After 24 years of dedicated service, John J. Gonner, Chief Investment Officer at First Community Trust (FCT), is stepping into retirement at the end of May. Throughout his remarkable career, John has been a steady, guiding presence—shaping FCT’s investment philosophy, mentoring colleagues, and earning the trust of clients through his thoughtful, principled approach. As he transitions into this new chapter, John takes a moment to reflect on the journey that brought him here, the people who shaped it, and what his role at FCT has meant to him. Below, in his own words, John shares a personal reflection on his time at FCT and what comes next. Congratulations and best wishes to you, John!
What a blessing it is to enjoy the work you do and the people you get to do it with. I can hardly believe that the time is here already for my retirement. In many ways, I’ve been planning for this since high school. At that early age, I realized that if I wanted to retire alongside my older siblings, I’d need to retire a little earlier than most. As the youngest of four—by a few years—I watched them head off to school and work while I was still at home, which motivated me to think seriously about planning for my own financial future.
I also realized at an early age that I wanted to work in investments, though I’m not quite sure where that came from. Our family didn’t have any investments that I was aware of. Both of my parents worked for the post office, and there wasn’t business talk around our dinner table. Still, somehow, I felt a strong interest in managing investments. In college, I had the opportunity to work as an unpaid intern for a trust department and that experience confirmed my desire to do that kind of work.
During my senior year of college, the stock market crashed, and the financial world was in turmoil. Magazine covers featured stories about MBAs driving cabs because of the big slump on Wall Street. Given the uncertainty, I took a job as a computer programmer for a major accounting firm in downtown Chicago. Having grown up in a small town in Iowa, I loved the energy of the big city and spent three great years there.
My opportunity to transition into investments came when the trust department where I had interned years earlier had an opening. I spent a decade there before joining a new start-up trust company, First Community Trust (FCT), as its Chief Investment Officer. For the past 24 years, this has been my dream job. I also had the honor of serving as CEO for a few years. Throughout this time, I’ve been privileged to work alongside dedicated colleagues, always committed to doing what’s right for our clients. I will deeply miss the conversations with clients—learning what’s important to them and helping them find the right balance between “sleep-at-night” security and investment growth to achieve their goals.
As I step into retirement, I’m thrilled to pass the reins to our new Chief Investment Officer, Jenna Walleser. She is a bright, talented leader with a deep passion for investments and economics, an exceptional ability to communicate, and a clear vision for FCT’s future. I believe she sees this as her dream job, just as I did. Our clients will appreciate her expertise and the personal attention she brings to her role.
Thankfully, my journey with FCT isn’t ending entirely. I’ve recently joined the FCT Investment Advisory committee, a newly established team serving as a resource to Jenna as she leads the future of FCT portfolio management. I look forward to this new chapter—one that allows me to stay connected while embracing the freedom that retirement brings. To my colleagues, clients, and friends at FCT: thank you. It has been an incredible journey, and I am grateful for every moment.