February 4, 2007
It would be a sever blow to the average investor by inplementing new hedge funds rules prohibiting them from investing in those hedge funds.
What you are creating is a system where only the super wealthy can profit when the overall market is going down over an extended period of time. Look at history and there are many periods like this.
The argument is that only the wealthy are sophisticated enough to understand the risks involved. I am 64 years old with a Masters Degree in Business yet I could not begin to qualify under the new proposed rules for hedge fund patrons.
If the SEC thinks Hedge funds need a little more regulation to insure the average investor is educated as to the risks involved, then so be it. This is a far better resolution than limiting a great investment opportunity only to the extremely wealthy.