Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.One of the many perks of working at TPG is that we reimburse credit card annual fees, enabling full-time employees to build familiarity with a large variety of products and programs. That doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all, though — we encourage employees to choose their cards wisely based on their personal spending habits, just like they otherwise would. They also need to be mindful about minimum-spend requirements — to use restraint and not bite off more than they can chew whenever another fantastic offer pops up.Now, in response to feedback received following TPG’s own 2017 inventory post, we’re asking our editors to open up their wallets, detailing which cards they currently have and why. Today, it’s Assistant Editor Brendan Dorsey’s turn to dig in.Although I have a relatively small inventory compared to some TPG staffers, my wallet is stocked with a few solid cards. I currently hold two Ultimate Rewards-earning Chase cards and two airline co-branded cards. Chase’s Ultimate Rewards points are one of the most valuable point currencies and they afford lots of flexibility with their 11 transfer partners, while the co-branded cards add in some extra perks while flying.What’s Currently in My WalletCardAnnual FeeIssuerKEEPINGChase Sapphire Reserve$450ChaseUnited MileagePlus Explorer Card$95ChaseChase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card$95ChaseCiti AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard$99CitiWISH LISTChase Freedom Unlimited$0ChaseTOTAL IN ANNUAL FEES BEFORE CHANGES: $735TOTAL IN ANNUAL FEES AFTER CHANGES: $735 ($0 in savings)Keep reading for a look at why each card earns a place in my wallet.ChaseChase Sapphire ReserveAnnual Fee: $450My take: I put almost all of my spend on my Chase Sapphire Reserve. I love the 3x points on travel and dining. I eat out a decent amount, so that 3x can really add up. The 3x on travel is also great in New York City — cabs, Uber, Lyft, subways and commuter trains all qualify for the bonus. The $300 travel credit takes the sting out of the hefty $450 annual fee, and the $100 Global Entry credit is something I put to immediate use. It’s incredibly convenient being able to just walk off a flight and not have to wait in JFK’s notoriously long customs lines.The Reserve also gives you a Priority Pass membership, and although it isn’t the best for domestic flights since lounges are usually located in international terminals, it is great for me because I travel internationally relatively frequently. I can see why this card won the battle of premium travel reward cards. I love the Reserve so much that I got my mom, girlfriend and about five other friends to sign up for it when Chase was offering the 100,000-point sign-up bonus.Verdict: KeepSign up for our daily newsletterEmail addressSign upI would like to subscribe to The Points Guy newsletters and special email promotions. The Points Guy will not share or sell your email. See privacy policy.Chase Ink Business PreferredAnnual Fee: $95My take: I just recently signed up for the Chase Ink Business Preferred, mainly for the large 80,000-point sign-up bonus. But also because it keeps my business expenses separate from personal ones. It also gets 3x on travel plus 3x on shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services. And I found some random purchases qualify for the 3x internet bonus, like my entrance fee to an upcoming Tough Mudder Race. I also love the cell phone protection, which will reimburse you up to $600 if your phone is stolen or damaged (although you have to put your cell phone bill on your Ink Preferred).Verdict: KeepUnited MileagePlus Explorer CardAnnual Fee: $95The United MileagePlus Explorer Card is a solid card for me since I fly United a lot. It saves me from checked bag fees and offers priority boarding. But my favorite benefit is that it opens saver award availability when booking United award flights. This makes looking for award tickets much easier and helps me save miles since I don’t have to book at higher rates. The two complimentary United Club passes are also great, especially when I have a long layover. They’re valued at $118, which covers the annual fee right there.Verdict: KeepChase Freedom UnlimitedAnnual Fee: $0My take: I’ll most likely continue my Chase binge and sign up for the Freedom Unlimited next — it would be good to pair with the other Chase cards to cover the non-bonus categories, giving me 1.5x on all spend. And when you pair that with the Sapphire Reserve (I’ll need to link the two cards), points are worth 2.2 cents (or a 3.3% return) each, based on TPG’s valuations. The card also comes with a $150 bonus (or a 15,000-point bonus if you link it to a UR earning card) after spending $500 in the first three months. Once I acquire the Freedom Unlimited, I’ll have TPG’s Chase Trifecta, which is one of the most valuable card combos helping maximize return on every dollar you spend.Verdict: Wish listCitiCiti AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite MastercardAnnual Fee: $99My take: I signed up for the the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard last year when there was a 60,000-point sign-up bonus. At the time, I was laser focused on accruing airline miles and the annual fee was waived for the first year, so it seemed liked a no-brainer to sign up.My annual fee came up recently and I actually called Citi and tried to close the card, but because of Citi’s strong retention department, it offered to waive the annual fee if I spent $95 dollars in the next 30 days. I took the deal and have been enjoying the card’s benefits like free checked bags for you and up to four companions. I also love that I get preferred boarding on AA flights, which helps when you’re fighting with fellow passengers for overhead bin space.I’m planning on a big AAdvantage mile redemption this summer, so I’ll be able to take advantage of the 10% of my redeemed miles back, up to 10,000 miles a year. TPG’s latest valuations put 10,000 miles at $140, which more than covers the annual fee. It’s definitely a card worth keeping.The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.Verdict: KeepBottom LineAlthough I don’t have a lot of cards, the ones I do have work well for me. The co-branded cards save me miles and money and add perks that make flying a little more enjoyable. The Chase cards help me rack up points quickly because of the broad bonus categories, and the lounge access and Global Entry credit help where the co-branded cards fall flat. I’m looking forward to building out my wallet over the coming years and gaining even more redemption opportunities.
