In order for her to sustain this goal and without depleting her principal, her investments must earn an average of 11.8 percent. If she would invade the principal for two years (until Social Security and the pension kick in), using $1,100 a month, the remainder of approximately $311,314 must earn an average of 10.5 percent, assuming $ 600 monthly from Social Security and pension.

Considering the sacrifices both of you are making to obtain Sean's advanced degree, you are to be commended for really living on a shoestring budget.

They know it's volatile, but if there's going to be quantum growth, that's where it's going to be.

Congratulations to her on saving over 16 percent of gross income.

Every time a fixed-expense item is paid off, reallocate that former payment against another debt. Combined with Mrs. Brown's employment as a nurse in 2002, you will be able to stop the interest clock from ticking forever.

Going into debt is never easy and, in your case, going deeper into debt is a necessary evil.

Get yourselves focused, build a financial base, then go for it.

Unless Sean is at ease with that course of action, it's quite an albatross for upwards of two decades.