Current financial disclosure rules let would-be public companies paint a too-rosy picture while obscuring information that investors should know. Pre-IPO disclosures have grown increasingly bloated but typically lack information relevant to the likelihood of success for new business models. The authors propose "triggered" disclosures tailored to a company's value drivers, wherein claims about customer value and potential market size must be supported...

"Goldman Sachs, the nation's leading investment firm, with a solid-gold reputation and a first-class list of clients, began as a family business in a lower Manhattan basement in 1869. The secrets behind the remarkable success of Goldman Sachs since then are revealed in unprecedented depth in this fascinating and authoritative narrative history of the firm. Former Goldman Sachs vice president Lisa Endlich draws on her insider's knowledge and access...