Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 4) (Ameriprise Financial, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Net Investment Income	$ (31)	$ 65
Residential mortgage backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Net Investment Income	(32)	54
Asset backed securities
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Net Investment Income	1	11
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	$ (1,035)	$ (15)