The Ascent With Crestmont Private Wealth

Sam McGee of Crestmont Private Wealth discusses the dangers of holding concentrated stock positions, drawing an analogy between driving a car (control bias) and holding onto a single stock despite market risk. He cites collapsed companies (Enron, Lehman Brothers, WorldCom, etc.), explains how a small number of mega-cap stocks drive S&P 500 performance, and shares his own personal experience losing money on Washington Mutual stock. He closes with a call to action: diversify, get tax-sensitive planning, and reach out to Crestmont Private Wealth for a confidential consultation.

 

0:00     Intro: Concentrated stock positions

0:11     Why this topic matters to Sam

1:35     Control bias explained (driving analogy)

3:49     Stock market as a "super highway"

6:41     Back to concentrated positions: career stories

8:53     Golden handcuffs near retirement

10:57  Sam's own Washington Mutual mistake

12:05  Advice: diversify and get a plan

12:42  Closing / call to action

Original Air Date: August 22, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

Contact:  www.crestmontpw.com 

Alec Walker in Houston:  831-280-5288 

Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a podcast episode of The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth, hosted by Sam McGee alongside Baron Wiley, featuring guest Agnes Damp, a Texas A&M senior and summer intern at Crestmont Private Wealth. After casual opening banter, the conversation covers Agnes's background: a discipleship program in Panama City Beach, her leadership as sorority president at Kappa Delta, her academic path into finance, and her Charles Schwab internship experience touring multiple RIA firms. The back half focuses on her two-week internship at Crestmont, what she learned about financial planning and client work, and closes with praise for her character and a teaser that she may get a job offer.

 

0:00 — Intro/disclaimer (Alec Walker)

0:22 — Sam McGee & Baron Wiley banter, intro Agnes

1:25 — How Agnes and Sam met via Texas A&M

2:55 — Agnes's summer: Kaleo discipleship program in Panama City Beach

4:21 — Sorority (Kappa Delta) leadership journey, becoming president

6:10 — Academic path into finance at Mays Business School

6:54 — Landing the Charles Schwab internship

8:09 — Life on Schwab's Dallas campus, RIA team rotations

9:54 — Comparing firm cultures across visits

11:28 — Transition to her Crestmont Private Wealth internship

13:02 — What she learned at Crestmont (e-money, 529 plans)

14:09 — Closing praise and reflections on her character

14:53 — Sign-off and teaser about a possible job offer

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam McGee of Crestmont Private Wealth sits down with business partner and Chief Operating Officer Hannah Perry to discuss her decade-long journey from intern to equity partner. Hannah shares career advice for young professionals, breaks down what a custodian is in plain English, covers cybersecurity best practices for investors, and opens up about faith, family, and work-life balance in Boerne, Texas.

 

Chapter Timeline:

 

0:00 – Welcome & Introducing Hannah Perry and Roland Ruiz

1:24 – Hannah's Career Journey: From Intern to COO

3:30 – Advice for Young Professionals

5:20 – What Is a Custodian? Choosing & Switching Custodians

8:18 – Cybersecurity & Protecting Client Assets

9:42 – Personal Side: Family, Faith & Life in Boerne

11:51 – Vision for Crestmont's Future & Work-Life Balance

13:06 – Redbird Ministries & Community Giving

 

Original Air Date: August 8, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

Contact:  www.crestmontpw.com

Alec Walker in Houston:  831-280-5288

Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Ascent, Sam McGee of Crestmont Private Wealth breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance — the Federal Reserve and interest rates. Whether you're a homeowner, borrower, or just curious about what drives the economy, this episode gives you a clear, jargon-free explanation of how the Fed works and why it matters to your everyday financial life.

Topics covered:

What is the Federal Reserve and how did it start?

How interest rates regulate the economy and inflation

The difference between Fed rate cuts and mortgage rates

Why the 10-year Treasury is a better barometer for mortgage rates

Lessons from COVID-19, the 2008 financial crisis, and beyond

 

0:00 – Welcome & intro (Hill Country flooding update)

0:30 – Why interest rates matter to everyone

1:30 – What is the Federal Reserve? (Founded 1913)

3:00 – The Fed's two goals: economy vs. inflation

4:30 – How low rates stimulate a sluggish economy

6:00 – How high rates cool inflation

7:00 – Sam's background in meteorology & pivot to finance

8:30 – Mortgage rates: does a Fed cut automatically lower them?

10:00 – The 10-year Treasury as a mortgage rate barometer

12:00 – The FOMC and the federal funds rate explained

13:30 – The Fed as an emergency response system

15:00 – Post-COVID economic reflections & soft landing

16:00 – About Crestmont Private Wealth & closing

 

📩 Contact: [email protected] | [email protected]

🌐 Crestmont Private Wealth | Houston & Boerne, TX

 

Original Air Date: August 1, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

Contact:  www.crestmontpw.com 

Alec Walker in Houston:  831-280-5288 

Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Ascent, Sam McGee sits down with Alec Walker, EVP of Financial Planning and CFP at Crestmont Private Wealth, to discuss multi-generational financial planning. They explore what it means to truly serve families across generations — from setting up accounts for adult children to supporting elderly parents navigating an estate after losing a spouse. Alec and Sam also share real client stories (anonymized), break down Crestmont's unique intergenerational family billing structure, and explain why building a relationship with your advisor now — before a life event happens — is one of the most important financial decisions a family can make.

