The ultimate guide to the best credit card combinations

Whether you’re new to the world of points and miles or just looking for the best ways to level up your current card portfolio, a strategic credit card pairing is one of the easiest ways to maximize your earning potential.

You’ve likely heard of the most popular card groupings — such as the Chase Trifecta and the Amex Trifecta — but these are far from the only ways to combine credit cards.

Let’s discuss how different credit cards work together to boost your earning power and go over some of the best credit card combinations.

What makes the best credit card combination?

Several factors can make a good card combination.

Often, a good pair is one in which both cards earn the same rewards currency, such as Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards, but have different bonus categories. This way, you’ll be able to maximize your earnings across a wider range of purchases than you would with just one card.

Each pairing below shows how to boost your earnings with two complementary cards.

American Express Platinum and Gold

The American Express Platinum Card® has a high $895 annual fee (see rates and fees) but is great for travelers since it earns 5 American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with an airline or through American Express Travel® (on up to $500,000 each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent).

It also comes with extensive airport lounge access for eligible cardmembers, plus a slew of valuable statement credits.

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Card art for Amex Platinum and Amex Gold Card — THE POINTS GUY

The American Express® Gold Card is a foodie’s dream card with a $325 annual fee (see rates and fees). It earns 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide (on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter) and on groceries at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter).

It also comes with statement credits each calendar year for dining and takeout purchases. Enrollment is required for select benefits.

Why they’re a great combination: These cards work great together because you’ll earn more on flights with the Amex Platinum than you would with the Amex Gold alone (5 points per dollar spent when booking directly or through Amex Travel rather than 3 points per dollar spent when booking directly with airlines, amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App™; a spending cap applies for the Amex Platinum) and more at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets with the Gold than you would with the Platinum alone (4 points per dollar spent rather than 1; spending caps apply).

Additionally, the cards’ benefits and statement credits have little overlap, meaning you’ll get tremendous value from having both cards. You can then transfer your Membership Rewards points to any of Amex’s 20 airline and hotel partners.

TPG credit cards editor Olivia Mittak likes using the Amex Gold and the Amex Platinum together to maximize earnings in her top spending categories.

“My dining purchases almost always go on my Gold, while I book flights with my Platinum; I also put large purchases on my Platinum to take advantage of that card’s extensive protections,” she says.

To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Amex Platinum and the Amex Gold.

Apply here: American Express Platinum Card
Apply here: American Express Gold Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred and Freedom Unlimited

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) is one of our favorite travel rewards cards, with its standout earning categories being 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel booked through Chase Travel℠; 3 points per dollar spent on dining (including eligible delivery and takeout), gas, electric vehicle charging, vacation homes at top brands*, select streaming and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target, and wholesale clubs); and 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel.

*Includes Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa

Additionally, it comes with some valuable travel protections — all for a low $95 annual fee.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) is a great everyday card. It has no annual fee and earns 5% on travel booked through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on dining (including eligible delivery and takeout) and drugstore purchases, as well as 1.5% back on all other purchases.

Why they’re a great combination: Both cards allow you to earn an strong return on dining purchases, but you’ll earn more on your travel spending outside the portal with the Sapphire Preferred versus the Freedom Unlimited. Where the Freedom Unlimited really shines is in its nonbonus spending.

By itself, the Freedom Unlimited earns cash-back rewards. However, if you also have the Sapphire Preferred, you can combine your rewards from the two cards and transfer them to any of Chase’s 14 travel partners for maximum value.

To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Chase Sapphire Preferred and the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited

Ink Business Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees) is one of our favorite business cards. It earns 3 points per dollar spent on travel, shipping, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines (on the first $150,000 in combined spending, then 1 point per dollar spent).

Cardholders will also earn 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft purchases (through Sept. 30, 2027) and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) is the premium sibling of the Chase Sapphire Preferred. With it, you’ll get access to Chase Sapphire and Priority Pass lounges, a flexible $300 annual travel credit and other useful statement credits.

Its bonus categories include earning 8 points per dollar spent on bookings made through Chase Travel; 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked directly; and 3 points per dollar spent on dining purchases (including takeout and eligible delivery).

