All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life

#236: Chris reviews and ranks the full American Express lineup of 30+ cards. He also breaks down Membership Rewards, transfer partners, approval rules, card-linked offers, unique perks, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/amex-cards-membership-rewards-points Partner Deals Kick: 50% off your first year of self-driving bookkeeping w/ code CHRIS DeleteMe: 20% off removing you...

#235: Chris shares his personal 10-step money allocation framework to help prioritize savings, investments, and financial flexibility. He also dives into advanced strategies for tax optimization, liquidity, and real-world application through listener questions. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/10-step-money-allocation-framework Partner Deals Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable pe...

#234: In this bonus episode, Chris discusses the new Mesa Homeowners Card, some new big welcome bonuses, card and hotel program devaluations, two new points promotions, free summer activities and more. Link to Full Show Notes: ⁠⁠https://chrishutchins.com/card-news-promos-and-more-june-2025⁠ Resources Mentioned Mesa Homeowners Card Amex Platinum: Up to 175k Bonus Amex Gold: Up to 100k Bonus ⁠Major...

#233: Explore how different generations approach money and what they get right (and wrong) about saving, investing, spending, and building wealth. We dig into the psychology of money across generations and share practical lessons on homeownership, retirement, automation, points inflation, and more. Ben Carlson is the Director of Institutional Asset Management at Ritholtz Wealth Management. He runs...

#232: Chris reviews his current credit card lineup for 2025. He also covers how to evaluate new/existing cards, some card changes for 2025, new cards he's excited about, the best cards for each major spending category, and apps to manage all your cards. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/whats-in-my-wallet-2025 Link to What's In My Wallet Blog Post: https://chrishutchins.com/blog/w...

#231: Chris shares his top 50 hacks, learnings and lessons from the past 230 episodes. Learn actionable strategies to level up your travel, wealth, points & miles, productivity, relationships, and so much more! Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/50-impactful-lessons-travel-money-life Partner Deals Copilot: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2 Ne...

#230: The Wealth Ladder is a new philosophy for thinking about money and in this episode you'll learn exactly how to handle your spending, income, investments, and more, with tailored advice for every stage. We cover strategies to boost income, spend smarter with the 0.01% rule, avoid costly financial traps, evaluate new business opportunities, and achieve financial freedom. Nick Maggiulli is a fi...

#229: Your gut is the engine of your entire body, so today we break down how to keep it running smoothly with practical, evidence-backed tips. We cover the gut’s powerful role in digestion, immunity, and brain health while challenging common misconceptions about reflux, probiotics, and more. Dr. Robynne Chutkan is a board-certified integrative gastroenterologist, bestselling author, and founder of...

228: A deep dive into Citi’s credit card lineup. I've recently opened up a few Citi cards and am very excited about sharing the best Citi cards, how to maximize ThankYou Points, the best airline and hotel transfer partners, and how Citi’s best two-card combo stacks up against other major issuers. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/citi-credit-cards-thank-you-points Partner Deals Th...

#227: An actionable 4-step framework to master points and miles while maximizing personal value. We cover high-yield earning strategies like paying processing fees, bulk ordering, and leveraging business expenses, plus tactics for scaling award travel for multiple people. We also explore alternate pathways to earn and redeem points without chasing “perfection.” Devon Gimbel is the founder of Point...

#226: From optimizing travel and rewards to new ways to earn points, Chris shares some recent tactics he's picked up on upgrades and award travel. He also covers some flight deals, airline changes, Mother's Day gift ideas, and reflects on recent podcast episodes. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/optimizing-vacations-and-new-ways-to-earn-points⁠ Partner Deals Gelt: Skip the waitli...

#225: Learn how to optimize your oral health to prevent disease and improve your overall health. We cover the ideal oral care routine, negative impacts of mouth breathing, the truth about fluoride, the role of nutrition and diet, how to choose the right dentist, dental coverage options, and so much more. Dr. Mark Burhenne is a functional dentist, author, and the founder of Ask the Dentist, a go-to...

