Best Custodial Accounts of January 2024
Custodial accounts, also known as UGMA/UTMA accounts, are brokerage accounts that allow parents or guardians to invest on behalf of their children or dependents. Ownership of these accounts transfers to the minors once they reach legal age (typically 18 or 21, depending on the state). Many brokerages also offer other custodial options like 529 plans, IRAs, and trusts.
You can also check out our guide of 529 plans by state for programs and promotional events.
The best custodial accounts are accessible and low-cost, user-friendly platforms for parents/ guardians to invest funds on behalf of their children/dependents. These accounts also offer multiple tax perks. Keep in mind that funds in these accounts must be used for the benefit of the child.
Best Custodial Accounts
- Charles Schwab - Product Name Only: Best custodial account for all types of investors
- Merrill Edge - Product Name Only: Best custodial account for Bank of America clients
- Vanguard - Product Name Only: Best custodial account for mutual funds
- Fidelity Investments - Product Name Only: Best custodial account for low fees
- TD Ameritrade - Product Name Only: Best custodial for active traders
- E*TRADE - Product Name Only: Best for robo advisors
UGMA accounts (formerly known as Uniform Gift to Minors Act accounts) can hold cash, stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and other investments. Alternatively, UTMA accounts — also known as Uniform Transfers to Minors Act accounts — allow for alternative assets like real estate, fine art, intellectual property, and precious metals.
Here are the best custodial accounts as picked by Insider's editors.
Compare the Best Custodial Accounts
Custodial Accounts Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the meaning of custodial account?
A custodial account is an investment account for parents/guardians to save money on behalf of a child/minor. The money in this account can only be used for the benefit of the child and becomes legally owned by the dependent when they come of age (varies by state).What are the cons of a custodial account?
The cons of a custodial account is that contributions aren't always tax deductible. Plus, the beneficiary of the account may have to pay tax on the gains. Other cons of custodial accounts are that it may affect a child's ability to get financial aid, and the money contributed into the account is irrevocable.Can a parent withdraw money from a custodial account?
Parents can make withdrawals from the account at any time, as long as the withdrawal directly helps the minor.Are custodial accounts a good idea?
Custodial accounts are a great idea for parents or guardians to save money on behalf of a child or dependent. Funds in a custodial account can be used for tuition, living expenses, and much more as long as it's for the benefit of the beneficiary of the account.Is a 529 plan better than a custodial account?
Both custodial accounts and 529 plans help you save money for your child's future, but they don't have the same flexibility and advantages. 529 plans are tax-advantaged and are often state-run programs. Money in a 529 plan can be invested in the stock market. Custodial accounts are generally offered through brokerages and firms. These accounts tend to have fewer limitations compared to 529 plans with more investment options.What happens to a custodial account when the child turns 18?
When the beneficiary (aka the child) turns 18 they may earn legal ownership over the assets in the account. Once the beneficiary becomes the owner, parents/guardians will no longer have control over how the funds in the account are used. Depending on the state, the beneficiary may need to be older than 18 to gain ownership of the account (between age 18 and 21).What is a Custodial Account?
A custodial account is a tax-advantaged investment account that allows parents or guardians to invest on behalf of children and/or dependents until those minors reach their state's age of majority. These accounts also have no income or contribution limits, and you can make early withdrawals without racking up any penalties.
By opening a custodial account on behalf of a child/dependent, you're essentially building a nest egg for a kid's future education expenses. You can contribute gifts like money or other assets into a custodial account to build long-term wealth.
Custodial accounts are similar to 529 plans. However, a custodial account offers more flexibility and these accounts are easier and cheaper than trusts. But opening a custodial account may affect your child's ability to get financial aid.
How Does a Custodial Account Work?
Like any other brokerage account, custodial accounts can be opened with a bank, credit union, or other investment platform that offers these accounts as an investment option. Both traditional brokers and online brokers offer custodial account options.
You don't have to be a parent or legal guardian to open a custodial account on behalf of a child/dependent. Other relatives and friends can also open an account. Custodial accounts no longer have contribution limits, so you can invest as much as you want toward your child's future.
Who Pays Taxes on a Custodial Account?
The child or account beneficiary is responsible for taxes, but each parent or guardian must file taxes on behalf of their minor. However, the account beneficiary won't incur taxes in 2023 if they amass no more than $1,250 in unearned income. The next $1,250 the custodial account earns is taxed at the child's tax rate.
