Weighing Early Debt Payoff Against Investment Opportunities

This is a classic dilemma I wrestle with, and I’m sure many others do too. On one hand, there’s a powerful psychological freedom that comes from eliminating debt. On the other, the math often suggests that investing surplus cash in the market could yield a higher long-term return, especially with historically low mortgage rates. I’m curious how others navigate this tension between the emotional and the analytical. Do you have a specific rule of thumb, like comparing the interest rate to a projected market return? How do factors like job security, your overall portfolio, or even your personal risk tolerance tip the scales for you? I’d love to hear what frameworks you use to make this call.