All the Hacks: Money, Points & Life

Ep. How to Earn Millions of Points and More Listener Q&A
Hosted by Chris Hutchins
Release Date: January 28, 2026

Brief Overview

In this episode, Chris Hutchins answers a wide range of listener questions on maximizing credit card points, managing multiple cards, balancing simplicity and optimization, and navigating the complex world of bonuses, referrals, credit scores, and fees. He goes deep into tactical hacks, personal stories, and recent shifts in both strategy and product offerings. The tone is practical, honest, and occasionally self-reflective, with Chris frequently reassessing even his own relentless pursuit of points.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How Chris Earned 15 Million Points

• Sources of Points:
  • Signup bonuses are the main contributor (“probably the largest contributor to earning points for most people and especially people who play this game heavily” – [03:12]).
  • Strategy includes frequent card openings (11 new cards between Chris and his wife in 2025; total of 40 currently open).
  • Other methods: maximizing group spends, planning trips for others, paying bills (taxes, rent, mortgage via Bilt), business expenses, and even reselling gift cards.
  • Explains why large balances can be “aspirational, exciting” but also risky due to ongoing points devaluation ([02:09]).
  • Points hoarding can easily happen if travel is limited, e.g., due to young kids or the pandemic.
• Chris’s New Approach:
  • Plans to burn more points in 2026.
  • Contemplates shifting toward cash back for daily spend ([04:56]).

2. Signup Bonuses vs. Everyday Spending

• Signup Bonuses:
  • Remain the single most lucrative method; Chris demonstrates with calculations from his own history.
  • Even on cards with big spend requirements, the return is generally outsized compared to regular earning ([15:57]).
• Quote:
  • "To the extent you can always be working on a signup bonus, that will probably, if not, certainly be the most lucrative way to earn points.” – Chris ([16:57])
• Business Cards and Multipliers:
  • Many overlook that a “business” can be consulting, gig work, freelance, or anything producing revenue.
  • Unique “no lifetime language” (NLL) mailers sometimes allow for multiple bonuses on the same Amex card ([21:00]).

3. Impact of Multiple Cards on Credit Score

• Number of Cards:
  • Having many cards (even 40+) generally has little negative impact if balances are paid in full ([13:25]).
• Utilization:
  • Main risk is allowing statements to close with high utilization ratios; Chris's own score plunged to 640 after high balances, but recovered quickly once paid ([14:26]).
  • Recommends setting payment reminders before the statement closing ([15:00]).
• Quote:
  • “If you pay your card off in full each month – that is a requirement for this game. If you're not doing that, stop, do not pass go, don't play this game at all.” – Chris ([14:55])

4. How Many Cards to Open Annually?

• Constraints:
  • Approval rates and spend needed to meet signup thresholds are the main limits.
  • Chris’s sweet spot: 1-2 cards per quarter (can go up to 2-3 if playing the “game” with a spouse or multiple family members).
• Mental Overhead:
  • Acknowledges the time and organizational effort required, advises listeners to assess their bandwidth ([15:57]).

5. Simplifying Without Sacrifice

• Satisficing vs. Maximizing:
  • Maximal optimization comes at the cost of complexity; most can hit the “80/20” with just 2-3 well-chosen cards and a few targeted bonuses per year ([27:25]).
• Quote:
  • “If you want to maximize and simplify, those are definitely in contention with each other ... the key is knowing when to stop.” – Chris ([27:30])
• Good Simple Cash Back Options:
  • For those willing to park savings/investments, the Robinhood card or Bank of America Premium Rewards Elite are top straightforward options for cash back ([28:53]).
  • Emphasizes that portal-based points (e.g., Bilt) can be an easy low-overhead “points” compromise.

6. Other Paths: Weddings, Hotel Points, Costco, and Special Categories

• Weddings/Big Spend Events:
  • Look for cards/business cards with big bonuses; pair with mainstay cards where possible ([33:00]).
• Hotel-Focused Spend:
  • Generally, harder to maximize than airline awards; considers cash back as often superior for hotel stays unless targeting specific programs like Hyatt or Hilton ([46:31]).
• Costco:
  • No perfect card; best approach is to use a high flat-rate card for “everything else” spend ([55:40]).

