Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Assets & liabilities reported at FV) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017		Dec. 31, 2016
Assets
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes		$ 400		$ 425
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities, gross liabilities	[1],[2]	3,578		4,262
Cumulative change in embedded derivatives due to nonperformance		(435)		(498)
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Derivative liabilities, gross liabilities		585		880
Derivative liabilities, gross asset		397		266
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		30,582		30,719
Separate account assets		82,169		80,210
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		16,089		16,236
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		6,882		6,918
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		3,274		3,367
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,647		1,549
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | State and municipal obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		2,400		2,358
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | U.S. government and agencies obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		8		8
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		264		261
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Common stocks [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		18		22
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member]
Assets
Cash equivalents		1,638		1,826
Available-for-Sale securities		30,582		30,719
Trading securities		144		25
Separate account assets	[3]	82,169		80,210
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes		400		425
Other assets		2,871		3,446
Total assets at fair value		117,804		116,651
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		685	[4]	1,083	[5]
Customer deposits		9		8
Other liabilities		2,910		3,195
Total liabilities at fair value		3,604		4,286
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Other liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		26		24
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Interest rate derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		1,142		1,775
Liabilities
Other liabilities		464		979
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Equity derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		1,667		1,568
Liabilities
Other liabilities		2,247		2,027
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Credit derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		1		1
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Foreign exchange derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		60		93
Liabilities
Other liabilities		38		47
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Other derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		1		9
Liabilities
Other liabilities		135		118
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | EIA embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		4		5
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | IUL embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		493		464
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		188	[6]	614	[7]
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		16,089		16,236
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		6,882		6,918
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		3,274		3,367
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,647		1,549
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | State and municipal obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		2,400		2,358
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | U.S. government and agencies obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		8		8
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		264		261
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Common stocks [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		13		17
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Equity securities measured at NAV [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities	[3]	5		5
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets
Cash equivalents		31		30
Available-for-Sale securities		12		16
Trading securities		115		9
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes		400		425
Other assets		43		56
Total assets at fair value		601		536
Liabilities
Other liabilities		19		10
Total liabilities at fair value		19		10
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Other liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		7		3
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Interest rate derivative contracts [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		1		2
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Equity derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		40		42
Liabilities
Other liabilities		10		3
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Foreign exchange derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		2		13
Liabilities
Other liabilities		1		2
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Other derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		1		1
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | U.S. government and agencies obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		8		8
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Common stocks [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		4		8
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets
Cash equivalents		1,607		1,796
Available-for-Sale securities		28,833		29,050
Trading securities		29		16
Other assets		2,828		3,390
Total assets at fair value		33,297		34,252
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		4		5
Customer deposits		9		8
Other liabilities		2,878		3,172
Total liabilities at fair value		2,891		3,185
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Other liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		6		8
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Interest rate derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		1,142		1,775
Liabilities
Other liabilities		463		977
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Equity derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		1,627		1,526
Liabilities
Other liabilities		2,237		2,024
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Credit derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		1		1
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Foreign exchange derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		58		80
Liabilities
Other liabilities		37		45
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Other derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets				8
Liabilities
Other liabilities		135		118
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | EIA embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		4		5
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		14,745		14,925
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		6,566		6,650
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		3,274		3,367
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,583		1,481
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | State and municipal obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		2,400		2,358
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		264		261
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Common stocks [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1		8
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,732		1,648
Total assets at fair value		1,732		1,648
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		681		1,078
Other liabilities		13		13
Total liabilities at fair value		694		1,091
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Other liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		13		13
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | IUL embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		493		464
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		188		614
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,344		1,311
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		316		268
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		64		68
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Common stocks [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		$ 8		$ 1

[1] The fair value of freestanding derivative liabilities is included in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of GMWB and GMAB, IUL, and EIA embedded derivatives is included in Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the SMC embedded derivative liability is included in Customer deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[2] The fair value of the Company’s derivative liabilities after considering the effects of master netting arrangements, cash collateral held by the same counterparty and the fair value of net embedded derivatives was $1.2 billion and $1.5 billion as of March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. See Note 11 for additional information related to master netting arrangements and cash collateral. See Note 3 for information about derivatives held by consolidated VIEs.

[3] 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.

[4] The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $435 million cumulative decrease to the embedded derivatives as of March 31, 2017.

[5] The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $498 million cumulative decrease to the embedded derivatives as of December 31, 2016.

[6] The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives included $585 million of individual contracts in a liability position and $397 million of individual contracts in an asset position as of March 31, 2017.

[7] 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 as of December 31, 2016.