A user interactive apparatus for searching a universe of financial instruments such as stocks, bonds, funds and the like. The search is conducted with a filtering process that involves performing n filter passes of the universe with a computer system having a viewing screen, an input device and an investment selection program. The filter condition for each filter is from a plurality of parameter limiters and a plurality of investment parameters. The pluralities of criteria and of parameters are presented in one area of the viewing screen. The program enables a user to select the filter condition for the i^th filter pass from the displayed criteria and parameters by operation of the input device. A histogram is then displayed in a second area of the viewing screen as an aid to the user in making filter condition selections. The histogram shows the population of financial instruments in different frequency of occurrence categories for the user selections. The i^th filter pass is execute d upon a command provided in response to user operation of the input device. The process is repeated until the n^th filter pass has been performed.