You qualify if one of these is true
Income
You earned more than $200,000
In each of the last two years, and you expect the same this year.
Joint
Or more than $300,000 together
With a spouse or spousal equivalent, in each of the last two years, and you expect the same this year.
Net worth
Your net worth is over $1 million
Alone or together with a spouse or spousal equivalent, not counting the value of your primary residence.
License
You hold a Series 7, 65 or 82 license
In good standing.
Common questions
How is my net worth worked out?
Add up what you own and subtract what you owe. Leave out your primary residence, and leave out the mortgage on it too, up to what the home is worth.
Two exceptions count against you: any part of the mortgage that is more than the home is worth, and any amount you added to it in the 60 days before you invest.
Do retirement accounts count?
Yes. Retirement accounts such as a 401(k) or an IRA count toward your net worth.
Can I invest through a trust or a company?
Often, yes. A trust or entity with more than $5 million in assets, not formed to buy the investment, can qualify, and so can an entity whose owners are all accredited. There are other cases too, so check with your advisor or the sponsor.
Who checks that I qualify?
The sponsor, before you invest. Sponsors usually ask for recent tax returns or bank and brokerage statements, or a letter from your CPA, attorney or registered investment adviser confirming your status.
Why does the rule exist?
Private offerings don't register with the SEC, so they carry fewer of the disclosures a public investment does. They can be hard to sell, and you could lose what you put in. The rule limits them to people the SEC considers able to weigh those risks and absorb a loss.
What if I don't qualify yet?
The offerings on Altinvest are for accredited investors only, so you can't invest in them yet. The Academy is open to everyone if you want to learn how private offerings work in the meantime.
The full rules are in the SEC's investor bulletin on accredited investors. This page is a summary, not advice; if you are unsure, ask your advisor.
Ready to look?
Every offering open right now is on one page, laid out the same way.
