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You've Opened Your Investing Account. Now What?

Written by The Inspired Investor Team

Published on January 23, 2018

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Updated August 2026

Now that you've got your RBC Direct Investing account, you have access to a vast library of articles and market research, real-time streaming quote1 information, goal-setting tools and more to help you invest online with confidence. But what's your first move?

Here are five things you can do to get started:

1. Fund your account

You can start trading as soon as you have a balance in your account. Ready to get started? Here are ways to fund your RBC Direct Investing account. 

RBC Online Banking. If you bank online with RBC, you can use the same login you use for banking to seamlessly transfer funds from a personal chequing or savings account to a personal D­irect Investing account (non-registered and registered). The feature is called "Transfer to Direct Investing or InvestEase" and can be found under the online banking Pay Bills and Transfer Funds page. (Can't see your investment accounts on your online banking Account Summary page? You may have to link them first. From your RBC online banking Account Summary page, find the Account Management menu on the bottom right, select "Link Accounts" and choose RBC Direct Investing.)

RBC Direct Investing Site. On the RBC Direct Investing online investing site, select the Trade & Transfer tab, and then Transfers, and follow the steps to move money from your RBC chequing or savings accounts, or Avion points, to your RBC Direct Investing account. 

RBC Mobile2 App. If you bank online with RBC Online Banking and have linked your banking and RBC Direct Investing accounts, simply open or download the app and select RBC Direct Investing from the main menu when you log in. Then, select "Transfer Funds" under the yellow Action button or the More menu to move money from your RBC chequing or savings accounts to your RBC Direct Investing accounts. 

  • PACs: If you choose to set up a Pre-Authorized Contribution (PAC) plan, you can set yourself up to have funds transferred automatically from your RBC bank account into your investing accounts. 

Transfer Funds from Another Institution. If you bank online somewhere other than RBC, simply add "RBC Direct Investing" as a bill payee – just like you would to pay an online bill, to transfer funds from a chequing or savings account. You will also need to have your 10-digit account number, which can be found on an RBC Direct Investing account statement. This can take 2-4 business days.  

Transfer Investments from Another Institution. You have the option to transfer investments from another financial institution or firm to your RBC Direct Investing Account. Learn how here. 

Converting Avion points to Cash. Redeem Avion points online to make cash deposits or contributions to your investment account, RRSP, TFSA or RESP. Rewards points can also be used to pay for trade commissions on your online or mobile trades. Learn more here.

Depositing a Cheque. The fastest way to deposit funds by cheque is to use the RBC Mobile app. First, switch to your personal banking profile on the app Home screen. Next, select "Deposit a Cheque" under the yellow Action button or the Move Money menu. Follow the steps on-screen to take a picture of your cheque and deposit it into the RBC Royal Bank account you choose. You can then switch to RBC Direct Investing on the RBC Mobile app to transfer the funds to your RBC Direct Investing account.

Find out more in Transfers, Foreign Exchange and Contributions FAQs.

2. Set up a goal

Whether you're building your retirement nest egg, saving for a child's education or putting away money for an upcoming vacation, the first step toward reaching a goal is to set one.

The Goal Setting Tool lets you create a financial goal, track your progress and project your future savings based on your personal circumstances, such as your investor profile, how much you have to invest, how often you invest and the time you have to reach your goal.

3. Explore your investment options and increase your investing knowledge

There are thousands of investments available to you, so how do you narrow your choices and find what's right for you? Here are some ways to get started.

  • Use the search box at the top of the online page to enter keywords, find an article or enter a specific symbol.
  • Visit Inspired Investor under the Research tab to explore articles that build confidence, motivate and increase knowledge by connecting investing with everyday interests.
  • Explore screeners for stocks, exchange-traded funds and mutual funds, which allow you to narrow your search based on criteria important to you.
  • Browse Markets Overview under the Research tab for breaking market news, company announcements, daily research and more.
  • Look for the Investor's Toolkit under the Research tab, where you'll find a number of learning resources and helpful tools.
  • Check out the Investing Academy for comprehensive investing guides and answers to many of your investing questions. 

4. Take a test drive

Practice Accounts are a great way to test out your trading acumen. Every Practice Account comes with $100,000 in practice dollars to trade on a risk-free basis.

Whether you're just getting started or you're a seasoned online investor, your RBC Direct Investing account gives you access to the tools, research and learning resources to help you invest with confidence.

For more resources to help you navigate the RBC Direct Investing site, check out the Guide to Online Self-Serve Options.

RBC Direct Investing Inc. and Royal Bank of Canada are separate corporate entities which are affiliated. RBC Direct Investing Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada and is a Member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Royal Bank of Canada and certain of its issuers are related to RBC Direct Investing Inc. RBC Direct Investing Inc. does not provide investment advice or recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of any securities. Investors are responsible for their own investment decisions. RBC Direct Investing is a business name used by RBC Direct Investing Inc. ® / ™ Trademark(s) of Royal Bank of Canada. RBC and Royal Bank are registered trademarks of Royal Bank of Canada. Used under licence.

© Royal Bank of Canada 2026.

Any information, opinions or views provided in this document, including hyperlinks to the RBC Direct Investing Inc. website or the websites of its affiliates or third parties, are for your general information only, and are not intended to provide legal, investment, financial, accounting, tax or other professional advice. While information presented is believed to be factual and current, its accuracy is not guaranteed and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the author(s) as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by RBC Direct Investing Inc. or its affiliates. You should consult with your advisor before taking any action based upon the information contained in this document.

Furthermore, the products, services and securities referred to in this publication are only available in Canada and other jurisdictions where they may be legally offered for sale. Information available on the RBC Direct Investing website is intended for access by residents of Canada only, and should not be accessed from any jurisdiction outside Canada.

1 Real-time streaming quotes are available automatically to all clients for Canadian and U.S. exchange listed equities, ETFs and most over-the-counter (OTC) securities. Real-time streaming quotes for options and grey market OTC securities are available to all clients upon accepting the terms and conditions of all exchange agreements on the RBC Direct Investing online investing site.

2 RBC Mobile is operated by Royal Bank of Canada, RBC Direct Investing Inc. and RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

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