LonDen Scott is just one of the few Black women in the horse-riding industry who are trying to stake their claims in a male-dominated world. For her and other Black cowgirls, it feels like Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album came just in time.
Why it matters: The world of cowboys and the old west is often seen as predominantly white and male, but many historians note that back in the 1800s, 1 in 4 cowboys were Black. Black people were major part of the creation of the cattle industry of the West and Southwest.
Why now: Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter album has sparked conversations surrounding Black women's role in country music and in the cowboy lifestyle. Some feel like that history has been whitewashed in the mainstream. But, historians show that Black Angelenos' role in horsemanship dates back to the early Frontier days.
The backstory: LonDen Scott and a multiethnic crew of horse riders tend to their equines at a ranch they rent in the Lake View Terrace area. They are part of the newly established Cali Cowboy Company, which started out last October as a group of friends who all had a passion for horses and community.
Scott is the president and one of six founders. And they all keep busy. They have about a dozen horses they take care of, including Scott’s own gelding, 18-year-old Count on Me"
When LonDen Scott goes out in public in Los Angeles with her $380 Resistol cowboy hat and spurred boots, some people think it’s a costume. But she’s been riding and training horses way longer than Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter album drop.
For her, it’s a lifestyle.
“I get it all the time even before her album dropped, but now it's like, people feel like they have a little more license, especially white people,” says Scott, who is the daughter of former Los Angeles Lakers and NBA coach Byron Scott. “They’d say, ‘Are you wearing that because Beyoncé is trying to be country’? I'm like, ‘No, sir. My knife is dirty in my pocket.’”
From Simone Biles to Beyoncé, there’s been a lot of conversation around the country and cowboy lifestyle, and the role of Black women in that space.
Scott, a cowgirl from Ladera Heights, is one of the few Black women in L.A. who is trying to stake her claim in a male-dominated world. For her and other Black cowgirls, it feels like Beyoncé’s album came just in time.
“Enough of our story gets whitewashed and erased,” Scott says. “So, if we need a little bit of something controversial, then let’s go. We're here. We've been here and it's about time we have people talking about it.”
LonDen Scott cleans her horse's hoof in preparation to ride.
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LonDen Scott wears a limited edition belt buckle from the National Finals Rodeo.
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Creating an inclusive space
Less than an hour north of the urban hustle and bustle of downtown L.A., is a quiet, rural agricultural region of Lake View Terrace, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley where visitors smell livestock instead of gas exhaustion.
Here, Scott and a multiethnic crew of horse riders tend to their equines at a ranch they rent in the area. They are part of the newly established Cali Cowboy Company, which started out last October as a group of friends who all had a passion for horses and community.
Scott is the president and one of six founders. And they all keep busy. They have about a dozen horses they take care of, including Scott’s own gelding, 18-year-old Count on Me.
Members of the Cali Cowboy Company ride their horses around an outdoor arena in Lake View Terrace.
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“I do have nicknames for him,” Scott says. “We call him ‘Count’ or ‘Baboy’ or ‘Stink’ or 'Mister Steal Your Mare’." Even the cowboys and cowgirls have nicknames. Scott’s nickname is “Legit 1."
One a recent Monday on the 2-acre ranch, a group that also includes Scott’s two daughters prepare the horses — including “Count on Me” — for their afternoon ride.
During a break, the rookie cowgirl on the scene, Ashley “Baby Fox” Johns, reminisced on her days growing up in Oakland and only associating horseback riding with being rich, white and structured, like many English-style riders.
Longtime friend and Cali Cowboy Company co-founder Rafael “Wicked Smaht” Casal introduced Johns to riding last year. She fell in love with the sport after meeting Scott and attending the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
LonDen Scott started riding horses when she was 5 years old.
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“You see Black cowgirls and you're like, ‘Yeah, we run this,’” Johns says. “It really does fit with the nature of Black women and who we are. We are incredibly resilient and strong. We will make it work. We will find a way. We’re going to do it.”
