Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Recurring) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019		Dec. 31, 2018
Liabilities
Individual contracts in a liability position	[1],[2]	$ 4,009		$ 3,610
Individual contracts in an asset position	[3]	3,012		2,574
Cumulative increase (decrease) in embedded derivatives due to nonperformance		(536)		(726)
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Individual contracts in a liability position		557		646
Individual contracts in an asset position		377		318
Ameriprise Financial [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		28,764		31,058
Separate account assets at NAV		83,571		77,925
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes		2,564		2,910
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		12,938		14,066
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		6,301		6,329
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		4,801		4,877
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,303		1,398
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | State and municipal obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,424		2,345
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | U.S. government and agencies obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,710		1,745
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		287		298
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member]
Assets
Cash equivalents		2,855		2,505
Available-for-Sale securities		28,764		31,058
Equity securities		1		1
Equity securities at NAV	[4]	6		6
Trading securities		55		74
Separate account assets at NAV	[4]	83,571		77,925
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes		232		301
Other assets		3,012		2,574
Total assets at fair value		118,496		114,444
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		951	[5]	973	[6]
Customer deposits		13		6
Other liabilities		3,093		2,680
Total liabilities at fair value		4,057		3,659
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Other liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		48		49
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Indexed annuity embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		26		17
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | IUL embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		745		628
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		180	[7]	328	[8]
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Interest rate derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		936		796
Liabilities
Other liabilities		366		424
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Equity derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		2,025		1,718
Liabilities
Other liabilities		2,625		2,154
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Credit derivative contracts [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		21		18
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Foreign exchange derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		51		60
Liabilities
Other liabilities		33		35
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		12,938		14,066
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		6,301		6,329
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		4,801		4,877
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,303		1,398
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | State and municipal obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,424		2,345
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | U.S. government and agencies obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,710		1,745
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		287		298
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member]
Assets
Cash equivalents		199		155
Available-for-Sale securities		1,710		1,745
Trading securities		11		36
Investments segregated for regulatory purposes		232		301
Other assets		92		196
Total assets at fair value		2,244		2,433
Liabilities
Other liabilities		45		95
Total liabilities at fair value		45		95
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Other liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		10		13
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Interest rate derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		3
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Equity derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		84		191
Liabilities
Other liabilities		34		78
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | Foreign exchange derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		5		5
Liabilities
Other liabilities		1		4
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 1 [Member] | U.S. government and agencies obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,710		1,745
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member]
Assets
Cash equivalents		2,656		2,350
Available-for-Sale securities		26,164		28,238
Equity securities		1		1
Trading securities		44		38
Other assets		2,920		2,378
Total assets at fair value		31,785		33,005
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		3		3
Customer deposits		13		6
Other liabilities		3,017		2,555
Total liabilities at fair value		3,033		2,564
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Other liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		7		6
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Indexed annuity embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		3		3
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Interest rate derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		933		796
Liabilities
Other liabilities		366		424
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Equity derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		1,941		1,527
Liabilities
Other liabilities		2,591		2,076
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Credit derivative contracts [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		21		18
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Foreign exchange derivative contracts [Member]
Assets
Other assets		46		55
Liabilities
Other liabilities		32		31
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		12,091		13,153
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		6,264		6,193
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		4,801		4,857
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,297		1,392
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | State and municipal obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		1,424		2,345
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 2 [Member] | Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		287		298
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		890		1,075
Total assets at fair value		890		1,075
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		948		970
Other liabilities		31		30
Total liabilities at fair value		979		1,000
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Other liabilities [Member]
Liabilities
Other liabilities		31		30
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Indexed annuity embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		23		14
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | IUL embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		745		628
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives [Member]
Liabilities
Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims		180		328
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Corporate debt securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		847		913
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		37		136
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities				20
Ameriprise Financial [Member] | Recurring basis [Member] | Level 3 [Member] | Asset backed securities [Member]
Assets
Available-for-Sale securities		$ 6		$ 6

[1] The fair value of the Company’s derivative liabilities after considering the effects of master netting arrangements, cash collateral held by the same counterparty and the fair value of net embedded derivatives was $1.6 billion and $1.4 billion as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. See Note 12 for additional information related to master netting arrangements and cash collateral.

[2] The fair value of freestanding derivative liabilities is included in Other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of GMWB and GMAB, IUL, and indexed annuity embedded derivatives is included in Policyholder account balances, future policy benefits and claims on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The fair value of the SMC embedded derivative liability is included in Customer deposits on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[3] The fair value of freestanding derivative assets is included in Other assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

[4] Amounts are comprised of certain financial instruments that are measured at fair value using the NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient and have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.

[5] The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $(536) million cumulative increase (decrease) to the embedded derivatives as of March 31, 2019.

[6] The Company’s adjustment for nonperformance risk resulted in a $(726) million cumulative increase (decrease) to the embedded derivatives as of December 31, 2018.

[7] The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives included $557 million of individual contracts in a liability position and $377 million of individual contracts in an asset position as of March 31, 2019.

[8] The fair value of the GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives included $646 million of individual contracts in a liability position and $318 million of individual contracts in an asset position as of December 31, 2018.