Well, since I'm an independent financial planner, former bank trust officer, here's the deal. I don't do what I do for free, so in one sense I serve my own interests. In fact, if I could not serve my own interests, I wouldn't do it at all. But at the same time, I must also serve my client's interest, and it is my job to balance the two. What I offer must be worth, preferably more than worth, what I charge. And every financial planner has access to exactly the same products and services, those who are not independent having less flexibility and perhaps less objectivity than independents.
One might ask whose interest does the caterer serve whom I hired today. Certainly she serves her own interests. I know she is going to charge me what the food costs plus the cost of her time, plus a profit. That's fine with me, as long as I get really good meals and really good service, thereby she serves my interests.
All business is the same. Both the provider and the user must be served. Nobody does it for free. We all work to make a profit. Bottom line for all is do we get what we want for a reasonable price.
