XML 74 R62.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.5.0.2

Earnings (Loss) Per Share and Stockholders' Equity (Stockholders' Equity Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands |  | 1 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Aug. 01, 2016 | Aug. 31, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Public offering related to equity forward transaction, shares |  | 8,600,000 |  |
Forward rate per share |  | $ 25.25 |  |
Shares subject to forward sale agreement |  | 4,300,000 |  |
Optional shares available to underwriters |  | 1,290,000 |  |
Shares of common stock issued | 5,590,000 |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of common stock | $ 134,700 |  | $ 138,660 | $ 111,274

X
- Definition Represents the number of shares in connection with public offering under the equity forward transaction. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_EquityForwardTransactionSharesInConnectionWithPublicOffering
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of shares that the underwriters have an option to purchase for a definite time period after close of forward equity transaction. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ForwardContractIndexedtoIssuersEquityOptionalSharesAvailabletoUnderwriters
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EarningsPerShareAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The per share price of the Company's stock at which the contract holder of the freestanding contract has the right to purchase or sell the Company's stock at a future date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6445032&loc=d3e90205-114008 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 480 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (f)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6940734&loc=d3e22047-110879 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ForwardContractIndexedToIssuersEquityForwardRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The maximum number of shares that could be issued to net share settle a contract, if applicable. If a contract does not have a fixed or determinable maximum number of shares that may be required to be issued, disclose the fact that a potentially infinite number of shares could be issued to settle the contract. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 815 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph (b)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6445032&loc=d3e90205-114008 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ForwardContractIndexedToIssuersEquityShares
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The cash inflow from the additional capital contribution to the entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Activities -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6513228 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -Subparagraph (a) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3255-108585 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfCommonStock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of new stock issued during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6928386&loc=d3e21463-112644 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 29, 30 -Article 5 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesNewIssues
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration