Hi FlyerTalk:

I wanted to know if any of you have any tips for me. I am newly affluent (within the past two years) due to the sale of a construction business I began 20 years ago. I do not live what I would call a very materialistic lifestyle but enjoy meals and traveling. I've been considering switching to a more active wealth manager, but I wanted to know what you as a community thought of my credit card selection.

In my wallet right now, I have:

BankAmericard Privileges with Cash Rewards
I use this card for gas and groceries. The cash back is not overwhelming (maybe $500 at the end of the year) but psychologically I like to know I am not throwing away money.

USAA Cash Rewards World MasterCard
I am a veteran and have my auto and home insurance through USAA, therefore use this for costs involving home improvement and vehicle maintenance. I also use it for medical costs. Again, the cash rewards isn't much but I enjoy the satisfaction.

American Express Platinum Card
I use this card for everything else: dining, travel, gifts, club memberships, you name it. I enjoy the travel benefits and purchase/warranty benefits it provides.

As you can see: I have a Visa, a MasterCard, and an American Express so I am never without a card. I also have a Bank of America Visa debit card and a USAA MasterCard debit card which I use for small purchases such as fast food.

My question for all of you is this: Do I have a good selection for cards and am I using them for the right reasons? How could I improve?

I would be very grateful for any comments.

Thank you very much.

What is your goal, do you just want cash back, do you want airline points? For FT that is a very vague question, as the users here use credit cards differently than the average person.

Thank you for your question, and I apologize for not being more clear.

I would like to use each card in a way that makes life easier - I know that is vague, so let me explain. I don't care about airline miles. The USAA Card I use makes things simpler as insurance claims then go through the same company as issues the card. The BankAmericard is simple because I pay it off from my checking out with Bank of America. And the Platinum makes things easier due to its benefits.

I am not a mileage runner or nearly as frequent a traveler as many of you. I simply want to have cards which make life easier and simpler so I can be more focused on using my money than managing it.

I just want to say that you have come to the right place. Experts here will help you figure out. Just wanted to welcome another newbie

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry: BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.1030 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)

How have you been using the MR points earned from your Amex Platinum Card? Would you get more value by using the Fidelity Investments Amex (which gives 2% cash back on everything), and/or the Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa or MasterCard, each of which awards double Ultimate Rewards points for travel and dining?

Do you travel enough to get your money's worth from the Amex Platinum?

These days, most credit cards offer an auto-pay option, whereby your monthly balance is automatically deducted from a checking account you designate at any bank. (I think Bank of America is more restrictive, and only lets you auto-pay a B of A credit card from a B of A checking account. That's not the case with most other credit cards.)