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NORTON NEWSLETTER
THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
NortonAccountingServices.com 985-690-4498 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com OCTOBER 2025
EASE OF MIND • AVAILABILITY • FLEXIBILITY • INDIVIDUAL APPROACH • EXPERIENCE • TAX SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES
Protect What You’re Building Why Estate Planning Can’t Wait
October is National Financial Planning Month, which makes it a great time to review investments, tax strategies, and long-term goals. These are all very important, but in my experience, many overlook one part of long-term planning: estate planning. We’ve been rolling out our new team-based family office service this year, and that’s a common issue we see among clients, especially those who are younger. Many of my clients are in their 30s and 40s, growing families, building businesses, and buying real estate. They’re doing great work, but when I ask if they’ve got a solid estate plan, the answer is often “no.” And trust me, I get it. When you’re in your prime and focused on growing a business, it’s easy to keep putting something like estate planning on the back burner. You tell yourself you’ll get to it one day. But what happens if one day shows up and you’re not ready? Everyone should put a few things in place. First, you need a will. Even a basic document can go a long way toward ensuring your assets are distributed according to your wishes. If you have young kids, you also need to designate a legal guardian to take care of them if something happens to you and your spouse. The same goes for medical decisions. With a medical power of attorney, you can name someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re incapacitated. Estate planning isn’t just about family assets. It also extends into your business life. If you own a business with a partner, you need a buy/sell agreement. Without the agreement, your partner’s heirs could unexpectedly become your new business partners. A buy/sell agreement ensures a clear path for ownership to transfer and protects both the family and the business if a partner passes away. Once the basics are covered, more complex situations often call for more advanced tools. That’s where trusts come in. A revocable trust, also called a living trust, gives you more control over what happens to your assets while avoiding probate. It also allows someone else to step in without court approval if something happens to you. Some clients use what we call land trusts to hold property privately. The title is held in the name of the trust, not yours, which adds a layer of anonymity. Others explore irrevocable trusts for long-term asset protection or estate
tax planning. We’ve even had conversations about dynasty trusts, which are designed to keep wealth in the family across generations. However, none of that matters if they don’t use the trust properly. I’ve seen clients set up a trust, forget to fund it, and lose the benefit they were trying to create. Others go to an attorney, get a trust drafted, and bring it to me after the fact, only to find out it blew up their tax strategy. Sometimes, the trust isn’t compatible with an S corporation. It may not follow the ownership rules for a licensed profession. In the worst case, people don’t even follow their trust documents, which means the protection they were counting on doesn’t exist. You can’t treat this like a one-size-fits-all checklist. If you’re serious about building wealth and keeping it in the family, your CPA and attorney need to be on the same page. That’s one of the reasons we’re bringing estate
planning into the fold with our team-based family office. It’s about building a plan that fits your goals, helps your kids understand how to manage what you’ve built, and having a team to guide the process every step of the way. If you’re ready to start the conversation, let’s talk. –Bob Norton
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EMPTY NEST, FRESH START Smart Housing Moves for Your Next Chapter Fall is a season of fresh starts for teenagers and young adults as they begin college or take a new job. But it brings different challenges for many parents, who may feel abandoned and forgotten in an empty house. A well-known clinical psychologist once said that your child’s life will be filled with fresh experiences, and it’s good if yours is, too! Figuring out what to do with all that space is a promising place to begin. Of course, there is no one right answer, but here are some factors to consider as you determine your best path forward. Lifestyle The letting-go stage often stirs deeper questions of personal identity for parents. How do you see your life as an empty-nester changing? Do you cherish the comfort and familiarity of your current home and community and enjoy having peace, quiet, and extra space to welcome guests? Or have you been yearning for the freedom to travel without the responsibility of maintaining your house? If so, moving to a smaller home or remodeling your current one may best serve your needs.
There’s something very special about the grandchild-grandparent relationship. While parents often must play the role of disciplinarian so their kids stay out of trouble and become the best version of themselves, grandparents get to spoil and pamper the grandchildren. Most grandparents want this relationship to be as strong as possible, but it’s easier said than done, especially if you only see your grandkids a few times each year. Here are three strategies you can implement to strengthen your relationship with your grandchildren while allowing you to make memories to last for the rest of their lives. MEANINGFUL WAYS TO CONNECT WITH YOUR GRANDKIDS Create Memories That Last
Health No one wants to think about potential declines in their health, but laying the groundwork now to meet changing needs can avert
untold hassles and expenses in the future. Is your current home easy to navigate? Is it free of stairs, narrow hallways, or small bathrooms? If such obstacles would make it difficult for you to live there as you grow older, renovating your home or moving to an age-appropriate residence may be wise. Finances Any decision about keeping, remodeling, or moving out of
Take advantage of holidays. The holiday season is a time for families to get together, participate in time-honored traditions, and share their love for one another. Make sure you set aside time for your grandkids. Show them your favorite holiday movies, encourage them to help cook a few dishes, and involve them in your traditions and activities. Once you establish these activities, pay attention to how your grandchildren react. If they enjoy them, do it again next year!
