As RIAs grow, more hiring chief operating officers to manage their firms

Summary: David Wright is facing a pleasant predicament. Since 2008, assets under management at Sierra Investment Management Inc., the registered investment adviser he co-founded in 1987, have more than tripled to $1.75 billion, and head count has nearly doubled to 20, so Mr. Wright has been forced to look for extra help managing the business. Mr. Wright is part of a growing number of RIAs on the hunt for a chief operating officer to run the day-to-day business, giving advisers time to focus on prospecting for clients and managing portfolios.