Better choice: fund IRA or pay down mortgage?

Q: I am 61 years old and have about $500 a month to use either in funding my Roth IRA or paying down my mortgage. Currently, my mortgage is for 15 years at 5.81 percent. I plan on retiring in June 2009. Which should I do?

A: Hands down, fund your Roth IRA.

Here's why: The interest rate on your loan is so cheap, so it isn't costing much to borrow the cash. You already have a 15-year mortgage, and while you haven't told me how soon you will pay off this loan, you're already paying down the principal pretty quickly.

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