Best all-around brokerage — no PFOF, $0 minimums, best-in-class research.
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ClearValue Rating: 4.2 / 5 — our editorial assessment (how we rate)
Editorial confidence (30%), cost (25%), value (25%), accessibility (20%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation.
Investors of all experience levels who want commission-free trading with best-execution routing and a full suite of account types.
Fidelity Investments — Best all-around brokerage — no PFOF, $0 minimums, best-in-class research. Best for: Investors of all experience levels who want commission-free trading with best-execution routing and a full suite of account types.. Compare it against alternatives before applying; the right fit depends on your situation, credit, and goals.
Payment for order flow (PFOF) is a practice where a brokerage sells your trade orders to market makers who pay for the order flow. The market maker profits on the bid-ask spread, which can result in slightly worse execution prices for the investor. Fidelity does not use PFOF for equity orders — it routes trades seeking best execution. The SEC requires brokerages to disclose their order routing practices in quarterly Rule 606 reports. This is an editorial description of the general concept; consult SEC investor resources at investor.gov for authoritative guidance.
Fidelity is widely considered a strong option for Roth IRAs, offering access to Fidelity's own zero-expense-ratio index funds (FZROX, FZILX) alongside the full range of ETFs and mutual funds. There is no minimum to open a Roth IRA at Fidelity, and fractional shares allow contributions of any size to be deployed immediately. The IRS sets annual Roth IRA contribution limits and income phase-outs annually — see irs.gov/retirement-plans for current figures. This is editorial context; confirm current account terms directly with Fidelity.
Yes. Fidelity is a SIPC member. SIPC protects up to $500,000 per account (including up to $250,000 in cash) if a brokerage fails and customer assets are missing. SIPC does not protect against investment losses — if a holding declines in value, that is market risk, not a custodial failure. Fidelity also carries additional private insurance above SIPC limits. See sipc.org for authoritative details on coverage.
No. ClearValue Lending is not a licensed investment advisor, broker-dealer, or securities professional. This review is editorial content presenting publicly available information. Investment decisions involve risk, including the possible loss of principal. Consult a qualified financial professional before making investment account decisions.
How we rate
Every pick gets a 1–5 ClearValue Rating computed from four weighted factors: Editorial confidence (30%), Cost (25%), Value (25%), and Accessibility (20%).
Scored consistently across every product and independent of any compensation. Full methodology →
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