The gift that keeps on growing

Q: What is Early Investor?

Early Investor is Babylist's way to start a college fund for your child. We help you open or connect a 529 or 530A (Trump Account), share a link, and collect contributions from family and friends.

Q: Where does the money go when someone contributes?

Gifts are deposited into the linked 529 plan or 530A (Trump Account). Babylist facilitates the contribution process, but never holds the money.

Q: What does it cost to contribute? Are there fees?

A sending fee of $1.99 applies to all payment methods to help cover transfer costs and support the security of your transaction. If you pay by credit card, an additional 3% fee applies.

Q: Who can see the contribution amounts?

You control what's shown on your fund page. Contributors never see your account number or balance, and you can choose whether contribution amounts are visible.

Early Investor turns the people who love your child into their biggest supporters with a simple way to contribute to their 529 plan or 530A (Trump Account).

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Illustration of a child's investment fund with family contributions

Early Investor links to top 529 and 530A plans like these, and more

Utah's 529 college savings plan

The Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan

California's 529 college savings plan

Fidelity's 529 college savings plan

Virginia's 529 college savings plan

How Early Investor works

Create or link a 529 or 530A to start your child's fund. Not sure which to choose?

We can help.

Personalize the fund with a photo and a note about what you're dreaming of for their future.

Add it to a registry or wishlist, or share it directly with friends and family.

See every contribution add up over time and watch their future grow.

It takes a village (and a 529)

A head start and a helping hand

Whether you have an existing 529 plan or 530A account or are ready to start one, we'll help you get set up fast, so you can share your child's fund with friends and family.

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A college fund showing a connected 529 Savings Plan

The gift they won't outgrow

When loved ones give, they're doing more than celebrating the moment, they're helping build a foundation for your child's future.

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A gift contribution with a note from a loved one

One link, endless possibilities

Share your child's fund anywhere you share gift ideas, from birthday invitations to wishlists. It's a simple, fun way to answer, "What should we get them?"

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A child's fund page ready to share with friends and family

No finance degree required

You don't have to be a financial expert to set up their future for success. With a little help from us (and your inner circle), you can feel confident about building for tomorrow, starting today.

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A family watching their college fund balance grow

You've got money questions. We've got answers.

What is Early Investor?

Is this a savings account or an investment account?

Early Investor isn't a savings account or an investment account, it's a gifting platform that lets parents create a fund and invite friends and family to contribute. The fund is linked to a 529 plan or 530A (Trump Account), which is the financial account that receives the contributions. Early Investor facilitates the contribution process, but never holds the money.

Where does the money go when someone contributes?

What are the tax benefits?

With a 529 plan, the money invested grows tax-free, and you won't pay taxes on earnings if you use the money to pay for qualified education expenses. Depending on your state, you may be able to deduct contributions when you file your taxes. With a Trump Account, the investments grow tax-free, but the beneficiary will pay ordinary income tax on withdrawals. There are no tax deductions for contributions to a 530A account.

What's the difference between a 529 and a 530A (Trump Account)? Which one should I use?

A 529 plan and a 530A (Trump Account) are different types of investment accounts designed to help families save and invest for a child's future.

A 529 plan is an established account type with a long history and well-defined rules. A 530A (Trump Account) is a newer account type, and some rules and features may continue to evolve over time.

Which one is right for your family depends on your goals, eligibility, tax considerations, and how you plan to use the funds in the future. Both offer tax-advantaged savings for your child's future, with different features and benefits. Compare your options below.

What does it cost to contribute? Are there fees?

Who can see the contribution amounts?

Ready to get growing?

Before sharing your child's fund, you'll need to link a 529 plan or 530A account. Both offer tax-advantaged savings for your child's future, with different features and benefits. Compare your options below.

529 Plan

A savings account designed to help you invest in your child's education that can be used for college, K–12 tuition, trade school, and apprenticeships.

The highlights

Earnings are tax-free on qualifying expenses
Investment options vary by state plan
No annual contribution limit; anyone can contribute
Can be used anytime for qualifying expenses; unused funds can roll over to a Roth IRA
Seamlessly give and receive contributions on Babylist

530A (Trump Accounts)

An investment account for kids under 18 that can be used for college, buying a first home, or retirement.

The highlights

Earnings are taxed when withdrawn
Invested in low-cost US index funds
$5,000 annual contribution limit; anyone can contribute
Access penalty free after the child turns 18
Contributions are made on the Trump Account official website

Babies born between 2025-2028 may be eligible for a $1,000 government deposit into their account.

Read the guide

See how your child's money will grow

Whether you're adding to a Trump Account, contributing to a 529 plan, or exploring other options, this calculator shows how your investments could grow over time.

530A (Trump) Account

Initial deposit

Contribution amount

Contribution frequency

Monthly

Other account

(529 Plan, custodial brokerage, etc.)

Initial deposit

Contribution amount

Contribution frequency

Monthly

Years of growth

Estimated rate of return

$3,512.54

Balance of all accounts

530A (Trump) Account

How our calculator works

The compound interest calculator updates automatically as you adjust your inputs, so you can explore different scenarios. You can model regular contributions to a Trump Account, a 529 Plan, or both accounts together to compare growth potential.

How to use this calculator

Enter your starting amount for each account in the Initial Deposit field. We've prefilled $1,000 for the Trump Account in case your child qualifies. You can adjust this to $0 if needed.
Add any contributions you plan to make monthly or annually for each account.
Select how long you plan to invest for.
Enter your anticipated rate of return. We've set this at 7%, the long-term stock market average, but you can adjust it based on your expectations.

The calculator shows your total balance, including all contributions across accounts. Try different contribution amounts and frequencies to see how they impact your savings over time.

Compound interest, explained

Compound interest is the interest you earn on both your original contributions and the interest that accumulates over time. This compounding effect allows your savings to grow faster the longer you invest.

For example, if you earn $100 in interest one year, the next year you'll earn interest on your original balance plus that $100. Over decades, this snowball effect can significantly increase your savings compared to earning interest only on your original contributions.

The investment calculator provides hypothetical estimates based on user inputs and assumptions and is not intended to predict or guarantee future investment results. Actual returns will vary and are not guaranteed.

The future is funded with a little help from your friends.

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Content on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Babylist does not recommend or endorse any investment plan or strategy

Babylist is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the U.S. government or any government program or official.