Why don't clients recognise that commisions are a problem?

I had an interesting chat with a buyers advocate this morning and she is coming up against a commission issue, she has a client who has been told by their advisor to buy an off the plan property no doubt heavily influenced by the fact the advisor will receive a very healthy commission cheque.

When offered the option of having a third party review the deal to ensure it stacked up their reply was "we trust the financial planner". This comment is the problem, clients inevitably trust their advisers who have more knowledge and experience about financial matters than them.

The problem occurs because these commission payments DO influence advisers and the advice that they give, any advisor who says it doesn't is either crooked or kidding them selves.