Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Liabilities:
Cumulative decrease to the embedded derivative liability	$ 238		$ 398
Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	30,084		31,472
Separate account assets	77,788		72,397
Recurring | Level 1 | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Cash equivalents	19		18
Total Available-for-Sale securities	22		22
Trading securities	3		1
Total other assets	386		285
Total assets at fair value	430		326
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	334		260
Total liabilities at fair value	334		260
Recurring | Level 1 | Equity derivatives contracts | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	385		285
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	333		258
Recurring | Level 1 | Foreign currency derivative contract | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	1		1
Recurring | Level 1 | Other | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities			1
Recurring | Level 1 | U.S. government and agencies obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	17		19
Recurring | Level 1 | Common stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	5		3
Recurring | Level 2 | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Cash equivalents	2,375		1,539
Total Available-for-Sale securities	27,919		29,012
Trading securities	23		24
Separate account assets	77,788		72,397
Total other assets	2,777		3,338
Total assets at fair value	110,882		106,310
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	4		2
Customer deposits	7		8
Total other liabilities	3,655		3,054
Total liabilities at fair value	3,666		3,064
Recurring | Level 2 | Interest rate derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1,642		2,358
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	1,554		1,486
Recurring | Level 2 | Equity derivatives contracts | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1,133		973
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	2,083		1,565
Recurring | Level 2 | Credit derivative contract | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	6
Recurring | Level 2 | Foreign currency derivative contract | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	2		6
Recurring | Level 2 | Commodity derivative | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets			1
Recurring | Level 2 | EIA embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	4		2
Recurring | Level 2 | Other | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	12		3
Recurring | Level 2 | Corporate debt securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	15,870		17,051
Recurring | Level 2 | Residential mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	5,655		5,145
Recurring | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,755		3,213
Recurring | Level 2 | Asset backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	1,222		1,097
Recurring | Level 2 | State and municipal obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,123		2,239
Recurring | Level 2 | U.S. government and agencies obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	36		39
Recurring | Level 2 | Foreign government bonds and obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	252		224
Recurring | Level 2 | Common stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	6		4
Recurring | Level 3 | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,143		2,438
Total assets at fair value	2,143		2,438
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	(160)		878
Total liabilities at fair value	(160)		878
Recurring | Level 3 | IUL embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	96		45
Recurring | Level 3 | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	(256)		833
Recurring | Level 3 | Corporate debt securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	1,632		1,764
Recurring | Level 3 | Residential mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	288		284
Recurring | Level 3 | Commercial mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	15		206
Recurring | Level 3 | Asset backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	203		178
Recurring | Level 3 | Common stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	5		6
Recurring | Total | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Cash equivalents	2,394		1,557
Total Available-for-Sale securities	30,084		31,472
Trading securities	26		25
Separate account assets	77,788		72,397
Total other assets	3,163		3,623
Total assets at fair value	113,455		109,074
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	(156)	[1]	880	[2]
Customer deposits	7		8
Total other liabilities	3,989		3,314
Total liabilities at fair value	3,840		4,202
Recurring | Total | Interest rate derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1,642		2,358
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	1,554		1,486
Recurring | Total | Equity derivatives contracts | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1,518		1,258
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	2,416		1,823
Recurring | Total | Credit derivative contract | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	6
Recurring | Total | Foreign currency derivative contract | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	3		6
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	1		1
Recurring | Total | Commodity derivative | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets			1
Recurring | Total | EIA embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	4		2
Recurring | Total | IUL embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	96		45
Recurring | Total | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	(256)	[3]	833
Recurring | Total | Other | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	12		4
Recurring | Total | Corporate debt securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	17,502		18,815
Recurring | Total | Residential mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	5,943		5,429
Recurring | Total | Commercial mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,770		3,419
Recurring | Total | Asset backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	1,425		1,275
Recurring | Total | State and municipal obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,123		2,239
Recurring | Total | U.S. government and agencies obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	53		58
Recurring | Total | Foreign government bonds and obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	252		224
Recurring | Total | Common stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	$ 16		$ 13

[1] The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $238 million cumulative increase to the embedded derivatives.

[2] The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $398 million cumulative decrease to the embedded derivatives.

[3] The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives was a net asset at September 30, 2013 and the amount is reported as a contra liability.