CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Total	Total Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Common Shares [Member]	Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Appropriated Retained Earnings of Consolidated Investment Entities [Member]	Treasury Shares [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Balances at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 9,232	$ 8,192	$ 3	$ 6,929	$ 7,289	$ 337	$ (6,961)	$ 595	$ 1,040
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013			192,118,307
Comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	515	400			400				115
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	160	151						151	9
Total comprehensive income	675	551							124
Net loss reclassified to appropriated retained earnings		19				19			(19)
Dividends to shareholders	(103)	(103)			(103)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(49)								(49)
Repurchase of common shares	(516)	(516)					(516)
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)			(4,706,057)
Share-based compensation plans	206	201		117	(4)		88		5
Share-based compensation plans (in shares)			3,149,234
Balances at Mar. 31, 2014	9,445	8,344	3	7,046	7,582	356	(7,389)	746	1,101
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2014			190,561,484
Balances at Dec. 31, 2014	9,305	8,124	3	7,345	8,469	234	(8,589)	662	1,181
Balances (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2014			183,109,509
Comprehensive income (loss) [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	479	393			393				86
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(14)	42						42	(56)
Total comprehensive income	465	435							30
Net loss reclassified to appropriated retained earnings		45				45			(45)
Dividends to shareholders	(110)	(110)			(110)
Noncontrolling Interest, Increase from Subsidiary Equity Issuance	117								117
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(219)								(219)
Repurchase of common shares	(443)	(443)					(443)
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)			(3,347,442)
Share-based compensation plans	144	144		78			66
Share-based compensation plans (in shares)			2,033,870
Balances at Mar. 31, 2015	$ 9,259	$ 8,195	$ 3	$ 7,423	$ 8,752	$ 279	$ (8,966)	$ 704	$ 1,064
Balances (in shares) at Mar. 31, 2015			181,795,937