Investments (EITF info) (Details 5) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) Positions	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Positions
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	537	302
12 months or more | Positions	197	228
Total | Positions	734	530
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 5,758	$ 3,457
12 months or more	1,957	2,587
Total	7,715	6,044
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(104)	(52)
12 months or more	(100)	(108)
Total	$ (204)	$ (160)
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	238	182
12 months or more | Positions	20	40
Total | Positions	258	222
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 3,260	$ 2,165
12 months or more	254	689
Total	3,514	2,854
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(72)	(41)
12 months or more	(10)	(18)
Total	$ (82)	$ (59)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	93	73
12 months or more | Positions	144	138
Total | Positions	237	211
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,380	$ 879
12 months or more	1,289	1,387
Total	2,669	2,266
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(13)	(7)
12 months or more	(53)	(53)
Total	$ (66)	$ (60)
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	45	15
12 months or more | Positions	4	12
Total | Positions	49	27
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 558	$ 173
12 months or more	65	131
Total	623	304
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(9)
12 months or more	(2)	(3)
Total	$ (11)	$ (3)
Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	21	17
12 months or more | Positions	13	14
Total | Positions	34	31
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 256	$ 201
12 months or more	225	238
Total	481	439
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(2)	(2)
12 months or more	(2)	(4)
Total	$ (4)	$ (6)
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	137	11
12 months or more | Positions	3	10
Total | Positions	140	21
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 297	$ 29
12 months or more	100	115
Total	397	144
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(8)	(1)
12 months or more	(27)	(25)
Total	$ (35)	$ (26)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	3	4
12 months or more | Positions	13	14
Total | Positions	16	18
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 7	$ 10
12 months or more	24	27
Total	31	37
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(1)
12 months or more	(6)	(5)
Total	$ (6)	$ (6)