Debt (Schedule of debt) (Details) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt and stated interest rates
Total long-term debt		$ 2,917	$ 2,692
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		2,917	2,692
Short-term borrowings		200	200
Debt and Capital Lease Obligations		3,117	2,892
Federal Home Loan Bank advances [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Short-term borrowings		$ 150	$ 150
Short-term borrowings, stated interest rate (as a percent)		0.80%	0.50%
Repurchase agreements [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Short-term borrowings		$ 50	$ 50
Short-term borrowings, stated interest rate (as a percent)		0.90%	0.50%
Senior notes due 2019 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Total long-term debt		$ 300	$ 300
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		7.30%	7.30%
Senior notes due 2020 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Total long-term debt		$ 750	$ 750
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		5.30%	5.30%
Senior notes due 2023 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Total long-term debt		$ 750	$ 750
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		4.00%	4.00%
Senior notes due 2024 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Total long-term debt		$ 550	$ 550
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		3.70%	3.70%
Senior notes due 2026 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Total long-term debt		$ 500
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		2.90%
Junior subordinated notes due 2066 [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Total long-term debt			$ 245
Stated interest rate (as a percent)			7.50%
Capital Lease Obligations [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Capital lease obligation		$ 49	$ 60
Other [Member]
Debt and stated interest rates
Debt Issuance and Other Adjustments	[1]	$ 18	$ 37

[1] Amounts include adjustments for fair value hedges on the Company’s long-term debt and unamortized discount and debt issuance costs. See Note 16 for information on the Company’s fair value hedges.