Thomas J. Herzfeld (born: New York City 1945) is the founder, Chairman and President of Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc., an investment firm specializing in the field of closed-end funds.[1] Herzfeld is also the Chairman and President of The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund Inc., the first closed-end fund formed to invest in the Caribbean region (as well as Cuba, when permitted).[2] Herzfeld wrote the first of his six books on the subject of closed-end funds in 1979.[3] He is the publisher of The Investor's Guide to Closed-End Funds[citation needed] monthly research report and is quoted and interviewed on the subject by publications such as the Wall Street Journal,[4] New York Times [5] and Financial Times.[6] He has served as a contributing editor for the Global Guide to Investing (published by Financial Times), and The Encyclopedia of Investments.[6] He has appeared annually on the Nightly Business Report (PBS) show for 30 years[7] and was interviewed on the show Wall $treet Week with Louis Rukeyser several times.[8]

Thomas J. Herzfeld
BornNew York City
Alma materPhiladelphia University (BSc)
Philadelphia University (Honorary Ph.D.)
GenreClosed End Funds
Notable awardsHON LHD (2008) HON Order of Kentucky Colonels (2000)

Education edit

Herzfeld graduated from Philadelphia University in 1966. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1966-1972, and on active duty in 1967.[9] He received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters (LHD) from Philadelphia University in 2008 with Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes Magazine.[10]

Career edit

He joined the Wall Street firm Reynolds & Co., in 1968 and began a specialization in closed-end funds.[11] He is widely considered to be the leading expert in the field.[12] He formed the NYSE member firm of Carlino, Herzfeld and Kemm in 1970 and served as the firm's Senior Partner at the age of 25.[9] He also became an Allied Member of the NYSE, an Associate Member of the AMEX and a senior register options principal.[9] In 1981, he formed a stock brokerage firm, Thomas J. Herzfeld & Co., Inc., that was the first to specialize in the field of closed-end funds.[2] In 1984, he formed the advisory arm, Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc. and later in 1994 The Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund, the first closed-end fund to invest in the Caribbean Basin (and Cuba when allowed).[12] He created the industry's first and only Closed-End Fund Index, "The Herzfeld Average," which has been published in Barron’s weekly since its establishment in 1987.[13][14][15] He also coined the term “lifeboat provisions” used in the industry to define tactics funds take to narrow discounts and keep prices afloat.[16] Additionally he is also referred to as: Mr. Closed-End,[17] Guru,[17] The man whose name is synonymous with closed-end funds [18] Maven from Miami,[19] The Top Market Timer[20] and the Dow Beaters.[21] Herzfeld has spent more than 40 years managing closed end fund investments.[2]

Personal life edit

Herzfeld married his wife Rutli, a fashion model from Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1970.[22] They have two children: both have graduate degrees from MIT and work for Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc.[23][24] He is an avid yachtsman. He also owns a penthouse condo in New York City and Miami.[25]

Selected bibliography edit

  • Thomas J Herzfeld (1997). The Thomas J. Herzfeld 1997/1998 Encyclopedia of Closed-End Funds. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Incorporated. ISBN 978-1-891352-00-3.
  • Thomas J Herzfeld and Robert F. Drach (1980). High-Return, Low Risk Investment: Using Stock Selection and Market Timing, First Edition. G.P. Putnam's Sons (Penguin Group). ISBN 978-0-07-028449-4.
  • Thomas J Herzfeld and Robert F. Drach (1993). High-Return, Low Risk Investment: Using Stock Selection and Market Timing, Second Edition. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-028449-4.
  • Thomas J Herzfeld (1980). The Investors's Guide to Closed-End Funds, The Herzfeld Hedge. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-0-07-028417-3.
  • Thomas J Herzfeld (1993). Herzfeld's Guide to Closed-End Funds. McGraw-Hill. ISBN 978-1-4292-1887-0.

References edit

  1. ^ "An Investing Alternative to Dividends" (PDF). Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c "At the Center of the Closed-End Fund Universe" (PDF). Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  3. ^ "A Nice Little Place in the Sun". Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  4. ^ "Herzfeld Caribbean Basin Fund". Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  5. ^ "Discount Beckon in Closed-end funds". Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  6. ^ a b "Global Guide to Investing" (PDF). Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  7. ^ "Market Monitor". Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  8. ^ "Wall Street Week Episodes on PBS". Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  9. ^ a b c "New York Stock Exchange" (PDF). Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  10. ^ "Cheers and joy as new graduates receive diplomas at 124th Commencement". Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  11. ^ "Mr. Closed-End Funds" (PDF). Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  12. ^ a b "Thomas J. Herzfeld & Co., Incorporated". Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  13. ^ "Determining the Perfect Time to Buy Closed-End Income Funds". Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  14. ^ "An Open-and-Shut Case for Closed-End Funds". Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  15. ^ "Closed-End Funds" (PDF). Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  16. ^ "Opportunity in Adversity". Retrieved February 1, 2012.
  17. ^ a b "Mr. Closed-End". Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  18. ^ "Herzfeld's Guide to Closed-End Funds". Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  19. ^ "At the Center of the Closed-End Fund Universe". Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  20. ^ "Hot hands are bullish". Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  21. ^ Cobliegh, Ian (1981). Roaring 80’s on Wall Street. Macmillan Pub Co. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-02-526510-3. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  22. ^ "County Recorder's Official Record Search Results".
  23. ^ "Brigitta Herzfeld Joins Management Team at Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  24. ^ "Erik M. Herzfeld Joins Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc". Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  25. ^ "Erik M. Herzfeld Joins Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors, Inc" (PDF). Retrieved February 2, 2012.

External links edit