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Good day to you all! I hope you’re staying warm (if winter has you in its grip) and making the most of these first few weeks of January. Let’s face it—January can be a tough month. The holiday cheer is behind us, routines are ramping back up, and there aren’t any big holidays on the horizon. But hey, at least we’ve got Reasoned Reflections to brighten each week!

TODAY ON REASONED REFLECTIONS:

• Personal finance articles 💰;

• Chase’s 5/24 rule;

• Time to reflect;

• Quote of the Reflection.

Personal Finance Articles 💰

Time for a bit of R&R

• Avoid these mistakes

  My Take - The 5/24 rule is important to keep in mind, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. Avoiding common mistakes is just as important. My biggest takeaway here? Don’t be late to the points party, and don’t tie yourself down to just one loyalty program.

• This investment isn’t taxed at all

  My Take - I couldn’t agree more with the Oracle of Omaha: the best investment you can make is in yourself. Even better? That knowledge isn’t taxed! You don’t need a fancy degree to grow—just commit to learning something new every day. Small, consistent efforts to better yourself will pay dividends in the long run. 

• Pennies on the dollar

  My Take - Keeping track of your money and assets is one of the smartest financial moves you can make. For all the savers out there: don’t let your extra cash sit idle. Keep just enough in your checking account to cover bills, stash your emergency fund in a high-yield savings account, and put the rest to work by investing.

• Exchange-traded funds are booming

  My Take - ETFs are gaining popularity, and for good reason. They combine the diversification of a mutual fund with the flexibility of trading like individual stocks, all while keeping expense ratios low. What’s not to love about that?

• ETFs to own in 2025

  My Take - This mix of ETFs is a bit conservative in my opinion (for a guy entering his 30s this year). If you’ve got time on your side, consider VUG for extra growth potential, VOO to own the 500 biggest and best U.S. companies, and VTI to get exposure to the entire U.S. stock market. 

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Reflection No. 17: Chase’s 5/24 Rule

I - Issue: What’s Chase 5/24?

R - Rule: Chase Bank enforces an unwritten rule to limit credit card churning. It goes a little like this: Chase will automatically deny your application if you’ve applied—and been approved—for five or more credit cards in the past two years. Rude.

A - Analysis: Chase’s 5/24 rule throws a wrench into the credit card churning strategies we talked about last week. To get approved for a new Chase credit card, you must have fewer than five credit card applications across all banks in the past 24 months. And, unfortunately, the 5/24 rule applies to most, if not all, Chase credit cards. 

There are some additional things to know about the 5/24 rule including: cards issued by any bank count towards 5/24, there are some exceptions, and being an authorized user counts towards 5/24. 

Which cards count towards 5/24?

• Personal credit cards: Most personal credit cards from any bank count toward 5/24. It’s not just Chase cards. If your total credit card applications across issuers hit five or more, Chase will slam the door shut on your next application.

• Business credit cards: Some business cards count, too. Applications from Discover, TD Bank, and Capital One (except for the Venture X and Spark business cards) will impact your 5/24 status.

• Store-branded cards: Yep, those Target RedCards and Nordstrom credit cards count, too. While I usually steer clear of store-branded cards, they can be worth it if you spend heavily at a specific retailer—just remember the application might block you from getting a Chase card.

What doesn’t count towards 5/24?

• Certain business cards: Business cards from Chase, American Express, and most other banks don’t count toward 5/24. This makes business cards even more valuable for those eligible to apply (see Reflection No. 16 for details on business card eligibility).

• Other hard inquiries: Applications for student loans, mortgages, or auto loans don’t affect your 5/24 status. These inquiries aren’t tracked for credit card eligibility purposes.

• Denied credit card applications: If you apply for a card but get denied, the application doesn’t count toward 5/24. Silver lining: rejection stings a little less. 

Authorized user

Here’s a pro tip learned the hard way: being added as an authorized user on someone else’s credit card counts against your 5/24 tally. If you’re playing two-player mode (again, see Reflection No. 16), avoid adding your partner as an authorized user. In my opinion, it’s not worth the hit to 5/24.

C - Conclusion: Chase’s 5/24 rule should be considered for anyone navigating credit card churning. Since Chase is one of the best card issuers for travel rewards, track your credit card applications carefully to stay under the limit and position yourself for Chase’s next big bonus offer.

Time to Reflect…

I get why Chase enforces its infamous 5/24 rule. Too much credit can be risky, and credit cards aren’t for everyone. But let’s be honest—it puts a damper on the fun of credit card churning, earning a mountain of points, and booking those amazing trips I’d never pay for with cash.

That said, I’ll give 5/24 credit for one thing—it gave me something to write about and share with you this week!

One final reminder: 5/24 is a rule you need to know if you’re into churning. Chase remains one of the best issuers for travel rewards, and staying within their guidelines is key to unlocking their incredible cards!

Quote of the Reflection