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Fidelity Go is especially worth considering for a small managed portfolio because it charges no advisory fee below $25,000. At $25,000, the annual advisory rate becomes 0.35% on the full balance. That threshold changes the cost calculation and adds access to financial coaching and eligible taxable-account tax-loss harvesting.
Our verdict: Fidelity Go can be a strong fit if you want portfolio management and accept its Fidelity Flex fund approach. Review the service again as the balance approaches $25,000. The question then becomes whether its management, coaching and applicable tax features justify the ongoing cost for you.
This review examines official terms. It does not claim we opened a managed account, completed a withdrawal or measured tax savings.
The essential terms
| Item | Published Fidelity Go treatment |
|---|---|
| Minimum to open | No minimum |
| Amount to start investing | $10 |
| Advisory charge below $25,000 | $0 |
| Advisory charge at $25,000 or more | 0.35% annually on the balance |
| Investments | Fidelity Flex mutual funds selected for the strategy |
| Tax-loss harvesting | Eligible taxable accounts at $25,000 or more |
Source: the current Fidelity Go FAQs. The funds generally have zero expense ratios, with limited exceptions described in the disclosures. This is a managed service, not unrestricted access to the ordinary Fidelity brokerage investment menu.
The threshold is not a marginal fee bracket
Suppose two hypothetical accounts keep constant balances for a full year. One remains at $24,999 and has no advisory charge. The other remains at $25,000 and incurs $87.50 at 0.35%. The fee is not charged only on the dollar above the threshold.
| Constant balance | Illustrative annual advisory charge |
|---|---|
| $5,000 | $0 |
| $24,999 | $0 |
| $25,000 | $87.50 |
| $50,000 | $175 |
| $100,000 | $350 |
These are simplified annual comparisons. Real balances and fee calculations change with contributions, withdrawals and market movement. A single day above a threshold is not the same scenario as holding a constant balance for a year.
The fee change is a reason to reassess value, not a reason to deliberately underfund retirement or withdraw money needed for a long-term goal. Compare the service you receive at the larger balance with reasonable alternatives. A slightly cheaper percentage can matter, but so can useful coaching or a portfolio you are able to maintain consistently.
You delegate the fund selection
Fidelity Go chooses and maintains a combination of Flex funds according to the selected strategy. You do not use the account to place ordinary discretionary stock or ETF trades. If you want to choose individual holdings, the regular Fidelity brokerage is the more relevant product.
That restriction can be a benefit for someone who wants fewer decisions. It can also be a limitation for an investor with strong fund preferences or existing positions they do not want to sell. Decide which situation describes you before moving assets.
The portfolio still needs to fit your circumstances. Review the proposed stock, bond and short-term allocation in plain language: how much could fluctuate, how long you expect to hold it and what would cause you to need the money early. Do not select a more aggressive setting merely because a growth illustration looks attractive.
If the goal changes, update the information supplied to the service. Automated management cannot infer a new home purchase, job loss or retirement date unless the relevant inputs change.
Coaching has a defined scope
The Fidelity Go service page describes the managed offering and coaching access. The FAQ identifies topic-based sessions after the qualifying balance is reached. Its disclosures also say the coaching service does not address retirement-income planning for clients nearing or in retirement.
That limit matters. Someone building an emergency reserve and starting retirement savings may find topic-based coaching useful. Someone deciding how to draw from several retirement accounts, manage required distributions and coordinate taxes may need a broader service.
Before assigning a dollar value to coaching, write down the decisions you want help with. Ask whether the service covers them, whether you work with a team or a dedicated person, and what follow-up is included. “Human help” is too broad a label to compare prices accurately.
Our financial-adviser guide explains how to compare scope, compensation and professional responsibilities.
Tax-loss harvesting is account-specific
Current Fidelity Go terms include harvesting opportunities in eligible taxable accounts at the qualifying threshold. Older descriptions saying Fidelity Go never offers tax-loss harvesting are therefore incomplete.
The feature does not mean market losses are reimbursed. A realized loss may have tax value depending on the investor's gains, income, tax rates and future sales. The amount harvested is not itself the amount saved on a tax return.
An IRA has a different tax structure, so do not assign the taxable-account harvesting benefit to a retirement account. Also consider overlapping purchases elsewhere in the household. The provider cannot be assumed to prevent every tax issue caused by outside trading or reinvestment.
The right question is whether the feature is appropriate and useful in your situation, not whether the marketing value necessarily exceeds the advisory charge.
Converting an existing account can involve more than a settings change
The FAQ describes eligible Fidelity account conversions while preserving some account features. That does not establish that every existing investment will remain in place. A managed portfolio needs holdings that fit its strategy and service rules.
Before converting a taxable account, ask which assets will be sold and whether you can evaluate the tax consequences first. For an IRA, confirm the registration, beneficiary details and any restrictions. For an HSA, evaluate eligibility, spending needs and the investment arrangement separately; a tax-advantaged label does not make every goal appropriate for market exposure.
Also ask how Flex holdings are handled when leaving the service. These funds have restricted availability, so do not assume they transfer to any outside brokerage unchanged. Obtain the expected process before making a move.
Our transfer guide covers the general inventory, cost-basis and residual-cash checks. Provider-specific instructions determine the actual transaction.
Alternatives at different balances
Below $25,000, the absence of an advisory charge makes Fidelity Go a serious comparison for a modest managed account. At and above that amount, compare Wealthfront and qualifying Betterment pricing, while accounting for different funds and help arrangements.
A self-directed account with a suitable diversified fund can cost less in explicit advisory fees, but it leaves the investor responsible for choosing and maintaining the plan. Compare robo-advisors and DIY investing if that responsibility is the real decision.
Fidelity Go is most useful when you want the managed approach itself. The low entry cost is attractive, but the long-term fit should survive the point at which the account starts paying for service.
Frequently asked questions
Is 0.35% charged only on money above $25,000?
No. The published rate applies to the full qualifying balance. A constant $25,000 balance implies $87.50 annually in the simplified calculation.
Can I buy my own ETFs inside Fidelity Go?
The service manages a Flex-fund portfolio. It is not the same as a self-directed brokerage account where you choose each trade.
Does Fidelity Go offer tax-loss harvesting?
Current terms include it for eligible taxable accounts at $25,000 or more. That does not mean it applies to every account or guarantees a tax benefit.
Is coaching comprehensive retirement-income planning?
No. The disclosures identify limits, including retirement-income planning for those nearing or in retirement. Confirm the scope against your actual questions.
Should I stop contributing before reaching the fee threshold?
Do not let the threshold dictate an otherwise appropriate savings goal. Compare the paid service with alternatives and decide where future contributions fit best.