Investments (EITF info) (Details 5) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) Positions	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Positions
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	594	650
12 months or more | Positions	239	268
Total | Positions	833	918
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 6,996	$ 7,496
12 months or more	1,858	2,142
Total	8,854	9,638
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(115)	(129)
12 months or more	(73)	(96)
Total	$ (188)	$ (225)
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	169	187
12 months or more | Positions	25	38
Total | Positions	194	225
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 2,158	$ 2,452
12 months or more	227	377
Total	2,385	2,829
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(26)	(33)
12 months or more	(17)	(27)
Total	$ (43)	$ (60)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	127	127
12 months or more | Positions	168	177
Total | Positions	295	304
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 2,610	$ 2,533
12 months or more	1,237	1,290
Total	3,847	3,823
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(35)	(33)
12 months or more	(29)	(34)
Total	$ (64)	$ (67)
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	102	100
12 months or more | Positions	5	5
Total | Positions	107	105
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,487	$ 1,583
12 months or more	32	43
Total	1,519	1,626
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(37)	(39)
12 months or more	(1)	0
Total	$ (38)	$ (39)
Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	40	48
12 months or more | Positions	21	27
Total | Positions	61	75
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 405	$ 524
12 months or more	225	298
Total	630	822
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(7)	(9)
12 months or more	(5)	(7)
Total	$ (12)	$ (16)
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	153	181
12 months or more | Positions	3	3
Total | Positions	156	184
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 326	$ 374
12 months or more	115	110
Total	441	484
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(10)	(14)
12 months or more	(15)	(21)
Total	$ (25)	$ (35)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	3	7
12 months or more | Positions	14	15
Total | Positions	17	22
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 10	$ 30
12 months or more	21	23
Total	31	53
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(1)
12 months or more	(5)	(6)
Total	$ (5)	$ (7)
Common stocks [Member]
Number of securities
12 months or more | Positions	3	3
Total | Positions	3	3
Fair Value
12 months or more	$ 1	$ 1
Total	1	1
Unrealized losses
12 months or more	(1)	(1)
Total	$ (1)	$ (1)