Wealth & Everything Else is a podcast for ultra-high-net-worth individuals, families, and trusted advisors seeking thoughtful, practical insight into every dimension of wealth.
Hosted by John Zimmerman, President of Ascent Private Capital Management of U.S. Bank, each episode features conversations with leading experts, experienced practitioners, and families navigating real-world wealth decisions across investments, private banking, trusts and estate planning, philanthropy, leadership and legacy, and more.
To learn more about Ascent, please visit ascent.usbank.com
Beyond Returns: What Impact Investing Really Means
Impact investing offers families an opportunity to align their investment portfolios with their values, priorities, and long-term goals. But what does it actually mean to invest with impact, and how can families translate their intentions into a thoughtful investment strategy?
In this episode of Wealth & Everything Else, John Zimmerman is joined by Kaush Amin and Chad Burlingame of Ascent Private Capital Management of U.S. Bank to explore the role of impact investing in multi-generational wealth management.
Key themes include:
Defining impact investing and understanding how it differs from philanthropy.
Translating family values and priorities into an investment strategy.
Evaluating the potential tradeoffs between financial performance and intended impact.
Incorporating impact investments into an existing portfolio across asset classes.
Exploring emerging opportunities and the future of impact investing.
For more information on Ascent, please visit ascent.usbank.com (http://ascent.usbank.com/)
6 Oct 2026
Private Markets and Direct Deals: What Families Should Know
Private markets can offer families access to a broader range of investment opportunities, but they also bring added complexity, risk and important considerations around manager selection and portfolio construction.
In this episode of Wealth & Everything Else, John Zimmerman is joined by Kaush Amin, who leads private markets at Ascent Private Capital Management, to discuss the role of alternative investments within a long-term family portfolio. They explore the private capital landscape, approaches to direct investing and what families should consider when evaluating opportunities.
John and Kaush also discuss today’s private market environment, the importance of being selective and how families can think about positioning their portfolios for the opportunities ahead.
In this episode:
Understanding alternatives and the different investment strategies within the category
The role of private capital in a long-term portfolio
Different approaches to direct investing
What to consider when evaluating private market opportunities
How the current market environment is shaping opportunities and risks
Considerations for families looking ahead
For more information on Ascent, please visit ascent.usbank.com
1 Sept 2026
Portfolio Design for Multi-Generational Families
In our new series, Investing Through the Lens of Legacy, we explore how ultra-high-net-worth families can approach investing with a long-term, multigenerational perspective.
As family needs and priorities shift over time, portfolio decisions may involve considerations around liquidity, lifestyle, growth, legacy, and differing perspectives across generations.
John Zimmerman and Phil Scherrer discuss how families can begin with their broader goals, translate those priorities into portfolio structure, and revisit their approach as circumstances change. They also explore diversification, concentrated holdings, governance, and the role of stewardship in long-term investment planning.
Key themes include:
Starting with family goals before determining portfolio structure
Balancing liquidity, lifestyle, growth, and legacy considerations
Managing concentrated exposures within a broader portfolio
Revisiting governance and investment policy over time
Approaching long-term investing through the lens of stewardship
For more information on Ascent, please visit ascent.usbank.com
28 Jul 2026
Legacy in Motion: Key Takeaways
As we wrap up our first series of Wealth & Everything Else, we're looking back at some of the most meaningful conversations from Legacy in Motion.
In this highlights episode, we revisit key insights on navigating difficult conversations about wealth, preparing the next generation through intentional education, using philanthropy to strengthen family values, and viewing investing as a tool for long-term stewardship rather than short-term returns.
Whether you've listened to every episode or are joining us for the first time, this recap brings together the foundational ideas that help families build legacies designed to endure for generations.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why communication is the foundation of successful multi-generational wealth
How financial education prepares future stewards of family wealth
The role of philanthropy in shaping values and strengthening family relationships
Why investing should be viewed through a long-term, legacy-focused lens
For more information on Ascent, please visit ascent.usbank.com
23 Jun 2026
Investing as a Teaching Tool
In the final episode of our Legacy in Motion series, we examine how investing can be used not only to preserve and grow capital, but also to develop capable, confident stewards across generations.
The discussion centers on how families can use structured investment experiences to prepare the rising generation for long-term responsibility.
Key themes include:
Framing investing through a multigenerational lens, with an emphasis on time and compounding
The role of investment policy statements in anchoring decisions to long-term objectives
Blending formal education with experiential learning
Creating “sandbox” portfolios to allow measured risk-taking and real-world lessons
Using investment committees to build communication, resilience, and decision-making skills
Aligning investment education with personal values and philanthropic interests
This episode concludes our Legacy in Motion series and sets the stage for our next series, where we will explore investment strategy through the lens of legacy and long-term family objectives.
For more information on Ascent, please visit ascent.usbank.com (http://ascent.usbank.com)
26 May 2026
Philanthropy as a Mirror: Building Identity Through Giving
For many families, philanthropy is where values become tangible. In this episode of our Legacy in Motion series, we explore how structured, intentional giving can strengthen family cohesion while advancing meaningful impact in the broader community.
Guests Tom Thiegs and Justin Flach address how families can define a clear mission, evaluate donor-advised funds versus private foundations, and establish governance structures that align with their broader family enterprise.
Key themes include:
Anchoring philanthropy in clearly defined values
Selecting structures that reflect family goals and complexity
Engaging the rising generation through meaningful participation
Using philanthropy to cultivate stewardship and emotional intelligence
Periodically reviewing giving to ensure alignment with mission
For more information on Ascent, please visit ascent.usbank.com (http://ascent.usbank.com)
Additional resources:
https://www.usbank.com/wealth-management/financial-perspectives/financial-planning/philanthropy-and-charitable-giving/donor-advised-funds.html (https://www.usbank.com/wealth-management/financial-perspectives/financial-planning/philanthropy-and-charitable-giving/donor-advised-funds.html)
https://www.usbank.com/wealth-management/financial-perspectives/financial-planning/philanthropy-and-charitable-giving/benefits-of-private-family-foundations.html (https://www.usbank.com/wealth-management/financial-perspectives/financial-planning/philanthropy-and-charitable-giving/benefits-of-private-family-foundations.html)
27 Apr 2026
Designing a Roadmap for the Rising Generation
Empowering the rising generation to steward wealth and leadership is one of the most meaningful investments a multigenerational family can make. In this second episode of our Legacy in Motion series, we explore how intentional family education supports long-term continuity, confidence, and cohesion.
Guests Tom Thiegs and Justin Flach discuss why education must extend beyond financial literacy to include governance, decision-making, and clearly defined roles. They emphasize that effective preparation is not a one-time event, but an ongoing, values-driven process.
Key themes include:
Aligning on shared values and purpose
Designing education around real roles and responsibilities
Using milestone-based and experiential learning
Engaging the rising generation as active participants
For more information on Ascent, please visit ascent.usbank.com (http://ascent.usbank.com)
30 Mar 2026
Difficult Conversations Around Wealth & Estate Planning
In the first episode of our Legacy in Motion series, we examine why conversations around wealth are often among the most challenging for families to initiate, yet essential to long-term continuity. Discussions about expectations, stewardship, and estate planning carry both emotional weight and structural complexity. Without deliberate engagement, families may find themselves navigating critical transitions without the clarity or alignment they need.
Guests Tom Thiegs and Justin Flach explore the reasons these conversations are frequently deferred, the distinction between reactive and proactive planning, and how intentional preparation strengthens both governance frameworks and family relationships.
Key themes include:
Beginning with incremental, ongoing dialogue rather than a single “reveal”
Prioritizing shared values before discussing financial mechanics
Approaching planning proactively rather than reactively
Leveraging trusted advisors and resources to guide complex conversations
For more information on Ascent, please visit ascent.usbank.com (http://ascent.usbank.com/)
Additional resources:
https://www.usbank.com/content/dam/usbank/en/documents/pdfs/about-us-bank/usbank-wealth-survey-designed-report-final-2024.pdf (https://www.usbank.com/content/dam/usbank/en/documents/pdfs/about-us-bank/usbank-wealth-survey-designed-report-final-2024.pdf)
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