Deferred Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducement Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Balances of and changes in DAC
Benefit related to the write-off of the deferred reinsurance liability		$ 27
Expense related to the loss recognition on LTC business		58
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Balances of and changes in DAC
Balance at the beginning of the period	[1]	2,730		$ 2,613	$ 2,668
Capitalization of acquisition costs		360	[2]	361	336
Amortization, excluding the impact of valuation assumptions review		(334)		(348)	(360)
Amortization, impact of valuation assumptions review		(81)		(6)	(7)
Impact of change in net unrealized securities losses (gains)		(27)		110	(24)
Balance at the end of the period	[1]	2,648		2,730	2,613
Balances of and changes in DSIC
Balance at the beginning of the period		335		362	409
Capitalization of sales inducement costs		5		4	5
Amortization, excluding the impact of valuation assumptions review		(42)		(52)	(51)
Amortization, impact of valuation assumptions review		4		1	(2)
Impact of change in net unrealized securities losses				20	1
Balance at the end of the period		$ 302		$ 335	$ 362

[1] Prior period DAC balances have been restated for the correction of the commission expense accrual for certain insurance and annuity products. See Note 1 for more information.

[2] Includes a $27 million benefit for the release of the deferred reinsurance liability in connection with the loss recognition on LTC business. The benefit was reported in Distribution expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.