Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $) Share data in Millions, unless otherwise specified	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Apr. 30, 2014	Oct. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI
Net investment income			$ 471,000,000	$ 489,000,000
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes			650,000,000	487,000,000
Interest and debt expense			79,000,000	66,000,000
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount	2,500,000,000	2,000,000,000
Income tax provision			134,000,000	121,000,000
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)			3.2	5.2
Repurchase of common shares			354,000,000	360,000,000
Remaining Balance under Stock Repurchase Program			295,000,000
Number of shares reacquired through surrender of restricted shares			0.8	0.4
Number of shares reacquired through net settlement of options			0.7	1.3
Aggregate value of shares reacquired through net settlement of options			74,000,000	87,000,000
Value of shares reacquired through surrender of restricted shares			88,000,000	24,000,000
Treasury shares reissued for restricted stock award grants and Ameriprise Financial Franchise Advisor Deferred Compensation Plan (in shares)			1.6	1.9
Net unrealized loss on Available-for-Sale securities | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI
Net investment income			(5,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Net of tax			(3,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Income tax provision			2,000,000	0
Losses (gains) on cash flow hedge | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes			0	0
Net of tax			0	0
Income tax provision			0	0
Losses (gains) on cash flow hedge | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Interest rate derivatives
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI
Interest and debt expense			(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Losses (gains) on cash flow hedge | Amount Reclassified from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Interest rate swaptions
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI
Net investment income			$ 1,000,000	$ 1,000,000
Incentive Compensation Plan 2005 [Member]
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Additional Shares Authorized	16.5
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Number of Shares Authorized	54.4
Maximum Shares to be Issued Full Value Awards	4.5