Capital One Investing: What You Need to Know in 2025

If you’ve searched for capital one investing, you may be wondering whether Capital One still offers brokerage services, what happened to your old Scottrade or Capital One Investing account, and what your best options are today. The short answer is that Capital One’s traditional brokerage business has undergone a major transition. This guide walks you through everything you need to know — and helps you evaluate your alternatives.

What Is Capital One Investing?

Capital One investing historically referred to the brokerage and investment services offered through Capital One Financial Corporation. At its peak, Capital One Investing provided self-directed brokerage accounts, individual retirement accounts (IRAs), and access to stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, and bonds — all under the Capital One brand.

Many investors came to know Capital One’s brokerage platform through its acquisition of Scottrade Financial Services in 2017. That acquisition brought hundreds of branches and millions of client accounts under the Capital One umbrella, creating one of the larger retail brokerage operations in the United States.

The History of Capital One’s Brokerage Services

Capital One’s move into brokerage wasn’t overnight. Here’s a brief timeline of how the company built and then restructured its investing business:

• 2017: Capital One completed its acquisition of Scottrade’s banking operations and certain brokerage assets, expanding its footprint in retail investing.
• 2017–2023: Former Scottrade accounts were rebranded under Capital One Investing. Clients could trade stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds through the Capital One platform.
• 2024: Capital One announced it would sell its brokerage and advisory client assets to Fidelity Investments, signaling a strategic shift away from self-directed retail brokerage.

This shift reflects a broader trend in the financial industry: large banks are increasingly focusing on core banking, credit cards, and lending, while brokerage and wealth management operations are being consolidated into dedicated firms like Fidelity, Schwab, and Vanguard.

The Transition to Fidelity: What Changed

Capital One’s decision to migrate brokerage accounts to Fidelity was a significant moment for affected investors. Here’s what that transition generally involved:

• Account migration: Existing Capital One Investing and former Scottrade brokerage accounts were moved to Fidelity, giving clients access to Fidelity’s platform, research tools, and investment selection.
• New account openings: Capital One stopped accepting new brokerage account applications as part of the transition.
• Advisory services: Capital One Advisors accounts were handled separately, with some clients transitioning to Fidelity Wealth Management services.

If you currently hold a Capital One investing account, it’s likely that your account has already been migrated to Fidelity. If you haven’t checked, log into your Capital One account or contact customer service to confirm where your holdings now reside.

What Capital One Still Offers for Investors

While Capital One no longer operates a traditional self-directed brokerage, the company still provides some investment-related services through its broader financial ecosystem:

Capital One Advisors

Capital One offers wealth management and advisory services through its advisory division. These services are designed for clients who prefer a managed approach — where a financial advisor builds and oversees a portfolio on their behalf — rather than picking individual stocks themselves.

Capital One Retirement Accounts

Capital One has offered IRA products in the past, including traditional and Roth IRAs. Availability and current offerings may vary, so it’s worth checking directly with Capital One or their advisory team for the latest details.

Banking and Cash Management

Capital One’s core strengths remain in banking — high-yield savings accounts, checking accounts, and credit cards. For investors who want to keep their banking and investing under one roof, this can be appealing, though most serious investors now keep their brokerage at a dedicated firm.

Fees and Costs: What You Would Have Paid

Before the transition, Capital One Investing had a fee structure that was competitive with other major brokerages at the time. Here’s a general overview of what the platform charged:

Note: These figures reflect historical pricing before the Fidelity transition. Current fee structures at Fidelity may differ. Always verify pricing directly with the firm holding your account.

Since the migration to Fidelity, most former Capital One clients now benefit from Fidelity’s fee structure, which includes $0 commissions on online U.S. stock and ETF trades — a significant improvement over the pre-transition costs.

Pros and Cons of Capital One Investing

For those who used Capital One Investing before the transition, it had distinct advantages and drawbacks. Here’s a balanced look:

Advantages

• Bank-brokerage integration: Easy transfers between Capital One banking and brokerage accounts.
• Branch access: Physical locations for in-person support, a rarity among online-only brokerages.
• No-fee IRAs: Individual retirement accounts with no annual maintenance fee.
• Research tools: Access to Thomson Reuters financial data and screening tools.
• Established brand: Backed by a major financial institution with decades of banking experience.

