Title: Vice President
Firm: Fundamental Credit Opportunities
Age: 37
Sandy Pae Goldstein dovetailed her early experience at a New York City engineering firm into a career in municipal finance and now, almost two decades later, her dedication and diligence in public finance has won her the accolades of industry peers.
As vice president and head of structuring and credit at Fundamental Credit Opportunities, Sandy divides her time as a credit analyst evaluating existing and perspective positions in both the new-issue and secondary markets for the New York-based hedge fund, with weighing credit, structure, securities and strategies among her duties as a member of FCO’s investment team.
Sandy previously worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs & Co. before shifting her career path a year ago to venture into the buyside as an investor, but utilizing her skills as a banker to facilitate a smooth transition – and advantage.
Hector Negroni, co-chief executive officer of Fundamental Credit Opportunities LP, said Sandy “can be nimble between liquid creditors and complicated financings.”
“She can be in the field reviewing a one-off liquid transaction, or giving her perspective on how the Illinois process is unfolding, or looking at the new-issue calendar and where we should be focused that week,” Negroni said, adding that her combination of experience in credit and structure, and her ability to think commercially, makes her a good fit with FCO’s investment team.
When she isn’t analyzing municipal credits, Sandy is a mom to a four-year-old, and is studying to become a sommelier – both of which can be more challenging than the municipal market at times, she joked.
If she wasn’t working in municipal finance, Sandy said she would have a career in urban planning, engineering, or real estate. She currently resides in Manhattan and received her undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and her Masters of business administration degree from Columbia University.
“Sandy is a thought leader in municipal credit, and is a critical contributor to the public finance team of one of the industry's leading hedge funds.” Stephen Winterstein, chief municipal strategist at Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors Inc.
