The Ascent with Crestmont Private Wealth - The Fed 8-1-26

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: 830-368-2898See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.