Why they’re a great combination: If you have a lot of business expenses, pairing a business card with a personal card can work in your favor. With this combination, use your Ink Business Preferred for the first $150,000 in business purchases each year and your Sapphire Reserve for travel and dining purchases to maximize your points per dollar earning opportunities across the board.

Plus, since both cards earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points, you can pool rewards into one account and redeem them through the Sapphire Reserve’s redemption options or transfer them to Chase’s travel partners.

To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Ink Business Preferred and the Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Apply here: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Chase Sapphire Preferred and Sapphire Reserve

Holding both the Chase Sapphire Reserve and the Chase Sapphire Preferred allows you to maximize points on travel spending.

You’ll earn 8 points per dollar spent on all Chase Travel purchases and 4 points per dollar spent on hotels and flights booked directly with the Sapphire Reserve. Plus, with the Sapphire Preferred, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar spent on vacation homes (at top brands*) and 2 points per dollar spent on all other travel purchases.

*Includes Airbnb, Vrbo, Plum Guide, HomeAway, Homestay.com and Vacasa

Chase Sapphire Preferred and Chase Sapphire Reserve cards side by side — THE POINTS GUY

With this combo, you’ll also receive valuable travel perks, such as lounge access, primary rental car insurance and travel protections.

Why they’re a great combination: Holding both cards will allow you to maximize points on travel spending, ensuring you earn at least 2 points per dollar spent on your travel purchases.

Plus, by holding both cards, your points can be used to book travel directly through Chase Travel at a value of up to 2.5 cents per point with the Points Boost feature (depending on the specific redemption; see your rewards program agreement for full details).

And if you really want to maximize your earnings, you could create a trifecta by adding the Chase Freedom Unlimited, ensuring you earn at least 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases.

Apply here: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card
Apply here: Chase Sapphire Reserve

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards and Venture Rewards

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card has no annual fee and is a great option for everyday spending categories. The card earns 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, grocery store purchases (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®) and popular streaming services; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a $95 annual fee. It earns 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases, making it a good card for spending that doesn’t fall in other cards’ bonus categories.

Why they’re a great combination: Use your Savor for purchases in the 3% cash-back bonus categories and your Venture Rewards for all other purchases to earn 2 miles per dollar spent on them. With this duo, you can convert your cash back to Capital One miles and transfer them to any of Capital One’s 15-plus airline and hotel partners.

To learn more, check out our full reviews of the Capital One Savor Cash and the Capital One Venture Rewards.

Learn more: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Learn more: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Other ways to pair cards

Add a cobranded card for one of your card’s travel partners

If you already have a card that earns transferable rewards, pairing it with a card that earns rewards for one of its travel partners is a great option.

For instance, if you earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points with your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, you might want to get the World of Hyatt Credit Card (see rates and fees) to access Hyatt-specific benefits like elite status and a free night each year.

Related: Best hotel credit cards

Diversify your rewards

While most combinations center around earning similar rewards, it’s also a good idea to earn different types of rewards. You could, for example, pair the Amex Gold with the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card.

Asian young woman entering credit pin on the smartphone in the airport terminal — TWENTY47STUDIO/GETTY IMAGES

In this scenario, you would want to use your Amex Gold to earn bonus points on flights (3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines, amextravel.com or the Amex Travel App), dining at restaurants worldwide and groceries at U.S. supermarkets (4 points per dollar on up to $50,000 per calendar year and up to $25,000 per calendar year, respectively, then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter) and your Venture X for your other purchases to earn 2 miles per dollar spent.

With this option, you can take advantage of both American Express and Capital One‘s transfer partners, giving you even more flexibility in your reward redemptions.

Consider an affordable duo

If you want to earn transferable rewards without paying an annual fee, pair the Capital One Savor Cash with the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

The VentureOne earns 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all purchases and allows you to turn Savor’s cash back into transferable Capital One miles.

Maximize bonus categories

If you’re OK with earning different types of rewards and want to make sure you’re maximizing all your purchases, you can set up your card portfolio with cards that earn bonus points or miles in the categories you spend the most in.

