"It would be a good idea to speak to an independent financial advisor, but my (very personal) opinion is that not so many are 'independent'"

They certainly are "independent" because the word indepedent simply means "unattached". They are able to recommend most (not all) of the companies in the business, which means that they are free to recommend the ones which pay them the highest commission rates.

Just please don't assume that they are also "impartial", because you would be wrong.