Get To Know The Team at Schulz Wealth
Robert R. Schulz, CFP®
President
I grew up in a small, Central Texas town and attended The University of Texas. In 1990, in the span of only six months, I got married, graduated with my accounting degree, was commissioned as a naval officer, and subsequently lost my dad to a sudden heart attack. I grew up quickly that year. Over the next four years, Shelly and I lived on the East Coast (Newport, RI, Virginia Beach, VA, and Charleston, SC) while I served as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the USS John Rodgers, a Spruance class destroyer. I loved my job but found it difficult to balance sea duty with home life, so I resigned my commission in 1994 and we moved back to Texas.
I knew what I wanted to do, but I didn’t know how to do it so I took a commission job with a financial services firm – The Principal Financial Group. I learned a lot from some really great people at Principal, but after a few years, I decided to launch into an independent firm called First Texas Financial Services with four other partners. It was during this transition that I achieved my Certified Financial Planner designation. At First Texas, we specialized in businesses and their owners. We were a one-stop shop for insurance, benefits, 401(K), and investments so I found myself wearing many hats.
What I really love and enjoy doing is financial planning and asset management. With this in mind, I sold a big chunk of my business and launched Schulz Wealth on my own in 2014. Now I am able to focus solely on my true calling.
I spend a lot of my time writing on financial planning and investment topics. The best way to get to know who I am and what I think is to read the blog posts on our website. In 2020, I finished my first book entitled Thoughts on Things Financial: Your Guide to a Chaotic Money World.
In my 25-year career, I have earned many awards and accolades. As a result of my peers' considerations and public recognition, I have been named Best Financial Advisor in Arlington & Mansfield in 2022 Living Magazine, Five Star Wealth Manager of 2019, as well as an Investopedia Top 100 Investment Advisor in 2019. I have also taught Retirement Planning for the Certified Financial Planning Certificate Program at Texas Christian University and The University of Texas at Arlington.
My wife Shelly and I have lived in Mansfield, Texas since 1994 and raised our four wonderful kids here. Both of us have maintained a very active role in the community, serving and leading several boards, organizations, commissions, and foundations over the last three decades. Outside of my work as an adviser, I am an avid sportsman, golfer, traveler, and woodworker. On any given weekend you may find me in the shop, a duck blind, on the golf course, or seeking adventure somewhere on the road with Shelly.
Austin M. Smith, CFA®, CFP®
Chief Investment Officer
I grew up just down the road in Flower Mound before attending college at Southwestern University, in Georgetown Texas. At Southwestern, I majored in Business and graduated from the Financial Analyst Honors Program in August of 2017. During my time at Southwestern, I represented the university as a pitcher for the Southwestern University Pirates baseball team as well as in various leadership positions within the Financial Analyst Program.
Upon graduation in 2017, I joined a financial firm in Austin, Texas where my focus was more on the Institutional Asset Management side of the industry. After getting my feet wet, I discovered my true calling: to work directly with families and individuals towards their personal financial success. I joined Schulz Wealth in March of 2018 as a Junior Adviser and have grown my role from there.
I am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® (CFP®) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder. I currently live in Fort Worth and when not traveling, I enjoy playing and watching sports with my friends and family.
Karen Alexander
Operation Specialist
I bring over twenty years of experience working in the financial securities industry. I’ve assisted several financial advisors with a variety of administrative duties, managing over a thousand accounts. My responsibilities included opening new accounts, updating existing ones, handling account transfers, moving funds, processing contributions, withdrawals, and distributions, as well as managing the annual IRA-RMD process.
I’m well-versed in working with various custodians, including Fidelity, Schwab, Pershing NETX360, Trade PMR, and Altruist. I also manage multiple CRMs like Advyzon, Junxure/Advisor Engine, Redtail, Salesforce, and Wealthbox.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my daughter, family, and friends. I also love gardening, spending time outdoors, painting, sewing, and other crafts.
Alondra Matute
Executive Assistant
I grew up in sunny California and graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Mass Communications. With a decade of experience as an Executive Assistant to C-level executives and a robust background in project management, I joined Schulz Wealth in 2024. I am dedicated to providing high-level administrative support to Rob and the team, planning and executing events, improving automation and workflows, and enhancing overall operations to ensure the best client outcomes.
Throughout my career, I have honed my skills in managing complex schedules, coordinating cross-functional projects, and streamlining processes to boost efficiency. My proactive approach, attention to detail, and commitment to excellence foster a collaborative and efficient work environment, perfectly aligning with the firm’s mission to deliver exceptional wealth management services.
Outside of work, I am a proud mom of a 2-year-old son and three dogs. I enjoy traveling and playing music, balancing my professional and personal life with enthusiasm and joy.
You work too hard to settle for good enough.