Investments (AFS by Type) (Details 3) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Investments
Security owned and pledged as collateral, fair value	$ 1,700,000,000		$ 2,300,000,000
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Investments
Amortized cost	28,271,000,000		28,839,000,000
Gross unrealized gains	2,134,000,000		1,811,000,000
Gross unrealized losses	(149,000,000)		(340,000,000)
Fair value	30,256,000,000		30,310,000,000
Noncredit OTTI	(8,000,000)	[1]	(26,000,000)	[1]
Corporate debt securities [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Investments
Amortized cost	15,804,000,000		16,233,000,000
Gross unrealized gains	1,551,000,000		1,330,000,000
Gross unrealized losses	(33,000,000)		(97,000,000)
Fair value	17,322,000,000		17,466,000,000
Noncredit OTTI	3,000,000	[1]	3,000,000	[1]
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Investments
Amortized cost	6,152,000,000		6,114,000,000
Gross unrealized gains	153,000,000		147,000,000
Gross unrealized losses	(73,000,000)		(137,000,000)
Fair value	6,232,000,000		6,124,000,000
Noncredit OTTI	(16,000,000)	[1]	(33,000,000)	[1]
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Investments
Amortized cost	2,522,000,000		2,612,000,000
Gross unrealized gains	120,000,000		141,000,000
Gross unrealized losses	(5,000,000)		(12,000,000)
Fair value	2,637,000,000		2,741,000,000
Asset backed securities [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Investments
Amortized cost	1,440,000,000		1,459,000,000
Gross unrealized gains	52,000,000		53,000,000
Gross unrealized losses	(4,000,000)		(8,000,000)
Fair value	1,488,000,000		1,504,000,000
State and municipal obligations [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Investments
Amortized cost	2,066,000,000		2,132,000,000
Gross unrealized gains	220,000,000		106,000,000
Gross unrealized losses	(29,000,000)		(78,000,000)
Fair value	2,257,000,000		2,160,000,000
U.S. government and agencies obligations [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Investments
Amortized cost	42,000,000		47,000,000
Gross unrealized gains	5,000,000		5,000,000
Fair value	47,000,000		52,000,000
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Investments
Amortized cost	237,000,000		235,000,000
Gross unrealized gains	21,000,000		18,000,000
Gross unrealized losses	(5,000,000)		(8,000,000)
Fair value	253,000,000		245,000,000
Common stocks [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Investments
Amortized cost	8,000,000		7,000,000
Gross unrealized gains	12,000,000		11,000,000
Fair value	20,000,000		18,000,000
Noncredit OTTI	$ 5,000,000	[1]	$ 4,000,000	[1]

[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.