Emerging market debt remains an important area for investors seeking consistent income and diversification. Western Asset Management’s Chris Kilpatrick, Portfolio Manager for the Western Asset Emerging Market Debt Fund (EMD), shares views on potential opportunities for investors, current market tailwinds and headwinds, and how emerging market debt can complement U.S.-centric portfolios. A Franklin Templeton company, Western Asset Management is a leading global fixed-income manager with deep expertise across emerging markets.

Leading closed-end fund analyst Jeff Margolin with First Trust returns to CEF Insights to review the first half of 2025 and share views on the market ahead. First Trust is a leading provider of advisory services and investment products including closed-end and interval funds.

As investors seek higher-yield alternatives, direct lending-focused private credit strategies continue to dominate the growing interval fund marketplace – but Calamos Investments takes a differentiated approach. Discover how Calamos Aksia Alternative Credit and Income Fund (CAPIX) offers access to the full spectrum of private credit, and more views on interval fund market from Senior Vice President & Portfolio Specialist Phil Bauer. Calamos Investments is a diversified global investment firm offering a variety of innovative investment strategies including CAPIX.

In a high-rate, volatility-prone market, strategies emphasizing resilient, income-generating sectors and tactical asset allocation can potentially help investors secure attractive yield and weather changes. Gain insight into ClearBridge Investments’ strategy for equity and income from Portfolio Manager Peter Vanderlee. A Franklin Templeton company, ClearBridge Investments is a sub-advisor to LMP Capital and Income Fund Inc. (SCD), which seeks total return with an emphasis on income.

Groundbreaking AI-powered initiatives are set to transform the healthcare landscape, potentially revolutionizing cancer research and healthcare investing. Gain insight into how new innovations may impact investment opportunities and Aberdeen Investments closed-end healthcare fund strategies for income and capital appreciation. Aberdeen Investments is a global specialist asset manager with a range of closed-end healthcare funds, each with a distinct focus and managed by seasoned professionals with deep expertise in the ever-evolving healthcare sector.

Ongoing market volatility may not surprise investors — but the potential of a multi-sector bond strategy to deliver reliable income might. In this episode, discover how a dynamic credit allocation can help investors manage risk and stay resilient from Mike Buchanan, Chief Investment Officer at Western Asset Management. A Franklin Templeton company, Western Asset Management is the investment advisor for the Western Asset Diversified Income Fund (WDI).

As global energy demand continues to surge, infrastructure investment maintains a critical role in meeting the needs of tomorrow. Gain updates on the current market, outlook, and potential opportunity for income-focused investors from CBRE Investment Management Chief Investment Officer Jeremy Anagnos.   CBRE Investment Management is sub-advisor to the NYLI CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Term Fund (MEGI), managed by New York Life Investments. The Fund’s primary investment objective is to seek a high level of total return with an emphasis on current income.

With additional capital raised in 2024, the Advent Convertible & Income Fund (AVK) balances convertible securities and high yield bonds as it aims to provide capital appreciation and income amid current market conditions. Gain updates on the Fund’s portfolio allocation, performance and potential opportunities from Portfolio Manager Tony Huang. Advent Capital Management is the Investment Adviser of the Advent Convertible and Income Fund (AVK). The Servicing Agent for the Fund is Guggenheim Funds Distributors.

Easing interest rates, stabilizing inflation and resilient economic growth could make real assets like infrastructure and real estate attractive opportunities for new capital deployment in 2025. Gain insight into the potential of real assets with Brookfield Oaktree’s 2025 outlook, strategy and more. Brookfield Oaktree Wealth Solutions provides financial advisors and their clients with a variety of alternative investments, including the Brookfield Real Assets Income Fund Inc (RA), managed by Brookfield Public Securities Group.

Whether Fed adjustments lead to a soft landing or further easing, mortgage securities’ diversification benefits and potential for higher yields with reduced volatility make them an attractive option for income-oriented investors. Discover Western Asset Management’s unique approach to the strategy with the Western Asset Mortgage Opportunities Fund (DMO) and 2025 fixed income outlook. A Franklin Templeton company, Western Asset Management is the investment advisor for the Western Asset Mortgage Opportunities Fund (DMO).

Gold continues to trade near all-time highs. As the broader market sees interest rate cuts and improving inflation mixed with challenging federal deficits, an election and other factors, where can investors find potential opportunities? Gain insight into gold, precious metals and minerals with a sector review and outlook from Merk Investments President and Chief Investment Officer Axel Merk. Merk Investments focuses on gold, precious metals, and minerals, and is the Advisor to ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited (ASA), a closed-end precious metals fund.

