In the months since Trump Accounts were signed into law, the conversation on federal early wealth building policy has quickly shifted from if to how. As policymakers, practitioners, philanthropists, nonprofits, employers, private-sector leaders, and others turn their attention to implementation ahead of a July 4, 2026 deadline to effectively roll out accounts, several pivotal questions remain about how to make them work for the people who stand to benefit most.
- How will people open accounts (or even know that they should) so that universal coverage becomes a reality?
- How can we encourage and facilitate additional contributions, especially from philanthropy?
- How can the infrastructure built for Trump Accounts inform and support the successful implementation of the Saver’s Match (a powerful new federal incentive for retirement saving for low- to moderate-income savers going into effect in 2027) and vice versa?
To begin to answer these questions, the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program convened a series of three expert roundtables, building on the eight convenings on federal early wealth building policy we hosted before the passage of Trump Accounts.
They all featured leaders from a range of sectors, including private industry, academia, government, philanthropy, nonprofit organizations with experience in early wealth building, and those with previous experience working in the U.S. Treasury, which has much of the decision-making authority on Trump Accounts. These three conversations—held under Chatham House Rule—surfaced both practical next steps and areas where further inquiry is needed.
It is clearer than ever that the challenge of making Trump Accounts work for those who need them most will require ongoing coordination, dialogue, and problem-solving among a wide range of stakeholders. The insights that follow distill the most important takeaways.
This brief was developed in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Fund, the BlackRock Foundation, and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this report—as well as any errors—are Aspen FSP’s alone and do not necessarily represent the views of its funders.
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Trump Accounts Are Here–Now Let’s Make Them Work for the Kids Who Need Them Most
