Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Revenues:
Total Revenues	$ 259,410	$ 297,615
Operating expenses:
Distribution	109,794	114,470
Compensation and benefits (including share-based compensation of $12,693 and $14,768, respectively)	64,843	68,785
General and administrative	14,704	19,538
Technology	16,308	16,644
Occupancy	6,715	6,964
Marketing and advertising	1,964	2,281
Depreciation	6,001	5,302
Subadvisory fees	3,557	3,708
Total	223,886	237,692
Operating income	35,524	59,923
Investment and other income	9,453	2,816
Interest expense	(1,548)	(1,802)
Income before provision for income taxes	43,429	60,937
Provision for income taxes	10,671	14,966
Net income	32,758	45,971
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	705	(366)
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.	$ 32,053	$ 46,337
Net income per share attributable to Waddell and Reed Financial, Inc. common shareholders, basic and diluted:	$ 0.42	$ 0.56
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted:	76,299	83,111
Investment management fees
Revenues:
Total Revenues	$ 109,762	$ 133,692
Underwriting and distribution fees
Revenues:
Total Revenues	126,245	138,041
Shareholder service fees
Revenues:
Total Revenues	$ 23,403	$ 25,882