Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
Net income	$ 33,536	$ 37,469
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized appreciation of available for sale investment securities during the period, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $(1,481) and $0, respectively	3,599	76
Pension and postretirement benefit, net of income tax expense of $465 and $619, respectively	786	1,077
Comprehensive income	37,921	38,622
Comprehensive income attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	480	501
Comprehensive income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.	$ 37,441	$ 38,121