The Ascent With Crestmont Private Wealth

Host Sam McGee, CEO of Crestmont Private Wealth, sits down with four young men — Gavin, Oliver, Pierce, and his son Samuel — to talk about a backpacking trip they took together with their dads to Colorado's Rio Grande National Forest in August 2024, organized through Way Forward Adventures. The trip was three nights, no phones, and included a sunrise hike to a 13,500-foot peak.

The broader message: all the money you bui...

This episode features Sam McGee, CEO of Crestmont Private Wealth, interviewing Kim Blohm from the Boerne Chamber of Commerce. The conversation explores:

Chamber's Role & Mission: A 501(c)(6) nonprofit that advocates, educates, and connects small businesses and nonprofits in Kendall County

Economic Impact of Nonprofits: Over 500 registered nonprofits in Kendall County, with 140 contributing $50.3 million back into the local econ...

In this episode of The Ascent, Sam McGee discusses the recent US-Iran conflict and its impact on financial markets. Recorded on March 4th, Sam analyzes the February 28th strikes, the oil price surge, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. He provides perspective on market resilience through historical conflicts, explains diversification strategies across US, developed international, and emerging markets, and offers guidance on ma...

Join Sam McGee, CEO of Crestmont Private Wealth, and real estate agent Suzanne Page from Phyllis Browning as they discuss the current state of Kendall County real estate market. Learn about market statistics, the impact of COVID on home buying, and valuable advice for first-time homebuyers. Discover why the average home age has reached 40 years old and get practical tips for navigating today's housing market.

Key Topics Cove...

Join Sam McGee, CEO of Crestmont Private Wealth, for a discussion on investing in yourself beyond just financial planning. This episode explores career reinvention, health, and overall well-being as essential components of wealth. Sam shares his personal journey from financing refrigerators to becoming a financial advisor, and explains why taking care of your physical, mental, and spiritual health is just as important as managing y...

Join Sam McGee, CEO of Crestmont Private Wealth, for a comprehensive overview of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) and how they differ from traditional mutual funds.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ What ETFs are and how they work

✅ The evolution from mutual funds to ETFs

✅ Key differences: intraday trading vs. end-of-day pricing

✅ Tax efficiency advantages of ETFs

✅ Lower costs and broader access

✅ Important factors to consider when ev...

This episode of "The Ascent" features Sam McGee and Alec Walker from Crestmont Private Wealth discussing the development of a "Survivor's Guide" - a comprehensive resource to help surviving spouses navigate financial matters after the death of a partner. They explain how this guide will document critical information like account locations, passwords, key contacts, and financial processes to ease the burden during a difficult time. ...

Join Alec Walker, EVP of Financial Planning at Crestmont Private Wealth, as he breaks down everything you need to know about Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). Learn the key differences between RSUs and stock options, understand the tax implications of vesting, and discover smart strategies for managing over-concentration risk. Whether you're receiving your first RSU grant or managing multiple vesting schedules, this episode provides a...

Join Alec Walker from Crestmont Private Wealth as he discusses investing at market all-time highs and key insights from their Q1 2025 investment committee meeting. Learn why high valuations don't predict future returns, what historical data reveals about investing at market peaks, and how to navigate volatility with confidence. Discover the "red dot chart" analysis, portfolio diversification strategies beyond the Magnificent Seven,...

Join Alec Walker and Rebecca PItre from Crestmont Private Wealth as they break down the most important tax changes for 2026. In this episode, they cover critical updates including new IRA contribution limits, mandatory Roth catch-up contributions for high earners, charitable donation rule changes, expanded SALT deductions, and lesser-known tax benefits like the enhanced senior deduction and auto loan interest deduction. Whether you...

Join Sam McGee from Crestmont Private Wealth as he interviews Cole Gentry, a junior at Texas A&M and a budding entrepreneur. Cole shares his journey from high school in Bernie, Texas, to college life at Texas A&M, his involvement in the Brotherhood of Christian Aggies, and his experiences running family and personal businesses like Oak Hills Pest Control and a summer peach stand. The conversation covers lessons in leadershi...

In this episode of "The Ascent," Sam McGee from Crestmont Private Wealth dives deep into the concept of compounding—both in finance and in life. Sam explains the formula for compound interest, why consistency and time matter more than just the rate of return, and how these principles apply to everything from investing to personal habits like working out or maintaining your car. He shares practical advice on making regular con...

Join Sam McGee of Crestmont Private Wealth as he interviews Brandy Kinds from the Texas A&M Foundation. Discover how endowed scholarships work, the impact they have on students, and how anyone—not just the ultra-wealthy—can create a lasting legacy at Texas A&M or other universities. Brandy shares her personal journey, the process of setting up scholarships, and the importance of philanthropic giving in wealth ma...

Join Sam McGee from Crestmont Private Wealth as he interviews Dr. Nathan Harness, Director of the Financial Planning Program at Texas A&M University. They discuss Nathan’s journey into financial planning, the growth of the Texas A&M program, the evolving landscape of financial advice, the shortage of new advisors, and the importance of values and faith in shaping future leaders. Whether you’re interested in fina...

This episode of "The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth," hosted by Alec Walker, focuses on end-of-year financial planning—without the stress and panic that often accompanies it. Alec discusses the importance of intentional, proactive planning rather than last-minute, reactive decisions. Key topics include tax strategies (like tax loss harvesting), Roth conversions, charitable contributions, gifting, budget reviews, retirem...

In this episode of The Ascent, Alec Walker from Crestmont Private Wealth discusses essential financial conversations every couple should have—whether you’re newlyweds or have been married for decades. Alec covers topics like understanding financial personalities, addressing money fears, combining finances, budgeting strategies, setting shared goals, and managing credit and debt. With personal anecdotes and practical adv...

This episode of "The Ascent" features Sam McGee from Crestmont Private Wealth and guest Jeremy Farber from Home Instead. The discussion centers on planning for non-medical daily living care, especially for aging couples without nearby family and families with special needs children. Key topics include the importance of early planning, the types of daily living activities that require support, the flexibility of in-home care service...

In this episode of "The Ascent" with Crestmont Private Wealth, host Sam McGee interviews Jeremy Farber from Home Instead. They discuss the importance of planning for long-term care, the challenges families face when unexpected health events occur, and practical steps to prepare for the future. Jeremy shares his personal journey, the mission behind Home Instead, and tips for helping loved ones age in place. The conversation covers f...

Join Sam McGee, CEO of Crestmont Private Wealth, and Alec Walker, CFP, as they dive into behavioral finance biases, risk tolerance, and the challenges of investing during a market high. They discuss common investor biases like loss aversion, anchoring, and the illusion of control, and share historical data on market performance after all-time highs. The conversation also covers strategies for managing risk, the importance of unders...