Basis of Presentation

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Basis of Presentation

Basis of Presentation

Ameriprise Financial, Inc. is a holding company, which primarily conducts business through its subsidiaries to provide financial planning, products and services that are designed to be utilized as solutions for clients’ cash and liquidity, asset accumulation, income, protection and estate and wealth transfer needs. The foreign operations of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. are conducted primarily through Threadneedle Asset Management Holdings Sàrl and Ameriprise Asset Management Holdings GmbH (collectively, “Threadneedle”).

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Ameriprise Financial, Inc., companies in which it directly or indirectly has a controlling financial interest and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) in which it is the primary beneficiary (collectively, the “Company”). All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. See Note 3 for additional information on VIEs.

The interim financial information in this report has not been audited. In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for fair statement of the consolidated results of operations and financial position for the interim periods have been made. Except for the adjustment described below, all adjustments made were of a normal recurring nature.

In the first quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a $20 million decrease to income tax provision related to an out-of-period correction for a reversal of a tax reserve.

In the third quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a $14 million out-of-period correction related to a variable annuity model assumption that decreased amortization of deferred acquisition costs (“DAC”) by $10 million and decreased benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses by $4 million.

The impact to prior period financial statements of these out-of-period corrections was not material.

The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). Results of operations reported for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire year. These Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on February 23, 2017 (“2016 10-K”).

The Company evaluated events or transactions that may have occurred after the balance sheet date for potential recognition or disclosure through the date the financial statements were issued. No subsequent events or transactions were identified.