Segment Information (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Summary of segment operating results
Revenue from external customers									$ 10,239	$ 9,582	$ 7,538
Total revenues									10,239	9,582	7,538
Banking and deposit interest expense									47	70	141
Net revenues									10,192	9,512	7,397
Depreciation and amortization expense									887	330	435
All other expenses									7,920	7,548	6,042
Total expenses									8,807	7,878	6,477
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax provision	352	247	399	387	368	446	462	358	1,385	1,634	920
Income tax provision									355	350	184
Income from continuing operations	285	166	285	294	280	314	396	294	1,030	1,284	736
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	13	2	(4)	(71)	(26)	(2)	2	2	(60)	(24)	1
Net income	298	168	281	223	254	312	398	296	970	1,260	737
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	45	(105)	(28)	(18)	(26)	(32)	139	82	(106)	163	15
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial	253	273	309	241	280	344	259	214	1,076	1,097	722
Advice and Wealth Management
Summary of segment operating results
Revenue from external customers									2,825	2,526	2,103
Intersegment revenue									931	884	834
Total revenues									3,756	3,410	2,937
Banking and deposit interest expense									48	67	133
Net revenues									3,708	3,343	2,804
Depreciation and amortization expense									86	88	100
All other expenses									3,221	2,939	2,737
Total expenses									3,307	3,027	2,837
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax provision									401	316	(33)
Asset Management
Summary of segment operating results
Revenue from external customers									2,811	2,294	1,304
Intersegment revenue									92	75	44
Total revenues									2,903	2,369	1,348
Banking and deposit interest expense									3	1	2
Net revenues									2,900	2,368	1,346
Depreciation and amortization expense									83	105	83
All other expenses									2,381	1,945	1,203
Total expenses									2,464	2,050	1,286
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax provision									436	318	60
Annuities
Summary of segment operating results
Revenue from external customers									2,379	2,324	2,165
Intersegment revenue									252	176	100
Total revenues									2,631	2,500	2,265
Net revenues									2,631	2,500	2,265
Depreciation and amortization expense									481	(75)	54
All other expenses									1,629	1,927	1,563
Total expenses									2,110	1,852	1,617
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax provision									521	648	648
Protection
Summary of segment operating results
Revenue from external customers									2,035	2,013	1,935
Intersegment revenue									38	35	30
Total revenues									2,073	2,048	1,965
Banking and deposit interest expense									1	1	1
Net revenues									2,072	2,047	1,964
Depreciation and amortization expense									208	189	167
All other expenses									1,494	1,455	1,300
Total expenses									1,702	1,644	1,467
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax provision									370	403	497
Corporate and Other
Summary of segment operating results
Revenue from external customers									189	425	31
Intersegment revenue									2	1	2
Total revenues									191	426	33
Banking and deposit interest expense									(1)	3	7
Net revenues									192	423	26
Depreciation and amortization expense									29	23	31
All other expenses									506	451	247
Total expenses									535	474	278
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax provision									(343)	(51)	(252)
Eliminations:
Summary of segment operating results
Intersegment revenue									(1,315)	(1,171)	(1,010)
Total revenues									(1,315)	(1,171)	(1,010)
Banking and deposit interest expense									(4)	(2)	(2)
Net revenues									(1,311)	(1,169)	(1,008)
All other expenses									(1,311)	(1,169)	(1,008)
Total expenses									(1,311)	(1,169)	(1,008)
Unallocated amount to segment
Summary of segment operating results
Income tax provision									355	350	184
Income from continuing operations									1,030	1,284	736
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax									(60)	(24)	1
Net income									970	1,260	737
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests									(106)	163	15
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial									$ 1,076	$ 1,097	$ 722