The Only two Annual Fee Credit Cards you will ever need!!!

[@RICHwithPOINTS]

WOW. This was so kind of you, Luke. I appreciate this so much. I'm glad you were able to find value in the website. FYI to all your viewers. I currently make no money from the website. It is just a labor of love. There's no "company" or anything behind any of this. Just me... and my wife giving me moral support. 😊 Enjoy!!

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@RICHwithPOINTS love it! The website is a super great tool. I love the data driven stuff because so much of mine is about feelings.

[@dapventure]

Bought you a coffee! Amazing work.

[@RICHwithPOINTS]

@@dapventure ah man, thank you!!

[@mikenewland3908]

@@LukesPointsandMiles You deserve the credit what a tool you have built thank you.

[@luisserrano863]

I also saw the RichwithPoints video last week too, that site was mind-blowing, so awesome. It was just what I needed since I wanted to drastically cut my annual fees, but still keep most of my benefits and it really helped me optimize. Luke, I agree with you on the CSR and Venture X after overthinking my future setup for a few weeks that setup you described is the same one I want to go with except minus the ink since I don't have a business. Great video and glad to see you gave Rich with Points a very much deserved shout out. Thanks Luke and Rich!

[@DC_Consulting_DC]

You and Rich have opinions, experience, and data, unlike most of those who just read off the internet and don't travel or have the cards they discuss.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

It is definitely tough to fake experience! Thanks for watching!

[@bradgruver]

Happy late Thanksgiving, Luke!

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

Thanks! Hope you had a great thanksgiving!!!

[@PhilMo78]

This blew my mind!!!! As I start to downsize my card portfolio this is the video I needed!! Starting to get on board the "just gimme the points" program. Thanks Luke for pointing me to Rich and his ideas.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@PhilMo78 my pleasure! That website will answer a lot of questions for you!!

[@caribdude8151]

Yes Sir! Go Bengals! 🏈

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

Who Dey!!! Today is the day!!

[@rdj333]

Another great video Luke! Sometimes it’s hard to place a tangible value on simplicity, but when you’re able to provide data supporting the outperforming earning potential of a simple setup…that’s the sweet spot! Rich’s site is a game changer for dissecting various card setups to truly dial it in!

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@rdj333 yes sir! Rich deserves all the credit in the world. For me, his site cuts through the marketing.

[@RICHwithPOINTS]

❤

[@Polo1928-v2e]

I have the personal Amex platinum I am at even with it so I am keeping now. I use the Walmart plus a lot and you get Paramount with that. Also I have Disney, Hulu ESPN. I use the Uber and Saks credits. I like purchase protection Amex offers as well easy to deal with if needed.

[@stephencortez7997]

I like the Wells Fargo autograph journey card. It's a 95 dollar annual fee but I don't have to use any special portals. 5X points on hotels, 4X points on airlines, 3X points on other travel and restaurants, 1X points on other purchases, $50 annual statement credit with minimum $50 airline purchase. I use the active cash card too for the 2 percent of anything. no restrictions. I really like not having to use a portal and being able to book from any website. I know I'm not min maxing but the flexibility is amazing. Just a nice and simple 2 card set up.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@stephencortez7997 simplicity is great sometimes!!!

[@newagain9964]

Portals are nice (way to earn more points)….until they’re not so nice and should have booked direct.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@ I think the portal problems are incredibly overstated. Maybe even myth status. Everyone in this game can navigate a botched reservation.

[@newagain9964]

@@LukesPointsandMiles issue isn’t always botched reservations. Long story short, Tonight I lost getting refunded a night because I booked (cap1/expedia) portal.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@ I can understand that. I got charged an extra $254 from a reservation I made directly with Hyatt. Granted, it probably going to be easier to fix when booking direct but that’s not to say there aren’t times when it’s ok to use a portal.

[@DecayedMushroom]

Great video! Love how well these cards overlap with each other! Happy holidays Uncle Luke!

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@DecayedMushroom happy holidays to you too!!

[@alanwu3678]

Hi Luke, when traveling do you use mostly credit cards to get points and rewards or use debit cards to maximize savings?

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@alanwu3678 I don’t use debit cards, ever.

[@itsofficialj]

Throw in the no annual fee custom cash for gas . And it will be a cash back card .

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@itsofficialj yeah the part two includes the CCC in a 6 card set up

[@nubianpwr]

Thought provoking content as usual Luke👍🏾 For my use-case, no other points ecosystem matches Amex's. I've found it to be the currency with the most optionality and dynamism, including points accumulation, offers, and bonuses - not to mention lounges, statuses, perks & benefits. The holes are in the "3x all travel" and in the int'l space (FTFs, acceptance, no 2x catch-all). To fill these my CSR (or Ink Pref), VX, and Savor cards come in clutch!

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@nubianpwr thanks for watching Nubian!!

[@AKSDOGS]

Love this thanks Luke. Just jumped on plat just to experience it for first year and get that big SUB. But I have Venture X which I will keep and thought about getting chase next year not only for the sub but also to keep so this was a great video. I would be interested to hear your opinion on your fave 2 card combo for business cards, so it would only be 4 cards total.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@AKSDOGS right now I’m really waiting to see if this new Chase biz card will come out!!!

[@ksprincess]

Great analysis, Uncle Luke!

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@ksprincess thanks for stopping by, Sarah!

[@franciscomontilliano4721]

I like the set up Uncle Luke. That was my road map plan minus the business card. Great video. ✌

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@franciscomontilliano4721 freedom flex should be a great substitute

[@ryanccc777]

First off, I hope that you and your family had a nice Thanksgiving!!! I like the set up, I have the VX and Savor (OG Savor One) but am sticking with the CSP (CFU and CFF) as I generate a lot through the workaround on the “online grocery” category and where not applicable I use the Savor / Gold. I just finished year one in the Gold (for the Sub as I evaluate) but the only reason that is sticking around for one more year is the 15k retention bonus, next year it is Bon Voyage. I like the no hotel loyalty program concept and use it sporadically but I have definitely gotten a ton of use with the Aspire this year and will next year….i am like you and plan ahead, December 24, April 25, June 25 and Aug 25 already booked, respectively Baha Mar (Hyatt), Savannah / Charleston (Hyatt / Hilton), La Romana, DR (Hilton) and Myrtle Beach (Hilton) all booked on points and FNCs!!! I greatly appreciate all of the advice as it has allowed my family and I to take a lot of memorable trips and that at the end of the day is what it is all about for me!

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@ryanccc777 I think your set up is very similar! I just want the additional lounge access. Sounds like you have a great year coming up!!!

[@alexarauz]

I spend most of the year traveling outside the US (95% of the year) My ideal setup is similar to yours but I would add the Citi Strata. Yes it’s a $95 annual fee card, but you are getting Citi transfer partners, Citi transfer bonuses, 3x on gas and groceries, and a card on the MasterCard network. So CSR, Venture X and Citi Strata Premier are my core travel cards.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@alexarauz yeah there will be a part 2 for this one. Adding the strata and the CCC for gas. 6 card set up that actually out earned this set up

[@WhatsThePoints1]

Rich with points gonna give ol Sebby a run for his money!

[@joephillips5594]

Very compelling! Does this mean the Aspire is on the chopping block? And great point about this setup vs USBAR...Last time I checked 3x on dining x 1.5 = 4.5 return on spend.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@joephillips5594 the aspire is currently a no af Hilton card but I need gold status at least for my Europe trip

[@franciscanstudent]

Great video! I still maintain that the CSP with the venture x beats the CSR and also the CSR+Venture X for most setups. The caveat is that it lacks the travel protections and Sapphire lounges (except the very nice one in HKG, which the Venture X gets you into for free, oddly enough). It makes up for it in savings on annual fees and earnings on groceries that surpass the Savor. I'm flabbergasted that the CSR lacks that online grocery category and that Chase forbids holding multiple Sapphire cards to make up for that loophole.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@franciscanstudent thank you! I think the lounge access is still a pretty powerful perk!

[@marinrodriguez7729]

Another great video and another excellent example of choosing the set up that fits your lifestyle and spending habits. I am in the process of doing a personal spend audit and am tailoring my card set up to maximize my spending. Big fan of the Capital One Savor for its 3x spend categories that fit my lifestyle...but alas that rascally gas category remains the bug-a-boo of just about any simplified card set up. Citi Custom Cash anyone? Keep up the great work!

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@marinrodriguez7729 yeah adding a card or two can really shore up a couple of categories but one has to make sure it’s worth it.

[@thomaslautenberger6447]

I am thinking I want to upgrade my marriott boundless to the Ritz Carlton, and get the venture x card. Those will be my main annual fee cards. I like that the two of them charge no fee for authorized user cards too. Very similar strategy as you but with a twist.

[@stevenj2666]

this was informative. I have the CSR now and the original Freedom card. Is it possible to email you a question?

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

Sure.

