Launching Financially Fit Kids: A Parent’s Guide to Building Confident, Capable Young Adults
As parents, we spend years preparing our children for academic success, social development, and personal growth—but how prepared are they to face the financial realities of adulthood? At Twelve Points, we understand that launching financially fit kids requires more than a piggy bank and well-meaning advice. It takes thoughtful guidance, open communication, and a willingness […]
Conversations About Money: The Place to Start, Setting Goals
Written by: Deborah Cartisser Let’s Begin with a Question When was the last time you really sat down and asked yourself, “What do I want my life to look like and how is my money helping me get there?” Most of us think of financial goals as tasks or numbers to check off. But real financial […]
Conversations About Money: Merging Your Finances
Written by: Deborah Cartisser You’ve found a partner, built a life together and now you’re thinking about moving in together. Before you get to all the fun decisions like where to live, and how to furnish your space, spend some time discussing how you will merge your money. Combining finances can be one of the most […]
Conversations About Money: The Prenuptial Agreement
Written by: Deborah Cartisser Conversations about money can be difficult and as a result, some people simply avoid them. Avoiding them can have negative consequences, so my goal is to call your attention to the conversations you need to be having. I’m going to cover a different topic each month with an explanation of the issue and what […]
Conversations About Money
Written by: Deborah Cartisser Money is a topic that many would prefer to avoid. It’s supercharged with emotion, family history, societal conformities, and factors related to our relationships. According to a Wells Fargo study, “Society has conditioned us to think that sharing financially related numbers is so taboo, that the only piece of information deemed more […]
Financial New Year’s Resolutions for 2025
Written by: Deborah Cartisser January is the time for new resolutions and setting goals to enhance our lives, physically, emotionally, mentally, and perhaps even financially. If you don’t have fiscal fitness among your resolutions, add it to your list. Some of the suggestions that follow can enhance your financial well-being. As you think about your […]
Tax Saving Strategies to Implement Before Year-End
By: Deborah Cartisser There are a number of tax saving measures that can be taken throughout the year, and the end of the year is an optimal time to look over your current financial situation and determine whether any of these strategies should be implemented for you. Maximize retirement plan contributions If your employer offers […]
Gaining Control of Your Finances in the Divorce Process
By: Deborah Cartisser Divorce can be one of the most emotionally and financially challenging events in a person’s life. As overwhelming as it may feel, taking control of your financial situation before and during the process can help ensure that you emerge stronger and more secure. There are several key steps to understand and secure […]
Aging Alone: How to Build Your Support Network
Written by: Deborah Cartisser Over the years, I have worked with several people who have been single as they headed into the latter portion of their lives. Some had the support of close, trusted family members or friends and some did not. Some were successful at living out their lives the way they intended and some […]
Estate Planning: How to Pass Down Wealth More Efficiently
Written by: Deborah Cartisser When people think about their estate, they often imagine it as one big “pot” of assets to be divided among their heirs. This approach, while seemingly straightforward, can lead to unintended consequences, particularly when it comes to the tax burden on the beneficiaries. Instead of focusing on the total value of […]
Understanding Your Money Personality
Written by: Deborah Cartisser We all arrive in adulthood with beliefs and emotions around money that are shaped by our parents and our life experiences around money. Taking time to understand how this programming shapes our way of handling money can go a long way to help us be more deliberate and less reactive in our […]
What to do with Excess 529 Savings?
Written by: Deborah Cartisser May 29th, also known as “529 Day” is just around the corner so we wanted to update you on some things you can do with excess savings. 529 plans, also called college savings plans, are state sponsored savings plans, offering tax free growth on contributions made to qualifying accounts. Some states […]