7. Advanced Topics

• Fees for Using Cards:
  • Should rarely pay a fee above ~2.5% unless it’s enabling you to hit a valuable bonus ([40:00]).
  • Paying taxes by card (via pay1040 or ACI) can work out with a 1.75%-1.85% fee if you are close to a bonus ([42:00]).
  • Emphasizes that small arbitrages can be not worth the effort for minor “profits.”
• Tax Withholding Tricks:
  • Legitimate to reduce payroll withholdings for more potential post-year-end payments (enables bonus-earning via card payments; but may not be a smooth process at all employers) ([44:00]).
• Authorized Users and Status via Spend:
  • American Airlines allows both primary cardholder and authorized users to gain loyalty points; can mean “two for one” status with enough spend ([52:00]).
• Amex “No Lifetime Language” Mailers:
  • Describes how to spot and maximize these for multiple business bonuses ([21:00]).

8. Current & Notable Card Offers

• Built now offers three new cards (Palladium, Obsidian, Blue)—can now earn points on mortgage plus rent.
• Other major sign-up bonuses cycle and change quickly; Chris recommends his email list for timely tracking ([33:40]).
• Hotel card offers are attractive for free night certificates, but be wary of point value differences and redemption category restrictions ([36:30]).
• New rumor: Wells Fargo launching a travel card with a 6-figure bonus ([37:30]).

9. Bilt Card Drama & Final Thoughts

• Chris finds the new Bilt earnings and upgrade options confusing, but fundamentally valuable—especially for those with large housing spends ([61:45]).
• Recommends upgrading/changing cards strategically to preserve welcome bonus eligibility and credit history ([62:47]).
• Next episode will feature a full Bilt and “Cardless” deep-dive.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Point Hoarding:
  • "I have an irrational fear that maybe one day I won't be able to earn as many points... And so that irrational fear has led me to kind of hoard them in a way that I'm going to try to do something about this year." ([09:25])
• On Business Card Eligibility:
  • "For a business card, often you need to have something that is a business. But that business could be you resell things on the Internet, you consult, you have a social media presence that one day you want to monetize..." ([19:40])
• On Hotel Points Value:
  • "A Hyatt point is probably the exception. But a Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Choice Privileges points are often kind of valued in the 0.5 to 0.7 cent range ... hotel cards seem more lucrative. But 175,000 Hilton points might be worth half as much as 175,000 airline points." ([36:38])
• On Chasing Simplicity:
  • "If you had two cards and did two to three signup bonuses a year, that would probably be the 80/20 of this game." ([28:26])

Key Timestamps

• 00:00–05:00: Introduction & The 15M Points Story
• 05:00–09:42: Rethinking Points vs. Cash; Strategies for Accumulation
• 09:42–12:23: Ad Segment (Skippable)
• 12:23–15:17: Referrals, Why Signup Bonuses Dominate
• 15:17–23:35: Credit Score Impact, Signup Bonus Frequency, Approvals
• 23:35–27:25: Business Card Eligibility, “No Lifetime Language” Mailers
• 27:25–33:00: Simplicity, Time Management, Best Cashback Card Picks
• 33:00–41:58: Special Situations: Weddings, Business Spend, Hotel Points
• 41:58–46:16: Credit Card Fees for Taxes, Withholding Strategy
• 46:16–50:00: Hotel-Only Strategies, Clear Credits, DoorDash Credits
• 50:00–55:40: Airline Status via Spend, The Costco Dilemma
• 55:40–66:00: Bilt Card New Offerings and Confusion
• 66:00–end: Teaser for Next Episode; Final Call for Audience Questions

Overall Tone & Takeaways

Chris brings an honest, nuanced, and often self-deprecating style, readily sharing both wins and mistakes. He stresses informed, practical decision-making—whether you want to go “all in” or just optimize for simplicity and sanity. The listener Q&A format keeps the episode highly relevant and immediately actionable.

For more resources, card links, and bonus tracking, Chris recommends subscribing to his email at allthehacks.com/email and submitting questions at allthehacks.com/ama.