Contingencies (Details)	Apr. 18, 2016 item
Contingencies
Number of mutual fund shareholders involved in litigation	2
Number of affiliated mutual fund trustees involved in litigation	2
Number of subsidiaries	2

Represents the number of affiliated mutual funds trustees involved in litigation.

No definition available.

Name:	wdr_NumberOfAffiliatedMutualFundsTrustees
Namespace Prefix:	wdr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration