XML 86 R98.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9

Notes Payable and Amounts Due Under Repurchase Agreements (Liability and Equity Components of Convertible Senior Notes) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
September 2015 Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of liability component	$ 22,377us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member	$ 91,951us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member
Unamortized discount	(698)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member	(6,623)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member
Net carrying amount of liability component	21,679us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member	85,328us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member
Amount by which the if-converted value exceeds principal	30,497us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleIfConvertedValueInExcessOfPrincipal / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member	104,403us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleIfConvertedValueInExcessOfPrincipal / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member
December 2029 Notes [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal amount of liability component		68,373us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2009Member
Unamortized discount		(3,743)us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2009Member
Net carrying amount of liability component		64,630us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2009Member
Carrying amount of equity component		15,586us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleCarryingAmountOfTheEquityComponent / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2009Member
Amount by which the if-converted value exceeds principal		$ 113,169us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleIfConvertedValueInExcessOfPrincipal / us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis = ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2009Member

X

- Definition

Including the current and noncurrent portions, carrying amount of debt identified as being convertible into another form of financial instrument (typically the entity's common stock) as of the balance sheet date, which originally required full repayment more than twelve months after issuance or greater than the normal operating cycle of the company.

+ 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(a)(2))

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



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 19, 20, 22

-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ConvertibleDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount of long-term debt before deduction of unamortized discount or premium. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, with initial maturities beyond one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 20

-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)

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



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 16

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The carrying amount of the equity component of convertible debt which may be settled in cash upon conversion.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6031897-161870

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleCarryingAmountOfTheEquityComponent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

The amount by which the convertible debt's if-converted value exceeds its principle amount at the balance sheet date, regardless of whether the instrument is currently convertible. This element applies to public companies only.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 470

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 5

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928298&loc=SL6031898-161870

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentConvertibleIfConvertedValueInExcessOfPrincipal
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

The amount of debt discount that was originally recognized at the issuance of the instrument that has yet to be amortized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1A

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28541-108399



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=34725769&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentUnamortizedDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2009Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ael_ConvertibleDebtIssuedIn2010Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: