Future Policy Benefits and Claims and Separate Account Liabilities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Future policy benefits and claims	$ 30,545	$ 31,217
Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	30,545	31,217
Fixed annuities | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	15,905	16,075
Equity indexed annuity ("EIA") accumulated host values | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	29	31
EIA embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	3	2
Variable annuity fixed sub-accounts | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	4,832	4,843
Variable annuity guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits ("GMWB") | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	319	799
Variable annuity guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits ("GMAB") | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	23	103
Other variable annuity guarantees | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	13	13
Total annuities | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	21,124	21,866
Variable universal life ("VUL")/ universal life ("UL") insurance | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	2,767	2,760
Indexed universal life ("IUL") accumulated host values | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	74	59
IUL embedded derivatives | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	61	45
VUL/UL insurance additional liabilities | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	296	294
Other life, disability income and long term care insurance | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	5,657	5,646
Auto, home and other insurance | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	421	415
Policy claims and other policyholders' funds | Ameriprise Financial
Future policy benefits and claims	$ 145	$ 132