Shareholders' Equity Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, before tax	[1]	$ 82	$ (117)	$ 1,134	$ (562)
Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income, before tax	[2]	(8)	10	(12)	(6)
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, before tax		(114)	78	(533)	281
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax		(40)	(29)	589	(287)
Net unrealized derivatives gains, before tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, before tax	[3]	1	1	4	1
Net unrealized derivatives gains, before tax		1	1	4	1
Defined benefit plans net loss arising during the period, before tax		0	0	9	0
Defined benefit plans, before tax		0	0	9	0
Foreign currency translation, before tax		(26)	(32)	(85)	(25)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, before tax		(65)	(60)	517	(311)
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, before tax		0	(67)	0	(52)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), before tax		(65)	(127)	517	(363)
Net unrealized securities gains (losses), tax impact [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, tax impact	[1]	(31)	41	(398)	197
Reclassification of net securities gains (losses) included in net income, tax impact	[2]	4	(4)	5	2
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, tax impact		39	(27)	186	(98)
Net unrealized securities gains, tax impact		12	10	(207)	101
Net unrealized derivatives losses, tax impact [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, tax impact	[3]	0	0	(1)	0
Net unrealized derivatives gains, tax impact		0	0	(1)	0
Defined benefit plans net loss arising during the period, tax impact		0	0	(3)	0
Defined benefit plans, tax impact		0	0	(3)	0
Foreign currency translation, tax impact		10	11	30	9
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, tax impact		22	21	(181)	110
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, tax impact		0	23	0	18
Total other comprehensive (income) loss, tax impact		22	44	(181)	128
Net unrealized securities gains (losses), net of tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, net of tax	[1]	51	(76)	736	(365)
Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax	[2]	(4)	6	(7)	(4)
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, net of tax		(75)	51	(347)	183
Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax		(28)	(19)	382	(186)
Net unrealized derivatives losses, net of tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, net of tax	[3]	1	1	3	1
Net unrealized derivatives gains, net of tax		1	1	3	1
Defined benefit plans net loss arising during the period, net of tax		0	0	6	0
Defined benefit plans, net of tax		0	0	6	0
Foreign currency translation, net of tax		(16)	(21)	(55)	(16)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		(43)	(39)	336	(201)
Other comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest, net of tax		0	(44)	0	(34)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		(43)	(83)	336	(235)
Interest and debt expense [Member]
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI into income, effective portion, net		0	1	1	3
Net investment income [Member]
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI into income, effective portion, net		$ (1)	$ (2)	$ (4)	$ (4)

[1] 1) Includes other-than-temporary impairment losses on Available-for-Sale securities related to factors other than credit that were recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) during the period.

[2] (2) Reclassification amounts are recorded in net investment income.

[3] (3) Includes nil and $1 million pretax gain reclassified to interest and debt expense for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and a $1 million and $2 million pretax loss reclassified to net investment income for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively.(4) Includes $1 million and $3 million pretax gain reclassified to interest and debt expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and a $4 million pretax loss reclassified to net investment income for both the nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015.