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Retirement and Share-based Compensation Plans (Share-based Compensation Expense By Plan) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
ESOP, compensation expense	$ 2,486us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPCompensationExpense	$ 3,464us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPCompensationExpense	$ 1,112us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPCompensationExpense
Compensation expense	4,581us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	5,442us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense	3,582us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
2009 Employee Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense	1,306us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_A2009EmployeeIncentivePlanMember	1,294us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_A2009EmployeeIncentivePlanMember	1,558us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_A2009EmployeeIncentivePlanMember
2013 Director Equity And Incentive Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense	603us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_A2013DirectorEquityAndIncentivePlanMember	380us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_A2013DirectorEquityAndIncentivePlanMember	0us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_A2013DirectorEquityAndIncentivePlanMember
2011 Director Stock Option Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense	$ 186us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_StockOptionPlans2011DirectorsStockOptionPlanMember	$ 304us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_StockOptionPlans2011DirectorsStockOptionPlanMember	$ 912us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense / us-gaap_PlanNameAxis = ael_StockOptionPlans2011DirectorsStockOptionPlanMember

X

- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 14

-Section F

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of plan compensation cost recognized during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418621&loc=d3e17540-113929

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

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- Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Period Type:	duration

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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=ael_A2013DirectorEquityAndIncentivePlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

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- Details

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Period Type: