Why I’m Retiring The Chase Trifecta (After 6 Years)

[00:01] there's a good chance you've heard about the all-powerful Chase Trifecta and why cards that make up the setup. The Chase Trifecta got so well-known that pretty using it. However, slowly over time, as Chase made some changes to certain cards

[00:16] it seems like the public opinion about the setup has recently shifted to now actually be kind of negative with many people choosing to move away from Chase video, I want to give you guys my honest opinion on why the Chase Trifecta feels

[00:29] as someone who's been using the setup for over six years now. And I also want to talk about why, after all that time, I've made the choice to essentially my own credit card strategy. Now, before we get into all that negative stuff,

[00:41] positives that kind of got people hooked on Chase credit cards in the first some of those positives still exist today, and I always try to show you guys things. So, the first good thing about the Chase Trifecta to me is that you can

[00:54] get a version of the setup for very low combined annual fees. Now, just to be three credit cards that make up the Chase Trifecta are typically the no annual fee Chase Freedom Unlimited, the no annual fee Chase Freedom Flex, and

[01:06] year Chase Sapphire Preferred card or the $795 per year Chase Sapphire Reserve. So, obviously, for the low annual fee version of the setup, we'd be the Sapphire Preferred. And $95 of combined fees for that setup is a pretty

[01:20] appealing to people out there who want to stay away from cards with much higher annual fees. And the Sapphire Preferred even gives you a $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel credit to bring down the cost even further. So, being low cost is the first

[01:32] second good thing about the Chase Trifecta that makes it even more offers on these cards that can really help to give you a lot of value in your offers can vary, so if you ever want to

[01:44] as you're watching this, then I'll leave some links down below in the description reminder about the value of the Chase Ultimate Rewards points that all these typically begins at 1 cent per point, but they can be worth much more when

[01:57] certain redemption strategies are used. So, if I had, let's say, 115,000 total the welcome bonuses alone in a low-cost Chase Trifecta setup, then those 115,000 $1,150 for things like cash back, gift cards,

[02:12] and other cash equivalent redemptions. That $1,150 of minimum value is going to be enough to cover the combined $95 of annual fees want to look at it that way. But, the way that I would personally look at

[02:24] those 100 15,000 total Chase points in this example is that I should be able to get at least 2 cents per point for at least $2,300 of value, and that's going about the Chase Trifecta, which would be the hotel and airline transfer partners

[02:36] transferring your points is a feature that's only going to be available on the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve within Chase's lineup of personal credit stuff, if you have some points that you've earned from the Freedom Unlimited

[02:48] into your Chase account and use the combined points feature to essentially card, and that's going to then give you access to these transfer partners. Now, cents per point, or in other words, double the value of your points when

[03:01] redeeming for cash back, there's plenty of ways to do that with the airline Airways, Flying Blue, and Virgin beginners and credit card pros, one transfer partner on the hotel side of

[03:14] as being the easiest and most consistent way to find higher redemption values, Transferring points over to Hyatt is one of the main reasons why so many people Chase Trifecta in the first place, because only Chase and Bilt points can

[03:28] if Hyatt ever went away as a transfer partner, then I think the Chase Trifecta Now, fortunately, Hyatt transfers are not going away anytime soon, but the Chase would be if Hyatt ever decided to really devalue its own points currency.

[03:43] And for anyone who has seen the news recently, that's actually exactly what a brand new version of its award chart in May of 2026 that I want to touch on Chase trifecta in a few minutes. But since I'm still going over the positive

[03:56] mention that these high devaluations are look back over the past few years to really think about why people have loved I've seen countless people get Chase cards, earn a bunch of points, and

[04:09] travel from high transfers alone. For myself, having the Chase trifecta has hotels like the Andaz Maui and the Grand Hyatt Kauai on a honeymoon trip to the that has a cool balcony overlooking an actual vineyard in the Napa region, and

[04:24] in beautiful places like the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe, or the Andaz heart of Amsterdam. Staying at all those places would have been very, very with Hyatt transfers moving forward, it's important to acknowledge that

[04:38] having access to World of Hyatt as a transfer partner has been incredibly until this point. And honestly, only time will tell if this new Hyatt award good thing we've had for so long. Now, because of how easy it's been over the

[04:51] transfers, I think the Chase trifecta sort of gained a reputation for being a out there testing the waters of the credit card game for themself. But the many people have learned is that it's actually even better if you're playing

