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What does it take to be considered rich? A net worth of around $2.2 million, according to Americans who participated in Schwab's 2022 Modern Wealth Survey.
What does it take to feel rich? A few financial tools and products you can use, even if you're on a budget.
From credit cards with luxury perks to money-earning banking accounts and apps, you can give yourself VIP treatment with just a little know-how. Below, CNBC Select outlines several simple ways you can feel wealthy without a couple of million dollars to your name.
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1. Get an investing app
Perhaps one of the best ways to feel better about your financial situation is actively working to improve it — faking it till you make it will only get you so far.
Investing is an essential method of building wealth but it may seem difficult to get into when there's little room in your budget for it. Plus, as a beginner, you might not know where to start.
An investing app may be a good place to begin. It allows you to automate the process and invest small amounts of money. For instance, Acorns can be a good choice for novices: It lets you put your spare change into diversified ETFs by linking your cards. The app tracks your purchases, rounds up the transaction amounts to the nearest dollar and invests the difference. This way, you can dip your toe into investing without going all in or overloading your budget.
Acorns
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum required to open an account, $5 minimum to start investing
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Monthly plans include: Bronze ($3 per month), Silver ($6 per month), and Gold ($12 per month)
Bonus
None
Investment vehicles
Robo-advisor: Acorns Invest IRA: Acorns Later includes Traditional, Roth, SEP IRAs, 401(k) Rollover Investment accounts for kids: Acorns Early
Investment options
Diversified ETFs which include more than 7,000 stocks & bonds
Educational resources
"Money Basics" blog and Grow + CNBC website
Terms apply.
If you prefer a more hands-on approach to your investing, there are a number of beginner-friendly apps like Robinhood* and Webull that offer commission-free trading on stocks.
Robinhood
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum required to open an account or to start investing
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Commission-free trading; regulatory transaction fees and trading activity fees may apply
Bonus
Robinhood will add 1 share of free stock to your brokerage account when you link your bank account and fulfill the conditions in your promotion (you'll be able to keep the stock or sell it after 2 trading days)
Investment vehicles
Brokerage account: Robinhood Financial commission-free investing
Investment options
Stocks, ETFs, options trading, fractional shares, IPOs, plus certain cryptocurrencies through Robinhood Crypto (depending on where you live)
Educational resources
"Investing basics" blog, an online library of content and Robinhood Snacks daily newsletter
Terms apply. *(Review Robinhood disclosures here.)
Webull
Minimum deposit and balance
Minimum deposit and balance requirements may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. No minimum required to open an account or to start investing
Fees
Fees may vary depending on the investment vehicle selected. Commission-free trading; regulatory transaction fees and trading activity fees may apply
Bonus
Get 5 free stocks when you open and fund a new account: Sign up with Webull to get your 2 free stocks, each valued up to $300, and deposit any amount to receive 3 free stocks, each valued up to $3,000
Investment vehicles
Brokerage account: Webull commission-free investing IRA: Traditional, Roth, Rollover IRAs
Investment options
Stocks, ETFs, options trading, fractional shares, IPOs, ADRs, plus certain cryptocurrencies through Webull Crypto
Educational resources
Terms apply.
2. Let your money earn money
Imagine going about your business — shopping for groceries, filling up your car, paying bills — and earning money while doing that. That surely sounds like something only the top 1% is accustomed to.
In reality, you can do it, too. Most likely, you won't be earning thousands of dollars per minute like a billionaire CEO, but you can still grow your money without putting in much effort.
Use bank accounts that offer rewards or earn interest. Boost your savings by keeping them in a high-yield savings account. Currently, you can find savings accounts, such as the LendingClub LevelUp Savings (4.00% APY with monthly deposits of at least $250 or a 3.00% Standard APY) or Bask Bank Interest Savings Account, that earns an APY of 4.20%.
LendingClub LevelUp Savings Account
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.00% (with monthly deposits of $250 or more), or 3.00%
Minimum balance
None
Monthly fee
None
Maximum transactions
Excessive transactions fee
None
Overdraft fees
N/A
Offer checking account?
Yes
Offer ATM card?
Yes
Terms apply.
Bask Interest Savings Account
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
4.20% APY1
Minimum balance
None
Monthly fee
None
Maximum transactions
Up to 6 withdrawals or transfers per statement cycle
Excessive transactions fee
None
Overdraft fee
None
Offer checking account?
