Stockholders' Equity - Earnings per share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Components of basic and diluted earnings per share
Net income attributable to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.	$ 33,054	$ 46,305	$ 99,056	$ 137,120
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic and diluted	72,387,000	79,595,000	74,446,000	81,372,000
Earnings per share:
Earnings per share, basic and diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.46	$ 0.58	$ 1.33	$ 1.69
Dividends
Dividends declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.25	$ 0.25	$ 0.75	$ 0.75
Dividends to be paid	$ 17,700		$ 17,700
Common stock repurchases
Shares repurchased in the open market or privately	2,480,019	1,424,612	6,849,238	4,519,546
Shares repurchased from employees to cover income tax withholdings	19	225	440,002	630,159