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As tax season wraps up, the White House is pointing to new numbers it says highlight the impact of President Donald Trump's tax policy — and the size of Americans' refunds.

At a recent White House press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the administration's Working Families Tax Cuts have put "a historic amount of money back into the pockets of the American people this year" (1).

According to Leavitt, more than 53 million filers claimed at least one of the administration's signature tax breaks this season. The average refund, she added, is now more than $3,400.

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"The numbers prove these tax cuts have been nothing short of extraordinary," she said. "The Trump administration has issued more refunds, and larger refunds, than in any year in the history of our country."

The latest data from the Internal Revenue Service shows that as of April 10, the agency had processed 113.6 million tax returns, with an average refund of $3,397 — about 11.1% higher than a year earlier (2).

Leavitt framed the policy around a broader philosophy: that Americans should have greater control over their own money.

"President Trump and Republicans in Congress have always believed that the American people know how to spend their money better than the government does," she said, adding that the administration believes Americans "deserve to keep more of their hard-earned paychecks."

In a Tax Day press release, the White House said more than six million Americans claimed the No Tax on Tips provision, with average deductions topping $7,100 (3). It also said over 25 million people benefited from No Tax on Overtime, with average deductions exceeding $3,100.

Another major change is No Tax on Social Security. The White House said "an overwhelming majority of seniors" will pay no tax on their Social Security income, with more than 30 million seniors claiming an average deduction of over $7,500.

For many households, a tax refund can feel like a one-time gain — but what you do with that money could have longer-term implications.

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.

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For many investors, real estate has long been a go-to asset — not just for building wealth, but for generating recurring income. High-quality rental properties can provide steady cash flow, while property values have historically trended up over time.

That income component can be especially appealing in today's environment. With costs rising across housing, food and energy, assets that can keep pace with inflation are back in focus. Real estate is often cited as one of them, since rents and property values tend to rise alongside the cost of living.

It's also an area Trump himself knows well. Before entering politics, he built much of his fortune in real estate.

And unlike some other investments, real estate doesn't need a roaring stock market to deliver returns. Even during downturns, high-quality properties can generate rental income — offering a dependable stream of passive cash flow.

As Trump told Steve Forbes back in 2011, "I just notice that when you have that right piece of property, whatever it might be, including location, it tends to work well in good times and in bad times" (4).

Today, you don't need to buy a property outright to benefit from real estate investing. 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 like to purchase and then sit back as you start receiving any positive rental income distributions from your investment.

As of November 2025, Arrived has already paid out more than $19 million in dividends to over 900,000 registered investors.

Another option is Lightstone DIRECT, which offers accredited investors access to institutional-quality multifamily and industrial real estate — with a minimum investment of $100,000.

Founded in 1986 by David Lichtenstein, Lightstone Group is one of the largest privately held real estate investment firms in the U.S., with more than $12 billion in assets under management.

Over nearly four decades, their team has delivered strong, risk-adjusted performance across multiple market cycles — including a 27.6% historical net IRR and a 2.54x historical net equity multiple on realized investments since 2004.

With Lightstone DIRECT, you gain access to the same multifamily and industrial deals Lightstone pursues with its own capital.

Here's the kicker: Lightstone invests at least 20% of its own capital in every deal — roughly four times the industry average. With skin in the game, the firm ensures its interests are directly aligned with those of its investors.

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-yield account.

To get started, 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.

The U.S. stock market has been a powerful engine of wealth creation — a point Trump has repeatedly emphasized. Recently, he said, "The only thing that's really going up big? It's the stock market and your 401(k)s" (5).

The benchmark S&P 500 returned 16% in 2025 and has gained roughly 70% over the past five years.

Those gains have flowed through to retirement accounts. According to Fidelity, the average 401(k) balance climbed 11% from a year ago to $146,400 in Q4 of 2025 (6).

Still, not all stocks are the same. With markets near record highs, some experts are warning about froth and the risk of chasing momentum without doing the homework.

That's where research tools can come in handy. Platforms like Moby aim to simplify the process. Their team of former hedge fund analysts does the heavy lifting — breaking down the market, flagging quality stocks and making the research easy to digest.

In fact, across nearly 400 stock picks over the past four years, Moby's recommendations have beaten the S&P 500 by almost 12% on average. Their research keeps you up-to-the-minute on market shifts and takes the guesswork out of choosing investments.

Plus, their reports are easy to understand for beginners, so you can become a smarter investor in just five minutes.

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YouTube (1),(4),(5); Internal Revenue Service (2); The White House (3); Fidelity (6)

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.