Derivatives and Hedging Activities (Details 3) (Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments, USD $)	3 Months Ended																													3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2013 GMWB and GMAB	Mar. 31, 2012 GMWB and GMAB	Mar. 31, 2013 Other derivatives	Mar. 31, 2012 Other derivatives	Mar. 31, 2013 Interest rate derivatives GMWB and GMAB Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	Mar. 31, 2012 Interest rate derivatives GMWB and GMAB Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	Mar. 31, 2013 Equity derivatives GMWB and GMAB Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	Mar. 31, 2012 Equity derivatives GMWB and GMAB Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	Mar. 31, 2013 Equity derivatives EIA Interest credited to fixed accounts	Mar. 31, 2012 Equity derivatives EIA Interest credited to fixed accounts	Mar. 31, 2013 Equity derivatives EIA embedded derivatives Interest credited to fixed accounts	Mar. 31, 2013 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates Banking and deposit interest expense	Mar. 31, 2012 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates Banking and deposit interest expense	Mar. 31, 2013 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates embedded derivatives Banking and deposit interest expense	Mar. 31, 2012 Equity derivatives Stock market certificates embedded derivatives Banking and deposit interest expense	Mar. 31, 2013 Equity derivatives Seed money Net investment income	Mar. 31, 2012 Equity derivatives Seed money Net investment income	Mar. 31, 2013 Equity derivatives Deferred Compensation Distribution expenses	Mar. 31, 2012 Equity derivatives Ameriprise Financial Franchise Advisor Deferred Compensation Plan Distribution expenses	Mar. 31, 2013 Equity derivatives IUL Interest credited to fixed accounts	Mar. 31, 2013 Equity derivatives IUL embedded derivatives Interest credited to fixed accounts	Mar. 31, 2012 Credit derivative contract GMWB and GMAB Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	Mar. 31, 2013 Foreign exchange contract GMWB and GMAB Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	Mar. 31, 2012 Foreign exchange contract GMWB and GMAB Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	Mar. 31, 2012 Foreign exchange contract Foreign currency Net investment income	Mar. 31, 2013 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	Dec. 31, 2012 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives	Mar. 31, 2013 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives GMWB and GMAB Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses	Mar. 31, 2012 GMWB and GMAB embedded derivatives GMWB and GMAB Benefits, claims, losses and settlement expenses
Summary of the impact of derivatives not designated as hedging instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations
Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Recognized in Income	$ (50,000,000)	$ (173,000,000)	$ (52,000,000)	$ (174,000,000)	$ 2,000,000	$ 1,000,000	$ (132,000,000)	$ (225,000,000)	$ (492,000,000)	$ (695,000,000)	$ 1,000,000	$ 1,000,000	$ (1,000,000)	$ 3,000,000	$ 5,000,000	$ (3,000,000)	$ (4,000,000)	$ (6,000,000)	$ (5,000,000)	$ 1,000,000	$ 3,000,000	$ 4,000,000	$ 3,000,000	$ (3,000,000)	$ 5,000,000	$ 4,000,000	$ 1,000,000			$ 567,000,000	$ 745,000,000
Gross notional amount, guaranteed benefit contracts																												$ 146,100,000,000	$ 142,100,000,000