Investments (EITF info) (Details 5) (Ameriprise Financial [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2014 Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Positions
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	242	576
12 months or more	250	147
Total	492	723
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 2,662	$ 6,712
12 months or more	2,732	1,015
Total	5,394	7,727
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(22)	(210)
12 months or more	(127)	(130)
Total	(149)	(340)
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	132	181
12 months or more	43	12
Total	175	193
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	1,464	2,817
12 months or more	748	181
Total	2,212	2,998
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(12)	(83)
12 months or more	(21)	(14)
Total	(33)	(97)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	66	128
12 months or more	140	113
Total	206	241
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	847	2,393
12 months or more	1,454	663
Total	2,301	3,056
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(9)	(66)
12 months or more	(64)	(71)
Total	(73)	(137)
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	13	35
12 months or more	11	4
Total	24	39
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	134	426
12 months or more	125	22
Total	259	448
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(1)	(10)
12 months or more	(4)	(2)
Total	(5)	(12)
Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	17	40
12 months or more	14	4
Total	31	44
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	173	531
12 months or more	227	32
Total	400	563
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(7)
12 months or more	(4)	(1)
Total	(4)	(8)
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	10	169
12 months or more	28	14
Total	38	183
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	26	468
12 months or more	151	117
Total	177	585
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(36)
12 months or more	(29)	(42)
Total	(29)	(78)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	4	23
12 months or more	14	0
Total	18	23
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	18	77
12 months or more	27	0
Total	45	77
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(8)
12 months or more	(5)	0
Total	$ (5)	$ (8)