Core Brokerage

Fidelity — The Foundation of Your Stack

Name: Fidelity
Brand: Fidelity

No account minimums. Zero-commission trades. The only funds in existence with a 0.00% expense ratio. Fidelity is where your long-term wealth gets built.

Open Free Account See full account setup guide

The Speedrun Take

Fidelity wins on cost. Full stop. FZROX has a literally zero expense ratio — no other fund company has matched this. On $100k invested, you save $150–$300/year vs Vanguard or Schwab equivalent ETFs. Over 30 years, that difference compounds into thousands. Use Fidelity as your core long-term account, and pair it with Robinhood to grab bonuses.

Why It Wins

Literally $0 Expense Ratio

FZROX and FZILX are the only funds in existence with a true 0.00% expense ratio. No other brokerage matches this.

No Account Minimum

Start with $1. No balance requirements, no monthly fees, no inactivity fees. Zero friction to open and fund.

Zero-Commission Trades

All stock and ETF trades are commission-free. Options are $0.65/contract with no base fee.

Cash Management Account

Fidelity's CMA acts as a checking account — debit card, free checks, ATM fee reimbursements, and FDIC-insured cash.

Best-in-Class Research

Full access to Morningstar reports, analyst ratings, and screeners — no Gold tier required.

Fractional Shares

Buy any stock or ETF in dollar amounts. Invest $5 in AMZN or $10 in BRK.B without buying a full share.

The Funds I Actually Buy

Fidelity ZERO funds are only available at Fidelity — you can't transfer them to another brokerage. That's fine for most people, but use FSKAX in your IRA if you want portability.

Ticker	Name	Exp. Ratio	When to use
FZROX	Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index	0.00%	US core holding — your primary investment
FZILX	Fidelity ZERO International Index	0.00%	International diversification — pair with FZROX
FSKAX	Fidelity Total Market Index	0.015%	Use in IRA if you may ever transfer — more portable than FZROX
FXAIX	Fidelity 500 Index Fund	0.015%	S&P 500 only — slightly less diversified than FZROX

How to Set It Up

Open a Brokerage Account

Takes about 10 minutes. Have your SSN and bank info ready. No minimum deposit required to open.

Link Your Bank and Fund

Connect your checking account. Your first transfer may take 3–5 days. Set up a recurring transfer to automate investing.

Buy FZROX (and optionally FZILX)

Search FZROX, buy in dollar amount. A simple 80% FZROX / 20% FZILX split gives you the whole world market at 0% cost.

Open a Roth IRA (if eligible)

Max contribution is $7,000/year (2024). Same funds, same zero cost — but growth is tax-free forever. Do this before your taxable brokerage.

Add the Cash Management Account

Optional but useful. Fidelity's CMA has no fees, reimburses all ATM fees, and your idle cash earns yield via the SPAXX money market fund.

What I Actually Use Fidelity For

Core index fund portfolio (FZROX + FZILX)

Roth IRA — max every year first

Taxable brokerage for additional investing

Cash Management Account as checking

SPAXX money market for idle cash (~5% yield)

Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) on autopilot

Pair It With

Robinhood

Claim a free stock, earn Gold perks on idle cash

SoFi Bank

High-yield savings + $300 bonus if you want a separate bank

See the full 3-account setup guide

Ready to open your Fidelity account?

Takes 10 minutes. No minimum deposit. Start with whatever you have.

Open Free Fidelity Account