Future Policy Benefits and Claims and Separate Account Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Future policy benefits and claims	$ 31,595	$ 31,710
Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	31,595	31,710
Fixed annuities | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	16,256	16,401
Equity indexed annuity ("EIA") accumulated host values | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	35	58
Equity indexed annuity embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	3	2
Variable annuity fixed sub-accounts | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	4,845	4,852
Variable annuity guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits ("GMWB") | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	1,073	1,377
Variable annuity guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits ("GMAB") | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	134	237
Other variable annuity guarantees | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	13	14
Total annuities | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	22,359	22,941
Variable universal life ("VUL")/ universal life ("UL") insurance | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	2,728	2,662
Indexed universal life ("IUL") accumulated host values | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	36	4
IUL embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	37	3
VUL/UL insurance additional liabilities | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	281	220
Other life, disability income and long term care insurance | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	5,622	5,339
Auto, home and other insurance | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	402	420
Policy claims and other policyholders' funds | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	$ 130	$ 121