XML 102 R45.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.19.3.a.u2

Significant Accounting Policies (Narrative) (Details) $ in Millions |  |  | 12 Months Ended
--- | --- | --- | ---
Jan. 01, 2020 USD ($) | Jan. 01, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) states | Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |
Number of states in which entity is licensed to sell insurance products | states |  |  | 50 |  |
Number of days past due, non-accrual status |  |  | 90 days |  |
Fair value of loaned securities |  |  | $ 477.5 |  |
Statutory federal income tax rate |  | 21.00% | 21.00% | 21.00% | 35.00%
Minimum |  |  |  |  |
Securities loaned, cash collateral posted by borrowers as a percent of the market value of loaned securities |  |  | 102.00% |  |
Interest crediting rate, range for fixed index annuities and other deferred annuity products |  |  | 1.00% | 1.00% | 1.00%
Minimum | Other Investments |  |  |  |  |
Investment maturity period |  |  | 3 months |  |
Maximum |  |  |  |  |
Interest crediting rate, range for fixed index annuities and other deferred annuity products |  |  | 2.80% | 2.80% | 2.80%
Maximum | Other Investments |  |  |  |  |
Investment maturity period |  |  | 12 months |  |
Maximum | Cash and Cash Equivalents |  |  |  |  |
Investment maturity period |  |  | 3 months |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2016-02 |  |  |  |  |
New accounting pronouncement, effect of adoption, quantification |  |  | $ 6.0 |  |
Accounting Standards Update 2018-02 |  |  |  |  |
New accounting pronouncement, effect of adoption, quantification |  |  |  | $ 128.0 |
Cash and Cash Equivalents |  |  |  |  |
Securities loaned, fair value of collateral |  |  | 495.1 |  |
Other Liabilities |  |  |  |  |
Securities loaned, fair value of collateral |  |  | $ 495.1 |  |
Effect Due to Change in Allowance for Credit Loss | Retained Earnings | Forecast | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 | Minimum |  |  |  |  |
New accounting pronouncement, effect of adoption, quantification | $ 5.0 |  |  |  |
Effect Due to Change in Allowance for Credit Loss | Retained Earnings | Forecast | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 | Maximum |  |  |  |  |
New accounting pronouncement, effect of adoption, quantification | 10.0 |  |  |  |
Effect Due to Recognition of Expected Lifetime Credit Losses Related to Reinsurance Recoverable/Coinsurance Deposits Balances | Retained Earnings | Forecast | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 | Minimum |  |  |  |  |
New accounting pronouncement, effect of adoption, quantification | 1.0 |  |  |  |
Effect Due to Recognition of Expected Lifetime Credit Losses Related to Reinsurance Recoverable/Coinsurance Deposits Balances | Retained Earnings | Forecast | Accounting Standards Update 2016-13 | Maximum |  |  |  |  |
New accounting pronouncement, effect of adoption, quantification | $ 3.0 |  |  |  |

X
- Definition Investment maturity period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_InvestmentMaturityPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of days past due for loans to be placed on non-accrual status. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_NonAccrualStatusNumberofDays
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of cash collateral posted as a percentage of the market value of the loaned securities. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_SecuritiesLoanedCashCollateralPercentofMarketValueofLoanedSecurities
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition Percentage of domestic federal statutory tax rate applicable to pretax income (loss). + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 6.I) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116825942&loc=d3e330036-122817 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32687-109319 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 740 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 13 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=84230637&loc=d3e32698-109319 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateReconciliationAtFederalStatutoryIncomeTaxRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Rate of interest credited to policyholder deposits. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 40 -Section 50 -Paragraph 6 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117419472&loc=d3e14931-158439 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 944 -SubTopic 210 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.13(b)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_LiabilityForPolicyholderContractDepositsInterestRate
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Represents the quantification of the effect of adopting the new accounting standard or change in accounting principle expected by the entity to have a significant effect on the entity's financial statements. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleEffectOfAdoptionQuantification
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The number of states the entity operates in as of the balance sheet date. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NumberOfStatesInWhichEntityOperates
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Amount of asset associated with securities loaned to entities in exchange for collateral. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226003-175313 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 3 -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=51824906&loc=SL20225862-175312 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SecuritiesLoanedAsset
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value of the securities pledged as collateral against securities loaned. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 20 -Section 55 -Paragraph 12 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99393222&loc=SL20226013-175313 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SecuritiesLoanedFairValueOfCollateral
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_OtherInvestmentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201602Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201802Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_CashAndCashEquivalentsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_OtherLiabilitiesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_EffectofNewAccountingPronouncementAxis=ael_EffectDuetoChangeinAllowanceforCreditLossMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_BalanceSheetLocationAxis=us-gaap_RetainedEarningsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | srt_StatementScenarioAxis=srt_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=us-gaap_AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | ael_EffectofNewAccountingPronouncementAxis=ael_EffectDuetoRecognitionofExpectedLifetimeCreditLossesRelatedtoReinsuranceRecoverableCoinsuranceDepositsBalancesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |