Is Chase Trifecta right for me?

[ibebarrett]

So I've done a good bit of research and plan on pursuing the trifecta, but I'm curious what the forum thinks about my situation. I've seen a lot of people say it's not worth it if you don't travel a lot, but traveling "a lot" or "not a lot" is quite vague. I usually fly home 1-2 times per year with my girlfriend and our dog and I would love to start travelling for close to free, and the UR program seems to be a good fit for me, but if anyone feels like a better card layout would work better please let me know! We usually rent cars a few times every year, so the LDW coverage with CSP is a nice bonus in addition to the broad UR travel categories. Also, can anyone confirm if my gf would be able to trade her UR's to my CSP?

Current Rewards Cards:

Costco Citi (costco/gas)

Capital One QS (open to PC, otherwise some random recurring bill, I'd trash it but it's second oldest account)

Chase FU (all other spending until SUB period is over)

Planned Cards(in order):

Ink (I need it for business anyway, but can't I transfer Ink URs to my CSP?)

CSP(transit, tolls, uber, car rental, flights, parking, hotels)

Freedom

Does anyone have concerns or better ideas as far as card layout? I do not have plans to get any more than 3 new cards over the next ~year before hitting the garden for a couple years to prepare for a mortgage in ~3years.

Thanks in advance!

[Aim_High]

I have the "Chase Quadfecta" now ... which consists of either CSR or CSP  + FU + F + INK business.

I think it's a great strategy! 

Mine is the Sapphire Reserve, FU, F, and INK Business Preferred right now because I wanted the 80K sign-up bonus.

I plan to convert the INK BP to the INK Business Cash which has no AF and higher cash-back in categories I will use.

Yes, you can convert INK UR points to your personal card, so you'd want to combine them all on the CSP where they'd be worth 25% more.

With just traveling a couple of times per year, the CSP might be a good starter card for you.  If you think you can take advantage of the added benefits, you can do a PC with Chase later to the CSR.  *Keep in mind, though, that you get a LOT more back on that steep $450 AF with the CSR, so the price difference may be less than you think.  You get your first $300 back automatically in travel purchases every year alone, so that lowers it to a $150 fee before you even allow for everything else!  All UR points combined on the CSR are worth 50% more value. 

[bourgogne]

if the plan is to bag a sapphire and ink you might want to sort your utilization if that is what is holding your scores down.  it will impact your sl's.  720+ is where you want to be when you app imo.  re referrals you can 20k 5x a year with the CIP.  chase is for someone that does not care about draining every point out of a purchase, they are for someone that wants easy.  imo

[K-in-Boston]

You can transfer UR points to anyone else in your household.  For business cards, URs can be transferred to another owner of the company or to your personal accounts.

If you're flying with a companion at least once or twice a year, the CSR would likely end up being more rewarding than CSP.  Your scores will need to come up for either of those, though.

[ibebarrett]

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@Aim_High wrote:

I have the "Chase Quadfecta" now ... which consists of either CSR or CSP  + FU + F + INK business.

I think it's a great strategy! 

Mine is the Sapphire Reserve, FU, F, and INK Business Preferred right now because I wanted the 80K sign-up bonus.

I plan to convert the INK BP to the INK Business Cash which has no AF and higher cash-back in categories I will use.

Yes, you can convert INK UR points to your personal card, so you'd want to combine them all on the CSP where they'd be worth 25% more.

With just traveling a couple of times per year, the CSP might be a good starter card for you.  If you think you can take advantage of the added benefits, you can do a PC with Chase later to the CSR.  *Keep in mind, though, that you get a LOT more back on that steep $450 AF with the CSR, so the price difference may be less than you think.  You get your first $300 back automatically in travel purchases every year alone, so that lowers it to a $150 fee before you even allow for everything else!  All UR points combined on the CSR are worth 50% more value. 

I don't think you can combine UR points from another person's credit accounts.  I think you would have to be primary cardholder on both accounts (from and to the transfer.)

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Yeah if I go for the trifecta I would definitely PC from CSP to CSR and just continue to rack up URs until I PC. I easily spend a minimum $300/yr on travel so out of those 2 options I would definitely plan to end on CSR.

Unfortunately Ink Cash doesn't line up with my spending and my spending is right on the line between Unlimited/Preferred, so I haven't decided which one there yet though.

Thanks!

[ibebarrett]

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@bourgogne wrote:

if the plan is to bag a sapphire and ink you might want to sort your utilization if that is what is holding your scores down.  it will impact your sl's.  720+ is where you want to be when you app imo.  re referrals you can 20k 5x a year with the CIP.  chase is for someone that does not care about draining every point out of a purchase, they are for someone that wants easy.  imo

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I had a couple big expensives lately and new cards, the plan is to wait around 3-4 more months and get util below 8.9%(its currently right above 30%), so I should be pretty close to 720 at that point(my bankcard scores are currently at/above 700). I don't understand what your saying about 20k 5x a year with CIP can you elaborate? If I was trying to get the best bang for my buck what line up would you reccomend over the trifecta?

Thanks!

[ibebarrett]

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@K-in-Boston wrote:

You can transfer UR points to anyone else in your household.  For business cards, URs can be transferred to another owner of the company or to your personal accounts.

If you're flying with a companion at least once or twice a year, the CSR would likely end up being more rewarding than CSP.  Your scores will need to come up for either of those, though.

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I planned to end on CSR but may as well take the CSP bonus, and I'm sure I have a better chance of being approved for CSP initially. I just had a couple big expenses pop up, so in the next few months I should be back below 8.9% and have aged my new cards a little bit.

How is household defined? We live together and share expenses just not married.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Why would you get a freedom when you already have a FU? I would personally optimize your scores, get the CSR, then consider the ink later once you’ve finished the SUB.

[K-in-Boston]

Household is defined as sharing an address for at least 30 days.

As for having a Freedom if one already has the Freedom Unlimited, that's easy.  If someone can max out the quarterly categories, that's 30,000 UR points for only $6,000 spend (rather than 9,000 on Freedom Unlimited), which would be $375 or $450 redeeming through the portal with a CSP or CSR, or potentially much more with a transfer to a hotel or airline partner.

[Anonymous]

Right, I just think it’s superfluous given his credit profile, but who knows.