Next-Gen Wealth

New opportunities for families and business owners

Trump Accounts are introducing a new way to think about long-term financial planning. Next-Gen Wealth explores how starting at birth can reshape retirement outcomes for future generations, and how the same tool may create a new category of family-oriented employee benefits for business owners.

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What can two extra decades of investing do for retirement?

Key takeaways

  • Trump Accounts introduce a new way to start long-term investing for children earlier than ever before.

  • Beginning at birth can meaningfully extend the power of compounding and reshape retirement outcomes decades later.

  • These accounts are not education-specific, giving families another tax-favored planning tool alongside options like 529 plans, custodial accounts, and life insurance.

  • Working with a financial advisor can help families determine how Trump Accounts fit alongside tax, estate, and long-term investing goals.

A new generation of planning tools is emerging — and with it a new way for families to think about wealth planning earlier and more intentionally. Among the most talked-about developments from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) is the addition of IRC section 530A, “Trump Accounts.”

What are Trump Accounts?

Trump Accounts are structured as custodial IRAs designed for minors under age 18. They combine elements of retirement savings vehicles, custodial accounts, and long-term investment strategies.

Key features

  • Contributions

    Up to $5,000 can be contributed per year per child (indexed for inflation). Contributions can be made by parents, grandparents, other family members and friends, beneficiaries themselves, employers, government entities, and qualifying charities. Contributions made by individuals and employers will all count toward the $5,000 annual limit.

  • Employer contributions

    Employers may contribute up to $2,500 per employee. These contributions are tax-deductible to the employer, are not taxed to the employee, and count toward the $5,000 annual limit. Employer contributions will only be available through a compliant program and may be subject to additional legal, tax, payroll, and plan-document requirements.

  • Government seed funding

    Eligible children (born between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2028) may receive a $1,000 initial contribution.¹ These funds would be exempt from the $5,000 annual limit.

Trump Account phase (assumes $5K/year, 7% net ROR)

Age

Traditional IRA phase (assumes $0/year, 7% net ROR, no withdrawals)

Age

Compare this to starting an IRA at 18 and contributing $7,500 (the current maximum) per year (assumes 7% net ROR, no withdrawals)

Age

Could Trump Accounts become a charitable planning tool?

  • ✅ Contributions from 501(c)(3) charities do not count toward the annual $5,000 contribution limit.

  • ✅ Private foundations are generally organized as 501(c)(3) charities.

  • ✅ Some charitable organizations are already exploring Trump Account funding programs for eligible groups of children.

  • ✅ Over time, private foundations may identify opportunities to incorporate Trump Accounts into broader philanthropic and multigenerational wealth planning strategies.

Trump Accounts: Why business owners are paying attention

Key takeaways

  • Trump Accounts create a new opportunity for business owners to offer a family-oriented employee benefit.

  • Employer contributions can help differentiate a benefits package in a competitive talent market.

  • This type of benefit may strengthen retention, engagement, and loyalty by supporting employees’ long-term family goals.

  • Implementation requires planning, including contribution coordination, plan documentation, and compliance considerations.

52% of small business owners want to use their business’ success to create generational wealth.²

Are Trump Accounts the next evolution of employee benefits?

A growing question in the planning community is “Could Trump Accounts become the ‘next 401(k)’ for employee benefits?” While still early, there are reasons why this idea is gaining traction.

  • Simplicity and broad appeal

    Unlike complex benefit programs, Trump Accounts reflect the already-familiar savings structure of IRAs. As of 2025, Americans at all income levels, in all job types, and in many different family structures already have access to these accounts. Once an employer has established a program, employees with eligible children will be able to contribute via salary deferral and receive any employer contributions.³

  • Long-term alignment

    Traditional employee benefits focus on health care (short-term), and retirement (long-term, but distant). Trump Accounts bridge both by supporting employees’ children immediately and making a long-term financial impact through tax-favored compounding growth.

  • Cultural impact

    Offering Trump Accounts signals a commitment to employees’ families, a forward-thinking benefits philosophy, and a partnership beyond compensation. For small businesses competing with larger firms, this differentiation can be meaningful as they weigh options available to reward and retain employees.

Trump Accounts mark a meaningful evolution in how businesses approach financial planning. By enabling investment at the earliest stages of life for your employees’ children, these plans reflect a broader shift toward proactive, multigenerational wealth building as an employee benefit.

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  1. This contribution is part of a pilot program.

  2. Big Goals, Fragile Foundations, Guardian, 2026

  3. The Role of IRAs in US Households’ Saving for Retirement, 2024, Investment Company Institute, March 2025

Additional important disclosures

Treasury, IRS issue guidance on Trump Accounts established under the Working Families Tax Cuts; notice announces upcoming regulations, IRS, December 2025

This material is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, legal, or investment advice. Clients should consult their own advisors before implementing any strategy.

Implementation details may continue to evolve over time. Statements in this piece are based on the guidance available as of publication and may continue to change as more information becomes available.

All statements in this publication are based on laws, regulations, and IRS guidance available as of the date of publication and are subject to change without notice.

Unless otherwise noted, descriptions of Trump Accounts in this publication are based on current statutory provisions, Treasury/IRS guidance, and IRS instructions for Form 4547 available as of the publication date. Future guidance, regulations, and implementation requirements may modify the features discussed herein.

This material is intended for general public use. By providing this content, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and their affiliates and subsidiaries are not undertaking to provide advice or recommendations for any specific individual or situation, or to otherwise act in a fiduciary capacity. Please contact a financial advisor for guidance and information that is specific to your individual situation.

Guardian Wealth Advanced Markets ("GWAM") professionals act in a supporting and educational capacity only and do not serve as the client's financial advisor. Any illustrations, analyses, advice or planning concepts discussed are intended solely to assist the financial advisor in evaluating potential strategies with their clients. GWAM professionals do not provide legal, tax, investment, or accounting advice. Clients are strongly encouraged to consult with their own independent legal counsel, tax advisors, and other professional advisors regarding the legal, tax, and accounting implications of any strategy prior to implementation. GWAM planning or advisory services are not investment advisory planning services and are not provided by Park Avenue Securities, LLC, Park Avenue® Wealth Management, Guardian Wealth Partners, LLC, or Park Avenue Investment Advisory. The terms "planning", "advisor", "financial advisor", and similar terms are used generically and are not references to providing investment advice. Only advisors who hold the requisite investment advisory registration can provide investment advisory planning services.

All trademarks are the property of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America®.

  • Trump Accounts are new and remain subject to Treasury/IRS guidance, implementation requirements, eligibility rules, and operational constraints. Availability, contribution mechanics, withdrawal treatment, and employer program design may change based on future guidance or plan documentation.

  • Investing involves risk, including possible loss of principal. Any discussion of tax treatment, account features, or comparative benefits is general in nature and will depend on individual circumstances, investment selections, fees and expenses, holding period, and changes in law.

  • Employer contributions may be available only through a properly established employer contribution program and may be subject to eligibility conditions, nondiscrimination requirements, payroll or cafeteria-plan mechanics, reporting requirements, and other legal and tax requirements. Not all employers will offer these arrangements.

  • References to 529 plans, Coverdell ESAs, custodial accounts, and life insurance are for general comparison only. Each product has different objectives, risks, fees, expenses, liquidity constraints, tax consequences, and suitability considerations. A financial advisor should provide product-specific disclosures before any recommendation or sale.