ABOUT US
Natalie R. Cohen believes that integrity, ingenuity, creativity, independence of thought and sheer hard work will make our economy grow. She brings this philosophy to National Municipal Research, Inc. which she originally founded as publisher of “The Fiscal Stress Monitor”, again after the financial crisis and now, at a time of uncertainty and stress.
A seasoned analyst, writer and deal transactor, she has started her career in government at New York City OMB. She has worked at a rating agency, several bond insurers and is known for her published work on municipal bond defaults. She most recently spent eight years building and branding municipal research at Wells Fargo Securities. She is a frequent speaker at industry events and has offered training sessions to industry groups as well as in-house analyst training.
Ms. Cohen has an MPA from New York University's Wagner School of Public Service and a BA from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. She has been a member of the Government Accounting Standards Advisory Council, is a former Board member and co-chair of the education committee of the National Federation of Municipal Analysts. She served two terms on the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) standing budget committee, is currently serving as advisor to the GFOA Committee on Retirement Benefits Administration and has been on the National League of Cities Retirement Advisory Committee. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of Build America Mutual, a bond insurance company.
Ms. Cohen lives in Manhattan with her husband and has two young adult boys. She enjoys bicycling, swimming, has an active yoga practice and is learning to stand on her head.
Publications include:
- Municipal Finance Journal:
“Bond Insurance, Past, Present and Future”
"When Market Risk Becomes a Credit Factor: Short-Term Markets and Government's Response" - Brookings Institution White Paper:
"Business Location Decision-Making and the Cities" - American City and County Magazine:
"Shielding Local Government: A look at Bond Insurance"
"No G.O.: Project Financing Without the Taxpayer Burden"
"Taxing Issues Arise from Deregulation of Electric Utilities" - Government Finance Review:
"White Elephants: Why Some Large Projects Fail" - Public Management:
"Front Office/Back Office: Relocation Frenzy"