CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net income	$ 364	$ 479
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	65	66
Deferred income tax expense	36	66
Share-based compensation	34	35
Net realized investment losses (gains)	12	(12)
Net trading gains	(2)	(3)
Loss from equity method investments	9	5
Other-than-temporary impairments and provision for loan losses	0	2
Net losses (gains) of consolidated investment entities	4	(9)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted and segregated cash and investments	49	(99)
Deferred acquisition costs	28	(5)
Other investments, net	(4)	(55)
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims, net	669	419
Derivatives, net of collateral	(382)	(265)
Receivables	(62)	(184)
Brokerage deposits	(108)	110
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(295)	(196)
Cash held by consolidated investment entities	9	52
Investment properties of consolidated investment entities	0	(33)
Other operating assets and liabilities of consolidated investment entities, net	(12)	(4)
Other, net	207	544
Net cash provided by operating activities	621	913
Available-for-Sale securities:
Proceeds from sales	154	48
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls	956	1,351
Purchases	(1,366)	(1,207)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	410	163
Funding of mortgage loans	(119)	(91)
Proceeds from sales and collections of other investments	32	41
Purchase of other investments	(46)	(93)
Purchase of investments by consolidated investment entities	(158)	(403)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of investments by consolidated investment entities	182	396
Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software	(28)	(29)
Other, net	(15)	6
Net cash provided by investing activities	2	182
Investment certificates:
Proceeds from additions	1,159	662
Maturities, withdrawals and cash surrenders	(807)	(559)
Policyholder account balances:
Deposits and other additions	481	470
Net transfers from (to) separate accounts	33	(56)
Surrenders and other benefits	(497)	(788)
Cash paid for purchased options with deferred premiums	(85)	(89)
Cash received from purchased options with deferred premiums	33	0
Repayments of Long-term Debt	(19)	0
Dividends paid to shareholders	(115)	(107)
Repurchase of common shares	(481)	(394)
Exercise of stock options	2	6
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	3	45
Borrowings by consolidated investment entities	0	199
Repayments of debt by consolidated investment entities	(26)	(192)
Noncontrolling interests investments in subsidiaries	0	117
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	(219)
Net cash used in financing activities	(319)	(905)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(12)	(19)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	292	171
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,357	2,638
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,649	2,809
Income taxes paid, net	23	21
Non-cash investing activity:
Affordable housing partnership commitments not yet remitted	10	10
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Interest paid	28	28
Consolidated investment entities [Member]
Policyholder account balances:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	502
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	146
Interest paid	$ 25	$ 54