Future Policy Benefits and Claims and Separate Account Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Future policy benefits and claims	$ 30,994	$ 31,710
Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	30,994	31,710
Fixed annuities | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	16,345	16,401
Equity indexed annuity ("EIA") accumulated host values | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	48	58
Equity indexed annuity embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	2	2
Variable annuity fixed sub-accounts | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	4,856	4,852
Variable annuity guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits ("GMWB") | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	753	1,377
Variable annuity guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits ("GMAB") | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	118	237
Other variable annuity guarantees | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	10	14
Total annuities | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	22,132	22,941
Variable universal life ("VUL")/ universal life ("UL") insurance | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	2,684	2,662
Indexed universal life ("IUL") accumulated host values | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	12	4
IUL embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	9	3
VUL/UL insurance additional liabilities | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	234	220
Other life, disability income and long term care insurance | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	5,376	5,339
Auto, home and other insurance | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	412	420
Policy claims and other policyholders' funds | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	$ 135	$ 121