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Risk Return Abstract |
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Registrant Name |
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First Trust Variable Insurance Trust
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Prospectus Date |
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May 01, 2025
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk/Return [Heading] |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12.60pt;font-weight:bold;">First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio</span>
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Objective [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Investment Objective</span>
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Objective, Primary [Text Block] |
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The First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio (the "Fund") seeks to provide total return.
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Expense [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Fees and Expenses of the Fund</span>
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Expense Narrative [Text Block] |
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The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses reflected below do not include contract level fees of the variable annuity or variable life insurance contracts offered by a Participating Insurance Company (each a “Contract”). If such fees were included, the Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses would be higher. More information about eligibility requirements for Class I is available from your Participating Insurance Company.
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Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;font-weight:bold;">Shareholder Fees</span>
<br/><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">(fees paid directly from your investment)</span>
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Operating Expenses Caption [Text] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;font-weight:bold;">Annual Fund Operating Expenses</span>
<br/><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)</span>
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Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8.10pt;font-style:italic;">May 1, 2026</span>
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Portfolio Turnover [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Portfolio Turnover</span>
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Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] |
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The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 45% of the average value of its portfolio.
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Portfolio Turnover, Rate |
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45.00%
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Expense Example [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Example</span>
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Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] |
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The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then hold or sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s annual operating expenses (before any fee waiver or expense reimbursement) remain at current levels for the time periods indicated. Additionally, the example assumes that the Fund’s investment advisor’s agreement to waive fees and/or pay the Fund’s expenses to the extent necessary to prevent the operating expenses of the Class I shares (excluding interest expense, brokerage commissions and other trading expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses) from exceeding 1.30% of the Fund’s average daily net assets will be terminated following May 1, 2026. The example does not take into account Contract level fees. If such fees were included, the estimated expenses would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your cost would be:
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Strategy [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal Investment Strategies</span>
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Strategy Narrative [Text Block] |
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The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its net assets (including investment borrowings) in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) that comprise the Dorsey Wright Tactical Tilt Moderate CoreTM Index (the “Index”). It is expected that a majority of the ETFs in which the Fund invests will be advised by First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust” or the “Advisor”). The Index is owned and was developed by Dorsey, Wright & Associates (the “Index Provider”). The Index Provider has retained Nasdaq, Inc. (“Nasdaq”) to calculate and maintain the Index. The Index Provider is a subsidiary of Nasdaq. According to the Index Provider, the Index is designed to provide variable exposure to ETFs and other securities representing the highest ranked asset classes based on the Index Provider’s "relative strength tally rankings." Eligible security types generally include ETFs across various asset classes including U.S. equity, international equity, and fixed income. In instances where there is a desire to reduce equity or long-term fixed income exposure, the Index will invest in the First Trust Enhanced Short Maturity ETF ("FTSM"), an ultrashort duration ETF. The Index Provider uses "point and figure" charting to record supply and demand within a security, focusing on the price movements of that security. Relative strength is another technical analysis tool that measures a security's performance relative to other securities, benchmarks, or broad market indices. Relative strength is a momentum technique that relies on unbiased, unemotional, objective data, rather than biased forecasting and subjective research. Relative strength is a way of recording historic performance patterns, and the Index Provider uses relative strength signals as an indicator for current momentum trends of a security versus others. The Index Provider establishes an inventory of ETFs to represent the macro asset classes including, but not limited to: U.S. equity, international equity, fixed income, and FTSM. The Index Provider then uses a relative strength matrix and tally rankings to rank the macro asset classes from strongest to weakest. On a monthly basis the tally rankings are used to allocate across the macro asset class based on the predetermined minimum and maximum thresholds outlined below:Asset ClassMinimumPortfolio AllocationMaximum Portfolio AllocationDomestic Equity20%75%International Equity5%25%Fixed Income20%60%Ultra Short Duration ETF (represented by FTSM – see below)0%50%To fulfill the allocation to each of the macro asset classes, the Index Provider applies a similar relative strength analysis to sector and sub-sector ETFs within each asset class in an effort to target momentum trends on a sub-asset class level within the Index.The Index is reconstituted and rebalanced on a weekly and monthly basis. During the weekly reconstitution, only the sub-asset classes within the Index are updated, whereas during the monthly reconstitution, which is conducted during the first week of each month, the entire Index is reconstituted to reflect changes within the macro-asset class rankings. The Fund will make corresponding changes to its portfolio typically within one business day of any change in the Index. The ETFs in which the Fund invests may hold U.S. and non-U.S. equity and debt securities, including convertible securities and mortgage securities, of all market capitalization ranges. In general, “non-U.S.” shall mean securities issued or guaranteed by companies and/or governmental agencies organized under the laws of countries other than the United States (including emerging markets). The non-U.S. equity securities may include American depositary receipts, global depositary receipts or other depositary receipts. The Fund may invest in U.S. dollar denominated and non-U.S. dollar denominated securities. The ETFs in which the Fund invests may also hold fixed income assets of any duration or maturity and high-yield securities or “junk” bonds, including loans.The remaining portion of the Fund’s portfolio (up to 20% of its net assets) not invested in securities that comprise the Index will be invested in ETFs selected by the Advisor to provide exposure to the same asset classes as the Index as well as cash and cash equivalents. It is expected that a majority of such ETFs will be advised by First Trust. FTSM FTSM’s investment objective is to seek current income, consistent with preservation of capital and daily liquidity. Under normal market conditions, FTSM intends to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets in a portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated fixed and variable rate debt securities, including securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or its agencies, instrumentalities or U.S. government-sponsored entities, residential and commercial mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities, U.S. corporate bonds, fixed income securities issued by non-U.S. corporations and governments, municipal obligations, privately issued securities and other debt securities bearing fixed or floating interest rates. FTSM may also invest in money market securities. FTSM intends to limit its investments in privately-issued, non-agency sponsored mortgage- and asset-backed securities to 20% of its net assets and may invest up to 20% of its net assets in floating rate loans representing amounts borrowed by companies or other entities from banks and other lenders. Under normal market conditions, FTSM’s portfolio is expected to have an average duration of less than one year and an average maturity of less than three years. Additional information regarding FTSM, including its prospectus and most recent annual report, is available without charge by visiting http://www.ftportfolios.com/Retail/Etf/EtfFundNews.aspx?Ticker=FTSM.
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Risk [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Principal Risks</span>
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Risk Caption |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">You could lose money by investing in the Fund.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.</span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;"> There can be no assurance that </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">the Fund’s investment objective will be achieved. The order of the below risk factors does not indicate the significance of any </span><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">particular risk factor.</span>
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Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Annual Total Return</span>
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Performance Narrative [Text Block] |
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The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of two broad-based market indices and a blended benchmark. The Fund’s performance information is accessible on the Fund’s website at http://www.ftportfolios.com.
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Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0%;">The bar chart and table below illustrate the annual calendar year returns of the Fund based on net asset value as well as the average annual Fund returns. The bar chart and table provide an indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund’s average annual total returns based on net asset value compared to those of two broad-based market indices and a blended benchmark. </span>
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Performance Additional Market Index [Text] |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8.10pt;font-style:italic;">The Broad Blended Benchmark return is split between the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (40%) and the S&P 500</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:5.5pt;font-style:italic;position:relative;top:-2.75pt;">®</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8.10pt;font-style:italic;"> Index (60%).</span>
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Performance Availability Website Address [Text] |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">http://www.ftportfolios.com</span>
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Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] |
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<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;">The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.</span>
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Bar Chart [Heading] |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio</span><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;margin-left:2.75pt;">—Class I Shares</span><br/><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Calendar Year Total Returns as of 12/31</span>
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Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] |
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During the periods shown in the chart above:ReturnPeriod EndedBest Quarter16.69%December 31, 2020Worst Quarter-16.81%March 31, 2020
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Performance Table Heading |
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<span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9.90pt;font-weight:bold;">Average Annual Total Returns for the Periods Ended December 31, 2024</span>
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Performance Table Narrative |
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The Fund’s past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Risk Lose Money [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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You could lose money by investing in the Fund.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Asset Backed Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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ASSET-BACKED SECURITIES RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold asset-backed securities. Asset-backed securities are debt securities typically created by buying and pooling loans or other receivables other than mortgage loans and creating securities backed by those similar type assets. As with other debt securities, asset-backed securities are subject to credit risk, extension risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk. These securities are generally not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government and are subject to the risk of default on the underlying asset or loan, particularly during periods of economic downturn. The impairment of the value of collateral or other assets underlying an asset-backed security, such as a result of non-payment of loans or non-performance of underlying assets, may result in a reduction in the value of such asset-backed securities and losses to an underlying ETF.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Call Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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CALL RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold debt securities that subject them to call risk. Some debt securities may be redeemed, or “called,” at the option of the issuer before their stated maturity date. In general, an issuer will call its debt securities if they can be refinanced by issuing new debt securities which bear a lower interest rate. An underlying ETF is subject to the possibility that during periods of falling interest rates an issuer will call its high yielding debt securities. An underlying ETF would then be forced to invest the proceeds at lower interest rates, likely resulting in a decline in the underlying ETF’s income.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Convertible Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold convertible securities. A convertible security has characteristics of both equity and debt securities and, as a result, is exposed to risks that are typically associated with both types of securities. The value of convertible securities may rise and fall with the market value of the underlying stock or, like a debt security, vary with changes in interest rates and the credit quality of the issuer. A convertible security tends to perform more like a stock when the underlying stock price is high relative to the conversion price and more like a debt security when the underlying stock price is low relative to the conversion price.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Credit Rating Agency Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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CREDIT RATING AGENCY RISK. Credit ratings are determined by credit rating agencies such as S&P Global Ratings, Moody’s Investors Services, Inc. and Fitch Inc., and are only the opinions of such entities. Ratings assigned by a rating agency are not absolute standards of credit quality and do not evaluate market risk or the liquidity of securities. First Trust makes no warranty whatsoever regarding the ability of such ratings to accurately reflect the creditworthiness of an issuer. Any shortcomings, changes to or inefficiencies in credit rating agencies’ processes for determining credit ratings may adversely affect the credit ratings of securities held by an underlying ETF or securities in which an underlying ETF would otherwise invest and, as a result, may adversely affect those securities’ perceived or actual credit risk, as well as an underlying ETF’s performance.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Credit Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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CREDIT RISK. The ETFs in which the Fund invests may have credit risk. An issuer or other obligated party of a debt security held by an underlying ETF may be unable or unwilling to make dividend, interest and/or principal payments when due. In addition, the value of a debt security may decline because of concerns about the issuer’s ability or unwillingness to make such payments.