The $1,000 the government deposits for babies born 2025-2028 is real, but it is not automatic. Who qualifies, the deadline, the step-by-step claim on Form 4547, the extra $250 programs, and how to spot the scams.
Trump Accounts launched July 4, 2026. What they are (a traditional IRA for kids), who qualifies for the free $1,000, how to open one, the contribution rules, and how the taxes actually work - with IRS and Treasury sources.
Take the free $1,000 if your kid qualifies - that part is easy. Whether to contribute your own $5,000 a year depends on one strategy: the Roth conversion. The full case for and against, the kiddie tax trap, and real projections.
A 529 is for education. A Trump Account is for retirement. A head-to-head comparison of taxes, limits, control, financial aid, and the two very different Roth pathways - plus the right order to fund them.