Open a Roth IRA at Fidelity.
Step-by-step in under 10 minutes.
The single best financial decision most Americans under 50 can make is opening and funding a Roth IRA. This page is the click-by-click. The "how to think about Roth IRAs" version is at Roth IRA & 401(k): The Tax-Advantaged Playbook.
This page is the Fidelity click-by-click; for what to invest in and why, see Investing for Beginners, and for readiness checks and the taxable-account path, see Your First Investment.
US-only. Roth IRAs are a US tax-code feature. Equivalent accounts: Canada has the TFSATax-Free Savings Account (TFSA)A Canadian tax-advantaged account where contributions are post-tax but all growth and withdrawals are tax-free.Full definition, the UK has the ISAIndividual Savings Account (ISA)A UK tax-advantaged account where contributions are post-tax but all growth and withdrawals are tax-free.Full definition, Australia has voluntary super contributions.
Most people who do not have a Roth IRA never started. The mechanics take 10 minutes. Open the account. Link a bank. Buy FZROX. Set automatic monthly contributions. Done.
Section 1 · Why Fidelity (and why other brokers also work)
Fidelity offers:
- No account fees or minimums to open.
- FZROX (Fidelity ZERO Total Market Index Fund) at 0.00% expense ratioExpense ratioThe yearly fee a mutual fund or ETF charges, stated as a percentage of your investment and taken out of the fund's assets instead of billed to you. A 0.03% ratio costs $3 a year per $10,000 invested; a 1% ratio costs $100. Lower is better.Full definition. The only zero-fee total-market fund available verify×DON'T TRUST, VERIFYClaim: Fidelity FZROX has a 0.00% expense ratio.Verify at: FZROX product page ↗ Source 1 in the list belowFZROX, FZILX, FNILX, and FZIPX are all 0.00% expense ratio. Fidelity uses these as loss leaders..
- FZILX (international index) at 0.00%.
- Fidelity Cash Management Account as checking replacement.
- Excellent mobile app and customer service.
Vanguard (VTI/VXUS/BND) and Schwab (SCHB/SCHF/SCHZ) are both excellent alternatives. The walkthrough below uses Fidelity. Adjust for your institution if you prefer another. See Fidelity vs Vanguard vs Schwab Compared.
Section 2 · Before you open
Do you qualify?
- You must have earned income (wages, self-employment, pre-2019 alimony) in 2026.
- 2026 income phase-outs (Modified Adjusted Gross Incomegross incomeYour total income before any taxes or deductions are subtracted.): Single $153,000-$168,000; MFJMarried Filing Jointly (MFJ)A tax filing status where a married couple combines their income and deductions on one tax return. $242,000-$252,000 verify×DON'T TRUST, VERIFYClaim: 2026 Roth IRA MAGI phase-outs are $153,000-$168,000 (single) and $242,000-$252,000 (MFJ).Verify at: IRS Roth IRA contribution limits ↗ Source 2 in the list belowPhase-outs are inflation-indexed each year. The IRS publishes the official 2026 figures in its annual Rev. Proc..
- Above the limit? See The Backdoor Roth IRA: Step-by-Step at Fidelity.
What you need to open
- Social Security Number.
- Bank account and routing number.
- About 10 minutes.
Section 3 · The exact steps
Click "Open an Account." Select "Roth IRA."
Create a Fidelity account or log in if you have one.
Legal name, address, SSN, date of birth. This is legally required (KYCKnow Your Customer (KYC)Identity checks that banks, brokers and regulated Bitcoin exchanges must run under anti-money-laundering rules, collecting your name, address, date of birth, an ID number and often a photo ID. Buying through a KYC exchange links your identity to the bitcoin you buy and the addresses you withdraw it to.Full definition, Know Your Customer).
Link your bank account (routing + account number, or instant verification via bank login). Initial deposit: $0 minimum (you can open with nothing and fund later). 2026 contribution limit: $7,500 ($8,600 if 50+).
Once funded, you must invest the cash. It does not invest automatically. Search "FZROX" in the search bar. Click "Trade." Select "Buy." Enter dollar amount (use "Dollars" not "Shares" so you invest the full balance). Review and submit.
Go to "Automatic Investments." Schedule a recurring purchase of FZROX. Monthly on the 1st, or whatever amount and date is sustainable. This removes the decision from every month.
Done. Total elapsed time: about 10 minutes if your bank login is at hand.
The annual contribution deadline
You can contribute to a Roth IRA for 2026 until April 15, 2027. Contributions do not have to be in a single lump sum. Monthly contributions count.
Section 4 · After you open
- Confirm the money was invested. Log in and verify FZROX shows a balance. "Available to trade" is cash not yet invested. If you see this, buy FZROX.
- Set a calendar reminder each January to max the current year's contribution.
- If you have a Traditional IRA, an old 401(k), or other retirement accounts, consider consolidating into Fidelity for simpler management. Exception: an old 401(k) with employer stock that has Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUANet Unrealized Appreciation (NUA)The growth on your employer stock held inside a 401k. A special rule lets that growth be taxed at lower investment-profit rates instead of higher regular-income rates when you take it out.Full definition) tax benefits. Consult a CPA before rolling that over.
Where to go from here
Sources
Verify badges in the text link to these sources. Figures, rates and rules change: check each source’s date before acting on it.
- Fidelity FZROX product page · fundresearch.fidelity.com FZROX. 0.00% expense ratio. ↩
- IRS Roth IRA contribution limits · irs.gov Roth IRA limits. ↩
Last updated . Educational content, not financial advice. Disclosures · How pages are reviewed