E*TRADE vs. Fidelity: A Comprehensive 2024 Brokerage Face-Off

Feb 01, 2024 By Triston Martin

Online investment and retirement account brokerages include Fidelity Investments and E*TRADE. Any investor, even those who want fully automated portfolios, may find what they need on either platform. Fidelity and E*trade review also provide instructional materials, customer assistance that is simple to reach, and mobile applications.

Investors looking for the greatest deal should go with Fidelity. Its automated accounts employ zero-expense-ratio mutual funds, and the Fidelity Go account has no minimum requirement. Furthermore, in contrast to E*TRADE, the brokerage provides two automatic accounts.

For those interested in smart-beta exchange-traded funds and futures, E*TRADE is the superior option. E*TRADE is the way to go for automatic custodial accounts, unlike Fidelity. Those interested in trying new approaches, such as socially responsible ESG investing, may find E*TRADE a suitable fit.

Fidelity Review

Any kind of investor would benefit from Fidelity Investments' low-cost platform. Fidelity Go allows you to create either an automatic or self-directed brokerage account. Active Trade Pro is Fidelity's premium trading platform reserved for active traders.

Fidelity offers various instructional materials, expertly managed portfolios, and helpful beginner tips. However, Fidelity Wealth Services and many other sources give experienced investors the most recent stock analysis and market insights.

Since E*trade review only dabbles with digital currency futures and over-the-counter funds, which are indirect ways to invest in digital currencies, Fidelity is the alternative for these investors.

Advantages of Fidelity

  • There are no account or brokerage minimums.
  • Trusts that invest in equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and options without charging investors a fee
  • retirement savings plans for individuals, families, and small enterprises
  • Create IRAs for minors, and small businesses, self-directed, automated, and advisor-assisted.
  • Stock and ETF screening, market research, and sophisticated trading software
  • Ongoing, personalized advisor help is a part of Fidelity Personalized Planning & Advice.

Drawbacks of Fidelity

  • Harvesting losses from taxes is only available to self-directed Fidelity accounts.
  • People with larger balances will pay extra for Fidelity Go.
  • It is not possible to automate SEP or SIMPLE IRAs.
  • Neither futures trading nor tax loss harvesting

Investing With Fidelity

Fidelity offers mutual funds, equities, bonds, options, fractional shares, IPOs, money market funds, annuity contracts, metals, CDs, and fixed-income products. The account type you establish may not allow IPO or digital currency trading.

They provide various brokerage accounts, including standard, automatic, joint, custodial, education, disability, digital trading, and retirement savings plans.

In addition, there is round-the-clock customer service, instructional materials from the Fidelity Learning Center, and market research at your fingertips.

E*TRADE Review

You may trade low-cost equities, bonds, ETFs, futures, options, IPOs, and CDs with E*TRADE, an excellent online brokerage for active and passive investors both. Equities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), options, and even certain mutual funds may be traded without commissions, similar to Fidelity.

Regarding active investment methods, market analysis, and sophisticated charting tools, E*TRADE is a great alternative for advanced and active traders. To be clear, a Core Portfolios account isn't only for novices or those who want a hands-off approach. However, the minimum is greater than that of Fidelity Go. Because Fidelity does not provide futures trading, E*TRADE is the superior choice.

Advantages of E*TRADE

  • For standard brokerage accounts, there are no yearly or minimum fees.
  • Actively managed, low-cost ETFs with a social conscience
  • Live chat and round-the-clock customer service, market analysis, and retirement planning materials
  • Multiple Individual Retirement Account (IRA) choices for people of all ages, including children, parents, and small companies. Additionally, Core Portfolios takes SEP, rollover, conventional, and E*trade Roth IRAs.
  • Experts at E*TRADE and computer algorithms are the backbone of an automated account.

Drawbacks of E*TRADE

  • More money for advisors' services Diversify Investments
  • A comparatively high cost for management
  • Compared to Fidelity Go, Core Portfolios has stricter minimum criteria.
  • Simple IRAs do not have any automatic alternatives.
  • Eliminating tax losses

Investing With E*TRADE

Self-directed, computerized education and pension savings plans are available at E*TRADE. Assets such as commission-free inventory, ETFs, and options are available for trading on E*TRADE, depending on the type of account desired. Other investment options include futures, bonds, CDs, mutual-fund investments, and initial public offerings (IPOs).

For those who want a more hands-off approach, E*TRADE offers three separate portfolios managed by professional advisers on behalf of their clients, in addition to pre-built strategies for mutual fund investments and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). However, account minimums between five hundred and two hundred fifty thousand dollars are required for managed and pre-built portfolios.

At E*TRADE, you may find various instruments for technical analysis, including market trackers, paper-based trading user accounts, portfolio restructuring, paper trading charters, and more than a hundred studies.

Robo-Advisors of Fidelity and E*TRADE

Two great robo-advisors are E*TRADE Core Portfolios and Go for those just starting. Both automated systems include various account types, instructional materials, and the ability to trade certain asset classes without commission. However, there is some variation in prices and account possibilities.

Fidelity Go is your best choice if you are a newbie seeking a platform with minimal trading costs, mutual fees, and no minimum requirement. Nevertheless, a 0.35% fee will be applied to accounts with a $25,000 or above balance. Standard brokerage accounts, HSAs, and retirement plans are compatible with Fidelity Go.

However, a higher minimum of $500 is required to access E*TRADE's Core Portfolios. Core Portfolios may be the superior robo-advisor for those seeking to invest in smart beta ETFs and socially responsible ETFs while being more costly than Fidelity Go. Compared to Fidelity Go, E*TRADE is the superior choice for custodial accounts.

Comparing The IRAs

Many Fidelity and E*TRADE IRA options are similar. There are self-directed and automated IRAs, E*trade Roth IRAs, IRAs for children, and small company IRAs. Regarding costs, nevertheless, Fidelity is the way to go. It provides reduced fees for automated and advisor-managed accounts and has many zero-expense ratio index funds.

Are you looking for additional account flexibility and features? E* TRADE is a better solution for you. Core Portfolios, the brokerage's automatic account, works with more kinds of IRAs than Fidelity's automated accounts do. Also, for investors who have attained the legal age to withdraw from an IRA (591/2), E*TRADE's Complete IRA provides unique options, including online bill pay, debit card access, and simple IRA withdrawals.

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