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James Mayo, CFA, CFP®, EA, RICP®

Flat-fee retirement experts: retirement planning, investments & tax planning.

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IronFjord Wealth Management James Mayo, CFA, CFP®, EA, RICP®
Lakewood, CO

Serving Clients Nationwide

Flat-fee retirement experts: retirement planning, investments & tax planning.

303-800-2840

Website

Areas of Focus

  • Estate Planning
  • High Net Worth Retirement Planning
  • Investment Management
  • Investment Structure Coordination
  • Long-Term Care
  • Medicare / IRMAA Planning
  • Retirement Income Planning
  • Retirement Planning
  • Roth Conversion Strategies
  • Setting Up Retirement Accounts
  • Social Security Optimization
  • Tax-Aware Retirement Income Coordination
  • Tax-Efficient Planning
  • Tax-Smart Distribution Planning
  • Taxes
  • Wealth Management
  • Withdrawal Sequencing

About James Mayo, CFA, CFP®, EA, RICP®

Hi, I'm James Mayo. I'm a retirement planning expert. I help people who have spent decades saving answer the questions that come next: How much can I comfortably spend? Where should I draw my income? How do I avoid unnecessary taxes? I build the plan, manage the investments, and work through those decisions with you.

I started in finance in 2006. Over the years, I became dissatisfied with how much clients were paying and how little they often received in return. High fees, conflicts of interest, and gaps in service left people with important questions unanswered.

I looked for a firm that offered what I believed clients should expect: comprehensive financial planning, investments managed in house at low cost, detailed tax planning, and a retirement income plan, all for a reasonable fee. When I couldn't find a firm that brought those services together the way I believed they should, I built it.

I hold an undergraduate degree in finance and an MBA with distinction in applied finance, along with four professional credentials covering investments, financial planning, taxes, and retirement income:

CFA® (Chartered Financial Analyst)
The CFA designation covers advanced investment analysis, asset valuation, portfolio management, and risk management, with a strong emphasis on professional ethics.

CFP® (CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional)
CFP® certification covers comprehensive financial planning, including retirement, investments, taxes, insurance, and estate planning. It requires education, examination, qualifying experience, and adherence to professional and ethical standards.

EA (Enrolled Agent)
Enrolled Agent status is the highest credential awarded by the IRS. It demonstrates tax knowledge and provides unrestricted rights to represent taxpayers before the IRS in matters such as audits, collections, and appeals.

RICP® (Retirement Income Certified Professional®)
The RICP® designation focuses specifically on retirement income planning. Its curriculum addresses retirement withdrawals, Social Security, income strategies, and managing risks such as inflation, market losses, and living longer than expected.

Having expertise across these areas allows me to consider the full consequences of a recommendation. Before recommending a withdrawal, for example, I look at how it affects your portfolio, taxable income, Medicare premiums, and future withdrawals. I then manage the investments and help put the plan into practice.

You should be able to make retirement decisions without having to research every financial question yourself. My work gives you a clear understanding of what you can afford, a considered recommendation when something changes, and someone who knows your finances well enough to explain the tradeoffs. That's how I help you feel comfortable using the money you've worked hard to save.

Professional Designations

  • CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ®
  • Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
  • Enrolled Agent (EA)
  • Master of Business Administration (MBA)
  • Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP)

Affiliations

  • CFA Institute
  • CFP Board
  • Estate Planning Council
  • Fee Only Network
  • Financial Planning Association
  • Flat Fee Advisors
  • National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA)
  • National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC)
  • National Association of Personal Financial Advisors
  • National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP)
  • XY Planning Network

Primary Location

13701 W Jewell Ave, Suite 200-29, Lakewood, CO 80228

Meeting Options

  • Video Conference
  • In-Person
  • Phone
Book Intro Call

Compensation Methods

  • Fee Only
  • Flat Fee

What to expect in the first meeting

The first meeting is a conversation to understand your circumstances, answer your questions, and make sure we're the right experts for your situation. We'll ask about your retirement plans, your financial situation, and what you're looking for in an advisor. We'll also explain our services, how we work, and our fee. Bring any questions you have, whether they're about our approach or a specific concern you'd like help addressing. There is no pressure to sign up and no decision to make during the meeting. If we're confident we can help and you're interested in working with us, we'll invite you to take some time to consider it. We'll send a follow-up email afterward, and you can reply with your decision once you've had time to think it over.

Offers Investment Management

Yes

Offers Tax Preparation

Yes

About IronFjord Wealth Management

You've spent decades saving for retirement. Now you want to know how much you can comfortably spend, where your income will come from, and how to avoid unnecessary taxes. You also need your investments managed to support that spending throughout retirement.

