Spencer Sutlive

Alumni Office, Financial Planning, Housing and Consumer Economics

Real-world instruction prepared Sutlive for role as CEO

Major/year graduated

Financial Planning, 2020

Current occupation/location

CEO, Rugged Road, Peachtree Corners, Ga.

What do you love about your current role?

The variety of challenges and the opportunity to lead.

How did your time at FACS help prepare you for your life or career?:

FACS focused on microeconomics vs. the macro side of things. My professors ran their own financial planning practice and brought real-world learnings into the class. I used these learnings and financial lessons to model a business that has raised ~$10 million.

What advice would you give current students who aspire to a similar career?

Just go for it, but if you are going to do it, be willing to give it everything you have. Don't give up when it gets tough or take the "easy route." Tell the truth no matter what and show up every day. Success will follow. 

Who was your favorite or most memorable faculty member and why?

Lance Palmer. He taught some of the most dense material one could teach (lots of tax planning) and somehow still managed to bring incredible enthusiasm to the classroom every day. I had an opportunity to present Rugged Road last minute in New York once and he worked with me to move a test and accommodate said presentation. I had a family emergency once where he worked with me as well. He is the type of professor who simultaneously holds a high bar without forgetting people are human.