SoFi Blog

Multi-year partnership offers SoFi Plus members exclusive access and premium benefits enhancing the fan experience

SoFi Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: SOFI), has announced a multi-year partnership as the official bank and first presenting sponsor of the Country Music Association’s CMA Fest, the world’s largest and longest-running country music festival. This marks SoFi’s first music partnership, embracing the genre’s surging popularity.

CMA Fest presented by SoFi will celebrate its 52nd year in Nashville, Tennessee from June 5-8, 2025. This year, SoFi is enhancing the fan experience for SoFi Plus members. They’ll enjoy exclusive perks, including access to a members-only lounge, presale ticket access to single-night CMA Fest tickets, the VIP Riverfront Retreat experience, and early access to presale tickets for CMA Fest 2026. SoFi debit and credit cardholders can also enjoy 25% cash back rewards on eligible food, drinks, and official merchandise up to $200.

“We’re thrilled to partner with CMA and bring to life SoFi’s mission of helping people achieve financial independence to realize their ambitions. CMA has a rich legacy of bringing artists and fans together and championing the next generation of country music, making it an incredible platform to introduce more people to SoFi as the next generation of banking and financial services,” said Lauren Stafford Webb, CMO at SoFi. “Our partnership will create an unforgettable experience for new and existing SoFi members both live and over broadcast, as we celebrate and reward fans nationwide. Together, we hope to create something that inspires, connects, and encourages people to achieve their ambitions.”

“SoFi’s commitment to empowering its members at every stage of life aligns naturally with CMA’s mission to support and elevate the Country Music community. As we welcome SoFi to CMA Fest in this new capacity, we look forward to working together to enhance the fan experience while celebrating the connections that make Country Music so special,” said Sarah Trahern, CEO at the Country Music Association. “Country Music has a unique way of bringing people together across generations, and CMA Fest is a testament to that tradition. Just as CMA is dedicated to serving our members, SoFi’s presence at the festival reflects their commitment to those they support, making this an organic and exciting collaboration.”

​In 2024, the festival welcomed an estimated 90,000 daily attendees from all 50 states and nearly 50 countries. As part of the multi-channel integration, SoFi will be the presenting broadcast and streaming partner for the “CMA Fest” broadcast special, featuring highlights from the biggest acts in Country Music captured at the festival’s Nissan Stadium main stage. The special is scheduled to air on ABC this summer, with streaming available the next day on Hulu; broadcast details will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Music and storytelling are timeless forces that bring people together, and CMA Fest captures that magic. SoFi’s involvement will further elevate the festival experience, building on today’s vibrant community inspired by live performance,” said John Campbell, SVP, Entertainment and Streaming Solutions, Disney Advertising. “As the leader in live and home to the festival for 20 years, this collaboration will further unite generations of music fans through a special shared celebration in anticipation of Country music’s biggest night.”

CMA Fest joins SoFi’s roster of iconic entertainment partnerships as the official bank of the NBA, the official naming rights sponsor of SoFi Stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, and recently named the presenting partner of TGL, the new tech-forward, primetime, team golf league developed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports.

Become a SoFi Plus member and stay up-to-date on all festival perks here. For the official lineup and to purchase CMA Fest tickets, visit CMAfest.com.

About SoFi
SoFi (NASDAQ: SOFI) is a member-centric, one-stop shop for digital financial services on a mission to help people achieve financial independence to realize their ambitions. The company’s full suite of financial products and services helps 10 million SoFi members borrow, save, spend, invest, and protect their money better by giving them fast access to the tools they need to get their money right, all in one app. SoFi also equips members with the resources they need to get ahead – like credentialed financial planners, exclusive experiences and events, and a thriving community – on their path to financial independence.

SoFi innovates across three business segments: Lending, Financial Services – which includes SoFi Checking and Savings, SoFi Invest, SoFi Credit Card, SoFi Protect, and SoFi Insights – and Technology Platform, which offers the only end-to-end vertically integrated financial technology stack. SoFi Bank, N.A., an affiliate of SoFi, is a nationally chartered bank, regulated by the OCC and FDIC and SoFi is a bank holding company regulated by the Federal Reserve. The company is also the naming rights partner of SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams. For more information, visit SoFi.com or download our iOS and Android apps.

