Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
Net Revenues	$ 2,674	$ 2,468	$ 2,514	$ 2,561	$ 2,582	$ 2,455	$ 2,623	$ 2,532	$ 10,217	$ 10,192	$ 9,512
Income from continuing operations before income tax provision	418	199	299	322	326	326	409	386	1,238	1,447	1,469
Income from continuing operations	331	152	171	249	268	217	291	294	903	1,070	1,176
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	1	(1)	(1)	(1)	13	2	(4)	(71)	(2)	(60)	(24)
Net income	332	151	170	248	281	219	287	223	901	1,010	1,152
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(57)	(22)	(53)	4	45	(105)	(28)	(18)	(128)	(106)	163
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial	$ 389	$ 173	$ 223	$ 244	$ 236	$ 324	$ 315	$ 241	$ 1,029	$ 1,116	$ 989
Basic
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.84	$ 0.81	$ 1.01	$ 1.08	$ 0.97	$ 1.35	$ 1.30	$ 1.24	$ 4.71	$ 4.87	$ 3.94
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ (0.01)		$ (0.01)	$ 0.06	$ 0.01	$ (0.02)	$ (0.28)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.25)	$ (0.10)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.85	$ 0.80	$ 1.01	$ 1.07	$ 1.03	$ 1.36	$ 1.28	$ 0.96	$ 4.70	$ 4.62	$ 3.84
Diluted
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.80	$ 0.79	$ 0.99	$ 1.06	$ 0.95	$ 1.33	$ 1.27	$ 1.21	$ 4.63	$ 4.77	$ 3.86
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01			$ (0.01)	$ 0.06	$ 0.01	$ (0.02)	$ (0.27)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.24)	$ (0.09)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.81	$ 0.79	$ 0.99	$ 1.05	$ 1.01	$ 1.34	$ 1.25	$ 0.94	$ 4.62	$ 4.53	$ 3.77
Weighted average common shares outstanding
Basic	210.8	215.0	221.7	227.3	230.6	238.0	245.5	251.6	218.7	241.4	257.4
Diluted	215.1	219.1	225.6	231.7	234.5	242.0	251.0	257.7	222.8	246.3	262.3
Cash dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.45	$ 0.35	$ 0.35		$ 0.51	$ 0.23	$ 0.23	$ 0.18	$ 1.15	$ 1.15	$ 0.71
Common share price:
High (in dollars per share)	$ 63.75	$ 60.47	$ 57.94	$ 58.68	$ 50.85	$ 59.49	$ 63.78	$ 65.12	$ 63.75	$ 50.85
Low (in dollars per share)	$ 55.66	$ 47.84	$ 45.17	$ 49.14	$ 36.00	$ 38.93	$ 54.72	$ 57.29	$ 55.66	$ 36.00