Thanks for the vote of confidence, mia.

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Again, thanks for the vote of confidence, mia!^

In my case, while I have something like 6 or 7 active cards, I don't end up using each one every month... it all depends on what I'm buying. But as for juggling due dates, I use Yodlee MoneyCenter. If you bank with Bank of America, Fidelity, HSBC, etc. then you've seen their licensed versions of Yodlee's product... I just use it direct from the source. It's a great timesaver. (Search the forums for "yodlee" for more info, or just visit the site!) No, I do not get a kickback. :)

MIA...you are correct, it did not feel "optimal" when I was on hold reporting stolen cards. The good news is that I carry a few different cards and my passport in my briefcase. The other side is juggling all of the payment dates when you are on the road.

Anyway, I carry the following cards:

• Merrill+ - I usually spend $20k for AA status matching. This year I will go to $50k to see what the Merrill+3 concierge is like.
• DL AMEX Platinum - $25k in spending this year to get 10k extra qualifying miles.
• Diners Club - Car rentals only.
• Citi AA World MC - Which I pretty much only use online through the AA shopping mall. It will go away this year and get replaced with a free Citi AMEX.
• Citigroup Chairman - All other spending, plus any plane tickets.
• Fidelity AMEX Platinum - I carry this just for ATM access to my Fidelity Account, AAA-like auto service benefits, and CO/NW club access. However, I do not spend much on the card.
• Chevron Card - My very 1st credit card. I have to use it every now and then or they close the account and force me to re-verify with a credit check
• Capital One - Foreign currency transactions
• Discover Card - Just as old as my Chevron Card, I take advantage of the 5% cash back on rare occasion
• Citi ThankYou Debit Card - For the rare occasion when I am forced to make a debit purchase. At least I get points for it.

I will start carrying just 4 cards: DL Amex Platinum, Merrill+ Visa, Citi Chairman, and Fidelity AMEX Platinum. (I think that I should carry at least one Visa, MC, and AMEX.) The rest I can keep in my briefcase.

In my situation I believe that the 4 cards above offer the best strategy for benefits and rewards for me. In my situation benefits like airline club access, personal assistance, rental insurance, etc. have high value so I keep AMEX Platinum, Citi Chairman, and Diners Club. The benefits outweigh the fees. (Chairman pays for itself with $6,500 - 20k in spending, depending on your spending profile). I have also carried the HHonors AMEX which give great value per $ on restaurant, grocery, gas, wireless, etc.

How does it work? Does fidelity give you back the ATM charges (and no interest)? It will be great if you could tell me the type of fidelity account that has this feature.

And where will you be leaving that brief case? :D

1. The Fidelity AMEX Platinum card works like a debit card. The fees are:

- AMEX charges $1.50
- Fidelity reimburses for ATM owner fees for Premium $500k or Private Access $1mm up to $75 per year.

2. There is no interest, the money is removed from your account just like a debit card.
3. "Credit Card" purchases are debited from your account at the end-of-month
4. The annual fee for Fidelity AMEX Platinum was $320, the Gold card was free.
5. The minimum is $5k in a regular Fidelity account.
6. Supposedly the cards are not available now. However, some FTers have had luck applying for them. Use the following link:

https://scs.fidelity.com/customeronly/amexonly.shtml

I like it because:

a. I get an AMEX Platinum for $320 per year
b. I keep my cash in a federal tax-free account until the moment it is withdrawn
c. I do not have to worry about paying the bill. It is debited at the end of the month
d. There is no record of the account on my credit report
e. I do not have to carry a separate ATM card.

For my spending profile, I come close to maximizing my rewards with:

1. Citi Driver's Edge for 6% at Gas, Drug Stores, and Grocery Stores, plus the Drive Rewards program pays 1 cent per mile driven (which can double your 6% earnings to 12% in these categories).

2. Citi Professional for 3% at restaurants, vehicle rentals, home improvement, and office supplies.

3. Fidelity Signature Rewards Visa for 1.5% back on everything else.

That's actually the best mix of 3 cards for my spending profile suggested by the rewards calculator at:
Credit Card Tune-Up: Discover the Best Credit Card Reward Deals

Thanks a lot for the detailed reply! So there are two sets of fees one by Amex & other by the ATM owner? I opened account they said the minimum of 2500, so 5000 is the avg balance that one needs to maintain? Does some one have both the Amex & the 1.5% visa cards from the same account?

I see Ameriprise ONE financial account also has some similar features does it work the sameway?

do you know if the MtvU points matches with the flight points? I have a Chairman and the MtvU seems to have better points per dollar on some things like say, books. Instead of 1 + 1 (purchase+flight points), I was hoping if possible to use the MtvU for 5+5 :D

NO. Flight points earned by a Chairman Card can only be matched by purchase points earned by the SAME Chairman Card.

The same rule is true of PP and PPE.

Hi Budugu, there is an active thread in the AMEX forum on this card:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=639209

Yes. Both AMEX and the ATM Owner charge fees. The ATM Owner fees are reimbursed on sizable or heavy-trading accounts.

I do not think that they have an average balance requirement. I think that you just need to have $5k when you apply for the card. Remember you can only spend based upon your account balance. (AMEX applies some formula...)

The Fidelity AMEX Platinum/Gold Deferred Debit Cards are completely independent of the Fidelity Visa Signature and other products, i.e. you can have all or none. You can also get a Visa Debit Card on the account.

Final thoughts (and then we should probably get back on topic...):

a. The Fidelity AMEX Platinum is $320. The regular AMEX Platinum is now $450. AMEX has stated that the Fidelity AMEX price will not change.
b. If you also have a DL AMEX you still get a $55 annual fee discount on your DL AMEX for carrying an AMEX charge card (i.e. the Fidelity AMEX Platinum/Gold)
c. I have the Platinum AMEX. However, the Fidelity Gold AMEX may even be a better deal: its free except for the optional Membership Rewards fee.
d. It may be too late to get these cards. Apply as soon as you can.
e. I am strongly considering Fidelity for all of my banking. (I am historically pro-Citibank.) I like the tax-free core account. There are branches in many cities. Their online bill payment is very good.

Oh... I do not know much about the Ameriprise Card...

darn.. thanks for the info^

Thanks a lot for the detailed explanation. I finally moving my accounts from my BoA checking/savings to Fidelity!

Applying for mtvU Card
 

It appears that you have to be a college student or graduate student.

Is there any way around this? I'd love to get the 5 TY points per dining $ spent.

And one more question... For the Merrill+ card, what does AA Frequent Flyer Membership status match mean?

M+ you get a match to an elite level.