After ensuring the horses got a stretch and roll, the crew saddled them up. On a usual day, they take them up a mountain trail or ride them through the Hansen Dam trails. Every full moon, they go out on a “Moonlight Trail” in the San Gabriel mountains. They end up on a spot that Scott says the crew calls “horse heaven."
“It's really, really pretty. It oversees everything. And you feel like you're right underneath the stars,” Scott says. To bond, the group travels to bars — sometimes on horseback — to drink and listen to country music. One favorite is Desert 5 Spot in Hollywood.
Eric Cepeda, Bechir Sylvain, Rafael Casal, Samantha Wehlauch, and LonDen Scott are all members of Cali Cowboy Company, a riding club based out of Lake View Terrace.
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“The trails are beautiful,” Scott says. “With L.A., you get kind of the best of everything. You just kind of got to know where to look.”
Outside of tending to horses and trail riding, the group has been training horses and teaching people how to ride. They’ve helped clients with Parkinson’s disease engage in equine therapy and they soon plan to host community events. The group is had their first equestrian event Saturday, April 20th in partnership with the well-known Compton Cowboys.
Kyla Aklilu with her mother's horse, Count On Me.
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LonDen Scott's spurs.
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Showing the next generation how to get back on the saddle
Scott says she’s been riding horses ever since she was 5 years old. And throughout her time, she’s had to face people telling her that she’s not a “real cowgirl” because she doesn’t push cattle, or because she’s Black.
“Being a Black cowgirl, just being a woman, there’s a lot of mansplaining,” Scott says. “When you add in women and then women of color, who can hang with the boys and sometimes even do better, there's a lot of bruised egos that come with it. So I think even more so than Black cowboys, Black cowgirls have their own set of struggles and obstacles and things that we have to prove.”
She’s instilling the tradition — and her strength — in the next generation: her 10-and 11-year-old daughters Kyla and Laila Aklilu, who help tend to the horses when they’re not in school. They both say that their mother has inspired them.
LonDen Scott instructs her daughter, Laila Aklilu, as she circles a riding ring in Lake View Terrace.
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“She’s had so many different forces and so many different injuries, that to see her still doing this is really inspiring to me,” Laila Aklilu says. “Being a cowgirl means you, no matter how many times you get hurt, you have to get back up and go on the saddle.”
Scott often gives the girls reminders so that they ride with a good, upright posture. “Don’t T-Rex … keep down and keep your hands low,” she calmly says to one of her daughters.
One of the riders on the trail is Samantha “Sissy” Wehlauch. She’s from Illinois with a mixed heritage of German and Korean. She owns a horse with braids down its mane named Scarlett and says she feels like she’s found her “tribe” with the group.
When asked about all the attention Beyoncé’s album has shined on Black cowboy culture, she says it’s about time.
“There's so much influence that Black culture has given to us in terms of different music styles, instruments like the banjo were brought over by the slaves, and that became their instrument,” Wehlauch says. “It’s great to see the homage paid back, because the original cowboys were Black and native and Mexican.”
LonDen Scott taught her two daughters, Laila and Kyla Aklilu, how to ride horses.
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History of Black cowboys and cowgirls
The world of cowboys and the Old West is often seen as predominantly white and male, but many historians note that back in the 1800s, 1 in 4 cowboys were Black.
In William Loren Katz’s book The Black West, he writes that Africans, Native Mexicans and Europeans were all a part of creating the cattle industry of the West and Southwest. Katz writes that an average trail crew of 11 might include two or three Black men. Some crews were all Black.
In The Black West, Katz writes that cattle crews started after the Civil War in Texas where millions of cattle roamed free and needed to be fenced in. Black men were able to get jobs managing the cattle and, as historians have noted, the term “cowboy” was first used as a derogatory word to describe them.
Eventually, the word was embraced as a universal term.
