PRESS RELEASE                                 SOURCE:  First Trust Advisors L.P.


FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P. ANNOUNCES PORTFOLIO MANAGER CONFERENCE CALL FOR FIRST
TRUST STRATEGIC HIGH INCOME FUND II

WHEATON, IL -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- October 3, 2016 -- First Trust Advisors L.P.
("FTA") announced today that First Trust Strategic High Income Fund II (NYSE:
FHY) intends to host a conference call with Brookfield Investment Management,
Inc. ("Brookfield"), the Fund's investment sub-advisor, on MONDAY, OCTOBER 17,
2016, AT 4:15 P.M. EASTERN TIME. The purpose of the call is to hear Brookfield's
portfolio management team provide updates for the Fund and the Market.

--    Dial-in Number: (855) 490-5687; International (719) 386-0002; and Passcode
      # 212880. Please call 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled start of the
      teleconference.

--    Telephone Replay: (888) 203-1112; International (719) 457-0820; and
      Passcode # 4941740. The replay will be available after the call until
      11:59 P.M. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 17, 2016.

First Trust Advisors L.P., the Fund's investment advisor, along with its
affiliate, First Trust Portfolios L.P., are privately-held companies which
provide a variety of investment services, including asset management and
financial advisory services, with collective assets under management or
supervision of approximately $99 billion as of August 31, 2016 through unit
investment trusts, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, mutual funds and
separate managed accounts.

Brookfield is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Brookfield Asset Management, a global
alternative asset manager with approximately $250 billion in assets under
management as of June 30, 2016. Brookfield Asset Management has over a 100-year
history of owning and operating assets with a focus on property, renewable
power, infrastructure and private equity. Brookfield Asset Management's public
market activities are conducted by Brookfield, a registered investment advisor,
with over $16 billion of assets under management as of June 30, 2016.

If you have questions about the Fund that you would like answered on the call,
please email your questions to cefquestions@ftadvisors.com in advance of the
call and refer to FHY, by Thursday, October 13, 2016, 4:15 P.M. Eastern Time.

Principal Risk Factors: Investment return and market value of an investment in
the Fund will fluctuate. Shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their
original cost.

The debt securities in which the Fund invests are subject to certain risks,
including issuer risk, reinvestment risk, prepayment risk, credit risk, and
interest rate risk. Issuer risk is the risk that the value of fixed-income
securities may decline for a number of reasons which directly relate to the
issuer. Reinvestment risk is the risk that income from the Fund's portfolio will
decline if the Fund invests the proceeds from matured, traded or called bonds at
market interest rates that are below the Fund portfolio's current earnings rate.
Prepayment risk is the risk that, upon a prepayment, the actual outstanding debt
on which the Fund derives interest income will be reduced. Credit risk is the
risk that an issuer of a security will be unable or unwilling to make dividend,
interest and/or principal payments when due and that the value of a security may
decline as a result. Interest rate risk is the risk that fixed-income securities
will decline in value because of changes in market interest rates.

Residential mortgage-backed securities may have less potential for capital
appreciation than comparable fixed-income securities due to the likelihood of
increased prepayments of mortgages as interest rates decline.

The Fund invests in non-investment grade debt instruments, commonly referred to
as "high-yield securities". High-yield securities are subject to greater market
fluctuations and risk of loss than securities with higher ratings. Lower-quality
debt tends to be less liquid than higher-quality debt.

The Fund invests in securities of non-U.S. issuers which are subject to higher
volatility than securities of U.S. issuers. Risks may be heightened for
securities of companies located in, or with significant operations in, emerging
market countries. Because the Fund invests in non-U.S. securities, you may lose
money if the local currency of a non-U.S. market depreciates against the U.S.
dollar.

Use of leverage can result in additional risk and cost, and can magnify the
effect of any losses.

The risks of investing in the Fund are spelled out in the prospectus,
shareholder report and other regulatory filings.

The Fund's daily closing New York Stock Exchange price and net asset value per
share as well as other information can be found at www.ftportfolios.com or by
calling 1-800-988-5891.


CONTACT: JEFF MARGOLIN -- (630) 915-6784


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Source:  First Trust Advisors L.P.