Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Corporate debt securities (private placements) | Maximum | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries (as a percent)	5.30%		8.50%
Corporate debt securities (private placements) | Minimum | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries (as a percent)	0.90%		1.10%
Corporate debt securities (private placements) | Weighted Average | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries (as a percent)	1.50%		2.10%
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Nonperformance risk (as a percent)	0.74%	[1]	0.97%	[1]
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Maximum | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals (as a percent)	51.10%	[2]	56.40%	[2]
Surrender Rate (as a percent)	57.90%		56.30%
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	18.80%	[3]	21.20%	[3]
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Minimum | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals (as a percent)	0.00%	[2]	0.00%	[2]
Surrender Rate (as a percent)	0.10%		0.00%
Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Volatility Rate	4.90%	[3]	5.60%	[3]
IUL embedded derivatives | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Nonperformance risk (as a percent)	0.74%	[1]	0.97%	[1]
Embedded Derivative GMWB and GMAB | Maximum | Discounted cash flow valuation technique
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Fair Value Assumptions, Elective Contractholder Strategy Allocations	50.00%	[4]
Embedded Derivative GMWB and GMAB | Minimum | Discounted cash flow valuation technique
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Fair Value Assumptions, Elective Contractholder Strategy Allocations	0.00%	[4]
Corporate debt securities | Discounted cash flow valuation technique
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Fair value of assets	$ 1,589		$ 1,712
Total | Recurring | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Fair value of assets	116,841		109,074
Fair value	4,382		4,202
Total future policy benefits and claims	(445)	[5]	880	[6]
Total | Recurring | IUL embedded derivatives | IUL embedded derivatives | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Total future policy benefits and claims	125		45
Total | Recurring | Embedded Derivative GMWB and GMAB | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Discounted cash flow valuation technique | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of the significant unobservable inputs
Total future policy benefits and claims	$ (575)	[7]	$ 833

[1] The nonperformance risk is the spread added to the observable interest rates used in the valuation of the embedded derivatives.

[2] The utilization of guaranteed withdrawals represents the percentage of policyholders that will begin withdrawing in any given year.

[3] Market volatility is implied volatility of fund of funds and managed volatility funds.

[4] The elective allocation represents the percentage of contractholders that are assumed to electively switch their investment allocation to a different allocation model.

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

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

[7] 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.