Online brokers allow self-directed investors to pick, buy and trade assets such as stocks, bonds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on their own, without the guidance or assistance of an advisor or a trading agent. Because online brokerages cut out the middleman, the trading fees do not have to account for a professional’s commission, so you save the difference in costs. This significant savings is the reason why online brokers are also known as discount brokers. While Canada’s online brokers provide roughly the same basic DIY investing and trading services, the platforms, fees and access to investing information can differ