Raised in the Northridge neighborhood of Los Angeles, Judy spent her college vacations working in Yellowstone National Park, where she fell in love with Wyoming’s natural beauty. After exploring a range of careers, Judy found her true calling as a financial advisor. In 1994, she opened the Raymond James office at Jackson State Bank and Trust, and in 2008, she founded J Singleton Financial.

A Passion for Financial Planning

I love what I do. I want to help our clients reach their financial goals, whether it’s saving for a home, building a business or investing for retirement. But more than just designing customized financial plans, we can also work with attorneys or accountants to navigate other aspects of our clients’ lives. We are always thinking, “What can we do to be proactive here?” I think that’s one of the things that makes our firm different.

When you work with Judy, you get the best of both worlds: Professional experience with a human touch.

Judy’s Journey

When I moved to Jackson, I worked as an interior designer. One of my clients was a bank president who said, “I want to open an investment office and I want you to run it.” So I took classes and underwent extensive training and testing through Raymond James. To me, the financial planning process is similar to interior design: I ask people to share their dreams, then I create a plan to help them get where they want to go.

There’s a saying, “People don’t care about how much you know, until they know how much you care.” At SPF, we care a great deal. Nobody walks into the practice without getting a big hug. I’ve even had clients pop their heads into my office to ask, “Is everything okay? I didn’t get my hug today!”

Judy and her team aren’t just in the financial planning business. You could say they’re in the “Making Dreams Come True” business.

Support for Every Age and Stage of Life

Every client is different. Every goal is unique. Unlike many offices, we don’t have account minimums. We assist everyone from waitresses to firemen to the ultra-wealthy.

My work is incredibly satisfying. High school graduation is one of my favorite days of the year. After helping parents fund college savings plans for years, I get to see the kids graduate and learn which college they’re attending. The other thing that’s really gratifying is when we’re developing a client’s financial plan, and we ask them about their bucket list: “When you retire, what do you really want to do? You want to go to cooking school, you want to go to Africa?” As time goes by, it’s wonderful to start checking off the items on their lists, knowing that together, we helped make them happen.

Many times, the only thing clients really have to fear is fear itself.

Knowledge is Power

We help clients handle every part of their financial lives: estate planning, college savings, retirement, long-term care. Then once we’ve got a customized plan in place, we’ll pull it up every few months and we’ll say, “How is our plan doing? Yes, the market dropped, but look, we’re still on schedule.” That’s a huge relief to people.

We use Raymond James’ financial planning software, Goal Planning and Monitoring (GPM)*. It’s not just a spreadsheet. It’s an interactive tool with a speedometer graphic that moves from zero to 100% probability to help you visualize if you’re on track to achieve your goals. So if you’re at about 88%, that’s good. And if you’re at 99%, we might even say, “You’re not spending enough” – but we’ll stress-test your portfolio to be sure.

Giving back isn’t something SPF does. It’s part of who they are.

Community Spirit

For 24 years, I helped organize Old Bill’s Fun Run for Charities, an innovative fundraiser that distributes funds to more than 200 qualifying non-profits, including groups that house homeless pets, feed the hungry, teach local children and protect Jackson’s natural beauty. The event has raised $173 million and is a particular favorite of the SPF team. I also serve on the Resource Council of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, which funds and protects the park’s natural, historic and cultural assets.

Fun Facts

My parents were from Iowa. Every summer, Mom drove me and my two sisters there to spend time with our cousins on Grandpa’s farm. Dad would fly in from his job at Lockheed, and we would visit different national parks on the trip home. Living in Los Angeles, I had schoolmates whose parents worked in the movie industry. My best friend was Jennifer Selznick, whose father, David O. Selznick, produced Gone With the Wind. I actually saw that film for the first time in the Selznicks’ Beverly Hills mansion. So, in many ways, my childhood was a mix of heartland values and Hollywood glamour!
 

Judy moved to Jackson Hole in 1985 and has practiced comprehensive financial planning for over 25 years. Prior to becoming a financial advisor, she worked as a flight attendant, operated a successful retail business, and ran an interior decorating firm. Judy studied Nursing and Recreation Management at San Diego State University-California State University. She lives in Jackson, where she enjoys skiing, hiking, traveling and movies. 

Professional Licenses

General Securities Representative (Series 7)

General Securities Principal (Series 24)

Combined State Registered Investment Advisor (Series 66)

Municipal Fund Securities Limited Principal (Series 51)

Licensed Life, Accident and Variable Annuity Agent

*The projections or other information generated by Goal Planning & Monitoring regarding the likelihood of various investment outcomes are hypothetical in nature, do not reflect actual investment results and are not guarantees of future results. Goal Planning & Monitoring results may vary with each use and over time.

 

Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse the above organizations and/or charitable causes.