All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins
Episode: Earning Points on Taxes, Navigating Market Volatility, Stacking Deals and More
Release Date: April 9, 2025

In this action-packed episode of "All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins," host Chris Hutchins delves into a plethora of strategies aimed at maximizing financial benefits while minimizing costs. From leveraging credit card rewards during tax season to navigating turbulent market conditions, Chris equips listeners with practical tactics to enhance their financial well-being. The episode is structured into several insightful sections, each brimming with actionable advice and expert insights.

1. Maximizing Tax Payments with Credit Cards

Timestamp: [02:20]

Chris kicks off the episode by addressing a topic that's both timely and often overlooked: paying taxes with credit cards to earn rewards. He breaks down the advantages and potential returns of this strategy, emphasizing that while there are fees involved (ranging from 1.75% to 3%), the key is to ensure that the rewards earned surpass these costs.

Key Points:

• Providers: Chris highlights two primary providers for credit card tax payments: Pay1040 and ACI. Pay1040 generally offers lower fees (1.75% for consumer/small business cards and 2.89% for commercial cards), making it the preferred choice for most.

• Return on Investment (ROI): To make credit card tax payments worthwhile, the rewards from the credit card should exceed the payment fees. For instance, a 2% cashback card would yield a positive ROI when compared to a 1.75% fee.

• Signup Bonuses: Chris underscores the potential of leveraging signup bonuses as a means to significantly offset the costs. He cites an example where a $5,000 spend to earn a 100,000-point bonus could translate to substantial value, especially when points are used in travel portals.

Notable Quote:

Chris Hutchins [02:45]: "If you can use a credit card that earns more than the payment fee, you're effectively making the payment work for you rather than against you."

2. Innovative Savings Hacks and Deal Stacking

Timestamp: [18:41]

Transitioning from tax strategies, Chris shares a series of recent hacks that can lead to significant savings and earning opportunities.

a. Reselling Gift Cards and Teaching Kids
Chris narrates his experience with leveraging card-linked offers to purchase discounted gift cards, which he then resells at a slight loss to your actual benefit. This not only earns some profit but also serves as an educational tool for his children.

b. Stacking Deals for Major Discounts
One standout example Chris provides is his Peloton treadmill purchase, where he meticulously stacked multiple offers and discounts to achieve a 30% discount. This involved:

• Utilizing a 10x points credit card partnership with Peloton.
• Combining with Rakuten's 2% cashback and later adding Kudos' 12% back, culminating in a combined discount of 27-30%.

Notable Quote:

Chris Hutchins [20:15]: "Stacking these offers not only made the Peloton treadmill more affordable but also turned the purchase into a learning adventure with my kids."

c. Currency and Location-Based Savings
Chris explores the benefits of using VPNs to mimic different locations, allowing him to access lower prices tailored to specific regions. For instance:

• Icon Pass: Purchasing in Canadian dollars can lead to savings of over $100 based on current exchange rates.
• Eurostar Train Tickets: Buying tickets in euros instead of US dollars can result in prices that are about 5% cheaper.

Notable Quote:

Chris Hutchins [25:30]: "By simply changing the currency or location on your browser, you can unlock significant savings that aren't immediately apparent."

3. Navigating Market Volatility and Investment Strategies

Timestamp: [36:15]

In the wake of the S&P 500 dropping 10% in two days, Chris addresses the pressing concerns around market volatility and outlines his approach to investing during turbulent times.

Key Points:

• Long-Term Horizon: Chris emphasizes the importance of maintaining a five-year or longer investment horizon, ensuring that short-term market fluctuations have minimal impact on long-term goals.

• Diversification: He advocates for a diversified portfolio that includes international index funds, which historically have lower correlations with the US market, offering better risk-adjusted returns.

• Tax Loss Harvesting: With the market downturn, Chris considers tax loss harvesting—selling underperforming assets to offset capital gains or up to $3,000 of ordinary income annually.

• Strategic Cash Deployment: Rather than investing all available cash at once, Chris plans to deploy funds gradually in thirds over the coming months to mitigate the risk of further market declines.

Notable Quote:

Chris Hutchins [35:00]: "Having a plan allows you to respond logically to market drops rather than letting emotions drive your investment decisions."

Historical Insights: Chris references a chart from Ben Carlson's blog, illustrating that over increasing time horizons, the likelihood of negative returns diminishes dramatically. For instance, over a 5-year period, there's been no instance since 1993 where the S&P 500 remained down—a statistic that provides comfort and confidence in long-term investing.

Notable Quote:

Chris Hutchins [33:45]: "Historically, once you look beyond a five-year horizon, the chances of significant downturns diminish, reinforcing the power of long-term investment."

4. Practical Takeaways and Future Strategies

Chris concludes by reinforcing the value of automated investment tools like Wealthfront, which handle tasks such as rebalancing and tax loss harvesting seamlessly. He shares his personal trust in these platforms, having relied on them during the pandemic to manage his portfolio without constant oversight.

Notable Quote:

Chris Hutchins [35:45]: "Automation takes the emotional strain out of investing, allowing you to stick to your strategy even when the markets are unpredictable."

Final Thoughts

This episode of "All the Hacks with Chris Hutchins" serves as a comprehensive guide for listeners seeking to optimize their financial strategies through innovative approaches to everyday transactions and long-term investment planning. Chris seamlessly blends immediate actionable hacks with broader financial philosophies, ensuring that both short-term savers and long-term investors find value in his insights.

Stay Connected:
For more detailed information, links to referenced offers, and additional resources, visit AllTheHacks.com and explore the Best Cards and Deals pages featured in the episode.