Goodwill (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Carrying amount of goodwill allocated to reporting segment
Gross	$ 1,391	$ 1,406
Accumulated Impairments	(385)	(385)
Discontinued Operations		(15)
Carrying value	1,006	1,006
Wealth Management [Member]
Carrying amount of goodwill allocated to reporting segment
Gross	470	470
Accumulated Impairments	0	0
Discontinued Operations
Carrying value	470	470
Property & Casualty Commercial [Member] \| Commercial Market [Member]
Carrying amount of goodwill allocated to reporting segment
Gross	30	30
Accumulated Impairments	(30)	(30)
Discontinued Operations
Carrying value	0	0
Consumer Markets [Member]
Carrying amount of goodwill allocated to reporting segment
Gross	119	119
Accumulated Impairments	0	0
Discontinued Operations
Carrying value	119	119
Individual Life [Member] \| Wealth Management [Member]
Carrying amount of goodwill allocated to reporting segment
Gross	224	224
Accumulated Impairments	0	0
Discontinued Operations
Carrying value	224	224
Retirement Plans [Member] \| Wealth Management [Member]
Carrying amount of goodwill allocated to reporting segment
Gross	87	87
Accumulated Impairments	0	0
Discontinued Operations
Carrying value	87	87
Mutual Funds [Member] \| Wealth Management [Member]
Carrying amount of goodwill allocated to reporting segment
Gross	159	159
Accumulated Impairments	0	0
Discontinued Operations
Carrying value	159	159
Corporate [Member]
Carrying amount of goodwill allocated to reporting segment
Gross	772	787
Accumulated Impairments	(355)	(355)
Discontinued Operations		(15)
Carrying value	$ 417	$ 417

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date, which is the cumulative amount paid and (if applicable) the fair value of any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree, adjusted for any amortization recognized prior to the adoption of any changes in generally accepted accounting principles (as applicable) and for any impairment charges, in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired in one or more business combination transactions.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph e

-Clause 1

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 43

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph l

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 142

-Paragraph 45

-Subparagraph e

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 34

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6905597&loc=d3e13816-109267

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6388280&loc=d3e13770-109266

Reference 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 72

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details