Question 1

What is Beestow?

Accepted Answer

Beestow lets you send a gift whose value is linked to a real stock — companies like Apple, Amazon, or index ETFs like the S&P 500. Instead of a gift card that disappears, you give something whose value can grow with the market.

Question 2

How does it work?

Accepted Answer

Pick a stock to link the gift to, choose an amount, add a personal note, and send it by email, text, or QR code. The recipient opens a gift reveal, signs in to claim it, and can request a cash transfer to their brokerage whenever they're ready.

Question 3

Do I need a brokerage account to send a gift?

Accepted Answer

No — on either side. Senders pay by card. Recipients don't need an existing brokerage account to claim. Everything is handled through Beestow.

Question 4

Do recipients own stock?

Accepted Answer

No. Beestow gifts are prepaid contractual claims whose value references market performance. Securities remain owned by Beestow until redemption — at which point the gift's cash value is transferred to the recipient's brokerage or bank account.

Question 5

What can I gift?

Accepted Answer

Gifts can be linked to individual stocks (Apple, Tesla, Amazon, and more) and broad market ETFs (like the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100). We focus on well-known US equities so gifts are easy to understand and explain.

Question 6

How much can I gift?

Accepted Answer

Preset amounts start at $20. You can also enter any custom amount. The fee is shown clearly at checkout — no surprises.

Question 7

Can I send a gift to anyone?

Accepted Answer

You can send a gift to anyone in the United States other than yourself — Beestow is a gifting platform, so the recipient must be someone other than the sender. Recipients must be 18 or older to claim; if the recipient is a minor, a parent or legal guardian can claim and redeem on their behalf, and transferring that gift from the minor's account to the parent's own account is permitted. International gifting is on our roadmap.

Question 8

Do I need to be 18 or older to use Beestow?

Accepted Answer

Yes — Beestow accounts require you to be 18 or older. The first time you sign in, you'll be asked to confirm your age before accessing your account. If you can't confirm, you'll be signed out and won't be able to use Beestow.

Question 9

Can I gift stock to a child or teenager?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but recipients must be 18 or older to claim and redeem a gift. If you're gifting to someone under 18, an adult can hold the gift on their behalf and transfer the cash value to the child's savings or a custodial brokerage account when they're ready.

Question 10

How does redemption work?

Accepted Answer

When redeemed, Beestow transfers the cash value of the gift to the recipient's brokerage account (no extra fee) or bank account (a flat cash-out service fee applies, shown upfront). The recipient doesn't receive securities — they receive cash equal to the gift's current tracked value, which they can then use however they like.

Question 11

How does the recipient claim their gift?

Accepted Answer

They get a link by email, text, or QR code. Tapping it opens a gift reveal — they see who sent it, which stock the gift is linked to, and the amount. They sign in (or create a free account) to accept, and the gift is theirs.

Question 12

Do Beestow gifts expire?

Accepted Answer

No. A Beestow gift never expires. The recipient can claim it and cash it out whenever they like — there's no deadline to claim and no deadline to redeem. We'll send occasional reminders so it's not forgotten.

Question 13

What happens if the gift isn't claimed right away?

Accepted Answer

Nothing — it stays the recipient's. The gift's value keeps tracking the stock or fund it's linked to until they claim and cash it out. You can resend the link anytime, and we send occasional reminders.

Question 14

Why did my gift say it “couldn't be completed”?

Accepted Answer

Occasionally a gift that's already been delivered has to be reversed and removed. This is never anything the recipient did, and the recipient is never charged anything. The most common reason is that the sender's payment didn't fully clear — for example, a bank transfer (ACH) the sender used was later returned by their bank. Less commonly, a payment couldn't be verified, didn't pass a routine security or eligibility check, or would have exceeded an annual gifting limit between the sender and that recipient. In every case the sender is fully refunded and can send the gift again, and the gift's value isn't lost — it simply returns to the sender. If you have questions about a specific gift, email support@beestow.com and we'll help.

