From Sandra Koch, CEO of Aurora Consulting Group LLC
Hello friends,
School is out, graduations are being celebrated, and summer is officially here — and with it, a natural invitation to slow down just enough to take a look around.
This is one of my favorite seasons for reflection. In the spirit of our 2026 theme — Refine • Define • Align — summer is a great time to evaluate not just your business, but yourself. What’s holding you back? What keeps you up at night? What’s that brilliant idea that hasn’t made it off the notepad yet?
At Aurora, we’re in a constant state of evaluating, learning, and improving. We also know we can’t change everything at once — and neither can you. But change doesn’t require a total overhaul. It just requires a first step. Write the idea down. Have the conversation. Do a little research. Things begin to shift the moment you decide to take a look.
I hope something in this month’s newsletter sparks something for you.
As always, I’d love to hear from you.
With gratitude,
Sandra L. Koch
Founder, Aurora Consulting Group
In This Issue
- Face Time with Sandra — Visalia, Week of June 22nd
- The Book Club — Getting to Neutral & Getting Naked
- Worth Your Time — “The Rooms We Don’t Belong In”
- IRS Updates You Should Know
- Tool We Loved This Month
📍 Face Time with Sandra — Visalia, Week of June 22nd
I will be in Visalia from June 22 through June 25 and would love to connect with local clients in person!
If you’ve been wanting to sit down for a conversation — whether it’s about tax planning, strategy, or just a general check-in — this is a wonderful opportunity to meet face-to-face.
We can grab a meal together, I can come to your office, or you’re welcome to visit my satellite office on Santa Fe Avenue. Spots are limited, so please reach out to me directly to schedule a time.
📚 The Book Club
Some of you may remember the book club section from earlier issues — we’re bringing it back, and this time we’re making it a regular feature. I believe that great thinking happens beyond the boardroom, and some of the most valuable conversations start with a book.
Each month, we’ll share what we’re reading and why we think it’s worth your time.
Last Month’s Read: Getting to Neutral by Trevor Moawad
Getting to Neutral is a performance coach’s case against both toxic positivity and negativity. Moawad argues that the most resilient people don’t think positively all the time — they stay grounded in what each moment actually requires of them. Simple idea, powerful results.
What Our Team Thought
This month’s read resonated with our team in ways both big and small. The book’s central message — staying even-keeled and focusing on what each moment actually requires of you — found its way into our everyday lives in surprisingly practical ways.
The idea of control got reframed for us: outcomes are often out of our hands, but the next indicated step never is. That quiet shift — what does this situation require of me? — became an anchor throughout the month.
We loved that it didn’t feel like a lecture. It read more like a conversation with a friend who’s been through it — honest, funny, and deeply human. The chapter on building your team hit close to home, reminding us to put the right people in the right roles and not expect anyone to be something they’re not.
This Month: Getting Naked by Patrick Lencioni
Our current read is Getting Naked: A Business Fable About Shedding the Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty. Lencioni — known for The Five Dysfunctions of a Team — uses his signature fable format to explore why so many consultants and service professionals unknowingly undermine their own client relationships. If you want to get a head start, grab a copy and read along with us.
✨ Worth Your Time: “The Rooms We Don’t Belong In”
Have you ever walked into a meeting, a networking event, or a new opportunity and thought — why would anyone want to hear from me?
If so, you’re in good company. This short, honest essay by K.C. Eames — published in The Net Effect — tackles imposter syndrome head-on, and then flips it entirely. She makes a case that’s simple and quietly powerful: your value doesn’t come from knowing everything. It comes from your perspective, your judgment, your questions, and your experience.
“I don’t need to be an expert in every area to belong in the room. I just need to bring what I bring.”
This article resonated with me personally, so I wanted to share a few thoughts alongside it.
When I first learned what imposter syndrome was — about fifteen years ago — I really identified with it. I had over a decade of experience and hundreds of clients, but I was always focused on what I didn’t know and the impossible standards I’d set for myself.
What changed wasn’t my credentials. It was learning to fully lean into who I am and what I bring to the table. Aurora doesn’t operate like other firms, and those differences used to make me uncomfortable. Now I’m proud of them. What we offer small business owners is something only we can offer — and I know that without hesitation.
If you’ve ever felt like an imposter in your own business, ask yourself: What’s my mission? What are my values? What culture am I building? Define it, embrace it, and be proud of it. When you’re living in authenticity — with yourself and with your clients — there’s no room left for the imposter feeling.
It’s a four-minute read, and it’s worth every second.
👉 Read “The Rooms We Don’t Belong In”
📋 IRS Updates You Should Know
The IRS has been busy, and a few recent updates are worth your attention. We’ve done the reading so you don’t have to — below are the items we think are most relevant to you. As always, if anything here raises questions about your specific situation, we’re just a call or email away.
