Credit: First, go here and click "Open online" next to the first option, "Brokerage Account - The Fidelity Account." Select individual account and click "Next," and then you'll be asked whether you're an existing Fidelity customer. If you don't already have a Fidelity account, then you'll need to fill in some basic personal information -- email address, street address, Social Security number, and so on -- on this page and the following page.
First, go here and click "Open online" next to the first option, "Brokerage Account - The Fidelity Account." Select individual account and click "Next," and then you'll be asked whether you're an existing Fidelity customer. If you don't already have a Fidelity account, then you'll need to fill in some basic personal information -- email address, street address, Social Security number, and so on -- on this page and the following page.
Step 1: Fill in your personal information
This section will also be where you enter your employment information, if applicable. The site will also ask you to estimate how often you'll be trading. (Promise us you'll stay away from day trading .)
You'll also be asked whether you're associated with a broker-dealer, a stock exchange, or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. You'll also have to answer whether you or any immediate family members are a director or a 10% shareholder of a publicly held company. Most likely, you'll answer "no" to these questions.
Once you've filled out the personal information and answered those quick questions, move on to Step 2.
Step 2: Add account settings
On this page you'll answer a few quick questions about your account. It's worth noting here that Fidelity's account settings are some of the simplest and quickest to set up. Other brokerage accounts aren't necessarily difficult, but Fidelity's is one of the most straightforward.
You'll essentially just answer questions about your email preferences and whether you want to subscribe to Fidelity's newsletter. The company also discloses here that it will automatically put your money in a money market account when you're not using it to invest. If you don't want Fidelity investing the money you're not using, then there's a link to see other options as well.
You're almost done. In this section you'll just review your personal information, the account you selected, your employment information, and some general account settings.
Step 3: Review and confirm
You'll also go through some technical information, such as the customer agreement, terms and conditions, electronic delivery agreement, and so on. Read and review these documents, and then click the "yes" button at the bottom.
Image source: Author screenshot of Fidelity site.
The next page will show a taxpayer identification agreement and some additional terms. Once you read though them, just click "Open account."
Step 4: Fund the account and start investing
Congratulations -- you've opened the account! From here you'll be able to fund your account using your bank information, or you can fund it through another brokerage account.
Other than that, you're all done setting up your Fidelity brokerage account. Remember that you can always view special broker offers here , and if you need some tips on how to get started investing, check out these handy Motley Fool articles:
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
