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Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Statement No. 333-181005

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities nor do they seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 15, 2014.

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement to Prospectus dated April 27, 2012.

$                

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

        % Senior Notes due 2024

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        This is an offering by Ameriprise Financial, Inc. of $             million principal amount of its        % Senior Notes due 2024 (the "notes"). We will pay interest on the notes semi-annually in arrears on each April 15 and October 15, commencing on April 15, 2015. The notes will mature on October 15, 2024.

        We may redeem the notes in whole or in part at any time at the redemption prices described under the caption "Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption" in this prospectus supplement. The notes will be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

        Investing in the notes involves risks. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-4 of this prospectus supplement and in "Item 1A. Risk Factors" beginning on page 26 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 to read about factors you should consider before buying the notes.

        The notes are unsecured senior debt obligations of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and will rank equally with existing and future unsecured senior debt obligations of Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

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        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of the notes or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

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        The initial public offering price set forth above does not include accrued interest, if any. Interest on the notes will accrue from September     , 2014.

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        The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Currently, there is no public market for the notes.

        The underwriters expect to deliver the notes in book-entry form only through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, S.A. and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., against payment in New York, New York on or about September     , 2014.

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The date of this prospectus supplement is September     , 2014.

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        No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are an offer to sell only the notes offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is current only as of its date.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

        This document has two parts. The first part consists of this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and the notes offered. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. If the description of this offering varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement.

        Before purchasing any notes, you should carefully read both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with the additional information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement.

        You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference and any written communication from us or the underwriters specifying the final terms of this offering. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may only be accurate as of their respective dates and the information in the incorporated documents is only accurate as of their respective dates.

        The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus come should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

        Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "we," "our," "us," the "Company" or "Ameriprise" refer to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

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RISK FACTORS

        You should carefully consider the risks described below, the risks set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 and the other information set forth in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference before making an investment decision. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also impair our business operations. The events discussed in the risk factors below, or the risk factors in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, may occur. If they do, our business, results of operations or financial condition could be materially adversely affected. In such an instance, the trading price of our securities, including the notes, could decline and you might lose all or part of your investment.

The notes will be effectively subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

        Substantially all of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries. None of our subsidiaries is a guarantor of the notes. As a result, our right to receive assets upon the liquidation or recapitalization of any of our subsidiaries, and your consequent right to participate in those assets, is subject to the claims of such subsidiary's creditors. Accordingly, the notes are effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, of our subsidiaries. Even if we are recognized as a creditor of one or more of our subsidiaries, our claims would still be effectively subordinated to any security interests in the assets of any such subsidiary and to any indebtedness or other liabilities of any such subsidiary senior to our claims. As of June 30, 2014, our subsidiaries accounted for $200 million of our total debt. For further discussion, see "As a holding company, we depend on the ability of our subsidiaries to transfer funds to us to pay dividends and to meet our obligations" under "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

        In addition, we derive substantially all of our revenues from our subsidiaries. As a result, our cash flow and our ability to service our debt and other obligations, including the notes, depends on the results of operations of our subsidiaries and upon the ability of our subsidiaries to provide us with cash to pay amounts due on our obligations, including the notes. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation to make payments on the notes or to make funds available to us for that purpose. In addition, dividends, loans or other distributions from our subsidiaries to us may be subject to contractual, legal and regulatory and other restrictions, are dependent upon results of operations of our subsidiaries, may be subject to tax or other laws limiting our ability to repatriate funds from foreign subsidiaries and are subject to other business considerations.

The notes will be unsecured and therefore will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness we may incur.

        The notes will not be secured by any of our assets. As a result, the notes are effectively subordinated to any secured debt we or our subsidiaries may incur in the future to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt. In any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or other similar proceeding, the holders of any of our secured debt and the secured debt of our subsidiaries may assert rights against the assets pledged to secure that debt in order to receive full payment of their debt before the assets may be used to pay other creditors, including the holders of the notes.

The indenture under which the notes will be issued will contain limited protection for holders of the notes.

        The indenture under which the notes will be issued offers limited protection to holders of the notes. The terms of the indenture and the notes do not restrict our or any of our subsidiaries' ability to engage in, or otherwise be a party to, a variety of corporate transactions, circumstances or events that

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could have an adverse impact on your investment in the notes. In particular, the terms of the indenture and the notes will not place any restrictions on our or our subsidiaries' ability to:

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issue securities or otherwise incur additional indebtedness or other obligations, including (1) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be equal in right of payment to the notes and (2) securities, indebtedness or obligations issued or incurred by our subsidiaries which would be senior to our equity interests in our subsidiaries and therefore rank effectively senior to the notes with respect to the assets of our subsidiaries;



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pay dividends on, or purchase or redeem or make any payments in respect of, capital stock or other securities ranking junior in right of payment to the notes;



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sell assets (other than certain limited restrictions on our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets);



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enter into transactions with affiliates;



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create liens (including liens on the shares of our subsidiaries) or enter into sale and leaseback transactions;



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make investments; or



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create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to us from our subsidiaries.

        Certain of our current debt instruments, including our 5.65% senior notes due 2015 (the "2015 Notes"), include more protections for their holders than the indenture and the notes. In particular, the 2015 Notes are entitled to the benefit of a limitation on our ability to incur liens on the shares of capital stock of our principal subsidiaries without equally and ratably securing the 2015 Notes, which protection will be unavailable to the holders of the notes. As a result, holders of the notes may be effectively subordinated to holders of the 2015 Notes, and to new lenders or bondholders, to the extent the instruments they hold include similar protections.

        In addition, the indenture will not require us to offer to purchase the notes in connection with a change of control.

        Furthermore, the terms of the indenture and the notes do not protect holders of the notes in the event that we experience changes (including significant adverse changes) in our financial condition or results of operations, as they do not require that we or our subsidiaries adhere to any financial tests or ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow, or liquidity.

        Our ability to recapitalize, incur additional debt and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the notes could negatively affect the value of the notes.

If an active trading market does not develop for the notes, you may be unable to sell your notes or to sell your notes at a price that you deem sufficient.

        The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market, and we do not intend to list them on any securities exchange or automated quotation system. The underwriters currently intend, but are not obligated, to make a market for the notes. As a result, an active trading market for the notes may not develop, or if one does develop, it may not be sustained. If an active trading market fails to develop or cannot be sustained, you may not be able to resell your notes at their fair market value or at all.

        Whether or not a trading market for the notes develops, none of us or the underwriters can provide any assurance about the market price of the notes. Several factors, many of which are beyond our control, might influence the market value of the notes, including:

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our creditworthiness;

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the market for similar securities; and



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economic, financial, geopolitical, regulatory and judicial events that affect us, the industries and markets in which we are doing business, and the financial markets generally.

Financial market conditions and prevailing interest rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future. Any increases in prevailing interest rates would likely have an adverse effect on the price of the notes.

        Accordingly, the notes that an investor purchases, whether in this offering or in the secondary market, may trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid for the notes.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        We estimate that the net proceeds to us from this offering will be approximately $             million, after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The net proceeds received by us from the sale of the notes will be used for general corporate purposes.

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CAPITALIZATION

        The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and our consolidated capitalization as of June 30, 2014 on an actual basis and as adjusted to give effect to the offering of the notes and the currently contemplated use of proceeds. See "Use of Proceeds."

        You should read the information in this table together with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes, along with the information set forth under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

        The following table sets forth the historical ratio of (1) our earnings to fixed charges before banking and deposit interest expense and interest credited to fixed accounts and (2) our earnings to our fixed charges, in each case for the periods indicated. For purposes of computing these ratios:

        "Earnings" consists of pretax income (loss) attributable to Ameriprise Financial, Inc. plus (a) interest and debt expense, (b) the estimated interest portion of rental expense, (c) amortization of capitalized interest, (d) undistributed loss from equity investees, (e) minority interest in pretax income of subsidiaries that have incurred fixed charges and (f) banking and deposit interest expense and interest credited to fixed accounts.

        "Fixed charges" consists of the sum of (a) interest and debt expense, (b) the estimated interest portion of rental expense, (c) capitalized interest and (d) banking and deposit interest expense and interest credited to fixed accounts.

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

        The notes constitute senior debt securities described in the accompanying prospectus. This description supplements, and should be read together with, the description of the general terms and provisions of the notes set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the caption "Description of Debt Securities We May Offer." This description, to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces the descriptions of the general terms and provisions contained in "Description of Debt Securities We May Offer" in the accompanying prospectus.

        The notes will be issued under the indenture dated as of May 5, 2006, entered into with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the "indenture"). The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the description in the accompanying prospectus and the indenture. We urge you to read the indenture because it, and not the summaries below and in the accompanying prospectus, defines your rights. You may obtain a copy of the indenture from us without charge. See "Where You Can Find More Information" in the accompanying prospectus.

General

        The notes will be issued in an initial principal amount of $             million.

        The notes will be our unsecured obligations and will rank prior to all of our subordinated indebtedness and on an equal basis with all of our other senior unsecured indebtedness.

        The notes will be issued in fully registered form only, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess of $2,000. The notes will be represented by one or more global notes deposited with or on behalf of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), or a nominee thereof. The trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar for the notes. Except as otherwise provided in the indenture, the notes will be registered in the name of that depositary or its nominee. We will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on the notes to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner or the holder of the global note. As provided by the indenture, at our option, interest may be paid at the trustee's corporate trust office or by check mailed to the registered address of the holder of record.

Maturity

        The entire principal amount of the notes will mature and become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on October 15, 2024.

Interest Provisions Related to the Notes

        Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of        % per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on each April 15 and October 15, commencing on April 15, 2015. We will pay interest to those persons who were holders of record of the notes on the last day of the month preceding each interest payment date (March 31 and September 30) and at maturity.

        Interest on the notes will accrue from the date of original issuance or, if interest has already been paid, from the date it was most recently paid, and will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.

        If any interest payment date, date of redemption or the maturity date of the notes is not a business day, then payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding business day. No interest will accrue on the amount so payable for the period from such interest payment date, redemption date or maturity date, as the case may be, to the date such payment is made.

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Defeasance

        In some circumstances, we may elect to discharge our obligations on the notes through defeasance. See "Description of Debt Securities We May Offer—Defeasance" in the accompanying prospectus for more information about how we may do this.

        No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or any exchange of notes, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Additional Notes

        We may from time to time, without notice to or the consent of the registered holders of the notes, create and issue further notes ranking equally and ratably with the notes in all respects, including having the same CUSIP number, so that such further notes shall be consolidated and form a single series of notes and shall have the same terms as to status or otherwise as the notes, provided that if any such further notes are not fungible with the notes for United States federal income tax purposes, they will be issued with a different CUSIP number. No additional notes may be issued if an event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to the notes.

Optional Redemption

        We may, at our option, at any time and from time to time redeem the notes in whole or in part on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice mailed to each holder of the notes (which is expected to be DTC as holder of the global securities). The notes will be redeemable at a redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed or (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption (except that, if such redemption date is not an interest payment date, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to the redemption date), discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus                basis points.

