Segment Information - Total Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	$ 140,857	$ 139,821
Advice and Wealth Management [Member]
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	13,157	12,654
Asset Management [Member]
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	7,194	7,254
Annuities [Member]
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	94,248	93,481
Protection [Member]
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	16,909	16,780
Corporate and Other [Member]
Summary of assets by segment
Total assets	$ 9,349	$ 9,652