Long-term investing

Pepperstone Inactivity Fees guide

Inactivity fees can quietly reduce a long-term investor's balance, because buy-and-hold strategies often involve long stretches without trades. This guide does not state whether Pepperstone currently charges an inactivity fee, since such terms change and can vary by entity. Instead, it explains exactly where to look and what to confirm so you know the current rules before opening or leaving an account dormant.

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Where to find the current inactivity fee terms

The authoritative sources are Pepperstone's client agreement, fee schedule and any product disclosure documents for the entity that serves your country. Search these documents for terms such as inactivity, dormancy, maintenance and administration fees. Third-party summaries, including older articles, may describe outdated terms, so treat the broker's own current documents as the only reliable source. If the documents are silent or unclear, ask support to confirm the policy in writing and keep the response.

Read the client agreement and fee schedule for your specific regulated entity, not a generic version.
Search for dormancy, maintenance and administration charges as well as the word inactivity.
Save a dated copy or written confirmation of the policy you were shown.

Questions long-term investors should answer

If an inactivity fee exists, the details determine how much it matters. Confirm how inactivity is defined, since some brokers count only trades while others also count logins or deposits. Check the qualifying period before charges begin, the fee amount and frequency, whether the fee can take the balance below zero or simply drain it to zero, and whether open positions count as activity. Also confirm what reactivates the account and whether charged fees are ever refunded. These specifics decide whether a passive strategy is practical at a given broker.

How is activity defined: trades only, or logins and deposits as well?
After how many months does any charge start, and how much is deducted per period?
Do open positions or held balances count as activity?
What stops the fee, and can a dormant account be closed to avoid it?

Planning around dormancy rules

Once you know the current terms, build them into your plan. Long-term investors can set calendar reminders ahead of any dormancy threshold, keep records of the terms in force when the account was opened and factor potential charges into cost comparisons across brokers. Use the brokerage fee calculator at /tools/brokerage-fee-calculator to include any recurring account charges in your total cost estimate, and apply the same questions to alternative brokers through /find-my-broker. Broader guidance on structuring a low-maintenance portfolio is available at /invest-long-term.

Add reminders before any dormancy period would be reached.
Include potential inactivity charges when comparing total costs across brokers.
Re-check the fee schedule periodically, since brokers can revise terms with notice.

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FAQ

Does Pepperstone charge an inactivity fee?

You should verify this directly in Pepperstone's current fee schedule and client agreement for the entity serving your country. Terms differ by region and can change over time, so a dated document or written confirmation from support is the reliable answer.

Why do inactivity fees matter more for long-term investors?

Buy-and-hold strategies often involve months or years without new trades. If a broker defines activity narrowly, a passive account can meet the dormancy definition even while holding positions, so recurring charges could reduce the balance over time.

How can I avoid inactivity charges if they apply?

Common options include making a qualifying action before the dormancy threshold, closing an account you no longer use, or choosing a broker whose terms suit passive investing. Confirm which actions reset the inactivity clock under the broker's current terms.