Anonymous
05/19/2026 13:34
Subject: If your kids have UTMAs
No Utmas/UGMAs and the small 529s we opened long ago were also mistakes. I couldn't use the money this year, because it was going to mess up DC's tax refund.
We do not benefit from those accounts at all. Personal finance is very personal.
The kids are 12 and 19. Both have Roths and more (inherited account and 19-year old works).
My tax expense has been 0% (negative into thousands actually) for as long as I remember and it should continue. I don't need to put any money under their name until age 18. Not even the rest of the inheritance, because of the amount on paperwork and rules involved.
I'm not doing any restricted accounts besides 529 we already have. Less is more.
We do not benefit from those accounts at all. Personal finance is very personal.
The kids are 12 and 19. Both have Roths and more (inherited account and 19-year old works).
My tax expense has been 0% (negative into thousands actually) for as long as I remember and it should continue. I don't need to put any money under their name until age 18. Not even the rest of the inheritance, because of the amount on paperwork and rules involved.
I'm not doing any restricted accounts besides 529 we already have. Less is more.
Anonymous
05/19/2026 13:13
Subject: If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We have three kids and each of them utmas funded by a grandparent. There is a wide gap in our kids ages resulting in a wide gap in the UTMA value. The oldest kid has close to 230k in his utma, second 168k. The third kid just 70.
(The oldest kid has 20 plus years with the utma invested. The the grandparent died when the youngest was four or five.)
We are struggling with the disparity. Do we even it out somehow? Do we tell them about the difference?
We have had the same issue. I keep a spreadsheet of gifts to our now adult kids so that we can even things out as best as possible. The kids do not have access to this spreadsheet because it isn't perfect. For instance, our 21 year old lucked out with a stock pick that we made and market timing and received $300k from his UTMA this year. He will not be receiving any additional gifts from us until we even out his older siblings which might take a few years. I record the gift on the date that it happens. After that I don't account for things out for stock market performance, inflation, etc.
So weird that you didn’t invest the accounts the same? Why were you riskier with his account? Odd.
id iot
Can you explain your reasoning or just hurl insults?
Anonymous
05/19/2026 11:45
Subject: Re:If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:Kids ages 17 and 19
Each has about $75,000 funded from inheritance from one of their grandparents
Yes, they know about it and know the balance. They will receive the money at 21.
The money is for their future. They have 529s to cover college costs. We are committed to purchasing their first car and paying for wedding or downpayment on a house.
We have talked about investing with them since they were small. Both kids are happy for parents to handle the accounts.
We have money check-ins every quarter that started when oldest was 14 and working a part-time job. They know how their UTMA, 529's and Roth IRA's are invested. We go over the balances and any questions each quarter. We understand that this may not click for them until they are mid 20's.
You know at 21 they can spend it on hookers and blow right? They don't have to use it on a downpayment or whatever you think they should use it on.
Anonymous
05/19/2026 11:40
Subject: If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We have three kids and each of them utmas funded by a grandparent. There is a wide gap in our kids ages resulting in a wide gap in the UTMA value. The oldest kid has close to 230k in his utma, second 168k. The third kid just 70.
(The oldest kid has 20 plus years with the utma invested. The the grandparent died when the youngest was four or five.)
We are struggling with the disparity. Do we even it out somehow? Do we tell them about the difference?
We have had the same issue. I keep a spreadsheet of gifts to our now adult kids so that we can even things out as best as possible. The kids do not have access to this spreadsheet because it isn't perfect. For instance, our 21 year old lucked out with a stock pick that we made and market timing and received $300k from his UTMA this year. He will not be receiving any additional gifts from us until we even out his older siblings which might take a few years. I record the gift on the date that it happens. After that I don't account for things out for stock market performance, inflation, etc.
So weird that you didn’t invest the accounts the same? Why were you riskier with his account? Odd.
id iot
Anonymous
05/19/2026 11:33
Subject: If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:We have three kids and each of them utmas funded by a grandparent. There is a wide gap in our kids ages resulting in a wide gap in the UTMA value. The oldest kid has close to 230k in his utma, second 168k. The third kid just 70.
(The oldest kid has 20 plus years with the utma invested. The the grandparent died when the youngest was four or five.)
We are struggling with the disparity. Do we even it out somehow? Do we tell them about the difference?
As someone in this situation you should go to bat for your kid and do your best to get the accounts evened out before the remaing grandparent dies.
