Whether you're looking for an all-purpose cash back credit card, a way to earn travel rewards, or a great balance transfer deal, Chase has a card that could work for you.

Hot Chase Promotions

• Chase Freedom Unlimited: Spend $500 within the first 3 months and earn $150.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred: Spend $4,000 within the first 3 months and earn 50,000 bonus points. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

• Chase Ink Business Preferred: Spend $5,000 within the first 3 months and earn 80,000 bonus points. That's $1,000 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

Read on for the list of current card promotions for new applicants. Apply for a new Chase credit card from this list and make the qualifying purchases within the specified timeframe to get the bonus promotion.

Best Chase Cash Back Credit Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited:

We like Chase Freedom Unlimited because you get 1.5% cash back on ALL purchases. You don't have to worry about keeping track of and activating rotating categories. This makes it the better card for those with varied spending.

Best Chase Credit Card for Travel

Chase Sapphire Preferred:
Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the best travel rewards cards. It has a huge sign-up bonus, as well as these highlights:

• Earn 2x points on travel and dining worldwide
  
• Points can be redeem toward travel on the Chase travel portal at 25% more value
  
• Points can also be transferred to airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio

Best Chase Elite Credit Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve:
Chase Sapphire Reserve is the luxury sibling. It has a $450 annual fee, but if you travel enough, you can easily justify the fee. It has several benefits that make it a standout:

• Get 3x points on all travel and dining purchases
  
• Points can be redeem for travel on the Chase travel portal at 50% more value
  
• Points can also be transferred to airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio
  
• Get $300 annual travel credit.
  
• Get complimentary Priority Pass Select lounge membership

Best Chase Credit Card for Balance Transfer

Chase Slate:

Chase Slate is one of the best balance transfer cards on the market. Most other credit cards have a 3%-5% fee, which can equal hundreds of dollars if you have a few thousand to transfer. So if you have a balance from another card, this is a great way to get a break on interest rates and focus on paying off the debt.

Best Chase Credit Card for Domestic Airline Rewards

Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier:
For domestic travelers, the Southwest co-branded card from Chase is a great choice.

Best Chase Business Credit Card

Chase Ink Business Preferred:
The Ink Business Preferred has a huge sign-up bonus and very generous rewards given the reasonable annual fee.

• 3x points on relevant business categories, such as travel, telecom, shipping, and advertising
  
• Points can be redeemed for travel on Chase travel portal at 25% more value
  
• Points can also be transferred to airline and hotel partners at a 1:1 ratio

Also, you don't have to be a corporation. If you're a freelancer or have a side business, you're eligible to apply.

In-Depth Guide to Chase Best Credit Cards

Below, we will go into more detail for each card Chase offers. We'll compare each against cards in the same category so you can decide which is better for you.

What Is the Best Chase Credit Card for You?

To pick the right card for you, consider the following factors:

• Annual fee: How often will you use your new Chase card? Cards with annual fees will offer more rewards or benefits. But before you get too tempted, think: will you realistically earn enough in rewards to make up for the expense?

• Cash back vs travel miles: Cash back is the straightforward way to earn rewards, but depending on what you want, travel miles could provide more value to you.

  Some Chase cards allow you to transfer points to select frequent travel programs (like airline partners such as United and Southwest, or hotel partners such as Hyatt and Marriott). This could make each point worth much more than the straight up cash back rate.

  Tip: Sounds complicated? It doesn't have to be if you know how to play the airline miles game. Read our beginner's guide to get you started.
  

• Lifestyle and spending habits: What do you spend the most on? Pick a card with rewards that match your lifestyle, so you can maximize your rewards.

  If your spending is varied, then consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited. If you travel frequently, then consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred. Or you may find that the Sapphire Reserve is worth the heavy annual fee.

Chase Credit Card Offers for New Applicants

New Application: Before you apply for a Chase credit card, keep in mind you usually need excellent credit.

If you are interested in any of the Chase cards, make sure you prioritize the application over any other cards you may be considering. Chase has a 5/24 rule, which means that if you've opened more than 5 new credit cards in the last 24 months (including non-Chase cards), your application will most likely be declined.

We'll make your decision simpler with side-by-side Chase offers comparisons.

Chase Cash Back Credit Cards

If you prefer cash back, there are two options: Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Unlimited. Both have no annual fee.

Both cards earn a $150 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.

The difference is in the cash back reward structure:

• Chase Freedom (read review) has rotating bonus categories that change every 3 months. You earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories every 3 months. Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

  But you'll need to remember to activate the bonus categories each quarter. It's free, quick, and you can do it online or at a Chase ATM machine.

  To learn more, read our Chase Freedom review.

• Chase Freedom Unlimited (read review) gives you unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Chase Travel Cards: Sapphire Preferred vs Sapphire Reserve

Chase offers two Ultimate Rewards travel cards. These cards earn points that can be transferred to partner airline and hotel programs. Or you can redeem points toward travel on the Chase travel portal at a discount.

Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee and is a good choice for most active travelers. While the Sapphire Reserved is its luxury sibling, with a $450 annual fee.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred (read review) offers 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, Chase's rewards program online website.

  And the Sapphire Preferred lets you earn 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide. This card is worth considering by frequent diners and travelers in particular. Otherwise, skip to a more general-use card, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Chase Credit Card Offers Balance Transfer

If you have credit card debt, Chase Slate (read review) offers an introductory no balance transfer fee promotion.
If you want to get out of debt, this is a good deal as it's hard to find other credit cards that will waive the transfer fee.

Both Chase Freedom and Freedom Unlimited also offer new cardholders a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. However, the key difference is that with Chase Slate you will not have to pay a balance transfer fee (on transfers made during the first 60 days of account opening).

The other cards charge a 5% balance transfer fee (with a minimum of $5). For example, with Chase Freedom, you'll pay $175 for moving $3,500 of your debt over, but you could save that amount with Chase Slate.

What you do with these cards after the balance transfer could be a deciding factor. Slate does not have a rewards program whereas the Freedom cards give you cash back.

Related: How to Save Money on Credit Card Debt

Chase Airline Cards

Chase also has a few other cards cobranded with partner hotels and airlines. These may be good options for you if you are loyal to one of the brands.

• United MileagePlus Explorer gives 2x miles on United purchases and 1x miles on everything else. You get a free checked bag for you and a companion, priority boarding, and 2 complimentary United Club one-time passes each year.
  Tip: Just flying once a year round-trip with one person, and each of you check a bag, will make up the $95 annual fee. The 2 complimentary one-time lounge access pass is a nice extra perk.
  

• Chase offers two consumer Southwest cards. Both cards offer 40,000 miles sign-up bonus. Both give 2x miles on Southwest purchases and hotel and car rental partners, and 1x miles on everything else.

  The Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus gives a 3,000-mile bonus each anniversary year. While the Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier gives you a 6,000 miles bonus each anniversary year, and has no foreign transaction fees. It has a bigger annual fee of $99 (versus $69 for the Rapid Rewards Plus).

  Southwest already allows you to check two bags for free for every flight.

  Tip: Southwest points are often worth over 1.5 cents each in our estimates. So the 40,000 sign-up bonus from the two cards alone could be worth as much as a $600 flight.

  In our opinion, the Premier card is the better value despite the higher annual fee. The 6,000 bonus miles you get each account anniversary will just about make up for the annual fee. Whereas the 3,000 bonus miles with the Plus card may not.
  

Chase Hotel Cards

Chase offers co-branded cards with Marriott and IHG. Both cards have an 80,000 bonus point promotion. Both offer a free night each account anniversary year (terms and restrictions apply).

• Marriot Rewards Premier card has an annual fee of $85 that is not waived for the first year. The free night each account anniversary year is valid at a Category 1-5 hotel. Category 5 hotels usually hover around $150/night in our estimates.

• IHG Rewards Club Select (read review) has a smaller annual fee of $49 and is waived the first year. The free night certificate each year is valid at any IHG property worldwide. So you can choose a hotel worth a lot more (and effectively pay just $49 for the night).

Chase Small Business Credit Cards

You don't have to be a corporation to get a business credit card from Chase. Are you a freelancer? Do you have a side business?

You spend a lot of money running your business. Why not sign up and take advantage of that spend?

Chase offers two business cards. The Ink Business Cash has no annual fee, while the Ink Business Preferred has a $95 annual fee. Both have sign up promotions you should not ignore.

In general, if your business has travel needs, you'll find that the Ink Business Preferred is more versatile. It has the ability to transfer points to travel partners and to use points toward travel at a higher value on the Chase travel portal.

If your business is new, you may like that the Ink Business Cash has a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months. After that, a variable APR, currently 14.24% to 20.24%. A promotional APR is great if you don't yet have steady cash flow.

Which Credit Card Application?

Which card is the best fit for you depends entirely on your spending patterns and what you hope to get out of your credit card. As with any credit decision, research is important to make sure you pick the card that's best for your specific financial situation.

Of course, these special bonus offers mean that you'll need to spend (or transfer) a certain amount of money with the new card right away. If you're stuck, we have some ways to meet the minimum spending requirement. Choose the card that gets you to your goals - whether it's to travel more, pay off debt, or simply get some cash back.

Remember as with all credit card and bank offers, terms and limitations apply.

Top Chase Credit Card Bonuses for July 2017

Card	Bonus
Marriott Rewards Premier
United MileagePlus Explorer
Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus

Best Chase Credit Card appeared first on CreditDonkey

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by Chase. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by Chase. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Disclaimer: The information for the Chase Freedom, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Ink Business Cash Credit Card, Chase Slate, Southwest Rapid Rewards Premier Credit Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited, United MileagePlus Explorer Card, Ink Business Preferred Credit Card, Marriott Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG Rewards Club Select Credit Card, and Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

With startling burglary statistics, a home security system is a great protective measure to keep your home safe.

Often, just the sight of a security camera is enough to turn a burglar around. It can offer you greater peace of mind and make your home feel safer.

But with so many alarm companies, how do you choose the one right for you?

Read on for our picks for the top home security systems.

What to Look for in a Home Security System

Before we get into our recommendations, here are some factors to consider when making your choice.

• Price: Some security systems are cheaper than others, but they have less functionality. Some systems include the equipment for free, while some require you to purchase the equipment. Make sure you understand the costs so you have a realistic idea of what the upfront and monthly fees are.
  Tip: Think about just how much you stand to lose. If you don't have too many valuables and it's more a matter of personal violation, then maybe just the cheapest one will do the job. On the other hand, if you have a lot of jewelry, guns, and fancy electronics, consider getting an advanced system.
  

• Monitoring connection: Monitoring by landline will be the cheapest, but thieves can cut the cord and leave you unprotected. Cellular and broadband monitoring will cost more but are safer. And you can be alerted right away if something happens.
  Did you know? A burglary occurs every 15 seconds. The average loss for homeowners is $2,230.
  

• Flexibility: One major downside of home security is that you often have to sign a lengthy contract (as long as 3 years). If you're a commitment-phobe, look for a company with a shorter contract length, or even no contract at all.
  Note: Most home security companies give you a trial period. However, if you do not cancel before it ends, you can be faced with a large penalty. This can even be as much as the entire contract amount. And sometimes, if you have paid for the equipment, you'll be stuck owning it. So make sure you ask all the questions regarding cancellation.
  

• Home automation: In our technology-obsessed era, many home security companies also offer complete home automation. This allows you to remotely manage your thermostat, lights, small appliances and locks through your smartphone. If that's important to you, look for a company that offers this feature.

Best Home Security Systems

With the above considerations in mind, here are our favorite home security systems.

Note: Information including pricing, features and terms were updated on July 12, 2017 from published websites and are believed to be accurate, but not guaranteed. Pricing may vary depending on system configuration, equipment, and service.

Best Home Security System for Value: Protect America

Starts at $19.99/month; no equipment fees:
Protect America has a low base plan starting at just $19.99/month, which comes with 3 door/window sensors, a motion detector, and the new Simon XT Control Panel. The highest tier is priced at $54.99/month and comes with cellular monitoring and home automation. All plans include free equipment, no installation fees (as it's a DIY system), and 24/7 monitoring.

However, note that the base plan only comes with landline monitoring. To get cellular monitoring, the price jumps to $41.99/month, which is on par with other companies. But then again, you do get free equipment with Protect America, so some people still find that the cost is lower overall. There is a 3-year contract and you only have a 14-day return period if you're not satisfied.

Best Customer Satisfaction: Frontpoint

Starts at $34.99/month; $99 for equipment:
Frontpoint has been a solid customer favorite due to its stellar customer service. Plans start at $34.99/month for basic protection and go up to $49.99/month for home automation services. All plans support 100% wireless and cellular monitoring with all-inclusive 24/7 professional monitoring (for burglary, fire, carbon monoxide, and water damage). The setup is DIY so there is no installation fee.

Frontpoint offers a 1-year and a 3-year contract. If you only want to try it out for 1 year, you must pay an upfront equipment cost of either at least $99 for the lowest tier, or $199 for the higher two tiers. With a 3-year contract, you will get a $300 equipment credit. Frontpoint offers a 30-day money-back guarantee (no questions asked) if you're not happy with the system.

