FINRA and the Securities Industry/Regulatory Council on Continuing Education have released eight topics under consideration for the 2027 Regulatory Element learning plan.

The preliminary list gives firms an early look at the regulatory developments and compliance concerns that may shape next year’s training. It can also help compliance teams begin considering how their Firm Element programs should address similar risks or provide additional firm-specific guidance.

The topics remain subject to change. FINRA and the CE Council will publish the finalized 2027 learning plan topics, including their applicable registration categories, by October 1, 2026.

Eight Topics Under Consideration

The potential 2027 Regulatory Element topics are:

  • Gifts
  • Regulation BI’s Care Obligation – Third Component
  • Communications Issues Relating to AI, Finfluencers and Social Media
  • Political Contributions and Prohibitions on Municipal Securities Business
  • Client Market Access Controls
  • Financial and Operational Market Access Controls
  • Private Placement Filings
  • Prepublication Review of Research Reports

The list reflects a combination of longstanding compliance obligations and risks arising from newer communication practices and technologies.

Several topics, including gifts, political contributions, private placement filings, and research reports, focus on established areas where firms need clear procedures and effective supervision. Others address how firms are adapting existing requirements to AI-generated content, financial influencers, social media, and evolving market access risks.

Regulatory Element Requirements

Under FINRA Rule 1240, registered persons must complete the Regulatory Element annually by December 31 for each registration they hold. The content assigned to an individual is based on their specific representative or principal registration categories.

The Regulatory Element covers significant rule changes and other regulatory developments relevant to those registrations. FINRA publishes upcoming topics in advance so firms can account for them when coordinating their overall training programs.

FINRA may also confirm certain topics as late as December 31 when their inclusion depends on the outcome of a proposed rule.

Connecting Regulatory and Firm Element Training

The potential topics can provide an early reference point for firms developing their 2027 Firm Element needs analysis and written training plan. However, the Regulatory Element and Firm Element serve different purposes.

The Regulatory Element provides standardized training based on registration categories. Firm Element training should be tailored to the firm’s business activities, products, services, supervisory findings, regulatory developments, and the responsibilities of its covered employees.

Rather than automatically repeating each Regulatory Element topic, firms can evaluate where additional training would be useful.

Add Firm-Specific Context

A Regulatory Element course may explain the applicable requirements, while Firm Element training can connect those requirements to the firm’s policies, systems, approval processes, and escalation procedures.

Avoid Unnecessary Duplication

Reviewing Regulatory Element assignments alongside the Firm Element plan can help firms reinforce important topics without delivering repetitive training that adds little practical value.

Prepare for Changes

Because the list is preliminary, firms should monitor the finalized learning plans and any topics confirmed later due to pending rule developments.

An Early Planning Opportunity

The potential topics do not create new training requirements, and firms do not need to revise their programs based on the preliminary list alone. However, they provide insight into the issues FINRA and the CE Council consider relevant for registered persons heading into 2027.

Compliance teams can use the preview to begin identifying training priorities, reviewing recent supervisory findings, and determining where employees may benefit from more targeted instruction. Once the final topics are published, firms can compare them with their needs analysis and finalize a training plan that reflects both regulatory developments and the risks specific to their business.