The Simple Rules of Risk: Revisiting the Art of Financial Risk Management

Erik Banks

Mar 2003 · Sold by John Wiley & Sons

About this ebook

In an age where companies and financial institutions are keenly focused on managing the financial risk of their operations, the implementation of quantitative methods and models has been of tremendous help. Tools such as VaR, credit VaR, risk-adjusted returns, and scenario analyses have given institutions the means to quantify and understand their risk profiles. However, the focus on quantitative risk management, while important, can sometimes be over-emphasized--at the expense of logic and experience. At its core, the successful management of risk is still largely an "art." The Simple Rules of Risk takes a fresh look at the qualitative aspects of risk management. It also considers how qualitative approaches can make optimal use of the mathematical aspects of risk management to create the most effective framework possible.

About the author

ERIK BANKS has held senior risk management positions in several global financial institutions. In 2001, Erik joined XL Capitals weather/energy risk management subsidiary, Element Re, as Partner and Chief Risk Officer. Prior to that he spent 13 years at Merrill Lynch, where he was Managing Director of Corporate Risk Management, responsible for the firms risk infrastructure; before that he spent 8 years abroad, managing Merrills credit and market risk teams in London, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Prior to joining Merrill Lynch in 1988 he was credit officer at Citibank and Manufacturers Hanover in New York. Erik is author of seven other books on risk, emerging markets, derivatives, merchant banking and electronic finance; he is also editor and co-author of a book on weather risk management, and is working on various new financial texts.