Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Transfers (out of) Level 3	$ (3,900)
Summary of changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Cumulative decrease to the embedded derivative liability	506	197
Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	6,104	5,823
Total gains (losses) included in Net income	63	69
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income	(117)	371
Purchases	967
Sales	(53)
Settlements	(1,098)
Purchases, Sales, Issues and Settlements, Net		5
Transfers into Level 3	22	25
Transfers (out of) Level 3	(4,074)	(189)
Balance, at the end of the period	1,814	6,104
Corporate debt securities | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	1,325	1,252
Total gains (losses) included in Net income	7	1
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income	11	30
Purchases	189
Sales	(51)
Settlements	(122)
Purchases, Sales, Issues and Settlements, Net		17
Transfers into Level 3	7	25
Transfers (out of) Level 3	(11)
Balance, at the end of the period	1,355	1,325
Residential mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	4,247	3,982
Total gains (losses) included in Net income	48	55
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income	(110)	292
Purchases	556
Sales	(2)
Settlements	(885)
Purchases, Sales, Issues and Settlements, Net		(61)
Transfers (out of) Level 3	(3,656)	(21)
Balance, at the end of the period	198	4,247
Commercial mortgage backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	51	72
Total gains (losses) included in Net income		1
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income		10
Purchases	104
Settlements	(4)
Purchases, Sales, Issues and Settlements, Net		112
Transfers into Level 3	1
Transfers (out of) Level 3	(102)	(144)
Balance, at the end of the period	50	51
Asset backed securities | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	476	455
Total gains (losses) included in Net income	8	12
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income	(18)	38
Purchases	118
Settlements	(87)
Purchases, Sales, Issues and Settlements, Net		(5)
Transfers into Level 3	14
Transfers (out of) Level 3	(305)	(24)
Balance, at the end of the period	206	476
Common Stocks | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period		4
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income		1
Balance, at the end of the period	5	5
Other structured investments | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period		58
Purchases, Sales, Issues and Settlements, Net		(58)
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period	(421)	(299)
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Net Income	(1,007)	4
Issues	(149)
Settlements	(8)
Purchases, Sales, Issues and Settlements, Net		(126)
Balance, at the end of the period	(1,585)	(421)
Cumulative decrease to the embedded derivative liability	$ 168	$ 28