Log in MENU Home About Riversource History Our History 1894 John Tappan, age 24, founds Investors Syndicate in Minneapolis, Minnesota. To provide financial solutions to Middle America and give smaller investors access to more benefits, Tappan introduces the Face Amount Certificate, an innovative and democratizing investment idea. 1907 The Panic of 1907 spreads through the country, bankrupts brokerage firms and prompts investors to pull their money out of banks. Unlike many institutions during the financial crisis, Investors Syndicate survives and keeps its clients' money working. 1929 The Great Depression lasts a decade. Thousands of financial institutions fail, countless people are left penniless. Meanwhile, Investor Syndicate pays out every dollar on its due date - a total of $101 million - to its clients. 1939 Investors Syndicate provides career opportunities for people from all walks of life. Former schoolteachers, beekeepers, housewives, waiters and secretaries join its ranks. 1949 Investors Syndicate renames itself Investors Diversified Services (henceforth called IDS) to more clearly indicate its growing range of products and services. In the next decade, IDS becomes the largest investment company in the US. 1957 IDS founds the Investors Syndicate Life Insurance and Annuity Company and offers life insurance to help protect and preserve the financial well-being of clients. The company is eventually renamed the IDS Life Insurance Company. 1973 Investors Syndicate Life Insurance and Annuity Company becomes IDS Life Insurance Company. 1984 American Express Company acquires IDS. 2005 American Express Financial Advisors is renamed Ameriprise Financial. The name Ameriprise is a blend of "American" and "Enterprise." Ameriprise Financial becomes an independent, publicly owned company with more than 12,000 advisors and registered representatives and more than 2.7 million individual, business and institutional clients. Ameriprise Financial announces the RiverSource brand. The brand includes insurance, annuities and investment products and is focused on growing and protecting client income through retirement. 2008 Global economic crisis drives broad stock market declines. When the independent Reserve Fund "breaks the buck" in one of its money market funds and freezes assets, Ameriprise Financial responds by advancing $700 million to help meet clients' immediate cash needs and developing extensive market volatility resources for advisors to help their clients. 2009 Financially healthy, Ameriprise Financial refuses TARP funding. Today As we did through the 2008-2009 financial crisis, RiverSource Life Insurance Company and RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York continue to maintain strong ratings from independent ratings agencies. Questions? We have answers. Whether you are a client, a financial advisor, or interested in what RiverSource has to offer, we can help you get started. Contact us Home Retirement and Protection Have Enough Money to Retire Grow My Money Tax Strategies Volatile Markets Protect What Matters Most Protect My Business Plan for Future Expenses Annuities Variable Annuities Optional Benefits Structured Annuities Immediate Annuities Servicing Forms Performance and Rates Annuities Shareholder Documents Insurance Life Insurance Term Life Insurance Universal Life Insurance Variable Universal Life Insurance Long-Term Care Insurance Disability Income Insurance Insurance Strategies Tax-Efficient Retirement Children's Insurance Estate Planning Wealth Transfer Performance and Rates Insurance Shareholder Documents About Us History Our Commitment Ratings and Rankings Leadership Contact Us Annuity Client Login Financial Professionals ANNUITIES AND INSURANCE NOT A DEPOSIT • NOT FDIC INSURED • NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY • NOT BANK, CREDIT UNION OR SAVINGS & LOAN GUARANTEED • VARIABLE PRODUCTS MAY LOSE VALUE Corporate Entities and Important Disclosures | Website Rules and Regulations | Internet Privacy Statement | About Email Fraud © 2021 RiverSource Life Insurance Company, Minneapolis, MN. All rights reserved. Users of this site agree to be bound by the terms of the RiverSource Website Rules and Regulations. This information is for a general audience and is not intended to address individual financial situations or needs. RiverSource Life Insurance Company/RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York does not provide investment advice. Annuity and insurance products are issued by RiverSource Life Insurance Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in New York only, by RiverSource Life Insurance Co. of New York, Albany, New York. Variable products are distributed by RiverSource Distributors Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, Member FINRA.