Corporate Profile
John Birt is Principal of Radar Results.
John provides advice to financial planning practices that wish to expand by acquisition. John Birt & Michele Conroy's business Radar Results has a search system that scans Australia wide for the right planning practice that suits the buyer’s profile.
With a background in banking and accountancy, John Birt has been involved in the financial industry for over 23 years. Completing Deakin University's Diploma of Financial Planning in 1994, John has been an Associate of the Financial Planning Association for the past 15 years.
John was tutored by one of Australia’s leading business coaches between 1995 and 2002. This 7 year learning curve has allowed John to focus his knowledge on helping similar businesses grow and expand – often through acquisition.
John has extensive experience coordinating and presenting seminars. He regularly writes for research groups and magazines. He was the financial columnist for The Newcastle Star Newspaper during the late 80’s.
From 1990-1993 John was head of Deloitte financial planning for the Northern region, based in Newcastle. During this period he was Count Financial Group’s largest national planning practice. After moving to another large accountancy practice in 1994, John saw business coaching and advisory services to planners as his “sea change”.
In 1995 John won SECURITOR Financial Group's "National Advisor of the Year" Award. This award recognised his professionalism, quality of service and business development expertise. After eight years with SECURITOR, John moved to Business Coaching that then involved helping advisers sell their businesses.
After attending Sealcorp’s Boot Camp Conference in 1996, John was able to develop his own unique and proven business strategies that have been applied to other professional firms.
John has formed a number of joint venture financial planning practices and introduced his processes and systems into these businesses. Today, several of these businesses have seen significant growth primarily due to John’s experience.
Michele Conroy is Operations Manager of Radar Results
Michele Conroy has been a part of Radar Results since 2005 and is the Manager of Operations. Michele helps with the Sydney Associate Mr Patrick Walford, who handles most of our Sydney clients.
Michele also co-ordinates all client activities nationally on behalf of our Associate. Michele is a vital component of the business and is the national contact for all other enquiries from WA, SA, QLD and TAS.
Feel free to phone Michele anytime or simply send her an email.
Patrick Walford - Sydney Associates
Patrick has over 10 years experience in the financial services industry in a variety of middle management, practice management and operational roles. Patrick was responsible for the support and growth of a national financial planning group, helping its advisors achieve their business goals. This included the development and implementation of a tailored and structured Practice Management Program.
Most recently Patrick was responsible for building a vibrant financial planning division within a multi-disciplined Sydney practice. He was also the State Manager for this leading national financial planning group.
This skill and knowledge of the planning industry will help Sydney based Radar Results clients.
Matt Taylor – Melbourne Associate
Matthew has a background in Economics and Finance and has been working in Financial Services for over 10 years. Beginning his career in a financial planning practice, he has a great understanding of the industry.
Matt moved from being a financial adviser with a boutique Dealer Group, to join Macquarie Bank. There he worked servicing the needs of planners by providing strategic advice in the use of Margin Lending and Protected Equity Investments.
Matt took on a position in National Australia Bank running a portfolio of financial planning clients providing structured cash-flow finance for growth and acquisition. More recently he has helped Bank West develop their bank lending policy for financial planning. This provided further understanding of the acquisition process.
Matt has a strong passion and understanding for the financial planning industry and provides a wealth of knowledge to the Radar Results team.
Merv Wilson - Melbourne Associate
Merv has been working for over 36 years in Banking and Financial Planning. He spent the first 15 years in retail banking with National Australia Bank, including 9 years as a branch manager before assisting with the establishment of the bank’s financial planning arm in 1987.
In 1994 Merv crossed to Pembroke Financial Planners, which subsequently became Godfrey Pembroke in 1995 before joining Capstone Financial Planning in 2005.
Merv joined Radar Results in 2008, having scaled back his involvement with Capstone.
Merv is a CFP, holds a Diploma of Financial Planning and a Bachelor of Science degree from Melbourne University. He is a strong advocate of the “Fee for Service” approach to Financial Planning, as pioneered by Pembroke in the 1980’s.
Merv has seen both sides of buying and selling Financial Planning Businesses, having purchased the business of another Godfrey Pembroke Consultant in 2002 and is now well advanced in the succession of his Capstone business. He believes that the single most important ingredient in a successful transition is to identify like minded sellers with buyers.
Narelle Burke - Brisbane Associate
Narelle brings with her fifteen years of funds management, platform, practice management and financial planning experience.
Narelle’s previous roles have included four and a half years with HSBC Asset Management as their State Manager – Queensland, Business Development Manager roles with Great Southern Securities and Norwich Union (Now AVIVA) and administration roles within AMP in both their Head Office in Sydney and their regional office in Toowong in Brisbane.
Narelle’s most recent role has been working as the Business Development Manager in her husband’s financial planning office where they operate under their own dealers licence. As an authorised representative she has also been providing Financial Planning advice and ongoing education to clients of the practice.
Having worked closely with financial planners and accountants throughout Queensland for most of her working life, Narelle has had first hand experience assisting in the transition of businesses; before, after and during acquisition.
In her spare time Narelle enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, live theatre, is a trained opera singer and has just taken up yoga.
Natalie Egan - Perth Associate
Natalie has 20 years experience in the financial services industry. Her experience includes heading up a funds management division, National Distribution Manager and General Manager. Natalie was responsible for marketing, research, technical and public relations. Natalie’s past employers include Great Southern, MLC/NAB group and Financial Synergy. Natalie has a Diploma of Financial Planning and Diploma of Financial Advising (FINSIA).
Natalie will manage Perth and surrounding areas on behalf of Radar Results, helping buyers locate financial planners wishing to sell their business. Natalie will be a key Associate in WA representing our 6th national office.
Capability Statement
Activity
Radar Results can provide specialist expertise to guide, manage and negotiate all aspects of your project, regardless of whether you are selling your business, retiring, or facilitating a partner buyout.
You may have decided to expand your existing business, and rather than wait for organic growth have decided to acquire other professional practices that fit within your operational model.
Alternatively, you may be an employed financial planner wanting to take the next step, who has recognized the opportunities that operating your own business provides. As a dealer group, you may want your expansion and growth plans to remain discrete, so as to gain market edge.
Research
Critical to any transaction is background research and compatibility assessment. Square pegs don't fit in round holes, so ensuring a match is a key aspect of Radar Results' initial assessment and evaluation process.
Evaluation
Once the background research and compatibility assessment is complete, a comprehensive evaluation begins. If you are selling a business this process is undertaken to confirm the purchaser's ability to meet your settlement conditions. If on the other hand you are buying, you want to be certain that what's offered is what you'll get.
Funding
Whether you're a planner taking the first steps into business ownership, or an established practice wanting to expand, funding the acquisition is always a consideration. Radar Results can access purchaser funding secured against the equity contained within the business purchased, without the need for the provision of any other assets as security. Obviously, the business will need to meet certain performance criteria to be eligible for this type of funding, and an individual transaction must not be less then $200K.
Negotiation
All negotiations are treated in the strictest confidence and no disclosure takes place unless constrained by a signed Confidentiality & Disclosure Agreement. Once the structure of the transaction has been negotiated, the parties will enter into a Heads of Agreement. Finally, a formal Contract of Sale will be drawn up by the party's legal representatives detailing the terms and conditions and defining the specific terms of the settlement.
If you have a questions relating to our capabilities or require clarification of any point - please send us an email at