485BPOS

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2013

1933 Act File No. 033-46924

1940 Act File No. 811-06618

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933			[ X ]
	Pre-Effective Amendment No. __	[     ]
	Post-Effective Amendment No. 62	[ X ]
and/or
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940			[ X ]
	Amendment No. 64	[ X ]
(Check appropriate box or boxes.)

FIRST INVESTORS EQUITY FUNDS

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

55 Broadway

New York, New York 10006

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, including Area Code:  (212) 858-8000

Mary Carty, Esq.

First Investors Equity Funds

55 Broadway

New York, New York 10006

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)

Copy to:

Kathy K. Ingber, Esq.

K&L Gates LLP

1601 K Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20006-1601

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)

[ X ]	immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
[     ]	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
[     ]	60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[     ]	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
[     ]	75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
[     ]	on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of Rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

[    ] This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment.

This amendment is being filed solely to submit exhibits containing risk/return summary information in interactive data format that is identical to the Registrant's risk/return information contained in its prospectus that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in Post-Effective Amendment No. 61 to the Registrant’s registration statement on January 28, 2013.

1

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, the Registrant represents that this Amendment meets all the requirements for effectiveness pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the 1933 Act and has duly caused  this Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Edison, and the State of New Jersey, on the 12th day of February 2013.

FIRST INVESTORS EQUITY FUNDS
	By:	/s/ Derek Burke
		Derek Burke
		President

Pursuant to the requirements of the 1933 Act, this Post-Effective Amendment No. 62 to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

/s/ Derek Burke	President	February 12, 2013
Derek Burke
/s/ Joseph I. Benedek	Treasurer	February 12, 2013
Joseph I. Benedek
/s/ Susan E. Artmann	Trustee	February 12, 2013
Susan E. Artmann*
/s/ Mary J. Barneby	Trustee	February 12, 2013
Mary J. Barneby*
/s/ Charles R. Barton, III	Trustee	February 12, 2013
Charles R. Barton, III*
/s/ Stefan L. Geiringer	Trustee	February 12, 2013
Stefan L. Geiringer*
/s/ Arthur M. Scutro, Jr.	Chairman of the Board	February 12, 2013
Arthur M. Scutro, Jr.*	And Trustee
/s/ Mark R. Ward	Trustee	February 12, 2013
Mark R. Ward*

*  By:          /s/ Mary Carty                                

Mary Carty

(Attorney-in-Fact)

Exhibit Index

Type	Description
EX-101.INS	XBRL Instance Document
EX-101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
EX-101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
EX-101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Linkbase
EX-101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

FIRST INVESTORS GLOBAL FUND

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective:

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund seeks long-term capital growth.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover:

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 94% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

94.00%

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts

You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in "Are sales charge discounts and waivers available" on page 106 of the Fund's prospectus and in "Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers" on page II-51 of the Fund's statement of additional information.

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

$ 100,000

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of companies that are located throughout the world, including the United States.  Although the Fund primarily invests in stocks of U.S. and foreign companiesthat are considered large to medium in size (measured by market capitalization) and that are traded in larger or more established markets, it may invest a significant amount in less-developed or emerging markets.  The Fund may also invest (to a lesser degree) in smaller size companies.

The Fund uses fundamental research and analysis to identify prospective investments. Security selection is based on one or more of the following: profitability; earnings growth; strong possibility of price-to-earnings multiple expansion (or increases in other similar valuation measures); hidden or unappreciated value; and/or quality management.  Once potential investments are identified, the Fund constructs its portfolio based on many factors including: (1) regional and country allocation; (2) industry and sector allocation;              (3) company size; and (4) in the case of foreign securities, foreign currency exposure and the risks of trading and maintaining securities and cash in foreign countries.

A stock may be sold if, in the portfolio manager’s opinion: its downside risk equals or exceeds its upside potential; it suffers from a decreasing trend of earnings growth or suffers an earnings disappointment; or it experiences excessive valuations.

The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading, which may result in high portfolio turnover.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks:

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking significant growth of capital,  

■ Want exposure to investments in both U.S. and foreign companies,  

■ Are willing to accept a moderate degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles.

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.

Foreign Securities Risk. There are special risk factors associated with investing in foreign securities, including the risks of fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, potential political and economic instability, differing accounting and financial reporting standards or inability to obtain reliable financial information regarding a company’s financial condition, less stringent regulation and supervision of foreign securities markets, custodians and securities depositories, and potential restrictions in the flow of capital.

Emerging Markets Risk.  The risks of investing in foreign securities are heightened when investing in emerging or developing markets.  The economies and political environments of emerging or developing countries tend to be more unstable than those of developed countries, resulting in more volatile rates of returns than the developed markets and substantially greater risk to investors.

Liquidity Risk.  The Fund is also susceptible to the risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like.  This risk is particularly acute in the case of foreign securities that are traded in smaller, less-developed or emerging markets.

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.  

High Portfolio Turnover Risk.  High portfolio turnover could increase the Fund’s transaction costs and produce taxable distributions to shareholders and possibly have a negative impact on its performance.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance:

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.  

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1 (800) 423-4026

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.firstinvestors.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Bar Chart Footnotes [Text Block]

rr_BarChartFootnotesTextBlock

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 19.46% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was

-21.05% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The highest quarterly return was 19.46% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009).

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

19.46%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The lowest quarterly return was -21.05% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(21.05%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Morgan Stanley Capital International All Country World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

16.80%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(0.61%)

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

8.66%

CLASS A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

5.75%

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.95%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.41%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.66%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

734

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

1,068

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,425

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,427

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

734

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

1,068

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,425

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,427

Annual Return 2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

28.82%

Annual Return 2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

12.37%

Annual Return 2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

8.07%

Annual Return 2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

17.77%

Annual Return 2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

16.64%

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(41.20%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

32.22%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

12.46%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(9.79%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

16.05%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

9.32%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(2.91%)

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.37%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

9.19%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(2.98%)

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.78%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

6.12%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(2.49%)

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.41%

CLASS B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

4.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.95%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.41%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.36%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

639

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

1,036

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,460

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,522

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

239

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

736

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,260

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,522

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

11.26%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(2.86%)

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.31%

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect (i) a reduction in advisory fee rates as of May 18, 2012 and (ii) that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

FIRST INVESTORS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective:

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover:

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 41% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

41.00%

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts

You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in "Are sales charge discounts and waivers available" on page 106 of the Fund's prospectus and in "Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers" on page II-51 of the Fund's statement of additional information.

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

$ 100,000

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund primarily invests in common stocks of smaller size companies that have a new product or service, are in a position to benefit from some change in the economy, industry transformation, new law, new regulation or new technology, or are experiencing some other “special situation” that makes them undervalued relative to their long-term potential.  The Fund may also invest in stocks of mid-size or large companies.    

In selecting stocks, the Fund relies on fundamental and quantitative analysis.  It screens potential investments to identify companies that have strong financial and managerial characteristics, including healthy balance sheets, a strong management team, solid market share positions and improving business fundamentals.  The Fund then attempts to identify those companies that are undervalued by the market or are undergoing some special situation that creates a short-term dislocation between their stock price and underlying value.  The Fund may emphasize certain industry sectors based on economic and market conditions.  

The Fund may sell a stock if it becomes fully valued, it appreciates in value to the point that it is no longer a small-size company stock, its fundamentals have deteriorated or alternative investments become more attractive.  

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks:

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking significant growth of capital,   

■ Want exposure to investments in small-size companies,

■ Are willing to accept a high degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles. 

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.

Small-Size and Mid-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of small- and mid-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of small- and mid-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell small-to-mid-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Undervalued Security Risk.  The Fund seeks to invest in stocks that are undervalued and that will rise in value due to anticipated events or changes in investor perceptions.  If these events do not occur, or investor perceptions about the securities do not improve, the market price of these securities may not rise as expected or may fall.  

Sector Risk.  The Fund will face a greater risk of loss due to factors affecting a single sector or industry than if the Fund always maintained wide diversity among the sectors and industries in which it invests.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance:

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.  

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1 (800) 423-4026

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.firstinvestors.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 19.53% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003) and the lowest quarterly return was

-23.76% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The highest quarterly return was 19.53% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003).

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2003

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

19.53%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The lowest quarterly return was -23.76% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(23.76%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Russell 2000 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

16.35%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.56%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

9.72%

CLASS A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

5.75%

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.90%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.30%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.50%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

719

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

1,022

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,346

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,263

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

719

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

1,022

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,346

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,263

Annual Return 2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

38.04%

Annual Return 2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

11.84%

Annual Return 2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

4.09%

Annual Return 2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

21.60%

Annual Return 2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

5.92%

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(33.21%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

29.64%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

25.47%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

1.52%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

9.33%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

3.06%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.60%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

8.93%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

1.95%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.01%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

8.33%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.51%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.95%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.67%

CLASS B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

4.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.90%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.30%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.20%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

623

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

988

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,380

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,357

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

223

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

688

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,180

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,357

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

4.56%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.75%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

8.87%

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

FIRST INVESTORS GROWTH & INCOME FUND

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective:

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and current income.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover:

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 22% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

22.00%

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts

You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in "Are sales charge discounts and waivers available" on page 106 of the Fund's prospectus and in "Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers" on page II-51 of the Fund's statement of additional information.

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

$ 100,000

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund primarily invests in common stocks that offer the potential for capital growth, current income or both.  The Fund primarily seeks to invest in common stocks of large-, mid-, and small-size companies that have a history of paying dividends.  When the Fund cannot identify dividend-paying stocks that it finds attractive, it may invest in non-dividend-paying stocks.  

The Fund generally uses a “bottom-up” approach to selecting investments.  This means that the Fund generally identifies potential investments through fundamental research and analysis and thereafter focuses on other issues, such as economic trends, interest rates, industry diversification and market capitalization.  In deciding whether to buy or sell securities, the Fund considers, among other things, the issuer’s financial strength, management, earnings growth or potential earnings growth and history (if any) of paying dividends.

The Fund may sell a security if it becomes fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated or alternative investments become more attractive.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks:

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are primarily seeking an investment that offers the potential for growth with a modest amount of income,  

■ Are willing to accept a moderate degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles.

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.  While dividend-paying stocks are generally considered less volatile than other stocks, there can be no guarantee that the Fund’s overall portfolio will be less volatile than the general stock market.  

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Dividend Risk.  At times, the Fund may not be able to identify dividend-paying stocks that are attractive investments.  The income received by the Fund will also fluctuate due to the amount of dividends that companies elect to pay.  The Fund may not have sufficient income to pay its shareholders regular dividends.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance:

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.  

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1 (800) 423-4026

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.firstinvestors.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 16.90% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was

-22.47% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The highest quarterly return was 16.90% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009).

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

16.90%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The lowest quarterly return was -22.47% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(22.47%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.  

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

16.00%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.66%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.10%

CLASS A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

5.75%

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.70%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.26%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.26%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

696

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

952

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,227

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,010

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

696

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

952

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,227

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,010

Annual Return 2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

29.85%

Annual Return 2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

10.87%

Annual Return 2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

6.68%

Annual Return 2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

14.17%

Annual Return 2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

2.47%

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(35.86%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

27.42%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

14.95%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

1.64%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

16.79%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

10.08%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.00%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.57%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

9.87%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.83%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.36%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

6.82%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.79%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.71%

CLASS B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

4.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.70%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.26%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.96%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

599

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

915

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,257

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,104

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

199

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

615

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,057

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,104

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

11.94%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.10%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.46%

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

XML

FIRST INVESTORS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND | FIRST INVESTORS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND

FIRST INVESTORS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND

Investment Objective:

The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees FIRST INVESTORS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND	CLASS A	CLASS B
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)	1.00%	4.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses FIRST INVESTORS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND		CLASS A	CLASS B
Management Fees	[1]	0.90%	0.90%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	[1]	0.30%	1.00%
Other Expenses	[1]	0.30%	0.30%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[1]	1.50%	2.20%

Example

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example FIRST INVESTORS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	719	1,022	1,346	2,263
CLASS B	623	988	1,380	2,357

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example No Redemption FIRST INVESTORS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	719	1,022	1,346	2,263
CLASS B	223	688	1,180	2,357

Portfolio Turnover:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 41% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Fund primarily invests in common stocks of smaller size companies that have a new product or service, are in a position to benefit from some change in the economy, industry transformation, new law, new regulation or new technology, or are experiencing some other “special situation” that makes them undervalued relative to their long-term potential.  The Fund may also invest in stocks of mid-size or large companies.    

In selecting stocks, the Fund relies on fundamental and quantitative analysis.  It screens potential investments to identify companies that have strong financial and managerial characteristics, including healthy balance sheets, a strong management team, solid market share positions and improving business fundamentals.  The Fund then attempts to identify those companies that are undervalued by the market or are undergoing some special situation that creates a short-term dislocation between their stock price and underlying value.  The Fund may emphasize certain industry sectors based on economic and market conditions.  

The Fund may sell a stock if it becomes fully valued, it appreciates in value to the point that it is no longer a small-size company stock, its fundamentals have deteriorated or alternative investments become more attractive.  

Principal Risks:

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking significant growth of capital,   

■ Want exposure to investments in small-size companies,

■ Are willing to accept a high degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles. 

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.

Small-Size and Mid-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of small- and mid-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of small- and mid-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell small-to-mid-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Undervalued Security Risk.  The Fund seeks to invest in stocks that are undervalued and that will rise in value due to anticipated events or changes in investor perceptions.  If these events do not occur, or investor perceptions about the securities do not improve, the market price of these securities may not rise as expected or may fall.  

Sector Risk.  The Fund will face a greater risk of loss due to factors affecting a single sector or industry than if the Fund always maintained wide diversity among the sectors and industries in which it invests.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.  

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 19.53% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003) and the lowest quarterly return was

-23.76% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Average Annual Returns FIRST INVESTORS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
CLASS A	3.06%	2.60%	8.93%
CLASS B	4.56%	2.75%	8.87%
After Taxes on Distributions CLASS A	1.95%	2.01%	8.33%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sales CLASS A	2.51%	1.95%	7.67%
Russell 2000 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	16.35%	3.56%	9.72%

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

XML

FIRST INVESTORS OPPORTUNITY FUND | FIRST INVESTORS OPPORTUNITY FUND

FIRST INVESTORS OPPORTUNITY FUND

Investment Objective:

The Fund seeks long-term capital growth.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees FIRST INVESTORS OPPORTUNITY FUND	CLASS A	CLASS B
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)	1.00%	4.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses FIRST INVESTORS OPPORTUNITY FUND		CLASS A	CLASS B
Management Fees	[1]	0.74%	0.74%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	[1]	0.30%	1.00%
Other Expenses	[1]	0.29%	0.29%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[1][2]	1.33%	2.03%

Example

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example FIRST INVESTORS OPPORTUNITY FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	703	972	1,262	2,084
CLASS B	606	937	1,293	2,179

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example No Redemption FIRST INVESTORS OPPORTUNITY FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	703	972	1,262	2,084
CLASS B	206	637	1,093	2,179

Portfolio Turnover:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 36% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Fund invests primarily in mid- and small-size companies that the Fund’s Adviser believes offer strong growth opportunities.  The Fund may continue to hold stocks of companies that grow into larger companies and may also invest opportunistically in larger companies.

