Best for US Long-Term Investing

Fidelity Review 2026

America's #1 Retirement & Long-Term Investment Broker

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Founded 1946
๐Ÿ“ Boston, Massachusetts, USA
๐Ÿ“œ Regulated by SEC
๐Ÿ’ฐ Min. deposit: $0
4.6
โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…ยฝ
WhichBroker Score
Fidelity ยท America's #1 Retirement & Long-Term Investment Broker ยท Min. deposit: $0
Open Account โ†’
Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance โ€ฆ

Overview

Fidelity was founded in 1946 in Boston and is one of the largest and most trusted financial institutions in the USA, managing $14 trillion in assets. Unlike many brokers, Fidelity is privately owned โ€” meaning it is not driven by quarterly public market pressures. Fidelity offers $0 commission on US stocks and ETFs, one of the largest mutual fund selections (10,000+), and comprehensive retirement account options (IRA, 401k). It is widely considered the best US broker for long-term and retirement investors.

At a Glance

๐Ÿ›๏ธ Founded1946
๐Ÿ“ HeadquartersBoston, Massachusetts, USA
๐Ÿ“ˆ Listed onPrivate
๐Ÿ“œ RegulatorsSEC, FINRA, SIPC (USA)
๐Ÿ’ต Min. Deposit$0
๐Ÿ’ฐ Stock/ETF Commission$0 for US stocks and ETFs
๐Ÿ’ฑ FX / SpreadN/A (no forex trading)
๐Ÿ˜ด Inactivity FeeNone
๐Ÿง Withdrawal FeeFree
๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ PlatformsFidelity.com, Active Trader Pro (desktop), Fidelity Mobile
๐ŸŽฎ Demo AccountNo
๐Ÿ›ก๏ธ Investor ProtectionSIPC: $500,000 (including $250k cash) + additional Lloyd's coverage.
๐Ÿ‘ฅ Clients43,000,000+

Pros & Cons

โœ… Pros

  • $0 commission on US stocks and ETFs
  • 10,000+ mutual funds
  • 0% expense-ratio index funds (ZERO series)
  • Comprehensive retirement accounts (IRA, 401k)
  • Fractional shares from $1
  • No account minimums or inactivity fees
  • 43M+ customers โ€” highly trusted
  • $14 trillion AUM

โŒ Cons

  • Primarily for US residents only
  • No forex or crypto trading
  • Active Trader Pro only on Windows
  • No demo account
  • Options fee ($0.65/contract) not the cheapest
  • International wire fees apply

Trading Platform

Fidelity offers three platform tiers: Fidelity.com (web โ€” full-featured, suitable for most investors), Active Trader Pro (free desktop software for active traders with Level 2 quotes, advanced charts, and streaming data), and the Fidelity Mobile app (highly rated on iOS and Android). Research tools include Fidelity Viewpoints, earnings analysis, mutual fund screeners, and ESG ratings. All platforms are free and require no account minimum.

Products & Markets

Fidelity offers US stocks and ETFs ($0 commission), 10,000+ mutual funds (no transaction fee on thousands), options ($0.65/contract), bonds (treasuries, corporate, municipal), CDs, IRAs (Traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE), 401k plans, and fractional shares from $1. Fidelity's own index funds (ZERO series) have 0% expense ratios. No forex trading, no crypto spot trading. Basket (thematic investing) is available. Fidelity Youth Account for teens is offered.

Available products

  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Mutual Funds (10,000+)
  • Options
  • Bonds
  • CDs
  • IRAs (Traditional, Roth, SEP)
  • 401k plans
  • Fractional shares

Fees

$0 commissions on US stocks and ETFs. $0 per mutual fund (for no-transaction-fee funds; $49.95 for others). Options: $0.65/contract. Bonds: $1/bond (online). IRA: no account or maintenance fee. No inactivity fee. No minimum balance requirement. Interest on cash: Fidelity Government Money Market fund automatically sweeps uninvested cash.

Stocks & ETFs$0 for US stocks and ETFs
Forex / SpreadN/A (no forex trading)
Inactivity feeNone
Withdrawal feeFree
Min. deposit$0

Safety & Regulation

Fidelity is regulated by the SEC and FINRA in the USA, and all accounts are SIPC-insured up to $500,000 (including $250k cash). Additional coverage is provided through a Lloyd's of London policy. Fidelity holds $14 trillion in client assets and has operated for 78 years without a major security incident. As a private company, Fidelity avoids short-term public market pressures โ€” it has consistently reinvested in technology and client services.

RegulatorsSEC, FINRA, SIPC (USA)
Investor ProtectionSIPC: $500,000 (including $250k cash) + additional Lloyd's coverage.
Publicly ListedPrivate

Supported Countries

Primarily available for US residents. Limited access for international clients.

Verdict

WhichBroker's Take on Fidelity

Fidelity is the best all-round broker for US investors, particularly those focused on retirement savings (IRAs, 401k), mutual funds, and long-term wealth building. Zero commissions, zero expense-ratio index funds, and exceptional research make it hard to beat. The main limitation is that it is primarily a US-only product with limited international access.

* Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

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Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.
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