XML 51 R39.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.7.0.1

Investments (Other Than Temporary Impairments by Asset Type) (Details) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) Securities | Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) Securities
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments [Abstract] |  |
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities | Securities |  | 11
Total OTTI losses | $ 0 | $ (6,018)
Portion of OTTI losses recognized in (from) other comprehensive income | (141) | 324
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations | $ (141) | $ (5,694)
Corporate Securities [Member] | Energy [Member] |  |
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments [Abstract] |  |
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities | Securities |  | 2
Total OTTI losses |  | $ (642)
Portion of OTTI losses recognized in (from) other comprehensive income |  | 0
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations |  | $ (642)
Corporate Securities [Member] | Telecommunications [Member] |  |
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments [Abstract] |  |
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities | Securities |  | 1
Total OTTI losses |  | $ (4,462)
Portion of OTTI losses recognized in (from) other comprehensive income |  | 562
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations |  | $ (3,900)
Corporate Securities [Member] | Utilities [Member] |  |
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments [Abstract] |  |
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities | Securities |  | 1
Total OTTI losses |  | $ (136)
Portion of OTTI losses recognized in (from) other comprehensive income |  | 0
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations |  | $ (136)
Residential Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments [Abstract] |  |
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities | Securities | 3 | 4
Total OTTI losses | $ 0 | $ 0
Portion of OTTI losses recognized in (from) other comprehensive income | (141) | (238)
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations | $ (141) | $ (238)
Commercial Mortgage Backed Securities [Member] |  |
Other than Temporary Impairment Losses, Investments [Abstract] |  |
Other than temporary impairment, number of securities | Securities |  | 3
Total OTTI losses |  | $ (778)
Portion of OTTI losses recognized in (from) other comprehensive income |  | 0
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations |  | $ (778)

X
- Definition Item represents the number of securites for which other than temporary impairment was recognized. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentNumberOfSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount by which the fair value of an investment is less than the amortized cost basis or carrying amount of that investment at the balance sheet date and the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary, before considering whether or not such amount is recognized in earnings or other comprehensive income. + 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 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 34 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27723805&loc=d3e25351-111560 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition Amount before tax of other than temporary impairment loss (OTTI) on investments in available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities, recognized in other comprehensive loss and attributable to parent entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 35 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27723805&loc=d3e25362-111560 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 35 -Paragraph 34D -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27723805&loc=SL6284304-111560 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10A -Subparagraph (g) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66004124&loc=SL7669646-108580 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossBeforeTaxPortionAttributableToParent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The amount of other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses on equity securities, OTTI related to credit losses on debt securities, and OTTI losses on debt securities when the entity intends to sell the securities or it is more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell the securities before recovery of its amortized cost basis. Additionally, this item includes OTTI losses recognized during the period on investments accounted for under the cost method of accounting. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 8B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=73527792&loc=SL6284393-111563 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherThanTemporaryImpairmentLossesInvestmentsPortionRecognizedInEarningsNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_CorporateDebtSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_EnergySectorMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_TelecommunicationsSectorMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | invest_InvestmentSectorAxis=ael_UtilitiesSectorMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_MajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis=us-gaap_CommercialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |