Pay off debt or invest?

[Nicole Heasley Beitenman]

I read an article in Forbes about paying down student loan debt (https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2017/11/15/student-loans-repayment/), and it brought up a question I've had for a while: pay down debt first or invest? My thinking is that if people tried to pay off their debt entirely before investing, they're going to waste a lot of time. Not everyone has the ability to move in with mom and dad. Those loans could take years to pay off, and by then you're in your 30's (If you're lucky) and possibly starting a family. I'd advise anyone my age (26) to get a few rentals under their belt and use the profits to help pay the loans. Many people told me to pay off my loans before buying a house, but the rental money I get from my spare bedrooms makes saving and paying off debt so much easier. I'm just curious to see what others think.