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Currency Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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CURRENCY RISK. The Fund may invest in ETFs that hold securities denominated in a non-U.S. currency. Changes in currency exchange rates affect the value of investments denominated in a foreign currency, and therefore the value of such investments in an underlying ETF’s portfolio. An underlying ETF’s net asset value could decline if a currency to which an underlying ETF has exposure depreciates against the U.S. dollar or if there are delays or limits on repatriation of such currency. Currency exchange rates can be very volatile and can change quickly and unpredictably. As a result, the value of an investment in such an underlying ETF may change quickly and without warning.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Current Market Conditions Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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CURRENT MARKET CONDITIONS RISK. Current market conditions risk is the risk that a particular investment, or shares of the Fund in general, may fall in value due to current market conditions. As a means to fight inflation, which remains at elevated levels, the Federal Reserve and certain foreign central banks have raised interest rates; however, the Federal Reserve has recently lowered interest rates and may continue to do so. U.S. regulators have proposed several changes to market and issuer regulations which would directly impact the Fund, and any regulatory changes could adversely impact the Fund’s ability to achieve its investment strategies or make certain investments. Recent and potential future bank failures could result in disruption to the broader banking industry or markets generally and reduce confidence in financial institutions and the economy as a whole, which may also heighten market volatility and reduce liquidity. Additionally, challenges in commercial real estate markets, including rising interest rates, declining valuations and increasing vacancies, could have a broader impact on financial markets. The ongoing adversarial political climate in the United States, as well as political and diplomatic events both domestic and abroad, have and may continue to have an adverse impact the U.S. regulatory landscape, markets and investor behavior, which could have a negative impact on the Fund’s investments and operations. The change in administration resulting from the 2024 United States national elections could result in significant impacts to international trade relations, tax and immigration policies, and other aspects of the national and international political and financial landscape, which could affect, among other things, inflation and the securities markets generally. Other unexpected political, regulatory and diplomatic events within the U.S. and abroad may affect investor and consumer confidence and may adversely impact financial markets and the broader economy. For example, ongoing armed conflicts between Russia and Ukraine in Europe and among Israel, Iran, Hamas and other militant groups in the Middle East, have caused and could continue to cause significant market disruptions and volatility within the markets in Russia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. The hostilities and sanctions resulting from those hostilities have and could continue to have a significant impact on certain Fund investments as well as Fund performance and liquidity. The economies of the United States and its trading partners, as well as the financial markets generally, may be adversely impacted by trade disputes, including the imposition of tariffs, and other matters. For example, the United States has imposed trade barriers and restrictions on China. In addition, the Chinese government is engaged in a longstanding dispute with Taiwan, continually threatening an invasion. If the political climate between the United States and China does not improve or continues to deteriorate, if China were to attempt invading Taiwan, or if other geopolitical conflicts develop or worsen, economies, markets and individual securities may be adversely affected, and the value of the Fund’s assets may go down. A public health crisis and the ensuing policies enacted by governments and central banks may cause significant volatility and uncertainty in global financial markets, negatively impacting global growth prospects. As the COVID-19 global pandemic illustrated, such events may affect certain geographic regions, countries, sectors and industries more significantly than others. Advancements in technology may also adversely impact markets and the overall performance of the Fund. For instance, the economy may be significantly impacted by the advanced development and increased regulation of artificial intelligence. Additionally, cyber security breaches of both government and non-government entities could have negative impacts on infrastructure and the ability of such entities, including the Fund, to operate properly. These events, and any other future events, may adversely affect the prices and liquidity of the Fund’s portfolio investments and could result in disruptions in the trading markets.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Cyber Security Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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CYBER SECURITY RISK. The Fund is susceptible to operational risks through breaches in cyber security. A breach in cyber security refers to both intentional and unintentional events that may cause the Fund to lose proprietary information, suffer data corruption or lose operational capacity. Such events could cause the Fund to incur regulatory penalties, reputational damage, additional compliance costs associated with corrective measures and/or financial loss. Cyber security breaches may involve unauthorized access to the Fund’s digital information systems through “hacking” or malicious software coding but may also result from outside attacks such as denial-of-service attacks through efforts to make network services unavailable to intended users. In addition, cyber security breaches of the issuers of securities in which the Fund invests or the Fund’s third-party service providers, such as its administrator, transfer agent, custodian, or sub-advisor, as applicable, can also subject the Fund to many of the same risks associated with direct cyber security breaches. Although the Fund has established risk management systems designed to reduce the risks associated with cyber security, there is no guarantee that such efforts will succeed, especially because the Fund does not directly control the cyber security systems of issuers or third-party service providers.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Debt Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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DEBT SECURITIES RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold debt securities. Investments in debt securities subject the holder to the credit risk of the issuer. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer or other obligor of a security will not be able or willing to make payments of interest and principal when due. Generally, the value of debt securities will change inversely with changes in interest rates. To the extent that interest rates rise, certain underlying obligations may be paid off substantially slower than originally anticipated and the value of those securities may fall sharply. During periods of falling interest rates, the income received by an underlying ETF may decline. If the principal on a debt security is prepaid before expected, the prepayments of principal may have to be reinvested in obligations paying interest at lower rates. Debt securities generally do not trade on a securities exchange making them generally less liquid and more difficult to value than common stock.