Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Revenues:
Investment management fees	$ 130,436	$ 144,778
Underwriting and distribution fees	128,831	146,658
Shareholder service fees	27,297	32,380
Total	286,564	323,816
Operating expenses:
Underwriting and distribution	150,324	173,836
Compensation and related costs (including share-based compensation of $14,185 and $13,522, respectively)	49,406	52,940
General and administrative	25,724	19,152
Subadvisory fees	2,697	2,093
Depreciation	5,221	4,362
Intangible asset impairment	600
Total	233,972	252,383
Operating income	52,592	71,433
Investment and other income (loss)	2,129	(10,218)
Interest expense	(2,786)	(2,768)
Income before provision for income taxes	51,935	58,447
Provision for income taxes	18,399	20,978
Net income	33,536	37,469
Net income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	480	501
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.	$ 33,056	$ 36,968
Net income per share attributable to Waddell and Reed Financial, Inc. common shareholders, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.39	$ 0.45
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (in shares)	84,077	82,104