January 2026 Newsletter

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As we kick off 2026, one of the smartest habits you can build is mastering earning multipliers; the strategic backbone of earning more on everyday spending.

Whether you’re aiming for free travel or extra value through points and miles, understanding how multipliers work (and how they’re evolving in the industry) can make a huge difference in your bottom line this year.

We encourage you to spend some time to strategize on the year ahead!

Get 2026 Set Up For Success

Category caps just reset, loyalty programs just updated T&Cs, and the playing field is already shifting.

For those of us who treat earning multipliers like an asset class, this is the moment to position for yield before the crowd catches on, here's how to get started:

Activate Rotating Categories
Many cards, like the Chase Freedom Flex, require quarterly activation to unlock their highest rewards. Mark your calendar, the Q1 cycle (Jan 1–Mar 31) is already live!

Diversify Your Cards and Know Your Bonus Categories
Build a rewards stack and your wallet will work for you: one card for groceries and dining, another for travel, and perhaps a flat-rate card for everything else. This strategy helps capture high multipliers across your spending profile. You can use tools like CardPointers to help.

Watch For Transfer Bonuses
Early in the year, several major transferable points programs are offering transfer bonuses, boosting the effective value of your points. Watch these year round to multiply your multipliers.

Understand Earning Caps
High multipliers often come with spending caps. Track categories so you don’t “max out” early and miss out on potential earnings.

Level Up: Construct Your 2026 Multiplier Portfolio

Think of this like asset allocation. You’re not chasing everything. You’re designing for output per dollar. It is personal and about sequencing and timing.

For example:

Industry Signals You Should Care About

Issuer Data: 2025 Rewards Cost Surge Means Devaluation Risk
2025 corporate filings showed rewards liability up ~11–14% year over year across major issuers
→ Translation: Devaluations are coming.

You want to earn-then-redeem quickly this year. This isn't a time for hoarding. Becoming earning pros makes it easier to spend!

Airline Trend: Status Becoming Earnable via Spend Multipliers
Many carriers are following the lead of American and Southwest who allow your spend to count toward status. While, not announced yet, early testing shows spend based loyalty results in deeper multiplier offerings.

Consumer Behavior Shift: Portal Drop-Off ≠ Less Competition. It’s Opportunity
Portal-engagement dropped Q4 2025 due to deal fatigue.
→ Which likely means portal bonuses are getting richer in Q1 to pull people back.
Your job: POUNCE!

🗓️ UPDATES 🗓️

Mark your calendars for our next Live Q&A session on Wednesday January 14th at 12:00pm PT/3:00pm ET. Get all your questions answered. Here's the link to join. Don't miss out on attending live!

If you are interested in watching a replay of the Live Stream all about Rove Miles? You can find it here (and in the Vault)!

Kira and Shannon

JGOOT Earning Multipliers Experts