Where to see your Fidelity fees

Fidelity shows you what you pay in three places: your account statement, the Fidelity website under Account Settings, and a detailed fee breakdown you can request by phone or through your account dashboard. The easiest route is logging into your Fidelity account online, clicking "Account" or "Accounts," then looking for a section labeled "Fees," "Account Fees," or "Statements." Your most recent statement also lists any charges applied that month.

If you hold mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Fidelity publishes the fund's expense ratio — the annual cost to own that fund — in the fund's prospectus and on the fund detail page. This is separate from account-level fees. You pay the expense ratio automatically as a percentage of your holdings; it does not appear as a line item on your statement.

Key Takeaways

  • Account fees vary by account type: brokerage accounts often have no account fee, while IRAs and managed accounts may charge annual fees ranging from $0 to several hundred dollars depending on your balance and service level.
  • Mutual funds and ETFs charge expense ratios (annual percentages) that are deducted automatically and listed in the fund prospectus, separate from any account fee.
  • Trading fees depend on what you trade: stocks and ETFs typically have no commission at Fidelity, but options, bonds, and mutual funds may carry per-trade charges.
  • Your account statement shows all fees charged that month, and you can request a year-to-date fee summary by logging into your account or calling Fidelity's customer service line.
  • Fidelity's fee structure changes by account type and service tier, so comparing your statement to Fidelity's published fee schedule confirms whether you are paying what you expect.

Account-level fees: what type of account you hold

Fidelity charges different fees depending on whether you have a brokerage account, an IRA, a 401(k), or a managed account. A standard brokerage account (used to buy and sell stocks and funds) typically has no annual account fee. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) and Roth IRAs also usually carry no account fee, though some IRA custodial fees may explore if you hold certain investments.

Managed accounts — where Fidelity invests your money according to a strategy you choose or they recommend — charge annual advisory fees. These typically range from 0.35% to 1% of your account balance per year, though the exact rate depends on how much money you have invested and which service tier you select. A $100,000 managed account at 0.50% costs $500 per year. Fidelity's Go and Go Invest accounts are lower-cost automated options; their fees appear on your account dashboard under "Advisory Fees" or "Management Fees."

Trading and transaction fees

Fidelity charges no commission to buy or sell stocks or most ETFs in a standard brokerage account. Options trading carries a per-contract fee (typically $0.65 per contract as of this writing, though this can change). Bonds purchased through Fidelity include a markup that is not listed separately on your statement; the markup is built into the price you see when you trade.

Mutual funds sold through Fidelity may carry a transaction fee depending on the fund family and whether it is a Fidelity fund or a third-party fund. Fidelity's own mutual funds (branded as Fidelity funds) usually have no transaction fee. Mutual funds from other companies sometimes do. Before you buy a mutual fund, the fund detail page shows "Transaction Fee" or "Fidelity Transaction Fee" if one applies.

Expense ratios: the cost of owning a fund

Every mutual fund and ETF charges an expense ratio — an annual percentage fee that covers the fund manager's salary, administrative costs, and other operating expenses. Fidelity does not set this fee; the fund company does. The expense ratio is deducted from the fund's value automatically and does not show up as a separate charge on your statement.

You find the expense ratio on the fund's detail page on Fidelity's website or in the fund prospectus. It is listed as a percentage, such as 0.05% or 0.75% per year. A fund with a 0.50% expense ratio on a $10,000 position costs $50 per year. Fidelity's own index funds and ETFs tend to have lower expense ratios than actively managed funds or funds from other companies. Comparing expense ratios before you buy helps you understand the true cost of ownership.

Special fees: IRAs, rollovers, and inactive accounts

Fidelity charges an IRA maintenance fee only in specific situations — usually when you hold certain types of investments or request special services. Most standard IRAs have no annual maintenance fee. If you roll over a 401(k) from a previous employer into a Fidelity IRA, there is no fee for the rollover itself, though you may pay a fee to your old plan administrator if they charge one.

Accounts that remain inactive (no trades or deposits for a set period, typically 12 months) may incur an inactivity fee, though Fidelity's policy on this varies. Check your account agreement or call Fidelity to confirm whether your account type is subject to inactivity fees. Wire transfers, check writing, and certain account services may also carry small fees; these are listed in Fidelity's fee schedule, available on their website or by request.

How to read your statement for fees

Open your most recent account statement and look for a section titled "Fees and Interest" or "Account Activity." This section lists every charge applied that month: advisory fees, trading fees, IRA maintenance fees, and wire transfer fees all appear here with the date and amount. The statement also shows the year-to-date total for each fee type, so you can see how much you have paid in a given category over time.

If you see a fee you do not recognize, note the exact name and amount, then log into your account or call Fidelity's customer service to ask what it covers. Some fees are one-time (like a wire transfer fee), while others recur monthly or annually (like an advisory fee). Your statement should clarify which is which. Fidelity also offers a "Fee Summary" tool in the account dashboard that breaks down all fees by category and shows year-to-date totals.

Comparing your fees to Fidelity's published schedule

Fidelity publishes a complete fee schedule on its website, organized by account type and service. read or request the schedule for your specific account type, then compare each fee listed to what appears on your statement. If your statement shows a fee that is not on the published schedule, or if the amount differs, contact Fidelity to clarify.

Some fees vary based on your account balance or service tier. For example, advisory fees on managed accounts decrease as your balance grows. If you recently crossed a balance threshold, your fee may have changed. Fidelity's website shows the fee tiers for each service, so you can confirm whether you are in the right tier for your balance. If you believe you are being charged incorrectly, Fidelity's customer service can review your account and adjust fees if warranted.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Most Fidelity brokerage accounts and IRAs have no annual account maintenance fee. Managed accounts and advisory services do charge annual fees based on your balance. Check your account type in Account Settings to confirm whether you are on a service tier that includes an account fee.

Why is my expense ratio different from what I expected?

Expense ratios are set by the fund company, not Fidelity, and they vary widely. Actively managed funds typically charge higher ratios than index funds. Check the fund prospectus or detail page to confirm the exact ratio. If you own multiple share classes of the same fund, different classes may have different expense ratios.

Can I reduce the fees I pay to Fidelity?

You can lower costs by choosing lower-expense-ratio funds, consolidating accounts to reach a lower advisory fee tier, or switching to a lower-cost service tier. Fidelity's index funds and ETFs typically have lower expense ratios than actively managed alternatives. Speak with Fidelity about which account type or service level best matches your situation.

What happens if I do not trade for a long time?

Most Fidelity accounts do not charge inactivity fees, but some account types may. Check your account agreement or call Fidelity to confirm the policy for your specific account. Even if no fee applies, you should review your holdings periodically to may support they still match your goals.

How do I know if I am paying too much?

Compare your expense ratios and advisory fees to industry benchmarks. Fidelity's index funds and low-cost ETFs are competitive with other brokers. If you hold actively managed funds, compare their expense ratios to similar funds from other providers. Your statement shows your total fees; divide by your account balance to see your effective fee rate as a percentage.