No
Offer ATM card?
No
Terms apply.
1Annual Percentage Yields (APY) and Interest Rates shown are offered on accounts accepted by Bask Bank and effective per the dates shown above, unless otherwise noted. Annual Percentage Yield is variable and subject to change at any time. No minimum balance requirement and no monthly service charge. Must fund within 15 business days of account opening.
You can also get a rewards credit card to get cash back or travel miles on everything you buy. CNBC Select ranked the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees) as the best choice for those starting out with travel rewards because of its wide range of travel benefits, competitive rewards program and modest annual fee. If you want to earn points on your biggest monthly expense, rent, you can do so with the Bilt Mastercard®.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Bilt Mastercard®
Rewards
Earn 1X points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year, 3X points on dining, 2X points on travel, and 1X points on other purchases. Use the card five times each statement period to earn points.
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
None
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
See Terms
Balance transfer fee
Up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5.
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates/fees and rewards/benefits; terms apply.
Pros
- Earns ultra-valuable flexible rewards
- No annual fee
- Primary rental car insurance
- Earn points on rent without paying a fee
Cons
- No welcome bonus
- Requires at least five purchases per month to earn points
Even some checking accounts earn interest and rewards. For example, the American Express® Rewards Checking earns interest on the money you hold in the account and offers one Amex Membership Reward® point for every $2 spent on the debit card.
American Express® Rewards Checking Account
Monthly maintenance fee
$0
Minimum deposit to open
$0
Minimum balance
$0
Annual Percentage Yield (APY)
1.00% as of 06/24/2024
Free ATM network
37,000+ MoneyPass® ATMs
ATM fee reimbursement
None
Overdraft fee
N/A
Mobile check deposit
Yes
Terms apply.
Click here to view terms and conditions.
3. Use a credit card concierge
Having a personal assistant is the epitome of the lifestyle of the rich. Imagine if you had someone ordering last-minute gifts for your family at your request, organizing your travel plans and scoring reservations at perpetually unbookable restaurants.
You can have exactly that with credit card concierge services. Concierge agents can help you with tasks like planning and arranging travel, booking tickets for events or restaurant reservations, shopping for sought-after items and more.
This perk is typically reserved for premium and exclusive credit cards but you can also find it on some cards with annual fees under $100. For example, the $95-per-year Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card both come with Visa Signature® Concierge services and Mastercard Complimentary Concierge service* respectively. Or, if you'd rather avoid the fees, you can also get this perk on some no-annual-fee cash rewards cards like the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card. Meanwhile, the no-annual-fee Bilt Mastercard® unlocks access to the Mastercard Concierge Service (see rates and fees).
*Benefit available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers for a year
- No annual fee
- Cell phone protection
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
4. Travel first class
Concierge services aren't the only way your credit card can make you feel VIP. There's a whole range of card benefits designed to enhance your travel experience and take it to the premium level. For example, you can use the points and miles you earn with your travel rewards card to book fancy hotel stays or first-class flights very little — or nothing — out of pocket.
Doing this doesn't necessarily require a pricey card or a complicated rewards strategy. For instance, at $95 per year, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card gets you 5X miles on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 2X miles on all other eligible purchases.
You can then redeem these rewards at a fixed value of one cent per mile to offset recent travel purchases or cash them in toward booking travel through Capital One Travel. Or, to stretch the value of your miles, you can transfer them to over a dozen different airline and hotel partners. To give you an idea of the redemption possibilities, you could transfer 25,000 miles to Turkish Airlines — which are normally worth $250 toward travel — and book a round-trip domestic first class flight on United Airlines.
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a reasonable annual fee and earns flexible travel rewards, which makes it a great travel card for beginners or heavy travelers.
- Valuable welcome offer worth at least $750 in travel
- You can transfer miles to over 15 Capital One partners, including Emirates Skywards, Choice Privileges and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
- No foreign transaction fees
- Lacks ongoing travel benefits such as statement credits or lounge access
- Limited bonus spending category that only applies to certain Capital One Travel bookings
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fee
None
5. Skip airport security lines
One of the least luxurious airport experiences is undoubtedly going through a security line. Time is money and there's nothing VIP about waiting for 20 minutes (or longer) only to rush to take off your shoes, fish a laptop out of your stuffed backpack and then be questioned about the content of your pockets.
