In another approach to Phase I: The Foundation Phase, Step 4, Pay Off All Consumer Debt, we’re going to emphasize the need to pay off debt before investing in stocks. While that may seem like something of a repetition of our general advice to get out of debt, it actually rates a special discussion when it comes to investing in stocks.

There’s a myth – or perhaps an excellent example of wishful thinking – that it’s possible to invest your way out of debt. That’s a process of investing and growing your money until it reaches the point where it’s greater than your debt obligations. If only that were possible. More often than not, human emotion gets in the way, and the strategy turns into a recipe for failure.
Continue Reading…