XML 43 R37.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v2.4.0.8

Investments (Changes in Net Unrealized Gains on Investments) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012 | Sep. 30, 2013 | Sep. 30, 2012
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Fixed maturity securities held for investment carried at amortized cost | $ (449) | $ (626) | $ (802) | $ (12,505)
Investments carried at fair value | (276,877) | 405,237 | (1,743,380) | 797,248
Adjustment for effect on other balance sheet accounts: |  |  |  |
Deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements | 152,944 | (201,676) | 938,637 | (405,006)
Deferred income tax asset/liability | 43,378 | (71,247) | 281,661 | (137,285)
Total adjustment for effect on other balance sheet accounts | 196,322 | (272,923) | 1,220,298 | (542,291)
Change in net unrealized gains on investments carried at fair value | (80,555) | 132,314 | (523,082) | 254,957
Fixed Maturity Securities [Member] |  |  |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Investments carried at fair value | (276,793) | 402,274 | (1,735,347) | 790,648
Equity Securities, Available For Sale [Member] |  |  |  |
Investment Holdings [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Investments carried at fair value | $ (84) | $ 2,963 | $ (8,033) | $ 6,600

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

X
- Definition Adjustments for Assumed Changes in Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements Due to Net Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available for Sale Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_AdjustmentsForAssumedChangesInAmortizationOfDeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsAndDeferredSalesInducements
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Change in Net Unrealized Gain or Loss, Fixed Maturity Securities, Held for Investment + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ChangeInNetUnrealizedGainOrLossFixedMaturitySecuritiesHeldForInvestment
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Represents the aggregate of the adjustments for the effect on other balance sheet accounts related to the pretax change in net unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities that has been included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity, during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ChangesNetUnrealizedGainsOrLossesForAdjustmentsInDeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsDeferredSalesInducementsDeferredTaxValuationAllowancesAndDeferredIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents the pretax change in net unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities that has been included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity, during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph d -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 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27357-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesChangeInNetUnrealizedHoldingGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The change in unrealized holding gain (loss), net of tax, on available-for-sale securities included in a separate component of shareholders' equity during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph d -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 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27357-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesChangeInNetUnrealizedHoldingGainLossNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This item represents the tax effects occurring during the period which are related to the net unrealized gain (loss) resulting from changes in the fair [carrying] value during the period of available-for-sale securities. Such tax affects would have been charged or credited directly to other comprehensive income or to related components of shareholders' equity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 13 -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 Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 115 -Paragraph 21 -Subparagraph d -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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 9 -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6872113&loc=d3e27357-111563 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 20 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18498875&loc=d3e39076-109324 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 109 -Paragraph 36 -Subparagraph b -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. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AvailableForSaleSecuritiesIncomeTaxExpenseOnChangeInUnrealizedHoldingGainOrLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentHoldingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration