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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 | 82 | 91 |
| Trust score | 82 | 100 |
| Cost score | 78 | 89 |
| Platform score | 84 | 94 |
| Withdrawal score | 80 | 89 |
| Best for | New Zealand retail investors · Australian retail investors seeking fractional investing · Beginners and small-balance 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 | Regulated by New Zealand FMA and NZX rules; Sharesies Australia holds an AFSL overseen by ASIC. Source | Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC is SEC registered and regulated by FINRA; FBS and NFS are members of NYSE and SIPC. Source |
| License numbers | AU: AFSL 529893 / ABN 94 648 811 830; NZ: Sharesies Investment Management FSP1001460; Sharesies Limited NZBN 9429045952838. Source | FBS CRD# 7784 / SEC# 8-23292; NFS CRD# 13041 / SEC# 801-50706, 8-26740. Source |
| Regulated entities | Key entities include Sharesies Limited (NZ), Sharesies Australia Limited, Sharesies Investment Management Limited, Sharesies Nominee Limited, and Sharesies Australia Nominee Pty Limited. 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 | Not applicable to CFD-style negative-balance protection; wallet debts may still be owed. Source | Not applicable/not disclosed as a CFD-style negative balance protection policy; margin trading can create debt/interest obligations. Source |
| Investor compensation | No broad compensation scheme verified; custody/trust protections and AU PI insurance disclosed; NGF exclusion for NZ/US via NZ platform. 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 | Available regionally in NZ and Australia; NZ platform no longer accepts new Australian-based investors; AU IDPS not offered outside Australia where unlawful. Source | U.S.-persons focused; sanctioned countries/prohibited parties restricted; no exhaustive country availability list found. Source |
Costs & account conditions | ||
| Minimum deposit | No minimum investment; wallet funding required; minimum top-up not clearly 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 | Not applicable: Sharesies is not a spread-quoted CFD/forex broker in the scoped evidence. 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 | 1.9% transaction fee up to regional market caps; managed funds not listed on an exchange have no Sharesies transaction fee. 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 | Not applicable: no leveraged CFD/forex product found in scoped official materials. 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 | Free standard NZ bank transfer; instant/linked/card/PayID fees vary by region and method. Source | $0 Fidelity fee for EFT and Fidelity does not charge wire fees; external banks may charge. Source |
| Withdrawal fee | Standard wallet withdrawal fee not clearly disclosed; NZ fast withdrawal 1.9% of unsettled amount; share transfer-out and exceptional account-closure fees 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 | No inactivity fee found in reviewed public pricing, terms, or FSG; account closure fees may apply only in stated exceptional circumstances. 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 | Sharesies offers NZ/US/Australian shares and ETFs, managed funds, advised portfolios, selected crypto, and NZDX-listed bond transfer/holding support. Source | Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, crypto, fixed income, bonds and CDs; Fidelity says stocks include domestic and international. Source |
| Trading platforms | Sharesies platform is accessible via website/web app and mobile apps on iOS and Android. Source | Fidelity.com, Fidelity mobile app, Fidelity Trader+ Web/Desktop/Mobile mode, and legacy Active Trader Pro Classic. Source |
| Account types | NZ adult and Kids Accounts, plus trust/company/business by approval; AU IDPS accounts with marketing references to Kids Accounts but FAQ inconsistency. Source | Broad account menu including taxable brokerage, retirement/IRA, cash management, HSA, custodial/youth, education, trust/business, managed and crypto accounts. Source |
| Deposit methods | NZ: bank transfer, foreign-currency bank deposit by arrangement, card, Apple/Google Pay, instant bank transfer, gift; AU: bank transfer, card, linked bank, Apple/Google Pay, PayID. 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 | Withdraw to local bank account in local currency only: NZD in NZ, AUD in Australia. 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 | Settled withdrawals 1-2 business days; post-sale withdrawals may take settlement/processing plus transfer time; NZ faster withdrawal option for a fee. 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.