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Working Americans will soon see a sizable financial boost in the form of a tax refund — and not a moment too soon, as economists are predicting higher inflation rates this year due to the impact of the war in Iran on energy prices (1).
Thanks to changes tied to President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, up to $100 billion in tax refunds could hit bank accounts in the first quarter of 2026 (2).
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated in December 2025: “The bill was passed in July. Working Americans didn’t change their withholding, so they’re going to be getting very large refunds in the first quarter. So I think we’re going to see $100 to $150 billion of refunds, which could be between $1,000 and $2,000 per household (3).”
After that, once withholding levels adjust, workers could see what he described as a “real increase” in their wages.
For many households, that raises an immediate question: What’s 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 money to work, here are a few ways Americans may consider investing their potential windfall.
According to data released by the IRS on March 6, 2026 (4), early filers are already seeing a boost over last year. Of the 60.7 million individual returns received by that date, the average payouts are $3,676, up from $3,324 last year (5).
And while it may be tempting to spend the windfall, especially as prices continue to rise, stashing the cash in an emergency fund can be one of the best ways to use your refund.
“When you’re broke, your life looks like a country song,” veteran financial guru Dave Ramsey says (6). “An emergency fund turns a crisis into an inconvenience.”
However, it’s important to put your emergency fund in an account where it can grow, so that inflation doesn’t eat away at the value of your savings.
If you’re looking to build an emergency savings fund, a high-yield savings account is another possible place to begin. While the national interest rate average is an APY of 0.40%, online banks can offer you much more competitive returns.
A high-yield account like a Wealthfront Cash Account can be a great place to grow your uninvested cash, offering both competitive interest rates and easy access to your money when you need it.
A Wealthfront Cash Account currently offers a base APY of 3.30% through program banks, and new clients can get an extra 0.75% boost during their first three months on up to $150,000 for a total variable APY of 4.05%.
That’s ten times the national deposit savings rate, according to the FDIC’s March report.
Additionally, Wealthfront is offering new clients who enable direct deposit ($1,000/mo minimum) to their Cash Account and open and fund a new investment account an additional 0.25% APY increase with no expiration date or balance limit, meaning your APY could be as high as 4.30%.
With no minimum balances or account fees, as well as 24/7 withdrawals and free domestic wire transfers, your funds remain accessible at all times. Plus, you get access to up to $8M FDIC Insurance eligibility through program banks
You can also check out the Moneywise list of the Best High-Yield Savings Accounts of 2026 and find an offer that fits with your savings goal.
Read More: I’m almost 50 years old and don’t have retirement savings. Is it too late?
The U.S. stock market has been a powerful engine of wealth creation. In the last three years, the S&P 500 has delivered an annualized return of nearly 17% (7).
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 the stock market’s long-term growth.
“In my view, for most people, the best thing to do is own the S&P 500 index fund,” Buffett has famously stated (8).
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 up each purchase to the nearest dollar, investing the difference — your spare change — into a diversified portfolio.
That morning coffee for $4.25? It’s now a 75-cent investment in your future.
Even better, with Acorns, you can follow Buffett’s advice to invest in an S&P 500 ETF with as little as $5 — and if you sign up today with a recurring deposit, Acorns will add a $20 bonus to help you begin your investment journey.
Beyond stocks, real estate has long been another cornerstone of building wealth in America.
In fact, Buffett often points to real estate when explaining what a productive, income-generating asset looks like. In 2022, he stated that if you offered him “1% of all the apartment houses in the country” for $25 billion, he would “write you a check (9).”
Why is he so bullish on real estate? Because, regardless of what’s happening in the broader economy, people still need a place to live, and rentals can consistently produce rent money.
What’s more, real estate also offers a built-in hedge against inflation. When inflation rises, property values often increase as well, reflecting the higher costs of materials, labor and land. At the same time, rental income tends to go up, providing landlords with a revenue stream that adjusts with inflation.
Of course, you don’t need $25 billion — or even to buy a single property outright — to invest in real estate. Crowdfunding platforms like Arrived offer an easier way to get exposure to this income-generating asset class.
Backed by world-class investors like Jeff Bezos, Arrived allows you to invest in shares of rental homes with as little as $100, all without the hassle of mowing lawns, fixing leaky faucets or handling 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’d want to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.
For a limited time, when you open an account and add $1,000 or more, Arrived will credit your account with a 1% match.
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We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines.
CNBC (1), (5), (8), (9); Tax Foundation (2); @NBC10Philadelphia (3); IRS (4); @EveryDollar (6); S&P Global (7)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
