CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities [Abstract]
Net income	$ 914	$ 1,307
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	187	185
Deferred income tax benefit	(47)	(23)
Share-based compensation	101	108
Net realized investment gains	(1)	(14)
Net trading gains	(5)	(5)
Loss from equity method investments	45	22
Other-than-temporary impairments and provision for loan losses	0	9
Net losses (gains) of consolidated investment entities	5	(85)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted and segregated cash and investments	(13)	(88)
Deferred acquisition costs	86	38
Other investments, net	9	61
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims, net	1,172	681
Derivatives, net of collateral	(676)	(180)
Receivables	(177)	(294)
Brokerage deposits	3	51
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	(24)	(41)
Cash held by consolidated investment entities	(100)	(394)
Investment properties of consolidated investment entities	0	(126)
Other operating assets and liabilities of consolidated investment entities, net	(9)	54
Other, net	235	637
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,705	1,903
Available-for-Sale securities:
Proceeds from sales	322	151
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls	3,379	3,453
Purchases	(4,666)	(3,340)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	705	481
Funding of mortgage loans	(334)	(427)
Proceeds from sales and collections of other investments	131	198
Purchase of other investments	(144)	(249)
Purchase of investments by consolidated investment entities	(566)	(2,063)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of investments by consolidated investment entities	803	1,429
Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software	(66)	(109)
Other, net	70	29
Net cash used in investing activities	(366)	(447)
Investment certificates:
Proceeds from additions	3,184	2,182
Maturities, withdrawals and cash surrenders	(2,376)	(1,853)
Policyholder account balances:
Deposits and other additions	1,532	1,514
Net transfers from (to) separate accounts	113	(141)
Surrenders and other benefits	(1,448)	(2,169)
Cash paid for purchased options with deferred premiums	(256)	(305)
Cash received from purchased options with deferred premiums	242	8
Issuance of long-term debt	495	0
Repayments of long-term debt	(254)	(41)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(361)	(348)
Repurchase of common shares	(1,319)	(1,293)
Exercise of stock options	6	14
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	8	70
Borrowings by consolidated investment entities	0	1,583
Repayments of debt by consolidated investment entities	(134)	(405)
Noncontrolling interests investments in subsidiaries	0	225
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	(342)
Other, net	0	(1)
Net cash used in financing activities	(568)	(1,302)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(53)	(12)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	718	142
Income taxes paid, net	201	245
Non-cash investing activity:
Partnership commitments not yet remitted	75	9
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Policyholder account balances:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,357	2,638
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	3,075	2,780
Interest paid	121	122
Consolidated investment entities [Member]
Policyholder account balances:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	502
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	254
Interest paid	$ 74	$ 175