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Depositary Receipts Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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DEPOSITARY RECEIPTS RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold depositary receipts. Depositary receipts represent equity interests in a foreign company that trade on a local stock exchange. Depositary receipts may be less liquid than the underlying shares in their primary trading market. Any distributions paid to the holders of depositary receipts are usually subject to a fee charged by the depositary. Holders of depositary receipts may have limited voting rights, and investment restrictions in certain countries may adversely impact the value of depositary receipts because such restrictions may limit the ability to convert the equity shares into depositary receipts and vice versa. Such restrictions may cause the equity shares of the underlying issuer to trade at a discount or premium to the market price of the depositary receipts.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Emerging Markets Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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EMERGING MARKETS RISK. The Fund may invest in ETFs that hold investments in securities issued by emerging market governments and companies operating in emerging market countries. Investments in securities issued by governments and companies operating in emerging market countries involve additional risks relating to political, economic, or regulatory conditions not associated with investments in securities and instruments issued by U.S. companies or by companies operating in other developed market countries. Investments in emerging markets securities are generally considered speculative in nature and are subject to the following heightened risks: smaller market capitalization of securities markets which may suffer periods of relative illiquidity; significant price volatility; restrictions on foreign investment; possible repatriation of investment income and capital; rapid inflation; and currency convertibility issues. Emerging market countries also often have less uniformity in accounting, auditing and reporting requirements, unsettled securities laws, unreliable securities valuation and greater risk associated with custody of securities. Financial and other reporting by companies and government entities also may be less reliable in emerging market countries. Shareholder claims that are available in the U.S., as well as regulatory oversight and authority that is common in the U.S., including for claims based on fraud, may be difficult or impossible for shareholders of securities in emerging market countries or for U.S. authorities to pursue. For funds that track an index or are managed based upon a benchmark, the index may not weight the securities in emerging market countries on the basis of investor protection limitations, financial reporting quality or available oversight mechanisms. Furthermore, investors may be required to register the proceeds of sales and future economic or political crises could lead to price controls, forced mergers, expropriation or confiscatory taxation, seizure, nationalization or creation of government monopolies.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Equity Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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EQUITY SECURITIES RISK. The Fund invests in ETFs that hold equity securities. The value of an underlying ETF's shares will fluctuate with changes in the value of the equity securities in which it invests. Equity securities prices fluctuate for several reasons, including changes in investors’ perceptions of the financial condition of an issuer or the general condition of the relevant equity market, such as market volatility, or when political or economic events affecting an issuer occur. Common stock prices may be particularly sensitive to rising interest rates, as the cost of capital rises and borrowing costs increase. Equity securities may decline significantly in price over short or extended periods of time, and such declines may occur in the equity market as a whole, or they may occur in only a particular country, company, industry or sector of the market.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | ETF Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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ETF RISK. The Fund’s investment in shares of ETFs subjects it to the risks of owning the securities underlying the ETF, as well as certain structural risks, including authorized participant concentration risk, market maker risk, premium/discount risk and trading issues risk. As a shareholder in another ETF, the Fund bears its proportionate share of the ETF’s expenses, subjecting Fund shareholders to duplicative expenses.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Extension Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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EXTENSION RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold debt securities that subject them to extension risk. Extension risk is the risk that, when interest rates rise, certain obligations will be paid off by the issuer (or other obligated party) more slowly than anticipated, causing the value of these debt securities to fall. Rising interest rates tend to extend the duration of debt securities, making their market value more sensitive to changes in interest rates. The value of longer-term debt securities generally changes more in response to changes in interest rates than shorter-term debt securities. As a result, in a period of rising interest rates, securities may exhibit additional volatility and may lose value.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Floating Rate Debt Instruments Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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FLOATING RATE DEBT INSTRUMENTS RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold floating rate debt instruments. Investments in floating rate debt instruments are subject to the same risks as investments in other types of debt securities, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk. Floating rate debt instruments include debt securities issued by corporate and governmental entities, as well as bank loans, mortgage-backed securities and asset-backed securities. Floating rate debt instruments are structured so that the security’s coupon rate fluctuates based upon the level of a reference rate. Most commonly, the coupon rate of a floating rate debt instrument is set at the level of a widely followed interest rate, plus a fixed spread. As a result, the coupon on floating rate debt instrument will generally decline in a falling interest rate environment, causing an underlying ETF to experience a reduction in the income it receives from the instrument. A floating rate debt instrument’s coupon rate resets periodically according to its terms. Consequently, in a rising interest rate environment, floating rate debt instruments with coupon rates that reset infrequently may lag behind the changes in market interest rates. Floating rate debt instruments may also contain terms that impose a maximum coupon rate the issuer will pay, regardless of the level of the reference rate. To the extent an underlying ETF invests in floating rate loans, such instruments may be subject to legal or contractual restrictions on resale, may trade infrequently, and their value may be impaired when the underlying ETF needs to liquidate such securities. It is possible that the collateral securing a floating rate loan may be insufficient or unavailable to the underlying ETF, and that the underlying ETF’s rights to collateral may be limited by bankruptcy or insolvency laws. Additionally, floating rate loans may not be considered “securities” under federal securities laws, and purchasers, such as an underlying ETF, therefore may not be entitled to rely on the anti-fraud protections of the federal securities laws.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | High Yield Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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HIGH YIELD SECURITIES RISK. The Fund may invest in ETFs that hold high yield securities. High yield securities, or “junk” bonds, are subject to greater market fluctuations, are less liquid and provide a greater risk of loss than investment grade securities, and therefore, are considered to be highly speculative. In general, high yield securities may have a greater risk of default than other types of securities and could cause income and principal losses for an underlying ETF.