Disclosures

CMA Fest Riverside Retreat: The CMA Fest is provided by Country Music Association, Inc. and not by SoFi or any of its affiliates. Availability, terms, and conditions are subject to change at the discretion of the benefit provider. Please review the provider’s terms of service at https://www.cmaworld.com/terms/. A limited number of pre-sale tickets are available to SoFi Plus members on a first-come, first-served basis, and may not be accessible to all members. To purchase tickets, use the Riverside Retreat code provided to you via email. The code is intended only for SoFi Plus members, and only you may use the code. Taxes and fees apply and are processed through the third-party ticket seller, Ticketmaster, see their terms of use here.

CMA Fest Single-Night Tickets: The CMA Fest is provided by Country Music Association, Inc. and not by SoFi or any of its affiliates. Availability, terms, and conditions are subject to change at the discretion of the benefit provider. Please review the provider’s terms of service at https://www.cmaworld.com/terms/. A limited number of pre-sale tickets are available to SoFi Plus members on a first-come, first-served basis, and may not be accessible to all members. To purchase tickets, use the Single Night code provided to you via email. The code is intended only for SoFi Plus members, and only you may use the code. Taxes and fees apply and are processed through the third-party seller, Ticketmaster, see their terms of use here.

SoFi Plus: SoFi Plus is a premium membership that gives members access to our best APY, discounts, rewards, and more when they set up Eligible Direct Deposit or pay the SoFi Plus Subscription Fee. Benefits are subject to change and may not be available to everyone. All terms and conditions <https://www.sofi.com/terms-of-use/#sofi-plus> applicable to the use of SoFi Plus apply. To learn more about SoFi Plus and available benefits and terms, please see the SoFi Plus<https://www.sofi.com/sofi-plus/> page.

Member in-person experiences: Unless otherwise specified, you must be a SoFi Plus member or guest of a SoFi Plus member to attend a SoFi Member In-Person Experience (a “Member Experience”). By signing up for a Member Experience, you acknowledge that SoFi may record or photograph the Member Experience (including you, your likeness and voice) and may use such recordings or photographs publicly or privately in any form of media, including for commercial purposes. By attending a Member Experience, you consent to the recording and photographing of such Member Experience and grant SoFi an unrestricted, perpetual, non-excluding, and sublicensable license, to take, use, display, perform, distribute or exploit for any lawful and commercial purpose any recordings or photographs. By attending a Member Experience, you also agree that you will make no monetary or other claim against SoFi for the use of the recordings or photographs. If you do not agree, please do not claim a ticket and do not attend the event. We believe our community should be truly open for everyone. As such, we are committing to providing a friendly, safe, and welcoming environment for all regardless of gender, sexual orientation, disability, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, or religion. View the SoFi Experiences Code of Conduct.

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It’s a tough question. One that often comes down to peace of mind versus cost.

Tax preparers charged an average of $248 to do a standard federal tax return in 2023, according to a study by the National Association of Tax Professionals. Depending on your situation, that could easily be double or triple what you’d spend to file on your own with the help of tax software. (You might even be able to use tax software for free — but more on that later.)

The math may change, however, if you think a tax preparer can increase your bottom line, save you time or help you avoid mistakes. And there’s clearly a draw with both options, since last year, 56% of all electronic federal tax returns were filed by tax preparers, and 44% were submitted by the taxpayers themselves.

So how do you decide? Here are a few considerations to help you choose the option that’s best for you.

How complicated are your finances?

A lot depends on how complicated your filing is. Tax software can do a lot, but not everything. Take TurboTax. It’s one of the most well-known tax filing software programs, but it has an 18-page list of limitations. So you may want a tax preparer’s help if you have:

•   Income from lots of different sources

•   Complicated investments

•   Rental property

•   Your own business

•   Reason to file state tax returns in multiple states

How worried are you about making mistakes?

