LifeUnshackled Advisory.

Meet our team.

  • Hi, I’m Jess Russell — a mum of two, lifelong observer of the mortgage world, and someone who values family, faith, and a beach-side lifestyle.

    Raised in a broking family, I’ve lived and breathed lending conversations my whole life. From an early age, I saw how strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and genuine care can transform a complex process, and that insight shapes the way I support clients today.

    Since entering the mortgage broking industry, my focus has been on delivering a smooth, well-guided experience from application to settlement. My role is to strengthen each client’s financial position and provide ongoing support suited to their changing needs.

    Industry Experience: 3 years (April 2022), including

    • 2 years as a Mortgage Broker Administrator

    • 1 year as a Mortgage Broker

    • Joining LifeUnshackled from October 2025

    Investing Personally Since: 2016

    Personal Mission: To serve clients with clarity, integrity, and genuine care; empowering them to understand their financial decisions, building long-lasting relationships grounded in trust, and helping families create stability, confidence, and freedom in the life they want to live

LifeUnshackled Support.

  • Hi, I'm Ken Gimenez — a financial planning professional with a deep appreciation for structure, strategy, and service.

    I believe financial planning should feel empowering, not overwhelming. Clients don’t need jargon or complexity — they need someone behind the scenes who’s dependable, responsive, and committed to making the process feel clear and achievable. That’s where I find purpose: in the quiet wins, when documents are ready ahead of time, questions get answered before they’re asked, and advisers are free to focus on delivering real value. Supporting clients isn’t just what I do — it’s what I genuinely enjoy.

    Industry Experience: 7+ years (since 2018), including

    • 3 years as a Financial Planning Assistant

    • 4 years as a Senior Planning Assistant

    • 1 year as a Subject Matter Expert

    • Joining LifeUnshackled from June 2025

    Investing Personally Since: 2020

    Personal Mission: I believe financial clarity empowers people to make better life decisions. My goal is to remove friction from the advice process, so advisers can focus on strategy and clients can focus on what truly matters to them.

Oliver Lawton

  • Hi, Oliver Lawton here — a young myth-buster and self-made millionaire living life to its fullest.

    The advice profession is dominated by much older and wiser individuals, still shackled to the 9-5 grind while preaching the same industry-standard financial theory that should earn them a happy retirement in their 60s.

    Enter a naive upstart (‘wild horse’) who thinks critically, questions every assumption and applies concepts in refreshing ways to deliver extraordinary outcomes.

    Industry Experience: 6 years (Feb 2020), including

    • 1 year auditing over 2,000 of the ~15,000 financial advisers in Australia as part of a Quality of Advice review

    • 5 years working with (ultra) high net worth clients between three boutique firms

    • Founding LifeUnshackled from January 2025

    Investing Personally Since: 2015

    Personal Mission: By solving the money problem, we are free to concentrate on the legacy we create. Together we can tackle the greatest challenges of our times while pursuing a life that is both meaningful and authentic.

  • Hi, Chloe Lawton here -- I’m someone who cares deeply about people and loves bringing clarity to spaces around me. As Practice Support Manager, I’m here to help create a high-quality client experience, while supporting our team to do their best work.

    I’ve always been drawn to roles that empower and care for people. With a background in people-focused work, I’ve spent the past decade building strong foundations in client services and operational support. I’m passionate about creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and confident as they navigate important decisions.

    In a world where financial advice can often feel rushed or impersonal, I’m proud to be part of a firm that chooses depth over volume. We prioritise genuine relationships and tailored support, taking the time to understand each person’s unique circumstances.

    Role Experience: 7 years (March 2014)

    • 5 years in community and human services roles

    • 2 years in administration and operational support

    • Joining LifeUnshackled from June 2025

    Investing Personally Since: 2022

    Personal Mission:

    • To live with humility, integrity and purpose.

    • To serve others with compassion and excellence.

    • To create space for people to pursue what matters most to them.

  • Hi, Tristan Scifo here - I’m a husband, a proud dad, a strategist, coach & financial adviser.

    I’m passionate about designing empowering experiences which help people to take charge of their lives, have more joy and contribute more to the world around them.

    I believe that it is only when superior financial engineering is combined with learning the skills and principles of success in business and life, that we can truly unshackle ourselves from the system that enslaves us.

    Industry experience: 13 years (Feb 2013), including

    • 13 years as a Financial Adviser

    • 8 years as a Business & Life Coach

    • Co-founding LifeUnshackled from January 2025

    Investing Personally Since: 2013

    Personal Mission: My 7 life priorities are now so clear

    • to build a wonderful marriage

    • love and raise my kids as best I can

    • do purpose-aligned work I love

    • be present for others

    • give more than I take

    • make things better

    • pursue truth, love & beauty above all else

  • Hi, I’m Austin Davis – a devoted husband, Christian, and transitioning engineer who’s traded circuit diagrams for financial roadmaps with one simple goal: to help others live with clarity, purpose, and freedom.

    With a logic-driven foundation I have launched into a thriving, growing practice. Diligent and precise, my aim is to deliver optimised solutions tailored to your unique financial circumstances, goals, and life ambitions.

    Role Experience: 8 years

    • 6 years as a Controls and Automation Engineer

    • 2 years as a Software Engineer

    • Joining LifeUnshackled from August 2025

    Investing Personally Since: 2020

    Personal Mission:

    Such a dramatic career shift has been motivated by one thing, earnest desire to turn away from material things and focus on personal relationships. LifeUnshackled has reoriented my life toward what counts most, and I’m committed to helping others experience the same.

  • Hi, Shella Malinao here -- a dedicated mum and wife who cares deeply for her family and invests time in building quality relationships. I bring that same level of care and energy to every client I work with.

    One challenge within the industry is that there are too many people needing advice relative to the number of qualified advisers. Clients can end up with generic solutions and inattention from their professional team.

    I pride myself on delivering proactive and high-quality personal service. This means being “faithful with the small” (approaching little tasks with the same care and energy as the larger tasks) while taking ownership and pride in everything I do to support you in achieving the kind of life you want to live.

    Industry experience: 11 years (Feb 2015), including

    • 2 years as a Financial Planning Assistant

    • 5 years as a Paraplanner

    • 4 years as Advice Assistant & Client Services Manager

    • Joining LifeUnshackled from January 2025

    Investing Personally Since: 2021

    Personal Mission: By valuing high-quality relationships more than simply delivering impressive outputs, and being driven by a genuine love to help, I’m here to support you every step of the way in achieving and living the kind of life we all want to live — a LifeUnshackled!

  • Hi, I'm Cristine Villamor — a paraplanner who values precision, purpose, and genuine service.

    I started my career in accounting and client support but found my true calling in financial planning. In an industry where many Statements of Advice are templated and generic, I believe in creating genuinely personalised documents supported by deep analysis that truly serves each client. Bringing concepts to life is deeply fulfilling.

    Outside work, I enjoy volunteering at church, singing in the choir, and living simply and generously with my husband. Faith and service guide everything I do.

    Industry Experience: 10 years (Feb 2016), including

    • 2 years as a Financial Planning Assistant

    • 8 years as a Paraplanner

    • Joining LifeUnshackled from April 2025

    Investing Personally Since: 2017

    Personal Mission:

    • To serve with excellence, live with purpose, and honour God in everything I do.

    • To use my skills to support others with care and diligence.

    • To live simply, give generously, and bring peace and strength to those around me.