XML 26 R47.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.6

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate Schedule of Financing Receivables Past Due (Details) (Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012 days	Dec. 31, 2011
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Line Items]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate, Past Due Period for Considering Loans as Delinquent	60
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, 30 to 59 Days Past Due	$ 0	$ 3,378
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, 60 to 89 Days Past Due	0	0
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Equal to Greater than 90 Days Past Due	0	6,595
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due	0	9,973
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Current	2,726,842	2,807,115
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate Collateral Dependent	36,019	38,923
Notes, Loans and Financing Receivable, Gross	$ 2,762,861	$ 2,856,011
Financing Receivables, Minimum Number of Days Past Due for Ceasing Accrual of Interest	90

X

- Definition

The minimum number of days on delinquent financing receivables at which point we cease accrual of interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_FinancingReceivablesMinimumNumberOfDaysPastDueForCeasingAccrualOfInterest
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Mortgage loans on real estate at the reporting date that are not performing and will probably be satisfied by taking ownership of the real estate serving as collateral.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCollateralDependent
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Represents the past due period after which mortgage loans are considered to be delinquent for reporting purposes.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePastDuePeriodForConsideringLoansAsDelinquent
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Financing receivables that are less than 60 days past due but more than 29 days past due.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment30To59DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Financing receivables that are less than 90 days past due but more than 59 days past due.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment60To89DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Financing receivables that are current.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Financing receivables that are equal to or greater than 90 days past due.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentEqualToGreaterThan90DaysPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Recorded Investment in financing receivables that are past due at the balance sheet date.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 7A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

For an unclassified balance sheet, an amount representing an agreement for an unconditional promise by the maker to pay the Company (holder) a definite sum of money at a future date(s). Such amount may include accrued interest receivable in accordance with the terms of the note. The note also may contain provisions and related items including a discount or premium, payable on demand, secured, or unsecured, interest bearing or noninterest bearing, among a myriad of other features and characteristics. This amount does not include amounts related to receivables held-for-sale.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.10(3))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 9

-Section 03

-Paragraph 10

-Subparagraph 3

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant