The 5 Best IRA Accounts

1. Fidelity Investments IRA

4.9

Editor's Rating

Apply Now

Fidelity Investments, founded in 1946 by Edward C. Johnson II and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest asset managers in the world with over $14.1 trillion in assets under administration and 46+ million individual investors. Fidelity's IRA offering is widely considered the gold standard for retirement accounts. The firm offers Traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP, SIMPLE, and Inherited IRAs, all with $0 account minimums, $0 annual fees, and $0 commissions on online stock and ETF trades. Fidelity's proprietary zero-expense-ratio index funds (FZROX for total market, FZILX for international, FZIPX for extended market) are the only truly zero-cost index funds available, meaning 100% of your investment goes to work. The Fidelity Go robo-advisor manages IRA accounts for free on balances under $25,000 (0.35% above that). Fidelity also offers fractional shares (Stocks by the Slice) starting at $1, enabling complete diversification even with small contributions. The retirement planning tools, including the Fidelity Planning & Guidance Center, are among the most comprehensive available from any brokerage.

2. Vanguard IRA

4.8

Editor's Rating

Apply Now

Vanguard, founded in 1975 by John C. Bogle and headquartered in Malvern, Pennsylvania, invented the index fund and pioneered low-cost investing for individual investors. With over $9.3 trillion in global assets under management, Vanguard is the second-largest asset manager in the world. Uniquely, Vanguard is owned by its fund shareholders, creating a structure where the company's interests are aligned with its investors rather than outside owners or stockholders. Vanguard IRAs offer access to the company's legendary index funds, including the Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX, 0.04% expense ratio), the Vanguard Total International Stock Index Fund (VTIAX, 0.12%), and Vanguard Target Retirement Funds that automatically adjust asset allocation as you approach retirement. The firm charges $0 commissions on Vanguard ETFs and stocks, and there is no annual account fee for Vanguard IRAs. Vanguard Digital Advisor (robo-advisor) manages portfolios for just 0.20% annually for those who prefer automated management.

3. Charles Schwab IRA

4.8

Editor's Rating

Apply Now

Charles Schwab, founded in 1971 and headquartered in Westlake, Texas (following the 2020 acquisition of TD Ameritrade), is the largest brokerage firm in the United States with over $9.57 trillion in client assets and 35+ million brokerage accounts. Schwab offers Traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP, SIMPLE, and Inherited IRAs, all with $0 minimums, $0 annual fees, and $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs. Schwab's proprietary index funds, including the Schwab Total Stock Market Index Fund (SWTSX, 0.03% expense ratio) and Schwab S&P 500 Index Fund (SWPPX, 0.02%), are among the lowest-cost in the industry. The Schwab Intelligent Portfolios robo-advisor manages IRA accounts with $0 advisory fees (minimum $5,000). Schwab stands out for its research resources, offering free access to Morningstar reports, Schwab Equity Ratings, and the Retirement Plan Evaluator tool. With over 300 physical branch locations, Schwab provides in-person retirement planning consultations, a unique advantage among online brokerages. The thinkorswim platform (inherited from TD Ameritrade) provides professional-grade charting and analysis tools.

4. E*TRADE IRA

4.6

Editor's Rating

Apply Now

E*TRADE, one of the original online brokerages founded in 1982 and now a subsidiary of Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) following the 2020 acquisition, offers a robust IRA platform combining retirement planning with active trading capabilities. The merger with Morgan Stanley has expanded E*TRADE's research offerings significantly, now including Morgan Stanley Research reports, a resource typically available only to wealth management clients. E*TRADE offers Traditional, Roth, Rollover, and Beneficiary IRAs, all with $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs and no annual account fees. The Power E*TRADE platform provides advanced charting, options analysis, and risk management tools ideal for IRA investors who also want to trade options or individual stocks within their retirement accounts. E*TRADE's Core Portfolios robo-advisor manages IRA accounts for 0.30% annually with a $500 minimum. The Retirement Planning Calculator, Retirement Income Generator, and Social Security benefits estimator are particularly well-designed tools. E*TRADE also offers over 250 commission-free ETFs and a selection of no-transaction-fee mutual funds across multiple fund families.

5. Betterment IRA

4.6

Editor's Rating

Apply Now

Betterment, founded in 2010 by Jon Stein and headquartered in New York City, is the largest independent robo-advisor in the United States with over $40 billion in assets under management. For investors who want a completely hands-off approach to retirement investing, Betterment's IRA offers automatic portfolio management, tax-loss harvesting, and retirement planning tools for just 0.25% per year with no account minimum. Betterment constructs globally diversified portfolios using low-cost Vanguard, Schwab, and iShares ETFs, automatically rebalancing and tax-loss harvesting to maximize after-tax returns. The platform's RetireGuide tool provides personalized retirement projections based on your savings rate, expected Social Security benefits, and spending goals, adjusting recommendations as your situation changes. Betterment offers both Traditional and Roth IRAs, plus an automatic rollover service that handles 401(k) consolidation with minimal effort. The Premium plan ($0.40%/year, $100K minimum) includes unlimited access to certified financial planners for personalized advice. Betterment's charitable giving and Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) portfolios are available in IRA accounts for values-based investors.