<prompt> Human: I have about 24k in outstanding student loans right now, with interest rates ranging from 3.8-4.6 average in the low 4s. With my current income I can pay all this off in about 1 year paying 2k a month towards the loans. I was thinking instead of only paying the minimums, or some reduced amount, and investing the difference into an index fund since the market returns are much better than the 4ish percent of rate of my loans. Looking for advice on this situation. Thanks!  <response>: Its simple math in some respects, so if the returns are going to be higher, then invest and pay the minimums. However, that assumes the markets keep going up endlessly.The other thing you may want to consider is that being debt free is an amazing feeling and puts you in a better positionlets you get credit for things like property purchases which have way greater returns than any index fund you can find. 