Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, 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
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Net revenues	$ 2,582	$ 2,455	$ 2,623	$ 2,532	$ 2,558	$ 2,334	$ 2,462	$ 2,158	$ 10,192	$ 9,512	$ 7,397
Income from continuing operations before income tax provision	352	247	399	387	368	446	462	358	1,385	1,634	920
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 (loss) 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
Basic
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.04	$ 1.14	$ 1.28	$ 1.24	$ 1.21	$ 1.36	$ 0.98	$ 0.81	$ 4.71	$ 4.36	$ 2.98
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.01	$ (0.02)	$ (0.28)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ (0.25)	$ (0.10)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.10	$ 1.15	$ 1.26	$ 0.96	$ 1.11	$ 1.35	$ 0.99	$ 0.82	$ 4.46	$ 4.26	$ 2.98
Diluted
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.02	$ 1.12	$ 1.25	$ 1.21	$ 1.18	$ 1.33	$ 0.97	$ 0.80	$ 4.61	$ 4.27	$ 2.95
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ 0.01	$ (0.02)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.10)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01	$ (0.24)	$ (0.09)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.08	$ 1.13	$ 1.23	$ 0.94	$ 1.08	$ 1.32	$ 0.98	$ 0.81	$ 4.37	$ 4.18	$ 2.95
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic (in shares)	230.6	238.0	245.5	251.6	252.7	255.3	261.1	260.8	241.4	257.4	242.2
Diluted (in shares)	234.5	242.0	251.0	257.7	258.9	259.9	265.3	265.0	246.3	262.3	244.4
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.51	$ 0.23	$ 0.23	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.18	$ 0.17	$ 1.15	$ 0.71	$ 0.68
Common share price:
High (in dollars per share)	$ 50.85	$ 59.49	$ 63.78	$ 65.12	$ 58.17	$ 48.80	$ 49.54	$ 45.88	$ 50.85	$ 58.17
Low (in dollars per share)	$ 36.00	$ 38.93	$ 54.72	$ 57.29	$ 47.03	$ 34.68	$ 35.85	$ 36.14	$ 36.00	$ 47.03