Is Fidelity better than Morgan Stanley as a broker?
In comparison to Morgan Stanley, Fidelity is geared toward a broader range of investors. In addition to no-minimum robo-advisor, the company offers lower fees — and you won't pay account service fees, low balance fees or late settlement fees. Plus, there are no commissions for online U.S. stock, option and ETF trades.
In fact, 97% of our clients say they are satisfied with the firm, and 98% are satisfied with how their Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor handles questions and requests.
In addition, Fidelity earned top ranks as the best broker for cash management, which are new additions to our best online broker and trading platforms awards this year.
Fees. Fidelity has average trading and low non-trading fees, including commission-free US stock trading. On the negative side, margin rates and fees for some mutual funds can be high. We compared Fidelity's fees with two similar brokers we selected, E*TRADE and TD Ameritrade.
Is Fidelity better than J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing? After testing 18 of the best online brokers, our analysis finds that Fidelity (98.7%) is better than J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing (82.2%).
But three major firms stand out because of their name, offerings, total amount of client assets, and the number of clients they serve. They are often referred to as the "big four brokerages." Each of these firms—Charles Schwab, Fidelity Investments, and E*TRADE,—comprise the top in terms of customers and assets.
Protecting your assets
With our Customer Protection Guarantee, we reimburse you for losses from unauthorized activity in your accounts. We also participate in asset protection programs such as FDIC and SIPC to help provide the best service possible. See our protection guarantee and account coverage.
Fidelity is one of the most well-rounded brokerages available today, with no commissions on stock or ETF trades and a selection of no-expense-ratio index funds suited to both beginner and active investors.
$0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and options (+ $ 0.65 per contract fee) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal).
The Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) is a nonprofit organization that protects stocks, bonds, and other securities in case a brokerage firm goes bankrupt and assets are missing. The SIPC will cover up to $500,000 in securities, including a $250,000 limit for cash held in a brokerage account.
Should I use Vanguard or Fidelity?
While Fidelity wins out overall, Vanguard is the best option for retirement savers. Its platform offers tools and education focused specifically on retirement planning.
Fidelity Investments is owned by privately held FMR LLC, which is controlled by the Johnson family.
Commissions and fees
After factoring in order execution, where Fidelity is one of the best, Fidelity's $0 stock and ETF trades consistently yield additional value for customers, and it skips some charges many other brokers routinely drop on their customers. It's among the best brokers for commission free stock trading.
Fidelity is known for its robust lineup of actively managed mutual funds, including the famous Fidelity Magellan Fund (ticker: FMAGX), once managed by Peter Lynch. Despite this, the general performance of actively managed funds often fails to surpass their index counterparts.
Fidelity has the top overall score in 2024, with an excellent app, clear navigation, and low fees. When it comes to fees, Fidelity skips many charges that are common among other brokers.
Interactive Brokers continues to be our top pick for advanced day traders, as well. Its speed and efficiency specific to order execution complements its low rates on margin trading and provides advanced traders with a strong option to execute their strategies.
When it comes to trust in the investment world, Fidelity Investments earns the highest marks in IBD's 2023 Most Trusted Financial Companies survey. The Boston-based firm scored a trust trifecta. It earned the No. 1 rating in all three investment categories: ETF/fund companies, online brokers and wealth management.
Fidelity Investments regularly scores among the top in Bankrate's comprehensive review of brokers, and this year is no different. The financial juggernaut continues to excel across the board – whether for low costs, responsive customer support, research, education and on and on.
Fidelity is not a bank and brokerage accounts are not FDIC-insured, but uninvested cash balances are eligible for FDIC insurance. Balances above $5 million may be placed in a non-FDIC insured money market fund, which earns a different rate.
Fidelity was voted the most trusted wealth management company for 2023 by the readers of Investor's Business Daily,9 earning top rankings for "financial soundness, quality of products and services, protecting privacy and security, and sensitivity to customer needs."
Is it safe to keep more than $500000 in a brokerage account?
They must also have a certain amount of liquidity on hand, thus allowing them to cover funds in these cases. What this means is that even if you have more than $500,000 in one brokerage account, chances are high that you won't lose any of your money even if the broker is forced into liquidation.
Overall Appeal
Fidelity and Schwab are both excellent choices. These investment firms offer thousands of funds. There are some nuances, such as Fidelity being better for crypto traders and Schwab being more optimal for futures traders.
Start saving 15% of your income annually (including employer match) starting at age 25. Invest 50% or more of your savings in stocks. If history is any guide, investing greater percentages in stock investments might yield a bigger retirement nest egg. Retire at age 67 with pre-retirement lifestyle.
Escaping the Fidelity Recordkeeping Fee can be achieved through strategic actions such as closing the account, seeking fiduciary services, and considering alternatives to minimize financial obligations. Closing the account is a straightforward approach to avoid the fee entirely.
If you keep any spare cash in your brokerage account, Fidelity will make money investing that cash and keeping most of the interest. Brokers make a lot of money on the spare cash you keep in your account -- it's one of the main ways the free brokerage service Robinhood makes money.