You may want a professional if you just don’t feel comfortable enough with your tax literacy. The U.S. tax code — famous for its complexity — has grown by 47% since 1994 and is now over 4 million words long! And 25% of U.S. adults fear they’ll make a mistake on their tax return, including 33% of Generation Z, according to an online survey commissioned by CNET in February.

Now, your tax return can have errors whether you use a tax preparer or software, but software is only as good as the information you give it, of course. And an honest mistake can still lead to IRS interest charges or even penalties in some cases.

A qualified tax preparer, on the other hand, may give you peace of mind that you’re filing correctly. And many tax preparation chains will offer extra protections for an additional fee. This can include representing you before the IRS if there’s an issue. Just keep in mind that you are legally responsible for everything listed on your tax return even if you follow a professional’s advice.

(To learn more about filing your taxes, check out other On the Money coverage. We explain the difference between tax credits and tax deductions, how to decide whether to take the standard deduction or itemize, and what to do if it’s your first tax season, among other things.)

Have you had a significant life change?

Research shows taxpayers often start using a tax preparer when they have a change in circumstances because they know those can affect your taxes. So if you’ve gotten married, had a child, bought or sold a house, or had another big life change, you might want to have someone walk you through how to adapt — at least the first time.

How much time do you have?

There’s no getting around it: It’s a hassle doing your taxes. And whether you use a professional or not, you have to track down documents. But depending on your situation, using a tax preparer can potentially save you time.

(Worth noting: The IRS estimates that taxpayers spend, on average, 13 hours to prepare and file a standard return, according to the National Taxpayers Advocate.)

Do you need other types of tax help?

The tax world doesn’t stop when the clock strikes midnight on April 15. A tax professional can be a resource on retirement planning, long-term care insurance, wills, or investment strategies.

They can also potentially advise you on things like structuring a business and bookkeeping. If you’re using one anyway, you may find that it makes sense to have them prepare your returns.

When is tax software free?

Depending on your income, where you live, and the complexity of your tax situation, you may be able to file with software help at no cost. Here are the two main options:

•   Use the IRS’s new Direct File option, which is open to people living in these 25 states. You can’t use it if you have income from gig work, a rental property or a business, though, so check here to make sure you’re eligible first.

•   Use IRS Free File, which is available to residents of any state, as long as you didn’t earn more than $84,000 in adjusted gross income last year. Choose from one of the IRS’s eight Free File partners using this comparison tool.

How do you choose a tax preparer?

If you decide to use a professional, make sure they are qualified. The National Taxpayer’s Advocate and the IRS have resources (here and here) to help you choose wisely.

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

OTM2025032601

This article appeared in SoFi's On the Money newsletter. Not getting it? Sign up here.

It’s been a tough few weeks for the U.S. stock market, with the S&P 500 Index briefly falling into correction territory on fears of an economic downturn. But the market has generally gone up rather than down over the long run. If you believe it will bounce back again, there are plenty of ways to take advantage of potential bargains.

“Ups and downs are part of the deal,” Mark Fonville, Certified Financial Planner® and president of Covenant Wealth Advisors, wrote in an online post updated earlier this month. “Markets aren’t stable or steady over the short term, but they tend to perform consistently well over the long term.”

Depending on your risk tolerance, here are some possible ways to capitalize on a down market:

Buying the dip: When there’s an overall market downturn, your favorite stocks are essentially on sale. If you believe in the long-term prospects of a company, you could potentially make money by buying and holding shares of that company when prices are lower.

Similarly, if you’re invested in broad-based index funds, you might benefit from a recovery. Analysts at Goldman Sachs said last week they don’t expect a recession and would “use a deepening drawdown to ‘buy the dip,’” Seeking Alpha reported.

One word of caution, though: There’s no way to anticipate the bottom, so it’s possible stock prices could fall further before they rise again.

Dollar-cost averaging: If you’re a long-term investor making fixed and regular contributions to a retirement account, you’re doing what’s known as dollar-cost averaging. When the market is falling, you’re making the same investments but at lower prices, setting yourself up for future gains if the value of your investments increase.

