The Ascent With Crestmont Private Wealth

Sam McGee
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Host:  Sam McGee, MBA, CFA Founder/Owner of Crestmont Private Wealth. 604 S. Main St. Boerne TX 78006 (830) 368-2898 www.crestmontpw.com

  1. 1d ago

    The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth - Sam and Alec 7-25-26

    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) 📧 info@crestmontpw.com 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.

  2. Jul 18

    The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth - Savings For Children 7/18/26

    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 info@crestmontpw.com 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.

  3. Jul 11

    The Ascent With Crestmont Private Wealth - Brian Reilly, Chief Of Sisterdale VFD 7-11-26

    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.

    The Ascent With Crestmont Private Wealth - Brian Reilly, Chief Of Sisterdale VFD 7-11-26

  4. Jul 4

    The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth July 4 Show 7-4-26

    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 info@crestmontpw.com. 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 info@crestmontpw.com 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.

  5. Jun 28

    The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth - World Cup with Alec Walker 6-27-26

    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.

  6. Jun 20

    The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth - Investment Philosophy 6-20-26

    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: info@crestmontpw.com 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.

  7. Jun 13

    The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth - Alec Walker 6-13-26

    Alec Walker covers three main topics:   Portfolio Rebalance — Crestmont recently completed a rebalance of their 7 core globally diversified portfolios (conservative to ultra-aggressive, primarily low-cost ETFs). He explains their policy → strategy → tactics framework:   Policy: Threshold-based rebalancing (not calendar-based) when allocations drift outside target ranges Strategy: Tax-aware approach — IRA accounts taken back to target with no tax impact; taxable accounts handled more conservatively Tactics: Equity exposure trimmed 2–6% depending on drift; one passive fund replaced with an active ETF in the same asset class Context: Vanguard research shows rebalanced portfolios have ~20% lower volatility historically Market Concentration & Diversification — Over 40% of the S&P 500 is concentrated in the top 10 companies. Post-rebalance, client portfolios are ~25% in those top 10. Diversification has paid off in 2025: S&P 493 up 11% YTD vs. Mag Seven up 3%; small cap outperforming by 7–8%; international developed markets up 3%+ above S&P 500.   SpaceX IPO — Clients have been asking about it. Crestmont will not be facilitating participation due to fiduciary/compliance considerations. Key points: S&P 500 has announced it won't fast-track SpaceX into the index; due to low float, SpaceX would likely represent only ~0.2% of the index even if added; high valuation relative to current financials, but short-term pop is expected.   Timeline Time     Topic 0:00     Intro — Who Alec is, overview of Crestmont's holistic wealth management services 0:49     Investment committee overview; quarterly rebalance of 7 core portfolios 1:22     What a rebalance means; threshold-based approach explained 1:50     Policy → Strategy → Tactics framework introduced 3:06     Rebalance strategy details: threshold-based, not calendar-based 3:48     Tax-aware strategy: separating taxable vs. IRA accounts 4:36     Vanguard research: rebalanced portfolios have ~20% lower volatility 4:58     Tactics: equity trimmed 2–6%; fund swap (passive → active ETF) 5:52     Tax implications perspective for all investors; low turnover philosophy 7:01     Example: $1M account, $25K gains → $5,950 tax = 0.6% of portfolio 7:54     S&P 500 up 8% YTD, 24% over 12 months — contextualizing the 0.6% tax cost 8:41     Rebalance wrap-up; transition to market concentration topic 9:03     S&P 500 concentration: 40%+ in top 10; portfolios now at ~25% in top 10 9:21     Diversification performance: S&P 493, small cap, international markets all outperforming Mag Seven 10:09  SpaceX IPO — client questions; Crestmont not facilitating participation 10:35  FOMO vs. risks; S&P 500 rule changes; "holding the bag" concern 11:11  S&P won't allow quick entry; SpaceX projected at 2–5% weight (market cap), but only ~0.2% adjusted for float 12:45  IPO valuation high vs. fundamentals; short-term pop expected; subject to quarterly earnings going forward 13:30  Closing remarks + Spurs shoutout Original Air Date: June 13, 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.

  8. Jun 6

    The Ascent - Rebecca Pitre 6-6-26

    Sam McGee sits down with Crestmont team member Rebecca Petre to celebrate her one-year anniversary with the firm. They discuss what it's really like to transition from Texas A&M into the financial planning workforce, lessons learned on client communication, the new Charles Schwab–funded RIA program at A&M, the Survivor's Guide project, and navigating wedding season on a budget. A great listen for new grads entering the financial world. 0:00 — Intro: Sam introduces the show and the new office landscaping in Boerne, TX. 0:17 — Introducing Rebecca: One-year anniversary at Crestmont; her first day was the Boerne ribbon-cutting. 1:23 — Biggest lessons from year one: Learning to simplify complex financial concepts when talking with clients; understanding that clarity beats jargon. 3:21 — Going back to Texas A&M: Attending career day, RIA Day (a new on-campus RIA office partnership funded by Charles Schwab Foundation), and alumni events. 5:46 — Internship vs. full-time: The shift from internship to real-world work — adjusting to full days, time management, and work-life balance. 8:05 — The Survivor's Guide project: A document Crestmont is creating to help clients organize critical info (wills, contacts, accounts) for loved ones in the event of a death. 9:18 — Upcoming intern Agnes: A Texas A&M senior joining for a July internship; Rebecca will help mentor her. 9:58 — Personal life: Outdoors, pickleball, family/friends — and a summer packed with three weddings. 10:42 — Wedding season finances: Budgeting for being in multiple weddings; advice to set funds aside, especially for destination weddings. 11:32 — Grandmother shout-out & close: Rebecca shouts out her "Nanny" who listens to every episode. Sam closes by thanking Rebecca and celebrating her growth. 📍 Crestmont Private Wealth | Houston & Boerne, TX Original Air Date: June 6, 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 - Rebecca Pitre 6-6-26
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Host:  Sam McGee, MBA, CFA Founder/Owner of Crestmont Private Wealth. 604 S. Main St. Boerne TX 78006 (830) 368-2898 www.crestmontpw.com

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