Make the most of your Fidelity Account^®

Frequently asked questions

Learn more about the Fidelity brokerage account you use to help manage your employer's stock plan benefit.

About your Fidelity brokerage account (The Fidelity Account^®)

• Can I use my Fidelity brokerage account to buy and sell other types of investments besides my company's stock?

  Yes, you can use your Fidelity brokerage account for more than just trading your company's stock. You can trade a wide variety of investments including stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and fixed income investments. 

• Are there any cash or share minimums associated with my Fidelity brokerage account? Can I have a zero balance?

  There are no cash or share minimums associated with your Fidelity brokerage account, and your balance can be $0.

• Are there any fees associated with my Fidelity brokerage account?

  There are no fees associated with having a Fidelity brokerage account. To understand fees or commissions associated with certain transactions, funds, or managed products, please consult the commissions, margin rates, and fees page.

• How do I withdraw cash from my Fidelity brokerage account?

  If you have purchased company stock or had shares vested into your account, you will need to sell shares before withdrawing the proceeds. Select Positions and select the stock you want to sell (any holding restrictions will be listed in the Sale Available Date column). When the proceeds from selling your stock have settled in your account, access cash via your Fidelity Debit CardLog In Required (add the debit card to your digital wallet), or visit the Transfers page for more ways to access your cash.

• If I sell company shares and withdraw cash from my Fidelity brokerage account, will I owe taxes?

  If you have sold shares for a profit, it is likely that you will owe taxes on that amount. Refer to Taxes and tax filing to learn more.

• Can I make my Fidelity brokerage account a joint account?

  While you cannot change the registration on your existing account, you can open and transfer shares or cash into a new joint accountLog In Required.

• How can I specify one or more direct beneficiaries for my Fidelity brokerage account?

  Naming a direct beneficiary for your Fidelity brokerage account is a responsible part of managing your financial assets. A beneficiary is an individual who receives the benefit from your account with a transfer on death (TOD) designation. Taking time to choose beneficiaries can help your loved ones avoid probate later. View, add, or update your beneficiariesLog In Required

About your stock plan award

• How do I find the account my stock award(s) went into?

  You can find the account your award(s) have been deposited into by logging into the Fidelity.com site and looking at the upper left of your Portfolio page. You can also see it in the Fidelity mobile app under Accounts, within the Investment subheading.

• Where can I estimate my stock plan awards payout?

  To see how much you could expect and when it's coming, view your total award value and distribution details in Fidelity NetBenefits^®Log In Required.

• Why is there less money in my Fidelity brokerage account than I saw in my stock plan award(s)?

  The amount in your Fidelity brokerage account may differ from the amount you anticipated because of market fluctuation (i.e., a change in your company's stock price) or because taxes have been withheld in accordance with your plan rules. See the Taxes and tax filing tab in the Stock Plan Resource Center page to learn more.

• Where can I see details and documents related to my stock plan awards?

  Details for your stock plan awards are available on Fidelity NetBenefits^®Log In Required. Select your plan in the left-hand column to view Plan documents.

• Where can I see details on my employee stock purchase plan (ESPP)?
  ESPP details are available on Fidelity NetBenefits^®Log In Required. Select your ESPP for details, including contribution balance, rules, history, and more.
• Can I move my awarded company shares from my Fidelity brokerage account to an account at another firm?

  You can transfer your company shares to another financial institution without selling them, but you must do so within the requirements of your plan. View any holding restrictions in your Fidelity account by clicking Positions and selecting the stock you want to transfer. The Transfer Available Date column will show when your vested shares can be transferred. Read more about taxes and tax filing in the Stock Plan Resource Center page to learn more.