AOCI Rollforward (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		$ 200	$ 253
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies				$ (1,318)
OCI before reclassifications		25	181
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		(6)	2
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		19	183
Ending balance		219	442
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Available For Sale Securities Impairment Other than Credit		8	(1)
Net unrealized securities gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		479	426
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies				6
OCI before reclassifications		19	192
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		(12)	1
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		7	193
Ending balance	[1]	486	625
Net unrealized derivatives gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		5	1
OCI before reclassifications		0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		1	1
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		1	1
Ending balance		6	2
Defined benefit plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		(125)	(91)
OCI before reclassifications		0	0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		5	0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		5	0
Ending balance		(120)	(91)
Foreign currency translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		(159)	(83)
OCI before reclassifications		7	(11)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		0	0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		7	(11)
Ending balance		(152)	(94)
Accumulated Net Unrealized From Other Investment Gain Loss [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance		0
OCI before reclassifications		(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI		0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		(1)
Ending balance	[1]	$ (1)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies				$ 6
Adjusted for change in accounting policies [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance			259
Adjusted for change in accounting policies [Member] | Net unrealized securities gains [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Beginning balance			$ 432

[1] Includes $8 million and $(1) million of noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities gains (losses) on previously impaired securities as of March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2016, respectively.