Norton Accounting Services May 2019
NortonAccountingServices.com 985-640-6072 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com MAY 2019 NORTON NEWSLETTER EASE OF MIND • AVAILABILITY • FLEXIBILITY • INDIVIDUAL APPROACH • EXPERIENCE • TAX SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
LIMITED EDITION!
FROM THE DESK OF Bob
As I write this, there are a few days left before the big tax deadline. This season has been both busy and fun! I am grateful to all of you who put your trust in Penny and me to help you with your taxes and bookkeeping. I also want to thank everyone for the referrals you have given us this year; those have helped our business to continue growing. In fact, this is the 12th issue of the newsletter, and over this past year, we have increased our mailings by over 120 households . I usually take some time off after tax day, but this year, I have too many things planned. Mark Twain said that the secret of success
The first weekend of May is the perfect weekend for nerds everywhere. If you know comics aren’t just for kids, rant and rave about “Star Wars” every chance you get, or have a passion for physics that goes beyond the classroom, congratulations! There’s a whole weekend just for you. The stars have aligned, and you can let your inner nerd shine on May 3–4 while you celebrate International Space Day, Free Comic Book Day, and Star Wars Day. There are plenty of ways to enjoy these holidays, so take part in the festivities and ensure the weekend is as action packed as a starship battle in a galaxy far, far away. Space Day is exactly what it sounds like: a day to commemorate the science and exploration of space and appreciate the final frontier in all its wonder and mystery. Although Lockheed Martin Corporation is credited with starting Space Day in 1997, the holiday really lifted off in 2001 when Sen. (and former astronaut) John Glenn declared the first Friday in May to be International Space Day. The holiday’s immense popularity continues to this day, with many scientific organizations celebrating space with demonstrations, gatherings, and educational programs. There’s no set protocol for the celebration, so you can observe Space Day however you see fit. Check out popular space podcasts like “Interplanetary Podcast,”“Main Engine Cutoff,” or “Planetary Radio,” all of which go over the latest news in space and space exploration. You can read up on asteroids, colonizing Mars, or the newest extrasolar discoveries to build your knowledge of all things extraterrestrial. Or, if you have a telescope, you can see some of those things for yourself. Like space, the possibilities are endless. CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL SPACE DAY
is making your vocation your vacation. It dawned on me recently that I have done just that: made my vocation my vacation.
I’m having the time of my life helping clients keep more of the money they’ve earned and working with them to help discover ways to grow their business to become financially free.
-Bob Norton
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CELEBRATING FREE COMIC BOOK DAY
CELEBRATING STARWARS DAY
With the release of so many superhero movies and other films based on comic book adventures, comics and graphic novels have flown, punched, and clawed their way into our mainstream culture. Free Comic Book Day started in 2002, a day after the release of the first “Spider-Man” film, as a way to reignite popularity for the medium after a massive bust in the comic book industry in the 1990s. The idea was received positively by the public, and ever since then, it has been accompanied by the release of a comic book movie on the same weekend. Celebrating the day is simple; go to the Free Comic Book Day website and find out if there are stores participating near you. Then, get a comic (or two or three) free of charge. Browse the rest of the store while you’re there. Find a new series to enjoy and maybe watch your favorite superhero movie later that night with friends (or by yourself, no judgment here). It’s a great way to celebrate the hobby of millions of Americans and introduce new readers to some truly heroic stories.
The scrolling introductions accompanied by John Williams’ soaring score; the hums and beeps of droids; the electric clash of lightsabers between Sith and Jedi; the Force —May 4 is the day to celebrate it all with the films, TV spinoffs, books, comics, and toys. The galaxy far, far away has invaded Earth, and its popularity shows no signs of slowing down. It all started with the pun “May the fourth be with you.” From then on, just as Luke Skywalker was destined to become a Jedi Master, this day was destined to be all about George Lucas’ beloved creation. You could just watch the movies on May 4, but anyone can do that. Really showcase your passion by getting a group together and dress up as your favorite characters. Make some themed drinks, like a “Hoth” toddy or Qui-Gon Jinn and tonic. Jam out to that catchy Cantina bop. Debate your fan theories with friends and remember that you’re there to celebrate, even if the discussion about “The Last Jedi” gets a little heated. Whether you make it up as you go like Han Solo or carefully plan like Emperor
Palpatine, there are enough festivities to fill a Star Destroyer.
So, attention all space nerds,“Star Wars”fanatics, and comic book geeks: May 3–4 is your weekend. Get together with your friends and maybe make some new ones as you celebrate the passions that bring you all together.
TheWorld’s Best Exercise
Not all exercises are created equal. In fact, there is one form of exercise that is better than many others: walking. Harvard Medical School took a look at various exercises and concluded that walking is up there with swimming and tai chi in terms of health benefits. Regular walking can help maintain good cholesterol and blood pressure levels and keep your bones strong and healthy. One study showed that 40 minutes of walking every day helped people reduce blood pressure from hypertension to prehypertension, and then eventually to normal over several months. Walking can even keep many different kinds of diseases at bay, such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition to these physical benefits, walking daily can improve your mood and overall mental health.
minutes of physical activity per day, but the good news is that you can split those minutes up throughout your day. For example, you can take a brisk 20-minute walk in the morning before work, followed by another one at lunch and one more after dinner. Those 60 minutes also don’t have to be strenuous; they just need to happen. However, the more time you put into walking, the more you will get out of it. If you slowly increase your distance and speed, you’ll end up burning more calories and strengthening your legs over time. The great thing about walking is that it’s not particularly taxing on the knees, and you can move at your own pace. It doesn’t get any better than that! To get the most out of walking, schedule your walks for after mealtimes, especially the ones that come later in the day, like lunch and dinner. It’s a great way to aid digestion and burn calories —which can’t hurt your waistline!
