Investments (EITF info) (Details 5) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Positions	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) Positions
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	618	302
12 months or more | Positions	250	228
Total | Positions	868	530
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 8,308	$ 3,457
12 months or more	2,244	2,587
Total	10,552	6,044
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(259)	(52)
12 months or more	(167)	(108)
Total	$ (426)	$ (160)
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	347	182
12 months or more | Positions	48	40
Total | Positions	395	222
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 5,150	$ 2,165
12 months or more	454	689
Total	5,604	2,854
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(220)	(41)
12 months or more	(76)	(18)
Total	$ (296)	$ (59)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	123	73
12 months or more | Positions	164	138
Total | Positions	287	211
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,869	$ 879
12 months or more	1,350	1,387
Total	3,219	2,266
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(16)	(7)
12 months or more	(50)	(53)
Total	$ (66)	$ (60)
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	58	15
12 months or more | Positions	4	12
Total | Positions	62	27
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 695	$ 173
12 months or more	49	131
Total	744	304
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(13)	0
12 months or more	(1)	(3)
Total	$ (14)	$ (3)
Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	50	17
12 months or more | Positions	14	14
Total | Positions	64	31
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 455	$ 201
12 months or more	254	238
Total	709	439
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(7)	(2)
12 months or more	(4)	(4)
Total	$ (11)	$ (6)
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	31	11
12 months or more | Positions	5	10
Total | Positions	36	21
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 100	$ 29
12 months or more	110	115
Total	210	144
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(1)	(1)
12 months or more	(27)	(25)
Total	$ (28)	$ (26)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	9	4
12 months or more | Positions	15	14
Total | Positions	24	18
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 39	$ 10
12 months or more	27	27
Total	66	37
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(2)	(1)
12 months or more	(9)	(5)
Total	$ (11)	$ (6)