Meet the team

Life Unshackled Advisory

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.

Christina Hamdan

Austin Davis

  • 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.

Jess Russell

  • 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 been immersed in 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. That exposure shaped my ability to think strategically, challenge conventional approaches, and guide clients through complex decisions with clarity and confidence.

    With over a decade working in education, I’ve developed a strong ability to simplify complex information, challenge assumptions, and adapt explanations so clients feel confident, informed, and empowered when navigating financial decisions that matter. Since entering the broking industry, my focus has been on delivering a smooth, well-structured experience from application to settlement, while thinking beyond the immediate transaction to support each client’s long-term financial position.

    Industry Experience: 4 years (March 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.

Life Unshackled Support

Chloe Lawton

  • Hi, Chloe Lawton here — I’m someone who cares deeply about people and loves bringing clarity to spaces around me. I’m passionate about creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and confident as they navigate important decisions.

    As Practice Support Manager, I’m here to help create a high-quality client experience, while supporting our team to do their best work.

    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: 8 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.

Tristan Scifo

  • 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

Ken Gimenez

  • 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: 8 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.

Shella Malinao

  • 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!

John Atillo

  • Hi, I'm John Atillo — I enjoy connecting with people, learning about different cultures, and exploring cuisines from around the world through cooking.

    I bring that same curiosity and care into my work. At LifeUnshackled we don't settle for generic advice or limited thinking, and I enjoy helping bring that standard to life. A strong advice experience depends on a lot of pieces working together, and I take pride in supporting work that is clear, compliant, and well executed.

    Industry Experience: 5 years

    • 3 years in onboarding and administration support

    • 2 years in paraplanning

    • Joined LifeUnshackled in March 2026

    Investing personally since: 2017

    Personal mission:

    • Keep building wealth and opportunities for the future.

    • Explore the world through food, people, and stories.

Stace Santiago

  • Hi, I'm Stace Santiago — someone who shows up with care, effort, and heart in everything I do.

    A people-first mindset sits at the core of how I work. Even behind the scenes, the work is really about the people it serves. Years in operations taught me to keep things accurate and organised, quietly handling the details so my teammates can focus on what they do best: looking after our clients.

    I don't believe in a one-size-fits-all approach, and solid operations help us avoid it. When things are organised and in order, our team is free to give every client our full, undivided attention. Openness, altruism, and collaboration shape how I work.

    Role experience: 6 years (Feb 2020), including

    • 2 years as an Operations Support & Clinical Practice Manager

    • 3 years as a Client Support Specialist

    • 2 years as an Administrative Assistant

    Investing Personally Since: 2023

    Personal Mission: I live by the principle of Ora et Labora — a daily reminder to work hard, but also to step back and reflect. I try to bring energy and warmth to each day while staying grounded in what truly matters. Ultimately, I want to do great work, lift up the people around me, and live life to the fullest — unshackled.