Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2014

Schedule of balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Table Text Block]

The following tables present the balances of assets and liabilities of Ameriprise Financial measured at fair value on a recurring basis:



	December 31, 2014
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	27	$	1,930	$	—	$	1,957
Available-for-Sale securities:
Corporate debt securities	—		15,647		1,518		17,165
Residential mortgage backed securities	—		6,001		206		6,207
Commercial mortgage backed securities	—		2,539		91		2,630
Asset backed securities	—		1,301		169		1,470
State and municipal obligations	—		2,239		—		2,239
U.S. government and agencies obligations	12		35		—		47
Foreign government bonds and obligations	—		251		—		251
Common stocks	5		7		6		18
Total Available-for-Sale securities	17		28,020		1,990		30,027
Trading securities	54		28		1		83
Separate account assets	—		83,256		—		83,256
Other assets:
Interest rate derivative contracts	—		2,031		—		2,031
Equity derivative contracts	282		1,757		—		2,039
Foreign exchange derivative contracts	1		29		—		30
Other derivative contracts	—		1		—		1
Total other assets	283		3,818		—		4,101
Total assets at fair value	$	381	$	117,052	$	1,991	$	119,424

Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims:
EIA embedded derivatives	$	—	$	6	$	—	$	6
IUL embedded derivatives	—		—		242		242
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	—		—		479		479		⁽²⁾
Total policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	—		6		721		727		⁽¹⁾
Customer deposits	—		6		—		6
Other liabilities:
Interest rate derivative contracts	—		1,136		—		1,136
Equity derivative contracts	376		2,326		—		2,702
Foreign exchange derivative contracts	1		2		—		3
Other derivative contracts	—		114		—		114
Other	—		12		—		12
Total other liabilities	377		3,590		—		3,967
Total liabilities at fair value	$	377	$	3,602	$	721	$	4,700

⁽¹⁾ The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $311 million cumulative decrease to the embedded derivatives.

⁽²⁾The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives included $700 million of individual contracts in a liability position and $221 million of individual contracts in an asset position.



	December 31, 2013
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3			Total
	(in millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	12	$	1,841	$	—		$	1,853
Available-for-Sale securities:
Corporate debt securities	—		15,826		1,640			17,466
Residential mortgage backed securities	—		5,937		187			6,124
Commercial mortgage backed securities	—		2,711		30			2,741
Asset backed securities	—		1,244		260			1,504
State and municipal obligations	—		2,160		—			2,160
U.S. government and agencies obligations	17		35		—			52
Foreign government bonds and obligations	—		245		—			245
Common stocks	5		7		6			18
Total Available-for-Sale securities	22		28,165		2,123			30,310
Trading securities	3		32		2			37
Separate account assets	—		81,223		—			81,223
Other assets:
Interest rate derivative contracts	—		1,566		—			1,566
Equity derivative contracts	265		1,576		—			1,841
Credit derivative contracts	—		3		—			3
Foreign exchange derivative contracts	2		2		—			4
Other derivative contracts	—		4		—			4
Total other assets	267		3,151		—			3,418
Total assets at fair value	$	304	$	114,412	$	2,125		$	116,841

Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims:
EIA embedded derivatives	$	—	$	5	$	—		$	5
IUL embedded derivatives	—		—		125			125
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	—		—		(575		)	(575		)	⁽²⁾
Total policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	—		5		(450		)	(445		)	⁽¹⁾
Customer deposits	—		7		—			7
Other liabilities:
Interest rate derivative contracts	—		1,672		—			1,672
Equity derivative contracts	550		2,447		—			2,997
Other derivative contracts	—		139		—			139
Other	—		12		—			12
Total other liabilities	550		4,270		—			4,820
Total liabilities at fair value	$	550	$	4,282	$	(450	)	$	4,382

⁽¹⁾The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $150 million cumulative increase to the embedded derivatives.

⁽²⁾The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives was reported as a contra liability, including $742 million of individual contracts in an asset position and $167 million of individual contracts in a liability position.

