The fruits of discipline: John W. Rogers Jr. and Ariel Capital Management have harvested huge returns through a `slow and steady' approach to asset management - B.E. Financial Company Of The Year - Company Profile

Black Enterprise, June, 2002 by Matthew S. Scott

The next hurdle for Ariel is living up to the standard of excellence it has set. "We have to make sure that we have the human and systems resources to manage the growth that we've seen," says McKissack.

With the launch of the new growth fund and the firm's higher profile, Rogers sees a prime opportunity to push for his funds to be included as a selection in more 401(k) plans. Currently, Ariel funds are an investment choice in retirement plans for the NBA Players Association, Coca-Cola, Mitsubishi, and Johnson Publishing Co., a leading BE INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100 company. Quips Rogers: "We're just scratching the surface."

He and his team are ready to plant new seeds to expand the business. "We need help from our shareholders to go to their place of employment and ask that Ariel be added as an investment option," he says. "We want to be a catalyst to getting more people to invest in the stock market."

Ariel Capital Management
Founded: 1983

        Assets    Staff

1997   $2,100.0    22
1998   $2,700.0    31
1999   $3,700.0    37
2000   $5,165.4    42
2001   $7,819.0    51

* ASSETS UNDER MANAGEMENT IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. AS OF DEC. 31, 2001.
PREPARED BY B.E. RESEARCH.