Investments (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Available-for-sale Securities, Net Realized Gain (Loss) [Abstract]
Other-than-temporary impairments	$ (1)	$ (3)
Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Net Realized Gain (Loss) [Abstract]
Gross realized gains	7	4
Gross realized losses	(1)	0
Other-than-temporary impairments	(1)	(3)
Total	5	1
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, debt maturities, without single maturity date	28,642
Amortized Cost	28,642		28,839
Fair value, debt maturities, without single maturity date	30,478
Fair Value	30,478		30,310
Residential mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, debt maturities, without single maturity date	6,049
Amortized Cost	6,049		6,114
Fair value, debt maturities, without single maturity date	6,090
Fair Value	6,090		6,124
Commercial mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, debt maturities, without single maturity date	2,649
Amortized Cost	2,649		2,612
Fair value, debt maturities, without single maturity date	2,781
Fair Value	2,781		2,741
Asset backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, debt maturities, without single maturity date	1,474
Amortized Cost	1,474		1,459
Fair value, debt maturities, without single maturity date	1,522
Fair Value	1,522		1,504
Common Stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, debt maturities, without single maturity date	7
Amortized Cost	7		7
Fair value, debt maturities, without single maturity date	19
Fair Value	19		18
Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value | Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale Securities, Contractual Maturity [Abstract]
Amortized cost, due within one year	1,525
Amortized cost, due after one year through five years	6,536
Amortized cost, due after five years through 10 years	5,678
Amortized cost, due after 10 years	4,724
Amortized cost, debt maturities, single maturity date	18,463
Fair value, due within one year	1,549
Fair value, due after one year through five years	7,069
Fair value, due after five years through 10 years	5,998
Fair value, due after 10 years	5,450
Fair value, debt maturities, single maturity date	$ 20,066