Anonymous
05/19/2026 10:01
Subject: If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We have three kids and each of them utmas funded by a grandparent. There is a wide gap in our kids ages resulting in a wide gap in the UTMA value. The oldest kid has close to 230k in his utma, second 168k. The third kid just 70.
(The oldest kid has 20 plus years with the utma invested. The the grandparent died when the youngest was four or five.)
We are struggling with the disparity. Do we even it out somehow? Do we tell them about the difference?
We have had the same issue. I keep a spreadsheet of gifts to our now adult kids so that we can even things out as best as possible. The kids do not have access to this spreadsheet because it isn't perfect. For instance, our 21 year old lucked out with a stock pick that we made and market timing and received $300k from his UTMA this year. He will not be receiving any additional gifts from us until we even out his older siblings which might take a few years. I record the gift on the date that it happens. After that I don't account for things out for stock market performance, inflation, etc.
So weird that you didn’t invest the accounts the same? Why were you riskier with his account? Odd.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 09:55
Subject: If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:We have three kids and each of them utmas funded by a grandparent. There is a wide gap in our kids ages resulting in a wide gap in the UTMA value. The oldest kid has close to 230k in his utma, second 168k. The third kid just 70.
(The oldest kid has 20 plus years with the utma invested. The the grandparent died when the youngest was four or five.)
We are struggling with the disparity. Do we even it out somehow? Do we tell them about the difference?
We have had the same issue. I keep a spreadsheet of gifts to our now adult kids so that we can even things out as best as possible. The kids do not have access to this spreadsheet because it isn't perfect. For instance, our 21 year old lucked out with a stock pick that we made and market timing and received $300k from his UTMA this year. He will not be receiving any additional gifts from us until we even out his older siblings which might take a few years. I record the gift on the date that it happens. After that I don't account for things out for stock market performance, inflation, etc.
Anonymous
05/18/2026 09:19
Subject: If your kids have UTMAs
We have three kids and each of them utmas funded by a grandparent. There is a wide gap in our kids ages resulting in a wide gap in the UTMA value. The oldest kid has close to 230k in his utma, second 168k. The third kid just 70.
(The oldest kid has 20 plus years with the utma invested. The the grandparent died when the youngest was four or five.)
We are struggling with the disparity. Do we even it out somehow? Do we tell them about the difference?
(The oldest kid has 20 plus years with the utma invested. The the grandparent died when the youngest was four or five.)
We are struggling with the disparity. Do we even it out somehow? Do we tell them about the difference?
Anonymous
05/14/2026 12:04
Subject: Re:If your kids have UTMAs
Kids ages 17 and 19
Each has about $75,000 funded from inheritance from one of their grandparents
Yes, they know about it and know the balance. They will receive the money at 21.
The money is for their future. They have 529s to cover college costs. We are committed to purchasing their first car and paying for wedding or downpayment on a house.
We have talked about investing with them since they were small. Both kids are happy for parents to handle the accounts.
We have money check-ins every quarter that started when oldest was 14 and working a part-time job. They know how their UTMA, 529's and Roth IRA's are invested. We go over the balances and any questions each quarter. We understand that this may not click for them until they are mid 20's.
Each has about $75,000 funded from inheritance from one of their grandparents
Yes, they know about it and know the balance. They will receive the money at 21.
The money is for their future. They have 529s to cover college costs. We are committed to purchasing their first car and paying for wedding or downpayment on a house.
We have talked about investing with them since they were small. Both kids are happy for parents to handle the accounts.
We have money check-ins every quarter that started when oldest was 14 and working a part-time job. They know how their UTMA, 529's and Roth IRA's are invested. We go over the balances and any questions each quarter. We understand that this may not click for them until they are mid 20's.
Anonymous
05/13/2026 17:17
Subject: Re:If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My young adults have them. Began with savings from work after ira contributions and at 18, I begin putting $19k in. The latter they don’t know about but they know they have 10-15k from working in there and don’t touch that.
If your kid is over 18, even if the age of majority in your state is 21, you should really be showing them the statements imo.
They will not let you transfer them. The kid has to. It’s impossible for them not to know.
Transfer what? The funds? The kids know of the accounts but not my deposits made AFTER they were 18 and they were no longer UTMA accounts (as I originally said is when I began these gifts).
Why should they know - not sure it is helpful for any reason.
