Episode Description

If you’ve ever looked at the cash sitting in an emergency fund, a business account, or your tax reserves and wished it could earn travel points the way your spending does, this conversation is for you.

For as long as I’ve been earning points and miles, one piece has been missing. We’ve gotten very good at earning points on the money we spend, but almost no one has offered a way to earn transferable points on the money we save. That’s what made Symphony worth a close look, and I sat down with co-founder James Berry to understand how it works. 

Upfront: this isn’t a recommendation and it isn’t sponsored. I opened an account myself to see it firsthand, I do have an affiliate relationship with Symphony, and my goal is the same as always, to give you enough to decide for yourself.

We get into how the platform actually works, the fixed rate you earn and whether you take it as cash, as points, or a split of both. We also spend real time on the questions worth asking before putting money anywhere new, why it isn’t FDIC insured, how the risks weigh against the rewards, and who it fits versus who should stay away. And we close on the bigger question underneath it all, whether saving could become a new way to earn points alongside spending.

Whether you decide it’s for you or you’d rather watch from the sidelines for now, the approach is the same, understand it first, then make the call that fits your own goals and risk tolerance.

Turn your expenses into points and save tens of thousands of dollars a year on your wishlist travel. Don’t miss out! Click here to know more about my comprehensive online program, Points Made Easy.

What You’ll Learn from this Episode

• Why saving money, and not only spending it, may be the next frontier for earning transferable travel points
• How a platform can let you choose whether your savings earn cash interest, travel points, or a mix of both
• What questions are worth asking before you put any money into a brand-new financial platform
• How Symphony differs from a traditional or high-yield savings account, and why it isn’t FDIC insured
• How to weigh the real risks of an emerging platform against the potential rewards
• Who this kind of platform is a strong fit for, and who is probably better off steering clear

Featured On the Show

• Earn up to 5,000 bonus points for opening and funding a new Symphony account here.
• Follow me on Instagram
• Get on the waitlist for the Points Made Easy Course here!
• If you have any questions or you want me to dive deeper into a specific topic, email me here: podcast@pointmetofirstclass.com

Some links in these show notes are affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Click here to download the full episode transcript

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