Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (Unaudited) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	Total USD ($)	Common Shares	Common Stock and Capital Surplus USD ($)	Retained Earnings Appro. USD ($)	Retained Earnings Unappro. USD ($)	Accum.Other Comprehensive Inc. (Loss) USD ($)	Total Equity USD ($)	Noncontrolling Interests USD ($)
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2009	$ 3,919		$ 1,344	$ 0	$ 2,274	$ 163	$ 3,781	$ 138
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2009		113,386,343
Cumulative effect of accounting change	261			261	4	(4)	261
Net earnings	314				346		346	(32)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities	446					440	440	6
Change in foreign currency translation	9					7	7	2
Change in unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits	1					1	1
Total comprehensive income (loss)	770						794	(24)
Allocation of losses of managed investment entities				(37)			(37)	37
Dividends on Common Stock	(46)				(46)		(46)
Shares issued:
Exercise of stock options	27		27				27
Exercise of stock options, shares		1,312,149
Other benefit plans	6		6				6
Other benefit plans, shares		388,094
Dividend reinvestment plan, shares		12,652
Stock-based compensation expense	9		9				9
Shares acquired and retired	(201)		(87)		(114)		(201)
Shares acquired and retired, shares		(7,360,110)
Other			(1)				(1)	1
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2010	4,745		1,298	224	2,464	607	4,593	152
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2010		107,739,128
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	4,620		1,271	197	2,523	479	4,470	150
Beginning Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2010	105,168,366	105,168,366
Net earnings	193				234		234	(41)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on securities	95					91	91	4
Change in foreign currency translation	(9)					(8)	(8)	(1)
Change in unrealized pension and other postretirement benefits	1					1	1
Total comprehensive income (loss)	280						318	(38)
Allocation of losses of managed investment entities				(47)			(47)	47
Dividends on Common Stock	(50)				(50)		(50)
Shares issued:
Exercise of stock options	19		19				19
Exercise of stock options, shares		758,075
Other benefit plans	8		8				8
Other benefit plans, shares		371,392
Dividend reinvestment plan, shares		11,686
Stock-based compensation expense	10		10				10
Shares acquired and retired	(263)		(95)		(168)		(263)
Shares acquired and retired, shares		(7,803,286)
Other	(4)							(4)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	$ 4,620		$ 1,213	$ 150	$ 2,539	$ 563	$ 4,465	$ 155
Ending Balance, shares at Sep. 30, 2011	98,506,233	98,506,233