Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Schedule of balances of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Table Text Block]

The following tables present the balances of assets and liabilities of Ameriprise Financial measured at fair value on a recurring basis:



	December 31, 2016
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	30	$	1,796	$	—	$	1,826
Available-for-Sale securities:
Corporate debt securities	—		14,925		1,311		16,236
Residential mortgage backed securities	—		6,650		268		6,918
Commercial mortgage backed securities	—		3,367		—		3,367
Asset backed securities	—		1,481		68		1,549
State and municipal obligations	—		2,358		—		2,358
U.S. government and agencies obligations	8		—		—		8
Foreign government bonds and obligations	—		261		—		261
Common stocks	8		8		1		17
Common stocks at NAV							5		⁽¹⁾
Total Available-for-Sale securities	16		29,050		1,648		30,719
Trading securities	9		16		—		25
Separate account assets at NAV							80,210		⁽¹⁾
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes	425		—		—		425
Other assets:
Interest rate derivative contracts	—		1,775		—		1,775
Equity derivative contracts	42		1,526		—		1,568
Credit derivative contracts	—		1		—		1
Foreign exchange derivative contracts	13		80		—		93
Other derivative contracts	1		8		—		9
Total other assets	56		3,390		—		3,446
Total assets at fair value	$	536	$	34,252	$	1,648	$	116,651

Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims:
EIA embedded derivatives	$	—	$	5	$	—	$	5
IUL embedded derivatives	—		—		464		464
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	—		—		614		614		⁽²⁾
Total policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	—		5		1,078		1,083		⁽³⁾
Customer deposits	—		8		—		8
Other liabilities:
Interest rate derivative contracts	2		977		—		979
Equity derivative contracts	3		2,024		—		2,027
Foreign exchange derivative contracts	2		45		—		47
Other derivative contracts	—		118		—		118
Other	3		8		13		24
Total other liabilities	10		3,172		13		3,195
Total liabilities at fair value	$	10	$	3,185	$	1,091	$	4,286



	December 31, 2015
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	80	$	1,918	$	—	$	1,998
Available-for-Sale securities:
Corporate debt securities	—		14,923		1,425		16,348
Residential mortgage backed securities	—		5,755		218		5,973
Commercial mortgage backed securities	—		2,453		3		2,456
Asset backed securities	—		1,134		162		1,296
State and municipal obligations	—		2,290		—		2,290
U.S. government and agencies obligations	33		35		—		68
Foreign government bonds and obligations	—		224		—		224
Common stocks	5		8		—		13
Common stocks at NAV							5		⁽¹⁾
Total Available-for-Sale securities	38		26,822		1,808		28,673
Trading securities	6		18		—		24
Separate account assets at NAV							80,349		⁽¹⁾
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes	401		—		—		401
Other assets:
Interest rate derivative contracts	—		1,940		—		1,940
Equity derivative contracts	92		1,495		—		1,587
Credit derivative contracts	—		2		—		2
Foreign exchange derivative contracts	2		54		—		56
Other derivative contracts	—		2		—		2
Total other assets	94		3,493		—		3,587
Total assets at fair value	$	619	$	32,251	$	1,808	$	115,032

Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims:
EIA embedded derivatives	$	—	$	5	$	—	$	5
IUL embedded derivatives	—		—		364		364
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	—		—		851		851		⁽⁴⁾
Total policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	—		5		1,215		1,220		⁽⁵⁾
Customer deposits	—		4		—		4
Other liabilities:
Interest rate derivative contracts	—		969		—		969
Equity derivative contracts	47		1,946		—		1,993
Foreign exchange derivative contracts	2		16		—		18
Other derivative contracts	—		96		—		96
Other	1		12		—		13
Total other liabilities	50		3,039		—		3,089
Total liabilities at fair value	$	50	$	3,048	$	1,215	$	4,313

⁽¹⁾Amounts are comprised of certain investments that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 3 for further information.

⁽²⁾The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives included $880 million of individual contracts in a liability position and $266 million of individual contracts in an asset position at December 31, 2016.

⁽³⁾ The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $498 million cumulative decrease to the embedded derivatives at December 31, 2016.

⁽⁴⁾The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives included $994 million of individual contracts in a liability position and $143 million of individual contracts in an asset position at December 31, 2015.

⁽⁵⁾The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $398 million cumulative decrease to the embedded derivatives at December 31, 2015.

