Under Regulation D, spouses can both qualify as accredited investors if their joint net worth exceeds $1 million. The term “joint net worth” has caused a little confusion among startups verifying their accredited investors (particularly important for those companies taking advantage of the new general solicitation rules). Are only jointly-owned assets (and liabilities) of the marriage included in the calculation. Fortunately, the SEC has clarified that all assets owned by the spouses, whether jointly or individually, are included in the calculation of joint net worth. So even if one spouse individually has a net worth of millions while the other spouse has a relatively small net worth, both spouses qualify as accredited investors, each in their own right — the purchase of securities also need not be made jointly.
Leave a Reply