Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Level 3 rollforwards-Assets) (Details 2) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Net Increase (Decrease) to Pretax Income from Embedded Derivative Liability		$ 15	$ (9)	$ 48	$ (54)
Transfers from Level 1 to Level 2, assets		0	0	0	0
Transfers from Level 2 to Level 1, assets		0	0	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		1,095	1,344	1,139	1,311
Total gains (losses) included in net income				(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(12)	2	(26)	2
Purchases		15	8	15	70
Settlements		(58)	(21)	(87)	(50)
Balance, at the end of the period		1,040	1,333	1,040	1,333
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		146	316	155	268
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		3	1	1	1
Purchases					132
Settlements		(12)	(13)	(19)	(25)
Transfers out of Level 3		(17)	(132)	(17)	(204)
Balance, at the end of the period		120	172	120	172
Commercial 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		0		0
Purchases		52		52
Balance, at the end of the period		52		52
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		17	64	7	68
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)			1		2
Purchases		22	5	32	54
Settlements			(2)		(15)
Transfers into Level 3		2	14	2	14
Transfers out of Level 3		(10)	(49)	(10)	(90)
Balance, at the end of the period		31	33	31	33
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at end of period			(1)		(1)
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			8		1
Transfers into Level 3					8
Transfers out of Level 3			(8)		(9)
Balance, at the end of the period			0		0
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		1,258	1,732	1,301	1,648
Total gains (losses) included in net income	[1]			(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(9)	4	(25)	5
Purchases		89	13	99	256
Settlements		(70)	(36)	(106)	(90)
Transfers into Level 3		2	14	2	22
Transfers out of Level 3		(27)	(189)	(27)	(303)
Balance, at the end of the period		1,243	1,538	1,243	1,538
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at end of period	[1]		$ (1)	(1)	$ (1)
Other Contract [Member]
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis [Rollforward]
Balance, at the beginning of the period		0		0
Total gains (losses) included in net income	[2]	(1)		(1)
Purchases		3		3
Balance, at the end of the period		2		2
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at end of period	[2]	$ (1)		$ (1)

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

[2] Included in benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.