Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Level 3 rollforwards-Assets) (Details 2) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Transfers from Level 1 to Level 2, assets		$ 0	$ 0
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1, assets		0	0
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		1,311	1,425
Total gains (losses) included in net income			(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)			18
Purchases		62
Settlements		(29)	(31)
Balance, at the end of the period		1,344	1,411
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		268	218
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)			(3)
Purchases		132
Settlements		(12)	(16)
Transfers out of Level 3		(72)	(25)
Balance, at the end of the period		316	174
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			3
Purchases			9
Settlements			(2)
Balance, at the end of the period			10
Asset backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		68	162
Total gains (losses) included in net income			(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		1	(3)
Purchases		49	1
Settlements		(13)
Transfers out of Level 3		(41)	(10)
Balance, at the end of the period		64	170
Changes in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to assets held at end of period			(1)
Asset backed securities [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			21
Common stocks [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		1
Transfers Into Level 3		8
Transfers out of Level 3		(1)
Balance, at the end of the period		8
Total available-for-sale securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		1,648	1,808
Total gains (losses) included in net income	[1]		(2)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		1	12
Purchases		243	10
Settlements		(54)	(49)
Transfers Into Level 3		8
Transfers out of Level 3		(114)	(35)
Balance, at the end of the period		$ 1,732	1,765
Changes in unrealized gains/(losses) relating to assets held at end of period	[1]		(1)
Total available-for-sale securities [Member] | Adjustments for New Accounting Pronouncement [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			$ 21

[1] Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.