Why debt payoff gives a surer return

Paying off a credit card at 18 percent interest saves you that full amount each year with complete certainty. The same dollars invested in a broad stock index have averaged roughly 7 percent after inflation over long periods, yet results swing widely and can be negative. For most savers in their 40s to 60s, securing that guaranteed reduction in costs usually lowers overall risk more reliably than hoping for higher but variable gains.