Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Level 3 rollforwards - Assets) (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1	$ 50
Transfers from Level 1 to Level 2	0
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	1,640	1,764		1,355
Total gains (losses) included in net income	(1)	(3)		(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(2)	(41)		12
Purchases	213	135		543
Sales	(18)
Settlements	(306)	(215)		(155)
Transfers into Level 3				10
Transfers out of Level 3	(8)
Balance, at the end of the period	1,518	1,640		1,764
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income	(1)	(3)		(1)
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	187	284		215
Total gains (losses) included in net income	(1)			(45)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)				68
Purchases	399	335		309
Sales				(75)
Settlements	(24)	(18)		(56)
Transfers into Level 3				42
Transfers out of Level 3	(355)	(414)		(174)
Balance, at the end of the period	206	187		284
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	30	206		50
Total gains (losses) included in net income	1			1
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(2)	(6)		8
Purchases	59	25		20
Sales				(19)
Settlements	(1)	(36)		(3)
Transfers into Level 3	78			183
Transfers out of Level 3	(74)	(159)		(34)
Balance, at the end of the period	91	30		206
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income	1			1
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	260	178		189
Total gains (losses) included in net income	1	2		3
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	2	9		1
Purchases	32	259
Sales				(18)
Settlements	(11)	(5)		(19)
Transfers into Level 3		8		22
Transfers out of Level 3	(115)	(191)
Balance, at the end of the period	169	260		178
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income	1	2		2
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Common stocks [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	6	6		5
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(1)	1
Purchases	1			2
Transfers into Level 3	1
Transfers out of Level 3	(1)	(1)		(1)
Balance, at the end of the period	6	6		6
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Total available-for-sale securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	2,123	2,438		1,814
Total gains (losses) included in net income		(1)	[1]	(42)	[1]
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(3)	(37)		89
Purchases	704	754		874
Sales	(18)			(112)
Settlements	(342)	(274)		(233)
Transfers into Level 3	79	8		257
Transfers out of Level 3	(553)	(765)		(209)
Balance, at the end of the period	1,990	2,123		2,438
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income	1	(1)		2
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Trading securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	2
Purchases	1	2
Sales	(2)
Balance, at the end of the period	1	2
Improved pricing transparency and observability [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Transfers out of Level 3				$ 146

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