Is investing at 17 illegal?

Asked by: Saige Connelly  |  Last update: December 27, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (66 votes)

You usually need to be at least 18 years old to participate in the stock market. However, there are some ways around that. Adults can open a custodial account with a brokerage on behalf of a child and then, in the role of custodian, invest in the stock market for them, with or without the teenager's input.

Can I invest as a 17 year old?

Although there are certain restrictions, no laws prohibit people from investing when they are underage. It is generally impossible for minors to open their own brokerage account, but custodial accounts and joint accounts allow young people to begin their investing journey with varying amounts of adult supervision.

Can I trade at the age of 17?

As per the Indian Majority Act, 1875, anyone under the age of 18 years is a minor in India. A minor cannot enter into any legal contract, but they cannot be sued as the contract is null from the very beginning. Therefore minors cannot directly make share market investments.

Can I invest in Robinhood at 17?

Can you legally use Robinhood under 18? No, since you need a custodial account to invest under 18 in the United States.

What happens if I invest $500 a month?

Investing $500 a month can lead to significant long-term growth, thanks to the power of compounding returns. Whether you are just starting out or adding to an existing portfolio, consistently investing $500 each month can help you build substantial savings for future goals, like retirement or a down payment on a house.

How To Invest For Teenagers

44 related questions found

Is investing $50 a week good?

If you invest $50 per week, that's the equivalent of $200 per month, or approximately $2,400 per year. Over a 30-year period, that would result in more than $72,000 in savings. It's a good chunk of savings, but it isn't a life-changing amount.

How long in years will it take a $300 investment to be worth $800 if it is continuously compounded at 12% per year?

Thus, it will take approximately 8.17 years.

Can I invest if I am 17?

If he is below 18 years, he can have a demat account, but cannot operate it. He can't have a trading account, but his parent or guardian can open it on his behalf. If the child wants to start trading before 18, parents can also open their own accounts and create portfolios for the children.

Is trading stocks illegal at 17?

You usually need to be at least 18 years old to participate in the stock market. However, there are some ways around that. Adults can open a custodial account with a brokerage on behalf of a child and then, in the role of custodian, invest in the stock market for them, with or without the teenager's input.

Is Robinhood 18+?

Be 18 years or older. Have a valid Social Security Number (not a Taxpayer Identification Number) Have a legal United States (US) residential address within the 50 states, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands (exceptions may apply for active US military personnel stationed abroad)

Can I day trade at 17?

As a minor, you can make investments only under the supervision of your parent (or an adult) through a custodial account. Your parent will have to sign you up for a custodial account offered by an online broker.

What is the minimum age for trade me?

Trade Me's terms and conditions restrict membership to persons over eighteen years of age, as any user under the age of eighteen can not negotiate a legally binding contract.

Can a 17 year old open a trading account?

A minor cannot invest in India on his account. However, they can do so through a natural guardian (parent) or court-appointed guardian. Upon attaining the majority, the minor's bank account must be changed, and he must have a cheque book requiring his signature. A minor can invest in stocks and mutual funds in India.

Can a 17 year old invest in real estate?

Technically, kids can't directly invest in real estate since they can't sign legal contracts. However, through custodial accounts or by partnering with parents/guardians, kids can invest in real estate indirectly.

What is the smartest thing to invest in right now?

  1. 5 best investments right now. Here are five of the best investments right now, generally ordered from lowest risk to highest. ...
  2. High-yield savings accounts. Yes, the Federal Reserve has been cutting interest rates and is likely to continue to do so in 2025. ...
  3. Certificates of deposit. ...
  4. Bonds. ...
  5. Mutual funds and index funds. ...
  6. Stocks.

At what age can kids start investing?

Age 11 or 12 may be the right time to start a conversation about investing, including how it's different from saving. Creating opportunities to teach your kids these basic investing principles, and then helping put the principles into practice, can be an important step toward their eventual financial independence.

How can a 17 year old get into stocks?

The U.S. requires you to be at least 18 years old to purchase stocks on your own. However, while you as a minor cannot legally invest in stocks, you can own stocks in your name. This is either done through a gift (often from a relative such as a grandparent), or through what's known as a 'custodial account'.

How to invest $1000 for a child?

6 Best Ways to Invest $1,000 for a Child
  1. Savings Accounts for Kids. Savings accounts are things to invest in as a kid that encourage strong saving habits. ...
  2. Stocks for Children. ...
  3. 529 Savings Plan. ...
  4. Bonds and Treasury Securities. ...
  5. Robo-advisers. ...
  6. Custodial Roth IRA. ...
  7. Compound Growth Over Time. ...
  8. Building Long-Term Financial Security.

How to invest $10,000 in the stock market?

Create a Stock Portfolio

$10,000 is an excellent amount to start investing in individual companies. For example, you could buy $1,000 of stock in 10 companies or $500 of stock in 20 companies.

Can I invest on behalf of my parents?

Ans: You can do it but it can have some legal issues after your is mother is no more(May she be blessed with long life). Your siblings, if any, can stake claim to get their share of assets held in the name of your mother, despite you being sole nominee.

How to trade as a student?

The process of stock trading for beginners
  1. Open a demat account. To enter the share market as a trader or an investor, you must open a demat or a brokerage account. ...
  2. Understand stock quotes. ...
  3. Bids and asks. ...
  4. Fundamental and technical knowledge of stock. ...
  5. Learn to stop the loss. ...
  6. Ask an expert. ...
  7. Start with safer stocks.

What will $5,000 be worth in 20 years?

The table below shows the present value (PV) of $5,000 in 20 years for interest rates from 2% to 30%. As you will see, the future value of $5,000 over 20 years can range from $7,429.74 to $950,248.19.

What happens if you invest $100 a month for 40 years?

According to Ramsey's tweet, investing $100 per month for 40 years gives you an account value of $1,176,000. Ramsey's assumptions include a 12% annual rate of return, which some critics have labeled as optimistic given that the long-term average annual return of the S&P 500 index is closer to 10%.