Fidelity's fee structure depends on the account type and what you do with it

Fidelity does not charge a monthly or annual account maintenance fee on most brokerage accounts, IRAs, or 401(k) rollovers. However, you will pay fees when you trade stocks or mutual funds, when you use certain services like advisory accounts, or when you hold investments that carry their own internal costs. The fee you pay — or whether you pay one at all — depends on what you buy, how often you trade, and which Fidelity service you use.

Understanding where fees actually live in your account helps you avoid surprises. A Fidelity brokerage account itself is free to open and hold. But if you buy a mutual fund with a sales load, or if you trade individual stocks through a broker, those transactions carry their own costs. Knowing the difference between account fees and investment fees is the first step to managing what you actually pay.

Key Takeaways

  • Fidelity does not charge monthly or annual fees to hold a brokerage account, IRA, or 401(k) rollover account.
  • Stock and ETF trades through Fidelity are commission-free, but mutual funds may carry sales loads or expense ratios that reduce your returns.
  • Advisory services like Fidelity Go or managed accounts charge a percentage of assets under management, typically 0.35% to 0.50% annually.
  • Wire transfers, check writing, and certain account services may carry small transaction fees depending on how you use your account.
  • Fidelity funds (those managed by Fidelity itself) often have lower expense ratios than funds from other companies.

Trading costs: stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds

Buying and selling individual stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) through Fidelity costs nothing per trade. This is standard across most major brokers now. You will not see a commission line item when you place an order for 100 shares of a company stock or an ETF that tracks an index.

Mutual funds are different. Some mutual funds carry a sales load, which is a percentage of your investment that goes to the fund company or the broker. A front-end load takes a cut when you buy; a back-end load charges when you sell. Fidelity offers many no-load mutual funds (including its own), but if you buy a fund with a load, you will pay it regardless of which broker you use. The fund's prospectus will disclose the load percentage before you invest.

Every mutual fund also has an expense ratio, which is an annual fee charged by the fund manager to cover operating costs. This fee is deducted from the fund's returns automatically — you do not pay it directly, but it reduces what you earn. Expense ratios range from under 0.05% for index funds to 1% or more for actively managed funds. Fidelity's own index funds tend to have lower ratios than competitors.

Advisory and managed account fees

If you use Fidelity Go (Fidelity's automated investment service) or hire a Fidelity advisor to manage your account, you will pay an annual fee based on how much money is in the account. Fidelity Go charges 0.35% per year on accounts under $25,000 and 0.25% on larger accounts. A human advisor typically charges between 0.50% and 1.00% annually, depending on the service level and account size.

These fees are separate from any investment fees. If your advisor puts you into mutual funds that also carry expense ratios, you pay both. Before you sign up for advisory services, ask Fidelity for a written breakdown of all fees — the advisory fee plus the expense ratios of any funds they recommend.

IRA and retirement account fees

Fidelity does not charge a fee to open or maintain an IRA (traditional, Roth, or SEP). The same is true for 401(k) rollovers. You only pay fees when you trade investments within the account or when those investments themselves carry costs.

If you roll a 401(k) from a previous employer into a Fidelity IRA, there is no charge for the rollover itself. However, if your old plan charged administrative fees, those will stop once the money is at Fidelity. This is one reason rollovers can save money — you shed fees from the old plan.

Wire transfers, checks, and service fees

Fidelity charges a flat fee for outgoing wire transfers, typically around $25. Incoming wires are free. If you use Fidelity's check-writing feature on certain accounts, there is no per-check fee, but the account itself must be set up to allow it.

Some less common services carry small fees: closing an account early, requesting paper statements, or using certain customer service options. For most everyday account holders, these fees do not apply. If you think you might need a service that is not standard, ask Fidelity directly before you set up the account.

How Fidelity compares on fees

Fidelity's lack of account maintenance fees and commission-free stock and ETF trading puts it in line with other major brokers like Charles Schwab and Vanguard. Where Fidelity stands out is in the breadth of no-load, low-cost funds it offers under its own name. If you plan to buy index funds or Fidelity-branded funds, your expense ratios will likely be competitive.

If you use advisory services, Fidelity's fees are middle-of-the-road. Robo-advisors like Betterment charge 0.25% with no account minimum, while traditional advisors at full-service firms can charge 1% or more. Fidelity Go sits between those two, making it a reasonable choice if you want some automation without paying for a dedicated human advisor.

Reading the fee disclosure before you invest

Fidelity is required by law to disclose all fees in writing before you open an account or buy an investment. When you look at a mutual fund, the prospectus will show the expense ratio and any sales loads. When you set up an advisory account, you will receive a Form ADV that lists all fees and services.

Do not assume a fund is cheap because it is offered by Fidelity. Compare the expense ratio to similar funds from other companies. A Fidelity index fund tracking the S&P 500 might cost 0.03% annually, while a competitor's version costs 0.04%. Over decades, that small difference compounds. The same logic applies to advisory fees — if you are paying 0.50% for advice, make sure you understand what service you are getting for that cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Fidelity charge a monthly fee just to have an account?

No. Fidelity does not charge monthly or annual account maintenance fees on brokerage accounts, IRAs, or 401(k) rollovers. You only pay when you trade or when your investments carry their own internal costs.

Are there hidden fees I should know about?

No fees are truly hidden — Fidelity must disclose them in writing. However, expense ratios inside mutual funds are easy to overlook because they are deducted automatically. Always check the prospectus before you buy a fund, and ask your advisor to list all fees in writing if you use advisory services.

Do I pay a fee to transfer money into Fidelity?

Incoming wire transfers are free. If you transfer money from another brokerage account, Fidelity may reimburse you for any transfer fees the other broker charges, depending on the account type and transfer method. Ask Fidelity about reimbursement before you initiate the transfer.

What is the difference between a sales load and an expense ratio?

A sales load is a one-time fee you pay when you buy or sell a mutual fund — it comes out of your investment immediately. An expense ratio is an annual fee charged by the fund manager, deducted from the fund's returns each year. You can avoid sales loads by choosing no-load funds, but all funds charge some expense ratio.

Will Fidelity charge me to close my account?

Fidelity does not charge a standard account closure fee. However, if you close the account within a short time of opening it (typically 30 days), Fidelity may charge a small fee to cover administrative costs. Check the account agreement or call Fidelity to confirm the policy for your account type.