Foreign investing through IRA

[Investor20]

Could anyone please let me know if there is a way to invest in foreign equities through an IRA?  I looked at Fidelity but looks like they exclude retirement accounts.

 

Thanks very much

[Packer16]

Fidelity does allow foreign investing.  I have a Roth IRA with them.  International investing can have higher fees if you are used to the US discount broker fees.

 

Packer

[matjone]

yeah, that's why I use IB for the IRA, but it has access to fewer markets than fidelity

[karthikpm]

Tax treatments of things like dividends are different in IRA vs post tax portfolio on foreign holdings

[bookie71]

I have had no problem with Schwab.

[investor-man]

Just to add some info about Fidelity - I have to call the trading desk to get international trades done in my IRA. It doesn't allow me to do it through the web interface

[Investor20]

Thanks a lot for the information.  I called and they confirmed that the stock I was looking at has actually a market maker in US and it is better to use it. 

 

The website says the following "All nonretirement brokerage accounts are eligible to add the international stock trading feature.", but as I understand it is a feature on website, one can call.

 

https://www.fidelity.com/stock-trading/international-stock-trading

 

Thanks again.

[NoCalledStrikes]

I can buy foreign stocks directly at Fidelity on my non-IRA account, but for my Fido IRA I must buy the pink sheet equivalent.  While the liquidity buying directly is infinitely better, the foreign exchange conversion fees at Fido are pretty high, so its a wash.  For the markets IB serves, you are better off using IB and taking advantage of their much more reasonable FX charges.

[Investor20]

The fidelity representative suggested to buy the US equivalent from a market maker of foreign stock during the period foreign stock is trading. For example to trade a London stock equivalent in morning when London stock exchange is open to reduce spreads.