Shareholders' Equity AOCI Rollforward (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		$ 662		$ 595		$ 1,194
OCI before reclassifications		(411)		86		(601)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		2		(19)		2
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		(409)		67		(599)
Ending balance		253		662		595
Net unrealized securities gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		786	[1]	655	[1]	1,312
OCI before reclassifications		(356)		156		(652)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		(4)		(25)		(5)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		(360)		131		(657)
Ending balance	[1]	426		786		655
Noncredit related impairments on AFS securities		4		5		(4)
Net unrealized derivatives losses [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		0		(1)		(2)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		1		1		1
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		1		1		1
Ending balance		1		0		(1)
Defined benefit plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		(71)		(46)		(91)
OCI before reclassifications		(25)		(30)		39
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		5		5		6
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		(20)		(25)		45
Ending balance		(91)		(71)		(46)
Foreign currency translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		(53)		(13)		(25)
OCI before reclassifications		(30)		(40)		12
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		0		0		0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		(30)		(40)		12
Ending balance		$ (83)		$ (53)		$ (13)

[1] Includes $4 million, $5 million and $(4) million of noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities gains (losses) on previously impaired securities at December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively.