Investments (EITF info) (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 Positions
Investments
Credit losses for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized	$ 1	$ 0
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	232		302
12 months or more	192		228
Total	424		530
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	2,543		3,457
12 months or more	1,989		2,587
Total	4,532		6,044
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(41)		(52)
12 months or more	(87)		(108)
Total	(128)		(160)
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	113		182
12 months or more	14		40
Total	127		222
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	1,335		2,165
12 months or more	169		689
Total	1,504		2,854
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(33)		(41)
12 months or more	(5)		(18)
Total	(38)		(59)
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	69		73
12 months or more	143		138
Total	212		211
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	871		879
12 months or more	1,389		1,387
Total	2,260		2,266
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(5)		(7)
12 months or more	(47)		(53)
Total	(52)		(60)
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	11		15
12 months or more	6		12
Total	17		27
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	113		173
12 months or more	85		131
Total	198		304
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(1)
12 months or more	(1)		(3)
Total	(2)		(3)
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	15		17
12 months or more	12		14
Total	27		31
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	171		201
12 months or more	218		238
Total	389		439
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months			(2)
12 months or more	(3)		(4)
Total	(3)		(6)
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	21		11
12 months or more	3		10
Total	24		21
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	46		29
12 months or more	102		115
Total	148		144
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(1)		(1)
12 months or more	(26)		(25)
Total	(27)		(26)
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months	3		4
12 months or more	14		14
Total	17		18
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	7		10
12 months or more	26		27
Total	33		37
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(1)		(1)
12 months or more	(5)		(5)
Total	$ (6)		$ (6)