XML 63 R16.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.6

Significant Accounting Policies Level 2 (Policies) | 9 Months Ended
--- | ---
Sep. 30, 2012
Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses, Policy or Methodology Change [Policy Text Block] | Our general loan loss allowance for periods through September 30, 2011 was calculated on the cumulative outstanding principal on loans making up the group of loans currently in workout terms and loans currently more than 60 days past due. We applied a factor to the total outstanding principal of these loans that was calculated as the average specific impairment loss for the most recent 4 quarters divided by the sum of the average of the total outstanding principal of delinquent loans for the most recent 4 quarters and the average of the total outstanding principal of loans in workout for the most recent 4 quarters. In the fourth quarter of 2011, we modified the calculation for determining our general loan loss allowance. The group of loans that we calculated an estimate of general loan loss allowance were those that had a debt service coverage ratio (DSCR) of less than 1.0. The DSCR is calculated by dividing the net operating income of the mortgaged property by the contractual principal and interest payment due for the corresponding period. We developed the loss rates to apply to this group of loans by dividing the specific impairment loss for the most recent 4 quarters by the principal outstanding of the loans with a DSCR of less than 1.0.
Loans and Leases Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring Policy [Policy Text Block] | A Troubled Debt Restructuring ("TDR") is a situation where we have granted a concession to a borrower for economic or legal reasons related to the borrower's financial difficulties that we would not otherwise consider. A mortgage loan that has been granted new terms, including workout terms as described previously, would be considered a TDR if it meets conditions that would indicate a borrower experiencing financial difficulty and the new terms constituting a concession on our part. We analyze all loans that we agree to workout terms and all loans that we have refinanced to determine if they meet the definition of a TDR. We consider the following factors in determining whether or not a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty:
• | borrower is in default,
• | borrower has declared bankruptcy,
• | there is growing concern about the borrower's ability to continue as a going concern,
• | borrower has insufficient cash flows to service debt,
• | borrower's inability to obtain funds from other sources, and
• | there is a breach of financial covenants by the borrower.
If the borrower is determined to be in financial difficulty, we consider the following conditions to determine if the borrower was granted a concession:
• | assets used to satisfy debt are less than our recorded investment,
• | interest rate is modified,
• | maturity date extension at an interest rate less than market rate,
• | capitalization of interest,
• | delaying principal and/or interest for a period of three months or more, and
• | partial forgiveness of the balance or charge-off.

X
- Details
Name: | ael_SignificantAccountingPoliciesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure of accounting policy for recognizing any changes to a creditor's accounting policies or methodology from the prior period and management's rationale for the change. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953423-111524 -Subparagraph (a)(3) + Details
Name: | us-gaap_FinancingReceivableAllowanceForCreditLossesPolicyOrMethodologyChangePolicyTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Disclosure of the accounting policy for loan agreements whose terms have been modified because of the inability of the borrower for financial reasons to comply with the terms of the original loan agreement. A creditor discloses material facts pertaining to significant modifications. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 15 -Paragraph 25 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy. Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367646&loc=d3e18780-107790 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 40 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/subtopic&trid=2196892 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableTroubledDebtRestructuringPolicy
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration