By now, you’ve probably heard about the Trump Accounts. And the headline-maker seems to be the $1,000 in seed money available to all babies born between 2025 and 2028.

But how will these new investment vehicles actually work? And how should they fit into your kid’s financial future, if at all?

Here’s what we know: Trump Accounts are a new type of tax-deferred investment account for kids. They’re part of the newly approved budget bill (aka One Big Beautiful Bill,) and the idea is to kick-start each kid’s financial security as soon as they leave the womb.

While newborns are the only ones eligible for the one-time $1,000 from the government, anyone under 18 with a Social Security number can have a Trump Account.

Parents, relatives, and even employers will be able to contribute up to $5,000 combined per year, with employer contributions capped at $2,500. Earnings will grow tax-free until they’re withdrawn, and there will be incentives for the accountholder to use the money for retirement, college tuition or buying a house for the first time.

Many of the details and logistics are still unclear (the accounts reportedly won’t be available until next July) but in the meantime, here are some of the pluses and minuses — and how they compare to other options you have for saving and investing, including IRAs, 529 college savings plans, and custodial brokerage accounts.

Yay: You get $1,000. If you’ve got a qualifying newborn, the free money is what makes the Trump Accounts different from any other investment account.

Nay: Earnings get taxed upon withdrawal. While the money in a Trump Account can grow tax-deferred, your child will have to pay taxes on any earnings when they withdraw the money.

It would be taxed at a potentially lower rate (the rate for long-term capital gains rather than ordinary income) if they use it for a qualified expense such as college tuition, business loans or a first-time home purchase, but with a 529 plan, your child wouldn’t pay any federal taxes (and generally no state taxes) on earnings as long as the money is used for education.

In fact, among the current slate of tax-advantaged investment accounts available to Americans, the Trump Accounts are pretty restrictive, according to the Tax Foundation. Here’s a side-by-side comparison.

Yay: Employers can kick in. Employers will be allowed to contribute cash for your kid, and it won’t count as part of your income. If this catches on as a trendy retention tool, with companies like Dell already pledging their support, parent-employees might be motivated to open Trump Accounts for their kids just to get the free company cash.

Nay: Parents don’t get tax breaks for contributing. You may be wondering what’s in it for you if you contribute to your kids’ Trump Accounts. Unlike with many retirement accounts, parents won’t get a tax deduction on their contributions. FYI: 529 plan contributions aren’t deductible on your federal income tax either, but can sometimes be claimed at the state-level.

Yay: Families could catch the investment bug. A $1,000 headstart could motivate families who aren’t already investors to become investors. And that could help grow generational wealth.

Nay: Investment choices are more limited. With Trump Accounts, you can only invest in U.S.-based mutual funds and ETFs. Custodial brokerage accounts, on the other hand, offer more investment choices (for example, bonds and individual stocks.) And although there aren’t any tax benefits with custodial accounts, they don’t face the same early-withdrawal penalties or restrictions that Trump Accounts will.

So what? For newborns, a Trump Account is a no-brainer. Just the initial $1,000 could theoretically turn into enough for a down payment on a house by the time your child is 40, depending on how the investments do. (If that initial $1,000 earned 7% a year, they’d have nearly $15,000 after 40 years.)

Otherwise, though, take some time to investigate Trump Accounts further as more details are announced. Capitalizing on more than one investment vehicle for your kids is great if you can swing it. But if you have limited dollars to invest, you may want to put this one lower on your priority list.

Related Reading

Trump Accounts: A New Way to Save for Your Child’s Future (SavingforCollege.com)

Read This Before Putting Any of Your Own Money Into One of Those Trump Accounts for Babies (MarketWatch via MSN)

Creating an Investment Plan for Your Child (SoFi)

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

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It’s a question as old as financial markets: How safe should we play it? How much money should we hold in cash vs. invest in stocks, bonds, or other assets?

All investments come with risk. Returns are never guaranteed and there’s always a chance you’ll come out with less than you started with. For this reason, people who are more risk-averse might be inclined to hold on to most of their extra cash.

The thing is, there are also risks to not investing enough: You can miss opportunities to grow your wealth. Not to mention that money tends to lose value over time (thanks, inflation.)

“One important thing to understand about investing is the tradeoff between risk and reward: You cannot have one without the other,” said Brian Walsh, a Certified Financial Planner® and SoFi’s Head of Advice & Planning.

Unfortunately, there is no magic ratio of cash vs. investments that fits for every situation. It’s a balancing act, and depends on many factors, including your appetite for risk, your current financial situation, your goals, and how long you’re planning to be invested. Here are some key things to consider when deciding how to allocate your money.

First thing’s first: How much cash do you need?

When we say holding cash, we’re not just talking about the bills stuffed in your wallet. We’re talking about everything you have in your checking, savings, and money market accounts, plus what are known as cash equivalents — typically defined as assets that mature in under 90 days and are readily convertible to known cash values (think: short-term CDs and Treasury bills).

Financial advisors generally recommend having enough liquid cash saved to cover three to six months’ worth of living expenses. (If you generally spend $5,000/month, you would have between $15,000 and $30,000 to fall back on in case of a job loss, major medical expense, or other financial setback.) And keeping that money in an interest-bearing vehicle like a high-yield savings account can help you keep up with inflation (SoFi’s has an APY of up to 3.8%).

If you don’t have a financial buffer — or if you’re stretching just to pay for your necessities each month — you may not have the money to spare for investing right now.

But if you have enough to invest, how much should you invest?

Some advisors recommend keeping between 2% and 10% of your portfolio in cash and equivalents.

Another rule of thumb is the rule of 110, where you subtract your age from 110 to gauge how much of your money you should keep in stocks. So if you are 35, you’d keep 75% of your investible assets in stocks — the rest could be in bonds or cash. (Depending on your risk tolerance, the rule can be varied with a starting number of 120 or 100).

Of course, it may make sense to hold higher levels of cash under certain circumstances. Maybe your income isn’t steady or you’re planning a big purchase in the next few years (like a house or college tuition.)

Why invest at all? Let’s talk about opportunity cost

When you give up a potential benefit by choosing one option over another, it’s known as opportunity cost. While holding on to all your cash can shield you from volatility, the opportunity cost is any upside you might get from investing it.

People talk about the opportunity cost of not investing in the U.S. stock market because despite its ups and downs — especially in recent months — the benchmark S&P 500 index has trended up over time.

The average annualized return is about 10% per year, or 6% to 7% after inflation (not accounting for fees, expenses, and taxes). Annual returns often vary widely, and the historical average is not a reliable indicator for a specific year, but long-term investing is based on the idea that you’re probably better off staying in the market.

Of course, past performance is never a guarantee of future returns, and that’s all part of the risk-reward equation.

“Stock market investing can be more appropriate for big goals in the distant future, such as saving for a child’s education or your own retirement,” said Walsh. “A longer time horizon not only gives your investments a chance to grow but a chance to ride out market downturns that may occur along the way.”

Determining your asset allocation: Factors to weigh

Risk Tolerance (and Capacity)

There are two facets of risk-taking: your willingness (tolerance,) and your ability (capacity.) Someone with enough savings to cover two years’ worth of living expenses may not want to invest any of it even if they’re a good candidate. Likewise, even if someone feels comfortable investing all their emergency savings, that doesn’t mean they should.

When it comes to tolerance, research shows that women are inclined to be more risk-averse with their money than men, but when they do invest they tend to outperform men.

The bottom line: In addition to tolerance, you should consider how much risk you are realistically able to accept.

Time Horizon

Your investment horizon — the length of time you plan to hold an investment before you need to sell it — is another factor to consider.

If you plan to retire and cash out your 401(k) soon, you have a shorter investment time horizon and a lower risk capacity for the volatility of the market. In this scenario, you might adjust your portfolio to have a higher ratio of lower-risk holdings.

On the other hand, if you’re not retiring for 30-plus years, you have a longer horizon and therefore better odds of weathering the ups-and-downs of the market.

“Because higher-risk assets can go through periods of significant downside, they are generally only recommended for money that you won’t need for awhile,” said Walsh.

“Time can either be your best friend or worst enemy. Make it your best friend by investing early so your money has more time to grow.”

Financial Goals

A lot depends on where you are in your life, too. If you’re planning on making your first big college tuition payment soon or throwing a wedding, you might feel more comfortable keeping more of your money in cash to reduce the risk of losses.

But if you’re saving to buy a house someday, you might get your down payment faster if you invest some of your money.

Economic Environment

There are also external factors to consider.

For example, you might feel more comfortable holding higher levels of cash when interest rates are high because that’s when you can generally earn higher returns from things like a high-yield savings account or T-bonds. This shifts the opportunity cost, increasing the relative attractiveness of cash equivalents versus riskier assets like stocks.

When interest rates are low, however, the opposite may be true. After the Fed slashed its benchmark rate to virtually zero in 2020, for instance, the interest you could earn on cash was negligible while stocks soared.

The question of asset allocation can feel daunting, but considering how these different factors apply to you can help you feel more confident in your decisions. And it’s not a one-and-doner: You’ll want to reassess your mix of cash versus investments as your financial situation and goals shift.

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

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