What is an Accredited Investor? How to Become an Accredited Investor and the Benefits.

Accredited investors have advantages that other investors don't possess. As a result, they can buy investment assets unavailable to the general public. They have exclusive privileges that exempt them from many rules and regulations to protect other investors from specific risk factors.

However, the accredited investor title is not a creation of fund managers or financial advisors. It is an official government designation for investors who meet a demanding qualifying criterion.

What is an accredited investor?

An accredited investor is an individual or business entity with permission from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to trade unregistered securities without restrictions. According to the SEC definition, an acredited investor is anyone who:

• By Income.
  Generates an income over $200,000 — or $300,000 as part of a couple — in the previous two years.
• By net worth.
  Maintains a net worth exceeding $1 million, with or without a spouse or spouse equivalent, minus the primary residence's value.
• By license.
  Is a knowledgeable employee with a Series 7, 65, or 82 license¹

These exceptionally high wealth and professional knowledge standards are part of the U.S. government's effort to protect investors from experiencing significant losses without sufficient cash reserves.

In addition, the SEC extends accredited investor status:

• to investment broker-dealers,
• insurance companies,
• banks,
• entities with all equity owners being accredited investors,
• and trusts with total assets over $5 million¹.

Why do accredited investors get exclusive exposure to unregistered investments?

Unregistered investments aren't subject to the Truth in Securities Act of 1933, meaning potential investors can only expect to get basic information about these assets. This condition makes investing in unregistered investments inherently riskier. However, these assets have an unshakable position in the investment sphere because of their high return potential.
SEC made trading in unregistered investments legally possible by instituting the accredited investor exemption through Regulation D, Rule 5012. In SEC terminology, an accredited investor is a "sophisticated person," meaning that the person or entity has the financial prowess to exist in unregistered investment environments and the ability to handle substantial losses.

What types of investments are accessible to accredited investors?

Many people associate accredited investors with hedge funds, but these investors have investment access to many other exotic and familiar unregistered investments, including:

• Alternative investments
  • Venture Capital
  • Real estate investing for accredited investors
  • Private equity funds
  • Real estate investment funds
  • Angel investments

Accreddited investor - only online crowdfunding sites like Yardstreet and EquityMultiple, where accredited investors can buy unregistered securities from these entities. Also known as private placements or Regulation D offerings, these unregistered securities come with only basic details and any additional information the issuing company is willing to share.

How to become an accredited investor?

You can become an accredited investor by getting screened and verified by the issuing company you plan to use for investing in private placements. Following SEC guidelines, the company (issuer) will take you through a screening process that usually starts with a questionnaire. So, prepare to provide tax returns, a credit report verifying net worth, W-2 forms, professional certifications, financial statements, and other corroborating documents.

How to become an accredited real estate investor?

There is no difference between how to become an accredited investor in general and for real estate investments specifically. You still have to follow SEC guidelines; see above on how to become an accredited investor.

How to become an accredited angel investor?

Becoming an accredited angel investor typically involves meeting certain income or net worth requirements set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the United States. These requirements vary depending on the type of investment opportunity being presented.

To become an accredited angel investor, you will typically need to:

1. Meet the SEC's income or net worth requirements.
2. Complete any paperwork or registration processes required by the SEC or other regulatory bodies.
3. Participate in any training or educational programs required by the SEC or the angel investing group you are joining.
4. Find an accredited Angel investment group or club to join.
5. Attend meetings and actively participate in the group's investment decisions.

You should also research and do due diligence on potential investment opportunities and consult a financial advisor or attorney before investing.

Can a non-accredited investor put money in startups?

An initial investor in a startup that achieves top-tier success can receive tremendous returns. You've probably heard or read about wealthy people investing in a hit company early. However, most of these fortunate investors were already wealthy before the company took off—they just got wealthier.
Pre-IPO startup investments are generally not available to most investors. Although some new crowdfunding platforms allow almost all investors to invest in startups, public companies' high risks, and illiquid shares make angel investing better suited for accredited investors⁴.

Among the available options, accredited investors typically use venture capital (VC) firms or online marketplaces for private placement offerings. VC firms utilize accredited investors to provide capital to a VC fund that invests in a portfolio of startups. If you become an accredited investor who buys into a VC fund, be prepared to let your money sit for an extended time.

What can accredited investor status mean for you?

You may already get good returns on your traditional stock and bond investments. You may forget about investing in any other way during a bull market. However, as an accredited investor, you get exposure to countless investment opportunities that can diversify your investment portfolio and potentially increase returns. You can also take advantage of the expert investment strategies of hedge fund managers and alternative investment firms.

FAQs

How do you prove you are an accredited investor?

You can prove you are an accredit investor through a screening and verification process with your issuing company. During verification, you must present documents confirming your qualifications, including tax returns, a declaration of facts from your accountant, IRS forms, credit reports, proof of ownership, or other relevant documents.

How long does it take to become an accredited investor?

Since the verification process is the responsibility of the issuing company, there is no uniform waiting period to become an accredited investor. Every issuing company has its unique rules. However, you can become an active accredited investor once you complete the firm's verification process.

What qualifies as an accredited investor?

According to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), an accredited investor has a gross income of over $200,000 in the past two years or $300,000 in a joint relationship. An accredited investor can also be someone with a $1 million net worth or a professional with Series 7, 65, or 82 licenses ¹. Your net worth must exclude the value of your home.

References

1. Investor. gov  
   https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/general-resources/news-alerts/alerts-bulletins/investor-bulletins/updated-3
   https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics/glossary/regulation-d-offerings
2. SEC.gov 
   https://www.sec.gov/rules/final/2020/33-10824.pdf 
3. Forbes.com
   https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/what-is-accredited-investor/