IronFjord Wealth Management specializes in those decisions. We bring comprehensive financial planning, tax planning, retirement income planning, and investment management together for one flat annual advisory fee, typically $11,800 per year, billed monthly. We build your plan, manage your portfolio, and help put the recommendations into practice, so you understand what your finances can support and can feel comfortable using the money you've saved.

Who We Work With

Our typical clients are individuals and couples who are retired or within several years of retirement, with $1 million to $6 million in investable assets.

They want to enjoy what they have saved without second guessing every spending decision. They also want an advisor who handles the investments, pays close attention to taxes, and understands how the financial details fit together.

Tax Planning Is Central to Our Work

The amount you withdraw is only part of the calculation. Which account you use, when you take the money, and how it interacts with your other income can affect your tax bill and Medicare premiums.

We prepare annual income and tax projections to identify opportunities before decisions are made. We evaluate Roth conversions, account withdrawal strategies, required minimum distributions, tax loss or gain harvesting, and charitable giving.

We consider both the current year and the years ahead. A strategy that reduces taxes today may create a larger bill later. Our recommendations account for those tradeoffs and the amount of money you need available to spend.

A Practical Plan for Your Retirement Income

We help you determine what you can comfortably spend and establish how that money will reach you. Your plan coordinates portfolio withdrawals with Social Security and pension income, accounting for taxes, inflation, and changing needs.

You can ask specific questions and get answers based on your finances. Can you afford a larger travel budget? Help your children? Buy another home? We work through the numbers and explain what each choice would mean for your retirement.

Your Investments, Managed In House

We take responsibility for managing your portfolio. We typically use diversified, low cost index ETFs, with investments selected to fit your income needs, tax situation, and ability to handle risk.

We coordinate investment selection, account placement, and withdrawals with your financial plan. Because we manage investments in house, the people making portfolio decisions also understand the retirement and tax planning behind them.

Ongoing Advice and Follow Through

Our work continues as your circumstances change. We help with decisions involving Social Security, pension options, Medicare, insurance, real estate, and estate planning priorities, coordinating with other professionals when needed.

We typically meet formally twice a year to review your plan, update your withdrawal strategy, and determine tax planning actions. You can also contact us between meetings. Financial decisions don't always arrive on a schedule.

One Flat Annual Advisory Fee, Billed Monthly

Our fee is typically $11,800 per year, billed monthly, and covers ongoing financial planning, retirement income planning, tax planning, and investment management. We charge an agreed dollar amount rather than a percentage of your portfolio.

More complex circumstances may require a higher fee. We confirm your fee before you become a client, and it increases by 3% at the beginning of each calendar year. Investment fund expenses are separate.

We can also coordinate tax return preparation and filing through IronFjord Tax Professionals, a separate company under common ownership. This service is optional and carries a separate fee.

Education

University of Newcastle, Master of Business Administration (MBA) with Distinction, Applied Finance | Edgewood University, Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Student, Finance & Retirement | University of Newcastle, Bachelor of Commerce, Finance

Hobbies and Interests

  • Family
  • Traveling

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Who We Serve

  • Baby Boomers
  • Corporate Executives
  • Couples
  • Dual Income Family
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Families
  • Gen X
  • Gen Y / Millennials
  • High Net Worth
  • Individuals
  • Intergenerational Families
  • Living in Retirement
  • Mid-Career Professionals
  • Pre-Retirees
  • Widow

Wealthtender® is a trusted, independent financial directory and educational resource governed by our strict Editorial Policy, Integrity Standards, and Terms of Use. While we receive compensation from featured professionals (a natural conflict of interest), we always operate with integrity and transparency to earn your trust. Wealthtender is not a client of these providers. Testimonials may not be representative of other clients’ experiences and do not guarantee future performance or success.

Get answers to frequently asked questions regarding the services offered by James Mayo, CFA, CFP®, EA, RICP® View Disclosures

FAQs

Who is IronFjord Wealth Management best suited to help?
We specialize in comprehensive retirement planning for pre-retirees and retirees, generally households with $1,000,000 to $10,000,000 in investable assets. Because we charge a flat annual fee rather than a percentage of assets, our model is designed to be most cost-effective for clients in this range, including those pursuing early retirement.
Are you a fiduciary, and how does IronFjord get paid?
Yes, as a registered investment adviser we act as fiduciaries to every client. We are a fee-only firm and charge one flat annual fee that covers investment management and comprehensive financial planning together, and we do not accept commissions or sell financial products.
Can you help coordinate my taxes along with my investments?
Yes. James Mayo holds the IRS Enrolled Agent (EA) credential, and IronFjord integrates tax planning with retirement income and investment decisions, including Roth conversion analysis and Social Security and Medicare/IRMAA coordination. We can also coordinate tax return preparation and filing through IronFjord Tax Professionals, a separate firm under common ownership.

FAQ Disclosures

Still have questions? Contact us today and we’ll be happy to help.

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