I'd much rather put my money into a pension than a mortgage. Clearing the mortgage early might not be a bright idea when money is cheap but it's hard to pay a mortgage and a pension at the same time. If you want financial freedom, you'll have to have a decent pension. And the tax breaks for pension payments are much better than for mortgages.
Very good point and one which have practiced having paid morgtage off 6 years befor term and putting 24% plus of salary into my pension since age 35.
Trouble is every time I look at my annual statements I get the feeling I would be better off putting my AVC on the horses!
I know, I know, investing is for the long term and all that BUT, I would still like the fund manager to show me what he is getting paid for. MAKING A DAMN PROFIT!!
Anyway, to get back to the original question re financial freedom.
There is no such thing probably. Just look at the grief that lady in Limerick has had since she won the Euro Lottery €115 million.