How Old Do You Have To Be To Open an E*TRADE Account?

What Is the Minimum Age to Open an E*TRADE Account: Key Points

• At E*TRADE, you must be at least 18 years old to open a standard account on your own.

• There are special accounts for minors that can be opened with the help of a parent, guardian, or other adult custodian.

• E*TRADE does not charge annual fees or have account minimums for Coverdell ESA and IRA for Minors accounts, although transaction fees, fund expenses, brokerage commissions, and service fees may apply.

E*TRADE is owned by Morgan Stanley, which is based in the U.S. The standard age to open a financial account, whether it is a bank or investment account, is 18. To open a bank or investment account with E*TRADE, you must also have a permanent U.S. address and a valid tax ID number.

Ways for Minors to Open an E*TRADE Account

E*TRADE’s age requirement applies to its standard brokerage and cash management accounts. However, there are three types of investment accounts that can be opened for minors with an adult custodian. These accounts are:

- Coverdell Education Savings Account
- IRA for Minors
- Custodial Account

For each of these accounts, an account can be opened for a minor under 18 with the help of an adult custodian. The assets in these accounts are intended for the minor’s benefit.

Although E*TRADE does not offer 529 accounts directly, its parent company, Morgan Stanley, does. Unlike the other accounts mentioned, a 529 plan has an account owner and a beneficiary, and the beneficiary does not necessarily have to be a child.

age requirement to open etrade account

Steps to Open an E*TRADE Account for a Minor

Opening a minor account at E*TRADE is straightforward. Visit the broker’s website and scroll to the bottom to find the link to open a new account under the Quick Links section. Ignore the purple button at the top for opening a new account, as it only lists the most popular accounts.

After selecting the correct link, you’ll see a new page showing all available accounts at E*TRADE. There are several tabs at the top of the page for different account categories. Click on Brokerage to find tiles for Custodial and Coverdell accounts.

Under the Retirement tab, you’ll find a tile for the IRA for Minors. Each of these tiles has a Learn More link that provides more details on the account type. You can click the link to open the account on both the tile and the information page. This will lead you to the application page.

The applications for the IRA for Minors and Coverdell account are provided through DocuSign and can be completed online, just like the regular application for a Custodial account. Provide the required information and double-check your entries.

You can also use E*TRADE’s mobile app to open any of the three accounts for minors. Tap the Menu icon in the bottom-right corner of the app and scroll down to find the link to open an account. You don’t need to log in to start an application.

For any of the three accounts opened through either method, you’ll need to provide information for both the custodian and the minor, such as tax ID numbers and birth dates.

Fees and Commissions on Minor Accounts

E*TRADE does not impose any special annual fees or account minimums on its Coverdell ESA or IRA for Minors accounts. There are no annual fees or low-balance charges, and many products now have commission-free trading. Online U.S.-listed stock, ETF, mutual fund, and options trades have $0 commissions, although options contract fees, fund expenses, service fees, and other charges may apply. Additionally, there is no minimum deposit required.

Charles Schwab as an Alternative

E*TRADE isn’t the only discount brokerage that offers accounts for children. Charles Schwab provides all three of the minor accounts available at E*TRADE, plus the 529 account. You can open any of these accounts on Schwab’s website, and the custodial account can be opened through Schwab’s mobile app. To do this, tap the More icon in the bottom-right corner and find the link to open an account on the next page.

, locate the orange-brown button in the top-right corner to open an account. On the next page, find the link to view all accounts (the specific minor accounts won’t appear initially). Once you see all account types, find the one you need and start the opening process.

minimum age to open etrade account

Charles Schwab does not charge commissions on U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs traded online in a minor account. Schwab also doesn’t require a minimum deposit for its custodial account, and the Schwab 529 plan can be opened with as little as $1.

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Free Charles Schwab Account For a Child

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Updated on 6/9/2026.

About the Author

Chad Morris is a financial writer with more than 20 years experience as both an English teacher and an avid trader. When he isn’t writing expert content for Brokerage-Review.com, Chad can usually be found managing his portfolio or building a new home computer.