Debt (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified											3 Months Ended		3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial Senior notes due 2015	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial Senior notes due 2015	Sep. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial Senior notes due 2019	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial Senior notes due 2019	Sep. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial Senior notes due 2020	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial Senior notes due 2020	Sep. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial Senior notes due 2039	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial Senior notes due 2039	Sep. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial Junior subordinated notes due 2066	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial Junior subordinated notes due 2066	Mar. 31, 2011 Ameriprise Financial Municipal bond inverse floater certificates due 2021	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial Municipal bond inverse floater certificates due 2021	Sep. 30, 2011 Ameriprise Financial	Dec. 31, 2010 Ameriprise Financial
Debt and stated interest rates
Total long-term debt			$ 755	$ 728	$ 340	$ 312	$ 803	$ 763	$ 200	$ 200	$ 306	$ 308		$ 6	$ 2,404	$ 2,317
Short-term borrowings	504	397
Stated Interest Rate (as a percent)			5.70%	5.70%	7.30%	7.30%	5.30%	5.30%	7.80%	7.80%	7.50%	7.50%		0.30%
Short-term Borrowings, Stated Interest Rate (as a percent)															0.20%	0.30%
Total Outstanding Balance of Debt															2,908	2,714
Extinguished debt											2		6
Call of portfolio of municipal bonds													10
Fair value of securities pledged as collateral under repurchase agreements	$ 515	$ 412