Most Established Name in Home Security: ADT

Starts at $28.99/month; call for equipment:
ADT is the oldest and most popular name in home security. Plans start at $28.99/month for the most basic protection to $58.99/month for video monitoring and home automation. Note that the base plan only comes with 24/7 burglary monitoring by way of landline. Cellular monitoring is available at an additional cost. Fire/smoke, carbon monoxide, and flood monitoring equipment are also extra costs.

You only get the option of professional installation with ADT, which means that you'll have to pay for the labor that comes with that. There is a 3-year contract and a 6-month money-back guarantee, but only if there is an equipment or service problem that ADT can't solve.

Best Home Security System Without Contract: SimpliSafe

Starts at $14.99/month; $229.96 for equipment:
SimpliSafe does things a little differently by having no contract whatsoever. You can cancel anytime without penalty. It also has one of the lowest monthly fees, starting at just $14.99/month. Even the highest tier plan is just $24.99/month and offers access to the mobile app and customizable alerts. All plans support 100%, all-inclusive cellular monitoring.

But the downside is that the system is very basic. There is no video monitoring feature and no home automation. You also have to pay an upfront equipment fee, starting at $229.96 for the 5-piece starter set. Or you can custom build your own per your needs. There is a 60-day money-back guarantee if you're not satisfied with the system.

Most Advanced Home Security System with Cameras: Vivint

Starts at $39.99/month; call for equipment:
Vivint is one of the priciest home security services on the market, but it offers high-tech features that set it apart. Plans start at $39.99/month and go to $60.99/month. All plans include 24/7 wireless monitoring, remote access, and a state-of-the-art touchscreen panel. Optional features include various cameras and smart locks that allow for total smart home control.

Vivint also has one the longest contract terms, starting at 42 months. And their cancellation policy is restrictive. Vivint also requires professional installation, which means you'll have to pay an activation fee. Vivint will appeal to the technophiles who must have the latest gadgets. It's more expensive than other systems, but some may find it's worth it, as even their base plan includes more advanced features.

Home Security Systems with No Monthly Fees

If the idea of being locked into a contract and paying monthly is too intimidating, you can opt for a completely DIY system.

With these options, you purchase the camera and set it up in the areas you want monitored. The camera will pick up any sound or motion and send alerts to your smartphone right away. You can even watch what's going on through your phone and alert the cops. But note that with these, you'll have to be more hands-on and do all the monitoring on your own.

Here are some other options for best home security camera systems WITHOUT monthly fees.

• Blink: What's special about Blink cameras is that they have a long, 2-year battery life. They're cordless so they can be set up anywhere. It's also integrated with Amazon Echo, so you can arm and disarm your cameras with your voice. Blink offers both indoor and outdoor cameras. You can install up to 10 Blink cameras per system.

• Arlo: Arlo cameras are also cordless, with battery life of up to 6 months. Arlo offers a variety of indoor and outdoor products to suit your needs. One special feature of Arlo cameras is their two-way audio feature. Through the Arlo app, you can hear what's happening and talk back through the built-in speaker. You can connect up to 5 cameras for free, and 15 with an upgrade.

• Canary: Canary offers one of the most advanced indoor cameras. In addition to motion detecting and sending alerts, Canary cameras will also set off a 90dB siren to scare off thieves. You can also call the police right away from the app. Canary is an indoor-only camera. It is not wireless, so a robber could just pull the cord, but you'll be notified if that happens. Canary can also monitor your home for air quality and temperature.

Is a Home Security System Right for You?

Getting a home security system is a pretty big financial investment. Here are some questions to ask yourself when evaluating if you should invest in one.

• Is anyone home during the day? About 60% of burglaries occur in broad daylight, when the inhabitants are at work and won't be home for hours. So if you live alone or in a household where everyone is away during the day, it's smart to think about some extra protection for your home.

• Do you have valuables? Most burglars head straight for the master bedroom to search for valuables. They're most interested in: cash, jewelry, drugs, portable safes, and guns. If you have any of these in the house, it's a good idea to protect them. Also, if you drive a fancy car, you're advertising wealth and are more likely to be the target of a burglary.

• What kind of area do you live in? It goes without saying that if you live in a high crime neighborhood where burglaries frequently occur, you will benefit with a home security system. But these kind of homes or areas are also often targets for smart burglars:
  • Low traffic areas: cul-de-sacs, places were houses are far apart, houses next to an alley, etc.
    
  • Neighborhoods with a lot of foreclosures: more empty homes around = attractive to burglars
    
  • New neighborhoods: burglars are counting on the fact that you're not friends with your neighbors yet
    
  • Affluent neighborhoods: they know you'll have nice things inside

• Do you need disaster monitoring as well? Many home security systems also come with fire, smoke, flood, and carbon monoxide monitoring. These services can be invaluable if something was to happen, and can minimize your losses if experts can be notified quicker.

There Are Other Options Too

Not sure if you're ready for a home security system? Here are other camera-free ideas to keep your home safe:

• Install a high security lock. This should be the first line of defense for your home. Most burglars enter through a door, and they prefer to kick it down. Install a high security lock on your door entry points (this one was tested to be kick-in proof, pick-proof, and drill-proof).
  Tip: If you have doors with a glass panel, consider also installing a floor lock. That way, a burglar can't just break the glass, reach in, and unlock the door. Also get window locks for your first floor windows. A burglar most likely will move on if your house takes too long to break into.
  
  
  
• Protect your home with smart gardening. First, regularly trim all your bushes and hedges (but not too short that someone can just easily climb over). Thieves love nothing more than hiding in overgrown bushes. You can also plant thorny bushes or vines that will send a thief running once he encounters their painful spikes. Some ideas are the firethorn bush (pyracantha), bougainvillea, and holly shrub.

• Get lights on a timer. This way, even when you're not home, you can have the lights go on and off in different rooms to make it look like you're home. This is especially useful if you're away. Don't just leave the lights on all the time. If a burglar has been watching your home for days, this is a strong signal that no one is home. Also get outdoor lighting, which usually deters a burglar attempting a night robbery.

• Get a dog (or pretend to have one). Burglars will usually leave if they see a dog, especially the big or yappy kind. If you don't actually have a dog, get a "beware of dog" sign. Or even set up a doghouse, toys, and water bowl in the yard to make it look as if you have one.

Common Questions

How do professionally monitored systems work?
When an alarm is triggered, it goes to the security company's communication center. A security expert will call you to let you know of the trigger. If it's not set off by you, they will dispatch the cops. If you don't answer, the cops will be dispatched as well. Usually, they will try calling your main number and backup number before calling the cops.

The problem with this is that this calling process takes quite a bit of time. So by the time the cops are sent over, the burglars could have already taken off with your stuff.

So is a home security system even worth it then?
Often, just seeing that your house has a security system is enough to deter thieves. Or the siren that goes off could send them running. 60% of burglars said that if they see an alarm system, they would target another house. So your house has less chance of being robbed if you have a security system.

Another plus: you can also get professional monitoring for disasters such as fire, carbon monoxide, and flood. The communication center will be alerted if any of these are sensed and send out firefighters.

What is usually included in a basic home security system?
A basic home security system should have:

• Window and door sensors
  
• Motion detector
  
• Loud decibel siren

More advanced features may include: video surveillance, panic buttons, glass break sensors, and doorbell cameras.

What is the false alarm rate?
Unfortunately, the false alarm rate for security systems is high - as high as 95%. Small things can cause sensitive systems to go off. Your pet running around, a strong wind, and hanging decorations can all trigger a false alarm. If you don't turn it off or don't confirm with the security company that you're fine, the police will be dispatched and you could be penalized for wasting their time. The best thing is to do all you can to prevent false alarms.

What is the difference between landline, cellular, and broadband monitoring?
Each have their pros and cons:

• Landlines: the cheapest kind, but risky because thieves can cut the cord, leaving you unprotected
  
• Broadband: uses an Internet connection and is safer than using a landline
  
• Cellular: uses cell towers and is comparable in price to broadband technology

What is home automation and is it worth it?
Home automation allows you to control your home remotely through your smartphone. Common features include:

• Arm and disarm home security systems
  
• Set your thermostat so the house is nice and cool (or warm) when you get home
  
• Turn lights on and off
  
• Turn off appliances to save energy
  
• Smart locks that allow you to lock/unlock your door remotely
  
• Doorbell camera so you can see who's at your door and talk to them as if you're home

Most home security companies offer home automation features at the highest tier. A lot of people like it to make their home safer or just to have a more efficient home. Many people report significant electricity savings, which can help offset the price of the system.

Will having home security reduce my insurance?
Usually yes. Your homeowner's insurance premium can be reduced up to 20% if you have a professionally monitored home security system.

How do those DIY security cameras work? What's the difference between them and professionally monitored ones?
If you're not sure whether you want a professionally monitored system, you can certainly buy your own cameras and monitor yourself. Usually, these cameras will detect unusual motion or sound and send you alerts. You will need to respond fast (in other words, if you're out hiking in the wilderness without reception, it won't do you any good). You can watch a live feed on your smartphone and call the police if you see a burglary taking place.

The difference is that with a professionally monitored system, the company's monitoring center will also receive alerts. They will dispatch the police if you're not answering your phone (so you're covered even if you're hiking in the woods).

However, there are pros and cons to each. If you catch a thief on your video and call the police, the police will almost always give higher priority to this kind of direct call. If the monitoring center calls the police, more time will have passed and the police may not prioritize this since they know the majority are false alarms.

Bottom Line

A home security system can offer everyone a greater piece of mind. Most burglars say that they will not enter the house if they see cameras or if a loud siren goes off. It'll greatly reduce your risk of being robbed.

When choosing the right home security system for you, think carefully about your needs. Are you okay with just the most basic equipment and monitoring? Or do you want total home automation? Do you need environmental disaster monitoring as well? Are you more comfortable with no contract? Do you live in an area that may require a higher level of security? How many valuables do you stand to lose?

See which systems have the features you need and do some comparison shopping. Make sure you understand all the upfront and monthly costs and the contract length.

Top 5 Best Home Security System appeared first on CreditDonkey

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the author's alone. Please support CreditDonkey on our mission to help you make savvy financial decisions. Our free online service is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content.

The options for American Airlines cards are rather limited. There are not a lot of credit cards that earn or can be transferred to AAdvantage miles.

There are two issuers that offer cards that earn AA miles: Citi and Barclaycard.

Besides those, there's also the Starwood Credit Card (from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner) that earns Starpoints, which can be transferred to American Airlines.

And unfortunately, there's no option with no annual fee.

Here are the credit cards you should not ignore to get AA miles. We'll break down the differences so you can figure out which one is best for you.

How to Decide Which AA card Is Right for You

To decide which card is right for you, here are some questions to ask yourself:

• How much do you value perks and benefits? Is getting things like free checked bags and priority boarding important to you? If so, you'll want to look into one of the Citi and American Airlines co-branded cards. We feel the best value is the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select, which offers good perks for just an annual fee of $95.

• What about luxury benefits? The Citi AAdvantage Executive is the only AA consumer credit card that offers some luxury travel perks, such as lounge access. It's also the only card that gives you the opportunity to earn AA Elite Qualifying Miles, which you can use to score cabin upgrades.

• Do you prefer more flexibility? If you don't want to be limited to just AA (and its partners), then the only card that lets you transfer to other airlines as well is the AMEX SPG. You also get the option to trade points for hotel nights. Other popular North American partner carriers include Delta, Hawaiian Airlines, Air Canada, and Alaskan Airlines.

• How much do you fly a year? Most travel reward cards come with an annual fee, so you'd have to be a semi-frequent flyer to make it worthwhile. The card with the lowest annual fee is the Citi AAdvantage Gold Mastercard. The fee is still $50 a year though, so you'd have to think about how often you fly.

Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select: For American Perks

You also get a 25% discount for in-flight food and beverage purchases on all eligible American Airlines flights.

Citi also offers Reduced Mileage Awards with all their AA cards. This means that you can book a flight with fewer miles. For this card, you can get a mileage discount of up to 7,500 miles for a round-trip flight (or 3,750 miles one-way).

The annual fee is $95, but it's already more than worth it if you just fly once a year with a family of four (or twice a year with one other person), and each person checks a bag. In addition, there is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $95).

Barclaycard Aviator Red

Barclaycard also has a series of Aviator cards co-branded with American Airlines.

When US Airways and American AAdvantage merged programs back in 2015, existing US Airway cardholders were given new AA Aviator cards. Of the 5 different Aviator cards, the only one available for new applications is the Aviator Red.

The Aviator Red is very similar to the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select in terms of rewards and benefits. You get 2x points on eligible AA purchases and 1x point on everything else. You get the 1st bag checked free and priority boarding for you and 4 companions, as well as 25% off in-flight purchases. You also get 10% of the miles back each year and a MileSAAver discount of up to 7,500 miles. The annual fee is also $95.

Note: The information for Barclaycard Aviator cards has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Pricing information as of June 4th, 2017.

CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select

For the same $95 annual fee, the Business version of the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select offers some great additional benefits.

