XML 55 R41.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.3.1.900

Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Restrictions (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2015
Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Restrictions [Abstract] |
Statutory Accounting Practices Disclosure | Calculations using the NAIC formula indicated that American Equity Life's ratio of total adjusted capital to the highest level of required capital at which regulatory action might be initiated (Company Action Level) is as follows:
| December 31,
| 2015 |  | 2014
| (Dollars in thousands)
Total adjusted capital | $ | 2,593,472 |  |  | $ | 2,327,335 |
Company Action Level RBC | 771,293 |  |  | 625,373 |
Ratio of adjusted capital to Company Action Level RBC | 336 | % |  | 372 | %
Net income for our primary life insurance subsidiary as determined in accordance with statutory accounting practices was as follows:
| Year Ended December 31,
| 2015 |  | 2014 |  | 2013
| (Dollars in thousands)
American Equity Life | $ | 131,452 |  |  | $ | 340,000 |  |  | $ | 205,202 |
Statutory capital and surplus for our primary life insurance subsidiary was as follows:
| December 31,
| 2015 |  | 2014
| (Dollars in thousands)
American Equity Life | $ | 2,415,419 |  |  | $ | 2,172,455 |

X
- Definition Statutory Financial Information and Dividend Restrictions [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_StatutoryFinancialInformationandDividendRestrictionsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tabular disclosure of how the entity's reporting under GAAP as of the balance sheet date differs from the results based on prescribed and permitted accounting practices of the state or country of domicile in which a relevant statutory filing is made, or differences in results based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) prescribed practices, or a combination thereof. Describes the accounting practices used and the related monetary effect on statutory surplus, net income, and risk-based capital. If an insurance enterprise's risk-based capital would have triggered a regulatory event had it not used a permitted practice, that fact is disclosed in the financial statements. Permitted statutory accounting practices include practices not prescribed but allowed by the domiciliary state insurance department regulatory authority. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24746-158529 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.23(c)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24790-158529 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 505 -Section 55 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6588579&loc=d3e24938-158530 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 505 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6486098&loc=d3e24708-158529 Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 505 -Section 55 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6588579&loc=d3e24959-158530 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatutoryAccountingPracticesDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration