Free advice on fees for no service

Free advice on fees for no service
(Image: Getty)
David Chaplin
I have a globally significant free pen collection; the presents of conferences past, most of them now bled dry of ink.But there’s always room for more, including the handful I picked up at the Financial Services Council (FSC) conference last week.(According to an independent assessment of the FSC pens carried out by a close relation, the Mosaic Financial Services Infrastructure bamboo-plated black ink ballpoint was judged best in show.)Free stuff works even for rich celebrities who pocketed gifts to the value of US$137,000 ($241,339) from...

More Opinion

NZDF tech upgrades a case of playing catch-up
Opinion

Peter Griffin: NZDF tech upgrades a case of playing catch-up

If executed well, the defence spending increase will give us entry-level status.

Pandora’s box has been opened
Economy

Cameron Bagrie: Pandora’s box has been opened

The writing has been on the wall for a while.

Cameron Bagrie 08 Apr 2025
End of the East Asian growth miracle?
Economy

Alan Bollard: End of the East Asian growth miracle?

The US is punishing Asia for failures at home.

Alan Bollard 08 Apr 2025
Making advice great again
Law & Regulation

David Chaplin: Making advice great again

People still want to see real people when they have real financial problems.

David Chaplin 08 Apr 2025