Title: Senior Director, Head of Municipal Research and Sector Lead Municipal Portfolio Manager
Firm: Nuveen - TIAA Investments
Age: 39
Joel Levy mentors junior colleagues at work because he believes it can greatly impact their careers, as it did his own. The municipal finance business allows him to get to know people from around the country, giving him a boots-on-the-ground feel for the nation’s infrastructure, and its economic and political challenges. No other career allows an individual to study everything from airports to charter schools in the same day, he said.
Joel is a licensed attorney, with degrees in law, economics, and business, and licenses in real estate and appraisal. He has served on the Southern Municipal Finance Society board and local government political boards. He was formerly the assistant city treasurer for Charlotte, N.C., and before that a senior analyst at Bank of America. His conference speaking topics range from bankruptcy law to municipal finance.
Joel used to be a radio talk show host and news reporter covering various events, and believes the interviewing skills helped him as a research analyst. In college, he worked for a local hospital and was a first responder on 9/11. He likes to spend time with family, lead a local astronomy club, and fly planes.
“I firmly believe leaders like Joel, with a practitioner’s background, academic training across various disciplines, and hands-on analytic and investment work in the municipal bond market is exactly the right experience the market needs from prospective leaders to continue to build out a vibrant market serving a growing number of stakeholders.” Barnet Sherman, Senior Managing Partner, Tenbar Capital
