Segment Information - Total Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	$ 143,623	$ 145,319
Advice and Wealth Management [Member]
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	11,996	11,338
Asset Management [Member]
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	7,436	7,931
Annuities [Member]
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	97,006	94,002
Protection [Member]
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	22,212	20,755
Corporate and Other [Member]
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	$ 4,973	$ 11,293