Investments (EITF info) (Details 5) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Positions	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Positions
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	434	650
12 months or more | Positions	337	268
Total | Positions	771	918
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 5,312	$ 7,496
12 months or more	3,381	2,142
Total	8,693	9,638
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(34)	(129)
12 months or more	(92)	(96)
Total	$ (126)	$ (225)
Corporate Debt Securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	150	187
12 months or more | Positions	70	38
Total | Positions	220	225
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,791	$ 2,452
12 months or more	740	377
Total	2,531	2,829
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(8)	(33)
12 months or more	(24)	(27)
Total	$ (32)	$ (60)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	102	127
12 months or more | Positions	130	177
Total | Positions	232	304
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,772	$ 2,533
12 months or more	1,467	1,290
Total	3,239	3,823
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(11)	(33)
12 months or more	(26)	(34)
Total	$ (37)	$ (67)
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	67	100
12 months or more | Positions	58	5
Total | Positions	125	105
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 1,178	$ 1,583
12 months or more	783	43
Total	1,961	1,626
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(12)	(39)
12 months or more	(24)	0
Total	$ (36)	$ (39)
Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	36	48
12 months or more | Positions	26	27
Total | Positions	62	75
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 424	$ 524
12 months or more	187	298
Total	611	822
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(2)	(9)
12 months or more	(3)	(7)
Total	$ (5)	$ (16)
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	76	181
12 months or more | Positions	34	3
Total | Positions	110	184
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 141	$ 374
12 months or more	180	110
Total	321	484
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	(1)	(14)
12 months or more	(10)	(21)
Total	$ (11)	$ (35)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	3	7
12 months or more | Positions	15	15
Total | Positions	18	22
Fair Value
Less than 12 months	$ 6	$ 30
12 months or more	23	23
Total	29	53
Unrealized losses
Less than 12 months	0	(1)
12 months or more	(4)	(6)
Total	$ (4)	$ (7)
Common stocks [Member]
Number of securities
12 months or more | Positions	4	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)