Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended													3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012 Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2011 Available-for-Sale Securities, at fair value Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2012 Corporate debt securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2011 Corporate debt securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2012 Residential mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2011 Residential mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2012 Commercial mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2011 Commercial mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2012 Asset backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2011 Asset backed securities Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2012 Common Stocks Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2011 Common Stocks Ameriprise Financial	Dec. 31, 2010 Common Stocks Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2012 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	Mar. 31, 2011 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	Mar. 31, 2012 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives Ameriprise Financial	Mar. 31, 2011 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives Ameriprise Financial
Summary of changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period			$ 1,814	$ 6,104	$ 1,355	$ 1,325	$ 198	$ 4,247	$ 50	$ 51	$ 206	$ 476	$ 5	$ 5	$ 5
Total gains (losses) included in Net income			(5)	9			(5)	7				2
Total gains (losses) included in Other comprehensive income			22	19	4	1	15	13	2		1	5
Purchases			141	229	115	37	23	149	2	14		29	1
Sales				(2)				(2)
Settlements			(73)	(383)	(52)	(38)	(13)	(321)	(2)		(6)	(24)
Transfers into Level 3			50	1			6		37	1	7
Transfers (out of) Level 3				(50)		(10)				(40)
Balance, at the end of the period			1,949	5,927	1,422	1,315	224	4,093	89	26	208	488	6	5	5
Summary of changes in Level 3 liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis
Balance, at the beginning of the period																		(1,585)	(421)
Total Gains (Losses) Included in Net Income																		784	263
Issuance																		(39)	(32)
Balance, at the end of the period																		(840)	(190)
Cumulative decrease to the embedded derivative liability	$ 342	$ 506														$ 115	$ 23