The Fund uses a “bottom-up” approach to selecting investments.  The Fund uses fundamental research to search for companies that have one or more of the following: a strong balance sheet; experienced management; above-average earnings growth potential; and stocks that are attractively priced.  The Fund attempts to stay broadly diversified, but it may emphasize certain industry sectors based upon economic and market conditions.

The Fund may sell a stock if it becomes fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated or alternative investments become more attractive.  The Fund may also sell a stock if it grows into a large, well-established company, although it may also continue to hold such a stock irrespective of its size.

Principal Risks:

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking significant growth of capital,  

■ Want exposure to investments in mid-and small-size companies,  

■ Are willing to accept higher than average investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles. 

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 20.16% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was

-25.39% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Average Annual Returns FIRST INVESTORS OPPORTUNITY FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
CLASS A	11.84%	2.41%	8.55%
CLASS B	13.82%	2.55%	8.45%
After Taxes on Distributions CLASS A	11.06%	2.00%	8.04%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sales CLASS A	8.27%	1.85%	7.41%
S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	17.88%	5.15%	10.53%

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

[2] The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets provided in the Fund's Financial Highlights table, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund fees and expenses.

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

FIRST INVESTORS TOTAL RETURN FUND

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective:

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund seeks high, long-term total investment return consistent with moderate investment risk.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.   

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover:

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 32% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

32.00%

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts

You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in "Are sales charge discounts and waivers available" on page 106 of the Fund's prospectus and in "Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers" on page II-51 of the Fund's statement of additional information.

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

$ 100,000

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund allocates its assets among stocks, bonds and money market instruments.  While the percentage of assets allocated to each asset class is flexible rather than fixed, the Fund normally invests at least 50% of its net assets in stocks and at least 35% in bonds, cash and money market instruments.  The percentages may change due to, among other things, market fluctuations or reallocation decisions by the Fund’s portfolio managers.

Once the asset allocation for stocks, bonds and money market instruments has been set, the Fund uses fundamental research and analysis to determine which particular investments to purchase or sell.  

The Fund’s investments in stocks are normally diversified among common stocks of large-, mid- and small-size companies that offer the potential for capital growth, current income, or both.  In selecting stocks, the Fund considers, among other things, the issuer’s financial strength, management, earnings growth potential and history (if any) of paying dividends.

The Fund’s investments in bonds are normally diversified among different types of bonds and other debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. Government securities and mortgage-backed securities.  The Fund selects bonds by first considering the outlook for the economy and interest rates, and thereafter, a particular security’s characteristics.

The Fund may sell a security if it becomes fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated, alternative investments become more attractive or if it is necessary to rebalance the portfolio.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks:

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking total return,  

■ Want an investment that provides diversification among different asset classes,  

■ Are willing to accept a moderate degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles.

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.  Similarly, bond prices fluctuate in value with changes in interest rates, the economy and the financial conditions of companies that issue them.  

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Interest Rate Risk.  In general, when interest rates rise, the market value of a debt security declines, and when interest rates decline, the market value of a debt security increases.  Securities with longer maturities are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes.

Credit Risk.  This is the risk that an issuer of bonds and other debt securities will be unable to pay interest or principal when due.  The prices of bonds and other debt securities are affected by the credit quality of the issuer and, in the case of mortgage-backed securities, the credit quality of the underlying mortgages.  Credit risk also applies to securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

Prepayment and Extension Risk.  The Fund is subject to prepayment and extension risk since it invests in mortgage-backed securities.  When interest rates decline, homeowners tend to refinance their mortgages.  This could cause a decrease in the Fund’s income and share price.  Extension risk is the flip side of prepayment risk.  Rising interest rates can cause the Fund’s average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in mortgage prepayments.  This will increase both the Fund’s sensitivity to rising interest rates and its potential for price declines.

Allocation Risk.  The Fund may allocate assets to investment classes that underperform other classes.  For example, the Fund may be overweighted in stocks when the stock market is falling and the bond market is rising.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.  

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.  

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance:

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1 (800) 423-4026

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.firstinvestors.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 11.86% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003) and the lowest quarterly return was

-11.40% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The highest quarterly return was 11.86% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003).

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2003

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

11.86%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The lowest quarterly return was -11.40% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(11.40%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

16.00%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.66%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.10%

BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate, Government and Mortgage Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

4.42%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

6.02%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.25%

CLASS A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

5.75%

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.74%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.26%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.30%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

700

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

963

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,247

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,053

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

700

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

963

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,247

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,053

Annual Return 2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

20.53%

Annual Return 2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

7.97%

Annual Return 2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

4.79%

Annual Return 2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

10.18%

Annual Return 2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

3.69%

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(21.06%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

20.61%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

11.96%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

3.57%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

12.91%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

6.40%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.28%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.23%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

5.58%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.59%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.56%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

4.60%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.38%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.07%

CLASS B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

4.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.74%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.26%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.00%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

603

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

927

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,278

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,147

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

203

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

627

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,078

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,147

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

8.12%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.42%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.20%

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees

XML

FIRST INVESTORS TOTAL RETURN FUND | FIRST INVESTORS TOTAL RETURN FUND

FIRST INVESTORS TOTAL RETURN FUND

Investment Objective:

The Fund seeks high, long-term total investment return consistent with moderate investment risk.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.   

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees FIRST INVESTORS TOTAL RETURN FUND	CLASS A	CLASS B
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)	1.00%	4.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses FIRST INVESTORS TOTAL RETURN FUND		CLASS A	CLASS B
Management Fees	[1]	0.74%	0.74%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	[1]	0.30%	1.00%
Other Expenses	[1]	0.26%	0.26%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[1]	1.30%	2.00%

Example

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example FIRST INVESTORS TOTAL RETURN FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	700	963	1,247	2,053
CLASS B	603	927	1,278	2,147

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example No Redemption FIRST INVESTORS TOTAL RETURN FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	700	963	1,247	2,053
CLASS B	203	627	1,078	2,147

Portfolio Turnover:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 32% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Fund allocates its assets among stocks, bonds and money market instruments.  While the percentage of assets allocated to each asset class is flexible rather than fixed, the Fund normally invests at least 50% of its net assets in stocks and at least 35% in bonds, cash and money market instruments.  The percentages may change due to, among other things, market fluctuations or reallocation decisions by the Fund’s portfolio managers.

Once the asset allocation for stocks, bonds and money market instruments has been set, the Fund uses fundamental research and analysis to determine which particular investments to purchase or sell.  

The Fund’s investments in stocks are normally diversified among common stocks of large-, mid- and small-size companies that offer the potential for capital growth, current income, or both.  In selecting stocks, the Fund considers, among other things, the issuer’s financial strength, management, earnings growth potential and history (if any) of paying dividends.

The Fund’s investments in bonds are normally diversified among different types of bonds and other debt securities, including corporate bonds, U.S. Government securities and mortgage-backed securities.  The Fund selects bonds by first considering the outlook for the economy and interest rates, and thereafter, a particular security’s characteristics.

The Fund may sell a security if it becomes fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated, alternative investments become more attractive or if it is necessary to rebalance the portfolio.

