Investments (Details 2) (USD $)	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Security Owned and Pledged as Collateral, Fair Value	$ 2,300,000,000	$ 1,300,000,000
Fixed maturity securities percentage of total investments	85.00%
GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC mortgage backed securities, percentage of securities rated AAA	45.00%	35.00%
Holdings of Issuer Other Than GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC as Percentage of Shareholders Equity Maximum	10.00%
Ameriprise Financial
Fixed maturity securities percentage of total investments	85.00%	85.00%
Investments rated internally	1,400,000,000	1,700,000,000
Amortized Cost	28,832,000,000	28,503,000,000
Fair Value	30,292,000,000	31,459,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	100.00%	100.00%
AAA | Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	7,562,000,000	7,462,000,000
Fair Value	7,746,000,000	8,021,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	25.00%	26.00%
AA | Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	1,587,000,000	1,620,000,000
Fair Value	1,707,000,000	1,827,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	6.00%	6.00%
A | Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	6,381,000,000	5,456,000,000
Fair Value	6,738,000,000	6,069,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	22.00%	19.00%
BBB | Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	11,427,000,000	11,939,000,000
Fair Value	12,272,000,000	13,575,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	41.00%	43.00%
Below investment grade | Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	1,875,000,000	2,026,000,000
Fair Value	$ 1,829,000,000	$ 1,967,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	6.00%	6.00%