Segment Information - Operating net revenues (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment information [Line Items]
Total segment net revenues before eliminations		$ 3,529	$ 3,277
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Net Realized Gains (Losses)		6	17
Revenues attributable to CIEs		22	22
Market impact on IUL benefits		13	1
Market impact of hedges on investments		16	1
Total net revenues		3,168	2,926
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Total segment operating earnings		657	520
Net Realized Gains (Losses) including DAC offset		6	16
Net income (loss) attributable to CIEs			1
Market impact on variable annuity guaranteed benefits		(5)	(63)
Market impact on IUL benefits		25
Market impact of hedges on investments		16	1
Integration Related Costs		(3)
Pretax income		696	475
Advice and Wealth Management [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Total segment net revenues before eliminations		1,501	1,321
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total net revenues		1,261	1,084
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Total segment operating earnings		316	248
Asset Management [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Total segment net revenues before eliminations		778	725
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total net revenues		766	714
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Total segment operating earnings		195	150
Annuities [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Total segment net revenues before eliminations		613	608
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total net revenues		523	524
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Total segment operating earnings		132	139
Protection [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Total segment net revenues before eliminations		519	521
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total net revenues		503	506
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Total segment operating earnings		70	63
Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Total segment net revenues before eliminations		57	57
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total net revenues		58	57
Reconciliation of operating profit (loss) from segments to consolidated
Total segment operating earnings		(56)	(80)
Total Segment [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Total segment net revenues before eliminations		3,468	3,232
Eliminations	[1]	357	347
Summary of segment operating results [Abstract]
Total net revenues		3,111	2,885
Intersegment revenues, eliminations [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Eliminations		361	351
Intersegment revenues, eliminations [Member] | Advice and Wealth Management [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Eliminations		240	237
Intersegment revenues, eliminations [Member] | Asset Management [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Eliminations		12	11
Intersegment revenues, eliminations [Member] | Annuities [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Eliminations		90	84
Intersegment revenues, eliminations [Member] | Protection [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Eliminations		16	$ 15
Intersegment revenues, eliminations [Member] | Corporate and Other [Member]
Segment information [Line Items]
Eliminations		$ (1)

[1] Represents the elimination of intersegment revenues recognized for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 in each segment as follows: Advice & Wealth Management ($240 million and $237 million, respectively); Asset Management ($12 million and $11 million, respectively); Annuities ($90 million and $84 million, respectively); Protection ($16 million and $15 million, respectively); and Corporate & Other ($(1) million and nil, respectively).