8 Essential Direct Investing Self-Serve Tools, Tips and Resources

Last updated December 2023

The last few years have changed how many of us are working and living, which has made digital technologies even more relevant as we look for ways to meet our day-to-day needs most effectively.

To help ensure that you've got the most essential self-serve tools at your fingertips to meet your investing needs as quickly as possible, we've put together some of our best online resources and tips to address the questions our service representatives get asked most often.

While some tools and site references are specific to our clients, most articles are accessible to all.

Before we get into specific questions, we want to share one of our favourite features: the SEARCH function. In the top-right corner of each page when you are signed into your account, you'll see a "search for symbol or keyword" prompt. Not only can you type in the name or symbol of a security you're searching for, but you can also use keywords to find hundreds of useful articles.

Now for our FAQs:

1) How Do I Know if My Account Has Been Opened?

As soon as your account is opened, you'll receive an email from us. While you're waiting, check out our Guide to Getting Started.

2) How Do I Place a Trade?

The fastest way to place a trade is online or through the RBC Mobile¹ banking app. Your go-to resources online can be found under "Trade & Transfer," where you can choose the type of trade you want to place. On mobile, you can select "Place Order." Check out I’m Ready to Place a Trade for a step-by-step video that will walk you through how to buy and sell a stock or exchange-traded fund.

3) How Do I Access or Transfer Funds?

Cash transfers, contributions, withdrawals and foreign-exchange transactions can all be done online – including in-kind transfers. On the secure site, you can find the resources you'll need under "Trade & Transfer." For a quick how-to overview, check out the How to Fund Your Account video or find out more in Transfers, Foreign Exchange and Contributions FAQs.

4) How Do I Check My Order Status?

The best way to check the status of your orders is online or through the mobile app. You can view your order status through "Transactions" under "Trade & Transfer" online, or under "Order Status" on mobile. One tip: always check the status of your previous orders before placing a new order or modifying/cancelling an existing one.

5) I Still Need Tax Documents. How Can I Get Them?

You can access tax documents issued by RBC electronically when you sign up for eDocuments. Once signed up, which you can do through "View & Manage Documents" under your profile, you can view and download your personal tax documents right away. Plus, you'll have access to an archive of tax slips starting with your 2018 documents.  

6) How Do I Find and/or Submit Forms?

Many account forms and agreements – also found under your profile – can be filled out and submitted online. For those that can't be accepted online, we encourage you to mail them to:

RBC Direct Investing Inc. Royal Bank Plaza
200 Bay Street, North Tower
P.O. Box 75
Toronto, Ontario M5J 2Z5

7) How Do I Confirm My Beneficiary Information?

You can verify your beneficiary designations online through "View & Designate Beneficiaries" under your profile. You'll also find links to the relevant forms for any account on which you haven't named a beneficiary. You can find out more about your beneficiary choices in Naming a Beneficiary: Choices for Your Account Type.

8) How Can I Learn More About the Online Site?

There is a full series of how-to videos that can help you learn to navigate the online site, put money into your account, read a stock quote, transfer assets and more. You can start with Getting to Know the RBC Direct Investing Site, and you'll find the full library of how-to videos here.