Ask Hegemony: Am I Diversified?

[Benji]

I need an idea of where I should go next... I'm still two years away from buying a house(soon to be fiance graduates from nursing school, we can afford a MUCH nicer house if we wait), so I'm debating on letting these age or maybe adding one or two to the mix. No baddies on the reports, always paid on time, etc. Scores are all in the 730-750s currently, and will probably shoot up once I'm lower than 30% utilization.

 

I've been considering the Chase Sapphire Preferred(I love Ultimate Rewards), but can't really decide on what, or even if, I should open up next.

 

[arctic]

Hey Hegemoney,

 

I'm 23 and have been reading this forum for a while now. I generally PIF, but do have $1k or so 0% BT on NFCU about to expire in March and will pay off.

 

NFCU CashRewards Visa - $16,000

FIA Fidelity AMEX - $16,000

Discover IT - $4,750

Penfed CashRewards Visa - $3,000

USAA Rewards AMEX - $3,000

 

I'm not really sure what to get/do next. I can't get into NASA or PSECU. I noticed you said Chase was your highest limit so was considering Chase Freedom. I also have a mortgage with BOA so I don't know if that helps anything. I just got CLIs on 3 of my cards (NFCU, FIA, Discover, PFCU pending) as well so sitting a bit waiting to think of what to do next. I'm hoping to travel more so I was thinking maybe a general travel card maybe, but generally once a year or two for vacations. I also eat out like 2-3x a day so maybe the Citi Forward might be good.

 

What do you think? Diversified?

[EvoX]

Heg,

I've made a little progress since my last grade. How am I doing now?

 

29yo, 63mo AAOA, $135k/y, [nothing derogatory in the last 7 years]

INQ: 1TU, 0EQ, 10EX [4 in last 12 mo]

Ink Cash Biz $5k

Sapphire Pref $45k

Fidelity AMEX $15k

Discover More $12k

PenFed Platinum Visa $22.5k

Citi Forward $8.5k

Citi Thank You $11k

Capitol One/ HSBC/ Orchard Bank 2% cashback $1.5k

SF Fire Credit Union Visa $30k

SPG AMEX $5k

BSP AMEX $20k

Hilton AMEX $2k

Zync AMEX

Platinum AMEX $10k high balance

 

I plan to close 'Thank You' when the 0% promotion expires, Citi won't let me combine the limit on my Forward, though

HSBC declined my CLI over a year ago because I never use the card. It's my oldest besides AMEX, so I'm reluctant to close.

AMEX is since '2002'

FAKO's range 720-790

 

My plan moving forward is to just get cards for signup bonuses, since I have a nice selection going.

I would get a USAA card if they offered a signup bonus.

I also have my eye on AMEX Gold Biz, to help with my personal utilization.

 

How am I doing/ Where should I go from here?

[CTSoxFan]

Heg,

I've made a little progress since my last grade. How am I doing now?

 

29yo, 63mo AAOA, $135k/y, [nothing derogatory in the last 7 years]

INQ: 1TU, 0EQ, 10EX [4 in last 12 mo]

Ink Cash Biz $5k

Sapphire Pref $45k

Fidelity AMEX $15k

Discover More $12k

PenFed Platinum Visa $22.5k

Citi Forward $8.5k

Citi Thank You $11k

Capitol One/ HSBC/ Orchard Bank 2% cashback $1.5k

SF Fire Credit Union Visa $30k

SPG AMEX $5k

BSP AMEX $20k

Hilton AMEX $2k

Zync AMEX

Platinum AMEX $10k high balance

 

I plan to close 'Thank You' when the 0% promotion expires, Citi won't let me combine the limit on my Forward, though

HSBC declined my CLI over a year ago because I never use the card. It's my oldest besides AMEX, so I'm reluctant to close.

AMEX is since '2002'

FAKO's range 720-790

 

My plan moving forward is to just get cards for signup bonuses, since I have a nice selection going.

I would get a USAA card if they offered a signup bonus.

