CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net income	$ 699	$ 955
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	127	123
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(54)	88
Share-based compensation	68	70
Net realized investment losses (gains)	6	(17)
Net trading gains	(4)	(4)
Loss from equity method investments	20	14
Other-than-temporary impairments and provision for loan losses	0	2
Net losses (gains) of consolidated investment entities	5	(125)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted and segregated cash and investments	83	123
Deferred acquisition costs	31	(3)
Other investments, net	(12)	53
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims, net	1,161	(183)
Derivatives, net of collateral	(660)	256
Receivables	(26)	(278)
Brokerage deposits	(69)	5
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(196)	(144)
Cash held by consolidated investment entities	(76)	(79)
Investment properties of consolidated investment entities	0	61
Other operating assets and liabilities of consolidated investment entities, net	(10)	44
Other, net	252	571
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,345	1,532
Available-for-Sale securities:
Proceeds from sales	314	56
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls	2,384	2,499
Purchases	(3,110)	(2,338)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	557	319
Funding of mortgage loans	(228)	(268)
Proceeds from sales and collections of other investments	85	111
Purchase of other investments	(86)	(142)
Purchase of investments by consolidated investment entities	(316)	(1,243)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of investments by consolidated investment entities	457	859
Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software	(36)	(67)
Other, net	42	32
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	63	(182)
Investment certificates:
Proceeds from additions	2,168	1,375
Maturities, withdrawals and cash surrenders	(1,597)	(1,227)
Policyholder account balances:
Deposits and other additions	999	984
Net transfers from (to) separate accounts	83	(102)
Surrenders and other benefits	(989)	(1,566)
Cash paid for purchased options with deferred premiums	(163)	(216)
Cash received from purchased options with deferred premiums	33	8
Repayments of long-term debt	(251)	0
Dividends paid to shareholders	(239)	(229)
Repurchase of common shares	(901)	(826)
Exercise of stock options	4	11
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	5	54
Borrowings by consolidated investment entities	0	768
Repayments of debt by consolidated investment entities	(60)	(261)
Noncontrolling interests investments in subsidiaries	0	135
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	(329)
Net cash used in financing activities	(908)	(1,421)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(38)	3
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	462	(68)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,357	2,638
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,819	2,570
Income taxes paid, net	175	80
Non-cash investing activity:
Affordable housing partnership commitments not yet remitted	19	9
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Interest paid	80	95
Consolidated investment entities [Member]
Policyholder account balances:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	502
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	231
Interest paid	$ 50	$ 114