Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Details 3) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018		Sep. 30, 2019		Sep. 30, 2018		Jun. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	$ 337		$ (244)		$ 337		$ (244)		$ 269	$ (291)	$ (179)	$ 229
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies										5		0
OCI before reclassifications	60		(62)		625		(461)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	8		(3)		3		(11)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	68		(65)		628		(472)
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	1,700				$ 1,700
Number of shares reacquired through surrender of restricted shares					0.3		0.3
Value of shares reacquired through surrender of restricted shares					$ 34		$ 43
Number of shares reacquired through net settlement options					0.5		0.5
Aggregate value of shares reacquired through net settlement options					$ 70		$ 82
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)					9.8		7.7
Repurchase of common shares					$ 1,300		$ 1,100
Accumulated Net Investment Gain (Loss) Attributable to Parent
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax	680	[1]	31	[1]	680	[1]	31	[1]	590	20	93	486
OCI before reclassifications	82		(59)		656		(443)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	8		(3)		4		(11)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	90		(62)		660		(454)
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	(229)		(185)		(229)		(185)		(207)	(198)	(182)	(167)
OCI before reclassifications	(22)		(3)		(31)		(18)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0		0		0		0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(22)		(3)		(31)		(18)
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)
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
Cumulative effect of change in accounting policies												$ 1

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