Tarra Jackson

[[{“value”:”Seeing a $550 annual fee on a credit card application can make you want to slam your laptop shut and keep using your old card. But what you might not realize is that many premium credit cards have extremely valuable perks.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. If you use them right, high-end cards can unlock thousands of dollars in rewards, protections, and perks that more than make up for the fees.Here’s why premium cards are worth considering — and how to know if one fits your lifestyle.Premium perks to look out forThe best premium credit cards are loaded with benefits that go way beyond cash back or basic airline miles.Here are a few perks typically found in today’s top cards:Annual travel credits: These are often $200 to $400, and they can help cover flights, hotel stays, or ridesharesAirport lounge access: You can enjoy free snacks, drinks, or even full meals. Some lounges offer free massages, showers, wifi, and more. It makes flying way less miserable.Credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or CLEAR: These programs help you get through airport security fast.Elite hotel status: This can get you room upgrades, late checkout, included breakfasts, and welcome gifts when available.Concierge services: Think of this like a personal assistant that can help solve problems or make arrangements while you’re traveling.Travel insurance: These are protections you hope to never use, like rental car insurance, trip cancellation or interruption insurance, lost luggage insurance, etc.Bonus points: Many top cards offer bigger rewards for specific spending categories — sometimes 3X, 5X, or more.Check out this card as an example of one standout that includes nearly all of the above. If you’re someone who uses these benefits even a few times a year, you could be getting hundreds (or even thousands) in value, which more than covers the fee.When a high annual fee is totally worth itHere’s an example of how quickly perks can stack up and offset a high fee.Say you’re eyeing a high-end travel card with a $395 annual fee. At first it seems steep. But then you plan on taking advantage of these perks throughout the year:$300 annual travel credit. You book a flight to D.C. for a friend’s wedding.Airport lounge access (two visits): About $100 value, relaxing and eating before your departure and return flight.TSA PreCheck® credit: $78 value (good for five years) and you breeze through securityHotel upgrade: $100 saved on one tripRegular spending points: You earn 24,000 points (worth $240) by spending $2,000 per month on regular expenses throughout the year.Added up, that’s a total value of $818 in perks — and you only took one trip! Subtracting the annual fee, that’s a net gain of $423 for the year.If you travel a few times a year, it’s easy to see how a card like this could easily pay for itself (and then some). Explore all our top-rated premium credit cards for 2025 and see which fits your lifestyle.Big first-year value with welcome bonusesAnother big draw for premium cards? They usually come with huge welcome bonuses!These are often worth hundreds toward travel or in cash back, and they can wipe out the annual fee (and then some), especially in year one.For example, if a card has a $695 annual fee, but the welcome bonus earns you $800, you’re already ahead $105 for the first year of ownership. That’s without even touching any perks.So even if you’re not 100% sure whether a card’s going to be a long-term fit, choosing credit cards with top sign-up bonuses can make it easy to test-drive. The worst-case scenario is you enjoy the perks for a year or two and walk away while you’re still ahead. Best-case scenario is you find a gift that keeps on giving!The bottom lineA premium credit card is like a membership. Yes, it’s a high-priced membership, but if you use all (or even just some) of the right benefits, the cost is justifiable.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.”}]] [[{“value”:”

Seeing a $550 annual fee on a credit card application can make you want to slam your laptop shut and keep using your old card. But what you might not realize is that many premium credit cards have extremely valuable perks.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

If you use them right, high-end cards can unlock thousands of dollars in rewards, protections, and perks that more than make up for the fees.

Here’s why premium cards are worth considering — and how to know if one fits your lifestyle.

Premium perks to look out for

The best premium credit cards are loaded with benefits that go way beyond cash back or basic airline miles.

