Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Liabilities:
Cumulative decrease to the embedded derivative liability	$ 169		$ 150
Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	30,478		30,310
Separate account assets	81,872		81,223
Recurring | Level 1 | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Cash equivalents	40		12
Total Available-for-Sale securities	22		22
Trading securities	2		3
Total other assets	309		267
Total assets at fair value	373		304
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	554		550
Total liabilities at fair value	554		550
Recurring | Level 1 | Equity derivatives contracts | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	306		265
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	552		550
Recurring | Level 1 | Foreign currency derivative contract | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	3		2
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	2
Recurring | Level 1 | Other | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities
Recurring | Level 1 | U.S. government and agencies obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	17		17
Recurring | Level 1 | Common stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	5		5
Recurring | Level 2 | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Cash equivalents	1,941		1,841
Total Available-for-Sale securities	28,516		28,165
Trading securities	36		32
Separate account assets	81,872		81,223
Total other assets	2,879		3,151
Total assets at fair value	115,244		114,412
Liabilities:
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, Fair Value Disclosure	5		5
Customer deposits	6		7
Total other liabilities	3,858		4,270
Total liabilities at fair value	3,869		4,282
Recurring | Level 2 | Interest rate derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1,545		1,570
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	1,442		1,693
Recurring | Level 2 | Equity derivatives contracts | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1,330		1,576
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	2,399		2,565
Recurring | Level 2 | Credit derivative contract | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1		3
Recurring | Level 2 | Foreign currency derivative contract | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	3		2
Recurring | Level 2 | EIA embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, Fair Value Disclosure	5		5
Recurring | Level 2 | Other | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	17		12
Recurring | Level 2 | Corporate debt securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	15,898		15,826
Recurring | Level 2 | Residential mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	6,003		5,937
Recurring | Level 2 | Commercial mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,706		2,711
Recurring | Level 2 | Asset backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	1,316		1,244
Recurring | Level 2 | State and municipal obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,298		2,160
Recurring | Level 2 | U.S. government and agencies obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	35		35
Recurring | Level 2 | Foreign government bonds and obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	252		245
Recurring | Level 2 | Common stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	8		7
Recurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	1,940		2,123
Trading securities	2		2
Total assets at fair value	1,942		2,125
Liabilities:
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, Fair Value Disclosure	(317)		(450)
Total liabilities at fair value	(317)		(450)
Recurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | IUL embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, Fair Value Disclosure	154		125
Recurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, Fair Value Disclosure	(471)		(575)	[1]
Recurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Corporate debt securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	1,566		1,640
Recurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	87		187
Recurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	75		30
Recurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Asset backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	206		260
Recurring | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 3 [Member] | Common stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	6		6
Recurring | Total | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Cash equivalents	1,981		1,853
Total Available-for-Sale securities	30,478		30,310
Trading securities	40		37
Separate account assets	81,872		81,223
Total other assets	3,188		3,418
Total assets at fair value	117,559		116,841
Liabilities:
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, Fair Value Disclosure	(312)	[2]	(445)	[3]
Customer deposits	6		7
Total other liabilities	4,412		4,820
Total liabilities at fair value	4,106		4,382
Recurring | Total | Interest rate derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1,545		1,570
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	1,442		1,693
Recurring | Total | Equity derivatives contracts | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1,636		1,841
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	2,951		3,115
Recurring | Total | Credit derivative contract | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	1		3
Recurring | Total | Foreign currency derivative contract | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total other assets	6		4
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	2
Recurring | Total | EIA embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, Fair Value Disclosure	5		5
Recurring | Total | IUL embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, Fair Value Disclosure	154		125
Recurring | Total | GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives [Member] | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims, Fair Value Disclosure	(471)	[4]	(575)	[1]
Recurring | Total | Other | Ameriprise Financial
Liabilities:
Total other liabilities	17		12
Recurring | Total | Corporate debt securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	17,464		17,466
Recurring | Total | Residential mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	6,090		6,124
Recurring | Total | Commercial mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,781		2,741
Recurring | Total | Asset backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	1,522		1,504
Recurring | Total | State and municipal obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	2,298		2,160
Recurring | Total | U.S. government and agencies obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	52		52
Recurring | Total | Foreign government bonds and obligations | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	252		245
Recurring | Total | Common stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Assets
Total Available-for-Sale securities	$ 19		$ 18

[1] 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.

[2] The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $169 million cumulative increase to the embedded derivatives.

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

[4] The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives was a net asset at March 31, 2014 and the amount is reported as a contra liability.