Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Income Statement) (Details 2) - Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		$ (70)	$ (18)	$ (274)	$ (168)
GMWB and GMAB [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		(12)	(41)	(206)	(170)
Total other derivatives [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		(58)	23	(68)	2
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member] | Interest rate contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		536	100	360	609
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		328	143	69	(244)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member] | Credit contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		(10)	(1)	(5)	(23)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member] | Foreign currency [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		6	(13)	(2)	(14)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member] | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	[1]	(872)	(270)	(628)	(498)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Macro hedge program [Member] | Other contract [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		3	17	(4)	(8)
Net investment income [Member] | Investments [Member] | Interest rate contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		(31)		(32)
Net investment income [Member] | Tax hedge [Member] | Interest rate contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income					3
Net investment income [Member] | Seed money [Member] | Interest rate contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income					(1)
Net investment income [Member] | Seed money [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income			1	(2)	(2)
Net investment income [Member] | Seed money [Member] | Commodity [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income					(1)
Net investment income [Member] | Foreign currency [Member] | Foreign currency [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income			4		2
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | IUL [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		(15)	2	(16)	13
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | IUL embedded derivatives [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		6	2	1	(9)
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | EIA [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		(1)		(1)	1
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | EIA embedded derivatives [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		1		1	(1)
Banking and deposit interest expense [Member] | Stock market certificates [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		(3)		(2)	2
Banking and deposit interest expense [Member] | Stock market certificates embedded derivatives [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		2		2	(2)
Distribution expenses [Member] | Deferred compensation [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		(15)	1	(9)	6
Distribution expenses [Member] | Deferred compensation [Member] | Foreign currency [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income			(3)	(2)	(2)
General and administrative expense [Member] | Deferred compensation [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		(4)	$ (1)	(3)	$ 1
General and administrative expense [Member] | Deferred compensation [Member] | Foreign currency [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income		$ (1)		$ (1)

[1] The fair values of GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives fluctuate based on changes in equity, interest rate and credit markets.