Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Revenues:
Investment management fees	$ 130,878	$ 140,880	$ 261,314	$ 285,658
Underwriting and distribution fees	128,776	146,312	257,607	292,970
Shareholder service fees	27,003	32,016	54,300	64,396
Total	286,657	319,208	573,221	643,024
Operating expenses:
Underwriting and distribution	151,119	181,245	301,443	355,081
Compensation and related costs (including share-based compensation of $14,054, $12,625, $28,239 and $26,147, respectively)	47,224	58,341	96,630	111,281
General and administrative	28,153	19,276	53,877	38,428
Subadvisory fees	3,194	2,325	5,891	4,418
Depreciation	5,175	4,260	10,396	8,622
Intangible asset impairment	900		1,500
Total	235,765	265,447	469,737	517,830
Operating income	50,892	53,761	103,484	125,194
Investment and other income (loss)	2,021	687	4,150	(9,531)
Interest expense	(2,788)	(2,776)	(5,574)	(5,544)
Income before provision for income taxes	50,125	51,672	102,060	110,119
Provision for income taxes	26,162	18,101	44,561	39,079
Net income	23,963	33,571	57,499	71,040
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	656	(124)	1,136	377
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.	$ 23,307	$ 33,695	$ 56,363	$ 70,663
Net income per share attributable to Waddell and Reed Financial, Inc. common shareholders, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.28	$ 0.41	$ 0.67	$ 0.86
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted (in shares)	83,611	82,947	83,843	82,526