Should I pay off my mortgage early or invest the money instead?

It comes down to your mortgage rate versus your expected investment return, plus how much you value being debt-free. If your mortgage rate is low — say in the 3–4% range — investing in a diversified portfolio that has historically returned more over the long run usually builds more wealth, especially inside tax-advantaged accounts. If your rate is high (6–7%+), paying it down is a guaranteed, risk-free return that's hard to beat. Beyond the math, there's peace of mind: many people sleep better owning their home outright, which has real value near retirement. A balanced approach is to invest enough to capture any 401(k) match and fund retirement accounts first, then split extra cash between the two. Don't drain your emergency fund to prepay. To compare the two paths with your own numbers, use wealthserene.com/tools/opportunity-cost.