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ThrustVectoring comments on Open Thread, June 2-15, 2013 - Less Wrong Discussion

5 Post author: TimS 02 June 2013 02:22AM

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Comment author: ThrustVectoring 04 June 2013 01:52:28AM 2 points [-]

For recent college graduates, their best investment opportunity is early repayment of their student loans. It's essentially guaranteed 4-5% return (whatever their loan rate happens to be). Note that this "investment" is completely illiquid.

Comment author: Lumifer 04 June 2013 08:01:11PM 1 point [-]

For recent college graduates, their best investment opportunity is early repayment of their student loans.

That's often but not necessarily true, especially on a post-tax basis (and especially if your alternative is putting money into tax-advantaged vehicle like 401(k) or IRA).

Comment author: gwern 04 June 2013 08:16:07AM 0 points [-]

Note that this "investment" is completely illiquid.

Hm, is it really? If you're paying back your loans early, couldn't you then, in case of need, cease paying for a time equivalent to how much you paid and then resume paying? You'd just be right back on schedule.

Comment author: elharo 04 June 2013 09:46:25AM *  3 points [-]

It depends on the terms of the loan. Some loans may allow you to skip payments if you're ahead. Most I've seen don't though. But either way, if you need $5000 cash right now because your significant other ran their car into someone's living room and you need to pay bail and a lawyer, or the levees are collapsing and you have to split town, you can't get the $5000 back from an early repaid loan.

Comment author: ThrustVectoring 04 June 2013 03:22:13PM 0 points [-]

Your loan may vary. For me, all it does is give me a few extra dollars a month.