CompoundEvery day without a Roth is a day of compounding lost.
She started at 16. You started at 35. Same $2,000 contribution. Different life.
$0
Account minimum
8 min
To open
$7,000
2026 contribution max
100%
Tax-free growth
The Math
A teen who contributes $2,000/year for 10 years and stops — versus an adult who contributes $2,000/year for 30 years and never stops. The teenager wins by $865,000.
| Metric | Teen Start (16) | Adult Start (35) |
|---|---|---|
| Start Age | 16 | 35 |
| Annual Contribution | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Years Contributing | 10 yrs (stop at 26) | 30 yrs (until 65) |
| Total Contributed | $20,000 | $60,000 |
| Years Compounding | 49 years | 30 years |
| Balance at 65 (7% avg) | $1,148,0004x more | $283,000 |
| Tax-Free Withdrawals | $1,148,000+ | $283,000+ |
| Difference | +$865,000 | baseline |
* Assumes 7% average annual return. Past performance does not guarantee future results. For illustrative purposes only.
Compound Growth
After 10 years of contributions, the account grows untouched for nearly five decades. The curve below is what patience looks like rendered in dollars.
$2,000/yr · ages 16–25 · 7% avg annual return · stops contributing at 26
Your Numbers
Adjust the sliders to your teen's actual situation. The output updates in real time — and so does your urgency.
Balance at Age 65
$413,788
Total Contributed
$20,000
Tax-Free Growth
$393,788
Est. Tax Savings*
$86,633
Return Multiple
20.7x
* Estimated at 22% federal tax bracket. For illustrative purposes only.
Process
Verify W-2 Income
Your teen needs earned income to contribute. Any summer job, babysitting, or part-time work qualifies — even cash wages.
Open Custodial Roth
A parent or guardian co-signs. Takes 8 minutes. No minimums, no account fees. Contribution limit: lesser of earnings or $7,000.
Fund the Account
Transfer from any bank. Parent can gift the contribution — the teen just needs to have earned at least that amount.
Invest & Compound
Choose a low-cost index fund. Then wait. The math handles the rest for the next 49 years.
Proof
$2,000 → $1.1M
her projection at 65
"I showed my daughter the calculator. She ran the numbers herself three times. Then she asked me why we weren't doing this yesterday."
Patricia Okonkwo
Parent · Chicago, IL
47 students
opened accounts this year
"I now send every junior with a summer job to Compound before they even think about opening a checking account. The math does the convincing for me."
David Reinholt
Guidance Counselor · Westfield HS, NJ
8 minutes
account open time
"I made $4,200 lifeguarding. My dad said put $2,000 in a Roth. I looked up what that meant, found Compound, and set it up in one lunch period."
Zoe Matsuda
Age 17 · Portland, OR
Every week you wait is a week of compounding your teen will never get back. The account takes 8 minutes to open.
SIPC insured · No account minimums · Custodial account, parent co-signs