RALPH A. RIEVES is a Senior Analyst with the Emerging Companies Research Institute (ECRI), a division of Farragut, Jones & Lawrence. ECRI advises recently listed companies about current research in the areas of financial reporting, compliance, capital markets, and institutional investors' portfolio strategies. He was managing editor of the Journal of Investment Consulting and was previously the executive editor for capital markets publishing for Dow Jones-Irwin books and Irwin Professional books. Mr. Rieves is a recipient of the book industry's Bowker LMP Award for distinguished achievement.