Summary of changes in level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Table Text Block]

The following tables provide a summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities of Ameriprise Financial measured at fair value on a recurring basis:



	Available-for-Sale Securities
	Corporate Debt Securities			Residential Mortgage Backed Securities			Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities			Asset Backed Securities			Common Stocks			Total				Trading Securities
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2014	$	1,640		$	187		$	30		$	260		$	6		$	2,123			$	2
Total gains (losses) included in:
Net income	(1		)	(1		)	1			1			—			—			⁽¹⁾	—
Other comprehensive income	(2		)	—			(2		)	2			(1		)	(3		)		—
Purchases	213			399			59			32			1			704				1
Sales	(18		)	—			—			—			—			(18		)		(2		)
Settlements	(306		)	(24		)	(1		)	(11		)	—			(342		)		—
Transfers into Level 3	—			—			78			—			1			79				—
Transfers out of Level 3	(8		)	(355		)	(74		)	(115		)	(1		)	(553		)		—
Balance, December 31, 2014	$	1,518		$	206		$	91		$	169		$	6		$	1,990			$	1

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at December 31, 2014 included in:
Net investment income	$	(1	)	$	—		$	1		$	1		$	—		$	1			$	—

⁽¹⁾ Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.



	Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims
	IUL Embedded Derivatives				GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives				Total
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2014	$	125			$	(575	)		$	(450	)
Total losses included in:
Net income	40			⁽¹⁾	811			⁽²⁾	851
Issues	90				254				344
Settlements	(13		)		(11		)		(24		)
Balance, December 31, 2014	$	242			$	479			$	721

Changes in unrealized losses relating to liabilities held at December 31, 2014 included in:
Interest credited to fixed accounts	$	40			$	—			$	40
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	—				811				811

⁽¹⁾ Included in interest credited to fixed accounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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



	Available-for-Sale Securities
	Corporate Debt Securities			Residential Mortgage Backed Securities			Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities			Asset Backed Securities			Common Stocks			Total				Trading Securities
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2013	$	1,764		$	284		$	206		$	178		$	6		$	2,438			$	—
Total gains (losses) included in:
Net income	(3		)	—			—			2			—			(1		)	⁽¹⁾	—
Other comprehensive loss	(41		)	—			(6		)	9			1			(37		)		—
Purchases	135			335			25			259			—			754				2
Settlements	(215		)	(18		)	(36		)	(5		)	—			(274		)		—
Transfers into Level 3	—			—			—			8			—			8				—
Transfers out of Level 3	—			(414		)	(159		)	(191		)	(1		)	(765		)		—
Balance, December 31, 2013	$	1,640		$	187		$	30		$	260		$	6		$	2,123			$	2

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at December 31, 2013 included in:
Net investment income	$	(3	)	$	—		$	—		$	2		$	—		$	(1	)		$	—

⁽¹⁾ Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.



	Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims
	IUL Embedded Derivatives				GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives				Total
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2013	$	45			$	833			$	878
Total (gains) losses included in:
Net income	19			⁽¹⁾	(1,617		)	⁽²⁾	(1,598		)
Issues	62				228				290
Settlements	(1		)		(19		)		(20		)
Balance, December 31, 2013	$	125			$	(575	)		$	(450	)

Changes in unrealized (gains) losses relating to liabilities held at December 31, 2013 included in:
Interest credited to fixed accounts	$	19			$	—			$	19
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses					(1,598		)		(1,598		)

⁽¹⁾ Included in interest credited to fixed accounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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



	Available-for-Sale Securities
	Corporate Debt Securities			Residential Mortgage Backed Securities			Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities			Asset Backed Securities			Common Stocks			Total
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2012	$	1,355		$	215		$	50		$	189		$	5		$	1,814
Total gains (losses) included in:
Net income	(1		)	(45		)	1			3			—			(42		)	⁽¹⁾
Other comprehensive income	12			68			8			1			—			89
Purchases	543			309			20			—			2			874
Sales	—			(75		)	(19		)	(18		)	—			(112		)
Settlements	(155		)	(56		)	(3		)	(19		)	—			(233		)
Transfers into Level 3	10			42			183			22			—			257
Transfers out of Level 3	—			(174		)	(34		)	—			(1		)	(209		)
Balance, December 31, 2012	$	1,764		$	284		$	206		$	178		$	6		$	2,438

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at December 31, 2012 included in:
Net investment income	$	(1	)	$	—		$	1		$	2		$	—		$	2

⁽¹⁾ Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.



	Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims
	IUL Embedded Derivatives				GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives				Total
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2012	$	—			$	1,585			$	1,585
Total gains included in:
Net income	(8		)	⁽¹⁾	(948		)	⁽²⁾	(956		)
Issues	31				188				219
Settlements	—				8				8
Transfers into Level 3	22				—				22
Balance, December 31, 2012	$	45			$	833			$	878

Changes in unrealized gains relating to liabilities held at December 31, 2012 included in:
Interest credited to fixed accounts	$	(8	)		$	—			$	(8	)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	—				(908		)		(908		)

⁽¹⁾ Included in interest credited to fixed accounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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

Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements [Table Text Block]

The following tables provide a summary of the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements developed by the Company or reasonably available to the Company of Level 3 assets and liabilities:



	December 31, 2014
	Fair Value		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range				Weighted Average
	(in millions)
Corporate debt securities (private placements)	$	1,476	Discounted cash flow	Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries	1.0	%	–	3.9%	1.5%
IUL embedded derivatives	$	242	Discounted cash flow	Nonperformance risk⁽¹⁾	65			bps
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	$	479	Discounted cash flow	Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals ⁽²⁾	0.0	%	–	51.1%
				Surrender rate	0.0	%	–	59.1%
				Market volatility⁽³⁾	5.2	%	–	20.9%
				Nonperformance risk⁽¹⁾	65			bps
				Elective contractholder strategy allocations ⁽⁴⁾	0.0	%	–	3.0%



	December 31, 2013
	Fair Value			Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range				Weighted Average
	(in millions)
Corporate debt securities (private placements)	$	1,589		Discounted cash flow	Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries	0.9	%	–	5.3%	1.5%
IUL embedded derivatives	$	125		Discounted cash flow	Nonperformance risk ⁽¹⁾	74			bps
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	$	(575	)	Discounted cash flow	Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals ⁽²⁾	0.0	%	–	51.1%
					Surrender rate	0.1	%	–	57.9%
					Market volatility ⁽³⁾	4.9	%	–	18.8%
					Nonperformance risk ⁽¹⁾	74			bps
					Elective contractholder strategy allocations ⁽⁴⁾	0.0	%	–	50.0%

⁽¹⁾ The nonperformance risk is the spread added to the observable interest rates used in the valuation of the embedded derivatives.

⁽²⁾ The utilization of guaranteed withdrawals represents the percentage of contractholders that will begin withdrawing in any given year.

⁽³⁾ Market volatility is implied volatility of fund of funds and managed volatility funds.

⁽⁴⁾ The elective allocation represents the percentage of contractholders that are assumed to electively switch their investment allocation to a different allocation model.

Schedule of carrying value and the estimated fair value of financial instruments that are not reported at fair value [Table Text Block]

The following tables provide the carrying value and the estimated fair value of financial instruments that are not reported at fair value. All other financial instruments that are reported at fair value have been included above in the table with balances of assets and liabilities Ameriprise Financial measured at fair value on a recurring basis.



	December 31, 2014
	Carrying Value		Fair Value
	Carrying Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in millions)
Financial Assets
Mortgage loans, net	$	3,440	$	—	$	—	$	3,512	$	3,512
Policy and certificate loans	806		—		1		793		794
Receivables	1,418		215		1,200		3		1,418
Restricted and segregated cash	2,614		2,614		—		—		2,614
Other investments and assets	551		—		460		84		544
Financial Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	$	12,979	$	—	$	—	$	13,996	$	13,996
Investment certificate reserves	4,201		—		—		4,195		4,195
Brokerage customer deposits	3,465		3,465		—		—		3,465
Separate account liabilities	4,478		—		4,478		—		4,478
Debt and other liabilities	3,576		261		3,446		121		3,828



	December 31, 2013
	Carrying Value		Fair Value
	Carrying Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in millions)
Financial Assets
Mortgage loans, net	$	3,510	$	—	$	—	$	3,490	$	3,490
Policy and certificate loans	774		—		1		765		766
Receivables	1,141		107		1,026		8		1,141
Restricted and segregated cash	2,360		2,360		—		—		2,360
Other investments and assets	440		—		368		73		441
Financial Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	$	14,106	$	—	$	—	$	14,724	$	14,724
Investment certificate reserves	3,977		—		—		3,982		3,982
Brokerage customer deposits	3,088		3,088		—		—		3,088
Separate account liabilities	4,007		—		4,007		—		4,007
Debt and other liabilities	3,416		137		3,372		134		3,643

- Definition

Tabular disclosure of the fair value of financial instruments, including financial assets and financial liabilities, and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities.

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