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I Want to Practice Before I Get Started

Want to try investing without putting any of your own money on the line? You can – with a practice account. Here's how.

What Is a Practice Account?

Think of your practice account as your online investing test drive. Your practice account comes loaded with $100,000 fictional dollars for you to invest just as you would with real funds. You will get access to the same online tools and order entry screens you'd use to find, buy and manage real investments. It's a no-risk way to get to know the RBC Direct Investing site, test strategies and gain confidence – plus, you can start over any time you like.

How Do I Open a Practice Account?

Setting up your practice account is simple and completely free for RBC Direct Investing clients and RBC Online Banking Clients. Select Open a Practice Account from the Person icon and follow the prompts from there.

What Transactions Can I Perform in My Practice Account?

While your practice account is created to function as much like a regular account as possible, it does differ in some ways. For example, you will not receive trade confirmations for transactions in your practice account, nor will you see maintenance or administration fees reflected in it. Find a full list of the differences here.

Further Reading:

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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 2024.

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.

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