Deferred Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducement Costs (Details) (USD $) In Millions			9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial	Sep. 30, 2010 Ameriprise Financial
Balances of and changes in DAC
Balance, at the beginning of the period	$ 4,324	$ 4,619	$ 4,619	$ 4,334
Capitalization of acquisition costs			367	375
Amortization, excluding the impact of valuation assumptions review			(521)	(366)
Amortization impact of valuation assumptions review			(51)	323
Impact of change in net unrealized securities losses (gains)			(90)	(229)
Balance, at the end of the period	4,324	4,619	4,324	4,437
Balances of and changes in DSIC, included in other assets
Balance, at the beginning of the period			545	524
Capitalization of sales inducement costs			7	32
Amortization, excluding the impact of valuation assumptions review			(69)	(43)
Amortization impact of valuation assumptions review			(11)	52
Impact of change in net unrealized securities losses (gains)			(9)	(34)
Balance, at the end of the period			$ 463	$ 531

The amount of change in the deferred policy acquisition cost balance related to the unrealized gain or loss on available for sale securities.

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Amount of deferred policy acquisition costs charged to expense in the period, generally in proportion to related revenue earned, estimated gross profits, or over the customer relationship or some other period. This element excludes the impact of valuation assumptions reviews.

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Amount of deferred policy acquisition costs charged to expense in the period, generally in proportion to related revenue earned, estimated gross profits, or over the customer relationship or some other period. This element refers only to the impact of valuation assumptions reviews.

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The amount of deferred sales inducement costs charged against earnings during the period. Excludes the impact of valuation assumptions reviews.

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The amount of deferred sales inducement costs charged against earnings during the period. The element represents the impact of the valuations assumptions review.

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Net amount of deferred policy acquisition costs capitalized on contracts remaining in force as of the balance sheet date.

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Total amount of policy acquisition costs capitalized during the income statement period.

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The amount of deferred sales inducement costs capitalized during the period.

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The unamortized carrying amount of deferred sales inducement costs as of the balance sheet date.

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A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

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