Recent Accounting Pronouncements	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adoption of New Accounting Standards Comprehensive Income In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") updated the accounting standards related to the presentation of comprehensive income. The standard requires entities to present all nonowner changes in stockholders' equity either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments do not affect how earnings per share is calculated or presented. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company retrospectively adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption of the standard did not have any effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition. Fair Value In May 2011, the FASB updated the accounting standards related to fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. The standard requires entities, for assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the statement of financial position which are Level 3 fair value measurements, to disclose quantitative information about unobservable inputs and assumptions used in the measurements, a description of the valuation processes in place, and a qualitative discussion about the sensitivity of the measurements to changes in unobservable inputs and interrelationships between those inputs if a change in those inputs would result in a significantly different fair value measurement. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy for each class of assets and liabilities not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which the fair value is disclosed. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption of the standard did not have any effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition. See Note 4 and Note 14 for the required disclosures. Transfers and Servicing: Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements In April 2011, the FASB updated the accounting standards related to accounting for repurchase agreements and other similar agreements. The standard modifies the criteria for determining when these transactions would be accounted for as secured borrowings as opposed to sales. The standard is effective prospectively for new transfers and existing transactions that are modified in the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption of the standard did not have any effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition. Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts In October 2010, the FASB updated the accounting standard for DAC. Under this new standard, only the following costs incurred in the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts are capitalizable as DAC: (i) incremental direct costs of a successful contract acquisition, (ii) portions of employees' compensation and benefits directly related to time spent performing acquisition activities (that is, underwriting, policy issuance and processing, medical and inspection, and contract selling) for a contract that has been acquired, (iii) other costs related to acquisition activities that would not have been incurred had the acquisition of the contract not occurred, and (iv) advertising costs that meet the capitalization criteria in other GAAP guidance for certain direct-response marketing. All other acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred. The Company retrospectively adopted the new standard on January 1, 2012. See Note 1 for the effect of the change on affected financial statement line items for prior periods retrospectively adjusted and Note 2 for the Company's accounting policies on DAC. Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities In June 2009, the FASB updated the accounting standards related to the consolidation of VIEs. The standard amends the guidance on the determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE from a quantitative model to a qualitative model and requires additional disclosures about an enterprise's involvement in VIEs. Under the new qualitative model, the primary beneficiary must have both the power to direct the activities of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive gains that could be potentially significant to the VIE. In February 2010, the FASB amended this guidance to defer application of the consolidation requirements for certain investment funds. The standards are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company adopted the standards effective January 1, 2010 and as a result consolidated certain collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs"). At adoption, the Company recorded a $5.5 billion increase to assets and a $5.1 billion increase to liabilities. The difference between the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the CDOs was recorded as a cumulative effect increase of $473 million to appropriated retained earnings of consolidated investment entities. Such amounts are recorded as appropriated retained earnings as the CDO note holders, not Ameriprise Financial, ultimately will receive the benefits or absorb the losses associated with the assets and liabilities of the CDOs. Subsequent to the adoption, the net change in fair value of the assets and liabilities of the CDOs is recorded as net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and as an adjustment to appropriated retained earnings of consolidated investment entities. See Note 4 for additional information related to the application of the amended VIE consolidation model and the required disclosures. Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards Comprehensive Income In February 2013, the FASB updated the accounting standard related to comprehensive income. The update requires entities to provide information about significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012 and is required to be applied prospectively. The adoption of the standard will not impact the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition. Balance Sheet In December 2011, the FASB updated the accounting standards to require new disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. The standard requires an entity to disclose both gross and net information about certain financial instruments and transactions subject to master netting arrangements (or similar agreements) or eligible for offset in the statement of financial position. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 on a retrospective basis. The adoption of the standard is not expected to impact the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

3. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Comprehensive Income

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") updated the accounting standards related to the presentation of comprehensive income. The standard requires entities to present all nonowner changes in stockholders' equity either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The amendments do not affect how earnings per share is calculated or presented. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company retrospectively adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption of the standard did not have any effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