As cowboys, Black men protected and tended to cattle. Although Black people, Mexicans and Europeans often worked together, it was rare that Black cowboys could become foreman, trail boss or the ranch owner, Katz writes. The cowboys were often given the hardest jobs, and many fought to resist the positions they were in.
Scott of the Cali Cowboys says that racism persisted over the generations. "Western culture — it has not always been inclusive," she says. "You know, [white people] tried to erase us from it in the first place when we are a part of the originators of this. They weren't calling each other 'cowboy.'"
Samantha Wehlauch's horse, Scarlett, with a braided mane.
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Horse decor at the ranch where LonDen Scott and members of the Cali Cowboy Company keep their horses.
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There were also fierce frontier women like “Stagecoach Mary” Fields who tended to horses and carried a rifle in the late 1800s. She became the first Black woman — and second woman — to drive a U.S. mail route.
There were others who were pioneers in settling the West — Black women in California who secured and protected their land and property like Laura Pearson, Mary Pleasant and Biddy Mason.
As more Black Americans moved west during The Great Migration, they found pockets of communities in places like Compton’s Richland Farms.
Fast forward to the early ‘80’s, real-estate agent Mayisha Akbar started the Compton Jr. Posse in Richland Farms, an urban agricultural hub for Black Angelenos since the 1950s and '60s, to keep young Black boys and men out of street gang life. Akbar’s organization is recognized as the predecessor to the Compton Cowboys riding club.
Kyla Aklilu learned how to ride horses at a young age and is part of the riding club her mother helped found.
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Making it accessible for all
As the urban sprawl spreads and technology continues to develop, gone are the days where cowboys are seen as pioneering, rural and rough like in the early American West era. Now the leisure and competitive sport of equestrianism — which includes Western, English and Charro horse-riding styles — are known to be expensive, and for the privileged.
Scott, the daughter of a former NBA player, said she thinks it’s a misconception that horsemanship is solely for the privileged.
“I think that’s a misconception that’s kind of already been floating around, that you have to look a certain way, have a certain status, a certain amount in the bank to really get out and do this and that’s not the case,” Scott says. “I think the only access it gave me above anybody else was just being able to travel and do different things in different places. I would say in terms of just finding where the horses were everywhere I went, that was on me.”
LonDen Scott, her daughter Kyla Aklilu, and Cali Cowboy Company member Samantha Wehlauch ride their horses in Lake View Terrace.
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Long Beach cowgirl Chanel Rhodes also emphasized that horseback riding is not just for the rich. But she says she has to pass up on some things — like getting her nails done and even a few doctor’s appointments — to upkeep her horse.
“We are just trying to hold on to our lifestyle that we love,” Rhodes says. ““I understand that golf is cheaper. Playing basketball is cheaper. But I have made certain sacrifices to be able to live this life.”
Rhodes manages horses at Disneyland and is the founder of a horse wig company called Mane Tresses, but her long-term goal is to start the first Black-owned ranch in Orange County and make it affordable for people who may not otherwise have access to a stable.
Rhodes says she’s faced multiple instances of misogyny in the industry. She’s been in spaces where people would stare at her, question her knowledge of horses or avoid clapping for her during English riding competitions, her preferred style of riding.
“I just felt that sinking feeling of ‘This is why I don't belong here. What am I doing here?’ But you have to choose to conquer that,” Rhodes says.
For Scott, she feels responsibility as president of Cali Cowboy Company and its crew of 20-30 people, but she enjoys what she does.
“Horses are my passion,” Scott says. “So just being able to be a part of something allows me to lend that to a group of like-minded individuals who all have the same desire and goals in mind. It's really special. So I feel very honored.”
Mariana Dale
is proud of her distant Norwegian heritage and excited to cheer on the team in the quarter-final.
Published July 8, 2026 5:12 PM
Fans cheer during the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Brazil and Norway in East Rutherford, N.J.
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Topline:
Norway’s historic World Cup performance has brought together Southern California’s relatively small, but spirited Norwegian community.
