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Working Americans will soon see a sizable financial boost — all thanks to changes in President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Speaking to a Pennsylvania reporter on Dec. 10, Bessent said an estimated $100 billion to $150 billion in tax refunds could hit bank accounts in the first quarter of 2026.
Bessent said Trump fought harder than anyone for his signature initiatives in the One Big Beautiful Bill, highlighting provisions like no tip tax, no overtime tax and automatic deductibility (1).
“The bill passed in July. American workers didn’t change their withholding, so they’re going to get very large refunds in the first quarter. So I think we’re going to see $100 billion to $150 billion in refunds, which could be $1,000 to $2,000 per household.”
After that, once retention levels adjust, workers could see what he described as a “real increase” in their wages.
The White House echoed that view. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the next season of refunds is projected to be the largest on record.
“Americans can also expect another boost to their bank accounts in the coming months as the 2026 tax refund season kicks off after the holidays and is expected to be the biggest ever,” Leavitt said during a Dec. 11 press conference (2).
For many households, this raises an immediate question: What is the smartest way to use a sudden cash infusion? Whether you’re thinking about shoring up your finances, preparing for uncertainty, or putting that extra cash 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 emphasized this force, recently saying, “the only thing that’s really going up big? It’s the stock market and your 401(k)s (3).”
The benchmark S&P 500 is up about 16% year to date and has gained about 86% over the past five years.
Of course, consistently picking winning stocks isn’t easy. That’s why legendary investor Warren Buffett argues that most people don’t need to pick individual companies at all to benefit from long-term stock market growth.
“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is to own the S&P 500 index fund,” said Buffett (4).
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.
The beauty of this approach is its accessibility—anyone, regardless of wealth, can take advantage of it. Even small amounts can grow over time with tools like Acorns, a popular app that automatically invests your spare change.
Signing up for Acorns takes just minutes: link your cards and Acorns will round each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference—your spare change—in a diversified portfolio. With Acorns, you can invest in an S&P 500 ETF for just $5 – and if you sign up today with a recurring deposit, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you start your investment journey.
Read more: Warren Buffett used 8 solid, repeatable 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 development in America.
In fact, Buffett often points to real estate when explaining what a productive, income-generating asset looks like. In 2022, Buffett stated that if you offered him “1% of all the apartments in the country” for $25 billion, he would “write you a check (5)”.
Why? Because regardless of what happens in the wider economy, people still need a place to live, and apartments can consistently generate rent money.
Real estate also provides a built-in hedge against inflation. When inflation rises, property values often rise as well, reflecting higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to rise, giving landlords an income stream that adjusts with inflation.
Of course, you don’t need $25 billion—or even to buy a single property—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 housing stock for as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets, or managing difficult tenants.
The process is simple: browse a curated selection of homes that have been vetted for their appreciation and income potential. Once you’ve found 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 First National Realty Partners (FNRP), which allows accredited investors to diversify their portfolio through grocery-anchored commercial properties without taking on the responsibilities of ownership.
With a minimum investment of $50,000, investors can own a portion of properties leased by national brands like Whole Foods, Kroger and Walmart that provide essential goods to their communities. Thanks to Triple Net Leases (NNN), accredited investors can invest in these properties without worrying about cutting tenant costs into their potential returns.
Answer a few questions – including how much you’d like to invest – to start browsing the full list of available properties.
You don’t need a massive investment portfolio to start building wealth. Even your spare cash — such as a tax refund — can earn income rather than sitting idle in a low-yielding account.
However, one challenge is the changing interest rate environment. When interest rates change, high-yield savings accounts can feel like a moving target. You might earn a competitive APY one month, only to have your bank quietly lower it the next. That’s the trade-off with HYSA: they’re flexible, but your return may not be guaranteed.
With the Fed’s recent interest rate cuts, many savers are already seeing their yields fall. This makes locked-in returns more valuable than ever – and this is where a certificate of deposit (CD) shines.
With a CD, you lock in a guaranteed rate upfront, so your earnings stay constant for a set term, even if rates drop further. It’s predictable, reliable growth, which you don’t always get with traditional accounts.
Raisin makes it even easier by giving you access to high-yield, penalty-free CDs from major US banks, all with no fees and minimums as low as $1.
Do you prefer higher profits? Choose a high yield CD for fixed and reliable earnings. Do you want flexibility? A penalty-free CD allows you to access your money early without the usual withdrawal fees that come with a regular CD.
Whether you’re saving for something soon or building a cushion for the long term, Raisin offers a simple way to earn more without worrying about tomorrow’s rate changes affecting your profits.
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