Shareholders' Equity AOCI Rollforward (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption		$ 6
Beginning balance		253		$ 662		$ 595
OCI before reclassifications		(54)		(411)		86
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		(5)		2		(19)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		(59)		(409)		67
Ending balance		200		253		662
Net unrealized securities gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption		6
Beginning balance		426	[1]	786	[1]	655
OCI before reclassifications		61		(356)		156
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		(14)		(4)		(25)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		47		(360)		131
Ending balance	[1]	479		426		786
Noncredit related impairments on AFS securities		4		4		5
Net unrealized derivatives losses [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		1		0		(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		4		1		1
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		4		1		1
Ending balance		5		1		0
Defined benefit plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		(91)		(71)		(46)
OCI before reclassifications		(39)		(25)		(30)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		5		5		5
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		(34)		(20)		(25)
Ending balance		(125)		(91)		(71)
Foreign currency translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		(83)		(53)		(13)
OCI before reclassifications		(76)		(30)		(40)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		(76)		(30)		(40)
Ending balance		$ (159)		$ (83)		$ (53)

[1] Includes $4 million, $4 million and $5 million of noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities gains (losses) on previously impaired securities at December 31, 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively.