Investments (Securities by rating) (Details 2) (USD $)	Jun. 30, 2014 item	Dec. 31, 2013
Number of holdings of other than GNMA, FNMA, and FHLMC having greater than 10% of total equity	0
Security Owned and Pledged as Collateral, Fair Value	$ 2,000,000,000	$ 2,300,000,000
Available-for-sale Debt Securities, Amortized Cost Basis	85.00%	85.00%
Ameriprise Financial
Gnma, Fnma and Fhlmc Mortgage Backed Securities Percentage of Securities Rated Aaa	48.00%	45.00%
Amortized Cost	28,274,000,000	28,832,000,000
Fair Value	30,465,000,000	30,292,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	100.00%	100.00%
Fixed Maturity Investments Rated Internally	1,400,000,000	1,400,000,000
AAA | Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	7,443,000,000	7,562,000,000
Fair Value	7,723,000,000	7,746,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	25.00%	25.00%
AA | Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	1,496,000,000	1,587,000,000
Fair Value	1,693,000,000	1,707,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	6.00%	6.00%
A | Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	6,241,000,000	6,381,000,000
Fair Value	6,798,000,000	6,738,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	22.00%	22.00%
BBB | Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	11,281,000,000	11,427,000,000
Fair Value	12,435,000,000	12,272,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	41.00%	41.00%
Below investment grade | Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	1,813,000,000	1,875,000,000
Fair Value	$ 1,816,000,000	$ 1,829,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value	6.00%	6.00%