Questions about working with a financial advisor

IronFjord works primarily with individuals and couples approaching retirement or already retired. Most are 55 or older, have $1 million or more in investable assets, and want an ongoing relationship with one advisor coordinating their retirement income, investments, and taxes.

Common questions they want answered: Can I retire? How much can I spend? Where should my income come from? What tax opportunities should I consider? See who we serve.

Yes. IronFjord is intentionally structured so you work directly with James for your retirement planning, investment management, retirement income planning, and tax planning.

You won't be handed off from the person you meet initially to someone else later. The person who knows your plan is the person helping you make decisions.

No. IronFjord is based in Lakewood, Colorado, and works with clients nationwide.

We hold meetings by video or phone, securely share and sign documents electronically, and handle ongoing planning and account management remotely. You don't need to live near your advisor for the relationship to feel personal and well coordinated. In-person meetings are available in our Lakewood office.

It's simply a conversation to determine whether working together makes sense. We'll talk about where things stand, what you're looking for, what feels unclear, and any questions you have.

• No decisions are made during the call.
• Afterward, you'll receive one follow-up asking whether you'd like to move forward.
• No high-pressure sales tactics and no endless follow-up sequence.

We're confident in our value, and we encourage you to take the time you need to decide whether IronFjord feels like the right fit.

We begin by reviewing your financial circumstances and developing a coordinated retirement plan. Then we implement it: consolidating accounts where appropriate, building your portfolio, and setting up your retirement paycheck. From there, we manage the plan on an ongoing basis and adjust it as your circumstances and the rules change.

Probably not. Our service is an ongoing advisory relationship. If you're looking for a single investment recommendation or an answer to one specific question, an hourly or project-based planner may be a better fit.

Optional individual tax return preparation is available for a separate fee through IronFjord Tax Professionals, a separate entity under common ownership. It's generally limited to relatively straightforward returns (W-2, 1099, Social Security, and investment income) and typically doesn't include business returns, K-1s, or Schedule E.

It's never required. Many clients keep their existing accountant, and we're happy to coordinate with them. If your return falls outside that scope, we can help you find a suitable preparer.

You don't need anything for the introductory call. If we move forward, helpful items include recent account statements, your latest tax return, your Social Security statement, pension and benefits information, insurance policies, and any estate planning documents. We'll send a clear list so nothing is guesswork.

We charge one transparent flat annual fee, not a percentage of your assets, and it covers retirement planning, retirement income, investment management, and tax planning.

Our pricing is published openly on our Services & Fees page, so there's no need to schedule a meeting just to find out what we charge. Fees are always agreed upon before we begin.

IronFjord charges a flat fee rather than a percentage of assets under management (AUM) and receives no commissions or product-based compensation.

• Having twice as much money doesn't automatically mean you need twice as much financial planning.
• A flat fee avoids the conflict of interest that comes from earning more when more assets are placed under management or when a product is sold.

It keeps the relationship centered on planning and advice, rather than your portfolio size or the products you own.

Yes. IronFjord Wealth Management is a fee-only fiduciary investment adviser. James doesn't receive commissions or product-based compensation for the investments or other financial solutions discussed with clients.

We don't publish a strict account minimum, but our services are designed for households with $1 million or more in investable assets (generally with net worth under $10 million) who are approaching or in retirement. If you're unsure whether you fit, the introductory call is a good place to find out.

Yes. This is one of the core questions we work through. We look at your investments, Social Security, pensions, taxes, healthcare costs, expected spending, longevity, and investment risk to understand what your resources can reasonably support.

The point isn't just a probability-of-success percentage. It's a clear sense of what retirement looks like, what trade-offs exist, and how much flexibility you have. From there, we set a sustainable spending range and revisit it as markets, taxes, and your circumstances change.

We determine how much you can comfortably spend, which accounts to draw from, and when to claim Social Security. Then we set up a retirement paycheck: regular transfers to your checking account, monthly or on another schedule that works for you. Where appropriate, we may also use a bond ladder, with bonds maturing in the years you'll need the cash. How retirement income works.

James Mayo, a CFA^® charterholder, manages your investments in-house. Client assets are held securely at our selected custodian, Altruist.

We favor diversified, low-cost portfolios over expensive products or unnecessary complexity. Your portfolio is built around your retirement income needs, tax situation, account types, time horizon, risk tolerance, and each account's role in the plan.

Market declines are a normal part of investing, including in retirement. The important part is having a plan before they happen.

We consider your investment allocation, cash reserves, spending plan, and withdrawal strategy together so you're not forced into reactive decisions. Depending on the situation, that may mean changing where withdrawals come from, rebalancing, taking advantage of tax opportunities, or simply staying the course.

With IronFjord, your assets are held in accounts registered in your name at Altruist, an independent third-party custodian. You have direct, secure access through Altruist's online portal and mobile app, and IronFjord manages the investments under the terms of your advisory agreement.

As with any investment, your portfolio's value will fluctuate with the markets.

Fee-only advisors are paid only by their clients (for example, a flat fee, hourly fee, or percentage of assets) and receive no commissions from selling products.

Fee-based sounds similar but usually means the advisor charges fees and may also earn commissions on products like insurance or annuities. That can create conflicts of interest. IronFjord is fee-only.

Maybe not, and that's a fair question. Many of our clients were successful do-it-yourself investors. What often changes at retirement is the complexity (withdrawal order, taxes, Social Security, Medicare, RMDs) and the desire to delegate so they can enjoy retirement, along with having a plan in place for a spouse if something happens to the person who manages the finances.

Look up the firm and advisor on the SEC's Investment Adviser Public Disclosure site, where you can read the firm's Form ADV, including fees, services, and any disciplinary history. You can also verify CFP^® certification at CFP Board and check brokers on FINRA BrokerCheck. View IronFjord's Form ADV.