Investments (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Summary of net investment income
Investment income on fixed maturities	$ 1,768	$ 1,917	$ 1,946
Net realized gains	7	6	33
Affordable housing partnerships	(25)	(32)	(20)
Other	73	64	75
Consolidated investment entities	110	91	275
Net investment income	1,933	2,046	2,309
Ameriprise Financial
Investments	36,877	39,953
Amortized Cost	28,510	32,447
Gross Unrealized Gains	3,123	2,575
Gross Unrealized Losses	(161)	(517)
Fair Value	31,472	34,505
Non-Credit OTTI	(56)	(154)
Corporate debt securities \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	16,628	16,380
Gross Unrealized Gains	2,196	1,741
Gross Unrealized Losses	(9)	(81)
Fair Value	18,815	18,040
Residential mortgage backed securities \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	5,280	7,756
Gross Unrealized Gains	261	287
Gross Unrealized Losses	(112)	(367)
Fair Value	5,429	7,676
Non-Credit OTTI	(58)	(154)
Commercial mortgage backed securities \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	3,120	4,430
Gross Unrealized Gains	299	291
Gross Unrealized Losses		(2)
Fair Value	3,419	4,719
Asset backed securities \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	1,204	1,652
Gross Unrealized Gains	75	61
Gross Unrealized Losses	(4)	(8)
Fair Value	1,275	1,705
State and municipal obligations \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	2,034	2,026
Gross Unrealized Gains	241	162
Gross Unrealized Losses	(36)	(58)
Fair Value	2,239	2,130
U.S. government and agencies obligations \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	49	61
Gross Unrealized Gains	9	10
Fair Value	58	71
Foreign government bonds and obligations \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	188	126
Gross Unrealized Gains	36	19
Gross Unrealized Losses		(1)
Fair Value	224	144
Common Stocks \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost	7	5
Gross Unrealized Gains	6	4
Fair Value	13	9
Non-Credit OTTI	2
Other debt obligations \| Ameriprise Financial
Amortized Cost		11
Fair Value		11
Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value \| Ameriprise Financial
Investments	31,472	34,505
Mortgage Loans \| Ameriprise Financial
Investments	3,609	3,727
Policy and certificate loans \| Ameriprise Financial
Investments	754	742
Other Investments \| Ameriprise Financial
Investments	$ 1,042	$ 979

Represents the equity method losses related to investments in affordable housing partnerships.

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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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Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to portion of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) due to factors other than credit losses on debt securities categorized as available-for-sale that an entity does not intend to sell and which it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis of the debt security. The amount represented by this item is net of tax, as applicable.

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This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents Available-for-sale Securities which consist of all investments in certain debt and equity securities neither classified as trading or held-to-maturity securities. A debt security represents a creditor relationship with an enterprise. Debt securities include, among other items, US Treasury securities, US government securities, municipal securities, corporate bonds, convertible debt, commercial paper, and all securitized debt instruments. An equity security represents an ownership interest in an enterprise or the right to acquire or dispose of an ownership interest in an enterprise at fixed or determinable prices. Equity securities include, among other things, common stock, certain preferred stock, warrant rights, call options, and put options, but do not include convertible debt. An entity may opt to provide the reader with additional narrative text to better understand the nature of investments in debt and equity securities which are categorized as Available-for-sale.

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Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all investments.

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