Investments (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2012 Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2013 Corporate debt securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2012 Corporate debt securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2013 Residential mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2012 Residential mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2013 Commercial mortgage backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2013 Asset backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2012 Asset backed securities Ameriprise Financial Positions	Mar. 31, 2013 State and municipal obligations Ameriprise Financial Positions	Dec. 31, 2012 State and municipal obligations Ameriprise Financial Positions
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Less than twelve months, Number of positions			169	120	61	76	56	22	12	10	9	30	13
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Less than twelve months, Fair value			$ 1,864	$ 1,351	$ 707	$ 801	$ 850	$ 408	$ 123	$ 115	$ 108	$ 69	$ 34
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Less than twelve months, Unrealized losses			(23)	(13)	(7)	(6)	(13)	(5)	(1)		(1)	(2)	(1)
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Twelve months or longer, Number of positions			140	153	5	6	122	134	1	4	5	8	8
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Twelve months or longer, Fair value			820	927	60	70	576	658	6	59	86	119	113
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Twelve months or more, Unrealized losses			(121)	(148)	(3)	(3)	(87)	(107)		(2)	(3)	(29)	(35)
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Qualitative disclosure, Number of positions			309	273	66	82	178	156	13	14	14	38	21
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Fair value			2,684	2,278	767	871	1,426	1,066	129	174	194	188	147
Available-for-sale securities, Continuous unrealized loss position, Unrealized losses			(144)	(161)	(10)	(9)	(100)	(112)	(1)	(2)	(4)	(31)	(36)
Balance of Credit Losses Impairment Recognized in Other Comprehensive Income
Beginning balance	176	303
Credit losses for which an other-than-temporary impairment was previously recognized	2	5
Reductions for securities sold during the period (realized)	(13)	(2)
Ending balance	$ 165	$ 306