“Are you an accredited investor?”

For many investment sponsors, that’s the first question they will ask. For others, they’ll never ask. Have you ever wondered why? Of course, legalities are the primary reason, but it all comes down to ethics, trust, and responsibility.

Now, one could gamble away their life savings at the blackjack table. Not an investment, a wise decision by anyone’s standard, but if it was their choice and only their money, it certainly wasn’t illegal or unethical, and the risk of gambling is well known. Investing is a much different story. If you find a crowdfunding site that allows you to invest a few hundred dollars, most will gladly accept it no questions asked.

All investments come with some risk, but the purpose of inquiring whether or not you are an accredited investor comes down to whether you are fiscally responsible to make a major investment. What constitutes a major investment? That’s relative. But for Trion Properties, our minimum investment is $50,000.

All definitions for an accredited investor differ slightly, however here is a good starting point:

An accredited investor meets one of the following three requirements:

1) Has an annual income of at least $200,000, or $300,000 if combined with a spouse’s income

2) Holds a valid Series 7, 65, or 82 license

3) Has a net worth of >$1 million or more, excluding the value of a primary residence.