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Your reference number for this chat is LTK143010719736X

David Splawnyk: Hello, thank you for contacting Questrade. 
How can I help you?

scott kimler: Hello David

scott kimler: I'm thinking of signing up with Questrade and have a
couple of questions.

David Splawnyk: sounds good. How can I help you.

scott kimler: Can I invest my RRSP $$ into a US mutual fund company
like Vanguard, via my Questrade account?

David Splawnyk: yes, you can invest in all trading on North American
Exchanges

scott kimler: My understanding is that I convert my $CAD -> USD once,
then it remains completely in USD until I sell.

David Splawnyk: correct, We are the only brokerage that lets you hold
USD in the RRSP account

scott kimler: I know ;)

scott kimler: That also includes any/all dividends that are 
automatically re-invested?

David Splawnyk: you can settle to either CAD side or USD side of the
account

David Splawnyk: Dividends are at the moment in CAD

scott kimler: so ... if I have a Vanguard fund and tick "re-invest my
quarterly/annual dividends", what happens?

David Splawnyk: dividends will be convert to CAD

scott kimler: so at the moment, there's no such thing as "automatic
dividend reinvestment" ... they're paid out and converted to $CAD 
and held in a sweep account (MMKT account)?

David Splawnyk: yes, for the time being.

scott kimler: and if I did want to reinvest them, I'd have to convert
back to $USD and initiate a "buy"

David Splawnyk: You can have div reinvested back into the US stock,
but not as cash.

scott kimler: okay ... two more questions

David Splawnyk: ok

scott kimler: 1) Say I wanted to buy $100k of some Vanguard fund,
which is a no-load fund ... what will that "trade" cost me?

David Splawnyk: Questrade carries the major fund families with a
commission of $30 per mutual fund trade. 

David Splawnyk: http://www.questrade.com/pricing/commissions.aspx 

scott kimler: okay ... so flat $30 per mutual fund trade, assuming
that it's a fund family that you have a relationship with.

David Splawnyk: correct

scott kimler: 2) Say I get a $1000 dividend payout ... what is the
"cost" to convert back to $CAD (what rates do you use and what are
the fees/percentages that Questrade get)?

David Splawnyk: The conversion rate would be, for non registered
account the spot rate + spread (1.5) and for our RRSP accounts it is
the spot rate + spread (.5)

scott kimler: where can I find the current "spot rate" value?

David Splawnyk: I sometimes use bank of Canada site

scott kimler: okay ... hey, thanks for your help!
David Splawnyk: no problem

David Splawnyk: is that all you needed for now?

scott kimler: great ... that's all I need at the moment. Thanks.