SCHEDULE I - CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT (Details 3) (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
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income	$ 298		$ 168	$ 281	$ 223		$ 254		$ 312	$ 398	$ 296		$ 970		$ 1,260		$ 737
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(13)		(2)	4	71		26		2	(2)	(2)		60		24		(1)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities													2,178		1,847		(1,318)
Available-for-Sale securities:
Proceeds from sales													888		1,519		5,630
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls													5,206		6,404		5,855
Purchases													(7,236)		(7,502)		(17,815)
Purchase of other investments													(422)		(102)		(14)
Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software													(250)		(131)		(83)
Acquisitions															(866)
Proceeds from sale of business	0												150
Other, net													(7)		(15)		7
Net cash used in investing activities													(1,146)		(734)		(6,373)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Repayments of debt													(20)		(354)		(550)
Dividends paid to shareholders													(212)		(183)		(164)
Repurchase of common shares													(1,495)		(582)		(11)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock																	869
Issuance of debt, net of issuance costs															744		491
Exercise of stock options													66		113		6
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation													90		9		12
Other, net															(5)		(2)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities													(1,111)		(1,343)		4,545
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents													(80)	[1]	(236)	[1]	(3,131)	[1]
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period					2,861	[1]					3,097	[1]	2,861	[1]	3,097	[1]	6,228	[1]
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,781	[1]					2,861	[1]					2,781	[1]	2,861	[1]	3,097	[1]
Supplemental Disclosures:
Interest paid on debt													201		231		251
Income taxes paid, net													370		61		98
Non-cash financing activity:
Dividends declared but not paid	62												62
Ameriprise Financial, Inc:
Cash Flows from Operating Activities
Net income													1,076		1,097		722
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries excluding discontinued operations													(1,300)		(1,202)		(863)
Loss (income) from discontinued operations, net of tax													60		24		(1)
Dividends received from subsidiaries													1,210		796		204
Other operating activities, primarily with subsidiaries													(231)		921		(90)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities													815		1,636		(28)
Available-for-Sale securities:
Proceeds from sales															31		29
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls													239		151		86
Purchases													(22)		(151)		(139)
Purchase of other investments															(32)
Purchase of land, buildings, equipment and software													(56)		(32)		(29)
Contributions to subsidiaries													(128)		(73)		(233)
Return of capital from subsidiaries													22		116		60
Acquisitions															(866)
Proceeds from sale of business													150
Repayment of loans to subsidiaries													1,252		1,282		1,400
Issuance of loans to subsidiaries													(1,312)		(1,463)		(1,599)
Other, net													2		34		8
Net cash used in investing activities													147		(1,003)		(417)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities
Repayments of debt													(14)		(354)		(550)
Dividends paid to shareholders													(212)		(183)		(164)
Repurchase of common shares													(1,495)		(582)		(11)
Proceeds from issuance of common stock																	869
Issuance of debt, net of issuance costs															744		491
Exercise of stock options													66		113		6
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation													90		9		12
Other, net													(1)		(2)		(4)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities													(1,566)		(255)		649
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents													(604)		378		204
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period					1,316						938		1,316		938		734
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	712						1,316						712		1,316		938
Supplemental Disclosures:
Interest paid on debt													139		140		122
Income taxes paid, net													334		2		4
Non-cash capital transactions to (from) subsidiaries													(850)		14		331
Non-cash financing activity:
Dividends declared but not paid	$ 62												$ 62

[1] Cash and cash equivalents includes cash held for sale. See Note 24 for additional information.