Fidelity Investments, formerly known as Fidelity Management & Research (FMR), is an American multinational financial services corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was established in 1946 and is one of the largest asset managers in the world, with trillions of dollars in assets under management and administration. The company offers a wide range of financial products and services, including brokerage, mutual funds, investment advice, retirement services, wealth management, and more. With a focus on innovation and customer needs, Fidelity has introduced various digital tools and investment options, such as fractional shares and crypto assets, to cater to a diverse range of investors. The company has received numerous accolades for its brokerage services and has a global presence with operations in several countries.
What You'll Learn
Zero account fees and minimums, commission-free trades, and more
Fidelity Investments is an American multinational financial services corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the largest asset managers in the world, with trillions of dollars in assets under management and administration.
Fidelity offers a range of services, including brokerage, mutual funds, fund distribution, investment advice, retirement services, index funds, wealth management, securities execution, and life insurance.
In recent years, Fidelity has introduced several features and changes to its services to provide more value to its customers. Here is a detailed overview of their offerings with zero account fees and minimums, commission-free trades, and more:
Zero Account Fees and Minimums:
Fidelity offers zero account fees and minimums for opening a retail brokerage account, including IRAs. There are no minimum requirements to open an account, making investing accessible to everyone. This means you can start investing with any amount of money without worrying about account maintenance fees eating into your returns.
Commission-Free Trades:
Fidelity offers commission-free trades for online US stock, ETF, and option trades. This means you can buy and sell these securities without paying any brokerage fees, maximizing your potential profits.
Leading Trade Execution Practices:
Fidelity provides industry-leading trade execution practices, resulting in significant price improvements for its clients. Their buy and sell order execution practices offer an average price improvement of $17.20 on a 1,000-share equity order, while the industry average is just $2.89. This translates to substantial savings for their clients, with a total of more than $635 million in savings in 2018 alone.
Price Improvement Transparency:
Fidelity voluntarily reports its price improvement savings and execution statistics using the Financial Information Forum (FIF) Rule 605/606 Working Group standards. They provide a dedicated webpage displaying order execution and price improvement statistics and a tool for investors to calculate their potential price improvement savings. This level of transparency ensures that clients can make informed decisions and understand the value they are getting from Fidelity's trade execution practices.
Zero Expense Ratio Index Mutual Funds:
Fidelity introduced a line of zero-expense-ratio mutual funds, including the ZERO Total Market Index Fund and the ZERO International Index Fund, which have since grown to over $1 billion in assets. These funds provide market exposure to a significant portion of industry index assets, allowing investors to build a well-diversified portfolio without incurring additional expenses.
Low-Cost Index Mutual Fund Provider:
As one of the largest index mutual fund providers, Fidelity has reduced pricing for its funds by nearly 50%, providing even greater value to investors. Their stock and bond index funds and sector ETFs have total net expenses lower than comparable funds from competitors like Vanguard.
No-Transaction-Fee Mutual Funds:
Fidelity offers an extensive selection of over 3,300 no-transaction-fee mutual funds, giving investors a wide range of options to choose from without incurring additional transaction fees.
Zero Investment Minimums:
Fidelity has eliminated investment minimums on its retail and advisor mutual funds and 529 plans. This means you can invest in these funds regardless of the amount you have available, making it easier to get started with investing and diversifying your portfolio.
Zero Domestic Money Movement Fees:
Fidelity also offers zero domestic money movement fees, ensuring that you can transfer your funds without incurring additional charges.
Strong Customer Service:
Fidelity is known for its strong customer support, with a network of over 200 branches for in-person advice and educational options. They provide 24/7 assistance through phone, email, chat, social media, and physical branches, ensuring that their clients can always access the help they need.
In summary, Fidelity's commitment to providing value to its customers is evident through its wide range of offerings with zero account fees and minimums, commission-free trades, and other benefits. Their competitive pricing, extensive selection of investment options, and industry-leading trade execution practices make them a top choice for investors of all types.
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Investment options: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options, forex, and cryptocurrencies
Fidelity Investments, formerly known as Fidelity Management & Research (FMR), is an American multinational financial services corporation that offers a wide range of investment options to its clients. Here is an overview of some of the investment options available through Fidelity and other financial institutions:
- Stocks: A stock option gives the holder the right to buy company shares at a pre-set price, usually lower than the current market price. This is a way for companies to attract and retain employees, as it offers them the opportunity to own a part of the company at a discounted rate.
