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Investing » J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. Fidelity : A Side-by-Side Comparison

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. Fidelity : A Side-by-Side Comparison

Fidelity is our winner due to its investment options, research tools, advanced trading features, and excellent retirement planning services.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Interest Rates Last Update: April 1, 2025
The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.
Author: Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
Interest Rates Last Update: April 1, 2025

The banking product interest rates, including savings, CDs, and money market, are accurate as of this date.

We earn a commission from our partner links on this page. It doesn't affect the integrity of our unbiased, independent editorial staff. Transparency is a core value for us, read our advertiser disclosure and how we make money.


fidelity-logo

J.P. Morgan Self Directed Investing
Fidelity
Monthly Fee
$0 $0 online commission on U.S. listed stocks and ETFs and $0.65 per-contract
0% – 1.04% Fidelity Go® Robo advisor: $0: under $25,000, 0.35%/yr: $25,000 and above Fidelity® Wealth Management dedicated advisor: 0.50%–1.50% Fidelity Private Wealth Management® advisor-led team: 0.20%–1.04%
Account Types
Brokerage, Retirement
Brokerage, Retirement, Wealth Management
Savings APY
0.01% – 3.99%
3.98%
Minimum Deposit
$0
$0 – $2M No minimum for Fidelity Go® and brokerage, $500,000 for Fidelity® Wealth Management, $2 million for Fidelity Private Wealth Management®
Best For
Existing Chase Customers, Active Investors Looking To Minimize Fees
Technical Traders, High Net Worth, Financial Planning
Read Review
Read Review

JPM Self-Directed vs Fidelity: Compare Features

Fidelity’s platform is better suited for those who prioritize detailed analysis, robo advisor and a wider range of investment choices, whereas JPM is more appealing to those who value simplicity and integration with banking services.

Fidelity
JPM Self-Directed Investing
Investing Options
Full Access To Almost Any Asset
800 stocks and ETFs, 8,000+ mutual funds
Investing Types
Stocks, Options, Margin, ETFs, Bonds & CDs, Precious metals, Crypto, Mutual Funds
Stocks, Options, ETFs, Fixed Income, Mutual Funds
Automated Investing
Yes
No
Paper Trading
No
No
IPO Access
Yes
No
Dedicated Advisor
Yes
No

Fidelity is a clear winner in this category.

Fidelity excels in providing a broad array of investment options, including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, and bonds, along with sophisticated research tools and analytics.

Recently, they added a crypto account:

Fidelity crypto
Fidelity crypto (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

For fundamental traders, Fidelity provides an extensive suite of research tools that go beyond basic stock information.

Fidelity browse stocks and ETFs
Browse stocks and ETFs (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

Users can access in-depth financial statements, analyst ratings, earnings reports, and valuation metrics for individual companies.

Fidelity collections
Fidelity collections (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

Here's an example of the deep insight in Fidelity: Fidelity Social Sentiment is a tool that leverages social media data to gauge market sentiment on specific stocks:

Fidelity social sentiment
Fidelity social sentiment (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

JPM Self-Directed Investing is great for investors who want a simple, easy-to-use platform. For individual stocks, you get access to recent analyst updates, stats, press releases, and the latest news, so you have all the info you need to make smart investment choices.

JP Morgan investment options
Investment options (Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

The platform also offers handy features like weekly economic reports, watchlists, and asset allocation charts to help you stay on top of your investments.

watchlists
(Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

The stock screener is a standout tool, letting you filter stocks by sector, industry, market cap, TTM, dividend yield, and more.

research stock analyst ratings
Research stock analyst ratings (Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

 

If you're interested in socially responsible investing (SRI) or focusing on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, JPM offers solid options to meet those needs.

JP Morgan Self-Directed Investing provides solid technical analysis tools for the average trader, but if you're looking for more advanced features, Fidelity might be a better option.

Fidelity offers comprehensive charting capabilities through its Active Trader Pro software, allowing users to customize charts with a wide range of technical indicators, such as moving averages, Bollinger Bands, MACD, and RSI.

Analyze a stock on Fidelity
Analyze a stock on Fidelity (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

These tools enable traders to analyze price movements, trends, and potential reversals with precision.

Fidelity also provides advanced drawing tools that allow users to add trendlines, Fibonacci retracements, and other visual aids to their charts, helping to identify key support and resistance levels

Fidelity stock charts
(Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

In contrast, JP Morgan Self-Directed Investing is a good choice if you're looking to try out options trading without getting overwhelmed by complex features. 

JP Morgan brokerage analyze stocks
(Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

It provides the basic tools you need, like charting and stock screeners. When it comes to technical analysis, you can create specific charts based on indicators like volume, momentum, and trends.

Volume and trend analysis
Trend analysis (Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

The platform lets you use upper and lower indicators, such as moving averages, linear regression, and high/low ratios, giving you deeper insights to make more informed decisions.

Fidelity is a clear winner here,  as JPM Self-Directed Investing does not offer a dedicated robo-advisor or automated investing service.

Fidelity excels in providing robust automated investing options through its Fidelity Go and Fidelity Managed FidFolios℠ services.

Fidelity recurring investments
Fidelity recurring investments (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

Fidelity Go is a user-friendly robo-advisor that automatically creates and manages a diversified portfolio based on your goals and risk tolerance. 

The platform builds and manages portfolios automatically, rebalancing them as needed to keep investments aligned with the investor’s goals.

portfolio positions
Portfolio positions (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

Fidelity Managed FidFolios℠ takes automated investing a step further by offering personalized portfolio management with the option to include thematic investing based on specific interests or values.

Fidelity is our top choice if you're focused on retirement investments, particularly planning, as its services are highly geared toward retirement-focused strategies.

Fidelity retirement details
(Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

Fidelity is widely recognized for its comprehensive suite of retirement products, making it a go-to platform for retirement planning. Fidelity offers a broad range of IRA options, including Traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs, with no fees or minimums to open accounts.

The platform is equipped with retirement planning tools that help investors estimate their retirement needs, track contributions, and monitor their progress towards retirement goals.

Fidelity retirement planning
Fidelity retirement planning (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

Fidelity also excels in providing access to professional advice, allowing investors to consult with dedicated advisors to tailor retirement plans that include strategies for tax efficiency, estate planning, and more.

Fidelity retirement cash flow
Fidelity retirement cash flow (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

JPM Self-Directed Investing provides a straightforward option for those looking to manage their own retirement savings with no annual account fees and no commissions on trades for traditional and Roth IRAs.

JP Morgan Roth IRA contributions
Roth IRA contributions example (Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

However, JPM’s retirement offerings are somewhat limited, focusing primarily on basic IRAs without the broader variety of retirement products or advanced planning tools.

JP Morgan manage roth IRA
Manage Roth IRA (Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

When it comes to fees, both platforms models are quite similar.

Fidelity offers commission-free trading on most stocks and ETFs and low fees on other investment options

JPM Self-Directed Investing shines with its straightforward, no-commission trading for U.S. stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds.

Fidelity
JPM Self-Directed Investing
Fees
0% – 1.04% Fidelity Go® Robo advisor: $0: under $25,000, 0.35%/yr: $25,000 and above Fidelity® Wealth Management dedicated advisor: 0.50%–1.50% Fidelity Private Wealth Management® advisor-led team: 0.20%–1.04%
$0 $0 online commission on U.S. listed stocks and ETFs and $0.65 per-contract

When it comes to robo advisor, Fidelity is free for a small portfolio of up to $25,000 and 0.35% (0% under $25,000) for above $25K.

For a higher balance, the fee is 0.35% (0% under $25,000), and it can be higher if you use a dedicated advisor.

When it comes to banking options, Fidelity offers more attractive options.

Fidelity Cash APY
JPM Self-Directed Cash APY
Savings APY
3.98%
0.01% – 3.99%

Fidelity’s Cash Management Account stands out for its flexibility and comprehensive features. For those looking for pure savings, Fidelity offers the FDIC Insured Deposit Sweep Program, but the rates are not so competitive.

However, customers can secure higher rates with Fidelity CDs or the Fidelity Government Money Market Fund.

Fidelity CDs
Fidelity CDs (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app, rates may not be updated)

Fidelity’s account comes with no fees or minimums and offers unlimited ATM fee reimbursements, Bill Pay, mobile check deposit, and a debit card with digital wallet compatibility.

JPM Self-Directed Investing works seamlessly with Chase bank accounts, making it a great option if you're already a Chase customer. This integration makes it easy to transfer money between your investment and banking accounts, streamlining your overall financial management.

Chase online banking activities
Chase online banking activities (Screenshot taken by our team from Chase app)

However, there's no dedicated cash management option for JPM self-directed customers, and the interest rates on uninvested cash are very low, usually around 0.01%.

Both Fidelity and JP Morgan offer excellent options for those who need personal wealth management,

Fidelity offers two main tiers of wealth management services: Wealth Management and Private Wealth Management.

