Only 5% of Eligible Families Have Opened an Account
- Concerns include impact on taxes or public benefits, trust in Trump administration
- Evidence-based messaging toolkit offers community stakeholders communications guidance
September 15, 2026 (BOSTON, Mass.) – Only 5% of households living on low and moderate incomes (LMI) and eligible to open a 530A (Trump) Account have actually enrolled in the long-term investment accounts, according to new research from national nonprofit Commonwealth. Earlier this year, Commonwealth announced an effort to engage LMI households to understand their awareness of the $1,000 federally seeded investment accounts and identify solutions to overcome barriers to enrollment. Informed by this research, Commonwealth has developed a messaging toolkit that employers, financial services firms, community organizations, and other leading institutions can use to help families they serve learn about the new account opportunity and what it could mean for them.
“This is a moment when we have an opportunity to bring wealth building into the lives of millions of families who have historically had fewer opportunities to participate in capital markets,” says Timothy Flacke, CEO and co-founder of Commonwealth. “But eligibility alone does not guarantee meaningful outcomes. We should be ambitious in pursuing the potential of these accounts while being equally clear that participation will not happen by accident. Our goal is to help families understand this opportunity so they can make an informed choice.”
In July 2026, Commonwealth surveyed nearly 1,100 parents of children 10 and under who live in LMI households1 to gather information on program sign-up rates and barriers and to test the effectiveness of different messaging approaches. The national survey offers some of the most up-to-date information available on how LMI households are engaging with 530A (Trump) Accounts following the program’s official launch on July 4, 2026. Key findings include:
Awareness exists, but participation remains low.
- More than half (55%) of eligible parents surveyed were aware of 530A (Trump) Accounts, rising to 65% among parents whose children are eligible for the $1,000 federal seed.
- Yet only 5% of eligible parents with children 10 or under had opened an account.
- At the same time, 38% said they intend to open an account but have not yet done so, and another 36% remain undecided.
Families living on LMI have practical concerns around participation.
The top barriers were:
- Concerns about the impact on taxes or public benefits (27%)
- Inability to afford monetary contributions for their accounts (25%)
- Lack of trust in the Trump administration (25%)
LMI Parents need specific information to better understand the opportunity.
Their top questions included:
- How the account grows over time (21%)
- Whether their child is eligible for free deposits (18%)
- What the money can eventually be used for (18%)
Commonwealth’s national survey builds on initial qualitative research that included focus groups and in-depth interviews with both eligible parents and professionals in the field.
Toolkit Turns Research into Messages Organizations Can Use
The rules governing 530A (Trump) Accounts can be difficult to navigate, particularly for households with limited experience with wealth building accounts or access to financial guidance. Commonwealth’s survey findings point to a distinct need for communications that go beyond raising awareness. Families need clear, practical information that answers their questions, addresses misconceptions, and helps them understand how the accounts work and the potential benefits for their families.
Commonwealth’s 530A (Trump) Accounts Messaging Toolkit offers a framework of actionable guidance, sample language, and AI prompts that employers, tax preparers, financial institutions, government agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders can adapt for their own audiences and communications channels. Drawing on direct research with parents and organizations, the toolkit identifies the messages that resonate most with families and the tools needed to reach them effectively.
“Families are looking to people and organizations they already trust to help them navigate new financial opportunities. We created this toolkit to make it easy for trusted messengers to address this need. Our aim is to equip these leading organizations with practical resources they can use to help families take the next step,” says Flacke.
Approximately 14.4 million babies born between 2025 and 2028, including approximately 5.8 million children from families living on LMI, are projected to qualify for a $1,000 federal payment into 530A (Trump) Accounts established under H.R. 1 and inspired by decades of research and testing. These accounts can offer children a wealth-building foundation but only if families are aware of and able to access the funds. Employer, philanthropic, and family contributions can further expand this opportunity.
“In addition to providing tools, wealth building is about helping people see themselves as participants in the financial system,” says Flacke. “We want people to move from asking, ‘Is investing for people like me?’ to believing, ‘This is possible for me and my family.’ 530A (Trump) Accounts could provide millions of children with an early experience that helps make investing familiar, accessible, and within reach.”
About Commonwealth
Founded in 2001, Commonwealth is a national nonprofit celebrating 25 years of advancing financial security and opportunity for low-to-moderate income households through innovation and partnerships. For a quarter of a century, Commonwealth has designed effective innovations, products, and policies enabling nearly 2.5 million people to save nearly $9 billion. Commonwealth collaborates with consumers, the financial services industry, employers, and policymakers. Because Black, Latin, and women-led households disproportionately experience financial insecurity, we focus especially on these populations. The solutions we build are grounded in real life, based on our deep understanding of people who are financially vulnerable and how businesses can best serve them. To learn more, visit us at www.buildcommonwealth.org.
1 Children ages 10 and under who are either eligible for the $1,000 federal seed (born between 2025 and 2028) or the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation $250 philanthropic seed.