Principal Risks:

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking total return,  

■ Want an investment that provides diversification among different asset classes,  

■ Are willing to accept a moderate degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles.

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.  Similarly, bond prices fluctuate in value with changes in interest rates, the economy and the financial conditions of companies that issue them.  

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Interest Rate Risk.  In general, when interest rates rise, the market value of a debt security declines, and when interest rates decline, the market value of a debt security increases.  Securities with longer maturities are generally more sensitive to interest rate changes.

Credit Risk.  This is the risk that an issuer of bonds and other debt securities will be unable to pay interest or principal when due.  The prices of bonds and other debt securities are affected by the credit quality of the issuer and, in the case of mortgage-backed securities, the credit quality of the underlying mortgages.  Credit risk also applies to securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. Government-sponsored enterprises that are not backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government.

Prepayment and Extension Risk.  The Fund is subject to prepayment and extension risk since it invests in mortgage-backed securities.  When interest rates decline, homeowners tend to refinance their mortgages.  This could cause a decrease in the Fund’s income and share price.  Extension risk is the flip side of prepayment risk.  Rising interest rates can cause the Fund’s average maturity to lengthen unexpectedly due to a drop in mortgage prepayments.  This will increase both the Fund’s sensitivity to rising interest rates and its potential for price declines.

Allocation Risk.  The Fund may allocate assets to investment classes that underperform other classes.  For example, the Fund may be overweighted in stocks when the stock market is falling and the bond market is rising.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.  

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.  

Performance:

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 11.86% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003) and the lowest quarterly return was

-11.40% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Average Annual Returns FIRST INVESTORS TOTAL RETURN FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
CLASS A	6.40%	3.28%	6.23%
CLASS B	8.12%	3.42%	6.20%
After Taxes on Distributions CLASS A	5.58%	2.59%	5.56%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sales CLASS A	4.60%	2.38%	5.07%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	16.00%	1.66%	7.10%
BofA Merrill Lynch U.S. Corporate, Government and Mortgage Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	4.42%	6.02%	5.25%

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

First Investors International Fund

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective:

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund primarily seeks long-term capital growth.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover:

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 41% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

41.00%

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts

You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in "Are sales charge discounts and waivers available" on page 106 of the Fund's prospectus and in "Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers" on page II-51 of the Fund's statement of additional information.

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

$ 100,000

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund primarily invests in a portfolio of common stocks and other equity securities of companies that are located outside of the United States.  To a limited degree, the Fund may also invest in companies based in the United States.  The Fund typically invests in the securities of medium to large size companies, but will also invest in smaller companies.  The Fund’s holdings may be limited to the securities of 40 to 60 different issuers and may focus its investments in companies located in or tied economically to particular countries or regions.

The Fund generally invests in securities that are traded in the foreign securities markets, though it may invest significantly in emerging or developing markets.  

The subadviser selects investments by screening a universe of stocks that meet its “quality growth” criteria, which include high return on equity and low to moderate leverage, among others.  It then further narrows that universe by using a bottom-up stock and business analysis approach to identify companies whose businesses are highly profitable, have consistent operating histories and financial performance and enjoy possible long-term economic prospects.  The subadviser also seeks to generate greater returns by investing in securities at a price below the company’s intrinsic worth.  

In making sell decisions, the subadviser considers, among other things, whether a security’s price target has been met, whether there has been an overvaluation of the issuer by the market, whether there has been a clear deterioration of future earnings power and whether, in the subadviser’s opinion, there has been a loss of long-term competitive advantage.

The Fund may enter into spot currency trades (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency market) in connection with the settlement of transactions in securities traded in foreign currency.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks:

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking capital growth,  

■ Want exposure to investments in foreign companies,  

■ Are willing to accept a high degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles. 

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in

interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.  

Foreign Securities Risk.  There are special risk factors associated with investing in foreign securities, including the risks of fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, potential political and economic instability, differing accounting and financial reporting standards or inability to obtain reliable financial information regarding a company’s financial condition, less stringent regulation and supervision of foreign securities markets, custodians and securities depositories, and potential restrictions in the flow of capital.  The use of spot transactions does not reduce or eliminate these risks. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities of a single country or region, it is more likely to be affected by events or conditions of that country or region.  As a result, it may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.

Emerging Markets Risk.  The risks of investing in foreign securities are heightened when investing in emerging or developing markets.  The economies and political environments of emerging or developing countries tend to be more unstable than those of developed countries, resulting in more volatile rates of returns than the developed markets and substantially greater risk to investors.

Liquidity Risk.  The Fund is also susceptible to the risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like.  This risk is particularly acute in the case of foreign securities that are traded in smaller, less-developed or emerging markets.

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with the securities of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with securities of larger companies because such securities tend to experience sharper price fluctuations than those of larger companies.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Limited Holdings Risk.  The Fund’s assets may be invested in a limited number of issuers.  This means that the Fund’s performance may be substantially impacted by the change in value of even a single holding.  

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance:

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years (or for the life of the Fund, if less) compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years (or for the life of the Fund, if less) compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1 (800) 423-4026

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.firstinvestors.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 18.55% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was

-19.25% (for the quarter ended September 30, 2008).

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The highest quarterly return was 18.55% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009).

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

18.55%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The lowest quarterly return was -19.25% (for the quarter ended September 30, 2008).

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Sep. 30, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(19.25%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

17.90%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(3.21%)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

2.02%

^[1]

Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE Index (Net) (reflects the deduction of foreign withholding taxes on dividends)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

17.32%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(3.69%)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

1.56%

^[1]

Class A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

5.75%

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.98%

^[2]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

^[2]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.51%

^[2]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.79%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

746

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

1,106

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,489

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,559

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

746

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

1,106

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,489

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,559

Annual Return 2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

17.98%

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(41.73%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

21.94%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

12.06%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(0.32%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

19.74%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

12.91%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(2.18%)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

3.28%

^[1]

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Jun. 27, 2006

Class A | After Taxes on Distributions

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

12.91%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(2.47%)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

2.89%

^[1]

Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

8.39%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(2.00%)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

2.60%

^[1]

Class B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

4.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.98%

^[2]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

^[2]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.51%

^[2]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.49%

^[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

652

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

1,076

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,526

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,654

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

252

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

776

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,326

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,654

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

14.85%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(2.09%)

Since Inception

rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception

3.49%

^[1]

Inception Date

rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate

Jun. 27, 2006

[1] Both Class A shares and Class B shares commenced operations on 6/27/06. The average annual total returns shown are for the period of 6/27/06 to 12/31/12.

[2] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

First Investors Equity Income Fund

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective:

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund seeks total return.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover:

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 38% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

38.00%

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts

You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in "Are sales charge discounts and waivers available" on page 106 of the Fund's prospectus and in "Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers" on page II-51 of the Fund's statement of additional information.

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

$ 100,000

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in dividend-paying stocks of companies that the Fund believes are undervalued in the market relative to their long term potential.  Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in equities.  For purposes of this 80% test, equities may include common stock, preferred stock, equity-based ETFs and other instruments that are convertible into common stock, or other instruments that represent an equity position in an issuer.  The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days notice before changing this 80% policy.  The Fund normally will diversify its assets among dividend-paying stocks of large-, mid- and small-size companies.  The Fund may also invest in stocks of companies of any size that do not pay dividends, but have the potential of paying dividends in the future if they appear to be undervalued.