Prioritize outings over gifts. Take a second to think about the best gift you received during your childhood. Now, imagine the best trip, vacation, or family outing you had as a kid. Which memory is stronger? You likely can’t even remember a specific gift you received, but those memories of trips to the zoo, beach, or mall have remained strong. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on gifts, consider taking your grandchildren out for an evening together. Do what they want to do. To put it simply, your grandchildren will only get so much enjoyment participating in your favorite activities or regular routine. Figure out what they like and participate in those activities right alongside them. They’ll never forget the day they saw grandma ride around in a go-kart, grandpa win the big prize at the arcade, or their grandparents adding the finishing touches to an art masterpiece!
your present home involves financial tradeoffs. Staying in place allows you to build more equity in your home, but it bypasses the opportunity to cash out and invest
the money elsewhere. Remodeling or updating your home imposes upfront costs but could increase its future value. And while trading down to a smaller home may reduce your utility, insurance, tax, and mortgage payments, it also may impose other unforeseen costs, such as homeowners’ association fees. As these tradeoffs show, every empty-nester’s dreams and circumstances are different. Only you can decide the right moves for you!
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MISSION IM-PAW-SIBLE FLORIDA CAT’S EPIC GETAWAY FROM THE VET
No one likes going to the doctor, but for one Florida feline, a routine visit to the vet turned into a daring escape. Just after being neutered at SPCA Florida, George the cat put his kitty GPS to the test when he broke out of his cage, trying to make his way home. As if his daring getaway wasn’t impressive enough, the tabby scampered across 3 miles full of obstacles to return to his owners’ doorstep.
“There was George, stretched out in his chair in our carport, looking like he had just returned from a grand adventure," Bob told reporters. "He was a bit thinner, clearly hungry, but otherwise no worse for the wear." Though George was unscathed, his journey home was no walk in the park. He had to trek through multiple subdivisions, maneuver around a couple of lakes, and cross five or six roads to reach his destination. Cats are skilled navigators who use a combination of scent, visual markers, and even geomagnetism to find their way around. But George’s journey wasn’t all prompted by a deep instinct or fear of the vet; he just wanted to get back to his owner. Though they express it more subtly than dogs, research has found that cats love their humans and form a deep attachment with their owners. Bob was relieved to find George safe and sound, but said he would have done it just a little differently if he ever found himself fleeing his doctor's appointment.
On the day of the incident, George managed to pop his cage open and scurry out in a matter of seconds. Still loopy on anesthesia, the housecat evaded clinic staff, scaling up fencing before disappearing. Employees did everything they could to stop the escape artist, lifting each other over fences, but George was too quick and determined to catch. Owner Bob Beasock was heartbroken by the news and searched for his little buddy alongside clinic staff for nearly a week. Just when it looked like they might never find his furry companion, Bob found him at home, curled up in his favorite armchair in the carport.
“If I had been stuck there, I would've called an Uber. But George didn't have that option."
Apple Upside-Down Cake
TAKE A BREAK
Inspired by IHeartEating.com
Ingredients Topping
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter • 1/2 cup light brown sugar • 3 Honeycrisp apples Cake • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt • 3/4 cup milk • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1 large egg
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In a 9-inch round cake pan, add butter for topping. Place in oven for a few minutes until melted. 3. Sprinkle brown sugar over melted butter. 4. Cut apples into half circles about 1/4-inch thick (no need to peel) and arrange them in circles, overlapping slightly until they fill the entire pan. Set aside. 5. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt. 6. Add milk, melted butter, vanilla, and egg. Whisk until combined. 7. Pour batter over apple slices, smoothing as needed. 8. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 9. Let cool to room temperature, invert on a plate, and serve. Directions
Candy Gourd Haunting Leaves
Libra Marigold Moon Opal
Pumpkin Soup Teachers Touchdown
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Norton Accounting Services, LLC
THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
NortonAccountingServices.com 985-690-4498 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com
1527 Gause Blvd. Ste. 132 Slidell, LA 70458
INSIDE 1
Planning Ahead for Your Family
2
Downsize, Redesign, or Stay Put? Housing Tips for Empty Nesters
Be the Grandparent They’ll Never Forget
3
A Daring Kitty GPS Test
Apple Upside-Down Cake
4
Tasty Fixes for a Happier You
Food for Thought (and Feelings)
SWEET BITES THAT BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY
Fermented Foods A happy gut means a happy life, and fermented foods like kimchi, yogurt, and sauerkraut are excellent sources of good probiotics. Fermentation creates live microorganisms that ensure you have the right amount of healthy bacteria in your digestive system. They can also increase serotonin levels. Researchers are increasingly finding that the gut microbiome plays a significant role in regulating depression and overall wellness.
Do you ever get “hangry” when you miss a meal or feel like a warm bowl of something delicious would elevate your entire day? It turns out that food does more than just soothe a growling tummy; it can lift your spirits. Certain healthy foods contain natural mood boosters like dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, which can chase away stress in the most tasty way. Get ready to load your plate with feel-good ingredients that fuel the body and mind. You’re one delicious bite away from feeling calmer, more focused, and happier.
Berries Eating more fruits and veggies has long been linked to lower rates of depression, thanks to their inflammation-fighting antioxidants. Berries, in particular, are a sweet option for snacking your way to joy. These powerful little
Dark Chocolate If you have a sweet tooth, here’s your excuse to treat yourself to chocolate. Dark chocolate contains mood-elevating compounds like polyphenols, vitamins, and flavonoids. Its antioxidant properties are known to reduce stress and keep your cells healthy. Dark chocolate also supports the critical connection between gut health and mental health, changing the bacterial composition in the intestines, which studies have found can reduce negative emotions. Just be sure to eat it in moderation because it’s a high-calorie food.
fruits have many compounds known to combat stress. Blackberries, for example, are high in vitamin C, which can help lower anxiety, and fiber, which helps keep your energy levels up. So, next time you’re feeling stressed, reach for a snack that feeds your mood. Whether it’s a square of dark chocolate, a spoonful of yogurt, or a handful of berries, these foods prove happiness is just a meal away.
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