Economic mobility is often associated with education, employment, and income growth, but it is also shaped by asset ownership. Beginning in July 2026, eligible US newborns can receive a $1,000 government-funded seed investment through federally authorized 530A accounts, or “Trump Accounts.” While these accounts could meaningfully increase asset accumulation for lower-wealth households, uneven participation and contribution patterns may allow higher-wealth households to capture a disproportionate share of the benefit, say McKinsey’s Duwain Pinder, Jimmy Sarakatsannis, Shelley Stewart III, and their coauthors. For example, a child receiving only the $1,000 federal seed contribution could accumulate nearly $6,000 by age 18, compared with roughly $61,000 with a one-time $10,000 philanthropic contribution, and more than $250,000 with sustained annual contributions from families or other contributors.
To read the report, see “From access to assets: How early-life wealth building can shape economic mobility,” June 30, 2026.