The Pursuing Points Podcast: Credit Cards | Points and Miles | Travel

Grab bag episode where I talk about getting rid of one card, and talk about what could be next for the credit card companies.

In the wake of the 2008 financial disaster, US banks were unwilling and unable to lend money to the majority or consumers. Instead, banks were extremely risk averse and decided only to lend to those they considered to be extremely credit worthy. This was good for the banks insofar as it ensured they couldn’t lose […] More

For years the Chase Sapphire Reserve was one of, if not the best premium credit cards on the market. Both of todays podcast hosts have had the card for more than 3 years. Last week however it was announced that Chase would be making same changes to the card, specifically increasing the annual fee by […] More

Join host Peter Foti as he talks about Attempting to cancel his Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card. Having his credit card canceled without permission! Answer a listener question about canceling a 3 year old card and what that means for expiring points Sapphire Reserve vs. Southwest Rewards card? The results might surprise you All that […] More

Jeb and I have been talking about doing an episode together for some time, and its finally here! Jeb posts his trip reports on YouTube and as of this recording has over 40,000 subscribers! His trip reports are super fun to watch as he has gone all over the world, on some of the coolest aircraft, in some of the coolest seats.

Today Jeb and I sat down to discuss his flight history and future plans, whats in his wallet, and how the passenger evolution has evolved over the years.

Show Links

Jeb's YouTube Channel

Jeb's Instagram

ExpertFlyer

Are the banks pulling back credit card rewards? In this episode we’ll dive deep into a recent Wall St. Journal article which says yes. Citing examples of the banks lowering sign-up bonuses, and being fed up with “gamers” who unlock those bonuses only to ultimately put the card in a drawer.

Along the way we'll discuss several products which do a good job of enticing customers to regularly spend money on their cards. We'll also highlight some products (and companies) who may've fallen a bit behind the times in terms of their offering.

Show Links

My First YouTube Video

Rewards Credit Cards Gained a Fanatic Following—Now Banks Are Pulling Back

Shoppers Love Rewards Credit Cards. Retailers Hate Them.

2018, what a year! This is the 10th podcast of 2018, which is twice as many as were published in 2017. I've been honored to have received such positive feedback both in the form of private emails and public reviews of the show. As of late I've been working on a product to aggregate points experiences which I hope to release in early 2019, stay tuned!

On this episode of the Pursuing Points podcast I decided to do a full wallet review + look ahead to 2019 and see what cards might be on my radar. Turns out that the majority of the cards in my wallet are on the chopping block as we close out the year, and ill be calling for retention bonuses on at least 4 of them.

As always, I hope you enjoy this episode and look forward to your continued feedback and support. Feel free to email me anytime with questions, comments, or concerns.

How your credit score is derived

My Amex Platinum Mistake

Sapphire Reserve Value

Signing up for the Sapphire Reserve

On a recent Sunday afternoon I was attempting to book a train trip from New York to Philadelphia. In the process of doing so, I was offered a sign-up bonus that I could not refuse. I've been aware of the card for which the bonus was being offered for some time. However, there never seemed like much of a reason to sign up, until now.

Join me for episode 25 of the Pursuing Points podcast as I talk about my experience and reasoning in signing up for an Amtrak credit card. We'll cover the card itself and its benefits, as well as strategies and tactics to help you grow your wallet month over month.

If you have questions, comments, or ideas for a future show, please contact me. I really appreciate your feedback!

Credit Card Stacking

Hard vs. Soft Inquiries

Wells Fargo Propel

Amtrak Guest Rewards

The goal of the credit card points and miles hobby, is to maximize the rewards earned on every dollar spent. To do that you must first define your goals, otherwise we'll never know what it means to have maximized your spend. Once you've done that, you have to sign up for the correct products. If you value simplicity over all else, then you may only be interested in that one card for all your spend.  If you're more flexible, maybe two, three, four, or more cards are okay. Whatever the case, its important to understand the role stacking can play in helping you achieve your goals.

Banks value your loyalty, the same way airlines & hotels do. They'd prefer that you spend every dollar you're going to spend, on one of their products. Further, they'd prefer that you bank with them for both personal and business matters. Lets call a spade a spade, they want you to do this because it makes them the most money possible. If Chase can ensure you won't bank with Citi, they've won. One of the ways they incentive you to do this is by offering "stacks" or "combinations" of products. These stacks work together to ensure you earn more than you would've otherwise.

On todays show we're going to talk about the who/what/when/where/how/why of credit card stacking. We'll then go over some of the best credit card stacks you can make use of.

As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions/comments/concerns. I really appreciate your feedback. If you feel like this show provides you with value, id love it if you'd leave an iTunes review. Finally, be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to stay up-to-date on all things Pursuing Points.

Show Links

Podcast #23 - Signing up for the Wells Fargo Propel

Podcast #15 - Signing up for the Bank of America Premium Rewards Card

Instagram Giveaway

Credit Card Stacking Guide

Chase Sapphire Trifecta

I recently hit the $25k spend requirement on my Delta Platinum Amex to qualify for a 10k MQM and 10k SkyMiles bonus. I got that card when I was traveling a lot for both work and pleasure, exclusively on Delta. These days i'm still traveling, but not with nearly the frequency. When I do travel i'm generally sitting in first anyway as a result of upgrades using either cash or miles. While the Delta Platinum Amex has served me well I knew I needed to start looking for other cards to add to my wallet before long.

After doing my research while writing the Wells Fargo Propel review, I decided it was the next card for me. As of the time of this podcast's recording, the Wells Fargo Propel Amex sign-up bonus is a cool 30k points after spending $3,000 in 3 months. That equates to $300 in cash plus the other $30 or so i'll earn from meeting the minimum spend requirement. The card earns 3x on major categories such as; dining, travel, streaming services, and more. It also comes with $600 mobile phone insurance. Oh ya, and theres no annual fee! While the sign-up bonus could've been bigger, when its free you don't have much to complain about. Compared to similar cards like the Amex Magnet, Chase Freedom Unlimited, and the Uber Visa; it blows them out of the water.

Before applying I went through my typical process which involves checking my credit score, and answering these questions. A wise man once said "If you want to go fast, go slow". While I was pretty sure I wanted this card, it paid to take it slow and go through my normal process before hitting submit on the application.

After applying for the card on the podcast I was instantly approved and should have the card within 5-7 business days. My immediate plans are to use it for Spotify + Netflix + ATT, as well as any other bonus category during the sign-up bonus period. For non bonus spend ill continue to use my Freedom Unlimited.

On a future podcast I plan on doing a credit card spring cleaning of sorts, marking cards for retention and calling on them. If i'm able to secure a bonus then I may keep the card, otherwise ill most likely cancel. Stay tuned.

What are your thoughts on the Wells Fargo Propel? Will you sign up? Why or why not?