My Hybrid Setup for 2026… and almost my endgame?

OK folks, see what you think…

I’m settling into a hybrid approach in the new year. 3 Amex is point cards for travel and other cards for cash back. With my spend it comes out about 50/50 for cash and points. We’ll see how it goes for a while but it could work well.

Notes: I’m sitting on over 400k in Amex points already (a lot from bonuses) and starting to travel more next year. I can use credits without too much effort to offset the AF.

Amex Gold 4x dining and groceries

Amex platinum for 5x flights and benefits

Amex BBP 2x business spend for my small business

Other Travel Cards for perks and points:

Delta Business Gold

Choice Privileges Select

The rest are cash back (or transfer to hotel points)

Citi Double Cash 2% catch all

Amex BCP 6% streaming

Citi Custom Cash 5% gas

Citi Custom Cash 5% pharmacy

USB Cash+ 5% utilities

USB Cash+ 5% dept stores

Amazon Prime Visa 5%

WF Autograph 3% phone bill, transit, travel, dining (backup for Amex)

On the horizon:

Switch Amex Platinum to Schwab version for better cash back option or investing points in case travel slows. If I decide to move away from Amex points, I’ll open a Strata Premier and pool points with the money all my Citi cards. (I like Choice 1:2)

After that, with the addition ➕ f some churning here and there, I think I’m in a good place. It took about 5 years to build this setup. Whew.