Fidelity is one of the strongest mainstream rollover IRA options for hands-on investors.
It combines no account fees or minimums for retail IRA accounts, $0 online U.S. stock and ETF trades, ZERO index fund options, research tools, and support access. Vanguard may feel simpler for pure index investors, while Schwab may appeal to investors who value banking integration.
Best for
- Investors who want modern tools and strong research
- People who may want branch or phone support
- Low-cost index fund investors
- Rollover users who want a flexible all-around platform
Not ideal for
- People who want the absolute simplest interface
- Investors who prefer a pure Vanguard fund ecosystem
- Anyone who may be overwhelmed by too many choices
- Hands-off investors who do not want to choose funds
- Investors seeking alternative assets such as real estate inside a self-directed IRA
On This Page
Verified snapshot · November 3, 2026
Fidelity's published rollover IRA baseline
Rollover IRA
$0 account fee · $0 minimum
Fidelity says self-directed rollover IRAs have no account-opening fee or minimum and can be funded with as little as $1.
Managed option
Fidelity Go: $0 under $25K
Fidelity Go charges 0.35% annually once the account reaches $25,000; its Form ADV applies that rate to the account's average daily assets.
Fund expenses, options fees, managed-account charges, old-plan processing fees, and other transaction costs can still apply.
Fidelity IRA Rollover at a Glance
| Feature | Fidelity IRA Notes |
|---|---|
| Best use case | Investors who want a broad, modern rollover IRA with strong tools, research, and support access. |
| Account minimum | Fidelity states no minimums to open retail IRA accounts. |
| Account fees | Fidelity states no account fees for retail IRA accounts, though investment expenses and optional service fees may apply. |
| Online stock and ETF trades | Fidelity lists $0 commissions for online U.S. stock and ETF trades. Options contract fees may apply. |
| Zero-expense funds | Fidelity offers ZERO index mutual funds with 0.00% expense ratios, including FZROX. |
| Main trade-off | ZERO funds are Fidelity-only purchases, rollover cash may remain uninvested in the core position, and the large menu can overwhelm beginners. |
How a Fidelity IRA Rollover Works
Fidelity accepts rollovers from workplace plans such as 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) plans. The cleaner route is usually a direct rollover, where the distribution is payable to the receiving IRA custodian rather than to you personally.
Fidelity's current mailing instructions say a direct-rollover check should be payable to Fidelity Management Trust Company (or FMTC), FBO [your name], with your Fidelity IRA account number included. Always use the instructions Fidelity gives you for your specific account rather than copying a payee line from an article.
If an eligible employer-plan rollover distribution is made payable to you instead, federal rules generally require 20% withholding on the taxable amount and the 60-day rollover clock begins. To roll over the full eligible amount, you generally need to replace the withheld portion from other funds. See direct vs. indirect rollovers, 20% withholding, and the 60-day rollover rule.
1. Open the receiving IRA
Match the receiving account to the money. Pre-tax money generally goes to a Traditional or Rollover IRA. Moving pre-tax money to a Roth IRA is generally a taxable conversion; see the IRA rollover tax guide.
2. Contact the old plan
Ask for the plan's direct-rollover process and distribution form. If you are still employed, confirm whether the plan permits an in-service distribution.
3. Use Fidelity's current instructions
For a check, verify the payee wording, FBO name, account number, and delivery method with Fidelity. Review common rollover mistakes before submitting paperwork.
4. Invest after the funds arrive
Fidelity says uninvested rollover cash sits in the account's core position, typically a money market fund or FDIC-insured sweep. Retirement accounts can use SPAXX or an FDIC-insured sweep as core options. Check your actual core position and rate before deciding how long to leave money there.
Want to see Fidelity's rollover path directly?
Review Fidelity's current rollover instructions, then use our independent checklist before submitting paperwork.
Fidelity IRA Fees and Costs
Fidelity's current fee pages list a $0 account service fee, $0 IRA closeout fee, and $0 transfer-of-assets fee. Online U.S. stock and ETF trades are $0 commission. Fund expenses, options contract fees, representative-assisted trades, managed-account charges, margin interest, and old-plan fees can still apply.
For a concrete $100,000 example: the Fidelity IRA account fee is $0; FZROX has a 0.00% expense ratio; FXAIX is 0.015%, or about $15 a year on $100,000; and Fidelity Go at 0.35% would be about $350 a year if the full $100,000 were in the managed account. At $50,000, 0.35% is about $175 a year.
| Cost Area | What to Check |
|---|---|
| Retail IRA account | Fidelity states no account fees and no minimums to open retail IRA accounts. |
| Online U.S. stocks and ETFs | Fidelity lists $0 commissions for online U.S. stock and ETF trades. Options contract fees may apply. |
| ZERO index mutual funds | Fidelity offers certain ZERO funds with 0.00% expense ratios and no minimums. |
| Representative-assisted trades | Fidelity's detailed commission schedule should be checked before using phone or representative-assisted trading. |
| Transfer out / IRA closeout | Fidelity's current detailed fee page lists $0 for transfer of assets and $0 for an IRA closeout request. |
| Outgoing workplace plan | Your old plan may have its own processing rules, restrictions, or fees. |
Fund Options and the Fidelity ZERO Catch
Fidelity suits investors who want low-cost index funds on a broad brokerage platform. The ZERO funds get attention because their expense ratio is 0.00%, while standard low-cost options such as Fidelity 500 Index Fund (FXAIX) currently show a 0.015% gross expense ratio.
- FZROX: Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund, 0.00% annual operating expenses.
- FZILX: Fidelity ZERO International Index Fund, part of the ZERO lineup.
- FXAIX: Fidelity 500 Index Fund, currently 0.015% gross expense ratio.
- Stocks and ETFs: Online U.S. stock and ETF trades are $0 commission, subject to Fidelity's stated conditions.
The ZERO-fund catch: Fidelity's ZERO prospectus says shares are available to individual retail investors through Fidelity brokerage accounts, including retirement accounts. That makes them less portable than an ETF that trades broadly across brokerages. Before a future transfer, ask the receiving firm whether it can accept the ZERO position in kind. If it cannot, you may need to sell inside the IRA and transfer cash; a sale inside an IRA generally does not create a current taxable gain, but you still have to reinvest the money.
Pros and Cons of a Fidelity Rollover IRA
Pros
- $0 account service fee and $0 IRA closeout fee.
- $0 transfer-of-assets fee on Fidelity's current fee page.
- $0 online U.S. stock and ETF commissions.
- ZERO index funds with 0.00% expense ratios.
- Very low-cost standard index funds such as FXAIX at 0.015%.
- Investor centers, phone support, research, and a broad investment menu.
Cons
- ZERO funds are available through Fidelity brokerage accounts, which can complicate a future move.
- Rollover cash can sit in the core position until you invest it.
- The number of tools, funds, and account choices can overwhelm beginners.
- Fidelity Go charges 0.35% annually once the account reaches $25,000.
- The mainstream brokerage IRA is not designed for many alternative assets.
- Your old workplace plan can still impose its own processing rules or fees.
Before rolling to Fidelity, use the checklist.
Confirm account type, direct rollover wording, FBO check details, tax forms, and how you will invest after cash arrives.
Free educational checklist. No email signup required on this page.
Customer Support and Branch Access
Fidelity has a broader support footprint than many online-only platforms. Fidelity lists branch locations and investor centers, and its site allows users to find an investor center or connect with local support. That can matter for rollover users who feel more comfortable with help beyond a self-service app.
That said, branch availability does not make Fidelity a personal financial advisor by default. A rollover decision can involve tax, plan, and investment considerations, so use branch help for process questions and consult a qualified tax or financial professional when your situation is complex.
Where Fidelity May Not Fit: Alternative Assets
Fidelity is strong for mainstream brokerage IRAs, public-market investments, research, support, mutual funds, ETFs, and stocks. It is not usually the first stop for investors who specifically want a self-directed IRA structure for alternative assets such as real estate, private placements, private credit, crypto, or specialized precious metals structures.
If your goal is a broader self-directed IRA, compare dedicated custodians, prohibited transaction rules, asset support, valuation requirements, liquidity, fees, and due diligence responsibilities.
Investor.gov warns that fraud can target self-directed IRAs and that custodians generally do not evaluate the quality or legitimacy of the investment or verify a promoter's claims. Read the SEC/Investor.gov self-directed IRA fraud alert before using a specialized custodian.
IRA Financial
Use this as a research link if you want alternative-asset IRA access. It is not a substitute for comparing basic Fidelity, Vanguard, or Schwab rollover IRAs.
Sponsored IRA Financial link. Fidelity links on this page are direct and non-sponsored. Self-directed IRAs involve additional rules, fees, and risks.
Bonus vs platform fit
Match Offers vs. Ongoing Costs
Fidelity's Special Offers page currently says it has no special offers. That can change. Compare any future bonus with recurring costs elsewhere: a 1% match on $50,000 pays $500 once, while a 0.35% annual fee on $50,000 costs about $175 every year.
Compare Current Rollover Matches →Fidelity vs Vanguard vs Schwab
Editorial view: Fidelity offers a strong balance of research, branch/phone support, low-cost proprietary funds, and $0 standard IRA service fees. The table below uses current published fee terms rather than subjective app rankings.
| Platform | Best for | Account fees | Possible drawback |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity | Broad self-directed IRA, research, support, low-cost funds | $0 account service fee; $0 transfer of assets; $0 IRA closeout fee | ZERO funds are Fidelity-only purchases; many choices can overwhelm beginners |
| Vanguard | Long-term index investors | $25 annual brokerage account service fee, waived with qualifying e-delivery and certain other exceptions | Vanguard may charge $100 for account closure and full transfer out, subject to stated waivers |
| Schwab | Support, rollover consultants, banking integration | $0 IRA opening and maintenance fee | Current Schwab pricing guide lists $50 for a full transfer out and $0 for a partial transfer out |
Final Verdict
Fidelity is a strong fit if you plan to choose your own investments, value research and branch or phone support, and want low-cost fund choices without a standard IRA account fee. The biggest practical catches are the Fidelity-only nature of ZERO fund purchases, the need to invest rollover cash after it arrives, and the platform's large menu.
Before starting, confirm the direct-rollover instructions with Fidelity and your old plan. Keep account numbers, check instructions, confirmation numbers, and investment decisions organized with the 401(k) Rollover Workbook ($19), or start with the free IRA Rollover Checklist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources and Editorial Notes
- Fidelity: rollover process and direct-rollover check instructions
- Fidelity: current commissions and fee schedule
- Fidelity: Fidelity Go pricing
- Fidelity Go Form ADV: account-level 0.35% advisory fee schedule
- Fidelity: FXAIX fund data
- Fidelity ZERO fund prospectus: eligibility and 0.00% expenses
- Fidelity: rollover cash and the core position
- Fidelity: current Special Offers page
- Investor.gov: Self-Directed IRAs and the Risk of Fraud
- Vanguard: current brokerage fees
- Schwab: current pricing guide
- Fidelity links on this page are direct and non-sponsored. The IRA Financial outbound link is sponsored.
- Fees, fund terms, offers, core options, yields, and competitor pricing can change. Verify current terms before moving retirement assets.