WDR Waddell and Reed Financial

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.          )

 

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February 27, 2015

To the Stockholders of
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.:

        Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.'s 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held in the William T. Morgan Auditorium at the principal executive offices of the Company, 6300 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66202 at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.

        At the annual meeting, we will ask you to (1) elect Thomas C. Godlasky, Dennis E. Logue and Michael F. Morrissey, who have been nominated by the Board, as Class II directors, (2) conduct an advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation, (3) ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 fiscal year, and (4) transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof. The accompanying formal notice and Proxy Statement further discuss the matters that will be presented for a stockholder vote.

        We have also enclosed our 2014 Annual Report, which is not a part of the proxy soliciting materials. If you have any questions or comments about the matters discussed in the Proxy Statement or about the operations of the Company, we will be pleased to hear from you. It is important that your shares be voted at the annual meeting. If you are unable to attend the annual meeting in person and wish to have your shares voted, you may vote by telephone, Internet or by filling in, signing and dating the enclosed proxy card and returning it in the accompanying envelope as promptly as possible.

        We hope that you will take this opportunity to meet with us to discuss the results and operations of the Company for the 2014 fiscal year.

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WADDELL AND REED FINANCIAL, INC.
6300 Lamar Avenue
Overland Park, Kansas 66202
(913) 236-2000

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held on April 15, 2015

To the Stockholders of
Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.:

        I am pleased to give you notice that the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (the "Company") will be held in the William T. Morgan Auditorium at the principal executive offices of the Company, 6300 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66202 on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, at 10:00 a.m., local time.

        At the annual meeting, you will be asked to:

1.

Elect Thomas C. Godlasky, Dennis E. Logue and Michael F. Morrissey, who have been nominated by the Board, as Class II directors to hold office until the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

2.

Conduct an advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation.

3.

Ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 fiscal year.

4.

Transact such other business as may properly come before the annual meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

        These matters are more fully discussed in the accompanying Proxy Statement.

        The Board of Directors has fixed Wednesday, February 18, 2015, at the close of business, as the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting.

        All stockholders are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting in person. However, if you are unable to attend in person and wish to have your shares voted, YOU MAY VOTE BY TELEPHONE, INTERNET OR BY FILLING IN, SIGNING AND DATING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORM AND RETURNING IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. Regardless of how you deliver your proxy, you may revoke your proxy before it is voted by timely submitting to the Secretary of the Company a written revocation or a proxy bearing a later date, or by attending the annual meeting and giving verbal notice of your intention to vote in person.

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        The annual meeting for which this notice is given may be adjourned or postponed from time to time without further notice other than announcement at the annual meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

        The accompanying Proxy Statement is dated February 27, 2015 and is first being mailed to stockholders on or about March 6, 2015.

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WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.

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PROXY STATEMENT

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        This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (the "Company"), on behalf of its Board of Directors (the "Board"), for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting"). This Proxy Statement is dated February 27, 2015 and, together with the related proxy card, is being mailed to stockholders on or about March 6, 2015.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND
THE ANNUAL MEETING

When and where is the Annual Meeting?

        The Annual Meeting will be held in the William T. Morgan Auditorium at the Company's principal executive offices located at 6300 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66202 at 10:00 a.m., local time, on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.

What matters will be voted upon at the Annual Meeting?

        At the Annual Meeting you will be asked to:

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Elect Thomas C. Godlasky, Dennis E. Logue and Michael F. Morrissey, who have been nominated by the Board, as Class II directors to hold office until the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.



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Conduct an advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation.



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Ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP ("KPMG") as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 fiscal year.



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Transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

What constitutes a quorum?

        The presence, either in person or by proxy, of the holders of at least a majority of the voting power of our issued and outstanding shares of Class A common stock is required to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the Annual Meeting. Abstentions and broker non-votes, which are described in more detail below, are counted as shares present at the Annual Meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists.

Who is entitled to vote?

        Only stockholders of record of the Company's Class A common stock at the close of business on February 18, 2015, which is the "record date," are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Annual Meeting. Shares that may be voted include shares that are held (1) directly by the stockholder of record, and (2) beneficially through a broker, bank or other nominee. Each share of our Class A common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted for a vote at the Annual Meeting.

        As of the record date, there were approximately 83,564,556 shares of our Class A common stock issued and outstanding and entitled to be voted at the Annual Meeting. Any shares held in treasury on the record date are not considered outstanding and will not be voted.

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What is the difference between holding shares as a "registered owner" and as a "beneficial owner"?

        Most of the Company's stockholders hold their shares through a broker, bank or other nominee rather than directly in their own name. As summarized below, there are some distinctions between registered shares and those owned beneficially:

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Registered Owners – If your shares are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A. ("Computershare"), you are the stockholder of record. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to grant your voting proxy directly to the Company or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting.



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Beneficial Owners – If your shares are held in a brokerage account, bank or by another nominee, you are the "beneficial owner" of shares held in street name. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote or to vote in person at the Annual Meeting. However, since you are not a stockholder of record, you may not vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting unless you obtain a "legal proxy" from your broker, bank or other nominee (who is the stockholder of record), giving you the right to vote the shares.

What stockholder approval is necessary for approval of the proposals?

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Election of Directors

        The election of directors requires the affirmative vote of a plurality of the shares of our Class A common stock cast at the Annual Meeting. This means that the three Class II director nominees receiving the most votes will be elected. For purposes of this vote, neither withholding your vote (or a direction to a broker or nominee to do so) nor a broker non-vote (as described below) will be counted as votes cast, and therefore, will have no effect on the outcome of the election of directors.

        Under our Director Resignation Policy, any nominee for director in an uncontested election who receives a greater number of "withheld" votes than "for" votes is required to tender his or her resignation for consideration by the Board. For more detail on this policy, see "Corporate Governance" below.

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Advisory Vote on Named Executive Officer Compensation

        The advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our Class A common stock cast at the Annual Meeting. For purposes of this vote, neither a vote to abstain (or a direction to a broker or other nominee to do so) nor a broker non-vote (as described below) will be counted as a vote cast, and therefore, will have no effect on this vote. This vote is advisory and non-binding on the Board, the Compensation Committee and the Company.

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Ratification of the Appointment of the Company's Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

        The ratification of the Audit Committee's appointment of KPMG as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 fiscal year requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our Class A common stock cast at the Annual Meeting. For purposes of this vote, a vote to abstain (or a direction to a broker or other nominee to do so) is not counted as a vote cast, and therefore, will have no effect on this vote. Stockholder ratification is not required for the appointment of KPMG because the Audit Committee has the responsibility of appointing the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. However, we are submitting the proposal to solicit the opinion of our stockholders.

        As of the record date, directors and executive officers of the Company beneficially owned an aggregate of approximately 2,973,565 shares of Class A common stock representing approximately 3.6% of our Class A common stock issued and outstanding, and therefore, 3.6% of the voting power entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. The Company believes that its directors and executive officers currently intend to vote their shares (1) FOR the election of Thomas C. Godlasky, Dennis E. Logue and Michael F. Morrissey as Class II directors, (2) FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation paid to

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our named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, and (3) FOR the ratification of KPMG as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 fiscal year.

May I vote my shares in person at the Annual Meeting?

        If you are the registered owner of shares, you have the right to vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting.

        If you are the beneficial owner of shares, you may vote these shares in person at the Annual Meeting if you have requested and received a legal proxy from your broker, bank or other nominee (the stockholder of record) giving you the right to vote the shares at the Annual Meeting, complete such legal proxy and present it to the Company at the Annual Meeting.

        Even if you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, we recommend that you submit your proxy card or voting instructions so that your vote will be counted if you later decide not to attend the Annual Meeting.

How can I vote my shares without attending the Annual Meeting?

        If you are the registered owner of shares, you may instruct the named proxy holders on how to vote your shares by completing, signing, dating and timely returning the enclosed proxy card in the postage pre-paid envelope provided with this Proxy Statement, or by using the Internet voting site or the toll-free telephone number listed on the proxy card. Specific instructions for using the Internet and telephone voting systems are on the proxy card. The Internet and telephone voting systems will be available until 11:59 p.m. Central Time, on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 (the day before the Annual Meeting).

        If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you may instruct your broker, bank or other nominee on how to vote your shares. Your nominee has enclosed with this Proxy Statement a voting instruction card for you to use in directing your nominee on how to vote your shares. The instructions from your nominee will indicate if Internet or telephone voting is available and, if so, will provide details regarding how to use those systems.

If my shares are held in "Street Name," will my broker, bank or other nominee vote my shares for me?

        Brokers, banks and other nominees who do not have instructions from their "street name" customers may not use their discretion in voting their customers' shares on "non-routine" matters. The proposal to elect Thomas C. Godlasky, Dennis E. Logue and Michael F. Morrissey as Class II directors and the advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation are non-routine matters and, therefore, shares of our Class A common stock held in "street name" will not be voted with respect to these proposals without voting instructions from the beneficial owners. However, the proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm is considered a routine matter and, therefore, if beneficial owners fail to give voting instructions, nominees will have discretionary authority to vote shares of our Class A common stock with respect to this proposal. You should follow the instructions provided by your nominee in directing your nominee on how to vote your shares.

What is a "broker non-vote"?

        Generally, a "broker non-vote" occurs when a broker, bank or other nominee that holds shares in "street name" for customers is precluded from exercising voting discretion on a particular proposal because (1) the beneficial owner has not instructed the nominee how to vote, and (2) the nominee lacks discretionary voting power to vote such shares. Under New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") rules, a nominee does not have discretionary voting power with respect to the approval of "non-routine" matters absent specific voting instructions from the beneficial owners of such shares.

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        The proposal to elect Thomas C. Godlasky, Dennis E. Logue and Michael F. Morrissey as Class II directors and the advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation are "non-routine" matters. If you are the beneficial owner of shares of the Company's Class A common stock, your nominee will send you directions on how you can instruct them to vote. If you do not provide voting instructions, your nominee will not vote your shares on these proposals.

How will my proxy be voted?

        Shares represented by a properly executed proxy (in paper form, by Internet or by telephone) that is timely received, and not subsequently revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof in the manner directed on the proxy. Henry J. Herrmann and Alan W. Kosloff are named as proxy holders in the proxy form and have been designated by the Board to represent you and vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. All shares represented by a properly executed proxy on which no choice is specified will be voted (1) FOR the election of Thomas C. Godlasky, Dennis E. Logue and Michael F. Morrissey as Class II directors, (2) FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation paid to our named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, (3) FOR the ratification of the appointment of KPMG as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 fiscal year, and (4) in accordance with the proxy holders' best judgment as to any other business that properly comes before the Annual Meeting.

        This Proxy Statement is considered to be voting instructions for the trustee of the Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. 401(k) and Thrift Plan for our Class A common stock allocated to individual accounts under that plan. If account information is the same, participants in the plan who are also stockholders of record will receive a single proxy representing all of their shares. If a plan participant does not submit a proxy to us, the trustee of the plan will vote the shares allocated to the participant's account in the same proportion as the total shares in the plan for which directions have been received.

May I revoke my proxy and change my vote?

        Yes. You may revoke your proxy and change your vote prior to the vote at the Annual Meeting.

        If you are the registered owner of shares, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote with respect to those shares by (1) timely submitting a later-dated proxy, a later-dated vote by telephone or later-dated vote via the Internet (which automatically revokes the earlier proxy), (2) giving timely notice of your changed vote to us in writing mailed to the attention of Wendy J. Hills, Secretary, at our principal executive offices, or (3) attending the Annual Meeting and giving verbal notice of your intention to vote in person.

        If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, you may revoke your proxy and change your vote with respect to those shares (1) by submitting new voting instructions to your broker, bank or other nominee in accordance with their voting instructions, or (2) if you have obtained a legal proxy from your nominee giving you the right to vote your shares, by attending the Annual Meeting, presenting the completed proxy to the Company and voting in person.

        You should be aware that simply attending the Annual Meeting will not in and of itself constitute a revocation of your proxy.

Who will count the votes?

        Our transfer agent, Computershare, will tabulate and certify the votes. A representative of Computershare will serve as the inspector of election at the Annual Meeting.

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Who will pay the costs of soliciting proxies?

        The costs of soliciting proxies pursuant to this Proxy Statement will be borne by the Company. Proxies will be solicited initially by mail. Further solicitation may be made in person or by telephone, electronic mail or facsimile. The Company will bear the expense of preparing, printing and mailing this Proxy Statement and accompanying materials to our stockholders. Upon request, the Company will reimburse brokers, banks or other nominees for reasonable expenses incurred in forwarding copies of the proxy materials relating to the Annual Meeting to the beneficial owners of our Class A common stock.

        The Company has retained Georgeson Inc., an independent proxy solicitation firm ("Georgeson"), to assist in soliciting proxies from stockholders. Georgeson will receive a fee of approximately $10,000 as compensation for its services and will be reimbursed for its out-of-pocket expenses. The Company has agreed to indemnify Georgeson against certain liabilities arising under the federal securities laws.

What other business will be presented at the Annual Meeting?

        As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board knows of no other business that may properly be, or is likely to be, brought before the Annual Meeting. If any other matters should arise at the Annual Meeting, the persons named as proxy holders, Henry J. Herrmann and Alan W. Kosloff, will have the discretion to vote your shares on any additional matters properly presented for a vote at the Annual Meeting. If, for any unforeseen reason, any of the Class II director nominees are not available to serve as a director, the named proxy holders will vote your proxy for such other director candidate or candidates as may be nominated by the Board.

What are the deadlines to nominate directors or to propose other business for consideration at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders?

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Stockholder Proposals to be Considered for Inclusion in the Company's Proxy Materials

        In order for a stockholder proposal to be eligible to be included in the Company's proxy statement and proxy card for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the proposal must (1) be received by the Company at its principal executive offices, 6300 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66202, Attn: Secretary, on or before November 6, 2015, and (2) concern a matter that may be properly considered and acted upon at the annual meeting in accordance with applicable laws, regulations and the Company's Bylaws and policies, and must otherwise comply with Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

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Director Nominations and Other Business to be Brought Before the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders

        Notice of any director nomination or the proposal of other business that you intend to present at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, but do not intend to have included in the Company's proxy statement and form of proxy relating to the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, must be received by the Company at its principal executive offices, 6300 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66202, Attn: Secretary, not earlier than the close of business on December 16, 2015 and not later than the close of business on January 5, 2016. In the event that the date of the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the anniversary date of the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the notice must be delivered to the Company not earlier than the 120^th day prior to the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and not later than the later of the 100^th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10^th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Company. In addition, your notice must include the information required by the Company's Bylaws with respect to each director nomination or proposal of other business that you intend to present at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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Where can I find the voting results of the Annual Meeting?

        The Company will publish final voting results of the Annual Meeting in a Current Report on Form 8-K within four business days after the Annual Meeting.

What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials?

        You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this Proxy Statement and multiple proxy or voting instruction cards. For example, if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, you may receive a separate voting instruction card for each brokerage account. If you are a registered owner and your shares are registered in more than one name, you will receive more than one proxy card. Please vote each proxy and voting instruction card that you receive.

What is "householding"?

        In an effort to reduce printing costs and postage fees, the Company has adopted a practice approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") called "householding." Under this practice, certain stockholders who have the same address and last name will receive only one copy of this Proxy Statement and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, unless one or more of these stockholders notifies the Company that he or she wishes to continue receiving individual copies. Stockholders who participate in householding will continue to receive separate proxy cards.

        If you share an address with another stockholder and received only one copy of this Proxy Statement and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K, and you would like to request a separate copy of these materials, or you do not wish to participate in householding in the future, please (1) mail such request to Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. Attn: Investor Relations Department, 6300 Lamar Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66202, or (2) contact our Investor Relations Department toll-free at (800) 532-2757. The Company will promptly deliver a separate copy of this Proxy Statement and the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K upon receipt of such request. Similarly, stockholders sharing an address that are receiving multiple copies of the Company's proxy materials may request that they receive a single copy of those materials in the future by contacting the Company at the address and phone number above.

What do I need to do now?

        First, read this Proxy Statement carefully. Then, if you are a registered owner, you should, as soon as possible, submit your proxy by either executing and timely returning the proxy card or by voting electronically via the Internet or by telephone. If you are the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, then you should follow the voting instructions of your broker, bank or other nominee. Your shares will be voted in accordance with the directions you specify. If you submit an executed proxy card to the Company, but fail to specify voting directions, your shares will be voted (1) FOR the approval of the director nominees, (2) FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation paid to our named executive officers, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, and (3) FOR the ratification of KPMG as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 fiscal year.

Who can help answer my questions?

        If you have questions concerning a proposal or the Annual Meeting, if you would like additional copies of this Proxy Statement or our 2014 Annual Report, or if you need special assistance at the Annual Meeting, please call our Investor Relations office toll free at (800) 532-2757. In addition, information regarding the Annual Meeting is available via the Internet at our website www.waddell.com.

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        YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ THIS PROXY STATEMENT IN ITS ENTIRETY.    The summary information provided above in "question and answer" format is for your convenience only and is merely a brief description of material information contained in this Proxy Statement.

        YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. IF YOU ARE A REGISTERED OWNER OF SHARES, YOU MAY VOTE BY TELEPHONE, INTERNET OR BY FILLING IN, SIGNING AND DATING THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AND TIMELY RETURNING IT IN THE ACCOMPANYING ENVELOPE AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE. IF YOU ARE A BENEFICIAL OWNER OF SHARES, PLEASE FOLLOW THE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS OF YOUR BROKER, BANK OR OTHER NOMINEE PROVIDED WITH THIS PROXY STATEMENT AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.

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PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING

PROPOSAL NO. 1

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        The Board nominates Thomas C. Godlasky, Dennis E. Logue and Michael F. Morrissey as Class II directors, to hold office for a term of three years, expiring at the close of the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders or until their successors are elected and qualified, or their earlier resignation or removal. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (the "Corporate Governance Committee"), which is comprised of non-management directors, recommended Messrs. Godlasky, Logue and Morrissey as nominees for director. All of these nominees are current directors of the Company, and each nominee has agreed to be named in this Proxy Statement and to serve as a director of the Company if elected. The Board believes these incumbent directors standing for re-election are well qualified and experienced to direct and oversee the Company's operations and business affairs and will represent the interests of the stockholders as a whole. Biographical information on each of these nominees is included below in "Directors and Executive Officers."

