XML 132 R105.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Subordinated Debentures (Summary of Subordinated Debt Obligations to the Trusts) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures	$ 246,243us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt		$ 246,050us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt
American Equity Capital Trust II [Member]
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures	76,633us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIiMember		76,440us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIiMember
Interest rate	5.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIiMember
Subordinated borrowing, due date	Jun. 01, 2047
American Equity Capital Trust III [Member]
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures	27,840us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIiiMember		27,840us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIiiMember
Description of variable rate basis	*LIBOR +	[1]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.90%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1 / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIiiMember
Subordinated borrowing, due date	Apr. 29, 2034
American Equity Capital Trust IV [Member]
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures	12,372us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIvMember		12,372us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIvMember
Description of variable rate basis	*LIBOR +	[1]
Basis spread on variable rate	4.00%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1 / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIvMember
Subordinated borrowing, due date	Jan. 08, 2034
American Equity Capital Trust VII [Member]
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures	10,830us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustViiMember		10,830us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustViiMember
Description of variable rate basis	*LIBOR +	[1]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1 / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustViiMember
Subordinated borrowing, due date	Dec. 14, 2034
American Equity Capital Trust VIII [Member]
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures	20,620us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustViiiMember		20,620us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustViiiMember
Description of variable rate basis	*LIBOR +	[1]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.75%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1 / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustViiiMember
Subordinated borrowing, due date	Dec. 15, 2034
American Equity Capital Trust IX [Member]
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures	15,470us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIxMember		15,470us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIxMember
Description of variable rate basis	*LIBOR +	[1]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.65%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1 / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustIxMember
Subordinated borrowing, due date	Jun. 15, 2035
American Equity Capital Trust X [Member]
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures	20,620us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustXMember		20,620us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustXMember
Description of variable rate basis	*LIBOR +	[1]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.65%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1 / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustXMember
Subordinated borrowing, due date	Sep. 15, 2035
American Equity Capital Trust XI [Member]
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures	20,620us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustXiMember		20,620us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustXiMember
Description of variable rate basis	*LIBOR +	[1]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.65%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1 / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustXiMember
Subordinated borrowing, due date	Dec. 15, 2035
American Equity Capital Trust XII [Member]
Subordinated Borrowing [Line Items]
Subordinated debentures	$ 41,238us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustXiiMember		$ 41,238us-gaap_SubordinatedDebt / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustXiiMember
Description of variable rate basis	*LIBOR +	[1]
Basis spread on variable rate	3.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1 / us-gaap_SubordinatedBorrowingAxis = ael_AmericanEquityCapitalTrustXiiMember
Subordinated borrowing, due date	Apr. 07, 2036
[1] three month London Interbank Offered Rate

X

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The reference rate for the variable rate of the debt instrument, such as LIBOR or the US Treasury rate and the maturity of the reference rate used, such as three months or six months LIBOR.

+ References

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- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

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- Definition

Date the payments are due on subordinated debt, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

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- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying value as of the balance sheet date of subordinated debt (with initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the operating cycle if longer). Subordinated debt places a lender in a lien position behind debt having a higher priority of repayment in liquidation of the entity's assets.

+ 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 210.9-03.16)

-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

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.16)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910



Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 10

-Section F



Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Article 5

-Subsection 19, 20, 22

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