The U.S. financial regulatory structure is a complex system of multiple federal and state regulators as well as self-regulatory organizations that operates largely along functional lines. That is, financial products or activities generally are regulated according to their function, no matter which entity offers the product or participates in the activity. The functional regulator approach is intended to provide consistency in regulation, focus regulatory restrictions on the relevant functional areas, and avoid the potential need for regulatory agencies to develop expertise in all aspects of financial regulation.