Here are a few perks typically found in today’s top cards:

• Annual travel credits: These are often $200 to $400, and they can help cover flights, hotel stays, or rideshares
• Airport lounge access: You can enjoy free snacks, drinks, or even full meals. Some lounges offer free massages, showers, wifi, and more. It makes flying way less miserable.
• Credit for TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or CLEAR: These programs help you get through airport security fast.
• Elite hotel status: This can get you room upgrades, late checkout, included breakfasts, and welcome gifts when available.
• Concierge services: Think of this like a personal assistant that can help solve problems or make arrangements while you’re traveling.
• Travel insurance: These are protections you hope to never use, like rental car insurance, trip cancellation or interruption insurance, lost luggage insurance, etc.
• Bonus points: Many top cards offer bigger rewards for specific spending categories — sometimes 3X, 5X, or more.

Check out this card as an example of one standout that includes nearly all of the above. If you’re someone who uses these benefits even a few times a year, you could be getting hundreds (or even thousands) in value, which more than covers the fee.

When a high annual fee is totally worth it

Here’s an example of how quickly perks can stack up and offset a high fee.

Say you’re eyeing a high-end travel card with a $395 annual fee. At first it seems steep. But then you plan on taking advantage of these perks throughout the year:

• $300 annual travel credit. You book a flight to D.C. for a friend’s wedding.
• Airport lounge access (two visits): About $100 value, relaxing and eating before your departure and return flight.
• TSA PreCheck® credit: $78 value (good for five years) and you breeze through security
• Hotel upgrade: $100 saved on one trip
• Regular spending points: You earn 24,000 points (worth $240) by spending $2,000 per month on regular expenses throughout the year.

Added up, that’s a total value of $818 in perks — and you only took one trip! Subtracting the annual fee, that’s a net gain of $423 for the year.

If you travel a few times a year, it’s easy to see how a card like this could easily pay for itself (and then some). Explore all our top-rated premium credit cards for 2025 and see which fits your lifestyle.

Big first-year value with welcome bonuses

Another big draw for premium cards? They usually come with huge welcome bonuses!

These are often worth hundreds toward travel or in cash back, and they can wipe out the annual fee (and then some), especially in year one.

For example, if a card has a $695 annual fee, but the welcome bonus earns you $800, you’re already ahead $105 for the first year of ownership. That’s without even touching any perks.

So even if you’re not 100% sure whether a card’s going to be a long-term fit, choosing credit cards with top sign-up bonuses can make it easy to test-drive. The worst-case scenario is you enjoy the perks for a year or two and walk away while you’re still ahead. Best-case scenario is you find a gift that keeps on giving!

The bottom line

A premium credit card is like a membership. Yes, it’s a high-priced membership, but if you use all (or even just some) of the right benefits, the cost is justifiable.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

“}]] Read More 

[[{“value”:”Image source: Getty Images
Thanks to a temporary expansion in the gift and estate tax exemption, individuals can give away up to $13.61 million tax-free. For married couples, that jumps to $27.22 million.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. But this window won’t stay open much longer. If Congress doesn’t act, the limit drops by half at the end of 2025, giving you about seven months to take advantage before the IRS takes a much bigger bite out of your nest egg.Why this mattersStarting in 2026, the exemption is currently scheduled to fall to around $6 million to $7 million per person. That means millions of dollars in assets could suddenly be subject to a 40% estate tax.Some context:The current high exemption is a product of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.It was always scheduled to sunset on Dec. 31, 2025.The IRS has already confirmed: gifts made before the sunset are locked in. No clawbacks.Translation: You can give now, and it won’t count against you later — even if the exemption shrinks. With our partner, SmartAsset, you can get matched with up to three fiduciary advisors so you can get professional advice.What you can do in 2025Use your lifetime exemptionIf you’ve been waiting to transfer cash, now is the time. You can gift cash, stocks, property, or business equity — up to the current limit — without triggering the federal gift tax.Prioritize appreciating assetsAssets that are likely to grow — like real estate, private company shares, or investments — create the biggest tax benefit when gifted early.Consider strategic trustsTools like SLATs, GRATs, and IDGTs let you transfer wealth while maintaining some control or income. These are powerful vehicles, especially for high-net-worth families with complex assets.Max out your annual exclusionYou can also give $18,000 per person (or $36,000 per couple) to as many people as you want each year, without touching your lifetime limit. It’s a simple way to pass wealth gradually and avoid gift tax altogether.If you’re not sure which strategy fits your situation, SmartAsset can match you with a vetted estate planner in minutes.Don’t count on CongressNo one knows for sure if lawmakers will extend the current exemption, especially in a divided political climate.And if they let the 2025 deadline pass, the exemption reverts to pre-2017 levels. For families with sizable estates, that could mean millions more going to taxes instead of loved ones.That’s why more wealthy families are making their moves now, while the rules still favor them.If you need help understanding your estate tax exposure, our partner SmartAsset’s no-cost quiz makes it easier to find a fiduciary financial advisor.What are you waiting for?2025 is shaping up to be a critical year for high-net-worth estate planning.If you’ve been waiting to act, don’t wait much longer.The tax code is currently set to change.There’s no do-over if you miss the deadline.With the right moves, you can preserve more of your wealth and pass it on exactly how you want to.Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026
This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!
Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.”}]] [[{“value”:”