Dividend reinvestment: If you’ve chosen to reinvest your dividends in your investment accounts, you’re getting more stock for the money in a market decline. And, for the same reason, it could be a good time to consider buying additional dividend-paying stocks.

Tax-loss harvesting: There are often more tax-loss harvesting opportunities in a down market. By selling investments that have lost value since you bought them, you can offset gains on investments that have increased in value and potentially lower your overall tax liability.

Roth IRA conversions: Investors convert traditional Individual Retirement Accounts or 401(k) plans to Roth IRAs to set themselves up for tax-free growth and withdrawals in the future, when, ideally, they will be in a higher-income tax bracket. Since conversions require paying tax on the accounts now, converting when the value of the account is lower can potentially reduce the amount of tax owed.

So what? Investing always comes with risk. But downturns present opportunities for investors who believe in the long-term growth prospects of the stock market. According to Covenant’s Fonville, despite all the corrections and crashes over the past century, a single dollar invested in 1926 in the S&P 500 predecessor grew to be worth about $17,000 as of last month.

Related Reading

•   How to Survive a Stock Market Correction: Avoid Doing These 5 Things (Bankrate)

•   What Past Stock Market Declines Can Teach Us (Capital Group)

•   What You Need to Know When the Market Is Down (SoFi)

Please understand that this information provided is general in nature and shouldn’t be construed as a recommendation or solicitation of any products offered by SoFi’s affiliates and subsidiaries. In addition, this information is by no means meant to provide investment or financial advice, nor is it intended to serve as the basis for any investment decision or recommendation to buy or sell any asset. Keep in mind that investing involves risk, and past performance of an asset never guarantees future results or returns. It’s important for investors to consider their specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile before making an investment decision.

The information and analysis provided through hyperlinks to third party websites, while believed to be accurate, cannot be guaranteed by SoFi. These links are provided for informational purposes and should not be viewed as an endorsement. No brands or products mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this content.

SoFi isn't recommending and is not affiliated with the brands or companies displayed. Brands displayed neither endorse or sponsor this article. Third party trademarks and service marks referenced are property of their respective owners.

OTM20250326SW

Apply for a U.S. bank account in 3 steps:

In general, there are several different types of U.S. bank accounts that international students might apply for, such as the individual and joint accounts that SoFi offers (we don’t currently offer business or trust accounts). Here, you’ll learn the basic steps for applying for a SoFi Checking and Savings account when you are an international student.

1. Gather the required documents

   Make sure you have your photo ID, proof of address, and other required documents. Double-check that all documents are valid and up-to-date to avoid any delays in the application process.

2. Open the account online

   You can apply for a SoFi Checking and Savings account as an international student online. You’ll simply need to create a log-in, fill out an application form, and submit scanned copies of your documents.

3. Make a deposit

   Once your account is approved, you can make an initial deposit via online transfer or wire. Additionally, you can also deposit cash into your student account at participating retailers using your SoFi debit card (note that a fee may be charged).

Open an account

Benefits of opening a U.S. bank account.

Here’s how a U.S. bank account can provide financial convenience, security, and stability for international students while studying abroad.

FAQs

Apply for a U.S. bank account in 3 steps:

At this time, SoFi offers individual and joint SoFi Checking and Savings accounts (trust and business accounts are not currently available).
Here, you’ll learn the three basic steps needed to open a U.S. bank account for non-residents.

1. Gather the required documents

   Before you begin your application, you’ll want to make sure you have all of the documents required to open an account, including a valid photo ID, proof of address, and an SSN or ITIN. You’ll also need to have the name and contact details for your U.S. employer.

2. Open the account online

   You can apply for a non-resident bank account with SoFi online. You’ll enter your personal information, citizenship status, and SSN or ITIN. You’ll also need to select your employment status, employer details, and upload the required documents.

3. Make a deposit

   Once approved, you can deposit funds into your new checking account via online transfer or wire. You can also make cash deposits at participating retailers using your SoFi debit card (some retailers may charge a fee).

Open an account

Benefits of opening a U.S. bank account.

While it’s possible to function in the U.S. with a foreign bank account, having access to a U.S. bank account comes with a number of advantages.

FAQs