Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Transfers out of Level 3			$ (146)		$ (3,900)
Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value | Ameriprise Financial
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Investment Income	(1)		2		(31)
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	2,438		1,814		6,104
Total gains (losses) included in Net income	(1)	[1]	(42)	[2]	63	[2]
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)	(37)		89		(117)
Purchases	754		874		967
Settlements	(274)		(233)		(1,098)
Transfers into Level 3	8		257		22
Transfers out of Level 3	(765)		(209)		(4,074)
Balance, at the end of the period	2,123		2,438		1,814
Sales, Net-Assets			(112)		(53)
Corporate debt securities | Ameriprise Financial
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Investment Income	(3)		(1)
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	1,764		1,355		1,325
Total gains (losses) included in Net income	(3)		(1)		7
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)	(41)		12		11
Purchases	135		543		189
Settlements	(215)		(155)		(122)
Transfers into Level 3			10		7
Transfers out of Level 3					(11)
Balance, at the end of the period	1,640		1,764		1,355
Sales, Net-Assets			0		(51)
Residential mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Investment Income					(33)
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	284		215		4,532
Total gains (losses) included in Net income			(45)		53
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)			68		(118)
Purchases	335		309		556
Settlements	(18)		(56)		(943)
Transfers into Level 3			42
Transfers out of Level 3	(414)		(174)		(3,863)
Balance, at the end of the period	187		284		215
Sales, Net-Assets			(75)		(2)
Commercial mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Investment Income			1
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	206		50		51
Total gains (losses) included in Net income			1
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)	(6)		8
Purchases	25		20		104
Settlements	(36)		(3)		(4)
Transfers into Level 3			183		1
Transfers out of Level 3	(159)		(34)		(102)
Balance, at the end of the period	30		206		50
Sales, Net-Assets			(19)
Asset backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Investment Income	2		2		2
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	178		189		191
Total gains (losses) included in Net income	2		3		3
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)	9		1		(10)
Purchases	259				118
Settlements	(5)		(19)		(29)
Transfers into Level 3	8		22		14
Transfers out of Level 3	(191)				(98)
Balance, at the end of the period	260		178		189
Sales, Net-Assets			(18)
Common Stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	6		5		5
Total gains (losses) included in Net income					0
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)	1
Purchases			2
Settlements
Transfers into Level 3
Transfers out of Level 3	(1)		(1)
Balance, at the end of the period	6		6		5
Sales, Net-Assets			0
Future Policy Benefits and Unpaid Claims | Ameriprise Financial
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Fair Value Assets or Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Interest Credited to Fixed Accounts	(19)		8
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Transfers into Level 3			(22)
Summary of changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	(878)		(1,585)
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Net Income	1,598		956
Issues	(290)		(219)
Settlements	20		(8)
Balance, at the end of the period	450		(878)
Fair Value Assets or Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expenses	1,598		908
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Cumulative Decrease in Embedded Derivative Liability	(168)		(71)		216
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Transfers into Level 3			0
Summary of changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	(833)		(1,585)		(421)
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Net Income	1,617	[3]	948	[3]	(1,007)	[3]
Issues	(228)		(188)		(149)
Settlements	19		(8)		(8)
Balance, at the end of the period	575		(833)		(1,585)
Fair Value Assets or Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expenses	1,598		908		(1,035)
IUL embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Fair Value Assets or Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Interest Credited to Fixed Accounts	(19)		8
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Transfers into Level 3			(22)
Summary of changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	(45)
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Net Income	(19)	[4]	8	[4]
Issues	(62)		(31)
Settlements	(1)
Balance, at the end of the period	(125)		(45)
Trading Securities [Member] | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Purchases	2
Balance, at the end of the period	$ 2

[1] Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

[2] Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations

[3] Included in benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

[4] Included in interest credited to fixed accounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.