i'll try to be as thorough as i can....i'm sorry i'm not always super thorough from the get go

forumla fields
H / R Date = if emp.hiredate in daterange then emp.hiredate else if emp.rehiredate in daterange then emp.rehiredate
TermDate = if emp.termdate in daterange then emp.termdate
RateChangeDate = if rate.startdate in daterange then rate.startdate

Groups
rate.endrate -d grouping on this in desc order so i can use previous and shows the most current first
emp.id -a group here to keep employees together
@H / R Date -a formula from above
@TermDate -a formula from above
@RateChangeDate -a formula from above

hopefully that sheds some light on how i'm doing things.

i need to only show records where an employee has a hire / rehire date, a term date or a rate change date within the date range. i figured if i grouped on them that would only show them. 

at the risk of sounding like a total idiot....i don't think i follow.

create a formula like your @flag then summarize it and place it in my emp.id group?

i'm sorry if i sound like a total n00b.