Besides the 2x on AA purchases, you also get bonus points in popular business categories like telecommunication services, car rentals, and gas stations.

And in addition to all the flight perks, you also get an American Airlines Companion Certificate each year, after spending more than $30,000 in purchases. You pay just $99 (plus government taxes & fees) for a companion domestic economy round-trip ticket along with your own eligible fare. If you spend enough to make use of this, this could be a few hundred in savings.

Note: The information for CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Pricing information as of June 4th, 2017.

Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite: For Luxury Travelers

With an annual fee of $450, this is the luxury card for frequent American Airline flyers.

The Citi AAdvantage Executive card allows you (and two guests) access into Admiral Clubs. Authorized users also get complimentary lounge access. You also get a $100 credit every 5 years for Global Entry or TSA Pre application. There is also a dedicated concierge service to help with any tasks.

Other flight benefits (for domestic flights) include free 1st checked baggage, priority check-in, priority screening, and early boarding. These are available for you and 8 companions on your reservation. You also get a 25% discount on in-flight purchases.

This is also the only card that can earn you Elite Qualifying Miles, which can be used to buy cabin upgrades. However, you have to be a big spender to earn the EQMs.

The annual fee is steep at $450, but if you mainly travel on American Airlines, the lounge access could make it very worthwhile. Especially as it includes access for guests and authorized users as well. This card is best for big spenders who fly a lot on American Airlines per year.

Note: The information for Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Pricing information as of June 4th, 2017.

Citi AAdvantage Gold MasterCard: Low Fee but Is It Worth It?

And at the other end of the spectrum, the Citi AAdvantage Gold is the lowest tier offered by Citi, at just a $50 annual fee. But is it even worth that?

The benefits are very, very limited. You don't get a free checked bag or priority boarding. And you only get 1x mile on every dollar spent. Plus, this is the only Citi AA card that has a 3% foreign transaction fee.

However, the sign-up bonus is not terrible. It's enough for a free domestic round-trip fare. And this card offers a Reduced Mileage Award savings of up to 5,000 miles round-trip (or 2,500 one way). If you take advantage of that, it easily justifies the $50 fee. Besides, it's waived the first year.

Note: The information for Citi AAdvantage Gold has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. Pricing information as of June 4th, 2017.

Starwood: For Flexibility and Earning Hotel Nights

The AMEX SPG (from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner) is technically a hotel card, but you can transfer your Starpoints to over 20 airline partners, including American Airlines.

And as an added bonus, every time you transfer 20,000 Starpoints to an airline partner, you automatically get a bonus of 5,000 points. So this effectively boosts each point's value by 25%.

Since this card allows you to transfer points to different airline partners, this makes it the most flexible option. You can transfer to other airlines if it makes more sense to do so. Just note that with this card, you'll lose AA perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.

Don't overlook the free nights part of this card either. Starpoints are highly valued in the hotel world. The award chart is priced well and each point is often worth 2 cents or more based on our estimates. That makes this one of our favorite cards for earning hotel nights and award airfare.

About American AAdvantage Miles: What Are They Worth?

American Airlines has 2 types of awards:

• AAnytime: This basically allows you to buy any seat on any flight with miles. There's total flexibility. You can also change flights with no penalty, as long as there's an available seat.

  AAnytime awards come in Level 1 or Level 2, with Level 2 needing more miles. Level 2 is generally for peak season travel, holidays, etc.

• MileSAAver: This is only available for AAdvantage credit card holders. Flights can be booked for a lot fewer miles (for example, 12,500 MileSAAver miles for a one-way within the continental U.S., as opposed to 20,000 AAnytime miles), but there's less flexibility. There are only a certain number of available MileSAAver award seats.

  There is also an off-peak MileSSAver award. It would cost you even fewer miles to go to certain destinations during off seasons. For example, flying from the continental U.S. to Europe would cost 22,500 miles during off-peak, as opposed to 30,000 miles normally.

Here are how many miles you'd need with the MileSAAver awards. These are all for one-way flights starting from the continental U.S.:

• Domestic, less than 500 miles: 7,500
  
• Domestic, more than 500 miles: 12,500
  
• Canada & Alaska: 15,000
  
• Hawaii: 22,500 (20,000 off-peak)
  
• Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America: 15,000 (12,500 off-peak)
  
• North South America: 20,000 (17,500 off-peak)
  
• South South America: 30,000
  
• Europe: 30,000 (22,500 off-peak)
  
• Asia: 35,000 (32,500 off-peak)
  
• South Pacific: 40,000

Take a look at the American Airlines award chart.

American Airlines is part of the oneworld alliance, so if you're going somewhere American doesn't fly, you can use your AA miles to book flights on any of its partners. The oneworld partners are:

• Airberlin*
  
• British Airways*
  
• Cathay Pacific
  
• Finnair*
  
• Iberia
  
• Japan Airlines
  
• LAN
  
• TAM
  
• Malaysia Airlines
  
• Qantas*
  
• Qatar Airways
  
• Royal Jordanian*
  
• S7 Airlines

Additional partners include:

• Air Tahiti Nui
  
• Alaska Airlines*
  
• Cape Air
  
• El Al
  
• Etihad Airways
  
• Fiji Airlines
  
• Hainan Airlines
  
• Hawaiian Airlines*
  
• Jet Airways
  
• Jetstar
  
• Seabourne
  
• WestJet

* These are the partner airlines you can book online. For the others, you have to call and book by phone.

BOTTOM LINE

There are many cards you can use to earn AAdvantage miles. Picking the right one for you depends on what you value, how often you fly, and your spending habits.

In general, we'd say that the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select will be adequate for most American fans. You get good perks, such as free checked bags, priority boarding, and MileSAAver awards for a decent annual fee of $95. The heavy spenders and very frequent American flyers could get the full benefits out the Citi AAdvantage Executive World Elite. And those who aren't ready to fully commit to one airline would appreciate the flexibility of the AMEX SPG.

Which American Airlines Credit Card is Right for You? appeared first on CreditDonkey

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Disclaimer: The information for the Citi Prestige® Card, Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ Mastercard®, Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite™ Mastercard®, and Citi® / AAdvantage® Gold World Elite™ Mastercard® has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Thinking of making the switch from cable to satellite?

DirecTV and DISH are your two options. But which one is better for you?

Both have their advantages and downsides. DISH doesn't have the NFL Sunday Ticket, but it does have the Hopper that instantly skips commercials. DirecTV has the most sports programming; however, the price goes up significantly in the second year.

In this review, we do an in-depth comparison of both providers. You'll see why we think DISH has the overall edge, except in certain situations.

At a Glance

Before we get into the meat of the comparisons, here is a quick showdown between the two providers:

• Best channels: DirecTV wins this battle. It offers nearly every channel you could want. It has exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket, as well as similar packages for the NBA, NHL, and Major League Baseball. It also has more on-demand movies and TV shows.

• Best DVR: The winner goes to DISH's Hopper 3. Its hard drive capacity is way more than DirectTV's unit. It can record up to 16 shows at the same time and can hold 500 hours of HD recordings (2,000 SD hours). DirecTV's Genie can only do 5 recordings at once and store 200 HD hours (1,000 SD hours). And plus - the Hopper is the only DVR on the market that automatically skips commercials.

• Best Pricing: Again, this round goes to DISH. DISH and DirecTV both require a 2-year contract. But DISH has a 2-year guarantee, which locks you into the rate for a whole 24 months. But DirecTV's intro pricing is only for the first year, and you'll be in for a sticker shock the second year.

Note: Pricing information as of May 2017 based on published website. Pricing and packages may change at any time.

Overview of DirecTV and DISH Packages

DirecTV offers 7 different packages. The prices reflect the first year and second year costs. The options are:

• Direct Now ($35/month): This is DirecTV's streaming only package. You get 60+ channels.

• Select ($50/$90): You get over 150+ popular channels. This includes all local channels, Disney Channel HD, Disney Junior HD, Discovery Family, TBS HD, Lifetime HD, Animal Planet HD, Comedy Central HD, and Food Network HD. This is good for those who don't watch sports.

• Entertainment ($55/$101): You get over 155+ channels. It adds some sports channels, including ESPN, Fox Sports 1, and NBC Sports Network.

• Choice ($60/$115): You get over 185 channels. The added channels include: ESPNews HD, Sports Mix HD, NFL Network HD, Travel Channel HD, and Nicktoons.

• Xtra ($70/$124): You get over 230 channels. Additional channels include: Fox Sports 2, CBS Sports Network HD, NHL Network HD, FX Movie, Oxygen HD, and MTV Classic.

• Ultimate ($75/$134): You get over 245 channels. This is basically everything except the premium movie channels.

• Premier ($125/$187): This is the granddaddy of TV packages, with over 325+ channels. You get HBO, Showtime, Starz, and Cinemax, as well as ESPN Classic, Comcast Sports Network, and Fox Sports Sun HD.

Dish offers 4 different packages. The options are:

• America's Top 120 ($49.99/mo): You get 190 channels, including USA, CMT, Disney Channel, ESPN, E!, and Local Channels (CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and CW).

• America's Top 120 Plus ($59.99): You get over 190 channels, including NFL Network and Regional Sports.

• America's Top 200 ($69.99): You get over 240 channels. At this level, you get more of the premium channels, including NFL Network, Fox Sports 1, NBC Sports Network, and Discovery Family.

• America's Top 250 ($79.99): This is the ultimate package, with over 290 channels. Some of the additional channels you get include STARZ Encore, The Movie Channel, Nat Geo Wild, and FXM.

Why Both DirecTV and DISH Are Good Choices

Both DirecTV and DISH offer features that make watching TV more fun and hassle-free.

• Watch on the go: Both have mobile apps that allow you to live stream or watch pre-downloaded shows from anywhere. You can also use the app to schedule DVR recordings remotely. For both, this feature is free without additional costs.

• Hundreds of HD channels: It used to be that DirecTV was king when it came to HD channels. But now, DISH has majorly stepped it up with over 200 HD channels. So for both, you will be able to watch almost all your favorite channels in high definition.

• Free premium channels for 3 months: Both give you free HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz for 3 months. Actually, DISH's offer is a little bit better, because you get free HBO for a full year with any of the America's Top packages.

• Multiple TVs per home: Both let you hook up multiple TVs, so they're both great if you have large families or multiple housemates. DirecTV supports up to 8 TVs, while DISH is 7. For both, you can simultaneously watch on 4 TVs at once. However, DirecTV includes equipment for up to 4 TVs, and DISH has extra costs after the first TV.

• Large on-demand library: Both have an on-demand library that allows you to watch TV shows or movies whenever you like (as long as there's an internet connection). DirecTV has a larger library with over 10,000 titles. But even with DISH's smaller library, you'll find something to watch, including movies even before they hit Redbox.

Now, let's jump into the differences.

Why You May Prefer DirecTV

DirecTV definitely has the upper hand when it comes to sports programming. Here are some reasons why you may prefer DirecTV:

• NFL Sunday Ticket: DirecTV has exclusive rights to the NFL Sunday Ticket. With this, you wouldn't have to miss any NFL games. This is a no brainer - if NFL is your life, then you would definitely want to go with DirecTV. It does cost extra for the package.

• Better channels at lower prices: Depending on what you like to watch, you may like DirecTV's selection more at the lower price tiers. For example, you get Discovery Family and Animal Planet at the lowest Select Tier ($50/month). But for DISH, you'd need to get the America's Top 200 ($69.99/month) to get those channels. So think about which channels are your must-haves and see which provider offers them at a better price.

• Better for families with multiple TVs: The package cost includes the main Genie and 3 Genie Minis. So you can hook up 4 TVs for no extra cost. The installation is free for 4 TVs as well. Additional Genie Minis will cost $7 each and an installation fee. On the other hand, DISH only provides the main Hopper for free. We'll talk more about it below.

• AT&T Bundle: Since AT&T acquired DirecTV, you can also bundle AT&T internet and phone services with your TV package. This could save you some hassle by just getting one bill for everything. The bundle options are:
  • DirecTV + Internet ($80/month): Get the DirecTV Select package along with unlimited 50Mbps internet. Includes the monthly DVR fee and 3 additional receivers.
    
  • DirecTV + Internet + Home Phone ($89.99/month): Get the DirecTV Select package, unlimited 50Mbps internet, and digital home phone. Includes the monthly DVR fee and 3 additional receivers.
    
  • Save $25/month with DirecTV and Unlimited AT&T Plus: You get unlimited data usage, but the speed may start slowing after 22GB. In addition, you get HBO for life.

Why You May Prefer DISH

For the non die-hard sports fans, DISH wins in terms of price, flexibility, and technology. Here is why you may prefer DISH:

• 2-year price guarantee. If price is your biggest concern, you can't beat DISH's 2-year price guarantee. This could come out to a lot of savings over the course of 2 years depending on your needs. DirecTV only has a 1-year introductory price, after which there is a significant price hike.

• The Hopper. The Hopper 3 is the most advanced DVR on the market. It instantly skips commercials on primetime recorded shows. DISH is the only provider that offers this no-forwarding feature. That alone might be worth it to some.
  Note: Not everyone is eligible to receive the new Hopper 3 (or upgrade to it if you're an existing customer). The Hopper 3 offer depends on credit qualification.
  

• More recording power. The Hopper far surpasses DirecTV's Genie in terms of show recording capacity. It can record up to 16 different shows at once, compared to the Genie's 5. It also has an impressive hard drive capacity that can store 2,000 hours of programming (or 500 hours in HD), as compared to the Genie's capacity of 1,000 standard hours (or 200 HD hours).

Both Do Have Downsides

Neither of the two providers are perfect. Both have disadvantages that may be the final deal breaker for you.

Downsides of DirecTV:

• Expensive after the first year. This is the biggest downside. The first year introductory price is great and on par with DISH. However, the price goes up significantly in the second year, as much as 90%! For example, DirecTV's Choice Pack (185+ channels) is $60/month for the first year, and then jumps to $115/month after that. Quite a huge difference.

• Hidden regional sports fee. It's not very much, but DirecTV does charge a regional sports fee for certain ZIP codes. You don't get a choice in this (whether you watch sports or not). So if you don't watch any sports, you'd be paying a few extra bucks per month for something you don't even enjoy. DISH, on the other hand, doesn't charge a regional sports fee.

Downsides of DISH:

• Added equipment cost. With DISH, you only get the Hopper included, which has the ability for 16 tuners. If you have more than one TV you'd like to record and watch from, each additional receiver (called a Joey) will cost $7.

• Monthly DVR cost: Dish also charges $15 per month for the DVR service fee. But there is usually a $5 automatically applied Hopper discount, which bring it down to $10/month. On the other hand, DirecTV has no DVR fee and includes 3 additional receivers at no extra cost.

So How Do the Prices Really Compare?

Now that you understand the costs and extras a little more, let's see how the two really compare over the course of a 2-year contract. Prices from published websites are as of May 2017.

For this, we'll be going with the scenario of 4 TVs and the mid-tier package for each: DISH's America's Top 200 (240+ channels) and DirecTV's Xtra (230+ channels). Prices are per month.

	DISH - America's Top 200	DIRECTV - Xtra
Package:	$69.99	$70
2nd year costs	$69.99	$124
Installation costs	$0 (free up to 6 rooms)	$0 (free up to 4 rooms)
Receivers	$21 (3 Joeys x $7 each)	$0 (package includes monthly equipment fees for up to 4 TVs)
DVR service fee	$10 (after a $5 automatically applied monthly discount)	$0
Regional sports fee	$0	$5 (varies where you live, but just say $5 as an estimate)
Cost per month 1st year	$100.99	$75
Cost per month 2nd year	$100.99	$129
Total for 2 years	$2,423.76	$2,448

This example shows that over 2 years, the costs are similar for 4 TVs in a household (just $25 difference). However, if you have less than 4 TVs, DISH will come out a lot cheaper. And if you only need the DVR for one TV, the monthly price drops down to only $79.99 (package price + DVR service fee). But the cost for DirecTV will remain the same whether you only have 1 TV or 4.

DISH undisputedly has better pricing for 3 or fewer TVs. But if you have 4 TVs, you may want to do some price comparisons for the packages you're interested in.

For more than 4 TVs, DISH will have the edge again. The extra receiver costs are the same, but DISH gives you free installation for up to 6 rooms, while you'd have to pay for over 4 rooms with DirecTV.

Bottom Line

DirecTV wins hands down as the better sports provider, with its exclusive NFL Sunday Ticket. Even if you don't get it, DirecTV has great sports programming, such as regional games and matches that aren't available from other providers. For the die-hard sports fans, it'll be a no brainer to go with DirecTV.

In terms of everything else though, DISH has the edge as far as we're concerned. The Hopper outshines the Genie in terms of recording capacity and technology. Just be careful, though, if you have multiple TVs you want watch and record from - each additional one will add more to the monthly fee.

In conclusion: DirecTV is better for super sports fanatics and families where everyone has his own TV. DISH is better for casual TV watchers and smaller families.

DirecTV vs Dish: Which Service is Better for 2017? appeared first on CreditDonkey

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the author's alone. Please support CreditDonkey on our mission to help you make savvy financial decisions. Our free online service is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content.

Of course, large sales numbers don't guarantee high-quality computers. Continue reading to learn how this brand stacks up against the competitors.

History of Lenovo

The company that would become Lenovo began in 1984 in Beijing, China, where it's still headquartered. The real growth came after the mid-2000s, when Lenovo acquired IBM's personal computer business, including the ThinkPad line of laptops.

Ever since, Lenovo has seen its brand recognition and quality scores go up. And in 2013, Lenovo became the #1 computer manufacturer in terms of units sold in the world. Lenovo's popular current models of laptop computers include ThinkPad, IdeaPad, and Yoga.

5 Reasons to Buy a Lenovo Laptop

• Great business laptops: Lenovo has made its name with a series of really strong business and productivity laptops. It's become popular for enterprises needing to stock up on laptops for their employees, CEOs who prefer laptops over tablets during travel, and entrepreneurs who love PCs and need portability for when they do business in coffee shops and on the run. The manufacturer excels in terms of sleek, light notebooks with responsive keyboards.

• Battery life: Lenovo's laptops dominate any list you'll find of high-end battery life. This company has several laptops that offer 10-plus hours of battery life. The ThinkPad T460 will last you more than 17 hours unplugged!

• Cool technologies: Lenovo hasn't soared to the top of the laptop market by offering the status quo in terms of laptop features. Lenovo has pioneered using OLED technology in its laptop display screens, for example. It also does a strong job of creating pointing devices that are accurate and easy to use.

• Reasonable price point: Lenovo laptops aren't the cheapest in the market, but they do have quite a few reasonably priced machines that offer strong feature sets.

• 2-in-1 laptops: Lenovo has developed a high quality hinge design that allows it to create some excellent 2-in-1 laptops. The hinges are sturdy and flexible, making the company's 2-in-1 offerings among the best in the industry.

3 Reasons to Pick Another Laptop Brand

• Gaming laptops: Lenovo isn't as strong as some other laptop manufacturers in terms of gaming laptops. Lenovo has focused its designs on business machines. You'll find some nice entry-level gaming machines, but not much in the upper end of the market for advanced gamers.

• Some bland designs: In the business segment of the laptop market, Lenovo creates some strong machines with great price points. But they're really boring looking. Most of them are all-black units.

• Dim displays: One common negative aspect that reviewers list about Lenovo laptops is that the display screen isn't lit quite as brightly as screens from some other brands. Lenovo has been really good at fixing minor problems like this in the past few years, so we don't expect the issue of slightly dim display screens to last long.

Brands Head-to-Head

We'll now compare a few different laptop brands to Lenovo. Understand that we're not comparing specific laptop models. Instead, we're creating a broad comparison of some of the strengths and weaknesses of each brand in general.

Lenovo Vs. Asus

• Usage strengths: For gaming computers, Asus is one of the best companies around, significantly outperforming Lenovo. Asus is able to give its gaming laptops high-end features that appeal to serious gamers. Asus laptops tend to have some impressive designs, using color and LED lighting to give its laptops an appealing look.

• Usage weaknesses: Asus doesn't offer very many business-oriented and commercial laptops, lagging behind some other companies, especially Lenovo, which excels in terms of business notebooks. Customer support for Asus computers is notoriously bad, leaving some customers frustrated.

• Battery life: Asus has excellent battery life in many of its laptops, offering a handful of laptops with 10 or more hours of battery life. Still, it lags a bit behind Lenovo's top-of-the-market results in this category.

• Value: Asus has long been the leader in the laptop market in terms of providing great laptops at low price points. For example, the company has offered sub-$500 laptops that include solid state drive storage. Lenovo has some inexpensive models, but not quite as many as Asus.

• Bottom line:Asus has great strength in creating cool gaming laptops as well as providing machines that are a great value. Lenovo outperforms Asus in business laptops and in top-end battery lifespan. Both Lenovo and Asus make a wide range of notebooks, and both companies have become well known for providing good computers at a good price. Lenovo and Asus are strong brand names in today's laptop market, even if their primary specialty areas are different.

Lenovo Vs. Dell

• Usage strengths: Dell and Lenovo laptops are available in nearly every segment of the market, including offering laptops for students, commercial users, business users, and gamers. Dell is well known for its Alienware brand gaming laptops, an area where it outperforms Lenovo. But Lenovo's business line of laptops is stronger than Dell's options.

• Usage weaknesses: Although Dell offers laptops aimed at the value-based segment of the market, primarily for business users and students, nothing about its low-cost laptops stands out from the pack. Lenovo offers more advanced features in its low-cost laptops, including great battery life. Tech support for Dell is a bit below average - and below Lenovo - as well.

• Battery life: A few higher-end Dell laptops offer excellent battery life, surpassing 10 hours in testing. But when you're looking at the low end of the Dell laptop lineup, battery life is a little below average. Lenovo's strong battery life extends throughout its family of laptops.

• Value: Dell has one of the best manufacturer warranties in the laptop market, including paying for shipping both ways for a broken machine. Even though laptops in the budget price point of Dell's lineup don't offer a lot of features, they are reasonably priced. Lenovo's price points are good too.

• Bottom line: Dell and Lenovo have a lot of similarities in the laptop market, offering good laptops at reasonable price points. Dell isn't going to give you huge innovations in its laptops, but its machines are solidly a good value. Right now, Lenovo is slightly ahead of Dell in terms of market share, but the two manufacturers both have been near the top of the market for the past few years.

Lenovo Vs. HP

• Usage strengths: Much like Lenovo, HP checks boxes in nearly all areas of the laptop market, providing strong machines for students and business users. Both manufacturers also excel in incorporating some really cool technology in their machines. HP, for example, offers some 4K display screens and ultra-thin systems.

• Usage weaknesses: HP's gaming laptops rank behind some of the other brands in the market, especially at the top end of the gaming market. Although Lenovo is not a strong gaming laptop company, it does outperform HP's offerings.

• Battery life: HP has battery life options that range from poor to excellent. If battery life is a key component of your laptop, you will have to do some searching to find an HP model that excels in battery life. Lenovo has strong battery performance throughout its family of laptops.

• Value: We like HP's overall lineup in terms of offering numerous desirable features at a reasonable price point. HP especially has decent laptops at the lower end of the market. Lenovo has some nice offerings here too, but HP has a slight edge. Both Lenovo and HP offer solid customer support.

• Bottom line: HP has a strong lineup of laptop computers, other than for gamers. HP provides a handful of cutting-edge designs, especially in terms of high-end display screens and colorful laptop designs. Lenovo's designs aren't quite as colorful as HP's designs, but Lenovo has better overall laptop features, as well as plenty of cutting-edge technology options.

Lenovo Vs. Acer

• Usage strengths: Acer specializes in the lower end of the laptop market, looking to give customers good prices for laptops that provide a few nice features. Both the Lenovo and Acer brands excel in consumer-level laptops. You'll also find a few really cool gaming laptops from Acer, including a curved screen laptop.

• Usage weaknesses: Business laptops are few and far between in the Acer family of laptops. And the models the company offers can't stack up to other brands, especially Lenovo, where the business laptops are powerful and smartly priced.

• Battery life: Acer laptops don't offer above-average battery life on the whole, although a couple of Acer models offer 8-plus hours of battery life. Overall, Acer models lag behind most other laptop brands in terms of battery life. This is an area where Lenovo consistently outperforms Acer.

• Value: The value portion of the laptop market is where Acer excels. Acer offers a very nice selection of low-priced laptops that have some desirable features. Lenovo has some good low-price laptops too - and many of its mid-range laptops offer an excellent value - but Acer has many more choices with low price points.

• Bottom line: Acer laptops are more competitive in terms of value. As you start looking for models that offer mid-range or top-of-the-line features and higher price points, Acer consistently ranks below Lenovo. If you're willing to spend some time studying the Acer product line, you will find a few gems, especially in the gaming category. But most Acer laptops are simply designed to provide average performance and features at a low price, leaving them lagging behind Lenovo overall.

Lenovo Reviews: Why Laptops Are the Best appeared first on CreditDonkey

Before you can start taking advantage of its many benefits, you have some homework to do. There are a number of things you have to enroll in to begin reaping its rewards.

What to Do After You Get Your American Express Platinum Card

Read on for 10 things you need to do after getting your AMEX Platinum card. Have you checked off all these items?

1. Spend $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months

The AMEX Platinum card is offering 60,000 Membership Reward points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.

This is a higher minimum spend than what many other cards require. But there are smart ways to meet this requirement.

For instance: Book upcoming travels you're planning with your new Platinum card. You get 5x points on airfare booked directly with the airline or on amextravel.com, and 5x points on hotels booked on amextravel.com. So by using your Platinum card to book upcoming travels, you're getting points AND knocking down the minimum spend.

For more ideas: 23 Smart Ways to Meet the Minimum Spend Requirement

2. Select an airline to use the $200 airline credit

With this card, you receive up to $200 in statement credits toward incidental airline fees each year. This is to be used for incidentals at one selected airline; incidentals include checked baggage, oversized baggage fees, in-flight purchases, etc.

