True, but the primary still gets in free so for a solo traveler or a couple who each have the card, it remains almost a free way of getting access especially if you don't fly biz class, or most of your travel is domestically done without flying upfront. You did a great job explaining the benefits and how they work for you, this is more just for someone who doesn't travel the way you do. I've had the regular Amex Platinum for 12 years and while I also max out the benefits, it gets harder every year to make sure you use them each quarter-- unfortunately all the premium cards are now following Amex's lead. The other thing I find useful is the Amex offers with each card, both my wife's and my card had a $200 dollar off any Conrad hotel if you spend 1K, which we took advantage of, usually has some cruise offers with the same criteria and a lot of retail stores on it too.
Although, I’m a bit concerned about the CEO’s dress sense during corporate presentations…that might be a deal breaker. Plus breaking into peoples homes, Mommy kissing him, and wanting to be every child's friend ...
If you want lounge access then the card you should open is the Capital One Venture X card, it has a $395 annual fee, that is offset by a $300 travel credit every year plus 10k miles which is equal to another $100 towards travel, making it a fee free card. So, if you are not traveling biz class you will get lounge access through Priority Pass and to Capital One lounges. Plus, reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA Precheck,trip cancellation and trip delay insurance, plus other benefits. This way you you don't have to worry about all the hoops that Amex makes you go through with the ways they have "couponized" their cards.
My wife is very similar to the lady in the article, she tries at times to stay updated on everything but ultimately her eyes gloss over and it just becomes very frustrating for her.So what we have done is try to make everything as simple as possible
.
1) We only have funds at Fidelity and Vanguard at this time, my wife still has a 401k with Principal at her work, we will transfer those over to Fidelity or Vanguard once she turns 59.5 next year. 2) All of our accounts are kept both digitally and in paper form in our safe deposit box that gets updated as needed for both her and the kids. 3) I found a Financial Advisor who charges a very reasonable fee that works out to about one tenth of 1%, (0.12%). They only invest in index funds, we meet 1x a year to go over our plan, we have access to him as needed throughout the year with no extra costs, and he does our taxes every year. He has done our Roth conversions, and this year is doing tax gain harvesting for us. So it's a win/win situation, much less stress for me trying to get her more involved and much less frustration for her.
Back in the 80's I was working in a French Bistro as a bartender in a wealthy CT town about 30-40 minutes outside of midtown Manhattan. This was during the prime of the 3 martini lunch and we had 6-7 regulars who were mostly finance guys who would come in every day for the liquid refreshments and lunch.
All of them had been long time customers of the establishment and just ran a tab that they paid at the end of each month. I can remember being impressed at the amount of liquor these guys could hold and the amount of money they were spending on lunch each month. Different world back then! I never would have been able to function after lunch if I tried to do that, but there were stressful days at work when I wouldn't have minded having a bourbon or 2 to get through the afternoon lol
I’m trying to figure out how you couldn’t buy wine at 18 years old 55 years ago, what was the age limit back then?
I was able to legally buy at 18, 45 years ago (and actually a few years earlier due to some well known liquor stores not being too worried about carding you lol)
That's quite a post, not sure I know many people who could so eloquently romanticize Travelers Cheques. Kudos! I'm personally glad I no longer have to go to my local bank or AAA office to stand in line and go through the process of getting these prior to a trip, give me the swipe of plastic or paying digitally with my phone or watch, all day, everyday.
Comments
True, but the primary still gets in free so for a solo traveler or a couple who each have the card, it remains almost a free way of getting access especially if you don't fly biz class, or most of your travel is domestically done without flying upfront. You did a great job explaining the benefits and how they work for you, this is more just for someone who doesn't travel the way you do. I've had the regular Amex Platinum for 12 years and while I also max out the benefits, it gets harder every year to make sure you use them each quarter-- unfortunately all the premium cards are now following Amex's lead. The other thing I find useful is the Amex offers with each card, both my wife's and my card had a $200 dollar off any Conrad hotel if you spend 1K, which we took advantage of, usually has some cruise offers with the same criteria and a lot of retail stores on it too.
