Is it time for me to apply for a new card? Which one?

[BeEasyMark]

I was approved for a Chase Sapphire Reserve in January 2020 with a $17,600 limit. It is my only credit card under my name, I have an Amex Platinum as an authorized user. I assume I should apply for another Chase card to fill out the trifecta or quadfecta but can't decide between the Freedom, Freedom Unlimited, or Ink Business Preferred card first. Most likely one of the Freedoms because the SUB for the Ink Business Preferred requires a $15k spend in the first 3 months and I'm not expecting any major purchases. During this pandemic, are there bonuses on the Freedom cards that stand out from one or the other? My other question is, should I wait to clear this collection account from my reports before applying? Is it too soon because of either of my new accounts (CSR in January and car loan in May)?

Thanks,

Mark

Since being approved for the CSR, a few things have been added to my credit reports:

(1) Car Loan (05/30/2020)

Chase Auto Finance:

Loan amount: $35,983

APR: 3.14%

2 payments made so far.

(8) New Inquiries (05/30/2020)

7 were a result of credit checks ran when I financed my car in May.

TransUnion was pulled 3 times, Experian 4 times.

1 was from my CSR application in January.

(1) Collection (01/28/2020)

DirecTV: Account was put into collections because of unreturned hardware. The collection amount has been fully paid but it remains on my reports as a paid collection.

The rest of my credit profile:

(2) Student Loans (rehabbed from previous delinquent Navient loans):

Nelnet: $1,352
Nelnet: $5,579

(2) Credit Cards:
American Express Platinum (Authorized User): $3,403 balance

Chase Sapphire Reserve ($17,600 limit): $0 balance

Scores (08/15/2020):
myFico EQ8: 686
myFico EX8: 640
myFico TU8: 634

Age: 36
Rent: $3700/mo
Income: ~$170,000/yr
AAoA: 8yr 1mo
AoOA: 13yr 9mo
Age of Most Recently Opened Account: 3mo
(8) Inquires
(1) 30-day lates (Navient) 5yr 2mo ago

(1) 60-day lates (Navient) 5yr 2mo ago

(1) Collection (01/28/2020)

[TSlop]

I would like to think you are ok with another chase card after 6 months. I'd go with one of the freedoms. $200 SUB plus 5% back on groceries for a year. Maybe the Freedom, so you can snag the rotating categories. Won't be the end of the world losing out on the CFU .5% from your CSR, unless your off category spend is large.

[Anonymous]

While having the Chase trifecta would be great, I'm also a huge advocate of not putting all of my eggs in 1 basket.  If all you have in the future are Chase cards, if there are ever any issues(numerous things come to mind) then your entire credit profile could come to a halt.

[Jetiquette]

I would definitely go with the CFU next. The CIP is the best card if you can maximize the categories AND hit the minimum spend ($15K), but you said that is not the case for you with no planned major expenses coming up. 

[coldfusion]

If your goal is to build toward the trifecta your next card IMO should be the Freedom Unlimited to collect the $200 SUB to be used as your primary card for unstructured spend.

Your case is a bit unusual because you picked up the CSR first but that shouldn't be an issue, just keep in mind Chase' 5/24 rule and plan your long term strategy accordingly.

I'd take a serious stab at getting that collection removed first but in any case wait at a bare mininum until that auto loan is 4 months old/made 4 payments before even considering applying.

[BeEasyMark]

I've made 2 payments on the car loan so far but only the first payment has been reported and only on TransUnion. The account appears on all 3 credit reports but no payments have been reported on Equifax of Experian.