[@brianwong1610]

This is what I have, plus some hotel keeper cards. I like the simplicity and don’t find AMEX or Citi add much value and like you said, spreading too thin on points/miles if I add another card system

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@brianwong1610 thanks for stopping by, Brian!!

[@kingsamvisuals]

I've always thought the VX + CSP >>> Than the CSR or other alternatives.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@kingsamvisuals I can see that and when I change the CSR to the CIP and a FF the earnings go up. But that a lot of lounges access and benefits that go away

[@tommywei1154]

The deciding factor for me is how much UR points am I sitting on and how big of a trip am I going to go on. Sometimes the CSR pays for itself with the extra 0.25x redemption multiplier. But if I'm sitting on little to no UR points, I would probably PR change my CSR or CSP to a freedom flex and wait to build up points again.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@ makes sense.

[@mostlyfreetravel]

I like the setup Luke! Definitely gets me thinking. I would have to figure out the priority pass situation in Atlanta bc I use my Biz Plat for the delta lounges & centurion lounge frequently. And I think I would miss Hilton gold status. It’s such a nice status to have and so easy to earn. Although I could just buy my own breakfast.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@mostlyfreetravel ha! True. Adding cards definitely adds benefits but this one is so simple it makes sense for me.

[@mostlyfreetravel]

It really is a good set up. Yeah if I could ditch Atlanta and get approved for another Capital One card, it could be a good one for me.

[@lewislouis6246]

The problem with Luke regarding the usbar is that he travels a ton. Both locally and internationally key being internationally. so the usbar won’t make sense at all to anyone who actually travels. Those who are getting on him about the usbar are gonna forever be missing this point because the experience is just not there yet…..

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@lewislouis6246 thank you! Transfer partners are key to my travel.

[@L-Man-Gaming]

Yeah Luke for you this set up is perfect because you do travel a bit more than the average person. For the average person thought the CSP is going to be the clear winner if you can use the work around for the online grocery category to get the 3x points. We want those Chase points over the Savior as you mentioned because they are more valuable than the Cpt 1 miles.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@L-Man-Gaming absolutely, brings down the fees as well.

[@AfghanMane]

What airline has the best value if youre flying domestic and using venture x miles?

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@AfghanMane well you can use the portal for 1cpp or you can flying AA using avios, delta using flying blue, etc. if I purchase the flight in the portal I’ll earn 5x capital one miles and at least 5x airline miles. Afterwards I can cover the purchase with miles. Lots of options.

[@jimmyjames6492]

CSR + Venture X for the win 🥇🥇🥇 Thanks for the info + video!

[@jimmyjames6492]

Super interesting video. I'm already running the Capital One Venture X + SavorOne setup. I'll need to take a closer look at if a Chase setup would be a good compliment. Thanks again!

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@jimmyjames6492 I feel like it’s a great compliment. Just a little overlap but it’s still a very manageable set up

[@BoywithLoveeee]

I travel abroad twice a year mostly to Asia and Europe and for someone who lives in Hawaii, I usually fly with Asian airlines so the Amex card is much more beneficial for me. Although I’m thinking to cancel my card platinum card next year (not sure yet) plus I like the freedom to book directly with the airline or hotel and still get 5x points rather than booking through the portal. Plus Amex customer service is phenomenal,I’ve never encountered any issue reaching out with them unlike other credit card issuers. The only big drawback for me is the way the platinum earns points, I wish they could just put 3x for restaurants and 2x for everything.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@BoywithLoveeee the main issue with Amex is you just can’t earn as well with them when you factor in the annual fees.

[@vettedsin]

if this was an setup where only two cards could have annual fees, but rocking a four card setup system, then my personal setup would look like this. driver: gold float: biz gold float: custom cash catch all: fidelity pretty much can cover all the bases that matter to me. and two cards can cover variable sectors as your demands change.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@vettedsin that’s an interesting set up!

[@newagain9964]

That’s definitely different. Curious, What do you do with your MR pts?

[@gsctrading7215]

Great set-up, it actually highlights that AMEX is hitting decreasing marginal returns on its cards versus the CSR and the Venture X as it keeps hiking its annual fees on the platinum and gold cards.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@gsctrading7215 I could not make an amex Set up work compared to these two issuers. Plus I can’t to the credits with enough consistency

[@L-Man-Gaming]

Yep. But if you follow the credit card community you’d know a lot of people dropped the Gold. I only trust the reviewers that follow the math, not push a card on me because they want referrals. Amex is out. Screw em honestly.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@L-Man-Gaming I still think the Amex gold is great for some folks. Just not for me (right now). If I could find a NLL offer? I might get back in

[@L-Man-Gaming]

@@LukesPointsandMilesit did get better for some people, but how many of those people are really being honest about going to Dunkin, valuing Resy, using Uber, and even the dining credit. If those things were really all being done somewhat organically beforehand, then that’s a beautiful life with the Gold.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@L-Man-Gaming yeah I’m not at all interested in going to Dunkin on a regular basis.

