Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 3) (Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	$ 459,000,000	$ (149,000,000)	$ (432,000,000)
GMWB and GMAB
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	(452,000,000)	(144,000,000)	(440,000,000)
Other derivatives
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	(7,000,000)	(5,000,000)	8,000,000
Interest rate derivatives | GMWB and GMAB | Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	17,000,000	709,000,000	95,000,000
Interest rate derivatives | Bank assets | Net investment income
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	(7,000,000)
Interest rate derivatives | Interest rate lock commitments | Other revenues
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income		(1,000,000)
Equity derivatives | GMWB and GMAB | Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	(1,218,000,000)	326,000,000	(370,000,000)
Equity derivatives | GMDB | Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income			(4,000,000)
Equity derivatives | EIA | Interest credited to fixed accounts
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	1,000,000	(1,000,000)	2,000,000
Equity derivatives | EIA embedded derivatives | Interest credited to fixed accounts
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	1,000,000	1,000,000	7,000,000
Equity derivatives | Stock market certificates | Banking and deposit interest expense
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	6,000,000	1,000,000	9,000,000
Equity derivatives | Stock market certificates embedded derivatives | Banking and deposit interest expense
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	(5,000,000)		(10,000,000)
Equity derivatives | Seed money | Net investment income
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	(6,000,000)	4,000,000	(5,000,000)
Equity derivatives | Ameriprise Financial Franchise Advisor Deferred Compensation Plan | Distribution expenses
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	5,000,000	(4,000,000)	9,000,000
Equity derivatives | IUL | Interest credited to fixed accounts
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	1,000,000	1,000,000
Equity derivatives | IUL embedded derivatives | Interest credited to fixed accounts
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	(4,000,000)	(3,000,000)
Credit derivative contract | GMWB and GMAB | Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	(2,000,000)	(12,000,000)	(44,000,000)
Foreign exchange contract | GMWB and GMAB | Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	(1,000,000)	(2,000,000)
Foreign exchange contract | Foreign currency | Net investment income
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income		(3,000,000)	(1,000,000)
Foreign exchange contract | Seed money | General and administrative expense
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income		(1,000,000)	1,000,000
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gross notional amount, guaranteed benefit contracts	142,100,000,000	104,700,000,000
GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives | GMWB and GMAB | Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	752,000,000	(1,165,000,000)	(121,000,000)
Commodity derivative contracts | Seed money | Net investment income
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income		$ 1,000,000