00:00 – Welcome & Introduction

00:21 – Who is Crestmont's Ideal Client?

01:23 – Core Values: Client, Community & Team

02:47 – Multi-Generational Planning: Real Client Scenarios

04:56 – The Sandwich Generation: Kids, Parents & Everything in Between

06:27 – Going Above & Beyond for Grieving Clients

08:16 – What Wealth Management Really Means at Crestmont

09:36 – Building a Relationship Before You Need It

10:48 – Stewardship, Gifting & Passing on Values

11:54 – Intergenerational Family Billing Explained

13:38 – Strategic Gifting & the Trump Account

14:10 – Wrap-Up & How to Reach Crestmont

 

🏢 Crestmont Private Wealth

📍 Houston, TX | Boerne, TX (Main Street)

📧 [email protected]

Original Air Date: July 25, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

Contact:  www.crestmontpw.com 

Alec Walker in Houston:  831-280-5288 

Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth, Alec Walker (EVP of Financial Planning) covers everything parents and grandparents need to know about saving for children — including the newly formalized Trump Accounts — plus a Q2 market recap and what to watch in the second half of 2025.

Topics covered:

What are Trump Accounts? Key rules, contribution limits, and the $1,000 government contribution for eligible children born 2025–2028

How Trump Accounts compare to 529s, UTMAs, Roth IRAs, and Schwab Teen Accounts

Multi-generational gifting strategies for grandparents

Q2 market recap: S&P 500 all-time high, SpaceX IPO, oil & Iran conflict

What to watch in H2: inflation, Fed rates, AI spending, and broadening market breadth

 

0:00 – Intro & summer update

0:45 – 529 annual review preview & episode overview

2:10 – What are Trump Accounts? Rules & eligibility

4:00 – $1,000 & $250 government contributions (Michael Dell match)

5:20 – How to open a Trump Account (trumpaccounts.gov)

6:10 – Comparing accounts: 529, UTMA, Roth IRA, Schwab Teen Accounts

8:30 – How Crestmont views Trump Accounts (luxury vs. priority)

10:15 – Best use case: grandparent gifting & multi-generational planning

12:30 – Q2 market recap: S&P 500, oil peak, all-time high

14:20 – SpaceX IPO update

15:10 – H2 outlook: inflation, Fed rates, AI capex, market breadth

17:30 – Closing & contact info

Questions? Reach out at [email protected]

Original Air Date: July 18, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

Contact:  www.crestmontpw.com 

Alec Walker in Houston:  831-280-5288 

Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam McGee (Crestmont Private Wealth) sits down with Brian Reilly, Chief of the Sisterdale Volunteer Fire Department. Brian shares his journey from zero fire experience to leading a department that grew from 8 to 33 members. The conversation centers on the July 4, 2025 Hill Country floods, volunteer recruitment, and the community-first model that makes Sisterdale VFD unique.

 

0:00 — Intro & welcome; Firefighter 1/2 class graduation shout-out

~1:00 — Brian's background: no fire experience, moved to Sisterdale, joined the department

~3:00 — Why he stayed: serving fellow responders, growing the team from 8 to 33

~5:00 — Career pivot: data analyst → Ready Pro Safety small business owner

~7:00 — July 4th floods: how fast the river rose, the debris, being boxed in by low water crossings

~9:00 — Taking over county operations command out of Sisterdale station

~11:00 — Out-of-state assets, Alamo Heights boat teams, and the unsung heroes of the recovery

~12:30 — The challenge of well-meaning volunteers without training; protecting civilians from what they'd see

~14:00 — Mental health support: Jillian Rodriguez, Hill Country Family Services

~14:30 — 70% of US fire departments are all-volunteer; how to get involved

~15:00 — Sisterdale's community-owned model: two tiers of membership, full financial transparency

~15:40 — Drone program, non-responder roles, and the call to serve in any capacity

Original Air Date: July 11, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

Contact:  www.crestmontpw.com 

Alec Walker in Houston:  831-280-5288 

Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam McGee of Crestmont Private Wealth opens with a moment of reflection on last year's 4th of July flooding near Center Point and Hunt, then pivots to celebrate America's 250th birthday. The main segment uses a brisket-cooking analogy — drawn from a concept originally shared by Alec Walker — to illustrate long-term investing principles:

 

Patience pays: Just as opening a smoker lid too often dries out a brisket, frequently jumping in and out of the market erodes wealth. Citing Vanguard data: missing just the best 25 trading days between 1996–2024 would have cost ~60% of returns on a $100K portfolio.

Avoid timing the market: The SpaceX IPO is used as an example of short-term "microwave" thinking vs. a long, slow smoke.

The value of an advisor: Vanguard research shows 86% of advised clients report greater peace of mind, and 76% spend less time worrying — saving a median of 2 hours/week. Advisors can add ~3% net value annually.

Call to action: High net worth individuals ($1M+ in liquidity) are invited to reach out at [email protected].

Timeline

Time     Topic

0:00     Intro — Sam Magee introduces the show and the cooking analogy

0:25     Reflection on 4th of July 2024 floods near Center Point/Hunt

1:00     America's 250th birthday acknowledgment

1:27     Intro to the brisket analogy; Sam admits he's cooking one at the office

2:23     Texting "Johnny" for brisket tips — sets up the advisor parallel

3:08     How brisket relates to investing — patience, no market timing

4:06     Crestmont's approach: financial plans, partnering with families

4:44     SpaceX IPO example — instant gratification vs. long-term compounding

5:49     Vanguard stat: missing best 25 trading days = losing ~60% of wealth

6:55     Texas A&M brisket class tangent

7:36     Value of a patient, long-term advisor

7:59     Vanguard white paper: 86% peace of mind, 76% less worry, 2 hrs/week saved

10:05  Advisors help avoid mistakes, optimize taxes, stay disciplined

10:32  Vanguard estimates ~3% net value added annually

10:54  CTA: newsletter at [email protected]

11:56  Closing — brisket reality check, time you can't get back

12:34  Final thoughts — safety, prayers for flood families & CO firefighters

Original Air Date: July 4, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

Contact:  www.crestmontpw.com 

Alec Walker in Houston:  831-280-5288 

Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth — World Cup & Global Diversification

Host: Alec Walker, EVP of Financial Planning | ~13:36

Summary:

Alec uses the World Cup — being hosted in Houston — as a jumping-off point to discuss global investment diversification. He covers how US markets represent only 62% of global equities and 41% of global bonds, explains the firm's "home country bias" approach, and reviews the "periodic table of returns" showing no country consistently tops the charts. He highlights recent outperformance by international and emerging markets (up 42% and 67% respectively since Jan 2025), and revisits the "lost decade" of 2000–2009 when the S&P 500 returned -0.78% while diversified portfolios thrived. He closes with a behavioral coaching message about avoiding FOMO and protecting downside risk.

0:00 — Intro & SpaceX IPO follow-up

0:44 — World Cup fever in Houston; transition to investment topic

2:31 — Diversification intro: US stocks, RSUs, concentrated positions

3:21 — Core portfolio approach: global diversification reduces top-10 concentration from 40% → 23%

3:56 — Global equity breakdown: US (62%, ~3,400 companies), Developed ex-US, Emerging Markets

5:32 — Global bond markets: US is only 41% of global bond cap

6:13 — Periodic table of returns (2005–2024): top countries, Denmark's 11.2% annualized return

7:30 — Key holdings: Novo Nordisk (Denmark), Samsung & SK Hynix (Korea)

8:43 — Recent 18-month data: S&P +27%, Russell 2000 +36%, Intl Dev +42%, EM +67%

10:07 — Recent rebalance rationale: trimming US exposure

10:30 — The Lost Decade (2000–2009): S&P -0.78% annualized; bonds +82%, EM +194%

11:53 — Behavioral coaching: avoid FOMO, protect downside, long-term planning

13:06 — Outro & crestmontpw.com

Original Air Date: June 27, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

Contact:  www.crestmontpw.com 

Alec Walker in Houston:  831-280-5288 

Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Ascent, Sam Magee of Crestmont Private Wealth (Houston & Boerne, TX) breaks down the investment philosophy that guides every client relationship at the firm. From long-term investing and avoiding market timing, to asset liability matching and fiduciary responsibility, Sam explains the framework Crestmont uses to help clients build wealth through compounding returns — no sales pitch, just honest insight.

Topics covered:

What "long-term investing" actually means

Why Crestmont doesn't try to time the market

Asset liability matching — matching investments to future obligations

Investing in quality businesses that weather market storms

The fiduciary standard and why it matters

How to evaluate and interview a financial advisor

📧 Contact: [email protected]

Timeline:

0:00 – Introduction & About Crestmont Private Wealth

0:46 – Overview of today's topic: Investment Philosophy

1:27 – Tenet #1: Long-Term Investors (what "long-term" really means)

2:55 – Asset Liability Matching explained

3:43 – Not market timers — process over prediction

5:37 – Investing in quality businesses (Ukraine-Russia analogy)

7:15 – Compounding returns & why patience matters

8:36 – Building cohesive financial plans & portfolio construction

9:17 – The Fiduciary Standard explained

10:15 – Taxation & implementation considerations

10:35 – How to reach Crestmont & evaluating advisors

12:13 – Closing thoughts: time in the market, not timing the market

Original Air Date: June 20, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM

Contact:  www.crestmontpw.com 

Alec Walker in Houston:  831-280-5288 

Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.