Question 15

How does the recipient cash out?

Accepted Answer

Whenever they're ready, they request a cash transfer. We run a quick identity check (a few minutes with a government ID), then they choose where the cash should land — a brokerage account (no extra fee, recommended) or a bank account (a flat cash-out service fee applies, shown upfront). Funds typically arrive in 1–3 business days.

Question 16

Does the gift value change over time?

Accepted Answer

Yes — that's part of what makes it a meaningful long-term gift. The cash transfer at redemption is based on the current market value the gift is tracking, not the original amount sent. A $50 gift linked to Apple could be tracking at $60 or more by the time the recipient redeems. Markets move both ways, but historically the longer the time horizon, the better the odds. There's no deadline, so there's plenty of time to pick a good moment.

Question 17

Can the recipient cash out part of a gift?

Accepted Answer

Redemptions are whole-gift — you cash out an entire gift at a time. You can cash out as many gifts as you like in one go, but not a fraction of a single gift.

Question 18

Can I get my cash sent to a bank account instead of a brokerage?

Accepted Answer

Yes. When you redeem, you can choose to receive the cash in a brokerage account (no extra fee, recommended) or a bank checking or savings account. The bank option has a flat cash-out service fee that's shown clearly before you confirm — nothing hidden.

Question 19

What is Redemption Mode?

Accepted Answer

When your account's redeemable value reaches a certain level, it enters Redemption Mode. Your existing gifts keep tracking the market and you can cash them out anytime. New gifts sent to you wait in your account until you cash out enough to move back below the limit — they're never lost. It's a temporary status you can move in and out of, and it never affects gifts you've already claimed.

Question 20

How do I leave Redemption Mode?

Accepted Answer

Cash out gifts until your redeemable value is back below the exit level, and complete at least one cash-out to your bank. Once both are done, any waiting gifts unlock and your account returns to normal.

Question 21

What happens to a gift that's never claimed for a very long time?

Accepted Answer

It stays yours and never expires. If we're unable to reach you for the period set by your state's unclaimed-property law, we're required to transfer the value to your state's unclaimed-property program, which holds it for you to claim. We'll always try to reach you first.

Question 22

Does Beestow work with Trump Accounts?

Accepted Answer

Yes — as the gift on top of them. Trump Accounts (launched July 2026) only accept money through the child's parent or guardian via the official government channel, so there's no way for a grandparent or friend to gift into one directly. Beestow fills that gap: you send a market-linked gift to the child, and their parent or guardian claims it, transfers the cash value to their bank account, and contributes it to the child's Trump Account through the official channel. Beestow isn't affiliated with the Trump Accounts program and doesn't deposit into Trump Accounts directly.

Question 23

Why do I need to verify my identity to cash out?

Accepted Answer

Because real money is moving. When you request a payout, we're initiating an ACH bank transfer on your behalf — financial regulations require us to confirm you are who you say you are before we send funds. It's a one-time check; once you're verified, you won't need to do it again for future gifts.

Question 24

What ID do I need?

Accepted Answer

A government-issued photo ID — driver's license, passport, or national ID card. You'll also take a quick selfie so we can confirm it's you. The whole thing takes under 2 minutes and is handled by Stripe Identity, the same verification infrastructure used by major banks and fintechs.

Question 25

Is my ID information safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Identity verification is powered by Stripe Identity — a regulated, SOC 2-compliant provider. Beestow never sees or stores your raw ID documents. Stripe handles the verification and gives us a pass/fail result.

Question 26

Why do you need my routing and account numbers?

Accepted Answer

We need them to send your cash via ACH transfer — the same way direct deposit works. We never get access to your brokerage or bank account itself, and we have no ability to withdraw or trade. You simply provide your routing and account number, and we push the funds to you.

Question 27

Which brokerages are supported for direct transfer?

