James Mitchell, CFA

James Mitchell is the Lead IRA Research Analyst at IRA Research Hub, where he oversees all provider reviews, develops the site's proprietary scoring methodology, and conducts independent fee analysis across the self-directed IRA industry.

A CFA charterholder, James specialises in the intersection of alternative assets and tax-advantaged retirement accounts — specifically cryptocurrency IRAs, precious metals IRAs, and the regulatory landscape governing self-directed IRA custodians. He has personally reviewed more than 25 IRA providers, analysing fee structures, custody arrangements, asset selection, and regulatory compliance.

James developed the IRA Research Hub 10-point scoring methodology, which evaluates providers across six weighted criteria: fee transparency, asset selection, security and custody, customer support, regulatory compliance, and user experience. All scores are updated quarterly using live data from provider disclosures and independent verification.

Prior to IRA Research Hub, James worked in institutional fixed income and alternative investment research. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Chicago.