        If any director nominee becomes unavailable for election, which is not anticipated, the named proxy holders will vote for the election of such other person or persons as the Board may nominate, unless the Board resolves to reduce the number of Class II directors to serve on the Board and thereby reduce the number of directors to be elected at the Annual Meeting.

        THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR EACH OF THE DIRECTOR NOMINEES LISTED HEREIN.

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OTHER INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

Number of Directors and Term of Directors and Executive Officers

        The Company's Bylaws provide that the number of directors will not be less than seven nor more than 15 with the exact number to be fixed by the Board. The Company's Certificate of Incorporation divides the Board into three classes of as equal size as possible, with the terms of each class expiring in consecutive years so that only one class is elected in any given year. Currently, there are eight directors with three directors in Class I, three directors in Class II and two directors in Class III.

        The stockholders of the Company elect successors for directors whose terms have expired at the Company's annual meeting. The Board elects members to fill new membership positions and vacancies in unexpired terms on the Board. Pursuant to the Company's Bylaws, non-employee directors must retire from the Board at the close of the annual meeting of Stockholders following their 79^th birthday. Executive officers of the Company are elected by the Board and hold office until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal.

Directors and Executive Officers

        The names of the Company's directors and executive officers and their respective current ages and positions are as follows:

        Below is a description of the backgrounds of the executive officers, directors and nominees for director, including their principal occupation and membership on public or registered investment company boards for the past five years. We have also provided information concerning the particular experience, qualification, attributes and skills that the Corporate Governance Committee and the Board considered relevant to each director and nominee for director that led to the conclusion that he or she should serve as a director.

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        Michael L. Avery has been President of the Company since January 2010. Prior thereto, he served as Chief Investment Officer of the Company from June 2005 to February 2011 and as Senior Vice President from June 2005 until January 2010. He has served as Executive Vice President of Waddell & Reed Investment Management Company ("WRIMCO") since June 2005 and served as Chief Investment Officer of WRIMCO and Ivy Investment Management Company ("IICO"), both of which are investment advisor subsidiaries of the Company, from June 2005 to August 2010. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of WRIMCO from January 1997 to June 2005 and of IICO from April 2003 to June 2005. He is a trustee and Vice President of the Waddell & Reed Advisors Group of Mutual Funds, Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios and InvestEd Portfolios, and a trustee of the Ivy Funds, all of which are mutual funds managed by the Company. Mr. Avery joined the Company in June 1981 and has served as a mutual fund portfolio manager since 1994.

        Brent K. Bloss has been Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company since March 2014. Prior thereto, Mr. Bloss was Senior Vice President – Finance and Principal Accounting Officer of the Company since July 2007 and Treasurer of the Company since January 2006. Previously, he served as Vice President of the Company from April 2004 to July 2007, as Assistant Treasurer of the Company from January 2002 to January 2006, and as Assistant Vice President from January 2002 to April 2004. From September 1995 to December 2001, he served in various roles in the audit practice of KPMG. Mr. Bloss joined the Company in January 2002.

        Thomas W. Butch has been Executive Vice President of the Company since January 2010 and Chief Marketing Officer of the Company since joining the Company in November 1999. Prior thereto, he served as Senior Vice President from November 1999 until January 2010. He has served as President of Waddell & Reed, Inc. ("WRI"), a broker-dealer subsidiary of the Company, since March 2005 and as Chief Marketing Officer thereof since March 2002. Previously, he served as Executive Vice President of WRI from January 2000 to March 2005. He has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of IICO since December 2002 and as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Ivy Funds Distributor, Inc., a broker-dealer subsidiary of the Company, since March 2003. Prior to joining the Company, he was associated with Stein Roe & Farnham, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, an investment firm where he served in various positions from 1994 to 1999, including President of Mutual Funds and Senior Vice President of Marketing. Previously, he was a First Vice President at Mellon Financial Corporation where he served for 13 years.

        Melissa A. Clouse has been Principal Accounting Officer of the Company since March 2014 and Vice President and Controller of the Company since January 2012. Prior thereto, she served as Director of Corporate Reporting from February 2006 to January 2012. Prior to joining the Company in February 2006, Ms. Clouse served as Financial Services Administrator for DST Systems, Inc. from September 2003 to February 2006. From August 1996 to September 2003, she served in various roles in the audit practice of Ernst & Young LLP.

        Sharilyn S. Gasaway.    Ms. Gasaway has been a director of the Company since July 2010. She has served as a director of Genesis Energy, L.P., a Houston, Texas diversified midstream energy master limited partnership, since March 2010 and of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., a transportation logistics company in Lowell, Arkansas, since February 2009. From February 2006 to January 2009, she served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Alltel Corporation ("Alltel"), a U.S. wireless telecommunications network operator, acquired by Verizon Wireless in 2009. She served as Corporate Controller of Alltel from May 2002 to February 2006 and as Controller of Alltel Communications, Inc., a subsidiary of Alltel, from April 1999 to May 2002. Prior thereto, she served as Audit Manager of the former independent registered public accounting firm Arthur Andersen LLP from 1992 to April 1999. Ms. Gasaway's term on the Board expires in 2017.

        As the former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of a Fortune 500 company, Ms. Gasaway has extensive experience in the areas of capital markets, budgeting and forecasting, strategic

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planning, internal audit, tax and auditing with respect to complex business operations and transactions. As a result, she brings to the Board a breadth of knowledge regarding the financial and accounting functions of the Company's operations, as well as with respect to the Company's financial controls, financial reporting and disclosure, balance sheet management, integration of acquisitions, and accounting. Ms. Gasaway's experience serving as a director for companies within the oil and gas and transportation industries provides her with a diverse perspective on Board-related matters. She has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1993.

        Thomas C. Godlasky.    Mr. Godlasky has been a director of the Company since July 2010. Mr. Godlasky served as Chief Executive Officer of Aviva North America, Aviva plc's life insurance and annuity business in the U.S. and its property and casualty business in Canada, from July 2007 to March 2010. Mr. Godlasky also served in the dual position as Chief Executive Officer and President of Aviva USA from November 2006 to November 2009. Prior thereto, Mr. Godlasky served as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of AmerUs Group, Des Moines, Iowa, a life insurance and annuity business, which was acquired by Aviva plc in 2006, from November 2005 to November 2006 and as President and Chief Operating Officer from November 2003 to November 2006. He also served as a director of AmerUs Group from November 2003 until November 2006, whereupon he joined the Aviva USA Board of Directors until March 2010. Mr. Godlasky earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1992. Mr. Godlasky is a nominee for director.

        Mr. Godlasky's service as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AmerUs Group, a leading U.S. producer of annuity and life insurance products, provides him with valuable insights on running a complex financial services company with diverse operations and products. He has experience in a number of areas that are critical to the Company, including mergers and acquisitions, information and technology, risk management, long-range strategic planning, expertise in the types of products we offer to our clients and the importance of close cooperation with our regulators. Mr. Godlasky brings strong leadership skills and a valuable perspective on global financial, operational and strategic matters to the Board, as well as maintains a deep understanding of the challenges of operating in a highly regulated industry such as ours.

        Henry J. Herrmann has been Chairman of the Board since January 2010, Chief Executive Officer of the Company since May 2005 and a Director since March 1998. Previously, he served as President of the Company from March 1998 to May 2005 and as Chief Investment Officer from March 1987 to June 2005. He is also a trustee and President of the Waddell & Reed Advisors Group of Mutual Funds, Ivy Funds, Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios and InvestEd Portfolios, all of which are mutual funds managed by the Company. Mr. Herrmann has also served as a director of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, a Kansas City, Missouri health insurance company, since 2007 and of the United Way of Greater Kansas City, the local Kansas City, Missouri office of United Way, a global leadership and support organization for community-based non-profit organizations, since June 2007. He joined the Company in March 1971 and earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in 1977. Mr. Herrmann's term on the Board expires in 2016.

        Mr. Herrmann has over 49 years of experience in the financial services industry and is widely regarded as a distinguished leader in the asset management industry. Mr. Herrmann celebrated his 44^th anniversary with the Company in 2014. As Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and trustee of the Company's mutual fund boards, he is a critical link between management and the Board, and brings to the Board an incomparable knowledge of, and experience with, the Company and its business, as well as valuable leadership and management experience. Mr. Herrmann's oversight of all Company operations and his experience in investment management, annual and long-term business planning, the negotiation and integration of acquisitions, and risk management is an indispensable contribution to the Board.

        Wendy J. Hills has been Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company since February 2014 and Secretary of the Company since April 2005. Prior thereto, she served as Vice President and Associate General Counsel of the Company from April 2005 to February 2014, as Assistant General Counsel from April 2002 to April 2005, and as Assistant Secretary from April 2000 to April 2005. From June 1998 to

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April 2000, she served as the Compliance Officer of WRIMCO. Prior to joining the Company in June 1998, Ms. Hills was associated with the law firm of Klenda, Mitchell, Austerman and Zuercher LLC, in Wichita, Kansas.

        Alan W. Kosloff has been a Director of the Company since January 2003 and Lead Independent Director since January 2010. Prior thereto, he served as Chairman of the Board from May 2005 through December 2009. He has served as Chairman of Kosloff & Partners, LLC, Kansas City, Missouri, a consulting and investment firm since April 1996. Previously, he served as Chairman of Jones & Mitchell, Olathe, Kansas, an imprinted and licensed sportswear company from October 1997 to March 2005 and as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of American Marketing Industries, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, an apparel manufacturing, distribution and marketing firm from 1976 to 1995. Mr. Kosloff's term on the Board expires in 2017.

        Mr. Kosloff has over 39 years of experience in executive management, investment, sales and marketing roles, including as President and Chief Executive Officer of American Marketing Industries, Inc. and founder of Kosloff & Partners, LLC. Mr. Kosloff provides the Board the benefit of his substantial financial, management and operational expertise, including with respect to marketing and distribution efforts, corporate governance, strategic planning and corporate strategy. As Lead Independent Director, Mr. Kosloff has offered valuable insights with respect to strategic planning, executive succession planning and executive development, corporate governance and stockholder communications.

        Dennis E. Logue has been a Director of the Company since January 2002. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Ledyard Financial Group, Inc., a bank holding company located in Hanover, New Hampshire, since August 2005. Additionally, Mr. Logue has served as an Emeritus Professor of Management at the Amos Tuck School, Dartmouth College since August 2005. He served as Dean of the Michael F. Price College of Business at the University of Oklahoma from July 2001 to September 2005. Prior thereto, Mr. Logue held numerous business-oriented professorships, most recently at the Amos Tuck School, Dartmouth College from July 1974 to June 2001. He has also worked as a consultant and expert witness on various financial matters since 1974. Mr. Logue has served as a director of Abraxas Petroleum Corporation, San Antonio, Texas, a natural gas and crude oil exploration, development and production company since April 2003 and of ALCO Stores, Inc., Dallas, Texas, a general merchandise retailer from May 2005 through September 2014. Mr. Logue is a nominee for director.

        Mr. Logue is highly accomplished in the field of business management and financial academia, having taught in the areas of managerial economics and finance, corporate governance, financial markets and international finance for 42 years and published over 90 books and articles in the areas of economics, pension plans, corporate and international finance, and capital markets. His past leadership roles in the academic world allow him to bring a wide range of experience and new insights to his service on the Board. As a founding director of Ledyard National Bank, Mr. Logue also has substantial expertise in the areas of the financial services industry, executive management and operations.

        Michael F. Morrissey.    Mr. Morrissey has been a director of the Company since July 2010. He has been a director of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P., a propane gas marketing and distribution company in Overland Park, Kansas since 1999 and of Westar Energy, Inc., an electric service company based in Topeka, Kansas since 2003. Mr. Morrissey retired in September 1999 after serving 24 years, including 17 years as a partner, with Ernst & Young LLP, an auditing and financial services firm. Prior thereto, Mr. Morrissey worked for five years for another major accounting firm and six years for a motor truck manufacturer. Mr. Morrissey has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1972. Mr. Morrissey has also served as a director of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, a Kansas City, Missouri health insurance company, since 2006; of J.E. Dunn Construction Group, Inc., a private construction business located in Kansas City, Missouri, since 2000; of Balance Innovations, Inc., an office management technology company located in Lenexa, Kansas, since 2008; and a special advisor to the audit committee of the Dairy Farmers of America, a farmer-owned milk marketing cooperative located in Kansas City, Missouri from 2000 through August 2014. Mr. Morrissey

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also serves as a director or trustee for numerous non-profit, civic, and charitable organizations. Mr. Morrissey is a nominee for director.

        Mr. Morrissey's qualifications to serve as a director include his substantial experience as the Chairman or member of the audit committee of other public companies, his many years of experience as an audit partner of a major accounting firm, and his extensive experience as a director of other large companies, both public and private. Mr. Morrissey brings to the Board significant audit and accounting expertise and a deep understanding of financial statements, corporate finance, risk management and internal audit functions. Mr. Morrissey's knowledge and experience gained as a board member of various public and private companies, as well as not-for profit, civic and charitable organizations provide the Board with a wide range of experience and insights regarding Board actions. Mr. Morrissey is also a Certified Public Accountant.

        James M. Raines has been a Director of the Company since July 1998. He has served as President of James M. Raines and Company, San Antonio, Texas, an investment banking firm since September 1988 and served as a director of Clear Channel Outdoor Holdings, Inc., a San Antonio, Texas outdoor advertising company from November 2005 to May 2010. Mr. Raines' term on the Board expires in 2016.

        Mr. Raines' 28 years of experience in the investment banking business gives him valuable perspectives on financial and strategic matters, as well as expertise in capital markets and securities distribution. He has provided investment banking and financial advisory services, including with respect to merger and acquisition and capital raising functions, for numerous public and private companies covering a diverse range of businesses, which provides him with a broad perspective that is an asset to the Board. Additionally, Mr. Raines' tenure on the Board provides him with an important depth of knowledge regarding the Company's business, strategy and culture. His experience in investment banking has been particularly useful when the Board considers its capital and liquidity needs and potential acquisitions.

        Philip J. Sanders has been Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of the Company since February 2011. He has served as Chief Investment Officer of WRIMCO and IICO since August 2010, as Senior Vice President of WRIMCO since July 2000 and as Senior Vice President of IICO since April 2003. Prior thereto, he served as Vice President of WRIMCO from January 1999 to July 2000. He is also a Vice President of the Waddell & Reed Advisors Group of Mutual Funds, Ivy Funds and Ivy Funds Variable Insurance Portfolios, all of which are mutual funds managed by the Company. Mr. Sanders joined the Company as a mutual fund portfolio manager in August 1998.

        Michael D. Strohm has been Senior Vice President of the Company since January 1999 and Chief Operations Officer since March 2001. In addition, he has served as President of Waddell & Reed Services Company, a transfer agent subsidiary of the Company, since June 1999 and as Chief Operating Officer of WRI since March 2005. Prior thereto, he served as Chief Executive Officer of WRI from December 2001 to July 2014, President of WRI from December 2001 to March 2005 and Senior Vice President of WRI from January 1994 to December 2001. Mr. Strohm joined the Company in June 1972.

        John E. Sundeen, Jr.    has been Senior Vice President of the Company since July 1999 and Chief Administrative Officer – Investments since January 2006. Previously, he served as Chief Financial Officer from July 1999 to June 2004 and as Treasurer of the Company from July 1999 to January 2006. He has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of WRIMCO and of IICO since June 2004. Previously, he served as Senior Vice President of WRIMCO from January 1996 to June 2004 and as Head of Fixed Income within the Investment Management Division thereof from January 1994 to June 1999. Mr. Sundeen joined the Company in June 1983.

        Jerry W. Walton has been a Director of the Company since April 2000. Mr. Walton currently serves as a business consultant to Hunt Ventures, a group of private companies located in Rogers, Arkansas. Mr. Walton served as Executive Vice President of Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., a transportation provider in Lowell, Arkansas, from October 1991 until September 2009. Prior thereto, Mr. Walton served as a managing partner and a tax partner with KPMG, with whom he had been employed since 1968. Mr. Walton's term on the Board expires in 2017.

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        Mr. Walton brings extensive financial, operational and executive management expertise to the Board having served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., one of the largest transportation logistics companies in North America. Mr. Walton also has significant public accounting experience, including in the areas of accounting, finance and tax, and direct experience in the areas of information and technology services, treasury functions, real estate, human resources and risk management. As a long-time director, Mr. Walton offers a breadth of knowledge about issues affecting the Company and its industry, as well as with respect to its financial statements, balance sheet management, budgeting process and executive compensation. Mr. Walton is also a Certified Public Accountant (retired).

        There are no family relationships among any of the Company's executive officers, directors or nominees for director.

Security Ownership of Management

        The following table reflects information regarding beneficial ownership of the Company's Class A common stock by each of its current directors (including all nominees for director), the current named executive officers set forth in the Summary Compensation Table and all other executive officers, and by all such persons as a group, as of February 18, 2015. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, "beneficially owned" means the sole power to vote or direct the voting of a security and the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of a security.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

        We believe that good corporate governance helps to ensure that the Company is managed for the long-term benefit of our stockholders, and we continually review and consider our corporate governance policies and practices, the SEC's corporate governance rules and regulations, and the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE, the stock exchange on which our Class A common stock is traded.

        You can access and print the charters of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Corporate Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Whistleblower Policy and other Company policies and procedures required by applicable law, regulation or NYSE corporate governance listing standards on the "Corporate Governance" link in the dropdown menu on the "Our Firm" tab of the "Investor Relations" section of our website at www.waddell.com.

Director Independence

        The Board is composed of a majority of directors who satisfy the criteria for independence under the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. In determining independence, each year the Board affirmatively determines, among other items, whether the directors have any direct or indirect material relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. When assessing the "materiality" of a director's relationship with the Company, if any, the Board considers all relevant facts and circumstances, not merely from the director's standpoint, but from that of the persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation. Material relationships can include commercial, banking, industrial, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships. The Board also considers any other relationship that could interfere with the exercise of independence or judgment in carrying out the duties of a director.

