Investments (EITF info) (Details 5) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Positions	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Positions
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	360	618
12 months or more | Positions	270	250
Total | Positions	630	868
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 4,433	$ 8,308
12 months or more	2,420	2,244
Total	6,853	10,552
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(129)	(259)
12 months or more	(158)	(167)
Total	$ (287)	$ (426)
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	160	347
12 months or more | Positions	53	48
Total | Positions	213	395
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 2,301	$ 5,150
12 months or more	515	454
Total	2,816	5,604
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(98)	(220)
12 months or more	(78)	(76)
Total	$ (176)	$ (296)
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	112	123
12 months or more | Positions	173	164
Total | Positions	285	287
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,477	$ 1,869
12 months or more	1,424	1,350
Total	2,901	3,219
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(15)	(16)
12 months or more	(47)	(50)
Total	$ (62)	$ (66)
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	14	58
12 months or more | Positions	7	4
Total | Positions	21	62
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 92	$ 695
12 months or more	77	49
Total	169	744
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(13)
12 months or more	(1)	(1)
Total	$ (1)	$ (14)
Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	52	50
12 months or more | Positions	16	14
Total | Positions	68	64
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 463	$ 455
12 months or more	258	254
Total	721	709
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(14)	(7)
12 months or more	(4)	(4)
Total	$ (18)	$ (11)
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	17	31
12 months or more | Positions	5	5
Total | Positions	22	36
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 74	$ 100
12 months or more	116	110
Total	190	210
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(2)	(1)
12 months or more	(21)	(27)
Total	$ (23)	$ (28)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	5	9
12 months or more | Positions	16	15
Total | Positions	21	24
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 26	$ 39
12 months or more	30	27
Total	56	66
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(2)
12 months or more	(7)	(9)
Total	$ (7)	$ (11)