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Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements (Deferred Sales Inducements) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Movement in Deferred Sales Inducements [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | $ 1,292,341 | $ 1,242,787 | $ 1,227,328
Costs deferred during the year | 337,787 | 306,659 | 385,123
Amortization | (253,113) | (87,157) | (71,781)
Effect of net unrealized gains/losses | 498,865 | (169,948) | (297,883)
Balance at end of year | $ 1,875,880 | $ 1,292,341 | $ 1,242,787

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- Definition Amount of amortization of deferred sales inducements due to unrealized investment gains or losses. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of deferred sales inducement costs capitalized during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 + Details
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- Definition The amount of deferred sales inducement costs charged against earnings during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 + Details
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- Definition The unamortized carrying amount of deferred sales inducement costs as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 + Details
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