Investments (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2014 Corporate debt securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Corporate debt securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2014 Residential mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Residential mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2014 Commercial mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Commercial mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2014 Asset backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Asset backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2014 State and municipal obligations Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 State and municipal obligations Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2014 Foreign government bonds and obligations Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Foreign government bonds and obligations Ameriprise Financial Positions
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Less than twelve months, Number of positions			404	576	134	181	102	128	24	35	36	40	87	169	21	23
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Less than twelve months, Fair value			$ 4,722	$ 6,712	$ 1,834	$ 2,817	$ 1,874	$ 2,393	$ 265	$ 426	$ 434	$ 531	$ 250	$ 468	$ 65	$ 77
Available for Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Aggregate Losses, Accumulated in Investments			(101)	(210)	(35)	(83)	(39)	(66)	(5)	(10)	(4)	(7)	(12)	(36)	(6)	(8)
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Twelve months or longer, Number of positions			170	147	13	12	127	113	2	4	5	4	22	14	1	0
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Twelve months or longer, Fair value			1,332	1,015	232	181	884	663	21	22	61	32	133	117	1	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses, Accumulated in Investments			(126)	(130)	(13)	(14)	(71)	(71)	(2)	(2)	(2)	(1)	(38)	(42)	0	0
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Number of positions			574	723	147	193	229	241	26	39	41	44	109	183	22	23
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Fair value			6,054	7,727	2,066	2,998	2,758	3,056	286	448	495	563	383	585	66	77
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Loss, Accumulated in Investments			(227)	(340)	(48)	(97)	(110)	(137)	(7)	(12)	(6)	(8)	(50)	(78)	(6)	(8)
Balance of Credit Losses Impairment Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income
Beginning balance	147	176
Credit losses for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized	0	2
Reductions for securities sold during the period (realized)	0	(13)
Ending balance	$ 147	$ 165