Fully Committed To You

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. 

Diane DeCaprio

Operation Specialist

 I grew up on a farm in Eastern New York before attending The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where I graduated with a BS in Economics. After graduation, I spent ten years in equity research at Dillon Read, Furman Selz, and ING Group, primarily as an analyst covering the capital goods and manufacturing sectors. During this time, I held FINRA Series 7 and 63 licenses.

For the past eight years, I have managed operations for several investment managers and startups, focusing on driving efficiency and growth. I currently live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, after raising two children in Boston. When not working, I enjoy running, cooking, reading, and traveling with my husband.

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.