Shareholders' Equity Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, before tax	[1]	$ 53	$ 493
Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income, before tax	[2]	(18)	1
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, before tax		(26)	(197)
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax		9	297
Net unrealized derivatives gains, before tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, before tax	[3]	2	1
Net unrealized derivatives gains, before tax		2	1
Defined benefit plans net loss arising during the period, before tax		7	0
Defined benefit plans, before tax		7	0
Foreign currency translation, before tax		11	(17)
Other Comprehensive Income Loss Adjustment Other Investments Before Tax		(1)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, before tax		28	281
Net unrealized securities gains (losses), tax impact [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, tax impact	[1]	(17)	(173)
Reclassification of net securities gains (losses) included in net income, tax impact	[2]	6	0
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, tax impact		9	69
Net unrealized securities gains, tax impact		(2)	(104)
Net unrealized derivatives losses, tax impact [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, tax impact	[3]	(1)	0
Net unrealized derivatives gains, tax impact		(1)	0
Defined benefit plans net loss arising during the period, tax impact		(2)	0
Defined benefit plans, tax impact		(2)	0
Foreign currency translation, tax impact		(4)	6
Other comprehensive income (loss) adjustment other investments, tax	[1]	0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, tax impact		(9)	(98)
Net unrealized securities gains (losses), net of tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, net of tax	[1]	36	320
Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income, net of tax	[2]	(12)	1
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, net of tax		(17)	(128)
Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax		7	193
Net unrealized derivatives losses, net of tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, net of tax	[3]	1	1
Net unrealized derivatives gains, net of tax		1	1
Defined benefit plans net loss arising during the period, net of tax		5	0
Defined benefit plans, net of tax		5	0
Foreign currency translation, net of tax		7	(11)
Other, net of tax		(1)	0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		19	183
Net investment income [Member]
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI into income, effective portion, net		$ (1)	$ (1)

[1] 1) Includes other-than-temporary impairment losses on Available-for-Sale securities related to factors other than credit that were recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) during the period.

[2] (2) Reclassification amounts are recorded in net investment income.

[3] (3) Includes a $1 million pretax loss reclassified to net investment income for both the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016.