[@Trucker-X]

I've recently retired most of my cards and ended up with nearly the same simplified setup, except I have the Ink Preferred instead of the Sapphire Reserve. Mine is a little lighter on the portal redemptions and lounge access but a lot lighter on fees, stronger on 3x cell phone points and slightly beefier cellphone insurance. Serves me well as a long haul trucker at work and for our weekend domestic road trips as well as our annual family pilgrimage to the Philippines. My P2 only needs to deal with the two-card C1 duo for her daily carry also which is a MAJOR plus for her. I may add a United card for lounge access on SFO layovers and priority boarding.

[@Trucker-X]

Thank you for explaining this so clearly as it helps me articulate this approach better than I could do on my own.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@Trucker-X awesome. When I did my calculations, the CIP actually did a little better than the CSR but I really wanted to have that extra lounge access (at least for now)

[@Trucker-X]

@LukesPointsandMiles The biggest hole for me is gas for daily local driving and road trips. My big rig has its own fuel program. For now, I'm testing out exploring using fuel gift cards from Staples, especially for road trips, but may consider a dedicated gas card if the gift card solution is too much of a hassle.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@ 5x ur points can definitely be worth the hassle in some cases!!

[@Trucker-X]

@@LukesPointsandMiles 10x+ with good transfer redemptions!

[@pinakmiku4999]

What about Bestbuy electronics, Apple, Target, Walmart, Costco? I don’t think your setup is optimized.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@pinakmiku4999 ha! I actually don’t shop at any of those places but it’s pretty easy to add any no annual fee card for those

[@newagain9964]

Lolz

[@yurig2530]

Replace CSR with Ink Preferred, and you will pay even less.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@yurig2530 yeah and I think that’s a great set up. Downgrade the reserve to a freedom. But I really want the lounge access and the 50% portal boost.

[@richardjones4256]

I have the chase sapphire reserve . Me and capital one don't have a good relationship. I'm bucketed , had the capital one quick silver just product changed to the capital one venture. I've had a 3000 limit since 2016. I can use chases travel credit on almost any travel. Capital one only gives you the credit within there portal. Still a great card though.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@richardjones4256 yeah the Chase credit is much easier to use but I don’t mind portals as much as I used to

[@newagain9964]

I don’t like HAVE TO use a portal to earn pts. And only way to get any decent value is transfer to non US airlines.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@ using a portal when it makes sense is pretty easy. Especially if it’s the best option. I’m not saying it’s something I would do all the time but there are some really good portal redemptions. If someone is just not willing to do it, I get it, but it makes sense sometimes.

[@newagain9964]

@@LukesPointsandMiles agreed.

[@ow5966]

You need a world elite MasterCard

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@ow5966 ha! I don’t but I actually have a few in the sock drawer. They’re pretty common.

[@Rowdyyy_rod]

What ever happened with you USBAR application? I could swear u mentioned u applied before they closed it.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@Rowdyyy_rod I still don’t know the status. It’s currently in a manual review.

[@ramon__olivero]

Looks like you sent too much traffic to the website. Having issues logging in

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

Ah! Well that’s good/bad I guess. It’s worth it to keep trying

[@ramon__olivero]

@ definitely. I’ve been playing with different setups for a week now, but listening to your videos gave me other options I wanna compare

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@ love it!

[@RICHwithPOINTS]

Send me the issue details to my support email address please.

[@Adiscretefirm]

What do you think of the Preferred plus Ritz combo vs Reserve?

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

Not a fan. I don’t use Marriott much and the ritz card fails at the one thing a credit card needs to do in small set up: Earn points.

[@Nate40302]

This is my setup. Get most of the benefits of the Reserve at a lower fee with the Ritz.

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@ well there is the fact that the ritz card doesn’t earn.

[@mikenewland3908]

Who Dey!

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@mikenewland3908 who Dey babay!!

[@connoroche]

Great video Luke. Rich deserved the plug. Two legends of the game 🫡

[@LukesPointsandMiles]

@@connoroche 💯. Rich is putting in a lot of work!

[@RICHwithPOINTS]

❤