Future Policy Benefits and Claims and Separate Account Liabilities (Details 2) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified					12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012 item	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Ameriprise Financial	Dec. 31, 2011 Ameriprise Financial	Dec. 31, 2012 Ameriprise Financial Equity indexed annuity accumulated host values
Separate Account Liabilities
Minimum number of guaranteed benefits contained in variable annuity contracts issued by the company	1
Variable annuity variable sub-accounts			$ 63,302	$ 57,556
VUL insurance variable sub-accounts			6,051	5,575
Other insurance variable sub-accounts			42	43
Threadneedle investment liabilities			3,002	3,606
Total	$ 72,397	$ 66,780	$ 72,397	$ 66,780
Contract term of equity indexed annuities					7 years
Minimum interest rate guarantee on equity indexed annuities (as a percent)					3.00%
Percentage of initial premium from equity indexed annuity product receiving a minimum interest rate guarantee					90.00%