The Fund generally uses a “bottom-up” approach in attempting to identify stocks that are undervalued.  This means that the Fund generally identifies potential investments through fundamental research and analysis which includes, among other things, analyzing a company’s balance sheet, cash flow statements and competition within a company’s industry.  The Fund also assesses a company’s corporate strategy and whether the company is operating in the interests of shareholders, as well as, analyzing economic trends, interest rates, and industry diversification.

The Fund may sell a security if it becomes fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated or alternative investment opportunities become more attractive.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks:

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking total return,  

■ Are willing to accept a moderate degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles.

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.  While dividend-paying stocks are generally considered less volatile than other stocks, there can be no guarantee that the Fund’s overall portfolio will be less volatile than the general stock market.

Undervalued Securities Risk.  The Fund seeks to invest in stocks that are undervalued and that will rise in value due to anticipated events or changes in investor perceptions.  If these events do not occur or investor perceptions about the securities do not improve, the market price of these securities may not rise as expected or may fall.

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Dividend Risk.  At times, the Fund may not be able to identify dividend-paying stocks that are attractive investments.  The income received by the Fund will also fluctuate due to the amount of dividends that companies elect to pay.  The Fund may not have sufficient income to pay its shareholders regular dividends.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.  

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance:

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1 (800) 423-4026

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.firstinvestors.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 14.33% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003) and the lowest quarterly return was

-18.65% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The highest quarterly return was 14.33% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003).

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2003

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

14.33%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The lowest quarterly return was -18.65% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(18.65%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.  

S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

16.00%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.66%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.10%

CLASS A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

5.75%

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.74%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.27%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.31%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

701

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

966

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,252

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,063

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

701

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

966

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,252

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,063

Annual Return 2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

25.25%

Annual Return 2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

15.13%

Annual Return 2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

5.56%

Annual Return 2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

19.78%

Annual Return 2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

(0.99%)

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(29.09%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

19.61%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

13.43%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

1.04%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

10.45%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

4.09%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.24%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.21%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

3.83%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(0.01%)

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.96%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

2.98%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.12%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

5.38%

CLASS B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

4.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.74%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.27%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.01%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

604

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

930

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,283

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,157

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

204

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

630

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,083

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,157

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

5.70%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

0.36%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

6.14%

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

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Document and Entity Information	0 Months Ended
	Jan. 28, 2013
Risk/Return:
Document Type	485BPOS
Document Period End Date	Jan. 28, 2013
Registrant Name	First Investors Equity Funds
Central Index Key	0000886048
Amendment Flag	false
Document Creation Date	Jan. 28, 2013
Document Effective Date	Jan. 31, 2013
Prospectus Date	Jan. 31, 2013

XML

FIRST INVESTORS GROWTH & INCOME FUND | FIRST INVESTORS GROWTH & INCOME FUND

FIRST INVESTORS GROWTH & INCOME FUND

Investment Objective:

The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital and current income.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees FIRST INVESTORS GROWTH & INCOME FUND	CLASS A	CLASS B
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)	1.00%	4.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses FIRST INVESTORS GROWTH & INCOME FUND		CLASS A	CLASS B
Management Fees	[1]	0.70%	0.70%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	[1]	0.30%	1.00%
Other Expenses	[1]	0.26%	0.26%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[1]	1.26%	1.96%

Example

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example FIRST INVESTORS GROWTH & INCOME FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	696	952	1,227	2,010
CLASS B	599	915	1,257	2,104

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example No Redemption FIRST INVESTORS GROWTH & INCOME FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	696	952	1,227	2,010
CLASS B	199	615	1,057	2,104

Portfolio Turnover:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 22% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Fund primarily invests in common stocks that offer the potential for capital growth, current income or both.  The Fund primarily seeks to invest in common stocks of large-, mid-, and small-size companies that have a history of paying dividends.  When the Fund cannot identify dividend-paying stocks that it finds attractive, it may invest in non-dividend-paying stocks.  

The Fund generally uses a “bottom-up” approach to selecting investments.  This means that the Fund generally identifies potential investments through fundamental research and analysis and thereafter focuses on other issues, such as economic trends, interest rates, industry diversification and market capitalization.  In deciding whether to buy or sell securities, the Fund considers, among other things, the issuer’s financial strength, management, earnings growth or potential earnings growth and history (if any) of paying dividends.

The Fund may sell a security if it becomes fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated or alternative investments become more attractive.

Principal Risks:

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are primarily seeking an investment that offers the potential for growth with a modest amount of income,  

■ Are willing to accept a moderate degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles.

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.  While dividend-paying stocks are generally considered less volatile than other stocks, there can be no guarantee that the Fund’s overall portfolio will be less volatile than the general stock market.  

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Dividend Risk.  At times, the Fund may not be able to identify dividend-paying stocks that are attractive investments.  The income received by the Fund will also fluctuate due to the amount of dividends that companies elect to pay.  The Fund may not have sufficient income to pay its shareholders regular dividends.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.  

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 16.90% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was

-22.47% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Average Annual Returns FIRST INVESTORS GROWTH & INCOME FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
CLASS A	10.08%	1.00%	6.57%
CLASS B	11.94%	1.10%	6.46%
After Taxes on Distributions CLASS A	9.87%	0.83%	6.36%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sales CLASS A	6.82%	0.79%	5.71%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	16.00%	1.66%	7.10%

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.  

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

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Label	Element	Value
Risk/Return:	rr_RiskReturnAbstract
Prospectus Date	rr_ProspectusDate	Jan. 31, 2013

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FIRST INVESTORS SELECT GROWTH FUND | FIRST INVESTORS SELECT GROWTH FUND

FIRST INVESTORS SELECT GROWTH FUND

Investment Objective:

The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees FIRST INVESTORS SELECT GROWTH FUND	CLASS A	CLASS B
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)	1.00%	4.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses FIRST INVESTORS SELECT GROWTH FUND		CLASS A	CLASS B
Management Fees	[1]	0.75%	0.75%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	[1]	0.30%	1.00%
Other Expenses	[1]	0.33%	0.33%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[1]	1.38%	2.08%

Example

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example FIRST INVESTORS SELECT GROWTH FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	707	987	1,287	2,137
CLASS B	611	952	1,319	2,231

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example No Redemption FIRST INVESTORS SELECT GROWTH FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	707	987	1,287	2,137
CLASS B	211	652	1,119	2,231

Portfolio Turnover:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 53% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Fund invests in a portfolio of approximately 40-45 common stocks that the Fund’s subadviser, Smith Asset Management Group, L.P. (“Smith”), believes offers the best potential for earnings growth with the lowest risk of negative earnings surprises.

Smith employs quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify high quality companies that it believes have the ability to accelerate earnings growth and exceed investor expectations.  Beginning with a universe of stocks that includes large-, mid- and small-size companies, Smith’s investment team uses risk control and valuation screens primarily based on valuation, financial quality, stock volatility and corporate governance, to eliminate stocks that are highly volatile or are more likely to underperform the market.  

Stocks that pass the initial screens are then evaluated using a proprietary methodology and fundamental analysis to produce a list of 80-100 eligible companies with a high probability of earnings growth that exceeds investor expectations.  The analysis includes an evaluation of changes in Wall Street opinions, individual analysts’ historical accuracy, earnings quality analysis and corporate governance practices.  Smith then constructs the Fund’s portfolio based on a traditional fundamental analysis of the companies identified on the list to understand their business prospects, earnings potential, strength of management and competitive positioning.    

Stocks may be sold if they exhibit negative investment or performance characteristics, including: a negative earnings forecast or report, valuation concerns, company officials’ downward guidance on company performance or earnings or announcement of a buyout.

Principal Risks:

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking growth of capital,  

■ Are willing to accept a moderate degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles.  

