out a large mortgage on yourself - you are the asset. You have increased your value in the workforce. If you bought a home you would have debt. An education pays dividends, a home does not. When you ask people if they paid too much, most will say yes."
Dr. Liuzzo noted how much educational debt has risen from 2004 to 2013.
"The amount is quite a bit, even with inflation," he said. "But jobs are a lot more difficult to get in 2013 than in 2004. Employers have higher expectations of employees' productivity. An employee needs much more education and training. If you think and education is expensive, try no education."
Donald Galade of Galade Financial, Drums, an investment planner, said debt is always the 500-pound gorilla in the room, often ignored when investing and making financial plans.
Factors such as debt-to-income ratio and taxation should always be considered in the grand scheme when parting with your hard-earned money.
"Many boast about their returns in a good season but often overlook the most important factor, 'What did I keep when it's all said and done?'" said Mr. Galade. "Thus the saying I often use, 'It's not what you earn, it's what you keep that matters.'"
Contact the writer: jdino@standardspeaker.com