This document summarizes a presentation on maximizing credit cards. It discusses opening new lines of credit and how that impacts credit scores. Specifically, it helps reduce debt-to-credit ratios but also reduces average account length. The document also reviews different types of credit cards including transferable point cards like American Express Membership Rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards, co-branded airline and hotel cards, and fixed-value cards. Additionally, it provides tips on earning elite status and perks through credit card spending and bonuses.

1. Maximizing Credit Cards
Chicago Seminars
Presented by:
Brian Kelly

3. Opening A New Line of Credit

4. What Makes Up Your FICO Score?
Types of
Credit
10% New
Credit
10%
Length of
Credit
History
15%
Amounts
Owed
30%
Payment
History
35%

5. Opening A New Line of Credit
 PROS
 On-time payment history is your biggest
factor of your credit score (35%)
 Reduces your debt-to-credit ratio (for a
given amount of debt)
Types of Credit
10%
New
Credit
10%
Length of Credit
History
15%
Amounts Owed
30%
Payment History
35%

6. Credit Line:
$10,000
---------
Balance:
$4,000
Debt to
Credit Ratio:
40%
2nd Credit Line:
$10,000
---------
Balance:
$0
Debt to
Credit Ratio:
Total Credit Line is now $20,000
20%

7. Opening A New Line of Credit
 CONS
 Reduces the average length of accounts in
your credit history.
 Impacts “new credit,” which penalizes you
for opening up too many new lines of credit
in a short period
 Generally expect 2-5 points per inquiry, but
only part of your calculation one year
Types of Credit
10%
New
Credit
10%
Length of Credit
History
15%
Amounts Owed
30%
Payment History
35%

8. 3 Main Types of Credit Cards
Transferable Point Cards
Co-Branded Cards
Fixed Value Cards

9. Transferable Point Programs

10. AMEX Membership Rewards
Pros:
 17 airline partners, 4 hotel partners
 Transfer bonuses (Currently 50% bonus for
Starwood, 33% Hilton, 35% Virgin Atlantic
 Many transfers post instantaneously
Cons:
 6/100 cents per point for transfers to US airlines
 Earning portal shut down
 No longer able to transfer to anyone, only
authorized users and primary cardholder

11. AMEX Membership Rewards Tips
 Star Alliance: Aeroplan (flexible routing, avoid fuel surcharges); ANA (distance-based);
Singapore Airlines (one-way)
 Oneworld: British Airways (distance-based); Iberia (lower fuel surcharges)
 SkyTeam: Delta (partner awards on Virgin Australia and Virgin Atlantic); Flying
Blue (save up to 50% on promo awards)

12. Chase Ultimate Rewards
Pros:
 7 airline partners, 4 hotel partners
 No transfer fees
 Great customer service
 Strong partners
 Still transfer to others, Combine
Accounts
 Strong sign-up bonuses (70,000 UR’s
for Chase Ink Plus)
Cons:
 No transfer bonuses
 Limited partners

13. Chase Ultimate Rewards Tips
Tips:
 Recent United and Hyatt devaluation, Singapore for First Class Awards
 British Airways for short-haul flights
 Hyatt 30,000 points for Cat 7 hotels, to SW for Companion
 Marriott Hotel + Air Package (including Southwest for Companion Pass)

14. Citi Thank You Rewards
Pros:
• Adding More Transfer Partners
• Now 9 airline partners plus Hilton
Cons:
• No US program for transfer partners
• Many have fuel surcharges and foreign
call center
Citi Transfer Partners:
Air France Flying Blue
Cathay Pacific
EVA Air
Etihad
Garuda Indonesia
Malaysia Airlines
Qatar Airways
Singapore Airlines
Thai Airways
Hilton HHonors

15. Redeem for Singapore Airlines First Class
JFK-Frankfurt for 57,000 KrisFlyer miles plus $260 in taxes/fees

16. Starwood Preferred Guest
Pros:
 Cash & Points
 Reward stays count towards elite status
 Free transfers to others in your household,
transfer bonus
 SPG Moments
 Multiple Airline Partners
 Alaska, American, US Airways
Cons:
 Posting times vary greatly
 No shopping portal
 Foreign Transaction Fees

17. Co-Branded Credit Cards
Pros:
 Perks
 Free checked bags
 Elite Status
 Lounge Access
 Discounted Awards/Free Nights
Cons:
 Generally not transferable
 Can’t diversify your points
 Many perks are the same as elite perks
Examples:
 American Express: Delta and Starwood
 Chase: United MileagePlus Explorer and Hyatt Visa
 Citi: American AAdvantage cards, Hilton Reserve

18. Fixed-Value Cards
 What are fixed-value cards?
 Who are they best for?
 Pros
 No award blackouts
 Earn elite status when using them
 Easy to get 1-2.2% in value back
 Cons
 Expensive tickets cost a lot of points

19. Fixed Value Cards
Barclaycard Arrival (annual fee)
 Earn: 2 miles per $1
 Redeem: 2.2% for travel, 1% for statement
credits
Capital One Venture
 Earn: 2 miles per $1
 Redeem: 1 cent per mile
US Bank FlexPerks Travel Rewards Visa
 Earn: 1-3 points per dollar
 Redeem: 1.33-2 cents per point for airfare
Citi ThankYou Premier
 Earn: Bonus categories earn 1-3 points per $1
 Redeem: 1.25 cents per point for travel

20. Perks: Elite Miles and Benefits
 Elite Mileage
 Many Credit Cards earn EQM’s through
spending
 Free Nights
 Citi HHonors Reserve, Hyatt Card
 Lounge Access
 Amex Platinum, Citi Exec AA, United Club,
Delta Reserve, Ritz Carlton
 Airline Specific Perks
 Priority boarding, free checked bags
 Other Perks
 Amex Plat- SPG Gold, Global Entry

21. Spend Your Way To Elite Status!
Delta: Earn 15,000 MQMs after spending $30,000, earn 30,000 MQMs after spending
$60,000 with the Delta Reserve Amex
Earn 10,000 MQMs after spending $25,000, earn 20,000 MQMs after spending
$50,000 with the Delta Platinum Amex
American: Earn 10,000 EQM’s after spending $40,000 with the Citi Executive
AAdvantage World Elite Mastercard
US Airways: Earn 10,000 preferred miles after spending $25,000 with the US
Airways MasterCard
Southwest: Every $10,000 in purchases earns 1,500 Tier-Qualifying Points
with the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card
Can also earn EQM’s with Virgin America and Virgin Atlantic through their co-branded
credit cards

22. Perks: Category Spending
 Travel:
 Chase Sapphire Preferred, Barclaycard Arrival
 Airfare:
 Premier Rewards Gold, Airline co-branded cards
 Office Supplies:
 Chase Ink Products (don’t overlook this)
 Gas:
 Premier Rewards Gold, Chase Ink Bold/Plus, AMEX Blue
Cash and Blue Cash Preferred
 Dining:
 Chase Sapphire/Sapphire Preferred, Citi Forward and
ThankYou Preferred
 Quarterly Bonuses:
 Chase Freedom, Discover It

23. Cards for Every Day Spending
Arrival Plus: Earn two points per dollar on all purchases and you can
redeem: 2.2% for travel
Amex EveryDay Card: Earn 1.2 points per $1 with the Amex EveryDay card
if you make 20 or more purchases a month,
Amex EveryDay Preferred Card: Earn 1.5 points per $1 with the Amex
EveryDay Preferred card if you make 30 or more purchases a month
Capital One Venture: Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on every purchase

24. Business Credit Cards
 You don’t need to be a large business to get one
 If sole proprietor, use your SSN
 Business credit cards don’t sit on your personal score
 Greater Spending Ability
 Different Bonus Spending Categories
 5x on office supplies
 More Sign-Up Bonuses!!!

25. Category Spends
Top Categories
 Groceries
 Gas
 Restaurants/Dining
 Office Supplies
 Airfare
 Hotels
 Car Rentals

26. Groceries
 American Express Blue Cash Preferred: 6x per $1 at standalone US supermarkets
up to $6,000 in purchases annually.
 Hilton Surpass Card from Amex: 6x per $1 at US supermarkets.
 Hilton HHonors Amex: 5x per $1 at US supermarkets.
 American Express Blue Cash Rewards: 3x per $1 at standalone US supermarkets up
to $6,000 in purchases annually.
 American Express EveryDay Preferred: 3x per $1 at US supermarkets on up to
$6,000 in purchases annually.
 Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature: 3x per $1 at US supermarkets.
 American Express Premier Rewards Gold: 2x per $1 at US supermarkets.
 American Express EveryDay: 2x per $1 at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in
purchases annually.

