<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-12-029047.txt : 20121025
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-12-029047.hdr.sgml : 20121025
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20121025142442
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-12-029047
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20121024
FILED AS OF DATE:		20121025
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20121025

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000038777
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INVESTMENT ADVICE [6282]
		IRS NUMBER:				132670991
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		BUILDING 920
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403
		BUSINESS PHONE:		650-312-2000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC
		STREET 2:		ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			YANG GEOFFREY Y
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001201592

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09318
		FILM NUMBER:		121161099

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3000 SAND HILL ROAD, 2-290
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-10-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000038777</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FRANKLIN RESOURCES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001201592</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>YANG GEOFFREY Y</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FRANKLIN RESOURCES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN MATEO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94403-1906</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Director's Fees (FRI)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-10-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11.6813</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>128.41</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2034-04-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2034-04-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $.10</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11.6813</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1491.5626</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Not applicable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Exercisable and expiration dates assume the director's separation from service from Franklin Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries occurs in the March following the director's 75th birthday.  See footnote below.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents a hypothetical investment account calculation of deferred Franklin Resources Inc.'s director's fees, under the 2006 Director Deferred Compensation Plan, based upon the performance of Franklin Resources Inc.'s stock (including reinvested dividends) payable in one payment following the director's separation from service from Franklin Resources, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  Reporting Person may transfer the hypothetical investment account amount into an alternative investment account(s) not based on the performance of Franklin Resources, Inc. stock effective as of the first day of any calendar quarter.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Maria Gray, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-10-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