        Applying these independence standards, the Board determined that Sharilyn S. Gasaway, Thomas C. Godlasky, Alan W. Kosloff, Dennis E. Logue, Michael F. Morrissey, James M. Raines and Jerry W. Walton are all independent directors.

        After due consideration, the Board has determined that none of these non-management directors have a material relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries (either directly or indirectly as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company or any of its subsidiaries) and they all meet the criteria for independence under the NYSE corporate governance listing standards.

Board Composition and Director Qualifications

        The Corporate Governance Committee periodically assesses the appropriate size and composition of the Board, and whether any vacancies on the Board are expected. In the event that vacancies are anticipated or otherwise arise, the Corporate Governance Committee will review and assess potential director candidates. The Corporate Governance Committee utilizes various methods for identifying and evaluating candidates for director. Candidates may come to the attention of the Corporate Governance Committee through recommendations of Board members, management, stockholders or professional search firms. Generally, director candidates should, at a minimum:

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Possess relevant business and financial expertise and experience, including an understanding of financial statements;



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Have the highest character and integrity and a reputation for working constructively with others;



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Have sufficient time to devote to Board meetings and consultation on Board matters; and



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Be free of conflicts of interest that violate applicable law or interfere with director performance.

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        In addition, the Corporate Governance Committee will consider for recommendation director candidates who possess the following qualities and skills, among others:

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The capacity and desire to represent the interests of the Company's stockholders as a whole and not primarily a special interest group or constituency;



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Diverse backgrounds with respect to business experience, professional expertise, individual perspectives, gender and ethnicity that support Board dynamics and effectiveness;



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High level of leadership experience and sound business judgment;



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Highly accomplished in their respective field, with superior credentials and recognition;



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The ability to contribute to the mix of skills, core competencies, diversity and qualifications of the Board through notable or significant achievements or expertise in one or more of the following areas: accounting and finance, mergers and acquisitions, investment management, law, financial academia, strategic planning and executive leadership development;



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Service as a senior officer of, or a trusted advisor to senior management of, a publicly-held company; and



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Knowledge of the critical aspects of the Company's business and operations.

        The director qualifications above are general in nature and may be modified by the Board or the Corporate Governance Committee from time to time as the Board or the Corporate Governance Committee deems appropriate.

        In considering candidates for director nominee, the Corporate Governance Committee generally assembles all information regarding a candidate's background and qualifications, evaluates a candidate's mix of skills and qualifications, and determines the contribution the candidate could be expected to make to the overall functioning of the Board. The Board seeks independent directors who represent a diverse mix of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that will enhance the quality of the Board's deliberations and decisions. The Corporate Governance Committee does not have a separate policy regarding gender, ethnicity or other similar diversity criteria in identifying candidates for director nominee, but rather evaluates diversity in a broad sense, recognizing the benefits of gender and ethnic diversity, but also considering the breadth of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences that directors and candidates for director nominee may bring to the Board. In its assessment of the Board's composition as a whole, the Corporate Governance Committee considers whether the Board reflects the appropriate overall balance of independence, sound judgment, business specialization, technical skills, diversity and other desired qualities.

Director Resignation Policy

        Our Corporate Governance Guidelines include a Director Resignation Policy pursuant to which any director nominee in an uncontested election who receives a greater number of "withheld" votes than "for" votes will, within five business days following the certification of the stockholder vote, tender his or her resignation to the Chairman of the Board for consideration by the Board. A director whose resignation is under consideration shall abstain from participating in any recommendation or decision regarding that resignation.

        The Board will promptly make a determination whether to accept, reject or otherwise act with respect to the tendered resignation. In making this determination, the Board may consider all factors that it deems relevant, including the underlying reasons why stockholders "withheld" votes for election from such director (if ascertainable), the length of service and qualifications of the director whose resignation has been tendered, the director's contributions to the Company, whether by accepting such resignation the Company will no longer be in compliance with any applicable law, rule, regulation or governing document,

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and whether or not accepting the resignation is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. The Board may also consider a range of possible alternatives concerning the director's tendered resignation, including acceptance of the resignation, rejection of the resignation, or rejection of the resignation coupled with a commitment to seek to address and cure the underlying reasons reasonably believed by the Board to have substantially resulted in the "withheld" votes.

        The Board shall act on the tendered resignation and shall publicly disclose its decision regarding the resignation within 120 days after the results of the election are certified. If the Board does not accept the resignation, the director shall continue to serve until the end of his or her term and until the director's successor is elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier resignation or removal.

Director Recommendations by Stockholders

        In addition to recommendations from Board members, management or professional search firms, the Corporate Governance Committee will consider director candidates properly submitted by stockholders who individually or as a group have beneficially owned at least two percent of the outstanding shares of the Company's Class A common stock for at least one year prior to the date the recommendation is submitted. The manner in which the Corporate Governance Committee evaluates candidates recommended by stockholders is generally the same as any other candidate, although the Corporate Governance Committee will also seek and consider information concerning any relationship between a stockholder recommending a candidate and the candidate to determine whether the candidate will represent the interests of all stockholders.

        Stockholders must submit director candidate recommendations in writing by certified mail to the Company's Secretary not less than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement relating to the Company's previous annual meeting. Accordingly, for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, director candidates must be submitted to the Company's Secretary by October 30, 2015. Director candidates submitted by stockholders must contain at least the following information:

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The name and address of the recommending stockholder;



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The number of shares of the Company's Class A common stock beneficially owned by the recommending stockholder and the dates such shares were acquired;



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The name, age, business address and residence of the candidate;



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The principal occupation or employment of the candidate for the past five years;



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A description of the candidate's qualifications to serve as a director, including financial expertise, and why the candidate does or does not qualify as "independent" under the NYSE corporate governance listing standards;



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The number of shares of the Company's Class A common stock beneficially owned by the candidate, if any; and



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A description of the arrangements or understandings between the recommending stockholder and the candidate, if any, or any other person pursuant to which the recommending stockholder is making the recommendation.

        In addition, the recommending stockholder and the candidate must submit, with the recommendation, a signed statement agreeing and acknowledging that:

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The candidate consents to being a director candidate and, if nominated and elected, he/she will serve as a director representing all of the Company's stockholders in accordance with applicable laws and the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws;

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The candidate, if elected, will comply with the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines and any other applicable rule, regulation, policy or standard of conduct applicable to the Board and its individual members;



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The recommending stockholder will maintain beneficial ownership of at least two percent of the Company's issued and outstanding Class A common stock through the date of the annual meeting for which the candidate is being recommended for nomination and that, upon such candidate's nomination and election to the Board, the recommending stockholder intends to maintain such ownership throughout the candidate's term as director; and



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The recommending stockholder and the candidate will promptly provide any additional information requested by the Corporate Governance Committee and/or the Board to assist in the consideration of the candidate, including a completed and signed Questionnaire for Directors and Officers on the Company's standard form and an interview with the Corporate Governance Committee or its representative.

        For a complete list of the information that must be included in director recommendations submitted by stockholders, please see the "Policy Regarding Director Recommendations By Stockholders" by clicking on the "Corporate Governance" link in the dropdown menu on the "Our Firm" tab of the "Investor Relations" section of our website at www.waddell.com. The Corporate Governance Committee will consider all director candidates submitted through its established processes, and will evaluate each of them, including incumbents, based on the same criteria. However, the Corporate Governance Committee may prefer incumbent directors and director candidates who they know personally or that have relevant industry experience and in-depth knowledge of the Company's business and operations.

        The policies and procedures above are intended to provide flexible guidelines for the effective functioning of the Company's director nomination process. The Board intends to review these policies and procedures periodically and anticipates that modifications may be necessary from time to time as the Company's needs and circumstances change.

Communications with the Board

        Stockholders and all other interested parties may communicate with the Board, Board committees, the independent or non-management directors, each as a group, and individual directors by submitting their communications in writing to the attention of the Company's Secretary. All communications must identify the recipient, the author, state whether the author is a stockholder of the Company, and be forwarded to the following address:

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.
6300 Lamar Avenue
Overland Park, KS 66202
Attn: Secretary

        The directors of the Company, including the non-management directors, have directed the Secretary not to forward to the intended recipient any communications that are reasonably determined in good faith by the Secretary to relate to improper or irrelevant topics or are substantially incomplete.

Board Meetings

        The Board held six meetings during the 2014 fiscal year. All directors attended at least 75% of the Board meetings. The Company has adopted a Director Attendance Policy to stress the importance of attendance, director preparedness, and active and effective participation at Board, Board committee and stockholder meetings. All of the directors attended the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

        Additionally, the non-management/independent directors held at least four executive sessions with Mr. Alan W. Kosloff serving as chairman of each of these executive sessions.

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Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

        The Board believes that it should have the flexibility to make determinations as to whether the same individual should serve as both the Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board, taking into account changing needs and circumstances of both the Company and the Board over time. In determining the appropriate leadership structure, the Board considers, among other things, the current composition of the Board, the role of the Lead Independent Director, and challenges and opportunities specific to the Company. In prior years, the Company has had the same and different individuals serving as its Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board at different points in time. Currently, Mr. Herrmann serves as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, while Mr. Kosloff, an independent director, serves as our Lead Independent Director. The Board believes that its current leadership structure is appropriate given the efficiencies of having a single individual fulfill both roles, the benefit of having a single source of leadership and authority for the Board, and Mr. Herrmann's extensive experience as a leader in the asset management industry and intimate knowledge of the Company's strategy and daily operations. Mr. Herrmann consults with Mr. Kosloff, as Lead Independent Director, on Board matters and issues facing the Company. Mr. Kosloff serves as the principal liaison between the Chairman of the Board and the independent directors, advises the Chairman of the Board with respect to agenda items, and presides over executive sessions of the non-management/independent directors at regularly scheduled Board meetings, as well as presides over Board meetings in the event the Chairman of the Board is unable to attend.

        The Board's oversight responsibility with respect to risk management is primarily discharged through the Audit Committee. Pursuant to applicable NYSE rules, the Audit Committee's charter addresses the duties and responsibilities of the Audit Committee to review with management the Company's risk assessment and risk management policies, including steps taken to mitigate such risks. The Audit Committee's risk oversight responsibilities are principally addressed through a comprehensive enterprise risk assessment conducted and prepared by the head of our Internal Audit Department, who, along with senior management, is responsible for the identification and assessment of internal and external risks that could materially impact the Company's operations, monitoring identified risks and taking appropriate steps to mitigate such risks. Specifically, the head of our Internal Audit Department leads an annual comprehensive enterprise risk assessment, which is based on input from the Company's Risk Assessment Committee, comprised of division heads and members of senior management, and uses an established risk management framework to identify and characterize various risks based on the significance of their potential impact on the Company's operations and reputation and the likelihood of occurrence. Such risks include internal and external financial, operational, strategic, technological, market, legal and regulatory risks. The Audit Committee reviews and discusses the Company's risk assessment and risk management policies annually. The head of Internal Audit and the external auditor provide regular reports to the Audit Committee regarding the internal and external audit plans and the results of on-going audits, as well as a report on Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. To ensure candid and complete reporting, the Audit Committee meets in separate executive sessions with management, the head of our Internal Audit Department and the external auditors at least twice annually.

        Each standing committee, including the Audit Committee, reports its actions to the full Board at least annually and the Board receives financial and operational reports from senior management, including updates regarding legal, regulatory and compliance matters from the General Counsel, at each meeting, which enables coordination of the risk oversight function. The risk oversight function is also supported by our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, whose industry leadership, tenure and experience provide a deep understanding of the risks that the Company faces. Collectively, these processes are intended to provide the Board as a whole with an in-depth understanding of risks faced by the Company and enables the Board to provide direction to the Audit Committee and senior management with respect to its approach to identifying, assessing, monitoring and mitigating material risks. The Board believes that the combination of a single Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, who has an integral role

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in our day-to-day risk management processes, a Lead Independent Director, the Audit Committee, and an experienced senior management team provide the appropriate leadership to assist in effective risk oversight by the Board.

Risk Analysis of Compensation Policies and Practices

        The Compensation Committee assessed, with the assistance of management, the Company's compensation policies and practices to determine whether these policies and practices create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.

        This assessment included a review of the Company's executive and broad-based employee compensation programs, the identification of potential risks that could result from such policies and practices, the identification of factors and controls that mitigate those risks, and an analysis of the potential risks against mitigating factors and controls and the Company's business strategies and objectives. Based on this assessment, the Compensation Committee concluded that our compensation policies and practices do not create risks that are reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In its assessment and conclusion, the Compensation Committee considered the following design features, among others:

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Overall compensation levels are competitive with the market.



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The use of multiple financial performance measures that are quantifiable and measurable.



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The use of performance goals that are reasonable in light of past performance and market conditions.



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Oversight by a Compensation Committee comprised of independent, non-employee directors with the ability to use negative discretion in determining compensation levels.



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The use of long-term equity incentive awards, which comprise a significant portion of total annual incentive compensation and is paid in the form of restricted stock that typically vests over a four-year period, and our stock ownership requirements align the long-term interests of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders.



•

The ability of management to exercise discretion to reduce payouts, including in connection with extraordinary or unanticipated events.



•

Multiple internal controls and approval processes intended to prevent manipulation of performance.

2014 Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees

        The Board has an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Corporate Governance Committee. Committee members are elected annually by the Board and serve until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal. The functions of each committee are described in detail in its respective charter, which is available on the "Corporate Governance" page under the "Our Firm" tab on the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.waddell.com.

        For 2014, upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance Committee, the Board appointed the following members to serve on these committees:

•

Audit Committee, comprised of Sharilyn S. Gasaway, Dennis E. Logue, Michael F. Morrissey and Jerry W. Walton. Mr. Morrissey served as Chairman of the Audit Committee in 2014.



•

Compensation Committee, comprised of Alan W. Kosloff, Michael F. Morrissey, James M. Raines and Jerry W. Walton. Mr. Walton served as Chairman of the Compensation Committee in 2014.

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•

Corporate Governance Committee, comprised of Sharilyn S. Gasaway, Thomas C. Godlasky, Alan W. Kosloff, Dennis E. Logue, Michael F. Morrissey, James M. Raines, Ronald C. Reimer (who retired immediately following the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders) and Jerry W. Walton. Mr. Kosloff served as Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee in 2014.

        Additionally, as Lead Independent Director, Mr. Kosloff served as an advisory member of the Audit Committee.

        Audit Committee.    The Audit Committee (1) appoints, terminates, retains, compensates and oversees the work of the independent registered public accounting firm, (2) pre-approves all audit, review and attest services and permitted non-audit services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm, (3) oversees the performance of the Company's internal audit function, (4) evaluates the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent registered public accounting firm, (5) reviews external and internal audit reports and management's responses thereto, (6) oversees the integrity of the financial reporting process, system of internal accounting controls, and financial statements and reports of the Company, (7) oversees the Company's compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, (8) reviews the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements, including disclosures made in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" set forth in periodic reports filed with the SEC, (9) discusses with management earnings press releases, (10) meets with management, the internal auditors, the independent auditors and the Board, (11) provides the Board with information and materials as it deems necessary to make the Board aware of significant financial, accounting and internal control matters of the Company, (12) oversees the receipt, investigation, resolution and retention of all complaints submitted under the Company's Whistleblower Policy, (13) produces an annual report for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement, and (14) otherwise complies with its responsibilities and duties as stated in the Company's Audit Committee Charter.

        The Board has determined that all four members of the Audit Committee satisfy the independence and other requirements for audit committee membership of the NYSE corporate governance listing standards and SEC requirements. The Board has also determined that Ms. Gasaway and Messrs. Logue, Morrissey and Walton are audit committee financial experts as defined by the SEC. The Board determined that these members acquired the attributes of an audit committee financial expert through their experience in preparing, auditing, analyzing or evaluating financial statements containing accounting issues as generally complex as the Company's financial statements; actively supervising one or more persons engaged in such activities; and their experience of overseeing or assessing the performance of companies and public accountants with respect to the preparation, auditing or evaluation of financial statements. In 2014, the Audit Committee met six times. All of the members attended at least 75% of the Audit Committee meetings. For additional information concerning the Audit Committee, see "Audit Committee Report" below.

        Compensation Committee.    The Compensation Committee (1) determines and approves the compensation of the Company's senior executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, (2) reviews and approves the annual performance goals and objectives and rewards outstanding performance of the Company's senior executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, (3) establishes and certifies the achievement of performance goals, (4) oversees the Company's incentive compensation and other equity-based compensation plans, (5) reviews and approves compensation recommendations for the Company's non-management directors, (6) assesses the adequacy and competitiveness of the Company's executive and director compensation programs, (7) reviews and discusses with management the "Compensation Discussion & Analysis" and recommends whether such analysis should be included in the Company's proxy statement filed with the SEC, (8) produces an annual report on executive compensation for inclusion in the Company's proxy statement, and (9) otherwise complies with its responsibilities and duties as stated in the Company's Compensation Committee Charter.

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        The agenda for meetings of the Compensation Committee is determined by its Chairman with the assistance of the Chairman of the Board and the Company's Secretary. Compensation Committee meetings are regularly attended by several of the Company's officers, including the Chief Executive Officer. Independent advisors and the Company's legal, accounting and human resources departments support the Compensation Committee in fulfilling its responsibilities. The Compensation Committee has sole authority under its charter to retain, compensate and terminate independent advisors as it deems necessary to assist in the fulfillment of its responsibilities. For more detail on the Compensation Committee, including its role, see "Compensation Discussion & Analysis" and "Compensation Committee Report" below.

        None of the individuals serving on the Compensation Committee has ever been an officer or employee of the Company. The Board has determined that all of the members of the Compensation Committee satisfy the independence requirements of the NYSE corporate governance listing standards and SEC requirements. Additionally, all of the members of the Compensation Committee qualify as "non-employee directors" for purposes of SEC requirements, and as "outside directors" for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code.

