Ready for real investing?

Sprout uses practice money so kids can learn safely. When your family is ready to use real money, here's how to do it together.

1. 1

   Practice first

   Finish the lessons and run a practice portfolio for a few months. Talk about wins and losses together.

2. 2

   Pick a custodial account

   Kids under 18 can't own a brokerage account alone. A parent opens a custodial account (UTMA/UGMA) or a teen account like Fidelity Youth, Charles Schwab custodial, or similar.

3. 3

   Consider a Custodial Roth IRA

   If your teen earns money from a job, a custodial Roth IRA lets that money grow tax-free for retirement.

4. 4

   Start small and simple

   Many families begin with a low-cost index fund (like an S&P 500 fund) and add a little each month.

5. 5

   Decide together

   Agree on rules: how much to invest, which investments are okay, and that you'll talk before any trade — just like approvals in Sprout.

This is educational information, not financial advice. Investing involves risk, including losing money.