Basis of Presentation (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenues
Total net revenues	$ 2,561	$ 2,532
Expenses
Distribution expenses	666	634
Interest credited to fixed accounts	206	208
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	492	383
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs	31	75
Interest and debt expense	69	75
General and administrative expense	775	771
Total expenses	2,239	2,146
Income from continuing operations before income tax provision	322	386
Income tax provision	73	92
Income from continuing operations	249	294
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1)	(71)
Net income	248	223
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	4	(18)
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial	244	241
Assets
Deferred acquisition costs	2,472		2,440	2,556
Other assets	7,429		7,751
Total assets	136,757		132,307
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits and claims	30,994		31,710
Other liabilities	5,272		5,033
Total liabilities	127,008		122,613
Equity:
Retained earnings	5,845		5,603	4,770
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax	851		751	650
Total equity	9,749	9,852	9,694	9,950
Total liabilities and equity	136,757		132,307
Previously reported
Revenues
Total net revenues		2,532
Expenses
Distribution expenses		619
Interest credited to fixed accounts		207
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses		382
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs		116
Interest and debt expense		75
General and administrative expense		746
Total expenses		2,145
Income from continuing operations before income tax provision		387
Income tax provision		93
Income from continuing operations		294
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax		(71)
Net income		223
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(18)
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial		241
Assets
Deferred acquisition costs			4,402
Other assets			7,468
Total assets			133,986
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits and claims			31,723
Other liabilities			5,432
Total liabilities			123,025
Equity:
Retained earnings			6,983	6,190
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax			638	565
Total equity			10,961	11,285
Total liabilities and equity			133,986
Effect of Change
Expenses
Distribution expenses		15
Interest credited to fixed accounts		1
Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses		1
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs		(41)
General and administrative expense		25
Total expenses		1
Income from continuing operations before income tax provision		(1)
Income tax provision		(1)
Assets
Deferred acquisition costs			(1,962)
Other assets			283
Total assets			(1,679)
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits and claims			(13)
Other liabilities			(399)
Total liabilities			(412)
Equity:
Retained earnings			(1,380)	(1,420)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax			113	85
Total equity				(1,335)
Total liabilities and equity			$ (1,679)