Investments (ASF Net Unrealized Gains and Losses) (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014 Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Ameriprise Financial Positions	Jun. 30, 2014 Corporate debt securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Corporate debt securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Jun. 30, 2014 Residential mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Residential mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Jun. 30, 2014 Commercial mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Commercial mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Jun. 30, 2014 Asset backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Asset backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Jun. 30, 2014 State and municipal obligations Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 State and municipal obligations Ameriprise Financial Positions	Jun. 30, 2014 Foreign government bonds and obligations Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Foreign government bonds and obligations Ameriprise Financial Positions
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Less than twelve months, Number of positions					120	576	35	181	58	128	9	35	5	40	10	169	3	23
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Less than twelve months, Fair value					$ 1,101	$ 6,712	$ 270	$ 2,817	$ 657	$ 2,393	$ 41	$ 426	$ 83	$ 531	$ 30	$ 468	$ 20	$ 77
Available for Sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Less than Twelve Months, Aggregate Losses, Accumulated in Investments					(8)	(210)	(1)	(83)	(6)	(66)	0	(10)	(1)	(7)	0	(36)	0	(8)
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Twelve months or longer, Number of positions					295	147	51	12	150	113	9	4	16	4	55	14	14	0
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Twelve months or longer, Fair value					2,886	1,015	801	181	1,486	663	105	22	231	32	236	117	27	0
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Twelve Months or Longer, Aggregate Losses, Accumulated in Investments					(136)	(130)	(18)	(14)	(74)	(71)	(4)	(2)	(3)	(1)	(32)	(42)	(5)	0
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Number of positions					415	723	86	193	208	241	18	39	21	44	65	183	17	23
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Fair value					3,987	7,727	1,071	2,998	2,143	3,056	146	448	314	563	266	585	47	77
Available-for-sale Securities, Continuous Unrealized Loss Position, Aggregate Loss, Accumulated in Investments					(144)	(340)	(19)	(97)	(80)	(137)	(4)	(12)	(4)	(8)	(32)	(78)	(5)	(8)
Balance of Credit Losses Impairment Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income
Beginning balance	147	165	147	176
Credit losses for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized	1	2	1	4
Reductions for securities sold during the period (realized)	0	(10)	0	(23)
Ending balance	$ 148	$ 157	$ 148	$ 157