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President Donald Trump is promising a windfall for millions of Americans — announcing that spring 2026 will bring the “biggest tax refund season of all time.” And one of his top financial advisers says the checks won’t just be big — they’ll be “huge.”
Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council and a leading contender to be the next Federal Reserve chairman, says a tidal wave of withdrawals is coming — all because of the timing of Trump’s “one big beautiful bill.”
“We didn’t pass the Big Beautiful bill until mid-summer, and so a lot of the tax changes that affected last year weren’t on any of the tax forms that people filled out at the beginning of the year,” he told Fox Business (1).
“So we’re going to see the biggest refund cycle in U.S. history, and people are going to get huge refund checks.”
Hassett points out that the impact will be particularly pronounced for a particular group of workers: those who rely on tips or overtime.
“The average person who’s a tipped worker or gets paid overtime, we’re expecting just a fraction of that alone to be worth a couple thousand-dollar refund,” he said.
That’s because the One Big Beautiful bill repealed taxes on tips and overtime, giving these workers a significant increase in take-home pay.
Hassett added that the administration will launch “a big PR campaign early in the year asking people to file early” to ensure workers claim everything they’re owed.
For many households, this raises the immediate question: What is the smartest way to use the sudden cash infusion? Whether you’re thinking about downsizing your finances, preparing for uncertainty, or putting that extra money to work, here are some ways Americans can consider investing their potential windfall.
The US stock market has been a powerful engine of wealth creation. Trump has pointed to that power, recently saying, “The only thing that’s really getting bigger? It’s the stock market and your 401(k)s.” (2)
The benchmark S&P 500 is up about 16% year to date and has gained about 84% over the past five years.
Of course, picking consistently winning stocks isn’t easy. That’s why legendary investor Warren Buffett argues that most people don’t need to choose individual companies to benefit from the long-term growth of the stock market.
“In my opinion, for most people, the best thing to do is own an S&P 500 index fund,” Buffett famously said (3).
This approach gives investors exposure to a wide range of industries across 500 of America’s largest companies, providing immediate 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 trade stocks and ETFs — like the S&P 500 index fund — and trade options commission-free, track your portfolio in real time and get 24/7 access to customer service.
For starters, the app lets you buy 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 get free stock curated from top US companies after you sign up and link your bank account to the app.
Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 solid, repeatable money rules to turn $9,800 into a $150B fortune. Start using them today to get rich (and stay rich).
Beyond stocks, real estate has long been another cornerstone of wealth building in America.
In fact, Buffett often points to real estate when explaining what a productive, income-producing asset looks like. In 2022, Buffett said that if you offered him “1% of all the apartment buildings in the country” for $25 billion, he would “write you a check.” (4)
Why? Because of what’s going on in the broader economy, people still need a place to live and apartments can generate consistent rental money.
Real estate also provides an inherent hedge against inflation. When inflation rises, property prices often rise, reflecting higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income increases, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts to inflation.
Of course, you don’t need $25 billion to invest in real estate — or to buy a single property. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrive offer an easy way to gain exposure to this income-generating asset class.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in rental properties for as little as $100 without the hassle of mowing lawns, 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 buy and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.
Another option is Mogul, a real estate investment platform offering fractional ownership in blue-chip rental properties, which gives investors monthly rental income, real-time appraisals and tax benefits — without the need for hefty down payments or 3 AM rental calls.
Founded by former Goldman Sachs real estate investors, the team handpicks 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 normal cost.
Each asset goes through a rigorous vetting process, even in negative scenarios requiring a minimum 12% return. Across the board, the platform features an average annual IRR of 18.8%. Offers often sell within three hours, with investments typically between $15,000 and $40,000 per property.
You can sign up for an account and then browse the available properties here.
You don’t need a large investment portfolio to start building wealth. Even your extra cash — like a tax refund — can earn income instead of sitting idle in a low-yield account.
One of the simplest ways to put that money to work is to move it into an account that actually rewards you. High Yield Savings Accounts (HYSAs) won’t make you rich overnight, but they do offer a low-risk way to earn interest on money you need access to anytime.
And the gap can be significant. While the national interest rate on savings accounts averages 0.39% APY, online banks can offer you much more competitive returns — up to 10x higher in some cases.
You can check the Moneywise list of best high yield savings accounts 2025 and find an offer that matches your savings goals.
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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.
