Fidelity Investments is one of the largest financial-services firms in the United States, founded in 1946 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. A privately held, family-controlled company, Fidelity is both a major asset manager and a leading retail brokerage, offering $0 commission on US stocks and ETFs, a celebrated lineup of low- and zero-expense index funds, and deep retirement-account expertise. Its blend of low costs, strong research, and excellent customer service has made it a default choice for long-term American investors.
About Fidelity Investments
Founded by Edward C. Johnson II and still guided by the Johnson family, Fidelity has grown into a financial giant managing and administering trillions of dollars for tens of millions of customers. It spans brokerage, mutual funds, retirement plans (401(k) and IRAs), wealth management, and a growing crypto offering through Fidelity Crypto. Regulated by the SEC and FINRA, with SIPC protection on brokerage accounts, Fidelity is renowned for shareholder-friendly pricing — including its zero-expense-ratio index funds.
Key Facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1946 |
| HQ | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
| Type | Private, family-controlled |
| Regulation | SEC / FINRA / SIPC |
| Products | Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, bonds, crypto |
| Platforms | Fidelity.com, Active Trader Pro, mobile apps |
| Stock/ETF commission | $0 |
| Index funds | Includes zero-expense-ratio funds |
Key Features
Zero-Expense Index Funds
Fidelity made headlines by launching the industry's first zero-expense-ratio index mutual funds, letting investors track broad markets with no annual fund fee. Combined with $0 stock and ETF commissions, this makes Fidelity one of the cheapest homes for buy-and-hold portfolios.
Active Trader Pro & Research
For hands-on investors, Active Trader Pro offers advanced charting, screening, and fast order entry, while Fidelity's research hub aggregates analyst ratings and market data. The result balances long-term investing strengths with capable active-trading tools.
Retirement & Crypto
Fidelity is a leader in retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k) administration) and has expanded into digital assets via Fidelity Crypto, letting eligible customers buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum within the Fidelity ecosystem.
Fee Structure
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| US stocks & ETFs | $0 commission |
| Options | $0 + $0.65 per contract |
| Index funds | From 0.00% expense ratio |
| Account/inactivity fee | None |
| Crypto | Spread-based via Fidelity Crypto |
Pros & Cons
Pros
- $0 stock/ETF commissions
- Zero-expense-ratio index funds
- Excellent research and customer service
- Strong retirement-account expertise
- Integrated crypto via Fidelity Crypto
Cons
- Primarily US-focused
- Crypto limited to a few coins
- No futures trading
- Active Trader Pro less advanced than thinkorswim
Summary
Fidelity Investments is a gold-standard US brokerage for long-term investors, combining $0 commissions, zero-expense index funds, deep research, and top-rated service. Its retirement expertise and shareholder-friendly pricing make it ideal for buy-and-hold portfolios and tax-advantaged accounts, while Active Trader Pro and Fidelity Crypto add flexibility. Futures traders and non-US residents may need alternatives, but for cost-efficient core investing, Fidelity is a leader.