Investments (Holdings info) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Held-to-maturity Securities [Member]
Certificates of Deposit, at Carrying Value	$ 7	$ 205
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Investments	35,825	35,925
Ameriprise Financial [Member] \| Available-for-Sale securities, at fair value [Member]
Investments	31,058	30,927
Ameriprise Financial [Member] \| Mortgage loans, net [Member]
Investments	2,696	2,756
Ameriprise Financial [Member] \| Policy and certificate loans [Member]
Investments	861	845
Ameriprise Financial [Member] \| Other investments [Member]
Investments	$ 1,210	$ 1,397

A savings certificate entitling the Entity (that is, bearer) to receive interest at an established maturity date, based upon a fixed interest rate. A certificate of deposit may be issued in any denomination. Certificates of deposit are generally issued by commercial banks and, therefore, insured by the FDIC (up to the prescribed limit). Certificates of deposit generally restrict holders from withdrawing funds on demand without the incurrence of penalties. Generally, only certificates of deposit with original maturities of three months or less qualify as cash equivalents. Original maturity means original maturity to the entity holding the investment. As a related example, both a three-month US Treasury bill and a three-year Treasury note purchased three months from maturity qualify as cash equivalents. However, a Treasury note purchased three-years ago does not become a cash equivalent when its remaining maturity is three months.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Name:	us-gaap_CertificatesOfDepositAtCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant