Deferred Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducement Costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015
Balances of and changes in DAC
Benefit related to the write-off of the deferred reinsurance liability		$ (27)
Expense related to the loss recognition on LTC business		58
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Balances of and changes in DAC
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 2,648	2,730		$ 2,613
Capitalization of acquisition costs	302	360	[1]	361
Amortization, excluding the impact of valuation assumptions review	(279)	(334)		(348)
Amortization, impact of valuation assumptions review	12	(81)	[2]	(6)
Impact of change in net unrealized securities (gains) losses	(7)	(27)		110
Balance at the end of the period	2,676	2,648		2,730
Balances of and changes in DSIC
Balance at the beginning of the period	302	335		362
Capitalization of sales inducement costs	4	5		4
Amortization, excluding the impact of valuation assumptions review	(35)	(42)		(52)
Amortization, impact of valuation assumptions review	(1)	4		1
Impact of change in net unrealized (gains) losses	6	0		20
Balance at the end of the period	$ 276	$ 302		$ 335

[1] Includes a $27 million benefit related to the write-off of the deferred reinsurance liability in connection with the loss recognition on LTC business. The benefit was reported in Distribution expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

[2] Includes a $58 million expense related to the loss recognition on LTC business.