With so many daily expenses to consider, setting up investment accounts for minors may not be a priority for most parents and guardians. But ask successful investors what they would do differently if they had the chance, and you'll often hear the same thing: I would start investing earlier.
Planting the seeds of investments early in life provides one of the greatest opportunities to grow sizable future wealth. So with time on your side, let's take a look at the best investment accounts for kids, how to open accounts for minors, the benefits of investing for kids, and whether you should start investing for kids now.
Top investment accounts for kids
There are several options for opening investment accounts for kids. Trying to decide among the numerous choices may feel overwhelming, but these five accounts are worth particular attention depending on various factors and financial goals. Choosing any of these options as opportunities to teach kids about how to invest money is a valuable way to set them up for a lifetime of prudent financial planning.
1. 529 College Savings Plan
They may only be in diapers now, but they'll be dressing for prom and throwing their high school graduation caps in the air before you know it. So it's a good idea to start preparing for college sooner rather than later.
A 529 college savings plan is one of the most common routes to saving for higher education expenses. These tax-advantaged accounts help individuals and families save for qualified educational expenses, such as room and board, tuition, and books. Money deposited into a 529 plan is invested in various ways, including exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and mutual funds.
While they are named after the relevant section of the IRS code that covers tax deferment, 529 plans are administered at the state level.
2. Coverdell Education Savings Account
Like the 529 college savings plan, the Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA) is a tax-advantaged account geared toward qualified educational expenses. But there are several differences between the two.
First, the annual contribution limit per individual for a Coverdell ESA is capped at $2,000 for joint filers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) up to $190,000. Contributions are gradually reduced for those with a MAGI between $190,000 and $220,000, and those with incomes above $220,000 are ineligible to contribute.
On the other hand, 529 plans vary based on the individual state, but they generally have much higher contribution limits. Another key difference is that there is greater flexibility in options with the Coverdell ESA. In addition to ETFs and mutual funds, investors can choose individual stocks and bonds.
4. UGMA/UTMA accounts
Accounts under the Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) and Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UGTA) are set up by custodians (although not exclusively) to hold gifts or transfers. They bear some similarities to 529 plans, but there are some notable differences, including tax considerations. Also, the withdrawals do not have to be used on education-related expenses.
It's important to recognize that contributions to these accounts aren't tax-deductible. In addition, assets in the accounts are in the names of the minors, so they may affect federal financial aid eligibility for college.
Many brokerages offer UGMA and UTMA accounts. Vanguard, for instance, offers both accounts without enrollment, transfer, or advisor fees for custodians who eschew Vanguard's advisory services.
5. Custodial Roth IRA
A custodial Roth IRA is a smart consideration for forward-looking individuals, as it enables kids to start saving for their golden years as soon as they start earning income. When the tax-advantaged account is opened, a parent or grandparent serves as the custodian, and the child is listed as the beneficiary.
Upon turning 18 -- or 21 in some states -- the child becomes the account holder and can independently make transactions. For 2024 and 2025, the maximum contribution individuals can make to a Roth IRA is $7,000 or your child's total compensation for the year, whichever is the lesser amount.
How to open an investment account for minors
In deciding what type of account to open, one of the primary considerations is whether the minor has taxable income. If the child is collecting income and reporting it to Uncle Sam, it's possible to open a custodial Roth IRA. And it's not even required that the child fund the account.
For example, if a kid/teenager earns $1,000 walking a dog in a given year, he or she can keep his earnings, and Mom or Dad can fund the Roth IRA up to $1,000.
Many brokerages offer the opportunity to open a custodial Roth IRA. Once you decide where to open the account, you must provide information such as Social Security numbers, employer details, and driver's license information, if applicable.
Benefits of investing for kids
Whenever you're investing -- regardless of the circumstances -- there are risks. However, when investing for kids, the advantages far outweigh the downsides. Following are three of the most salient benefits.
1. It sets kids up for future investing success
By opening an investing account for kids and using it as a vehicle to teach them about investing, you're helping establish a solid foundation for making prudent financial choices. Investing can be challenging and confusing. What better way to prepare them for investing on their own than by modeling good decision-making?
2. It takes advantage of time to build wealth
When it comes to building wealth, time is arguably your greatest asset. By putting the power of compound interest and earnings to work, you position young ones to accumulate impressive growth. For a 529 plan and Coverdell ESA, this will help take the sting out of paying for college. On the other hand, if a Roth IRA is the investing account of choice, kids are in a great position to make their golden years a little more lustrous.
3. It's fun!
Embarking on an investing journey with a young one is a great way to deepen your relationship. You can cultivate the same love of investing that you have. Plus, you gain the happiness of knowing that your little loved ones will be more secure financially when they get older.
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Should you start investing for your child?
Undoubtedly, buying savings bonds for kids has long been one of the most common approaches to helping kids build wealth. But positioning kids for future financial security by setting up investment accounts may be even better.
Before parents and guardians consider this step, however, it's important for them to make sure their own financial houses are in order -- the foundation of which includes retirement savings and emergency funds. Once these financial buckets are established, setting up an investment account for a child is a lot more reasonable.
Like the directions that flight attendants provide passengers regarding oxygen masks, parents and guardians want to ensure they're well-positioned for retirement and prepared for emergencies before setting aside capital for their kids' investment accounts.
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