u/Easy-Driver-1195

I just recently got into the credit card game and I’ve been researching. I just got my Amex Gold in the mail.

I have:
- American Express Gold
- Capital One Quicksilver (Just upgraded from the plat, was the only upgrade path i had at the time)
- Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards Plus
- Wells Fargo Reflect

Am trying to avoid opening new more new cards to avoid hard inquiries which is why I’m trying product upgrades

Current usage:
- Amex Gold for food
- Navy Fed cashRewards Plus for everything else
- Quicksilver mainly kept alive for account history and possible future upgrade path. Have a small subscription to it on autopay
- Reflect mostly just exists from when I consolidated debt (debt free now)

What I want:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred for travel
- Future upgrade from Navy Fed cashRewards Plus to Navy Federal Credit Union Flagship Rewards for catch-all spending. Have to wait to do Product upgrade due to them updating their rewards system. Wont be possible until Sep.

If I don’t get CSP:
- I’ll probably try for the Capital One Venture X instead. I just happened to apply for CSP before i found Venture X

If things go how I want, my main 3 cards would probably be:
- Amex Gold
- CSP
- Navy Fed Flagship

Main goal:
I want to focus mainly on building points for flights while avoiding too many ecosystems and keeping the setup simple long term.

Main questions:
- Does this overall strategy make sense?
- Should I eventually consider a Chase trifecta or Amex trifecta setup instead?
- At what point would it actually make sense to consider something like the American Express Platinum or JPMorgan Chase Sapphire Reserve?

Would appreciate honest feedback from people who travel internationally or already simplified their setup.

I started investing only last year, so I know I’m behind compared to a lot of people here. I work overseas as a contractor and currently have job-provided lodging, so my expenses are relatively low right now. I’m debt free and trying to take advantage of that to aggressively build long-term wealth while keeping things simple and sustainable.

I bring in roughly ~$10.7k/month.

I only seriously started learning about investing around mid last year, so I’m still not super knowledgeable on everything yet. I honestly wouldn’t mind taking risk, but i don’t know what I don’t know. I prefer more of a “set it and forget it” approach overall.

My main goal is basically to build a system I can mostly automate and just let compound over time.

Long term, I’d like to eventually live entirely off my VA disability check (currently $3,905/mo) for my mortgage, utilities, food, gas, insurance, etc. while my actual work income mainly goes toward investing and building wealth.

I also plan on buying my cars outright in cash. The only debt I realistically ever plan on taking on is a house through a VA loan.

Current invested total: ~$26k

Fidelity total: ~$19.1k
- Roth IRA: ~$15.3k
- Taxable brokerage: ~$3.1k

Roth IRA:
- FXAIX: ~$8.3k
- IXUS: ~$2.8k
- IJH: ~$2.5k
- IJR: ~$1.7k

Taxable brokerage:
- VTI: ~$1.3k
- AMD: ~$848
- NDAQ: ~$455
- NVDA: ~$451
- IXUS: ~$56
- AVUV: ~$28

Current recurring investments:
- VTI: ~$1,163/mo
- IXUS: ~$112/mo
- AVUV: ~$56/mo

Total recurring investing:
- ~$1,331/mo currently

401(k): ~$7.3k
15% contribution rate (roughly $309 before check hitting bank)
- 80% S&P500 index
- 20% international index

Emergency fund:
- Current: ~$33k
- Goal: $60k
- HYSA earning 3.10%
- Currently putting ~$8k/mo into it
- On track to hit the goal around end of July

Current total saving + investing:
- ~$9,331/mo

Once I hit my emergency fund goal, the plan becomes:

Monthly allocations:
- HYSA: $2,000
- Gold: $1,250
- VTI: ~$3.8k
- IXUS: $1,000
- AVUV: $500
- NVDA: $300
- AMD: $300
- NDAQ: $178

Future total saving + investing:
- ~$9,331/mo

I know a $60k emergency fund probably sounds excessive to some people, but it would make me feel extremely secure once I eventually buy a house in the next 3-5 years.

One thing I’m unsure about:

Since I plan on buying my next car outright in cash, would it make more sense to:

1. Build a dedicated HYSA/car fund for it, or
2. Invest the money instead and just sell investments later when it’s time to buy the car?

My thought process is that the money might grow more invested over time than sitting in savings, even accounting for market fluctuations.

Main questions:
- Am I overcomplicating this?
- Is there too much overlap between these funds?
- Should I simplify more if my goal is mostly “set it and forget it”?
- Should I keep contributing towards the individual stocks or just focus on index funds?
- Should I keep FXAIX or just move everything into VOO for Roth?
- Would you change anything major about this setup?