James Barra

James Barra

James is an experienced investment writer with a background in financial services. He was formerly a management consultant in the banking and capital markets sector where he worked with some of the UK and Europe’s largest banks.

James aims to help everyday investors find reliable, affordable platforms with trading conditions that match with user’s needs. He takes an analytical approach to evaluating online brokers, having reviewed over 200 trading platforms and investment apps, recorded more than 50,000 data points on brokerages, and placed hundreds of test trades over nearly 10 years.

James contributes to a number of websites in the investing niche and has been quoted in respected media outlets like Business Insider.

He has a degree in Law and a certificate in Business Accounting from the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).

You can reach James Barra on james.barra@daytrading.com.

Latest articles written by James

  1. Best Day Trading Brokers For Beginners 2026
    Article (Feb 27, 2026)
    Find out which brokers and trading platforms emerged as best for beginners following our hands-on tests and in-depth analysis.
  2. Data Resources For Journalists
    Article (Feb 26, 2026)
    Explore DayTrading.com's proprietary data and studies into the most relevant topics spanning trading and finance, featuring expert comments.
  3. Crypto Regulations
    Cryptocurrency exchange rules
    Article (Feb 24, 2026)
    Understand cryptocurrency regulations by country, including the direction of trading rules. Do you know the latest crypto trading regs?
  4. Best Day Trading Software
    Article (Feb 19, 2026)
    Top day trading software [year] comparison with tutorials and reviews. We list the best free softwares for day trading with pros and cons.
  5. Commodity Forwards
    Article (Feb 19, 2026)
    Commodity Forwards - Defined And Explained For Traders. What is a commodity forward? How can they be traded, and on which assets?

Latest articles edited by James

  1. 4 Alternatives to Bonds (and Cash)
    Blog Post (Feb 27, 2026)
    With short-term and long-term interest rates at zero market participants will have to increasingly look for alternatives to bonds and cash.
  2. 13 Top Mistakes Traders Make [And How to Avoid Them]
    Blog Post (Feb 27, 2026)
    Learn from the costly mistakes of other traders, and make a plan for how to avoid these mistakes in your own trading journey.
  3. The Future of Trading & Investing: A 'Store of Wealth' Perspective
    Blog Post (Feb 27, 2026)
    We look at various factors that can impact the future of trading and investing, from a Store of Wealth perspective.
  4. Yield Curve Control: What It Is and Implications
    Blog Post (Feb 27, 2026)
    The Bank of Japan has used Yield Curve Control (YCC) since 2016, and several other central banks are considering it. Learn more about YCC.
  5. Wealth Tax and the Stock Market
    Blog Post (Feb 27, 2026)
    Taxes are an important part of the conversation for risk asset markets, as they impact their valuations. Learn more here.

James Barra on social media