Houston McConnell

PLANADVISER: Tell us about your role at your firm and how you contribute to its growth and progress. How did you end up there?

McConnell: In my role at OneDigital, I help guide the direction of our retirement and institutional investment platform, with a focus on delivering scalable, innovative investment solutions that meet the evolving needs of plan sponsors and institutional clients. I work at the intersection of investment strategy, fiduciary oversight and client engagement—helping ensure our platform not only meets regulatory standards, but also drives meaningful outcomes for participants.

My day-to-day involves shaping the investment platform’s long-term vision, collaborating with investment professionals to curate portfolio solutions and supporting our advisers with tools and strategies that enhance client outcomes. I’m also deeply involved in identifying technologies and processes that improve scalability and efficiency across our offerings.

I arrived at OneDigital after building a strong foundation in investment consulting and retirement plan strategy. Over time, I found myself drawn to roles that allowed me to think more strategically and lead cross-functional initiatives. OneDigital’s entrepreneurial culture and commitment to innovation made it the perfect place to bring that vision to life to help empower our advisers to meet client needs.

PLANADVISER: How do you define success in your role?

McConnell: Success in my role at OneDigital is defined by improving client outcomes and driving strategic impact. This includes leading the investment team toward operational excellence, enhancing efficiency and scalability, and expanding the reach and relevance of our retirement and institutional investment platform.

Operationally, success means building a streamlined, tech-enabled platform that empowers advisers to deliver consistent, high-quality service. It also involves fostering strong collaboration across investment, compliance, technology and client-facing teams.

Personally, success is about being a strategic leader who shapes our investment philosophy, mentors others and is recognized as a trusted expert in the retirement and institutional space. Ultimately, it’s about advancing OneDigital’s mission of empowering financial well-being in a sustainable, impactful way.

PLANADVISER: Have you had mentors or role models? Who are they and what lessons have you learned from them?

McConnell: I’ve been blessed to have had a strong role model throughout my life: my dad. He’s someone I’ve always looked up to, not just for his professional success, but for the way he balanced his career with being present for our family. He worked incredibly hard to build a successful life for us, but what stood out most was that he never let his work take away from his role as a father. No matter how busy he was, he never missed one of my baseball games growing up. That consistency taught me the importance of showing up for the people you care about. From him, I’ve learned that success isn’t just about what you achieve in your career, it’s also about the relationships you nurture and the time you invest in your loved ones. As a new father, I’m grateful to have a blueprint for how to balance work and family.