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Investment accounts for kids: 7 types & getting started

These investment accounts can help you grow your savings for your child’s future.

From college savings plans to Roth IRAs, there are many kids’ investment accounts to choose from so that their portfolios are well underway by the time they reach adulthood.

While investment accounts for kids don’t have strict age requirements, kids can’t open an account directly. Instead, adults aged 18 and over can become custodians and open a brokerage investment account on behalf of the child. This gives parents or guardians full control and responsibility over their child’s account until they reach the age of maturity, at which point the child gains access to their funds.

Quick view: Types of investment accounts for kids

These are the most popular types of child investment accounts, each with its own tax benefits, limitations and intents.

Account typeHow it works
529 savings plansNo income or age restrictions, and it’s best suited for saving for your child’s education tax-free.
Teen brokerage accountsA teen-owned brokerage account where teens get to choose their investments, with parental supervision.
UGMA/UTMA accountsCarrying no contribution limits or spending restrictions, these are custodial investment accounts where you invest on the child’s behalf, and the child gains access to the funds once they reach the age of majority, which depends on the state.
Coverdell Education Savings accountsAllows you to save up to $2,000 a year toward your child’s education tax-free.
Crypto investment accountsParents can open a custodial crypto wallet for their child and act as a custodian, and invest in cryptocurrencies on the child’s behalf. This method is currently more volatile than other methods.
Custodial IRAsParents can invest in typical investing options like stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds on behalf of the child, and investments sit in a tax-advantaged account.
Debit cards for kids with investment featuresAccounts that teach kids how to invest and manage their money with parental supervision.

Closer look at 7 kid investment account options

There are multiple ways to start saving for your kid’s future — and some accounts offer more of a hands-on approach to get your kid more familiar with investing.

1. 529 savings plans

A 529 Plan allows you to invest your after-tax dollars into your child’s future college tuition and associated fees and is typically offered by the state government. There are no income or child age restrictions, and the annual contribution limit is up to $300,000, but it varies by state. Funds saved aren’t allowed to be used for education expenses outside of tuition and fees.

There are two plans to choose from:

  • Prepaid tuition plan — This option lets you pay for your child’s tuition in advance in installments. The state administrator of the plan then invests the money on your behalf, and when your child goes to college, you can withdraw the funds, which are guaranteed to cover today’s tuition rates.
  • Education savings plan — This option lets you invest for elementary, high school and college expenses. While there’s no annual cap on contributions, there’s a $10,000 yearly limit on how much you can use toward educational expenses. But you need to choose your own investments, which requires a more hands-on approach than other kids’ accounts.

You may also bypass federal income taxes on the money you withdraw if you use one of these accounts for your kids’ college education. It might also qualify you for state tax deductions on your contributions.

A 529 savings account is typically not considered income when applying for financial aid with Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — meaning the account likely won’t impact your child’s financial aid application.

2. Teen brokerage accounts

While there are few teen-owned brokerage options available, one account that empowers teens to take control of their investments and learn the basics is the Fidelity Youth Account. It’s teen-owned, there are no monthly fees, it comes with a prepaid debit card and teens can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds with as little as $1.

Parents can view all investment activity, but they can’t approve or prevent transactions that their teen makes. Plus, the account is only available if parents also sign up for a Fidelity account.

3. UGMA/UTMA custodial accounts

The Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) and Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA) allow you to create a custodial brokerage account for your child, which is transferred over to the child once they reach the age of majority — 18 to 25 years old depending on the state, according to Fidelity. Once they’re old enough to gain access to the account, you won’t have control over how they use the money.

UGMA and UTMA accounts don’t have contribution limits, and deposits made are considered after-tax contributions, so contributors can’t get a tax deduction. Donations to these accounts are also irreversible.

While UGMA and UTMA accounts work similarly, there are some differences:

  • UGMA — Available in all 50 states. Can invest in mutual funds, stocks, bonds and ETFs.
  • UTMA — Available in all states except South Carolina. Can invest in mutual funds, stocks, bonds and ETFs but also offers a wider range of assets compared to UGMA, such as real estate.

