Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Details 3) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017		Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2017		Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	$ (244)		$ 312		$ (244)		$ 312		$ (179)	$ 229	$ 299	$ 200
OCI before reclassifications	(62)		15		(461)		133
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(3)		(2)		(11)		(21)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	65		(13)		472		(112)
Noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities gains (losses) on previously impaired securities	1		8		1		$ 8
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount	2,500				2,500
Remaining balance under stock repurchase program	944				$ 944
Number of shares reacquired through surrender of restricted shares					0.3		0.3
Value of shares reacquired through surrender of restricted shares					$ 43		$ 33
Number of shares reacquired through net settlement options					0.5		1.9
Aggregate value of shares reacquired through net settlement options					$ 82		$ 248
Treasury shares reissued for restricted stock award grants and Ameriprise Financial Franchise Advisor Deferred Compensation Plan					0.8		0.8
Open market share repurchases [Member]
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)					7.7		8.0
Repurchase of common shares					$ 1,100		$ 1,000
Net unrealized securities gains (losses) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	31	[1]	539	[1]	31	[1]	539	[1]	93	486	543	479
OCI before reclassifications	(59)		(1)		(443)		88
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	(3)		(3)		(11)		(28)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	62		4		454		(60)
Net unrealized derivatives gains (losses) [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	8		7		8		7		8	8	6	5
OCI before reclassifications	0		0		0		0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		1		0		2
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	0		(1)		0		(2)
Defined benefit plans [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(97)		(120)		(97)		(120)		(97)	(97)	(120)	(125)
OCI before reclassifications	0		0		0		0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		0		0		5
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	0		0		0		(5)
Foreign currency translation [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(185)		(113)		(185)		(113)		(182)	(167)	(129)	(159)
OCI before reclassifications	(3)		16		(18)		46
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		0		0		0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	3		(16)		18		(46)
Other [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(1)	[1]	(1)	[1]	(1)	[1]	(1)	[1]	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ 0
OCI before reclassifications	0		0		0		(1)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		0		0		0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 1

[1] Includes $1 million and $8 million of noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities gains (losses) on previously impaired securities as of September 30, 2018 and September 30, 2017, respectively.