Protecting Your Fidelity Login
A password alone is a single point of failure. If it is guessed, reused, or exposed in a data breach, it may be the only thing standing between an unauthorized party and your account. Two-factor authentication closes that gap by requiring a second, separate form of identification at login.
For anyone who custodies assets at Fidelity, enabling this feature is one of the more straightforward ways to strengthen account security. The steps below outline how to turn it on, drawn from Fidelity’s own published guidance.
At Avion Wealth, account security sits alongside the planning work we coordinate for clients. We offer this resource because the details that protect your wealth deserve the same attention as the decisions that grow it.
What Two-Factor Authentication Is
Two-factor authentication, sometimes called multi-factor authentication or two-step verification, is an added layer of security that requires two distinct forms of identification before account access is granted. The first factor is something you know, such as your password. The second is something you have, such as a code sent to your phone or generated by an authenticator app.
When multi-factor authentication is used, it generally entails logging in with your ID and password, then verifying your identity another way, such as by entering a security code provided via text or email, or verifying through an authenticator app or push notification on your device. Even if a password is compromised, the second factor remains a separate barrier.
How to Enable Multi-Factor Authentication at Fidelity
The following sequence reflects Fidelity’s published guidance. Screens may differ slightly over time, so the labels below are intended as a general guide rather than a fixed script.
- Log in to Fidelity.com. Begin from the standard login screen using your existing credentials.
- Open the Security Center. Select the Profile menu, then choose Security. Fidelity houses these settings in its Security Center.
- Set up multi-factor authentication. Within the Security Center, select the option to enable multi-factor authentication.
- Choose a verification method. Fidelity offers several ways to receive the second factor, described below.
- Manage trusted devices. On a personal device you control, you can select the option to trust the device, which may reduce how often you are prompted. It is worth reviewing your trusted devices periodically and removing any you do not recognize.
The Verification Methods Fidelity Offers
Each method delivers the second factor differently. The right choice depends on how you prefer to balance convenience against control. Please note, you only need to choose ONE of these options to secure your account.
Authenticator app. An authenticator app generates a unique, frequently changing code that you enter after your username and password. Because these codes change frequently, they are resistant to phishing scams and other fraudulent activities. Fidelity allows connections to most widely used authenticator apps, including Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and the Passwords app for iOS. Many industry security resources point to this as among the more secure options, since the code never travels over text or email.
Push notification through the Fidelity mobile app. After downloading the Fidelity Investments mobile app and setting up biometric login such as fingerprint or facial recognition, you can approve login requests through a push notification on your device. If a push prompt appears when you are not actively logging in, it is best to deny it.
Text or email code. Fidelity can send a one-time security code by text message or email, which you then enter at login. A general security practice worth noting: only enter a code directly into Fidelity.com or the Fidelity app, and avoid reading a code aloud to anyone on a phone call.
By default, you will enter a code from your authenticator app each time you log in, though you can choose to trust a personal device so the step is not required every time. After selecting and confirming a method, the new setting takes effect at your next login.
Where to Find Fidelity’s Official Guidance
Fidelity maintains its own instructions and security resources, which are the authoritative source for any account-specific questions. For setup details and the full range of login security options, Fidelity publishes an extra login security page and operates its Security Center, accessible after login.
For clients who have questions about applying these settings to accounts custodied through Avion Wealth, our team is available to walk through the process alongside you. The coordination of account security with your broader plan is part of how we manage the details on your behalf.
Protecting Every Area of Your Financial Life
Two-factor authentication is one layer of a much broader picture. Account security, estate considerations, insurance, and the other safeguards around your wealth all work best when they are coordinated rather than handled in isolation.
To explore how these pieces fit together, you can download Avion Wealth’s complimentary Intelligent Wealth Protection guide. It offers a wider view of the considerations that may help protect what you have built.
To your success,
The Avion Wealth Team