Per the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Rule 501 of Regulation D, in order to qualify as accredited, an investor must accomplish at least one of the following:
- Earn an individual income of more than $200,000 per year, or a joint spousal income of more than $300,000 per year, in each of the last two years and expect to reasonably maintain the same level of income;
- Have a net worth exceeding $1 million, either individually or jointly with his or her spouse (excluding the primary residence);
- Be a bank, insurance company, registered investment company, business development company, or small business investment company;
- Be a general partner, executive officer, director or a related combination thereof for the issuer of a security being offered;
- Be a business in which all the equity owners are accredited investors. Be an employee benefit plan, a trust, charitable organization, partnership, or company with total assets in excess of $5 million.