Investments (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial Corporate debt securities	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial Corporate debt securities	Jun. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial Residential mortgage backed securities	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial Residential mortgage backed securities	Jun. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial Commercial mortgage backed securities	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial Commercial mortgage backed securities	Jun. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial Asset backed securities	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial Asset backed securities	Jun. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial State and municipal obligations	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial State and municipal obligations	Jun. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Less than twelve months, Number of positions					98	115	142	108	33	30	27	29	109	206	409	488
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Less than twelve months, Fair value					$ 1,304	$ 1,859	$ 1,175	$ 782	$ 419	$ 498	$ 231	$ 354	$ 342	$ 696	$ 3,471	$ 4,189
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Less than twelve months, Unrealized losses					(23)	(46)	(17)	(12)	(4)	(7)	(3)	(8)	(11)	(31)	(58)	(104)
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Twelve months or longer, Number of positions					7	13	132	133		1	29	25	57	60	225	232
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Twelve months or longer, Fair value					115	157	714	712		23	154	123	235	232	1,218	1,247
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Twelve months or more, Unrealized losses					(7)	(12)	(268)	(311)		(1)	(30)	(32)	(62)	(74)	(367)	(430)
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Number of positions					105	128	274	241	33	31	56	54	166	266	634	720
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Fair value					1,419	2,016	1,889	1,494	419	521	385	477	577	928	4,689	5,436
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Unrealized losses					(30)	(58)	(285)	(323)	(4)	(8)	(33)	(40)	(73)	(105)	(425)	(534)
Balance of Credit Losses Impairment Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income
Beginning balance of credit losses on securities held for which a portion of other-than-temporary impairment was recognized in other comprehensive income	283	290	297	263
Additional amount related to credit losses for which other-than-temporary impairment was not previously recognized	13		13	15
Reductions for securities sold during the period (realized)			(16)
Additional increases to the amount related to credit losses for which other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized	3	1	5	13
Ending balance of credit losses on securities held for which a portion of other-than-temporary impairment was recognized in other comprehensive income	$ 299	$ 291	$ 299	$ 291