Thanks to a temporary expansion in the gift and estate tax exemption, individuals can give away up to $13.61 million tax-free. For married couples, that jumps to $27.22 million.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

But this window won’t stay open much longer. If Congress doesn’t act, the limit drops by half at the end of 2025, giving you about seven months to take advantage before the IRS takes a much bigger bite out of your nest egg.

Why this matters

Starting in 2026, the exemption is currently scheduled to fall to around $6 million to $7 million per person. That means millions of dollars in assets could suddenly be subject to a 40% estate tax.

Some context:

• The current high exemption is a product of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
• It was always scheduled to sunset on Dec. 31, 2025.
• The IRS has already confirmed: gifts made before the sunset are locked in. No clawbacks.

Translation: You can give now, and it won’t count against you later — even if the exemption shrinks. With our partner, SmartAsset, you can get matched with up to three fiduciary advisors so you can get professional advice.

What you can do in 2025

Use your lifetime exemption

If you’ve been waiting to transfer cash, now is the time. You can gift cash, stocks, property, or business equity — up to the current limit — without triggering the federal gift tax.

Prioritize appreciating assets

Assets that are likely to grow — like real estate, private company shares, or investments — create the biggest tax benefit when gifted early.

Consider strategic trusts

Tools like SLATs, GRATs, and IDGTs let you transfer wealth while maintaining some control or income. These are powerful vehicles, especially for high-net-worth families with complex assets.

Max out your annual exclusion

You can also give $18,000 per person (or $36,000 per couple) to as many people as you want each year, without touching your lifetime limit. It’s a simple way to pass wealth gradually and avoid gift tax altogether.

If you’re not sure which strategy fits your situation, SmartAsset can match you with a vetted estate planner in minutes.

Don’t count on Congress

No one knows for sure if lawmakers will extend the current exemption, especially in a divided political climate.

And if they let the 2025 deadline pass, the exemption reverts to pre-2017 levels. For families with sizable estates, that could mean millions more going to taxes instead of loved ones.

That’s why more wealthy families are making their moves now, while the rules still favor them.

If you need help understanding your estate tax exposure, our partner SmartAsset’s no-cost quiz makes it easier to find a fiduciary financial advisor.

What are you waiting for?

2025 is shaping up to be a critical year for high-net-worth estate planning.

If you’ve been waiting to act, don’t wait much longer.

• The tax code is currently set to change.
• There’s no do-over if you miss the deadline.
• With the right moves, you can preserve more of your wealth and pass it on exactly how you want to.

Alert: highest cash back card we’ve seen now has 0% intro APR into 2026

This credit card is not just good – it’s so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee!

Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes.

We’re firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers.
Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

“}]] Read More