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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	Firstrade firstrade.com Options BrokerETF BrokerETF	Fidelity fidelity.com Stock BrokerETF BrokerETF
Decision summary
Overall score

Trust score	86	100

Cost score	94	89

Platform score	79	94

Withdrawal score	73	89

Best for	Cost-sensitive options traders · Self-directed U.S. stock and ETF investors · Investors seeking no-minimum brokerage or IRA accounts	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	Broker-dealer regulated by FINRA; SEC broker-dealer registration shown on BrokerCheck. Source	Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC is SEC registered and regulated by FINRA; FBS and NFS are members of NYSE and SIPC. Source
License numbers	CRD# 16843; SEC# 8-34642 Source	FBS CRD# 7784 / SEC# 8-23292; NFS CRD# 13041 / SEC# 801-50706, 8-26740. Source
Regulated entities	Firstrade Securities Inc. 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-style negative balance protection; margin trading losses may exceed deposited principal. Source	Not applicable/not disclosed as a CFD-style negative balance protection policy; margin trading can create debt/interest obligations. Source
Investor compensation	SIPC up to $500,000 including $250,000 cash; excess coverage via Apex up to aggregate $150 million / $37.5 million per customer including $900,000 cash. 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	Full restricted-country list not disclosed; international page lists supported regions and site disclaims jurisdictions where Firstrade is not authorized. Source	U.S.-persons focused; sanctioned countries/prohibited parties restricted; no exhaustive country availability list found. Source

Trust & regulation

Regulators

Broker-dealer regulated by FINRA; SEC broker-dealer registration shown on BrokerCheck.

Source

Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC is SEC registered and regulated by FINRA; FBS and NFS are members of NYSE and SIPC.

Source

License numbers

CRD# 16843; SEC# 8-34642

Source

FBS CRD# 7784 / SEC# 8-23292; NFS CRD# 13041 / SEC# 801-50706, 8-26740.

Source

Regulated entities

Firstrade Securities Inc.

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-style negative balance protection; margin trading losses may exceed deposited principal.

Source

Not applicable/not disclosed as a CFD-style negative balance protection policy; margin trading can create debt/interest obligations.

Source

Investor compensation

SIPC up to $500,000 including $250,000 cash; excess coverage via Apex up to aggregate $150 million / $37.5 million per customer including $900,000 cash.

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

Full restricted-country list not disclosed; international page lists supported regions and site disclaims jurisdictions where Firstrade is not authorized.

Source

U.S.-persons focused; sanctioned countries/prohibited parties restricted; no exhaustive country availability list found.

Source

Costs & account conditions
Minimum deposit	$0 minimum initial deposit / no minimums. 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	Not applicable or not broker-level for this investment-platform profile; review if leveraged products apply. 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	$0 online stock, ETF, options, and mutual fund trades; $0 options contract fee; most fixed income on net-yield basis; primary market CDs $30. 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	Maximum leverage not disclosed as a simple ratio; U.S. margin accounts are subject to margin rules and product-level requirements. 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	ACH electronic transfer $0; incoming wire/account transfer fees not explicitly disclosed on checked fee page. Source	$0 Fidelity fee for EFT and Fidelity does not charge wire fees; external banks may charge. Source
Withdrawal fee	ACH $0; regular check $0; domestic/foreign outgoing wire $25; overnight check $50; ACAT transfer out $75; partial ACAT transfer out $55. 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	No inactivity fees. 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

Costs & account conditions

Minimum deposit

$0 minimum initial deposit / no minimums.

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

Not applicable or not broker-level for this investment-platform profile; review if leveraged products apply.

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

$0 online stock, ETF, options, and mutual fund trades; $0 options contract fee; most fixed income on net-yield basis; primary market CDs $30.

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

Maximum leverage not disclosed as a simple ratio; U.S. margin accounts are subject to margin rules and product-level requirements.

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

ACH electronic transfer $0; incoming wire/account transfer fees not explicitly disclosed on checked fee page.

Source

$0 Fidelity fee for EFT and Fidelity does not charge wire fees; external banks may charge.

Source

Withdrawal fee

ACH $0; regular check $0; domestic/foreign outgoing wire $25; overnight check $50; ACAT transfer out $75; partial ACAT transfer out $55.

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

No inactivity fees.

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	Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, fixed income including Treasuries, municipal bonds, agency bonds, zeros/strips, and CDs. Source	Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, crypto, fixed income, bonds and CDs; Fidelity says stocks include domestic and international. Source
Trading platforms	Web platform, iOS app, Android app, and Options Wizard/OptionsPlay analytics. Source	Fidelity.com, Fidelity mobile app, Fidelity Trader+ Web/Desktop/Mobile mode, and legacy Active Trader Pro Classic. Source
Account types	Individual/joint/custodial brokerage; Traditional/Roth/Rollover/SEP/SIMPLE IRA; Coverdell ESA; trust/estate; international individual; cash management. Source	Broad account menu including taxable brokerage, retirement/IRA, cash management, HSA, custodial/youth, education, trust/business, managed and crypto accounts. Source
Deposit methods	ACH electronic funds transfer, wire transfer, and ACAT/account transfer. 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	ACH transfer, outgoing domestic/international wire, regular check, and overnight check. 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	Withdrawal processing time not found in checked official public funding and fee pages. 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

Markets, platforms & payments

Tradable assets

Stocks, ETFs, options, mutual funds, fixed income including Treasuries, municipal bonds, agency bonds, zeros/strips, and CDs.

Source

Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, crypto, fixed income, bonds and CDs; Fidelity says stocks include domestic and international.

Source

Trading platforms

Web platform, iOS app, Android app, and Options Wizard/OptionsPlay analytics.

Source

Fidelity.com, Fidelity mobile app, Fidelity Trader+ Web/Desktop/Mobile mode, and legacy Active Trader Pro Classic.

Source

Account types

Individual/joint/custodial brokerage; Traditional/Roth/Rollover/SEP/SIMPLE IRA; Coverdell ESA; trust/estate; international individual; cash management.

Source

Broad account menu including taxable brokerage, retirement/IRA, cash management, HSA, custodial/youth, education, trust/business, managed and crypto accounts.

Source

Deposit methods

ACH electronic funds transfer, wire transfer, and ACAT/account transfer.

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

ACH transfer, outgoing domestic/international wire, regular check, and overnight check.

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

Withdrawal processing time not found in checked official public funding and fee pages.

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

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