Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Details 3) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2019		Jun. 30, 2018		Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	$ 269		$ (179)		$ 269		$ (179)		$ 35	$ (291)	$ (5)	$ 229
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies										5		0
OCI before reclassifications	234		(170)		565		(399)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		(4)		(5)		(8)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	234		(174)		560		(407)
Noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized securities gains (losses) on previously impaired securities	(1)		1		(1)		$ 1
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount	2,500				2,500
Remaining balance under stock repurchase program	2,200				$ 2,200
Number of shares reacquired through surrender of restricted shares					0.3		0.2
Value of shares reacquired through surrender of restricted shares					$ 30		$ 39
Number of shares reacquired through net settlement options					0.4		0.5
Aggregate value of shares reacquired through net settlement options					$ 51		$ 74
Treasury shares reissued for restricted stock award grants and Ameriprise Financial Franchise Advisor Deferred Compensation Plan					0.7		0.8
Open market share repurchases [Member]
Repurchase of common shares (in shares)					5.8		5.3
Repurchase of common shares					$ 791		$ 787
Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	590	[1]	93	[1]	590	[1]	93	[1]	342	20	223	486
OCI before reclassifications	248		(126)		574		(384)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		(4)		(4)		(8)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	248		(130)		570		(392)
AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	234		(174)		560		(407)
Accumulated Net Gain (Loss) from Cash Flow Hedges Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	7		8		7		8		7	8	8	8
OCI before reclassifications	0		0		0		0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		0		(1)		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0		0		(1)		0
Accumulated Defined Benefit Plans Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(120)		(97)		(120)		(97)		(120)	(120)	(97)	(97)
OCI before reclassifications	0		0		0		0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		0		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0		0		0		0
Accumulated Foreign Currency Adjustment Attributable to Parent [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(207)		(182)		(207)		(182)		(193)	(198)	(138)	(167)
OCI before reclassifications	(14)		(44)		(9)		(15)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		0		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(14)		(44)		(9)		(15)
Accumulated Net Unrealized From Other Investment Gain Loss [Member]
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	(1)	[1]	(1)	[1]	(1)	[1]	(1)	[1]	$ (1)	$ (1)	$ (1)	(1)
OCI before reclassifications	0		0		0		0
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		0		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	$ 0		$ 0		$ 0		$ 0
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member]
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies												1
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member] | Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent [Member]
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies												1
Accounting Standards Update 2016-01 [Member] | AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies												$ 1

[1] Includes $(1) million and $1 million of noncredit related impairments on securities and net unrealized gains (losses) on previously impaired securities as of June 30, 2019 and June 30, 2018, respectively.