[05:05] someone else at the same time. That's because Chase is always looking to bring products, and one of the ways they do that is by giving current card holders the option to refer a friend by giving them a custom referral link. So, for

[05:17] other are looking to use credit cards to earn some points and maybe go on some trips together, then what you could do is have a first person or a player one the Chase trifecta first, meet the minimum spend requirements to earn all

[05:29] cards however you want to. But after that, player one could then share their with their significant other or their player two, and that player two can then to earn those welcome offers, and to basically say thanks for referring

[05:43] player one a small bonus on top of all that for each referral they make. So, by having both people in a two-player strategy get the Chase Trifecta cards, in upfront values from the welcome offers, and a little bit extra on top of

[05:57] But then, what makes it even better is that Chase actually allows customers to with one other person, as long as you're members of the same household and you sharing points is something that other issuers like City are kind of moving

[06:11] is now going to be an advantage that Chase has over some of the competition. our Chase points ever since we moved in together when we were still dating, and it is that when you think about the fact that Chase has Hyatt as a transfer

[06:24] hotel stays can be kind of a smart move for couples because the cost per person have two people staying in a room that you booked with points instead of just one person, all those things have made the Chase Trifecta a really effective

[06:37] this day. Now, that leads me into one more positive thing about the setup that the negative stuff, because this also is going to kind of add on to the value strategy, and that would be the airport lounge access that you have the option

[06:51] lounges, you are going to have to get the more premium version of the Chase Trifecta with the $795 per year Chase Sapphire Reserve to go alongside those having the Sapphire Reserve is going to get you complimentary access to Chase

[07:04] Sapphire lounges by the club, and 1,300 plus Priority Pass airport lounges worldwide. But, here's the key thing, you can also bring up to two guests free huge because now Capital One no longer allows free guests into their lounges

[07:17] for Venture X card holders as of February 2026, and Amex Platinum card ago. So, the fact that Sapphire Reserve card holders can still bring in free that I hope doesn't get nerfed anytime soon, and it's something that my wife

[07:30] the massive Chase Sapphire lounge that we love going to here in our home airport in Philadelphia. To me, Sapphire lounges are also the nicest and my credit card issuers these days, and even though I honestly think that airport

[07:42] lounge access is kind of overrated and not a necessary benefit to have, it can still be a nice extra thing. So, I view it as a small positive of holding the for those who want this benefit. All right, now that's going to bring me to

[07:54] the fun part of this video here where I can really critique what I think is very some people have grown to dislike it a lot recently. And the first thing to me is going to be an obvious one, and that is what I think are objectively below

[08:06] setup compared to the competition. Now, to me, the most obvious way that Chase multipliers is going to be its lack of a true grocery store category. And I say because technically the Sapphire Preferred does have a multiplier for

[08:20] this, but it's for only 3x points with online grocery purchases. I get that for ordering groceries online and then just having them delivered, but still, grocery purchases, including those actually made in store because that's

[08:34] there still buy our food on a weekly basis. Now, some people do still manage downloading certain grocery stores apps to pay through that app because that seems to code as online grocery

[08:47] have apps and the average card holder might not even know about this trick Chase Trifecta has a useful grocery multiplier is typically just during one Freedom Flex makes grocery stores a rotating 5x category on the first $1,500

[09:03] for example, in the first quarter of 2025 from January through March, grocery stores were chosen as a 5x category on the Freedom Flex, which was great. But groceries is not something that's guaranteed in the Chase Trifecta, and

[09:17] Freedom Flex anyways when groceries is a category. So, I just hope that Chase can permanent thing. Another spending multiplier that's pretty clearly below the competition is also the 1.5x on all other purchases that the Freedom

[09:30] for a while, I was sort of okay with earning only 1.5x instead of the 2x that earning Chase points that I could transfer over to Hyatt. But now with all the questions out there about the upcoming Hyatt devaluation and because

[09:44] other catch all cards, I think I really can't overlook earning 1.5x with a go out and get the Venture or the Venture X to earn 2x with Capital One, Citi, or even the Build Palladium card to earn an effective 3.33x on everything

[10:00] my mortgage with that card. So, when I said at the beginning of this video that trifecta as a whole, it was really the Freedom Unlimited that's going to be that I have here to just kind of collect

[10:13] much better option now for a catch all card with my Build Palladium, which by the way also transfers over to Hyatt as well as Atmos on top of that. So, why would I earn 1.5x on catch all spend with Chase when I could earn 3.33x with

