Dr. Liaw holds his Ph.D. from Northwestern University. Dr. Liaw's most recent book publications are The Irwin Guide to Stocks, Bonds, Futures, and Options (2001) and The Business of Investment Banking (1999) and he has co-edited several books on emerging markets. Dr. Liaw has published articles in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, securization, swaps, repurchase agreements, and market risks. He is currently the department chair for Economics and Finance in the Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John's University. His principal areas of teaching and research interests include capital markets, trading, risk management, and investment banking. Dr. Liaw has a consulting practice in… private placement and securities business. He serves as an advisor of investment banking and capital markets at corporate programs. He also speaks on the subjects of investment banking and capital markets at corporate programs.