Message to our supporters.

• Author: Walker, Robert
• Position: Viewpoint essay

The mission of Financial Executives Research Foundation is to advance the profession and practices of financial management through research and education. In short, FERF's research is developed by financial executives for financial executives. Every month, our research committee--comprised of practitioners like you--ensures our work can be applied in practice ... carrying on our 66-year tradition to deliver knowledge to the finance profession and to the members of Financial Executives International (FEI).

But how is this done? It occurs in variety of ways. Over the years, FERF has adapted its model to deliver relevant research in the timeliest manner. This year, FERF published 37 original, member-driven research reports and articles--delivered FREE to the desktops of all U.S. FEI members in PDF format. The delivery of survey results was expanded through online databases where customers can tailor survey results based on their company's demographics. In addition to PayCheck, there is also AuditFeeCheck. This year, FERF has also added webcasts to the product base ... offering an opportunity for financial executives to benefit from research and to obtain continuing professional education credits.

But more importantly, we at FERF have been broadening what we work on, increasing the variety of our research publication topics. In addition to the historical focus on financial reporting and accounting themes, we covered economics, taxation, information technology, treasury, mergers and acquisitions, enterprise risk management, antifraud initiatives and more.

And we've found that you've been responding! During fiscal 2010, there were more than 20,000 unique Web link views or downloads of FERF research, representing a 47 percent increase from last year.

All this is not possible, however, without the many voluntary contributions that...