My wife and I are in our late 60s. Do I sell stocks to pay our $30,000 credit-card debt — or do it gradually over 3 years?

The Moneyist

‘We have around $375,000 in investments in mutual funds and stocks with Morgan Stanley’

Last Updated: July 2, 2025 at 9:19 p.m. ET
First Published: July 1, 2025 at 11:11 a.m. ET

“We own our home — it’s worth around $750,000, and we owe $450,000. Our monthly cost for the house is $2,550.” (Photo subjects are models.) Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto

Dear Quentin,

I’m 67 and my wife is 66, and we would like to retire at age 70. 

We own our home — it’s worth around $750,000, and we owe $450,000. Our monthly cost for the house is $2,550, which includes mortgage, insurance, taxes and HOA fees. We have around $375,000 in investments in mutual funds and stocks with Morgan Stanley MS.