Our company overview and company history offer a more in-depth view of our asset management process.
Since 1987, our focus on risk management and our disciplined “rules-based” investment style have remained the same. Each Sierra Mutual Fund serves a different purpose, yet all aim to accomplish two main goals for clients:
All our solutions rely on the original rules-based process developed by our co-founders, David C. Wright and Kenneth L. Sleeper. Rooted in math and decades of analysis, the process forms a decision framework for our Investment Management Team as they construct and manage portfolios. Our results affirm our position as a trusted partner to investors nationwide.
We employ some of the best money managers, analysts, and strategists in the industry – individuals with extensive experience in asset allocation, portfolio construction, analysis, trading, and manager and equity research. The Investment Management Team meets daily to review each holding in every account to limit drawdowns, reach a consensus on buy decisions, and act on sell signals – all with same-day execution. Team-based portfolio management is an important part of our risk-management discipline. A collaborative approach ensures the best investment ideas are raised for consideration so that navigation through all market and economic conditions is possible.
Meet Our Investment Team
Dr. Kenneth Sleeper, MBA
David C. Wright, JD
James St. Aubin, CFA, CAIA
Ryan Harder, CFA
Dr. Kenneth Sleeper, MBA
Co-Founder,
Co-Managing Director,
Portfolio Manager
Dr. Kenneth L. Sleeper, MBA is Co-Founder, Co-Managing Director, and Portfolio Manager at Sierra Mutual Funds. Ken jointly oversees all aspects of the organization’s activities, including asset management, research, and client relationships.
Before co-founding Sierra Investment Management in 1987 with David C. Wright, Ken applied his extensive background in statistical and computer applications to develop and refine computerized techniques for reducing downside risk. Ken utilizes his experience to help create productive investment solutions for clients so they may retire safely and successfully. Ken is committed to preserving client’s wealth by focusing on advanced risk management.
When not working with clients, Ken enjoys spending time with his wife of 40 years and his son. Ken earned his MBA and PhD degrees from the University of Southern California.
David C. Wright, JD
Co-Founder,
Co-Managing Director
David C. Wright, JD, is Co-Founder and Co-Managing Director at Sierra Mutual Funds. He jointly oversees all aspects of the organizations’ activities, including asset management, research, and client relationships.
After 13 years with major Los Angeles law firms, Dave served several years as Director of Technical Research for Bateman Eichler, Hill Richards, Inc., before co-founding Sierra Investment Management in 1987 with Dr. Kenneth L. Sleeper.
Dave earned a JD from the University of Chicago and a BS, Civil Engineering, from Swarthmore College.
James St. Aubin, CFA, CAIA
Chief Investment Officer
James St. Aubin, CFA®, CAIA®, is Chief Investment Officer for Sierra Mutual Funds. He has oversight of all activities of the Investment Management department, in collaboration with co-founders David Wright and Kenneth Sleeper.
An accomplished investment management executive, his career of more than 20 years includes leadership roles in asset allocation, manager research and portfolio construction. James earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from DePaul University and is a CFA® and CAIA® Charterholder. He is a Board Member and Treasurer for Children’s Bureau of Southern California, a local non-profit organization focused on primary prevention of child abuse.
Ryan Harder, CFA
Chief Investment Strategist,
Portfolio Manager
Ryan Harder, CFA®, is Chief Investment Strategist and Portfolio Manager for Sierra Mutual Funds. He oversees research, trading, and portfolio management for the firm, and his career of more than 20 years includes roles as portfolio manager, equity research analyst and managing director.
Ryan earned a BA in Economics, with honors, from Brock University in Ontario, Canada and a M.Sc. in International Securities, Investment and Banking from the ICMA Centre, University of Reading, in the United Kingdom. He is a CFA® Charterholder. Ryan enjoys playing ice hockey and watching auto racing with his wife and four children.
Doug Loeffler, CFA, CAIA
Marshall Quan
Yanni Dalkos, MSQE
Henry Reid
Doug Loeffler, CFA, CAIA
Executive Vice President of Investment Management
Doug Loeffler’s career and personal life are based on stability and tenacity. Before he was appointed Executive Vice President of Investment Management at Sierra Mutual Funds, Doug worked at AIG for 13 years, initially overseeing the annuity company’s mutual fund platform before serving as Lead Portfolio Manager of Asset Allocation for the past six years. Before AIG, Doug acted as a Portfolio Manager and Head of Manager Research at Principal Financial Group, and as an International Equity Manager at Founders Asset Management.
A self-proclaimed non-athlete, he recently completed a 48-mile trek from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to the North Rim and back again. In one day.
Doug is a CFA® charterholder and received a BA in Economics from Washington State University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.
Marshall Quan
Lead Portfolio Analyst,
Portfolio Manager
As Lead Portfolio Analyst, Marshall Quan enjoys discovering new vehicles for clients to invest in, as well as identifying changes in trends as they occur. Ever attentive to helping clients preserve their wealth, Marshall is responsible for investment monitoring and analysis, securities screening execution and reporting, technical analysis, and portfolio construction among other investment management and operational duties.
Marshall earned his BS degree in Business Administration: Classical Management – Finance from Cal State University at Dominguez Hills. He joined Sierra Mutual Funds in 1999.
Yanni Dalkos, MSQE
Research & Data Analyst
A member of the investment team since 2019, Yanni Dalkos is responsible for technical investment research, due diligence, data analysis, and trading among other investment management and operational duties. He enjoys helping clients understand how to preserve their wealth by examining the relationship between risk and return. Combined with research, Yanni feels this awareness ultimately improves client’s results.
With a bachelor’s degree in Economics and a master’s in quantitative economics from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, Yanni is the first in his family to both graduate from a four-year university and earn a master’s degree.
Henry Reid
Portfolio Analyst
Henry Reid joined the investment team 2020. As a self-described analytical person and avid fan of sports and statistics, Henry is primed for his role as Portfolio Analyst, helping clients secure their futures and achieve financial freedom. Henry is responsible for research, analysis, data visualization, and performance and data reporting among other investment management and operational duties.
Henry earned his BS degree in Economics and MS degree in Finance from the University of Oregon at Eugene.
Over 35 years ago, our founders launched a big idea in a small garage. View seven short videos in which Founders David Wright and Kenneth Sleeper share the triumphs and challenges of the firm’s early years and how they became “pioneers in disciplined risk management.”