Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Level 3 rollforwards-Assets) (Details 2) (Ameriprise Financial [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	$ 1,565		$ 1,667		$ 1,640		$ 1,764
Total gains (losses) included in net income			(1)		(1)		(2)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(12)		3		4		(34)
Purchases	37				159		74
Sales					(11)
Settlements	(24)		(37)		(225)		(170)
Transfers out of Level 3
Balance, at the end of the period	1,566		1,632		1,566		1,632
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income	(1)		(1)		(2)		(2)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	214		69		187		284
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)			(1)				(1)
Purchases	170		245		388		307
Settlements	(6)		(6)		(18)		(7)
Transfers out of Level 3	(105)		(19)		(284)		(295)
Balance, at the end of the period	273		288		273		288
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	15		210		30		206
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)							(6)
Purchases					60		10
Settlements			(36)				(36)
Transfers into Level 3	78				78
Transfers out of Level 3			(159)		(75)		(159)
Balance, at the end of the period	93		15		93		15
Asset backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	185		214		260		178
Total gains (losses) included in net income					1		1
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(1)		(2)		(1)		5
Purchases	11		29		32		200
Settlements	(2)		(1)		(10)		(4)
Transfers into Level 3							8
Transfers out of Level 3			(37)		(89)		(185)
Balance, at the end of the period	193		203		193		203
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income			1		1		1
Common stocks [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	6		5		6		6
Transfers out of Level 3	(1)		0		(1)		(1)
Balance, at the end of the period	5		5		5		5
Total available-for-sale securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	1,985		2,165		2,123		2,438
Total gains (losses) included in net income			(1)	[1]			(1)	[1]
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(13)				3		(36)
Purchases	218		274		639		591
Sales					(11)
Settlements	(32)		(80)		(253)		(217)
Transfers into Level 3	78				78		8
Transfers out of Level 3	(106)		(215)		(449)		(640)
Balance, at the end of the period	2,130		2,143		2,130		2,143
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income	(1)				(1)		(1)
Trading securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	1				2
Purchases					1
Sales					(2)
Transfers out of Level 3	0
Balance, at the end of the period	1				1
Other derivative contracts [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	1
Total gains (losses) included in net income	(1)	[2]			(1)	[2]
Purchases	1				2
Balance, at the end of the period	1				1
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	$ (1)				$ (1)

[1] Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

[2] Included in benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.