Who is Fidelity Go?
Fidelity Go is the robo-advisor arm of Fidleity Investments. They offer clients access to the service with very low minimums. They can get started investing with an account balance of as little as $10.
Besides the basic robo-advisor services offered by most robo-advisors, Fidelity Go offers unlimited coaching sessions with a financial advisor once client accounts reach $25,000.
Fidelity Go was launched in 2016 and has since expanded and improved its service offerings. Fidelity Go allows users to specify their investment goals when signing up, and their portfolio will be allocated accordingly.
The platform is very user-friendly, and those with an existing Fidelity account will find the interface between their existing account(s) and Fidelity Go to be very easy.
Key features of Fidelity Go
Here are some of the key features of Fidelity Go:
- Low cost. There is no management fee for accounts under $25,000. The fee is 35 basis points for accounts with $25,000 in assets or more.
- Fidelity Go accounts can easily be integrated with other Fidelity accounts for existing Fidelity account holders.
Portfolios are overseen by human advisors from a team of registered investment advisors that is part of Fidelity. They make day-to-day trading decisions and handle trades in the accounts.
What are the pros and cons of Fidelity Go?
Pros of Fidelity Go
- Pricing is tiered based on account size. There are no advisory fees for account balances under $25,000. There is a fee of 0.35% annually on account balances of $25,000 or above.
- Minimums: There are no minimums to open a Fidelity Go account.
- Integration: Existing Fidelity customers can seamlessly integrate a Fidelity Go account with one or more existing Fidelity accounts. Existing Fidelity customers can interact easily with the platform. If you have an existing Fidelity account, it can be converted to a Fidelity Go account if desired.
- Management: Money in Fidelity Go accounts is professionally managed by Fidelity. They monitor the markets and rebalance your portfolio as needed to keep clients on track with their investing goals.
Cons of Fidelity Go
- Unlike some other robo-advisors, Fidelity Go does not offer investors the option to do tax-loss harvesting. This strategy can result in significant tax savings in some cases.
- Investments are restricted to proprietary Fidelity Flex mutual funds; no other types of investments are allowed.
- Clients with less than $25,000 in their account are not eligible for the human coaching option.
- There are no socially responsible investing options available for investors.
What types of investment assets are available with Fidelity Go?
The investment assets available with Fidelity Go are limited to the use of Fidelity Flex mutual funds.
| Asset Type | Available with Fidelity Go |
|---|---|
| Mutual funds | Yes |
| Non-Fidelity funds | No |
| Individual stocks | No |
| Bonds and fixed income | No |
| Real estate investment trusts | No |
| ETFs | No |
| Private equity | No |
| Crypto | No |
Fidelity Flex funds do not have an expense ratio or charge a management fee in most cases. These are proprietary funds and are the only ones available for Fidelity Go investors. There are a number of Flex funds in various asset classes, as well as a mix of active and passive funds.
How does Fidelity Go determine how to invest your money?
New investors to Fidelity Go answer a series of questions about themselves and their financial goals. This allows the Fidelity Go advisors to suggest a portfolio allocation for their account.
They offer a number of different portfolios with varying allocations to stocks, bonds and cash based on the client’s investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon.
Investors are placed on one of several portfolios of Fidelity Flex funds offered within the program.
Fidelity Go does not let investors choose their investments. However, investors can voice their opinion as to which of the portfolios they might prefer based on their goals and other personal factors.
What is Fidelity Go’s account minimum?
There is no minimum amount required to open a Fidelity Go account.
Once your account value reaches $10, Fidelity will commence investing it for you based on your chosen investment strategy.
How much does Fidelity Go cost?
Fidelity Go uses a tiered pricing structure based on account size.
- There are no advisory fees for accounts with less than $25,000 in assets.
- Accounts with $25,000 or more pay 35 basis points annually.
- The Fidelity Flex funds used in Fidelity Go accounts have very low expenses.
- Once your account reaches $25,000, you will be able to schedule 30-minute calls with Fidelity’s trained advisors to discuss specific topics. There is no limit to the number of coaching calls that you can schedule, and there is no extra cost for these calls.
What are Fidelity Go’s customer support options?
Fidelity offers strong support options for individuals seeking extra guidance or assistance with their accounts.
Live chat is available Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Eastern time. Support via phone is available 24/7.
Additionally, the site has a very thorough FAQ section.
Fidelity Go: Mobile app
Fidleity Go is available on the main Fidleity app and is accessible to users in both IOS and Android. The functionality of the mobile app is very similar to what users would see using the desktop version.
App users have the option of turning on push notifications and prompts if they so desire. Fidelity Go users who also use other Fidelity platforms may need some time to get used to the app version of Fidelity Go, as there are differences among the various Fidelity platforms on the mobile app.
Fidelity Go: Security
Fidleity Go offers users several security options via the larger main Fidleity app.
They have the option of enabling two-factor authentication as well as biometric entry (fingerprint and facial recognition) as added security measures.
Fidelity Go also falls under the SIPC (Securities Investor Protection Corporation), which offers protection should Fidelity encounter financial trouble.
Fidelity Go: Customer feedback
Customer feedback on Fidleity Go is mixed.
Some Reddit users speak about positive experiences, noting high returns and ease of use:
“I dipped my toe in, with small incremental amounts after seeing early results. As of today, my return percentage is 22%. I'm not sure if that is pure luck or just that the computer is just that good.”
While others claim the platform underperforms, leaving them missing out on investment gains:
“Fidelity Go has consistently underperformed the market. My individual account fared better. In the last 3 months, the Go account lost money while the SP500 made money. Most aggressive portfolio on Go. I’m about to just switch it off and invest in the index. I was hoping for some diversification with the go account, but the returns are just dismal when the market is red hot.”
Is Fidelity Go a good option to consider?
Fidelity Go can be a good option for investors who have wanted to try a robo-advisor and who would feel more comfortable doing so with an established investment firm like Fidelity. The expenses are reasonable, and the minimums to open an account are low.
The availability of coaches for those with at least $25,000 can be another plus. The inability to do tax-loss harvesting in taxable accounts can be a downside.
Fidelity accounts, including Fidelity Go accounts, are covered by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), adding a level of protection.
Who should consider Fidelity Go?
Below are some of the criteria of those best suited to opening a Fidelity Go account:
- Current Fidelity customers who want to keep their various investment accounts with one custodian.
- Hands-off investors who want solid, professional management of their investments.
- Investors are looking for low-cost management of their investments.