AOCI Rollforward (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		$ 638	$ 500	$ 253	$ 662
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies						$ 6
OCI before reclassifications		(40)	(30)	334	(182)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		(3)	(9)	2	(19)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		(43)	(39)	336	(201)
Ending balance		595	461	595	461
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Available For Sale Securities Impairment Other than Credit		5	6	5	6
Net unrealized securities gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		842	619	426	786
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies						6
OCI before reclassifications		(24)	(25)	389	(182)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		(4)	6	(7)	(4)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		(28)	(19)	382	(186)
Ending balance	[1]	814	600	814	600
Net unrealized derivatives gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		3	0	1	0
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies						0
OCI before reclassifications		0	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		1	1	3	1
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		1	1	3	1
Ending balance		4	1	4	1
Defined benefit plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		(85)	(71)	(91)	(71)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies						0
OCI before reclassifications		0	0	0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		0	0	6	0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		0	0	6	0
Ending balance		(85)	(71)	(85)	(71)
Foreign currency translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		(122)	(48)	(83)	(53)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies						$ 0
OCI before reclassifications		(16)	(5)	(55)	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		0	(16)	0	(16)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		(16)	(21)	(55)	(16)
Ending balance		$ (138)	$ (69)	(138)	$ (69)
Adjusted for change in accounting policies [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance				259
Adjusted for change in accounting policies [Member] | Net unrealized securities gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance				$ 432

[1] Includes $5 million and $6 million of noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities gains on previously impaired securities at September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015, respectively.