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Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Registrant Name dei_EntityRegistrantName FINANCIAL INVESTORS TRUST

Prospectus Date rr_ProspectusDate Jul. 24, 2012
Pathway Advisors Conservative Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Pathway Advisors Conservative Fund (the “Fund”)
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock The Fund seeks total return through a primary emphasis on income
Objective, Secondary [Text Block] rr_ObjectiveSecondaryTextBlock with a secondary emphasis on 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.
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)
Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssetsDateOfTermination August 31, 2014
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 rate may indicate higher transaction costs and, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, 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.
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates Other Expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, Based on Estimates [Text] rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesBasedOnEstimates Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock This example is intended to help you compare the costs 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. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. The example takes into consideration the agreement by the Adviser to waive fees and reimburse expenses. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption Number of Years You Own Your Shares
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies of the Fund
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock The Fund is structured as a fund-of-funds. Under normal circumstances, the Fund pursues its objective by investing primarily in a managed portfolio of other open-end investment companies registered under the Investment Company of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), that represent a variety of asset classes and investment styles. The Fund may also invest in closed-end funds and exchange-traded funds. Collectively, the investment companies in which the Fund may invest are referred to as "underlying funds."

The Fund pursues its objective - seeking total return through a primary emphasis on income with a secondary emphasis on growth of capital - by investing in a diversified portfolio of underlying funds resulting in an allocation of the Fund's investments that normally provides exposure of approximately 15% to 35% to equity securities of large-, mid- and small-capitalization companies and 65% to 85% to fixed-income securities, with a neutral allocation to equity securities of 25% and to fixed-income securities of 75%. The Fund may also invest in exchange-traded notes to access the returns of market benchmarks.
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks of the Fund
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

The following is a description of the principal risks of the Fund’s portfolio that may adversely affect its net asset value and total return. There are other circumstances (including additional risks that are not described here) which could prevent the Fund from achieving its investment objective. It is important to read all the disclosure information provided and to understand that you may lose money by investing in the Fund.

Risks of the Fund

•Fund-of-Funds Structure Risk – There are certain risks associated with the use of a fund-of funds structure. These risks include, but are not limited to:


•Expenses. Your cost of investing in the Fund may be higher than the cost of investing directly in the underlying funds. In addition, costs may be higher than mutual funds that invest directly in stocks and bonds.

•Allocation Risk. The Fund may be prevented from fully allocating assets to an underlying fund due to regulatory limitations which may impact a fund-of-funds. The Fund is subject to the risk that the Adviser may allocate assets to an asset class that underperforms other asset classes or that the asset allocation selected by the Adviser may fail to perform as expected.

•Underlying Fund Risk. All risks associated with an underlying fund are applicable to the Fund. In addition, the Adviser’s assumptions about an underlying fund may be incorrect in view of actual market conditions. An underlying fund may experience large purchases or redemptions that could affect the performance of the Fund.

•Transparency Risk. The underlying funds are not managed by the Adviser, and the Adviser has access to information regarding the underlying fund’s investments to the extent the underlying fund’s adviser makes it available.

•Managed Portfolio Risk – The Adviser’s investment strategies or choice of specific securities may be unsuccessful and may cause the Fund to incur losses.

•Market Risk – The Fund’s share price can move down in response to stock market conditions, changes in the economy or changes in a particular underlying fund’s share price. An underlying fund may decline in value even when the values of stocks or bonds in general are rising. The value of a security may decline due to general market conditions which are not specifically related to a particular company, such as real or perceived adverse economic conditions, changes in the general outlook for corporate earnings, changes in interest or currency rates or adverse investor sentiment generally. They may also decline due to factors which affect a particular industry or industries, such as labor shortages or increased production costs and competitive conditions within an industry. Overall financial market risks affect the value of the underlying funds and thus the share price of the Fund. Factors such as domestic, economic growth and market conditions, interest rate levels and political events affect the securities markets.

•Exchange-Traded and Closed-End Fund Risk – The risks of investment in other investment companies typically reflect the risk of the types of securities in which the underlying funds invest. Investments in exchange-traded funds (“ETFs”) and closed-end funds are subject to the additional risk that shares of the underlying fund may trade at a premium or discount to their net asset value per share. When the Fund invests in another investment company, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the other investment company’s fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses. There may also not be an active trading market available for shares of some ETFs or closed-end funds.

•Exchange-Traded Note Risk – The returns of exchange-traded notes (“ETNs”) are based on the performance of a specified market index minus applicable fees. The risks of ETNs include the risk of the reference index. The value of an ETN is also subject to the credit risk of the issuer. Thus, the value of an ETN may drop due to a decline in an issuer’s credit quality or a downgrade in the issuer’s credit rating, even if there is no change or an increase in the reference index. ETNs are subject to the additional risk that notes may trade at a premium or discount to their reference index. When the Fund invests in an ETN, shareholders of the Fund bear their proportionate share of the ETNs’ fees and expenses as well as their share of the Fund’s fees and expenses. There may also not be an active trading market available for some ETNs.

Risks Associated with Underlying Funds

• Credit Risk – Credit risk (also called default risk) is the risk that the issuer of a security will not be able to make principal and interest payments on a debt issue. The credit ratings of issuers could change and negatively affect an underlying fund’s (and indirectly, the Fund’s) share price or yield. When underlying funds use derivatives instruments to seek credit exposure to underlying issuers, the underlying funds are subject to the credit risk of both the underlying issuer(s) and the counterparty (typically a broker or bank) to the instrument. When underlying funds invest in asset-backed securities, mortgage-backed securities and collateralized mortgage obligations, the underlying funds are subject to the credit risks of the underlying assets that collateralize the instrument.

• Commodity Risk – Investing in commodities linked instruments, such as exchange-traded notes, may subject an underlying fund to greater volatility than investments in traditional securities. Commodities include energy, metals, agricultural products, livestock and minerals. Underlying funds may buy certain commodities (such as gold) or may invest in commodity linked derivative instruments. The value of commodities and commodity contracts are affected by a variety of factors, including global supply and demand, changes in interest rates, commodity index volatility, and factors affecting a particular industry or commodity.

• Currency Risk – The value of the securities held by an underlying fund may be affected by changes in exchange rates or control regulations. If a local currency gains against the U.S. dollar, the value of the security increases in U.S. dollar terms. If a local currency declines against the U.S. dollar, the value of the security decreases in U.S. dollar terms.

• Derivatives Risk – Risks associated with derivatives may include the risk that the derivative is not well correlated with the security, index or currency to which it relates, the risk that derivatives may not have the intended effects and may result in losses or missed opportunities, the risk that an underlying fund will be unable to sell the derivative because of an illiquid secondary market, the risk that a counterparty is unwilling or unable to meet its obligations, and the risk that the derivative transaction could expose the underlying fund to the effects of leverage, which could increase the underlying fund’s exposure to the market and magnify potential losses. There is no guarantee that derivatives, to the extent employed, will have the intended effect, and their use could cause lower returns or even losses to the underlying fund. The use of derivatives by an underlying fund to hedge risk may reduce the opportunity for gain by offsetting the positive effect of favorable price movements. The use of derivatives can magnify gains or losses.

• Small- to Mid-Capitalization Companies Risk – An underlying fund’s investments in securities of companies with small- to mid-sized market capitalizations can present higher risks than do investments in securities of larger companies. Prices of such securities can be more volatile than the securities of larger capitalization firms and can be more thinly traded. This may result in such securities being less liquid.

• Fixed-Income Risk – Investing in underlying funds that invest long or short in fixed-income securities subjects the Fund to additional risks that include credit risk, interest risk, maturity risk, investment-grade securities risk, municipal securities risk and prepayment risk. These risks could affect the value of a particular investment by the Fund, possibly causing the Fund’s share price and total return to be reduced and fluctuate more than other types of investments.

• Interest Rate Risk –An underlying fund’s investments in fixed-income securities may decline in value because of changes in interest rates. As nominal interest rates rise, the value of fixed-income securities held by an underlying fund (and indirectly, by the Fund) are likely to decrease.

• Foreign Securities Risk – Investing in underlying funds that invest long or short in foreign issuers involves risks not associated with U.S. investments, including settlement risks, currency fluctuation, foreign tax risks, different financial reporting practices and regulatory standards, high costs of trading, changes in political conditions, expropriation, investment and repatriation restrictions as well as settlement and custody risks.