You must select one airline ahead of time to use this credit with.

To do so, go to www.americanexpress.com/airlinechoice and select a qualifying airline. Choose wisely and make sure this is an airline you fly with often. But if you want to change your choice later, no worries. You can make a change once a year in January. You can either go to the above link to edit the selection or call the number on the back of your card.

If you don't do anything, it'll keep the airline you designated for another whole year.

The airlines you can select from are:

• Alaska Airlines
  
• American Airlines and US Airways
  
• Delta
  
• Frontier
  
• Hawaiian
  
• JetBlue
  
• Spirit
  
• Southwest
  
• United

3. Link your card to your Uber account

You also get a $200 Uber Savings each year. You get $15 credit per month and $35 credit in December. The credit does not roll over if you don't use it, and it's only for rides within the U.S.

This is not automatic. You have to download the Uber app if you don't already have it, or update it if you do. The app needs to be the latest version.

And then just add your new Platinum card to it. You can find it under "Payment" and add "credit or debit card." Once you've done this, you'll see a notification that you've unlocked your AMEX Platinum benefit. And you'll see the $15 credit ($35 in December) every month.

4. Activate Priority Pass Select

You get Priority Pass Select as one of the benefits. This gives you access into Priority Pass' global network of lounges - over 1,000 lounges in more than 500 cities around the world.

To activate this benefit, log into your Platinum AMEX account and you'll see the option to enroll. Or you can call the number on the back of your card. Once you have enrolled, you'll receive your Priority Pass Card in the mail within 14 business days.

To get into the Priority Pass lounges, you'll need to show this Priority Pass card. You can even bring in 2 guests at no extra charge.

5. Sign up for Global Entry or TSA Pre

Once every four years, you get a $100 credit towards the application fee of either Global Entry or TSA Pre. To get it, you have to pay for your application using your new AMEX Platinum card, and you'll automatically receive a statement credit.

• To apply for Global Entry, go to GOES (Global Online Enrollment System) and set up an account. From there, you can apply for one of the Trusted Traveler programs and select "Global Entry."
  
• To apply for TSA Pre, use the application on the TSA Pre webpage.

The card will only pay for one of these. We suggest that you apply for Global Entry, because it also comes with TSA Pre benefits (but not the other way around). So you basically kill two birds with one stone if you sign up for Global Entry. To understand how it works, read our detailed guide on Global Entry.

Note that when you apply to these programs, the application fee is non-refundable even if you don't get accepted. But the Platinum card will credit you back the fee either way.

6. Sign up for Boingo

You get free Boingo, which gets you unlimited access to over 1 million hotspots worldwide. You can connect up to 4 devices.

To activate this benefit, go to amex.boingo.com and enter your new Platinum card number. Don't worry, this is just to check for eligibility and your card will not be charged. Once your card is authorized, you will be prompted to create a Boingo account.

You must also download the Boingo app. You can connect up to 4 devices, so you can do this for your phone, iPad, laptop, etc. And now you're set to start using Boingo hotspots.

7. Link your loyalty programs

AMEX has 20 airline and hotel transfer partners. Your Membership Rewards points can be transferred to them to redeem award flights and hotel stays.

If you're already a member with any of these travel partners, you'll want to link the program in your Platinum account. Just go to "Membership Rewards" and you'll see an option to link loyalty programs. Select the programs you want to link and just enter in your frequent flyer information.

If you aren't members of any programs yet, now is a good time to research which ones you want to join. Here is our beginner's guide on how to use airline miles.

It's a good idea to link the programs as soon as possible, because AMEX sometimes offers transfer bonuses for specific airlines. This is a good chance to get bonus miles. Any bonus offers will be displayed in the "Transfer Points" page.

8. Enroll with SPG and Hilton for Gold Status

You are fast-tracked to SPG and Hilton Gold Status without needing to meet any minimum stay requirements. You can maintain the elite status as long as your Platinum card is active. This gives you extra perks such as late check-out, room upgrades (subject to availability), and bonus points or welcome gift.

First sign up for the SPG and Hilton Honors programs if you don't already have them. To enroll in elite status, just simply call the number on the back of your card. The rep will walk you through the enrollment. You will be put through to SPG and Hilton to confirm the account details.

Or you can enroll online:

• Enroll in SPG Gold
  
• Enroll in Hilton Gold

One thing to keep in mind: Even though you automatically get Gold Status with SPG and Hilton, you don't get the qualifying nights/stays credits. You only get the perks such as late check-out, room upgrades, etc.

9. Enroll with Avis, Hertz, and National for status

You also get elite status with Avis, Hertz, and National car rental. This makes renting a car easier with perks like fast check-in and check-out, car upgrades (if available), discounts, and a guaranteed car even without a reservation (some programs).

To enroll, log into your AMEX Platinum account. Go to the Car Rental Privileges program and you'll see the options to enroll in elite status with the 3 car rental companies.

When you need to rent a car, you can log into the car rental's website with your Platinum account info. And you will receive any discount rates for elite members. Or you can call the rental company directly as well.

10. Enroll with ShopRunner

ShopRunner partners with hundreds of brand-name stores to provide free 2-day shipping, free returns, and exclusive deals to members. This is a membership service that usually costs $8.95/month (or $79/year). Your AMEX Platinum card gives you complimentary membership for ShopRunner.

To activate this, go to www.shoprunner.com/americanexpress and enter in your Platinum card number for verification. Then you'll be asked to create a ShopRunner account. Make sure you save your new AMEX Platinum card as the default card in the account. This ensures that your ShopRunner complimentary membership will stay active.

You can shop either on ShopRunner or directly on the stores' websites. As long as an item has a ShopRunner logo next to it, it means it's eligible for free 2-day shipping with membership. You'll receive this perk as long as you don't log out of ShopRunner.

Bonus Tip: Add up to 3 Authorized Platinum Cardmembers

Finally, you can add up to 3 authorized Platinum Cardmembers. It costs $175 per year to add 3 members. This seems pretty pricey, but it just comes out to less than $60 per user. And the benefits more than justify the price.

Additional Platinum members will receive the following benefits as well:

• Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA-Pre application every 4 years
  
• Lounge access, including Priority Pass select membership
  
• Boingo plan, with the ability to connect 4 devices
  
• SPG and Hilton Gold Status

Authorized Platinum additional users do not get the $200 airline credit or $200 Uber Savings. The $200 airline credit applies to each Platinum account. So your additional Platinum cards could charge some incidentals to the selected airline, and you'd be credited back too. They just don't get their own credit.

Bottom Line

Make sure you have checked off all these steps in order to start taking advantage of your AMEX Platinum card benefits. Spend a bit of time to activate the benefits and you'll be traveling in style and reaping the savings. Enjoy your new card and remember, terms and conditions apply.

What to Do After You Get The Platinum Card appeared first on CreditDonkey

Editorial Note: This content is not provided by American Express. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by American Express. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Disclaimer: This content was first published on May 21, 2017. Information including APR, terms and benefits may vary, be out of date, or not applicable to you. Information is provided without warranty. Please check American Express website for updated information.

• Overview: What Makes Brian Gavin Unique
  
• Brian Gavin Signature Hearts & Arrows Diamonds
  
• Brian Gavin Super Ideal Princess Cut Diamonds
  
• Brian Gavin Blue
  
• Brian Gavin Cape Series
  
• Brian Gavin Black Series
  
• Brian Gavin Advance Selection
  
• Returns, Buy Backs, and Other Things to Know
  
• Downsides: Why You May Look Elsewhere
  
• Brian Gavin Compared to Whiteflash
  
• FAQs

Overview: What Makes Brian Gavin Unique

A Brian Gavin diamond is among the highest quality diamonds you will find.

Brian Gavin (known as "Brian the Cutter") is a huge name in the diamond world. A 5th generation diamond cutter from South Africa, he's internationally renowned for his extensive research in diamond cutting and light performance. He is the most well-known pioneer and leading authority on "hearts and arrows" diamonds.

Brian Gavin Diamonds is one of the first online diamond retailers of super ideal cut diamonds. All in-house Signature Diamonds are cut to Brian Gavin's exacting standards. Here's what you can expect from every Brian Gavin in-house diamond:

• True hearts & arrows diamonds
  
• AGS Triple 0 certified
  
• Eye-clean
  
• Conflict-free

All in-house diamonds come with actual images: Idealscope and ASET light performance imaging as well as hearts & arrows imaging. All the information is completely transparent so you can be sure of the quality.

BRIAN GAVIN PRODUCT LINES

The unique thing about Brian Gavin is that it has several product lines all with their special properties. He offers high quality diamonds to suit every budget. Here's what you can find:

• Signature round hearts & arrows diamonds: These super-ideal cut diamonds have precise optical symmetry and ideal proportions for superior light performance.

• Signature cushion hearts & arrows diamonds: Brian Gavin has patented a cut for the cushion diamond that replicates the hearts and arrows (H&A) patterning. These diamonds are cut with the same exacting cuts as the round H&A diamonds, resulting in maximum brilliance and fire.

• Super ideal princess cut diamonds: Exclusive line of princess diamonds cut in Brian Gavin's own special cut. This creates the most balanced look and light return for the princess cut.

• Brian Gavin Blue: These are diamonds with medium to strong fluorescence. Brian Gavin himself has inspected each to make sure there are no negative effects on performance. For you, this means a diamond for good value.

• Brian Gavin Cape series: These are larger diamonds with a warm, yellow tint (color M or below). This line offers a good opportunity to buy a larger diamond at an affordable price.

• Brian Gavin Black series: These are high quality diamonds cut with Brian Gavin's patent-pending most exacting cut technique. He has refined the ancillary angles to make the diamond even more brilliant.

• Signature Advance Selection: Diamonds can go fast at Brian Gavin, so this selection allows you to pre-order one while it's still at the laboratory. You are guaranteed the stone's quality and minimum size.

• Fancy colored diamonds: Want a diamond of another color? Brian Gavin has a selection of fancy colored diamonds across the entire color spectrum in their virtual inventory.

• Designer rings: Besides Brian Gavin's own collections of ring settings, it also offers rings by Sholdt, Jeff Cooper, and Furrer Jacot.

Keep on reading. We'll go into detail for all of these.

BRIAN GAVIN SIGNATURE HEARTS & ARROWS DIAMONDS

Brian Gavin is known for its Signature super ideal diamonds.

When a diamond is called super ideal, it must have two things: 1) perfect proportions for maximum fire and brilliance, and 2) precise optical symmetry. Achieving this requires specialized skills and extreme precision.

All Brian Gavin Signature diamonds meet both requirements. Signature hearts & arrows (H&A) diamonds are offered in round and cushion cuts. All diamonds include:

• AGS Triple Ideal rating
  
• 8 symmetrical hearts and arrows
  
• No light leakage through the bottom
  
• No inclusions that pose a light performance or structural issue
  
• No cutting defects (such as an extra facet)
  
• Laser inscription of Brian Gavin logo and AGS certificate number
  
• 100% Lifetime Trade Up Guarantee

A grade of AGS Triple Ideal means a rating of AGS0 in each of the three areas of light performance, polish, and symmetry. This is the best cut grade possible.

Hearts & arrows diamonds is the finest version of super-ideal cut diamonds. This means that the diamond has precise optical symmetry. It has a perfectly lined up pattern of hearts and arrows when viewed through an H&A viewer (you'll see arrows when viewing down from the top and hearts when looking from the bottom).

Below is an example of a randomly selected Signature Round diamond. From right to left are the images from the H&A viewer, ASET scope, and Idealscope. These images show a precise symmetry of hearts & arrows pattern and about as excellent a light performance as you can get. Both ASET and Idealscope images show a lot of red with no black or white spots (which indicate light leakage).

What is really special is that Brian Gavin has H&A cushion cut diamonds. Normally fancy cut diamonds aren't given a cut grade, so there is no emphasis on ideal proportions. Because of this, many fancy cuts (like the popular cushion cut) have poor light performance.

But Brian Gavin has created a super ideal cut for cushion diamonds that exhibit the same level of brilliance and H&A patterning as his round diamonds.

Let's pick a randomly selected Signature Cushion diamond and see what we get:

As you can see, the H&A patterning is precise with symmetrical shapes. And both ASET and Idealscope images show superior light return.

BRIAN GAVIN SUPER IDEAL PRINCESS CUT DIAMONDS

The princess cut is the 2nd most popular diamond shape. It's edgy and modern, yet still dainty. It's also beloved for the fact that it's nearly as brilliant as the round cut. However, as we mentioned, fancy cut diamonds usually aren't held to the same cut standards.

Screenshot of actual diamond

Brian Gavin has created a cut technique for the princess shape diamond to exbibit the maximum light performance possible. His Signature Princess cut has 53 facets (32 on the pavilion, 20 on the crown, and 1 for the table), as opposed to the usual 57 or 76 facets. It has a 3-chevron configuration in the pavilion for more contrast and scintillation. He believes that this cut design gives the princess diamond the most visually beautiful look and performance.

All his Signature Princess cut diamonds have achieved a cut grade of AGS Triple 0.

