Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 2) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended			3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Interest rate derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 Interest rate derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2011 Interest rate derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 Interest rate derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2011 Interest rate derivatives Interest rate lock commitments	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives GMDB	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives GMDB	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity derivatives EIA	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives EIA	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity derivatives Equity indexed annuity embedded derivatives	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives Equity indexed annuity embedded derivatives	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity derivatives Equity indexed annuity embedded derivatives	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives Equity indexed annuity embedded derivatives	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates embedded derivatives	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates embedded derivatives	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates embedded derivatives	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates embedded derivatives	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives Seed money	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity derivatives Seed money	Jun. 30, 2010 Equity derivatives Seed money	Jun. 30, 2011 Equity derivatives Ameriprise Financial Franchise Advisor Deferred Equity Plan	Jun. 30, 2011 Credit derivative contract GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 Credit derivative contract GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2011 Credit derivative contract GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 Credit derivative contract GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2011 Foreign exchange contract	Jun. 30, 2011 Foreign exchange contract	Jun. 30, 2011 Foreign exchange contract GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2011 Foreign exchange contract GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 Foreign exchange contract Seed money	Jun. 30, 2010 Foreign exchange contract Seed money	Jun. 30, 2011 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	Dec. 31, 2010 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	Jun. 30, 2011 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2011 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2011 GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2011 GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 GMWB and GMAB	Jun. 30, 2010 Other derivatives	Jun. 30, 2011 Other derivatives	Jun. 30, 2010 Other derivatives
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses					$ 87,000,000	$ 185,000,000	$ 62,000,000	$ 211,000,000		$ 5,000,000	$ 747,000,000	$ (250,000,000)	$ 574,000,000	$ 8,000,000	$ 5,000,000																		$ (5,000,000)	$ (20,000,000)	$ (7,000,000)	$ (30,000,000)			$ (4,000,000)	$ (6,000,000)					$ (125,000,000)	$ (890,000,000)	$ 105,000,000	$ (784,000,000)	$ (42,000,000)	$ 22,000,000	$ (96,000,000)	$ (29,000,000)
Other revenues									(1,000,000)
Interest credited to fixed accounts																(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)	1,000,000	4,000,000	1,000,000	6,000,000
Banking and deposit interest expenses																						(5,000,000)	3,000,000	(2,000,000)	1,000,000	5,000,000	(2,000,000)	2,000,000
Net investment income																													5,000,000	(3,000,000)	3,000,000						1,000,000	1,000,000
Distribution expenses	643,000,000	528,000,000	1,262,000,000	964,000,000																												(2,000,000)
General and administrative expenses																																									(1,000,000)	1,000,000
Derivative not designated as hedging instrument	(42,000,000)	37,000,000	(97,000,000)	(14,000,000)																																																	15,000,000	(1,000,000)	15,000,000
Gross notional amount, guaranteed benefit contracts																																											$ 67,900,000,000	$ 55,500,000,000