XML 116 R102.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.6.0.2

Notes and Loan Payable and Amounts Due Under Repurchase Agreements (Line of Credit and Term Loan Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) guarantor banks occasions | Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
2016 Line of Credit [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity | $ 150,000 |  |
Line of credit, unused capacity, commitment fee percentage | 0.275% |  |
Line of credit, number of occasions borrowing capacity can be increased | occasions | 3 |  |
Line of credit, additional borrowing capacity, aggregate amount | $ 50,000 |  |
Line of credit, duration of maturity date extension available, years | 1 year |  |
Line of credit, amount outstanding | $ 0 |  |
2013 Line of Credit [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Credit agreement, number of banks in the agreement | banks | 5 |  |
Line of credit, maximum borrowing capacity | $ 140,000 |  |
Term Loan [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Term loan | $ 100,000 | $ 100,000 | $ 0
Interest rate, effective percentage | 2.625% |  |
September 30, 2016 Credit Agreement [Member] |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |
Credit agreement, number of banks in the agreement | banks | 6 |  |
Credit agreement, interest rate, floating, applicable margin | 0.75% |  |
Credit agreement, interest rate, floating, adjusted LIBOR | 1.75% |  |
Minimum risk-based capital ratio | 275.00% |  |
Maximum debt to capital ratio | 0.35 |  |
Minimum capital to be retained | 80.00% |  |
Minimum portion of net income to be retained | 50.00% |  |
Minimum capital contributions to be retained | 50.00% |  |
Credit agreement, number of guarantors | guarantor | 0 |  |
Cash in excess of amount required by covenants | $ 575,600 |  |

X
- Definition The amount of cash and cash equivalents reported on the balance sheet that is in excess of the amount required to be held by debt or credit agreement covenants. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_CashInExcessOfRequiredByCovenants
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The variable interest rate for all borrowings under the credit agreement that is equal to an alternate base rate (as defined in the drecit agreement) plus the adjusted LIBOR rate that is equal to this value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_CreditAgreementInterestRateFloatingAdjustedLIBOR
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The variable interest rate for all borrowings under the credit agreement that is equal to an alternate base rate (as defined in the credit agreement) plus the applicable margin that is equal to this value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_CreditAgreementInterestRateFloatingApplicableMargin
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of banks listed in the credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_CreditAgreementNumberofBanksinAgreement
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of guarantors under the credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_CreditAgreementNumberofGuarantors
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the minimum risk-based capital ratio required under debt covenants. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_DebtCovenantsMinimumRiskBasedCapitalRatio
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The aggregate amount of the additional borrowing capacity of the Revolving Facility. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_LineOfCreditAdditionalBorrowingCapacityAggregateAmount
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The duration of the maturity date extension available under the Revolving Facility. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_LineOfCreditMaturityDateExtension
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of occasions the borrowing capacity of the Revolving Facility can be increased. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_LineOfCreditNumberOfOccasionsBorrowingCapacityCanBeIncreased
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the maximum debt to capital ratio in relation to the credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_MaximumDebtToCapitalRatio
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the minimum capital contributions subsequent that are to be retained under the debt covenants related to the credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_MinimumCapitalContributionsToBeRetained
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the percentage of minimum capital that must be retained under the debt covenants for the credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_MinimumCapitalToBeRetained
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the minimum portion of net income that is to be retained under the debt covenants related to the credit agreement. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_MinimumPortionOfNetIncomeToBeRetained
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance. + References Reference 1: 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=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium. + References Reference 1: 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(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement. + References Reference 1: 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 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(16)) -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 942 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCredit
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=ael_LineofCredit2016Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityAxis=ael_LineofCredit2013Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LoansPayableMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=ael_CreditAgreementSeptember302016Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |