Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Level 3 rollforwards-Assets) (Details 2) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	$ 1,509	$ 1,565	$ 1,518	$ 1,640
Total gains (losses) included in net income	(1)		(2)	(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(3)	(12)	(9)	4
Purchases	124	37	179	159
Sales		(24)		(11)
Settlements	(90)		(147)	(225)
Balance, at the end of the period	1,539	1,566	1,539	1,566
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income	(1)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	279	214	206	187
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(1)		(1)
Purchases	93	170	312	388
Sales		(6)
Settlements	(14)		(36)	(18)
Transfers out of Level 3	(71)	(105)	(195)	(284)
Balance, at the end of the period	286	273	286	273
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	44	15	91	30
Purchases			41	60
Settlements	(2)		(5)
Transfers into Level 3		78	6	78
Transfers out of Level 3	(37)		(128)	(75)
Balance, at the end of the period	5	93	5	93
Asset backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	135	185	169	260
Total gains (losses) included in net income	1		1	1
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	2	(1)	2	(1)
Purchases	5	11	37	32
Sales		(2)
Settlements	(8)		(22)	(10)
Transfers out of Level 3	(13)		(65)	(89)
Balance, at the end of the period	122	193	122	193
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income	1		1	1
Common stocks [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	6	6	6	6
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)			1
Transfers out of Level 3	(1)	(1)	(2)	(1)
Balance, at the end of the period	5	5	5	5
Total available-for-sale securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	1,973	1,985	1,990	2,123
Total gains (losses) included in net income			(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)	(2)	(13)	(7)	3
Purchases	222	218	569	639
Sales		(32)		(11)
Settlements	(114)		(210)	(253)
Transfers into Level 3		78	6	78
Transfers out of Level 3	(122)	(106)	(390)	(449)
Balance, at the end of the period	1,957	2,130	1,957	2,130
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income		(1)	(1)	(1)
Trading securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period	1	1	1	2
Total gains (losses) included in net income	$ (1)		$ (1)
Purchases				1
Sales				(2)
Balance, at the end of the period		1		1
Other derivative contracts [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		1
Total gains (losses) included in net income		(1)		(1)
Purchases		1		2
Balance, at the end of the period		1		1
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses		$ (1)		$ (1)