In addition, any income earned over $2,500 is taxed at the parent's income tax rate. But with UGMA accounts, any contributions to the beneficiary's account are technically regarded as a "gift" and will incur a federal gift tax. However, you won't run into any gift taxes as a single individual if your contributions don't exceed $17,000 per year. The limit for couples is $34,000.
Custodial Account Reviews
Best Custodial Account for All Types of Investors
Charles Schwab
Known as the Schwab One Custodial Account, this account offers investors several perks. These include a $0 minimum opening deposit, $0 account setup and maintenance fees, and commission-free stocks and ETFs. In addition, you can invest in mutual funds and other securities and utilize investment research and other tools.
With Schwab Stock Slices, you can invest in fractional shares as long as you meet the $5 minimum requirement. And as with all custodial accounts, won't have to worry about any contribution limits. Parents and guardians might also consider Schwab's custodial IRAs (you can open these as a traditional IRA or Roth IRA), 529 college savings plans, and education savings accounts (ESA).
Another advantage of Schwab's custodial account is that it isn't just for self-directed investors. You can automate your investments by setting up the account through the Charles Schwab Intelligent Portfolios - Product Name Only or Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium robo-advisors. Just note that you'll need a minimum of $5,000 for the former and at least $25,000 for the latter.
Once the account beneficiary reaches legal age, they'll retain complete ownership of the account's earnings and can then utilize additional Schwab products if so desired.
What to look out for: If you decide to take the automated investing route for your custodial account, you'll need at least $5,000 for Schwab Intelligent Portfolios and $25,000 for Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium.
Schwab Intelligent Portfolios review
Best Custodial Account for Bank of America Clients
Merrill Edge
Merrill Edge - Product Name Only lets you invest for your minor without running into any minimum opening deposits, annual fees, or account maintenance fees. Merrill Edge also offers commission-free stocks, ETFs, and options. And you can choose the robo-advisor route with Merrill Guided Investing or Merrill Guided Investing with an Advisor.
If you're already a Bank of America client, you can fund the account by linking your existing Bank of America account. Plus, Merrill Edge allows for checks, wire transfers, and transfers or rollovers from existing accounts.
In addition to its custodial accounts, Merrill Edge offers a vast range of other competitive products, including automated investing accounts (robo-advisors), IRAs, 529 plans, retirement calculators, margin accounts, and more.
Merrill Edge also offers 24/7 phone support and live chat.
What to look out for: Annual fees for Merrill Edge's automated accounts — Merrill Guided Investing and Merrill Guided Investing with an Advisor — are on the higher side. You'll incur a 0.45% fee for the former and a 0.85% fee for the latter.
Best Custodial Account for Mutual Funds
Vanguard
A behemoth in the retirement investing and mutual funds space, Vanguard also offers some competitive features with its custodial accounts. There aren't any opening deposit, maintenance, or account transfer fees, and you can automate transfers from both your bank account and other Vanguard accounts.
Vanguard allows for investments in stocks, bonds, Vanguard mutual funds, non-Vanguard funds, and more. Plus, with Vanguard Personal Advisor Services - Product Name Only, you can skip out on the self-directed investing route and take advantage of robo-advice paired with ongoing financial advisor guidance. Note, however, that you'll need at least $50,000 to get started with this service, and you'll be responsible for a 0.30% annual fee.
Vanguard's suite of investment products also features 529 plans and trusts. And if you're looking to deepen your investing knowledge before and/or after you set up a custodial account, the brokerage offers an extensive selection of resources (investing tools and calculators, market news and perspectives, and educational guides) to help you do so.
What to look out for: Vanguard doesn't currently offer fractional shares, and options contracts will cost you $1 (many brokerages charge $0.65 per contract).
Best Custodial Account for Low Fees
Fidelity
Fidelity's custodial account lets you build wealth through stocks, ETFs, options, bonds, mutual funds, and much more. Plus, the account has no minimum opening requirements or fees, and any stocks, ETFs, or options the account holder invests in are commission-free.
Its custodial offerings are also supplemented with account perks like Fidelity Viewpoints, an online center with expert commentary on investing strategies, markets, and much more. In addition, Fidelity's Planning & Guidance Center offers tools to help you meet investing goals.
Fidelity Investments - Product Name Only offers multiple other minor investment account options beyond UGMA/UTMA custodial accounts. These include its Roth IRA for Kids account, 529 plan, Fidelity Youth Account (this account lets children between the ages of 13 and 17 invest on their own), and trust accounts.
What to look out for: Fidelity Go - Product Name Only doesn't support custodial accounts.
Best Custodial Account for Active Traders
TD Ameritrade
TD Ameritrade - Product Name Only offers a vast range of accounts for youth. These include its UGMA/UTMA accounts, Coverdell Education Savings accounts, and 529 plans (TD Ameritrade is no longer offering 529 plans to new clients).
And like all of the other brokerages listed above, you won't have to worry about minimum deposits to get started. TD Ameritrade also offers a competitive investment selection. It gives you access to commission-free stocks and ETFs, and it provides more than 13,000 mutual funds.
If you're a hands-off investor and would rather leave the day-to-day trading decisions to the professionals, you'll have to set up an account through Charles Schwab. TD Ameritrade is no longer accepting new clients for any of its managed portfolios, but you can still open an automated investing account through Schwab Intelligent Portfolios or Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium.
What to look out for: Schwab acquired TD Ameritrade, so many of the brokerage's offerings have merged with Schwab's. However, both platforms still offer standalone products, so be sure to keep this in mind as you weigh different account options.
Best Custodial Account for Automated Investing
E*TRADE
E*TRADE - Product Name Only offers account options for all types of investors, but it provides a particularly competitive suite of custodial products. These include its standard UGMA/UTMA custodial account, IRA for Minors, and Coverdell ESA accounts. Its standard custodial account allows for commission-free stocks, ETFs, and options.
However, you'll pay $1 per bond, and bond minimums can range from $10 to $250. Fees for funds vary, but E*TRADE currently offers more than 4,500 no-load, no-transaction-fee mutual funds. And those who prefer robo-advice can build wealth through its expert-managed automated investing account,E*TRADE Core Portfolios (note that you'll need at least $500 to set up this account).
Its custodial accounts also have no income or contribution limits, and they come with a free debit card, checking perks, and online bill pay.
What to look out for: E*TRADE doesn't offer fractional share trading.
Other Custodial Accounts We Considered
- Ally Invest - Product Name Only: Ally Invest offers a vast collection of investment products, and it gives you the option to set up a self-directed custodial account or an automated custodial account. One thing to consider, however, is that the platform doesn't offer any no-transaction-fee mutual funds.
- Firstrade - Product Name Only: Firstrade provides commission-free trading for stocks, ETFs, options, and mutual funds. The platform also offers international investing accounts, but it doesn't provide any managed accounts or automated investing options.
- M1 Finance - Product Name Only: Offering a combination of self-directed trading and automated investing for stocks and ETFs, M1 Finance is a competitive platform in the online brokerage space. However, only M1 Plus members get access to custodial accounts, and the M1 Plus subscription costs $125 per year.
- Stash Invest - Product Name Only: Stash gives investors access to automated investing (for both stocks and ETFs), round-ups, banking, and more. The platform also offers retirement portfolios and family financial advice packages. One downside to consider, though, is that you'll pay a $9 monthly fee — through the Stash+ plan — to utilize a custodial account.
- Stockpile - Product Name Only: This investment platform is a great wealth-building option for kids and teens. It offers no minimums, no recurring fees, and no gift card or funding fees (you can buy gift cards that are redeemable for different stocks in your child or dependent's account). One downside is that, while Stockpile offers thousands of stocks, it only offers two account types: individual accounts and custodial accounts.
- Loved App: Loved is a financial education app offering investment accounts and financial literacy resources for parents who want to get their kids (or other dependents) into investing at an early age. It lets you invest in themes, goals, and companies that align with your preferences, and you can set up custodial accounts. However, it may not be the best choice for those who want a wider range of account types and investment choices.
- Acorns Invest - Editorial Name Only: Acorns is a beginner-friendly investment app for passive investors wanting to start wealth-building for their kids or teens. Acorns Early is the platform custodial account option. it offers a diverse portfolio of ETFs based on your investment goals and risk tolerance. But it can cost up to $9 per month and its investment options are limited.
Why You Should Trust Us: Our Methodology
We reviewed more than a dozen custodial accounts using Insider's rating methodology for investing products to find the best options for the lowest fees, ease of use, flexible investment choices, and customer service availability. We also sifted through multiple investment platforms to find the best options both for self-directed traders and hands-off investors.
You'll notice that many of the platforms mentioned in our guide offer the option to both trade on your own or automate your custodial account's investments. Investment platforms are given a rating between 0 and 5.