Disadvantages

• Higher trade commissions: Before the transition, per-trade costs were higher than competitors like Fidelity and Schwab.
• Limited platform innovation: The trading platform lagged behind more tech-forward competitors.
• Account migration uncertainty: The transition to Fidelity created confusion and required action from clients.
• No longer accepting new brokerage clients: Capital One has effectively exited the self-directed brokerage market.

Best Alternatives to Capital One Investing

If you’re looking for a brokerage platform today, there are excellent alternatives that offer low costs, strong research, and user-friendly platforms. Here are some of the top options to consider:

Fidelity Investments

As the firm now housing many former Capital One accounts, Fidelity is a natural choice. It offers $0 stock and ETF trades, extensive research, fractional shares, and highly rated customer service. Fidelity also provides robo-advisory services through Fidelity Go.

Charles Schwab

Schwab is another industry giant offering $0 commission trades, a vast network of branches, robust research tools, and excellent customer support. Its platform is particularly strong for long-term investors and those who want access to financial advisors.

Vanguard

Vanguard is ideal for buy-and-hold investors who favor index funds and ETFs. Its low-cost fund structure and investor-first ownership model make it a favorite for retirement-focused portfolios.

Interactive Brokers

For active traders and those interested in international markets, Interactive Brokers offers advanced trading tools, access to global exchanges, and competitive margin rates.

Robinhood

Robinhood appeals to newer investors with its simple mobile-first interface, fractional shares, and $0 commission trades. It’s less suited for advanced investors but excellent for straightforward, casual investing.

How to Choose the Right Brokerage for You

Choosing a brokerage is a personal decision that depends on your investing style, goals, and experience level. Here’s a simple framework to help you decide:

1. Define Your Investing Style

Are you a buy-and-hold investor who buys index funds once a month? Or an active trader who makes dozens of trades per week? Your style determines which platform features matter most.

2. Compare Fee Structures

Most major brokerages now offer $0 commission on stock and ETF trades, but differences remain in mutual fund fees, margin rates, option contract fees, and account maintenance charges. Review the full fee schedule before committing.

3. Evaluate Research and Tools

If you rely on screeners, analyst reports, and charting tools, prioritize platforms that offer robust research. Fidelity, Schwab, and Interactive Brokers tend to score highest in independent reviews.

4. Consider Account Types

Do you need a standard brokerage account, a Roth IRA, a SEP IRA for self-employment, or a 529 college savings plan? Not all brokerages offer every account type equally well.

5. Test the Platform

Most brokerages offer demo accounts or mobile apps you can explore before funding. Spend time with the interface to make sure it feels intuitive.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Capital One still offer investing accounts?

Capital One no longer offers new self-directed brokerage accounts. Its existing brokerage clients were migrated to Fidelity Investments. Capital One still provides wealth management and advisory services through Capital One Advisors for clients seeking a managed investment approach.

What happened to my Capital One Investing account?

If you had a Capital One Investing or former Scottrade brokerage account, it was likely transferred to Fidelity. You should have received notification from Capital One and Fidelity about the transition. If you’re unsure, check your email for migration notices or contact Capital One customer service directly.

Can I still use my Capital One brokerage debit card or checks?

Since brokerage accounts were migrated to Fidelity, any associated debit cards or check-writing features linked to your brokerage cash balance would have been replaced by Fidelity’s cash management tools.

Is Fidelity a good replacement for Capital One Investing?

Fidelity is widely regarded as one of the best brokerages in the industry, offering $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs, excellent research, fractional shares, and strong customer service. Many former Capital One clients have found Fidelity to be a seamless transition.

Does Capital One offer IRAs?

Capital One has offered IRA products in the past, but with the brokerage transition, new IRA openings are now handled through Fidelity or Capital One Advisors. Check directly for the most current availability.

What are the fees at Fidelity for former Capital One clients?

Fidelity offers $0 commissions on online U.S. stock and ETF trades. Mutual fund trades may have fees depending on the fund. Fidelity’s full fee schedule is available on their website.

Final Thoughts

The landscape of capital one investing has changed significantly. Capital One’s decision to exit self-directed brokerage and migrate clients to Fidelity reflects a broader industry shift toward specialization. For investors today, the good news is that the alternatives — Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and others — offer lower costs, better platforms, and more features than ever before.

Whether you’re a former Capital One client who needs to find a new brokerage or a new investor evaluating your options, the key is to match your platform to your goals. Take the time to compare fee structures, research tools, and account types, and don’t hesitate to open a demo account before committing real money. The best brokerage is the one that fits your investing style, not the one with the biggest brand name.