Allen Tischler Senior Vice President, North America Banking Moody's Ratings

Allen Tischler is a senior member of Moody’s North American Banking Team covering a broad portfolio of US regional banks and custody banks. He is also Moody’s lead analyst on the Federal Farm Credit Banks and a number of Federal Home Loan Banks.Allen joined the team in 1999 as an Associate Analyst.

Prior to joining Moody’s, Allen completed a Management Associate program with the Dun & Bradstreet Corporation. 

Allen holds a B.A. degree from Michigan State University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

Jeffrey Berg Associate Managing Director, North America Banking Moody's Ratings

Jeff is an Associate Managing Director overseeing the North American team covering US regional banks as well as Canadian banks. Jeff joined the banking team from Moody’s Credit Strategy & Standards where he focused most recently on Public Finance after a long period focused on Financial Institutions. 

Jeff joined Moody’s in 2003 as the accounting specialist supporting the insurance sectors and was one of the founding members of Moody’s Accounting Specialists Group, whose role is to also publish research on complex reporting topics.  In 2004, Jeff changed his primarily role to that of a fundamental credit analyst within the US property & casualty insurance team and over time transitioned to a Group Credit Officer supporting the Financial Institution Group before moving to his current role.   

Prior to joining Moody’s, Jeff spent 12 years in public accounting, most recently with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP where he was a Senior Manager in the Insurance Audit Practice in New York City. Jeff’s previous experience included a tour in the Accounting Consulting Services Group of PwC’s National Office.  Jeff is a Certified Public Accountant and graduated magna cum laude from Skidmore College in New York.

Warren Kornfeld Senior Vice President, North America Banks and Finance Companies Moody's Ratings

Warren Kornfeld is a Senior Vice President in Moody’s Financial Institutions Group covering mortgage, credit card, student loan banks and finance companies as well as Government Sponsored Enterprises (FHLBanks, Farm Credit, Fannie and Freddie).

Prior to joining the Financial Institutions Group, Warren was a Managing Director for Structured Finance Administration overseeing key strategic initiatives and prior to that Warren co-headed the Residential Mortgage- Backed Securities (RMBS) team as well as headed up the U.S. Servicer Ratings team.

Warren joined Moody’s in 2001. Prior to Moody’s, Warren held senior investment banking positions with William Blair & Co., The Industrial Bank of Japan and Bickford & Partners focusing on a securitizations of a wide range of asset types, including residential mortgages, equipment lease, auto loan and lease, consumer assets and commercial receivables.

Warren holds a B.S. in Finance and Decision Sciences from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mark Zandi Chief Economist Moody's Analytics

Mark M. Zandi is chief economist of Moody’s Analytics, where he directs economic research. Moody’s Analytics, a subsidiary of Moody’s Corp., is a leading provider of economic research, data and analytical tools. Dr. Zandi is a co founder of the company Economy.com, which Moody’s purchased in 2005.

Dr. Zandi’s broad research interests encompass macroeconomics, financial market sand public policy. His recent research has focused on mortgage finance reform and the determinants of mortgage foreclosure and personal bankruptcy. He has analyzed the economic impact of various tax and government spending policies and assessed the appropriate monetary policy response to bubbles in asset markets.

A trusted adviser to policymakers and an influential source of economic analysis for businesses, journalists and the public, Dr. Zandi frequently testifies before Congress on topics including the economic outlook, the nation’s daunting fiscal challenges, the merits of fiscal stimulus, financial regulatory reform, and foreclosure mitigation.

Dr. Zandi conducts regular briefings on the economy for corporate boards, trade associations and policymakers at all levels. He is on the board of directors of MGIC, the nation’s largest private mortgage insurance company, and The Reinvestment Fund, a large CDFI that makes investments in disadvantaged neighborhoods. He is often quoted in national and global publications and interviewed by major news media outlets, and is a frequent guest on CNBC, NPR, Meet the Press, CNN, and various other national networks and news programs.

Dr. Zandi is the author of Paying the Price: Ending the Great Recession and Beginning a New American Century, which provides an assessment of the monetary and fiscal policy response to the Great Recession. His other book, Financial Shock: A 360º Look at the Subprime Mortgage Implosion, and How to Avoid the Next Financial Crisis, is described by the New York Times as the “clearest guide” to the financial crisis.

Dr. Zandi earned his B.S. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania. He lives with his wife and three children in the suburbs of Philadelphia.

Michael Taiano Vice President - Senior Analyst, Financial Institutions Moody's Ratings

Mike is a Vice President in Moody’s Financial Institutions Group covering banks, consumer finance companies, and securities firms.

Prior to joining Moody’s, Mike was a senior director at another rating agency where he covered banks, consumer finance companies, asset managers, and securities firms. He led the agency’s internal fintech common interest group and published research on emerging issues in the sector. Prior to that, Mike was a sell-side equity analyst at UBS and Sandler O’Neill Partners where he was a senior analyst covering consumer and specialty finance companies.

Mike holds an MBA from the University of Florida and BBA in accounting from Pace University. He is also a certified public accountant in the state of New York.