UNest

UNest provides custodial investment accounts designed to help parents save for their children’s future life goals, such as college, a first car, or other important milestones. The platform includes a gifting feature that allows family and friends to contribute to a child’s account, and a rewards program where users can earn money for their kid’s account by shopping with over 100 top brands like Disney+ and Nike. UNest also offers the ability to invest in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum through a separate account called UNest Crypto, which are individual brokerage accounts and not UTMA/UGMA accounts. Investment accounts are held with Apex Clearing Corporation, a third-party SEC registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC, and are insured by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) for up to $500,000. UNest provides various investment strategies, including conservative, moderate, aggressive, and socially responsible options, and is a registered investment advisor (RIA) with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The platform’s pricing includes a flat-rate per-user fee, allowing users to open accounts for multiple children under the same subscription. UNest has partnered with Bakkt for its cryptocurrency services and offers a referral program where users can earn $50 for referring friends who open and fund a UNest account. The investment accounts offer tax advantages, with up to $2,600 in annual earnings potentially growing in a tax-advantaged way. UNest ensures bank-level security and encryption to protect user information and has integrated with PayPal to allow members to fund their kids’ investment and savings accounts. UNest’s partners and investors include Franklin Templeton and Northwestern Mutual, and its team comprises certified financial advisors, technologists, and entrepreneurs with experience at financial industry leaders such as Money Lion, Marqeta, Union Bank, and Acorns.