Summary of changes in level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Table Text Block]

The following tables provide a summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities of Ameriprise Financial measured at fair value on a recurring basis:



	Available-for-Sale Securities																		Other Derivative Contracts
	Corporate Debt Securities			Residential Mortgage Backed Securities			Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities			Asset Backed Securities			Common Stocks		Total				Other Derivative Contracts
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2016	$	1,425		$	218		$	3		$	162		$	—	$	1,808			$	—
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies	—			—			—			21			—		21				—
Total gains (losses) included in:
Net income	(1		)	1			—			(1		)	—		(1		)	⁽¹⁾	(2		)	⁽³⁾
Other comprehensive income	—			(1		)	—			(4		)	—		(5		)		—
Purchases	54			209			42			58			—		363				2
Settlements	(168		)	(67		)	(3		)	(2		)	—		(240		)		—
Transfers into Level 3	1			—			—			12			1		14				—
Transfers out of Level 3	—			(92		)	(42		)	(178		)	—		(312		)		—
Balance, December 31, 2016	$	1,311		$	268		$	—		$	68		$	1	$	1,648			$	—

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at December 31, 2016	$	1		$	1		$	—		$	(1	)	$	—	$	1		⁽¹⁾	$	(2	)	⁽³⁾



	Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims											Other Liabilities
	IUL Embedded Derivatives				GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives				Total			Other Liabilities
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2016	$	364			$	851			$	1,215		$	—
Total (gains) losses included in:
Net income	13			⁽²⁾	(511		)	⁽³⁾	(498		)	—
Issues	115				295				410			13
Settlements	(28		)		(21		)		(49		)	—
Balance, December 31, 2016	$	464			$	614			$	1,078		$	13

Changes in unrealized (gains) losses relating to liabilities held at December 31, 2016	$	13		⁽²⁾	$	(448	)	⁽³⁾	$	(435	)	$	—



	Available-for-Sale Securities																			Trading Securities
	Corporate Debt Securities			Residential Mortgage Backed Securities			Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities			Asset Backed Securities			Common Stocks			Total				Trading Securities
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2015	$	1,518		$	206		$	91		$	169		$	2		$	1,986			$	1
Total gains (losses) included in:
Net income	(2		)	—			—			1			—			(1		)	⁽¹⁾	(1		)	⁽¹⁾
Other comprehensive loss	(21		)	(2		)	—			(2		)	—			(25		)		—
Purchases	189			334			41			72			—			636				—
Settlements	(248		)	(55		)	(7		)	(22		)	—			(332		)		—
Transfers into Level 3	—			—			6			14			—			20				—
Transfers out of Level 3	(11		)	(265		)	(128		)	(70		)	(2		)	(476		)		—
Balance, December 31, 2015	$	1,425		$	218		$	3		$	162		$	—		$	1,808			$	—

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at December 31, 2015	$	(2	)	$	—		$	—		$	1		$	—		$	(1	)	⁽¹⁾	$	—



	Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims
	IUL Embedded Derivatives				GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives				Total
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2015	$	242			$	479			$	721
Total losses included in:
Net income	27			⁽²⁾	105			⁽³⁾	132
Issues	114				271				385
Settlements	(19		)		(4		)		(23		)
Balance, December 31, 2015	$	364			$	851			$	1,215

Changes in unrealized losses relating to liabilities held at December 31, 2015	$	27		⁽²⁾	$	127		⁽³⁾	$	154



	Available-for-Sale Securities
	Corporate Debt Securities			Residential Mortgage Backed Securities			Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities			Asset Backed Securities			Common Stocks			Total				Trading Securities
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2014	$	1,640		$	187		$	30		$	260		$	—		$	2,117			$	2
Total gains (losses) included in:
Net income	(1		)	(1		)	1			1			—			—			⁽¹⁾	—
Other comprehensive income	(2		)	—			(2		)	2			—			(2		)		—
Purchases	213			399			59			32			1			704				1
Sales	(18		)	—			—			—			—			(18		)		(2		)
Settlements	(306		)	(24		)	(1		)	(11		)	—			(342		)		—
Transfers into Level 3	—			—			78			—			2			80				—
Transfers out of Level 3	(8		)	(355		)	(74		)	(115		)	(1		)	(553		)		—
Balance, December 31, 2014	$	1,518		$	206		$	91		$	169		$	2		$	1,986			$	1

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at December 31, 2014	$	(1	)	$	—		$	1		$	1		$	—		1			⁽¹⁾	$	—