All this can be avoided by signing up for an expedited security clearance program. There are three main programs in the U.S. designed to hopefully shorten your time in line:
- TSA PreCheck®: Costs $85 for a five-year membership and gives you expedited security checks at more than 200 airports in the U.S.
- Global Entry: Costs $120 for a five-year membership and gives you full TSA PreCheck benefits, as well as expedited customs clearance upon arrival in the U.S. after traveling internationally.
- CLEAR+: CLEAR+ accelerates airport security screenings by using biometric technology rather than traditional IDs to verify your identity. Once scanned, you will be escorted to the front of the general security line, or to the front of the TSA PreCheck line if you're also enrolled in the program. CLEAR+ membership costs $209 per year.
Although all of these programs come at a cost, there are many credit cards that reimburse your membership fees. Credit cards with expedited security perks usually come with an annual fee, but there are some affordable options. Namely, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card both have annual fees of under $100 and reimburse cardholders in statement credits toward Global Entry or TSA PreCheck every four years.
6. Get access to airport lounges
Another kind of luxurious treatment your card might offer is complimentary access to airport lounges.
Airport lounges generally offer comfortable seating and complimentary food and drinks. Some even have nap pods, shower suites and yoga rooms. Not to mention, they tend to be much more aesthetically pleasing and less crowded than the general boarding area.
To get into an airport lounge, you generally need to pay for a day pass or annual membership, fly in a premium cabin on a long-haul route or have a certain elite status with an airline. Or, you can carry the right credit card.
Many credit cards with airport lounge access come with annual fees north of $500. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is one of the more affordable cards in this category. At $395 per year, you'll get unlimited access to an extensive network of Priority Pass™ and Plaza Premium lounges worldwide, as well as to Capital One Lounge and landing locations.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
- Annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles after every card anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations
- Long list of valuable travel and shopping protections, including return protection, rental car coverage and trip delay reimbursement (Benefit(s) only available to accounts approved for the Visa Infinite card. Terms apply.)
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other premium credit cards
- High annual fee
- High credit score requirement (excellent credit)
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
7. Receive VIP treatment
Special treatment can continue beyond the airport if you have a credit card which makes reaching elite status with an airline or hotel chain easier.
Airline credit cards can unlock premium perks like priority boarding, a first checked bag free and more. Although they rarely award elite status outright, they can provide a boost to help you get there.
Meanwhile, some hotel credit cards are more generous and may give you automatic elite status just for being a cardholder. A good example is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Although its $650 annual fee (see rates and fees) may sound steep, cardholders get automatic Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, granting perks like free breakfast at some brands and upgrades to suites, while those chasing a higher tier of status get 25 Elite Night Credits each year (Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Terms Apply).
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card is a premium hotel card that gives you high-level elite status, dining credits and a Free Night Award every year.
- Up to $300 in dining credit every year
- Free Night Award every year worth up to 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points
- Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite Status
- High annual fee
- Marriott doesn't publish an award chart and the rewards are typically less valuable compared to the top travel cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 100,000 Marriott Bonvoy® bonus points after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in purchases within the first 6 months and an extra 50,000 bonus points after you make an additional $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.
- Earn 6X Marriott Bonvoy® points for each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- Earn 3X points at restaurants worldwide and on flights booked directly with airlines.
- Earn 2X points on all other eligible purchases.
- Earn up to 21X Marriott Bonvoy® points for every $1 spent on eligible purchases at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy. Earn 6X points with the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. Earn up to 10X points from Marriott Bonvoy for being a Marriott Bonvoy member. Earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy with the 50% Bonus Points on Stays, a benefit available with your complimentary Platinum Elite status.
- $300 Brilliant Dining Credit: Each calendar year, get up to $300 (up to $25 per month) in statement credits for eligible purchases made on the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card at restaurants worldwide.
- With complimentary Marriott Bonvoy® Platinum Elite status, earn up to 5X points from Marriott Bonvoy® on eligible hotel purchases with the 50% Bonus Points on stays benefit.
- Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 85,000 Marriott Bonvoy® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy®, such as Le Metropolitan, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in Paris. Certain hotels have resort fees.
- Each calendar year after spending $60,000 on eligible purchases on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you will be eligible to select a Brilliant Earned Choice Award benefit. You can only earn one Brilliant Earned Choice Award per calendar year. See https://www.choice-benefit.marriott.com/brilliant for Award options.
