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
By Christopher Norwood
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March 24, 2025
Executive Summary The S&P 500 rose 0.5% last week to finish at 5,667.56 breaking its four-week losing streak The uncertainty surrounding the trade war will weigh on the economy and capital markets for the foreseeable future. Economists and the public aren’t sure whether to worry about inflation, weakening economic growth, or both. The Summary of Economic Projections (SEP) signals two rate cuts and a higher year-end inflation number Invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 will lead to higher prices U.S. stocks are the only asset class losing money in 2025 The Stock Market The S&P 500 rose 0.5% last week to 5,667.56. The Nasdaq rose 0.2% and the Dow was up 1.2%. The S&P broke a four-week losing streak. It was due for an oversold bounce. We wrote last week, “The S&P is primed to bounce this week, likely at least back to the 200-day moving average residing at 5,740.” The S&P did bounce but only reached 5,715.33 on Wednesday around 3 p.m. Fed Chairman Powell was speaking soothing words at the time to investors during his press conference following the Federal Reserve FOMC meeting. The S&P couldn’t build on Wednesday’s late gains though, although it did try.
By Christopher Norwood
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March 17, 2025
Executive Summary • The S&P 500 fell 2.3% last week to finish at 5,638.94 • The S&P is down 4.13% year-to-date • The Nasdaq fell into correction territory and is down 11.6% since mid-February • Market strategists are saying recession risk is rising • Tariffs hurt the economy • Consumers and small business owners are feeling the pinch • The NFIB Uncertainty Index rose to its second-highest level ever in February • The Trump administration is targeting a lower 10-year Treasury Yield • Interesting Charts below The Stock Market
By Christopher Norwood
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March 10, 2025
Executive Summary The S&P 500 fell 3.1% last week to finish at 5,770.20 The S&P closed 50 points above the 200-day moving average on Friday A bearish crossover or a “dark cross” indicates a loss of momentum A correction of 10% or more is increasingly likely Founder of AQR, Cliff Asness makes some important observations Interesting Charts below The Stock Market The S&P 500 fell 3.1% last week to finish at 5,770.20, its worst week since September. The S&P is down 1.9% for the year. Technology (XLK) is down 6.01% year-to-date. Consumer discretionary (XLY) is down 8.33%. The other nine S&P sectors are up on the year, led by Health Care (XLV), which is up 8.51%. Consumer Staples (XLP) is the next best-performing sector, up 5.41%. The 10-year Treasury Yield rose to 4.31% from 4.21% last week. The two-year yield was unchanged at 4.01%.
