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Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Investment Objectives and Goals link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210002 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Fees and Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210003 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Investment Strategy link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210004 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Investment Risks link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210005 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Performance Management link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220010 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Shareholder Fees link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220020 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Annual Fund Operating Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220030 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Expense Example link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220040 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Expense Example, No Redemption link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220045 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Risks Data link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220050 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220060 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Average Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 220070 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund Market Index Performance link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 210000 - Disclosure - First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund N-1A Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 310001 - 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Disclosure - First Trust Short Duration High Income Fund Expense Example link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320040 - Disclosure - First Trust Short Duration High Income Fund Expense Example, No Redemption link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320045 - Disclosure - First Trust Short Duration High Income Fund Risks Data link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320050 - Disclosure - First Trust Short Duration High Income Fund Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320060 - Disclosure - First Trust Short Duration High Income Fund Average Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 320070 - Disclosure - First Trust Short Duration High Income Fund Market Index Performance link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 310000 - Disclosure - First Trust Short Duration High Income Fund N-1A Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410001 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Investment Objectives and Goals link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410002 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Fees and Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410003 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Investment Strategy link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410004 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Investment Risks link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410005 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Performance Management link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420010 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Shareholder Fees link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420020 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Annual Fund Operating Expenses link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420030 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Expense Example link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420040 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Expense Example, No Redemption link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420045 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Risks Data link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420050 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420060 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Average Annual Total Returns link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 420070 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund Market Index Performance link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink 410000 - Disclosure - First Trust Managed Municipal Fund N-1A Cover link:presentationLink link:definitionLink link:calculationLink First Trust Confluence Small Cap Value Fund S000030199 [Member] A C000092938 [Member] C C000092939 [Member] I C000092941 [Member] R3 C000092937 [Member] First Trust Preferred Securities and Income Fund S000030198 [Member] C000092933 [Member] F C000092934 [Member] C000092935 [Member] C000092936 [Member] C000092932 [Member] Return Before Taxes[Member] ICE BofA US Investment Grade Institutional Capital Securities Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] FPEIX Blended Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Banks Risk [Member] Call Risk [Member] Contingent Convertible Securities Risk [Member] Convertible Securities Risk [Member] Credit Rating Agency Risk [Member] Credit Risk [Member] Credit Spread Risk [Member] Currency Risk [Member] Current Market Conditions Risk [Member] Cyber Security Risk [Member] Debt Securities Risk [Member] Depositary Receipts Risk [Member] Europe Risk [Member] Extension Risk [Member] Financial Companies Risk [Member] Fixed To Floating Rate Securities Risk [Member] Floating Rate Securities Risk [Member] High Yield Securities Risk [Member] Hybrid Capital Securities Risk [Member] Income Risk [Member] Inflation Risk [Member] Interest Rate Risk [Member] Large Capitalization Companies Risk [Member] Liquidity Risk [Member] Management Risk [Member] Market Risk [Member] Non US Securities Risk [Member] Operational Risk [Member] Preferred Securities Risk [Member] Prepayment Risk [Member] REIT Risk [Member] Restricted Securities Risk [Member] Senior Notes Baby Bonds Risk [Member] Significant Exposure Risk [Member] Smaller Companies Risk [Member] Subordinated Debt Risk [Member] US Government Securities Risk [Member] Valuation Risk [Member] First Trust Short Duration High Income Fund S000038285 [Member] C000121471 [Member] C000121472 [Member] C000118178 [Member] FDHAX Blended Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] ICE BofA US High Yield Constrained Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Morningstar® LSTA® US Leveraged Loan Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Bank Loans Risk [Member] Counterparty Risk [Member] Covenant Lite Loans Risk [Member] Floating Rate Debt Instruments Risk [Member] Senior Loan Risk [Member] First Trust Managed Municipal Fund S000074778 [Member] C000232962 [Member] C000232961 [Member] Bloomberg Municipal Bond 5-15 Year Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Bloomberg Municipal Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)[Member] Alternative Minimum Tax Risk [Member] Custodial Receipts Trust Risk [Member] Derivatives Risk [Member] Industrial Development Bond Risk [Member] Leverage Risk [Member] Municipal Lease Participations Risk [Member] Municipal Securities Market Liquidity Risk [Member] Municipal Securities Risk [Member] Risk Nondiversified [Member] Pre Refunded Bonds Risk [Member] Private Activity Bonds Risk [Member] Tender Option Bond Risk [Member] Volatility Risk [Member] Zero Coupon Bond Risk [Member]