27. Gas
 Hilton HHonors Surpass Card from Amex: 6x per $1 at US gas stations.
 Hilton HHonors Amex: 5x per $1 at US gas stations.
 American Express Blue Cash Preferred: 3x per $1 at standalone US gas stations.
 American Express Simply Cash Business: 3x per $1 on standalone US gas stations.
 Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature: 3x per $1 at US gas stations.
 Chase Ink Bold: 2x per $1 up to $50,000 in purchases annually.
 Chase Ink Plus: 2x per $1 up to $50,000 in purchases annually.
 Chase Ink Cash: 2x per $1 up to $25,000 in purchases annually.
 IHG Rewards Club Visa: 2x per $1.

28. Dining
 Hilton Surpass Card from Amex: 6x per $1 at US restaurants.
 Hilton HHonors Amex: 5x per $1 at US restaurants.
 Citi ThankYou Premier: 3x per $1 on dining.
 Citi Hilton HHonors Visa Signature: 3x per $1 at US restaurants.
 Chase Sapphire Preferred: 2x per $1 at restaurants (3x on First Fridays each month).
 Chase Ink Cash: 2x per $1 up to $25,000 in purchases annually.
 Chase Hyatt Visa: 2x per $1.
 IHG Rewards Club Visa: 2x per $1.
 Chase Marriott Rewards Premier Visa: 2x per $1.

29. When To Cancel a Credit Card?
Ask Yourself These Questions:
1) Are the perks/benefits of each card more than the annual fee?
2) Is there a duplicate/substitute card that can get me similar
benefits/perks and a new sign-up bonus?
3) How long have I had the card? Is it worth keeping open to
preserve the history of the account?

30. Top 10 Current Deals
1. INK PLUS: 70,000 points after $5,000 spent in 3
months
1. SAPPHIRE PREFERRED: 40,000 points after
$3,000 in 3 months + 5,000 points when you add
cardholder
2. US AIRWAYS PREMIER: 40,000 miles after first
purchase
3. BARCLAYCARD ARRIVAL PLUS: 40,000 miles
after $3,000 spent in 3 months
1. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES RAPID REWARDS
PREMIER: 50,000 points after $2,000 spent in 3
months

31. Top 10 Current Deals
6. CITI HILTON HHONORS RESERVE: 2 weekend
night certificates after $2,500 spent in 3 months
7. CLUB CARLSON PREMIER REWARDS:
85,000 points after $2,500 spent in 90 days
8. BRITISH AIRWAYS VISA: 50,000 avios after
spending $2,000 within 3 months
9. CITI EXEC AADVANTAGE: 50,000 miles after
$5,000 spent in 3 months
10. AMERICAN EXPRESS PLATINUM: 40,000
points after $3,000 spent in 3 months

32. Introducing TPG
To Go

33. About TPG-To-Go: Functionality
TPG Now
Read all of the latest points
and travel news from TPG
Top Deals
A curated list of the 10 best
credit card deals right now,
including the Barclaycard
Arrival+ and US Airways
cards
Up to 30,000 Arrival Points
U p t o
5 0 , 0 0 0
U l t i m a
t e
R e w a r
d
P o i n t s

34. About TPG-To-Go: Functionality
My Wallet
See all of your spend by
category, card and more
Where’s TPG?
Keep up with TPG’s travels
with comments and photos

35. About TPG-To-Go: Functionality
Pay With This:
Find out which card to use
from your digital wallet when
you are out shopping. A
personalized algorithm uses
data to drive decision in
order to maximum points
value. It will also manage
due dates, balances and
more!

36. About TPG-To-Go: Functionality
TPG Tracker:
Stay on top of your favorite programs and card
bonuses. Feature will allow users to select favorite
airline, hotel and travel programs.
Cardholders will receive real-time push notification
alerts when TPG posts news or offers from cards
located in their “My Wallet”

37. Questions?