Where there's a (living) will

Living wills have quickly emerged as a new measure to ensure banks are better prepared for the next crisis. But clear definitions of exactly what information they should contain and how they should be drawn up do not exist.

Writing a will is a challenging process. Not only does it require the unpleasant task of thinking about one’s own mortality, but it also depends on a large number of variables that are almost impossible to predict. Uncertainty about future wealth and personal circumstances can make it incredibly difficult to decide at a single point in time how one’s estate should be distributed.

The same dilemma is set to feature prominently on banks’ agendas this year, and the process is likely to be even more