Basis of Presentation Basis of Presentation (Revenue Recognition) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Management and financial advice fees	$ 1,669	$ 1,487
Distribution fees	468	441
Net investment income	396	391
Premiums	343	339
Other revenues	308	278
Total revenues	3,184	2,936
Banking and deposit interest expense	16	10
Total net revenues	3,168	2,926
Distribution expenses	905	823
Interest credited to fixed accounts	141	162
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	494	567
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	92	72
Interest and debt expense	51	50
General and administrative expense	789	777
Total expenses	2,472	2,451
Pretax income	696	475
Income tax provision	102	72
Net income	594	403
Total assets	144,762		$ 147,480
Liabilities	138,922		141,485
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)	$ (11,796)		(11,326)
Effect of change [Member] | Revenue from contracts with customers standard [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Management and financial advice fees		5
Distribution fees		(2)
Other revenues		22
Total revenues		25
Total net revenues		25
General and administrative expense		25
Total expenses		25
Net income		0
Total assets			10
Liabilities			13
Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit)			$ (3)
Previously reported [Member]
Revenue, Initial Application Period Cumulative Effect Transition [Line Items]
Management and financial advice fees		1,482
Distribution fees		443
Net investment income		391
Premiums		339
Other revenues		256
Total revenues		2,911
Banking and deposit interest expense		10
Total net revenues		2,901
Distribution expenses		823
Interest credited to fixed accounts		162
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses		567
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs		72
Interest and debt expense		50
General and administrative expense		752
Total expenses		2,426
Pretax income		475
Income tax provision		72
Net income		$ 403