Smash and Grab

Back to Basics of the Week | Effective Annual Fee 

 

Viewer questions 

• Question for you guys to consider for future. How do you evolve your CC strategy over time? Maybe you realize you picked the wrong ecosystem or partners from the get go, maybe you started cash back but want to go travel or vise versa. Maybe life changes and therefore amount/ type of spend or location (thus partners) change. How do you reassess this on an ongoing basis and how do you make a pivot? Thanks for considering, y'all are great! - @Double_Double_Animal_Fries
• Do you think the Amex consumer Green Card is going to be refreshed this year?  If so, what would you like seen changed from this underrated card? - Keith 
• For @CallMeLani what would citi or c1 have to do in order for you to transition some of your spend/focus from Chase and Amex? - K1d_Cat37
• Inspired by a bit of self reflection as I'm looking over this US Bancorp wealth management stuff:   What's the most ridiculous amount of effort you've ever expended in pursuit of getting a credit card?   (ie, joining credit unions, getting a card for a year on the hopes of a PC, etc) - SpaethCo 

 

 

News Round-Up 

• Q4 categories 
• United CEO Scott Kirby has some words about the DOT  

 

Topics 

Matt 

-Welcome Offers are the most effective “Return on spend” but there are only so many and only so many pertinent to those who are entrenched with their partners; besides stacks, how else can people maximize their daily spend without making it too much of “job?”

Lani

• Extended Sign-Up-Bonuses: Your thoughts? Chase Freedom Unlimited & Flex recently had 12 month offers/options (extra 1.5X on everything for 12 months up to $20K, Double points no cap after 12 months, 5x on gas/grocery for 12 months. etc.) We’re starting to see this more and more, Ink Business 3 months+3 months, Amex+Resy 6 months with 3 months of 10x dining. Is this the new normal? Do you like it? Thoughts/Opinions?

Tariq

• What are the benefits (if there are any) of being a travel free agent?

RJ

• Are credit card points and miles a sort of spontaneity cheat code?

•One of the underrated benefits of being in the credit card “game” is the ability to get a lot of value but it’s also the ability to do things spontaneously. Credit card points/miles allow you to text a friend and say “you wanna do X” and move points/miles to cover the trip or part of it. Or if paying cash do so effectively.