        The Compensation Committee met four times in 2014 to discuss, among other items, the salaries, bonuses and other compensation of the senior executive officers and other key employees of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. All of the members attended at least 75% of the Compensation Committee meetings.

        Corporate Governance Committee.    The Corporate Governance Committee (1) annually reviews the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, (2) assists the Board in identifying, screening and recruiting qualified individuals to become Board members, (3) proposes nominations for Board membership and committee membership, (4) assesses the composition of the Board and its committees, (5) oversees the performance of the Board and committees thereof, and (6) otherwise complies with its responsibilities and duties as stated in the Company's Corporate Governance Committee Charter.

        The Board has determined that all of the members of the Corporate Governance Committee satisfy the independence requirements of the NYSE corporate governance listing standards. The Corporate Governance Committee met two times in 2014. All of the members attended at least 75% of the Corporate Governance Committee meetings.

        Pursuant to the respective charter of the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance Committee, each committee may appoint subcommittees for any purpose that the committee deems appropriate and delegate to such subcommittees such power and authority as the committee deems appropriate; however, (1) no subcommittee shall consist of fewer than two members, and (2) the committee may not delegate to a subcommittee any power or authority required by any law, regulation or corporate governance listing standard to be exercised by the committee as a whole.

Compensation of Directors

        The Compensation Committee reviews annual compensation for directors who are not officers or employees of the Company or its subsidiaries (the "Outside Directors"). The Company uses a combination of cash and equity compensation to attract and retain qualified candidates to serve on the Board. All amounts are pro-rated if a director joins the Board after the commencement of the directors' fiscal year. Outside Directors are not compensated for the execution of written consents in lieu of Board and committee meetings.

        In setting Outside Director compensation, the Compensation Committee considers the significant amount of time that directors spend in fulfilling their duties to the Company, as well as the skill level required of Board members. The Compensation Committee also reviews competitive compensation data and analysis provided by Frederic W. Cook and Co., Inc. ("FWC"), the Compensation Committee's

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independent compensation consultant. In determining Outside Director compensation for 2014, the Compensation Committee retained FWC to provide competitive compensation data and analysis of our Outside Director compensation, including retainers, meeting fees and equity compensation awards, as compared to that paid to the non-employee directors of the Company's peer group. The companies included in this peer group are listed in "Peer Group Analysis" in the "Compensation Discussion & Analysis" below. In determining Outside Director compensation for 2014, the Compensation Committee considered the current compensation structure for Outside Directors, market trends with respect to director compensation, including committee retainers vs. individual meeting fees, and Company stock performance. The Compensation Committee then determined that 2014 cash and equity compensation for Outside Directors would remain unchanged from 2013 levels. The Board, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approves annual compensation for Outside Directors.

Cash Compensation

        For 2014, Outside Directors received the following cash compensation (paid in January of each year or upon election to the Board):

•

An annual retainer of $55,500, other than the Lead Independent Director, who received an annual retainer of $110,000;



•

Meeting fees of $2,000 for each Board meeting attended; and



•

Meeting fees of $1,500 for each committee meeting attended, other than the Chairman of each committee, who received fees of $3,000 per committee meeting.

        The Company also reimburses Outside Directors for travel and lodging expenses, if any, incurred in attending meetings. Outside Directors may annually elect to convert all or a portion of their annual cash compensation into restricted shares of our Class A common stock under the Company's 1998 Non-Employee Director Stock Award Plan, as amended and restated.

        In December 2014, the Compensation Committee, after considering competitive compensation data from FWC and the other factors described above, increased the annual retainer for Outside Directors (other than the Lead Independent Director) to $70,000, effective January 1, 2015. The Board ratified and approved the increase to the annual retainer.

Equity Compensation

        Equity awards for Outside Directors are intended to increase their beneficial ownership in the Company to more closely align their interests with those of our stockholders. Pursuant to the Stock Incentive Plan, Outside Directors are granted 5,000 restricted shares of the Company's Class A common stock upon their initial election to the Board. Following the first year of service, Outside Directors are granted $125,000 in restricted stock ($207,500 in restricted stock for the Lead Independent Director) based on the closing market price on the grant date, which is the first business day of January unless otherwise determined by the Board. Accordingly, Ms. Gasaway and Messrs. Godlasky, Logue, Morrissey, Raines and Walton were each granted 1,931 shares of restricted stock, and Mr. Kosloff was granted 3,205 shares of restricted stock, on January 2, 2014. Due to his retirement from the Board after the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in accordance with the mandatory retirement age provision in the Company's Bylaws, Mr. Reimer received a pro-rated grant of 563 shares of restricted stock for his service on the Board in 2014. Restricted shares granted to Outside Directors do not have a purchase price, generally vest in 33¹/3% increments annually beginning on the second anniversary of the grant date, and are subject to accelerated vesting upon a change of control, death or disability. Mr. Reimer's 2014 restricted stock award contained a three-month vesting schedule due to his retirement from the Board in 2014. Dividends are paid on awards of restricted stock at the same rate that is paid to all stockholders generally.

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Other Personal Benefits

        In addition to the compensation outlined above, Outside Directors also receive the following benefits:

•

At their election, Outside Directors and their spouses are eligible to participate in the Company's group health insurance plan, which is generally available to all Company employees; a portion of the Outside Directors' premiums are paid for by the Company. Ms. Gasaway and Messrs. Godlasky, Kosloff, Raines, Reimer and Walton made this election for 2014.



•

On certain occasions, an Outside Director's spouse may accompany the Outside Director on Company aircraft when the director is attending Board or committee meetings; no incremental cost is incurred by the Company in these instances. The value of these benefits (calculated pursuant to Internal Revenue Service guidelines) is imputed as income to the Outside Director and included as taxable income on their Form 1099-MISC.



•

The Company maintains director and officer insurance coverage and provides Outside Directors with special indemnification rights in the form of an indemnification agreement that exceeds the general rights provided under our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.



•

The Company also provides individual or family travel insurance policies for Outside Directors, as well as the senior executive officers, at a nominal cost.



•

Outside Directors receive occasional perquisites or personal benefits of reasonable value, such as commemorative items in connection with their Board service, holiday gifts and recreational benefits or other services and amenities when attending off-site Board meetings.

        The following table reflects the compensation paid to our Outside Directors for 2014.

2014 Director Compensation

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Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

        The Board has adopted a Corporate Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to all of the Company's directors, officers and employees. The purpose and role of this code is to focus our directors, officers and employees on areas of ethical risk, provide guidance to help them recognize and deal with ethical issues, provide mechanisms to report unethical or unlawful conduct, and to help enhance and formalize our culture of integrity, honesty and accountability. As required by applicable law, the Company will post on the "Corporate Governance" page under the "Our Firm" tab on the "Investor Relations" section of its website at www.waddell.com any amendments or waivers of any provision of this code made for the benefit of executive officers or directors of the Company.

Corporate Governance Guidelines

        The Board has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines to assist it in exercising its responsibilities to the Company and its stockholders. The guidelines address, among other items, director responsibilities, Board committees, non-employee director compensation and stock ownership guidelines.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

        Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act requires each director, officer and any individual beneficially owning more than 10% of the Company's Class A common stock to file with the SEC reports of security ownership and reports on subsequent changes in ownership. These reports are generally due within two business days of the transaction giving rise to the reporting obligation.

        To the Company's knowledge, all required Section 16(a) filings were timely and correctly made by reporting persons during 2014, except that due to an administrative error, each of Messrs. Sanders and Strohm did not timely file one report reporting one reportable transaction.

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

        The Corporate Governance Committee is charged with the responsibility of reviewing and pre-approving all "related-person transactions" (as defined in SEC regulations), and periodically reassessing any related-person transaction entered into by the Company to ensure its continued appropriateness. This responsibility is set forth in the Company's Corporate Code of Business Conduct and Ethics.

        Kurt A. Sundeen, the brother of John E. Sundeen, Jr., our Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer – Investments, is an employee of the Company. For the 2014 fiscal year, Kurt Sundeen received an aggregate salary and bonus of $275,000, a matching contribution of $10,400 under the Company's 401(k) and Thrift Plan, and participated in the Company's active employee flexible benefits plans, which are generally available to all Company employees. Additionally, the Company awarded Mr. K. Sundeen 2,100 shares of restricted stock in April 2014 with a grant date fair value of $159,516 calculated in accordance with ASC 718.

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        Laura D. DeMaria, the sister-in-law of Michael D. Strohm, our Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer, is an employee of the Company. For the 2014 fiscal year, Ms. DeMaria received an aggregate salary and bonus of $159,310, a matching contribution of $6,372 under the Company's 401(k) and Thrift Plan, and participated in the Company's active employee flexible benefits plans, which are generally available to all Company employees. Additionally, the Company awarded Ms. DeMaria 389 shares of restricted stock in April 2014 with a grant date fair value of $29,548 calculated in accordance with ASC 718.

        The Corporate Governance Committee has reviewed and ratified the employment of Mr. K. Sundeen and Ms. DeMaria in accordance with Company policy. The Company does not view John E. Sundeen, Jr. or Michael D. Strohm as having a beneficial interest in these employment relationships that is material to them, nor does Mr. J. Sundeen or Mr. Strohm believe that he has a direct or indirect material interest in the employment relationship of his brother or sister-in-law, respectively.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        During the 2014 fiscal year, none of the Company's executive officers served on the board of directors of any entities whose directors or officers serve as a director of the Company. No current or past executive officers of the Company serve on the Compensation Committee.

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PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY

        The following table reflects all persons known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's Class A common stock as of February 18, 2015. Unless otherwise indicated in the footnotes below, "beneficially owned" means the sole power to vote or direct the voting of a security and the sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of a security.

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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any filings of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (the "Company") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") that might incorporate future filings by reference, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the following Compensation Committee Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings, and shall not be deemed soliciting material or filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

        The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion & Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and, based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion & Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement.

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. Compensation Committee

2014 Members

Jerry W. Walton, Chairman
Alan W. Kosloff
Michael F. Morrissey
James M. Raines

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COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

        The following information contains statements regarding future individual and company performance measures, targets and other goals. These goals are disclosed in the limited context of the Company's executive compensation program and should not be understood to be statements of management's expectations or estimates of results or other guidance. The Company specifically cautions investors not to apply these statements to other contexts.

Introduction

        This Compensation Discussion & Analysis, among other things, provides an overview of our executive compensation program, sets forth the objectives and elements of our executive compensation program, and describes the 2014 executive compensation decisions with respect to our six named executive officers for 2014, which includes our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, our next three most highly compensated executive officers and our former Chief Financial Officer, Daniel P. Connealy, who retired in June 2014. Unless the context requires to the contrary, references to "executive officers" in this proxy statement include our named executive officers, and references to "current named executive officers" means the named executive officers, excluding Mr. Connealy.

Executive Summary

        The intellectual capital of our employees is collectively the most important asset of our firm. We invest in people – we hire qualified people, train them, motivate them to give their best thinking to the Company and our clients, and compensate them in a manner designed to motivate and retain them. As an asset manager, our financial results are primarily based upon the strength of our investment performance, the success of our marketing and distribution organization, and careful management of our expenses, all of which are directly dependent upon our people and the intellectual capital they bring to bear.

        We believe that the quality, expertise and commitment of our named executive officers are critical to enhancing the long-term value of the Company. To this end, a core objective in designing our executive compensation program is to deliver competitive total direct compensation (i.e., base salary, annual cash incentive award and annual equity incentive award), upon the achievement of financial performance and individual contributions, that will attract, motivate and retain a high-performance executive team. The compensation awarded to our named executive officers is substantially dependent on corporate financial performance, as well as individual performance and contributions, which drives the creation of sustainable long-term stockholder value.

        Coming off consecutive years of double-digit growth in U.S. equity markets and high correlation among asset classes, investors favored passively managed index and exchange-traded funds over actively managed funds in 2014 – a trend that has accelerated in the past few years. A combination of factors related to our two largest funds, Ivy Asset Strategy and Ivy High Income, contributed to net outflows in those products, both of which have driven growth in the firm's assets under management and overall financial results in recent years. Despite these challenges and slow global economic growth in 2014, our

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senior management team was able to deliver strong financial results for the Company during 2014. Key highlights of our 2014 performance include the following:

•

Earnings per share of $3.71, a 25% increase over 2013 and new all-time high.



•

Net income increased 24% to an all-time high of $313.3 million compared to 2013.



•

Operating revenues were $1.6 billion, a 17% increase from last year's previous record high.



•

Our operating margin increased by 220 basis points to 30.3%.



•

Our record cash flow from operations of $345 million, a 20% increase over 2013, and liquidity position allowed us to return $246.3 million to stockholders in 2014 through $115.3 million in regular annual dividends and $131.0 million in stock repurchases, a payout ratio of 78.6%. Cash and investments at year end remained strong at $809.9 million, paving the way for a 26.5% increase in annual dividends beginning in 2015. This is the fifth consecutive annual increase in our dividend representing a compounded annual growth rate of 18% over that five-year period.



•

Despite a decrease in consolidated sales and assets under management, the Advisors and Institutional channels had increased sales of 6.0% and 9.1%, respectively, and increased assets under management of 4.2% and 12.5%, respectively.



•

We broadened our international distribution network by completing a fund adoption transaction with Emerging Managers Group allowing Ivy Investment Management Company to take over responsibility as investment adviser and Ivy Funds Distributor, Inc. to take over responsibility as global distributor of the Selector Management Fund SICAV, an umbrella UCITS fund range domiciled in Luxembourg.



•

We continued to achieve competitive results compared to our peers, evidenced by 60%, 72% and 66% of our equity funds and 56%, 65% and 63% of all funds surpassing their Lipper peers in performance on a one, three and five-year basis.



•

Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds ranked No. 1 and Ivy Funds ranked No. 3 in terms of performance for the 10-year rankings in the annual survey of "Best Mutual Fund Families" as ranked and published by Barron's for the year ended December 31, 2014. For the seventh consecutive year, Ivy Funds landed in the top five fund families for the five-year rankings; for the fifth consecutive year, Ivy Funds appeared in the top five in the 10-year rankings. The Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds family ranked among the top 10 fund families in the five-year period for six of the last seven years.

        The Compensation Committee (the "Committee") believes that our executive compensation program has played a significant role in our ability to drive financial results and align the interests of our executive officers with the interests of our stockholders, which is demonstrated by the accomplishments of our executive team over the last fiscal year. Key aspects of our executive compensation program in 2014 include the following:

•

A significant portion of each current named executive officer's total direct compensation – approximately 84% on average for 2014 – is "at risk" compensation, delivered in the form of a short-term cash incentive award and a long-term equity incentive award.



•

A significant portion of each current named executive officer's total annual incentive compensation – approximately 75% on average for 2014 – is comprised of an equity incentive award, which drives long-term performance and aligns the interests of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders.



•

With few exceptions, equity incentive awards are generally subject to a four-year vesting period to further emphasize long-term performance and commitment to the Company.

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•

The Company's Executive Incentive Plan incorporates multiple financial performance measures that are quantifiable and measurable.



•

Each current named executive officer is employed at-will and is expected to demonstrate strong personal performance in order to continue serving as a member of the executive team.



•

The Committee implemented stock ownership guidelines which, along with the design of equity incentive awards, promotes long-term executive stock ownership and aligns executive interests with those of our stockholders. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, all of the current named executive officers exceed these ownership guidelines.



•

The Company's Change in Control Employment Agreement with the Chief Executive Officer, initially entered into over 10 years ago, pays out only upon a double-trigger, which requires a termination in connection with a change in control. For a further description of this agreement, see "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control" below.

2014 Stockholder Vote on Named Executive Officer Compensation

        In April 2014, the compensation paid to our named executive officers in 2013 was approved by over 95% of the votes cast on the proposal. The Committee considered the results of the advisory vote in reviewing our executive compensation program, noting the high level of stockholder support, and elected to continue the same principles in determining the types and amounts of compensation to be paid to our named executive officers in 2014. The Committee will continue to focus on responsible executive compensation practices that attract, motivate and retain high performance executives, reward those executives for the achievement of short-term and long-term performance, and support our other executive compensation objectives, including long-term career development and retention goals.

Compensation Program Objectives

        The Company's executive compensation program is intended to attract and retain highly qualified executive talent, provide rewards for the past year's performance, and provide incentives for future performance to drive the creation of stockholder value. More specifically, our executive compensation program objectives are to:

•

Attract, motivate and retain a high-performance executive team with the appropriate expertise and leadership to build and sustain long-term stockholder value;



•

Incentivize and reward short-term and long-term financial, strategic and individual performance that results in increased value for our stockholders; and



•

Align our executives' long-term interests with those of our stockholders.

        The investment management and financial services industries are extremely competitive and experienced professionals have significant career mobility. Our intellectual capital is our greatest asset. Our success, and that of our stockholders, depends on our ability to successfully engage a highly skilled and experienced executive team through a combination of career opportunities, a challenging work environment, and competitive compensation, particularly during the difficult financial and economic conditions experienced during recent years. Our named executive officers have developed over a number of years as a cohesive and complementary executive team and are considered an invaluable resource. Historically, we have sought to groom internal personnel for executive positions or recruited external candidates with a high degree of experience and knowledge of our industry, believing that executives with industry knowledge are more likely to excel. However, this limits the recruiting pool and makes retention a key focus of our compensation program.

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        Considering these objectives and factors, the Committee has developed an executive compensation program that continues to be based on the following principles:

•

Compensation levels should be sufficiently competitive to attract, motivate and retain high caliber executives.



•

Appropriate levels of reward for performance should be tied to and vary with the Company's financial and operational performance, as well as individual performance.



•

A majority of total compensation should be "at risk" in the form of short-term and long-term incentive awards.



•

Long-term awards should constitute a significant portion of incentive awards to encourage executives to focus on the Company's long-term growth and prospects.



•

Retirement benefits should comprise an element of executive compensation, which the Committee believes provides a competitive advantage.

Elements of Our Compensation Program

        Each element of compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers is designed to support one or more of the objectives described above. Total compensation for the named executive officers consists of one or more of the following components:

•

Base salary;



•

Annual performance-based incentive awards, including a short-term cash award and long-term equity compensation award;



•

Deferred compensation;



•

Retirement benefits; and



•

Personal benefits and other perquisites.

