Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Revenues:
Total Revenues	$ 270,680	$ 295,118	$ 800,244	$ 888,071
Operating expenses:
Distribution	117,425	116,591	343,696	345,376
Compensation and benefits (including share-based compensation of $11,580, $12,856, $35,471, and $42,526, respectively)	64,999	64,561	191,718	199,174
General and administrative	16,680	17,559	47,421	56,240
Technology	15,019	15,414	47,769	49,293
Occupancy	5,684	7,148	19,100	21,081
Marketing and advertising	2,134	2,461	6,497	7,638
Depreciation	4,833	8,141	16,062	19,262
Subadvisory fees	3,882	3,767	11,154	11,158
Intangible asset impairment				1,200
Total	230,656	235,642	683,417	710,422
Operating income	40,024	59,476	116,827	177,649
Investment and other income	5,212	1,697	23,690	5,354
Interest expense	(1,562)	(1,555)	(4,662)	(4,908)
Income before provision for income taxes	43,674	59,618	135,855	178,095
Provision for income taxes	10,175	13,105	35,036	41,355
Net income	33,499	46,513	100,819	136,740
Net income (loss) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	445	208	1,763	(380)
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.	$ 33,054	$ 46,305	$ 99,056	$ 137,120
Net income per share attributable to Waddell and Reed Financial, Inc. common shareholders, basic and diluted:	$ 0.46	$ 0.58	$ 1.33	$ 1.69
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic and diluted:	72,387	79,595	74,446	81,372
Investment management fees
Revenues:
Total Revenues	$ 111,806	$ 129,302	$ 334,438	$ 393,385
Underwriting and distribution fees
Revenues:
Total Revenues	135,787	140,308	395,527	416,222
Shareholder service fees
Revenues:
Total Revenues	$ 23,087	$ 25,508	$ 70,279	$ 78,464