Originally Posted by
khergan
Investing in market tracking ETFs, especially with a balanced approach of large/mid/small cap stocks mixed with international and bonds, is hardly "maxing out on debt". An argument can be made about risk tolerance, but a smartly-balanced portfolio is a much more accessible form of wealth than extra equity in your primary residence. My money is not only more accessible but also grows faster and is better insulated from shocks than someone with all their eggs in one basket.
Sure, so you agree that, for any given investor, some balance exists for risk tolerance. Surely you would never borrow money on a large scale at one rate just to throw it into a bond at a lower rate, just to keep it "accessible."
Everybody's risk tolerance is different. I'd put extra towards my 6% mortgage before I'd ever put it into 4% bond, as part of a balanced strategy that suits me, for example. Max 401k into ETF types, a nice cherry on top to each mortgage payment, and everything leftover into a brokerage/crypto which is where I get to play and get risky. It works for me, and I lose zero sleep over wishing I paid less into the mortgage and more into my risky brokerage/crypto plays.
"Balanced" is not one-sized-fits-all, nor is it all-or nothing.