How do I add my spouse to my Fidelity account?
Go to Fidelity.com/forms to download any additional forms that may be required. Joint Account — Adding Spouse • Current owner. New owner (spouse). Current owner, but only if the account is over $100,000 and you don't provide a copy of the marriage certificate.
An individual account will only be owned by you and a joint account is one that will be shared with someone else. In the event of death of either owner of this joint account, full ownership will be transferred to the other owner. This joint account provides equal (50/50) share ownership of the account.
To change to an Individual, Joint, or Custodial account, complete the Change of Account Registration — Changing to an Individual, Joint, or Custodial Account form. For more about account types, go to Fidelity.com/chgacct.
If you prefer, you can Open an Account online. Once you receive your new account number, complete the Transfer between Fidelity Accounts form. Transfer Between Fidelity Accounts form (PDF)
Short answer: Yes, you can have multiple Fidelity accounts. They can also be together and linked as one to make signing in easier. There aren't any general downsides. It's purely a personal preference.
Joint investment accounts allow two or more people to invest together. You can invest in just about anything with a partner, including stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds; property (such as vehicles); or real estate.
Both owners have equal rights and access to the account. Often these individuals are related, such as spouses or parents and children, but they needn't be. You can open a joint brokerage account with anyone who is of legal age.
Multiple Fidelity accounts for different people living at the same address can mean lots of mail. Fortunately, you can combine all eligible accounts in a household onto one consolidated statement to cut down the amount of mail or email communications you receive from us.
The form can be obtained from the Customer Service tab Find a Form option on Fidelity.com, by contacting a Fidelity representative at 800-544-6666, or from the Fidelity Investment centers. Refer to the Overview for information on privileges available for each account authorization level.
While many people who open joint brokerage accounts are married, you don't have to be to open a joint account. You can open a joint brokerage account with anyone you trust, including a partner, parent, sibling, or even a close friend.
Can you change an individual brokerage account to a joint account?
How do I change an individual account into a joint or trust account and vice versa? Brokerage accounts cannot simply be retitled like most bank accounts. Instead, a brand new account with an updated title must first be opened and then the assets are “journaled” from the old account to the new account.
In order to get started, you'll typically need to have basic financial and personal information for each joint accountholder. That way, your financial institution will be ready and able to work with either joint accountholder if something happens to the other.
Fidelity's account minimum is $0*, which has become the industry standard for brokers we review, as many no longer have a required minimum to open or maintain your account. Some investment choices, such as mutual funds, may require a minimum initial investment.
Up to seven Fidelity usernames may be stored on a computer and accessed from the username dropdown menu. If you log in from multiple computers, such as your home and work computers, you must save the username on each computer separately.
The site offers account linking to existing accounts for Fidelity customers. Using the digital “robo-advisor” function for some of your investment accounts can help you save fees that active management charges.
While multiple brokerage accounts may provide benefits to a narrow range of retail investors, the added work may outweigh any advantage. Having more than one account means getting multiple emails, handling added 1099 tax forms, negotiating different platforms, and using many passwords (which carry hacking risks).
According to Dominique Broadway, a financial planner and Founder of Finances Demystified, you should generally avoid combining your investment accounts with your spouse. She notes, however, that every couple is different and should take their own personal relationship into account when thinking about this decision.
Can married couples combine IRAs? No. But for couples who want to maximize the use of IRAs, each one of you can open an IRA and contribute up to $6,000 per year individually, for a combined $12,000 annually.
Joint brokerage accounts have two or more accountholders listed on them. These accounts allow multiple people to have control of an investment account, enabling them to do trades, make deposits and withdrawals, and take other actions related to their investments.