How We Determine Compensation

        Each year, the Committee makes compensation decisions using an approach that considers total direct compensation (i.e., base salary, annual cash incentive awards and annual equity incentive awards). Base salary is generally the smallest component of total direct compensation, which results in a significant portion of our named executive officers' compensation being paid in "at risk" incentive compensation. Incentive compensation awards are awarded pursuant to our Executive Incentive Plan, which utilizes a cash bonus pool and a restricted stock bonus pool. The aggregate cash bonus pool is set at 6% of adjusted operating income and the aggregate restricted stock bonus pool is set at 600,000 shares of restricted stock, the maximum amounts of cash and restricted stock that can be awarded to all individuals participating in the Executive Incentive Plan. The maximum cash and equity incentive award each named executive officer is eligible to receive is calculated as the individual percentage of the cash bonus pool and restricted stock bonus pool allocated to each named executive officer by the Committee. Upon calculating the maximum cash and equity incentive awards each named executive officer is eligible to receive, the Committee may exercise its discretion, as it did in 2014, to pay actual bonus amounts that are less than those maximum amounts. In determining total direct compensation, the Committee reviews and considers one or more of the following:

•

The Company's financial and operational performance for the year;



•

Market survey information for comparable public and private asset managers;

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•

Recommendations of the Company's Chief Executive Officer, based on individual performance and contributions;



•

The previous year's compensation levels for each named executive officer; and



•

Overall effectiveness of the executive compensation program.

        The Committee may also consider, as applicable, levels of sustained past performance, performance potential, retention risk and the value of the particular compensation element needed to keep an executive's level of total direct compensation competitive and consistent with our executive compensation program's objectives. Although there is no formal policy regarding the relationship of compensation among the named executive officers, the Committee also considers the appropriateness of each named executive officer's compensation relative to the other named executive officers to reflect differences in the scope of authority and responsibilities between executives. The actual cash and equity incentive award paid to each named executive officer is determined in the Committee's subjective judgment and discretion, based upon the above factors, and its assessment of such compensation's fairness and adequacy in achieving the objectives of our executive compensation program. This approach enables the Committee to be responsive to the dynamics of the labor market, including the need to retain and motivate a particular executive, and provides the Committee with flexibility to compensate our named executive officers in a way that reflects the influence and contributions of each executive individually to overall corporate performance and reinforces our pay-for-performance culture. See "Base Salary" and "Annual Performance-Based Incentive Awards" below for further information on base salaries and the methodology under which annual incentive awards are calculated.

Compensation Consultant

        The Committee has the authority to engage independent advisors to assist it in carrying out its responsibilities. In 2014, the Committee engaged Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc., an independent compensation consulting firm ("FWC"), to (i) review and assess competitive compensation information regarding total direct compensation and individual pay components for all senior executive officers, including the current named executive officers, with respect to the Company's peer group, (ii) review and assess Outside Director compensation, and (iii) provide an analysis of Mr. Herrmann's Change in Control Employment Agreement. FWC did not provide any other additional services to the Company or management, meet with any members of management individually, or receive any payments from the Company, other than in its capacity as a consultant to the Committee in 2014. FWC has served as the Committee's compensation consultant since 2004. At the Committee's request, FWC provided the Committee with information regarding its independence pursuant to SEC and NYSE disclosure requirements regarding the independence of compensation consultants. This information, which addressed each of the six independence factors, affirmed the independence of FWC and the partners, consultants and employees who service the Committee on executive compensation issues.

Peer Group Analysis

        In making executive compensation decisions, the Committee evaluates its executive compensation program against a broad group of companies in the investment management and financial services industries representative of companies against which the Company competes for executive talent. As previously disclosed, in 2012, the Committee undertook, with the assistance of FWC, a review of the composition of our compensation peer group as a result of the stockholder vote on named executive officer compensation at the 2012 annual meeting and feedback from proxy advisory services. Upon completion of the review and the recommendation of FWC, the Committee approved a revised peer group. With the

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assistance of FWC, the Committee compared the Company's executive compensation program in 2014 against this revised peer group, which consists of:

        The Committee believes that the Company competes for market share, shelf space, mutual fund shareholders and institutional clients, executive talent and employees with each of these 10 publicly traded asset managers. Additionally, this peer group comprises 10 of the 41 companies in the SNL Asset Manager Index, a composite of publicly traded asset management companies used by SNL Financial for comparison purposes in preparing the Company's stock performance graph. The peer group does not include the 30 additional companies comprising the SNL Asset Manager Index due to their smaller size, business orientation and/or status as a foreign corporation. There were no changes in the peer group composition from 2013 to 2014.

        The Committee reviews compensation information of the peer group compared to that of the Company based on both the 1^st through 5^th most highly paid officer positions, and information comparing titled officer positions, if available. In evaluating competitive compensation information of the peer group, the Committee does not target our executives' compensation to be paid at a specific percentile or limit its overall evaluation of competitive compensation to a particular percentile, but does take into consideration, on a non-formulaic basis, various differences between the Company and the comparison companies, including measures such as market capitalization, number of employees, assets under management, revenues, income and profitability (income per $1 billion of assets under management).

        The Committee also reviews competitive compensation information obtained from McLagan Partners' Investment Management Survey (the "McLagan Survey"), a widely used and definitive source for compensation information for a significant number of public and private investment management and advisory firms. It provides detailed analyses of compensation for a greater depth of investment management employees than is available for our public peers and is specifically focused on the asset management industry. Confidentiality obligations to McLagan Partners and to its survey participants prevent us from disclosing the firms included in the surveys. In addition, the McLagan Survey maintains the confidentiality of individual company pay practices from other participants. The Committee reviewed the results of the McLagan Survey to account for differences in the scale and scope of operations of participant companies, evaluate the overall competitive position of the Company, as well as its position by business unit and by officer title, and to make comparisons on an officer by officer basis, where sufficient market data was available and an appropriate match of position and responsibilities could be made.

        The Committee considers the compensation information derived from the peer group and the McLagan Survey equally relevant and important, with neither source of information being a determining factor in setting executive compensation levels.

Management's Role in the Compensation Setting Process and Other Considerations

        Our Chief Executive Officer, Henry J. Herrmann, regularly attends Committee meetings and advises the Committee regarding, among other things, the design and effectiveness of the Company's performance measures, the general competitiveness of our compensation program, information on the Company's business strategies and objectives, financial results and other measures of corporate performance, and historical context regarding the link between the Company's strategic goals and various elements of compensation. The Committee also requests Mr. Herrmann to evaluate the performance of the senior

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executive officers who report directly to him, including the other named executive officers, and to make recommendations to the Committee regarding their base salary levels and the form and amount of their annual cash incentive award and equity incentive award. In 2014, Mr. Herrmann did not make any recommendations with respect to his base salary or performance-based incentive awards.

        Mr. Herrmann's recommendations are based on his subjective evaluations regarding the individual performance and contributions of each of the other named executive officers in furthering the Company's success, building stockholder value and executing individual responsibilities, which may include:

•

Individual performance and contributions to financial and operational measures;



•

Operational management, such as project milestones and process improvements;



•

Internal working and reporting relationships that promote collaboration and teamwork;



•

Leadership, including the ability to develop and motivate employees and personal development; and



•

Individual expertise, skills and knowledge relevant to each executive's position and responsibilities, the potential to assume increased responsibilities, and long-term value to the Company.

        With respect to Mr. Herrmann's position and responsibilities, the Committee considers his company-wide oversight and management, execution and success of the Company's business and strategic initiatives, the Company's financial and operating results, the creation of stockholder value, leadership of the investment management process, his years of industry experience, the size and complexity of the Company's business, and effective leadership of the Company's management team.

        The Committee does not assign individual weight or particular emphasis to any of the above factors; the emphasis placed on any specific factor or individual contribution may vary by named executive officer.

        Our Chief Financial Officer, Brent K. Bloss, regularly attends Committee meetings and advises the Committee as necessary regarding the Company's financial results or accounting rules that are relevant to incentive compensation or other matters that come before the Committee, and provides the Committee with historical and prospective compensation information relevant to their determinations. Additionally, our General Counsel and Secretary, Wendy J. Hills, also regularly attends Committee meetings and provides advice regarding legal and corporate governance matters, details regarding our stock award and incentive compensation plans, and other requested information related to Committee discussions.

Analysis of 2014 Compensation

        The Committee's focus is to set competitive pay levels on an annual basis, and to ensure a significant portion of compensation is performance-based. Consistent with the philosophy that a majority of total direct compensation should be "at risk," the current named executive officers received, on average, approximately 16% of their total direct compensation for 2014 in base salary and approximately 84% in variable incentive compensation (based on the grant date fair value of 2014 equity incentive awards).

2014 Operating Environment

        Despite slow global economic growth in 2014 resulting from geopolitical tensions, a slowdown in China, challenging economic conditions in Japan, Europe, Latin America and Russia, weaker-than-expected growth in emerging markets and declining oil prices, the S&P 500 established a record high in 2014 and ended 2014 up 14%. Although the U.S. markets performed well overall, there was volatility in certain sectors, including natural resources. Coming off consecutive years of double-digit growth in U.S. equity markets and high correlation among asset classes, investors favored passively managed index and exchange-traded funds over actively managed funds in 2014 – a trend that has accelerated in the past few years. A combination of factors related to our two largest funds, Ivy Asset

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Strategy and Ivy High Income, contributed to net outflows in those products, both of which have driven growth in the firm's assets under management and overall financial results in recent years.

        Despite ongoing global and market challenges in 2014, the Company produced strong financial results through the resilience of our investment management skills, the strength of our distribution model and a deep, diversified product line-up. We achieved record levels of net income, earnings per share, operating revenues and operating margin. It was our seventh consecutive year of increases in earnings per share. Record cash flow from operations allowed us to return $246.3 million to stockholders through dividends and stock repurchases, while ending the year with $809.9 million of cash and investments. This performance allowed us to increase our dividend payout rate to stockholders by 26.5% for 2015.

•

Long-term performance of our mutual funds was competitive with 60%, 72% and 66% of our equity funds and 56%, 65% and 63% of all funds outperforming their Lipper peer group average on a one, three and five-year basis, respectively. Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds ranked No. 1 and Ivy Funds ranked No. 3 in terms of performance for the 10-year rankings in the annual survey of "Best Mutual Fund Families" as ranked and published by Barron's for the year ended December 31, 2014. For the seventh consecutive year, Ivy Funds landed in the top five fund families for the five-year rankings; for the fifth consecutive year, Ivy Funds appeared in the top five in the 10-year rankings. The Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds family ranked among the top 10 fund families in the five-year period for six of the last seven years.



•

Despite a decrease in sales and increase in redemptions in our Wholesale channel, driven by outflows in our two largest funds, our Advisors channel and Institutional channels saw increased flows. Our Advisors channel achieved sales of $5.5 billion, its highest level to date and a 6% increase from 2013, while maintaining a long-term redemption rate of 8.3%, less than half of the 24.7% industry average. Advisor productivity improved 18% to an all-time high of approximately $254,000 per advisor. Our Institutional channel's $3.4 billion in sales improved 9.1% from 2013, and institutional assets under management of $17.8 billion, an increase of 12.5% from 2013, marks a new year-end record level. We continue to look for ways to broaden our Institutional product offerings, both as a sub-advisor and in the traditional defined benefit and defined contribution business.



•

The breadth and quality of our product line, and our flexibility and expertise in marketing it, were central to our success in 2014. We continued to make meaningful progress in product sales diversification, with 20 strategies with more than $1 billion in total assets and seven strategies with more than $500 million in total assets by year end. We offer 14 different strategies in our Institutional channel, including four with more than $1 billion in total assets.

        We continue to work hard to ensure our firm's ability to compete, succeed and – most important – serve investors well across the many different market cycles and business challenges that companies in our business inevitably face.

Base Salary

        We provide our named executive officers with a base level of monthly income for the expertise, skills, knowledge and experience they offer to our management team. Base salaries are reviewed annually by the Committee.

        Mr. Herrmann did not receive a salary increase for 2014 and has not received a salary increase since 2008. The Committee reviewed the base salary of each named executive officer for 2014 and, based on a determination that salary levels were sufficiently competitive and on Mr. Herrmann's recommendations, the Committee did not increase base salaries for the other named executive officers for 2014, except for a merit increase in salary of approximately 15% for Mr. Bloss in recognition of his increased responsibilities after being appointed Chief Financial Officer in March 2014.

        For a further description of the base salaries paid to the named executive officers in 2014, please refer to the Summary Compensation Table below.

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Annual Performance-Based Incentive Awards

        Our named executive officers are eligible to receive annual performance-based incentive awards under the Executive Incentive Plan. These incentive awards, granted from cash and restricted stock bonus pools, provide an incentive for consistent annual performance in building stockholder value, align our executives' interests with that of our stockholders, and encourage retention and a long-term commitment to the Company, all of which are reinforced by the vesting provisions of our equity incentive awards. The size of the bonus pools are determined upon the achievement of pre-established performance goals that are set by the Committee in the first quarter of each year.

        The Committee has discretion to designate the senior executive officers of the Company that are eligible to receive such incentive awards, as well as to set the percentage of the incentive bonus pools each participant is entitled to earn upon achievement of the performance goals, as discussed below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may, in its discretion, award compensation that is not contingent upon the achievement of performance goals or reduce or eliminate entirely the amount of incentive awards payable to any participant upon attainment of the performance goals, but any such reduction may not increase the awards of another participant. In the event the Committee awards compensation that is not contingent upon the achievement of performance goals, the award may not be deductible by the Company under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code ("Section 162(m)").

        Determination of Bonus Pools.    Since 2003, performance-based incentive awards have been based on bonus pool formulas established under the Executive Incentive Plan. For 2014, the size of the bonus pool available for cash incentive awards was based upon 6% of the Company's 2014 "adjusted operating income," defined as net income increased by interest expense; federal, state and local income taxes; executive cash incentive awards; extraordinary or non-recurring losses; and losses from publicly-disclosed acquisitions in 2014 (of which there were none) and decreased by extraordinary or non-recurring gains, and gains from publicly-disclosed acquisitions (of which there were none), for a total of $30,930,300.

        Operating income is used by the Company and investors as a measure of the Company's underlying profitability and fluctuates with the Company's performance, which in turn creates a bonus pool that moves with the Company's performance. It is adjusted in order to provide a measure of performance that reflects the influence and contributions of each executive on a relatively equal basis and excludes items that, for example, may be disproportionately influenced by the business decisions of one executive more than others, or that are not indicative of our business and economic trends. This results in a measure of our executive officers' management of the Company's operating business as a whole. In setting the discretionary 6% threshold, the Committee considered industry practice, recommendations of the compensation consultant regarding the performance measure, the number of executive officers participating in the Executive Incentive Plan, historical operating results, the need to have the ability to reward extraordinary performance, when and if achieved, and cash incentive awards granted in prior years.

        Similar to prior years, equity incentive awards were based upon the attainment of a 40% "adjusted return on equity" or "adjusted ROE" defined as stockholders' equity increased by executive cash incentive awards, extraordinary or non-recurring losses, and losses from publicly-disclosed acquisitions in 2014 (of which there were none), and decreased by extraordinary or non-recurring gains, and gains from publicly-disclosed acquisitions in 2014 (of which there were none). The Company's adjusted ROE in 2014 was 70%. Return on equity is a measure of how well the Company uses stockholders' equity to generate net income. Upon the attainment of a 40% adjusted ROE, 600,000 shares of the Company's Class A common stock were eligible for issuance from the restricted stock bonus pool. In setting the discretionary 40% threshold and the maximum 600,000 share level, the Committee considered adjusted return on equity for the industry, the number of senior executive officers participating in the Executive Incentive Plan, historical equity incentive awards, the need to have the ability to reward extraordinary performance, when and if achieved, and the expected difficulty of achieving the desired results.

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        The number of shares of the Company's Class A common stock available for issuance from the restricted stock bonus pool increased from 420,000 shares in 2013 to 600,000 shares in 2014. The Committee annually reviews the discretionary maximums and thresholds of 6% of adjusted operating income, 40% adjusted ROE and 600,000 shares of the Company's Class A common stock when it sets the performance goals, and did so in February 2014 for 2014 awards, subjectively determining that these amounts reflect industry standards, adequately fund potential bonuses, and provide sufficient capacity to reward extraordinary performance, when and if achieved. Additionally, the Committee believes that these amounts are reasonable and fair to the Company and all stakeholders.

        Percentage Allocations.    The maximum percentage of the bonus pools that each executive is eligible to receive is based on the Committee's subjective judgment and primarily determined relative to each individual's scope of authority and complexity of responsibilities. The Committee also takes into consideration internal equity within the bonus structures and the overall compensation structure of individual positions, such as commissions, current stock holdings or dividends.

        As the Company's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Herrmann has comprehensive oversight and management responsibilities across the entire organization and is held primarily responsible for the Company's financial results. Our investment management division, which Messrs. Avery and Sanders oversee, and our distribution organization, which Mr. Butch oversees, represent the two business units with the most influence on our success and the creation of stockholder value. Messrs. Avery and Sanders also serve as portfolio managers for mutual funds collectively representing approximately 38% of the Company's assets at year end, and various institutional accounts for which they are eligible to receive cash commissions as described below under "Portfolio Manager Revenue Sharing."

        For 2014, the Committee designated Messrs. Herrmann, Bloss, Avery, Butch and Sanders eligible to earn 25%, 10%, 25%, 20% and 20%, respectively, of the cash bonus pool and 25%, 10%, 25%, 20% and 20%, respectively, of the restricted stock pool, consistent with the philosophy that individuals with greater roles and the ability to directly impact the Company's performance goals and long-term results should bear a greater proportion of the risk if our performance measures are not achieved.

        Use of Negative Discretion.    Pursuant to Section 162(m) and the Executive Incentive Plan, the Committee may exercise its discretion to pay actual bonus amounts that are less than the maximum amounts that the named executive officers are eligible to receive upon the achievement of the objective pre-established performance goals determined by the Committee. The maximum cash or equity incentive award that each named executive officer is eligible to receive, calculated as the percentage of the bonus pools assigned to each named executive officer, is not an expectation of actual bonus amounts that will be paid to the named executive officers, but a cap on the range of compensation ($0 to the maximum amount) that an individual may be paid while maintaining the tax deductibility of the bonus as "performance-based" compensation for purposes of Section 162(m). The maximum incentive award amount may be awarded under extraordinary circumstances or for extraordinary performance, although the Committee more often determines incentive awards that are less than the maximum amount the named executive officer is eligible to earn. This provides the Committee with the flexibility to compensate executives for truly exceptional performance without paying more than is necessary to incentivize and retain our named executive officers. The Committee believes that this bonus structure is in the best interests of stockholders because it enables the most prudent use of Company assets by maximizing the deductibility of performance-based compensation while empowering the Committee to pay only those amounts it determines are necessary to appropriately compensate executives.

        2014 Performance-Based Incentive Awards.    In determining 2014 incentive compensation awards, the Committee considered the Company's performance for the year and Mr. Herrmann's recommendations based on his assessment of the other named executive officers' individual performance and contributions.

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        The Committee accepted Mr. Herrmann's recommendations with respect to 2014 cash incentive awards for the other current named executive officers, and awarded Messrs. Herrmann, Bloss, Butch and Sanders awards of $3,300,000, $350,000, $1,200,000 and $600,000, respectively. Mr. Avery, in consultation with Mr. Herrmann, recommended to the Committee that he not receive a cash incentive award in 2014 due to the relative underperformance of the Ivy Asset Strategy fund in 2014. The Committee accepted this recommendation. Mr. Connealy did not receive a cash incentive award for 2014 due to his retirement in June 2014. The cash incentive awards for Messrs. Herrmann, Butch and Sanders remained the same in 2014. Mr. Bloss' cash incentive award increased by 27% from 2013 in order to provide more competitive compensation related to his Chief Financial Officer position. The Committee believed that these cash incentive award amounts were appropriate in recognition of strong Company performance, including a number of record-setting operational metrics, and individual performance and contributions as described below.

        The Committee also accepted Mr. Herrmann's recommendations with respect to equity incentive awards for the other current named executive officers, and awarded Messrs. Herrmann, Bloss, Avery, Butch and Sanders awards of 65,000, 33,000, 50,000, 45,000 and 45,000 shares of restricted stock, respectively. Mr. Connealy did not receive an equity incentive award in 2014 due to his retirement from the Company in June 2014. The Committee believes that equity incentive awards must be sufficient in size to provide a strong, long-term performance and retention incentive for executives, and to increase their vested interest in the Company. These equity incentive awards vest in 33¹/3% increments annually, beginning on the second anniversary of the grant date. The Committee granted these equity incentive awards pursuant to the Executive Incentive Plan from the shares reserved for issuance under the Stock Incentive Plan, as reported in the 2014 Grant of Plan-Based Awards Table below.

        The 2014 equity incentive awards for Messrs. Herrmann, Bloss, Avery and Butch were increased by 29% to 38% from 2013 share amount levels based on the determination to grant equity compensation awards for 2014 at levels that approximated the value of equity incentive awards for 2013. The 23.50% decrease in the Company's stock price during 2014 resulted in an increase in the number of shares granted to each current named executive officer. Generally, the aggregate value of equity incentive awards for 2014 remained flat or decreased slightly compared to 2013 for each of the named executive officers, other than Mr. Sanders, who received a 15% increase in the value, and 50% increase in the number of shares, of his 2014 equity incentive award compared to 2013. Mr. Sanders' equity incentive award increased in 2014 to align his award with that of Mr. Butch for internal equity among our executive team. The Committee believed that these equity incentive awards were appropriate consistent with the same rationale the Committee followed in determining cash incentive awards.

        The 2014 annual incentive compensation awards described above reflect the Committee's determination to (1) reward the named executive officers for corporate and executive performance, particularly with respect to a number of record-setting metrics, including net income, earnings per share, operating revenues and operating margin and (2) reflect, as appropriate, differences in the named executive officers' scope of authority and responsibilities, the assumption of additional responsibilities, and an appropriate balance of total direct compensation between cash and equity.

        Mr. Herrmann discussed with the Committee the following individual performance considerations that impacted his award recommendations:

•

Mr. Bloss:  Mr. Bloss directs the finance division and oversees all financial matters for the Company, including financial performance, corporate performance measurement, treasury management, strategic planning and budgeting. He also oversees investor relations. Mr. Bloss' financial leadership helped the Company achieve earnings per share of $3.71, its highest level in history, and improve its operating margin to 30.3%, compared to 28.1% in fiscal year 2013. Mr. Bloss administered the Company's capital management initiatives during the year, including the return of nearly $246.3 million to shareholders through a combination of stock repurchases and

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regular dividends, resulting in a payout ratio of 78.6% for the fiscal year. Mr. Bloss also oversaw several IT initiatives during 2014 to further improve the Company's reporting processes, management reporting capabilities, and enhance the Company's forecast and budget system.

•

Mr. Avery:  Mr. Avery is charged with overall responsibility of the investment management division and has significant investment responsibilities throughout the organization, managing or co-managing 20 investment products, including four mutual funds, the most notable of which is our flagship Ivy Asset Strategy fund, which composed 22% of our total assets under management at December 31, 2014, and 11 funds of funds and portfolios within the Ivy VIP Pathfinder and InvestEd families. Despite competitive relative long-term performance evidenced by 60%, 72% and 66% of our equity funds and 56%, 65% and 63% of all funds surpassing their Lipper peers in performance on a one, three and five-year basis, the relative performance of the Ivy Asset Strategy fund was down in 2014, resulting in significant outflows from that fund.



•

Mr. Butch:  Mr. Butch is responsible for all aspects of the Company's distribution strategies and initiatives for the Wholesale, Advisor and Institutional channels, including sales, marketing, product development, and management of the Company's broker/dealer subsidiaries and their strategic relationships with key business partners. Mr. Butch has demonstrated superior management skills with respect to the increasing complexity of our retail distribution model. Under his leadership, distribution success continued to excel in 2014. The Company's continuing focus on product sale diversification efforts resulted in 20 strategies with more than $1 billion in total assets and seven strategies with more than $500 million in total assets by year end. In the Advisors channel, sales volume reached $5.5 billion, the highest level in Company history, and productivity per advisor reached approximately $245,000, an all-time high and 18% improvement over 2013. The redemption rate for this channel remains consistently low, at 8.3% in 2014, significantly below industry standard levels, lending to superior long-term profitability. The Institutional channel achieved an increase in sales to $3.4 billion, a 9.1% increase over 2013. Mr. Butch also led the introduction of two new funds, Ivy Emerging Markets Local Currency Debt fund and Ivy Mid Cap Income Opportunities fund, to the market in 2014. In addition, Mr. Butch directed the transaction with Emerging Managers Group in 2014 that broadened our distribution network internationally.



•

Mr. Sanders:  Mr. Sanders works in partnership with Mr. Avery and oversees our investment management division on a day-to-day basis, including the development of strong investment professionals and the direction of investment processes and organizational capabilities to support our long-term investment strategies. Under his direction and guidance as Chief Investment Officer, our team of portfolio managers, analysts and traders employs a collaborative, research-based investment process that provides a strong foundation for our success. In 2014, Mr. Sanders successfully implemented portfolio manager changes after the departure of two portfolio managers from the Company. Mr. Sanders also has multiple investment responsibilities, including the co-management of three of the Company's mutual funds and numerous institutional accounts, all of which comprise approximately $8.2 billion, or 6.6%, of our total assets under management. He is also extensively involved in proposals for new business and the on-going marketing process and servicing of institutional accounts in the large-cap growth arena, which include domestic and international accounts.

        The Committee believes that the levels of cash and equity incentive compensation awarded in 2014 appropriately reflect corporate performance and individual contributions and maintain a high level of incentive for retention and future performance, which is consistent with the Company's executive compensation objectives. This determination is guided by a basic formulaic process, but also involves the exercise of discretion and subjective judgment by the Committee taking into account the above referenced information. For a further description of the incentive awards paid to each of the named executive officers in 2014, please refer to the Summary Compensation Table below.

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Deferred Compensation

        Shortly after our initial public offering in 1998, the Company determined that the retirement benefits that previously had been offered to certain executive officers under the benefit plans of our former parent company were insufficient. Based on this determination, the Company adopted the Supplemental Executive Retirement Income Plan, as amended and restated (the "SERP") to supplement retirement benefits provided by the Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. 401(k) and Thrift Plan, as amended and restated (the "401(k) Plan") and the Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. Retirement Income Plan, as amended and restated (the "Pension Plan"), to retain executive talent and to maintain a competitive total compensation package. At the time of adoption, three executives were eligible to participate in the SERP; Mr. Herrmann is the only participant who remains with the Company and participates in the SERP. In 2007, the Committee determined that retirement benefits payable under the Pension Plan and SERP were sufficient to provide Mr. Herrmann with adequate retirement income, and therefore, no non-formula discretionary contribution would be made by the Company in future years.

        In addition, the Company administers the Portfolio Managers Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated (the "Portfolio Managers Plan"). Designated portfolio managers and assistant portfolio managers are required to defer 30% of their annual cash bonus into selected hypothetical investment vehicles, which must include one or more of the mutual funds or series of mutual funds managed by the participant, and may include other equity or fixed income funds managed by the Company. Participants' accounts are annually credited (or charged) with an amount equal to the performance of the selected hypothetical investment vehicles since the last preceding year. Messrs. Avery and Sanders participated in the Portfolio Managers Plan as portfolio managers in years prior to 2011.

        For a description of material plan provisions and further information on SERP benefits payable to Mr. Herrmann and benefits payable to Mr. Sanders under the Portfolio Managers Plan, please refer to "Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans" below.

Retirement Benefits

        We provide retirement benefits to all of our employees, including the named executive officers, through the Pension Plan and the 401(k) Plan. These plans are designed in combination, along with the SERP, to provide an appropriate level of replacement income upon retirement.

        In 2014, the Company made matching contributions for each of the named executive officers under the 401(k) Plan. For a description of material provisions of the Pension Plan, please refer to "Pension Benefits" below.

Portfolio Manager Revenue Sharing

        Portfolio managers who manage institutional accounts with certain investment styles are eligible to participate in revenue sharing arrangements in recognition of their direct role in the sales process in the institutional sales market, as well as their continued role in client service throughout the life of the account. Under these arrangements, participating portfolio managers are eligible to receive a percentage, which decreases over a number of years, of the management fees earned by the Company, allocated among multiple portfolio managers who manage accounts of the same investment style. Specifically, participants share in up to 20% of the management fees generated during the first year, up to 15% during the second year and up to 5% thereafter for (1) new accounts owned by institutional clients, (2) contributions to such accounts equal to 20% or more of the account's market value at the time of such contribution, and (3) accounts with daily or weekly net contributions that aggregate, on the anniversary date of the account, to 10% or more of the account's market value. The percentage amount that participants are eligible to receive varies by investment style.

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        Messrs. Avery and Sanders received revenue sharing compensation in 2014 related to their portfolio management responsibilities in 2014 as described in footnote 4(g) of the Summary Compensation Table below.

Personal Benefits and Other Perquisites

        The named executive officers are eligible to participate in the Company's active employee flexible benefits plans, which include medical, vision, life insurance, long-term disability coverage, and post-retirement medical benefits until age 65 and are generally available to all Company employees. Additionally, all of the Company's employees are entitled to vacation, sick leave and other paid holidays, and may be eligible for severance payments under a severance pay plan further described below. The Committee believes that the Company's commitment to provide the employee benefits summarized above recognizes that the health and well-being of the Company's employees contribute directly to a productive and successful work life that enhances results for the Company and its stockholders.

        The Company provides all full-time employees with (1) life insurance coverage equal to two times the sum of the employee's current base salary plus the prior year's bonus/commissions, up to a maximum of $2 million in coverage, and (2) long-term disability coverage equal to 60% of the employee's current base salary, plus the prior year's incentive compensation, up to a maximum annual benefit of $90,000 ($240,000 for designated senior executives based on job grade). However, Mr. Herrmann's life insurance coverage under the Company's general program is limited to $50,000 and is supplemented by an endorsement style split-dollar insurance policy, to provide Mr. Herrmann with competitive benefits and replace coverage that is not offered to him under the Company's group life insurance program. This policy is owned, and the premiums are paid, by the Company (with the beneficiary selected by Mr. Herrmann in the event of his death prior to a termination of his service) and is governed by an agreement that entitles Mr. Herrmann to elect to have the policy transferred to him following a termination of the agreement (other than due to death), provided that Mr. Herrmann pays to the Company the greater of the aggregate premiums that the Company has paid on the policy or the then net cash surrender value of the policy. In the event the policy remains in force until Mr. Herrmann's death, the Company is entitled to receive the greater of the then current net cash surrender value of the policy or the total of all Company-paid premiums to date. Mr. Herrmann is not entitled to any interest in the cash surrender value of this policy.

        For further information on the premiums paid on Mr. Herrmann's insurance policy, please refer to the Summary Compensation Table below.

        In addition to the personal benefits discussed above, the named executive officers receive the following perquisites:

Company Aircraft

        Pursuant to the Company's Aircraft Policy, the named executive officers and other management employees are provided use of Company aircraft for business purposes. Additionally, pursuant to an executive security program established by the Committee and approved by the Board, the Company encourages Mr. Herrmann to use Company aircraft for personal as well as business travel when practicable. The other named executive officers are provided use of Company aircraft for personal travel in limited circumstances.

        From time to time, executives may be accompanied by family members invited to attend business functions, which is deemed "personal use" of the Company aircraft by the Internal Revenue Service for tax purposes. Although the Company does not incur any incremental costs for such "personal use," the taxable value of such use, calculated pursuant to Internal Revenue Service guidelines, is imputed as income to the named executive officers. We provide tax gross-up reimbursements relating to taxable values imputed to the named executive officers for such "personal use" of Company aircraft. The methodology used to

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determine the Company's incremental cost for personal aircraft usage is described in footnote 4(a) of the Summary Compensation Table below.

Financial Services

        The Company provides each named executive officer with an allowance for financial counseling services, which may include financial, estate and/or tax planning, and tax preparation assistance. The Committee believes providing this perquisite allows the named executive officers to more efficiently manage their time and financial affairs and to focus more time and attention on the Company's business issues.

Other Perquisites

        The Company also provides the named executive officers (1) reimbursement of country club membership dues, (2) an annual executive physical, (3) travel insurance policies for the named executive officers and, at their election, their immediate family members, and (4) access to tickets to various sporting, civic, cultural, charity and entertainment events if the event tickets are not otherwise being used for business purposes. For further information on perquisites received by the named executive officers in 2014, please refer to the "All Other Compensation" column of the Summary Compensation Table below.

        The Committee has determined to offer the above-described personal benefits and perquisites in order to attract and retain the named executive officers by offering compensation opportunities that are competitive with the Company's peers. The Committee believes these benefits and perquisites provide a more tangible incentive than an equivalent amount of cash compensation. In determining total compensation payable to the named executive officers for 2014, the Committee considered these benefits and perquisites. However, as these benefits and perquisites represent a relatively insignificant portion of the named executive officers' total compensation, they did not materially influence the Committee's decision in setting such officers' total compensation.

Equity Compensation Program in General

        The Company maintains an equity compensation program for key employees, including the named executive officers, in order to attract and retain employees who contribute to the Company's success, to provide incentives that enhance job performance, and to enable those persons to participate in the long-term success of the Company. In recent years, these awards have been in the form of restricted stock.

        Restricted stock awards typically vest in 33¹/3% increments annually, beginning on the second anniversary of the grant date. All restricted stock awards are classified in the Company's financial statements as equity awards.

        The Committee has approved, and will continue to approve, all grants of equity compensation. Although Company management, including the Chief Executive Officer, makes recommendations to the Committee from time to time on the form and amount of equity incentive awards to be granted to Company employees, such awards are approved by the Committee; the Committee does not expect to delegate such approval authority to the Company's executive officers or any subcommittee in the foreseeable future. Additionally, the Committee determines the grant date of all equity incentive awards; the Company's executive officers may not unilaterally select the grant date of awards. In February 2014, at the same time the Committee approved the 2014 performance goals, the Committee set the grant date for the named executive officers' 2014 equity incentive awards as December 2014. The 2014 equity incentive awards for the named executive officers were granted on December 31, 2014, the last day of the performance period for which the incentive awards were earned. Equity incentive awards for all awardees, other than participants in the Executive Incentive Plan, are awarded on April 2^nd of each year. The named executive officers receive their equity incentive awards in December, in lieu of April, for administrative purposes only.

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        Notwithstanding the foregoing, grants of equity incentive awards have been made in months other than December and April on a very limited basis, but these occurrences did not involve grants to executive officers as an isolated group. The Company does not have a formal policy on timing equity incentive awards in connection with the release of material non-public information to affect the value of compensation. In the event that material non-public information becomes known to the Committee prior to granting equity incentive awards, the Committee will take the existence of such information under advisement and make an assessment in its business judgment whether to delay the grant of the award in order to avoid any impropriety.

Tax Considerations

        Section 162(m) places a limit of $1,000,000 on the amount of compensation the Company may deduct for federal income tax purposes in any one year with respect to the Company's Chief Executive Officer and the next three most highly compensated officers, excluding the Chief Financial Officer. However, compensation that is "performance-based" (i.e., compensation that is paid pursuant to pre-established objective performance goals that are based on criteria approved by the stockholders and is determined and administered by the Committee according to related regulations) is excluded from this $1,000,000 limitation and is deductible by the Company.

        In reviewing the effectiveness of the executive compensation program, the Committee considers the anticipated tax treatment to the Company and to the named executive officers of various payments and benefits, including deductibility under Section 162(m). However, the deductibility of certain compensation payments depends upon the timing of an executive's vesting or exercise of previously granted awards, as well as interpretations and changes in the tax laws and other factors beyond the Committee's control. For these and other reasons, including to maintain flexibility in compensating the named executive officers in a manner designed to promote varying corporate goals, the Committee will not necessarily, or in all circumstances, limit executive compensation to that which is deductible under Section 162(m) and has not adopted a policy requiring all compensation to be deductible.

