Investments (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Available-for-sale Securities, Net Realized Gain (Loss) [Abstract]
Other-than-temporary impairments	$ (1)	$ (15)	$ (6)	$ (29)
Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Net Realized Gain (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross realized gains	8	11	15	19
Gross realized losses		(64)	(2)	(65)
Other-than-temporary impairments	(1)	(15)	(6)	(29)
Total	7	(68)	7	(75)
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, debt maturities, without single maturity date	28,455		28,455
Amortized Cost	28,455		28,455		28,510
Fair value, debt maturities, without single maturity date	30,084		30,084
Fair Value	30,084		30,084		31,472
Residential mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, debt maturities, without single maturity date	5,895		5,895
Amortized Cost	5,895		5,895		5,280
Fair value, debt maturities, without single maturity date	5,943		5,943
Fair Value	5,943		5,943		5,429
Commercial mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, debt maturities, without single maturity date	2,612		2,612
Amortized Cost	2,612		2,612		3,120
Fair value, debt maturities, without single maturity date	2,770		2,770
Fair Value	2,770		2,770		3,419
Asset backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, debt maturities, without single maturity date	1,377		1,377
Amortized Cost	1,377		1,377		1,204
Fair value, debt maturities, without single maturity date	1,425		1,425
Fair Value	1,425		1,425		1,275
Common Stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, debt maturities, without single maturity date	7		7
Amortized Cost	7		7		7
Fair value, debt maturities, without single maturity date	16		16
Fair Value	16		16		13
Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value | Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, due within one year	1,498		1,498
Amortized cost, due after one year through five years	6,125		6,125
Amortized cost, due after five years through 10 years	6,306		6,306
Amortized cost, due after 10 years	4,635		4,635
Amortized cost, debt maturities, single maturity date	18,564		18,564
Fair value, due within one year	1,520		1,520
Fair value, due after one year through five years	6,533		6,533
Fair value, due after five years through 10 years	6,731		6,731
Fair value, due after 10 years	5,146		5,146
Fair value, debt maturities, single maturity date	$ 19,930		$ 19,930