<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-17-031451.txt : 20171107
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-17-031451.hdr.sgml : 20171107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20171107140941
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-17-031451
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20171103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20171107
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20171107

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Tyle Craig Steven
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001338014

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09318
		FILM NUMBER:		171182835

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE FRANKLIN PARKWAY
		CITY:			SAN MATEO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94403-1906

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
</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>2017-11-03</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001338014</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Tyle Craig Steven</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>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP and General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.10</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10809</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.79</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>133161.042</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.10</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-11-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>898</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>134059.042</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On November 4, 2014, the Reporting Person was granted certain restricted stock units subject to vesting over a three-year period based upon satisfaction of certain performance criteria.  On November 3, 2017, the Issuer's Compensation Committee certified that certain performance criteria with respect to the Issuer's fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 were achieved, and therefore the amount of shares reported in Column 4 are scheduled to vest on December 1, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Of the amount of securities beneficially owned, 23,113 shares represent unvested restricted stock awards (which excludes the unvested restricted stock units scheduled to vest on December 1, 2017 as reported on Footnote 1).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Craig S. Tyle</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
