| name | credit-card-stack |
| description | Given a spend profile and travel goals, design the optimal 2-3 card stack — which cards to hold, which category each card wins, and whether the annual fees justify the benefits. |
Credit Card Stack Designer
Most people are leaving 1–2% on the table by putting everything on one card. The right stack is 2-3 cards that cover all major spend categories, justified by annual fee math.
Contract
{
"$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12",
"title": "Credit Card Stack",
"purpose": "Design an optimal credit card stack for a given spend profile and travel goal. Show which card wins each category, estimate annual value, and prove the annual fees are justified.",
"constraints": [
"Stack should be 2-4 cards maximum — complexity kills compliance",
"Annual fee math must be explicit: benefits_value - annual_fees = net_value",
"Flag 5/24 status if Chase cards are recommended (Chase rejects if 5+ new cards in 24 months)",
"Flag if user mentioned existing cards that conflict (e.g. already has Sapphire Preferred → recommend Reserve upgrade path or vice versa)",
"Include a 'day one' action: what to apply for first and why"
],
"required": ["spend_profile", "travel_goal", "stack", "annual_fee_math", "day_one"],
"properties": {
"spend_profile": { "type": "object", "description": "Category → annual spend in dollars" },
"travel_goal": { "type": "string" },
"stack": {
"type": "array",
"items": {
"required": ["card", "annual_fee", "wins_categories", "key_benefits", "estimated_annual_value"],
"properties": {
"card": { "type": "string" },
"annual_fee": { "type": "integer" },
"wins_categories": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } },
"key_benefits": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } },
"estimated_annual_value": { "type": "integer", "description": "Dollars of value: points + credits + perks" },
"signup_bonus": { "type": ["string", "null"] }
}
}
},
"annual_fee_math": {
"type": "object",
"required": ["total_fees", "total_value", "net_value"],
"properties": {
"total_fees": { "type": "integer" },
"total_value": { "type": "integer" },
"net_value": { "type": "integer" }
}
},
"day_one": { "type": "string", "description": "First card to apply for and why" },
"warnings": { "type": "array", "items": { "type": "string" } }
}
}
Common winning stacks
The MR Maximizer (Amex-heavy, high spend)
- Amex Platinum ($695) — travel, lounge access, airline/hotel credits
- Amex Gold ($250) — dining (4x), groceries (4x)
- Amex Blue Business Plus (no AF) — everything else (2x MR)
The UR Engine (Chase-heavy, flexibility)
- Chase Sapphire Reserve ($550) — travel + dining (3x UR)
- Chase Freedom Unlimited (no AF) — everything else (1.5x UR)
- Chase Ink Business Cash (no AF) — office/telecom (5x UR)
The Hybrid (best of both, complex but powerful)
- Amex Gold — dining + groceries
- Chase Sapphire Reserve — travel
- Chase Freedom Unlimited — everything else
- Capital One Venture X — backup lounge + travel credit
The Lean Stack (2 cards, low complexity)
- Capital One Venture X ($395) — travel credit covers AF, Priority Pass, 2x everything
- Citi Double Cash (no AF) — 2% cash or 2x TY on non-travel