Why now: They’ve been packing into a San Pedro Church, a Westside Irish bar and have taught people to row like a Viking at watch parties throughout the region, after Norway qualified this year for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Norwegian pride: Vilde Vevatne, who was born and raised in Oslo but now lives in L.A., said she’s proud of the team’s performance on the pitch but also their attitude outside of the matches. “ How kind and humble the team are being. … They're not bragging unnecessarily,” Vevatne said. “They're genuinely just excited to be there. They're doing their best job and not thinking they're better than anyone else.”
What's next: Saturday’s quarterfinal game between Norway and England in Miami is scheduled to start at 2 p.m.
Norway’s historic World Cup performance has brought together Southern California’s relatively small, but spirited Norwegian community.
They’ve been packing into a San Pedro Church, a Westside Irish bar and have taught people to row like a Viking at watch parties throughout the region, after Norway qualified this year for the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Several Norway soccer watch parties, including the one at Joxer Daly's in Culver City, promise waffles.
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“This whole experience also just reminded me of why I'm proud of being Norwegian and all of these values that the society and my parents instilled upon me from a young age,” said Vilde Vevatne, who was born and raised in Oslo, but now lives in L.A.
She’s proud of the team’s performance on the pitch, but also their attitude outside of the matches.
“ How kind and humble the team are being … They're not bragging unnecessarily,” Vevatne said. “They're genuinely just excited to be there. They're doing their best job and not thinking they're better than anyone else.”
Vevatne says it’s the embodiment of the Law of Jante.
“That's like an unwritten rule in Norwegian culture where we're taught from a young age ‘Don't think you're special. Don't think you're better than everyone else,’” Vevatne said. “Just be part of the pack and just be a nice, genuine person."
Norway's Erling Haaland has scored seven goals in the World Cup as of July 8. “ I think he has just exploded as a superstar coming out of the game,” said Erik Steigen.
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And now SoCal’s Nordic community has an open invitation for anyone looking for a team to support during the quarter-finals.
Row with us. (The practice of imitating a Viking longboat of warriors rowing into battle started within the last year, but quickly became a viral phenomenon.)
“ We're a small country. We need every fan we can have,” said Petter Isaksen, who helped organize the watch parties at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church in San Pedro.
“Now there are almost no Norwegian sailors left, but there's still a lot of Norwegians in L.A. and in SoCal,” Isaksen, who works as a host at the church, said. “We're there for them as a church and as a cultural center,”
The church hosts groups for toddlers, knitting and Norwegian language classes in addition to a Sunday Lutheran service that welcomes all faiths.
And five days a week, there are waffles for sale— always heart-shaped and with your choice of goat cheese, jam or sour cream.
“We can eat several,” Isaksen said.
The Seaman's Church in San Pedro has long been a gathering place for Southern California Norwegians and has hosted watch parties since the World Cup qualifying matches.
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Isaksen has followed Norway’s football team “since I was born,” and started organizing the watch parties at the church during the qualifying matches.
He said dozens of people, including several new to the church, have attended each watch party for communal singing, waffle-eating and rowing.
“Everyone, whether they're, like, 12 weeks or 99-years-old, they're in on it,” Isaksen said. “It's so much fun, and it brings so much togetherness.”
Cathrine Chiaro, left, and Petter Isaksen, right, both work at the Norwegian Seaman's Church in San Pedro.
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‘Where are all the Norwegians at?’
A Culver City Irish sports bar has become another bastion of Norwegian pride during the World Cup thanks to Erik Steigen.
When he first moved to Los Angeles 30 years ago to work in the music industry, he didn’t prioritize seeking out his countrymen.
“I'm not moving to the US… to hang out with Norwegians and eat lutefisk,” Steigen said, referencing the divisive dried, lye-soaked fish. “I'm here to try to build a career and pursue my own dreams.”
But that changed about a decade ago.
