I spend about $35,000 a year on shipping. The business gold earns 4x and the Schwab makes that worth 5% cash back. Chase Ink earns 3x on shipping which turns into 3.75% towards travel but it's annual fee is far lower.
Well, it turns out that I neglected to take the Chase Sapphire Reserve into account. 🤦
The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a very high annual fee of $450 but it means the 3x earned from INK turns into 4.5% towards travel and it comes with a very generous $300 airline reimbursement which many people consider to be almost as good as cash since it is pretty easy to activate.
Summary of Last Post Calculation
American Express combo:
Annual fees - $295 and $550 = -$845
Travel reimbursement - ~$160
$35,000 of shipping expenses = 140,000 Membership Rewards Points = $1,750
Tax deduction at marginal rate of 30% of annual fee = $253.50
That's $1318.50 of value (3.767% on $35k of spending).
It's another $70 if you have $250k with Schwab ($100 off annual fee but lose the 30% tax deduction so only gain $70) and another $70 if you have $1 million+ with Schwab.
Chase INK
Annual fee = -$95
Travel reimbursement = $0
$35,000 of shipping expenses = 105,000 Ultimate Rewards points = $1,312.50 towards travel.
Tax deduction at marginal rate of 30% of annual fee = $28.50
That's $1246 of value towards travel (3.56%)
I pointed out that as I continue to spend more money on shipping, the benefit of the amex combination would increase and I also get the extra benefits of platinum like lounge access and credit to Saks Fifth Avenue, Uber Credits and Status at certain hotels and rents a cars so it made sense to go with American Express.
$1318.50 cash vs. $1246 for travel and Platinum has more benefits. It was easy to choose American Express over Chase
The problem is that I completely ignored the Chase Sapphire Reserve in this calculation.
Adding in Chase Sapphire Reserve
Here is the Calculation of the Chase Ink and Sapphire Reserve combo
Annual fee = -$545
Travel Reimbursement = $300, let's give it full value for simplicity sake since most people can get full value out of it
$35,000 of shipping expenses = $105,000 Ultimate Rewards = $1,575 towards travel.
Tax deduction at marginal rate of 30% of annual fee = $163.50
That's $1493.50 of value towards travel (4.267%) vs. the $1318.50 of cash
Conclusion
I want 3 Chase cards in total. The Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Preferred and Ink Business Cash (5x office supplies with no annual fee - limit of $25k of spending for 5x). We will see what I can get!