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So you're looking to open a Fidelity account. Good choice.
Fidelity is one of the easiest and most beginner-friendly brokerages out there, with $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and options, no account minimums, and a platform that doesn't overwhelm you the second you log in. That's exactly why we named it our Best Stock Broker Overall for 2026.
The even better news? Opening a Fidelity account usually takes five to 10 minutes, and you can do it completely online.
Below, I'll walk you through exactly how to open a Fidelity account step by step, what you'll need, which account type to choose, and what happens once you hit submit.
What you'll need
Before getting started, all you'll need to have on hand is:
Basic personal info, including Social Security number
Employer's name and address (if applicable)
Bank account info (to fund the account)
I also love how you don't need a small fortune to get started. That's because Fidelity has no account minimums or monthly maintenance fees, making it a great option no matter how much you plan to invest.
5.0/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
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Bottom Line
Fidelity makes investing easy with $0 commission trades, powerful tools, and 24/7 support. Trade stocks, ETFs, options, and even crypto -- all in one place. Get expert insights, automate your investing, and potentially earn more on uninvested cash.
Your first major decision is figuring out which account to open. Popular options from Fidelity include:
Brokerage account: A standard taxable investment account with no withdrawal limits, where capital gains taxes apply on profits.
Traditional IRA: A retirement account that grows tax-deferred, with taxes due upon withdrawal.
Roth IRA: A retirement account funded with after-tax dollars that allows for tax-free withdrawals in retirement.
This guide focuses on opening a brokerage account, although opening an IRA or other type of account shouldn't be too different.
Step 2: Fill in personal info
After selecting an account type, just enter basic personal details such as name, email, address, Social Security number, and employment information (if applicable).
Security questions are required to protect your account. Fidelity also offers other security measures like multi-factor authentication and one-time passcodes.
Other questions may ask you about affiliations with broker-dealers, a stock exchange, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Most people will answer "no" to all of these.
Step 3: Add account settings
Next, select whether your account will be individually or jointly owned.
If choosing joint ownership, you'll want to give your spouse or partner's information, too, including name and Social Security number. If not, you'll be taken to the next page.
Step 4: Review and confirm
You'll be asked to review all information, including personal details, account type, employment information, and account settings. There are also some customer agreements, terms and conditions, and an electronic delivery agreement.
Once you've done all that, submit your application to open the account -- and that's it. You're just about ready to start investing.
Step 5: Fund the account and start investing
After you're up and running, the last step will be linking a bank account to fund your Fidelity account. Transfers typically take a day or two before your funds are available for trading.
Don't worry about the amount just yet. You can always start small and move more money over later.
Then, once the cash hits your account, you'll be able to start trading -- that's how easy it is to start investing with Fidelity.
What happens after you open a Fidelity account?
After your account is set up:
You'll have access to Fidelity's investing tools and research
You can trade stocks, ETFs, options, and even crypto
Uninvested cash may earn interest
Customer support is available 24/7 if you need help
It's a smooth experience from start to finish, especially if you're new to investing.
No, Fidelity doesn't require a minimum deposit to open a brokerage account.
Electronic transfers usually take about a day or two.
Yes. Investors can open multiple account types, including brokerage accounts, IRAs, and more.
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The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Target. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
Fidelity Disclosure:
Fidelity disclosure Investing involves risk, including risk of loss
* - $0.00 commission applies to online U.S. equity trades and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in a Fidelity retail account only for Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC retail clients. Sell orders are subject to an activity assessment fee (historically from $0.01 to $0.03 per $1,000 of principal). Other exclusions and conditions may apply. A limited number of ETFs are subject to a transaction-based service fee of $100. See full list at Fidelity.com/commissions. Employee equity compensation transactions and accounts managed by advisors or intermediaries through Fidelity Institutional® are subject to different commission schedules.
**Fidelity Crypto® is offered by Fidelity Digital Assets®. Investing involves risk, including risk of total loss. Crypto as an asset class is highly volatile, can become illiquid at any time, and is for investors with a high risk tolerance. Crypto may also be more susceptible to market manipulation than securities. Crypto is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Investors in crypto do not benefit from the same regulatory protections applicable to registered securities. Fidelity Crypto® accounts and custody and trading of crypto in such accounts are provided by Fidelity Digital Asset Services, LLC, which is chartered as a limited purpose trust company by the New York State Department of Financial Services to engage in virtual currency business (NMLS ID 1773897). Brokerage services in support of securities trading are provided by Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (“FBS”), and related custody services are provided by National Financial Services LLC (“NFS”), each a registered broker-dealer and member NYSE and SIPC. Neither FBS nor NFS offer crypto as a direct investment nor provide trading or custody services for such assets. Fidelity Crypto and Fidelity Digital Assets are registered service marks of FMR LLC.
***Options trading entails significant risk and is not appropriate for all investors. Certain complex options strategies carry additional risk. Before trading options, please read Characteristics and Risks of Standardized Options. Supporting documentation for any claims, if applicable, will be furnished upon request. ****Zero account minimums and zero account fees apply to retail brokerage accounts only. Expenses charged by investments (e.g., funds, managed accounts, and certain HSAs) and commissions, interest charges, or other expenses for transactions may still apply. See Fidelity.com/commissions for further details.
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