XML 110 R84.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Derivative Instruments (Schedule of Call Options by Counterparty) (Details) (Call Options [Member], Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member], USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	$ 23,956,444invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount	$ 19,277,639invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Fair value	731,113us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset	856,050us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Bank of America [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	2,114,812invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBankOfAmericaMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	1,683,911invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBankOfAmericaMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	62,932us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBankOfAmericaMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	73,836us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBankOfAmericaMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Barclays [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	4,083,259invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBarclaysMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	2,396,839invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBarclaysMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	135,609us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBarclaysMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	113,513us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBarclaysMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
BNP Paribas [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	1,321,136invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBnpParibasMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	1,382,661invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBnpParibasMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	42,644us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBnpParibasMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	38,849us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyBnpParibasMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Citibank, N.A. [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	3,190,204invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyCitibankN.A.Member / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	1,536,547invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyCitibankN.A.Member / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	96,759us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyCitibankN.A.Member / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	72,310us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyCitibankN.A.Member / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Credit Suisse [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	2,354,811invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyCreditSuisseMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	4,060,352invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyCreditSuisseMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	75,381us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyCreditSuisseMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	193,304us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyCreditSuisseMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Deutsche Bank [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	2,682,960invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyDeutscheBankMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	747,587invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyDeutscheBankMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	64,028us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyDeutscheBankMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	41,074us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyDeutscheBankMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
HSBC [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	38,599invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyHsbcMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	200,011invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyHsbcMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	1,767us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyHsbcMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	10,518us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyHsbcMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
J.P. Morgan [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	401,804invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyJPMorganMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	786,429invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyJPMorganMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	13,488us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyJPMorganMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	36,863us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyJPMorganMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Morgan Stanley [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	2,605,687invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyMorganStanleyMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	3,546,487invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyMorganStanleyMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	77,106us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyMorganStanleyMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	150,437us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyMorganStanleyMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Royal Bank of Canada [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	1,364,362invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyRoyalBankofCanadaMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	714,941invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyRoyalBankofCanadaMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	41,717us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyRoyalBankofCanadaMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	25,140us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyRoyalBankofCanadaMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
SunTrust [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	248,622invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartySuntrustMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	0invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartySuntrustMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	5,405us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartySuntrustMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	0us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartySuntrustMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Wells Fargo [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional amount	3,550,188invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyWellsFargoMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	2,221,874invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyWellsFargoMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember
Fair value	$ 114,277us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyWellsFargoMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember	$ 100,206us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset / us-gaap_CounterpartyNameAxis = ael_DerivativeCounterpartyWellsFargoMember / us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis = us-gaap_CallOptionMember / us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis = us-gaap_NondesignatedMember

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

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- Definition

Fair value, before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset. Includes assets elected not to be offset. Excludes assets not subject to a master netting arrangement.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34720828&loc=SL20225862-175312



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4B

-Subparagraph (a),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35706170&loc=SL5624163-113959



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=36459792&loc=SL20226000-175313

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