Don't Pay Off Existing Debt Early

i just don't like debt of any kind. i'm ok with it for appreciating assets, like a home or that tractor i just really want to buy,. not an appreciating asset. I once hired a new financial adviser, and right before we brought him on board, i paid off all my existing Debt. That's the kind of debt that i think would be really bad any time. It's particularly bad in a recession because then once things start to pick up again, you are not one of those firms that has no dirty past"