⚠️ Action Required: Business Tax Account Designated Officials Must Renew by July 29
If you or a member of your team is registered as a Designated Official for an S or C corporation in the IRS Business Tax Account, you must renew your status between June 15 and July 29, 2026 to maintain access. This is an annual requirement, and missing the window means losing access to your account. If you’re unsure whether this applies to you, give us a call — we’ll help you figure it out.
💰 Are You Taking Advantage of These Tax Cuts?
The Working Families Tax Cuts Act introduced several provisions that could put real money back in your pocket — and your employees’ pockets. Here’s a quick rundown:
No Tax on Overtime. For tax years 2025 through 2028, employees can deduct the “half” portion of their time-and-a-half overtime pay, up to $12,500 per year. If you have hourly employees working overtime, this is worth communicating to your team.
Enhanced Senior Deduction. Taxpayers aged 65 and older receive an additional $6,000 deduction on top of the standard deduction — or $12,000 for married couples where both spouses qualify. If this applies to you or a family member, make sure it’s reflected in your tax planning.
Car Loan Interest Deduction. Purchased a new U.S.-assembled vehicle after December 31, 2024? You may be able to deduct up to $10,000 in car loan interest. Certain eligibility requirements apply, so reach out to us if you’d like to confirm whether you qualify.
Not sure how these provisions affect your specific situation? That’s what we’re here for — let’s talk.
👶 Trump Accounts: A New Way to Save for Your Children’s Future
Introduced under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, Trump Accounts are a new type of tax-advantaged investment account available for children under 18. Eligible children born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028 can receive a one-time $1,000 contribution from the U.S. Treasury to get them started. Parents and guardians can now set up and track these accounts directly through their IRS Individual Account online.
These accounts are designed to help families save for college, retirement, and long-term wealth building. If you have young children and want to understand how this fits into your overall financial picture, we’d love to help you think it through.
🎓 New Federal Scholarship Tax Credit — Up to $1,700
The One, Big, Beautiful Bill also introduced a new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit that allows eligible taxpayers to claim a federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for contributions made to qualifying Scholarship Granting Organizations — nonprofits that provide scholarships for elementary and secondary school expenses.
As of early 2026, 27 states have signed up to participate, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The IRS continues to update the list as more states join.
If you have school-age children or simply want to support K–12 education while reducing your tax bill, this is worth a closer look. Give us a call and we’ll help you determine if it applies to your situation.
🚨 Don’t Fall for Social Media Tax Advice
Tax season may be over, but tax misinformation on social media is alive and well year-round. The IRS has issued warnings about viral “tax hacks” that encourage people to file returns with false information or claim credits they don’t qualify for — which can result in penalties, audits, and serious headaches.
The IRS will never contact you through social media to ask for personal or financial information. If you see something online that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. When in doubt, reach out to us before taking action — that’s exactly what we’re here for.
🔥 Put a Disaster Preparedness Plan in Place
Wildfire season officially started this month — but fires aren’t the only threat. Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and other emergencies can strike with little warning, and the time to prepare is before disaster hits. Here’s what the IRS recommends:
Review your emergency preparedness plan annually. Ready.gov has resources and checklists to help you build or update your plan.
Create electronic copies of important documents. Store them on a USB drive or in the cloud. Many financial institutions provide statements electronically — take advantage of that. Setting up an IRS Individual Account also gives you online access to transcripts, notices, and other tax records whenever you need them.
Document your valuables now. Take photos or video of your belongings before anything happens — it makes insurance claims and tax deductions significantly easier. The IRS offers a disaster loss workbook to help you create a room-by-room inventory.
Know what tax relief is available. If you’re in a federally declared disaster area, you may automatically qualify for filing and payment extensions — no need to contact the IRS. Visit the Around the Nation page on IRS.gov and click your state to see available relief. You can also call the IRS Special Services Hotline at 866-562-5227 with disaster-related questions.
A little preparation now can make an enormous difference when it matters most. If you have questions about how a disaster might affect your taxes, don’t hesitate to reach out.
🛠️ Tool We Loved This Month
Every month we share a tool or resource our team has been finding useful. Here’s what caught our attention in June.
👉 IRS Interactive Tax Assistant (ITA)
The IRS Interactive Tax Assistant is a free, anonymous tool that answers common tax questions by walking you through a short series of questions and giving you a plain-language answer. It’s useful for quick lookups — whether a type of income is taxable, whether you qualify for a deduction, or what filing status applies to your situation. Your information is never stored or shared. A great resource to bookmark for those moments when you want a quick answer outside of business hours.
Closing Thoughts
June is a month of regaining momentum. The intensity of tax season is behind us, and there’s real opportunity in the months ahead — to refine your systems, define what you want your business to look like, and align your team and tools to get there.
At Aurora, that’s what we’re here for — not just at tax time, but all year long. If anything in this newsletter resonated with you, or if you’ve been meaning to connect, now is a great time to reach out.
With appreciation,
Sandra L. Koch
Founder, Aurora Consulting Group
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