Deferred Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducement Costs (Details) (Ameriprise Financial [Member], USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Balances of and changes in DAC [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	$ 2,608	$ 2,663
Capitalization of acquisition costs	80	79
Amortization	(75)	(87)
Impact of change in net unrealized securities gains	(11)	(25)
Balance, at the end of the period	2,602	2,630
Balances of and changes in DSIC [Roll Forward]
Balance at the beginning of the period	362	409
Capitalization of sales inducement costs	1	1
Amortization	(9)	(13)
Impact of change in net unrealized securities gains	(2)	(5)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 352	$ 392