Pension Plan and Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pension (Details)	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Pension Benefits
Pension Plan and Postretirement Benefits Other than Pension
Final number of years of employee's compensation to determine the benefits payable	10 years
Other Postretirement Benefits
Pension Plan and Postretirement Benefits Other than Pension
Age of employees after which the plan does not provide benefits	65 years

Represents the final number of years of employees' compensation on which the benefits payable under the pension plan are based.

No definition available.

Name:	wdr_DefinedBenefitPlanFinalNumberOfYearsCompensationForBenefitsPayable
Namespace Prefix:	wdr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration