FINRA news: Small Firm Advisory Committee seeks candidates
FINRA is recruiting candidates for two Small Firm Advisory Committee seats, Midwest and South. Candidate Profile Forms are due November 19, 2026.
The news: In FINRA news published October 20, 2026, the self-regulatory organization issued an election notice seeking candidates for its Small Firm Advisory Committee (SFAC). Two seats are up for election: one representing the Midwest region and one representing the South region.
Eligible individuals from small firms who want to serve must send a Candidate Profile Form by email to FINRA’s Corporate Secretary. The deadline is November 19, 2026.
Key takeaways:
- Two SFAC vacancies are open, one for the Midwest and one for the South.
- Candidates must come from small firms, as FINRA defines the term in the notice.
- Candidate Profile Forms go to FINRA’s Corporate Secretary by email and are due November 19, 2026.
Why it matters: Seats on the SFAC are regional, so only people from the Midwest and South can fill these two vacancies. Small broker-dealers in those regions have a direct opening to put forward someone from their segment of the industry. Firms in other regions are not part of this round.
The notice is a call for candidates. It is not a rule proposal and it creates no new compliance obligations. Compliance officers and firm principals should still read it closely, because eligibility turns on FINRA’s definition of a small firm, which the notice sets out in a footnote.
By the numbers:
- 2 seats up for election
- 2 regions represented: Midwest and South
- November 19, 2026: deadline to submit a Candidate Profile Form
The big picture: FINRA regulates a membership that ranges from very large firms to small independent shops. Reserving committee seats by region and firm size is one way to keep smaller firms represented in that structure. This election notice is a routine item in FINRA’s regulatory notice stream, and it matters most to people at small firms who want a role in the process.
What’s next: Interested candidates have until November 19, 2026 to submit their forms to the Corporate Secretary. Small firms in the Midwest and South should check eligibility against the notice and decide whether to nominate someone or put themselves forward. Anyone considering a run should read the full notice on FINRA’s website for the complete eligibility terms and submission instructions.
Prepared with AI assistance from public sources and reviewed under our editorial policy. Not investment advice.