Waddell & Reed Financial (WDR) 8-K Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc. Announces Pricing of Public Offering of 5.60% Notes Due 2011

Exhibit 12.1

WADDELL & REED FINANCIAL, INC.

Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

(in thousands)

	Nine Months Ended September 30,		Year Ended December 31,
	2005		2004		2003		2002		2001		2000
Earnings:
Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes	$	64,326	$	158,210	$	84,934	$	132,598	$	171,120	$	227,946
Fixed charges	15,115		16,403		15,801		18,035		23,355		17,999
Total earnings	$	79,441	$	174,613	$	100,735	$	150,633	$	194,475	$	245,945
Fixed Charges:
Interest expense	$	10,598	$	10,724	$	9,759	$	12,298	$	18,286	$	14,590
Portion of rentals representative of interest factor	4,517		5,679		6,042		5,737		5,069		3,409
Total fixed charges	$	15,115	$	16,403	$	15,801	$	18,035	$	23,355	$	17,999
Ratio of earnings to fixed changes	5.26		10.65		6.38		8.35		8.33		13.66