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Schedule II - Condensed Financial Information of Registrant (Condensed Statements of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 30, 2017 | Jun. 30, 2017 | Mar. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Sep. 30, 2016 | Jun. 30, 2016 | Mar. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income | $ 512,709 | $ 500,202 | $ 493,489 | $ 485,597 | $ 475,633 | $ 463,583 | $ 459,830 | $ 450,826 | $ 1,991,997 | $ 1,849,872 | $ 1,692,192
Change in fair value of derivatives | 661,993 | 362,525 | 266,820 | 386,533 | 95,391 | 103,794 | 39,099 | (74,065) | 1,677,871 | 164,219 | (336,146)
Loss on extinguishment of debt | 0 | (18,389) | (428) | 0 |  |  |  |  | (18,817) | 0 | 0
Total revenues | 1,239,270 | 905,953 | 819,128 | 927,301 | 622,816 | 630,060 | 549,802 | 417,604 | 3,891,652 | 2,220,282 | 1,518,937
Expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 919,735 | 543,465 | (464,698)
Interest expense on notes and loan payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30,368 | 28,248 | 28,849
Interest expense on subordinated debentures issued to subsidiary trusts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,124 | 12,958 | 12,239
Other operating costs and expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 111,691 | 102,231 | 96,218
Total benefits and expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 3,575,381 | 2,090,035 | 1,181,623
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 141,626 | 47,004 | 117,484
Net income | $ 36,803 | $ 56,957 | $ 26,946 | $ 53,939 | $ 120,796 | $ (7,420) | $ 14,708 | $ (44,841) | 174,645 | 83,243 | 219,830
Parent Company [Member] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Revenues: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net investment income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 492 | 78 | 62
Dividends from subsidiary trusts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 410 | 384 | 363
Investment advisory fees |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 83,941 | 75,706 | 65,957
Surplus note interest from subsidiary |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4,080 | 4,080 | 4,080
Change in fair value of derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (412) | (810) | (8,225)
Loss on extinguishment of debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | (18,817) | 0 | 0
Total revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 69,694 | 79,438 | 62,237
Expenses: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 0 | 0 | (4,516)
Interest expense on notes and loan payable |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 30,368 | 28,248 | 28,849
Interest expense on subordinated debentures issued to subsidiary trusts |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 14,124 | 12,958 | 12,239
Other operating costs and expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,234 | 8,551 | 8,195
Total benefits and expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 53,726 | 49,757 | 44,767
Income before income taxes and equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 15,968 | 29,681 | 17,470
Income tax expense |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6,895 | 12,073 | 7,338
Income before equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 9,073 | 17,608 | 10,132
Equity in undistributed income of subsidiaries |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 165,572 | 65,635 | 209,698
Net income |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 174,645 | $ 83,243 | $ 219,830

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