US SEC proposes wider retail investor access to private assets amid risk concerns
The US securities regulator proposed rules on Wednesday that would broaden access to private assets traditionally reserved for wealthy or professional investors. This could potentially give more Americans opportunities for higher returns while exposing them to greater risks, according to the Reuters report.The Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposals form part of the Donald Trump administration’s broader effort to “democratise” investments such as private equity, private credit, real estate and venture capital, which can potentially deliver higher returns than conventional stock-and-bond portfolios.One measure could allow hundreds of thousands of certified professionals—including accountants, financial analysts, financial planners and licensed research analysts—to qualify as accredited investors and purchase private investments.Accredited-investor status currently depends largely on meeting wealth or income thresholds or holding certain professional credentials, such as a broker-...