how old to open etrade account

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


E*TRADE age requirement limit. How old do you have to be to open an account at E*TRADE? Morgan Stanley E*TRADE age limit: can you use it under 18 years old?


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


• At E*Trade, you need to be at least 18 years old to open an account.

• Special accounts for minors can be opened with the help of a guardian.

• E*Trade does not have special fees or minimum balance requirements for minor accounts.

Since E*Trade is part of Morgan Stanley, a U.S.-based company, the standard age to open any financial account (bank or investment) is 18. To open an account with E*Trade, you must also have a permanent U.S. address and a valid tax ID number.


Ways to Bypass the E*Trade Age Requirement


E*Trade’s age rule applies to regular brokerage and cash accounts. However, minors can open three types of investment accounts with help from an adult who is at least 18. These accounts are:

- Coverdell Education Savings Account
- Minor IRA
- Custodial Account

Minors under 18 can open any of these accounts with assistance from a guardian who must be at least 18 years old. The assets in these accounts are held for the minor's benefit.

Although E*Trade doesn’t offer 529 accounts, its parent company, Morgan Stanley, does. Like the other accounts listed, a 529 account involves both a child and an adult (not necessarily a parent).


age requirement to open etrade account


Steps to Open an E*Trade Account for a Minor


Opening a minor account at E*Trade is simple. Go to the broker’s website and scroll down to the bottom to find the link to open a new account under Quick Links. Skip the purple button at the top because it only includes popular accounts.

After choosing the right link, you'll see a page with all available accounts at E*Trade. Tabs at the top show different account types. Click on Brokerage to find Custodial and Coverdell accounts.

Under the Retirement tab, you’ll find the Minor IRA option. Each account tile has a Learn More link that provides additional details. You can click this link or the tile itself to start opening the account, leading you to the application page.

Applications for the Minor IRA and Coverdell accounts are done online through DocuSign, just like the regular Custodial account application. Fill in the required details and double-check before submitting.

You can also open minor accounts using E*Trade’s mobile app. Tap the Menu icon at the bottom-right corner and scroll down to find the link for opening an account. You don't have to log in to begin an application.

For all three account types, you'll need information for both the custodian and the minor, such as tax ID numbers and birth dates.


Fees and Commissions on Minor Accounts


E*Trade doesn’t charge special fees or commissions on minor accounts. There are no annual fees or low-balance penalties, and most trades now have no commissions. There's also no minimum deposit required.


Charles Schwab as an Alternative


E*Trade isn’t the only brokerage offering accounts for minors. Charles Schwab provides the same three minor accounts as E*Trade, plus the 529 account. You can open these accounts on Schwab’s website, and you can open a custodial account using Schwab’s mobile app. To do so, tap the More icon at the bottom-right corner, then locate the option to open an account.

On Schwab’s website, click the orange-brown button at the top-right corner to open an account. On the next page, select the option to view all account types (minor accounts won't show initially). After seeing all accounts, select the one you want and start the application.


minimum age to open etrade account


Charles Schwab doesn’t charge commissions on online trades of U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs in minor accounts. Schwab also requires no minimum deposit for these accounts.

Learn more about the Charles Schwab custodial account.


Free Charles Schwab Custodial Account


Visit Schwab Website

Updated on 5/25/2025.


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.