[manaboutown]

Originally Posted by Tom M

As much as people want to be analytical about money, the truth is that money evokes emotional responses. That's the key.

Do you feel happy with your financial decision of keeping a mortgage and investing that money instead in something that can earn more (after tax) than the mortgage costs - so you can leave more for your heirs? Great, go for it.

Do you feel happy with the security of having debts paid of and no need to try to find investments that have a risk of falling in value? Great, pay off your mortgage.

Trying to convince a person who loves investing and the market return potential that paying off a mortgage at such a low rate is the wrong thing to do is just as bad as trying to convince a fixed return asset preservationist that paying off debt is bad.

The good news is that most people are great at rationalization and will end up being happy with the choice they made.

I use what I call my 'sleep at night' test. I pretend I have done a financial thing and then see how I can sleep with that decision.