        "Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the second business day immediately preceding such redemption date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

        "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the notes.

        "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by us.

        "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if we obtain fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all quotations obtained.

        "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Barclays Capital Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and their respective successors and two other nationally recognized investment banking firms that are Primary Treasury Dealers specified from time to time by us, except

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that if any of the foregoing ceases to be a primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), we are required to designate as a substitute another nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer.

        "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by us, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to us by such Reference Treasury Dealer as of 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

        On and after any redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes called for redemption. Prior to any redemption date, we are required to deposit with a paying agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on the notes to be redeemed on such date. If we are redeeming less than all the notes, the trustee under the indenture will select the notes to be redeemed by such method as the trustee deems fair and appropriate in accordance with methods generally used at the time of selection by fiduciaries in similar circumstances. Since the notes are held in book-entry form, any redemption will be made in accordance with DTC's customary procedures. We have been advised that it is DTC's practice to determine by the lot the amount of each participant in the notes to be redeemed.

Book-Entry System

        Upon issuance, all notes will be represented by one or more fully registered global certificates, each of which we refer to as a global security. Each such global security will be deposited with or on behalf of DTC, and registered in the name of DTC or a nominee thereof. Purchasers of the notes can hold beneficial interests in the global notes only through DTC, or through the accounts that Clearstream Banking, S.A. and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. maintain as participants in DTC.

        A description of DTC's procedures with respect to the global securities is set forth in the sections "Description of Debt Securities We May Offer—Additional Mechanics—Global Securities" and "Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance" in the accompanying prospectus.

Listing

        We are not applying to list the notes on any securities exchange.

Governing Law

        The indenture and the notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

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CERTAIN ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

        The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the purchase and holding of the notes by employee benefit plans that are subject to Title I of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") or provisions under any other federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, "similar law"), and entities whose underlying assets are considered to include "plan assets" of any such plan, account or arrangement (each, a "plan").

        Each fiduciary of a plan should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA and any applicable similar law in the context of the plan's particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in the notes. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and any other applicable similar law and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the plan. When we use the term "holder" in this section, we are referring to a beneficial owner of the notes and not the record holder.

        Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, prohibit plans which are subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code ("ERISA plans") from engaging in specified transactions involving "plan assets" with persons who are "parties in interest" under ERISA or "disqualified persons" under the Code (collectively, "parties in interest") with respect to such ERISA plan. A violation of those "prohibited transaction" rules may result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for such persons, unless statutory or administrative exemptive relief is available. Therefore, a fiduciary of an ERISA plan should also consider whether an investment in the notes might constitute or give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code.

        Plans such as employee benefit plans that are governmental plans, as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA, certain church plans, as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA, and foreign plans, as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA, are not subject to the requirements of ERISA, or Section 4975 of the Code, but may be subject to similar law.

        We and our affiliates may each be considered a party in interest with respect to many plans. Special caution should be exercised, therefore, before the notes are purchased by a plan.

        In particular, the fiduciary of an ERISA plan should consider whether statutory or administrative exemptive relief is available under an applicable statutory or administrative exemption. In this regard, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions ("PTCEs") that may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or holding of the notes. Those class exemptions are:

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PTCE 96-23, for specified transactions determined by in-house asset managers;



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PTCE 95-60, for specified transactions involving insurance company general accounts;



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PTCE 91-38, for specified transactions involving bank collective investment funds;



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PTCE 90-1, for specified transactions involving insurance company separate accounts; and



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PTCE 84-14, for specified transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers.

In addition, Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA provides an exemption for transactions between an ERISA plan and a person who is a party in interest (other than a fiduciary who has or exercises any discretionary authority or control with respect to investment of the ERISA plan assets involved in the transaction or renders investment advice with respect thereto) solely by reason of providing services to

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the ERISA plan (or by reason of a relationship to such a service provider), if in connection with the transaction the ERISA plan receives no less, nor pays no more, than "adequate consideration" (within the meaning of Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA). Other statutory or administrative class exemptions may be applicable. In addition, a purchaser or holder may obtain an individual administrative exemption. There can be no assurance that all of the conditions of any such exemptions will be satisfied.

        In light of the foregoing, each purchaser or holder of the notes or any interest in the notes will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding that either:

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no portion of the assets used by such purchaser or holder to acquire or purchase the notes constitutes assets of any plan; or



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the purchase and holding of the notes by such purchaser or holder will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a similar violation under applicable similar law.

        Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the notes on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any plan consult with their counsel regarding the potential consequences under ERISA and the Code and any applicable similar law of the acquisition of the notes and the availability of exemptive relief under PTCE 96-23,95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14, or another applicable statutory or administrative exemption.

        Purchasers of the notes have the exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their purchase and holding of the notes do not violate the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, the Code or similar law, and we are not advising any potential purchaser or holder of the notes to avail themselves of any exemption described above or any other exemption that may be available under ERISA, the Code, or any applicable similar law.

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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

        The following is a summary of certain material United States federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to persons considering the purchase of notes. This summary, which does not represent tax advice, is based on the Code, existing and proposed regulations thereunder, rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change (including changes in effective dates), possibly on a retroactive basis, or possible differing interpretations. This summary deals only with notes that will be held as capital assets and is only addressed to persons who purchase notes in the initial offering at their initial offering price. It does not address tax considerations applicable to investors that may be subject to special tax rules, such as banks, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities electing to mark to market, retirement plans, persons that will hold notes as a position in a "straddle" or conversion transaction, or as part of a "synthetic security" or other integrated financial transaction, partnerships or other pass-through entities, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, certain former citizens or residents of the United States, foreign corporations that are classified as "passive foreign investment companies" or "controlled foreign corporations" for United States federal income tax purposes, or U.S. Holders (as defined below) that have a "functional currency" other than the U.S. dollar.

        Persons considering the purchase of notes should consult their own tax advisors in determining the tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of notes, including the application to their particular situation of the United States federal income tax considerations discussed below, as well as the application of state, local, foreign or other tax laws.

        As used under this heading "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations," the term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a note that is for United States federal income tax purposes: (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation (or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes) organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust if (A) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the trust's administration and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all of the trust's substantial decisions or (B) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person. As used under this heading "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations," the term "Non-U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a note that is an individual, corporation, estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder.

Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

Payments of Interest

        The notes are expected to be and the remainder of this discussion assumes they will be issued with no more than a de minimis amount of original issue discount. Payments of stated interest on a note will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time that such payments are accrued or are received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder's method of tax accounting).

Purchase, Sale, Exchange and Redemption

        A U.S. Holder's tax basis in a note generally will equal the cost of such note to such holder. Upon the sale, exchange or redemption of a note, a U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or redemption (less any accrued interest, which will be taxable as such) and the U.S. Holder's tax basis in such note. Such gain or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holder has held the note for more than one year at the time of disposition. Long-term capital gains recognized by an individual holder are generally subject to tax at a reduced rate. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

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        In some circumstances, we may elect to discharge our obligations on the notes through defeasance. See "Description of Debt Securities We May Offer—Defeasance" in the accompanying prospectus. Defeasance may be treated as a taxable exchange of the notes for obligations of the trust or a direct interest in the money or U.S. government securities held in the trust. In that case, a U.S. Holder of notes would recognize gain or loss as if the trust obligations or the money or U.S. government securities held in the trust, as the case may be, had actually been received by the U.S. Holder in exchange for such U.S. Holder's notes. U.S. Holders thereafter might be required to include as income a different amount of income than in the absence of defeasance. We urge prospective investors to consult their own tax advisors as to the specific tax consequences of defeasance.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

        Information reporting requirements apply with respect to payments made to U.S. Holders of notes unless an exemption exists. In addition, U.S. Holders who are not exempt will be subject to backup withholding tax in respect of such payments if they do not provide their taxpayer identification numbers ("TINs") to the applicable withholding agent or, in certain circumstances, if they fail to certify, under penalties of perjury, that they have furnished current TINs and have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that they are subject to backup withholding for failure to report interest and dividend payments. All individuals are subject to these requirements. In general, corporations, tax-exempt organizations and individual retirement accounts are exempt from these requirements. Backup withholding is not an additional tax; any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a U.S. Holder's United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

        Under present United States federal income and estate tax law, and subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding:

•

A Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax with respect to the payment of interest on its notes, provided: (i) that the Non-U.S. Holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote within the meaning of section 871(h)(3) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, (ii) the Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation that is related to us through stock ownership, (iii) the Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank whose receipt of interest on a note is described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) the Non-U.S. Holder provides a statement signed under penalties of perjury that includes its name and address and certifies that it is a Non-U.S. Holder in compliance with applicable requirements, generally made, under current procedures, on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or satisfies certain documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Non-U.S. Holder), and (v) the interest is not effectively connected with a United States trade or business of the Non-U.S. Holder. If a Non-U.S. Holder cannot satisfy any of these requirements, interest on the notes paid to such Non-U.S. Holder will generally be subject to United States federal withholding tax at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be prescribed by an applicable tax treaty, provided such Non-U.S. Holder complies with applicable certification requirements, generally made, under current procedures, on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN, as applicable).



•

A Non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to United States federal income tax on gain realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of a note unless: (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the holder of a trade or business in the United States (and, if required by an applicable tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment) or (ii) in the case of gain realized by an individual holder, the holder is present in the United

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States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale, exchange or redemption and certain other conditions are met.

        A note beneficially owned by an individual who at the time of death is a Non-U.S. Holder will generally not be subject to United States federal estate tax as a result of such individual's death, provided that such individual does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote within the meaning of section 871(h)(3) of the Code and provided that the interest payments with respect to such note would not have been, if received at the time of such individual's death, effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business by such individual.

        A Non-U.S. Holder generally will be taxed in the same manner as a U.S. Holder with respect to interest income that is effectively connected with its United States trade or business (and, if required by an applicable tax treaty, is attributable to a United States permanent establishment). A Non-U.S. Holder with effectively connected interest income will, however, generally not be subject to withholding tax on such interest income if, under current procedures, it delivers a properly completed IRS Form W-8ECI. Under certain circumstances, effectively connected interest income of a corporate Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to a "branch profits" tax imposed at a 30% rate (or such lower rate as may be prescribed by an applicable tax treaty).

        United States information reporting requirements and backup withholding tax will generally not apply to payments on a note if the beneficial owner (i) certifies its Non-U.S. Holder status under penalties of perjury, generally made, under current procedures, on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or satisfies documentary evidence requirements for establishing that it is a Non-U.S. Holder), or (ii) otherwise establishes an exemption. Withholding agents must nevertheless report to the Internal Revenue Service and to each Non-U.S. Holder the amount of interest paid to such Non-U.S. Holder and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to those payments.

