Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Oct. 24, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Net unrealized securities gains		$ 655,000,000				$ 1,312,000,000				$ 655,000,000	$ 1,312,000,000
Net unrealized derivatives losses		(1,000,000)				(2,000,000)				(1,000,000)	(2,000,000)	(11,000,000)	18,000,000
Foreign currency translation		(13,000,000)				(25,000,000)				(13,000,000)	(25,000,000)
Defined benefit plans		(46,000,000)				(91,000,000)				(46,000,000)	(91,000,000)	(75,000,000)	(24,000,000)
Total		595,000,000				1,194,000,000				595,000,000	1,194,000,000
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Net investment income										1,889,000,000	1,933,000,000	2,046,000,000
Income tax provision										(492,000,000)	(335,000,000)	(377,000,000)
Interest and debt expense										281,000,000	276,000,000	317,000,000
Income from continuing operations before income tax provision		479,000,000	602,000,000	402,000,000	487,000,000	418,000,000	199,000,000	299,000,000	322,000,000	1,970,000,000	1,238,000,000	1,447,000,000
Net of tax		296,000,000	382,000,000	321,000,000	335,000,000	389,000,000	173,000,000	223,000,000	244,000,000	1,334,000,000	1,029,000,000	1,116,000,000
Net unrealized securities losses										319,000,000	(154,000,000)	(193,000,000)
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount	2,000,000,000
Remaining Balance under Stock Repurchase Program										649,000,000
Number of shares reacquired through surrender of restricted shares										0.4	0.3	0.5
Value of shares reacquired through surrender of restricted shares										26,000,000	18,000,000	25,000,000
Number of shares reacquired through net settlement of options										2.9
Aggregate value of shares reacquired through net settlement of options										227,000,000
Net settlement of stock options related to strike price										145,000,000
Value of shares reacquired through net settlement of options										82,000,000
Treasury shares reissued for restricted stock award grants and Ameriprise Financial Franchise Advisor Deferred Compensation Plan (in shares)										1.9	1.8	1.7
Open Market Share Repurchases
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)										17.8	24.6	27.9
Repurchase of common shares										1,500,000,000	1,300,000,000	1,500,000,000
Franchise Advisor Deferral Plan
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)											0.3	0.3
Repurchase of common shares											21,000,000	13,000,000
Net unrealized loss on Available-for-Sale securities
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities losses										319,000,000
Net unrealized loss on Available-for-Sale securities | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Net investment income										(7,000,000)
Income tax provision										2,000,000
Net of tax										(5,000,000)
Losses (gains) on cash flow hedge | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Income tax provision										0
Income from continuing operations before income tax provision										1,000,000
Net of tax										1,000,000
Losses (gains) on cash flow hedge | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Interest rate derivatives
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Interest and debt expense										4,000,000
Losses (gains) on cash flow hedge | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Interest rate swaptions
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax [Abstract]
Net investment income										$ 5,000,000