I also have my eye on AMEX Gold Biz, to help with my personal utilization.

 

How am I doing/ Where should I go from here?

 

 

PC your Discover More card to an IT...gets rid of that pesky tiered rewards (IT has 1% on everything from the get go - although you are only probably using it for the 5% cats looking at your lineup)

[tomforr]

Discover $10,000

CapOne Spark $10,000

Chase SW RR $10,500

DCU Platinum $10,000

Citi TY $8,000

Citi HHonors $7,000

CareCredit $7,800

Comenity Smile Generation $7,500

USAA Amex $4,000

USAA MC $4,000

Chase Freedom $3,000

 

Auto Loans through local credit union ($22k balance @2.8%) and Chase/Subaru ($21k balance at 2.74%)

 

Home Mortgage through Sunwest Mortgage Co at $306k balance @ 3.5%

 

How am I doing?

[encoder]

I've never really looked at this thread. Fun!

 

30 years old, $165k/yr gross, AAOA is 36 months, oldest account is about 12 years, oldest revolving account about 5. No derogs anymore.

 

Barclays Priceline $15,000

Chase British Air 5,000

PNC Secured 2,000

 

Best Buy Store Card 5,000

Walmart Store Card 1,800

 

MBFS Auto Loan $19k balance, $40k loan.

 

Next month when my new priceline limit posts (It was $7500 until this morning) I plan to call Chase and request a CLI to $10k as well. It's a new account, and I charge a lot on that card (1.5x my limit the last 2 months), and when I opened it via recon I had some derogs that have since been removed.

 

So, what should I do now? I have a shiny new derog-free fico score. Was thinking I had an amex-sized hole in my wallet, but is there any other advice?

 

 

And my wife:

 

26 years old, $75k income, AAOA is 24 months, oldest account is a Cap1 opened 8/2011. She is an AU on my Priceline and PNC cards, and on a 5 year old card of her dads.

 

Chase MileagePlus $5,000

Capital One 3,000 (was $750 until an exec email last week)

Chase British Air 2,000

Comenity JCrew 2,000

Target red card 1,750

 

So, we're missing any Amex, any 5% rotating category cards, etc.

Edited February 26, 2013 by encoder

[Big Bear]

If we're going to dig up old threads, at least find the good ones.

 

One of my favorites from years ago.

 

Hege, time to access some of the newcomers and reassess the others.

[Big Bear]

 

I'll bite. List of open revolving accounts:

 

PenFed PCR: $25,000

Citi DPR: $20,000

Merrill+: $17,500

Discover Motiva: $10,000

Chase FR: $6,000

BOA Amex: $5,000

BOA Visa: $5,000

Citi PS: $3,600

Wamu Visa: $3,000

Amex Clear: $1,000

Chase Marathon: $800

 

My only store card was an Elder-Beerman card which I closed, but still reports as open.

A+ although more gold stars would be issued with an oddball like SFB visa or RBS mc in the mix.

 

Wow. Things have changed just a bit since then.

 

 

PenFed PCR: $25,000 $50,000

Citi DPR: $20,000 now TYP at $32,000

Merrill+: $17,500 $50,000

Discover Motiva: $10,000 now It at $49,500

Chase FR: $6,000 now up to a whopping $6,600

BOA Amex: $5,000 closed

BOA Visa: $5,000 closed

Citi PS: $3,600 now DC at $17,000

Wamu Visa: $3,000 now Chase Freedom Unlimited at $3,500

Amex Clear: $1,000 $6,000

Chase Marathon: $800 closed

 

Plus a bunch of new accounts, of course. But nothing outside of the above issuers other than Alliant. I need some oddballs...

[themanwhocan]

 

 

I'll bite. List of open revolving accounts:

 

PenFed PCR: $25,000

Citi DPR: $20,000

Merrill+: $17,500

Discover Motiva: $10,000

Chase FR: $6,000

BOA Amex: $5,000

BOA Visa: $5,000

Citi PS: $3,600

Wamu Visa: $3,000

Amex Clear: $1,000

Chase Marathon: $800

 

My only store card was an Elder-Beerman card which I closed, but still reports as open.

