RE: Was This A Stupid Question??The subject is not stupid ...
The problem with your question is that you take for granted that brokerage fees must be paid on every transaction. This is not the case at all.
Brokerage fees are paid to the brokers by consumers like you and me. Brokers are TD, BNC, Jitney, BMO, Canaccord, etc.. But for brokers, market makers and large investors who have paid for direct access to the floor, each order placed on the ask or the bid gives them a credit of few cents.
So when you sell your shares by a TD or BMO or any trading other platform, TD, BMO or whatever broker bill you with a 5$ or 10$ or 30$ fees but will receive a credit for the transaction...unless you sell at the market which cost a few cents to the broker...
Yep...that's the way it is...