<prompt> Human: My gf soon to be fiance has around 170k in student loan debt spread across several loans all at around 6.8 interest. For a few years now, whenever I get some money I just stuff it into the market in a low cost index fund previously VFINX, now VOO. Ive managed to pile up a large enough sum of money to pay off all her loans in one go but Im trying to figure out if thats even a good idea.Liquidating those assets will incur long term capital gains, so Id lose 15, and then wed have to start rebuilding our nest egg from scratch. Alternatively, we could put a pause on investing, leave the money in the market, and any income that comes in goes toward attacking the loans after paying for living expenses, of course.What does rpersonalfinance think?Assistant: Some things I should mention...My gfs debt is from medical school, I should have pointed that out. Shes not irresponsible, med school is just painfully expensive and her mother is a school teacher so they didnt have a ton of cash to put toward college.Im well aware of the perils of a relationship going bad. This was entirely my idea, my GF suggested I keep my money, but Im trying to look toward the future and think through the hypotheticals. Because the loans end up compounding interest over time, Im just trying to figure out if I save money by paying them all off now vs. dragging it out for a few years.Regarding our income, she will be making around 59k first year of residency. I make around 135k as a software engineer.  <response>: 170K as a medical school graduate is not an unmanageable debt burden at all. The best case scenario IMO if you want to start helping her financially right now and are planning a future together, would be to help her month to month in order to allow her to max out on her retirement accounts every year. If she can do that, even with the student loans she will be light years ahead of most physicians are when they finish training. I supported my wife before we were married, for several years, to a large extent, while she went back to school. I dont see any issue with this, although I wouldnt do it to the tune of 170K all at once.Also treat her to nice vacations when she gets a week off:. 