Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Liabilities:
Cumulative decrease to the embedded derivative liability	$ 150		$ 398
Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	30,310		31,472
Separate account assets	81,223		72,397
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 1
Assets
Cash equivalents	12		18
Total Available-for-Sale securities	22		22
Trading securities	3		1
Other assets	267		285
Fair value of assets	304		326
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	550		260
Total liabilities at fair value	550		260
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 1 | U.S. government and agencies obligations
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	17		19
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 1 | Common stocks
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	5		3
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 1 | Equity derivatives contracts
Assets
Other assets	265		285
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	550		258
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 1 | Foreign currency derivative contract
Assets
Other assets	2
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities			1
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 1 | Other
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities			1
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2
Assets
Cash equivalents	1,841		1,539
Total Available-for-Sale securities	28,165		29,012
Trading securities	32		24
Separate account assets	81,223		72,397
Other assets	3,151		3,338
Fair value of assets	114,412		106,310
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	5		2
Customer deposits	7		8
Total other liabilities	4,270		3,054
Total liabilities at fair value	4,282		3,064
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Corporate debt securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	15,826		17,051
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Residential mortgage backed securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	5,937		5,145
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage backed securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,711		3,213
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Asset backed securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	1,244		1,097
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | State and municipal obligations
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,160		2,239
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | U.S. government and agencies obligations
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	35		39
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Foreign government bonds and obligations
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	245		224
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Common stocks
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	7		4
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Interest rate derivatives
Assets
Other assets	1,570		2,358
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	1,693		1,486
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Equity derivatives contracts
Assets
Other assets	1,576		973
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	2,565		1,565
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Credit derivative contract
Assets
Other assets	3
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Foreign currency derivative contract
Assets
Other assets	2		6
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Commodity derivative
Assets
Other assets			1
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | EIA embedded derivatives
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	5		2
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 2 | Other
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	12		3
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 3
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,123		2,438
Trading securities	2
Other assets	0
Fair value of assets	2,125		2,438
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	(450)		878
Total liabilities at fair value	(450)		878
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 3 | Corporate debt securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	1,640		1,764
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 3 | Residential mortgage backed securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	187		284
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 3 | Commercial mortgage backed securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	30		206
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 3 | Asset backed securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	260		178
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 3 | Common stocks
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	6		6
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 3 | IUL embedded derivatives
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	125		45
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Level 3 | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	(575)		833
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total
Assets
Cash equivalents	1,853		1,557
Total Available-for-Sale securities	30,310		31,472
Trading securities	37		25
Separate account assets	81,223		72,397
Other assets	3,418		3,623
Fair value of assets	116,841		109,074
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	(445)	[1]	880	[2]
Customer deposits	7		8
Total other liabilities	4,820		3,314
Total liabilities at fair value	4,382		4,202
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Corporate debt securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	17,466		18,815
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Residential mortgage backed securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	6,124		5,429
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Commercial mortgage backed securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,741		3,419
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Asset backed securities
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	1,504		1,275
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | State and municipal obligations
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,160		2,239
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | U.S. government and agencies obligations
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	52		58
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Foreign government bonds and obligations
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	245		224
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Common stocks
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	18		13
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Interest rate derivatives
Assets
Other assets	1,570		2,358
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	1,693		1,486
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Equity derivatives contracts
Assets
Other assets	1,841		1,258
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	3,115		1,823
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Credit derivative contract
Assets
Other assets	3
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Foreign currency derivative contract
Assets
Other assets	4		6
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities			1
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Commodity derivative
Assets
Other assets			1
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | EIA embedded derivatives
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	5		2
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Other
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	12		4
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | Embedded Derivative GMWB and GMAB | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	(575)	[3]	833
Recurring | Ameriprise Financial | Total | IUL embedded derivatives | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | IUL embedded derivatives
Liabilities:
Total future policy benefits and claims	$ 125		$ 45

[1] The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $150 million cumulative decrease to the embedded derivatives.

[2] The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $398 million cumulative decrease to the embedded derivatives.

[3] The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives was a net asset at December 31, 2013 and the amount is reported as a contra liability.