Sorrell College alumnus Chad Pigg Fife’s life’s journey has led him from the battlefield to the board room.

In addition to serving on the Sorrell Dean’s Advisory Board, Fife is a senior partner with Bank of America Merrill Lynch’s Global Corporate & Institutional Advisory Services Group (GCIAS) and as a managing partner, Wealth Management Advisor, he leads the GCIAS Defined Contribution, Defined Benefit, and Philanthropic (Endowment, Foundations, Non-Profit) institutional investment consulting practice. Fife is a six-year veteran of the United States Army where he served on active duty. He is also the recipient of numerous military awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal. Upon competition of his military service, he joined JPMG as an auditor.

The two-time Sorrell College graduate based in Atlanta holds both B.S. and MBA degrees in Accounting, and holds nine certifications in investing, financial planning, retirement and wealth management areas. In 2023 and 2024, his GCIAS team was awarded #1 spot on Barron’s “Top 100 Consulting Teams” list. His team was also recognized on the “Top 100 Institutional Consultants” list in 2021 and 2022. 

He said TROY was the bridge that transformed him from military service to the world of business and finance.

“As a first-generation college student that had just completed a six-year active-duty commitment in the Army, TROY not only provided me with a phenomenal experience, but was instrumental with serving as a bridge as I transitioned from military life to corporate America,” Fife said.

“All of the professors were very professional and passionate about delivering a first-class education to the students. Not only was TROY a fantastic experience, but their passion for serving a large military population across all of their campuses helped me feel right at home on day 1,” he added.

Fife’s college trail wasn’t direct. Being from a small town in Indiana presented a challenge when it came to funding a college education, so he turned to the U.S. Army, enlisting as a 17 year-old high school graduate in order to earn that college money through the GI Bill.

That enlistment took him from Fort Benning, GA to Vicenza, Italy, to Fort Campbell, KY, where he met Sharlene, a Blackhawk helicopter pilot who would become his wife. He ended his six-year active-duty service as a staff sergeant.

“It made it difficult for both of us to continue on active duty due to the inevitable separation. Sharlene and I knew it was important for one of us to retire from the Army, so I decided to be the ‘risk taker’ and pursue corporate America dreams,” he said.

At the time, Sharlene’s command was at Fort Rucker, AL, conveniently located so that TROY was the obvious choice.

“I was clueless when it came to the college life, so feeling welcomed from the beginning with smaller classroom settings was very appreciated. I also joined Delta Chi fraternity, which helped me quickly acclimate to the social life,” he said.

At TROY, he knew he wasn’t just a number, but someone who would be supported along his academic journey by caring professors.

“Two professors distinctly stand out as playing a pivotal role during my accounting education: Dr. Steve Grice and Ray Moody. From Day 1, Dr. Grice was able to succinctly describe the accounting curriculum and commitment to me, so that the expectation was crystal clear and all I had to do was work hard each and every day. Ray Moody was a retiree from KPMG after a 30-year illustrious career. Ray and I would continuously meet to discuss the curriculum and how it directly or indirectly correlated to serving as a public accountant,” he said. 

A very succinct comment played a pivotal role in his decision to make TROY his after-Army move.

“As Dr. Grice brilliantly stated early on, ‘There is only one way to learn accounting!’ After working in the audit profession for a couple of years, I decided to pursue a career as a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch. I have been a financial advisor for 20 years now and can continuously tie back to my education at TROY throughout my conversations,” he said. 

When it came time for a job after completing an MBA in Accounting, it was Moody who facilitated an interview and provided the recommendation that KPMG hire Fife – even before he had started the graduate program. Once completed, he was able to step into an auditor’s position in KMPG’s Atlanta office.

For Fife, his first day in corporate America taught him that it doesn’t matter where you attend college, everyone starts out the same.

“The personable college experience and simple understanding of completing the college process was just the entry point to a career. In my experience, I felt that I was better prepared for my profession than many of my friends that attended other universities,” he said. “I feel this occurred as a direct result of the passion each professor that I learned from had for each and every student; we weren’t just a number!”

Fife readily shares his experiences with high school and college students exploring the different paths in accounting, and often encounters people whose degrees are not part of their profession.

“It’s important to approach life as an ongoing education to not only stay apprised of your respective industry, but to always keep yourself in a position of marketability,” he said. “From an accountancy perspective, every time I mention to someone that I have an accounting degree from TROY, the immediate recognition and praise is refreshing and is always a direct, positive reflection of everyone’s role at TROY.”

A large part of that is due to the program’s long-standing commitment to excellence, where student hard work returns great dividends. Fife said there were two primary ways for students to achieve success.

“Trust your professors, as they have your best interest at heart. You have to do your part each and every day,” he said. “I never approached studying to pass an exam; rather, I approached studying as what is essential to fully understand the content, which led to success in the workforce.”

“Accounting is tough . . . (but) I understand the importance of every facet of the business school, such as finance, marketing, MIS and the others. I feel you have the most flexibility when it comes to career paths such as an auditor or tax professional, as well as all of the entrepreneurship and self-employment opportunities. (Accounting) is the nucleus of any organization,” he added.

Today, Fife feels blessed to have found success in business and in family life with his wife Sharlene and their son Beckam.

“There has been a tremendous amount of hard work and daily grind to get to this point, but I would not change it for the world. There are a lot of people that were instrumental to these accomplishments; a lot of people that mentored me and guided me,” he said. “I never forget where I came from and continuously seek ways to give back to students that are facing the same decisions, as well as professionals that are contemplating career changes. I encourage everyone to find ways to give back in this way and to always serve as a pillar of their community.”