Tr?id=566623520170033&ev=PageView&noscript=1

FINRA Advances Overhaul of Outside Business Activity Rules to the SEC

Posted on January 28th, 2026 at 2:22 PM
FINRA Advances Overhaul of Outside Business Activity Rules to the SEC

From the desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law

FINRA formally has advanced its proposed overhaul of outside business activity (OBA) regulations to the Securities and Exchange Commission. According to AdvisorHub, FINRA also issued a notice confirming the SEC filing, which triggers a 90-day public comment period before the SEC decides whether to approve the rule.

The proposal would replace existing Rules 3270 and 3280 with a single, consolidated Rule 3290. As reported by AdvisorHub, FINRA designed the change to streamline regulatory oversight and reduce compliance obligations tied to low-risk, non-investment-related activities. Under the proposal, brokers no longer would need to report or seek firm approval for activities such as refereeing sports, driving for a car service, or bartending on weekends.

The rule also would permit brokers to engage in certain activities, including securities transactions, without firm approval when no compensation is involved. FINRA also would exclude personal real estate transactions, such as buying, selling, or renting a home, from reporting requirements, as reported by AdvisorHub.

FINRA stated that the revised framework would allow firms to concentrate supervisory resources on higher-risk conflicts. Those risks may include selling away and the promotion of products such as crypto assets, fixed annuities, commodities, or private placements. According to AdvisorHub, this effort follows earlier attempts by FINRA to modernize OBA regulation. In 2018, FINRA proposed narrowing the definition of outside business activities and easing supervisory and recordkeeping requirements related to brokers’ unaffiliated registered investment advisers.

 

Eccleston Law LLC represents investors and financial advisors nationwide in securities, employment, transition, regulatory, and disciplinary matters.

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, finra, sec

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next
Quotes Bigger

I want to extend a tremendous thank you for your dedication, professionalism, hard work and patient demeanor through this challenging time. It was enjoyable interacting with everyone on your team, this certainly helped while dealing with the situation and working towards resolution.

Dan M.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

1789589290 Law
September 16, 2026
Edelman Financial Engines Secures TRO Against Advisor Who Joined RFG Advisory

Edelman Financial Engines recently secured a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Chad A.

1789490284 Law
September 15, 2026
FINRA Suspends Former Northwestern Mutual Broker Over Customer Loans

The Financial industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has suspended and fined a former Northwestern Mutual broker after he solicited two customers for loans to purchase another representative's book of business but instead used most of the money to pay personal expenses and other debt, according to an Acceptance, Waiver, and Consent (AWC) letter.<...

1789403905 Law
September 14, 2026
SEC Considers Expanding Retail Access to Private Markets

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is considering a proposal that could expand retail investors' access to private markets and allow investment advisers to charge performance fees to a broader group of clients.