XML 51 R36.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.19.1

Investments (Changes in Net Unrealized Gains/Losses on Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Fixed maturity securities held for investment carried at amortized cost	$ 0	$ (7,021)
Investments carried at fair value, fixed maturity securities, available for sale	1,517,520	(1,215,695)
Adjustment for effect on other balance sheet accounts:
Deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements	(800,901)	643,323
Deferred income tax asset/liability	(150,490)	120,201
Total adjustment for effect on other balance sheet accounts	(951,391)	763,524
Change in net unrealized gains/losses on investments carried at fair value	566,129	(452,171)
Fixed Maturity Securities
Investment Holdings [Line Items]
Investments carried at fair value, fixed maturity securities, available for sale	$ 1,517,520	$ (1,215,695)

X

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_AdjustmentForEffectOnOtherBalanceSheetAccountsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Adjustments for Assumed Changes in Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements Due to Net Unrealized Gains and Losses on Available for Sale Fixed Maturity and Equity Securities.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_AdjustmentsForAssumedChangesInAmortizationOfDeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsAndDeferredSalesInducements
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Change in Net Unrealized Gain or Loss, Fixed Maturity Securities, Held for Investment

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_ChangeInNetUnrealizedGainOrLossFixedMaturitySecuritiesHeldForInvestment
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Represents the aggregate of the adjustments for the effect on other balance sheet accounts related to the pretax change in net unrealized holding gain (loss) on available-for-sale securities that has been included in accumulated other comprehensive income, a separate component of shareholders' equity, during the period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_ChangesNetUnrealizedGainsOrLossesForAdjustmentsInDeferredPolicyAcquisitionCostsDeferredSalesInducementsDeferredTaxValuationAllowancesAndDeferredIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

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_InvestmentHoldingsLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments, of appreciation (loss) in value of unsold available-for-sale securities. Excludes amounts related to other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount after tax and reclassification adjustments, of appreciation (loss) in value of unsold available-for-sale securities. Excludes amounts related to other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669646-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Amount of tax expense (benefit), after reclassification adjustments, of appreciation (loss) in value of unsold available-for-sale securities. Excludes amounts related to other than temporary impairment (OTTI) loss.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (e)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=SL7669646-108580

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 12
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=114867106&loc=d3e640-108580

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAvailableForSaleSecuritiesTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancialInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_FixedMaturitiesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: