First Trust Specialty Finance and Financial Opportunities Fund (Ticker: FGB) is a closed-end management investment company sponsored by First Trust Advisors L.P. The Fund seeks a high level of current income with a secondary objective of potential for capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of privately-held lower middle market companies in the United States. Its core investments include senior secured loans, mezzanine loans, and equity securities of specialty finance companies, business development companies (BDCs), collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), and other financial services firms; the portfolio emphasizes non-bank financial institutions such as commercial finance companies, leasing companies, and insurance premium finance providers. The Fund was launched in 2007 and is headquartered in Wheaton, Illinois, with operations focused on the U.S. market targeting institutional and retail investors seeking income-oriented exposure to niche financial sectors. Recent developments include portfolio adjustments amid rising interest rates in 2024-2025 to enhance yield through increased allocations to floating-rate instruments and selective acquisitions of distressed specialty finance assets, alongside a strategic emphasis on BDC investments following regulatory changes under the current administration that bolstered non-bank lending activities.