Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Level 3 rollforwards - Assets) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Transfers from Level 1 to Level 2, Assets		$ 0		$ 0	$ 0
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1, Assets		0		0	0
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period		1,518		1,640	1,764
Total gains (losses) included in net income		(2)		(1)	(3)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(21)		(2)	(41)
Purchases		189		213	135
Sales				(18)
Settlements		(248)		(306)	(215)
Transfers out of Level 3		(11)		(8)
Balance, at the end of the period		1,425		1,518	1,640
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income		(2)		(1)	(3)
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period		206		187	284
Total gains (losses) included in net income				(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(2)
Purchases		334		399	335
Settlements		(55)		(24)	(18)
Transfers out of Level 3		(265)		(355)	(414)
Balance, at the end of the period		218		206	187
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period		91		30	206
Total gains (losses) included in net income				1
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)				(2)	(6)
Purchases		41		59	25
Settlements		(7)		(1)	(36)
Transfers into Level 3		6		78
Transfers out of Level 3		(128)		(74)	(159)
Balance, at the end of the period		3		91	30
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income				1
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period		169		260	178
Total gains (losses) included in net income		1		1	2
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(2)		2	9
Purchases		72		32	259
Settlements		(22)		(11)	(5)
Transfers into Level 3		14			8
Transfers out of Level 3		(70)		(115)	(191)
Balance, at the end of the period		162		169	260
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income		1		1	2
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Common stocks [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period		6		6	6
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)				(1)	1
Purchases				1
Transfers into Level 3				1
Transfers out of Level 3		(1)		(1)	(1)
Balance, at the end of the period		5		6	6
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Total available-for-sale securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period		1,990		2,123	2,438
Total gains (losses) included in net income		(1)	[1]		(1)	[2]
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(25)		(3)	(37)
Purchases		636		704	754
Sales				(18)
Settlements		(332)		(342)	(274)
Transfers into Level 3		20		79	8
Transfers out of Level 3		(475)		(553)	(765)
Balance, at the end of the period		1,813		1,990	2,123
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at the end of the period included in:
Net investment income		(1)		1	(1)
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Trading securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period		1		2
Total gains (losses) included in net income	[1]	$ (1)
Purchases				1	2
Sales				(2)
Balance, at the end of the period				$ 1	$ 2

[1] Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

[2] Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.