 TITLE: 7 Financial Priorities to Help You Plan CONTENT: 4\\. Pay Off High-Interest Debt\n------------------------------\nAt this point, you may be wondering if you can start investing in the stock market. Something to consider, though, is that while stock returns can be volatile, you'll get a guaranteed return in the form of interest savings if you can manage to pay off your high-interest debts early.\nTo decide whether it's worth it to invest or pay off debt, take a look at the interest rates on your loans and credit cards. Financial advisors often use 7% as a benchmark return for long-term investing in the market. So if you have a debt that charges a higher interest rate than that, you may be better off tackling the debt before you get into the market. In addition, paying down high-interest debt like credit cards can improve your credit score and make borrowing money for a house or car less expensive when that time comes. END