It sounds like it could be a scam. The government is giving your kid $1,000 for free, investing it for them, and promising it'll be there when they turn 18. 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. The program was just signed into law. Accounts don't even open until July 5, 2026. When something is brand 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. Any site claiming to be the official government sign-up portal before July 2026 is wrong. The official government portal is 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 open July 5, 2026
- IRS Form 4547 can be filed now (by April 15, 2026) to claim eligibility
Not real:
- You cannot actually open or fund the account yet (not until July 2026)
- 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:
- File IRS Form 4547 with your 2025 tax return by April 15 if your child was born 2025-2028. This is how you claim the $1,000 seed. It's a real IRS form. Download it here.
- Bookmark trumpaccounts.gov for the official program portal when it goes live.
- Be skeptical of any site asking for financial account information before July 2026.
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 and prepare for it. When financial institutions are allowed to hold Trump Accounts after July 2026, 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.
