Custodial Account Calculator
Invest for your child from day one (UTMA/UGMA). See what they'd have when they take it over, and what it becomes if they leave it alone.
At 65
$2,635,444
About $385,864 in today’s dollars, from $31,600 put in.
At 21, when they take control: $89,168
Before taxes. A custodial account’s investment income can be taxed each year (the “kiddie tax”); buy-and-hold index funds keep that small.
Balance What was put in At 21, when they take control
Why starting early matters
Put in the same amounts, but start at 25 instead of 0, and at 65 it’s $384,822. Starting now is worth $2,250,622 more, for the same money in. That’s compounding: the early dollars get the most years to grow.
Year by year
| Age | Year | Put in so far | Balance | In today’s dollars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2026 | $1,000 | $1,000 | $1,000 |
| 1 | 2027 | $2,700 | $2,863 | $2,780 |
| 2 | 2028 | $4,400 | $4,876 | $4,596 |
| 3 | 2029 | $6,100 | $7,049 | $6,451 |
| 4 | 2030 | $7,800 | $9,397 | $8,349 |
| 5 | 2031 | $9,500 | $11,932 | $10,292 |
| 6 | 2032 | $11,200 | $14,670 | $12,286 |
| 7 | 2033 | $12,900 | $17,627 | $14,332 |
| 8 | 2034 | $14,600 | $20,820 | $16,436 |
| 9 | 2035 | $16,300 | $24,269 | $18,600 |
| 10 | 2036 | $18,000 | $27,994 | $20,830 |
| 11 | 2037 | $19,700 | $32,017 | $23,130 |
| 12 | 2038 | $21,400 | $36,362 | $25,503 |
| 13 | 2039 | $23,100 | $41,054 | $27,956 |
| 14 | 2040 | $24,800 | $46,122 | $30,492 |
| 15 | 2041 | $26,500 | $51,595 | $33,117 |
| 16 | 2042 | $28,200 | $57,506 | $35,836 |
| 17 | 2043 | $29,900 | $63,890 | $38,654 |
| 18 | 2044 | $31,600 | $70,784 | $41,578 |
| 20 | 2046 | $31,600 | $82,563 | $45,713 |
| 21 | 2047 | $31,600 | $89,168 | $47,932 |
| 25 | 2051 | $31,600 | $121,312 | $57,939 |
| 30 | 2056 | $31,600 | $178,247 | $73,435 |
| 35 | 2061 | $31,600 | $261,903 | $93,076 |
| 40 | 2066 | $31,600 | $384,822 | $117,970 |
| 45 | 2071 | $31,600 | $565,430 | $149,521 |
| 50 | 2076 | $31,600 | $830,802 | $189,512 |
| 55 | 2081 | $31,600 | $1,220,721 | $240,198 |
| 60 | 2086 | $31,600 | $1,793,639 | $304,440 |
| 65 | 2091 | $31,600 | $2,635,444 | $385,864 |
New to this? The Parents Hub explains how these accounts work, who can open them and what to watch out for.
Important — please read
This calculator is an educational tool. It shows a simple, fixed-rate projection: it assumes your money grows at the same rate every year with no interruptions, and it ignores taxes, fees, inflation, market volatility, sequence-of-returns risk, and changes to your contributions or circumstances. Real investment returns vary widely year to year and can be negative. Past performance does not predict future results.
The numbers shown are hypothetical illustrations, not a forecast, a promise, or a recommendation, and nothing here is investment, tax, legal, or financial advice or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any security. Paycheck Paradox is not a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, or tax advisor.
Before making any financial decision, talk to a qualified professional — a licensed financial advisor, CPA, or attorney — who can account for your full situation. You are solely responsible for your own decisions.
Provided “as is”, with no warranty of accuracy or fitness for any purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Paycheck Paradox accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of, or reliance on, this tool.