Fair Value

In May 2011, the FASB updated the accounting standards related to fair value measurement and disclosure requirements. The standard requires entities, for assets and liabilities measured at fair value in the statement of financial position which are Level 3 fair value measurements, to disclose quantitative information about unobservable inputs and assumptions used in the measurements, a description of the valuation processes in place, and a qualitative discussion about the sensitivity of the measurements to changes in unobservable inputs and interrelationships between those inputs if a change in those inputs would result in a significantly different fair value measurement. In addition, the standard requires disclosure of fair value by level within the fair value hierarchy for each class of assets and liabilities not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which the fair value is disclosed. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption of the standard did not have any effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition. See Note 4 and Note 14 for the required disclosures.

Transfers and Servicing: Reconsideration of Effective Control for Repurchase Agreements

In April 2011, the FASB updated the accounting standards related to accounting for repurchase agreements and other similar agreements. The standard modifies the criteria for determining when these transactions would be accounted for as secured borrowings as opposed to sales. The standard is effective prospectively for new transfers and existing transactions that are modified in the first interim or annual period beginning on or after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted the standard in the first quarter of 2012. The adoption of the standard did not have any effect on the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

Accounting for Costs Associated with Acquiring or Renewing Insurance Contracts

In October 2010, the FASB updated the accounting standard for DAC. Under this new standard, only the following costs incurred in the acquisition of new and renewal insurance contracts are capitalizable as DAC: (i) incremental direct costs of a successful contract acquisition, (ii) portions of employees' compensation and benefits directly related to time spent performing acquisition activities (that is, underwriting, policy issuance and processing, medical and inspection, and contract selling) for a contract that has been acquired, (iii) other costs related to acquisition activities that would not have been incurred had the acquisition of the contract not occurred, and (iv) advertising costs that meet the capitalization criteria in other GAAP guidance for certain direct-response marketing. All other acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred. The Company retrospectively adopted the new standard on January 1, 2012. See Note 1 for the effect of the change on affected financial statement line items for prior periods retrospectively adjusted and Note 2 for the Company's accounting policies on DAC.

Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities

In June 2009, the FASB updated the accounting standards related to the consolidation of VIEs. The standard amends the guidance on the determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE from a quantitative model to a qualitative model and requires additional disclosures about an enterprise's involvement in VIEs. Under the new qualitative model, the primary beneficiary must have both the power to direct the activities of the VIE and the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive gains that could be potentially significant to the VIE. In February 2010, the FASB amended this guidance to defer application of the consolidation requirements for certain investment funds. The standards are effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2009. The Company adopted the standards effective January 1, 2010 and as a result consolidated certain collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs"). At adoption, the Company recorded a $5.5 billion increase to assets and a $5.1 billion increase to liabilities. The difference between the fair value of the assets and liabilities of the CDOs was recorded as a cumulative effect increase of $473 million to appropriated retained earnings of consolidated investment entities. Such amounts are recorded as appropriated retained earnings as the CDO note holders, not Ameriprise Financial, ultimately will receive the benefits or absorb the losses associated with the assets and liabilities of the CDOs. Subsequent to the adoption, the net change in fair value of the assets and liabilities of the CDOs is recorded as net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and as an adjustment to appropriated retained earnings of consolidated investment entities. See Note 4 for additional information related to the application of the amended VIE consolidation model and the required disclosures.

Future Adoption of New Accounting Standards

Comprehensive Income

In February 2013, the FASB updated the accounting standard related to comprehensive income. The update requires entities to provide information about significant amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2012 and is required to be applied prospectively. The adoption of the standard will not impact the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.

Balance Sheet

In December 2011, the FASB updated the accounting standards to require new disclosures about offsetting assets and liabilities. The standard requires an entity to disclose both gross and net information about certain financial instruments and transactions subject to master netting arrangements (or similar agreements) or eligible for offset in the statement of financial position. The standard is effective for interim and annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2013 on a retrospective basis. The adoption of the standard is not expected to impact the Company's consolidated results of operations and financial condition.