Petter Wichman, right, and his son Erik, left. During the knockout game against Brazil, they lead the whole bar in a session of rowing, despite the fact that most people were cheering for their opponents.
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“I started wondering, ‘Where are all the Norwegians at?’” Steigen said. He joined the board of the Seaman’s Church in San Pedro and today helps organize events through Peer Gynt LA, a cultural group that evolved from an early 20th century chapter of the Sons of Norway lodge.
“When you're from a different country — I've spent most of my life in the U.S. now — I think you become extra patriotic about your native country,” Steigen said.
So why organize a watch party at an Irish sports bar?
Steigen is a lifelong soccer fan, but when he first arrived in the U.S., the national team’s games didn’t broadcast in the states. So he adopted the Liverpool Football Club and often catches the games at Joxer Daly's in Culver City.
When people asked him where to watch Norway play, he defaulted to his home bar.
Steigen wasn’t sure if anyone would show up to watch Norway take on Iraq in their first match, but dozens did — and Norway won 4-1.
“ It's amazing how many Norwegians really exist in L.A. that you've never heard of,” Steigen said.
From left, Erik Steigen, Finn "The Viking" Orvin and Henning Gabrielsen are among the many Norway fans that have watched the matches at Joxer Daly's in Culver City.
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Elise Maeland, has attended several of the matches at Joxer Daly’s.
She’s made a handful of Norwegian friends since moving to Southern California more than a decade ago for grad school, but outside of May 17, Norway’s Constitution Day, she said there are few large Norwegian gatherings.
“I feel like that was what was really cool about the World Cup is that it really brought Norwegians together in L.A.,” Maeland said.
She hasn’t decided whether she’ll watch Saturday’s quarter-final at Joxer Daly’s or join a larger watch party in Venice Beach.
“ I'll go where the most Norwegians go,” Maeland said.
Where to watch the game
Saturday’s quarter-final game between Norway and England in Miami is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. local time.
The Seaman’s Church / Sjømannskirken
Address:1035 South Beacon St. San Pedro Watch party: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. More information:Website, Facebook Good to know: This family friendly watch party promises waffles, hot dogs, popcorn and a bouncy castle for the kids. In addition to Sunday services, the church also runs a Norwegian goods shop — and sells waffles — Wednesday through Sunday.
Joxer Daly's
Address:11168 Washington Blvd. Culver City Watch party: noon - until the match is over. More information:Facebook, Peer Gynt LA website (organizers) Good to know: There will be waffles starting at noon and organizer Erik Steigen recommends arriving early to snag a seat.
Los Angeles World Cup 26 Fan Zone at Venice Beach
Address:1 Windward Ave Watch party: noon - 10 p.m. More information:Website, Facebook Good to know: This event has both free and premium tickets that include a reserved viewing area, food and drinks.
Makenna Cramer
covers the daily drumbeat of Southern California — events, processes and nuances making it a unique place to call home.
Published July 8, 2026 4:50 PM
People standing in line at the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.
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Topline:
L.A. County has confirmed another case of measles in a traveler passing through LAX and at least one other public place July 3, public health officials announced Wednesday. They’re urging people to take precautions against the highly contagious virus.
What you should know: According to the L.A. County Department of Public Health, the infected traveler arrived on British Airways Flight 281 at Gate 155 in the Tom Bradley International Terminal B on July 3. People who were at the gate between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. may have been exposed.
Potential exposure extended to an LAX Hertz Car Rental Shuttle the same day, as well as a healthcare facility. Anyone at the shuttle from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. may be at risk of getting measles. Public health officials did not share dates, times or other details from the affected healthcare facility.
What if I was on the flight? Passengers who were sitting near the traveler will be notified by their local health departments. The CDC and local departments regularly work together for these kinds of exposures on international flights, according to L.A. County officials.
What if I was exposed elsewhere? People who were at the rental shuttle during that time period could be at risk of developing measles. The healthcare facility is directly reaching out to patients and staff, and the Department of Public Health said it's looking into any other potential exposure locations in L.A. County.
