As an independent supervisory authority, FINMA promotes the protection of creditors, investors, and policy holders as well as ensuring the smooth functioning of the financial markets. FINMA's primary objective is to provide protection for market players and the financial system as well as the system's reputation (functional protection). By doing so, it indirectly contributes to enhancing the competitiveness of the financial sector which is a desired effect of its supervisory activities. This contribution complements FINMA's protection objectives but is, however, less relevant if a conflict of interests arises.