BT Financial Group aims to grow the Securitor and Licensee Select planner numbers by 8 to 10 per cent over the 12 months to September 2009.

"We've got growth in the portfolio budgeted this year and we are planning to stick to that notwithstanding markets," BT Financial Group advice and private banking general manager Geoff Lloyd told InvestorDaily at the annual Securitor Convention in Darwin.

"We want to use these markets as an opportunity, because we think we have a quality offering," Lloyd said. "We know these market conditions will end and we want to come out of these conditions very strongly."

Securitor currently has about 450 planners spread out over 250 practices, while Licensee Select comprises 300 planners in 100 practices.

Lloyd expects to grow planner numbers by double digits in the next financial year.

"Assuming markets will recover and that we continue to reinstall confidence and deliver the value and quality of advice, then I see no reason why we shouldn't continue to grow by double digits."

The group will be looking for similar growth percentages of 8 to 10 per cent for banking planners across Westpac, St George and BankSA, Lloyd said.

He is especially keen to recruit middle to senior level planners or those with five to seven years of experience behind them. 

"We are focused on quality and not just quantity," Lloyd said. "We believe we will be able to extract strong candidates from the market."

There are currently about 700 planning staff, including support staff, across Westpac, St George and BankSA.