Fidelity Investments Inc. was founded in 1946 under the name Fidelity Management & Research or FMR and is a subsidiary of FMR LLC. Our Fidelity review identifies that the parent company has a plethora of service subsidiaries under it.
Fidelity Investments is one of the largest asset managers in the world. The company headquarters is based in Boston, Massachusetts, and has a total of 50,000+ employees across the globe. As of March 2018, the company had over $2.46 trillion in assets under its management. The total customer recorded asset value also peaked at $6.7 trillion, as the company serves over 32 million customers we found in our Fidelity brokers review There are also 22,000 businesses and 13,000 financial institutions that receive support from Fidelity.
We applied the same standards to Fidelity as to our JP Morgan review and IG Broker review, and the brokerage is rated highly in diversity. Fidelity USA is committed to prioritizing their client’s financial positions and continue to drive success through transparent practices. The services Fidelity offers range from managing mutual funds to operating a brokerage firm, provision of fund distribution, and investment advice. Other services include retirement services, wealth management, index funds, cryptocurrency, life insurance, and securities execution and clearance.
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As one of the largest asset managers in the world, Fidelity Investment is not a scam. The founding Johnson family owns stock that represents 49% of the company’s shares. The rest of the stock is mostly owned by employees and ex-employees who work diligently to grow the company.
In our JP Morgan review, the brokerage is rated highly in diversity. A feat Fidelity can also boast about. The company’s growth means they increase the employees and ex-employees’ assets grow too.
As of March 2018, the company boasts of as high as $2.46 trillion in assets under its management. The total customer recorded asset value also peaked at $6.7 trillion as it serves over 32 million people for financial growth. There are also 22,000 businesses and 13,000 financial institutions that receive support from Fidelity.
Our Fidelity brokers review notes that the company is committed to protecting your assets with its Customer Protection Guarantee (CPG). With the CPG, you receive reimbursement from unauthorized activity in your account. Your Fidelity open account is further secured with asset protection programs such as SIPC and FDIC.
From our Fidelity review, we found the website is easy to use with its simple design. This design makes the User Experience simple and straightforward. Users can freely navigate the site regardless of prior experience with it.
With the search function, it is easy to find suitable options for the stocks. You can also search for international stocks by using the syntax of the country. When using the search function, it focuses on the US without the country code.
The website has a modern feel to it, making it easy to locate all the necessary features of trade. The site is fast, even though it is home to an extensive database and trading processes. This speed keeps its users up to date on the latest data required for trading.
Through the site, you can use the following order types; Market, Limit, Stop Limit, Stop, Stop trailing ($, %), Stop limit trailing ($, %), Multi-contingent, and One Cancels the Other (OCO). Trigger types also include One Triggers the Other (OTO), and One Triggers a One Cancels the Other (OTOCO).
Additionally, the website has a unique BillPay feature for all clients. Clients who subscribe to this can make direct payments and manage bills using your brokerage account. It covers a large variety of bills while giving you the option to pay twenty bills at once. This unique feature also comes at no charge for all customers.
Finally, Fidelity takes transparency seriously on the website. It is with this reason portfolios, and fee reports are easily accessible on the site. Reports are available for download for clients in CSV format.
Getting a Fidelity open account is easy and free we found in our Fidelity brokers review, but not entirely digital. An applicant needs to mail scanned copies of relevant IDs for the office to process the rest.
The company is a US stockbroker that targets clients in the US. There are, however, subsidiaries of FMR that are available in other countries with similar services. For example, customers situated in certain predetermined countries will be able to access the Fidelity services, on what seems to be very similar platforms. However, our readers do not need to worry about this.
To start an account, the minimum deposit at Fidelity is $0. This rate is for basic accounts; Margin, Day Trading, and Fidelity Managed Accounts differ. We found during our Fidelity brokers review that Traders with inadequate funds have the option of trading on leverage. Leverage is money borrowed from the brokerage firm for trading purposes. Clients with Fidelity USA will be able to open any of the accounts listed below.
