Recommended strategy
Strategy for the Points Strategist profile
This strategy emphasizes flexible or transferable points and covers general spending, groceries, dining, travel, recurring payments, gas. A Visa or Mastercard always accompanies American Express so the portfolio remains usable at merchants that do not accept it.
- American Express Cobalt CardComplementary card for groceries, dining.
- Marriott Bonvoy American Express CardComplementary card for general spending, entertainment, hotels, recurring payments, travel. Its place in this strategy is also supported by its current welcome offer: it ranks No. 3 among points offers, with a conservative estimated net value of $676.63 for the complete offer.
- RBC ION+ VisaVisa or Mastercard backup for merchants that do not accept American Express, including alternative transportation, gas.
- 2-year total
- $2,633.75 CAD
- 3-year total
- $3,492.31 CAD
Bonuses are counted when they become eligible. A bonus payable after 12 months appears in the 2-year total, not the first year.
Recurring annual fees total $359.88 and are already deducted from net value.
View the calculation
How to use each card
The breakdown shows each card’s contribution. Applicable fees have already been deducted.
Groceries : $7,200 CAD · Restaurants : $4,800 CAD
- Recurring annual
- $408.12 CAD
- First year
- $408.12 CAD
- 2-year total
- $816.24 CAD
- 3-year total
- $1,224.36 CAD
Complementary card for groceries, dining.
View cardEveryday purchases : $6,000 CAD · Entertainment : $1,800 CAD · Hotels : $2,400 CAD · Pre-authorized payments : $4,800 CAD · Travel : $4,800 CAD
- Recurring annual
- $372.44 CAD
- First year
- $1,039.08 CAD
- 2-year total
- $1,661.51 CAD
- 3-year total
- $2,033.95 CAD
Complementary card for general spending, entertainment, hotels, recurring payments, travel. Its place in this strategy is also supported by its current welcome offer: it ranks No. 3 among points offers, with a conservative estimated net value of $676.63 for the complete offer.
View cardTransportation : $1,800 CAD · Gas / charging : $2,400 CAD
- Recurring annual
- $78 CAD
- First year
- $78 CAD
- 2-year total
- $156 CAD
- 3-year total
- $234 CAD
Visa or Mastercard backup for merchants that do not accept American Express, including alternative transportation, gas.
View cardScenario total: $36,000 CAD — each expense is assigned to one card only.
Each amount reflects the spending assigned to that card, plus its valued benefits and, when requested, its eligible welcome offer, minus the fees applicable to the period. The card amounts add up to the strategy total.
View the reference scenario used
This standardized basket is used only when your actual spending is unavailable. A personalized analysis replaces it with your actual spending.
Reference annual spending: $36,000 CAD
- Transportation$1,800 CAD
- Everyday purchases$6,000 CAD
- Entertainment$1,800 CAD
- Gas / charging$2,400 CAD
- Groceries$7,200 CAD
- Hotels$2,400 CAD
- Pre-authorized payments$4,800 CAD
- Restaurants$4,800 CAD
- Travel$4,800 CAD
Point values, fees, credits, benefits, and welcome-offer values follow the same methodology for every profile.