Book excerpt: A practical guide to proactive investor relations (IR) Investor relations (IR) has traditionally been an administrative function within corporate communications, responsible for disseminating public information and answering investor and media questions. Using Investor Relations to Maximize Equity Valuation challenges this approach, by arguing that IR has been underutilized and then illustrating how it should be elevated to lead a strategic communications effort to preserve or enhance corporate value and lower a company's cost of capital. Divided into four comprehensive parts, this book clearly describes capital markets strategies and tactical operations that these former, senior-level equity analysts and portfolio managers employ. Chad A. Jacobs (Westport, CT) and Thomas M. Ryan (Westport, CT) are the cofounders and co-CEOs of Integrated Corporate Relations.