Groundfloor Review 2026: Real Estate Debt Investing Without Accreditation
Groundfloor lets non-accredited investors buy real estate debt notes at $10, with 9.91% historical returns and key unresolved SEC disclosures.
BDC Debt-to-Equity Ratio: The Leverage Number Every BDC Investor Should Check
A BDCs debt-to-equity ratio reveals real leverage. The 2018 rule change doubled the ceiling from 1:1 to 2:1, and the trend matters most.
SEC Greenlights Tokenized Fund Custody: What Franklin Templeton's No-Action Letter Means for Investors
On August 12, 2026, the SEC's Division of Investment Management issued its first-ever no-action letter applying Rule 17f-2 self-custody relief to a...
tash vs. WatchFy vs. Reliqt: Which Fractional Collectibles Platform Is Actually Registered
Three platforms want your money for a slice of a trading card, a watch, or a "chain-native" collectible.
The SEC's Venture Capital Fund Exemption (Section 203(l) / Rule 203(l)-1): What Every LP Needs to Know
TL;DR: Section 203(l) of the Investment Advisers Act and its implementing Rule 203(l)-1 let venture capital fund managers skip SEC registration and, more importantly, skip routine SEC examinations. Th
SEC Raises Qualified Client Thresholds to $1.4M and $2.7M: What Changes June 29, 2026
TL;DR: On April 28, 2026, the SEC issued Release No. IA-6961 , raising the dollar thresholds for "qualified client" status under Rule 205-3 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Effective June 29,...
Why Single-Family Offices Don't Register With the SEC (And PE Firms Do)
TL;DR: Single-family offices that manage money for one wealthy family are excluded outright from the definition of "investment adviser" under a rule the SEC adopted in 2011 to implement Section 409...
Brian Armstrong Wants a Literacy Test, Not a Wealth Test. The SEC Might Agree.
In June 2026, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong appeared on Yahoo Finance's Power Players podcast and called for eliminating the US accredited investor wealth thresholds, replacing them with a financial...
SEC Proposes Killing the Baby Shelf Rule: What It Means for Private Market Investors
The Securities and Exchange Commission proposed eliminating the "baby shelf" limitations for smaller public companies in May 2026, as part of a broader three-part capital formation package under Ch...
The Unregistered Finder Problem: What Every Angel Network Must Know in 2026
The legal risk around unregistered finders in private placements is not theoretical. The SEC and FINRA actively investigate and pursue enforcement actions against individuals who receive transactio...
The 401(k) Alternative: How Trump's Regulatory Push Opens $14 Trillion to Private Markets
TL;DR: The Department of Labor proposed a safe harbor rule on March 30, 2026, that would allow 401(k) plan fiduciaries to add alternatives like private equity and real estate to retirement plans. With
Blue Sky Laws: What Every Accredited Investor in Private Placements Must Know
TL;DR: Blue sky laws are state securities regulations that run parallel to federal law. A valid Reg D exemption does not give you a free pass in all 50 states. Ignore them and you hand your investors
Form ADV: The Investment Adviser Document Every Accredited Investor Should Read Before Writing a Check
TL;DR: Before you write a check to any investment adviser, look up their Form ADV on the SEC's IAPD database . It takes 3 minutes. It has saved investors from fraud. What Form ADV Is and Why It Exi...
Regulation CF vs. Regulation A+: The Crowdfunding Rules That Determine Your Access
TL;DR: Two federal exemptions let companies raise money from retail investors without a full SEC registration. Regulation CF caps raises at $5M per year . Regulation A+ goes up to $75M. Knowing whi...