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Income Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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INCOME RISK. The Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. An underlying ETF’s income may decline when interest rates fall or if there are defaults in its portfolio. This decline can occur because an underlying ETF may subsequently invest in lower-yielding securities as debt securities in its portfolio mature, are near maturity or are called, or the ETF otherwise needs to purchase additional debt securities.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Index Concentration Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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INDEX CONCENTRATION RISK. The Fund will be concentrated in an industry or a group of industries to the extent that the Index is so concentrated. To the extent that the Fund invests a significant percentage of its assets in a single asset class or the securities of issuers within the same country, state, region, industry or sector, an adverse economic, business or political development may affect the value of the Fund’s investments more than if the Fund were more broadly diversified. A significant exposure makes the Fund more susceptible to any single occurrence and may subject the Fund to greater market risk than a fund that is more broadly diversified.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Index Provider Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
INDEX PROVIDER RISK. There is no assurance that the Index Provider, or any agents that act on its behalf, will compile the Index accurately, or that the Index will be determined, maintained, constructed, reconstituted, rebalanced, composed, calculated or disseminated accurately. The Index Provider and its agents do not provide any representation or warranty in relation to the quality, accuracy or completeness of data in the Index, and do not guarantee that the Index will be calculated in accordance with its stated methodology. The Advisor’s mandate as described in this prospectus is to manage the Fund consistently with the Index provided by the Index Provider. The Advisor relies upon the Index provider and its agents to accurately compile, maintain, construct, reconstitute, rebalance, compose, calculate and disseminate the Index accurately. Therefore, losses or costs associated with any Index Provider or agent errors generally will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. To correct any such error, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out an unscheduled rebalance of the Index or other modification of Index constituents or weightings. When the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. Unscheduled rebalances also expose the Fund to additional tracking error risk. Errors in respect of the quality, accuracy and completeness of the data used to compile the Index may occur from time to time and may not be identified and corrected by the Index Provider for a period of time or at all, particularly where the Index is less commonly used as a benchmark by funds or advisors. For example, during a period where the Index contains incorrect constituents, the Fund tracking the Index would have market exposure to such constituents and would be underexposed to the Index’s other constituents. Such errors may negatively impact the Fund and its shareholders. The Index Provider and its agents rely on various sources of information to assess the criteria of issuers included in the Index, including information that may be based on assumptions and estimates. Neither the Fund nor the Advisor can offer assurances that the Index’s calculation methodology or sources of information will provide an accurate assessment of included issuers. Unusual market conditions or issuer-specific events may cause the Index Provider to postpone a scheduled rebalance, exclude or substitute a security in the Index or undertake other measures which could cause the Index to vary from its normal or expected composition. The postponement of a scheduled rebalance in a time of market volatility could mean that constituents that would otherwise be removed at rebalance due to changes in market capitalizations, issuer credit ratings, or other reasons may remain, causing the performance and constituents of the Index to vary from those expected under normal conditions. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider or its agents may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index due to unusual market conditions or in order, for example, to correct an error in the selection of index constituents.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Index Rebalance Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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INDEX REBALANCE RISK. Pursuant to the methodology that the Index Provider uses to calculate and maintain the Index, the Fund may own a significant portion of the outstanding shares of ETFs included in the Fund. Any such ETF may be removed from the Index in the event that it does not comply with the eligibility requirements of the Index. As a result, the Fund may be forced to sell shares of certain ETFs at inopportune times or for prices other than at current market values or may elect not to sell such shares on the day that they are removed from the Index, due to market conditions or otherwise. Due to these factors, the variation between the Fund’s annual return and the return of the Index may increase significantly. Apart from scheduled rebalances, the Index Provider may carry out additional ad hoc rebalances to the Index to, for example, correct an error in the selection of constituents. When the Fund in turn rebalances its portfolio, any transaction costs and market exposure arising from such portfolio rebalancing will be borne by the Fund and its shareholders. Unscheduled rebalances may also expose the Fund to additional tracking error risk. Therefore, errors and additional ad hoc rebalances carried out by the Index Provider may increase the Fund’s costs and market exposure.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Inflation Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
INFLATION RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold securities that subject them to inflation risk. Inflation risk is the risk that the value of assets or income from investments will be less in the future as inflation decreases the value of money. As inflation increases, the present value of an underlying ETF’s assets and distributions may decline.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Interest Rate Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
INTEREST RATE RISK. The Fund may invest in ETFs that hold debt securities. Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of the debt securities in an underlying ETF’s portfolio will decline because of rising market interest rates. Interest rate risk is generally lower for shorter term debt securities and higher for longer-term debt securities. An underlying ETF may be subject to a greater risk of rising interest rates than would normally be the case during periods of low interest rates. Duration is a reasonably accurate measure of a debt security’s price sensitivity to changes in interest rates and a common measure of interest rate risk. Duration measures a debt security’s expected life on a present value basis, taking into account the debt security’s yield, interest payments and final maturity. In general, duration represents the expected percentage change in the value of a security for an immediate 1% change in interest rates. For example, the price of a debt security with a three-year duration would be expected to drop by approximately 3% in response to a 1% increase in interest rates. Therefore, prices of debt securities with shorter durations tend to be less sensitive to interest rate changes than debt securities with longer durations. Higher sensitivity to interest rates is generally correlated with higher levels of volatility and, therefore, greater risk. As the value of a debt security changes over time, so will its duration.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Large Capitalization Companies Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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LARGE CAPITALIZATION COMPANIES RISK. Large capitalization companies may grow at a slower rate and be less able to adapt to changing market conditions than smaller capitalization companies. Thus, the return on investment in securities of large capitalization companies may be less than the return on investment in securities of small and/or mid capitalization companies. The performance of large capitalization companies also tends to trail the overall market during different market cycles.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Liquidity Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
LIQUIDITY RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest may hold certain investments that may be subject to restrictions on resale, trade over-the-counter or in limited volume, or lack an active trading market. Accordingly, an underlying ETF may not be able to sell or close out of such investments at favorable times or prices (or at all), or at the prices approximating those at which the underlying ETF currently values them. Illiquid securities may trade at a discount from comparable, more liquid investments and may be subject to wide fluctuations in market value.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Market Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
MARKET RISK. Market risk is the risk that a particular investment, or shares of the Fund in general, may fall in value. Securities are subject to market fluctuations caused by real or perceived adverse economic, political, and regulatory factors or market developments, changes in interest rates and perceived trends in securities prices. Shares of the Fund could decline in value or underperform other investments. In addition, local, regional or global events such as war, acts of terrorism, market manipulation, government defaults, government shutdowns, regulatory actions, political changes, diplomatic developments, the imposition of sanctions and other similar measures, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, natural disasters, or other events could have a significant negative impact on the Fund and its investments. Any of such circumstances could have a materially negative impact on the value of the Fund’s shares, the liquidity of an investment, and may result in increased market volatility. During any such events, the Fund’s shares may trade at increased premiums or discounts to their net asset value, the bid/ask spread on the Fund’s shares may widen and the returns on investment may fluctuate.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Momentum Investing Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
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MOMENTUM INVESTING RISK. The Fund employs a “momentum” style of investing that emphasizes selecting stocks that have had higher recent price performance compared to other stocks. Momentum can change quickly and stocks that previously exhibited high momentum characteristics may not experience positive momentum or may experience more volatility than the market as a whole. In addition, there may be periods when the momentum style of investing is out of favor and the investment performance of the Fund may suffer.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Mortgage Related Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
MORTGAGE-RELATED SECURITIES RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold mortgage-related securities. Mortgage-related securities are subject to the same risks as investments in other types of debt securities, including credit risk, interest rate risk, liquidity risk and valuation risk. However, these investments make an underlying ETF more susceptible to adverse economic, political or regulatory events that affect the value of real estate. Mortgage-related securities are also significantly affected by the rate of prepayments and modifications of the mortgage loans underlying those securities, as well as by other factors such as borrower defaults, delinquencies, realized or liquidation losses and other shortfalls. The incidence of borrower defaults or delinquencies may rise significantly during financial downturns and could adversely affect the value of mortgage-related securities held by the Fund. Events such as war, acts of terrorism, spread of infectious diseases or other public health issues, recessions, or other events that result in broad and simultaneous financial hardships for individuals and businesses could have a significant negative impact on the value of mortgage-related securities. Mortgage-related securities are particularly sensitive to prepayment risk and extension risk, given that mortgage loans generally allow borrowers to refinance. In periods of declining interest rates, borrowers may be more apt to prepay their mortgage sooner than expected. This can reduce the returns to the security holder as the amount of interest related to the price may be reduced while the proceeds may have to be reinvested at lower prevailing interest rates. This is prepayment risk. In periods of rising interest rates, borrowers may be less likely to refinance than expected thus extending the cash flows of the security such that there is increased downward price sensitivity to interest rate changes. This is extension risk. As the timing and amount of prepayments cannot be accurately predicted, the timing of changes in the rate of prepayments of the mortgage loans may significantly affect an underlying ETF's actual yield to maturity on any mortgage-related securities. Along with prepayment risk, mortgage-related securities are significantly affected by interest rate risk.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Municipal Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
MUNICIPAL SECURITIES RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold municipal securities. Issuers, including governmental issuers, may be unable to pay their obligations as they come due. The values of municipal securities that depend on a specific revenue source to fund their payment obligations may fluctuate as a result of actual or anticipated changes in the cash flows generated by the revenue source or changes in the priority of the municipal obligation to receive the cash flows generated by the revenue source. The values of municipal securities held by an underlying ETF may be adversely affected by local political and economic conditions and developments. Adverse conditions in an industry significant to a local economy could have a correspondingly adverse effect on the financial condition of local issuers. In addition, income from municipal securities held by an underlying ETF could be declared taxable because of, among other things, unfavorable changes in tax laws, adverse interpretations by the Internal Revenue Service or state tax authorities, or noncompliant conduct of an issuer or other obligated party. Loss of tax-exempt status may cause interest received and distributed to shareholders by an underlying ETF to be taxable and may result in a significant decline in the values of such municipal securities. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the risks of the municipal securities market have been magnified. The costs associated with combating the pandemic and the negative impact on tax revenues has adversely affected the financial condition of many states and political subdivisions. These risks may also adversely affect several sectors of the municipal bond market, such as airports, toll roads, hospitals and colleges, among many others. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on state and political subdivisions’ ability to make payments on debt obligations is impossible to predict, but could negatively impact the value of bonds, the ability of state and political subdivisions to make payments when due and the performance of an underlying ETF.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Non Agency Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
