My name is T.K. Schiefer. My wife and I were married in 2001 and we have four children, ages 16, 14, 12, and 10. We live in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I grew up in Mesa, AZ and moved to the Midwest in 2003 for my training and career. When I’m not working I enjoy CrossFit, traveling, photography, and learning more about personal finance and investing.
I currently work as a board certified neurosurgeon with the Mayo Clinic Health System in Eau Claire, a path that began many years ago. I went to college at Arizona State University where I majored in biochemistry, graduating in 2003. Next, my wife and I underwent a major climate shift and moved to Rochester, MN with our 1 year-old son where I went to Mayo Medical School until 2007. After realizing the winters were tolerable and we really loved being in the Midwest, our growing family decided to stay at the Mayo Clinic where I did my neurosurgery residency from 2007 to 2014. After completing my training I accepted a job in the Mayo Clinic Health System as a staff neurosurgeon in Eau Claire, WI. I deeply believe in the philosophy at the Mayo Clinic that “the needs of the patient come first,” a foundation that has helped shaped my career and make me into the neurosurgeon I am today.
My faith is also a very big part of my life and has greatly influenced my view on personal finance. I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I served as a full time missionary for my church in Okinawa and Fukuoka, Japan from 1998-2000. Since returning home, I have served in many different volunteer roles ranging from Sunday school teacher to scoutmaster for our Boy Scout troop. Currently I am serving as the bishop of our ward (congregation). This is a non-paid volunteer position similar to a pastor in other faiths/congregations. In this role I counsel with people on a regular basis regarding both spiritual and temporal matters. Nearly every week I have the opportunity to discuss financial matters with church members, working together to try and find solutions to their financial difficulties. Lack of financial literacy is a common theme that has lead to many of these struggles and is one of the motivations for me to write this blog.
Despite having an excellent education and receiving some of the best training medicine has to offer, personal finance was never a core part of any of my curriculums. After certain life events, I realized I needed to take control over my own destiny and learn how to become financially independent. I self taught myself personal finance through reading countless books, blogs, and websites and by listening to audiobooks and podcasts every chance I could. In the process I found I have a true passion for it. Becoming financially literate has positively changed the quality and direction of my life, and I’ve seen it do the same for others. Please read my post Why Am I Writing This Blog? to learn more.