        Information reporting requirements will generally not apply to any payment of the proceeds of the sale of a note effected outside the United States by a foreign office of a foreign broker, provided that such broker derives less than 50% of its gross income for particular periods from the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, is not a controlled foreign corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, and is not a foreign partnership that, at any time during its taxable year, is 50% or more, by income or capital interest, owned by U.S. persons or is engaged in the conduct of a United States trade or business.

        Backup withholding tax will generally not apply to the payment of the proceeds of the sale of a note effected outside the United States by a foreign office of any broker. However, information reporting requirements will be applicable to payments of the proceeds of the sale of a note effected outside the United States by a foreign office of a United States broker or a foreign broker that is not described in the preceding paragraph unless (i) such broker has documentary evidence in its records that the beneficial owner is a Non-U.S. Holder and other conditions are met or (ii) the beneficial owner otherwise establishes an exemption. Information reporting requirements and backup withholding tax will apply to the payment of the proceeds of a sale of a note by the U.S. office of a broker, unless the beneficial owner certifies its Non-U.S. Holder status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption.

        Backup withholding is not an additional tax; any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a Non-U.S. Holder's United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is timely furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.

        The rules regarding withholding, backup withholding and information reporting for Non-U.S. Holders are complex, may vary depending on a holder's particular situation, and are subject to change. In addition, special rules apply to certain types of non-U.S. investors including partnerships, trusts and

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other entities treated as pass-through entities for United States federal income tax purposes. Non-U.S. Holders should accordingly consult their own tax advisors as to the specific methods to use and forms to complete to satisfy these rules.

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

        The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act ("FATCA"), contained in sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, imposes a 30% withholding tax on "withholdable payments" (as defined below) made to a foreign financial institution, unless such institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury Department to, among other things, collect and provide to it substantial information regarding such institution's United States financial account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with United States owners. The legislation also generally imposes a 30% withholding tax on withholdable payments to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the paying agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial United States owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial United States owners of the entity. "Withholdable payments" include payments of interest (including original issue discount) from sources within the United States, as well as gross proceeds from the sale of any property of a type which can produce interest from sources within the United States, unless the payments or proceeds are effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business and taxed as such. Under final Treasury regulations and other administrative guidance, these withholding and reporting requirements with respect to interest commenced on July 1, 2014, and withholding on gross proceeds will commence on January 1, 2017. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and an applicable foreign country, or future Treasury regulations, may modify these requirements. Persons considering purchasing the notes are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of FATCA to the notes.

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UNDERWRITING

        Ameriprise Financial, Inc. and the underwriters for the offering named below, for whom Barclays Capital Inc., HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as representatives, have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the notes. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the principal amount of notes indicated in the following table.

        The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the notes being offered, if any are taken. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the offering of the notes may be terminated.

        Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. Any notes sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to        % of the principal amount of notes. Any such securities dealers may resell any notes purchased from the underwriters to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to        % of the principal amount of notes. If all the notes are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters' right to reject any order in whole or in part.

        The following table shows the per note and total underwriting discounts to be paid to the underwriters by us in connection with this offering. The per note discount is expressed as a percentage of the principal amount of the notes.

        We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $1.4 million.

        We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

        The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in the notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes.

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        In connection with the offering of the notes, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater principal amount of notes than they are required to purchase in the offering of the notes. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering of the notes is in progress.

        The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

        These activities by the underwriters, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

        Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for us and our affiliates, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses. In particular, certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates are parties to our $500 million senior credit agreement.

        The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and certain of their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the Company or its affiliates. If the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, the underwriters or their affiliates may hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, the underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities or the securities of our affiliates, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and certain of their affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

Sales Outside the United States

        The notes may be offered and sold in the United States and certain jurisdictions outside the United States in which such offer and sale are permitted.

Canada

        The notes may be offered and sold only to investors purchasing as principal that are both "accredited investors" as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus and Registration Exemptions and "permitted clients" as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an

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exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable provincial securities laws.

European Economic Area

        In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a "Relevant Member State"), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the "Relevant Implementation Date") it has not made and will not make an offer of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

(i)

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive;



(ii)

to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 PD Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive), as permitted under the Prospectus Directive, subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters for any such offer; or



(iii)

in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive;

provided that no such offer of notes shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.

        For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer of notes to the public" in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the notes, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State; "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State; and "2010 PD Amending Directive" means Directive 2010/73/EU.

United Kingdom

        This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other material in relation to the notes is only being distributed to and is only directed at persons in the United Kingdom that are (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order"), or (ii) high net worth entities or other persons falling within Articles 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (iii) persons to whom it would otherwise be lawful to distribute it, all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons". The notes are only available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such notes will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and their contents are confidential and should not be distributed, published or reproduced (in whole or in part) or disclosed by any recipients to any other person in the United Kingdom. Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus or their contents. The notes are not being offered to the public in the United Kingdom.

Hong Kong

        The notes may not be offered or sold by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), or (ii) to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities

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and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a "prospectus" within the meaning of the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to "professional investors" within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.

Singapore

        This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the "SFA"), (ii) to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

        Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 by a relevant person which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries' rights and interest in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.

Japan

        The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law) and each underwriter has agreed that it will not offer or sell any notes, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

VALIDITY OF THE NOTES

        John C. Junek, who is our Executive Vice President and General Counsel, will issue an opinion with respect to the validity of the notes. Mr. Junek owns, or has the right to acquire, a number of shares of our common stock which represents less than 0.12% of our total outstanding common stock. Certain legal matters will be passed upon on our behalf by Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and for the underwriters by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York.

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EXPERTS

        The financial statements and management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

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PROSPECTUS

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

Debt Securities
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
Preferred Stock
Depositary Shares
Common Stock

        We may offer to sell debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts, preferred stock, either separately or represented by depositary shares, and common stock either individually or in units. The debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and preferred stock may be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. or debt or equity securities of one or more other entities. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE and trades under the symbol "AMP."

        This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in a supplement to this prospectus or incorporated into this prospectus by reference.

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        Investing in the securities involves risks. See the section entitled "Risk Factors" on page 3 and, if applicable, any risk factors described in the accompanying prospectus supplement or in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

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        We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.

        We may use this prospectus in the initial sale of these securities. In addition, one or more of our subsidiaries may use this prospectus in a market-making transaction involving any of these securities after our initial sale.

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The date of this prospectus is April 27, 2012.

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        You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, and in other offering material, if any, or information contained in documents which you are referred to by this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, or in other offering material, if any. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are offering to sell the securities only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material is accurate only as of the date on the front of those documents, regardless of the time of delivery of the documents or any sale of the securities.

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RISK FACTORS

        Investing in our securities involves risk. Please carefully consider the risk factors described in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a specific security. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we include or incorporate by reference in this prospectus or in the applicable prospectus supplement. These risks could materially affect our business, results of operation or financial condition and affect the value of our securities. You could lose all or part of your investment. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also affect our business, results of operation or financial condition.

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CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

        The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated:

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include repayment of debt, investments in or extensions of credit to our subsidiaries, repurchases of common stock, capital expenditures and the financing of possible acquisitions or business expansions. The net proceeds from the sale of securities may be invested temporarily or applied to repay short-term obligations until they are used for their stated purpose.

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

        In this section, references to "holders" mean those who own debt securities registered in their own names on the books that we or the applicable trustee maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in debt securities registered in street name or in debt securities issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. Owners of beneficial interests in the debt securities should read the section below entitled "Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance."

Debt Securities May Be Senior or Subordinated

        We may issue senior or subordinated debt securities (including senior subordinated and junior subordinated debt securities). Neither the senior debt securities nor the subordinated debt securities will be secured by any of our property or assets or the property or assets of our subsidiaries. Thus, by owning a debt security, you are one of our unsecured creditors.

        The senior debt securities and, in the case of senior debt securities in bearer form, any related interest coupons, will be issued under our senior debt indenture described below and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt.

        The subordinated debt securities and, in the case of subordinated debt securities in bearer form, any related interest coupons, will be issued under our senior subordinated debt indenture or our junior subordinated debt indenture described below and will be subordinate in right of payment to all of our "senior indebtedness," as defined in the applicable subordinated debt indenture. None of the indentures limit our ability to incur additional unsecured indebtedness.

        When we refer to "debt securities" in this prospectus, we mean both the senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities. When we refer to "subordinated debt securities" in this prospectus, we mean both the senior subordinated debt securities and the junior subordinated debt securities.

The Senior Debt Indenture, Senior Subordinated Debt Indenture, and Junior Subordinated Debt Indenture

        The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt securities are each governed by a document called an indenture—the senior debt indenture, in the case of the senior debt securities, and the senior subordinated debt indenture or the junior subordinated debt indenture, as the case may be, in the case of the subordinated debt securities. Each indenture is a contract between Ameriprise and U.S. Bank National Association, which acts as trustee. The indentures are substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination, which are included only in the senior subordinated debt indenture and the junior subordinated debt indenture.

        Reference to the "indenture" or the "trustee" with respect to any debt securities, means the indenture under which those debt securities are issued and the trustee under that indenture.

        The trustee has two main roles:

        1.     The trustee can enforce the rights of holders against us if we default on our obligations under the terms of the indenture or the debt securities. There are some limitations on the extent to which the trustee acts on behalf of holders, described below under "—Events of Default."

        2.     The trustee performs administrative duties for us, such as sending interest payments and notices to holders, and transferring a holder's debt securities to a new buyer if a holder sells.

        The indentures and their associated documents contain the full legal text of the matters described in this section. The indentures and the debt securities are governed by New York law. A copy of each indenture is an exhibit to our registration statement. See "Where You Can Find More Information" below for information on how to obtain a copy.

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General

        We may issue as many distinct series of debt securities under any of the indentures as we wish. The provisions of the senior debt indenture, the senior subordinated debt indenture and junior subordinated debt indenture allow us not only to issue debt securities with terms different from those previously issued under the applicable indenture, but also to "reopen" a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series. We may issue debt securities in amounts that exceed the total amount specified on the cover of your prospectus supplement at any time without your consent and without notifying you. In addition, we may offer debt securities, together in the form of units with other debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and preferred stock or common stock, as described below under "Description of Units We May Offer."

        This section summarizes the material terms of the debt securities that are common to all series, although the applicable prospectus supplement which describes the terms of each series of debt securities may also describe differences from the material terms summarized here.

        Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of the indenture, including definitions of certain terms used in the indenture. In this summary, we describe the meaning of only some of the more important terms. For your convenience, we also include references in parentheses to certain sections of the indenture. Whenever we refer to particular sections or defined terms of the indenture in this prospectus or in the applicable prospectus supplement, such sections or defined terms are incorporated by reference here or in the applicable prospectus supplement. You must look to the indenture for the most complete description of what we describe in summary form in this prospectus.

        This summary also is subject to and qualified by reference to the description of the particular terms of your series of debt securities described in the prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement relating to each series of debt securities will be attached to the front of this prospectus. There may also be a further supplement, known as a pricing supplement, which contains the precise terms of debt securities you are offered. In addition, we may also incorporate additional information concerning the debt securities by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. See the section entitled "Where You Can Find More Information."

