President and CEO
Johnson Financial Group | Racine
Jim Popp leads Johnson Financial Group Inc., the Racine-based holding company of Johnson Bank and Johnson Wealth. Johnson Financial Group is the largest family-owned SEC-registered investment advisor in Wisconsin, with approximately $10 billion in assets under management and more than 30 locations across Wisconsin and Minnesota. Popp was named president of Johnson Bank in 2017 and CEO of Johnson Financial Group in 2018, following nearly three decades at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Education: Bachelor’s, Vanderbilt; MBA, DePaul University’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
What would you like to change about Wisconsin: “I’m a Bears fan by birth, so maybe if the Packers would lose to us once in a while it would make Wisconsin better, at least for me!”
Favorite part of the workday: “I actually like the drive in each day. It’s quiet time to think and prepare for the day ahead. And nothing’s gone wrong yet!”
If you could time travel: “Sounds corny, but I would probably go back and spend a day with my mother. She passed away almost 30 years ago, so she missed out on most of our family growing up. She was fun and outgoing and would have been a big part of our kids’ lives. I would go back and fill her in on all that she’s missed and make sure she knows what a great life we’ve all had.”
Favorite movie: “’Shawshank Redemption.’ It has hope, fear, desperation, humor, determination, patience and, ultimately, redemption.”
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Banking and Finance
President and CEO
Johnson Financial Group | Racine
Jim Popp leads Johnson Financial Group Inc., the Racine-based, family-owned holding company of Johnson Bank and Johnson Insurance Services with $14 billion in assets under administration, 1,200 employees, and more than 30 locations across Wisconsin and Minnesota. Popp was named president of Johnson Bank in 2017 and CEO of JFG in 2018, following nearly three decades at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Education: MBA, DePaul University Kellstadt Graduate School of Business
Hobby/passion: “My hobby is golf, although I wouldn’t necessarily call it a passion. I love to play, especially with my wife, my boys or good friends. I (also) love to build things, fix things or design things.”
First car: “I had a 1976 Volkswagen Rabbit. How long did I drive it? Too damn long!”
Favorite restaurant: “I’m a steak guy, so any great steak place works for me. The Farmstead in Cedarburg is a favorite.”
Fun fact: “Most know me as a banker for the past 35 or so years, but I actually spent two years from 1999 to 2001 running a small, podiatry supply business with my father-in-law. As a former banker, it was a great experience being on ‘the other side of the table,’ and I gained a whole new perspective. After a few years, it became apparent that there was one too many family members in the family business – and that turned out to be me! So, I went back to banking.”
