India’s affluent salaried professionals are increasingly hiring specialised credit‑card advisors to squeeze every rupee of cashback, reward points and ancillary benefits from their spending. The surge comes as the Nifty hovers near record highs, reflecting robust consumer confidence and a willingness to spend on premium cards that promise higher returns. Financial technology firms have responded by bundling advisory services with their card platforms, aiming to capture a niche yet lucrative segment of high‑spending users. At the entry level, most platforms provide a one‑time portfolio review that analyses an individual’s transaction data, identifies spending patterns, and suggests where to add or trim credit products.
Advisors also counsel on optimal redemption strategies—whether to convert points into travel miles, statement credit or even invest them in mutual funds. For spenders crossing the ₹5 lakh‑per‑year mark, these recommendations can translate into tangible savings that offset rising inflation and the cost of premium card fees. The trend dovetails with a broader fintech boom that has seen the number of digital‑only card issuers multiply in the past year. As the sector competes for market share, reward structures are likely to become more generous, potentially benefitting even mid‑tier cardholders.
However, regulatory bodies are keeping a close watch on fee disclosures and data privacy, given the granular personal finance data involved. For the average Indian investor, the emergence of credit‑card advisory services signals a more sophisticated rewards ecosystem but also underscores the importance of scrutinising advisory fees and understanding the true value of points before committing to premium cards.