What the debt pillar measures
The debt pillar measures the level and cost of your liabilities, how much you owe and how expensive that debt is. Together they show how much of your income is already committed before you have saved a thing.
Why it matters for longevity
Debt determines how much financial freedom you actually have. Left unmanaged, high-cost debt can undercut decades of otherwise sound planning. Bringing it under control frees up income to strengthen every other wealth pillar.
How to strengthen the debt pillar
This is general information to support your own decisions, not financial advice.
- Know what you owe. A clear picture of your balances and interest rates is the starting point.
- Prioritise high-cost debt. Expensive debt typically drains the most, and is often worth tackling first.
- Avoid adding new high-cost debt where you can, so hard-won progress is not undone.
- Build a little breathing room. Even a small buffer reduces reliance on borrowing when the unexpected happens.
How ULTM8 scores it
Your free longevity check scores the debt pillar alongside the other seven, so you can see where it sits in your Octagon and what to prioritise.