How can paying off debt affect net worth?

• A. Paying off debt, especially high-interest credit card balances, can quickly increase net worth.
• B. Increasing debt improves net worth.
• C. Paying off debt reduces cash flow but lowers net worth.
• D. Debt payoff has no effect on net worth.

Answer: (A)

Net worth is assets minus liabilities. When you pay off debt, you reduce the amount you owe (your liabilities). With high-interest debt, the ongoing interest is a real drag on your finances, so eliminating that debt is like earning a guaranteed return equal to the interest rate you were paying. The money you would have spent on interest can then be redirected into savings or investments, which boosts your assets over time. So, even though you’re using cash to pay the debt, the decrease in costly liabilities and the improved cash flow afterward can quickly lift your net worth, especially when the debt carried a high interest rate.