#224: This is the ultimate guide to airport lounges. You'll learn how to access the best lounges without needing to fly first class by using credit cards, memberships, elite status, and more. We’ll also discuss the best lounges, underrated perks, tools to manage access, avoiding crowded lounges and more. Kevin Song is the co-founder of This Lounge, one of the most comprehensive databases of airpor...

#223: Actionable tips to become a better writer—whether it’s for work, business, or everyday life. We cover the biggest copywriting mistakes, essential skills for effective writing, the only copywriting formula you need to know, plus the tools and exercises (including AI) to sharpen your writing. Neville Medhora is the founder of Copywriting Course and SwipeFile.com. He’s worked with top companies...

#222: Discover how paying taxes with a credit card can unlock huge rewards—or even turn a profit. Chris also shares how he's handling the current market decline and shares practical tips for teaching kids about money, stacking card-linked offers, and using VPNs for big savings. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/pay-taxes-with-credit-card-2025-musings Partner Deals Facet: Personali...

#221: The ultimate guide to credit reports and scores—how they’re calculated, what affects them, and proven ways to improve them. Specially, I'll cover how opening lots of credit cards impacts your credit. You'll also learn how to check your credit reports and scores for free, dispute errors, understand lender scoring models, protect your financial health, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https:...

#220: Is chasing elite status worth it? Chris shares his journey of earning elite status with 8 hotel and airline loyalty programs for 2025, weighing the pros and cons amid recent devaluations. He also highlights listener stories showcasing over $100,000 in combined savings through smart points and miles strategies. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/rethinking-elite-status-listene...

#219: Learn every way to skip security lines, breeze through immigration, and save time at the airport. We cover the programs like TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and CLEAR, as well as smart check-in tactics, must-have apps, and insider tricks to save time when you travel. Leigh Rowan is the founder and CEO of Savanti Travel, a full-service travel management company. Prior to that, he was the COO of T...

#218: Learn to redefine financial freedom by aligning your life with what you truly love. We dive deep into why setting limits can actually create more freedom, how to define what “enough” means for you, the role of entrepreneurship in building a fulfilling life, and more. Grant Sabatier is an entrepreneur, investor, podcaster, and bestselling author of Financial Freedom and Inner Entrepreneur. He...

#217: From the best AI tools to takeaways from losing a home in the LA fires, we dive deep into strategies for optimizing home insurance, the benefits of rope training and saunas, how think about where to live, and more listener questions. Kevin Rose is a partner at True Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that has invested over $4 billion in a portfolio of over 400+ founders. Kevin prev...

#216: Unlock the power of purpose and friendship with Simon Sinek. Learn how to find your ‘why,’ strengthen your friendships, and master the human skills that truly matter. Simon Sinek is a globally recognized author, speaker, and thought leader on leadership, purpose, and human connection. His work, including his book Start with Why, has inspired millions to discover their purpose and foster mean...

#215: Learn to save thousands on medical care abroad. We cover common misconceptions, vetting doctors and hospitals, key mistakes to avoid, and the best destinations for top procedures. Josef Woodman is the CEO of Patients Beyond Borders and has spent the past 16 years researching and vetting international options for quality, affordable medical care. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins...

#214: Chris reveals the top cash back credit cards in 2025 to maximize your rewards. He also goes deep on leveraging signup bonuses to earn up to 20% back on all your spending. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/cash-back-credit-cards-2025 Partner Deals Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn Copilot: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finan...

#213: Master the 5 types of wealth to lead a more fulfilled life. Sahil Bloom shares strategies and tactics to regain build lasting financial freedom, invest in your health, control of your time, deepen your relationships and enhance mental clarity. Sahil Bloom is the author of 5 Types of Wealth and writer of The Curiosity Chronicle, a popular weekly newsletter that provides actionable ideas to he...

#212: Learn to save and profit from gift cards. We cover strategies for finding the best deals, mastering gift card reselling, avoiding common pitfalls, leveraging card-linked offers, and so much more. Logan Robinson is a Founding Partner of Aligned Incentives, a platform dedicated to helping consumers maximize their savings through strategic gift card purchases and reselling. Link to Full Show No...