A+ although more gold stars would be issued with an oddball like SFB visa or RBS mc in the mix.

 

Wow. Things have changed just a bit since then.

 

 

PenFed PCR: $25,000 $50,000

Citi DPR: $20,000 now TYP at $32,000

Merrill+: $17,500 $50,000

Discover Motiva: $10,000 now It at $49,500

Chase FR: $6,000 now up to a whopping $6,600

BOA Amex: $5,000 closed

BOA Visa: $5,000 closed

Citi PS: $3,600 now DC at $17,000

Wamu Visa: $3,000 now Chase Freedom Unlimited at $3,500

Amex Clear: $1,000 $6,000

Chase Marathon: $800 closed

 

Plus a bunch of new accounts, of course. But nothing outside of the above issuers other than Alliant. I need some oddballs...

 

 

If you want an oddball, how about a card that offers unlimited 3% cash back at Grocery Stores, Dining, and Gas Stations? http://www.bankofthewest.com/cash-back-credit-card

[mendelssohn]

I'll bite. List of open revolving accounts:

 

PenFed PCR: $25,000

Citi DPR: $20,000

Merrill+: $17,500

Discover Motiva: $10,000

Chase FR: $6,000

BOA Amex: $5,000

BOA Visa: $5,000

Citi PS: $3,600

Wamu Visa: $3,000

Amex Clear: $1,000

Chase Marathon: $800

 

My only store card was an Elder-Beerman card which I closed, but still reports as open.

A+ although more gold stars would be issued with an oddball like SFB visa or RBS mc in the mix.

 

Wow. Things have changed just a bit since then.

 

 

PenFed PCR: $25,000 $50,000

Citi DPR: $20,000 now TYP at $32,000

Merrill+: $17,500 $50,000

Discover Motiva: $10,000 now It at $49,500

Chase FR: $6,000 now up to a whopping $6,600

BOA Amex: $5,000 closed

BOA Visa: $5,000 closed

Citi PS: $3,600 now DC at $17,000

Wamu Visa: $3,000 now Chase Freedom Unlimited at $3,500

Amex Clear: $1,000 $6,000

Chase Marathon: $800 closed

 

Plus a bunch of new accounts, of course. But nothing outside of the above issuers other than Alliant. I need some oddballs...

 

 

If you want an oddball, how about a card that offers unlimited 3% cash back at Grocery Stores, Dining, and Gas Stations? http://www.bankofthewest.com/cash-back-credit-card

 

 

Participating states:

 

Arizona

California

Colorado

Idaho

Iowa

Kansas

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

New Mexico

Nevada

North Dakota

Oklahoma

Oregon

South Dakota

Utah

Washington

Wisconsin

Wyoming

If TX was on the list, I would apply. I wonder how much 3% spend you can put through this card?

Edited December 23, 2016 by mendelssohn

[hegemony]

I wonder if I apply at a branch the limit would be better?

[Roland99]

This place has helped me a lot. Looooong way past the days of HSBC and Merrick:

 

 

Amex - Hilton 23,500

Amex - BCP 10,700

Amex - Gold (no pre-set limit)

Amex - Delta Plat 5,000

Ashley (Sync) 4,500

BOA Cash Rewards 20,000

Barclays Cash Fwd 7,500

Chase Freedom Unlimited 35,500

Chase Southwest 10,000

Citi Hilton 16,500

Credit First (Tires Plus) 2,200

Discover 22,000

Home Depot 6,500

JCPenney MC (Sync) 10,000

Lowes (Sync) 30,000

NFCU NAVCHEK 10,000

NFCU Visa Signature 50,000

Paypal (Synchrony) 15,000

PSECU Visa 20,000

State Dept FCU Plat Visa 30,000

Target Red Card 2,200

 

 

I'm sure I can bring some of those limits up more still but taking my time at this point.