How do adults not know how much money they have in their own accounts?
Lots of adults don't know this:
- let other spouse handle it
- significant assets so person generally knows
- many, many accounts
- funds invested and in the above case, kids in college and focused on that, statements come home
I'm wealthy and have lots of accounts. I know the general balances and could list what accounts I have, but would not know more than general balances (might be $50-100k off or even more).
Anonymous
05/13/2026 14:54
Subject: Re:If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My young adults have them. Began with savings from work after ira contributions and at 18, I begin putting $19k in. The latter they don’t know about but they know they have 10-15k from working in there and don’t touch that.
If your kid is over 18, even if the age of majority in your state is 21, you should really be showing them the statements imo.
They will not let you transfer them. The kid has to. It’s impossible for them not to know.
Transfer what? The funds? The kids know of the accounts but not my deposits made AFTER they were 18 and they were no longer UTMA accounts (as I originally said is when I began these gifts).
Why should they know - not sure it is helpful for any reason.
How do adults not know how much money they have in their own accounts?
Anonymous
05/13/2026 14:50
Subject: If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:13 yo
He has 12k in utma
30k in Roth
300k in 529.
How did a 13 year old earn money + contribute according to the annual limits for a Roth now worth $30k
Side jobs such as cleaning service for rental properties.
Uh huh.
Anonymous
05/13/2026 14:33
Subject: Re:If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My young adults have them. Began with savings from work after ira contributions and at 18, I begin putting $19k in. The latter they don’t know about but they know they have 10-15k from working in there and don’t touch that.
If your kid is over 18, even if the age of majority in your state is 21, you should really be showing them the statements imo.
They will not let you transfer them. The kid has to. It’s impossible for them not to know.
Transfer what? The funds? The kids know of the accounts but not my deposits made AFTER they were 18 and they were no longer UTMA accounts (as I originally said is when I began these gifts).
Why should they know - not sure it is helpful for any reason.
If your young adult kids are stupid enough to not look at their accounts, that’s on them.
I wouldN’t call it stupid. Statements come home, they are not at home. I have financial poa to keep an eye on investments while they are in college. And of course, it has resulted in $19k deposits a year from me (excluding their contributions). Trusting? Sure. Stupid? Nah.
Aw, mommy manages their $$, even funds they earn. Sounds like plenty for therapy! 👍🏻
I can deal with that if that’s the result. Appreciate the thumbs up!!
Anonymous
05/13/2026 12:52
Subject: Re:If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My young adults have them. Began with savings from work after ira contributions and at 18, I begin putting $19k in. The latter they don’t know about but they know they have 10-15k from working in there and don’t touch that.
If your kid is over 18, even if the age of majority in your state is 21, you should really be showing them the statements imo.
They will not let you transfer them. The kid has to. It’s impossible for them not to know.
Transfer what? The funds? The kids know of the accounts but not my deposits made AFTER they were 18 and they were no longer UTMA accounts (as I originally said is when I began these gifts).
Why should they know - not sure it is helpful for any reason.
If your young adult kids are stupid enough to not look at their accounts, that’s on them.
I wouldN’t call it stupid. Statements come home, they are not at home. I have financial poa to keep an eye on investments while they are in college. And of course, it has resulted in $19k deposits a year from me (excluding their contributions). Trusting? Sure. Stupid? Nah.
Aw, mommy manages their $$, even funds they earn. Sounds like plenty for therapy! 👍🏻
Anonymous
05/13/2026 12:29
Subject: Re:If your kids have UTMAs
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:My young adults have them. Began with savings from work after ira contributions and at 18, I begin putting $19k in. The latter they don’t know about but they know they have 10-15k from working in there and don’t touch that.
If your kid is over 18, even if the age of majority in your state is 21, you should really be showing them the statements imo.
They will not let you transfer them. The kid has to. It’s impossible for them not to know.
Transfer what? The funds? The kids know of the accounts but not my deposits made AFTER they were 18 and they were no longer UTMA accounts (as I originally said is when I began these gifts).
Why should they know - not sure it is helpful for any reason.
If your young adult kids are stupid enough to not look at their accounts, that’s on them.
I wouldN’t call it stupid. Statements come home, they are not at home. I have financial poa to keep an eye on investments while they are in college. And of course, it has resulted in $19k deposits a year from me (excluding their contributions). Trusting? Sure. Stupid? Nah.