May 14, 2026
In today’s episode, we welcome back Mike Pyle of BlackRock. Mike
is a senior leader within BlackRock and a key member of the
BlackRock Investment Institute (BII), where he helps shape the
firm’s global macro views and portfolio construction frameworks.
Mike has a law degree from Yale and a bachelor’s degree from
Dartmouth.
Mike brings a unique perspective to markets, having served in the
Obama White House before joining BlackRock as their Global Chief
Investment Strategist, followed by another stint at the White House
with the Biden-Harris Administration and back to BlackRock in 2024.
While in government, he worked closely on economic policy at the
highest levels and completed much of the CFA Program during his
first turn at the White House.
In this conversation, we revisit Mike’s journey, explore how
BlackRock is thinking about today’s evolving macro regime, and
discuss the BlackRock Investment Institute before pivoting to
portfolio construction in a world where stock-bond diversification
is less reliable. We also dive into the growing role of hedge funds
and alternatives as investors navigate higher volatility,
geopolitical fragmentation, and structurally higher rates.
Today's hosts are Steve Curley, CFA
(Co-Managing Principal, 55 North Private Wealth)
& co-host Chris
Cannon, CFA(CIO/Principal, FirsTrust).
Please enjoy the episode. You can follow us on Twitter & LinkedIn
or at investorsfirstpodcast.com
Show Notes:
BlackRock – BlackRock.com
BlackRock Investment Institute -
https://www.blackrock.com/corporate/insights/blackrock-investment-institute