- Definition

The notional amount of derivative contracts the entity enters into to hedge its exposure to certain receivables and obligations denominated in non-functional currencies.

+ Details

Name:	amp_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyContracts
Namespace Prefix:	amp
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The notional amount of derivative contracts the entity enters into to manage its exposure to price risk arising from seed money investments made in proprietary investment products.

+ Details

Name:	amp_NotionalAmountOfFuturesAndTotalReturnSwapContracts
Namespace Prefix:	amp
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The notional amount of derivative contracts the entity enters into to economically hedge its obligations under the provisions of equity indexed annuities and stock market certificates.

+ Details

Name:	amp_NotionalAmountOfIndexOptionsAndFuturesContracts
Namespace Prefix:	amp
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the notional amount of derivative contracts entered into in order to hedge exposure to equity price risk of the company's stock granted as part of its deferred equity plan.

+ Details

Name:	amp_NotionalAmountOfTotalReturnSwapContractsToHedgeEquityPriceRisk
Namespace Prefix:	amp
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of payments the entity is scheduled to make for deferred premium option contracts.

+ Details

Name:	amp_PremiumsPayableForDerivativeOptionContracts
Namespace Prefix:	amp
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of payments the entity is scheduled to receive for deferred premium option contracts.

+ Details

Name:	amp_PremiumsReceivableForDerivativeOptionContracts
Namespace Prefix:	amp
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent option premiums payable and receivable.

+ Details

Name:	amp_SummaryOfOptionPremiumsPayableAndReceivableLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	amp
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 3) (USD $)			9 Months Ended
Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 3) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 2011	Sep. 30, 2011 2012	Sep. 30, 2011 2013	Sep. 30, 2011 2014	Sep. 30, 2011 2015	Sep. 30, 2011 2016-2025
Summary of Option Premiums Payable and Receivable
Premiums Payable			$ 88,000,000	$ 322,000,000	$ 299,000,000	$ 273,000,000	$ 245,000,000	$ 970,000,000
Premiums Receivable			11,000,000	39,000,000	25,000,000	22,000,000	21,000,000	38,000,000
Gross notional amount of index options and futures contracts	1,300,000,000	1,500,000,000
Gross notional amount of futures and total return swaps	126,000,000	174,000,000
Gross notional amount of foreign currency forward contracts	24,000,000	21,000,000
Gross notional amount of total return swap to hedge equity price risk	$ 24,000,000	$ 35,000,000