Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Investment management fees	$ 138,745	$ 175,218	$ 424,403	$ 543,237
Underwriting and distribution fees	135,778	165,130	428,748	503,616
Shareholder service fees	28,563	35,761	92,959	108,704
Total	303,086	376,109	946,110	1,155,557
Operating expenses:
Underwriting and distribution	152,999	189,065	508,080	580,247
Compensation and related costs (including share-based compensation of $12,425, $12,073, $38,573 and $35,880, respectively)	40,214	46,157	151,495	152,481
General and administrative	23,280	25,458	61,708	79,033
Subadvisory fees	2,566	2,305	6,984	7,086
Depreciation	4,541	4,117	13,163	12,215
Intangible asset impairment	5,700		5,700
Total	229,300	267,102	747,130	831,062
Operating income	73,786	109,007	198,980	324,495
Investment and other income (loss)	7,878	(16,872)	(1,653)	(12,891)
Interest expense	(2,792)	(2,765)	(8,336)	(8,296)
Income before provision for income taxes	78,872	89,370	188,991	303,308
Provision for income taxes	24,067	41,312	63,146	120,692
Net income	54,805	48,058	125,845	182,616
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	978		1,355
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.	$ 53,827	$ 48,058	$ 124,490	$ 182,616
Net income per share attributable to Waddell and Reed Financial, Inc. common shareholders, basic and diluted:
Net income per share attributable to Waddell and Reed Financial, Inc. common shareholders, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.65	$ 0.58	$ 1.51	$ 2.18
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (in shares)	82,834	83,469	82,629	83,709