NON-AGENCY SECURITIES RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold non-agency securities. Investments in asset-backed or mortgage-backed securities offered by non-governmental issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loans, private mortgage insurance companies, mortgage bankers and other secondary market issuers are subject to additional risks. There are no direct or indirect government or agency guarantees of payments in loan pools created by non-government issuers. Securities issued by private issuers are subject to the credit risks of the issuers. An unexpectedly high rate of defaults on the loan pool may adversely affect the value of a non-agency security and could result in losses to the Fund. The risk of such defaults is generally higher in the case of pools that include subprime loans. Non-agency securities are typically traded “over-the-counter” rather than on a securities exchange and there may be a limited market for the securities, especially when there is a perceived weakness in the mortgage and real estate market sectors. Without an active trading market, the non-agency mortgage-related securities held by the Fund may be particularly difficult to value because of the complexities involved in assessing the value of the underlying loans and the value of these securities can change dramatically over time.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Non Correlation Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
NON-CORRELATION RISK. The Fund’s return may not match the return of the Index for a number of reasons. The Fund incurs operating expenses not applicable to the Index, and may incur costs in buying and selling securities, especially when rebalancing the Fund’s portfolio holdings to reflect changes in the composition of the Index. In addition, the Fund’s portfolio holdings may not exactly replicate the securities included in the Index or the ratios between the securities included in the Index. Additionally, in order to comply with its investment strategies and policies, the Fund portfolio may deviate from the composition of the Index. Accordingly, the Fund's return may underperform the return of the Index.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Non US Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
NON-U.S. SECURITIES RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold non-U.S. securities. Non-U.S. securities are subject to higher volatility than securities of domestic issuers due to possible adverse political, social or economic developments, restrictions on foreign investment or exchange of securities, capital controls, lack of liquidity, currency exchange rates, excessive taxation, government seizure of assets, the imposition of sanctions by foreign governments, different legal or accounting standards, and less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges in foreign countries.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Operational Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
OPERATIONAL RISK. The Fund is subject to risks arising from various operational factors, including, but not limited to, human error, processing and communication errors, errors of the Fund’s service providers, counterparties or other third-parties, failed or inadequate processes and technology or systems failures. The Fund relies on third-parties for a range of services, including custody. Any delay or failure relating to engaging or maintaining such service providers may affect the Fund’s ability to meet its investment objective. Although the Fund and the Fund's investment advisor seek to reduce these operational risks through controls and procedures, there is no way to completely protect against such risks.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Passive Investment Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
PASSIVE INVESTMENT RISK. The Fund is not actively managed. The Fund invests in securities included in or representative of the Index regardless of investment merit. The Fund generally will not attempt to take defensive positions in declining markets. In the event that the Index is no longer calculated, the Index license is terminated or the identity or character of the Index is materially changed, the Fund will seek to engage a replacement index.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Portfolio Turnover Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
PORTFOLIO TURNOVER RISK. High portfolio turnover may result in the Fund paying higher levels of transaction costs and may generate greater tax liabilities for shareholders. Portfolio turnover risk may cause the Fund’s performance to be less than expected.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Prepayment Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
PREPAYMENT RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold debt securities that subject them to prepayment risk. Prepayment risk is the risk that the issuer of a debt security will repay principal prior to the scheduled maturity date. Debt securities allowing prepayment may offer less potential for gains during a period of declining interest rates, as an underlying ETF may be required to reinvest the proceeds of any prepayment at lower interest rates. These factors may cause the value of an investment in an underlying ETF to change.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Smaller Companies Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
SMALLER COMPANIES RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold the securities of small and/or mid capitalization companies. Small and/or mid capitalization companies may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments, and their securities may be less liquid and may experience greater price volatility than larger, more established companies as a result of several factors, including limited trading volumes, fewer products or financial resources, management inexperience and less publicly available information. Accordingly, such companies are generally subject to greater market risk than larger, more established companies.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Sovereign Debt Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
SOVEREIGN DEBT SECURITIES RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund invests may hold sovereign debt securities. Sovereign debt securities that are issued or guaranteed by foreign governmental entities. Investments in such securities are subject to the risk that the relevant sovereign government or governmental entity may delay or refuse to pay interest or repay principal on its debt. Such delays or refusals may be due to cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, the size of its debt relative to the economy or the failure to put in place economic reforms required by the International Monetary Fund or other multilateral agencies. There is no legal process for collecting sovereign debt that is not repaid, nor are there bankruptcy proceedings through which all or part of the unpaid sovereign debt may be collected.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | US Government Securities Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES RISK. Certain ETFs in which the Fund may invest hold U.S. government securities. U.S. government securities are subject to interest rate risk but generally do not involve the credit risks associated with investments in other types of debt securities. As a result, the yields available from U.S. government securities are generally lower than the yields available from other debt securities. U.S. government securities are guaranteed only as to the timely payment of interest and the payment of principal when held to maturity. While securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. federal government agencies (such as Ginnie Mae) are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, securities issued by government sponsored entities (such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) are solely the obligation of the issuer and generally do not carry any guarantee from the U.S. government.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Valuation Risk [Member] |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Risk [Text Block] |
rr_RiskTextBlock |
