Turning 18
The months before an 18th birthday
Seven cards for the accounts and rights that change hands at 18: custodial money, teen accounts, credit and school records.
Table Night Cards
Turning 18
The months before an 18th birthday
- Teen reads the question.
- Parent reads the answer.
- Pick one thing to do tonight.
7 cards · free at alfheim-family-money-table-night-cards.pages.dev · cut along the dashed lines
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Turning 181 of 7
When does the custodial account become yours?
Read aloud
A UGMA or UTMA custodial account is a gift that can’t be taken back. It passes to you at the age our state sets, typically 18 or 21, and up to 25 in some states. Until then, the money can only be used for your benefit.
One option tonight
Schwab Custodial Account A UGMA/UTMA brokerage account held in the child’s name. $0 minimum opening deposit. schwab.com/custodial-account
Not a paid link today. If we join their affiliate program, it will pay us.
Sources
- Schwab Custodial Account, Charles Schwab, schwab.com. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Acorns Early, Acorns, acorns.com. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
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Turning 182 of 7
What happens to your teen checking account at 18?
Read aloud
It depends on the bank, so we look ours up. Capital One’s MONEY Teen Checking stays open, and at 18 you can apply for an adult 360 Checking account. Chase closes a Chase First Banking account by age 25 if no other account has been picked.
One option tonight
Capital One MONEY Teen Checking Joint teen checking with a parent, from age 6. No monthly fees, no minimums. capitalone.com/bank/kid-teen-bank-accounts
Not a paid link today. If we join their affiliate program, it will pay us.
Sources
- Accounts for kids and teens, Capital One, capitalone.com. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Chase family banking options, JPMorgan Chase Bank, personal.chase.com. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
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Turning 183 of 7
Can you get a credit card on your own now?
Read aloud
Card companies generally can’t issue a credit card to anyone under 21 unless they show their own ability to pay or someone over 21 co-signs. That gives us a few years to practice with a debit card and a budget first.
One option tonight
YNAB A budgeting app with a 34-day free trial. ynab.com
Not a paid link today. If we join their affiliate program, it will pay us.
Sources
- Can a credit card company consider my age when deciding to lend me a card?, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, consumerfinance.gov. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- YNAB budgeting app, YNAB, ynab.com. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
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Turning 184 of 7
Have you ever looked at your own credit report?
Read aloud
You can check your report from each of the three national credit bureaus once a week, for free. AnnualCreditReport.com is the only site authorized to give out the free reports the law entitles you to. A birthday is a good time for a first look, to spot any account you don’t recognize.
One option tonight
YNAB A budgeting app with a 34-day free trial. ynab.com
Not a paid link today. If we join their affiliate program, it will pay us.
Sources
- Free Credit Reports, Federal Trade Commission, consumer.ftc.gov. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- YNAB budgeting app, YNAB, ynab.com. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
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Turning 185 of 7
Will we still see your grades and school records?
Read aloud
Under FERPA, the rights over your education records move from us to you at 18, or when you start college if that comes first. So it’s worth deciding together what you’ll share with us, and how.
One option tonight
YNAB for college students The YNAB budgeting app, free for a year for verified college students. ynab.com/college
Not a paid link today. If we join their affiliate program, it will pay us.
Sources
- What is FERPA?, Student Privacy Policy Office, U.S. Department of Education, studentprivacy.ed.gov. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
- Free YNAB for college students, YNAB, ynab.com. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
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Turning 186 of 7
What happens to your teen investing account at 18?
Read aloud
Fidelity’s Youth Account, for ages 13 to 17, can convert to a regular brokerage account at 18. The teen has 60 days to finish the switch before trading limits kick in. If yours is somewhere else, we look up its rule tonight.
One option tonight
Fidelity Youth Account A teen-owned account for ages 13 to 17 with an optional debit card and no account fees. fidelity.com/go/youth-account/overview
Not a paid link today. If we join their affiliate program, it will pay us.
Sources
- Fidelity Youth Account, Fidelity Investments, fidelity.com. Checked Oct 19, 2026.
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Turning 187 of 7
Who runs your Roth IRA, and when does that change?
Read aloud
A parent manages a custodial Roth IRA until the child becomes an adult under state law, typically between 18 and 25. Then ownership moves over to you.
One option tonight
Fidelity Roth IRA for Kids A custodial Roth IRA for a teen under 18 with earned income. $0 to open. fidelity.com/retirement-ira/roth-ira-kids
Not a paid link today. If we join their affiliate program, it will pay us.
Sources
- Fidelity Roth IRA for Kids, Fidelity Investments, fidelity.com. Checked Oct 19, 2026.