Number of days past due for loans to be considered delinquent.

No definition available.

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- Definition

The number of portfolio segments which make up financing receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Circumstances in which borrowers pay a protion of their loan payment into an escrow account that can be used for capital and tenant improvements of a period not more than 12 months.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_ImpairedMortgageLoansWorkoutTermsCashFlowSweepNumberofMonths
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Loan workout terms in which a borrower makes interest only payments on the commerical mortgage loan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Loan workout terms in which a borrower makes interest only payments on the commerical mortgage loan.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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- Definition

Number of days past due for loans to be placed on non-accrual status.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
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- Definition

Recorded investment in financing receivables that are on nonaccrual status as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5111-111524

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of undisbursed portion of the loan receivable balance (loans in process). Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- 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

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- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of land and buildings obtained through foreclosure proceedings or defeasance in full or partial satisfaction of a debt arrangement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04(c)(Schedule III))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84173941&loc=d3e5162-111524

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82891408&loc=d3e4437-111522

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 970
-SubTopic 360
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-28)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6590653&loc=d3e638233-123024

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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- Details

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Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (Narrative) (Details) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) portfolio_segment	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($)
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Abstract]
Number of portfolio segments that make up financing receivables \| portfolio_segment	1
Real estate owned	$ 0		$ 0
Impaired mortgage loans, workout terms, interest only payments, six month terms	6 months
Impaired mortgage loans, workout terms, interest only payments, twelve month terms	12 months
Impaired mortgage loans, workout terms, cash flow sweep, number of months	12 months
Number of days past due, non-accrual status	90 days
Outstanding principal of loans in a non-accrual status	$ 0	$ 2,200
Minimum [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Number of days past due, delinquent status	60 days
Commercial Real Estate Portfolio Segment [Member]
Mortgage Loans on Real Estate [Line Items]
Commitments outstanding	$ 81,700