Investments (EITF info) (Details 5) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) Positions	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) Positions
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	209	618
12 months or more | Positions	263	250
Total | Positions	472	868
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 2,435	$ 8,308
12 months or more	2,217	2,244
Total	4,652	10,552
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(17)	(259)
12 months or more	(91)	(167)
Total	$ (108)	$ (426)
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	45	347
12 months or more | Positions	41	48
Total | Positions	86	395
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 429	$ 5,150
12 months or more	405	454
Total	834	5,604
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(3)	(220)
12 months or more	(36)	(76)
Total	$ (39)	$ (296)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	90	123
12 months or more | Positions	181	164
Total | Positions	271	287
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,412	$ 1,869
12 months or more	1,382	1,350
Total	2,794	3,219
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(7)	(16)
12 months or more	(35)	(50)
Total	$ (42)	$ (66)
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	21	58
12 months or more | Positions	3	4
Total | Positions	24	62
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 264	$ 695
12 months or more	26	49
Total	290	744
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(1)	(13)
12 months or more	0	(1)
Total	$ (1)	$ (14)
Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	34	50
12 months or more | Positions	21	14
Total | Positions	55	64
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 295	$ 455
12 months or more	262	254
Total	557	709
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(6)	(7)
12 months or more	(3)	(4)
Total	$ (9)	$ (11)
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	18	31
12 months or more | Positions	3	5
Total | Positions	21	36
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 34	$ 100
12 months or more	118	110
Total	152	210
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(1)
12 months or more	(13)	(27)
Total	$ (13)	$ (28)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	1	9
12 months or more | Positions	14	15
Total | Positions	15	24
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1	$ 39
12 months or more	24	27
Total	25	66
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(2)
12 months or more	(4)	(9)
Total	$ (4)	$ (11)