[JacobAldridge]

I agree with you. Debt is a terrible master, but can be a wonderful servant and I wouldn’t be as financially successful as I am without leverage. And that’s not a wealth empire - just a regular family geared into real estate.

Of course, the “ZIRP” zero interest rate environment that predominated the 10 years since this article was written has been a historical anomaly. Though perhaps part of a longer trend, investors must be cautious not to view the benefits of recent leverage as evidence of easy future gains.

But if there was one thing that differentiates our financial position from our less-financially-free friends, it would be our comfort with debt as part of a well-developed investment strategy.