24. Pay Off Debt or Invest? How t...

24. Pay Off Debt or Invest? How to Decide Without Leaving Money on the Table

Build Wealth di Katie Viola
S1 · E24
3 mar 2026
17:53

Note sull'episodio

Should you put extra cash toward your debt… or invest it and let it grow?

When you’re making good money and trying to be intentional, this isn’t a small decision. Handled well, it can turn into hundreds of thousands of dollars working for you over time.

In this episode, we cover how to decide using interest rates, opportunity cost, and realistic stock market returns so you can decide if you should pay off debt or invest.

We’re breaking down:

  • When high-interest debt needs to go immediately
  • Why low-interest debt is a different conversation
  • What “opportunity cost” actually means (without finance bro energy)
  • The mortgage example that shows how a simple calculation could make you $400k richer
  • And how to decide without spiraling or second-guessing yourself

This isn’t about being debt-free at all costs or blindly investing.

It’s about understanding what your money is doing to align your money with the life you truly want.

If you want to run this with your actual numbers — your income, your timeline, your goals — that’s exactly what we do inside 1:1 coaching. See if it's right for you.

1:1 Coaching: www.buildwealthwithkatie.com/coaching

Parole chiave

financial independence
investing for beginners
pay off debt or invest
should i pay off debt
should i pay mortgage early
prepay mortgage
debt vs investing
high interest debt
opportunity cost
stock market returns
what is a good return
optimize investments
investing for women
making the right financial decision
optimize your money
intentional wealth building