CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net income	$ 1,307	$ 1,547
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	185	193
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(23)	(75)
Share-based compensation	108	97
Net realized investment gains	(14)	(18)
Net trading gains	(5)	(6)
Loss from equity method investments	22	10
Other-than-temporary impairments and provision for loan losses	9	8
Net gains of consolidated investment entities	(85)	(337)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted and segregated cash and investments	(88)	(23)
Deferred acquisition costs	38	28
Other investments, net	61	(152)
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims, net	681	516
Derivatives, net of collateral	(180)	(485)
Receivables	(294)	(346)
Brokerage deposits	51	202
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(41)	52
Cash held by consolidated investment entities	(394)	149
Investment properties of consolidated investment entities	(126)	177
Other operating assets and liabilities of consolidated investment entities, net	54	39
Other, net	637	405
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,903	1,981
Available-for-Sale securities:
Proceeds from sales	151	435
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls	3,453	2,856
Purchases	(3,340)	(2,513)
Proceeds from maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	481	419
Funding of mortgage loans	(427)	(375)
Proceeds from sales and collections of other investments	198	153
Purchase of other investments	(249)	(334)
Purchase of investments by consolidated investment entities	(2,063)	(2,368)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of investments by consolidated investment entities	1,429	1,643
Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software	(109)	(89)
Other, net	29	1
Net cash used in investing activities	(447)	(172)
Investment certificates:
Proceeds from additions	2,182	1,894
Maturities, withdrawals and cash surrenders	(1,853)	(1,646)
Policyholder account balances:
Deposits and other additions	1,514	1,526
Net transfers to separate accounts	(141)	(167)
Surrenders and other benefits	(2,169)	(1,896)
Cash paid for purchased options with deferred premiums	(305)	(318)
Cash received from purchased options with deferred premiums	8	54
Proceeds from Debt, Net of Issuance Costs	0	543
Repayments of Long-term Debt	(41)	(200)
Change in short-term borrowings, net	0	(301)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(348)	(319)
Repurchase of common shares	(1,293)	(1,191)
Exercise of stock options	14	25
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	70	133
Borrowings by consolidated investment entities	1,583	1,559
Repayments of debt by consolidated investment entities	(405)	(918)
Noncontrolling interests investments in subsidiaries	225	113
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(342)	(448)
Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities	(1)	(1)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,302)	(1,558)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(12)	(7)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	142	244
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,638	2,632
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,780	2,876
Income taxes paid, net	245	345
Non-cash investing activity:
Affordable housing partnership commitments not yet remitted	9
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Interest paid	122	123
Consolidated investment entities [Member]
Policyholder account balances:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	390
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	790
Interest paid	$ 175	$ 140