nˈɛft wʌz bˈɔːɹn ɪn nˈuː jˈɔːɹk sˈɪɾi, ɹᵻsˈiːvd ɐ bˌiːˈeɪ, ˌɛmbˌiːˈeɪ, ænd pˌiːˈeɪtʃ dˈiː stɐtˈɪstɪks fɹʌm kəlˈʌmbiə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, ænd wˈɜːkt æz tʃˈiːf stˌæɾɪstˈɪʃən fɚðə pˈoʊlɪŋ kˈʌmpəni lˈuːi hˈæɹɪs ænd ɐsˈoʊsɪˌeɪts fɹʌm nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti θɹˈiː tə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti fˈaɪv.
Neft was born in New York City, received a BA, MBA, and PhD (Statistics) from Columbia University, and worked as chief statistician for the polling company Louis Harris & Associates from 1963 to 1965.