Shareholders' Equity Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2016		Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2016
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, before tax	[1]	$ 60		$ 82		$ 304		$ 1,134
Reclassification of net securities gains included in net income, before tax	[2]	(4)		(8)		(43)		(12)
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, before tax		(61)		(114)		(168)		(533)
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax		(5)		(40)		93		589
Net unrealized derivatives gains, before tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, before tax		1	[3]	1	[3]	3	[4]	4	[4]
Net unrealized derivatives gains, before tax		1		1		3		4
Defined benefit plans net gain arising during the period, before tax		0		0		7		9
Defined benefit plans, before tax		0		0		7		9
Foreign currency translation, before tax		25		(26)		71		(85)
Other, before tax		0		0		(1)		0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, before tax		21		(65)		173		517
Net unrealized securities gains (losses), tax impact [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, tax impact	[1]	(22)		(31)		(107)		(398)
Reclassification of net securities gains included in net income, tax impact	[2]	1		4		15		5
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, tax impact		22		39		59		186
Net unrealized securities gains, tax impact		1		12		(33)		(207)
Net unrealized derivatives losses, tax impact [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, tax impact		0	[3]	0	[3]	(1)	[4]	(1)	[4]
Net unrealized derivatives gains, tax impact		0		0		(1)		(1)
Defined benefit plans net gain arising during the period, tax impact		0		0		(2)		(3)
Defined benefit plans, tax impact		0		0		(2)		(3)
Foreign currency translation, tax impact		(9)		10		(25)		30
Other, tax impact		0		0		0		0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, tax impact		(8)		22		(61)		(181)
Net unrealized securities gains (losses), net of tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains arising during the period, net of tax	[1]	38		51		197		736
Reclassification of net securities gains included in net income, net of tax	[2]	(3)		(4)		(28)		(7)
Impact of DAC, DSIC, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables, net of tax		(39)		(75)		(109)		(347)
Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax		(4)		(28)		60		382
Net unrealized derivatives losses, net of tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income, net of tax		1	[3]	1	[3]	2	[4]	3	[4]
Net unrealized derivatives gains, net of tax		1		1		2		3
Defined benefit plans net gain arising during the period, net of tax		0		0		5		6
Defined benefit plans, net of tax		0		0		5		6
Foreign currency translation, net of tax		16		(16)		46		(55)
Other, net of tax		0		0		(1)		0
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial, net of tax		13		(43)		112		336
Interest and debt expense [Member]
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI into income, effective portion, net		0		0		1		1
Net investment income [Member]
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI into income, effective portion, net		$ 1		$ 1		$ 3		$ 4

[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] Reclassification amounts are recorded in net investment income.

[3] Includes nil pretax gain reclassified to interest and debt expense for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and a $1 million pretax loss reclassified to net investment income for both the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

[4] Includes $1 million pretax gain reclassified to interest and debt expense for both the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, and a $3 million and $4 million pretax loss reclassified to net investment income for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016