Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	$ 31,675	$ 31,710
Ameriprise Financial
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	31,675	31,710
Separate account liabilities	69,303	66,780
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 1
Financial Assets
Receivables	140
Restricted and segregated cash	1,688
Financial Liabilities
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	2,273
Debt and other liabilities	148
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 2
Financial Assets
Policy and certificate loans	2
Receivables	921
Other investments and assets	341
Financial Liabilities
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	5,085
Separate account liabilities	3,399
Debt and other liabilities	3,061
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 3
Financial Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, net	2,758
Policy and certificate loans	723
Receivables	1,044
Other investments and assets	37
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	16,100
Investment certificate reserves	2,712
Debt and other liabilities	206
Ameriprise Financial \| Total
Financial Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, net	2,758
Policy and certificate loans	725
Receivables	2,105
Restricted and segregated cash	1,688
Other investments and assets	378
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	16,100
Investment certificate reserves	2,712
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	7,358
Separate account liabilities	3,399
Debt and other liabilities	3,415
Carrying Value \| Ameriprise Financial
Financial Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, net	2,551	2,589
Policy and certificate loans	750	742
Receivables	2,423	2,444
Restricted and segregated cash	1,688	1,500
Other investments and assets	376	390
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	14,960	15,064
Investment certificate reserves	2,715	2,766
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	7,356	7,078
Separate account liabilities	3,399	3,966
Debt and other liabilities	3,097	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		3,966
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 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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Amount of liability for variable contracts that meet specified criteria that are backed by assets held in separate accounts and carried at the fair value of those assets.

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