Amex or Chase? 500+ Cardholders Voted

We polled the Long Angle community asking about their primary credit card used for everyday purchases and what other cards they carry. With 508 responses, it's the most-voted poll of the year.

Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve together account for half the primary card market, at 26% and 24% respectively. Amex Platinum users highlight Centurion lounge access and statement credits (Resy, Uber, Lululemon) that cover the annual fee if used consistently. Chase Sapphire Reserve wins on points for hotels, flights, and dining, with a $300 travel credit that's easier to justify than Amex's coupon book.

Behind them, airline cards, Bank of America Premium Rewards/Elite, and Capital One Venture X round out the next tier.

When looking at all the cards members carry, Amex Platinum expands to 50% and Chase Sapphire Reserve to 47%. Over a third carry an airline card, typically for miles and lounge access rather than everyday spend. A notable minority skips points entirely, preferring flat cash-back cards like Robinhood Gold (3%) or Fidelity Rewards.

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A member posted a simple prompt in the Long Angle forum: what are the purchases you wish you made earlier in life? Over 100 replies followed.

One common thread is that the best earlier purchases reduce recurring hassle and make good habits easier by default. A few categories dominated:

Home and household: Robot vacuums, kitchen upgrades, solar panels, and blackout curtains. Unsexy upgrades that run in the background and quietly improve daily life.

Sleep: Temperature-controlled sleep systems, better mattresses, and linen sheets. Members said fixing sleep had compounding effects on everything else.

Health and fitness: Personal trainers and sport coaches. Several agreed paying for guidance is often cheaper and more enjoyable than repeated trial and error on your own.

Experiences: Taking big trips sooner rather than waiting for retirement.

Read the full article: What’s Worth Buying Earlier in Life? Long Angle Members Share the Highest-ROI Upgrades

Search funds are a specialized form of small cap private equity that backs individual entrepreneurs to acquire small, stable businesses, grow them over 4 to 7 years as owner-CEO, and exit at a higher valuation. 

Since 1984, the asset class has produced a 35.1% aggregate gross IRR and 4.5x gross MOIC across 681 search funds, per Stanford GSB's 2024 study.

Returns are typically driven by a small set of very large winners (typically 8-10x+). While a single search fund has less than a 50/50 chance of generating a positive return, a pooled fund backing many search funds is far more likely to catch one or more of the winners that drive aggregate returns.

The case for investing in a manager-led fund spans both return potential and structural advantages. Long Angle’s Search Funds Investment Guide outlines 7 reasons to invest:

Read the guide for a complete overview of the asset class.

The most liked, most engaged, and staff-picked posts from the Long Angle community this month touched on raising kids with wealth, what to do ahead of a major liquidity event, and when to use wealth to financially help people you know.

See what your peers are sharing inside Long Angle.

Chris Bendtsen

Insights Lead, Long Angle

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