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| photography by Doug Davis |
Jim whiddon founded Dallas-based JWA Financial Group Inc. in 1986, shortly after graduating from Texas A&M University and earning a master’s degree from The American College in Philadelphia. The independent, fee-based firm’s advisors are all Certified Financial Planners. Whiddon, along with company President Lance Alston, hosts “The Investing Revolution,” a weekly economic and investment talk show on WBAP-AM (820). He has also written several books, including 2005’s Wealth Without Worry and The Little Book of Retirement, which will be released next year.
Age: 47
Title/Company: Founder and CEO/JWA Financial Group Inc.
Tenure: 21 years
What was your first job? I was 13 and I cleaned the toilets in an office building for $2.05 an hour. It was in Amarillo, where I grew up.
What was your worst job? Believe it or not, that wasn’t my worst job. Right after I got married and before I found a real job, my wife and I both became Kelly temporary employees. I mowed lawns, I worked in a warehouse, whatever they needed me to do.
If you weren’t the CEO of JWA, what would you be doing? I’d always wanted to coach basketball. I was a grad assistant coach at Texas A&M for a couple of years.
If you couldn’t say the people you work with, what’s the best part of your job? The best part is introducing people to what we call “the last investment strategy they’ll ever need.” It’s rewarding because it’s a field where people are always searching and getting conflicting information, so we want them to find a home and relax and go do more important things with their lives.
What’s the worst part? The worst part is probably finding the right people, because we’re pretty picky in terms of who we hire. We require an advanced degree beyond undergrad, so that kind of narrows the field.
On weekends, where would people find you? I’m with my kids, and more often than not you’d find us on our ranch near Bonham. I have two sons—they are 15 and 11. And I’m a couple months away from remarrying, so I’m going to get two daughters in that transaction. So I’ll have four kids soon.
How do you find any free time with all your involvements? Strangely, I’ve got more free time now than I’ve ever had, just because I’ve got a good staff that basically does the day-to-day—the technical part of the business. That has freed me up to be more of a strategic thinker, which I think is really the CEO’s job.
Having graduated from Texas A&M, are you a big Aggie fan? Oh yeah. Season tickets, the whole thing.
And Lance Alston, the president of the company, is a University of Texas alum? We’re diversified. [Laughs] Fortunately he is not as big of a Longhorn as I am an Aggie.
What book is currently on your nightstand? The Dangerous Book for Boys.
What’s your favorite TV show? Seinfeld, hands down. And The Office.
What’s your most recent major purchase? I bought a new home in North Dallas, getting ready for my new family.
What’s your biggest weakness? I probably need to be a better listener.
What’s the best advice anyone ever gave you? “That man is the richest whose pleasures are the simplest.” My parents told me that.
What’s the best advice you’ve given your kids? I always tell them no whining, no complaining, and no excuses. I’ve also told them that fair is an amusement park with rides.