  • Wealth Management, designed for clients with a minimum of $500,000 in investable assets, provides a dedicated advisor to develop a customized financial plan covering retirement, estate planning, tax strategies, and investment management.
  • Private Wealth Management is for clients with at least $2 million in managed assets or $10 million in total assets with Fidelity.
fidelity wealth management
Fidelity wealth management (Screenshot taken by our team from Fidelity app)

J.P. Morgan provides two levels of personalized financial advisory services: Personal Advisors and Private Client Advisors, each tailored to meet the specific needs of their clients.

  • Personal Advisors offer virtual financial planning, supported by ongoing advice and expert-built portfolios equipped with automated tax-efficient technology.
  • For those seeking a more exclusive service, J.P. Morgan Private Client Advisors cater to clients with $100,000 or more in investable assets.
All investments Summary
A potential candidate for wealth management (Screenshot taken by our team from J.P Morgan app)

Bottom Line

JPM Self-Directed Investing is ideal for those who value simplicity, especially existing Chase customers, offering basic tools for trading and analysis.

Fidelity, on the other hand, excels with its wide range of investment options, robust research tools, advanced trading features, and excellent retirement planning services.

Fidelity vs. Competitors: How Does It Stack Up?

Both Schwab and Fidelity offer great options for traders, plans for wealth management, and sophisticated auto-investing platforms.

Schwab vs. Fidelity: Which Brokerage is Right for You?

Fidelity excels in investment options, wealth management, and retirement planning. Webull trading platform is one of the most fascinating we've seen.

Fidelity vs. Webull: Which is Better for Investors?

Both platforms have great options for investors, but Fidelity excels in comprehensive retirement planning and cash management options

Interactive Brokers vs. Fidelity: Which Brokerage Suits Your Investing Style?

Fidelity has more investing options, cheaper robo-advisor, and more banking options. Merrill is better for Bank of America customers.

Fidelity vs. Merrill Edge: A Side-by-Side Comparison

Fidelity in retirement planning and personalized wealth management, while E-Trade stands out with its research tools and competitive savings rates

Fidelity vs. E-Trade: Which is Better for Investors?

Fidelity is our winner for diversified long-term investing, while Robinhood shines in cost-effective options for active traders and beginners

Fidelity vs. Robinhood: Compare Brokerage Account Options

Fidelity is our choice due to its better retirement options and more extensive trading app. But, the differences are insignificant.

Vanguard vs. Fidelity: Which Broker is Best For You?

How J.P. Morgan Self Directed Compares to Other Online Brokers

Both offer similar tools for the average investor or trader, but Merrill is better at automated investing. Here's our full comparison:

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. Merrill Edge: Compare Brokerage Accounts

If you're an experienced investor or trader, IBKR may be a better option. If you're a Chase customer or prefer simplicity, consider JP Morgan.

Interactive Brokers vs. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing: Which Broker Wins?

Vanguard offers a better approach for serious investors, while JP Morgan's self-directed is better for beginners and advanced traders

Vanguard vs. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed: Which Broker is Best For You?

Schwab surpasses JPM self-directed in most categories, including self-directed investing, robo advisory, and technical analysis.

Schwab vs. J.P. Morgan Self-Directed: Which Brokerage Is Best?

JP Morgan is best for the average investor seeking a simple platform or wealth management, but E-Trade is our overall winner. Here's why.

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. E-Trade: Which Broker Wins?

JP Morgan wins when it comes to fundamental investing tools, but Robinhood is better for technical analysis and trading. Here's why:

J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing vs. Robinhood: Compare Brokerage Accounts

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Baruch Mann (Silvermann)

Baruch Silvermann is a financial expert, experienced analyst, and founder of The Smart Investor.  Silvermann has contributed to Yahoo Finance and cited as an authoritative source in financial outlets like Forbes, Business Insider, CNBC Select, CNET, Bankrate, Fox Business, The Street, and more.
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This allows us to maintain a full-time, editorial staff and work with finance experts you know and trust. The compensation we receive from advertisers does not influence the recommendations or advice our editorial team provides in our articles or otherwise impacts any of the editorial content on The Smart Investor.

While we work hard to provide accurate and up to date information that we think you will find relevant, The Smart Investor does not and cannot guarantee that any information provided is complete and makes no representations or warranties in connection thereto, nor to the accuracy or applicability thereof.

Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosure for how we make money. All products are presented without warranty.