Earnings per Share Attributable to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Common Shareholders (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 171	$ 291	$ 420	$ 585
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(53)	(28)	(49)	(46)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Ameriprise Financial	224	319	469	631
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1)	(4)	(2)	(75)
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial	$ 223	$ 315	$ 467	$ 556
Denominator:
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	221.7	245.5	224.5	248.5
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)	3.9	5.5	4.1	5.8
Diluted: Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	225.6	251.0	228.6	254.3
Basic:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.01	$ 1.30	$ 2.09	$ 2.54
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.30)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 1.01	$ 1.28	$ 2.08	$ 2.24
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.99	$ 1.27	$ 2.05	$ 2.48
Loss from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.30)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.99	$ 1.25	$ 2.04	$ 2.18
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)			7.7	3.9