Investments (EITF info) (Details 5) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) Positions	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Positions
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	496	650
12 months or more | Positions	194	268
Total | Positions	690	918
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 5,772	$ 7,496
12 months or more	1,583	2,142
Total	7,355	9,638
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(74)	(129)
12 months or more	(55)	(96)
Total	$ (129)	$ (225)
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	138	187
12 months or more | Positions	21	38
Total | Positions	159	225
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,687	$ 2,452
12 months or more	171	377
Total	1,858	2,829
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(17)	(33)
12 months or more	(21)	(27)
Total	$ (38)	$ (60)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	104	127
12 months or more | Positions	132	177
Total | Positions	236	304
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,948	$ 2,533
12 months or more	1,087	1,290
Total	3,035	3,823
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(22)	(33)
12 months or more	(13)	(34)
Total	$ (35)	$ (67)
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	92	100
12 months or more | Positions	4	5
Total | Positions	96	105
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,367	$ 1,583
12 months or more	29	43
Total	1,396	1,626
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(26)	(39)
12 months or more	(1)	0
Total	$ (27)	$ (39)
Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	42	48
12 months or more | Positions	17	27
Total | Positions	59	75
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 502	$ 524
12 months or more	156	298
Total	658	822
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(4)	(9)
12 months or more	(2)	(7)
Total	$ (6)	$ (16)
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	108	181
12 months or more | Positions	3	3
Total | Positions	111	184
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 230	$ 374
12 months or more	118	110
Total	348	484
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(5)	(14)
12 months or more	(12)	(21)
Total	$ (17)	$ (35)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	11	7
12 months or more | Positions	14	15
Total | Positions	25	22
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 38	$ 30
12 months or more	21	23
Total	59	53
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(1)
12 months or more	(5)	(6)
Total	$ (5)	$ (7)
Common stocks [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	1
12 months or more | Positions	3	3
Total | Positions	4	3
Fair Value
12 months or more	$ 1	$ 1
Total	1	1
Unrealized losses
12 months or more	(1)	(1)
Total	$ (1)	$ (1)