XML 116 R96.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.20.4

Retirement and Share-based Compensation Plans (Changes in Stock Options Outstanding) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2018 | Dec. 31, 2017
Share-based Payment Arrangement [Abstract] |  |  |  |
Outstanding, number of shares | 1,257,917 | 828,913 | 1,221,865 | 1,980,265
Outstanding, weighted-average exercise price per share | $ 25.10 | $ 19.91 | $ 17.41 | $ 16.20
Outstanding, total exercise price | $ 31,576 | $ 16,506 | $ 21,273 | $ 32,084
Granted, number of shares | 815,767 | 0 | 0 |
Granted, weighted-average exercise price per share | $ 26.70 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Granted, total exercise price | $ 21,778 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Canceled, number of shares | (31,200) | (22,600) | (40,850) |
Canceled, weighted-average exercise price per share | $ 21.50 | $ 18.14 | $ 18.87 |
Canceled, total exercise price | $ (670) | $ (410) | $ (771) |
Exercised, number of shares | (355,563) | (370,352) | (717,550) |
Exercised, weighted-average exercise price per share | $ 16.98 | $ 11.76 | $ 13.99 |
Exercised, total exercise price | $ (6,038) | $ (4,357) | $ (10,040) |
Stock Option Plans, 2000 Director Stock Option Plan, 2009 Employee Incentive Plan, 2011 Directors Stock Option Plan |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of shares authorized | 2,975,000 |  |  |
Duration of award | 10 years |  |  |
Stock Option Plans, 2000 Director Stock Option Plan, 2009 Employee Incentive Plan, 2011 Directors Stock Option Plan | Minimum |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Award vesting period | 6 months |  |  |
Stock Option Plans, 2000 Director Stock Option Plan, 2009 Employee Incentive Plan, 2011 Directors Stock Option Plan | Maximum |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Award vesting period | 3 years |  |  |
Stock Option Plans, Independent Insurance Agent Stock Option Plans |  |  |  |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Number of shares authorized | 8,000,000 |  |  |

X
- Definition Total exercise price attributable to options forfeited in the period based upon the number of options forfeited and their weighted average exercise price. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodTotalExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Total exercise price attributable to options granted in the period based upon the number of options granted and their weighted average exercise price. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodTotalExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Total exercise prices of options outstanding based upon the weighted average excercise prices and number of options. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingTotalExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Total exercise price attributable to options exercised in the period based upon the number of options exercised and their weighted average exercise price. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | ael_SharebasedCompensationArrangementbySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisedinPeriodTotalExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix: | ael_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Definition Period over which grantee's right to exercise award under share-based payment arrangement is no longer contingent on satisfaction of service or performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Includes, but is not limited to, combination of market, performance or service condition. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
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_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of shares authorized for issuance under share-based payment arrangement. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAuthorized
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition The number of shares under options that were cancelled during the reporting period as a result of occurrence of a terminating event specified in contractual agreements pertaining to the stock option plan. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Gross number of share options (or share units) granted during the period. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodGross
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of options outstanding, including both vested and non-vested options. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1)(i)-(ii) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Weighted average price at which grantees can acquire the shares reserved for issuance under the stock option plan. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1)(i) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Weighted average price at which option holders acquired shares when converting their stock options into shares. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Weighted average price at which grantees could have acquired the underlying shares with respect to stock options that were terminated. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of options. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Period from grant date that an equity-based award expires, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (a)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardExpirationPeriod
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Number of share options (or share units) exercised during the current period. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 718 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116856206&loc=d3e5070-113901 Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27012166&loc=d3e187085-122770 Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(28)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(29)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 5: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 505 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109259400&loc=d3e21463-112644 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_PlanNameAxis=ael_StockOptionPlans2000DirectorsStockOptionPlan2009EmployeeIncentivePlan2011DirectorsStockOptionPlanMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

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