VALUATION RISK. The sale price the Fund or an underlying ETF could receive for a security may differ from the Fund or an underlying ETF’s valuation of the security, particularly for securities that trade in low volume or volatile markets or that are valued using a fair value methodology. Unlike publicly traded securities that trade on national securities exchanges, there is no central place or exchange for trading most debt securities. Debt securities generally trade on an “over-the-counter” market. Due to the lack of centralized information and trading, and variations in lot sizes of certain debt securities, the valuation of debt securities may carry more uncertainty and risk than that of publicly traded securities. Debt securities are commonly valued by third-party pricing services that utilize a range of market-based inputs and assumptions, including readily available market quotations obtained from broker-dealers making markets in such securities, cash flows and transactions for comparable instruments. However, because the available information is less reliable and more subjective, elements of judgment may play a greater role in valuation of debt securities than for other types of securities. Different pricing services may incorporate different assumptions and inputs into their valuation methodologies, potentially resulting in different values for the same securities. As a result, if the Advisor were to change its valuation policies, or if the Fund or an underlying ETF were to change pricing services, or if a pricing service were to change its valuation methodology, there could be a material impact, either positive or negative, on the Fund or an underlying ETF’s net asset value. Additionally, pricing services generally price debt securities assuming orderly transactions of an institutional “round lot” size, but some trades may occur in smaller, “odd lot” sizes, often at lower prices than institutional round lot trades. There is no assurance that the Fund or an underlying ETF will be able to sell a portfolio security at the price established by the pricing service, which could result in a loss to the Fund or an Underlying ETF. In addition, the value of the debt securities in the Fund's or an underlying ETF's portfolio may change on days or during time periods when shareholders will not be able to purchase or sell the Fund's or an underlying ETF's shares. Authorized Participants who purchase or redeem Fund or an Underlying ETF shares on days when a Fund or an Underlying ETF is holding fair-valued securities may receive fewer or more shares, or lower or higher redemption proceeds, than they would have received had the Fund or an Underlying ETF not fair-valued securities or used a different valuation methodology. Net asset value calculation may also be impacted by operational risks arising from factors such as failures in systems and technology.
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | I |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) |
rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice |
none
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Management Fees |
rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets |
0.35%
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Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees |
rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets |
0.25%
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Other Expenses (as a percentage of Assets): |
rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets |
0.56%
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Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses |
rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets |
0.53%
|
[1] |
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses |
rr_ExpensesOverAssets |
1.69%
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|
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement |
rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets |
0.39%
|
[1] |
Total Net Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement[ctag:span_t-indent1-rule3] |
rr_NetExpensesOverAssets |
1.30%
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|
1 Year |
rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 |
$ 132
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|
3 Years |
rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 |
495
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5 Years |
rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 |
881
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10 Years |
rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 |
$ 1,965
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|
2016 |
rr_AnnualReturn2016 |
0.95%
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2017 |
rr_AnnualReturn2017 |
17.50%
|
|
2018 |
rr_AnnualReturn2018 |
(8.00%)
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|
2019 |
rr_AnnualReturn2019 |
20.87%
|
|
2020 |
rr_AnnualReturn2020 |
11.09%
|
|
2021 |
rr_AnnualReturn2021 |
13.87%
|
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2022 |
rr_AnnualReturn2022 |
(17.05%)
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|
2023 |
rr_AnnualReturn2023 |
11.28%
|
|
2024 |
rr_AnnualReturn2024 |
12.53%
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|
Highest Quarterly Return, Label |
rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel |
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0.0pt;">Best Quarter</span>
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|
Highest Quarterly Return, Date |
rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate |
Dec. 31, 2020
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|
Highest Quarterly Return |
rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn |
16.69%
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|
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label |
rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel |
<span style="color:#000000;font-family:Arial;font-size:9.00pt;margin-left:0.0pt;">Worst Quarter</span>
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Lowest Quarterly Return, Date |
rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate |
Mar. 31, 2020
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Lowest Quarterly Return |
rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn |
(16.81%)
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1 Year |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 |
12.53%
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5 Years |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 |
5.61%
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Since Inception |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception |
6.11%
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Inception Date |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate |
Oct. 30, 2015
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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1 Year |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 |
1.25%
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5 Years |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 |
(0.33%)
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Since Inception |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception |
1.34%
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First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | Broad Blended Benchmark (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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1 Year |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 |
15.04%
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[2] |
5 Years |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 |
8.67%
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[2] |
Since Inception |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception |
9.05%
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[2] |
First Trust Dorsey Wright Tactical Core Portfolio | S&P 500® Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) |
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Risk Return Abstract |
rr_RiskReturnAbstract |
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1 Year |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 |
25.02%
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5 Years |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 |
14.53%
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Since Inception |
rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception |
14.04%
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