Mock me if you must, I'd love to share some private conversations with folks in the business with you, but I don't have their permission and it is not for this forum. Pick your payment model, commission, fee-based, or fee-only financial planning / pro's you decide which is values and is not sucking the last nickel out your pocket and helps you meet your goals and objectives in life that is if you are not an uber individual investor ( they are out their, I have seen them ) that can do better than professional advice, or just follow low cost shot gun approach ETF / no load Index models that are often discussed in the financial media. The choice is yours.
I wasn't even really talking about bank retail and its relationship to the "Muppets". Equities will always return to the hands of their "rightful owners". Mostly I'm referring to financial repression.