SEC seeks comment on adding CFA charter to accredited investor list
Individuals with a CFA designation may become eligible as accredited investors; comments due by Dec. 4, 2026.
The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a notice on Oct. 5, 2026 proposing to treat holding a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charter in good standing as a qualifying professional certification for natural-person accredited-investor status under Rule 501(a)(10).
Accredited-investor status, defined in Regulation D, permits natural persons to invest in private placements and other offerings that are generally unavailable to non-accredited investors. The Commission's proposal would add the CFA designation to the list of certifications that automatically satisfy the accredited-investor definition.
The notice, identified as Release No. 33-11447 and File No. 4-933, opens a comment period that ends on Dec. 4, 2026. Comments must reference file number 4-933 and may be submitted electronically through the SEC's internet comment form or by email, or in paper form sent in triplicate to the Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20549-1090.
Submitters are instructed to avoid including personally identifiable information; the SEC may redact or withhold material that is obscene or subject to copyright protection. All comments will be posted on the Commission's public-comments website.
For further information, the agency listed John Byrne, Office Chief; Kenisha D. Nicholson, Senior Special Counsel; and Max Corey, Special Counsel, at 202-551-3460.
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