Unique among closed-end funds, the multi-manager approach of the Liberty All-Star Growth Fund (ASG) and Liberty All-Star Equity Fund (USA) has helped promote consistent performance and support distributions for over 37 years. Gain insight into the benefits of this strategy, how ASG and USA are currently positioned, and why the funds fit well in a retirement portfolio from Robert Milas, Director of Research with SS&C ALPS Advisors, the investment manager of the funds. About Liberty All-Star FundsWith a multi-manager approach to investing, Liberty All-Star Funds enables individual investors to access a portfolio of diversified, institutional-quality equity investment managers in support of their long-term investment objectives.

Increasing global demand for energy and other utilities amid slowing economic growth, expectations for declining interest rates in markets worldwide, and other factors present potential opportunities in infrastructure. Learn more from CBRE Investment Management’s David Leggette, who offers insight into the current environment and why the MainStay CBRE Global Infrastructure Megatrends Term Fund (MEGI), managed by New York Life Investments, may be attractive to income-oriented investors.

Interval funds have surged in popularity among investors seeking diversification, access to private securities and alternative assets, and the potential for higher returns. And in recent years, private credit-focused intervals have shown especially strong growth. In this first CEF Insights Podcast episode on intervals, FS Investments Managing Director of Credit Wealth Solutions Robert Hoffman offers insight into the current interval fund environment, the benefits of a private credit strategy, and more. Learn more about interval funds at CEFA.com with resources including interval fund data, education, and news. FS Investments is a global alternative asset manager dedicated to delivering superior performance and innovative investment and capital solutions, including closed-end funds and interval funds. Learn more at fsinvestments.com.  

Many closed-end funds continue to face activism which is often focused on short-term actions that may not benefit the long-term strategy of a fund – and limited shareholder participation in proxy voting can give activists outsized influence. In this two-part discussion, learn about the importance of shareholders participating in proxy voting from Georgeson’s Chris Hayden and typical activist proposals and the potential impacts on a fund from Chatsworth Securities’ Dennis Emanuel.

The Chinese equities market struggled in 2022 and 2023, but the consumer market continues to broaden and develop, which presents potential opportunities for medium and long-term investors of Franklin Templeton’s Templeton Dragon Fund (TDF). Gain insight into the current Chinese market landscape, TDF’s strategy, and why the time is now to invest in China, from Portfolio Manager Nicholas Chui. The Templeton Dragon Fund (TDF) seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing at least 45% of assets in the equity securities of companies whose primary business are conducted in, or whose main offices are in China. This may also include companies whose business is expected to improve from development in China and may include other Asian firms.

With current market dynamics, Merk Investments President and Chief Investment Officer sees significant upside potential in junior gold miners, the focus of ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited (ASA). At the same time, ASA shareholders have an important vote on its Board of Directors, which could impact the Fund. Gain insight into the current market, ASA’s strategy, and the need for shareholders to vote in the latest CEF Insights Podcast episode.     Merk Investments focuses on gold, precious metals, and minerals, and is the Advisor to ASA Gold and Precious Metals Limited (ASA), a closed-end precious metals fund. Learn more here.   

Market volatility remains a concern despite steady economic conditions, making convertible securities and high-yield bonds like the Advent Convertible and Income Fund (AVK) potentially attractive to investors. Gain insight into AVK’s strategy, performance, and outlook from Tony Huang, Portfolio Manager at Advent Capital Management, a leader in managing convertible securities.     Advent Capital Management is the Investment Adviser of the Advent Convertible and Income Fund (AVK), a closed-end fund which aims to provide total return through a combination of capital appreciation and current income. The Servicing Agent for the Fund is Guggenheim Funds Distributors. Learn more here.

As one of the world’s largest managers of collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), Carlyle leverages its 25 years of experience and broad resources including 20-plus research analysts to help investors generate income and capital appreciation through the Carlyle Credit Income Fund (CCIF). Gain insight into CCIF’s strategy, positioning, current market dynamics, and more from Managing Director and Portfolio Manager Nishil Mehta below.       Since July 2023, Carlyle has served as the investment advisor to CCIF, an externally managed closed-end fund focused on investing in primarily equity and junior debt tranches of CLOs. The CLOs are collateralized by a portfolio consisting primarily of U.S. senior secured loans with a large number of distinct underlying borrowers across various industry sectors.

Since Thornburg Investment Management’s last conversation with CEF Insights, some market dynamics have changed. Amid resilient economic growth, daunting federal deficits, an upcoming election and other factors, Thornburg’s Christian Hoffmann shares the latest views on its global multi-asset strategy for income, potential opportunities, and the broader market outlook for 2024. Listen to the episode and view the transcript below.   Thornburg is a privately held global investment firm delivering on strategy for institutions, financial professionals, and investors worldwide, and offers a variety of products including closed-end funds. Its Thornburg Income Builder Opportunities Trust (TBLD), allocates between global equities and fixed income to support an income stream as well as total return for investors.