On Zephyr’s Adjusted for Risk Podcast, Ryan Nauman speaks with Beth Lawlor, President of Private Wealth Management at U.S. Bank, about findings from the U.S. Bank 2025 Wealth Report based on a survey of 5,000 U.S. adults. They discuss a “crisis in confidence” reshaping the American dream, driven less by lack of effort than by uncertainty that today’s choices will produce desired long-term outcomes and by the unprecedented velocity of news and information. Lawlor explains how the American dream remains important but timelines for milestones like marriage and homeownership have evolved, with greater emphasis on flexibility. They cover top financial worries—retirement readiness, balancing debt and savings, and unexpected expenses—plus an emotional need for reassurance, particularly among women, whose financial confidence gap is narrowing. Lawlor emphasizes starting small, automating savings, leveraging compounding, and how advisors provide structure, accountability, and a roadmap to help clients reach goals.
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Learn more about U.S. Bank Private Wealth here.
00:00 Welcome to the Podcast
01:18 Meet Beth Lawlor
01:49 Inside Private Wealth Management
03:30 Why the 2025 Wealth Report
05:31 Crisis of Confidence Today
09:21 Is the American Dream Still Alive
13:34 Top Money Worries
14:33 Women and Financial Confidence
17:14 Instant Gratification vs Planning
19:29 Teaching Kids Money
22:13 Retirement Crisis and Readiness
24:14 How Advisors Build Confidence
26:36 Where to Learn More
27:58 Final Thanks and Sign-Off
