Expert Corner

Fidelity Investments: Empowering Long-Term Investing and Wealth Growth

Feb 10, 2026 | By Kailee Rainse

Fidelity Investments is a well-known American financial services company and one of the largest asset management firms in the world. It helps individuals, businesses, and institutions reach their financial goals by offering a wide range of investment and retirement options. Founded in 1946 by Edward C. Johnson II and based in Boston, Massachusetts, Fidelity is a privately owned company that manages trillions of dollars in assets. 

Its services include mutual funds, ETFs, brokerage accounts, retirement planning, wealth management, and financial advice, along with products such as IRAs, 401(k) plans, insurance, and savings accounts. Fidelity serves millions of investors worldwide and also supports employers with retirement plans and modern, technology-based investment tools. Over the years, the company has grown by adopting digital innovation while continuing to focus on customer service, varied investment choices, and long-term financial planning.

Fidelity Investments

Fidelity Investments is a leading global financial services company that helps individuals, businesses and institutions manage, grow, and protect their money through a wide range of investment and financial planning services. Established in 1946, Fidelity has built a strong reputation as one of the world’s largest asset management firms offering products such as mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), stocks, bonds, brokerage accounts, retirement plans, and wealth management solutions. 

The company is especially well known for its retirement services, including IRAs and employer-sponsored plans like 401(k)s, which support millions of workers in planning for their future. Fidelity also provides research tools, financial advice and technology-driven platforms that make investing easier for both beginners and experienced investors. With a focus on long-term financial growth, customer service and innovation, Fidelity Investments plays a major role in personal finance and institutional investing, helping people at different stages of life make informed financial decisions.

Fidelity Investments offers different investment accounts, such as:

  • DIY investing brokerage account: Account holders get access to smart decision-making tools that help them manage their own investments. Investors can also buy fractional shares of their favorite companies and exchange-traded funds through the Stocks by the Slice feature.
  • Roth individual retirement accounts (IRA): You can begin saving for retirement with no minimum balance required. With Fidelity’s Roth IRA, you choose and manage your own investments based on your financial goals.
  • Robo-advisor and advisor-monitored investment accounts: Minimum balance requirements and fees vary allowing investors to decide how much guidance or involvement they want from a professional advisor.

The Fidelity Investments logo is a clean and professional visual identity that reflects the company’s long-standing reputation for trust, stability and financial expertise. The logo typically features the word “Fidelity” in a strong, serif-style typeface, conveying reliability and tradition, while the accompanying green color symbolizes growth, prosperity and long-term financial security. In many versions of the logo, an emblem showing a classical figure or architectural element reinforces the firm’s deep roots, heritage and commitment to disciplined investing. 

The overall design is simple yet authoritative, making it easily recognizable across digital platforms, financial documents, and physical locations. By combining traditional design elements with a clear, modern presentation, the Fidelity Investments logo effectively communicates confidence, professionalism and a focus on helping investors build and protect wealth over time.

Fidelity Investments Layoffs

Fidelity Investments has carried out a few rounds of layoffs in recent years as part of changes happening across the financial services industry and adjustments to its business strategy. In March 2024, the company laid off around 700 employees, its first major job cut since 2017. Fidelity explained that this affected less than 1% of its global workforce of about 74,000 people and was done to better match staffing with changing business needs, while it continued hiring in important areas. 

In 2025, Fidelity also cut about 500 jobs in India, mainly in its Workplace Investing division, as part of a global effort to rebalance roles across different locations. Even after these reductions, the company stressed that it remains committed to growing key teams and maintaining strong operations in technology, analytics, research, and operations at its Bengaluru and Chennai offices. Overall, Fidelity has described these layoffs as part of a long-term workforce restructuring plan rather than a result of financial trouble.

Fidelity Investments Work

Fidelity Investments allows investors to trade stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options, and foreign currencies, often with fees as low as $0. Fidelity has also announced plans to support cryptocurrency investing and trading, starting with bitcoin and ethereum in select states. Currently, Fidelity does not offer futures or options on futures.

With Fidelity, investors can choose the following services:

  • Managing investments on their own
  • Using a robo-advisor
  • Using a hybrid robo-advisor
  • Working with a team of advisors
  • Working one-on-one with a dedicated advisor

Investors can select an advisor based on factors such as location and qualifications. While not all Fidelity advisors are classified as fiduciaries, they do act in a fiduciary role when providing advisory services, as outlined in Fidelity’s terms. In addition to managing investments, advisors use tax-efficient strategies to help reduce the impact of taxes on investment returns.

Fidelity also supports investors with a wide range of educational resources and tools. Users can access portfolio analysis features and investment screeners to make informed decisions. Customer support is available 24/7 through a virtual assistant or by phone,with live chat support offered during standard business hours.

Fidelity Investments Fees

Fidelity, investors can benefit from $0 trading commissions and access a wide selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds. Options trades still include a contract fee of 65 cents, and sell orders are subject to a small assessment fee ranging from 1 cent to 3 cents per $1,000 of principal.

Fidelity offers different accounts with varying minimum balances and fee structures:

  • Robo-advisor Fidelity Go accounts from $0 to $24,999: These accounts have no advisor fees and no minimum balance requirement. However, you need at least $10 in the account to begin investing.
  • Robo-advisor Fidelity Go accounts of $25,000 or more: When your account balance reaches $25,000 or higher, a 0.35% annual fee applies, and you also gain access to support from a live advisor.
  • Wealth management accounts: These accounts require minimum balances ranging from $50,000 to $250,000, depending on the level of advisor involvement you choose. Fees typically range between 0.50% and 1.50%.

Is Fidelity Investments worth it?

Fidelity Investments is worth it depends on your financial goals and how you like to invest, but for many people, it is a strong choice. Fidelity stands out because it offers low-cost investing, including $0 commissions on stocks, ETFs, and many mutual funds, which helps keep more of your money working for you. It supports a wide range of investment types from retirement accounts like Roth IRAs to self-directed brokerage accounts and advisor-assisted options so investors at different experience levels can find something that fits their needs. Fidelity also provides helpful tools, research, and educational resources, making it easier to build and manage a diversified portfolio. For those who want guidance, Fidelity robo-advisors and human advisors offer varying levels of support including tax-smart investing strategies. Its strong reputation, broad offerings and customer support make it a good option for both beginners and long-term investors.

Conclusion

Fidelity Investments is a well-established and respected financial services company that offers a wide range of investment products, retirement planning solutions, and advisory services designed to meet the needs of diverse investors. Its competitive pricing, broad selection of investment options, user-friendly tools, and extensive educational resources make it appealing to both beginners and experienced investors alike. Whether you prefer managing your own portfolio, using automated investing tools, or working with financial advisors, Fidelity provides flexible choices to support different investing styles and goals. While no investment platform is perfect for everyone, Fidelity’s strong reputation, ongoing innovation, and focus on long-term financial success make it a credible and valuable option for many individuals seeking to grow and protect their wealth.

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