Blair Schmicker, CFA

Blair Schmicker is a vice president, portfolio manager and research analyst with the Franklin Equity Group. Mr. Schmicker is the co-lead portfolio manager of the Franklin Real Estate Securities Fund, the Franklin Global Real Estate Fund and the Franklin Utilities Fund. Mr. Schmicker specializes in research analysis of commercial real estate, focusing globally on office, industrial, healthcare and self-storage, as well as electric and gas utilities, energy infrastructure, and alternative energy.

Prior to joining Franklin Templeton Investments in 2007, Mr. Schmicker worked as an associate at Aetos Capital and as an investment banking analyst at Credit Suisse.

Mr. Schmicker holds an M.B.A. with honors from The Wharton School, and a B.A. with high honors in economics from Dartmouth College. Mr. Schmicker is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.