Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2016
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies	1.Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us”) derive revenues from investment management and advisory services, investment product underwriting and distribution, and/or shareholder services administration provided to the Waddell & Reed Advisors group of mutual funds (the “Advisors Funds”), Ivy Funds (the “Ivy Funds”), Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios (the “Ivy Funds VIP”) and InvestEd Portfolios (“InvestEd”) (collectively, the Advisors Funds, Ivy Funds, Ivy Funds VIP and InvestEd are referred to as the “Funds”), the Ivy Global Investors Fund SICAV (the “SICAV”) and its sub-funds (the “IGI Funds”), and institutional and separately managed accounts. The Funds and the institutional and separately managed accounts operate under various rules and regulations set forth by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The IGI Funds are regulated by Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier as an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities (“UCITS”). Services to the Funds are provided under investment management agreements, underwriting agreements, and shareholder servicing and accounting service agreements that set forth the fees to be charged for these services. Services to the IGI Funds are provided under investment management and distribution agreements. The majority of these agreements are subject to annual review and approval by each Fund’s board of trustees. Our revenues are largely dependent on the total value and composition of assets under management. Accordingly, fluctuations in financial markets and composition of assets under management can significantly impact our revenues and results of operations. Basis of Presentation We have prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures are adequate to enable a reasonable understanding of the information presented. The information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Part I, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”). Certain amounts in the prior years’ financial statements have been reclassified for consistent presentation. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared consistent with the accounting policies described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in our 2015 Form 10-K except as noted below. In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only a normal and recurring nature) necessary to present fairly our financial position at June 30, 2016, the results of operations and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Investments Securities and Investments in Sponsored Funds Sponsored funds, which include the Funds, the IGI Funds and privately offered funds structured in the form of limited liability companies, are investments we have made for general corporate investment purposes and to provide seed capital for new investment products. The Company’s initial investment in a new investment product typically represents 100% ownership in that product. Sponsored funds are initially consolidated and are accounted for as trading securities. The Company has classified its investments in certain sponsored funds as either equity method investments (when the Company owns between 20% and 50% of the fund) or as available for sale investments (when the Company owns less than 20% of the fund) as described in Note 4. Investments held by our broker-dealer entities or certain investments that are anticipated to be purchased and sold on a more frequent basis are classified as trading.

1.Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. and subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to as the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us”) derive revenues from investment management and advisory services, investment product underwriting and distribution, and/or shareholder services administration provided to the Waddell & Reed Advisors group of mutual funds (the “Advisors Funds”), Ivy Funds (the “Ivy Funds”), Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios (the “Ivy Funds VIP”) and InvestEd Portfolios (“InvestEd”) (collectively, the Advisors Funds, Ivy Funds, Ivy Funds VIP and InvestEd are referred to as the “Funds”), the Ivy Global Investors Fund SICAV (the “SICAV”) and its sub-funds (the “IGI Funds”), and institutional and separately managed accounts. The Funds and the institutional and separately managed accounts operate under various rules and regulations set forth by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The IGI Funds are regulated by Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier as an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities (“UCITS”). Services to the Funds are provided under investment management agreements, underwriting agreements, and shareholder servicing and accounting service agreements that set forth the fees to be charged for these services. Services to the IGI Funds are provided under investment management and distribution agreements. The majority of these agreements are subject to annual review and approval by each Fund’s board of trustees. Our revenues are largely dependent on the total value and composition of assets under management. Accordingly, fluctuations in financial markets and composition of assets under management can significantly impact our revenues and results of operations.

Basis of Presentation

We have prepared the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures are adequate to enable a reasonable understanding of the information presented. The information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with Part I, Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our audited financial statements and notes thereto included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (the “2015 Form 10-K”). Certain amounts in the prior years’ financial statements have been reclassified for consistent presentation.

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements are prepared consistent with the accounting policies described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements included in our 2015 Form 10-K except as noted below. In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting of only a normal and recurring nature) necessary to present fairly our financial position at June 30, 2016, the results of operations and cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

Investments Securities and Investments in Sponsored Funds

Sponsored funds, which include the Funds, the IGI Funds and privately offered funds structured in the form of limited liability companies, are investments we have made for general corporate investment purposes and to provide seed capital for new investment products. The Company’s initial investment in a new investment product typically represents 100% ownership in that product. Sponsored funds are initially consolidated and are accounted for as trading securities. The Company has classified its investments in certain sponsored funds as either equity method investments (when the Company owns between 20% and 50% of the fund) or as available for sale investments (when the Company owns less than 20% of the fund) as described in Note 4. Investments held by our broker-dealer entities or certain investments that are anticipated to be purchased and sold on a more frequent basis are classified as trading.