Which Investor Are You?

Find out Below!

Stage 1: Beginning investor

Situation:

  • Stable job, finances gaining traction

  • Contributing to a 401(k)/IRA, maybe a brokerage account

  • Sitting on ~$25K cash, not sure how to deploy

  • Not accredited yet — and that’s normal

Strategy:

  • Build & protect: fully fund your emergency savings

  • Max tax-advantaged accounts: 401(k), IRA, HSA

  • Invest broadly: index funds, ETFs

  • Start small in real estate: house hack, REITs, small partnerships

  • Stay consistent — habits now build wealth later

Stage 2:

Growth Investor

Situation:

  • Not yet an accredited investor (income under $200K, net worth under $1M).

  • But steadily working, building assets, with $150K+ in net worth (home equity, investments, cash).

  • Each year, you set aside a significant portion of income specifically to invest.

  • Exploring broader investment options and gaining confidence.

Strategy:

  • Keep your portfolio balanced: mix liquidity (cash, stocks), growth (ETFs, equities), and income (dividends, rentals).

  • Carefully vet private deals (like syndications or small businesses) — avoid over-allocating to anything illiquid.

  • Look for 506(b) opportunities that allow a few non-accredited investors if you want to start in private placements.

  • Keep pushing your income and savings higher to break into accredited status.

Stage 3: Accredited Investor

Situation:

  • Earn over $200K individually (or $300K jointly) for the past 2 years or

  • Have a net worth over $1M (excluding your home) or

  • Hold qualifying financial licenses.

Strategy:

  • Tap into private placements: 506(b)/506(c) real estate syndications, private equity, venture capital, and direct deals.

  • Diversify your portfolio beyond public markets, but stay disciplined on due diligence.

  • Structure investments smartly to optimize tax benefits and protect downside.

  • Keep scaling your earning power and network to access even better deals.

Why Talk About These Stages?

Because the investing world often jumps straight to: “Are you accredited or not?” but that skips over the very real, very important journey most people are on.

Whether you’re just building your foundation, or you’re on the cusp of qualifying for more private opportunities, the key is to:

✅ Stay consistent.
✅ Be strategic about risk vs. liquidity.
✅ Grow your knowledge so you’re ready when bigger doors open.

Want help figuring out what makes sense for your stage?

I specialize in helping investors of all levels, from first-time passive investors to those putting capital into private placements, understand their goals, risk tolerance, and the right types of deals for them.