Accepted Answer

Brokerage transfers (no fee) are supported for: Fidelity, Charles Schwab, E*TRADE, Interactive Brokers, Merrill Edge, Vanguard, and Wealthfront. We provide step-by-step instructions for finding your routing and account numbers in each app. Robinhood and Webull brokerage accounts do not accept inbound ACH transfers and are not supported. If your brokerage isn't listed, choose the bank account option instead.

Question 28

What if I want to receive cash in my bank account instead?

Accepted Answer

You can — just select Bank Account when you redeem. A flat cash-out service fee applies (shown upfront before you confirm). You can connect your bank securely via Plaid or enter your routing and account numbers manually.

Question 29

What do the different payout statuses mean?

Accepted Answer

After you submit your redemption, your gift card will show one of these statuses:

• Verifying identity — we're confirming your ID through our identity check. This usually takes just a few minutes.

• Processing — your identity is verified and your payout is being prepared. A transfer will be initiated within 1 business day.

• Transfer in progress — your cash has been sent. Expect it to arrive in 1–3 business days.

• Complete — your cash has arrived in your account.

• Action needed — something went wrong with the transfer. Email support@beestow.com and we'll resolve it within 1 business day.

Question 30

How long does the payout take?

Accepted Answer

Once your identity is verified, transfers are typically initiated within 1 business day and arrive within 1–3 business days after that. Brokerage deposits and bank deposits follow the same ACH timeline.

Question 31

My status says 'Action needed' — what do I do?

Accepted Answer

This means the transfer couldn't be completed, usually due to an issue with the account details on file. Email us at support@beestow.com with the subject line 'Payout issue' and we'll sort it out within 1 business day. Your gift value is safe — nothing is lost.

Question 32

Are there any fees?

Accepted Answer

A small service fee is added at checkout — shown before you confirm. Recipients pay nothing to claim. No subscriptions and no maintenance or inactivity fees on ordinary accounts. No hidden charges.

Question 33

What's the processing spread?

Accepted Answer

When you cash out a gift, a processing spread is applied to its value at that time, and the rest is sent to where you choose. It's applied to the redemption value, not to your gains, and we show you the exact amounts before you confirm.

Question 34

Can I schedule a gift for a future date?

Accepted Answer

Not yet. Gifts are sent immediately when payment is confirmed. Scheduled delivery is on our roadmap.

Question 35

Are there tax implications for sending or receiving a stock gift?

Accepted Answer

Beestow abides by standard IRS gifting limits — senders can gift up to $19,000 per recipient per year (the 2026 annual exclusion) without triggering a gift tax filing requirement. The original gift amount is not taxable income to the recipient — gifts are excluded from income under U.S. tax law. If your gift's tracked value grew and you redeem for more than the original amount, that extra portion may be taxable income in the year you redeem. Beestow provides a record of every redemption you can use for your own reporting. Everyone's situation is different, and Beestow doesn't provide tax advice — if you're unsure, a quick check with a tax professional is the best move.

Question 36

Is this a scam?

Accepted Answer

No — and we understand why you're asking. A gift link from a name you don't recognize deserves a second look. Here's what should put you at ease: claiming a gift is completely free, and Beestow never asks a recipient for a payment, a card number, or a password to anything. When you're ready to cash out, the money goes to your own brokerage or bank account — we only ever send funds to you, never pull from you. Payments, sign-in, and identity checks run on the same providers used by major banks and fintechs (Stripe, Clerk, Plaid). If anything ever feels off, email support@beestow.com before acting — a real person will answer.

Question 37

Is Beestow secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Payments, identity verification, and bank connections all use industry-standard providers. We don't store card numbers or bank credentials.

Question 38

Is Beestow regulated?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We operate within US financial regulations. The details are in our Terms of Service — the short version is: your money is handled compliantly and the inventory backing each gift's referenced market value is held by Beestow.

Everything you need to know

Still have questions?

Everything you need to know

Still have questions?