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Largest IRA Provider Companies in 2026
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Fidelity Pricing
| Investments | Commissions |
|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | $0 |
| Stocks and ETFs broker assisted | $29.95 |
| Options | $0.65 per contract |
| Mutual funds | $49.95 to buy; $0 to sell. $49.95 if sold within 2 months |
| Bonds and CDs (new issues) | on a net yield basis |
| Bonds and CDs (secondary issues) | $1.00 per bond ($250 maximum) |
| Investments | stocks, bonds, mutual funds, options, commercial paper, UITs, ETFs |
| Fidelity minimum deposit to open account | $0 ($0 for Rollover IRA; $2,500 or $200 per month for Roth and Traditional IRA) |
Fidelity Advantages
Among brokerage firms, Fidelity stands out as a strong value. With $0 commissions on stock and ETF trades and options priced at just 65¢ per contract, investors benefit from low costs along with 24/7 customer support. Those who prefer face-to-face assistance will also find plenty of options, as Fidelity operates more than 180 branch offices across the United States. These locations host seminars on topics such as global investing, annuities, and charitable strategies. Beginners will also appreciate the broker’s extensive educational library, which includes videos, articles, courses, webinars, and infographics covering topics from ETF valuation to retirement planning.
Mutual fund investors will find a wide selection at Fidelity. There are more than 11,500 mutual
funds available. About 1,800 of these have no load and no transaction fee.
The platform’s screener can filter funds using criteria such as Morningstar rating, fund family, expense ratio, and historical returns. Results can also be sorted by any selected factor. For ETF investors, Fidelity offers a broad lineup that can be traded commission-free.
Investors who want help choosing investments can rely on Fidelity’s advisory and portfolio management services. The firm also provides strong support for education savings and retirement planning. Available account types include UGMA/UTMA accounts and 529 plans. Retirement savers can open a wide variety of IRAs, and Fidelity also supports 401(k) services. Life insurance and long-term care planning resources are available as well. Combined with a solid cash management account, Fidelity serves as a comprehensive financial services provider.
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Charles Schwab Pricing
| Investments | Commissions |
|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | $0 |
| Options | $0.65 per contract |
| Mutual funds | $0 for Schwab Mutual Fund OneSource funds, up to $49.95 per purchase for other funds, $49.95 short-term redemption fee on certain OneSource funds held 90 days or less |
| Futures | $2.25 per contract |
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CDs, Corporate Bonds, Municipal Bonds, Government Agencies, Zero-Coupon Treasuries,
including STRIPS and Mortgage-Backed Securities
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$1 per bond, $10 minimum, $250 maximum |
| Preferred Stocks and REITs | $0 |
| Commercial Paper, Foreign Bonds, Unit Investment Trusts | call for pricing |
| Investments |
stocks, bonds, mutual funds, futures, Treasury issues, options, CDs, insurance, ETFs,
forex, annuities, non-U.S. securities and ADRs, preferred stocks, REITs, and Canadian foreign orders
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| Minimum deposit to open an account | $0 for cash account, $2,000 for margin account |
Charles Schwab Advantages
Schwab provides a solid lineup of mutual funds, with access to about 5,100 funds. Of these, more than 3,100 come with no load and no transaction fee. The broker also offers one of the largest selections of commission-free mutual funds and ETFs in the industry. In addition, Schwab is a strong choice for stock traders, with $0 commissions on stock trades and options priced at 65¢ per contract.
Beyond trading, Schwab offers extensive research and educational content, including articles, videos, and live webinars. There is also futures-related information from its subsidiary optionsXpress. The website includes a community forum where users can discuss markets and trading ideas, and representatives are available to assist with account questions. Learning the thinkorswim desktop platform is made easier through Schwab’s tutorials and educational materials. In addition to the desktop system, Schwab offers a mobile app, a web-based platform, and even an Apple Watch app.
Schwab also provides strong customer support. Assistance is available 24/7 by phone and online chat, and some representatives speak multiple languages, including Mandarin and Cantonese. For those who prefer in-person help, Schwab operates more than 325 branch locations across the United States. Clients can also open retirement and FDIC-insured bank accounts, making Schwab a convenient all-in-one financial provider.
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Charles Schwab Website
$0 commissions + ACAT reimbursement + satisfaction guarantee at Charles Schwab.
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TD Ameritrade Pricing
| Investments | Commissions |
|---|
| Stocks and ETFs | $0 |
| Stocks and ETFs broker assisted | $25 |
| Mutual funds | $49.99 to buy, $0 to sell |
| Treasuries at auction | $25 |
| All other bonds and CMOs, CDs | on a net yield basis |
| Futures | $2.25 per contract plus exchange & regulatory fees |
| Forex | Non-commission currency pairs trade in increments of 10,000 units (and do not contain a "#" symbol suffix). There are no additional fees or charges. |
| Investments | stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, bonds, CDs, UITs, futures, and forex |
| TD Ameritrade minimum deposit to open account | $0 |
TD Ameritrade Closed Its Doors
TD Ameritrade Advantages
Investors who want to practice before trading with real money should explore TD Ameritrade’s paper trading feature. This simulated environment allows users to test strategies and experiment with order types such as trailing stops, one-triggers-other, and stop-on-quote. The platform supports short selling of equities and trading of futures. It provides a risk-free way to understand how different trades impact account balances, starting with $100,000 in virtual funds.
The broker’s charting tools are highly advanced and run directly in a web browser. Charts can be expanded to full screen and customized with a wide range of technical indicators, including linear regression trendlines, acceleration bands, and time-series forecasts. Drawing tools such as channels and resistance lines are also available. Timeframes can range from intraday to multi-year periods, and data can be displayed tick-by-tick. Charts can be saved, printed, and compared with other securities.
TD Ameritrade also offered strong futures research tools. For example, Idea Hub analyzed thousands of opportunities based on bullish or bearish sentiment and generated probability visuals. Educational videos and tutorials were available to help users learn the platform. Investors could access these tools with $0-commission trades by opening an account and funding it.
Written by Alex Bost
Updated on 4/22/2026.
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