Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																								3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2013 Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2014 Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims [Member] Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2013 Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims [Member] Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2014 GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives [Member] Ameriprise Financial		Mar. 31, 2013 GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives [Member] Ameriprise Financial		Mar. 31, 2014 Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2013 Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2014 Corporate debt securities	Mar. 31, 2014 Corporate debt securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2013 Corporate debt securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2014 Residential mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2013 Residential mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2014 Commercial mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2013 Commercial mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2014 Asset backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2013 Asset backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2014 Common Stocks Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2013 Common Stocks Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2014 Asset-backed Securities [Member]	Mar. 31, 2014 Trading Securities [Member] Ameriprise Financial	Dec. 31, 2013 Trading Securities [Member] Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2014 IUL embedded derivatives Ameriprise Financial		Mar. 31, 2013 IUL embedded derivatives Ameriprise Financial		Mar. 31, 2014 GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives [Member] Discounted Cash Flow Technique [Member] Ameriprise Financial		Dec. 31, 2013 GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives [Member] Discounted Cash Flow Technique [Member] Ameriprise Financial
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Nonperformance risk (as a percent)																													0.70%	[1]	0.74%	[1]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss)									$ (1)
Fair Value Assets Measured on Recurring Basis Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Realized Investment Gains (Losses)											(1)											0
Fair Value Assets or Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Interest Credited to Fixed Accounts			(6)	(4)																					(6)		(4)
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period									2,123	2,438		1,640	1,764	187	284	30	206	260	178	6	6		2	2
Total gains (losses) included in Net income
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income (loss)									4	3		4					(2)		5
Purchases									239	193		76	54	82		60		21	139
Settlements									(152)	(55)		(143)	(54)	(3)				(6)	(1)
Transfers out of Level 3									(263)	(277)				(179)	(276)	(15)		(69)			(1)
Balance, at the end of the period									1,940	2,302		1,566	1,764	87	8	75	204	206	321	6	5		2	2
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Sales									(11)			(11)
Summary of changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period			450	(878)	575		(833)																		(125)		(45)
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Net Income			(58)	614	(52)	[2]	618	[2]																	(6)	[3]	(4)	[4]
Issues			(83)	(62)	(59)		(50)																		(24)		(12)
Settlements			(8)	(1)	(7)		1																		(1)
Balance, at the end of the period			317	(327)	471		(266)																		(154)		(61)
Net Increase (Decrease) to Pretax Income from Embedded Derivative Liability	15	(62)
Fair Value Assets or Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) Included in Benefits, Claims, Losses and Settlement Expenses			$ (52)	$ 609	$ (52)		$ 609

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

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

[3] 2014 amounts represent the amounts payable and receivable for the period from April 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014.

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