Accredited Investor
Accredited Investor
An investor who meets specific income or net worth thresholds, qualifying them to invest in unregistered securities like private placements. Must have $200k+ income ($300k+ joint) or $1M+ net worth (excluding primary residence).
An individual with $250k annual income qualifies as an accredited investor.
Accredited investor status is based on financial criteria, not investment knowledge or sophistication.
How This Is Tested
- Identifying the income and net worth thresholds for accredited investor status
- Understanding that primary residence is excluded from net worth calculation
- Recognizing what investment opportunities are available only to accredited investors
- Distinguishing between accredited investors and qualified clients
- Understanding that advisers must verify accredited investor status
Regulatory Limits
| Description | Limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Income threshold (individual) | $200,000+ annually | For each of the past two years, with expectation of same for current year |
| Income threshold (joint with spouse) | $300,000+ annually | For each of the past two years, with expectation of same for current year |
| Net worth threshold | $1,000,000+ | Excluding value of primary residence |
| Professional credentials alternative | Series 7, 65, or 82 license holders | Recent addition to accredited investor definition |
Example Exam Questions
Test your understanding with these practice questions. Select an answer to see the explanation.
Jennifer, a 45-year-old marketing executive, has earned $210,000 annually for the past three years and expects the same this year. She owns a home worth $800,000 with a $600,000 mortgage, has $150,000 in retirement accounts, and $50,000 in a brokerage account. Her investment adviser wants to recommend a private placement opportunity. Does Jennifer qualify as an accredited investor?
B is correct. Jennifer qualifies as an accredited investor based on the income test alone. She has earned over $200,000 annually ($210,000) for the past two years with a reasonable expectation of the same income level in the current year, which satisfies the individual income threshold.
A is incorrect because while her net worth calculation is accurate ($200,000 in assets excluding primary residence), she doesn't need to meet the net worth test since she already meets the income test. C is incorrect because primary residence equity ($200,000) must be excluded from the net worth calculation for accredited investor purposes. D is incorrect because accredited investor status requires meeting EITHER the income threshold OR the net worth threshold, not both.
The Series 65 exam tests your ability to determine accredited investor status in client scenarios, which is critical because investment advisers can only recommend certain securities (like private placements and hedge funds) to accredited investors. Understanding that the requirements are alternatives (income OR net worth) rather than cumulative is a common test point.
What is the minimum annual income threshold for an individual to qualify as an accredited investor under SEC regulations?
B is correct. An individual qualifies as an accredited investor with income exceeding $200,000 in each of the past two years, with a reasonable expectation of reaching the same income level in the current year.
A ($100,000) is too low and not a regulatory threshold for accredited investor status. C ($250,000) is not a standard threshold, though it falls between the individual ($200,000) and joint ($300,000) thresholds. D ($300,000) is the threshold for joint income with a spouse, not individual income.
The Series 65 exam frequently tests knowledge of the specific $200,000 individual income threshold, as this is one of the most common ways clients qualify as accredited investors. Confusing the individual ($200,000) and joint ($300,000) thresholds is a common mistake test-takers make.
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Access Free BetaA married couple is determining their net worth for accredited investor qualification. They own their primary residence valued at $1.2 million with an outstanding mortgage of $400,000. They also have $600,000 in investment accounts and $100,000 in a vacation property with no debt. What is their net worth for purposes of accredited investor qualification?
A is correct. For accredited investor purposes, the primary residence must be excluded from the net worth calculation. Calculate: $600,000 (investments) + $100,000 (vacation property) = $700,000. The primary residence value ($1.2M) and its mortgage ($400K) are both excluded.
B ($1,100,000) incorrectly includes the primary residence equity of $800,000 ($1.2M value - $400K mortgage) minus the mortgage, but then subtracts it incorrectly. C ($1,500,000) incorrectly includes the primary residence equity ($800,000) in addition to other assets. D ($1,900,000) incorrectly includes the full primary residence value without subtracting the mortgage. Note that while the couple has $700,000 in qualifying net worth, they do NOT meet the $1 million threshold based on net worth alone (though they might qualify through income).
Net worth calculation questions appear frequently on the Series 65 exam because the primary residence exclusion is a unique and often-tested aspect of accredited investor qualification. Many candidates incorrectly include home equity or make calculation errors when excluding the primary residence.
All of the following individuals would qualify as accredited investors EXCEPT
D is correct (the EXCEPT answer). This individual does NOT qualify as an accredited investor. They fail both tests: income is below $200,000 ($150,000 < $200,000) and net worth is below $1 million ($950,000 < $1,000,000). They must meet at least ONE threshold.
A qualifies based on the net worth test ($1,200,000 exceeds $1 million), even though income is below the individual threshold. B qualifies based on the joint income test ($320,000 exceeds $300,000). C qualifies based on holding a Series 65 license, which is an alternative qualification route added in recent years, even though their net worth is below $1 million. The professional credential (Series 7, 65, or 82) provides an independent path to accredited investor status.
The Series 65 exam tests whether you understand that accredited investor requirements are alternatives (income OR net worth OR professional credentials), not cumulative. Candidates must meet at least ONE qualification, and the exam often presents scenarios where individuals meet one test but not others.
A financial adviser is evaluating whether a client qualifies as an accredited investor. The client has earned $190,000 annually for the past two years, has $1.1 million in total assets, owns a primary residence worth $800,000 with a $400,000 mortgage, and holds a Series 7 license. Which of the following statements are accurate?
1. The client qualifies based on income
2. The client qualifies based on net worth
3. The client qualifies based on professional credentials
4. The client must increase income by $10,000 to qualify
A is correct. Only statement 3 is accurate - the client qualifies as an accredited investor based on holding a Series 7 license, which is a recognized professional credential.
Statement 1 is FALSE: The client's income of $190,000 is below the $200,000 individual threshold. Statement 2 is FALSE: To calculate net worth for accredited investor purposes, exclude the primary residence entirely. The $1.1M in total assets represents net assets (assets minus all liabilities). Excluding the primary residence: $1.1M total net assets - $800K home value = $300,000, which is below the $1 million threshold. Statement 4 is FALSE: While increasing income to $200,000 would create an additional qualification path, the client already qualifies through their Series 7 license, so this increase is unnecessary.
The Series 65 exam tests detailed knowledge of multiple qualification paths for accredited investor status. Understanding how to properly calculate net worth (excluding primary residence completely) while recognizing alternative qualification routes (professional credentials) demonstrates comprehensive knowledge of this frequently tested regulation.
💡 Memory Aid
Accredited = "VIP Club with 4 Doors": $200k solo income, $300k joint income, $1M net worth (drop your house first), OR Series 7/65/82 license. Walk through ANY ONE door = you're in the VIP club for private investments!
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