If you’re looking for a UTMA or UGMA account with robust types of investments, Interactive Brokers offers both US-based and international stocks.

There are more platforms that help you manage custodial accounts for your kids. For example, Stash and M1 Finance offer custodial accounts with personalized portfolio recommendations. You pay a fee to use either account, but the cost is potentially offset by investment gains.

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UTMA/UGMA accounts can impact financial aid eligibility

UGMA and UTMA accounts can disqualify your child from getting financial aid in the future. Since the account is in your child's name and UTMA/UGMA accounts are considered income, it might reduce your child's need-based financial aid eligibility.

— Bethany Hickey, Writer, Banking and Loans.

4. Coverdell Education Savings accounts

Similar to a 529 savings plan, a Coverdell Education Savings account lets you invest for your child’s elementary, high school or college education.

A Coverdell account gives you more options in the types of investments you can make compared to a 529 savings plan. You can invest your money in a number of securities with tax-free earnings growth and withdrawals when the funds are spent on eligible expenses, such as tuition.

However, you can only contribute up to $2,000 per year — a lower amount than investing in a 529 savings plan, which is usually around $300,000 annually. Coverdell Education Savings also carry income requirements — your modified adjusted gross income can’t be more than $110,000 per year if you’re a single filer or $220,000 if you’re filing jointly.

5. Crypto investment accounts

A little on the non-traditional side, you can open a cryptocurrency investment account as a custodian for your child via a crypto wallet. From there, you can buy different cryptocurrencies and track their fluctuations in the market. However, crypto is generally considered more of a riskier investment strategy than other tactics we’ve listed, because it’s a new type of security and it fluctuates.

Crypto investments are also available through EarlyBird, which lets you and your kids invest in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) and offers portfolios that you don’t have to build yourself. There’s also Stockpile, which lets kids invest in crypto, stocks and ETFs with as little as $1.

For tax concerns, know that the IRS treats crypto investments as an asset, so they’re subject to short- or long-term capital gains taxes. Also, anytime you sell or exchange cryptocurrency, it’s considered a taxable event.

6. Custodial IRAs

Custodial IRAs are tax-advantaged retirement accounts available to minors with earned income. The annual contribution limit is $6,500 or the total earned income your child made that year — whichever is less. Most assets are allowed in an IRA, including stocks, bonds, ETFs and mutual funds. And, like other custodial accounts, you manage the account and assets until your child reaches the age of majority.

There are two main IRA options for children:

  • Traditional IRA — Fund this account with pre-tax dollars and claim a tax deduction, but withdrawals after age 59 and a half are taxed as regular income.
  • Roth IRA — Fund a Roth IRA account with after-tax money, and anything withdrawn after age 59 and a half is tax-free. But contributions are not tax-deductible.

7. Debit cards for kids

If your goal is to teach your kid money management skills, such as how to invest, save and budget, look at debit cards for kids. These banking products put kids in the driver’s seat while letting guardians approve their investment choices.
A few examples of kids’ cards that offer these features include BusyKid and Greenlight — both offer chore and allowance features and the ability to invest in over 4,000 stock and ETF options with parental approval and no trading fees.

How to open an investment account for kids

You must be at least 18 years old to set up a brokerage account for your kid. Opening an account means you’re acting as a custodian on the account until the child reaches the age of maturity — often 18 to 25 years old, depending on the state.

You’ll need this information handy to open an account:

  • Names, birthdates and Social Security numbers of you and your child
  • Your government-issued ID, such as a passport or driver’s license
  • Residential address

Compare investment accounts for kids

Narrow down accounts by monthly fee, age requirements and features. Select compare on up to four products to see their features side by side.