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.  

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Growth Stock Risk.  The Fund’s focus on growth stocks increases the potential volatility of its share price.  If expectations are not met, the prices of these stocks may decline significantly.

Limited Holdings Risk.  Because the Fund generally invests in a limited portfolio of only 40 to 45 stocks, it may be more volatile than other funds whose portfolios may contain a larger number of securities.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.  

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.  

Prior to May 7, 2007, the Fund was known as the All-Cap Growth Fund, was managed by a different subadviser, and employed different strategies in seeking to invest in growth stocks.  Therefore, the performance shown below is not necessarily reflective of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 18.17% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003) and the lowest quarterly return was

-24.36% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Average Annual Returns FIRST INVESTORS SELECT GROWTH FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
CLASS A	6.38%	(3.19%)	4.96%
CLASS B	7.97%	(3.11%)	4.84%
After Taxes on Distributions CLASS A	6.38%	(3.19%)	4.56%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sales CLASS A	4.15%	(2.68%)	4.30%
Russell 3000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	15.21%	3.15%	7.69%

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

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FIRST INVESTORS GLOBAL FUND | FIRST INVESTORS GLOBAL FUND

FIRST INVESTORS GLOBAL FUND

Investment Objective:

The Fund seeks long-term capital growth.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees FIRST INVESTORS GLOBAL FUND	CLASS A	CLASS B
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)	1.00%	4.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses FIRST INVESTORS GLOBAL FUND		CLASS A	CLASS B
Management Fees	[1]	0.95%	0.95%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	[1]	0.30%	1.00%
Other Expenses	[1]	0.41%	0.41%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[1]	1.66%	2.36%

Example

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example FIRST INVESTORS GLOBAL FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	734	1,068	1,425	2,427
CLASS B	639	1,036	1,460	2,522

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example No Redemption FIRST INVESTORS GLOBAL FUND (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	734	1,068	1,425	2,427
CLASS B	239	736	1,260	2,522

Portfolio Turnover:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 94% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Fund invests in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of companies that are located throughout the world, including the United States.  Although the Fund primarily invests in stocks of U.S. and foreign companiesthat are considered large to medium in size (measured by market capitalization) and that are traded in larger or more established markets, it may invest a significant amount in less-developed or emerging markets.  The Fund may also invest (to a lesser degree) in smaller size companies.

The Fund uses fundamental research and analysis to identify prospective investments. Security selection is based on one or more of the following: profitability; earnings growth; strong possibility of price-to-earnings multiple expansion (or increases in other similar valuation measures); hidden or unappreciated value; and/or quality management.  Once potential investments are identified, the Fund constructs its portfolio based on many factors including: (1) regional and country allocation; (2) industry and sector allocation;              (3) company size; and (4) in the case of foreign securities, foreign currency exposure and the risks of trading and maintaining securities and cash in foreign countries.

A stock may be sold if, in the portfolio manager’s opinion: its downside risk equals or exceeds its upside potential; it suffers from a decreasing trend of earnings growth or suffers an earnings disappointment; or it experiences excessive valuations.

The Fund may engage in active and frequent trading, which may result in high portfolio turnover.

Principal Risks:

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking significant growth of capital,  

■ Want exposure to investments in both U.S. and foreign companies,  

■ Are willing to accept a moderate degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles.

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.

Foreign Securities Risk. There are special risk factors associated with investing in foreign securities, including the risks of fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, potential political and economic instability, differing accounting and financial reporting standards or inability to obtain reliable financial information regarding a company’s financial condition, less stringent regulation and supervision of foreign securities markets, custodians and securities depositories, and potential restrictions in the flow of capital.

Emerging Markets Risk.  The risks of investing in foreign securities are heightened when investing in emerging or developing markets.  The economies and political environments of emerging or developing countries tend to be more unstable than those of developed countries, resulting in more volatile rates of returns than the developed markets and substantially greater risk to investors.

Liquidity Risk.  The Fund is also susceptible to the risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like.  This risk is particularly acute in the case of foreign securities that are traded in smaller, less-developed or emerging markets.

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.  

High Portfolio Turnover Risk.  High portfolio turnover could increase the Fund’s transaction costs and produce taxable distributions to shareholders and possibly have a negative impact on its performance.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.  

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 19.46% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was

-21.05% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Average Annual Returns FIRST INVESTORS GLOBAL FUND	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
CLASS A	9.32%	(2.91%)	6.37%
CLASS B	11.26%	(2.86%)	6.31%
After Taxes on Distributions CLASS A	9.19%	(2.98%)	5.78%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sales CLASS A	6.12%	(2.49%)	5.41%
Morgan Stanley Capital International All Country World Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	16.80%	(0.61%)	8.66%

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect (i) a reduction in advisory fee rates as of May 18, 2012 and (ii) that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

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Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

FIRST INVESTORS OPPORTUNITY FUND

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective:

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund seeks long-term capital growth.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover:

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 36% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

36.00%

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts

You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in "Are sales charge discounts and waivers available" on page 106 of the Fund's prospectus and in "Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers" on page II-51 of the Fund's statement of additional information.

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

$ 100,000

Expenses Not Correlated to Ratio Due to Acquired Fund Fees [Text]

rr_ExpensesNotCorrelatedToRatioDueToAcquiredFundFees

The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets provided in the Fund's Financial Highlights table, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund fees and expenses.

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests primarily in mid- and small-size companies that the Fund’s Adviser believes offer strong growth opportunities.  The Fund may continue to hold stocks of companies that grow into larger companies and may also invest opportunistically in larger companies.

The Fund uses a “bottom-up” approach to selecting investments.  The Fund uses fundamental research to search for companies that have one or more of the following: a strong balance sheet; experienced management; above-average earnings growth potential; and stocks that are attractively priced.  The Fund attempts to stay broadly diversified, but it may emphasize certain industry sectors based upon economic and market conditions.

The Fund may sell a stock if it becomes fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated or alternative investments become more attractive.  The Fund may also sell a stock if it grows into a large, well-established company, although it may also continue to hold such a stock irrespective of its size.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks:

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking significant growth of capital,  

■ Want exposure to investments in mid-and small-size companies,  

■ Are willing to accept higher than average investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles. 

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance:

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1 (800) 423-4026

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.firstinvestors.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 20.16% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was

-25.39% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The highest quarterly return was 20.16% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009).

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2009

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

20.16%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The lowest quarterly return was -25.39% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(25.39%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

S&P Mid-Cap 400 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

17.88%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

5.15%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

10.53%

CLASS A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

5.75%

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.74%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.29%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.33%

^[1],[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

703

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

972

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,262

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,084

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

703

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

972

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,262

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,084

Annual Return 2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

33.40%

Annual Return 2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

16.63%

Annual Return 2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

12.96%

Annual Return 2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

9.36%

Annual Return 2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

4.94%

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(38.30%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

32.99%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

24.02%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

(1.01%)

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

18.68%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

11.84%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.41%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

8.55%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

11.06%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.00%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

8.04%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

8.27%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

1.85%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.41%

CLASS B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

4.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.74%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.29%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.03%

^[1],[2]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

606

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

937

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,293

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,179

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

206

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

637

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,093

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,179

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

13.82%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

2.55%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

8.45%

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

[2] The Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses do not correlate to the ratio of expenses to average net assets provided in the Fund's Financial Highlights table, which reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include Acquired Fund fees and expenses.

XML

Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Risk/Return [Heading]

rr_RiskReturnHeading

FIRST INVESTORS SELECT GROWTH FUND

Objective [Heading]

rr_ObjectiveHeading

Investment Objective:

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital.

Expense [Heading]

rr_ExpenseHeading

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

rr_ShareholderFeesCaption

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

rr_OperatingExpensesCaption

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading

Portfolio Turnover:

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 53% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate

53.00%

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts

You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in "Are sales charge discounts and waivers available" on page 106 of the Fund's prospectus and in "Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers" on page II-51 of the Fund's statement of additional information.

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount

$ 100,000

Expense Example [Heading]

rr_ExpenseExampleHeading

Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Strategy [Heading]

rr_StrategyHeading

Principal Investment Strategies:

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

The Fund invests in a portfolio of approximately 40-45 common stocks that the Fund’s subadviser, Smith Asset Management Group, L.P. (“Smith”), believes offers the best potential for earnings growth with the lowest risk of negative earnings surprises.

Smith employs quantitative and qualitative analysis to identify high quality companies that it believes have the ability to accelerate earnings growth and exceed investor expectations.  Beginning with a universe of stocks that includes large-, mid- and small-size companies, Smith’s investment team uses risk control and valuation screens primarily based on valuation, financial quality, stock volatility and corporate governance, to eliminate stocks that are highly volatile or are more likely to underperform the market.  

Stocks that pass the initial screens are then evaluated using a proprietary methodology and fundamental analysis to produce a list of 80-100 eligible companies with a high probability of earnings growth that exceeds investor expectations.  The analysis includes an evaluation of changes in Wall Street opinions, individual analysts’ historical accuracy, earnings quality analysis and corporate governance practices.  Smith then constructs the Fund’s portfolio based on a traditional fundamental analysis of the companies identified on the list to understand their business prospects, earnings potential, strength of management and competitive positioning.    

Stocks may be sold if they exhibit negative investment or performance characteristics, including: a negative earnings forecast or report, valuation concerns, company officials’ downward guidance on company performance or earnings or announcement of a buyout.

Risk [Heading]

rr_RiskHeading

Principal Risks:

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking growth of capital,  

■ Are willing to accept a moderate degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles.  

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.  

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Growth Stock Risk.  The Fund’s focus on growth stocks increases the potential volatility of its share price.  If expectations are not met, the prices of these stocks may decline significantly.

Limited Holdings Risk.  Because the Fund generally invests in a limited portfolio of only 40 to 45 stocks, it may be more volatile than other funds whose portfolios may contain a larger number of securities.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.  

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

rr_RiskLoseMoney

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading

Performance:

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.  

Prior to May 7, 2007, the Fund was known as the All-Cap Growth Fund, was managed by a different subadviser, and employed different strategies in seeking to invest in growth stocks.  Therefore, the performance shown below is not necessarily reflective of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund. The bar chart shows changes in the Fund's performance from year to year for Class A shares. The table shows how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.

Performance Availability Phone [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone

1 (800) 423-4026

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress

www.firstinvestors.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture

The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

rr_BarChartHeading

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 18.17% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003) and the lowest quarterly return was

-24.36% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The highest quarterly return was 18.17% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003).

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate

Jun. 30, 2003

Highest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn

18.17%

Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel

The lowest quarterly return was -24.36% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate

Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn

(24.36%)

Performance Table Heading

rr_PerformanceTableHeading

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred

After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

Russell 3000 Growth Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

15.21%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

3.15%

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

7.69%

CLASS A

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

5.75%

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

1.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.75%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

0.30%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.33%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

1.38%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

707

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

987

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,287

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,137

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

707

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

987

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,287

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

2,137

Annual Return 2003

rr_AnnualReturn2003

32.00%

Annual Return 2004

rr_AnnualReturn2004

12.52%

Annual Return 2005

rr_AnnualReturn2005

8.20%

Annual Return 2006

rr_AnnualReturn2006

5.61%

Annual Return 2007

rr_AnnualReturn2007

12.49%

Annual Return 2008

rr_AnnualReturn2008

(41.77%)

Annual Return 2009

rr_AnnualReturn2009

9.09%

Annual Return 2010

rr_AnnualReturn2010

20.29%

Annual Return 2011

rr_AnnualReturn2011

4.67%

Annual Return 2012

rr_AnnualReturn2012

12.81%

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

6.38%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(3.19%)

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.96%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

6.38%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(3.19%)

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.56%

CLASS A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sales

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

4.15%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(2.68%)

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.30%

CLASS B

Risk/Return:

rr_RiskReturnAbstract

Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)

rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice

none

Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)

rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther

4.00%

Management Fees

rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets

0.75%

^[1]

Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees

rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets

1.00%

^[1]

Other Expenses

rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets

0.33%

^[1]

Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

2.08%

^[1]

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleYear01

611

Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear03

952

Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear05

1,319

Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleYear10

2,231

Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01

211

Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03

652

Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05

1,119

Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years

rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10

$ 2,231

1 Year

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01

7.97%

5 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05

(3.11%)

10 Years

rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10

4.84%

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

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First Investors Equity Income Fund | First Investors Equity Income Fund

First Investors Equity Income Fund

Investment Objective:

The Fund seeks total return.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees First Investors Equity Income Fund	CLASS A	CLASS B
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)	1.00%	4.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses First Investors Equity Income Fund		CLASS A	CLASS B
Management Fees	[1]	0.74%	0.74%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	[1]	0.30%	1.00%
Other Expenses	[1]	0.27%	0.27%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[1]	1.31%	2.01%

Example

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example First Investors Equity Income Fund (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	701	966	1,252	2,063
CLASS B	604	930	1,283	2,157

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example No Redemption First Investors Equity Income Fund (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
CLASS A	701	966	1,252	2,063
CLASS B	204	630	1,083	2,157

Portfolio Turnover:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 38% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, primarily in dividend-paying stocks of companies that the Fund believes are undervalued in the market relative to their long term potential.  Under normal circumstances, the Fund will invest at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in equities.  For purposes of this 80% test, equities may include common stock, preferred stock, equity-based ETFs and other instruments that are convertible into common stock, or other instruments that represent an equity position in an issuer.  The Fund will provide shareholders with at least 60 days notice before changing this 80% policy.  The Fund normally will diversify its assets among dividend-paying stocks of large-, mid- and small-size companies.  The Fund may also invest in stocks of companies of any size that do not pay dividends, but have the potential of paying dividends in the future if they appear to be undervalued.

The Fund generally uses a “bottom-up” approach in attempting to identify stocks that are undervalued.  This means that the Fund generally identifies potential investments through fundamental research and analysis which includes, among other things, analyzing a company’s balance sheet, cash flow statements and competition within a company’s industry.  The Fund also assesses a company’s corporate strategy and whether the company is operating in the interests of shareholders, as well as, analyzing economic trends, interest rates, and industry diversification.

The Fund may sell a security if it becomes fully valued, its fundamentals have deteriorated or alternative investment opportunities become more attractive.

Principal Risks:

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking total return,  

■ Are willing to accept a moderate degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles.

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.  While dividend-paying stocks are generally considered less volatile than other stocks, there can be no guarantee that the Fund’s overall portfolio will be less volatile than the general stock market.

Undervalued Securities Risk.  The Fund seeks to invest in stocks that are undervalued and that will rise in value due to anticipated events or changes in investor perceptions.  If these events do not occur or investor perceptions about the securities do not improve, the market price of these securities may not rise as expected or may fall.

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with stocks of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with stocks of larger, more established companies because stocks of mid- and small-size companies tend to experience sharper price fluctuations.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small-size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Dividend Risk.  At times, the Fund may not be able to identify dividend-paying stocks that are attractive investments.  The income received by the Fund will also fluctuate due to the amount of dividends that companies elect to pay.  The Fund may not have sufficient income to pay its shareholders regular dividends.