What to watch out for: Symptoms including a fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash can show up a week to three weeks after exposure. Public health officials emphasized that if you start to show these symptoms, don't just walk into a healthcare center without calling ahead first.
The last day to monitor for symptoms from the airport terminal and rental shuttle is July 24.
How to help protect yourself: The best way to protect yourself and your family is with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine — so double-check your medical records. You can find more measles information from L.A. County here.
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Cato Hernández
scours through tons of archives to understand how our region became the way it is today.
Published July 8, 2026 4:23 PM
The sterile moquitoes will be released over 16 weeks.
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Topline:
The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is releasing more than 480,000 mosquitoes over the next few months in an attempt to squash the local mosquito population.
Why now: Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are the culprits behind all those ankle bites. The peak of the season starts in August for the valley, lasting all the way to October (and sometimes even longer).
How it works: The district is releasing only non-biting sterile male mosquitoes. When they mate, the females don’t produce viable offspring, which will hopefully thwart the season's peak. It's a technique that's been used to some success by Riverside County.
Where is this happening? They'll be released into the unincorporated area of Basset, near Baldwin Park, which has historically seen high mosquito activity.
Read on … to learn about what you can expect.
The San Gabriel Valley is heading into peak mosquito season. If a new program goes well, there'll be even more of the pesky fliers than normal — and that's a good thing.
The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District is releasing more than 480,000 mosquitoes over the next few months, with an aim to squash the invasive ankle-biters known as Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
What’s happening
The San Gabriel Valley is one of the L.A. County areas that regularly get a lot of mosquitoes, but every season can be different. As well as being a major outdoor annoyance, Aedes aegypti is the primary carrier of dengue, and while local transmission is historically very low, the species is tough to kill off because their eggs can survive in tiny amounts of water.
That’s why the district is using a technique that introduces sterile insects into the mix. The mosquitoes they’re releasing between now and October are males that carry Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacteria that makes them unable to have offspring with wild females.
Male mosquitoes don’t bite, so while residents may see more of them, they won’t leave a trail of those itchy bumps.
It’s a technique that’s been used elsewhere in SoCal, including San Bernardino County, with some success.
(Courtesy the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District)
They’re going to the unincorporated community of Basset, just south of Baldwin Park, because it historically sees more activity. The area averaged more mosquitoes per trap than the district’s service area between 2020 and 2025, according to Anais Medina Diaz, communications director for the district.
Over 16 weeks, these urban bloodsuckers will be released from cardboard tubes in a 25-acre area between the intersections of East Temple Avenue, Millbury Avenue, Moccasin Street and Vineland Avenue.
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Courtesy the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District
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They likely won’t travel much farther beyond that. Aedes aegypti populations are known for being short-distance flyers, covering about a tenth of a mile in their lifetime.
Why now?
Mosquitoes are becoming a year-around problem for Southern California, but there are still peaks to the season.
For the San Gabriel Valley, Medina Diaz said the higher Aedes activity happens between August and October.
The district’s program is also lasting longer than other programs in L.A. County for a specific reason. They want to increase the chances for sterile males to mate with wild females, which can live up to two months, according to the district.
By stopping new female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from being born, Medina Diaz said they hope residents won’t have to deal with as many bites.
Americans have a new way to invest in their kids' futures: Trump Accounts launched over the weekend. Congress approved them last year as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Who qualifies: If you have a child born between 2025 and the end of 2028, financial advisors say signing up for a Trump Account should be a simple decision for one reason: The child's account will automatically get a $1,000 seed contribution from the federal government. The money in these accounts will be invested in an index fund that broadly tracks the stock market. Any American citizen under age 18 can have an account, and once they turn 18, they can access that money for things like education or buying a house.
