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Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements (Deferred Sales Inducements) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014
Movement in Deferred Sales Inducements [Roll Forward] |  |  |
Balance at beginning of year | $ 2,232,148 | $ 1,587,257 | $ 1,875,880
Costs deferred during the year | 353,966 | 486,924 | 330,079
Amortization | (251,166) | (209,390) | (131,419)
Effect of net unrealized gains/losses | (126,730) | 367,357 | (487,283)
Balance at end of year | $ 2,208,218 | $ 2,232,148 | $ 1,587,257

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- Definition Amount of amortization of deferred sales inducements due to unrealized investment gains or losses. + References No definition available. + Details
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- Definition The amount of deferred sales inducement costs capitalized during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 + Details
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- Definition The amount of deferred sales inducement costs charged against earnings during the period. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 28 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66902209&loc=d3e3602-108585 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 + Details
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- Definition The unamortized carrying amount of deferred sales inducement costs as of the balance sheet date. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 30 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416 + Details
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- Definition A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period. + References No definition available. + Details
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