Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities (Level 3 rollforwards-Liabilities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Transfers from Level 1 to Level 2, Liabilities		$ 0	$ 0	$ 0
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1, Liabilities		0	0	0
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation [Line Items]
Net increase (decrease) to pretax income of nonperformance risk on fair value of embedded derivative liability		(71)	98	74
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | IUL embedded derivatives [Member]
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		464	364	242
Total gains (losses) included in net income	[1]	87	13	27
Issues		92	115	114
Settlements		(42)	(28)	(19)
Balance, at the end of the period		601	464	364
Changes in unrealized gains/ (losses) included in income relating to liabilities held at end of period	[1]	87	13	27
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives [Member]
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		614	851	479
Total gains (losses) included in net income	[2]	(977)	(511)	105
Issues		326	295	271
Settlements		(12)	(21)	(4)
Balance, at the end of the period		(49)	614	851
Changes in unrealized gains/ (losses) included in income relating to liabilities held at end of period	[2]	(946)	(448)	127
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims [Member]
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		1,078	1,215	721
Total gains (losses) included in net income		(890)	(498)	132
Issues		418	410	385
Settlements		(54)	(49)	(23)
Balance, at the end of the period		552	1,078	1,215
Changes in unrealized gains/ (losses) included in income relating to liabilities held at end of period		(859)	(435)	154
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Contingent consideration liabilities [Member]
Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		13	0
Total gains (losses) included in net income	[3]	2
Issues		13	13
Balance, at the end of the period		$ 28	$ 13	$ 0

[1] Included in interest credited to fixed accounts in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

[2] Included in benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

[3] Included in general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.