• Emerging Markets Risk – To the extent that an underlying fund invests in issuers located in emerging markets, the risk may be heightened by political changes and changes in taxation or currency controls that could adversely affect the values of these investments. Emerging markets have been more volatile than the markets of developed countries with more mature economies.

• Liquidity Risk – When there is no willing buyer and investments cannot be readily sold at the desired time or price, an underlying fund may need to accept a lower price or may not be able to sell the security at all. An inability to sell securities can adversely affect the underlying fund’s value or prevent the fund from being able to take advantage of other investment opportunities. Recent instability in certain credit and fixed-income markets has adversely affected and is expected to continue to affect the liquidity of certain classes of securities, including, in particular, certain types of asset-backed, mortgage-backed and real estate-related securities.

• Real Estate Securities and REITs Risk – The underlying funds may be subject to risks related to investment in real estate investment trusts or “REITs,” including fluctuations in the value of underlying properties, defaults by borrowers or tenants, lack of diversification, heavy cash flow dependency, self-liquidation, and potential failure to qualify for tax-free pass through of income and exemption from registration as an investment company.

• Non-Diversified Risk – An underlying fund that is non-diversified may invest a larger percentage of its assets in a given security than a diversified fund. As a result, it may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more issuers in which a large percentage of its assets is invested and may experience increased volatility due to its investments in those securities.

• Underlying Fund Managed Portfolio Risk – The underlying fund adviser’s investment strategies or choice of specific securities may be unsuccessful and may cause the underlying fund to incur losses.

Risks Associated with New Funds

• The Fund is newly formed and therefore has no performance history for investors to evaluate. Also, the Fund may invest in certain types of securities or geographic areas that, because of the Fund’s size, may have a disproportionate impact on the Fund’s performance results. The Fund would not necessarily have achieved the same performance results if aggregate net assets had been greater.
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney It is important to read all the disclosure information provided and to understand that you may lose money by investing in the Fund.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus
• Non-Diversified Risk – An underlying fund that is non-diversified may invest a larger percentage of its assets in a given security than a diversified fund. As a result, it may be more susceptible to a single adverse economic, political or regulatory occurrence affecting one or more issuers in which a large percentage of its assets is invested and may experience increased volatility due to its investments in those securities.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Performance Information
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations. When the Fund has completed a full calendar year of investment operations, this section will include charts that show annual total returns, highest and lowest quarterly returns and average annual total returns (before and after taxes) compared to a benchmark selected for the Fund. Updated performance information is available by calling (888) 288-1121.
Performance One Year or Less [Text] rr_PerformanceOneYearOrLess As of the date of this Prospectus, the Fund has not yet commenced operations.When the Fund has completed a full calendar year of investment operations, this section will include charts that show annual total returns, highest and lowest quarterly returns and average annual total returns (before and after taxes) compared to a benchmark selected for the Fund.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone (888) 288-1121
Pathway Advisors Conservative Fund | Pathway Advisors Conservative Fund
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 1.00%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.35%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.65% [1]
Shareholder Services Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.15%
Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses rr_AcquiredFundFeesAndExpensesOverAssets 0.35% [1]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 2.50%
Fee Waiver and Expense Reimbursement rr_FeeWaiverOrReimbursementOverAssets (0.17%) [2]
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses After Fee Waiver/Expense Reimbursement rr_NetExpensesOverAssets 2.33%
1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 236
3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 745
[1] Other Expenses and Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses are based on estimated amounts for the current fiscal year.
[2] Hanson McClain Strategic Advisors, Inc. (the "Adviser") has agreed contractually to limit the amount of the Fund's total annual expenses, exclusive of Acquired Fund Fees and Expenses, brokerage expenses, interest expenses, taxes and extraordinary expenses, to 1.98% of the Fund's average daily net assets. This agreement is in effect through August 31, 2014. The Adviser will be permitted to recover expenses it has borne through the agreement described above to the extent that the Fund's expenses in later periods fall below the annual rates set forth in the relevant agreement. The Fund will not be obligated to pay any such deferred fees and expenses more than three years after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees and expense were deferred. The Adviser may not discontinue this waiver without the approval by the Fund's Board of Trustees.