Fidelity charges for advice in three main ways: a percentage of assets you manage with them, a flat annual fee, or an hourly rate

The cost depends on which Fidelity service you use. Fidelity Wealth Services (their managed account service) typically charges between 0.30% and 1.00% per year of the assets they manage for you, though the exact rate depends on how much money you have with them and what services you use. Fidelity Go, their robo-advisor platform, charges 0% for accounts under $25,000 and 0.35% annually for larger accounts. If you work with a Fidelity advisor in person or by phone, you may pay an hourly rate (typically $150 to $400 per hour), a flat annual retainer, or a percentage of assets — the structure varies by location and the advisor's arrangement.

Fidelity also offers some services with no advisory fee at all. If you use Fidelity's self-directed brokerage account and make your own investment decisions, there is no advisory charge — you pay only trading commissions if applicable (most stock and ETF trades are commission-free). Some Fidelity accounts include access to planning tools and educational resources at no extra cost beyond the account itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Fidelity Wealth Services charges 0.30% to 1.00% per year based on how much money you have with them, with lower percentages for larger accounts.
  • Fidelity Go charges 0.35% annually for accounts over $25,000 and nothing for smaller accounts.
  • Advisors working one-on-one may charge hourly rates ($150–$400), flat annual fees, or a percentage of assets depending on the advisor and location.
  • Self-directed accounts with no advisor have no advisory fee, though you may pay trading costs depending on what you buy and sell.
  • The total cost you pay includes the advisory fee plus any underlying fund expenses, which vary by the investments chosen.

How Fidelity Wealth Services pricing works

Fidelity Wealth Services is a managed account service where an advisor or algorithm builds and maintains a portfolio for you. The fee is charged as a percentage of your total assets under management — meaning the more money you have invested, the more you pay in dollars, but the percentage rate often decreases as your balance grows. A customer with $100,000 might pay a different percentage rate than one with $500,000.

The stated range is 0.30% to 1.00% annually, but your actual rate depends on your account type, the services included, and your relationship with Fidelity. Some accounts bundled with banking services or other Fidelity products may have different pricing. The fee is typically deducted from your account quarterly or monthly, so you see it as a reduction in your balance rather than a separate bill.

On top of the advisory fee, you also pay the internal expenses of the funds or investments Fidelity chooses for you — these are called expense ratios. A fund with a 0.10% expense ratio costs you an additional 0.10% per year. Your total annual cost is the advisory fee plus all fund expenses combined.

Fidelity Go and robo-advisor costs

Fidelity Go is Fidelity's automated investment service. It charges no advisory fee for accounts under $25,000 and 0.35% per year for accounts $25,000 and above. This is one of the lowest robo-advisor fees available, and the zero-fee tier makes it accessible if you are starting small.

Like Wealth Services, Fidelity Go also invests your money in funds that have their own expense ratios. Fidelity typically uses low-cost index funds and ETFs in Go portfolios, so the fund expenses are usually between 0.03% and 0.15% per year. Your total cost is the advisory fee (if applicable) plus the fund expenses.

Fidelity Go is designed for hands-off investors who want automatic rebalancing and portfolio management without talking to a person. If you need personalized advice or have complex financial situations, you would typically move to Wealth Services or a one-on-one advisor instead.

One-on-one advisor fees at Fidelity

Fidelity employs advisors in branches and call centers who work directly with clients. These advisors may charge in different ways depending on their location and the type of account. Some charge an hourly rate (typically $150 to $400 per hour), others charge a flat annual retainer, and some charge a percentage of assets under management similar to Wealth Services.

The fee structure is not uniform across all Fidelity advisors, so you need to ask your specific advisor how they charge before you commit. Some advisors may also earn commissions on products they sell you, which creates a potential conflict of interest — ask whether the advisor is a fiduciary (legally required to act in your best interest) or a suitability-based advisor (required only to recommend products that are suitable, not necessarily best for you).

Working with a Fidelity advisor in person or by phone gives you access to someone who can discuss your full financial picture, tax strategy, and retirement planning. This personalized service costs more than a robo-advisor but less than hiring an independent financial planner at some firms.

Self-directed accounts with no advisory fee

If you open a Fidelity brokerage account and manage your own investments, there is no advisory fee at all. You pay only the costs of the investments themselves — the expense ratios of funds you buy, and any trading commissions. Most stocks and ETFs trade commission-free at Fidelity, so your only cost is the fund expenses.

This option is for investors who want to pick their own stocks, bonds, or funds and do not need advice. Fidelity provides research tools, educational content, and planning calculators at no extra charge to account holders. Many people use this approach for part of their portfolio while paying for advice on another part.

Hidden costs and what to watch for

The advisory fee is not the only cost you pay. Every mutual fund and ETF has an expense ratio — an annual percentage that covers the fund's operating costs. These range from under 0.05% for low-cost index funds to 1% or more for actively managed funds. Fidelity Wealth Services and Fidelity Go typically use low-cost funds, but you should ask what funds are in your portfolio and what their expenses are.

Some accounts also charge account maintenance fees, though Fidelity has largely eliminated these. If you trade individual stocks frequently, you may incur short-term capital gains taxes, which are not a fee but a tax cost. If you move money between accounts or close an account early, some advisors may charge a transfer fee — ask about this upfront.

Read the account agreement and fee schedule carefully. Fidelity publishes detailed fee information on their website, but the exact fee you pay depends on your specific account type and the advisor you work with.

Comparing Fidelity costs to other providers

Fidelity's robo-advisor fee of 0.35% is competitive with other low-cost providers like Vanguard Personal Advisor Services (0.30%) and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios (0.28%), though Schwab's offering is free for accounts under $25,000. Fidelity's zero-fee tier for Go accounts under $25,000 is a strong option for small investors.

Fidelity Wealth Services at 0.30% to 1.00% is in the middle range for managed accounts. Independent financial planners often charge 0.50% to 1.50% or more, depending on the firm and your account size. If you are comparing costs, ask each provider for their full fee schedule in writing and calculate what you would pay on your specific account balance.

The cheapest option is always a self-directed account with low-cost index funds — your cost would be only the fund expense ratios, often 0.03% to 0.20% per year. The trade-off is that you do the work yourself and do not receive personalized advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Fidelity charge a fee if I just hold cash in my account?

No. If you have money in a Fidelity cash account and do not invest it, there is no advisory fee. You may earn interest on the cash balance depending on the account type, but Fidelity does not charge you for holding it. However, if you are paying for a managed service like Wealth Services, the fee applies to your total assets, including cash.

Can I negotiate Fidelity's advisory fees?

For robo-advisor services like Fidelity Go, the fees are fixed and not negotiable. For one-on-one advisors, fees may vary by location and advisor, so it is worth asking whether there is flexibility. For very large accounts ($1 million or more), some advisors may discuss fee arrangements, but this is not may provide.

What happens to my advisory fee if my account loses money?

You still pay the advisory fee. It is calculated as a percentage of your account balance, so if your balance drops due to market losses, your fee in dollars decreases, but the percentage rate stays the same. This is true for all percentage-based fees at Fidelity.

Are there any Fidelity services that include free financial advice?

Fidelity offers some planning tools and educational resources to all account holders at no extra charge. However, these are not personalized advice — they are general educational content. For personalized advice, you need to pay for a managed service or work with an advisor.

How often should I review my Fidelity advisory fees?

Review your account statement at least annually to see what you are paying in advisory fees and fund expenses. If your account balance has grown significantly, you may may have access to for a lower fee tier. If you are unhappy with the service or performance, you can switch to a different Fidelity service or move your money elsewhere.