Stockholders' Equity - Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Apr. 13, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Components of basic and diluted earnings per share
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.		$ 33,695	$ 67,445	$ 70,663	$ 134,558
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted		82,947,000	84,079,000	82,526,000	83,831,000
Earnings per share:
Earnings per share, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 0.41	$ 0.80	$ 0.86	$ 1.61
Dividends
Dividends accrued, per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46			$ 0.92
Dividends to be paid		$ 38,100		$ 38,100
Common stock repurchases
Shares repurchased in the open market or privately		1,075,826	516,533	2,201,497	622,591
Shares repurchased from employees to cover minimum income tax withholdings		300,826	306,533	304,497	312,091