Investments (EITF info) (Details 5) (Ameriprise Financial [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014 Positions	Dec. 31, 2013 Positions
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	302	576
12 months or more	228	147
Total	530	723
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 3,457	$ 6,712
12 months or more	2,587	1,015
Total	6,044	7,727
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(52)	(210)
12 months or more	(108)	(130)
Total	(160)	(340)
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	182	181
12 months or more	40	12
Total	222	193
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	2,165	2,817
12 months or more	689	181
Total	2,854	2,998
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(41)	(83)
12 months or more	(18)	(14)
Total	(59)	(97)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	73	128
12 months or more	138	113
Total	211	241
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	879	2,393
12 months or more	1,387	663
Total	2,266	3,056
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(7)	(66)
12 months or more	(53)	(71)
Total	(60)	(137)
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	15	35
12 months or more	12	4
Total	27	39
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	173	426
12 months or more	131	22
Total	304	448
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(10)
12 months or more	(3)	(2)
Total	(3)	(12)
Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	17	40
12 months or more	14	4
Total	31	44
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	201	531
12 months or more	238	32
Total	439	563
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(2)	(7)
12 months or more	(4)	(1)
Total	(6)	(8)
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	11	169
12 months or more	10	14
Total	21	183
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	29	468
12 months or more	115	117
Total	144	585
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(1)	(36)
12 months or more	(25)	(42)
Total	(26)	(78)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	4	23
12 months or more	14	0
Total	18	23
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	10	77
12 months or more	27	0
Total	37	77
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(1)	(8)
12 months or more	(5)	0
Total	$ (6)	$ (8)