        We may issue the debt securities as original issue discount securities, which may be offered and sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount. (Section 3.01) The prospectus supplement relating to the original issue discount securities will describe federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to them. The debt securities may also be issued as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign currencies or currency units, as described in more detail in the prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt securities will also describe certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt securities.

        In addition, the specific financial, legal and other terms particular to a series of debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and, if applicable, a pricing supplement relating to the series. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities will describe the following terms of the series:

•

the title of the series of debt securities;



•

whether it is a series of senior debt securities or a series of subordinated debt securities;



•

any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the series of debt securities;



•

the date or dates on which the series of debt securities will mature;

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•

the person to whom interest on a debt security is payable, if other than the holder on the regular record date;



•

the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable per annum, at which the series of debt securities will bear interest, if any, and the date or dates from which that interest, if any, will accrue;



•

the place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities is payable;



•

the dates on which interest, if any, on the series of debt securities will be payable and the regular record dates for the interest payment dates;



•

the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the series of debt securities may, in accordance with any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed and the other detailed terms and provisions of those optional or mandatory redemption provisions, if any;



•

any mandatory or optional sinking funds or similar provisions or provisions for redemption of the debt securities at our option;



•

if the debt securities may be converted into or exercised or exchanged for our common stock or preferred stock or other of our securities or the debt or equity securities of third parties, the terms on which conversion, exercise or exchange may occur, including whether conversion, exercise or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, the period during which conversion, exercise or exchange may occur, the initial conversion, exercise or exchange price or rate and the circumstances or manner in which the amount of common stock or preferred stock or other securities or the debt or equity securities of third parties issuable upon conversion, exercise or exchange may be adjusted;



•

if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples in excess thereof, the denominations in which the series of debt securities will be issuable;



•

the currency of payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the series of debt securities;



•

if the currency of payment for principal, premium, if any, and interest on the series of debt securities is subject to our election or that of a holder, the currency or currencies in which payment can be made and the period within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election can be made;



•

if a trustee other than U.S. Bank National Association is named for the debt securities, the name of such trustee;



•

any index used to determine the amount of payment of principal or premium, if any, and interest on the series of debt securities;



•

the applicability of the provisions described under "—Defeasance" below;



•

any event of default under the series of debt securities if different from those described under "—Events of Default" below;



•

if the debt securities will be issued in bearer form, any special provisions relating to bearer securities that are not addressed in this prospectus;



•

if the series of debt securities will be issuable only in the form of a global security, the depositary or its nominee with respect to the series of debt securities and the circumstances under which the global security may be registered for transfer or exchange in the name of a person other than the depositary or the nominee;

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•

a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations; and



•

any other special feature of the series of debt securities.

Overview of Remainder of this Description

        The remainder of this description summarizes:

•

Additional Mechanics relevant to the debt securities under normal circumstances, such as how holders transfer ownership and where we make payments;



•

Holders' rights in several Special Situations, such as if we merge with another company or if we want to change a term of the debt securities;



•

Subordination Provisions in the senior subordinated debt indenture and the junior subordinated debt indenture that may prohibit us from making payment on those securities;



•

Our right to release ourselves from all or some of our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture by a process called Defeasance; and



•

Holders' rights if we Default or experience other financial difficulties.

Additional Mechanics

Form, Exchange and Transfer

        Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued:

•

only in fully registered form;



•

without interest coupons; and



•

in denominations that are even multiples of $1,000. (Section 3.02)

        Holders may have their debt securities broken into more debt securities of smaller denominations of not less than $1,000 or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed. (Section 3.05) This is called an exchange.

        Holders may exchange or transfer debt securities at the office of the trustee. They may also replace lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities at that office. The trustee acts as our agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders and transferring debt securities. We may change this appointment to another entity or perform it ourselves. The entity performing the role of maintaining the list of registered holders is called the security registrar. It will also perform transfers. (Section 3.05) The trustee's agent may require an indemnity before replacing any debt securities.

        Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange debt securities, but holders may be required to pay for any tax or other governmental charge associated with the exchange or transfer. The transfer or exchange will only be made if the security registrar is satisfied with your proof of ownership.

        If we designate additional transfer agents, they will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may cancel the designation of any particular transfer agent. We may also approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts. (Section 12.02)

        If the debt securities are redeemable, we may block the transfer or exchange of debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of debt securities selected for redemption, except that we will

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continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security being partially redeemed. (Section 3.05)

        The rules for exchange described above apply to exchange of debt securities for other debt securities of the same series and kind. If a debt security is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into or for a different kind of security, such as one that we have not issued, or for other property, the rules governing that type of conversion, exercise or exchange will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Global Securities

        The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with or on behalf of a depositary identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Global securities will be issued in registered form and may be in either temporary or permanent form.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to that series of debt securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

        Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, global securities to be deposited with or on behalf of a depositary will be registered in the name of that depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary for that global security will credit the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by such global security to the participants that have accounts with that depositary or its nominee. Ownership of beneficial interests in those global securities will be limited to participants in the depositary or persons that may hold interests through these participants.

        A participant's ownership of beneficial interests in these global securities will be shown on the records maintained by the depositary or its nominee. The transfer of a participant's beneficial interest will only be effected through these records. A person whose ownership of beneficial interests in these global securities is held through a participant will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest within that participant will be effected only through, records maintained by the participant. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Limits and laws of this nature may impair your ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

        Except as set forth below and in the applicable indenture, owners of beneficial interests in the global security will not be entitled to receive debt securities of the series represented by that global security in definitive form and will not be considered to be the owners or holders of those debt securities under the global security. Because the depositary can act only on behalf of participants, which in turn act on behalf of indirect participants, the ability of beneficial owners of interests in a global security to pledge such interests to persons or entities that do not participate in the depositary system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing such interests. No beneficial owner of an interest in the global security will be able to transfer that interest except in accordance with the depositary's applicable procedures, in addition to those provided for under the applicable indenture and, if applicable, those of Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, Clearstream Banking S.A. and/or any other relevant clearing system.

        We will make payment of principal of, premium, if any, and any interest on global securities to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner or the holder of the global security. None of us, the trustee, any paying agent or the securities registrar for those debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or payments made on

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account of, beneficial ownership interests in a global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests. (Section 3.09)

        We expect that the depositary for a permanent global security, upon receipt of any payment in respect of a permanent global security, will immediately credit participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of that global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security held through those participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of those participants.

        We may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have any debt securities represented by one or more global securities. In such event, we will issue debt securities in definitive form in exchange for all of the global securities representing such debt securities. (Section 3.05)

        If set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security may, on terms acceptable to us and the depositary, receive debt securities of that series in definitive form. In that event, an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security will be entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of debt securities of the series represented by that global security equal in principal amount to that beneficial interest and to have those debt securities registered in its name.

Registered and Bearer Securities

        Registered securities may be exchangeable for other debt securities of the same series, registered in the same name, for the same aggregate principal amount in authorized denominations and will be transferable at any time or from time to time at the office of the trustee. The holder will not pay a service charge for any such exchange or transfer except for any tax or governmental charge incidental thereto. (Section 3.05) If permitted by applicable laws and regulations, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms upon which registered securities may be exchanged for bearer securities of the series. If any bearer securities are issued, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of bearer securities and the terms upon which bearer securities may be exchanged for registered securities of the same series will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Payment and Paying Agents

        We will pay interest to the person listed in the trustee's records at the close of business on a particular day in advance of each due date for interest, even if that person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. Except as otherwise may be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the record date will be the last day of the calendar month preceding an interest due date if such interest due date is the fifteenth day of the calendar month and will be the fifteenth day of the calendar month preceding an interest due date if such interest due date is the first day of the calendar month. (Section 3.08) Holders buying and selling debt securities must work out between them how to compensate for the fact that we will pay all the interest for an interest period to the registered holder on the regular record date. The most common manner is to adjust the sale price of the securities to pro-rate interest fairly between buyer and seller. This prorated interest amount is called accrued interest.

        We will pay interest, principal and any other money due on the debt securities at the corporate trust office of the trustee. That office is currently located at 60 Livingston Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55107. Holders must make arrangements to have their payments picked up at or wired from that office. We may also choose to pay interest by mailing checks.

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BOOK-ENTRY AND OTHER INDIRECT HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR BANKS, BROKERS OR OTHER FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS FOR INFORMATION ON HOW THEY WILL RECEIVE PAYMENTS.

        We may also arrange for additional payment offices and may cancel or change these offices, including our use of the trustee's corporate trust office. These offices are called paying agents. We may also choose to act as our own paying agent or choose one of our subsidiaries to do so. We must notify the trustee of any changes in the paying agents for any particular series of debt securities. (Section 12.02)

Notices

        We and the trustee will send notices regarding the debt securities only to holders, using their addresses as listed in the trustee's records. (Section 1.06) With respect to who is a legal "holder" for this purpose, see "Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance."

        Regardless of who acts as paying agent, all money paid by us to a paying agent that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after the amount is due to holders will be repaid to us. After that two-year period, holders may look to us for payment and not to the trustee or any other paying agent. (Section 6.05)

Special Situations

Mergers and Similar Events

        We are generally permitted to consolidate or merge with another company or firm. We are also permitted to sell or lease substantially all of our assets to another company or firm. However, when we merge out of existence or sell or lease substantially all of our assets, we may not take any of these actions unless all the following conditions are met:

•

the other entity may not be organized under a foreign country's laws; that is, it must be organized under the laws of a state of the United States or the District of Columbia or under federal law, and it must agree to be legally responsible for the debt securities;



•

after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default under the applicable indenture, and no event that, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default, will have occurred and be continuing unless the merger or other transactions would cure the default; and



•

we must have delivered certain certificates and opinions to the trustee.

        If the conditions described above are satisfied with respect to any series of debt securities, we will not need to obtain the approval of the holders of those debt securities in order to merge or consolidate or to sell our assets. Also, these conditions will apply only if we wish to merge or consolidate with another entity or sell substantially all of our assets to another entity. We will not need to satisfy these conditions if we enter into other types of transactions, including any transaction in which we acquire the stock or assets of another entity, any transaction that involves a change of control but in which we do not merge or consolidate, any transaction in which we sell less than substantially all of our assets and any merger or consolidation in which we are the surviving corporation. (Section 10.01) It is possible that these types of transactions may result in a reduction in our credit rating, may reduce our operating results or may impair our financial condition. Holders of our debt securities, however, will have no approval right with respect to any of these transactions.

Modification and Waiver of the Debt Securities

        We may modify or amend the applicable indenture without the consent of the holders of any of our outstanding debt securities for various enumerated purposes, including the naming, by a

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supplemental indenture, of a trustee other than U.S. Bank National Association, for a series of debt securities. We may modify or amend the applicable indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each series affected by the modification or amendment. However, no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each affected debt security:

•

modify the terms of payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest;



•

reduce the stated percentage of holders of debt securities necessary to modify or amend the applicable indenture or waive our compliance with certain provisions of the applicable indenture and certain defaults thereunder; or



•

modify the subordination provisions of the senior subordinated debt indenture or the junior subordinated debt indenture in a manner adverse to such holders.

