade have no RRSP admin fees.
• Small, inactive non-registered accounts have inactivity fees of $80 per year Many firms have no inactivity fees, so ask.
• If you make regular monthly purchases of an ETF, Claymore ETF’s have a no fee pre-authorized cash contribution plan available at some brokers
• If you regularly reinvestment dividends, your broker can set up a free DRIP for your dividend stocks