It sounds like it could be a scam. The government puts $1,000 into an investment account for your kid, invests it in a broad U.S. stock index fund, and lets it grow until they turn 18. The value moves with the market. You've probably seen it on social media and thought, "This can't be real."
It is real. Here's the proof.
What Is Invest America?
Invest America Accounts, commonly called Trump Accounts, are a new federal program created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in 2025. The program is administered by the U.S. Treasury Department, not a private company or a startup.
You can read the official program details at trumpaccounts.gov. That's a .gov domain. That's the federal government.
This is a legitimate government program, the same way Social Security and Medicare are government programs. It was passed by Congress and signed by the President.
Why Are People Suspicious?
A few reasons this gets mistaken for a scam:
It's new. When a program is this new and involves free money, skepticism is healthy.
Social media is full of bad takes. There are people online who don't fully understand the program and are either exaggerating what it does or spreading misinformation. That makes it hard to know what's real.
Some sites are trying to collect your data. This is worth knowing. Grifin runs investamericaquiz.com to help families understand eligibility. We'll tell you clearly what we are: a private company, not the government. The election happens with the IRS, and the only official app for managing a Trump Account lives at trumpaccounts.gov.
What's Real and What's Not
Real:
- Any U.S. child under 18 with a Social Security Number can open a Trump Account
- Children born January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2028 receive a $1,000 government seed contribution
- Families can contribute up to $5,000 per year
- The money is invested in low-cost S&P 500 index funds
- Accounts are open now
- IRS Form 4547 is a real form and can be filed at any time to claim eligibility
Not real:
- Accounts are open, and the only official app is the Trump Accounts app published by the U.S. Treasury
- No one needs your bank account number to "reserve" a spot for your child
- Grifin is not the government and cannot open a Trump Account for you
How to Protect Yourself
The safest things you can do right now:
- Make the Form 4547 election if your child was born 2025-2028, fastest in your IRS Online Account. This is how you claim the $1,000 seed. It's a real IRS form. Download it here.
- Bookmark trumpaccounts.gov, home of the official Trump Accounts app.
- Be skeptical of any site asking for financial account information that isn't trumpaccounts.gov or the official Trump Accounts app.
What About Grifin?
Grifin is a private investing app. We're not affiliated with the U.S. government or the Invest America program. We help families understand the program. When financial institutions are allowed to hold Trump Accounts, Grifin plans to offer that option.
For now, we provide education and the Invest America eligibility quiz to help you figure out what your child qualifies for. That's it.
If you want to learn more about how Trump Accounts actually work or how to open one for your child, we've got you covered.
Find out in 30 seconds if your child qualifies at investamericaquiz.com.
Still have questions? Here's every question people are asking about Trump Accounts.
This post is for educational purposes only and is not tax, legal, or investment advice. Grifin is not affiliated with the U.S. government or the Invest America program.
