You've redefined a word. There's nothing selfish about doing something selfless because it's not being done in the 'optimum' way (as defined by you). It might be inefficient, but it's not selfish.
Regardless of your linguistic tricks, would they even have the motivation to make money on wall street? Would your 'optimum' plan even work with their personality? Is it actually optimal or merely fantasy?
You'd be better off thinking "how generous of them to be doing something" instead of having your intellectually questionable revelation.
On the subject of the long history of humans arguing over the meaning of words, this pg essay tackles the subject well:
Regardless of your linguistic tricks, would they even have the motivation to make money on wall street? Would your 'optimum' plan even work with their personality? Is it actually optimal or merely fantasy?
You'd be better off thinking "how generous of them to be doing something" instead of having your intellectually questionable revelation.
On the subject of the long history of humans arguing over the meaning of words, this pg essay tackles the subject well:
http://www.paulgraham.com/philosophy.html