Subordination Provisions

        Holders of subordinated debt securities should recognize that contractual provisions in the senior subordinated debt indenture and in the junior subordinated debt indenture may prohibit us from making payments on those securities. Senior subordinated debt securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner stated in the senior subordinated debt indenture or any supplement thereto, to all of our senior indebtedness, as defined in the senior subordinated debt indenture, including all debt securities we have issued and will issue under the senior debt indenture. Junior subordinated debt securities are subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner stated in the junior subordinated debt indenture or any supplement thereto, to all of our senior indebtedness, as defined in the junior subordinated debt indenture, including all debt securities we have issued and will issue under the senior debt indenture or any supplement thereto and under the senior subordinated debt indenture or any supplement thereto.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the senior subordinated and junior subordinated indentures define the term "senior indebtedness" with respect to each respective series of senior subordinated and junior subordinated debt securities, to mean the principal, premium, if any, and interest on all indebtedness and obligations of, or guaranteed or assumed by, Ameriprise, whether outstanding on the date of the issuance of subordinated debt securities or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed and all amendments, modifications, renewals, extensions, deferrals and refundings of any such indebtedness unless the instrument creating such indebtedness or obligations provides that they are subordinated or are not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities. In the case of the junior subordinated indenture, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, senior indebtedness includes all senior subordinated debt securities issued under the senior subordinated indenture. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the foregoing, senior indebtedness will not include (A) any obligation of ours to any of our subsidiaries, (B) any liability for Federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by us or our subsidiaries, (C) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities), or (D) any obligations with respect to any of our capital stock.

        Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may not pay principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any subordinated debt securities or defease, purchase, redeem or otherwise retire such securities if:

•

a default in the payment of any principal, or premium, if any, or interest on any senior indebtedness occurs and is continuing or any other amount owing in respect of any senior indebtedness is not paid when due; or

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•

any other default occurs with respect to any senior indebtedness and the maturity of such senior indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms,

unless and until such default in payment or event of default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration is rescinded or such senior indebtedness has been paid in full in cash. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the foregoing limitations will also apply to payments in respect of the junior subordinated debt securities in the case of an event of default under the senior subordinated debt securities.

        If there is any payment or distribution of our assets to creditors upon a total or partial liquidation or a total or partial dissolution or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding, holders of all present and future senior indebtedness (which will include interest accruing after, or which would accrue but for, the commencement of any bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding) are entitled to receive payment in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, in respect of the subordinated indebtedness. In addition, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, in any such event, payments or distributions which would otherwise be made on senior subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities will generally be paid to the holders of senior indebtedness, or their representatives, in accordance with the priorities existing among these creditors at that time until the senior indebtedness is paid in full.

        After payment in full of all present and future senior indebtedness, holders of subordinated debt securities will be subrogated to the rights of any holders of senior indebtedness to receive any further payments or distributions that are applicable to the senior indebtedness until all the subordinated debt securities are paid in full.

        The senior subordinated and junior subordinated indentures provide that the foregoing subordination provisions may not be changed in a manner which would be adverse to the holders of senior indebtedness without the consent of the holders of such senior indebtedness.

        The prospectus supplement delivered in connection with the offering of a series of senior subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities will set forth a more detailed description of the subordination provisions applicable to such debt securities.

        If the trustee under a subordinated debt indenture or any holders of the subordinated debt securities receive any payment or distribution that is prohibited under the subordination provisions, then the trustee or the holders will have to repay that money to the holders of the senior indebtedness.

        Even if the subordination provisions prevent us from making any payment when due on the subordinated debt securities of any series, we will be in default on our obligations under that series if we do not make the payment when due. This means that the trustee under the applicable subordinated debt indenture and the holders of that series can take action against us, but they will not receive any money until the claims of the holders of senior indebtedness have been fully satisfied.

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Defeasance

        The indenture permits us to be discharged from our obligations under the indenture and the debt securities if we comply with the following procedures. This discharge from our obligations is referred to in this prospectus as "defeasance." (Section 6.02)

        Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, if we deposit with the trustee sufficient cash and/or U.S. government securities to pay and discharge the principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, to the date of maturity of that series of debt securities, then from and after the ninety-first day following such deposit:

•

we will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on the debt securities of that series, and



•

our obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of that series will cease to be in effect.

        Following defeasance, holders of the applicable debt securities would be able to look only to the defeasance trust for payment of principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on their debt securities.

        Defeasance may be treated as a taxable exchange of the related debt securities for obligations of the trust or a direct interest in the money or U.S. government securities held in the trust. In that case, holders of debt securities would recognize gain or loss as if the trust obligations or the money or U.S. government securities held in the trust, as the case may be, had actually been received by the holders in exchange for their debt securities. Holders thereafter might be required to include as income a different amount of income than in the absence of defeasance. We urge prospective investors to consult their own tax advisors as to the specific tax consequences of defeasance.

Events Of Default

        The indenture provides holders of debt securities with remedies if we fail to perform specific obligations, such as making payments on the debt securities. You should review these provisions carefully in order to understand what constitutes an event of default under the indenture.

        Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities under the indenture will be:

•

default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any debt security of such series at its maturity;



•

default in making a sinking fund payment, if any, on any debt security of such series when due and payable;



•

default for 30 days in the payment of any installment of interest on any debt security of such series;



•

default for 90 days after written notice in the observance or performance of any other covenant in the indenture;



•

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee for us or our property; and



•

any other event of default provided in or pursuant to the applicable resolution of our Board of Directors or supplemental indenture under which such series of debt securities is issued. (Section 7.01)

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        The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default with respect to such series, except in the payment of principal, premium or interest or in the payment of any sinking fund installment or analogous obligation, if it considers such withholding of notice in the interest of such holders. (Section 8.02)

        If an event of default with respect to any series of debt securities has occurred and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable immediately. (Section 7.02)

        The indenture contains a provision entitling the trustee to be indemnified by the holders before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the indenture at the request of any such holders. (Section 8.03) The indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of such series. (Section 7.12) The right of a holder to institute a proceeding with respect to the indenture is subject to certain conditions precedent, including notice and indemnity to the trustee. However, the holder has an absolute right to the receipt of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of any series on the respective stated maturities, as defined in the indenture, and to institute suit for the enforcement of these rights. (Sections 7.07 and 7.08)

        The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of such series waive any past defaults. However, each holder of a debt security affected by a default must consent to a waiver of:

•

a default in payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any debt security of such series;



•

a default in the payment of any sinking fund installment or analogous obligation with respect to the debt securities of such series; and



•

a default in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be amended or modified without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected. (Section 7.13)

        We will furnish to the trustee annual statements as to the fulfillment of our obligations under the indenture. (Sections 9.04 and 12.05)

Our Relationship with the Trustee

        Affiliates of U.S. Bank National Association, the current trustee under the indentures, may provide banking and corporate trust services to us and extend credit to us and many of our subsidiaries worldwide. The trustee may act as a depository of our funds and hold our common shares for the benefit of its customers, including customers over whose accounts the trustee has discretionary authority. If a bank or trust company other than U.S. Bank National Association is to act as trustee for a series of senior, senior subordinated or junior subordinated debt securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will provide information concerning that other trustee.

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS WE MAY OFFER

        We may issue warrants to purchase debt securities, preferred stock, common stock or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may be issued by us independently or together with any other securities and may be attached or separate from such securities. We may issue each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. If we designate a warrant agent, such warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any warrants that we may offer, including the following:

•

the title of the warrants;



•

the total number of warrants;



•

the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;



•

if applicable, the currency or currencies investors may use to pay for the warrants;



•

the securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing, to be delivered to warrantholders upon exercise of the warrants;



•

if applicable, the price at which and the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which investors may purchase the underlying securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;



•

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire;



•

whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form;



•

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;



•

if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants which may be exercised at any one time;



•

if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each underlying security;



•

if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related underlying securities will be separately transferable;



•

if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal income tax considerations;



•

the identity of the warrant agent, if any;



•

the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants; and



•

any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

        No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agent will be required to qualify as a trustee under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their warrants.

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DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS WE MAY OFFER

        We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:

•

shares of our common stock or preferred stock or our debt securities, or debt or equity securities of third parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities or any combination of the above as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement;



•

currencies; or



•

commodities.

Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any purchase contracts that we may offer, including the following:

•

whether the purchase contracts obligate the holder to purchase or sell, or both purchase and sell, securities, currencies or commodities, as applicable, and the nature and amount of each of those securities, currencies or commodities, or the method of determining those amounts;



•

whether the purchase contracts are to be prepaid and whether holders thereof are required to secure their obligations in a specified manner;



•

whether we may satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies;



•

the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities;



•

whether the purchase contracts require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and whether those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis;



•

any acceleration, cancellation, termination or other provisions relating to the settlement of the purchase contracts; and



•

whether the purchase contracts will be issued in fully registered or global form.

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS WE MAY OFFER

        We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

        The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any units that we may offer, including the following:

•

the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;



•

any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units, any unit agreement governing the units or of the securities comprising the units; and



•

whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK WE MAY OFFER

        In this section, references to "holders" mean those who own shares of preferred stock or depositary shares, as the case may be, registered in their own names, on the books that the registrar or we maintain for this purpose, and not those who own beneficial interests in shares registered in street name or in shares issued in book-entry form through one or more depositaries. When we refer to "you" in this section, we mean all purchasers of preferred stock or depositary shares being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities. Owners of beneficial interests in shares of preferred stock or depositary shares should read the section below entitled "Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance."

General

        We may issue preferred stock in one or more series. We may also "reopen" a previously issued series of preferred stock and issue additional preferred stock of that series. In addition, we may issue preferred stock together with other preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts and common stock in the form of units as described above under "Description of Units We May Offer." This section summarizes terms of the preferred stock that apply generally to all series. The description of most of the financial and other specific terms of your series will be in your prospectus supplement. Those terms may vary from the terms described in this prospectus.

        Because this section is a summary, it does not describe every aspect of the preferred stock and any related depositary shares. As you read this section, please remember that the specific terms of your series of preferred stock and any related depositary shares as described in your prospectus supplement will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section. If there are differences between your prospectus supplement and this prospectus, your prospectus supplement will control. Thus, the statements we make in this section may not apply to your series of preferred stock or any related depositary shares.

        Reference to a series of preferred stock means all of the shares of preferred stock issued as part of the same series under a certificate of designations forming part of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Reference to your prospectus supplement means the prospectus supplement describing the specific terms of the preferred stock and any related depositary shares you purchase. The terms used in your prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.

        Our authorized capital stock includes 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01 per share. The preferred stock will be governed by Delaware law. We do not have any preferred stock outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. The prospectus supplement with respect to any offered preferred stock will describe any preferred stock that may be outstanding as of the date of the prospectus supplement.

