Investments (EITF info-Number of securities and unrealized losses) (Details) - Ameriprise Financial [Member] $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) Positions	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) Positions
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	167	727
12 months or more | Positions	215	584
Total | Positions	382	1,311
Unrealized Losses [Abstract]
Less than 12 months | $	$ (8)	$ (214)
12 months or more | $	(28)	(243)
Total | $	$ (36)	$ (457)
Corporate debt securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	20	345
12 months or more | Positions	39	148
Total | Positions	59	493
Unrealized Losses [Abstract]
Less than 12 months | $	$ (2)	$ (152)
12 months or more | $	(11)	(78)
Total | $	$ (13)	$ (230)
Residential mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	88	142
12 months or more | Positions	113	175
Total | Positions	201	317
Unrealized Losses [Abstract]
Less than 12 months | $	$ (4)	$ (18)
12 months or more | $	(8)	(60)
Total | $	$ (12)	$ (78)
Commercial mortgage backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	39	104
12 months or more | Positions	30	112
Total | Positions	69	216
Unrealized Losses [Abstract]
Less than 12 months | $	$ (2)	$ (30)
12 months or more | $	(1)	(86)
Total | $	$ (3)	$ (116)
Asset backed securities [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	17	38
12 months or more | Positions	16	35
Total | Positions	33	73
Unrealized Losses [Abstract]
Less than 12 months | $	$ 0	$ (6)
12 months or more | $	(2)	(5)
Total | $	$ (2)	$ (11)
State and municipal obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	1	81
12 months or more | Positions	4	100
Total | Positions	5	181
Unrealized Losses [Abstract]
Less than 12 months | $	$ 0	$ (4)
12 months or more | $	(3)	(9)
Total | $	$ (3)	$ (13)
Foreign government bonds and obligations [Member]
Number of securities
Less than 12 months | Positions	2	17
12 months or more | Positions	13	14
Total | Positions	15	31
Unrealized Losses [Abstract]
Less than 12 months | $	$ 0	$ (4)
12 months or more | $	(3)	(5)
Total | $	$ (3)	$ (9)