1. A method of determining whether a transaction involving a financial instrument is in compliance with investment objectives associated with an investment portfolio, the method comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one rule pertaining to an investment objective, the at least one rule including a reference to a dynamic database, the dynamic database containing a plurality of related entries; b) applying the at least one rule to an investment request regarding a transaction involving a financial instrument; c) referring to the dynamic database to incorporate each related entry contained therein into the at least one rule; and d) determining whether the investment request complies with the at least one rule.