Best Index Funds at FidelityBest Fidelity Index Funds for Beginners

1The Fidelity Index Funds People Use Most

These are the core low cost funds most Fidelity investors build around. Fees are as of November 2026.

Fidelity mutual funds have no minimum investment and you can buy them in dollar amounts, so you can start with $1. Here is the short list.

1. FXAIX, Fidelity 500 Index Fund: tracks the S&P 500, 0.015% a year
2. FSKAX, Fidelity Total Market Index: about 4,000 US stocks, 0.015% a year
3. FZROX, Fidelity ZERO Total Market: similar to FSKAX, 0% fee
4. FNILX, Fidelity ZERO Large Cap: roughly the 500 biggest US companies, 0% fee
5. FTIHX, Fidelity Total International Index: companies outside the US, about 0.06% a year

2The Catch With Fidelity ZERO Funds

ZERO funds cost nothing to hold, but you can only own them at Fidelity.

If you ever move your account to another broker, you cannot transfer FZROX or FNILX over. You would have to sell them first, and in a regular taxable account that sale can create a tax bill. In an IRA or Roth IRA that matters much less, since sales inside the account are not taxed. That is why many people hold ZERO funds in retirement accounts and FXAIX or FSKAX in taxable accounts.

3FXAIX vs FZROX: Which One

FXAIX holds only the S&P 500. FZROX holds the whole US market, including small and mid sized companies.

The S&P 500 makes up around 80% of the US market by value, so the two move very closely together. FZROX saves 0.015% a year, which is $1.50 per $10,000. FXAIX can move to another broker if you ever switch. Both are fine low cost choices, and the bigger win is just buying regularly and holding.

4Set It and Let It Run

Fidelity lets you schedule automatic buys of mutual funds on any schedule you like.

Pick your fund, set an amount each payday, and turn on automatic investing. That one setup step does more than any amount of fund research, because money keeps going in whether you remember or not. At The No Job Lifestyle we love anything that runs on autopilot, because the goal is money that works for you while you spend about 5 minutes a day checking in. Investing and trading can lose money. This page is general education, not personal financial advice.