- $100 Marriott Bonvoy® Property Credit: Enjoy your stay. Receive up to a $100 property credit for qualifying charges at The Ritz-Carlton® or St. Regis® when you book direct using a special rate for a two-night minimum stay using your Card.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®: Receive either a statement credit every 4 years after you apply for Global Entry ($120) or a statement credit every 4.5 years after you apply for a five-year membership for TSA PreCheck® (up to $85 through a TSA PreCheck official enrollment provider) and pay the application fee with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Each calendar year with your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card you can receive 25 Elite Night Credits toward the next level of Marriott Bonvoy® Elite status. Limitations apply per Marriott Bonvoy member account. Benefit is not exclusive to Cards offered by American Express.
- With your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, you can enroll in Priority Pass™ Select, with an unlimited number of visits to over 1,200 airport lounges in over 130 countries, regardless of which carrier or class you are flying. This allows you to relax before or between flights. You can enjoy snacks, drinks and internet access in a quiet, comfortable location.
- Trip Cancelled or Interrupted? If you purchase a round-trip entirely with your Eligible Card and a covered reason cancels or interrupts your trip, we may be able to help. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Coverage is provided by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
American Express Platinum Card® stands out for offering automatic gold elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors programs (enrollment required) and other elite-like benefits through the Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection programs. Perks of these programs may include room upgrades, late check-out, early check-in, complimentary breakfast and property credits.
This card is also great for those who frequently rent cars as it offers automatic status and special privileges through several car rental companies. This can get you perks like car upgrades when available, the option to skip the counter and a wider car selection.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
8. Have peace of mind with travel insurance
Knowing that your expenses will be taken care of if something goes wrong during your trip is a special kind of luxury. And you can usually get it with good travel insurance.
There are many types of coverage you can get with credit card travel insurance. An airline lost your baggage? With the right card, you can have the loss covered with lost luggage reimbursement. Your trip was significantly delayed so you have to book a hotel for another night? Trip delay insurance can help you get reimbursement. Had to cancel your trip altogether? Trip cancellation and interruption insurance can put the money back in your account.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) offers some of the most comprehensive travel protections, including baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, trip delay reimbursement, travel accident insurance and more. Learn more about the specific terms for each benefit.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a standout premium credit card with plenty of luxury perks and statement credits to justify its annual fee.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests.
- Up to $300 in annual travel credit each account anniversary year
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Top-tier travel and shopping protections
- High annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 150,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Get $3,000 in annual value with Sapphire Reserve.
- Earn 8x points on all purchases through Chase TravelSM, including The EditSM and 4x points on flights and hotels booked direct. Plus, earn 3x points on dining worldwide & 1x points on all other purchases
- $300 annual travel credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Access over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide with a complimentary Priority PassTM Select membership, plus every Chase Sapphire Lounge® by The Club with two guests. Plus, up to $120 towards Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck® every 4 years
- Get up to $150 in statement credits every six months for a maximum of $300 annually for dining at restaurants that are part of Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Coverage, Lost Luggage Insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and more.
- Get complimentary Apple TV+, the exclusive streaming home of Apple Originals. Plus Apple Music — all the music you love, across all your devices. Subscriptions run through 6/22/27 — a value of $288 annually
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
9. Track your net worth
Without a doubt, it's nice to be treated like royalty without being in a high tax bracket. That said, don't neglect to grow your wealth and track your progress. This will help you see how far you've come and motivate you to continue.
You don't have to create a spreadsheet of all your debts and assets to calculate your net worth. Plus, it might be a pain to keep updated. Instead, you can automate the process by using an app like Empower which is known for its Personal Dashboard™ tool that lets users see all their accounts in one place and track their net worth.
Empower
Cost
App is free, but users have option to add investment management services for a fee
Standout features
A budgeting app and investment tool that tracks both your spending and your wealth
Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can modify
Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards, as well as IRAs, 401(k)s, mortgages and loans
Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
Data encryption, fraud protection and strong user authentication
Terms apply.
Bottom line
You don't need to make seven figures to enjoy some of the perks commonly associated with that lifestyle. A few financial tools and credit cards can help you feel like the crème de la crème of society.
Still, don't forget that actual wealth isn't in elite statuses or VIP treatment. It's in the assets you have — your car, your home equity, your retirement savings and investments. Make sure you don't overspend chasing the perceived richness and prioritize building real wealth.
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For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Platinum Card®, click here.
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*(Review Robinhood disclosures here.)
