Thomas J. Herzfeld

For the Australian politician, see Tom Herzfeld.

Thomas J. Herzfeld

Born| New York City
Alma mater| Philadelphia University (BSc)
Philadelphia University (Honorary Ph.D.)
Genre| Closed End Funds
Notable awards| HON LHD (2008) HON Order of Kentucky Colonels (2000)

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]

## Education

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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

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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

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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

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* 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

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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

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* Thomas Herzfeld Investment Advisors, Inc.