Investments (AFS by Type) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	85.00%			85.00%			85.00%
Summary of net investment income
Investment income on fixed maturities	$ 375,000,000		$ 403,000,000	$ 749,000,000		$ 804,000,000
Net realized gains (losses)	1,000,000		0	6,000,000		1,000,000
Affordable housing partnerships	(6,000,000)		(1,000,000)	(12,000,000)		(8,000,000)
Other	20,000,000		42,000,000	44,000,000		59,000,000
Consolidated investment entities	43,000,000		7,000,000	117,000,000		84,000,000
Net investment income	433,000,000		451,000,000	904,000,000		940,000,000
Ameriprise Financial
Fixed Maturity Investments Rated Internally	1,400,000,000			1,400,000,000			1,400,000,000
Investments	35,958,000,000			35,958,000,000			35,735,000,000
Summary of net investment income
Amortized Cost	28,282,000,000			28,282,000,000			28,839,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments	2,348,000,000			2,348,000,000			1,811,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInvestments	(144,000,000)			(144,000,000)			(340,000,000)
Fair Value	30,486,000,000			30,486,000,000			30,310,000,000
Non-Credit OTTI	(13,000,000)	[1]		(13,000,000)	[1]		(26,000,000)	[1]
Ameriprise Financial | Corporate debt securities
Summary of net investment income
Amortized Cost	15,717,000,000			15,717,000,000			16,233,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments	1,713,000,000			1,713,000,000			1,330,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInvestments	(19,000,000)			(19,000,000)			(97,000,000)
Fair Value	17,411,000,000			17,411,000,000			17,466,000,000
Non-Credit OTTI	3,000,000	[1]		3,000,000	[1]		3,000,000	[1]
Ameriprise Financial | Residential mortgage backed securities
Summary of net investment income
Amortized Cost	6,065,000,000			6,065,000,000			6,114,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments	173,000,000			173,000,000			147,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInvestments	(80,000,000)			(80,000,000)			(137,000,000)
Fair Value	6,158,000,000			6,158,000,000			6,124,000,000
Non-Credit OTTI	(21,000,000)	[1]		(21,000,000)	[1]		(33,000,000)	[1]
Ameriprise Financial | Commercial mortgage backed securities
Summary of net investment income
Amortized Cost	2,626,000,000			2,626,000,000			2,612,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments	146,000,000			146,000,000			141,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInvestments	(4,000,000)			(4,000,000)			(12,000,000)
Fair Value	2,768,000,000			2,768,000,000			2,741,000,000
Non-Credit OTTI	0			0			0
Ameriprise Financial | Asset backed securities
Summary of net investment income
Amortized Cost	1,451,000,000			1,451,000,000			1,459,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments	59,000,000			59,000,000			53,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInvestments	(4,000,000)			(4,000,000)			(8,000,000)
Fair Value	1,506,000,000			1,506,000,000			1,504,000,000
Non-Credit OTTI	0			0			0
Ameriprise Financial | State and municipal obligations
Summary of net investment income
Amortized Cost	2,135,000,000			2,135,000,000			2,132,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments	214,000,000			214,000,000			106,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInvestments	(32,000,000)			(32,000,000)			(78,000,000)
Fair Value	2,317,000,000			2,317,000,000			2,160,000,000
Non-Credit OTTI	0			0			0
Ameriprise Financial | U.S. government and agencies obligations
Summary of net investment income
Amortized Cost	42,000,000			42,000,000			47,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments	5,000,000			5,000,000			5,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInvestments	0			0			0
Fair Value	47,000,000			47,000,000			52,000,000
Non-Credit OTTI	0			0			0
Ameriprise Financial | Foreign government bonds and obligations
Summary of net investment income
Amortized Cost	238,000,000			238,000,000			235,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments	25,000,000			25,000,000			18,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInvestments	(5,000,000)			(5,000,000)			(8,000,000)
Fair Value	258,000,000			258,000,000			245,000,000
Non-Credit OTTI	0			0			0
Ameriprise Financial | Common Stocks
Summary of net investment income
Amortized Cost	8,000,000			8,000,000			7,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedGainAccumulatedInvestments	13,000,000			13,000,000			11,000,000
AvailableForSaleSecuritiesGrossUnrealizedLossAccumulatedInvestments	0			0			0
Fair Value	21,000,000			21,000,000			18,000,000
Non-Credit OTTI	5,000,000	[1]		5,000,000	[1]		4,000,000	[1]
Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value | Ameriprise Financial
Investments	30,486,000,000			30,486,000,000			30,310,000,000
Mortgage Loans | Ameriprise Financial
Investments	3,474,000,000			3,474,000,000			3,510,000,000
Policy and certificate loans | Ameriprise Financial
Investments	792,000,000			792,000,000			774,000,000
Other Investments | Ameriprise Financial
Investments	$ 1,206,000,000			$ 1,206,000,000			$ 1,141,000,000

[1] Represents the amount of other-than-temporary impairment (“OTTI”) losses in accumulated other comprehensive income. Amount includes unrealized gains and losses on impaired securities subsequent to the initial impairment measurement date. These amounts are included in gross unrealized gains and losses as of the end of the period.