        Section 280G of the Internal Revenue Code disallows the deduction of any "excess parachute payment" paid in connection with certain change in control events. A portion of the amount payable to Mr. Herrmann pursuant to his Change in Control Employment Agreement with the Company, including the excise tax gross-up described below, may constitute an "excess parachute payment" and will not be deductible by the Company. In contrast to Section 162(m), amounts payable in connection with a change in control transaction cannot easily be designed to avoid treatment as "excess parachute payments." Although the Committee is aware of the possibility of a lost deduction in connection with these payments and intends to take reasonable actions to preserve the deductibility of amounts payable to Mr. Herrmann to the extent possible, as further described in "Change in Control Employment Agreement with the Chief Executive Officer" below, the Committee does not believe it is appropriate for tax considerations to be determinative in the design of Mr. Herrmann's agreement.

        The Committee will consider various alternatives to preserving the deductibility of compensation payments and benefits to the extent reasonably practicable and to the extent consistent with its other compensation objectives. To this end, the Committee annually establishes performance criteria in an effort to ensure deductibility of the cash and equity incentive awards made under the Executive Incentive Plan. Base salary does not qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m).

Stock Ownership Guidelines

        To reinforce the importance of aligning the financial interests of the Company's directors and named executive officers with stockholders, the Board has approved minimum stock ownership guidelines for the directors and executive officers, including the named executive officers. Directors are required to maintain stock ownership equal in value to five times such director's annual cash retainer. The Chief Executive

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Officer is required to maintain stock ownership equal in value to five times his base salary and the other executive officers are required to maintain stock ownership equal in value to three times their base salary. The value of minimum stock ownership that must be maintained is based upon, and shall be fixed at, the annual cash retainer or base salary paid at the time such director or executive officer initially becomes subject to such ownership guidelines. Directors and executive officers are expected to be in compliance with the applicable ownership level within five years of becoming subject to the ownership guidelines. Stock ownership includes shares of the Company's Class A common stock over which a director or executive officer has direct or indirect ownership or control, including restricted stock or funds invested in the Company's 401(k) stock fund, but does not include shares underlying stock options. Currently, all of our directors and executive officers are in compliance with these stock ownership guidelines.

Change in Control Employment Agreement with the Chief Executive Officer

        In December 2001, the Company entered into a Change in Control Employment Agreement with Mr. Herrmann (the "Agreement"). Except for Mr. Herrmann, none of the other named executive officers are a party to a change in control agreement. During 2014, the term of Mr. Herrmann's Agreement did not expire and was not extended, and the Agreement was not otherwise amended.

        The Agreement provides for what is commonly referred to as a "double-trigger," which requires that both (1) a "change in control," and (2) the termination of Mr. Herrmann's employment must occur before Mr. Herrmann receives any benefits under the agreement. Mr. Herrmann is not eligible to participate in our Severance Pay Plan for Home Office Employees. The only severance protection provided to Mr. Herrmann is upon a qualifying termination of his employment following a change in control of the Company.

        The Committee has determined that it is in the best interest of the stockholders to maintain this agreement in light of Mr. Herrmann's depth of knowledge, experience and tenure with the Company, his status as a leader within the Company and the industry, and the need to ensure stable management during any potential change in control. The Committee does not view the potential benefits conferred by the Agreement as additional elements of compensation due to the fact that a change of control may never occur. The Committee believes that the agreement permits Mr. Herrmann to focus his attention and energy on the Company's business without any distractions regarding the effects of a change in control, and assists the Company in maximizing stockholder value by allowing Mr. Herrmann to participate in an objective review of any proposed transaction and whether such proposal is in the best interest of the stockholders.

        None of the information related to this agreement and reviewed by the Committee was used in determining Mr. Herrmann's compensation. The Agreement stands on its own and was not related to any overall compensation objectives at the time it was adopted, other than retention, and did not affect the Committee's decisions regarding other compensation elements.

•

Cash Severance and Benefit Continuation:  The Agreement provides a lump sum cash payment equal to 2.99 times Mr. Herrmann's base salary and annual bonus and the continuation of benefits under our benefit and insurance plans for a period of three years following termination. In addition, he will receive a lump sum payment equal to the highest annual incentive bonus paid to him in the three-year period ending on the date of his termination. The payment will be pro-rated for the number of days worked by Mr. Herrmann in the year of termination. Change in control events frequently result in internal restructuring and the termination of executive management employees. The Committee believes it is appropriate and in the best interests of our stockholders to ensure that Mr. Herrmann will receive a payment equal to his base salary and annual bonus and to receive the benefit continuation that he would, but for his termination, have received during a fixed period following the change in control. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, this period is three years, which the Committee believes is appropriate because it provides a substantial, but not an excessive, payment to Mr. Herrmann if he incurs a qualifying termination following a change in control.

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•

Additional Retirement Benefits:  The Agreement also provides a lump sum cash payment equal to the excess of the actuarial equivalent of the benefits he would have received under the Company's Pension Plan and SERP had his employment with the Company continued for three years after the date of termination over the actuarial equivalent of his benefits actually paid or payable under such plans. The period during which these benefits are provided is the same fixed period described above with respect to cash severance and benefits continuation. Pursuant to the same rationale as described above, the Committee believes it is appropriate to provide to Mr. Herrmann an approximation of the tax-qualified and non-qualified retirement benefits he would have received had he continued employment with the Company for the same three-year period of time determined to be appropriate by the Committee.



•

Extended Exercise Period for Options:  Pursuant to the Agreement, all vested equity-based awards granted under the Company's stock incentive plans will be exercisable for the remainder of their respective terms. Our stock option awards generally remain exercisable for a period of three months following a termination of employment with "cause" (as defined below) by the Company. All of Mr. Herrmann's outstanding stock options were exercised prior to December 31, 2009.



•

Tax Gross-Up Payment:  The Agreement provides for a tax gross-up payment in the event Mr. Herrmann is subject to the excise tax imposed on certain "excess parachute payments." The Committee believes that the tax gross-up provisions of the Agreement are appropriate to ensure that Mr. Herrmann receives the full value of the payments and benefits available under the Agreement. The Committee believes that the Agreement is structured to provide balanced and appropriate post-change in control severance benefits that eliminate any potential tension between the interests of our Chief Executive Officer and our stockholders. The imposition of the punitive taxes imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code on "excess parachute payments" significantly and adversely upsets that balance. Therefore, the Committee believes it is necessary, in order to satisfy its objectives in entering into the Agreement, to shield Mr. Herrmann from the negative tax consequences imposed on "excess parachute payments."

        For a further description of the Agreement and potential payments thereunder, see "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control" below.

Executive Compensation in 2015

        In December 2014, Mr. Herrmann recommended to the Committee that executive salaries for 2015 remain flat with 2014 levels for the other current named executive officers, except for Messrs. Bloss and Butch, who received 6.7% and 5.0% increases, respectively, in base salary to better align their salaries with their responsibilities and internal compensation equity within the Company. The Committee accepted Mr. Herrmann's recommendations, and also did not increase Mr. Herrmann's base salary for 2015.

        On February 12, 2015, the Committee approved the 2015 performance goals pursuant to which performance-based incentive awards may be awarded to senior executive officers participating in the Executive Incentive Plan. Any such awards will be based on a cash bonus pool equal to 6% of our adjusted operating income and a 600,000 share restricted stock bonus pool that will be calculated in the same manner as awards granted for 2014. Participants in the Executive Incentive Plan will be eligible to receive allocations ranging from 10% to 25% of the cash bonus pool and 10% to 25% of the restricted stock bonus pool, as determined by the Committee. See "Analysis of 2014 Compensation" above for further information on the methodology under which 2015 awards will be calculated.

        The foregoing discussion primarily describes the compensation philosophies, principles and practices the Committee utilized in setting executive compensation for the 2014 fiscal year. In the future, as the Committee continues to review each element of the executive compensation program, these philosophies, principles and practices may change.

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation

        The following table summarizes total compensation awarded, paid or earned by our named executive officers who served in such capacities during 2012, 2013 and 2014.

        The named executive officers were not entitled to receive payments characterized as "Bonus" payments for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 fiscal years. Amounts reflected under "Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation" are performance-based cash incentive awards determined by the Compensation Committee in December of the respective year, based on performance goals set in February of the respective year.

        The current named executive officers' aggregate base salaries accounted for, on average, approximately 16% of their total compensation for 2014.

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

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        The direct costs of executive financial, tax or estate planning; country club membership dues; convention allowance; the value of personal use of corporate aircraft (based upon SIFL rates); tax gross-up reimbursements; service awards; retirement gifts; and Mr. Herrmann's split-dollar life insurance policy are imputed to the named executive officers, as applicable, and included as taxable income on their Form W-2s.

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

        The following table reflects estimated possible payouts under incentive plans to the named executive officers during 2014. The Company's cash and equity incentive awards are granted to participants in the Executive Incentive Plan based upon pre-established performance goals set annually by the Compensation Committee with a performance period equal to the fiscal year for which the performance goals are set. The Executive Incentive Plan is an annual plan; both cash and equity incentive awards are determined, and generally paid (in the case of cash incentive awards) and granted (in the case of equity incentive awards), in the same fiscal year that such awards were earned.

        The named executive officers are eligible to earn a maximum cash and equity incentive award for the fiscal year, calculated as certain percentages of the cash bonus pool and the restricted stock bonus pool assigned to each named executive officer. For 2014, Messrs. Herrmann, Bloss, Avery, Butch and Sanders were eligible to receive a maximum of 25%, 10%, 25%, 20% and 20%, respectively, of the cash bonus pool and 25%, 10%, 25%, 20% and 20%, respectively, of the restricted stock bonus pool. Mr. Connealy was not eligible for incentive compensation in 2014 due to his retirement in June 2014.

        Dividends are paid on awards of restricted stock at the same rate as is paid to all stockholders generally. Pursuant to ASC 718, the right to receive dividends is included in the calculation of the grant date fair value of the equity incentive awards set forth in the following table.

        For more detailed information regarding awards paid to the named executive officers, please refer to "Analysis of 2014 Compensation" set forth in the "Compensation Discussion & Analysis" above.

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2014 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLE

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Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End

        The following table reflects outstanding stock options and shares of restricted stock held by the named executive officers as of December 31, 2014, the value of which is determined based on the number of shares of restricted stock granted and the $49.82 closing market price of the Company's Class A common stock on December 31, 2014.

2014 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END TABLE

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Option Exercises and Stock Vested

        The following table reflects stock options held by the named executive officers that were exercised in 2014 and shares of restricted stock held by the named executive officers that vested during 2014.

2014 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED TABLE

Pension Benefits

        The Pension Plan is a tax-qualified, non-contributory pension plan that covers all eligible employees of the Company who are 21 years of age or older and have one or more years of credited service. Benefits payable are generally based on a participant's years of credited service and their highest average earnings in any five consecutive years during the last ten years of service prior to retirement, or their "5-year average earnings." The retirement benefit amount payable upon normal retirement is calculated as (1) 2% of a participant's 5-year average earnings for each year of credited service (up to a maximum of 30 years), plus (2) 1% of a participant's 5-year average earnings for each additional year of credited service in excess of 30 years (up to a maximum of ten years); this amount is then reduced by a social security offset.

        Earnings used to determine benefits include the amount shown in the "Salary" column of the Summary Compensation Table, but exclude all other elements of compensation and, for 2014, may not exceed $260,000 per year pursuant to limitations under the Internal Revenue Code. Because of this limitation, the compensation used to determine benefits payable under the Pension Plan for each of the named executive officers is $260,000.

        Benefits under the Pension Plan vest 100% after five years, and are payable monthly for the retiree's lifetime beginning at age 65, or in a reduced amount as early as age 55 with at least 10 years of credited service. Mr. Herrmann is currently eligible for normal retirement under the Pension Plan. Upon his retirement in June 2014, Mr. Connealy elected to take a lump sum distribution of his accumulated benefit in the Pension Plan. Messrs. Avery, Butch and Sanders are eligible for early retirement; the early retirement reduction is 1/180^th for each of the first 60 months preceding age 65, and 1/360^th for each additional month. Upon a participant's retirement, benefits under the Pension Plan may be paid (1) pursuant to a variety of annuity options, which provide benefits during the retiree's lifetime and generally provide continuing benefits to a surviving spouse or other beneficiary, or (2) in a lump sum,

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which provides for an immediate lump sum equal to the actuarial value of the retiree's future benefits in lieu of receiving those benefits over their lifetime.

        Messrs. Herrmann, Bloss, Avery, Butch, Sanders and Connealy are credited with 41, 13, 33.65, 15, 16 and 10 years of service, respectively. Under the Pension Plan, participants cannot be credited with years of service in excess of their actual years of service with the Company.

        The following table reflects the actuarial present value of accumulated benefits payable to each of the named executive officers, including the number of years of service credited to each such officer, under the Pension Plan. These benefits were determined using a lump sum discount rate of 4.97% at December 31, 2013 and 4.13% at December 31, 2014, a retirement age of 65 (or current age if greater), Internal Revenue Code Section 417(e) prescribed 2015 mortality rates and discount rate of 5.5% for the lump sum conversion, and other assumptions set forth in footnote 10 to the Company's audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014 included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2015. Benefits reflected below are estimates; the actual benefit payable is determined upon retirement or termination from the Company.

2014 PENSION BENEFITS TABLE

Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plans

        SERP

        The SERP is a non-qualified defined contribution deferred compensation plan that provides benefits to certain senior executive officers that are precluded under the 401(k) Plan and the Pension Plan. Currently, Mr. Herrmann is the only employee eligible to participate in the SERP.

        Under the SERP, each calendar year the Company credits Mr. Herrmann's SERP account with (1) an amount equal to 4% of his base salary, less the amount of the maximum annual employer matching contribution that could be made on Mr. Herrmann's behalf under the 401(k) Plan, and (2) a non-formula discretionary contribution, as determined by the Compensation Committee in its discretion, which could be zero. Additionally, each calendar year, Mr. Herrmann's SERP account is credited (or charged) with an amount equal to the performance of certain hypothetical investment vehicles since the last preceding year. These hypothetical investment vehicles are generally available to Company employees participating in the 401(k) Plan; the rate of return for Mr. Herrmann's investment election was 0.02% for 2014. Upon Mr. Herrmann's separation (subject to the six month delay on certain termination payments imposed by

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the Internal Revenue Code), or at such other time based on a pre – existing election by him, benefits accumulated under the SERP are payable in installments or in a lump sum. As previously disclosed in 2007, the Compensation Committee does not intend to make any non-formula discretionary contributions to Mr. Herrmann's SERP account in the foreseeable future, and no such contribution was made in 2014.

        Portfolio Managers Plan

        Under the Portfolio Managers Plan, designated portfolio managers and assistant portfolio managers are required to defer 30% of their annual cash bonus into selected hypothetical investment vehicles, which must include one or more of the mutual funds or series of mutual funds managed by the participant, and may include other equity or fixed income funds managed by the Company. Participants' accounts are annually credited (or charged) with an amount equal to the performance of selected hypothetical investment vehicles since the last preceding year. Mandatory deferrals required under the plan are protected against investment losses to the extent the aggregate amount distributed from the plan with respect to a deferral is less than the initial deferral amount. Except as otherwise provided in the plan, cash bonus awards deferred under the plan are forfeitable in the discretion of the committee administering the plan if the participant is terminated by the Company or resigns (other than due to retirement). Generally, amounts deferred under the plan and not previously withdrawn are payable in a lump sum within 90 days upon a participant's retirement, total disability, death, resignation or termination without cause (subject to the six month delay on certain termination payments imposed by the Internal Revenue Code). "Retirement" means the date of a participant's resignation on or after the later of his 55^th birthday or the third anniversary of participation in the plan. Additionally, at the participant's election, in-service withdrawals begin in the fourth plan year. All distributions and withdrawals under the plan will be made in cash or other property at the plan administrator's discretion. Mr. Sanders is a portfolio manager for three of the Company's mutual funds, and as such, participated in this plan in prior years; however, effective 2011, he is no longer subject to mandatory deferrals under this plan, although he will continue to receive distributions of previously deferred compensation until all such compensation is paid out. For 2014, Mr. Sanders selected the Ivy VIP Portfolios Growth fund and a composite index comprised of all non-fund large cap growth institutional accounts as his investment vehicles, in 50% allocations each, which had a blended 11.84% rate of return in 2014. As previously disclosed, Mr. Avery is a former participant in the Portfolio Managers Plan and received his final distribution in 2011. Except for Mr. Sanders, none of the other named executive officers participate in the Portfolio Managers Plan.

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        The following table reflects nonqualified deferred compensation payable to the named executive officers under the SERP and the Portfolio Managers Plan, as applicable.

2014 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION TABLE

Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control

        Change In Control Employment Agreement

        In December 2001, the Company entered into a Change in Control Employment Agreement with Mr. Herrmann. Mr. Herrmann's agreement has an initial term of three years that automatically renews for one year terms thereafter, absent 90 days written notice from the Company. The agreement requires both a "change in control" and the termination of Mr. Herrmann's employment before Mr. Herrmann receives any benefits under the agreement.

        Pursuant to the agreement, if a "change in control" occurs, and Mr. Herrmann's employment is terminated within two years thereafter by (1) the Company without "cause," or (2) Mr. Herrmann with "good reason" (which includes his resignation for any reason during the 30-day period immediately following the six-month anniversary of a "change in control"), Mr. Herrmann will receive (subject to the six month delay on certain termination payments imposed by the Internal Revenue Code):

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All earned or accrued compensation through the termination date (the "Accrued Obligations");



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A lump sum cash payment equal to 2.99 times his base salary and annual bonus;



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All vested equity-based awards granted under the Company's stock incentive plans;



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Continuation of benefits for Mr. Herrmann and his dependents under the Company's insurance and benefit plans for three years;



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A lump sum payment equal to the highest annual incentive bonus paid to Mr. Herrmann in the three-year period ending on the date of his termination pro-rated for the number of days worked by Mr. Herrmann in the year of termination;

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An amount equal to the excess of the actuarial equivalent of the benefits he would have received under the Company's Pension Plan and SERP had his employment with the Company continued for three years after the date of termination over the actuarial equivalent of his benefits actually paid or payable under such plans;



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Outplacement services; and



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A gross-up payment to pay for any applicable excise taxes on excess parachute payments paid to Mr. Herrmann.