- Bonds: A bond option is a contract where the underlying asset is a bond. Bond options can be traded on the secondary market, but they are typically more limited than stock options. Bond issuers may also include bond call or put options in their contract provisions.
- Mutual Funds: Mutual funds are investment vehicles that pool money from multiple investors to purchase a diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds, or other securities. They are managed by professional fund managers and provide individual investors with access to a wide range of assets. Mutual funds typically charge annual fees, expense ratios, or commissions, which reduce overall returns.
- ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds): ETFs are similar to mutual funds but trade on stock exchanges like individual stocks, offering more liquidity and flexibility. They also tend to have certain tax advantages and lower costs compared to mutual funds.
- Options: Options are financial derivatives that give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an underlying asset (such as stocks, indexes, or ETFs) at an agreed-upon price and date. There are two main types of options: call options, which allow the holder to buy the underlying asset, and put options, which allow the holder to sell the underlying asset.
- Forex: Forex options are contracts where the underlying asset is a foreign currency. They can be traded over-the-counter or on exchanges, and they offer investors the opportunity to speculate on exchange rates and hedge against currency risks.
- Cryptocurrencies: Cryptocurrencies are virtual or digital currencies that use cryptographic techniques and decentralized networks. Bitcoin (BTC) is the most well-known and dominant cryptocurrency, but there are many other alternatives, such as Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT), Binance Coin (BNB), and Cardano (ADA). Cryptocurrencies can be traded on crypto exchanges, and some can also be used as a means of payment.
Fidelity Investments offers a wide range of investment options to its clients, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies. The company has a large family of mutual funds and provides investment advice, retirement services, and brokerage services. In recent years, Fidelity has also expanded into the cryptocurrency space, offering crypto custody, trading, and investment options to its clients.
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Educational resources for all levels of investors
Fidelity's educational resources and research options cater to investors of all levels, from those new to retirement planning to active stock traders. The company's resources cover a range of topics, including basic investing concepts, different types of investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and the importance of diversification.
For those just starting their investment journey, Fidelity offers educational content on investing basics, such as understanding investing terminology and concepts. They provide simple explanations for complex terms, like defining a bond as a loan made to a company or government entity, with the borrower paying interest over time. Similarly, they explain that a stock represents ownership in a company, as buying a share makes you a part owner.
Fidelity also offers insights into various investment funds, including mutual funds and ETFs. They emphasize the value of diversification, not only across different types of investments but also across various companies and industries. The company encourages investors to explore trends that create demand for new products, considering how consumer desires can impact investing opportunities.
For those interested in mutual funds, Fidelity provides valuable information. They were the first broker to introduce index funds with zero expense ratios, and their selection of mutual funds stacks up against any other broker. They offer an extensive range of no-transaction-fee funds, including the Fidelity Zero index funds, which carry no expense ratio and have no minimum investment requirement.
Additionally, Fidelity provides resources for investors looking to incorporate cryptocurrencies into their portfolios. They offer educational articles and insights on the reality and potential of cryptocurrencies, helping investment professionals expand their knowledge in this evolving area.
Fidelity's resources also extend to more advanced topics, such as options trading and robo-advisors. They provide a comprehensive overview of the risks and nuances associated with different investment strategies, ensuring that investors of all levels can make informed decisions.
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Industry-leading research and analysis
Fidelity Investments, formerly known as Fidelity Management & Research (FMR), is an American multinational financial services corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. With over $5.8 trillion in assets under management and $15 trillion in assets under administration, it is one of the largest asset managers in the world.
Fidelity's industry-leading research and analysis capabilities are powered by a global network of nearly 400 research professionals and one of the largest research departments in the industry. This extensive network allows Fidelity's fund managers to conduct in-depth analysis across different regions and sectors, uncovering investment opportunities that others may overlook.
Fidelity's research offerings cover a wide range of asset classes, including domestic equity, international equity, fixed income, and sector funds. Their domestic equity funds provide exposure to successful, innovative, and profitable companies, offering significant appreciation potential for risk-tolerant investors. With over $619 billion in U.S. equity assets under management and more than 2,100 stocks covered by over 200 equity research professionals, Fidelity's domestic equity funds offer a strong foundation for investors' portfolios.
In addition to domestic equity, Fidelity's international equity funds tap into the growth potential of companies outside the U.S., helping investors diversify their portfolios and lower volatility. With over 50 years of international asset management experience and $148 billion in international equity assets, Fidelity provides investors with a broad set of investment choices to tailor their international exposure.
Fidelity also offers fixed-income funds, including short-duration, corporate, mortgage, government, and high-yield bond funds. With over $460 billion in bond assets and a team of over 750 investment professionals worldwide, Fidelity's fixed-income funds provide investors with a range of options to meet their income and capital preservation goals.
Furthermore, Fidelity's sector funds provide tactical investment approaches, such as sector rotation strategies, enabling more precise asset allocation and greater portfolio diversification. With over 35 actively managed sector and industry funds and a dedicated team of over 200 equity research professionals, Fidelity helps investors make informed decisions about sector-specific investments.
Fidelity's research capabilities are further enhanced by their use of advanced trading platforms and technology. Their easy-to-use, award-winning app allows investors to manage their portfolios and access real-time market data and research ideas on the go. Additionally, Fidelity's advanced trader platform provides real-time insights and visual snapshots to help investors make smarter trading decisions.
In conclusion, Fidelity Investments' industry-leading research and analysis capabilities are underpinned by a vast network of research professionals and a strong track record in asset management. Their comprehensive research offerings across various asset classes, combined with user-friendly technology, empower investors to make well-informed decisions and uncover valuable investment opportunities worldwide.
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Customizable trading platforms
Fidelity Investments offers a range of customizable trading platforms to cater to different user needs, from beginner to advanced. Here is an overview of the platforms available:
Fidelity.com
Fidelity's website provides users with award-winning research, in-depth analytics, and idea generation tools integrated with an easy-to-use trading ticket. It is recommended for intermediate to advanced users. The platform offers a single-screen Trading Dashboard that allows users to get real-time market data, research ideas, and execute trades all in one place. The website works on any browser and does not require any downloads.
Active Trader Pro®
This is a downloadable desktop platform built by Fidelity for advanced traders. It includes intuitive shortcuts, a pre-built market, technical and options filters, advanced options tools, and a multi-trade ticket that can store orders for later and place up to 50 orders simultaneously. The platform also enables traders to trade over-the-counter securities and access IPOs. It is recommended for advanced options trading and charting needs.
Fidelity Mobile® App
The Fidelity Mobile app is available for both iOS and Android devices and provides users with a full range of options education, ideas, and analytics. The app includes real-time quotes, multi-leg options trading, a consolidated version of the company's research offerings, and a notebook to save ideas and articles from a mobile browser. The app has been streamlined and simplified to support better trading, portfolio monitoring, and research. It also includes a customizable newsfeed and the ability to schedule appointments with a Fidelity advisor.
Fidelity Youth Account App
Fidelity also offers a customized mobile app experience for teenagers (aged 13-17) through the Fidelity Youth Account. This app allows parents or guardians to monitor their teenager's investment activity and offers access to stocks, ETFs, and fractional shares. The app provides in-app educational resources, articles on investing, and online research tools. Once the account holder reaches 18, the account becomes a standard brokerage account.
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Frequently asked questions
Fidelity Investments is an American multinational financial services corporation based in Boston, Massachusetts. It was established in 1946 and is one of the largest asset managers in the world.
Fidelity Investments offers a range of services, including brokerage, fund distribution and investment advice, retirement services, wealth management, securities execution, and life insurance.
Fidelity offers \$0 trading commissions on stock or ETF trades and a selection of no-expense-ratio index funds. They also provide a variety of educational resources and research options for both beginner and advanced investors.
Fidelity is a well-rounded brokerage that caters to both active traders and beginner investors. They offer low costs, a user-friendly app, educational content, advanced trading features, and excellent customer support.
Opening an account with Fidelity is straightforward. You select the type of account you want (e.g., standard brokerage, IRA, Roth IRA), provide your personal information, create a username and password, and then fund your account by transferring money.