<prompt> Human: Ive been paying my student loans down aggressively since I entered the workforce in late 2013. Ive got 22,500 left, and Im paying down about 1500 a month. Ive also got 15,250 cash on hand. 9,000 of that composes my emergency fund, and the other 6,000 is whats left over from my hoarding days that Ive also been slowly putting towards my student loans. So basically, 22,500 - 6,000 16,5001500 Loans paid off in 11 months.Ive paid off the really high interest ones first, and have three left at 3.5, 4.5, and 5. I figure that if delay paying off my student loans for a few more months, itll be pennies lost in interest vs. forever losing 5500 that could go to a tax-deferred account that would have 40 years to grow. I do understand that the paying the loans down is a guaranteed return vs. the volatility of the current market, but I feel that the long-term benefits of maxing the IRA would win out. Does that make sense? Thanks for your advice.  <response>: Im all in favor of putting 5500 in the IRA, too. Well done for being able to fund it! 