Name Product Fee Age requirements Features Offer
Greenlight Max
Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Greenlight Max
$9.98 per month
Any age
  • Teaches investing skills
  • Up to 2% rewards
  • Cell phone and identity protection
Offers investing tools for kids, along with all the Greenlight basic features. Includes cell phone and identity protection.
UNest
Not rated yet
UNest
$39.99 per year or $4.99 per month
Any age
  • Easily receive money from family and friends
  • Earn rewards and bonuses
  • Diversify with crypto
Kickstart your child’s financial future with UNest’s saving and investment tools. Add the whole family to the same account at no extra cost. Family and friends can gift your children money directly through the app, where you can also access learning tools, rewards and bonuses and an easy introduction to crypto investments.
FamZoo
Finder Rating: 3.6 / 5: ★★★★★
Bonus
FamZoo
$5.99 per month
Any age
  • Parent-paid interest
  • No foreign fees
  • Real-time cash requests
One month free trial. After your one-month trial, plans start at just $5.99/month for the whole family. First 4 prepaid cards free.
Teach your children good money habits with this comprehensive prepaid card and account.
Acorns Early
Finder Rating: 4.2 / 5: ★★★★★
Acorns Early
$9 per month
Any age
  • Automatic recurring contributions to your child’s account
  • Create multiple kids' accounts with no extra fees
  • Financial literacy content for families
Get the kids investing app that gives your kids a head start. Includes financial literacy content, potential tax advantages, and free accounts for multiple kids.
Cash App for kids
Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5: ★★★★★
Cash App for kids
$0 per month
13 to 17 years old
  • $0 monthly fee
  • Send and request money, deposit cash and access ATMs
  • Free saving and investing features
  • Set spending and investing limits
With Cash App for families you can easily customize safety settings and see real-time transactions of your teens, all while they learn how to set savings goals and invest with as little as $1 dollar.
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Alternative savings options for minors

There are other savings options to consider if you want to diversify you kid’s investments:

  • Traditional savings accounts — Some banks let you open a high-yield savings account as a custodial account for your child. Alternatively, you can open a separate savings account and contribute funds to earn interest without involving your kid at all. There are many high-yield savings accounts available, as well as top savings accounts for children.
  • Certificates of deposit (CDs) — You can get a CD with your child and act as the custodian, and because CDs have set rates and terms, they’re often considered low risk.

Why is it important to invest early?

When you invest for your kids early, you give them a major head start in the race for financial freedom. The power of compound interest is on their side, because they have more time to grow their investments.

Imagine that you invest $50 a month in a custodial account. In 15 years, you’d have contributed $9,050, but your child would have about $14,700 — based on a 6% annual growth rate with interest compounded monthly. If they continue investing $50 a month as an adult, they’d have over $50,500.

Also, depending on the account, investing early gives you the opportunity to teach your kids how investing works and involve them in the decision-making process by letting them choose which investments they’d like to make.

Kids aren’t using their allowance to invest

Most parents (68%) say that they give their children an allowance but none said that their kids were using that money for investments. Just shy of half (42%) say that their kids just keeps the money in an account.

Frequently asked questions

Does paying for my child’s tuition fall under the gift tax?
If you give your child a large sum of money and your child isn’t obligated to repay you, it counts as a gift and may be subject to the gift tax. Gift tax rates range from 18% to 40%.

However, tuition or medical expenses you pay for someone or gifts that are not more than the annual exclusion for the calendar year (up to $16,000 in 2022) are excluded from the gift tax. Be sure to consult with a tax professional for more information on your specific situation.

What about the Kiddie Tax?
If your child’s interest, dividends and other unearned income is more than $2,300 per year, it may be subject to the Kiddie Tax, according to the IRS. If your child has no earned income, unearned income up to $1,250 is not taxed as of 2023. However, the next $1,250 is taxed at the child’s rate, and any amount over $2,300 is taxed at the parent’s tax rate. For more information, visit IRS.gov.

Are UGMA/UTMA accounts taxed?
UGMA and UTMA accounts are not tax-sheltered. Reporting requirements for taxes depend on the income of the beneficiary and the beneficiary’s age. Because the account is in the child’s name, earnings are typically taxed at the child’s tax rate.

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