2.4.0.81030 - Disclosure - Variable Interest Entitiestruefalsefalse1false falsefalseD2013Q2YTDhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000727892duration2013-01-01T00:00:002013-06-30T00:00:001true 1us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssetsAndLiabilitiesAbstractus-gaap_truenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsexbrli:stringItemTypestringfalse0Variable Interest Entities2false 2rsl_VariableInterestEntitiesDisclosureTextBlockrsl_falsenadurationfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterseLabel1falsefalsefalse00<div style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Times New Roman;"> 3.              Variable Interest Entities   RTA, a subsidiary of RiverSource Life Insurance Company, has variable interests in affordable housing partnerships for which it is not the primary beneficiary and, therefore, does not consolidate.   RTA’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its investments in the affordable housing partnerships is limited to the carrying values of these investments.  The carrying values are reflected in other investments and were $427 million and $409 million as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively.  RTA has no obligation to provide financial or other support to the affordable housing partnerships in addition to liabilities already recorded for future funding commitments nor has it provided any additional support to the affordable housing partnerships.  The Company had liabilities of $113 million and $144 million recorded in other liabilities as of June 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, respectively, related to the future funding commitments for affordable housing partnerships. </div>falsefalsefalsenonnum:textBlockItemTypenaDisclosure of the significant judgments and assumptions made in determining whether a variable interest (as defined) held by the entity requires the variable interest entity (VIE) (as defined) to be consolidated and (or) disclose information about its involvement with the VIE, individually or in aggregate (as applicable); the nature of restrictions, if any, on the consolidated VIE's assets and on the settlement of its liabilities reported by the entity in its statement of financial position, including the carrying amounts of such assets and liabilities.No definition available.false0Variable Interest EntitiesfalseVariable Interest EntitiesUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruefalsefalseSheethttp://www.riversource.com/role/DisclosureVariableInterestEntities12