CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2013
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net income	$ 1,547	$ 1,095
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	193	175
Deferred income tax benefit	(75)	(73)
Share-based compensation	97	106
Net realized investment gains	(18)	(13)
Net trading gains	(6)	0
Loss (income) from equity method investments	10	(28)
Other-than-temporary impairments and provision for loan losses	8	7
Net gains of consolidated investment entities	(337)	(63)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted and segregated cash and investments	(23)	193
Deferred acquisition costs	28	(98)
Other investments, net	(152)	(2)
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims, net	516	(1,024)
Derivatives, net of collateral	(485)	1,094
Receivables	(346)	(138)
Brokerage deposits	202	(157)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	52	62
Cash held by consolidated investment entities	149	249
Investment properties of consolidated investment entities	177	(357)
Other operating assets and liabilities of consolidated investment entities, net	39	(46)
Other, net	405	124
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,981	1,106
Available-for-Sale securities:
Proceeds from sales	435	327
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls	2,856	3,826
Purchases	(2,513)	(4,094)
Proceeds from maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	419	548
Funding of mortgage loans	(375)	(478)
Proceeds from sales and collections of other investments	153	248
Purchase of other investments	(334)	(267)
Purchase of investments by consolidated investment entities	(2,368)	(2,437)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of investments by consolidated investment entities	1,643	2,215
Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software	(89)	(68)
Other, net	1	37
Net cash used in investing activities	(172)	(143)
Investment certificates:
Proceeds from additions	1,894	1,752
Maturities, withdrawals and cash surrenders	(1,646)	(1,377)
Policyholder account balances:
Deposits and other additions	1,526	1,589
Net transfers to separate accounts	(167)	(54)
Surrenders and other benefits	(1,896)	(1,479)
Cash paid for purchased options with deferred premiums	(318)	(290)
Cash received from purchased options with deferred premiums	54	0
Issuance from debt, net of issuance costs	543	593
Repayments of debt	(200)	0
Change in short-term borrowings, net	(301)	(2)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(319)	(300)
Repurchase of common shares	(1,191)	(1,205)
Exercise of stock options	25	100
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	133	101
Borrowings by consolidated investment entities	1,559	1,187
Repayments of debt by consolidated investment entities	(918)	(969)
Noncontrolling interests investments in subsidiaries	113	290
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(448)	(142)
Other, net	(1)	(1)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,558)	(207)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(7)	(2)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	244	754
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,632	2,371
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,876	3,125
Supplemental Disclosures
Income taxes paid, net	345	182
Non-cash investing activity:
Affordable housing partnership commitments not yet remitted	0	26
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Supplemental Disclosures
Interest paid	123	124
Consolidated investment entities [Member]
Policyholder account balances:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	419
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	279
Supplemental Disclosures
Interest paid	$ 140	$ 113