The Story of IronFjord
IronFjord is a fiduciary Registered Investment Advisor (RIA) providing financial planning and investment management on a flat fee basis.
Meet James Mayo, CFA, EA
Money doesn’t define a good life, but it can make living one a whole lot easier when it’s managed with purpose.
That belief came to life when my wife and I decided to take a pause from the everyday routine and spend a year exploring North America with our two young kids, before their schooling began and travel became much less flexible. I built a campervan with my own hands, we named it Vance, and it became our home on wheels as we traveled through the U.S. and Canada, creating extraordinary family memories.
As we crossed mountain ranges, coastal highways, and quiet fjords, our wealth continued to compound in the background. When we returned, we were wealthier than when we left. It reinforced what thoughtful planning and investing can make possible, and it’s the same approach I’ve built over my career and use with clients today.
Somewhere along a misty fjord in Newfoundland, teaching our kids to skip stones into the water, it became clear that once the trip ended and our kids started school, I wanted to put my time and energy into building something of my own. I set out to create the firm I thought should exist: a comprehensive wealth management firm grounded in sound planning, transparent fees, research-driven investing, and the same principles my family and I live by.
On that same journey, while traveling the remote Expedition 51°, we passed through Labrador City, home to one of North America’s largest open-pit iron ore mines. The symbolism stuck with me. Awe-inspiring fjords are carved slowly over time by persistence and patience. Iron represents strength and resilience. Together, they capture what I wanted my firm to stand for: a steady, grounded approach to wealth that endures the inevitable storms.
That’s how IronFjord was born.
Financial freedom is about living how you want to live. For some, that means early retirement or world travel. For others, it’s starting a business, changing careers, or simply knowing they’ll never have to worry about money again. Whatever your version looks like, my goal is to help you make it real.
My Background
Before creating IronFjord, I worked throughout the financial world, building the experience that shaped my approach today.
I began as a business analyst at one of Australia’s largest banks, where I saw how people managed, and struggled with, their finances. From there, I moved into wealth management at Australia’s leading asset manager, before making the decision to relocate from Sydney to New York City.
In New York, I worked in private credit, analyzing the financial health of small and mid-sized businesses. Later, I joined my wife’s rapidly growing startup as CFO, managing accounting, operations, forecasting, and capital.
Those experiences gave me a deep understanding of what drives financial strength, and what quietly erodes it.
What I’ve learned, above all, is that wealth is personal. The numbers matter, but the purpose behind them matters more.
Our family has now set our roots on Green Mountain in Lakewood, Colorado, nestled at the foothills to the Rocky Mountains, where our adventures continue.
Education & Credentials
Bachelor of Commerce, Major in Finance
MBA with Distinction, Concentration in Applied Finance
Associations and Memberships
Giving Back and Volunteering
Member of the Jeffco Public Schools Financial Advisory Committee
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Volunteer
Savvy Ladies® Volunteer, a non-profit that provides financial education to women in need
