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President Donald Trump promises a windfall for millions of Americans: He declares that spring 2026 will bring the “biggest tax return season ever.” And one of his top economic advisors says the checks won’t just be large: they will be “massive.”
Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council and a leading candidate to become the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, says a wave of refunds is coming, all because of the timing of Trump’s introduction of the “One Big Beautiful Bill.”
“We didn’t pass the Big Beautiful Bill until mid-summer, so a lot of the tax changes that affected last year weren’t on any tax forms that people filled out at the beginning of the year,” he told Fox Business (1).
“So we’re going to see the largest refund cycle ever seen in American history, and people are going to receive massive refund checks.”
Hassett noted that the impact will be especially pronounced for a specific group of workers: those who rely on tips or overtime.
“For the typical tipped or overtime pay person, we expect that portion alone to be worth a couple thousand dollars in reimbursement,” he said.
This is because the One Big Beautiful Bill eliminated taxes on tips and overtime, giving these workers a notable increase in take-home pay.
Hassett added that the administration will launch “a big public relations campaign at the beginning of the year urging people to file early” to make sure workers claim everything they are owed.
For many households, this raises an immediate question: What’s the smartest way to use a sudden injection of cash? Whether you’re thinking about shoring up your finances, preparing for uncertainty, or putting that extra money to work, here are some ways Americans can consider investing their potential windfall.
The American stock market has been a powerful engine of wealth creation. Trump has pointed to that strength, recently saying: “The only thing that’s really going up a lot? Is the stock market and your 401(k) plans.” (2)
The benchmark S&P 500 index is up about 16% so far this year and has gained about 84% over the past five years.
Of course, it’s not easy to consistently pick winning stocks. That’s why legendary investor Warren Buffett argues that most people don’t need to pick individual companies to benefit from the long-term growth of the stock market.
“In my opinion, for most people, the best thing they can do is own the S&P 500 index fund,” Buffett said (3).
This approach gives investors exposure to 500 of America’s largest companies across a wide range of industries, providing instant diversification without the need for constant monitoring or active trading.
If you want to follow Buffett’s approach, getting started has never been easier.
With investing platforms like Robinhood, you can buy and sell stocks and ETFs, like an S&P 500 index fund, and trade commission-free options, track your portfolio in real time, and get access to 24/7 customer service.
For those starting small, the app also allows you to purchase fractional shares for as little as $1, making it easy to build a diversified portfolio without breaking the bank.
The best part? New Robinhood customers can also get select free stocks from top US companies once they sign up and link their bank account to the app.
Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 solid, repeatable money rules to turn $9,800 into a $150 billion fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich)
Beyond stocks, real estate has long been another cornerstone of wealth creation in America.
In fact, Buffett often points to real estate when explaining how it is a productive, income-generating asset. In 2022, Buffett stated that if he was offered “1% of all the apartment buildings in the country” for $25 billion, “I would write you a check.” (4)
Because? Because regardless of what’s happening in the broader economy, people still need a place to live and apartments can consistently generate rental money.
Real estate also offers a built-in protection against inflation. When inflation rises, property values often rise as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to increase, providing landlords with an income stream that adjusts with inflation.
Of course, you don’t need $25 billion (or even buying a single property outright) to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to gain exposure to this income-generating asset class.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived lets you invest in rental home stocks with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing the lawn, fixing leaky faucets, or dealing with difficult tenants.
The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you find a property you like, select the number of shares you want to purchase and then sit back as you begin receiving positive rental income distributions from your investment.
Another option is Mogul, a real estate investment platform that offers fractional ownership in prime rental properties, providing investors with monthly rental income, real-time appreciation, and tax benefits, without the need for a large down payment or 3 a.m. tenant calls.
Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team curates the top 1% of single-family rental homes nationwide for you. In other words, you get access to institutional-quality offerings for a fraction of the usual cost.
Each property undergoes a rigorous vetting process, requiring a minimum 12% return even in negative scenarios. In general, the platform has an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Offers usually sell out in less than three hours, and investments usually range between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.
You can register for an account and then browse available properties here.
You don’t need a massive investment portfolio to start building wealth. Even money you have left over (like a tax refund) can generate income, rather than sitting idle in a low-performing account.
One of the easiest ways to put that money to work is to transfer it to an account that really rewards you. High Yield Savings Accounts (HYSAs) won’t make you rich overnight, but they offer a low-risk way to earn interest on money you may need to access at any time.
And the gap can be significant. While the average national interest rate on savings accounts is an APY of 0.39%, online banks can offer you much more competitive returns, in some cases up to 10 times more.
You can check out Moneywise’s list of the best high-yield savings accounts of 2025 and find a deal that fits your savings goal.
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Fox Business (1), NTD (2), CNBC (3, 4)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
