Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Income Statement) (Details 2) (Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	$ (288)		$ (434)		$ (451)
GMWB and GMAB [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(278)		(386)		(452)
Total other derivatives [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(10)		(48)		1
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member] | Interest rate derivative contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	1,122		(742)		17
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(304)		(1,084)		(1,218)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member] | Credit contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(33)		6		(2)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(9)		26		(1)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member] | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(1,054)	[1]	1,408	[1]	752	[1]
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Macro hedge program [Member] | Other contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(12)		(42)
Net investment income [Member] | Bank assets [Member] | Interest rate derivative contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income					(7)
Net investment income [Member] | Tax hedge [Member] | Interest rate derivative contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	3				1
Net investment income [Member] | Seed money [Member] | Interest rate derivative contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(2)		2
Net investment income [Member] | Seed money [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(4)		(17)		(6)
Net investment income [Member] | Seed money [Member] | Commodity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income			1
Net investment income [Member] | Foreign currency [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	2		(2)
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | IUL [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	20		11		1
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | IUL embedded derivatives [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(27)		(16)		4
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | EIA [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	1		3		1
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | EIA embedded derivatives [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(2)		(3)		1
Banking and deposit interest expense [Member] | Stock market certificates [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	3		7		6
Banking and deposit interest expense [Member] | Stock market certificates embedded derivatives [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(3)		(6)		(5)
Distribution expenses [Member] | Ameriprise Financial Franchise Advisor Deferred Compensation Plan [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income					5
Distribution expenses [Member] | Deferred compensation [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	13		9
Distribution expenses [Member] | Deferred compensation [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	(5)
General and administrative expense [Member] | Deferred compensation [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	4		5
General and administrative expense [Member] | Deferred compensation [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in Income	$ (1)

[1] The fair values of GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives fluctuate based on changes in equity, interest rate and credit markets.