The Story of IronFjord
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 in search of adventure. 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 memories.
As we crossed mountain ranges, coastal highways, and quiet fjords, our investments quietly continued to compound in the background. It was a powerful reminder of what financial freedom makes possible, the ability to step away, be present with family, and know that the plan you’ve built keeps working while you take time to live it.
Somewhere along a misty fjord in Newfoundland, teaching our kids to skip stones into the water, I realized I didn’t want to go back to just any job when the trip ended and my oldest started school. I wanted to build something meaningful, something that reflected my values and experience, and helped others create their own version of financial independence.
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. 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 everyday people managed, and struggled with, their finances. From there, I moved into wealth management at Australia’s leading asset manager, before taking a leap of faith and relocating from Sydney to New York City.
In New York, I worked in private credit, analyzing the financial health of small and mid-sized businesses. My role was to identify which companies were worth financing and which carried hidden risks, a front-row education in how money, risk, and decision-making intertwine. Later, I joined my wife’s growing startup as CFO/COO, 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.
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
Education & Credentials
Bachelor of Commerce, Major in Finance
MBA with Distinction, Concentration in Applied Finance
