Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Financial Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	$ 29,943	$ 31,217
Separate account liabilities	77,788	72,397
Ameriprise Financial
Financial Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	29,943	31,217
Separate account liabilities	77,788	72,397
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 1
Financial Assets
Receivables	95	135
Restricted and segregated cash	2,259	2,538
Other investments and assets
Financial Liabilities
Brokerage customer deposits	2,868	3,024
Debt and other liabilities	131	145
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 2
Financial Assets
Policy and certificate loans	1	2
Receivables	989	926
Other investments and assets	294	333
Financial Liabilities
Separate account liabilities	3,654	3,362
Debt and other liabilities	3,632	3,109
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 3
Financial Assets
Mortgage loans, net	3,544	3,694
Policy and certificate loans	756	725
Receivables	8	12
Other investments and assets	69	60
Financial Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	14,853	15,982
Investment certificate reserves	3,878	3,494
Debt and other liabilities	82	142
Ameriprise Financial \| Total
Financial Assets
Mortgage loans, net	3,544	3,694
Policy and certificate loans	757	727
Receivables	1,092	1,073
Restricted and segregated cash	2,259	2,538
Other investments and assets	363	393
Financial Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	14,853	15,982
Investment certificate reserves	3,878	3,494
Brokerage customer deposits	2,868	3,024
Separate account liabilities	3,654	3,362
Debt and other liabilities	3,845	3,396
Carrying Value \| Ameriprise Financial
Financial Assets
Mortgage loans, net	3,524	3,609
Policy and certificate loans	769	754
Receivables	1,092	1,067
Restricted and segregated cash	2,259	2,538
Other investments and assets	362	390
Financial Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	14,283	14,701
Investment certificate reserves	3,869	3,494
Brokerage customer deposits	2,868	3,024
Separate account liabilities	3,654	3,362
Debt and other liabilities	$ 3,554	$ 3,033

Carrying amount of consumer bank loans and other types of receivables.

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The total of current and noncurrent debt and other liabilities not individually reported in the financial statement disclosure.

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The total of all deposits held in bank or brokerage accounts for the benefit of customers.

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The total of all investment certificate deposits held by the entity.

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Reflects the net carrying amount of unpaid loans issued to businesses to provide financing on existing land or a building, which, pursuant to terms of the underlying debt instrument, are secured at a minimum but possibly exclusively by that real property.

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The value of other investments and other assets not individually reported in the financial statement disclosure.

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The aggregate amount of policy reserves (provided for future obligations including unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses) and policy benefits (liability for future policy benefits) as of the balance sheet date; grouped amount of all the liabilities associated with the company's insurance policies.

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Gross amount of loans made to policy and contract holders using their life insurance contracts' cash value or separate accounts as collateral.

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

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Amount of liability for variable contracts that meet specified criteria that are backed by assets held in separate accounts and carried at the fair value of those assets.

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