Waddell & Reed, Inc. has been in business since 1937 offering financial services and specializing in investment management. Waddell & Reed Advisors Funds recently were awarded two out of eight overall mutual fund group awards presented for 2009 by Lipper, Inc., a national fund research firm. The fund family was named "best overall fund family" in the small firm category (those with $28 billion or less in total assets) for the second year in a row, while also garnering the top award for "best mixed-asset small fund family." Lipper, as it does annually, presented awards based on "the fund group's reliably solid, risk-adjusted performance." Also, it was recently ranked at the top of the "Best Mutual Fund Families" over the last five years in an annual ranking published by Barron's. This business has 2,300 financial advisors in nearly 300 registered offices.