Strategic Income Select Closed-End Portfolio, Series 81

The Multi-Sector Approach

The Strategic Income Select Closed-End Portfolio seeks a high rate of current monthly income and to reduce some of the volatility typically associated with high-income investments. To accomplish this, the portfolio is diversified across a broad range of closed-end funds. Because different sectors follow different cycles and react differently to changes in global economies and interest rates, spreading assets across a spectrum of closed-end funds has the potential to reduce the overall risk of the portfolio.

When selecting closed-end funds for this portfolio, we look at several factors including:

Discount | We favor funds which are trading at a discount to net asset value and we favor those which are trading at a greater discount relative to their peers.

Consistent Dividend | We favor funds which have a history of paying a consistent dividend.

Expense Ratio | We favor funds which have a lower than average expense ratio relative to their peers.

Diversification | We limit exposure to individual fund companies/managers.

Liquidity | We favor larger funds and more liquid funds.

Closed-End Features

Portfolio Control
Unlike open-end mutual funds, closed-end funds maintain a relatively fixed pool of investment capital. This allows portfolio managers to better adhere to their investment philosophies through greater flexibility and control. In addition, closed-end funds don’t have to manage fund liquidity to meet potentially large redemptions.

Diversification
The portfolio offers investors diversification by investing in a broad range of closed-end funds that are further diversified across hundreds of individual securities. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against loss.

Income Distributions
Closed-end funds are structured to generally provide a more stable income stream than other managed investment products because they are not subjected to cash inflows and outflows, which can dilute dividends over time. However, stable income cannot be assured.

Portfolio Objectives

This unit investment trust seeks a high rate of current monthly income, with capital appreciation as a secondary objective. There is, however, no assurance that the objectives of the portfolio will be achieved.

You should consider the portfolio's investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing. Contact your financial professional or call First Trust Portfolios L.P. at 1.800.621.1675 to request a prospectus, which contains this and other information about the portfolio. Read it carefully before you invest.

Risk Considerations
An investment in this unmanaged unit investment trust should be made with an understanding of the risks associated with an investment in a portfolio of closed-end funds.

Closed-end funds are subject to various risks, including management’s ability to meet the fund’s investment objective, and to manage the fund’s portfolio when the underlying securities are redeemed or sold, during periods of market turmoil and as investors’ perceptions regarding the funds or their underlying investments change. Unlike open-end funds, which trade at prices based on a current determination of the fund’s net asset value, closed-end funds frequently trade at a discount from their net asset value in the secondary market. Certain closed-end funds in which the portfolio invests employ the use of leverage, which increases the volatility of such funds.

Common stocks are subject to certain risks, such as an economic recession and the possible deterioration of either the financial condition of the issuers of the equity securities or the general condition of the stock market.

A floating-rate security is an instrument in which the interest rate payable on the obligation fluctuates on a periodic basis based upon changes in an interest rate benchmark. As a result, the yield on such a security will generally decline in a falling interest rate environment, causing the trust to experience a reduction in the income it receives from such securities.

Investing in high-yield securities should be viewed as speculative and you should review your ability to assume the risks associated with investments which utilize such securities. High-yield securities are subject to numerous risks, including higher interest rates, economic recession, deterioration of the junk bond market, possible downgrades and defaults of interest and/or principal. High-yield security prices tend to fluctuate more than higher rated securities and are affected by short-term credit developments to a greater degree.

Options are subject to various risks including that their value may be adversely affected if the market for the option becomes less liquid or smaller. In addition, options will be affected by changes in the value and dividend rates of the stock subject to the option, an increase in interest rates, a change in the actual and perceived volatility of the stock market and the common stock and the remaining time to expiration.

The yield on closed-end funds which invest in senior loans will generally decline in a falling interest rate environment and increase in a rising interest rate environment. Senior loans are generally below investment grade quality (“junk” bonds). An investment in senior loans involves the risk that the borrowers may default on their obligations to pay principal or interest when due.

Covenant-lite loans contain fewer or no maintenance covenants and may hinder a funds’ ability to reprice credit risk and mitigate potential loss especially during a downturn in the credit cycle.

Securities of non-U.S. issuers are subject to additional risks, including currency fluctuations, political risks, withholding, the lack of adequate financial information, and exchange control restrictions impacting non- U.S. issuers.

As the use of Internet technology has become more prevalent in the course of business, the trust has become more susceptible to potential operational risks through breaches in cybersecurity.

Ongoing armed conflicts between Russia and Ukraine in Europe and among Israel, 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 could have a significant impact on certain investments as well as performance.

The ongoing effects of the COVID-19 global pandemic, or the potential impacts of any future public health crisis, may cause significant volatility and uncertainty in global financial markets. While vaccines have been developed, there is no guarantee that vaccines will be effective against future variants of the disease.

It is important to note that an investment can be made in the underlying funds directly rather than through the trust. These direct investments can be made without paying the trust’s sales charge, operating expenses and organizational costs.

The value of the securities held by the trust may be subject to steep declines or increased volatility due to changes in performance or perception of the issuers.

This UIT is a buy and hold strategy and investors should consider their ability to hold the trust until maturity. There may be tax consequences unless units are purchased in an IRA or other qualified plan.

For a discussion of additional risks of investing in the Trust see the “Risk Factors” section of the prospectus.