Frank A. Fernandez, former chief economist and director of research for the Securities Industry Association, died Tuesday. He was 53. He joined the SIA in September 1999 and worked there until the SIA merged with the Bond Market Association to form SIFMA in November 2006. Frank was a terrific guy who took a lot of pride in his work, said Marc Lackritz, president and CEO of SIFMA. He was always the source of data for the industry. He was like the bible on securities industry market information.
Before joining SIA, Mr. Fernandez formed and operated GEM Advisors, a broker dealer and investment adviser. During the early 1990s, Mr. Fernandez was an investment strategist for emerging debt and equity markets and a director of fixed-income research for Merrill Lynch. Prior to that, he was the chief international economist for Manufacturers Hanover Trust.
Mr. Fernandez is survived by his wife and two children. A wake will be held from 6-9 p.m. EDT Sunday at The Fourth Universalist Society, 160 Central Park West, New York. Services are set for 10:30 a.m. EDT Monday at the same location.