Preferred Stock Issued in Separate Series

        The authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock are available for issuance from time to time at the discretion of our board of directors without the need for shareholder approval. Our board of directors is authorized to divide the preferred stock into series and, with respect to each series, to determine the designations, the powers, preferences and rights and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions of the series, including:

•

dividend rights;



•

conversion or exchange rights;



•

voting rights;

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•

redemption rights and terms;



•

liquidation preferences;



•

sinking fund provisions;



•

the serial designation of the series; and



•

the number of shares constituting the series.

        In addition, as described below under "—Fractional or Multiple Shares of Preferred Stock Issued as Depositary Shares," we may, at our option, instead of offering whole individual shares of any series of preferred stock, offer fractional shares of such series. In connection with the offering of fractional shares, we may offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts, each representing a fraction of a share or some multiple of shares of the particular series of preferred stock issued and deposited with a depositary. The fraction of a share or multiple of shares of preferred stock which each depositary share represents will be stated in the prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock offered through depositary shares.

        The rights of holders of preferred stock may be adversely affected by the rights of holders of preferred stock that may be issued in the future. Our board of directors may cause shares of preferred stock to be issued in public or private transactions for any proper corporate purpose. Examples of proper corporate purposes include issuances to obtain additional financing for acquisitions and issuances to officers, directors and employees under their respective benefit plans. Our issuance of shares of preferred stock may have the effect of discouraging or making more difficult an acquisition.

        Preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable when issued, which means that our holders will have paid their purchase price in full and that we may not ask them to surrender additional funds. Unless otherwise provided in your prospectus supplement, holders of preferred stock will not have preemptive or subscription rights to acquire more stock of Ameriprise.

        The transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent and redemption agent for shares of each series of preferred stock will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to that series.

Form of Preferred Stock and Depositary Shares

        We may issue preferred stock in book-entry form. Preferred stock in book-entry form will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary, which will be the holder of all the shares of preferred stock represented by the global security. Those who own beneficial interests in shares of preferred stock will do so through participants in the depositary's system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depositary and its participants. However, beneficial owners of any preferred stock in book-entry form will have the right to obtain their shares in non-global form. We describe book-entry securities below under "Legal Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance." All preferred stock will be issued in registered form.

        We will issue depositary shares in book-entry form, to the same extent as we describe above for preferred stock. All depositary shares will be issued in registered form.

Overview of Remainder of this Description

        The remainder of this description summarizes:

•

Preferred Stockholders' Rights relative to common stockholders, such as the right of preferred stockholders to receive dividends and amounts on our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up before any such amounts may be paid to our common stockholders;

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•

Our ability to issue Fractional or Multiple Shares of Preferred Stock in the Form of Depositary Shares; and



•

Various provisions of the Deposit Agreement, including how distributions are made, how holders vote their depositary shares and how we may amend the Deposit Agreement.

Preferred Stockholders' Rights

Rank

        Shares of each series of preferred stock will rank senior to our common stock with respect to dividends and distributions of assets. However, we will generally be able to pay dividends and distributions of assets to holders of our preferred stock only if we have satisfied our obligations on our indebtedness then due and payable.

Dividends

        Holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive cash dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors, from funds legally available for the payment of dividends. The rates and dates of payment of dividends for each series of preferred stock will be stated in your prospectus supplement. Dividends will be payable to holders of record of preferred stock as they appear on our books on the record dates fixed by our board of directors.

        We are incorporated in Delaware and are governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Delaware law allows a corporation to pay dividends only out of surplus, as determined under Delaware law, or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend was declared and for the preceding fiscal year. However, under Delaware law, we cannot pay dividends out of net profits if, after we pay the dividend, our capital would be less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of our assets.

        Dividends on any series of preferred stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as set forth in your prospectus supplement.

Redemption

        If specified in your prospectus supplement, a series of preferred stock may be redeemable at any time, in whole or in part, at our option or the holder's, and may be redeemed mandatorily.

        Any restriction on the repurchase or redemption by us of our preferred stock while there is an arrearage in the payment of dividends will be described in your prospectus supplement.

        Any partial redemptions of preferred stock will be made in a way that our board of directors decides is equitable.

        Unless we default in the payment of the redemption price, dividends will cease to accrue after the redemption date on shares of preferred stock called for redemption and all rights of holders of these shares, including voting rights, will terminate except for the right to receive the redemption price.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

        Your prospectus supplement relating to any series of preferred stock that is convertible, exercisable or exchangeable will state the terms on which shares of that series are convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of common stock, another series of preferred stock or other securities or debt or equity securities of third parties.

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Liquidation Preference

        Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Ameriprise, holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive distributions upon liquidation in the amount described in your prospectus supplement, plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends. These distributions will be made before any distribution is made on our common stock. If the liquidation amounts payable relating to the preferred stock of any series and any other parity securities ranking on a parity regarding liquidation rights are not paid in full, the holders of the preferred stock of that series and the other parity securities will share in any distribution of our available assets on a ratable basis in proportion to the full liquidation preferences of each security. Holders of our preferred stock will not be entitled to any other amounts from us after they have received their full liquidation preference and accrued and unpaid dividends.

Voting Rights

        The holders of preferred stock of each series will have no voting rights, except:

•

as stated in the applicable prospectus supplement and in the certificate of designations establishing the series; or



•

as required by applicable law.

Fractional or Multiple Shares of Preferred Stock Issued as Depositary Shares

        We may choose to offer fractional shares or some multiple of shares of our preferred stock, rather than whole individual shares. If we decide to do so, we may issue the preferred stock in the form of depositary shares. Each depositary share would represent a fraction or multiple of a share of the preferred stock and would be evidenced by a depositary receipt.

Deposit Agreement

        We will deposit the shares of preferred stock to be represented by depositary shares under a deposit agreement. The parties to the deposit agreement will be:

•

Ameriprise;



•

a bank or other financial institution selected by us and named in the applicable prospectus supplement, as preferred stock depositary; and



•

the holders from time to time of depositary receipts issued under that deposit agreement.

        Each holder of a depositary share will be entitled to all the rights and preferences of the underlying preferred stock, including, where applicable, dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights, in proportion to the applicable fraction or multiple of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share. The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued under the deposit agreement. The depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional or multiple shares of preferred stock. A depositary receipt may evidence any number of whole depositary shares.

Dividends and Other Distributions

        The preferred stock depositary will distribute any cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the deposited preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to the underlying preferred stock in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders. The preferred stock depositary will distribute any property received by it other than cash to the record holders of depositary shares entitled to those distributions, unless it determines that the

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distribution cannot be made proportionally among those holders or that it is not feasible to make a distribution. In that event, the preferred stock depositary may, with our approval, sell the property and distribute the net proceeds from the sale to the holders of the depositary shares in proportion to the number of depositary shares they own.

        The amounts distributed to holders of depositary shares will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by the preferred stock depositary or by us on account of taxes or other governmental charges.

Redemption of Preferred Stock

        If we redeem preferred stock represented by depositary shares, the preferred stock depositary will redeem the depositary shares from the proceeds it receives from the redemption. The preferred stock depositary will redeem the depositary shares at a price per share equal to the applicable fraction or multiple of the redemption price per share of preferred stock. Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will redeem as of the same date the number of depositary shares representing the redeemed shares of preferred stock. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the preferred stock depositary will select the depositary shares to be redeemed by lot or ratably or by any other equitable method it chooses.

        After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and all rights of the holders of those shares will cease, including voting rights, except the right to receive the amount payable and any other property to which the holders were entitled upon the redemption. To receive this amount or other property, the holders must surrender the depositary receipts evidencing their depositary shares to the preferred stock depositary. Any funds that we deposit with the preferred stock depositary for any depositary shares that the holders fail to redeem will be returned to us after a period of two years from the date we deposit the funds.

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

        Unless the related depositary shares have previously been called for redemption, any holder of depositary shares may receive the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by those depositary receipts after surrendering the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the preferred stock depositary, paying any taxes, charges and fees provided for in the deposit agreement and complying with any other requirement of the deposit agreement. Holders of depositary shares making these withdrawals will be entitled to receive whole shares of preferred stock, but holders of whole shares of preferred stock will not be entitled to deposit that preferred stock under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts for that preferred stock after withdrawal. If the depositary shares surrendered by the holder in connection with withdrawal exceed the number of depositary shares that represent the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the preferred stock depositary will deliver to that holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.

Voting Deposited Preferred Stock

        When the preferred stock depositary receives notice of any meeting at which the holders of any series of deposited preferred stock are entitled to vote, the preferred stock depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to the applicable series of preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may instruct the preferred stock depositary to vote the amount of the preferred stock represented by the holder's depositary shares. To the extent possible, the preferred stock depositary will vote the amount of the series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares in accordance with the instructions it receives. We will agree to take

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all reasonable actions that the preferred stock depositary determines are necessary to enable the preferred stock depositary to vote as instructed. If the preferred stock depositary does not receive specific instructions from the holders of any depositary shares representing a series of preferred stock, the preferred stock depositary will vote all shares of that series in proportion to the instructions received.

Conversion of Preferred Stock

        If the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the depositary shares provides that the deposited preferred stock is convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock of another series or other securities, or debt or equity securities of one or more third parties, our depositary shares, as such, will not be convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any securities. Rather, any holder of the depositary shares may surrender the related depositary receipts to the preferred stock depositary with written instructions to instruct us to cause conversion, exercise or exchange of our preferred stock represented by the depositary shares into or for whole shares of common stock, shares of another series of preferred stock or other securities or debt or equity securities of the relevant third party, as applicable. Upon receipt of those instructions and any amounts payable by the holder in connection with the conversion, exercise or exchange, we will cause the conversion, exercise or exchange using the same procedures as those provided for conversion, exercise or exchange of the deposited preferred stock. If only some of the depositary shares are to be converted, exercised or exchanged, a new depositary receipt or receipts will be issued for any depositary shares not to be converted, exercised or exchanged.

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

        We may amend the form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement at any time and from time to time by agreement with the preferred stock depositary.

        However, any amendment that imposes additional charges or materially and adversely alters any substantial existing right of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless the holders of at least a majority of the affected depositary shares then outstanding approve the amendment. We will make no amendment that impairs the right of any holder of depositary shares, as described above under "—Withdrawal of Preferred Stock," to receive shares of the related series of preferred stock and any money or other property represented by those depositary shares, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. Holders who retain or acquire their depositary receipts after an amendment becomes effective will be deemed to have agreed to the amendment and will be bound by the amended deposit agreement.

        The deposit agreement will automatically terminate if:

•

all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or converted or exchanged for any other securities into which they or the underlying preferred stock are convertible or exchangeable; or



•

a final distribution in respect of our preferred stock has been made to the holders of depositary shares in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Ameriprise.

