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NORTON NEWSLETTER
THE REAL ESTATE TAX PRO ™
NortonAccountingServices.com 985-690-4498 Info@NortonAccountingServices.com FEBRUARY 2026
EASE OF MIND • AVAILABILITY • FLEXIBILITY • INDIVIDUAL APPROACH • EXPERIENCE • TAX SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES
New Workshops Plus Tax Season Reminders Smarter Planning Starts Here
It seems like every week, I have someone bring up “a great tax strategy” they found online. It’s often a short video, a blog post, or a tip from a friend who “heard it from their CPA.” Most of those tips are only partly right, and they end up adding a lot of confusion to an already complicated topic. Of course, I don’t blame anyone for that. People are trying to save money and do the right thing. The problem is that there’s more tax noise out there than ever. Real estate investors and small-business owners do not need more noise. They need straight answers that fit their situation. That is why I am starting a monthly Zoom workshop this year. Each session will cover a topic that I receive a lot of questions about. Some of these subjects are simple, but simple doesn’t mean obvious. During these calls, my plan is to walk through the basics in plain language, point out the areas where people often get tripped up, and leave time for participants to ask their own questions. We will also record each call. So, if someone emails later with the same question, my team can send a video link instead of trying to re-create the whole conversation in an email thread. It saves time for clients and for us, and keeps everyone on the same page. I am still finalizing my list of topics, but you can expect the sessions to cover a good mix of financial and tax planning subjects relevant to business owners and real estate investors. By the time you read this, we may have already completed one or two Zoom workshops, so keep an eye on your email for invitations and links. And if you miss one and want to catch up, just email the office, and we can send you the videos. While we are getting those calls off the ground, I also want to remind everyone where we are on the calendar. Currently, we are in the midst of tax season and approaching the first major deadlines. If you have an LLC or S corporation, your return is due March 15. We usually file extensions for most clients, but we can only do that if we know the company exists. If you set up a
new entity in 2025 and have not told us yet, now is the time. The penalty for missing an extension is $250 per month per partner until the return is filed, and that adds up quickly. April 15 is still the date taxes are due, even if we extend the return itself. If you made a lot of money last year, sold a property, or had a big bonus, let us know sooner rather than later. We can look at the numbers, run an estimate, and help you decide whether it makes sense to send in a payment with your extension or ahead of time. You may not love paying taxes, but you should really hate adding penalties and interest on top of them. February is also a good time to think about your other tax habits. One thing I encourage business owners and investors to do is keep a separate account for taxes and feed it with a set percentage of revenue every month. It takes discipline, especially when new opportunities come along, but it is much
easier than scrambling to cover a surprise bill in April. If you build that cushion and stay plugged into the Zoom calls, you will have the information, cash, and lead time you need. That combination makes tax season a lot less stressful for everyone. –Bob Norton
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Stop the Swipe Tips for a Money Mindset Makeover If you’re still feeling the financial sting of the recent holiday shopping season or struggle to pay off your credit card throughout the year, it may be time to rethink your spending routine. Most of us are guilty of impulsive shopping from time to time, but an occasional indulgence can become a dangerous habit if we’re not careful, especially with technology making it easier than ever to overspend. Here are three ways to curb the urge to splurge. Wipe your card info clean. There’s a reason why many apps and websites enable you to save your credit card information; it makes it easier for you to spend money! If you’re looking to reduce how often you experience the rush of an instant purchase, enter your payment manually every time you go to check out. The extra time it takes to do so may be enough to help you realize whatever you wanted a moment ago isn’t as necessary as you thought.
STOP RUSHING, START WINNING
For many of us, the day starts with rushing around, checking our phones, or feeling groggy and unmotivated. But New York Times bestselling author Mel Robbins approaches mornings differently. Her routine goes beyond strict discipline or complicated rituals and, instead, ventures into taking control of her day from the moment she wakes up. Here are four of her best tips to try. Start before you’re ready. One of the biggest lessons from Robbins is that you don’t have to wait to feel motivated. She uses her “5-4-3-2-1” countdown to get herself moving as soon as she wakes up. By forcing herself into action, she avoids getting stuck in hesitation. The key idea is that action creates momentum, and momentum carries you through the day. Build early wins. Robbins also emphasizes small wins in the morning. Making your bed, tidying up, or drinking a glass of water might feel minor, but these small actions give your brain an early sense of accomplishment. Completing even a few simple tasks first thing can make the rest of the day feel more manageable. Give yourself a moment. A unique part of Robbins’ routine is acknowledging herself in the mirror. She literally gives herself a high-five, which may feel a little strange at first. The point goes beyond just the gesture. It focuses on taking a moment to recognize yourself, determine your mindset, and start the day with a sense of confidence. Take care of your body first. Before checking emails or scrolling on her phone, Robbins focuses on her body. She hydrates, does light exercises, and exposes herself to morning light. These small steps help wake up the body and mind without letting outside distractions take over. Starting the day with this buffer gives you control, rather than letting the world dictate your pace. Robbins’ routine shows that how you begin the day matters. Even adopting one or two habits from her morning routine, like moving immediately after waking or tidying your space, can change the way your day feels. By starting with small, deliberate actions, you set yourself up to approach the day with focus and clarity. OWN YOUR MORNING BEFORE THE WORLD TAKES OVER
Choose paper over plastic. In addition to detaching your credit card
information from your phone or computer, consider separating your card from yourself when you leave to go shopping. Carrying cash instead of card is a helpful way to slow spending.
