As the financial media talking heads focused their efforts on the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting milestone markers, news emerged that could potentially shake the foundation of the alternative investment industry (managed futures included). Investment News reports that SEC Chairwoman Mary Jo White is considering changes to the criteria of what makes an accredited investor.

“Ms. White, along with other advocates of revising the accredited investor definition, support some revisions that might include qualifications related to financial literacy, industry knowledge and actual experience with complex investment strategies.

Perhaps ironically, that basically describes most financial advisers, which means an expanded definition of an accredited investor could represent a new value-added benefit of working with a financial professional (if regulators decide a trusted adviser can act on behalf of investors as a kind of financial intermediary).”

While this could change the way hedge funds and managed futures operate, this is far from becoming an actual rule, as it’s just a consideration. However, just a couple months ago, they voted to allow some sort of advertising in the hedge fund world (which for once includes managed futures, our coverage here), suggesting that the SEC is open minded enough to think about such an alteration. To read more about the accredited investors criteria, see our first link in weekend reads.

• It is well-past time to expand access to hedge funds – (Investment News)
• Dissolved Managed Futures Funds – (Trend Following Mentor)
• In defense of 90-day Treasury bills – (MarketWatch)
• CFTC’s Chilton Says He Would Vote Against Current Volcker Rule – (Bloomberg)
• Using alternative investments in place of bonds in a portfolio – (Investment News)
• Morgan Stanley in talks to sell commodities business – (New York Post)
• Watching US Senators grapple with Bitcoin’s existence is disturbing – (John Lothian)
• Conquer social media – it’s like falling off a blog – (Investment News)

Just for Fun:

We can’t tell if Bloomberg is joking or not: Zombie Personal finance books of 2014 —  (Bloomberg)

• A Real-Time Map of Births and Deaths – (The Atlantic)
• Restless America: State-to-State Migration of 2012 — (Vizynary)
• Should Joe Moglia be running your football program? – (USA Today)
• 18 Places In Chicago To Go When You Need To Recharge & Feel Inspired – (Huffington Post)
• New Giant Dinosaur Was the Apex Predator Before T-Rex – (Wired)
• Ventra Cards With Negative Balances Allow Rides – (NBC Chicago)
• How We Should Remember John F. Kennedy – (The Atlantic)

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