• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Erin Brockovich, the activist who defeated a utility giant and inspired a Julia Roberts film, is pushing data centers to be more transparent

2

The Iran conflict has disrupted oil supply. Gulf states are now looking to multi-billion-dollar investments in renewables 

3

Current price of oil as of June 1, 2026

1

Erin Brockovich, the activist who defeated a utility giant and inspired a Julia Roberts film, is pushing data centers to be more transparent

2

The Iran conflict has disrupted oil supply. Gulf states are now looking to multi-billion-dollar investments in renewables 

3

Current price of oil as of June 1, 2026
Personal FinanceEducation

Vanguard exec says Trump Accounts are a good idea, but don’t bank on them for college

By
Jacqueline Munis
Jacqueline Munis
News Fellow
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jacqueline Munis
Jacqueline Munis
News Fellow
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 5, 2026, 2:31 PM ET
trump
President Donald Trump arrives on stage before delivering remarks during the Treasury Department's Trump Accounts Summit at Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on January 28, 2026 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images

Starting this July, every time you think about your child’s financial future, you may also think about the president.

Recommended Video

The Trump administration is offering “Trump Accounts,” with $1,000 seed funding to U.S. citizens born between Jan. 1, 2025, and Dec. 31, 2028. Joel Dickson, Vanguard’s global head of advised strategies, told Fortune he welcomes this change—but if a family’s goal is saving for education, a tax-deferred 529 college savings plan is a more efficient option for the same amount of contribution.

Parents should still seriously consider Trump Accounts to help kids save for their financial futures, Dickson said. Even as some questions remain unanswered about the accounts’ details and speculation grows over how much the accounts will appreciate, he recommends that you don’t leave free money on the table. 

“Trump accounts are an ‘and’ account, not an ‘or’ account,” Dickson said. “More flexibility, more liquidity, more uses that very well may happen with the Trump Account, which is yet another reason to get one established right to get the free money,” he said, “because we don’t know how this is going to evolve.”

The climbing cost of college

More savings could make all the difference as families question the ROI on college and more than 60% of voters say college isn’t worth the cost. Student loans and credit debt have landed Gen Z with an average of $94,101 in personal debt.  

Parents are sacrificing retirement, taking second jobs, and liquidating investments just to get their kids through college. One Citizens Bank survey found that nearly a third of parents are borrowing against their 401(k) or liquidating personal funds to pay for college.

Families have their pick among the many types of child savings accounts. In addition to 529 accounts, parental brokerage accounts, and individual retirement accounts (IRA) are just a few of the options parents have to save for their children’s future. 

But, Trump Accounts offer a significant amount of seed funding. On top of the $1,000 seed for newborns, some companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, SoFi, BlackRock, and Robinhood will match the $1,000. Children under 10 will get an extra $250, thanks to a $6.25 billion pledge from billionaires Michael and Susan Dell. 

What Trump Accounts are good for 

On top of the seed funding, Trump Accounts are a tax-deferred IRA account, and how you use the funds is not as limited as other child savings accounts. 

“It fills a gap for many to allow for savings and gaining financial experience or literacy earlier in life with real-world experience,” Dickson said. If funded, the account can be a game-changer for people, especially as they enter young adulthood, he said. 

Some options may be better

The best savings option depends on what each individual’s goals are, Dickson said. Other accounts may offer better liquidity, flexibility, or taxes. A traditional IRA may be a more tax-effective option because contributions can be tax-deductible, unlike most savings accounts. 

There are some downsides to the Trump Accounts. They lack global diversification, though U.S. stocks only account for roughly 60% of the global market. Dickson recommends that families find other sources of diversification in their portfolios. 

Another consideration with the Trump Accounts is that because it is 100% equities, they can be more volatile than other savings accounts. 

“There’s a lot of risk in having a potentially volatile equity return, and that being the only source of investment within the Trump Account,” Dickson said. “As you get closer to when you are going to use the money in the account, often, you want to mitigate the risk of sharp swings in asset returns.” 

This may be less of a concern if the account’s goal is retirement, but if parents plan to cash out the account in the middle term or use it as an emergency savings, Dickson said, they should find a way to derisk their accounts. 

Ultimately, Dickson said he looks at this development as a favorable thing for all Americans. “One of the big times of financial fragility for people is as young adults,” he explained. “Oftentimes you see them having to bridge gaps in maybe unexpected expenses, or how they’re trying to fund their own goals, like education, where you have to take on large amounts of debt. Or you get into this cycle of debt, or under consumption, just to try to make ends meet.” 

By having a pool of assets with the Trump Account, people can enter adulthood with stronger long-term financial security, Dickson said. 

The Fortune 500 Innovation Forum will convene Fortune 500 executives, U.S. policy officials, top founders, and thought leaders to help define what’s next for the American economy, Nov. 16-17 in Detroit. Apply here.
About the Author
By Jacqueline MunisNews Fellow
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Personal Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Personal Finance

MIAMI, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 24: A customer pumps gas into their vehicle on October 24, 2025 in Miami, Florida. According to the new Bureau of Labor Statistics data released on October 24, the 12-month inflation rate climbed to 3 percent in September, up from 2.9 percent in August, as gasoline prices rose by 4.1 percent, a major driver of inflation last month. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Economygeopolitics
Iran war has cost U.S. families $100 billion between increased military funding and higher oil prices, says Moody’s
By Eleanor PringleJune 2, 2026
2 hours ago
Current price of gold as of June 2, 2026
Personal Financegold prices
Current price of gold as of June 2, 2026
By Danny BakstJune 2, 2026
4 hours ago
Top CD rates from major banks June 2, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
Personal FinanceCertificates of Deposit (CDs)
Top CD rates from major banks on June 2, 2026: Chase CDs, Bank of America CDs, Citibank CDs, and more
By Joseph HostetlerJune 2, 2026
5 hours ago
Current price of Ethereum for June 2, 2026
Personal FinanceEthereum
Current price of Ethereum for June 2, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 2, 2026
5 hours ago
Current price of Bitcoin for June 2, 2026
Personal FinanceCryptocurrency
Current price of Bitcoin for June 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 2, 2026
5 hours ago
Current price of oil as of June 2, 2026
Personal FinanceOil
Current price of oil as of June 2, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 2, 2026
5 hours ago

Most Popular

Erin Brockovich, the activist who defeated a utility giant and inspired a Julia Roberts film, is pushing data centers to be more transparent
Environment
Erin Brockovich, the activist who defeated a utility giant and inspired a Julia Roberts film, is pushing data centers to be more transparent
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJune 1, 2026
23 hours ago
The Iran conflict has disrupted oil supply. Gulf states are now looking to multi-billion-dollar investments in renewables 
Energy
The Iran conflict has disrupted oil supply. Gulf states are now looking to multi-billion-dollar investments in renewables 
By Melissa HancockJune 1, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 1, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 1, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, June 1, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 1, 2026
1 day ago
After issuing more than $20 billion in tariff refunds, the Trump administration is now pursuing legal action to bring the process to a standstill
Law
After issuing more than $20 billion in tariff refunds, the Trump administration is now pursuing legal action to bring the process to a standstill
By Sasha RogelbergJune 1, 2026
1 day ago
Cognizant CEO is swimming against the tide on AI: he's hiring over 20,000 graduates this year and says AI tokenmaxxing is a 'vanity metric'
Conferences
Cognizant CEO is swimming against the tide on AI: he's hiring over 20,000 graduates this year and says AI tokenmaxxing is a 'vanity metric'
By Preston ForeJune 1, 2026
18 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.