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Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (Mortgage Loan Portfolio Summarized by Geographic Region and Property Type) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 2,453,692us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate	$ 2,457,721us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
Percent	100.00%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans	100.00%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans
Office [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	457,690us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_OfficeBuildingMember	484,585us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_OfficeBuildingMember
Percent	18.70%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_OfficeBuildingMember	19.70%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_OfficeBuildingMember
Medical Office [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	87,104us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = ael_MortgageLoansMedicalOfficePropertyTypeMember	88,275us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = ael_MortgageLoansMedicalOfficePropertyTypeMember
Percent	3.50%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = ael_MortgageLoansMedicalOfficePropertyTypeMember	3.60%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = ael_MortgageLoansMedicalOfficePropertyTypeMember
Retail [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	712,473us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_RetailSiteMember	711,775us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_RetailSiteMember
Percent	29.00%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_RetailSiteMember	29.00%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_RetailSiteMember
Industrial/Warehouse [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	664,136us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = ael_MortgageLoansIndustrialAndWarehousePropertyTypeMember	649,425us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = ael_MortgageLoansIndustrialAndWarehousePropertyTypeMember
Percent	27.10%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = ael_MortgageLoansIndustrialAndWarehousePropertyTypeMember	26.40%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = ael_MortgageLoansIndustrialAndWarehousePropertyTypeMember
Hotel [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	22,519us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_HotelMember	30,640us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_HotelMember
Percent	0.90%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_HotelMember	1.30%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_HotelMember
Apartment [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	353,693us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_ApartmentBuildingMember	335,087us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_ApartmentBuildingMember
Percent	14.40%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_ApartmentBuildingMember	13.60%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_ApartmentBuildingMember
Mixed Use/Other [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	156,077us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_OtherPropertyMember	157,934us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_OtherPropertyMember
Percent	6.40%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_OtherPropertyMember	6.40%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateDescriptionTypeOfPropertyAxis = us-gaap_OtherPropertyMember
East [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	714,054us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_EastUnitedStatesRegionMember	701,638us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_EastUnitedStatesRegionMember
Percent	29.10%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_EastUnitedStatesRegionMember	28.50%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_EastUnitedStatesRegionMember
Middle Atlantic [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	164,954us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_MiddleAtlanticUnitedStatesRegionMember	166,249us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_MiddleAtlanticUnitedStatesRegionMember
Percent	6.70%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_MiddleAtlanticUnitedStatesRegionMember	6.80%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_MiddleAtlanticUnitedStatesRegionMember
Mountain [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	279,605us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_MountainUnitedStatesRegionMember	279,075us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_MountainUnitedStatesRegionMember
Percent	11.40%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_MountainUnitedStatesRegionMember	11.40%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_MountainUnitedStatesRegionMember
New England [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	9,589us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_NewEnglandUnitedStatesRegionMember	12,280us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_NewEnglandUnitedStatesRegionMember
Percent	0.40%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_NewEnglandUnitedStatesRegionMember	0.50%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_NewEnglandUnitedStatesRegionMember
Pacific [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	301,176us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_PacificUnitedStatesRegionMember	302,307us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_PacificUnitedStatesRegionMember
Percent	12.30%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_PacificUnitedStatesRegionMember	12.30%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_PacificUnitedStatesRegionMember
South Atlantic [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	475,064us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_SouthAtlanticUnitedStatesRegionMember	471,849us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_SouthAtlanticUnitedStatesRegionMember
Percent	19.40%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_SouthAtlanticUnitedStatesRegionMember	19.20%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_SouthAtlanticUnitedStatesRegionMember
West North Central [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	341,682us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_WestNorthCentralUnitedStatesRegionMember	349,028us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_WestNorthCentralUnitedStatesRegionMember
Percent	13.90%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_WestNorthCentralUnitedStatesRegionMember	14.20%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_WestNorthCentralUnitedStatesRegionMember
West South Central [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Principal outstanding	$ 167,568us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_WestSouthCentralUnitedStatesRegionMember	$ 175,295us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_WestSouthCentralUnitedStatesRegionMember
Percent	6.80%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_WestSouthCentralUnitedStatesRegionMember	7.10%ael_PercentOfMortgageLoans / us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis = ael_WestSouthCentralUnitedStatesRegionMember

X

- Definition

Represents the specific geographic distribution or property type distribution amount as a percentabe of the total amortzed cost of mortgage loans.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Amount before allowance of commercial loans issued to businesses to acquire, develop, construct, improve, or refinance land or building. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5066-111524



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

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Subparagraph a

-Article 9



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878



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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(c))

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

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