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: info@crestmontpw.com | sam@crestmontpw.com

🌐 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

In this episode of The Ascent, Sam McGee of Crestmont Private Wealth breaks down one of the most misunderstood topics in personal finance &mdash; 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
&nbsp;
0:00 &ndash; Welcome &amp; intro (Hill Country flooding update)
0:30 &ndash; Why interest rates matter to everyone
1:30 &ndash; What is the Federal Reserve? (Founded 1913)
3:00 &ndash; The Fed's two goals: economy vs. inflation
4:30 &ndash; How low rates stimulate a sluggish economy
6:00 &ndash; How high rates cool inflation
7:00 &ndash; Sam's background in meteorology &amp; pivot to finance
8:30 &ndash; Mortgage rates: does a Fed cut automatically lower them?
10:00 &ndash; The 10-year Treasury as a mortgage rate barometer
12:00 &ndash; The FOMC and the federal funds rate explained
13:30 &ndash; The Fed as an emergency response system
15:00 &ndash; Post-COVID economic reflections &amp; soft landing
16:00 &ndash; About Crestmont Private Wealth &amp; closing
&nbsp;
📩 Contact: info@crestmontpw.com | sam@crestmontpw.com
🌐 Crestmont Private Wealth | Houston &amp; Boerne, TX
&nbsp;
Original Air Date: August 1, 2026 at 8:30am as heard on Boerne Radio 103.9FM
Contact:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.crestmontpw.com">www.crestmontpw.com</a>&nbsp;
Alec Walker in Houston:&nbsp; 831-280-5288&nbsp;
Sam McGee in Boerne: 830-368-2898

Host:  Sam McGee, MBA, CFA

Founder/Owner of Crestmont Private Wealth.
604 S. Main St. Boerne TX 78006
(830) 368-2898
www.crestmontpw.com

Host:  Sam McGee, MBA, CFA
Founder/Owner of Crestmont Private Wealth.
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.google.com/maps?q=604%20S.%20Main%20St.,%20Boerne,%20TX,%2078006">604 S. Main St. Boerne TX 78006</a></li>
<li><a href="tel:8303682898">(830) 368-2898</a></li>
<li><a href="http://crestmontpw.com/">www.crestmontpw.com</a></li>
</ul>

The Ascent With Crestmont Private Wealth

The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth 

Host: Sam McGee

Houston Office: I Riverway, Suite 470 Houston, Texas 77056

(832) 280-5288

Boerne Office: 604 South Main Boerne, Texas 78006

Office (830) 368-2898

About Sam McGee

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER

Sam McGee is the founder and owner of Crestmont Private Wealth. As CEO, he believes that to lead well you must have a servant heart. His day-to-day role with Crestmont is to lead and learn from a group of talented professionals who have high character qualities and initiative. His vision is to steer a mission led company that changes lives through financial stewardship, engagement with clients, and fiduciary style education.

Sam has 26 years in the financial industry and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. The CFA Program is a rigorous three-part exam that tests the fundamentals of investment tools, valuing assets, portfolio management, wealth planning, with an emphasis on ethics and quantitative analysis.

Sam is passionate about volunteering his time to the community. He founded the Texas Hill Country Mustang Club (501c7), is a board member for Hill Country Family Services, was appointed by the Texas Governor to the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists, is a volunteer firefighter with the Boerne Fire Department, a trained SkyWarn Weather Spotter, and a Boerne Little League head coach, and involved with many charitable causes.

When asked what is most important to him, he said “Faith, Family, Community, & Friendships”

The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth 
Host: Sam McGee
Houston Office: I Riverway, Suite 470 Houston, Texas 77056
(832) 280-5288
Boerne Office: 604 South Main Boerne, Texas 78006
Office (830) 368-2898
About Sam McGee
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER &amp; CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER
Sam McGee is the founder and owner of Crestmont Private Wealth. As CEO, he believes that to lead well you must have a servant heart. His day-to-day role with Crestmont is to lead and learn from a group of talented professionals who have high character qualities and initiative. His vision is to steer a mission led company that changes lives through financial stewardship, engagement with clients, and fiduciary style education.
Sam has 26 years in the financial industry and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. The CFA Program is a rigorous three-part exam that tests the fundamentals of investment tools, valuing assets, portfolio management, wealth planning, with an emphasis on ethics and quantitative analysis.
Sam is passionate about volunteering his time to the community. He founded the Texas Hill Country Mustang Club (501c7), is a board member for Hill Country Family Services, was appointed by the Texas Governor to the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists, is a volunteer firefighter with the Boerne Fire Department, a trained SkyWarn Weather Spotter, and a Boerne Little League head coach, and involved with many charitable causes.
When asked what is most important to him, he said “Faith, Family, Community, &amp; Friendships”