ABOUT NORWOOD ECONOMICS

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Norwood Economics

The Norwood Economics difference

Norwood Economics is a low-cost, fee-only wealth management firm. We provide our clients with concierge level service at an affordable price - no hidden fees, no commissions, and no conflicts of interest. We believe in low-cost investing and favor using low-cost index funds, ETFs, and individual stocks to build diversified portfolios. We are value investors who buy good companies when they go on sale. We invest in companies with strong balance sheets that typically pay a dividend. Norwood Economics partners with the world's top custodians to hold and protect our clients' money.


Our firm has a culture based on openness and transparency, with a strong system of checks and balances. On a regular basis, our leaders examine both their own behavior and the behavior of their employees. This begins with the hiring process. We look for employees with a strategic mix of hard and soft skills who will support the firm’s core values of community, client service, teamwork, and innovation.


Our Wealth management Investment Philosophy

We begin by building low-cost, diversified portfolios. We focus first on strategic allocation. Putting a client into the right mix of assets is critical to helping them achieve their spending goals. Tactical allocation is used to overweight cheap assets and underweight expensive assets, which can add value. We use low-cost index ETFs as well as individual stocks. We are value investors who buy good companies when they go on sale. We look for companies with strong balance sheets that typically pay a dividend.


Our 401(k) Investment Philosophy

We recommend a core fund lineup built using low-cost, index funds. Norwood Economics creates properly diversified, pre-built portfolios. These are low-cost, and consist primarily of index funds and ETFs. Our portfolios range from conservative to aggressive. We do adjust the pre-built portfolios from time to time, overweighting cheap assets and underweighting expensive assets; tactical allocation can add value.


Norwood Economics also recommends using target-date retirement funds in the investment fund lineup. A target-date fund  is a diversified portfolio with an age appropriate asset mix. Fund managers reduce equity exposure as the target retirement date approaches. More conservative portfolios are appropriate as you near retirement. Lower portfolio volatility makes it more likely that you will achieve your spending goals in retirement.

Meet The Team

recent blog posts

Diversification Critical in the Coming Decade

By Christopher Norwood • July 7, 2025
Executive Summary The S&P 500 rose 1.7% in a holiday-shortened week, finishing at 6,284.65 Volatility continues to fall from its elevated levels in early April The S&P is up 6.76% year-to-date. Industrials are leading the way, up 13.40% Price determines returns when buying an asset  Diversify away from a concentrated U.S. large-cap stock portfolio Job growth has been holding steady for almost a year now Analysts have been raising earnings estimates recently 90-day tariff suspension ends on Wednesday The Stock Market The S&P 500 rose 1.7% in a holiday-shortened week. The Nasdaq rose 1.6%. Both indexes set new record highs with the S&P reaching 6,284.65 on Thursday afternoon. The jobs report out Thursday spurred the S&P higher. The index gapped up at the open, closing Thursday up 0.83% (see chart below). The S&P 500 is up 26% from the selloff low on April 8, while the Nasdaq has surged 34.9%.

The Fear Gauge has Fallen

By Christopher Norwood • June 30, 2025
Executive Summary The S&P 500 rose 3.4% last week, climbing to 6,173.07 The Magnificent 7 are outperforming the S&P 493 by over 18% since April The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX) fell as low as 16.11 last week Investors seem unconcerned about tariffs and war Treasury interest rates are starting to fall The Fed has little reason to cut if unemployment isn't moving higher The stock market is at record highs Corporate bond spreads are tight, meaning credit is abundant The dollar has fallen by around 10% in 2025 Inflation is expected to move higher because of tariff The Stock Market The S&P 500 rose 3.4% last week. The Israeli-Iranian ceasefire was credited with the surge to the upside. The index had lost 0.7% over the prior two weeks.

The Federal Reserve sees slower economic growth and higher inflation

By Christopher Norwood • June 23, 2025
Executive Summary The S&P 500 gained 0.3% last week, climbing to 5,967.84 The index is having trouble staying above 6,000 Technical indicators are turning somewhat negative The Federal Reserve kept the overnight rate at 4.25% - 4.50% The updated “dot plot” shows a divided Fed Seven members indicate no rate cuts in 2025 Eight members forecast two rate cuts in 2025 The Fed is forecasting a slower economy in 2025 and 2026 The hard data is starting to point to a slowing economy Inflation is still well above the Fed’s 2% target