TD reaches $70M class-action settlement on broker commissions, law firm says

financialpost.com:

TORONTO — Siskinds LLP says a $70.25 million class-action settlement has been reached with TD Asset Management over commissions paid to discount brokers.

The law firm says the class action members alleged that since discount brokers aren’t allowed to provide investment advice, investors receive no value for the trailing commissions they pay to such brokers.

It says trailing commissions paid on mutual funds are meant to compensate mutual fund dealers for investment advice they provide to investors.

Siskinds says it has filed proposed class actions against several mutual fund managers that have discount brokers, which along with TD Direct Investing, also includes RBC Direct Investing, BMO InvestorLine, CIBC Investor’s Edge, Scotia iTRADE and National Bank Direct Brokerage.

The proposed settlement with TD covers anyone who held units of a TD mutual fund trust through a discount broker on Sept. 11, 2024 or earlier.

The bank says TD Asset Management has a strong track record of providing investment solutions that meet the diverse needs of its clients, but that it is not able to comment on matters that are before the court.