Debt (Schedule of Debt) (Details) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 2,683	$ 2,692
Total long-term debt		2,683	2,692
Short-term borrowings		200	200
Total		2,883	2,892
Federal Home Loan Bank Advances [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Short-term borrowings		$ 150	$ 150
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) short-term debt		0.60%	0.50%
Remaining maturity of outstanding amount of short term borrowings		3 months	3 months
Repurchase agreements [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Short-term borrowings		$ 50	$ 50
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) short-term debt		0.70%	0.50%
Remaining maturity of outstanding amount of short term borrowings		1 month	1 month
Senior notes due 2019 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 300	$ 300
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		7.30%	7.30%
Senior notes due 2020 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 750	$ 750
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		5.30%	5.30%
Senior notes due 2023 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 750	$ 750
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		4.00%	4.00%
Senior notes due 2024 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 550	$ 550
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		3.70%	3.70%
Junior subordinated notes due 2066 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 229	$ 245
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		7.50%	7.50%
Extinguishment of debt		$ 16
Gain on extinguishment of debt		1
Capitalized lease obligations [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Capitalized lease obligations		58	$ 60
Other [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Other	[1]	46	37
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] | Repurchase agreements [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Available-for-sale securities pledged as collateral		30	30
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member] | Federal Home Loan Bank Advances [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Available-for-sale securities pledged as collateral		432	290
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member] | Repurchase agreements [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Available-for-sale securities pledged as collateral		$ 22	$ 22

[1] Amounts include adjustments for fair value hedges on the Company’s long-term debt and unamortized discount and debt issuance costs. See Note 12 for information on the Company’s fair value hedges.