The SEC should expand the accredited investor definition by creating an objective credentialing exam for individual investors and explicitly recognizing Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) charterholders under Rule 501(a)(10). Relying strictly on wealth and income thresholds serves as an outdated, inequitable proxy for financial sophistication, excluding highly capable individuals based entirely on capital rather than competence. Introducing a standardized examination administered by FINRA would democratize private market access through a merit-based pathway, directly measuring an individual's understanding of illiquidity, structural risks, and private placements. Concurrently, fast-tracking individuals who hold the CAIA designation leverages an existing, globally recognized credential explicitly dedicated to alternative investments, private equity, and hedge funds. By adopting both a universal testing mechanism and recognizing rigorous alternative-asset credentials like the CAIA, the Commission can safely expand capital pools for entrepreneurs while ensuring that market participants possess verified financial proficiency and ethical accountability.