As simple and straightforward as walking is, it can be difficult for many people to find the time. Most experts agree that you need 30–60
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Leaving a Legacy of Giving Making Charity a Part of Your Estate Plan
MATCH THE ASSETS TO THE CHARITY
Your estate plan is far more than just a set of documents. It’s a declaration of what you find most important and a roadmap of the legacy you’d like to leave. Not only does a proper estate plan ensure that your loved ones will be taken care of when you’re gone, but it also allows you to make an impact on the wider world through charitable giving. Many avenues exist for making planned gifts to nonprofits, but here are some of the basics on how to make giving a part of your plan. The most basic way to give to a charity is by naming it in your will. Simply name the charitable organization you wish to support among your beneficiaries, and specify the assets you wish to give. If estate or income taxes are a concern, ensure your chosen organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. These are the charities the IRS deems tax-exempt. NAME A CHARITY IN YOURWILL
Almost all charities will accept cash bequests, though it is always a good idea to notify an organization about what you are planning to give. Smaller philanthropies may not accept complex assets, such as stocks or real estate. On the other hand, some charities may specialize in specific assets. For example, if your home is considered a historic site within your town, you may want to gift it to a preservation society so that it stays properly maintained. There are different ways to structure a charitable bequest, giving you the flexibility to make sure your estate planning goals are met. If you have a set sum of money or a particular asset you wish to leave to a charity, you can make a specific bequest in your will. However, if you want to ensure your loved one’s needs are met before giving a portion of your estate DECIDE HOW TO GIVE
to charity, you can make what’s known as a residuary gift. With a residuary gift, once debts have been paid off and your other beneficiaries have received their bequests, a specified percentage of your remaining estate will go to a charity of your choice.
OTHER AVENUES
Depending on your income level and the kinds of assets in your estate, more complex means of making a planned gift may be available to you. Talk to your estate planner to see if creating a charitable trust or establishing a foundation is the right move for you.
Take a Break!
Inspired by Food &Wine Magazine
STRAWBERRY MANGO PALETAS
Ingredients
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1 1/4 cups strawberries, chopped 1/2 cup granulated sugar 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
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1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 2 medium ripe mangoes, peeled, pitted, and chopped
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Directions
1. In a saucepan, toss strawberries with 1/4 cup sugar and let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. 2. Add 1/4 cup water and bring to a simmer over moderate heat. Cook strawberries until mixture thickens, about 5 minutes. 3. Remove fromheat and stir in 1 tablespoon of lime juice and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Let cool completely, about 45 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, in a blender, purée mangoes with 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons lime juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until smooth. Scrape into a mediumbowl and clean the blender.
Then, purée strawberry mixture until smooth. 5. Into 8 3-ounce ice popmolds, spoon 2 tablespoons mango mold, then top with remaining mango purée, leaving 1/2 inch between filling and top of mold. 6. Using a small knife, gently swirl layers together. 7. Insert ice pop sticks and freeze until solid. 8. Dipmolds in hot water for a few seconds, then unmold paletas and serve immediately. purée. Add 2 tablespoons strawberry purée to each
BLOOMING BOUQUET BUMBLEBEE CINCO DE MAYO
DAFFODIL EMERALD GEMINI MEMORIAL DAY
MOTHERS DAY REMEMBER ROSE TAURUS
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE From the Desk of Bob PAGE 1 International Space Day, Free Comic Book Day, and Star Wars Day PAGE 1 What Is the World’s Best Exercise? PAGE 2 Making Charity a Part of Your Estate Plan PAGE 3 Take a Break PAGE 3 Strawberry Mango Paletas PAGE 3 The War PigeonWho Saved the ‘Lost Battalion’ PAGE 4 Long before the invention of radios and cellphones, homing pigeons were used to send messages as early as the sixth century. During WorldWar I, war pigeons carried lifesaving messages past enemy lines for the American and French armies, often being wounded in the process. In 1918, Cher Ami, a black check hen used by the U.S. Signal Corps, became the most famous of them all. On Oct. 2, the United States 77th Division was trapped behind enemy lines in the Argonne Forest during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, a three-month push by the Allies during the final throes of WorldWar I to force the Germans to surrender. It became the bloodiest battle in U.S. history. For six days, the encircled division endured relentless attacks and suffered heavy casualties, but their orders were clear: don’t retreat and don’t surrender. BRAVE LITTLE CHER AMI
The War Pigeon Who Saved the ‘Lost Battalion’
shot down. When friendly fire began raining down on the 77th, Major Charles White Whittlesey felt he had no choice but to send the last pigeon, Cher Ami. The pigeon’s desperate note read: “We are along the road parallel to 276.4. Our own artillery is dropping a barrage directly on us. For heaven’s sake, stop it.” As Cher Ami rose from the brush, she was shot down, to the despair of the watching soldiers. However, after a few seconds, she fought her way back into the air, flew through a torrent of gunfire, and made it to division headquarters 25 miles away. She had been shot in the breast, the eye, and the leg. Because of Cher Ami’s brave flight, 194 of the original 554 men of the 77th Division survived the battle. One month later, WorldWar I came to an end. Cher Ami survived the war as well, thanks to the surgeons who performed
emergency surgery on her. One soldier even carved her a little wooden leg. She became a well-known hero to both soldiers and children in the States. For her service in Verdun, the French Army awarded her the Croix de Guerre, and she was inducted into the Racing Pigeon Hall of Fame. Cher Ami finally succumbed to her wounds in June of 1919 and is now on display in the Smithsonian alongside Sergeant Stubby, a terrier who served 18 months on the Western Front.
The division dispatched two homing pigeons with requests for help, but both birds were
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