Podcast

#249: 3x your points and miles with a multiplayer strategy. We break down how to earn, manage, and maximize rewards with a partner, family, or friends. Plus learn how to handle the logistics, emotions, and systems that make it all work. Kai is the founder and host of The Daily Churn Podcast, where he shares his churning journey. In 2024, Kai and his partner earned a total of $40,000 and 5 million points. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/playing-the-points-game-with-player-2-k...

#248: Learn to escape the trap of over-optimizing and design a more meaningful life. We explore setting boundaries, resetting priorities, and turning failure into fuel for success. We also dive into Tim’s creative process behind his new card game and the surprising value of play. Tim Ferriss is an entrepreneur, bestselling author, and host of The Tim Ferriss Show, one of the world’s most popular podcasts with over a billion downloads. He loves experimenting with productivity, health, storytelli...

#247: Chris dives into Bank of America’s credit card lineup and why he has 5 different BoA cards right now. He'll go over how the Preferred Rewards program can help you earn unlimited 3.3% back on everything. Finally, he also covers approval rules, credit limits, unique perks like free museum access, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/bank-of-america-preferred-rewards Partner Deals Gusto: Free 3-month trial of the #1 payroll software Gelt: Skip the waitlist on persona...

#246: Today we explore contrarian takes on budgeting, the 4% rule, retirement planning, and the risks of blindly investing in bonds. We also cover strategies for investing, spending, and rethinking how to use money with purpose. Tyler Gardner is a personal finance creator, educator, and former portfolio manager who’s built a following by challenging conventional money wisdom. He's also the host of Your Money Guide on the Side. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/rethinking-perso...

#245: Ever wonder what points are really worth? I'll break down the different types of points, how to calculate their value, and the biggest mistakes people make along the way. You’ll also learn when cash back might be the smarter choice and my personal card strategy for maximizing credit card rewards. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/what-are-your-points-worth Partner Deals Gelt: ⁠Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Fabric: ⁠Affordable term...

#244: I'll explain how I saved over $10k on luxury hotels in Costa Rica and Carmel Valley using points, free nights, and elite perks. I’ll walk you through every step, from how to book with points, when to buy them on sale, how to stack hotel credits, which hotel programs give you upgrades and free breakfast, and more! Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/maximize-savings-costa-rica-carmel-valley Partner Deals Daffy: Free $25 to give to the charity of your choice NetSuite: Free K...

#243: Discover smarter strategies to grow your wealth and create financial flexibility. We dive into when it makes sense to invest beyond retirement accounts, how to access savings early through Roth conversions and 72(t) distributions, ways to reduce taxes with HSAs, tax-advantaged accounts, and charity, and so much more. Michael Kitces is the Head of Planning Strategy at Focus Partners Wealth, co-founder of XYPN and publisher of a continuing education blog for financial planners, Nerd’s Eye V...

#242: Chris dives into the Capital One credit card lineup, breaking down earning structures for miles and cash back, exciting benefits, and redemption strategies. He also covers the best 2-card combo, transfer partners, important application rules, and more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/capital-one-credit-cards-miles-guide Partner Deals Superhuman: Free month of the fastest and best email with code ALLTHEHACKS Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent ...

#241: We cover new credit cards, increased welcome bonuses, and major changes to existing cards and their benefits. Plus, learn how to rack up thousands of points through airline and hotel challenges and giveaways. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/new-cards-increased-offers-points-challenges Partner Deals Copilot Money: Free 2 months access to my favorite personal finance app with code HACKS2 DeleteMe: 20% off removing your personal info from the web Gelt: Skip the waitlist o...

#240: Transferring points is one of the best ways to maximize your points, so today we share the top airline and hotel transfer partners. We also cover strategies to get the most out of your points, including how to leverage transfer bonuses, identify sweet spots, avoid common mistakes, and more. Greg Davis-Kean is the founder of Frequent Miler, a blog dedicated to helping people maximize their travel rewards and loyalty programs, mostly without flying. He is also the host of the Frequent Miler...

#239: Why wait until you're 65? It's feasible for almost anyone to take a mini retirement and when done right, it can also fast-track your career and income. Learn how to plan one, negotiate time off, manage costs, avoid pitfalls, and make it work if you’re self-employed. Plus, we share tips for handling health insurance and other logistics during your mini-retirement. Jillian Johnsrud is the author and host of Retire Often. She’s taken more than a dozen mini-retirements and coaches people to p...

#238: Chris shares 18 tactics he’s used to get the best deals booking flights and hotels with points. Learn how to leverage flexibility, navigate transfer partners, use the right tools, identify “sweet spots,” avoid high fees, position flights, and so much more. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchins.com/18-tactics-for-booking-award-travel Partner Deals MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off Trust & Will: Get 20% off personalized, legally binding estate plans Vuori: 20% ...

#237: Start living your rich life today regardless of your income. Learn how to spend without guilt, track the four key financial numbers that matter most, harness the power of decisiveness, and avoid the common traps that hold people back as their income grows. Ramit Sethi is a personal finance expert and the NYT bestselling author of I Will Teach You to Be Rich. He hosts the popular Netflix show, How to Get Rich, and the Money for Couples podcast. Link to Full Show Notes: https://chrishutchi...

#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 your personal info from the web Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent NetSuit...

#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 performance apparel I've ever worn Gelt: Skip the waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize ...

#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 5,000 Point Offer (or code FCRGNB) Amex Platinum: Up to 175k Bonus Amex Gold: Up to 100k Bonus ⁠Major Card Refresh (100k/200k Bonus)⁠ Coinbase One 4% Card Venture X...

#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 the popular financial blog, A Wealth of Common Sense and is the author of four books on investing ...

#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 Cards Mentioned: https://chrishutchins.com/blog/whats-in-my-wallet-for-2025/ Partner Deals Trust & Will: Get 20% off personalized, legally binding estate plans B...

#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 NetSuite: Free KPI checklist to upgrade your business performance Facet: Personalized Financial Plan...

#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 financial writer, data expert, and the COO of Ritholtz Wealth Management . He’s the creator of the...

#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 the Digestive Center for Wellness. She’s the founder of Gutbliss and host of the Gutbliss Podc...

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 Thrive Market: 30% off your first order of organic groceries + a free $60 gift Facet: Personali...

#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 Me to First Class , an educational platform and podcast that teaches people to maximize their s...

#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 waitlist on personalized tax guidance to maximize your wealth Trust & Will: Get 20% off personalized, legally binding estate plans MasterClass: Learn from the world's best with 15% off Vuori: 20% off the most comfortable performance apparel I've ever worn LMNT: Free sample pack of my favorite electrolyte drink mix Bilt Rewards: Earn the most valuable points when you pay rent For all the deals, discounts and promo codes from our partners, go to: chrishutchins.com/deals Resources Mentioned Vacation Homes Pacaso: Free early access and $2,500+ in closing credits here THIRDHOME Exclusive Resorts ATH Hot…