Investments (Details 2) (Ameriprise Financial, USD $)	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Fixed maturity securities percentage of total investments (as a percent)	88.00%	88.00%
Investments rated internally	$ 1,200,000,000	$ 1,200,000,000
Amortized Cost	31,669,000,000	31,127,000,000
Fair Value	33,338,000,000	32,609,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value (as a percent)	100.00%	100.00%
GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC mortgage backed securities, percentage of securities rated AAA (as a percent)	34.00%	29.00%
Holdings of Issuer Other Than GNMA, FNMA and FHLMC as Percentage of Shareholders Equity Maximum (as a percent)	10.00%	10.00%
AAA
Amortized Cost	12,202,000,000	12,142,000,000
Fair Value	12,854,000,000	12,809,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value (as a percent)	39.00%	39.00%
AA
Amortized Cost	1,833,000,000	1,843,000,000
Fair Value	1,917,000,000	1,899,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value (as a percent)	6.00%	6.00%
A
Amortized Cost	4,916,000,000	4,449,000,000
Fair Value	5,195,000,000	4,670,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value (as a percent)	15.00%	14.00%
BBB
Amortized Cost	10,801,000,000	10,536,000,000
Fair Value	11,737,000,000	11,408,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%
Below investment grade
Amortized Cost	1,917,000,000	2,157,000,000
Fair Value	$ 1,635,000,000	$ 1,823,000,000
Percent of Total Fair Value (as a percent)	5.00%	6.00%