High School Program — Student FAQ
Everything you need to know about your Gifted Savings portfolio, how to unlock it, and what to do with it.
The Basics
What is Gifted Savings?
Gifted Savings is a national nonprofit that gives high school seniors a real $1,000 investment portfolio and teaches you how investing can help you build the future you want. Through short lessons and reflection activities, you’ll learn how money, investing, and long-term planning can support your goals — not just now, but for the long term.
Why did I get this?
Your school was chosen to take part in Gifted Savings because we believe every young person deserves a chance to build wealth and learn financial skills early. Donors chose to invest in you because they believe in you and want to give you a real head start.
Who’s eligible?
Gifted Savings is available to eligible seniors at our partner high schools. Your school identifies the students in the participating senior class and shares that roster with Gifted Savings. To claim their portfolio, each student must meet the program requirements to unlock it.
What’s the catch?
There isn’t one, and we mean that. Gifted Savings is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit — we don’t charge fees, make money off students, or earn anything from your investments. There’s nothing to pay back. Our only goal is to help you learn how to invest and use this gift in a way that makes a difference in your life. We’ll always be straight with you about how it works.
Who built Gifted Savings, and why?
Gifted Savings was founded by Farhad Mohit, a tech entrepreneur who built companies like BizRate.com, Shopzilla, and Flipagram (now TikTok) and is now focused on philanthropy. He believes every young person in the U.S. should have a real ownership stake in America — a portfolio that grows over time — while learning firsthand how investing can change their life. He wanted a hands-on way for students to experience investing, not just read about it.
Is This Real? Your Money and the Risk
Is this real money — and is it really mine?
Yes. Your portfolio is a real investment account with real money in it. Once you meet the requirements to unlock it, it’s yours to keep. There are no strings attached and nothing to pay back.
My money is invested. Can it lose value? What’s the risk?
Yes, and we want to be upfront about that. Your portfolio is invested in several kinds of investment assets, so its value can go up or down from day to day — that’s true of any investment, and there are no guarantees. By the time you unlock your portfolio, it could be worth more than the original $1,000 — or it could be worth less. That’s a normal part of investing. The good news: historically, money invested for the long term has tended to grow. And the risk is limited — the value can dip, but you can never lose more than what’s in your account, and you’ll never owe anyone money. Learning how this works is a big part of Gifted Savings. The idea is that these ups and downs become something you understand instead of something you fear.
Do I have to pay taxes on it?
No. You won’t owe taxes by simply receiving your Gifted Savings portfolio. If you choose to transfer your investments to your own investment account, they generally keep their original cost basis. If you later sell those investments, you may owe taxes on any gains at that time, depending on your individual situation. Don’t worry if that sounds confusing right now — you’ll learn the basics of taxes during your Gifted Savings lessons. And if you have questions about your specific situation, we recommend talking with a parent, guardian, or a tax professional.
How Gifted Savings Works
What are the lessons like?
The Gifted Savings curriculum has four levels, done in order, with five lessons in each — 20 lessons in all. Each lesson takes about 15 minutes and can be done in class or at home. Lessons mix short videos with activities like multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank questions, so you learn by doing instead of just reading. They’re built to help you understand your investments and connect them to your own goals.
Who sees my answers?
As you go through the lessons, you’ll answer questions and share reflections. The Gifted Savings team can see those responses and we may share those responses with teachers. We read them to understand how students are learning and where we can make the lessons better.
How do I unlock my Gifted Savings portfolio?
You’ll be able to access your portfolio once you’ve completed all your Gifted Savings lessons by the deadlines, stayed enrolled at your school through the end of the year, and turned 18. Once you’ve unlocked all requirements, you can request to transfer or withdraw your investments.
Where do I find my deadlines?
Your lesson deadlines are visible when you log into your Gifted Savings account. Exact dates vary by school, so the app is always your source of truth. We recommend doing one lesson each week so you stay ahead and never feel rushed.
What if I fall behind?
You can catch up at any time, as long as everything is done before your deadlines. We recommend completing one lesson each week so you stay on track and don’t feel overwhelmed later. If you’re stuck, reach out — we’re happy to help.
What if I don’t finish?
If you don't complete the lessons or the school year at a partner school, you won't be able to unlock your portfolio, and the funds will pass to another student next year. We'd much rather see you finish and claim what's yours, so if you're stuck, message us. We're on your team.
Can I do this on my phone?
Yes. Gifted Savings works on phones, tablets, and computers — no app download needed. Everything is mobile-friendly and works right in your browser.
Can I message someone if I get confused?
Absolutely. You can message us anytime through the Gifted Savings app in the Help tab, or email support@giftedsavings.org. We’re here to help.
Using and Withdrawing Your Funds
How do I use my portfolio once it’s unlocked?
That’s up to you. You can keep your money invested so it can keep growing for your future, or cash it out and put it toward what matters most to you right now. There’s no wrong answer — the lessons are designed to help you think it through and make the call that fits your goals. Learning to manage money comes from making real decisions, and this one is yours.
What are my options?
Once you’re ready to move your portfolio, you can transfer your investments directly into your own brokerage account (like a free Fidelity account that’s free to open) so they can keep growing; cash out by direct deposit (ACH) to your bank account, credit union account, or brokerage account; or cash out and receive a paper check by mail. We’ll always encourage having your own brokerage account so the money is fully yours to grow — but the choice is yours.
When do I need to withdraw by?
After you’ve met all the requirements to unlock your portfolio, you’ll have about 30 days to transfer or withdraw your investments. Because everyone’s 18th birthday is different, your exact deadline will be personalized and shown in your Gifted Savings account. Gifted Savings isn’t a bank, so we can’t hold your portfolio indefinitely. If you’re close to your deadline and unsure what to do, message us and we’ll help you sort it out.
What’s an in-kind transfer?
An in-kind transfer means you’re moving your investments from your Gifted Savings portfolio to your own brokerage account without selling them. Because your investments aren’t sold, they stay invested and continue to rise or fall in value with the market.
What’s an ACH withdrawal?
If you choose to cash out your portfolio, your investments will be sold and the money can be sent to your bank, credit union, or brokerage account through ACH (Automated Clearing House). ACH is a secure way to transfer money electronically between financial accounts. You’ll just enter your routing and account numbers.
What’s a check withdrawal?
If you choose to cash out your portfolio, your investments will be sold and we’ll mail you a paper check for the value of your portfolio. This can be a good option if you don’t have a bank, credit union, or brokerage account. Just make sure we have the correct mailing address.
Can I withdraw just part of my portfolio?
No. You’ll need to choose one option: transfer your entire portfolio to your own brokerage account or cash out your entire portfolio. Partial withdrawals aren’t available.
What if I don’t turn 18 until after graduation?
No problem. Once you turn 18 and finish your Gifted Savings requirements, you’ll be able to access your investments — even if that happens a few months after the school year ends.