Earnings per Share Attributable to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Common Shareholders (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	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
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 382	$ 448	$ 282	$ 366	$ 331	$ 152	$ 171	$ 249	$ 1,478	$ 903	$ 1,070
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	84	67	(40)	30	(57)	(22)	(53)	4	141	(128)	(106)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Ameriprise Financial									1,337	1,031	1,176
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(2)	1	(1)	(1)	1	(1)	(1)	(1)	(3)	(2)	(60)
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial	$ 296	$ 382	$ 321	$ 335	$ 389	$ 173	$ 223	$ 244	$ 1,334	$ 1,029	$ 1,116
Denominator:
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding	198.3	201.3	204.9	208.4	210.8	215.0	221.7	227.3	203.2	218.7	241.4
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)									3.9	4.1	4.9
Diluted: Weighted-average common shares outstanding	202.3	205.1	208.6	212.3	215.1	219.1	225.6	231.7	207.1	222.8	246.3
Basic:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.50	$ 1.90	$ 1.57	$ 1.61	$ 1.84	$ 0.81	$ 1.01	$ 1.08	$ 6.58	$ 4.71	$ 4.87
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)				$ 0.01	$ (0.01)		$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.25)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.49	$ 1.90	$ 1.57	$ 1.61	$ 1.85	$ 0.80	$ 1.01	$ 1.07	$ 6.56	$ 4.70	$ 4.62
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.47	$ 1.86	$ 1.54	$ 1.58	$ 1.80	$ 0.79	$ 0.99	$ 1.06	$ 6.46	$ 4.63	$ 4.77
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)				$ 0.01			$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.24)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.46	$ 1.86	$ 1.54	$ 1.58	$ 1.81	$ 0.79	$ 0.99	$ 1.05	$ 6.44	$ 4.62	$ 4.53
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)									0	0	6.1