FINRA Amends and Delays Expungement Rule Proposal

Posted on November 22nd, 2022 at 1:51 PM
FINRA Amends and Delays Expungement Rule Proposal

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) once again has amended and delayed a proposed rule change designed to tighten the process for advisors to expunge client complaints from their records.

FINRA filed to amend the rule proposal with additional restrictions and to extend the timetable for comments by at least one month on November 10, one day before the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was set to rule on the proposal. The revised proposal would restrict advisors from attempting to expunge a client’s complaint if a court or arbitrator previously had found the advisor liable in the dispute.

FINRA additionally added a clause to the proposal permitting a complaining client to attend and participate in “all aspects of the prehearing conferences and the expungement hearing.” The proposal also would create a special roster of arbitrators to hear requests and would require unanimous approval from three-member panels before a complaint is expunged.

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

Tags: eccleston, eccleston law, advisors, law, finra

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

This was the best of all possible outcomes and I cannot thank you and the team enough.

Michael S.

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

February 10, 2026
Merrill Lynch Expands Client Disclosures on Crypto and AI Risks

Merrill Lynch updated its required client disclosure brochure to address, for the first time, the evolving risks tied to cryptocurrency-linked investments and the firm’s expanding use of Artificial Intelligence tools.

February 9, 2026
FINRA Orders Osaic Unit to Pay Over $5 Million for Misleading Bank Deposit Program Disclosures

The Financial Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ordered independent broker-dealer Osaic and its acquired firm, American Portfolios Financial Services, to pay more than $5 million after finding that American Portfolios misled customers about how it calculated fees in its bank deposit program.

February 6, 2026
Delaware Regulators Fine Kovack Advisors $985,000

Kovack Advisors Inc., the registered investment adviser affiliate of independent broker-dealer Kovack Securities Inc., agreed to pay a $985,000 fine to Delaware securities regulators.