Valuation Inputs
The Funds are subject to fair value accounting standards that define fair value, establish the framework for measuring fair value and provide a three-level hierarchy for fair valuation based upon the inputs to the valuation as of the measurement date. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:
• | Level 1 – Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical investments. |
• | Level 2 – Level 2 inputs are observable inputs, either directly or indirectly. (Quoted prices for similar investments, valuations based on interest rates and yield curves, or valuations derived from observable market data.) |
• | Level 3 – Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs that may reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the investment. |
The inputs or methodologies used for valuing investments are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those investments.
Licensing Information
Standard & Poor’s and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC (“S&P”) and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC (“Dow Jones”). The trademarks have been licensed to S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been sublicensed for use for certain purposes by First Trust Advisors L.P. (“First Trust”). The DOW JONES EQUAL WEIGHT U.S. ISSUED CORPORATE BOND INDEX℠, DOW JONES U.S. TOTAL STOCK MARKET INDEX℠ AND DOW JONES COMPOSITE AVERAGE are products of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and has been licensed for use by First Trust. The First Trust/Dow Jones Dividend & Income Allocation Portfolio is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC, Dow Jones, S&P, or any of their respective affiliates (collectively, “S&P Dow Jones Indices”). Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices nor its affiliates make any representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of the First Trust/Dow Jones Dividend & Income Allocation Portfolio or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in the First Trust/Dow Jones Dividend & Income Allocation Portfolio particularly or the ability of the DOW JONES EQUAL
WEIGHT U.S. ISSUED CORPORATE BOND INDEX℠, DOW JONES U.S. TOTAL STOCK MARKET INDEX℠ AND DOW JONES COMPOSITE AVERAGE to track general market performance. S&P Dow Jones Indices only relationship to First Trust with respect to the DOW JONES EQUAL WEIGHT U.S. ISSUED CORPORATE BOND INDEX℠, DOW JONES U.S. TOTAL STOCK MARKET INDEX℠ AND DOW JONES COMPOSITE AVERAGE is the licensing of the Index and certain trademarks, service marks and/or trade names of S&P Dow Jones Indices. The DOW JONES EQUAL WEIGHT U.S. ISSUED CORPORATE BOND INDEX℠, DOW JONES U.S. TOTAL STOCK MARKET INDEX℠ AND DOW JONES COMPOSITE AVERAGE is determined, composed and calculated by S&P Dow Jones Indices without regard to First Trust or the First Trust/Dow Jones Dividend & Income Allocation Portfolio. S&P Dow Jones Indices has no obligation to take the needs of First Trust or the owners of the First Trust/Dow Jones Dividend & Income Allocation Portfolio into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the DOW JONES EQUAL WEIGHT U.S. ISSUED CORPORATE BOND INDEX℠, DOW JONES U.S. TOTAL STOCK MARKET INDEX℠ AND DOW JONES COMPOSITE AVERAGE. Neither S&P Dow Jones Indices nor its affiliates are responsible for and have not participated in the determination of the prices, and amount of the First Trust/Dow Jones Dividend & Income Allocation Portfolio or the timing of the issuance or sale of the First Trust/Dow Jones Dividend & Income Allocation Portfolio or in the determination or calculation of the equation by which the First Trust/Dow Jones Dividend & Income Allocation Portfolio is to be managed. S&P Dow Jones Indices has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the First Trust/Dow Jones Dividend & Income Allocation Portfolio. There is no assurance that investment products based on the DOW JONES EQUAL WEIGHT U.S. ISSUED CORPORATE BOND INDEX℠, DOW JONES U.S. TOTAL STOCK MARKET INDEX℠ AND DOW JONES COMPOSITE AVERAGE will accurately track index performance or provide positive investment returns. S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC is not an investment advisor. Inclusion of a security within an index is not a recommendation by S&P Dow Jones Indices to buy, sell, or hold such security, nor is it considered to be investment advice.
NEITHER S&P DOW JONES INDICES NOR ITS AFFILIATES GUARANTEES THE ADEQUACY, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE DOW JONES EQUAL WEIGHT U.S. ISSUED CORPORATE BOND INDEX℠, DOW JONES U.S. TOTAL STOCK MARKET INDEX℠ AND DOW JONES COMPOSITE AVERAGE OR ANY DATA RELATED THERETO OR ANY COMMUNICATION, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ORAL OR WRITTEN COMMUNICATION (INCLUDING ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS) WITH RESPECT THERETO. S&P DOW JONES INDICES SHALL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY DAMAGES OR LIABILITY FOR ANY ERRORS, OMISSIONS, OR DELAYS THEREIN. S&P DOW JONES INDICES MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE OR AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY FIRST TRUST, OWNERS OF THE FIRST TRUST/DOW JONES DIVIDEND & INCOME ALLOCATION PORTFOLIO, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE DOW JONES EQUAL WEIGHT U.S. ISSUED CORPORATE BOND