The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the nonconsolidated VIEs.

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The carrying amount of the assets excluded from the reporting entity's statement of financial position that are held by the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

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The amount of the Company's investment in the variable interest entity that is held in investments.

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No definition available.

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Amount of receivables arising from transactions with related parties due within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

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The equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.

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No definition available.

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The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.

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The fair value as of the reporting date of noncontrolling interests which are redeemable by the (parent) entity (1) at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date, (2) at the option of the holder of the noncontrolling interest, or (3) upon occurrence of an event that is not solely within the control of the (parent) entity. The noncontrolling interest holder's ownership (or holders' ownership) is represented by an equity interest that does not conform to either common or preferred equity (noncontrolling) interests otherwise provided for in the taxonomy, regardless of investee entity legal form.

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The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

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The reporting entity's maximum amount of exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with the Variable Interest Entity (VIE).

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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Carrying amount of the assets in the reporting entity's statement of financial position that relate to the reporting entity's variable interest in the Variable Interest Entity (VIE), where the reporting entity is not the VIE's primary beneficiary.

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Consolidation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by parent	50.50%
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners	49.50%
Federated's net interest in consolidated investment companies	$ 17,000		$ 27,700
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries	8,734		3,697
Accounts receivable from sponsored investment companies	16,900		12,400
Deconsolidation [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Redeemable noncontrolling interests in subsidiaries		$ 7,100
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, consolidated, carrying amount, assets	3,100		1,900
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying value of investment of nonconsolidated VIEs	301,500		252,100
Unconsolidated VIE maximum risk of loss	301,500		252,100
Investments in fund products included in investments - affiliates	141,800		144,800
AUM for unconsolidated investment companies	268,000,000		273,500,000
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] \| Deconsolidation [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, consolidated, carrying amount, assets		200
Investments [Member] \| Deconsolidation [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Variable Interest Entity, consolidated, carrying amount, assets		$ 13,800
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] \| Money Market Funds [Member] \| Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Carrying value of investment of nonconsolidated VIEs	$ 159,700		$ 107,300