Fidelity offers several account types for traders with different financial capabilities. Below are the following models you can find in any Fidelity USA review:
The Brokerage Individual Account is the first account individuals usually start. This account comes with a $0 minimum balance requirement, making it feasible regardless of financial status.
The Brokerage Joint Account is similar to the Individual base-level version. The difference is with the ownership of the account, as two or more individuals can own it. Couples and financial partners mostly go with this account.
Business Accounts are available for ownership and usage by legal entities. Some businesses opt to invest with their profits, and this account is the place to start.
A Trust/ Estate Account is ideal for trustees looking to open a Fidelity account. Trustees are separate entities of a board with administrative control of a property in trust with a legal obligation.
Roth/ Rollover/ Traditional IRA Accounts are individual retirement accounts for those investing for a comfortable after-retirement life.
Education Savings Accounts are savings accounts purposefully opened to tackle all kinds of educational fees.
Charitable Accounts are tax-efficient accounts meant to cater to charity givings.
Medical Savings Accounts are for healthcare savings. As human as you are, there is a possibility of draining your finances with medical bills. A medical savings account can prevent such an occurrence.
A Fidelity Managed Account is managed by the company’s advanced robo-advisor and professionals at Fidelity.
The web trading platform is simple to use and has an appropriate design. There are a lot of order types and a two-step verification that allow for a more secure login process. Even though the trading platform is straightforward to use, it’s not very customizable. This missing feature may not be as necessary since its user interface is reasonably straightforward.
A more detailed Fidelity review would rate out each of the trading platforms independently. However, the web, mobile, and desktop versions are relatively similar. The company also has an in-house developed web trading platform available only in English.
The web trading platform is user friendly. If you allow the two-step verification process, you’ll receive a random 6-digit code. The web trading platform is very secure.
Enabling international trading means you have to search using a country code syntax and ticker. However, as an American client outside of the states, you’ll still be able to search US markets.
The mobile trading platform is also user friendly and well designed we found in our Fidelity brokers review. For login security, it lacks the two-step verification process. On the other hand, the app offers a biometric authentication feature, which is also secure and convenient.
The app is available for both iOS and Android devices, and its UI is simple and straightforward on both. With the search function on the app, it is easy to find suitable options for the stocks. You can also search for international stocks by using the syntax of the country. Just like the other platforms, the search focuses on the US.
The desktop app is not as convenient as the phone app is. However, every Fidelity review rates it as a more practical option for trading. The app is highly customizable to suit each trader. The company’s in-house developed desktop trading platform is the Active Trader Pro.
Our hands on approach to the Fidelity brokers review reveals this platform is more detailed than the web platform since it integrates more research functions and high flexibility. Due to its customizability, the platform tends to run slow in some instances.
Fidelity USA charges no deposit fees whenever clients deposit through various means. Fidelity clients can use checks, wire transfers, ACH, and PayPal for deposits. Credit and debit cards are, however, not available mediums for deposits. The trading preferences and minimum deposits are as follows:
It is necessary to know all the costs you can incur with brokerages. Trading fees are all the costs that accompany trading activities. Non-trading prices on the hand are other payments not related to your trading activities. Generally, they include withdrawal, inactivity, account fees, and more. Fidelity Investment has low trading fees and low non-trading fees. Every Fidelity review lists this as an advantage their clients enjoy.
Trading fees with Fidelity USA are generally low for traded Securities. Here are the trading fees of the Options, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, and Funds. There are no charges for stock trading, and no ETF commissions for Americans with a Fidelity open account. However, the company charges high commissions on non-American stocks.
Fidelity charges a commission of 6.5 dollars per 10 contracts. This commission places the charge at $0.65 per contract. In our Lightspeed USA Review, the company also charges the same per Options contract.
