RE: RE: RE: wish this process would I don't believe Scottrade will open up an account for residents of Canada, but a call to them will reveal the answer.
Only select US brokers open non-resident accounts. No Canadian broker will open an account for a US resident as they are all afraid of the SEC and regulations that supposedly "protect" Americans (like the FDA regulations that keep them from buying cheaper Canadian prescription drugs).
Peter there are more investment alternatives in the US but you compete there will many more investors, many more sophisticated investors and a more aggressive High Speed Trading and Black Pool environment. Level 2 information in the US stinks compared to the TSX, so you trade more blindly and the HSTs frontrun your orders.
It is probably wise to have US$ and $C accounts so you can take advantage of opportunities wherever they happen.