<prompt> Human: Student Loan 400k is 4.12537; 3.837; with autopay over 7 years. I anticipate having at least 11k extra out of my 300k income at end of year. I max out my 401k and my wifes 401k, and I am putting 20k a year into series I bonds to build an emergency fund. Does it make more sense to just throw this at the loan or invest in a traditional IRA no tax break for me that I backdoor into a Roth, and stick it in Total Stock Market Index. I read through the sidebar materials, but it gets vague when we are at this interest level.  <response>: Its simple math; if you think you can do better than 3.8 with that money by investing it you will get more out of it in the long run by doing that. If you are concerned about the market or are risk adverse, pay off the student loans for a guaranteed 3.8 return. 