        We may terminate the deposit agreement at any time, and the preferred stock depositary will give notice of that termination to the record holders of all outstanding depositary receipts not less than 30 days before the termination date. In that event, the preferred stock depositary will deliver or make available for delivery to holders of depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares, the number of whole or fractional shares of the related series of preferred stock as are represented by those depositary shares.

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Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary; Taxes and Other Governmental Charges

        We will pay the fees, charges and expenses of our preferred stock depositary provided in the deposit agreement. Holders of depositary receipts will pay any taxes and governmental charges and any charges provided in the deposit agreement to be payable by them, including a fee for the withdrawal of shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts. If the preferred stock depositary incurs fees, charges or expenses for which it is not otherwise liable at the election of a holder of a depositary receipt or other person, that holder or other person will be liable for those fees, charges and expenses.

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

        The preferred stock depositary may resign at any time by giving us notice, and we may remove or replace the preferred stock depositary at any time.

Reports to Holders

        We will deliver all required reports and communications to holders of the preferred stock to the preferred stock depositary, who will forward those reports and communications to the holders of depositary shares.

Limitation on Liability of the Preferred Stock Depositary

        The preferred stock depositary will not be liable if we are prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond our control in performing our obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the preferred stock depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of its duties under the agreement, and the preferred stock depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares, depositary receipts or shares of preferred stock unless satisfactory and reasonable protection from expenses and liability is furnished. This is called an indemnity. The preferred stock depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, upon information provided by holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and upon documents believed to be genuine.

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DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK WE MAY OFFER

        Our authorized capital stock includes 1,250,000,000 shares of common stock. As of April 20, 2012, there were 218,850,192 shares of common stock outstanding.

General

        All of the outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. Subject to the prior rights of the holders of shares of preferred stock that may be issued and outstanding, none of which are currently outstanding, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive:

•

dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends (subject to the limitations described below); and



•

in the event of dissolution of Ameriprise, to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities and satisfaction of the liquidation preferences, if any, of then outstanding shares of preferred stock, as provided in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

        As a holding company, our ability to pay dividends is affected by the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends to us. Applicable insurance laws restrict the payment of dividends that our insurance subsidiaries can pay to us.

        We are incorporated in Delaware and are governed by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Delaware law allows a corporation to pay dividends only out of surplus, as determined under Delaware law, or, if there is no surplus, out of net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend was declared and for the preceding fiscal year. However, under Delaware law, we cannot pay dividends out of net profits if, after we pay the dividend, our capital would be less than the capital represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the distribution of our assets.

        Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters presented to a vote at a shareholders meeting, including the election of directors. Holders of common stock have no cumulative voting rights or preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any additional shares of common stock or other securities and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions with respect to the common stock. Additional authorized shares of common stock may be issued without shareholder approval. Ameriprise common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "AMP." The transfer agent for the common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. Its address is P.O. Box 43078, Providence, RI 02940.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law

        Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law applies to us. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A "business combination" includes a merger, asset sale or a transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. An "interested stockholder" is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or, in certain cases, within the preceding three years, did own) 15% or more of the corporation's outstanding voting stock. Under Section 203, a business combination between us and an interested stockholder is prohibited unless it satisfies one of the following conditions:

•

before the stockholder became an interested stockholder, our board of directors must have approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;



•

on consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at

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the time the transaction commenced, excluding, for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding, shares owned by persons who are directors and officers; or

•

the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66²/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.

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LEGAL OWNERSHIP AND BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE

        In this section, we describe special considerations that will apply to securities issued in global—i.e., book-entry—form. First we describe the difference between legal ownership and indirect ownership of securities. Then we describe special provisions that apply to securities. The information in this section concerning DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be accurate, but we assume no responsibility for the accuracy thereof. We do not have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or any of their participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the rules and procedures governing their respective operations.

Who is the Legal Owner of a Registered Security?

        Each debt security, warrant, purchase contract, unit, share of preferred or common stock in registered form will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing such securities. We refer to those who have securities registered in their own names, on the books that we or the trustee, warrant agent or other agent maintain for this purpose, as the "holders" of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names as indirect owners of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect owners are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect owners.

Book-Entry Owners

        Unless otherwise noted in your prospectus supplement, we will issue each security in book-entry form only. This means securities will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary's book-entry system. These participating institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

        Under each indenture, warrant agreement, purchase contract, unit agreement or depositary agreement, only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities and we will make all payments on the securities, including deliveries of any property other than cash, to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.

        As a result, investors will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary's book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect owners, and not holders, of the securities.

Street Name Owners

        We may terminate an existing global security or issue securities initially in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in street name. Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.

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        For securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities and we will make all payments on those securities, including deliveries of any property other than cash, to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customary agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect owners, not holders, of those securities.

Legal Holders

        Our obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee under any indenture and the obligations, if any, of any warrant agents and unit agents and any other third parties employed by us or any of those agents, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect owner of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.

        For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for that payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect owners but does not do so. Similarly, if we want to obtain the approval of the holders for any purpose—for example, to amend the indenture for a series of debt securities or the warrants or the warrant agreement for a series of warrants or to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture—we would seek the approval only from the holders, and not the indirect owners, of the relevant securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect owners is up to the holders.

        When we refer to "you" in this prospectus, we mean all purchasers of the securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the holders or only indirect owners of those securities. When we refer to "your securities" in this prospectus, we mean the securities in which you will hold a direct or indirect interest.

Special Considerations for Indirect Owners

        If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

•

how it handles securities payments and notices;



•

whether it imposes fees or charges;



•

whether and how you can instruct it to exercise any rights or purchase or sell warrant property under a warrant or purchase contract property under a purchase contract or to exchange or convert a security for or into other property;



•

how it would handle a request for the holders' consent, if ever required;



•

how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and



•

if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary's rules and procedures will affect these matters.

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What is a Global Security?

        Unless otherwise noted in the applicable pricing supplement, we will issue each security in book-entry form only. Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of one or more financial institutions or clearing systems, or their nominees. A financial institution or clearing system that we select for any security for this purpose is called the "depositary" for that security. A security will usually have only one depositary but it may have more. Each series of securities will have one or more of the following as the depositaries:

•

The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, which is known as "DTC;"



•

Euroclear System, which is known as "Euroclear;"



•

Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg, which is known as "Clearstream;" and



•

any other clearing system or financial institution named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

        The depositaries named above may also be participants in one another's systems. Thus, for example, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, investors may hold beneficial interests in that security through Euroclear or Clearstream, as DTC participants. The depositary or depositaries for your securities will be named in your prospectus supplement; if none is named, the depositary will be DTC and the global security will be registered, at the request of DTC, in the name of Cede & Co.

        A global security may represent one or any other number of individual securities. Generally, all securities represented by the same global security will have the same terms. We may, however, issue a global security that represents multiple securities of the same kind, such as debt securities, that have different terms and are issued at different times. This kind of global security is called a master global security.

        A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under "—Holder's Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated." As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only indirect interests in a global security. Indirect interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect owner of an interest in the global security.

        If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. We describe the situations in which this can occur below under "—Holder's Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated." If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

Special Considerations for Global Securities

        As an indirect owner, an investor's rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the depositary and those of the investor's bank, broker, financial institution or other intermediary through which it holds its interest (e.g., Euroclear or Clearstream, if DTC is the depositary), as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize this type of investor or any intermediary as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

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        If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

•

An investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her own name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below;



•

An investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank, broker or other financial institution for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above under "—Who Is the Legal Owner of a Registered Security?";



•

An investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;



•

An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;



•

The depositary's policies will govern payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to an investor's interest in a global security, and those policies may change from time to time. We, the trustee and any warrant agents and unit agents will have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary's policies, actions or records of ownership interests in a global security. We, the trustee and any warrant agents and unit agents also do not supervise the depositary in any way;



•

The depositary may require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds and your bank, broker or other financial institution may require you to do so as well; and



•

Financial institutions that participate in the depositary's book-entry system and through which an investor holds its interest in the global securities, directly or indirectly, may also have their own policies affecting payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to the securities, and those policies may change from time to time. For example, if you hold an interest in a global security through Euroclear or Clearstream, when DTC is the depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream, as applicable, may require those who purchase and sell interests in that security through them to use immediately available funds and comply with other policies and procedures, including deadlines for giving instructions as to transactions that are to be effected on a particular day. There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the policies or actions or records of ownership interests of any of those intermediaries.

Holder's Option to Obtain a Non-Global Security; Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

        If we issue any series of securities in book-entry form but we choose to give the beneficial owners of that series the right to obtain non-global securities, any beneficial owner entitled to obtain non-global securities may do so by following the applicable procedures of the depositary, any transfer agent or registrar for that series and that owner's bank, broker or other financial institution through which that owner holds its beneficial interest in the securities. If you are entitled to request a non-global certificate and wish to do so, you will need to allow sufficient lead time to enable us or our agent to prepare the requested certificate.

        In addition, in a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-global form representing the securities it

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represented. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold the securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks, brokers or other financial institutions, to find out how to have their interests in a global security transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above under "—Who Is the Legal Owner of a Registered Security?"

        The special situations for termination of a global security are as follows:

•

if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 60 days;



•

if we notify the trustee, warrant agent or unit agent, as applicable, that we wish to terminate that global security; or



•

in the case of a global security representing debt securities or warrants issued under an indenture, if an event of default has occurred with regard to these debt securities or warrants and has not been cured or waived.

        If a global security is terminated, only the depositary, and not we, the trustee for any debt securities, the warrant agent for any warrants or the unit agent for any units, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the securities represented by the global security will be registered and, therefore, who will be the holders of those securities.

Considerations Relating to DTC

        DTC has informed us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that DTC participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among DTC participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in DTC participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. DTC participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations, and may include other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system also is available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to DTC and DTC participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com.

        Purchases of securities within the DTC system must be made by or through DTC participants, which will receive a credit for the securities on DTC's records. Transfers of ownership interests in the securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners.

        Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the securities are being redeemed, DTC will determine the amount of the interest of each direct participant to be redeemed in accordance with its then current procedures.

        We understand that, under existing industry practices, if we request holders of securities to take any action, then DTC would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to take that action and those participants would authorize the beneficial owners owning through those participants to take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of the beneficial owners owning through them.

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        Distribution payments on the securities will be made by the applicable trustee to DTC or its nominee. DTC's usual practice is to credit direct participants' account upon DTC's receipt of funds and corresponding detail information, on the payable date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such participants and not of DTC, the applicable trustee or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of distributions to DTC is the responsibility of the applicable trustee, and disbursements of such payments to the beneficial owners are the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

        DTC has advised us that the above information with respect to DTC has been provided to its participants and other members of the financial community for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind.

Considerations Relating to Euroclear and Clearstream

        Euroclear and Clearstream are securities clearance systems in Europe. Both systems clear and settle securities transactions between their participants through electronic, book-entry delivery of securities against payment.

