Earnings per Share Attributable to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Common Shareholders (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations.	$ 249	$ 294
Less: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	4	(18)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Ameriprise Financial	245	312
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1)	(71)
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial	$ 244	$ 241
Denominator:
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	227.3	251.6
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)	4.4	6.1
Diluted: Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	231.7	257.7
Basic
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.08	$ 1.24
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.28)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07	$ 0.96
Diluted
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.06	$ 1.21
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.27)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.05	$ 0.94