Most people who have mortgages dream of a day when they won't. In fact, many mortgage-holders speed up their payments to make that day arrive sooner. Is that smart, from a financial standpoint? Not necessarily.

This point is highlighted by a 2006 study prepared by economists for the National Bureau of Economic Research. About 38 percent of U.S. households are making the wrong choice when they speed up their mortgage payments rather than use the extra money to save in tax-deferred accounts such as 401(k) plans or IRAs, according to the study. These households are giving up a yield of 11 to 17 cents for every dollar they spend on extra mortgage payments, depending on their choice of investments in a tax-deferred account.

This week, we'll be observing the Fourth of July. But at some point in your life, you'll want to celebrate another type of Independence Day - Financial Independence Day. When will it occur? It's up to you. Here are a few suggestions for speeding it along:

• Feed those retirement plans. The most important thing you can do to hasten your Financial Independence Day is to continually save and invest for retirement. Take full advantage of your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored retirement plan. Your earnings have the potential to grow on a tax-deferred basis and you can create an investment mix that reflects your risk tolerance, time horizon and retirement goals. Also, even if you have a 401(k), you may be eligible to invest in a traditional or Roth IRA. A traditional IRA has the potential to grow tax-deferred, while a Roth IRA has the potential to grow tax free, provided you've had your account at least five years and you don't start taking withdrawals until you are at least 59-1/2. And you can fund your IRA with a wide range of investments, such as stocks, bonds and certificates of deposit (CDs).