        Any stock options held by Mr. Herrmann will remain exercisable for the remainder of their respective terms; however, all outstanding stock options previously held by Mr. Herrmann were exercised prior to December 31, 2009. In addition, the Company will pay or provide Mr. Herrmann any other amounts or benefits required to be paid or provided or that he is eligible to receive under any other plan, program, policy, practice, contract or agreement of the Company in accordance with the applicable terms of the arrangement, such as the accelerated vesting of restricted stock pursuant to the change of control provisions of the Company's stock award plans (the "Other Benefits"). The Other Benefits payable to Mr. Herrmann are quantified in column (c) of the table below, unless they are available under arrangements that do not discriminate in favor of executive officers of the Company and are available generally to all salaried employees.

        Upon a termination due to Mr. Herrmann's death or "disability" he, or his representative, will receive the Accrued Obligations, the Other Benefits, and the pro rata portion of his bonus payment as of the date of his death or "disability" calculated on the basis of the bonus that would have been paid to Mr. Herrmann had he remained employed for the entire year, payable at the time annual bonuses for the year are otherwise paid to active employees. Had Mr. Herrmann's employment terminated due to death or "disability" on December 31, 2014, the bonus payable to him would be $3,300,000.

        Upon a termination of employment for any other reason (other than due to death or "disability") following a "change in control," Mr. Herrmann will receive only the Accrued Obligations and Other Benefits.

        Generally, under the agreement, a "change in control" will be deemed to have occurred:

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When any person acquires 20% or more of the voting power of the Company;



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If, during any period of two consecutive years, a majority of the Board members change, unless the new directors are elected or recommended by at least two-thirds of the existing Board members; or



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Upon the acquisition of the Company.

        "Cause" means Mr. Herrmann:

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Materially engaged in willful misconduct or dishonesty;



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Was convicted of a felony; or



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Materially breached the agreement.

        "Good reason" means:

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A material diminution in Mr. Herrmann's position or title or in the nature of his responsibilities or authority;



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A reduction in his compensation or benefits or the failure of the Company to increase his compensation at a rate commensurate with that of other senior executive officers of the Company;

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Relocating Mr. Herrmann;



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The Company materially breaching the agreement; or



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Mr. Herrmann's resignation of employment with the Company for any reason during the 30-day period immediately following the six-month anniversary of the "change in control."

        "Disability" means

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Incapacity due to physical or mental illness in accordance with the Company's long term disability plan causing Mr. Herrmann to be absent from the full-time performance of his duties; and



•

His failure to return to full-time performance of his duties within 30 days of receiving written notice of his termination due to disability.

        The agreement also incorporates a confidentiality agreement applicable during the term of his employment and following his termination. Pursuant to the confidentiality agreement, Mr. Herrmann agrees to hold in confidence and not disclose any confidential information and not use any confidential information without the written consent of the Company, except as may be required to fulfill his duties to the Company. A breach of the confidentiality agreement could result in a "cause" termination.

        Accelerated Vesting of Restricted Stock

        The equity incentive awards granted to the named executive officers under the Stock Incentive Plan provide for accelerated vesting upon a "change in control" (as defined above) unless otherwise determined by the Compensation Committee prior to such "change in control," whether or not the named executive officer's employment terminates. Equity incentive awards also vest upon the death or "disability" (permanent disability as determined under the Company's long term disability plan) of a named executive officer.

        The value of shares of restricted stock that would vest upon a "change in control," death or "disability" is quantified in column (c) of the table below, assuming the triggering event occurred on December 31, 2014.

        Severance Plan

        In addition, the current named executive officers (other than Mr. Herrmann) are potentially eligible to receive certain severance benefits under the Company's Severance Pay Plan for Home Office Employees (the "Severance Plan") if they are involuntarily terminated due to a corporate realignment, downsizing or other event that the Company, in its sole discretion, determines is a qualifying event for purposes of the Severance Plan. Current named executive officers who receive severance under the Severance Plan will be entitled to periodic payment of their base pay for no fewer than 12 weeks and no more than 52 weeks (subject to the six month delay on certain termination payments imposed by the Internal Revenue Code). In addition, the Severance Plan provides that the Company will continue to make the employer contribution under the Company's health plan for the applicable severance period, the employee will receive payment for any unused vacation, and the Company may provide, in its discretion, career transition services.

        Other

        Mr. Herrmann is a participant in the SERP, as described above, and has elected to receive his SERP benefit in a single lump sum payment following his termination of employment (subject to the six month delay on certain termination payments imposed by the Internal Revenue Code). The balance of Mr. Herrmann's account under the SERP as of December 31, 2014 is disclosed in column (f) of the 2014 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table above. Mr. Sanders is a participant in the Portfolio Managers Plan, the material terms of which are described above. If Mr. Sanders terminated on December 31, 2014

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due to "total disability," "retirement" or death (or if he resigns or is terminated by the Company without "cause" and the Company determines in its sole discretion that his account will not be forfeited) he would receive the balance of his account in a single lump sum payment (subject to the six month delay on certain termination payments imposed by the Internal Revenue Code). The balance of Mr. Sanders' account under the Portfolio Managers Plan as of December 31, 2014 is disclosed in column (f) of the 2014 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table above.

        Upon death, Mr. Herrmann is also entitled to receive proceeds of an endorsement style split-dollar insurance policy with a face value of $2 million. This policy is owned, and the premiums are paid, by the Company (with the beneficiary selected by Mr. Herrmann in the event of his death prior to a termination of his service) and is governed by an agreement that entitles Mr. Herrmann to elect to have the policy transferred to him following a termination of the agreement for any reason other than death, provided that Mr. Herrmann pays to the Company the greater of the aggregate premiums that the Company has paid on the policy or the then net cash surrender value of the policy. In the event the policy remains in force until Mr. Herrmann's death, the Company is entitled to receive, out of the proceeds of this policy, the greater of the then current net cash surrender value of the policy or the total of all Company-paid premiums to date. Mr. Herrmann is not entitled to any interest in the cash surrender value of this policy.

        The table below quantifies (1) severance amounts payable and the value of benefits available pursuant to Mr. Herrmann's Change in Control Employment Agreement upon a termination without "cause" by the Company or for "good reason" by Mr. Herrmann following a "change in control" [column (a)], (2) amounts payable and the value of benefits available pursuant to the Severance Plan if a current named executive officer is involuntarily terminated due to a corporate realignment, downsizing or other event that the Company, in its sole discretion, determines is a qualifying event for purposes of the Severance Plan [column (b)], (3) the value of restricted stock vesting upon a "change in control," death or "disability" for purposes of the Company's stock award plans [column (c)], and (4) the proceeds of a company-funded split-dollar life insurance policy, less the aggregate premiums paid as of December 31, 2014 [column (d)], all of which assume that the applicable triggering event occurred on December 31, 2014 and where applicable, are based on a stock price of $49.82, the closing market price of the Company's Class A common stock on December 31, 2014. Benefits reflected below are estimates; the actual benefit payable is determined upon termination.

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PROPOSAL NO. 2

ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION

        This advisory vote gives stockholders the opportunity to approve our named executive officers' compensation, as disclosed in this Proxy Statement pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K.

        As described in detail in our Compensation Discussion & Analysis above, a core objective in designing our executive compensation program is to deliver competitive total direct compensation (i.e., base salary, annual cash incentive award and annual equity incentive award), upon the achievement of financial performance and individual contributions, that will attract, motivate and retain a high-performance executive team who will drive the creation of stockholder value. The Compensation Committee believes that the Company's executive compensation program reflects a strong "pay-for-performance" philosophy and is well aligned with stockholders' long-term interests. The compensation awarded to our named executive officers is substantially dependent on corporate financial performance, as well as individual performance and contributions, which drives the creation of sustainable long-term stockholder value. The Compensation Committee will continue to focus on responsible executive compensation practices that attract, motivate and retain high-performance executives, reward those executives for the achievement of short-term and long-term performance, and support our other executive compensation objectives, including long-term career development and retention goals.

        Among the important elements of our executive compensation program and features incorporated into our program to achieve our core objectives are the following:

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A significant portion of each current named executive officer's total direct compensation – approximately 84% on average for 2014 – is "at risk" compensation, delivered in the form of a short-term cash incentive award and a long-term equity incentive award.



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A significant portion of each current named executive officer's total annual incentive compensation – approximately 75% on average for 2014 – is comprised of an equity incentive award, which drives long-term performance and aligns the interests of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders.



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With few exceptions, equity incentive awards are generally subject to a four-year vesting period to further emphasize long-term performance and commitment to the Company.



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The Company's Executive Incentive Plan incorporates multiple financial performance measures that are quantifiable and measurable.



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Each current named executive officer is employed at-will and is expected to demonstrate strong personal performance in order to continue serving as a member of the executive team.



•

The Compensation Committee implemented stock ownership guidelines which, along with the design of equity awards, promotes long-term executive stock ownership and aligns executive interests with those of our stockholders. As of the date of this Proxy Statement, all of the current named executive officers exceed these ownership guidelines.



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The Company's Change in Control Employment Agreement with the Chief Executive Officer, initially entered into over 10 years ago, pays out only upon a double-trigger, which requires a termination in connection with a change in control.

        The Compensation Committee believes that our executive compensation program has played a significant role in our ability to drive financial results, particularly in light of ongoing global and market challenges, which is demonstrated by the accomplishments of our executive team over the last fiscal year. During 2014, our named executive officers successfully managed the Company during a challenging

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macroeconomic environment and while investors favored passively managed index and exchange-traded funds to actively managed funds by delivering solid financial performance for the year, including:

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Earnings per share of $3.71, a 25% increase from 2013 and new all-time high.



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Net income increased 24% to an all-time high of $313.3 million compared to 2013.



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Operating revenues were $1.6 billion, a 17% increase from last year's previous record high.



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Operating margin increased by 220 basis points to 30.3%.



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Our record cash flow from operations of $345 million, a 20% increase over 2013, and liquidity position allowed us to return $246.3 million to stockholders in 2014 through $115.3 million in regular annual dividends and $131.0 million in stock repurchases, a payout ratio of 78.6%. Cash and investments at year end remained strong at $809.9 million, paving the way for a 26.5% increase in annual dividends beginning in 2015. This is the fifth consecutive annual increase in our dividend representing a compounded annual growth rate of 18% over that five-year period.



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Despite a decrease in consolidated sales and assets under management, the Advisors and Institutional channels had increased sales of 6.0% and 9.1%, respectively, and increased assets under management of 4.2% and 12.5%, respectively.



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We broadened our international distribution network by completing a fund adoption transaction with Emerging Managers Group allowing Ivy Investment Management Company to take over responsibility as investment adviser and Ivy Funds Distributor, Inc. to take over responsibility as global distributor of the Selector Management Fund SICAV, an umbrella UCITS fund range domiciled in Luxembourg.



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We continued to achieve competitive results compared to our peers, evidenced by 60%, 72% and 66% of our equity funds and 56%, 65% and 63% of all funds surpassing their Lipper peers in performance on a one, three and five-year basis.



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Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds ranked No. 1 and Ivy Funds ranked No. 3 in terms of performance for the 10-year rankings in the annual survey of "Best Mutual Fund Families" as ranked and published by Barron's for the year ended December 31, 2014. For the seventh consecutive year, Ivy Funds landed in the top five fund families for the five-year rankings; for the fifth consecutive year, Ivy Funds appeared in the top five in the 10-year rankings. The Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds family ranked among the top 10 fund families in the five-year period for six of the last seven years

        You have the opportunity to vote "for" or "against" or "abstain" from voting on the following non-binding resolution:

"RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the Named Executive Officers as disclosed in the Company's Proxy Statement for the 2015 Annual Meeting of Stockholders pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables, and the narrative discussion."

        While your vote on this proposal is advisory and will not be binding on the Company, the Board or the Compensation Committee, we value the opinion of our stockholders and will take the results of this advisory vote into account when making future decisions regarding our executive compensation program.

        The Company intends to hold this stockholder advisory vote to approve named executive officer compensation annually until the Company holds its next advisory vote on the frequency of stockholder advisory votes on named executive officer compensation as required pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act.

        THE BOARD RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL, ON AN ADVISORY BASIS, OF THE COMPENSATION PAID TO THE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, AS DISCLOSED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO ITEM 402 OF REGULATION S-K.

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PROPOSAL NO. 3

RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        The Audit Committee has selected KPMG LLP as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm to examine the consolidated financial statements of the Company for the 2015 fiscal year. The Board seeks an indication from our stockholders of their approval or disapproval of the Audit Committee's selection of KPMG as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 fiscal year.

        KPMG has been our independent auditor since 1981, and no relationship exists other than the usual relationship between auditor and client. Representatives of KPMG are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting to respond to appropriate questions and will have the opportunity to make a statement if the representatives desire to do so. If our stockholders do not ratify the appointment of KPMG at the Annual Meeting, the Audit Committee will consider such event in its selection of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm for the 2015 fiscal year. Additionally, even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may direct the appointment of a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the 2015 fiscal year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.

        THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE RATIFICATION OF KPMG AS OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE 2015 FISCAL YEAR.

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Audit and Non-Audit Services

        The Audit Committee or its Chairman pre-approves audit and non-audit services to be rendered to the Company and establishes a dollar limit on the amount of fees the Company will pay for each category of services. Generally, management will submit to the Audit Committee a detailed list of services that it recommends the Audit Committee engage the independent registered public accounting firm to provide for the fiscal year. The Audit Committee is informed from time to time of the non-audit services actually provided pursuant to the pre-approval process. During the year, the Audit Committee periodically reviews the types of services and dollar amounts approved and adjusts such amounts, as it deems appropriate. Unless a service to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee or its Chairman. The Audit Committee also periodically reviews all non-audit services to ensure such services do not impair the independence of the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee pre-approved all services provided by KPMG for the 2013 and 2014 fiscal years. These services included the audit of the Company's annual financial statements, audit of the Company's internal control over financial reporting, review of the Company's quarterly financial statements, tax consultation services, preparation of corporate tax returns, auditing of employee benefits plans and certain agreed upon procedures. For a discussion of auditor independence, please refer to the "Audit Committee Report" below.

        The following table shows the fees billed by KPMG for audit and other services provided to the Company for the 2014 and 2013 fiscal years, respectively:

        The Audit Committee has considered whether the non-audit services provided by KPMG, including the services rendered in connection with income tax consultation and other general tax consultation, were compatible with maintaining KPMG's independence and has determined that the nature and substance of the limited non-audit services did not impair the status of KPMG as the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. KPMG did not bill the Company for any other services during fiscal year 2013 or 2014.

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

        Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in any filings of Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. (the "Company") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), that might incorporate future filings, including this Proxy Statement, in whole or in part, the following Audit Committee Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any such filings, and shall not be deemed soliciting material or filed under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

        The Audit Committee oversees the Company's financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the financial statements, including establishing accounting and financial reporting principles and designing systems of internal control over financial reporting. The Company's independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP ("KPMG"), is responsible for expressing an opinion as to the conformity of the Company's consolidated financial statements with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and auditing the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

        In performing its oversight role, the Audit Committee has reviewed and discussed, with management and KPMG, the audited consolidated financial statements contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. The Audit Committee has also discussed with KPMG matters required to be discussed by Auditing Standards No. 16, "Communications with Audit Committees" as adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the "PCAOB").

        Pursuant to the applicable requirements of the PCAOB, the Audit Committee has also received and reviewed the written disclosures and the letter from KPMG and discussed with KPMG their independence.

        Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited consolidated financial statements be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. Audit Committee

2014 Members

Michael F. Morrissey, Chairman
Sharilyn S. Gasaway
Dennis E. Logue
Jerry W. Walton

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OTHER MATTERS

Other Business Presented at the Annual Meeting

        As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board knows of no other business that may properly be, or is likely to be, brought before the Annual Meeting. If any other matters should arise at the Annual Meeting, shares represented by proxies will be voted at the discretion of the proxy holders.

Important Notice Regarding Internet Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to be Held on April 15, 2015

        The proxy materials for the Annual Meeting, including the 2014 Annual Report, Proxy Statement and any other additional soliciting materials, are available over the Internet by accessing the "Investor Relations" section of the Company's website at www.waddell.com. Other information on the Company's website does not constitute part of the Company's proxy materials.

Where You Can Find More Information

        The Company files reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You can read and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Company at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) 732-0330 for further information on the public reference room. The SEC maintains an Internet site at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including the Company. The Company's Class A common stock is quoted on the NYSE. These reports, proxy statements and other information are also available for inspection at the offices of the NYSE, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.

        You may request a copy of the Company's filings (other than exhibits that are not specifically incorporated by reference therein) at no cost by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

        Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc.
Attn: Investor Relations Department
6300 Lamar Avenue
Overland Park, Kansas 66202
(800) 532-2757

        If you would like to request documents from the Company, please do so by April 4, 2015 to receive them before the Annual Meeting.

        You should rely only on the information contained in this Proxy Statement to vote on the proposals solicited in this Proxy Statement. The Company has not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this Proxy Statement is accurate as of any date other than February 27, 2015.

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QuickLinks

WADDELL AND REED FINANCIAL, INC. 6300 Lamar Avenue Overland Park, Kansas 66202 (913) 236-2000
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS To Be Held on April 15, 2015
WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.
PROXY STATEMENT
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING
PROPOSALS TO BE VOTED ON AT THE ANNUAL MEETING PROPOSAL NO. 1 ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
OTHER INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
2014 Director Compensation
PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
2014 GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLE
2014 OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END TABLE
2014 OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED TABLE
2014 PENSION BENEFITS TABLE
2014 NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION TABLE
PROPOSAL NO. 2 ADVISORY VOTE TO APPROVE NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMPENSATION
PROPOSAL NO. 3 RATIFICATION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT
OTHER MATTERS