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The comparison reads the same evidence fields used by broker profiles, so users can scan scores, regulation, costs, platforms, withdrawals, and caveats side by side.
Broker 1
Broker 2
| VS field |  |  |
|---|---|---|
Decision summary | ||
| Overall score | 80 | 91 |
| Trust score | 88 | 100 |
| Cost score | 64 | 89 |
| Platform score | 78 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 82 | 89 |
| Best for | Australian retail investors · CommBank customers wanting CDIA settlement integration · ASX shares and ETF investors | Evidence supports Fidelity as a U.S.-focused, highly regulated multi-asset broker for stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, bonds/CDs, options, cash management, managed portfolios, and sepa… |
| Watch out | Needs verification | Needs verification |
Trust & regulation | ||
| Regulators | ASIC AFSL; market participant of ASX and Cboe Australia; clearing participant of ASX Clear; settlement participant of ASX Settlement Source | Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC is SEC registered and regulated by FINRA; FBS and NFS are members of NYSE and SIPC. Source |
| License numbers | AFSL 238814; ABN 60 067 254 399; Share Direct AR Ref 274819; CBA AFSL 234945 Source | FBS CRD# 7784 / SEC# 8-23292; NFS CRD# 13041 / SEC# 801-50706, 8-26740. Source |
| Regulated entities | Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814; Share Direct Nominees Pty Limited AR 274819; Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124 AFSL 234945 Source | Primary securities brokerage entities are Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (FBS) and National Financial Services LLC (NFS), each member NYSE/SIPC; advisory and crypto entities differ by product. Source |
| Negative balance protection | No CFD/FX negative-balance-protection regime identified; margin lending can involve margin calls and sale of collateral if obligations are not met. Source | Not applicable/not disclosed as a CFD-style negative balance protection policy; margin trading can create debt/interest obligations. Source |
| Investor compensation | No explicit investor compensation scheme found in reviewed official CommSec pages; Australian CHESS/market protections and CBA deposit guarantees, if applicable, require product-specific review. Source | SIPC coverage up to $500,000/$250,000 cash plus Fidelity excess SIPC; FDIC sweep coverage may apply to eligible cash programs; important exclusions apply. Source |
| Restricted countries | Australian residents only; U.S. Persons and non-Australian residents barred from International Shares; other custodian country restrictions may apply Source | U.S.-persons focused; sanctioned countries/prohibited parties restricted; no exhaustive country availability list found. Source |
Costs & account conditions | ||
| Minimum deposit | Free account opening/no ongoing account-keeping fees; Pocket minimum investment $50; standard ETF minimum $500; margin loan minimum credit limit $20,000; no ordinary share-trading cash minimum disclosed. Source | $0 to open a retail brokerage account; Fidelity states no account minimum and ability to invest with as little as $1; exceptions apply by account/product. Source |
| Spread from | CommSec is primarily a listed-securities broker; official sources disclose brokerage/fees rather than FX/CFD-style spreads. Source | Not applicable to Fidelity's core U.S. stock/ETF brokerage model; securities trade by exchange/market prices rather than quoted CFD/FX spreads. Source |
| Commission | Australian shares from AUD $5 online/CDIA; Pocket from AUD $2; U.S. international from USD $5 or 0.12%; non-U.S. international market minimums; ETO online from AUD $34.95 plus contract fees Source | $0 online U.S. stock and ETF trades; $0 online options commission plus $0.65/contract; other product/service fees apply. Source |
| Maximum leverage | Margin Loan borrowing depends on approved investments/LVR; no single maximum leverage ratio disclosed on reviewed public pages. Source | No universal maximum leverage ratio disclosed for Fidelity retail brokerage; margin borrowing is available subject to approval and margin requirements/rates rather than a single max leverage figure. Source |
| Deposit fee | No CDIA account-keeping or electronic transaction fees; online transfers/direct debits and CBA ATM withdrawals free; International instant funding AUD $0.00 Source | $0 Fidelity fee for EFT and Fidelity does not charge wire fees; external banks may charge. Source |
| Withdrawal fee | CDIA electronic withdrawals free; International ACATS $0; US DRS transfer-out USD $5; DRS/transfer-in fees may apply Source | $0 Fidelity fee for EFT and domestic bank wire withdrawals; foreign exchange wire up to 3% of principal; receiving bank may charge. Source |
| Inactivity fee | Inactivity Fee AUD $0.00 Source | No explicit inactivity-fee line found in official fee schedule; official account pages state no retail brokerage account fees/no account or subscription fees. Treat as needs manual confirmation before publishing as '$0 inactivity fee'. Source |
Markets, platforms & payments | ||
| Tradable assets | Australian and international shares, ETFs, options, warrants, fixed income/bonds, managed funds via margin lending, cash products Source | Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, crypto, fixed income, bonds and CDs; Fidelity says stocks include domestic and international. Source |
| Trading platforms | Website, CommSec app, CommBank app/Pocket, CommSecIRESS and phone Source | Fidelity.com, Fidelity mobile app, Fidelity Trader+ Web/Desktop/Mobile mode, and legacy Active Trader Pro Classic. Source |
| Account types | Australian shares, international shares/Plus, options, margin lending, Pocket, minor trust, SMSF, CDIA and Notice Investor Source | Broad account menu including taxable brokerage, retirement/IRA, cash management, HSA, custodial/youth, education, trust/business, managed and crypto accounts. Source |
| Deposit methods | CDIA/NetBank linked transfers, external bank transfer to CDIA, CBA ATM/branch deposits, AUD International Wallet transfers Source | EFT/ACH, bank wire, check/mobile check, direct deposit, recurring deposit, Fidelity-to-Fidelity/account transfer, transfer of assets, and eligible payment apps. Source |
| Withdrawal methods | CDIA transfer via NetBank; CDIA branch/ATM access; international account withdrawals in AUD only Source | EFT/ACH, bank wire, paper check, Fidelity-to-Fidelity transfers, third-party/person-to-person transfers and eligible debit card/ATM access. Source |
| Withdrawal processing time | T+2 settlement for sale proceeds; access may take one extra business day; international withdrawals settled funds only Source | EFT withdrawals 1-3 business days; bank wire same day if submitted by 4 p.m. ET; paper check about 5-6 days. Source |
BrokerVS provides broker comparison research only. Scores and evidence can vary by country, account type, and legal entity; users should verify source links before opening an account.