Shareholders' Equity Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Net unrealized securities gains, before tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains (losses) arising during the period before tax	[1]	$ 243	$ 339	$ (1,027)
Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income before tax	[2]	(55)	(22)	(6)
Impact of deferred acquisition costs, deferred sales inducement costs, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables before tax		(180)	(242)	480
Net unrealized securities gains before tax		8	75	(553)
Net unrealized derivatives losses, before tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income before tax	[3]	5	6	1
Net unrealized derivatives losses before tax		5	6	1
Defined benefit plans, before tax [Abstract]
Prior service credit before tax		2		(2)
Net loss arising during the period before tax		38	(45)	(24)
Defined benefit plans before tax		40	(45)	(26)
Foreign currency translation before tax		74	(117)	(46)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial before tax		(1)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent		126	(81)	(624)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest				(60)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), before Tax				(684)
Net unrealized securities gains, tax impact [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities (gains) losses arising during the period tax impact	[1]	(77)	(121)	359
Reclassification of net securities gains (losses) included in net income tax impact	[2]	19	8	2
Impact of deferred acquisition costs, deferred sales inducement costs, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables tax impact		57	85	(168)
Net unrealized securities gains tax impact		(1)	(28)	193
Net unrealized derivatives losses, tax impact [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income tax impact	[3]	(2)	(2)	0
Net unrealized derivatives losses tax impact		(2)	(2)	0
Defined benefit plans, net of tax [Abstract]
Prior service credit tax impact		(1)		0
Net loss arising during the period tax		(11)	11	6
Defined benefit plans tax impact		(12)	11	6
Foreign currency translation tax impact		(82)	41	16
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial tax impact		0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent		(97)	22	215
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest				0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax				215
Net unrealized securities gains, net of tax [Abstract]
Net unrealized securities gains (losses) arising during the period, net of tax	[1]	166	218	(668)
Reclassification of net securities (gains) losses included in net income net of tax	[2]	(36)	(14)	(4)
Impact of deferred acquisition costs, deferred sales inducement costs, unearned revenue, benefit reserves and reinsurance recoverables net of tax		(123)	(157)	312
Net unrealized securities gains net of tax		7	47	(360)
Net unrealized derivative losses, net of tax [Abstract]
Reclassification of net derivative losses included in net income net of tax	[3]	3	4	1
Net unrealized derivatives losses net of tax		3	4	1
Defined benefit plans, net of tax [Abstract]
Prior service credit net of tax		1		(2)
Net loss arising during the period net of tax		27	(34)	(18)
Defined benefit plans net of tax		28	(34)	(20)
Foreign currency translation net of tax		(8)	(76)	(30)
Other comprehensive income attributable to Ameriprise Financial net of tax		(1)	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent		29	(59)	(409)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest				(60)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax		29	(59)	(469)
Net investment income [Member]
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income		2	1	4
Interest and debt expense [Member]
Amount of gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income		$ (5)	$ (6)	$ (5)

[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 a $2 million, $1 million and $4 million pretax gain reclassified to interest and debt expenses and a $5 million, $6 million and $5 million pretax loss reclassified to net investment income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.