133R | Should You Invest Or Pay Off Your Mortgage?

Paying down your mortgage early feels responsible—but what if it's mathematically wrong? Brad and Jonathan tackle the question that splits the FI community in half: should you aggressively pay off your home loan or invest that extra cash in something like VTSAX? Listener Ariel joins with a detailed spreadsheet analysis comparing real-world numbers, and the results may surprise anyone who sees a mortgage as "bad debt." They also explore practical budgeting tools and how reframing your financial questions can open doors you didn't know existed. Key Topics & Timestamps: [00:00:00] Introduction to Mortgage Discussion Jonathan introduces the episode's theme of paying off mortgages versus investing. [00:24:28] Introduction of Ariel Ariel shares her financial journey and the motivation behind her interest in financial independence. [00:25:11] Ariel's Financial Journey Ariel explains how she transitioned from a Dave Ramsey follower to exploring the broader options presented by the financial independence community. [00:37:32] Paying off vs. Investing Analysis A detailed look at the math behind mortgage payments, showcasing various strategies of early repayment versus investing $500 into VTSAX. Highlights are drawn on both guaranteed outcomes and projected scenarios for returns. [00:55:49] Chase Ink Business Preferred Overview Discussion on travel rewards cards, with emphasis on the benefits of the Chase Ink Business Preferred. [00:58:43] Book Giveaway A drawing announcement for listeners to win one of three recommended financial books. [01:00:57] Episode Closing Closing remarks from Jonathan and Brad. Resources: BiggerPockets Podcast - For more insights on real estate investing. ChooseFI Travel Rewards Course - Learn to maximize your travel rewards effectively. Key Quotes: [00:15:42] "What's the worst that could happen? All they could say is no." [00:20:40] "Reframe your can't into how: What would it look like to create a system where you don't have to struggle?" [00:43:24] "Use a bridge strategy to keep your options open for the future." [00:58:01] "The name 'business card' shouldn't deter you; this is a great fit for many."