# Qualified Eligible Participant (QEP): What it Means, How it Works

## What Is a Qualified Eligible Participant (QEP)?

A qualified eligible participant (QEP) is an individual who meets the requirements to trade in sophisticated investment funds such as futures and hedge funds. These requirements are defined by Rule 4.7 of the [Commodity Exchange Act](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cea.asp) (CEA).

### Key Takeaways

*   A qualified eligible participant is an individual who meets the requirements to trade in different investment funds, such as futures and hedge funds.
*   A QEP must own at least $2,000,000 of securities and other investments, have an open account with a FCM for at least six months, and have a portfolio that has at least $200,000 of initial margin and option premiums for commodity interest transactions.
*   QEPs are similar to, but not the same as, accredited investors in that they are assumed to have a sophisticated understanding of the complexities of trading risky assets such as futures and hedge funds.

## Understanding Qualified Eligible Participants (QEPs)

Qualified eligible participants (QEPs) must meet a set of conditions described by the Commodity Exchange Act.

*   They must own at least $2 million in [securities](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/security.asp) and other investments, as well as at least $200,000 in initial margin and option premiums for commodity interest transactions.
*   They must have had an open account with a [futures commission merchant](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/fcm.asp) (FCM) at any time during the preceding six months.
*   They must have a combined portfolio of the investments specified in the above requirements.

QEPs are considered to be more knowledgeable than the typical investor regarding sophisticated investments. Hedge funds, for example, are understood to be riskier than [mutual funds](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mutualfund.asp), [pension funds](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/pensionplan.asp), and other investment vehicles. They are liable to see significant losses but produce higher-than-average long-term returns when successful. Hedge fund managers go long on assets they predict will do well in the future, while shorting assets they anticipate will fall in price. 

By law, a plurality of hedge fund participants must be QEPs. Hedge funds that limit their investors only to QEPs may obtain an exemption from several [Securities and Exchange Commission](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sec.asp) (SEC) regulations. This exemption allows hedge fund managers more considerable latitude in their investment decisions, which opens the door for both more significant risks and rewards than other types of investments.

Hedge funds are blamed by many for contributing to the [2007-2008 Financial Crisis](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/09/financial-crisis-review.asp) by adding risky, leverage-based derivatives to the banking system. These investments created high returns when the market was good, but amplified the impact of the market's decline.

## QEPs vs. Accredited Investors and CPOs

Qualified eligible participants are similar to [accredited investors](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/accreditedinvestor.asp) in that they both must meet specific income and net worth requirements. The difference is that QEPs are assumed to have a sophisticated understanding of the complexities of trading risky assets such as futures and hedge funds.

Individuals who receive funds to use in a commodity pool such as a hedge fund are required to register as [Commodity Pool Operators](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cpo.asp) (CPO). CPOs must comply with the disclosure requirements of both the Commodity Exchange Act and the [Commodity Futures Trading Commission](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cftc.asp). While investors in hedge funds must be QEPs, hedge fund managers must be both QEPs and CPOs.

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  U.S. Government Publishing Office. "[17 CFR Sec. 4.7](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2011-title17-vol1/pdf/CFR-2011-title17-vol1-sec4-7.pdf)," Pages 169-170. Accessed March 17, 2021.
>     
> 2.  Commodity Futures Trading Commission. "[CPO and CTA Exemptions and Exclusions](https://cftc.gov/sites/default/files/tm/tmcpo_cta_exemptions.htm)." Accessed March 22, 2021.
>     
> 3.  Commodity Futures Trading Commission. "[Commodity Pool Operators (CPOs)](https://www.cftc.gov/IndustryOversight/Intermediaries/CPOs/index.htm)." Accessed March 17, 2021.
>     
> 4.  National Futures Association. "[Commodity Pool Operator (CPO) Registration](https://www.nfa.futures.org/registration-membership/who-has-to-register/cpo.html)." Accessed March 17, 2021.