Michael Foster is a Contributor at various media outlets. He focuses on finance, personal finance, and current events, with a keen interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies. His work has been featured in prominent platforms such as Breitbart.tv, Yahoo Finance, and Forbes, where he shares insights on credit health, debt management, and saving and investing strategies.
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Michael Foster's articles primarily focus on investment analysis, dividends, family offices, and retirement planning. He often cites data to support his coverage. To effectively reach out to him, one can pitch insights related to investment opportunities with a focus on dividends or the stock market. Additionally, topics related to family offices and their investment strategies would likely be well-received by Michael Foster.
Considering his emphasis on finance & economy along with real estate industry themes in addition to the specific topics covered such as investments and retirement planning, pitches related to real estate investments and financial analysis would also align well with Michael's coverage interests.
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Stocks are up, and the media is finally coming around to what we've been saying for months now.
Closed-end funds (CEFs) yield around 8% today—and that's on average . Plenty yield more—and deliver their payouts safely, predictably and often monthly, too.
There's a clear “disconnect” happening in the US economy right now. And most investors are on the wrong side of it, missing this cheap dividend.
Let me take you back to April 2001 for a second. Because that year brought a key turning point for income investors.
The stock market is roaring , and according to the media, it's all because of AI. But is that really true?
One of the best things about high-yielding closed-end funds (CEFs) is that they can post big gains and be strong bargains at the same time.
The stunning thing about this year’s stock-market rally is that much of it has come in just the last couple of months.
Closed-End Funds (CEFs) offer a strong path to financial independence through high dividends, often yielding over 8% by converting portfolio gains into income. The Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (USA) exemplifies a successful CEF, boasting a 10.4% yield and 11.7% annualized returns over a decade. USA effectively distributes its returns as dividends, tied to its NAV performance, and currently trades at an attractive 12.5% discount. In contrast, Pershing Square USA (PSUS), managed by Bill Ackman, is an example to avoid. Despite its celebrity manager, PSUS has dramatically underperformed the S&P 500 since its April launch, down 24%, and notably lacks a dividend. Its large size and poor NAV performance, coupled with a significant 22.7% discount, make it a flawed investment.
This Iran deal adds one more tailwind to our (already surging) 8%+ paying closed-end funds (CEFs). Let me show you why, including one great example.
ASA Gold & Precious Metals Limited, a closed-end fund primarily invested in physical gold, was 2025's top-performing CEF, benefiting from gold's surge amid inflation and geopolitical fears. However, 2026 sees ASA and gold prices flat despite ongoing global uncertainties, suggesting previous instability was already priced in. The fund offers a meager 0.14% dividend yield, atypical for CEFs. While ASA trades at a 13.9% discount to its net asset value, this is near its five-year average, making it less of a bargain. Furthermore, recent internal turmoil, including COO Axel Merk's resignation citing governance concerns, casts a shadow. Merk alleged exclusion from board meetings and lack of transition plans for key management, claims ASA disputes. This internal conflict could lead to a wider discount, further impacting the fund's market price. Investors are advised to avoid ASA, as its future performance appears hampered by both gold's current stagnation and management issues.