	Policyholder Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Claims
	IUL Embedded Derivatives				GMWB and GMAB Embedded Derivatives				Total
	(in millions)
Balance, January 1, 2014	$	125			$	(575	)		$	(450	)
Total losses included in:
Net income	40			⁽²⁾	811			⁽³⁾	851
Issues	90				254				344
Settlements	(13		)		(11		)		(24		)
Balance, December 31, 2014	$	242			$	479			$	721

Changes in unrealized losses relating to liabilities held at December 31, 2014	$	40		⁽²⁾	$	811		⁽³⁾	$	851

⁽¹⁾ Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

⁽²⁾ Included in interest credited to fixed accounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

⁽³⁾ Included in benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements [Table Text Block]

The following tables provide a summary of the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurements developed by the Company or reasonably available to the Company of Level 3 assets and liabilities:



	December 31, 2016
	Fair Value		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range				Weighted Average
	(in millions)
Corporate debt securities (private placements)	$	1,308	Discounted cash flow	Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries	0.9	%	–	2.5%	1.3	%
Asset backed securities	$	14	Discounted cash flow	Annual short-term default rate	4.8%
				Annual long-term default rate	2.5%
				Discount rate	13.5%
				Constant prepayment rate	5.0	%	–	10.0%	9.9	%
				Loss recovery	36.4	%	–	63.6%	62.8	%
IUL embedded derivatives	$	464	Discounted cash flow	Nonperformance risk⁽¹⁾	82 bps
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	$	614	Discounted cash flow	Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals⁽²⁾	0.0	%	–	75.6%
				Surrender rate	0.1	%	–	66.4%
				Market volatility⁽³⁾	5.3	%	–	21.2%
				Nonperformance risk⁽¹⁾	82 bps
Contingent consideration liability	$	13	Discounted cash flow	Discount rate	9.0%



	December 31, 2015
	Fair Value		Valuation Technique	Unobservable Input	Range				Weighted Average
	(in millions)
Corporate debt securities (private placements)	$	1,411	Discounted cash flow	Yield/spread to U.S. Treasuries	1.1	%	–	3.8%	1.6%
IUL embedded derivatives	$	364	Discounted cash flow	Nonperformance risk⁽¹⁾	68 bps
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	$	851	Discounted cash flow	Utilization of guaranteed withdrawals⁽²⁾	0.0	%	–	75.6%
				Surrender rate	0.0	%	–	59.1%
				Market volatility⁽³⁾	5.4	%	–	21.5%
				Nonperformance risk⁽¹⁾	68 bps

⁽¹⁾ The nonperformance risk is the spread added to the observable interest rates used in the valuation of the embedded derivatives.

⁽²⁾ The utilization of guaranteed withdrawals represents the percentage of contractholders that will begin withdrawing in any given year.

⁽³⁾ Market volatility is implied volatility of fund of funds and managed volatility funds.

Schedule of carrying value and the estimated fair value of financial instruments that are not reported at fair value [Table Text Block]

The following tables provide the carrying value and the estimated fair value of financial instruments that are not reported at fair value:



	December 31, 2016
	Carrying Value		Fair Value
	Carrying Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in millions)
Financial Assets
Mortgage loans, net	$	2,986	$	—	$	—	$	2,972	$	2,972
Policy and certificate loans	831		—		1		807		808
Receivables	1,396		127		1,270		3		1,400
Restricted and segregated cash	2,905		2,905		—		—		2,905
Other investments and assets	508		—		449		61		510

Financial Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	$	10,906	$	—	$	—	$	11,417	$	11,417
Investment certificate reserves	5,927		—		—		5,914		5,914
Brokerage customer deposits	4,112		4,112		—		—		4,112
Separate account liabilities at NAV	4,253								4,253		⁽¹⁾
Debt and other liabilities	3,371		146		3,176		169		3,491



	December 31, 2015
	Carrying Value		Fair Value
	Carrying Value		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
	(in millions)
Financial Assets
Mortgage loans, net	$	3,359	$	—	$	—	$	3,372	$	3,372
Policy and certificate loans	824		—		1		803		804
Receivables	1,471		148		1,322		3		1,473
Restricted and segregated cash	2,548		2,548		—		—		2,548
Other investments and assets	583		1		510		54		565

Financial Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims	$	11,523	$	—	$	—	$	12,424	$	12,424
Investment certificate reserves	4,831		—		—		4,823		4,823
Brokerage customer deposits	3,802		3,802		—		—		3,802
Separate account liabilities at NAV	4,704								4,704		⁽¹⁾
Debt and other liabilities	3,173		202		2,958		113		3,273

⁽¹⁾ Amounts are comprised of certain investments that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. See Note 3 for further information.