        Euroclear and Clearstream may be depositaries for a global security. In addition, if DTC is the depositary for a global security, Euroclear and Clearstream may hold interests in the global security as participants in DTC.

        As long as any global security is held by Euroclear or Clearstream, as depositary, you may hold an interest in the global security only through an organization that participates, directly or indirectly, in Euroclear or Clearstream. If Euroclear or Clearstream is the depositary for a global security and there is no depositary in the United States, you will not be able to hold interests in that global security through any securities clearance system in the United States.

        Payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other matters relating to the securities made through Euroclear or Clearstream must comply with the rules and procedures of those systems. Those systems could change their rules and procedures at any time. We have no control over those systems or their participants and we take no responsibility for their activities. Transactions between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream, on one hand, and participants in DTC, on the other hand, when DTC is the depositary, would also be subject to DTC's rules and procedures.

Special Timing Considerations Relating to Transactions in Euroclear and Clearstream

        If the securities are cleared only through Euroclear and Clearstream (and not DTC), you will be able to make and receive through Euroclear and Clearstream payments, deliveries, transfers, exchanges, notices and other transactions involving any securities held through those systems only on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other financial institutions are open for business in the United States.

        In addition, because of time-zone differences, U.S. investors who hold their interests in the securities through these systems and wish to transfer their interests, or to receive or make a payment or delivery or exercise any other right with respect to their interests, on a particular day may find that the transaction will not be effected until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, as applicable. Thus, investors who wish to exercise rights that expire on a particular day may need to act before the expiration date. In addition, investors who hold their interests through both DTC and Euroclear or Clearstream may need to make special arrangements to finance any purchases or sales of their interests between the U.S. and European clearing systems, and those transactions may settle later than would be the case for transactions within one clearing system.

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CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO SECURITIES ISSUED IN BEARER FORM

        If we issue securities in bearer, rather than registered, form, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe all of the special terms and provisions of debt securities in bearer form and will address the special U.S. Federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of such debt securities (including any requirements and restrictions imposed by United States federal tax laws), and the extent to which those special terms and provisions are different from the terms and provisions which are described in this prospectus, which generally apply to debt securities in registered form, and will summarize provisions of the applicable indenture (or supplemental indenture) that relate specifically to bearer debt securities.

ERISA CONSIDERATIONS

        Each fiduciary of a pension, profit-sharing or other employee benefit plan to which Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") applies (a "plan"), should consider the fiduciary standards of ERISA in the context of the plan's particular circumstances before authorizing an investment in our securities. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary should consider whether the investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification requirements of ERISA and would be consistent with the documents and instruments governing the plan. When we use the term "holder" in this section, we are referring to a beneficial owner of the securities and not the record holder.

        Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") prohibit plans, as well as individual retirement accounts and Keogh plans to which Section 4975 of the Code applies (also "plans"), from engaging in specified transactions involving "plan assets" with persons who are "parties in interest" under ERISA or "disqualified persons" under the Code (collectively, "parties in interest") with respect to such plan. A violation of those "prohibited transaction" rules may result in an excise tax or other liabilities under ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code for such persons, unless statutory or administrative exemptive relief is available. Therefore, a fiduciary of a plan should also consider whether an investment in the securities might constitute or give rise to a prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code.

        Employee benefit plans that are governmental plans, as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA, certain church plans, as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA, and foreign plans, as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA, are not subject to the requirements of ERISA, or Section 4975 of the Code, but may be subject to other legal restrictions ("similar laws").

        We and our affiliates may each be considered a party in interest with respect to many plans. Special caution should be exercised, therefore, before our securities are purchased by a plan. In particular, the fiduciary of the plan should consider whether statutory or administrative exemptive relief is available. The U.S. Department of Labor has issued five prohibited transaction class exemptions ("PTCEs") that may provide exemptive relief for direct or indirect prohibited transactions resulting from the purchase or holding of the securities. Those class exemptions are:

•

PTCE 96-23, for specified transactions determined by in-house asset managers;



•

PTCE 95-60, for specified transactions involving insurance company general accounts;



•

PTCE 91-38, for specified transactions involving bank collective investment funds;



•

PTCE 90-1, for specified transactions involving insurance company separate accounts; and



•

PTCE 84-14, for specified transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers.

In addition, Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA provides an exemption for transactions between a plan and a person who is a party in interest (other than a fiduciary who has or exercises any discretionary

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authority or control with respect to investment of the plan assets involved in the transaction or renders investment advice with respect thereto) solely by reason of providing services to the plan (or by reason of a relationship to such a service provider), if in connection with the transaction the plan receives no less, nor pays no more, than "adequate consideration" (within the meaning of Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA). The foregoing list of exemptions is not exhaustive. Other statutory or administrative class exemptions may be applicable. In addition, a purchaser or holder may obtain an individual administrative exemption.

        Any purchaser or holder of the securities will be deemed to have represented by its purchase and holding that either:

•

no portion of the assets used by such purchaser or holder to acquire or purchase the securities constitutes assets of any plan or plan subject to similar law; or



•

the purchase and holding of the securities by such purchaser or holder will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or similar violation under similar law.

        Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or other persons considering purchasing the securities on behalf of or with "plan assets" of any plan consult with their counsel regarding the potential consequences under ERISA and the Code of the acquisition of the securities and the availability of exemptive relief under PTCE 96-23, 95-60, 91-38, 90-1 or 84-14 or another applicable statutory or administrative exemption.

        Purchasers of the securities have the exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their purchase and holding of the securities does not violate the prohibited transaction rules of ERISA, the Code or similar law and we are not advising any potential purchaser or holder of our securities to avail themselves of any exemption described in this prospectus or any other exemption that may be available under ERISA, the Code or any similar law.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION (CONFLICTS OF INTEREST)

Initial Offering and Sale of Securities

        We may sell securities:

•

to or through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters;



•

through one or more underwriters without a syndicate for them to offer and sell to the public;



•

through dealers or agents; and



•

to investors directly in negotiated sales or in competitively bid transactions.

        Any underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of any series of the securities will be named in the prospectus supplement. One or more of our subsidiaries may act as an underwriter or agent.

        The prospectus supplement for each series of securities will describe:

•

the terms of the offering of these securities, including the name or names of the agents or underwriters;



•

the public offering or purchase price;



•

any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to the agent or underwriters and all other items constituting underwriting compensation;



•

any discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers; and



•

other specific terms of the particular offering or sale.

        Only the agents or underwriters named in a prospectus supplement are agents or underwriters in connection with the securities being offered by that prospectus supplement.

        Underwriters, agents and dealers may be entitled, under agreements with us and/or our subsidiaries, to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933 and/or to contribution by us and/or our subsidiaries with respect to payments that the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make with respect to such liabilities.

        If we use underwriters in the sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account. The underwriters may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. Underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale are obligated to purchase all of those particular securities if any are purchased. This obligation is subject to certain conditions and may be modified in the prospectus supplement.

        If we use dealers in the sale of securities, we will sell the securities to them as principals. They may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. The dealers participating in any sale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to any sale of those securities.

        To the extent required, offerings of securities will be conducted in compliance with Rule 5110 of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority ("FINRA"). Any subsidiary of ours that participates in a particular offering of securities will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 5121 of the conduct rules of FINRA.

        Underwriters, dealers or agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.

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Market-Making Resales by Subsidiaries

        This prospectus may be used by our subsidiaries in connection with offers and sales of the securities in market-making transactions. In market-making transactions, our subsidiaries may resell securities they acquire from other holders, after the original offering and sale of the securities. Resales of this kind may occur in the open market or may be privately negotiated, at prevailing market prices at the time of resale or at related or negotiated prices. In these transactions, our subsidiaries may act as principal or agent. Our subsidiaries may receive compensation in the form of discounts and commissions from both the purchaser and seller.

Matters Relating to Initial Offering and Market-Making Resales

        Each series of securities will be a new issue, and there will be no established trading market for any security prior to its original issue date. We may not list a particular series of securities on a securities exchange or quotation system. Any underwriters to whom we sell securities for public offering may make a market in those securities. However, no such underwriter that makes a market is obligated to do so, and any of them may stop doing so at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity or trading market for any of the securities.

        During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, whereby selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if such offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, these activities may be discontinued at any time.

        Unless otherwise indicated in your prospectus supplement or confirmation of sale, the purchase price of the securities will be required to be paid in immediately available funds in New York City.

        In this prospectus, the term "this offering" means the initial offering of the securities made in connection with their original issuance. This term does not refer to any subsequent resales of securities in market-making transactions.

VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES

        John C. Junek, Esq., our Executive Vice President and General Counsel, will pass upon the validity of the securities for us. Mr. Junek is regularly employed by Ameriprise and participates in various Ameriprise employee benefit plans under which he may receive shares of Ameriprise common stock. As of April 20, 2012, Mr. Junek beneficially owned shares of our common stock having a fair market value of approximately $2,477,000, vested stock options having a value of approximately $4,811,000, and phantom share units in our Deferred Compensation Plan and Supplemental Retirement Plan having a value of approximately $586,000. In addition, Mr. Junek holds unvested options to purchase shares of our common stock under the Ameriprise Financial 2005 Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, which are not included in his benefically owned shares.

EXPERTS

        The consolidated financial statements of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. as of December 31, 2011 and for the year ended December 31, 2011 and management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) as of December 31, 2011 incorporated in this prospectus by reference to

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Ameriprise Financial, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report(s) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

        The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. as of December 31, 2010 and for each of the two years in the period then ended appearing in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and schedule are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We file annual, quarterly, and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference room at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. Please call the SEC at l-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. You can also access our SEC filings through our website at www.ameriprise.com.

        The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information that we incorporate by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus.

        Information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus or in any documents previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents:

        (a)   Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, filed on February 24, 2012 (including our 2011 Annual Report to Shareholders and our 2012 Proxy Statement to the extent incorporated by reference therein).

        (b)   Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 26, 2012.

        (c)   The information contained in the section entitled "Description of Capital Stock" in the Registration Statement on Form 10, as amended, filed on August 19, 2005, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

        (d)   All documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of the applicable offering.

        Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K.

        You may request a copy of these filings and any exhibit incorporated by reference in these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or number:

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
243 Ameriprise Financial Center
Minneapolis, MN 55474
(612) 671-1805
Attention: Investor Relations

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION
REFORM ACT OF 1995

        We have included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but instead represent only Ameriprise's belief regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of Ameriprise's control. It is possible that Ameriprise's actual results may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results indicated in these forward-looking statements.

        Information regarding important factors that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those in Ameriprise's forward-looking statements is contained under the caption "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Forward-Looking Statements" in Ameriprise's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, which is incorporated into this prospectus by reference. See "Where You Can Find More Information" above for information about how to obtain a copy of this annual report.

        No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities it describes, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is current only as of its date.

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$            

Ameriprise Financial, Inc.

% Senior Notes due 2024

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Barclays

HSBC

J.P. Morgan

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