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4 weeks ago | 
bankrate.com | Allison Martin |MSN Money |Andrea Coombes
If you operate a business or plan to open one soon, you’ve likely heard the term EIN. But what is an EIN, or employer identification number, and do you need one? In short, EINs are used by the IRS to identify businesses and organizations for tax purposes. Even if you aren’t required to have an EIN, it can be helpful when starting and running a business. What is an EIN?
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1 month ago | 
financebuzz.com | Christy Rakoczy |MSN Money |Jeff White
Finding ways to save on taxes is one of the best ways to get ahead financially. One of the best ways to cut your tax bill is to take lessons from millionaires, many of whom have spent a fortune working with tax professionals to identify every deduction and credit they can use to reduce what they owe the IRS. Here are eight of those federal tax savings opportunities millionaires take advantage of that might work for you as well.
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1 month ago | 
financebuzz.com | Melissa Brock |MSN Money |Melinda Sineriz
According to the Social Security Administration, as of January 2025, over 73 million people receive Social Security benefits. When millions of retirees depend on Social Security benefits each month, are you now, or will you be one of them? Here are 10 ways to boost your retirement income by increasing your Social Security benefits.
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1 month ago | 
erika.com | Miranda Marquit |MSN Money |Erika Kullberg
Have you ever watched the luggage carousel spin… and spin… and spin… only to realize your bag isn’t coming out? It’s every traveler’s nightmare. Lost luggage comes with a cost — and not just what you pay to replace your bag. Often, you need to replace the items inside the luggage. If your bag is declared lost, you’re entitled to some compensation from the airline, under a rule by the Department of Transporation (DOT). But if you have travel insurance, your possessions will have extra protection.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | Dori Zinn |MSN Money |Lisa Dammeyer |Dayana Yochim
If you’ve been dreaming of retirement since you entered the workforce, you might have a certain idea of what it looks like. But there’s a chance you might not start retirement when you thought you would, perhaps due to circumstances beyond your control or because you’re simply not ready to exit the working world. While life doesn’t always go according to plan, would-be retirees can make the best of a delayed retirement timeline, and may even find that putting it off for a few years is a good idea.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | Dori Zinn |MSN Money |Pippin Wilbers
A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings account intended for college education expenses. These plans charge fees, which vary by state and whether the plan is advisor-sold or direct-sold. Common fees include account maintenance fees, annual maintenance fees and enrollment fees. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings account designed to help families save for future education costs. While a 529 plan can be a lucrative investment vehicle, it can come with some fees.
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1 month ago | 
cabotwealth.com | Michael Brush |MSN Money
Are promises made really promises kept, for President Donald Trump? No one really knows. So, cannabis equity investors remain depressed. They can’t get any bullish signals from the administration on Trump’s promised rescheduling – which was one reason they voted for him, if they did. But there is a way to deal with this uncertainty as a cannabis investor. Shift your focus to getting paid to wait.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | Dori Zinn |MSN Money |James Royal |Rachel Christian
Whether you were forced out of the workforce due to downsizing, a recession or other reasons, you might’ve retired thinking you were done with work for good. But unretirement might change that, whether it’s because you need the money, you miss the social engagement or some other reason entirely. You don’t have to stop working at some magical age. Even if you don’t want to go back to what you were doing before retirement, you can find meaningful, paying work.
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1 month ago | 
bankrate.com | Dori Zinn |MSN Money |Pippin Wilbers
You can log into the Federal Student Aid website to identify what type of loans you have. Federal student loans are distributed by the federal government and are serviced by lenders assigned by the Department of Education. If you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you’re also applying for federal student loans since some of them are based on need. Private student loans are offered by banks, credit unions and online lenders.
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2 months ago | 
bankrate.com | Dori Zinn |MSN Money |Pippin Wilbers
Some states offer deductions for 529 plan contributions up to certain limits. 529 plan contributions and qualified withdrawals are tax-free. If you pay state income taxes, you’ll need to report 529 contributions on your tax return as well as any withdrawals for qualified educational expenses. A 529 plan lets you invest money for future educational expenses. So long as you use the money for education, you won’t owe taxes on the investment gains.
