Michael Gates, CFA, is co-head of the Model Portfolio Solutions Research team at BlackRock. Mr. Gates leads a team responsible for the development and management of a range of BlackRock model portfolios, including outcome-oriented and total return asset allocation strategies. Michael's service with BlackRock dates back to 2009, where he served as part of the Multi-Asset Strategies group, as well as BlackRock's Global Trading group. Prior to 2009, Michael worked for the legacy Barclays Global Investors (BGI) organization in a variety of research roles, focused principally on fixed income and alternative asset management and investment strategy. Prior to joining BGI in 1999, Mr. Gates worked as an analyst at Barra. Mr. Gates earned his MS in Economics from the University of California, Davis, in 1998, and a BS, with honors, from the University of California, Davis in 1997.