Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Level 3 rollforwards-Assets) (Details 2) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Transfers from Level 1 to Level 2, assets		$ 0	$ 0
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1, assets		0	0
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		1,139	1,311
Total gains (losses) included in net income		(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(14)
Purchases			62
Settlements		(29)	(29)
Balance, at the end of the period		1,095	1,344
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at end of period		(1)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		155	268
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(2)
Purchases			132
Settlements		(7)	(12)
Transfers out of Level 3			(72)
Balance, at the end of the period		146	316
Asset backed securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		7	68
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)			1
Purchases		10	49
Settlements			(13)
Transfers out of Level 3			(41)
Balance, at the end of the period		17	64
Common stocks [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period			1
Transfers into Level 3			8
Transfers out of Level 3			(1)
Balance, at the end of the period			8
Total available-for-sale securities [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		1,301	1,648
Total gains (losses) included in net income	[1]	(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(16)	1
Purchases		10	243
Settlements		(36)	(54)
Transfers into Level 3			8
Transfers out of Level 3			(114)
Balance, at the end of the period		1,258	$ 1,732
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at end of period	[1]	$ (1)

[1] Included in net investment income in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.