Kids born before that window aren't completely out of luck: Millions of children under age 11 will still get $250. That comes from more than $6.25 billion donated by Michael and Susan Dell of Dell Technologies. That money will only go to children who don't qualify for the federal contribution. To qualify, their families must also live in zip codes where the median family income is under $150,000.
Read on... for other things to consider when planning to save for your children.
Americans have a new way to invest in their kids' futures: Trump Accounts launched over the weekend. Congress approved them last year as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Republicans' tax and spending law. They function similarly to retirement accounts, but instead of being for adults preparing for their senior years, they're for assisting kids with the start of their adult lives.
The money in these accounts will be invested in an index fund that broadly tracks the stock market. Any American citizen under age 18 can have an account, and once they turn 18, they can access that money for things like education or buying a house. (The money can also be used for other purchases, but that comes with a tax penalty.)
The accounts function as a kind of digital "donation bucket" that many people can contribute to — kids' families, but also philanthropists, their parents' employers, and even the government. Contributions from family and other adults in the children's lives are made in after-tax dollars; contributions from others, such as employers or the government, are pre-tax. The child will only pay tax on the investment's growth once they withdraw the funding.
But there are already plenty of other options for parents to invest in, from education saving plans to their own retirement accounts. So should you sign up your family for Trump accounts? Here are four things to consider.
Your child could get free money from the federal government
If you have a child born between 2025 and the end of 2028, financial advisors say signing up for a Trump Account should be a simple decision for one reason: The child's account will automatically get a $1,000 seed contribution from the federal government.
Financial planner Michael Reynolds with Indiana's Elevation Financial did the math for Morning Edition and said that, even without any additional investments, that $1,000 would become almost $4,000 by the time a kid turns 18. (That's assuming an 8% rate of return and doesn't count the income tax that has to be paid on the growth and initial federal contribution.)
Your kid might be eligible for other donations
Kids born before that window are not completely out of luck. Millions of them under age 11 will still get $250. That comes from more than $6.25 billion donated by Michael and Susan Dell of Dell Technologies.
That money will only go to children who don't qualify for the federal contribution. To qualify, their families must also live in zip codes where the median family income is under $150,000.
And if your children don't qualify for the Dell donation, there are other options that could come your way.
Some companies are also offering contributions, like the memory chip maker Micron. It's giving $250 to up to a million children living near some of its worksites in states like Minnesota, California and New York, as a way to support the local workforce and community. Micron will also match employee donations to their own children's accounts, up to $1,000 per kid.
Other companies, including Mastercard, Uber and Visa, are also offering matches to employees.
That includes some small businesses, too. "We're going to try it out," said Luke Delorme, co-owner and director of financial planning at the finance firm Tableaux Wealth. "Maybe it'll fit into their financial picture in the future in some meaningful way."
Consider your own retirement funding first
Parents should also prioritize their own retirement before putting money away for their kids' retirement, said Carrie Joy Grimes, CEO of the nonprofit personal finance company WorkMoney.
She suggests parents max out their own retirement accounts before other options, "because what happens is we put money into our kids' stuff, and then we end up needing help in retirement — and that is a way worse financial stress on our kids."
Your kids may also benefit from a 529 education plan
Parents can already choose to invest for their children's futures through 529 savings plans. As with Trump accounts, family members can contribute to these plans with post-tax dollars.But there are differences. First, 529 plans allow kids to withdraw the money tax-free. And second, that money can only be used for education.
Parents can opt for both. Financial advisors say how families can benefit from Trump Accounts will depend on their financial situation. For wealthier families with parents who can already afford to max out their retirement accounts and put aside money in a 529, Trump Accounts are essentially an extra tax benefit for their kids.
Ray Boshara, a senior policy advisor at the Aspen Institute, says that lower-income families will primarily benefit from having that digital donation bucket that can accrue contributions for their kids. Those children might be able to start their adult lives with thousands of dollars they otherwise wouldn't have had.
"These accounts will be transformative for them," Boshara says.
Note: Dell Technologies is a financial supporter of NPR.