Woman at a coffee shop — MOMO PRODUCTIONS/GETTY IMAGES

For example, you might opt for the Chase Sapphire Reserve to earn 3 points per dollar spent on your dining purchases; the Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees) to earn 3 points per dollar spent on your gas, EV charging and supermarket purchases; and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to earn 2 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.

According to TPG’s June 2026 valuations, this combination would mean you’re getting a 3.7% to 6.2% return on all your spending.

Related: Best rewards credit cards

Set up your ideal structure

Of course, different card combinations work well for different goals. Identifying your credit card goals will help you decide which qualities to focus on when you choose your next card.

For instance, if you want to minimize your annual fees while earning travel rewards, your best card pairs may differ from those listed above.

TPG lead writer Katie Genter pairs her Ink Business Preferred with her Chase Freedom Unlimited, as it allows her to maximize her Chase Ultimate Rewards points while only paying one $95 annual fee.

Bottom line

The smartest credit card strategy often involves pairing cards that complement each other. Start by taking stock of what’s already in your wallet, then align your next card with your spending patterns and reward goals.

With the right combination, you’ll unlock even more value — and be well on your way to maximizing rewards for travel, everyday purchases and beyond.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold, click here.

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Stacie Harris

Stacie Harris is a local resident and reporter of the Maple Grove area. Stacie reports on medicine and science for the Maple Grove Report.

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Recent Reviews

Business Owner Liable for Tax Incurred by a Buyer After the Sale of the Business? – Houston Tax Attorneys

If you own a business and you sell it to a third party, should you be liable to the IRS for taxes triggered by the buyer after the business you sold? What if the tax was triggered by the buyer’s wrongdoing? What if there was no evidence that you even knew that the buyer would engage in a transaction that the IRS would later challenge? Can the IRS send you a tax bill, on behalf of the buyer decades later?

Apparently the answer is “maybe,” if you have a New York business that you are selling. The recent case United States v. Vance Finance and Holding Corp., No. 1:24-cv-06846 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 11, 2025), involves a New York corporation and the IRS using the New York statutes to try to collect the buyer’s unpaid taxes that were triggered by the buyer after the sale.

Facts & Procedural History

This case involves a family business. The father founded the company in 1923. It was a New York corporation and taxed as a Subchapter C corporation.

By 2002, the company had evolved into an investment holding company with a portfolio of appreciated securities worth approximately $59 million. The securities only had a tax basis of $15.3 million. This created a substantial built-in capital gains tax liability of over $16 million if the securities were sold.

The family decided to sell the business and started looking for ways to do so efficiently. Their attorneys and tax attorneys presented several planning ideas for selling the business. The shareholders ultimately chose to sell their stock rather than liquidate the company’s assets directly. They solicited bids from three potential buyers–all of whom offered prices near full market value despite the embedded tax liabilities. The bid of $65.35 million was accepted and the sale closed in April 2002 whereby the entity was sold to another legal entity set up by the buyer.

After acquiring the company, the buyers immediately liquidated the securities portfolio and used the proceeds to repay the acquisition loan. The buyers then generated an artificial tax loss through paired options transactions–a “Son-of-BOSS” tax shelter–to offset the capital gains from the asset sales. This allowed the buyer to avoid paying the substantial tax liability that might have accompanied the asset liquidation.

The IRS audited the company’s 2002 tax return and disallo…

The IRS audited the company’s 2002 tax return and disallowed the tax shelter losses. This resulted in a tax deficiency of $16.4 million plus penalties. However, by this time, the company’s assets had been distributed and the entity could not pay the tax bill. The government then filed suit against the original shareholders under New York’s fraudulent conveyance law to recover the unpaid taxes from the proceeds the shareholders received from the stock sale.

Stock Sales vs. Asset Sales for Tax Purposes

To understand this case, we have to first consider the difference between a stock sale or asset sale. Taxpayers can chose to sell the business entity via a stock sale or the assets via an asset sale.

The fundamental tax distinction between selling corporate stock versus liquidating assets gets to the heart of this tax controversy. When shareholders sell stock in a C corporation, they recognize capital gain or loss on the difference between their sale proceeds and their stock basis. The corporation itself doesn’t recognize any gain or loss on the stock sale because it’s not a party to the transaction.