Post: American Express Platinum Card Benefits Outweigh the Costs-for me
Link to comment from December 26, 2025
Although, I’m a bit concerned about the CEO’s dress sense during corporate presentations…that might be a deal breaker. Plus breaking into peoples homes, Mommy kissing him, and wanting to be every child's friend ...
Post: The Supply Chain Behemoth That Puts Amazon on the Naughty List
Link to comment from December 24, 2025
If you want lounge access then the card you should open is the Capital One Venture X card, it has a $395 annual fee, that is offset by a $300 travel credit every year plus 10k miles which is equal to another $100 towards travel, making it a fee free card. So, if you are not traveling biz class you will get lounge access through Priority Pass and to Capital One lounges. Plus, reimbursement for Global Entry or TSA Precheck,trip cancellation and trip delay insurance, plus other benefits. This way you you don't have to worry about all the hoops that Amex makes you go through with the ways they have "couponized" their cards.
Post: American Express Platinum Card Benefits Outweigh the Costs-for me
Link to comment from December 24, 2025
My wife is very similar to the lady in the article, she tries at times to stay updated on everything but ultimately her eyes gloss over and it just becomes very frustrating for her.So what we have done is try to make everything as simple as possible . 1) We only have funds at Fidelity and Vanguard at this time, my wife still has a 401k with Principal at her work, we will transfer those over to Fidelity or Vanguard once she turns 59.5 next year. 2) All of our accounts are kept both digitally and in paper form in our safe deposit box that gets updated as needed for both her and the kids. 3) I found a Financial Advisor who charges a very reasonable fee that works out to about one tenth of 1%, (0.12%). They only invest in index funds, we meet 1x a year to go over our plan, we have access to him as needed throughout the year with no extra costs, and he does our taxes every year. He has done our Roth conversions, and this year is doing tax gain harvesting for us. So it's a win/win situation, much less stress for me trying to get her more involved and much less frustration for her.
Post: Untangling finances
Link to comment from November 2, 2025
Back in the 80's I was working in a French Bistro as a bartender in a wealthy CT town about 30-40 minutes outside of midtown Manhattan. This was during the prime of the 3 martini lunch and we had 6-7 regulars who were mostly finance guys who would come in every day for the liquid refreshments and lunch. All of them had been long time customers of the establishment and just ran a tab that they paid at the end of each month. I can remember being impressed at the amount of liquor these guys could hold and the amount of money they were spending on lunch each month. Different world back then! I never would have been able to function after lunch if I tried to do that, but there were stressful days at work when I wouldn't have minded having a bourbon or 2 to get through the afternoon lol
Post: Drinking on the Job
Link to comment from October 17, 2025
Learn something new everyday! Our state and all the surrounding states were 18 at that time, just assumed that all the states were that way...
Post: The Wine Chronicles
Link to comment from October 11, 2025
I’m trying to figure out how you couldn’t buy wine at 18 years old 55 years ago, what was the age limit back then? I was able to legally buy at 18, 45 years ago (and actually a few years earlier due to some well known liquor stores not being too worried about carding you lol)
Post: The Wine Chronicles
Link to comment from October 10, 2025
That's quite a post, not sure I know many people who could so eloquently romanticize Travelers Cheques. Kudos! I'm personally glad I no longer have to go to my local bank or AAA office to stand in line and go through the process of getting these prior to a trip, give me the swipe of plastic or paying digitally with my phone or watch, all day, everyday.
Post: Memories With a Cold Spanish Beer
Link to comment from September 29, 2025
So sorry to hear this, though we never met I still feel like a lost a friend. Rest in Peace.
Post: Farewell Friends
Link to comment from September 25, 2025
So sorry to hear this very few people have had the ability to reach so many on such an important subject. You are one of them. Godspeed
Post: Jonathan and website update
Link to comment from September 20, 2025