What is an accredited investor? How can I become one?

To be an accredited investor, one of the two following conditions must be met: 1) You must be married and have earned an income exceeding $200,000-$300,000 over the past two years, or 2) you need to have a net worth greater than $1 million, not including the value of your home.

There is no certification or documentation that names you as an accredited investor. Instead, the company behind the private deal you are trying to engage with will put you through their own screening process to verify your status. Typically, this is just a signed form from your broker or accountant verifying your assets.