The Easiest Way To Guarantee A 5% Return in 2012

Should you pay off your mortgage in full?

For risk-averse investors seeking surefire returns in what could be another rocky year, the pickings are about as plentiful as a buffet in the wake of a football team lunch. Ten-year treasuries currently yield less than 2%, while five-years are below 1%—about what you'd get for parking cash in an online bank account.

But there's an often-overlooked option that guarantees a much higher return in 2012: paying off your mortgage early. Most home loans...