Ben has many years experience in the financial services industry and at Elston. In particular he has been heavily involved in the development and operation of Elston’s managed discretionary account services, business to business services and commercial joint venture operations. He is also highly experienced in retail advice and management. Bens role encompasses supervision of Elston’s group operations including strategy execution, innovation and systems development, compliance and change management.

Ben is a responsible manager of Elston’s Australian Financial Services License and holds a Bachelor of Finance and an Advanced Diploma of Financial Services.

22 years at Elston.

Elston Board Director, Anthony Castellaro, has worked as an authorised representative, stockbroker and branch manager for Elston since 2002. Anthony has a Bachelor of Business (International Business), Graduate Diploma Financial Planning and is an Accredited Derivatives Adviser Levels 1 & 2. Anthony is the Head of Private Wealth at Elston’s Gold Coast office.

27 years of relevant experience. 20 years at Elston.

Helping people is what he loves about being an advisor. Over the years, Brett’s formed great relationships with the people he’s guided through different phases in their lives. He’s also been recognised nationally for his work and is a winner of the prestigious IFA Australian Goals Based Advisor of the Year award. Prior to joining Elston in 2003 Brett shaped his investment knowledge attaining substantial investment market experience in London and Sydney for firms such as Natwest, Royal Bank of Scotland, JP Morgan and Westpac. Brett has an accounting degree, is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), an Accredited Derivatives Adviser (Level 1 & 2) and a rugby nut with a million stories from his glory days that his more than happy to share over a beer or two.

29 years relevant experience. 15 years at Elston.

Elston Board Director, Darren Withers, is Elston’s Head of Strategic Advice with 20 years experience in the industry. Darren has three times been named as a member of the Financial Planning Master Class by AFR Smart Investor Magazine (2007, 2010 and 2013). Darren is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with the FPA® and a Specialist Self Managed Super Fund Adviser (SSA) with SPAA. Darren has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and Diploma in Financial Planning.

22 years of relevant experience. 10 years at Elston.

Ben is an experienced professional and has worked in the financial planning industry since 2001. As well as achieving the Advanced Financial Planning Certificate in the UK, Ben is a Certified Financial Planner in Australia and is well qualified to assist Elston’s clients in his role as a Strategic Wealth Adviser.

Throughout his career, Ben has assisted clients in achieving their financial goals, and what is important to them. He has helped to protect them from the pitfalls along the way. Ben is an open and friendly person and an integral member of the Gold Coast advisory team.

12 years of relevant experience. 6 years at Elston.

Cameron joined the Elston team in 2017 and has over 7 years’ experience working in the financial services industry. Cameron holds a Bachelor of Business and is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) with the FPA®. Cameron prides himself on delivering exceptional outcomes for clients and providing flexible and convenient services with the integration of technology.

Michael has worked in both the accounting and finance industry in Australia throughout his career. He understands that education is key to achieving quality results for his clients and is committed to building his qualifications to ensure that they are getting the most benefit from his skills. Michael currently holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Finance) degree and a Diploma in Financial Services.

7 years of relevant experience.

Being a Guest Services Host at Village Roadshow taught Lisa how to keep smiling as she rode the rollercoaster of tight deadlines and crazy requests. It also gave her the perfect people skills for working as a Client Services Officer at Elston. Lisa is part of Michael Kahric’s team, based on the Gold Coast, but servicing clients all over Australia. Outside work, Lisa somehow finds time for tai chi. Not just doing it, but teaching it five times a week. It’s this discipline that helps her to keep her zen, no matter what.

13 years of industry experience.

Christie’s 10+ year career in the financial services industry spans across finance in the UK, advising in Australia and loving the difference that she makes in people’s lives. She is as knowledgeable as she is approachable. When Christie’s not providing strategic advice and helping people to map out their future, she is making the most of living on the Gold Coast and spending time with her daughter.

9 years at Elston.

We’re glad that Carly decided to pack up her bags and leave the UK for our sunny shores. After seven years at St James’s Place Management, she had absorbed all the wisdom her British advisers had to offer and was ready for a change of scenery, and weather. Her bubbly enthusiasm, international experience and finance credentials made her the perfect addition to Ben Greenwell’s Gold Coast team. When she’s not stirring things up in the office, she’s stirring cocktails whilst dining out with her husband and two daughters.

3 years of relevant experience. 3 years at Elston.

Karina is not just one of the youngest Client Services Officers at Elston. She’s also one of the most enthusiastic. It’s her energy that won team leader Brett Ulrick over. She joined on the eve of the pandemic but even with all the disruptions, she’s thrived. Under Brett’s guidance, Karina has quickly developed into an intuitive member of the team who knows when to step up and make things happen for her advisers and her clients. Now that she has completed her Diploma in Financial Planning, Karina is looking forward to spending time with family and friends and enjoying the good life at Ballina and on the Gold Coast.   

3 years at Elston.

Vanessa kicked off her career at the Commonwealth Bank where she developed her customer service skills and deepened her knowledge of the financial industry. Leaving the largest bank in the country and joining Elston has given Vanessa the opportunity to work within a skilled and supportive team of specialists led by Michael Kahric. Vanessa is an associate adviser by day, a uni student by night, and a best friend to Ollie the golden retriever on the weekends. Marriage is on the horizon, and her Bachelor of Business isn’t far away either.

2 years of relevant experience.

Emma is a trained chef who stepped away from professional kitchens when she realised she preferred cooking for friends and family rather than for restaurant patrons. We’re so glad she decided to take a different career path because it eventually led her to Elston. Emma brought years of experience in lending and banking to our Gold Coast team. Now that she has a Diploma and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Planning, she is ready to tackle her Masters. And she’s adding to her knowledge every day working with team leader Ben Greenwell.

20 years of relevant experience.

If you want to know what it takes to really look after people, a five-star London hotel is a good place to start. That’s where Hayley got her grounding. In fact, she got so good at it, Macquarie Bank asked her to come and head up their Corporate Services Division in London and New York. Fortunately for us, she eventually decided to give up the glamour of the corporate world and bring her 20 years of experience, and her family, back to Australia. Hayley’s enjoying the Gold Coast sun and loving the opportunity to assist our clients as she helps Peter McVeigh and his team to deliver world class service.