Have questions?
We have answers.
Why should I trust you all to save memories and invest in my child's future?
At EarlyBird, we understand the immense responsibility of safeguarding your precious family memories and investing in your child's future. That's why we've built a robust and trustworthy platform using the best encryption and digital secuity messures to ensure any memory saved on EarlyBird is fully protected.
On top of this, we are also backed by some of the largest and most reputable financial institutions. With over 5 years of experience, we've established ourselves as a leader in the early childhood investment space, and our passion for helping families create lasting legacies drives us every day. We are committed to continuously improving our services and solidifying our position as a prominent, reliable platform for years to come.
Why should I use EarlyBird?
EarlyBird is a one of a kind solution that enables parents to create a priceless time capsule of love and support that is gifted a child when they become an adult and allows them to look back and cherish all the memories that made them who they are.
Through the combination of love, community, and capital, EarlyBird provides the ability to not only celebrate life's most important milestones with all of the people that matter most but also invest financially in these special occasions.
Whether you're a beginner or an expert in investing in the stock market, EarlyBird simplifies the process for parents to kickstart their child's financial future by opening a custodial investment account, while allowing family and friends to remain connected to the children they love by gifting meaningful and sustainable financial contributions for all life's milestones.
What are the fees? How does pricing work?
It's completely FREE to get started with a digital time capsule on EarlyBird.
Once you're ready to start investing, our pricing is simple. It's $2.95/month for families with one child or $4.95/month for unlimited kids.
How do I give my EarlyBird account to my child when they become an adult?
When your child reaches adulthood (18 years old or 21 years old depending on the state), you'll have the ability to officially gift them their entire EarlyBird account, including the priceless time capsule and any investment accounts you've created for them. This seamless account transfer process allows you to pass down this invaluable collection of memories and financial headstart as one of the most meaningful gifts a parent can give. We'll guide you through the simple steps to make this transition when the time is right.
How can I cancel my subscription?
You can easily go into the app and request an account closure. Within 24 hours we will work to close out your account and assist you in collecting any of the memories you have created.
How do I invite family and friends?
EarlyBird makes it easy to "build your Nest" by inviting your friends and family to join and contribute to your child's time capsule. Within the app, you can simply search for their names or email addresses and send them an invitation to become a Nest member.
How many Nest members can I invite?
You can invite an unlimited number of Nest members! We encourage you to include your close family members as well as your dearest friends, giving them the opportunity to share in celebrati ng your child's precious moments.
What is a "time capsule"
A time capsule on EarlyBird is a virtual space where you can curate and celebrate all of your child's most precious moments throughout their life. It serves as a digital timeline that allows you to store and cherish these memories, creating a priceless keepsake that you can eventually pass along to your child when they become an adult.
How can I build a memory?
Creating a memory on EarlyBird is simple and straightforward. Click the "Add Memory" button, then choose the type of memory you want to add - Moment, Milestone, Occasion, or Message. Next, give your memory a name and upload up to 5 visual assets (photos or 1 video) that capture the special occasion. You can then write a heartfelt message, tag any individuals who were present, and even invest money towards that memory if you wish. Finally, share the memory with your Nest (friends and family) to let them celebrate along with you.
Who owns the photos/videos?
You do, of course! You can check out our Terms and Conditions for more details, but rest assured all of these assets are owned by you and will only be shared with the firends and family you choose.
Can I edit a memory after it is created?
Absolutely! You can revisit and edit any memory in your time capsule at any point. Whether you want to add more photos, update the message, or modify the investment amount, your memories are fully customizable.
Can I delete a memory if I don't like it?
Yes, you have complete control over the memories in your time capsule. If you decide you no longer want a particular memory included, you can easily delete it from your timeline.
What lives on my child's timeline?
Your child's timeline will be a comprehensive collection of all the memories added by you and your Nest members over the years. It will serve as a digital scrapbook, documenting all the special moments, milestones, and occasions from their childhood.
What happens to all of my memories if EarlyBird goes under?
In the unlikely event that EarlyBird ceases operations, we have a contingency plan in place to ensure your memories are not lost. All users will be notified and provided with a reasonable timeline to download and save all the photos, videos, and other assets they have uploaded to their time capsules.
Are my memories protected securely?
Yes, the security and privacy of your memories is our top priority. We utilize industry-leading encryption and storage methods to ensure that all photos, videos, and personal data remains safely protected at all times.
What is EarlyBird's investment strategy?
EarlyBird is a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) and partners with wealth management and financial planning experts to curate our investment offering. We offer parents a fixed portfolio model, where we recommend expertly crafted ETF-based portfolios made up of both securities and bonds, based on the age of the child, your investment goals, time horizon, risk tolerance, and other factors.
There are 5 fixed portfolios that a user can choose from ranging from conservative (100% bond based ETF's) to aggressive (100% equity based ETF's). To learn more about the specific portfolios, please download the EarlyBird app and everything is explained in detail.
What is a custodial account?
A custodial account allows a parent, guardian, or other family members/friends to open an investing account for a minor*.
The adult (or Custodian) who opens the account can manage the money and investments until the minor reaches the “age of majority.”
That age is usually 18 or 21, depending on the Custodian’s state. When the minor is old enough, money in a custodial account becomes their property. The assets deposited into a custodial account cannot be taken back or given to someone else.*The age of a minor varies by state. Some states consider anyone under 18 a minor. Other states consider individuals minors until they are 21.*To withdraw funds from a custodial account please contact support.
What are the differences between a custodial account and a 529 Plan?
529 plans and custodial accounts — such as a UGMA (Uniform Gifts to Minors Act) — provide ways for parents and others to help save for children's tuition and other expenses for college and private elementary and secondary school.
One major difference is in the flexibility of use of funds. Custodial accounts can be used for non-education purposes, whereas a 529 plan can only be used (without adverse income tax consequences) for tuition, room and board, and other qualified education expenses.
What are the tax implications of investing in or contributing to a custodial account?
Account Owners: Because money placed in an UGMA account is owned by the child, earnings are generally taxed at the child’s—usually lower—tax rate, rather than the parent’s rate. For some families, the savings can be significant.
For those giving: Contributions to UGMA accounts are made with after-tax dollars—the donor doesn't receive an income tax deduction for making them. However, up to $15,000 per individual ($30,000 for a married couple) annually can be contributed free of gift tax.
How are my accounts and investments protected?
EarlyBird is committed to providing you and your family with the highest levels of security. Investment accounts are held with our trusted partner and custodian Apex Clearing Corporation, a third-party SEC registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC). This means the investments in your account are protected up to $500,000 total.
We use the highest standards to ensure your information and data is safe. We use multi-factor authentication, automatic logouts, and ID verification to help prevent unauthorized access. Accounts are protected with 256-bit SSL encryption.
How do gifts work?
EarlyBird gifts can be sent to anyone, including people who do not have EarlyBird. All you need to do is select a phone number from your contacts, choose how much you want to invest, record a short video memory to personalize the gift, and then invest!Recipients will be notified through text message. It is usually a good idea to follow up with a personalized message as well. All the recipient needs to do to accept the gift is complete an EarlyBird custodial account for their child.
What happens to my EarlyBird account, and our investments should anything happen to EarlyBird?
It is important to note that EarlyBird Central Inc. is an SEC-registered Investment Advisor (RIA). EarlyBird's brokerage services are provided to clients of EarlyBird Central Inc. by Apex Clearing Corporation, an SEC-registered broker-dealer and member FINRA. Apex Clearing Corporation is a member of SIPC. Apex is the leader in digital brokerage services powering Stash, Acorns, SoFi, and many of the other predominant roboadvisors and financial technology services on the market today.
EarlyBird has carefully crafted a succession plan for all accounts on the EarlyBird platform, should users wish to move their account elsewhere. Users can follow one of the following two options:
1) Transfer all funds from EarlyBird to a different broker-dealer. EarlyBird will assist with this process and ensure that all funds get successfully transferred.
2) Liquidate investments as needed. EarlyBird will work with all users who prefer to liquidate their funds and transfer the entire balance back to the user's connected bank account.
Additional questions?
Contact EarlyBird support for assistance.