Debt (Schedule of Debt) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt and stated interest rates
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt					$ 495	$ 0
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 2,934			2,934		$ 2,692
Total long-term debt		2,934			2,934		2,692
Short-term borrowings		200			200		200
Total		3,134			3,134		2,892
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Federal Home Loan Bank advances [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Short-term borrowings		$ 150			$ 150		$ 150
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) short-term debt		0.60%			0.60%		0.50%
Remaining maturity of outstanding amount of short term borrowings					3 months		3 months
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Repurchase agreements [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Short-term borrowings		$ 50			$ 50		$ 50
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) short-term debt		0.70%			0.70%		0.50%
Remaining maturity of outstanding amount of short term borrowings					2 months		1 month
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Senior notes due 2019 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 300			$ 300		$ 300
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		7.30%			7.30%		7.30%
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Senior notes due 2020 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 750			$ 750		$ 750
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		5.30%			5.30%		5.30%
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Senior notes due 2023 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 750			$ 750		$ 750
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		4.00%			4.00%		4.00%
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Senior notes due 2024 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 550			$ 550		$ 550
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		3.70%			3.70%		3.70%
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Senior notes due 2026 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 500			$ 500		$ 0
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		2.90%			2.90%		0.00%
Proceeds from Issuance of Debt		$ 500
Debt Related Commitment Fees and Debt Issuance Costs		4
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Junior subordinated notes due 2066 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Long-term debt		$ 0			$ 0		$ 245
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent) long-term debt		0.00%			0.00%		7.50%
Extinguishment of debt			$ 229	$ 16
Gain on extinguishment of debt				$ 1
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Capitalized lease obligations [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Capitalized lease obligations		$ 52			$ 52		$ 60
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Other [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Other	[1]	32			32		37
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Repurchase agreements [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Available-for-sale securities pledged as collateral		31			31		30
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Federal Home Loan Bank advances [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Available-for-sale securities pledged as collateral		751			751		290
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member] | Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Repurchase agreements [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Available-for-sale securities pledged as collateral		$ 21			$ 21		$ 22

[1] Amounts include adjustments for fair value hedges on the Company’s long-term debt and unamortized discount and debt issuance costs. See Note 12 for information on the Company’s fair value hedges.