For one thing, it helps you maintain a set amount to shell out, which you’re reminded of as the dollars disappear. Second, cash doesn’t carry an interest rate. When you spend $4 on that cup of coffee you can’t resist, you’ll be out $4, not $4.80 when using a card that charges an additional 20%. Delay, don’t dive. There will always be purchases, such as tickets for a concert that sell out within minutes or a future flight that becomes pricier as your departure date approaches, that will require you to reach for your credit card as soon as possible. That said, there are infinitely more things that you simply don’t need … at least not right away. When you encounter something online or in a store that you must have now despite it not being a scarce item, give it at least a day (or, even better, a week) before making your final decision.
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TRAINED TO PROTECT
The Service Dog That Changed a Child’s Life
The family of JJ, a preteen troubled by debilitating seizures, was struggling to manage the condition and allay its devastating effect on his learning and well-being. They tried numerous treatments and therapies, but nothing worked well enough to stabilize JJ’s health. Then, JJ’s community stepped up in a way that changed his life forever. Military veterans at Sun Outdoors, an RV community where JJ and his family live in Sarasota, Florida, learned about the difficult situation his family faced and took the initiative to help.
Service dogs’ sense of smell is more powerful than any machine and can detect changes instantaneously. They have been likened to a live-in medical alert system. They can also be trained to notice anxiety or discomfort and offer comfort and companionship, interrupting potential panic attacks by calming their human companions.
With training by Julie Madison of Top Tier K9, a professional dog-training company, Ezra learned to detect seizures by using his ability to sense subtle changes in scent or behavior. He was also taught to alert JJ and those around him before any visible signs of a seizure appeared, allowing a few crucial moments for JJ to take medications to curtail the seizures and ensure he was in a safe place.
Enter Ezra, the service dog.
The veterans reached out to Canines for Heroes, a Sarasota-based nonprofit founded by Air Force veteran Mark LaFlamme. As a highly decorated Air Force veteran of three combat operations in the Middle East, LaFlamme knew firsthand the challenges of dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); two of his fellow officers succumbed to the pain and took their own lives. As a way of coping with their loss, LaFlamme set out to help others by giving them access to the healing power of trained service dogs. Canines for Heroes has years of experience matching service dogs with individuals in need. So, Mark LaFlamme and his wife, Sandra, matched JJ with Ezra, a dog trained to detect oncoming seizures and provide emotional support. Ezra is a Czech shepherd, a Central European herding breed known for intelligence, alertness, intuitive ability, and loyalty.
Ezra’s presence led to striking improvements. Not only did JJ
experience a sharp decline in seizures, but the entire family felt less uncertainty and fearfulness. As the story of JJ and Ezra demonstrates, bonds between animals and humans can yield near-miraculous benefits.
TAKE A BREAK
Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
Ingredients • 12 oz package vanilla wafers • 16 oz cream cheese, softened • 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 21 oz can cherry pie filling
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. 2. In two 24-cup miniature muffin pans, line each space with a paper liner. 3. Using a food processor or resealable plastic bag, crush vanilla wafers into a fine crumb. 4. Press 1/2 teaspoon of crumbs into each paper liner. 5. In a mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, eggs, and vanilla until light and fluffy. 6. Fill each miniature muffin liner with this mixture, almost to the top. 7. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheesecakes are set. 8. Cool completely in the pan. 9. Top each mini cheesecake with about a teaspoon of cherry pie filling before serving. Enjoy! Directions
Dream Equality Festival Groundhog
Hearts King Lincoln Muffin
Pancake Rabbit Roses
Inspired by AllRecipes.com
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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
Turning Tax Questions Into Answers
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Break the Buy Cycle Transformative Habits That Kick-Start Your Day Meet the Canine Hero That Warns of Seizures Mouthwatering Mini Cheesecakes
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Healing Through the Eyes of Awe
THE EVERYDAY MAGIC THAT HEALS US
FINDING AWE IN THE ORDINARY In a world that races ahead at full speed, it’s easy to lose sight of wonder. We rush through our routines, scrolling, planning, and worrying, and rarely pause just to feel. But when we do stop long enough to notice the world’s quiet beauty, something remarkable happens: We experience awe. This emotion, which is part surprise, part
and even promote compassion. It’s as if our minds momentarily reboot and remind us that life is vast and full of meaning beyond our daily concerns. Standing beneath a star-filled sky or witnessing a child’s laughter can make us feel small, but not in a diminishing way. Instead, we sense our place in life. That feeling of belonging and connectedness nourishes emotional balance and strengthens our resilience. Encounter awe in everyday moments. You don’t need to climb a mountain or visit a famous landmark to experience awe. It’s waiting in the subtle corners of your day: the way sunlight dances on a wall, the sound of rain tapping on the roof, or how someone’s kindness catches you off guard.
Try taking a few minutes each day to slow down and look around. Step outside, watch the clouds, or listen to a piece of music that stirs you. When you allow awe to find you, you begin to reconnect with presence, gratitude, and joy. Awe heals because it reminds us that we’re part of something larger and endlessly unfolding. In moments of difficulty, wonder offers perspective and hope. It grounds us, opens our hearts, and helps us see clearly beyond fear or fatigue. So, pause today. Let a moment of awe find you and allow it to do its quiet, powerful work.
reverence, can shift our perspective, soothe our nervous system, and reconnect us with something larger than ourselves. Discover the magic of feeling awe. When we are captivated with awe, time seems to slow. Our thoughts, usually centered on our own problems and plans, suddenly expand to encompass the broader picture, which helps dissolve stress and boosts emotional well-being. Research indicates that awe can reduce inflammation, lower heart rate,
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