Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Level 3 rollforwards-Assets) (Details 2) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
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		1,040	1,333	1,139	1,311
Total gains (losses) included in net income				(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(2)	(1)	(28)	1
Purchases			39	15	109
Settlements		(46)	(104)	(133)	(154)
Balance, at the end of the period		992	1,267	992	1,267
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		120	172	155	268
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)			1	1	2
Purchases		20		20	132
Settlements		(5)	(9)	(24)	(34)
Transfers into Level 3			20		20
Transfers out of Level 3		(26)	(19)	(43)	(223)
Balance, at the end of the period		109	165	109	165
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		52	0	0	0
Purchases			65	52	65
Transfers out of Level 3		(52)		(52)
Balance, at the end of the period		0	65	0	65
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		31	33	7	68
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		1	(2)	1
Purchases			10	32	64
Settlements		(1)		(1)	(15)
Transfers into Level 3			13	2	27
Transfers out of Level 3		(22)	(19)	(32)	(109)
Balance, at the end of the period		9	35	9	35
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at end of period					(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			0		1
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)			1		1
Transfers into Level 3					8
Transfers out of Level 3					(9)
Balance, at the end of the period			1		1
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		1,243	1,538	1,301	1,648
Total gains (losses) included in net income	[1]			(1)
Total gains (losses) included in other comprehensive income (loss)		(1)	(1)	(26)	4
Purchases		20	114	119	370
Settlements		(52)	(113)	(158)	(203)
Transfers into Level 3			33	2	55
Transfers out of Level 3		(100)	(38)	(127)	(341)
Balance, at the end of the period		1,110	$ 1,533	1,110	1,533
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at end of period	[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		2		0
Total gains (losses) included in net income	[2]	(2)		(3)
Purchases				3
Balance, at the end of the period		0		0
Changes in unrealized gains (losses) relating to assets held at end of period	[2]	$ (2)		$ (3)

[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.