CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 1,314	$ 1,687	$ 2,000
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, amortization and accretion, net	248	248	254
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)	(34)	(131)	228
Share-based compensation	134	145	130
Net realized investment gains	(16)	(14)	(45)
Net trading gains	(6)	(7)	(7)
Loss from equity method investments	54	14	11
Other-than-temporary impairments and provision for loan losses	4	9	7
Net gains of consolidated investment entities	(38)	(132)	(378)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Restricted and segregated cash and investments	(382)	(335)	(256)
Deferred acquisition costs	55	(7)	31
Other investments, net	14	81	(37)
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims, net	8	494	1,120
Derivatives, net of collateral	59	93	(883)
Receivables	(150)	(277)	(423)
Brokerage deposits	310	337	378
Accounts payable and accrued expenses	173	82	137
Cash held by consolidated investment entities	(14)	(107)	37
Investment properties of consolidated investment entities	0	(114)	258
Other operating assets and liabilities of consolidated investment entities, net	(9)	95	0
Other, net	247	411	(163)
Net cash provided by operating activities	1,971	2,572	2,399
Available-for-Sale securities:
Proceeds from sales	366	294	516
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls	4,421	4,542	4,352
Purchases	(6,498)	(4,562)	(4,127)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of mortgage loans	810	631	585
Funding of mortgage loans	(451)	(558)	(525)
Proceeds from sales and collections of other investments	253	236	207
Purchase of other investments	(291)	(306)	(408)
Purchase of investments by consolidated investment entities	(845)	(2,678)	(3,198)
Proceeds from sales, maturities and repayments of investments by consolidated investment entities	1,421	2,009	2,017
Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software	(92)	(133)	(113)
Other, net	102	11	(21)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	(804)	(514)	(715)
Investment certificates:
Proceeds from additions	4,250	3,139	2,482
Maturities, withdrawals and cash surrenders	(3,155)	(2,509)	(2,259)
Policyholder account balances:
Deposits and other additions	2,086	2,061	2,042
Net transfers to (from) separate accounts	127	(171)	(216)
Surrenders and other benefits	(1,932)	(2,714)	(2,440)
Cash paid for purchased options with deferred premiums	(341)	(392)	(417)
Cash received for purchased options with deferred premiums	276	16	59
Issuance of long-term debt, net of issuance costs	496	0	543
Repayments of long-term debt	(257)	(409)	(200)
Change in short-term borrowings, net	(1)	(1)	(301)
Dividends paid to shareholders	(479)	(465)	(426)
Repurchase of common shares	(1,707)	(1,741)	(1,577)
Exercise of stock options	9	16	33
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation	14	81	162
Borrowings by consolidated investment entities	0	1,650	2,159
Repayments of debt by consolidated investment entities	(517)	(719)	(1,011)
Noncontrolling interests investments in subsidiaries	0	255	176
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	0	(415)	(465)
Other, net	0	0	(1)
Net cash used in financing activities	(1,131)	(2,318)	(1,657)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(75)	(21)	(21)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(39)	(281)	6
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	2,357	2,638	2,632
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,318	2,357	2,638
Income taxes paid, net	155	439	578
Non-cash investing activity:
Partnership commitments not yet remitted	108	45	38
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Interest paid	163	186	178
Consolidated investment entities [Member]
Policyholder account balances:
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	502
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	168	502
Interest paid	$ 127	$ 257	$ 190