Shareholders' Equity Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, before tax	[1]	$ 493	$ 228
Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income, before tax	[2]	1	(11)
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, before tax		(197)	(106)
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax		297	111
Net unrealized derivatives gains, before tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, before tax	[3]	1	0
Net unrealized derivatives gains, before tax		1	0
Foreign currency translation, before Tax		(17)	(48)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, before tax			63
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, before tax			(86)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), before tax		281	(23)
Net unrealized securities gains (losses), tax impact [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, tax impact	[1]	(173)	(81)
Reclassification of net securities gains (losses) included in net income, tax impact	[2]	0	4
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, tax impact		69	37
Net unrealized securities gains, tax impact		(104)	(40)
Net unrealized derivatives losses, tax impact [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, tax impact	[3]	0	0
Net unrealized derivatives gains, tax impact		0	0
Foreign currency translation, tax impact		6	19
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, tax impact			(21)
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, tax impact			30
Total other comprehensive (income) loss, tax impact		(98)	9
Net unrealized securities gains (losses), net of tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, net of tax	[1]	320	147
Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax	[2]	1	(7)
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, net of tax		(128)	(69)
Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax		193	71
Net unrealized derivatives losses, net of tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, net of tax	[3]	1	0
Net unrealized derivatives gains, net of tax		1	0
Foreign currency translation, net of tax		(11)	(29)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		183	42
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax			(56)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		183	(14)
Interest and debt expense [Member]
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI into income, effective portion, net		0	1
Net investment income [Member]
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI into income, effective portion, net		$ (1)	$ (1)

[1] Includes other-than-temporary impairment losses on Available-for-Sale securities related to factors other than credit that were recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) during the period.

[2] Reclassification amounts are recorded in net investment income.

[3] Includes nil and a $1 million pretax gain reclassified to interest and debt expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and a $1 million pretax loss reclassified to net investment income for both the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015.