Earnings per Share Attributable to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Common Shareholders (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Numerator:
Income from continuing operations	$ 152	$ 217	$ 572	$ 802
Less: Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(22)	(105)	(71)	(151)
Income from continuing operations attributable to Ameriprise Financial	174	322	643	953
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(1)	2	(3)	(73)
Net income attributable to Ameriprise Financial	$ 173	$ 324	$ 640	$ 880
Denominator:
Basic: Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	215.0	238.0	221.3	245.0
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)	4.1	4.0	4.1	5.2
Diluted: Weighted-average common shares outstanding (in shares)	219.1	242.0	225.4	250.2
Basic:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.81	$ 1.35	$ 2.91	$ 3.89
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.01	$ (0.02)	$ (0.30)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.80	$ 1.36	$ 2.89	$ 3.59
Diluted:
Income from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.79	$ 1.33	$ 2.85	$ 3.81
Income (loss) from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)		$ 0.01	$ (0.01)	$ (0.29)
Net income (in dollars per share)	$ 0.79	$ 1.34	$ 2.84	$ 3.52
Effect of potentially dilutive nonqualified stock options and other share-based awards (in shares)			3.3	7.9