Edited December 23, 2016 by Roland99

[themanwhocan]

 

I'll bite. List of open revolving accounts:

 

PenFed PCR: $25,000

Citi DPR: $20,000

Merrill+: $17,500

Discover Motiva: $10,000

Chase FR: $6,000

BOA Amex: $5,000

BOA Visa: $5,000

Citi PS: $3,600

Wamu Visa: $3,000

Amex Clear: $1,000

Chase Marathon: $800

 

My only store card was an Elder-Beerman card which I closed, but still reports as open.

A+ although more gold stars would be issued with an oddball like SFB visa or RBS mc in the mix.

 

Wow. Things have changed just a bit since then.

 

 

PenFed PCR: $25,000 $50,000

Citi DPR: $20,000 now TYP at $32,000

Merrill+: $17,500 $50,000

Discover Motiva: $10,000 now It at $49,500

Chase FR: $6,000 now up to a whopping $6,600

BOA Amex: $5,000 closed

BOA Visa: $5,000 closed

Citi PS: $3,600 now DC at $17,000

Wamu Visa: $3,000 now Chase Freedom Unlimited at $3,500

Amex Clear: $1,000 $6,000

Chase Marathon: $800 closed

 

Plus a bunch of new accounts, of course. But nothing outside of the above issuers other than Alliant. I need some oddballs...

 

 

If you want an oddball, how about a card that offers unlimited 3% cash back at Grocery Stores, Dining, and Gas Stations? http://www.bankofthewest.com/cash-back-credit-card

 

 

Participating states:

 

Arizona

California

Colorado

Idaho

Iowa

Kansas

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

New Mexico

Nevada

North Dakota

Oklahoma

Oregon

South Dakota

Utah

Washington

Wisconsin

Wyoming

If TX was on the list, I would apply. I wonder how much 3% spend you can put through this card?

 

 

well, UMB is in TX. So how about the UMB Simply Rewards card? https://www.umb.com/personal/banking/credit-cards/rewards-visa

[Big Bear]

 

I'll bite. List of open revolving accounts:

 

PenFed PCR: $25,000

Citi DPR: $20,000

Merrill+: $17,500

Discover Motiva: $10,000

Chase FR: $6,000

BOA Amex: $5,000

BOA Visa: $5,000

Citi PS: $3,600

Wamu Visa: $3,000

Amex Clear: $1,000

Chase Marathon: $800

 

My only store card was an Elder-Beerman card which I closed, but still reports as open.

A+ although more gold stars would be issued with an oddball like SFB visa or RBS mc in the mix.

 

Wow. Things have changed just a bit since then.

 

 

PenFed PCR: $25,000 $50,000

Citi DPR: $20,000 now TYP at $32,000

Merrill+: $17,500 $50,000

Discover Motiva: $10,000 now It at $49,500

Chase FR: $6,000 now up to a whopping $6,600

BOA Amex: $5,000 closed

BOA Visa: $5,000 closed

Citi PS: $3,600 now DC at $17,000

Wamu Visa: $3,000 now Chase Freedom Unlimited at $3,500

Amex Clear: $1,000 $6,000

Chase Marathon: $800 closed

 

Plus a bunch of new accounts, of course. But nothing outside of the above issuers other than Alliant. I need some oddballs...

 

 

If you want an oddball, how about a card that offers unlimited 3% cash back at Grocery Stores, Dining, and Gas Stations? http://www.bankofthewest.com/cash-back-credit-card

 

 

Participating states:

 

Arizona

California

Colorado

Idaho

Iowa

Kansas

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

New Mexico

Nevada

North Dakota

Oklahoma

Oregon

South Dakota

Utah

Washington

Wisconsin

Wyoming

If TX was on the list, I would apply. I wonder how much 3% spend you can put through this card?

 

No dice as MI isn't on that list.

 

(I somehow forgot about NASA on my previous post)