I suppose I’m in the more have debt, manage it well camp…

I actually would like to refinance my mortgage just as I’m about to retire to get a large tax deduction to offset forced IRA withdrawals…You have to pay a certain amount of tax anyways so why not make that tax 0?

Even Mark Zuckerberg, being a $20+ (?) billionaire has a mortgage on his home when he can obviously pay it off:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-16/zuckerberg-s-loan-gives-new-meaning-to-the-1-mortgages.html

Course, it’s 1% adjustable 🙂 which none of us can get, but hey, I’m sure it’s still a hassle for some folks.

If you manage your money well, you’ll always have income in your life. Unfortunately, the USA always likes to tax income so having ways to make that 0 is a wise thing IMO.

Obviously, people should do what makes them feel the most comfortable, but I’d take minimizing taxes to 0 over “feeling more secure”.

Course, I don’t have money to pay stuff off so I don’t have this problem to actually have to choose.