Shareholders' Equity Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, before tax	$ 559	$ (673)	$ 1,052	$ (445)
Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income, before tax	(5)	(5)	(4)	(16)
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, before tax	(222)	309	(419)	203
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax	332	(369)	629	(258)
Net unrealized derivatives gains, before tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, before tax	2	0	3	0
Net unrealized derivatives gains, before tax	2	0	3	0
Defined benefit plans net loss arising during the period, before tax	9	0	9	0
Defined benefit plans, before tax	9	0	9	0
Foreign currency translation, before tax	(42)	55	(59)	7
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, before tax	301	(314)	582	(251)
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, before tax	0	101	0	15
Total other comprehensive income (loss), before tax	301	(213)	582	(236)
Net unrealized securities gains (losses), tax impact [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, tax impact	(194)	237	(367)	156
Reclassification of net securities gains (losses) included in net income, tax impact	1	2	1	6
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, tax impact	78	(108)	147	(71)
Net unrealized securities gains, tax impact	(115)	131	(219)	91
Net unrealized derivatives losses, tax impact [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, tax impact	(1)	0	(1)	0
Net unrealized derivatives gains, tax impact	(1)	0	(1)	0
Defined benefit plans net loss arising during the period, tax impact	(3)	0	(3)	0
Defined benefit plans, tax impact	(3)	0	(3)	0
Foreign currency translation, tax impact	14	(21)	20	(2)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, tax impact	(105)	110	(203)	89
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, tax impact	0	(35)	0	(5)
Total other comprehensive (income) loss, tax impact	(105)	75	(203)	84
Net unrealized securities gains (losses), net of tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, net of tax	365	(436)	685	(289)
Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax	(4)	(3)	(3)	(10)
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, net of tax	(144)	201	(272)	132
Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax	217	(238)	410	(167)
Net unrealized derivatives losses, net of tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, net of tax	1	0	2	0
Net unrealized derivatives gains, net of tax	1	0	2	0
Defined benefit plans net loss arising during the period, net of tax	6	0	6	0
Defined benefit plans, net of tax	6	0	6	0
Foreign currency translation, net of tax	(28)	34	(39)	5
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax	196	(204)	379	(162)
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax	0	66	0	10
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	196	(138)	379	(152)
Interest and debt expense [Member]
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI into income, effective portion, net	1	1	1	2
Net investment income [Member]
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI into income, effective portion, net	$ (2)	$ (1)	$ (3)	$ (2)