Should I pay off my student loans or invest in my 401k first?

This is a classic personal finance dilemma, and here's how I'd think about it: **Always get the full employer match first.** That 4% match is literally free money - a 100% return. Put in at least enough to get the full match. After that, it depends on the math: - Your loan interest: 5.5% - Average stock market return: ~7-10% historically Mathematically, investing might win, but there's something to be said for the psychological benefit of being debt-free. **My recommendation:** 1. Contribute 4% to get full match 2. Put everything extra toward loans 3. Once loans are paid off, bump 401k to 15% At 5.5%, your loans aren't an emergency, but getting rid of that $320/month payment will give you so much more flexibility. I paid off my loans at 30 and it changed everything.