In contrast, when a corporation sells its assets, the corporation recognizes gain or loss on each asset sold. If the corporation then liquidates and distributes the proceeds to shareholders, the shareholders also recognize gain or loss on the liquidating distribution. This creates the “double taxation” problem that C corporations often face.

From the shareholder/seller’s perspective, this tax structure naturally incentivizes stock sales over asset sales when corporations hold highly appreciated property. However, the buyer who purchases the stock must eventually deal with the built-in gains when the assets are sold. Legitimate buyers typically account for this by reducing their purchase price to reflect the embedded tax liability.

When Can Transactions Be “Collapsed” for Tax Purposes?

This case involves the New York fraudulent transfer statute. It is similar to the Texas, statute, for example. Texas Business & Commerce Code Section 24.005 states that transfers are fraudulent if made “with actual intent to hinder, delay, or defraud any creditor” or “without receiving a reasonably equivalent value in exchange.” But it is the state case law that makes this unique to New York.

The legal theory allowing the government to pursue the shareholders rests on the concept of “collapsing” separate transactions, which were not between the same parties even, into a single integrated scheme. Under New York fraudulent conveyance law, apparently, the courts there can treat multiple steps as phases of one transaction.

The court cites its case law for this which seems to set out a framework for collapsing transactions. Two elements must be met to collapse transactions: first, the consideration received from the first transferee must be reconveyed for less than fair consideration or with actual intent to defraud creditors; second, the transferee must have actual or constructive knowledge of the entire scheme that renders the exchange fraudulent.

In this case, the government argued that when viewed as collapsed transactions, the shareholders essentially received liquidating distributions without fair consideration because the purchase price didn’t account for the embedded tax liability. The court found this theory plausible because the buyer paid nearly full market value for assets that carried a massive tax burden, then immediately liquidated those assets while using artificial losses to avoid the taxes.

The “Constructive Knowledge” Standard: When Should Sellers Know?

This raises the question as to whether it could sweep up innocent sellers, given that there seems to be no mention of involvement of the seller other than the sales price being high.

How diligent does a seller have to be for stock that it sells? Do sellers have to take steps to understand their buyers’ intentions. That is the crux of this case. In the case, the government didn’t need to prove that the shareholders actually knew about the tax shelter scheme. Instead, the court applied a “constructive knowledge” standard, asking whether the sellers should have known about the buyers’ plans based on the surrounding circumstances.

The court identified several red flags that allegedly put the shareholders on notice: all three bidders were tax shelter promoters, the winning bid ignored the substantial tax liability, the transaction occurred after the IRS had issued warnings about these exact schemes, and no due diligence was conducted on the buyers. The shareholders’ own attorney admitted the transaction was unusual because of the high sale price and limited representations and warranties. But is that good enough?

The court noted that under the constructive knowledge test, courts look for either inquiry notice of the scheme’s general outline or indicators of potential fraud coupled with deliberate ignorance. The court found both scenarios present. The shareholders allegedly understood they were avoiding tax liability by selling stock rather than liquidating assets, and they deliberately chose not to investigate how their buyers could afford to pay such generous prices.

This standard creates a difficult position for sellers

This standard creates a difficult position for sellers. Conducting too little due diligence on buyers may constitute willful blindness, but asking too many questions about buyers’ tax strategies could alert sellers to information that increases their liability exposure. Regardless, based on this, the court denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss. The case will go on to trial.

The Takeaway

The district court’s decision to deny the defendants’ motion to dismiss highlights why taxpayers may opt to avoid doing business in places like New York. It allows the IRS to piggyback off of state laws to expand the IRS’s collection powers against transferees. The courts may still decide the case and hold that direct participation in tax shelter schemes is required, but that the court accepted constructive knowledge of buyers’ tax avoidance intentions could be sufficient to establish liability in this case suggests that it might not decide the case in that manner.

Business owners planning to sell companies may want to consider transferring their businesses out of New York before selling the businesses as a protective measure against aggressive tax planning by the buyers.