v3.21.1

Cover - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Cover - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2020	Apr. 15, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Cover [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K/A
Amendment Flag	false
Document Annual Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity File Number	001-13913
Entity Registrant Name	WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.
Entity Central Index Key	0001052100
Entity Tax Identification Number	51-0261715
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Address, Address Line One	6300 Lamar Avenue
Entity Address, City or Town	Overland Park
Entity Address, State or Province	KS
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	66202
City Area Code	913
Local Phone Number	236-2000
Title of 12(b) Security	Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value
Trading Symbol	WDR
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 973.6
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		62,024,785
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true

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Area code of city

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Cover page.

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End date of current fiscal year in the format --MM-DD.

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Boolean flag that is true only for a form used as an annual report.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Form 10-K
-Number 249
-Section 310

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Form 20-F
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-Section 220
-Subsection f

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Boolean flag that is true only for a form used as a transition report.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
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The type of document being provided (such as 10-K, 10-Q, 485BPOS, etc). The document type is limited to the same value as the supporting SEC submission type, or the word 'Other'.

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Address Line 1 such as Attn, Building Name, Street Name

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Name of the City or Town

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Name of the state or province.

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A unique 10-digit SEC-issued value to identify entities that have filed disclosures with the SEC. It is commonly abbreviated as CIK.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Indicate number of shares or other units outstanding of each of registrant's classes of capital or common stock or other ownership interests, if and as stated on cover of related periodic report. Where multiple classes or units exist define each class/interest by adding class of stock items such as Common Class A [Member], Common Class B [Member] or Partnership Interest [Member] onto the Instrument [Domain] of the Entity Listings, Instrument.

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Indicate 'Yes' or 'No' whether registrants (1) have filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Commission file number. The field allows up to 17 characters. The prefix may contain 1-3 digits, the sequence number may contain 1-8 digits, the optional suffix may contain 1-4 characters, and the fields are separated with a hyphen.

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Indicate whether the registrant is one of the following: Large Accelerated Filer, Accelerated Filer, Non-accelerated Filer. Definitions of these categories are stated in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. This information should be based on the registrant's current or most recent filing containing the related disclosure.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Section 12
-Subsection b-2

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Two-character EDGAR code representing the state or country of incorporation.

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Boolean flag that is true when the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second fiscal quarter.

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The exact name of the entity filing the report as specified in its charter, which is required by forms filed with the SEC.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Boolean flag that is true when the registrant is a shell company as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Indicates that the company is a Smaller Reporting Company (SRC).

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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The Tax Identification Number (TIN), also known as an Employer Identification Number (EIN), is a unique 9-digit value assigned by the IRS.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Indicate 'Yes' or 'No' if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

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Indicate 'Yes' or 'No' if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Is used on Form Type: 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, 20-F, 6-K, 10-K/A, 10-Q/A, 20-F/A, 6-K/A, N-CSR, N-Q, N-1A.

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Local phone number for entity.

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Title of a 12(b) registered security.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Name of the Exchange on which a security is registered.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Trading symbol of an instrument as listed on an exchange.

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WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL INC 10-K/A