PointAlchemy Blog
Point valuation updates, strategy insights, and credit card news.
Credit Card Annual Fees: When to Pay and When to Cancel
Most people either keep cards they should cancel or cancel cards they should keep. Here's the four-step framework for making the right call every time.
March 23, 202611 min read
annual-fees
strategy
retention-offers
product-change
amex
chase
The Chase Trifecta vs the Amex Trifecta: Which Ecosystem Wins?
The Chase Trifecta costs $95/year. The Amex Trifecta costs $1,220 before credits. Both are elite setups — but they serve fundamentally different types of spenders.
March 3, 202611 min read
chase
amex
trifecta
comparison
portfolio
Chase Sapphire Preferred vs. Amex Gold: The Ultimate Showdown
Both cards are the most popular mid-tier travel cards on the market, but they're built for different spenders. Here's the math at three different spending profiles.
February 27, 202611 min read
chase
amex
sapphire-preferred
amex-gold
comparison
dining
groceries
Is the Chase Sapphire Reserve Worth It in 2026?
The Chase Sapphire Reserve costs $495 after credits but beats the Preferred only if you spend at least $6,200 in the travel portal annually. Here's who should actually get it.
February 16, 20269 min read
chase
sapphire-reserve
sapphire-preferred
annual-fee
travel-cards