Editorial take: Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
The Platinum status is legitimately valuable (lounge access, suite upgrades), but the $650 fee is steep. Justify it only if you stay at Marriotts 8+ times a year.
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Side-by-side
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex vs American Express Schwab Investor Card
Both are well-respected travel cards. The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex comes from American Express at $650/yr; the American Express Schwab Investor Card from American Express at $0/yr. Below: side-by-side specs, an opinionated verdict, and the FAQs people actually ask before applying.
Bottom line
For most people the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex is the stronger pick today, the sign-up bonus is meaningfully larger ($940 more in estimated value) than the American Express Schwab Investor Card's. Get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex first; revisit the American Express Schwab Investor Card after you've earned that bonus.
| Feature | Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex | American Express Schwab Investor Card |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $650 | $0 |
| Sign-up bonus | up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points | 10,000 Membership Rewards points |
| Bonus value (est.) | $1,050 | $110 |
| Min spend to unlock bonus | - | $1,000 in 6 mo |
| Issuer | American Express | American Express |
| Card category | hotel | travel |
| Transfer partners | None | amex-mr |
| Headline benefits |
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Read the full review
Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex
$650/yr · up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points
Read the full review
American Express Schwab Investor Card
$0/yr · 10,000 Membership Rewards points
Editorial take: American Express Schwab Investor Card
The hidden gem of the Amex MR lineup for Schwab brokerage customers. Flat 1.5X MR with $0 annual fee, full transfer-partner access, AND a 1.0 cents-per-point cash-into-brokerage redemption guarantees you can always extract real cash. The catch: you need a Schwab brokerage account to apply.
Common questions
- Which card has the bigger sign-up bonus, Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex or American Express Schwab Investor Card?
- The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex has the bigger bonus, up to 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points, worth roughly $1,050, versus 10,000 Membership Rewards points (~$110) on the American Express Schwab Investor Card.
- Is the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex's $650 annual fee worth it compared to the American Express Schwab Investor Card?
- Premium cards like the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex ($650/yr) earn their fee through credits, travel, dining, lounge access, statement reimbursements. If you'd actively use $650+ of those credits, the math works. The American Express Schwab Investor Card at $0/yr trades some perks for a lower commitment.
- Can I have both the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex and American Express Schwab Investor Card?
- Yes, though both are issued by American Express so the same issuer-specific application rules apply (Chase 5/24 if applicable, Amex once-per-lifetime bonus, etc.). Many points enthusiasts hold both, they pair well when one earns flexible bank points and the other earns a different currency.
- Should I get the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex or the American Express Schwab Investor Card first?
- Get the one whose sign-up bonus you can hit comfortably without overspending. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Amex: no published min spend. American Express Schwab Investor Card: $1,000 in 6 months. Pick the easier minimum spend if you're new to points; pick the larger bonus if you have planned big purchases coming up.
Card details on this page reflect the most recent data we've verified against the issuer's own site. Sign-up bonuses and fees can change at any time, confirm the current offer on the issuer's page before applying.