Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 4) (Discounted cash flow valuation technique, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Corporate debt securities (private placements) | Maximum | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries (as a percent)	5.50%	8.50%
Corporate debt securities (private placements) | Minimum | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries (as a percent)	1.00%	1.10%
Corporate debt securities (private placements) | Weighted Average | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries (as a percent)	1.80%	2.10%
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Nonperformance risk (as a percent)	0.00%	0.97%
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Maximum | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals (as a percent)	51.10%	56.40%
Surrender Rate (as a percent)	57.90%	56.30%
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	19.10%	21.20%
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Minimum | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals (as a percent)	0.00%
Surrender Rate (as a percent)	0.10%	0.00%
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	5.10%	5.60%
Indexed Universal Life Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Nonperformance risk (as a percent)	0.95%	0.97%
Indexed Universal Life Embedded Derivatives [Member]
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Fair value	$ 96	$ 45
Embedded Derivative GMWB and GMAB [Member]
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Fair value	(256)	833
Embedded Derivative GMWB and GMAB [Member] | Maximum
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Fair Value Assumptions, Elective Contractholder Strategy Allocations	50.00%
Embedded Derivative GMWB and GMAB [Member] | Minimum
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Fair Value Assumptions, Elective Contractholder Strategy Allocations	0.00%
Corporate debt securities
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Fair value	$ 1,583	$ 1,712