A “new reality”—a very fascinating combination of words which usually defines a changed circumstance, combined with a new certainty.

This is a practical and useful book about understanding, managing and adjusting to a new regulatory reality. In it, you will find that there are no “final” claims on this new future that we face, rather it focuses on the many lessons learned which can be useful to our preparation and leadership toward a new outcome. In other words, the author defines our “new reality” as fluid circumstances, with an ever-changing (and uncertain) normal.

His message is crafted to teach and educate the readers to be fully aware of the risks and rewards of actions taken in the effort to manage a new future, but his message is clear: Take action!

Greg Wilson is perfectly suited to deliver this message based on his deep and varied experiences in government positions, private consulting and serving as advisor to many challenging financial situations in his lifetime. I fully expect the readers to appreciate his clear and concise story-telling as well as his succinct conclusions.

Greg creates an action-oriented message, which encourages readers with differing objectives to share one common goal: To take some form of considered action to react to these new circumstances and to actively manage their new future.

Specifically, I am encouraged that Greg’s linear and thoughtful approach will guide the readers to consider the circumstances that created this global situation, while allowing each to reflect on some of the best (and worst) practices that followed each milestone in the global meltdown—and the efforts to preclude such an outcome from happening again in our lifetime. His closing chapters are dedicated to providing actionable recommendations that will serve to distinguish this book from many less prospective documents, which recite the severity of the current circumstances, but neglect to provide guidance and advice on how to prepare and respond to the new normal.

The current fluid and volatile regulatory environment, coupled with the timing of this message, is perfectly suited for a “half-time” review. In other words, we are guided through the circumstances that created this political and regulatory response to the global financial failure—and further challenged to use this new knowledge to affect the “second half”—or, the new reality.

This book is written with a bias toward increased financial stability to ensure the prevention of future risks—it expects much greater government intervention and the continuing political pressures that will remain for many years to come. Greg makes some provocative predictions that suggest there will be many unintended consequences from outsider involvement. However, he also expects some negative impacts in the near term, but recommends that the final construction of a stronger and safer financial system will last for a new generation.

The audience for the key theme of this book is senior financial industry executives and boards of directors. The intent is to help these managers and leaders “win” in this new environment—offering advice and guidance on learning, testing, collaborating, and taking action. The future stake of each financial organization will be dictated by the success of each leadership team to adjust and conform to a new environment.

This book is an “easy read” as it is instructive, logical, and ordered in a manner to allow the reader to “learn and act.” It should be considered a “must read” for the leadership team at financial institutions and should be considered a very practical and layman-friendly document for consumption by the board of directors.

Based on the effective combination of real-life examples, simple facts and story-telling, this book provides a thoughtful conclusion: a revolutionary response to an unprecedented global disaster can be most effective with a simple and evolutionary plan and a willingness to adapt and be an active participant in this new reality.

Richard K. Davis
Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer
U.S. Bancorp
Minneapolis, Minnesota