Investments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Summary of net investment income
Investment income on fixed maturities	$ 1,881	$ 1,920	$ 1,878
Net gains	6	33	53
Affordable housing partnerships	(32)	(20)	(25)
Other	100	101	90
Consolidated investment entities	91	275	2
Net investment income	2,046	2,309	1,998
Ameriprise Financial
Investments	38,775	36,755
Amortized Cost	32,447	31,133
Gross Unrealized Gains	2,575	2,020
Gross Unrealized Losses	(517)	(534)
Fair Value	34,505	32,619
Non-Credit OTTI	(154)	(133)
Corporate debt securities \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	16,380	15,433
Gross Unrealized Gains	1,741	1,231
Gross Unrealized Losses	(81)	(58)
Fair Value	18,040	16,606
Residential mortgage backed securities \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	7,440	7,213
Gross Unrealized Gains	287	368
Gross Unrealized Losses	(331)	(323)
Fair Value	7,396	7,258
Non-Credit OTTI	(139)	(117)
Commercial mortgage backed securities \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	4,430	4,583
Gross Unrealized Gains	291	293
Gross Unrealized Losses	(2)	(8)
Fair Value	4,719	4,868
Asset backed securities \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	1,968	1,982
Gross Unrealized Gains	61	78
Gross Unrealized Losses	(44)	(40)
Fair Value	1,985	2,020
Non-Credit OTTI	(15)	(16)
State and municipal obligations \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	2,026	1,666
Gross Unrealized Gains	162	21
Gross Unrealized Losses	(58)	(105)
Fair Value	2,130	1,582
U.S. government and agencies obligations \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	61	135
Gross Unrealized Gains	10	8
Fair Value	71	143
Foreign government bonds and obligations \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	126	91
Gross Unrealized Gains	19	17
Gross Unrealized Losses	(1)
Fair Value	144	108
Common Stocks \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	5	6
Gross Unrealized Gains	4	4
Fair Value	9	10
Other debt obligations \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	11	24
Fair Value	11	24
Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value \| Ameriprise Financial
Investments	34,505	32,619
Commercial Mortgage Loans, net \| Ameriprise Financial
Investments	2,589	2,577
Policy Loans \| Ameriprise Financial
Investments	742	733
Other Investments \| Ameriprise Financial
Investments	$ 939	$ 826

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Interest income on fixed maturity securities classified as Available-for-Sale, commercial mortgage loans, policy loans, consumer loans, other investments and cash and cash equivalents; the changes in fair value of trading securities, including seed money, certain derivatives, and assets and liabilities of consolidated investment entities; the pro rata share of net income or loss on equity method investments; and realized gains and losses on the sale of securities and charges for investments determined to be other-than-temporarily impaired.

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