Let's look at an example of a randomly selected princess cut stone.

The ASET image (the first one) reveals mostly red, which means intense light return. The blue areas show contrast, which translates to scintillation (flashes of light as the diamond moves). The green means areas of lower light return, so you want to see less of this. There is very minimal black, which indicates light leakage. In the Idealscope image, we see almost all red, which means light return. These images reveal an exceptional princess cut diamond.

BRIAN GAVIN BLUE - GOOD VALUE DIAMONDS WITH FLUORESCENCE

Fluorescence is a natural phenomenon that occurs in about a third of all diamonds. This is when the diamond shows a colored glow under ultraviolet (UV) light. In most cases, it's a blue glow.

Actual image of diamond

This effect has been hugely debated in the diamond world. Generally, it is thought that diamonds with stronger fluorescence will have a cloudy look. But in reality, most diamonds with fluorescence show no visible difference (and sometimes, it even helps make a diamond appear whiter!). However, because of this negative stigma, diamonds with fluorescence are often priced at a slight discount.

Brian Gavin's Blue is their line of Signature diamonds with medium-strong fluorescence. Each diamond is still super-ideal cut with an AGS grade of 0 for light performance. Each stone has been carefully inspected by Brian Gavin himself to ensure that the fluorescence has no negative effect.

This means great value for you. Since diamonds with fluorescence are typically traded at a discount, you can grab a Blue diamond at a great price - as much as 15% less.

Check out the price difference between these 2 diamonds of similar characteristics. Both are around the same size, have color of H, and clarity of SI1 (both viewed to be eye-clean). The diamond on the right costs more than $1,000 more than the Blue diamond on the left.

Personally, I think diamonds with fluorescence are unique and beautiful. Some may have a pretty, icy-blue glow in sunlight. If you like this effect, consider Brian Gavin's Blue line. Each diamond has already been vetted that there is no cloudiness or effect on performance.

BRIAN GAVIN CAPE SERIES - AFFORDABLE DIAMONDS

"Diamonds that shine like the sun" - this the motto of Brian Gavin's Cape series.

When you think of the sun, a warm golden glow comes to mind. The Cape series includes Brian Gavin's diamonds lower on the color scale, so that they exhibit a yellow warmth.

Brian Gavin's Cape diamonds have a color grading of M or below and are in higher carat weights (over 1 carat). Most diamond retailers don't sell diamonds for engagement rings below a K, as anything less will show a yellow tint even to an untrained eye. But with the right cut and setting, even lower colored diamonds can look beautiful in an engagement ring.

Cape diamond with ASET and H&M imagery

All of Brian Gavin's Cape diamonds are cut to the same strict standards as any other Signature diamond. As you can see from the example of the Cape diamond above, it shows superior ASET light performance and precise H&A patterning.

Color has a HUGE impact on pricing. Diamonds lower in color cost significantly less. The Cape line offers a great opportunity to buy a bigger diamond that you otherwise couldn't afford. Just take a look at this example:

Both diamonds are similar in size and have clarity of VS1. The diamond on the right, however, is colorless and the Cape diamond on the left has a color of O (very light yellow). And it is literally just a fraction of the price!

Now, you will definitely see the yellow tint in these diamonds. If you're considering one because of the price advantage, you just need to style it right. Yellow gold or rose gold jewelry will complement a warm-toned diamond and accentuate the golden sparkle.

BRIAN GAVIN BLACK - THE FINEST DIAMOND COLLECTION EVER

Even though Brian Gavin has achieved the super ideal cut grading, there's always room for improvement, right?

The Black collection is the result of decades of light performance study and craftsmanship. It is Brian Gavin's finest diamond collection, with unmatched brilliance and quality.

First, all diamonds considered for this line must be naturally high quality. Then the diamonds are cut with a special technique (patent-pending) that results in even more superior light performance. This means that the diamonds must have:

• Color of D-G: the diamonds are completely colorless or have negligible tints
  
• Clarity of IF-VS2: the diamonds are all higher in clarity
  
• Perfectly symmetrical hearts & arrows patterning
  
• Cut with the Gavin EffectTM patent-pending technique
  
• Most exacting ASET imagery, showing no "low intensity" light zones
  
• Certified by AGSL

So what's different between the Black line and the Signature diamonds? Brian Gavin has refined the cut angles even more in the Black series. In simple terms, the ancillary angles (upper girdle, lower girdle, and star) were fine-tuned to return even more light to the viewer's eyes. This eliminates low-medium light zones.

But is there really a difference? Let's take a look:

The diamond on the right is a 1-carat diamond from the Black line. The diamond on the left is a 1-carat diamond from the Signature collection. The Black diamond is all bright red in the center, which means the most light return. There is also less green, which means areas of low light.

Because of the diamond quality, extreme precision, and extra cutting of materials, the diamonds in this line are priced higher. Is it worth the extra premium? We think that in reality, you probably won't notice a difference.

BRIAN GAVIN ADVANCE SELECTION

Because of the small stock, Brian Gavin's inventory moves fast. You may find the perfect rock, only for it to be gone a couple of days later. Thus begins a new search process.

To help you find a diamond faster, Brian Gavin introduced the Signature Advance Selection. Essentially, you can "pre-order" a diamond while it's still at the AGS laboratory.

Because it's a pre-order, you won't know the full characteristics of the diamond or get any light performance imagery. But certain things are guaranteed, such as:

• AGS Triple 0 cut grading
  
• Minimum carat size
  
• Minimum color
  
• Minimum clarity

The diamond will be delivered straight from the AGS lab to you. If it's not what you expected, then don't worry. The same return policy applies. You get 15 days to decide if you want to keep it or not. If not, simply tell Brian Gavin and send it back. See more details on the return policy below.

RETURNS, BUY BACKS, AND OTHER THINGS TO KNOW

• Returns: You only get 15 days to decide if you want to keep the diamond or not. Day 1 is the day you receive the package. If you don't want to keep it, you must email Brian Gavin before the 15th day. They will send you a Return Authorization Number, which you need to write on the outside of the package. It must be postmarked no later than the 15th day. And it needs to be returned via USPS Registered/Insured Mail (for the amount of your purchase).

  Note that there are some things that cannot be returned, such as a bezel setting and custom design.

• Resizing: Brian Gavin offers one free ring resizing for one size up or down. If it's more than one size, there will be additional charges. Please note that settings like a full eternity band cannot be resized.

• Lifetime Warranty: All jewelry purchased from Brian Gavin carries a lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects. However, it must not have been worked on by another jeweler.

• 100% Lifetime Upgrade: At any point, you can swap out your diamond for a stone that's worth the same or more. You can apply 100% of the original purchase price towards the new diamond. You just must have the original certificate. And you must upgrade in 2 of the following variables: size, color, and clarity.

• Buy back: What if you change your mind after the 15-day return period? Brian Gavin offers a one-year buy back policy for 70% of the purchase price. This is only valid for their Signature Hearts & Arrows and Blue diamonds. The diamond must be undamaged and have its original, undamaged certificate.

• Discounts: There is a 3% discount if you pay with bank wire, check, or money order. This discount is only for Signature Hearts and Arrows and Blue diamonds. For Brian Gavin Select and everything else, the discount is 1%.

DOWNSIDES OF BRIAN GAVIN

Because of the more specialized products, there are a few disadvantages:

• Short return period. You only get 15 days for the full money-back return. This is probably enough to decide if you like the diamond/ring or not. But may not be enough time if you're still planning the proposal. So make sure you already have it planned before you order.

• Small inventory. The inventory is small to begin with, and the diamonds can go fast too. For example, at the time of this review, there is only 1 option for a diamond that is approximately 1-carat, H, VS2. If you're looking for a very specific carat, color, and clarity, you may not have too many choices.

• In-house diamonds only have round, princess, and cushion cuts. Brian Gavin has only created ideal cuts for these shapes. If you're looking for another shape, you can find it in the virtual inventory, but you won't get the light performance data up front. After you place your order, the diamond will be brought in for evaluation and the data provided to you.
  Tip: If you're looking for another shape, we recommend a browse at James Allen. You'll find HD 360-degree videos of every actual diamond. Using them, you can decide if you see flaws and spin it around to see how it sparkles.
  

• Pricier than some online retailers. Fancy cut stones, like the cushion and princess, generally cost a lot less than round (as much as 30%). So people usually love them for being more affordable. But be aware that Brian Gavin's cushion and princess diamonds are more expensive because of the precision of the cuts. They can be as much as 40% more than from elsewhere. But it's the higher quality you're paying for.

BRIAN GAVIN VS. WHITEFLASH

Both are highly renowned online diamond retailers founded by the same person. What's the difference?

Both place a high emphasis on super ideal cut diamonds. Whiteflash is where Brian Gavin first introduced his A CUT ABOVE® diamonds. There are still small differences that may make you prefer one over the other:

• Whiteflash offers an Expert and Premium line for diamonds that didn't quite make it into A CUT ABOVE®. These lines offer high quality diamonds at good value. Brian Gavin only offers super ideal cut diamonds (except for the Select cushion diamonds).

• Whiteflash only has round and princess cut diamonds in their in-house inventory. Brian Gavin also has a collection of H&A cushion diamonds.

• All Whiteflash diamonds have negligible fluorescence. Brian Gavin's Blue line contains diamonds with medium - strong fluorescence.

• Whiteflash does not have diamonds below color J. Brian Gavin has a Cape series that presents great value to those on a budget.

• Whiteflash does not offer any fancy colored diamonds. Brian Gavin has an inventory of fancy colored diamonds from their virtual selection.

In terms of Brian Gavin and Whiteflash's super-ideal round and princess cut diamonds, either site will be a great choice. If you're looking for a bargain on a high-quality round diamond, you may like Whiteflash's Premium Select and Expert lines.

If you're looking for something more unique, like a diamond with fluorescence or a warm-toned diamond, you'll find it at Brian Gavin at a great price. And if you want a cushion diamond, then Brian Gavin is your man.

FAQs

What are their business hours?
Brian Gavin's staff is available to help 24/7 by email. For phone and live chat, the hours are Monday through Thursday 8 am-8 pm, Friday 8 am-5 pm, and Sunday 9 am-1 pm (CT time).

Does Brian Gavin have a showroom?
Yes, Brian Gavin has a showroom located at 7322 Southwest Freeway, Arena One, Suite 1810, Houston, Texas. The hours are Monday-Thursday 9 am to 6 pm, and Friday 9 am to 5 pm.

Is the Hearts and Arrows patterning worth the extra money?
H&A diamonds are those with perfect three-dimensional symmetry. This affects the diamond's brilliance, especially in softer light conditions such as a cloudy day or by candlelight. A Hearts and Arrow diamond will also have improved face-up color.

What is fire and scintillation?
Fire is the rainbow sparkles you see as light is reflected on the diamond (while brilliance refers to the colorless sparkles). Scintillation is simply how sparkly the diamond is as it moves. As it moves, each facet will show flashes of light, which is the sparkle you see. The cut greatly affects the fire and scintillation of a diamond.

What do the Idealscope and ASET images show?
Both show the light performance of a diamond. They show where there is light leakage and how light is reflected back. You want a diamond that reflects a lot of light back. Idealscope uses a red reflector. You want there to be as few areas of white or faded red as possible. ASET is similar, but it shows the angles where light is entering the diamond. All you really need to know is that you want to see as little white as possible.

What is AGS Triple 0?
This means the diamond has achieved a grade of 0 in all three areas: light performance, polish, and symmetry. This is the highest cut grade possible. Diamonds graded as Triple 0 will have ideal proportions for maximum light return and the best visual beauty.

What is fluorescence?
Fluorescence is a glow the diamond has when exposed to ultraviolet light. This is a natural phenomenon that occurs is about 30% of all diamonds. While diamonds may glow in different colors, the vast majority glow in blue. Normally, fluorescence has no visible effect (unless you walk around with a black light all day). However, because it is seen as a bad thing in the diamond industry, diamonds with fluorescence will cost less. Brian Gavin's Blue line offers diamonds with medium - strong fluorescence at a great value.

Does Brian Gavin do custom designs?
Yes, Brian Gavin can custom design your dream ring or other jewelry through your sketches or verbal descriptions. But please note that Brian Gavin will not copy a designer setting from somewhere else. You are able to set your own diamond (or other stone) in a custom design.

Can I just buy a setting from Brian Gavin?
Unfortunately, Brian Gavin does not ship out empty settings. However, you can send them a diamond you purchased elsewhere and they can set it in a setting you like. The setting fee is minimum of $75. You can also work with Brian Gavin on a custom ring design and have it set with your own diamond.

Are virtual inventory diamonds inspected?
Yes. Brian Gavin doesn't operate on the "drop-ship" model. If you decide to purchase a diamond from their virtual inventory, it will be brought in for evaluation by Brian Gavin. You will receive the full range of photos, gemological data, and light performance imagery.

Does Brian Gavin collect sales tax?
Brian Gavin collects sales tax on all orders shipped within Texas or picked up at their showroom. No sales tax is collected on orders shipped outside of Texas.

BOTTOM LINE - IS BRIAN GAVIN WORTH IT?

Brian Gavin's brand is built upon the concept of ideal cut diamonds, with maximum light performance and optical symmetry. And it certainly delivers on that promise. It provides completely transparent data so you can judge the quality for yourself.

We love that Brian Gavin has created innovative lines to highlight diamonds that are usually undesirable. The Blue and Cape series offer unique diamonds at a great price advantage. And you can see from the light performance data that all the diamonds are cut to the same high standards.

Pricing-wise, Brian Gavin is not the cheapest you'll find. But it makes super ideal diamonds more affordable by being an online retailer. Their diamonds are priced lower than traditional big name brands (such as Hearts on Fire and Tiffany). If you are after quality at a reasonable price, Brian Gavin is certainly one of the best diamond retailers on the market. Just be aware of the few downsides we mentioned, including the short return period.

Brian Gavin Review: Highest Quality Diamond? appeared first on CreditDonkey

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the author's alone. Please support CreditDonkey on our mission to help you make savvy financial decisions. Our free online service is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content.

Bass Pro Shops offers its own store credit card. But the store teams with MasterCard, which means this card has a bit more flexibility than a typical store credit card. You can use the Bass credit card anywhere MasterCard is accepted, but you'll receive the most perks and benefits by using it at the Bass store or on the store's website. In our Bass Pro Shops credit card review, we'll help you determine whether to reel in this credit offer or throw it back.

The Available Perks

You can sign up for the Bass Pro Shops credit card either online, over the phone, or in the store. Bank of America manages the card, and it will run a credit check before you receive approval for this credit card.

So why would you want to go with a Bass Pro Shops credit card versus a standard Bank of America MasterCard? For those who commonly visit Bass stores or shop at Bass online, there are a couple of perks that make this particular card desirable. (Note: All details concerning rates and perks for the Bass Pro Shops credit card are as of March 18, 2017 and are subject to change.)

• Bass rewards points of 3% or 5%. Depending on your credit worthiness, you'll receive rewards points of either 3% or 5% of every dollar you spend with Bass. You can redeem the rewards points only through Bass Pro Shops. (Money spent on taxes or shipping charges do not count toward the rewards points.)

• Gift card offer. If you sign up for the Bass Pro Shops credit card online and you spend at least $100 on the card in the first 90 days, you'll receive a $50 gift card to Bass Pro Shops.

• Introductory APR period. The Bass credit card includes a 1.99% intro APR for 7 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers (made within the first 60 days of opening your account). After that a variable APR of 13.74% - 23.74% comes into effect.

Understanding Rewards Points

As you receive rewards points, they'll be credited to your store member account. Once you've accumulated at least 500 rewards points, you're eligible to begin using them.

You'll receive a $10 gift certificate for each 500 points you've collected that you can use on a Bass Pro Shops purchase. (Gift certificates may be sent through the postal mail or will be accumulated digitally.) Each time you earn another 500 points, you'll receive another $10 certificate. Bass Pro Shops credits new certificates on a monthly basis. If you accumulate 1,500 points in a month, you'll receive $30 in certificates that month, for example. Any extra points carry to the next month.

Doing the Math on Rewards Points

Let's keep the math simple. Let's say you've qualified for the 5% rewards points program with the Bass Pro Shops with a World MasterCard and you spent $200 on your Bass credit card at the store. This will give you 500 rewards points, meaning you'll receive a $10 certificate. This is where the 5% number enters the picture, as the $10 is 5% of the initial $200 you spent.

If you qualified for the 3% rewards program instead (with the Platinum Plus credit card), you'd have to spend $333.34 on your credit card at Bass Pro Shops to receive a $10 certificate.

But because the certificates expire relatively quickly (sometimes within 75 days), to make this deal worthwhile to you, you'd need to shop at Bass Pro Shops every couple of months at a minimum.

Who This Card Is Good For

• Frequent Bass Pro Shops customers. If you regularly shop at Bass Pro Shops, say at least every couple of months, this is a nice card to use because of the perks mentioned above. As long as you're paying off the card balance each month, the rewards will add up quickly, basically giving you free money to use at Bass Pro Shops. If you're going to carry a balance on the card though, the interest rates will negate your rewards - and then some.

• Those who like to support conservation programs. When you use your Bass Pro Shops credit card, the company will make a contribution to outdoor conservation programs. This contribution doesn't cost you anything.

• Those who need extra time to pay off a big-ticket item. With the introductory APR, you could purchase a big ticket item right after you receive the card and pay a low interest rate. As long as you can pay it off before the promotional APR expires, this is a nice benefit.

Why We Like It

• No annual fee. It's great that you can receive the perks listed above without having to pay an annual fee.

• Introductory APR period. For the first seven billing cycles, you'll pay a 1.99% APR on purchases and balance transfers (made within the first 60 days of opening your account). After the seven cycles, the APR balloons to between 13.74% and 23.74%, depending on your creditworthiness. But if you want to carry a balance for the first few months you have this card, the introductory APR period is great.

• Gaining rewards points outside the store. Because it's a MasterCard, you'll receive 1% rewards points when using the credit card at locations other than Bass stores.

• Managing and redeeming rewards points online. You can always see your rewards points balance by managing your Bass Pro Shops credit card account online or through a mobile app. You also can redeem your points through an online Bass Pro Shops purchase, as long as you have an online account with the company. Just don't expect to create an account and redeem the points at the same time. It takes at least 24 hours for your points to be available in a new online account.

Reasons We'd Skip the Card

• You don't shop at Bass Pro Shops frequently. If you are looking for a good rewards program on a credit card, the Bass credit card is good for regular Bass customers. But there are much better general credit card rewards programs on the market for those who aren't going to spend all that much at Bass Pro Shops.

• High fee on balance transfers. If you're primarily looking at the Bass Pro Shops credit card so you can transfer balances, there are better options on the market. Although you receive a low introductory APR on balance transfers, you will have to pay a 3% fee up front on the amount of the transaction.

• Limit on rewards points for lower credit scores. If your card application is approved for a credit line of $5,000 or greater, you'll qualify for the World MasterCard account, which carries the full 5% rewards points perk mentioned earlier for purchases made through Bass Pro Shops. If you're approved for a less than $5,000 credit limit though, you'll qualify for the Platinum Plus account, which limits your rewards points to 3% of Bass Pro Shops purchases, representing a huge difference in the benefits of holding this account.

• Further limitations. Some purchases you make through Bass Pro Shops will not count toward providing you with rewards points. For example, purchases at independent vendors who are operating inside Bass Pro Shops, such as for taxidermy services, do not quality for rewards points. Some purchases of boats, motors, or ATVs don't qualify either. So if you're easily frustrated by such limitations, you may want to pass on this card. Or at least ask whether your big ticket purchase is eligible for rewards points before the cashier rings up the purchase.

Our Final Thoughts on the Bass Pro Shops Credit Card

If you're someone who steers clear of in-store credit cards because you can only use them with one merchant, we hear you. This can be frustrating. So it's nice when a merchant teams with one of the major credit card issuers to give you a card that can be used anywhere, accumulating rewards the entire time.

The Bass Pro Shops credit card is a nice option for those who are frequent shoppers at the store aimed at outdoorsmen. You'll accumulate chunks of rewards points for purchases made with the retailer, but you'll also be able to use the card at other retailers and still earn 1% rewards points to use at Bass Pro Shops.

If you're someone who doesn't shop at Bass Pro Shops all that often, there are better options for credit card rewards points elsewhere. But for those who frequently shop at Bass, either online or in-store, the company will give you free money to use at the store when you use the credit card. Just pay attention to the expiration dates for your points so you don't lose them.

Bass Pro Credit Card Review appeared first on CreditDonkey

The best credit card for earning Delta SkyMiles may not be so obvious. Some don't even say "Delta" on them.

Delta's partnership is exclusively with American Express, a CreditDonkey partner. They offer multiple co-branded cards with AMEX. But there are also many American Express cards where you can earn AMEX Membership Rewards points that you can transfer into Delta SkyMiles.

Each credit card is different in its own way. Some may give more perks, while some may fit your everyday spending pattern better.

Which one is best for you? Let's go over their options and differences.

• For Delta Perks
  
• For Earning MQM
  
• For Earning SkyMiles
  
• No Annual Fee Card
  
• For Also Earning Hotel Nights
  
• For Luxury Travel Perks

How to Decide Which Delta Card is Right for You

With all the options for a SkyMiles earning card, how do you decide which one is right for you? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• How much do you value perks and benefits? Is getting things like free checked bags and priority boarding important to you? If so, you'll want to look into one of the AMEX and Delta co-branded cards. These are the only ones that will give you Delta-specific perks. The Gold Delta SkyMiles offers good perks for just an annual fee of $95.

• What about luxury benefits? The AMEX Platinum is a popular card for traveling in style. This includes access to 5 airport lounge networks.

• Do you prefer more flexibility? If you don't want to be limited to just Delta (and its partners), then you'll want to opt for one of the AMEX Membership Rewards cards. With these cards, you'll have the option to transfer points to other popular North American partner carriers as well, including Jet Blue, Hawaiian Airlines, and Air Canada. You can also use points to book travel on amextravel.com, with any airline for any dates.

  Just note that with these cards, you'll lose Delta perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.

• How much do you fly a year? Most travel reward cards come with an annual fee, so you'd have to be a semi-frequent flyer to make it worthwhile. If you're just an occasional vacationer, then look into the AMEX Everyday, which has no annual fee.

• What is your everyday spending? A lot of travel reward cards focus more on perks and not on a high points-earning structure. If your goal is to earn lots of points, look at AMEX Premier Rewards Gold, AMEX Everyday, or AMEX SPG. In our opinion, these cards have reward structures better suited for everyday spending.

Gold Delta SkyMiles: For Delta Perks

This co-branded Delta card rewards you for your loyalty. The value in this card is in the benefits.

You get Delta-specific perks such as the 1st bag checked for free (for up to 9 people on your reservation) and Zone 1 Priority Boarding. Additional benefits include reduced fee for Delta Sky Club lounges and discounts for in-flight purchases.

The annual fee is $95, but it's already more than worth it if you just fly once a year with a family of four (or twice a year with one other person), and each person checks a bag. And plus, there is a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year (then $95).

Get this card if: You fly Delta at least:

• Once a year (round-trip) with a companion, and each of you check a bag
  
• 2x a year (round-trip) alone, and you check a bag
  
• Once a year with your family, and have at least 2 checked bags

Platinum Delta SkyMiles: For Earning MQMs

The Platinum Delta and Delta Reserve are the luxury siblings of the Gold Delta SkyMiles.

The main additional benefits for these cards include:

• You earn Medallion Qualification Miles (MQMs) after you spend a certain amount a year, which can buy you more benefits like seat upgrades.
  
• You earn bonus SkyMiles (Annual Miles Boost) if you make a certain amount of purchases on your card each year.
  
• You get a round-trip companion certificate each year, subject to terms and conditions.

So are they worth the higher fees?

The Platinum Delta SkyMiles has an annual fee of $195. We'd say that if you take advantage of all the perks, like free checked bags and the companion certificate, that could potentially justify the fee. And if you're a loyal Delta flyer, you may like the MQMs. But you would have to be a big spender.

For most Delta fans though, the Gold card is enough. In our opinion, the Platinum Delta and Delta Reserve are for big spenders who fly Delta a lot.

Get the Platinum Delta if:

• Fly Delta at least twice a year (round-trip) with a companion, and each check a bag
  
• Or 4x year (round-trip) alone, and you check a bag
  
• Travel with a companion so you can make use of the Companion Certificate on eligible flights
  
• You spend at least $25,000 a year ($2,084/month) on your credit card

Earn Points and Convert to SkyMiles

Unfortunately, many travel reward cards don't give you a lot of points for everyday spending. Often, you only get bonus points for travel booking, and everyday purchases only earn 1x point per dollar. This means that if you don't fly often, it will be hard to rack up the points fast (unless you're an unusually big spender). But wait, take a look at this card:

This card offers a nice balance between earning rewards and travel perks. With bonus points on purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants, you'll earn Membership Reward points fast, which you can then transfer into Delta SkyMiles.

Below is a side-by-side comparison chart of how the Premier Rewards Gold stacks up against the Gold Delta SkyMiles:

AMEX Everyday: No Annual Fee Card

If you're not sure how much you'll be flying and just want to save for a future vacation, then paying for a card with an annual fee may not make much sense. This card has no annual fee and earns Membership Rewards points that you can convert for SkyMiles:

AMEX Starwood Preferred Guest: For Also Earning Hotel Nights

The AMEX SPG is technically a hotel card, but you can transfer your Starpoints to over 20 airline partners, including Delta.

And as an added bonus, every time you transfer 20,000 Starpoints to an airline partner, you automatically get a bonus of 5,000 points. So this effectively boosts each point's value by 25%.

Don't overlook the free nights part of this card either. Starpoints are highly valued in the hotel world. The award chart is priced well and each point is often worth 2 cents or more based on our estimates. That makes this one of our favorite cards for earning hotel nights and award airfare.

