Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Income Statement) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Net investment income [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	$ 3	$ (40)
Net investment income [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Interest rate contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	1	(40)
Net investment income [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	2
Banking and deposit interest expense [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	0
Banking and deposit interest expense [Member] | SMC [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	(1)	1
Banking and deposit interest expense [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	1	(1)
Distribution expenses [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	16	1
Distribution expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	15	(2)
Distribution expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	1	3
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	12	11
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | IUL [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	(7)	14
Interest credited to fixed accounts [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	19	(3)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	(149)	(34)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | GMWB and GMAB [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	426	(664)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Interest rate contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	(75)	755
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	(416)	(65)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Credit contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	(8)	(16)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	(24)	(35)
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Other derivative contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	(52)	(9)
General and administrative expense [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	4	7
General and administrative expense [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Equity contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	3	1
General and administrative expense [Member] | Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Member] | Foreign exchange contracts [Member]
Impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on Consolidated Statements of Income
Amount of gain (loss) on derivatives recognized in income	$ 1	$ 6