Our Fidelity brokers review found Fidelity options are in line with the lowest costs for clients. The company implements this by avoiding charges for most non-trading activities. However, in our Interactive Brokers review, its peer, Interactive Brokers charge client accounts for inactivity. Fidelity does not charge clients inactivity or account fees.
Additionally, Fidelity clients encounter no withdrawal fees when they use ACH transfer to take out money. On the other hand, withdrawals to other banks with wire transfer have a low cost of $10.
Every customer appreciates businesses with excellent customer service platforms and processes. In our Fidelity review we found Fidelity opinions place customer services as a priority. The company provides 24-hour support to give fast and relevant answers to clients.
As we found in our Fidelity review, you can access customer service via email, telephone, and live chats. In our M1 Finance review, the company provides support only via phone and email we found in our Fidelity brokers review
These various forms of support are currently only available in English.
Fidelity has implemented a Customer Protection Guarantee. Our Fidelity review identified this guarantee is to help customers feel more secure as they can get reimbursement. Reimbursement occurs after clients lose funds from unauthorized activity in their accounts.
Regulations are essential to safeguard your accounts. Following rules set by regulatory bodies is an excellent place to start for security. These rules protect client accounts from internal malpractices in brokerage firms.
A Fidelity review lists FDIC Insurance and SIPC coverage as two regulatory and insurance bodies that cover Fidelity. The cash deposit insured by FDIC at a maximum of $250,000 per account. Not all accounts are eligible for FDIC insurance at Fidelity. The following are protected accounts under Fidelity:
On the other hand, almost all other Fidelity Accounts are SIPC covered. The exceptions include Mutual Funds and Workplace requirement accounts. The SIPC protects stocks, bonds, futures, and other securities in case brokerage firms go bankrupt and assets go missing. SIPC covers $500,000 in securities and $250,000 in cash accounts. Fidelity SIPC has a total aggregate coverage of $1 billion.
Within Fidelity’s excess of SIPC coverage, there is no per customer dollar limit on securities coverage. Yet, there is a per customer limit on coverage of $1.9 million of cash awaiting investment.
Other types of protection are offered for Mutual funds and Workplace retirement accounts since they are not SIPC and FDIC covered. Fidelity is proactive in keeping the client’s account safe; hence, the specific protection guidelines exist for both accounts.
Aside from trading with securities, Fidelity gives its clients other investment offers. With a Fidelity open account, you have access to create accounts for College savings, Sector giving, Charitable giving, and Life Insurance. These added services are fantastic options for those looking to save for a specific purpose or donate towards a cause.
Fidelity provides a flexible and tax-advantaged account for educational savings. Saving for college with Fidelity offers flexible use of funds and many investment choices. The company guarantees this package as a path away from student loan debt.
The 529 College Savings Plan can be used to cover qualified educational expenses nationwide.
Annuities are special investment accounts that target comfortable retirement for clients. With a retirement plan, annuities can guarantee income or increased retirement savings.
With or without amassed wealth, many people seek to give a portion of their money to charity. Fidelity Investments provides a donor-advised fund (DAF) for this social cause. There are a lot of tax advantages with DAF as compared to just selling securities and donating the proceeds to charities.
You earn a consolidated tax receipt with Fidelity’s Charity processes. The company prides itself as the nation’s top grantmaker,
Sector investing involves targeted exposure to the stocks of companies in specific sections of the economy. Using the targeted approach can help you pursue growth, manage risk, and diversify your portfolio.
Fidelity provides the insight necessary for targeted exposure to companies. Although Thermal investing offers targeted exposure too, it cuts across sectors with a specific objective. The brokerage firm provides a wide selection of sector funds and ETFs for adequate for Sector Investing.
In a Fidelity review USA, the company has available Life Insurance solutions for its clients. Fidelity provides three types of life insurance packages. They include Team Life Insurance, Hybrid Life Insurance, and Universal Life Insurance.
As the base-level package, Term Life Insurance is the least costly. It provides a lump sum of money that serves as a safety net for a fixed time.