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.  

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 14.33% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2003) and the lowest quarterly return was

-18.65% (for the quarter ended December 31, 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Average Annual Returns First Investors Equity Income Fund	1 Year	5 Years	10 Years
CLASS A	4.09%	0.24%	6.21%
CLASS B	5.70%	0.36%	6.14%
After Taxes on Distributions CLASS A	3.83%	(0.01%)	5.96%
After Taxes on Distributions and Sales CLASS A	2.98%	0.12%	5.38%
S&P 500 Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	16.00%	1.66%	7.10%

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.  

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees.

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First Investors International Fund | First Investors International Fund

First Investors International Fund

Investment Objective:

The Fund primarily seeks long-term capital growth.

Fees and Expenses of the Fund:

  This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund.  You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in First Investors Funds.  More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial representative and in “Are sales charge discounts and waivers available” on page 106 of the Fund’s prospectus and in “Additional Information About Sales Charge Discounts and Waivers” on page II-51 of the Fund’s statement of additional information.

Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)

Shareholder Fees First Investors International Fund	Class A	Class B
Maximum sales charge (load) imposed on purchases (as a percentage of offering price)	5.75%	none
Maximum deferred sales charge (load) (as a percentage of the lower of purchase price or redemption price)	1.00%	4.00%

Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Annual Fund Operating Expenses First Investors International Fund		Class A	Class B
Management Fees	[1]	0.98%	0.98%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees	[1]	0.30%	1.00%
Other Expenses	[1]	0.51%	0.51%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses	[1]	1.79%	2.49%

Example

The 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 redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods and reflects conversion of Class B to Class A after eight years.  The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same.  Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example First Investors International Fund (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class A	746	1,106	1,489	2,559
Class B	652	1,076	1,526	2,654

You would pay the following expenses if you did not redeem your shares:

Expense Example No Redemption First Investors International Fund (USD $)	1 year	3 years	5 years	10 years
Class A	746	1,106	1,489	2,559
Class B	252	776	1,326	2,654

Portfolio Turnover:

The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio).  A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account.  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 41% of the average value of its whole portfolio.

Principal Investment Strategies:

The Fund primarily invests in a portfolio of common stocks and other equity securities of companies that are located outside of the United States.  To a limited degree, the Fund may also invest in companies based in the United States.  The Fund typically invests in the securities of medium to large size companies, but will also invest in smaller companies.  The Fund’s holdings may be limited to the securities of 40 to 60 different issuers and may focus its investments in companies located in or tied economically to particular countries or regions.

The Fund generally invests in securities that are traded in the foreign securities markets, though it may invest significantly in emerging or developing markets.  

The subadviser selects investments by screening a universe of stocks that meet its “quality growth” criteria, which include high return on equity and low to moderate leverage, among others.  It then further narrows that universe by using a bottom-up stock and business analysis approach to identify companies whose businesses are highly profitable, have consistent operating histories and financial performance and enjoy possible long-term economic prospects.  The subadviser also seeks to generate greater returns by investing in securities at a price below the company’s intrinsic worth.  

In making sell decisions, the subadviser considers, among other things, whether a security’s price target has been met, whether there has been an overvaluation of the issuer by the market, whether there has been a clear deterioration of future earnings power and whether, in the subadviser’s opinion, there has been a loss of long-term competitive advantage.

The Fund may enter into spot currency trades (i.e., for cash at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency market) in connection with the settlement of transactions in securities traded in foreign currency.

Principal Risks:

You can lose money by investing in the Fund.  The Fund is intended for investors who:

■ Are seeking capital growth,  

■ Want exposure to investments in foreign companies,  

■ Are willing to accept a high degree of investment risk, and  

■ Have a long-term investment horizon and are able to ride out market cycles. 

Here are the principal risks of investing in the Fund:

Market Risk.  Stock prices may decline over short or even extended periods not only because of company-specific developments, but also due to an economic downturn, adverse political or regulatory developments, a change in

interest rates or a change in investor sentiment.  

Foreign Securities Risk.  There are special risk factors associated with investing in foreign securities, including the risks of fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies, potential political and economic instability, differing accounting and financial reporting standards or inability to obtain reliable financial information regarding a company’s financial condition, less stringent regulation and supervision of foreign securities markets, custodians and securities depositories, and potential restrictions in the flow of capital.  The use of spot transactions does not reduce or eliminate these risks. To the extent the Fund invests a significant portion of its assets in securities of a single country or region, it is more likely to be affected by events or conditions of that country or region.  As a result, it may be more volatile than a more geographically diversified fund.

Emerging Markets Risk.  The risks of investing in foreign securities are heightened when investing in emerging or developing markets.  The economies and political environments of emerging or developing countries tend to be more unstable than those of developed countries, resulting in more volatile rates of returns than the developed markets and substantially greater risk to investors.

Liquidity Risk.  The Fund is also susceptible to the risk that certain securities may be difficult or impossible to sell at the time and the price that the Fund would like.  This risk is particularly acute in the case of foreign securities that are traded in smaller, less-developed or emerging markets.

Mid-Size and Small-Size Company Risk.  The market risk associated with the securities of mid- and small-size companies is generally greater than that associated with securities of larger companies because such securities tend to experience sharper price fluctuations than those of larger companies.  At times, it may be difficult for the Fund to sell mid-to-small size company stocks at reasonable prices.

Limited Holdings Risk.  The Fund’s assets may be invested in a limited number of issuers.  This means that the Fund’s performance may be substantially impacted by the change in value of even a single holding.  

Security Selection Risk.  Securities selected by the portfolio manager may perform differently than the overall market or may not meet the portfolio manager’s expectations.

An investment in the Fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Performance:

The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund.  The bar chart shows changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year for Class A shares.  The table shows how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5, and 10 years (or for the life of the Fund, if less) compare to those of a broad measure of market performance.  The Fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) is not necessarily an indication of how the Fund will perform in the future.  Updated performance information is available by visiting www.firstinvestors.com or by calling 1 (800) 423-4026.

Sales charges are not reflected in the bar chart, and if those charges were included, returns would be less than those shown.

Total Annual Returns For Calendar Years Ended December 31

During the periods shown, the highest quarterly return was 18.55% (for the quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was

-19.25% (for the quarter ended September 30, 2008).

Average Annual Total Returns For Periods Ended December 31, 2012

Average Annual Returns First Investors International Fund	1 Year	5 Years	Since Inception		Inception Date
Class A	12.91%	(2.18%)	3.28%	[1]	Jun. 27, 2006
Class B	14.85%	(2.09%)	3.49%	[1]	Jun. 27, 2006
After Taxes on Distributions Class A	12.91%	(2.47%)	2.89%	[1]
After Taxes on Distributions and Sales Class A	8.39%	(2.00%)	2.60%	[1]
Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE Index (Gross) (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)	17.90%	(3.21%)	2.02%	[1]
Morgan Stanley Capital International EAFE Index (Net) (reflects the deduction of foreign withholding taxes on dividends)	17.32%	(3.69%)	1.56%	[1]

The after-tax returns are shown only for Class A shares and are calculated using the highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.  Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown.  After-tax returns are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.

[1] The expense information in the table has been restated to reflect that, as of April 1, 2013, the Fund will no longer pay annual custodial fees

[1] Both Class A shares and Class B shares commenced operations on 6/27/06. The average annual total returns shown are for the period of 6/27/06 to 12/31/12.