[10:26] wanted a no annual fee option that still maintains my Hyatt transfers, the Build Blue card technically earns as much as 2.33x points per dollar on catch all spend again when factoring in points unlocked on your rent or mortgage. Now,

[10:39] card that's good for beginners, good for those just kind of getting into the can get an elevated welcome offer on it. But like I said, I just don't think it offers enough to be competitive long term as a catch all option anymore. I'll

[10:51] though because I actually do get enough value from the credits and the airport still use my Freedom Flex as well for the rotating 5x categories because I think the Freedom Flex continues to be one of the best no annual fee cards on

[11:04] the market, especially during times like right now in Q2 of 2026 when Amazon is a right, now for the next negative thing about the Chase trifecta, we definitely have to talk about the new welcome offer eligibility rules that Chase has updated

[11:17] rules are honestly going to be a pretty big negative for a lot of people out strategy behind how someone might approach going after bonuses. So, for a of guided the ways you could get their credit cards and the welcome offers

[11:31] infamous Chase 5/24 rule that's pretty much still in effect today. And then that is no longer in effect. The 5/24 rule, for anyone who's new to this or more personal credit cards across all issuers within the past 24 months, you

[11:46] will automatically be denied for any new Chase credit cards. And then the former Chase's website whenever you went to apply for either the Sapphire Preferred said that if you wanted to apply for either one of those Sapphire cards, it's

[11:59] do not have any Sapphire card at the moment. And if you have not received a card in the past 48 months. So, with these two rules together, what people they last got a new welcome bonus on one of the Sapphire cards. And then as that

[12:14] they'd make sure they'd be under 5/24 at that time. And then they'd also make Sapphire card open, which would technically make them eligible for a new people like myself who were deep in the credit card game because I knew that

[12:28] another welcome offer on a Sapphire card. But recently Chase got rid of this language which they clarified in early 2026 to explain the new welcome bonus you'll be able to earn one bonus per Sapphire card as long as you've never

[12:43] And even though it's nice to know that you should be able to take advantage of Sapphire cards individually, it is pretty disappointing that Chase now language in their terms for each Sapphire card rather than one bonus

[12:57] before. So, yeah, I think it's still a good idea to check out the welcome offers on both the Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve to take advantage you can go ahead and check out using the links down below if you want to learn

[13:09] update to the welcome bonus eligibility is a pretty big downgrade to the Chase trifecta because people like the old 48-month rule. In my opinion, this new of leaves credit card users with little incentive to continue holding the Chase

[13:23] next Sapphire card welcome bonus to look forward to every 4 years and it the everyday spending multipliers that we've already said are below the all categories. So yeah, I think Chase

[13:36] of value they're just giving out to myself and other people like me or like of play the credit card game to optimize for welcome bonuses within the structure making a few other recent changes to certain cards and certain redemption

[13:50] their own profitability. Now, the one credit card that's seen the most recent changes is the Sapphire Reserve because in 2025 we saw Chase bump the annual fee on this card up from $550 to $795 per year and we also saw them effectively

[14:03] make this card a coupon book which was probably something inspired by the Amex changes went over too well with long-time Sapphire Reserve card holders of new credits that now you've got to manage and keep track of, the CSR lost

[14:16] features like the 3x multiplier on all travel in favor of getting 4x on just also lost the feature where you can get 1.5 cents per point on all point through Chase. Now, what replaced that point redemption feature was something

[14:30] new called points boost which in theory can now get you up to 2x or 2 cents per booked through Chase travel. However, the keywords there are up to 2x and means in practice is that sometimes you're going to get less than 2 cents

[14:44] that on some flights and hotel stays booked through Chase. And then other to get you 1 cent per point. The Chase Sapphire Preferred got a similar update by also losing its 1.25 cent per point redemption feature which was also

[14:57] flights and hotels. And so I think it's all these recent changes to things that combined with the fact that there's still some key spending multipliers that competition. All this stuff together here is sort of been pushing people away

[15:11] it no longer makes sense for them. What a lot of people have been saying is that they want easy value in today's credit card landscape, especially when it seems adding complexity. And in my honest opinion, the Chase Trifecta only

[15:24] short-term right now. Their current biggest advantage to long-term value is having Hyatt as a transfer partner, but like I said earlier, that value from because of some upcoming award chart changes that could potentially flip

[15:37] credit card points. So, if you want to see a full breakdown of this upcoming Hyatt devaluation and what you can do to prepare for it, then make sure to go on the screen next. But as always, thanks so much for watching and I'll see

[15:49] thanks so much for watching and I'll see you in the next one.