Fair Values of Assets and Liabilities (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	$ 31,595	$ 31,710
Ameriprise Financial
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	31,595	31,710
Separate account liabilities	71,919	66,780
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 1
Financial Assets
Receivables	148
Restricted and segregated cash	2,035
Financial Liabilities
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	2,548
Debt and other liabilities	162
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 2
Financial Assets
Policy and certificate loans	2
Receivables	947
Other investments and assets	333
Financial Liabilities
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	4,440
Separate account liabilities	3,500
Debt and other liabilities	3,108
Ameriprise Financial \| Level 3
Financial Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, net	2,755
Policy and certificate loans	648
Receivables	1,219
Other investments and assets	47
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	16,296
Investment certificate reserves	3,053
Debt and other liabilities	172
Ameriprise Financial \| Total
Financial Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, net	2,755
Policy and certificate loans	650
Receivables	2,314
Restricted and segregated cash	2,035
Other investments and assets	380
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	16,296
Investment certificate reserves	3,053
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	6,988
Separate account liabilities	3,500
Debt and other liabilities	3,442
Carrying Value \| Ameriprise Financial
Financial Assets
Commercial mortgage loans, net	2,541	2,589
Policy and certificate loans	752	742
Receivables	2,421	2,444
Restricted and segregated cash	2,035	1,500
Other investments and assets	373	390
Financial Liabilities
Future policy benefits and claims	14,877	15,064
Investment certificate reserves	3,052	2,766
Banking and brokerage customer deposits	6,987	7,078
Separate account liabilities	3,500	3,966
Debt and other liabilities	3,078	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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