Fidelity Investments

Fidelity Investments Review

If you follow the financial industry and are familiar with Fidelity Investments, then you probably know that the company is best known for its mutual funds. However, when it comes to trading, this broker doesn’t lag behind at all. Fidelity Investments offers many different no-transaction-fee mutual funds, and its commissions are low, with no minimum account balance, with the exception of ETFs.

Headquartered in Boston, MA, Fidelity was founded in 1946, giving the company over 70 years of experience in the financial sector. Currently, it has 2.13 trillion assets under management, and the company itself employs 45,000 people. Fidelity is a big-name heavyweight in the mutual funds sector, but it definitely should also be acknowledged for its brokerage services as well.

Tradeable Assets

With Fidelity Investments, you can trade stocks, precious metals, mutual funds, bonds, forex, ETFs, and options. There are over 3,700 no-transaction-fee mutual funds available for trade, as well as more than 90 commission-free ETFs. When it comes to commissions, the price is fair, with a $4.95 commission per trade. There is no fee to sign up for an account, nor is there an inactivity fee, but there is a $50 closeout cost and, for ETFs, an account minimum of $2,500 (otherwise, no minimum balance required).

Account Types

Fidelity Investments has its trademarked “The Fidelity Account,” which is its brokerage account. With this account, you can trade stocks (domestic and international), bonds, mutual funds ETFs from iShare and Fidelity, as well as others, CDs, and precious metals like silver, gold, palladium, and platinum. The features of the account include margin borrowing for leverage, short-selling strategies, extended hours of trading during before- and after-market times, and cash management tools that will help you make as much money as you can trading.

Regulation

Fidelity Investments is regulated by FINRA, which is short for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the body in charge of regulating most major brokers throughout the nation.

Platforms

The company has a web-based, download, and mobile platform. The web-based platform allows for the standard maneuvers that you would expect from a web-based trader: ability to make trades, watch the market, open and close orders, and so on. When it comes to downloads, that’s when Fidelity really shines. Fidelity has its Active Trader Pro download. The Active Trader Pro is a customizable desktop platform that can be used for Mac or PC. You get streaming updates in real time, market data updates, trading functions, Real Time Analytics, which uses historical data to analyze the market, and intuitive trading tools like Option Trade Builder, Strategy Ideas, and Trade Energy, which streamline your trading and help you plan exit strategies.

Fidelity Mobile Trading

The mobile app is equally impressive, allowing traders to access accounts whenever and wherever they want. You can use the app on any Apple device (Apple Watch, iPhone, TV, etc.) and Android device. The app is also usable on Amazon devices. You can manage your accounts, create a personalized feed, pay bills, contribute to your IRA, and, essentially, do everything you can do on the other two platforms. This app is top-notch.

Promotions

If you deposit $50,000, you will get a $200 bonus. If you deposit $100,000 or more, your deposit will increase to $300. As your deposit increases through the ranges, you will get cash bonuses.

Deposit Options

Bank wire, check, and ACH are the methods that Fidelity accepts as your deposit. The collection period for checks and ACH is usually four business days, while the wire purchases are instant, with no collection period required. Trade proceeds will vary depending on the instrument that you are trading.

Withdrawal Methods

To withdraw, you can send an ACH to your bank, mail a check to your preferred address, or send a wire to your bank, depositing the money from your trading account into your bank account with no problem. The delivery times and fees will depend on your bank and the amount that you are sending over.

Customer Support

Fidelity’s customer support services include a “Virtual Assistant,” which is a chat box that you type your question into and the assistant answers. You can also call customer service, visit one of their centers, or send them mail to one of their addresses.

Ease of Use

Fidelity’s website is not difficult to use. While there is a lot of information, the site organizes it nicely, and most users shouldn’t have any issues locating the information they need. Similarly, the download and mobile app both have clear organizations, bright layouts, and are easy to navigate.

Why Trade at Fidelity  

Fidelity Investments has been around for several decades, and it just keeps getting better. The broker offers a wide range of tradeable assets, low commissions, and a sleek, sharp download that will benefit traders of all dedication levels. Their customer service’s “Virtual Assistant” is cutting-edge, and Fidelity provides a great experience for any level trader.

To see how Fidelity Investments ranks against other industry-leading trading platforms see our comparison charts. Read our expert reviews, see our ratings and compare the best online trading platforms, features, fees, and more.