The Hybrid Life Insurance package comes with long-term care. It helps you pay for long-term care needs. With the company’s life insurance policy, the remaining balance goes to beneficiaries.
The last type is the Universal Life Insurance package. This insurance type is usually federal tax-free and can provide coverage for your family and business.
Fixed Income Investments pay a return on a fixed schedule. The amounts of payments may vary due to specific market conditions. Individual bonds are the most beneficial type of fixed-income investments. According to a study by Corporate Insight, Fidelity bonds on average earn $15 more per online Bond.
Trading Bonds are financial instruments that target profit from fluctuations in the value of government or corporate bonds. With Fidelity, clients have a good number of bonds selection at a single brokerage firm. The available types of Bonds are Individual bonds, Bond Funds, and Bond ETFs.
In our Fidelity review, buying bonds at Fidelity can be a definite financial step. The company attributes success to extensive bond inventory and other expert services. Their transparent and low $1 per bond attracts more clients to purchase Bonds from Fidelity.
Exchange-Trade Funds (ETFs) are similar to mutual funds in many ways. However, ETFs are mutual funds that trade like an individual stock. There are no commission rates for ETFs listed in a Fidelity review.
ETFs are usually passively managed to track specific market indexes. Their tax efficiency often makes them a strategically better pick than mutual funds. Fidelity opinions can help you decide on the right ETF for you. From their variety, you can choose from active equity, sector, stock, factor, and fixed income ETFs.
The company provides its clients with nearly every other ETF available in the US.
Publicly traded shares of many companies exist for traders worldwide. Fidelity buys and sells these shares as stocks, with no commission on US stocks. With a Fidelity open account, you are provided useful tools and research material for stock trading. You can evaluate stock choices with accurate Equity Summary Scores.
The company advises its clients to take advantage of their comprehensive research and low online commission rates to buy and sell shares. The publicly-traded company shares include those in the domestic and international markets.
Clients can trade in 25 countries and 16 different currencies to enable capitalization on foreign exchange fluctuations.
Options have several underlying securities with their trades. They are very flexible investment tools that can help clients take advantage of market conditions. Options trading can limit risk and generate income at the same time. Thus, reaching investment goals with options are entirely possible.
With a Fidelity open account, you can trade on a variety of available Options. Fidelity offers low costs per contract with commission-free trades for Options. New and experienced traders get Fidelity support in research, idea generation tools, educational tools, and expert opinions.
Sometimes options trading can be a bit tricky. Fidelity makes sure you fully grasp the fundamentals of this trade through extra coaching sessions, free webinars, and resource materials.
Getting a Fidelity open account comes with many pros than cons as an investment trader. Fidelity has one of the lowest fees among brokerage firms. We’re pleased to let you know that Fidelity is not a scam and gets positive ratings in any Fidelity review. As a subsidiary of FMR LLC, the company caters to $6.7 trillion of client assets.
Our Fidelity Review shows that even though processes are digital, getting a Fidelity open account requires a final validation from their offices. There are multiple account types available for clients with different financial statuses. The Brokerage Individual Account is a base level account that comes with a $0 minimum balance requirement.
Fidelity provides three trading platforms for its clients: the web trading platform, mobile trading platform, and desktop trading platform. Generally, the company charges low rates on trading and non-trading fees. Fees for Mutual Funds, International Stocks, and Margin Trading are the only exceptions to the company’s small commissions.
The company is proactive in security with the client’s assets. Fidelity Customer Protection Guarantee provides reimbursement for accounts that encounter unauthorized access to funds. The SIPC covers the brokerage firm, and it also comes with FDIC insurance. The most commonly traded securities with Fidelity include Stocks, Options, ETFs, Funds, and Bonds.
Looking for an alternative broker to compare? Take a look at Interactive Brokers USA or our JP Morgan You Invest review.
Trading financial products carries a high risk to your capital, especially trading leverage products such as CFDs. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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