Blair Schmicker is a vice president, portfolio manager and research analyst with the Franklin Equity Group. Mr. Schmicker specializes in research analysis of electric and gas utilities, industrials and alternative energy. He is a member of the Franklin Core/Hybrid team and is a co-manager on the Franklin Utilities Fund, the Franklin Balanced Fund.

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.