Earnings per Share Attributable to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Common Shareholders (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
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 331	$ 152	$ 171	$ 249	$ 268	$ 217	$ 291	$ 294	$ 903	$ 1,070	$ 1,176
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(57)	(22)	(53)	4	45	(105)	(28)	(18)	(128)	(106)	163
Income from continuing operations attributable to Ameriprise Financial									1,031	1,176	1,013
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	1	(1)	(1)	(1)	13	2	(4)	(71)	(2)	(60)	(24)
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial	$ 389	$ 173	$ 223	$ 244	$ 236	$ 324	$ 315	$ 241	$ 1,029	$ 1,116	$ 989
Denominator:
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	210.8	215.0	221.7	227.3	230.6	238.0	245.5	251.6	218.7	241.4	257.4
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)									4.1	4.9	4.9
Diluted: Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	215.1	219.1	225.6	231.7	234.5	242.0	251.0	257.7	222.8	246.3	262.3
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
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
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
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)										6.1	2.2