Below is a side-by-side comparison of how the Starwood credit card compares with the Gold Delta SkyMiles:

AMEX Platinum: For Luxury Travel Perks

The AMEX Platinum is the, well, platinum standard when it comes to luxury travel benefits. It has a steep annual fee of $550, but the multitude of perks can more than make up for it.

You get access into 5 airport lounge networks, including Delta Sky Club lounges. You even get a $200 airline credit each year for a specific airline of your choice. So you can choose Delta and get statement credits toward incidental airline fees such as baggage fees. But there's no Priority Boarding with this card.

Other valuables benefits include either TSA Pre or Global Entry application fee statement credit, Uber savings, complimentary Boingo Wi-Fi, and Platinum concierge service.

Below is a side-by-side comparison of how the Platinum Card stacks up against the Gold Delta SkyMiles:

About Delta SkyMiles: What Are They Worth?

Delta no longer publishes an award chart, but here's a general idea. Domestic one-way flights within the continental U.S. can be as low as 10,000 miles.

For international flights, awards are priced by regions. When we checked in May 2017, we found future award flights from the U.S. to Europe available from 60,000 miles (in economy). Trips to Mexico, Central American and the Caribbean from 35,000 miles. And flights to Asia from about 70,000 to 80,000 miles. Miles are for round-trip flights. For one-way, divide by half.

Delta also has over 30 partner airlines. If you're going somewhere Delta doesn't fly, you can use your SkyMiles to book flights on any of its partners. The partners are:

• Compass Airlines
  
• Endeavor Air
  
• ExpressJet Airlines
  
• Gojet Airlines
  
• Shuttle America
  
• SkyWest
  
• Aeroflot
  
• Aerolineas Argentinas
  
• Aeromexico
  
• AirEuropa
  
• Air France
  
• Air Tahiti Nui
  
• Alaska Airlines
  
• Alitalia
  
• China Airlines
  
• China Eastern
  
• China Southern
  
• Czech Airlines
  
• Garuda Indonesia
  
• GOL
  
• Great Lakes
  
• Hawaiian Airlines (limited to inter-Hawaiian Islands itineraries)
  
• Kenya Airways
  
• KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
  
• Korean Air
  
• Middle East Airlines
  
• Saudia Airlines
  
• Tarom Airlines
  
• Vietnam Airlines
  
• Virgin Atlantic
  
• Virgin Australia
  
• Xiamen Airlines

Bottom Line

There are many cards you can use to earn Delta SkyMiles. Picking the right one for you depends on what you value, how often you fly, and your spending habits.

If you love perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, then look into one of the co-branded cards. The Gold Delta SkyMiles will be adequate for the majority of Delta flyers. If you want more flexibility and options, then you will like one of the AMEX Membership Rewards cards.

Delta Credit Card: Which is Right for You? appeared first on CreditDonkey

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. This site may be compensated through the Advertiser's affiliate programs.

Disclaimer: The information for the Platinum Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by CreditDonkey. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Personal Capital has an interesting all-in-one wealth management approach.

One part of Personal Capital is a robo-advisor, but with real human financial advisors to help design a personalized strategy for your needs. This makes it a stand-out from other robo-advisors.

The other part of Personal Capital is a free money management tool. You can link all your financial accounts to get a snapshot of your financial life all in one place, including net worth, spending analysis, retirement planning progress, and portfolio performance.

Personal Capital's goal is to help you manage your financial life with confidence. It combines cutting-edge tools with real experienced advisors to come up with the best plan for you. They aim to make investing more affordable so you keep more in your pocket.

Does it live up to the promise? Read on for a full review of Personal Capital to determine if it's right for you. In this article, we'll cover:

• How Much Does Personal Capital Cost?
  
• Personal Capital's Free Money Management Tools
  
• Personal Capital's Investment Service
  
• Personal Capital Compared to Other Services

PROS:

• Easy setup
  
• No cost to join
  
• Robo-advisor, but with real human advisors included in fee
  
• Advanced money management tools
  
• User-friendly mobile app

CONS:

• Higher fees than competitor robo-advisors
  
• $100,000 minimum; aimed at the affluent
  
• No budgeting software

HOW MUCH DOES PERSONAL CAPITAL COST?

Personal Capital is aimed more towards very high net worth investors. The more you have to invest, the lower the fees. The minimum required for investment services is $100,000.

The annual fee structure is:

• 0.89% for the first $1 million
  
• 0.79% for $1 million - $3 million
  
• 0.69% for $3 million - $5 million
  
• 0.59% for $5 million - $10 million
  
• 0.49% for over $10 million

These are all-inclusive management fees. So there is no additional trade commission fees or any other hidden fees. The fees are higher than competitors (like Betterment), but you do get financial advisors to help design a strategy best for you.

Personal Capital also offers a set of completely free money management tools (which we'll get into later). Even if you don't want to enroll in the investment service, you can still use Personal Capital for free to manage your financial life.

GETTING STARTED

Initial setup is pretty simple. Sign up for a Personal Capital account and link all your external financial accounts. This can be your current banks, CDs, trading platforms, etc. Personal Capital is linked to over 12,000 financial institutions, so you should have no problem finding your accounts.

Once you are satisfied that you have linked everything, you can schedule a free consultation. The advisor will go over your current financial state, retirement goals, risk tolerance, and any big financial plans in the future. You'll get a personalized investment strategy based on your goals. If you choose to go ahead with it, you'll open an investment account and fund it.

A WORD ABOUT SECURITY

Is it safe to link all your finances to a company that's only been around a short time? Personal Capital uses a 2-step authentication process and encryption similar to that used by other financial institutions. You'll have to authenticate each device you use via a text or phone call, which should give you some peace of mind if you have multiple devices.

But personal responsibility is also important - always make sure you sign out of any financial-oriented program you use.

PERSONAL CAPITAL'S MONEY MANAGEMENT TOOLS

As we mentioned earlier, you can use Personal Capital for free to just manage your financial life. You don't have to enroll in the investment service. So even if you have just a bank account and a credit card or two, this site is still useful.

Here are some of the free money management tools Personal Capital offers:

• See your cash flow: Personal Capital will track your deposits and spending based on your debit and credit card use and ATM cash withdrawals across all your accounts. It's hard to calculate yourself exactly how much you spend, so with this, you can see just how much of your income you use each month.

• Track your spending habits: Do you know where your money goes each month? Personal Capital will gather all your transactions in one place, so you can see the exact amount you spend for each merchant and category. If you find that way too much of your income goes to baked goods, then perhaps it's time to cut down.

• Learn your net worth: Your net worth is simply your assets minus your liabilities. Once you have linked all your accounts, Personal Capital will calculate your net worth. It'll also continue to automatically update it based on your ever-changing financial situations (such as investment gains or losses). You'll get a weekly update of your current net worth.

• Fee analyzer: This is the place where most people lose money without even realizing it. Most investment accounts charge fees, including trade and administrative fees, and banks even charge you fees for checking and savings accounts if you don't keep a minimum.

  A bit like your own private financial detective, Personal Capital tracks fees and shows you where you might be wasting money. You can use this information to call your bank and see if they can reduce the fees or find a better account for your needs.

• Portfolio performance: The Investment Checkup tool helps you analyze whether your current strategy is meeting your financial goals. Based on your goals and risk tolerance, Personal Capital will advise you if you need to change your allocation (like more bonds and less stocks). It will give you suggestions on how to reduce risk while maintaining performance.

• Retirement planner: This is one of the most advanced retirement calculators out there. Based on all the accounts you have linked, it will automatically calculate projected income, investments, and Social Security distributions. You can also manually add in big financial events like buying a house, wedding, having a baby, and kids' college expenses. The program will take all this info and come up with a realistic look at what your retirement will look like.

PERSONAL CAPITAL'S ROBO-HYBRID INVESTMENT SERVICE

What sets Personal Capital apart from other robo-advisors is that you get the full support from a team of financial advisors.

Most robo-advisors work off of a computer algorithm based on goals and risk tolerance that you input. Personal Capital adds a more human touch. It has a whole committee of advisors and researchers who manage your assets. They take the time to understand your current situation and goals to design a customized strategy.

The level of service you get depends on your balance. Here is what you get at different balance levels (keep in mind that the minimum required for financial advice is $100,000):

• Up to $200,000: you get a financial advisory team, a tax-efficient ETF portfolio, dynamic tactile weighing, 401k advice, and cash flow and spending insights

• $200,000 to $1 million: you get 2 dedicated financial advisors, customizable stocks and ETFs, a full financial and retirement plan, college savings and 529 planning, tax loss harvesting, and financial decisions support

• Over $1 million: you get priority access to advisors, customized investment portfolio mix, family-tiered billing, private banking services, private equity and hedge fund review, deferred compensation strategy, and estate attorney / CPA collaboration

How it works: During your consultation, the advisors will come up with a personalized strategy for you. After that, the automated software will do the investing and maintenance of your portfolio. But you still have access to advisors anytime you want if your situation changes. They are there to help and will make any necessary adjustments. Advisors are available by phone, emails, and video chat.

PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT

Personal Capital's goal is to yield the highest returns with the least risk. Some of the features it has includes:

• Diversified portfolio: Like most robo-advisors, Personal Capital invests your assets with ETFs, because they don't incur too many expenses. The portfolio is also globally diversified with U.S. stocks and bonds (it contains over 70 stocks), international stocks and bonds, and cash for liquidity. A financial advisor works with you to identity the optimal investments for your goals.

• Disciplined rebalancing: Once you have an investment strategy, it's not unusual for it to drift over time, since investments increase (or shrink) at different rates. For example, let's say you wanted 50% stocks, but with growth, your assets are now 60% stocks. When the allocation is skewed, it may no longer be at the correct risk level for your goals. Personal Capital reviews your portfolio daily and automatically rebalances it whenever it identifies an issue.

• Optimal tax strategy: Personal Capital helps reduce your taxes with a strategy called Tax Loss Harvesting, which works to take a tax deduction on the loss to offset capital gains. And it'll automatically place high-yield stocks into accounts with tax breaks (like IRAs). Note that this feature is only for those with over $200,000 invested.

APP

The Personal Capital app is available for both Android and Apple devices. Like the computer software's easy-to-read platform, the app breaks down your assets, liabilities, investments, credit card debt, mortgages, and any other financial information in a mobile-friendly manner. You can also access your info via a date range (back to the prior year), read tips and research online, or contact your financial advisor.

The app is easy to use at a glance, and even changes colors (green for assets, red for liabilities) as you scroll to readily point out what you own and owe.

How It Compares

PERSONAL CAPITAL VS. BETTERMENT

Betterment is one of the most popular robo-advisors out there right now. It has a much lower fee structure than Personal Capital, so beginners may feel more comfortable with that. The annual fee for the basic service is just 0.25%. Plus, there is no account minimum, whereas Personal Capital's minimum is $100,000.

However, because of the low fee, Betterment is truly just a robo-advisor. The software invests for you based on your age, goals, and risk tolerance. Low net worth investors do not get any kind of real human financial advisor services. So you are basically completely trusting a computer to correctly design and allocate your investment strategy.

If you have a balance of $100,000 or more, you could choose to upgrade to the Plus service (0.40% fee) and you get one yearly call with an advisor. And if you have $250,000 or more, you can get the Premium service and get unlimited calls with financial experts. The annual fee is 0.50% at that level, which is still lower than Personal Capital's fee of 0.89% for the first million. But you will get more personalized service with Personal Capital.

Betterment does not have such advanced money management tools. We do like its SmartDeposit feature though, which automatically sends money to Betterment when your bank account exceeds a certain balance. This is an easy way to make sure you're investing your extra cash.

PERSONAL CAPITAL VS. MINT

Another user-friendly financial assessment program is Intuit's Mint. This popular software is also free and operates similar to Personal Capital's money management service. But unlike Personal Capital, Mint is aimed at more of a mass market and people who are just starting out, rather than high net worth investors.

It focuses more on your everyday spending and budgeting than it does your future income. Mint might be a better choice for those who just want to see their financial life all in one place. There's no focus on investments and strategy. Mint is simpler and doesn't flash a neon sign about what you're worth, like Personal Capital does (perhaps Mint is really for the less secure among us).

But Personal Capital has proven to be more dependable when it comes to interfacing with your accounts, syncing them, and calculating the data quicker. Both platforms are strong when it comes to giving you a clear view of your financial life, so it's certainly worth trying both out and seeing which one suits your needs best.

BOTTOM LINE

Personal Capital aims to be different by providing excellent wealth management tools, a robo-investment platform, and real human financial advisors.

You can use Personal Capital's money management tools at no cost. These are some of the most advanced tools on the market. It doesn't hurt to sign up for the free account to get a handle on your financial life.

But if you want to enroll in the investment service, the fees are much higher than other robo-advisors. You do get personalized service from financial advisors, which is supposed to justify the cost. But beginners with not too much to invest may still find it high. If you have a LOT to invest (as in, millions), the fees get lower and is good value for the level of service.

Personal Capital Review: Is It Worth It? appeared first on CreditDonkey

Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the author's alone. Please support CreditDonkey on our mission to help you make savvy financial decisions. Our free online service is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content.