Stewart Simon, PhD

Experience

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  Fitch Ratings

  Sept 1989 - Jan 1994

  Vice President

  Vice President, Public Finance Group• Analyzed, determined ratings, and prepared credit reports on municipal bond issuers• Provided investors with original research and clear explanations of complex credits

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  FGIC

  Mar 1994 - Sept 2009

  Managing Director, Public Finance at FGIC

  • Investment Management: Chief Credit Officer, Investment Management Group, approved all bond purchases and conducted proactive surveillance of $3.0 billion municipal bond investment portfolio• Underwriting Management: Directed new issue underwriting staff (origination, credit review and pricing) and secondary market activities, which generated $175 - $200+ million of annual gross premiums• Credit Analysis: Proficiency in all standard municipal bond sectors, including tax-backed, transportation and utility systems, as well as housing, lease appropriation, 501(c)(3) entities, and project finance bonds• Research: Prepared reports on relevant credit topics and market • Financial Modeling: Constructed econometric models to price insurance at competitive levels Show less

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  UBS Financial Services

  Oct 2010 - Nov 2011

  Director

  • Served as dedicated municipal credit specialist to Private Wealth Management • Carried out proactive surveillance of client bond portfolios totaling $1.1 billion• Prepared timely credit and financial market research for publication

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  Beacon Lights Research & Advisory, LLC

  Jan 2012 - now

  Managing Consultant, Public Sector Finance

  Public sector consulting practice focused on municipal credit reviews, public policy analysis, and state and local government advisory services.Engagements and Prior Positions:• Fitch Learning: Prepared detailed credit training materials for new municipal analysts• New York State Division of the Budget, Senior Analyst• New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, Assistant Commissioner• UNFCU: Conducted surveillance of $250mm taxable municipal bond portfolio• A.M. Best: Developed criteria to rate municipal bond insurance guarantors’• GLG and Coleman Research Groups: Consultant on Ch. 9 bankruptcy and municipal finance• Lumesis: Provided guidance to financial technology company focused on public finance market• CEIS-Review: Monitor direct loans made by commercial banks to local governments• Consultant to "Bonistas Del Patio" to prevent 'principal haircuts' to local holders of P.R. debt• Village of Rye Brook, New York, Westchester County Airport Advisory Council• Nathan Associates: Advised economic consulting firm on U.S. airport project finance• Illumeo: Instructor, Government Budget Practices & Capital Financing• Savader Asset Advisors: Portfolio surveillance of municipal bond securitiesServices• Municipal credit analysis• Portfolio surveillance• Government accounting• Credit and market research• Public policy and program analysis• Productivity improvement, cost containment, and revenue optimization studies Show less