Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	$ 30,994	$ 31,710
Ameriprise Financial
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	30,994	31,710
Separate account liabilities	71,635	66,780
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 1
Financial Assets
Receivables	172
Restricted and segregated cash	1,608
Financial Liabilities
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	2,364
Debt and other liabilities	179
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 2
Financial Assets
Policy and certificate loans	2
Receivables	870
Other investments and assets	357
Financial Liabilities
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	4,886
Separate account liabilities	3,720
Debt and other liabilities	3,023
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 3
Financial Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, net	2,794
Policy and certificate loans	715
Receivables	1,083
Other investments and assets	30
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	16,058
Investment certificate reserves	2,704
Debt and other liabilities	220
Ameriprise Financial \| Total
Financial Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, net	2,794
Policy and certificate loans	717
Receivables	2,125
Restricted and segregated cash	1,608
Other investments and assets	387
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	16,058
Investment certificate reserves	2,704
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	7,250
Separate account liabilities	3,720
Debt and other liabilities	3,422
Carrying Value \| Ameriprise Financial
Financial Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, net	2,615	2,589
Policy and certificate loans	741	742
Receivables	2,417	2,444
Restricted and segregated cash	1,608	1,500
Other investments and assets	382	390
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	15,007	15,064
Investment certificate reserves	2,703	2,766
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	7,248	7,078
Separate account liabilities	3,720	3,950
Debt and other liabilities	3,149	3,180
Fair Value \| Ameriprise Financial
Financial Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, net		2,772
Policy and certificate loans		715
Receivables		2,148
Restricted and segregated cash		1,500
Other investments and assets		388
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims		16,116
Investment certificate reserves		2,752
Banking and brokerage customer deposits		7,091
Separate account liabilities		3,950
Debt and other liabilities		$ 3,412

Carrying amount of consumer bank loans and other types of receivables.

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The total of current and noncurrent debt and other liabilities not individually reported in the financial statement disclosure.

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The total of all deposits held in bank or brokerage accounts for the benefit of customers.

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The total of all investment certificate deposits held by the entity.

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Reflects the net carrying amount of unpaid loans issued to businesses to provide financing on existing land or a building, which, pursuant to terms of the underlying debt instrument, are secured at a minimum but possibly exclusively by that real property.

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The value of other investments and other assets not individually reported in the financial statement disclosure.

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The aggregate amount of policy reserves (provided for future obligations including unpaid claims and claims adjustment expenses) and policy benefits (liability for future policy benefits) as of the balance sheet date; grouped amount of all the liabilities associated with the company's insurance policies.

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Gross amount of loans made to policy and contract holders using their life insurance contracts' cash value or separate accounts as collateral.

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The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. This element is for unclassified presentations; for classified presentations there is a separate and distinct element.

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The equivalent summary total of separate account assets representing contract holder funds that are carried at fair value.

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