XML 65 R48.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v3.21.2

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate (Summary By Debt Service Coverage and Loan to Value Ratios) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Commercial Mortgage Loans
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Amortized cost, year one, originated in current fiscal year	$ 128,981	$ 543,991
Average LTV, year one, originated in current fiscal year	67.00%	65.00%
Amortized cost, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	$ 537,879	$ 755,584
Average LTV, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	63.00%	67.00%
Amortized cost, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	$ 751,659	$ 527,670
Average LTV, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	64.00%	64.00%
Amortized cost, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	$ 462,393	$ 459,055
Average LTV, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	61.00%	60.00%
Amortized cost, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	$ 409,611	$ 411,834
Average LTV, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	59.00%	55.00%
Amortized cost, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	$ 1,033,461	$ 880,754
Average LTV, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	48.00%	49.00%
Mortgage loans, amortized cost	$ 3,323,984	$ 3,578,888
Total - Average LTV	58.00%	59.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans | Debt Service Coverage Ratio: Greater Than or Equal to 1.5
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Amortized cost, year one, originated in current fiscal year	$ 115,988	$ 364,574
Average LTV, year one, originated in current fiscal year	67.00%	63.00%
Amortized cost, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	$ 457,059	$ 442,370
Average LTV, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	61.00%	66.00%
Amortized cost, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	$ 529,625	$ 399,193
Average LTV, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	62.00%	62.00%
Amortized cost, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	$ 342,347	$ 316,738
Average LTV, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	59.00%	57.00%
Amortized cost, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	$ 252,749	$ 359,321
Average LTV, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	53.00%	54.00%
Amortized cost, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	$ 804,604	$ 715,706
Average LTV, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	45.00%	47.00%
Mortgage loans, amortized cost	$ 2,502,372	$ 2,597,902
Total - Average LTV	55.00%	57.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans | Debt Service Coverage Ratio: Greater Than or Equal to 1.2 and Less Than 1.5
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Amortized cost, year one, originated in current fiscal year	$ 12,993	$ 161,779
Average LTV, year one, originated in current fiscal year	68.00%	66.00%
Amortized cost, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	$ 59,575	$ 226,166
Average LTV, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	66.00%	70.00%
Amortized cost, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	$ 129,356	$ 124,267
Average LTV, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	68.00%	72.00%
Amortized cost, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	$ 89,987	$ 124,564
Average LTV, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	67.00%	67.00%
Amortized cost, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	$ 136,948	$ 52,513
Average LTV, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	68.00%	62.00%
Amortized cost, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	$ 155,276	$ 111,690
Average LTV, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	56.00%	55.00%
Mortgage loans, amortized cost	$ 584,135	$ 800,979
Total - Average LTV	64.00%	66.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans | Debt Service Coverage Ratio: Greater Than or Equal to 1.0 and Less Than 1.2
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Amortized cost, year one, originated in current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 17,638
Average LTV, year one, originated in current fiscal year	0.00%	82.00%
Amortized cost, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	$ 21,245	$ 22,917
Average LTV, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	79.00%	67.00%
Amortized cost, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	$ 70,141	$ 2,769
Average LTV, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	74.00%	71.00%
Amortized cost, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	$ 12,014	$ 7,597
Average LTV, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	70.00%	66.00%
Amortized cost, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	$ 6,425	$ 0
Average LTV, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	61.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	$ 51,806	$ 32,327
Average LTV, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	59.00%	65.00%
Mortgage loans, amortized cost	$ 161,631	$ 83,248
Total - Average LTV	69.00%	69.00%
Commercial Mortgage Loans | Debt Service Coverage Ratio: Less Than 1.0
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Amortized cost, year one, originated in current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, year one, originated in current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 64,131
Average LTV, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	0.00%	58.00%
Amortized cost, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	$ 22,537	$ 1,441
Average LTV, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	65.00%	89.00%
Amortized cost, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	$ 18,045	$ 10,156
Average LTV, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	62.00%	80.00%
Amortized cost, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	$ 13,489	$ 0
Average LTV, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	68.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	$ 21,775	$ 21,031
Average LTV, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	58.00%	60.00%
Mortgage loans, amortized cost	$ 75,846	$ 96,759
Total - Average LTV	63.00%	61.00%
Agricultural
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Amortized cost, year one, originated in current fiscal year	$ 109,091	$ 196,190
Average LTV, year one, originated in current fiscal year	54.00%	47.00%
Amortized cost, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	$ 199,792	$ 23,983
Average LTV, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	49.00%	42.00%
Amortized cost, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	$ 19,858	$ 25,000
Average LTV, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	44.00%	11.00%
Amortized cost, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	$ 25,000	$ 0
Average LTV, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	11.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Mortgage loans, amortized cost	$ 353,741	$ 245,173
Total - Average LTV	48.00%	43.00%
Agricultural | Debt Service Coverage Ratio: Greater Than or Equal to 1.5
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Amortized cost, year one, originated in current fiscal year	$ 38,445	$ 78,631
Average LTV, year one, originated in current fiscal year	49.00%	52.00%
Amortized cost, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	$ 83,859	$ 13,985
Average LTV, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	57.00%	47.00%
Amortized cost, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	$ 11,749	$ 25,000
Average LTV, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	49.00%	11.00%
Amortized cost, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	$ 25,000	$ 0
Average LTV, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	11.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Mortgage loans, amortized cost	$ 159,053	$ 117,616
Total - Average LTV	47.00%	43.00%
Agricultural | Debt Service Coverage Ratio: Greater Than or Equal to 1.2 and Less Than 1.5
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Amortized cost, year one, originated in current fiscal year	$ 63,169	$ 101,879
Average LTV, year one, originated in current fiscal year	58.00%	44.00%
Amortized cost, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	$ 103,185	$ 3,425
Average LTV, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	43.00%	23.00%
Amortized cost, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	$ 3,352	$ 0
Average LTV, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	22.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Mortgage loans, amortized cost	$ 169,706	$ 105,304
Total - Average LTV	48.00%	44.00%
Agricultural | Debt Service Coverage Ratio: Greater Than or Equal to 1.0 and Less Than 1.2
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Amortized cost, year one, originated in current fiscal year	$ 7,477	$ 4,213
Average LTV, year one, originated in current fiscal year	44.00%	37.00%
Amortized cost, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	$ 4,125	$ 6,573
Average LTV, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	36.00%	43.00%
Amortized cost, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	$ 4,757	$ 0
Average LTV, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	50.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Mortgage loans, amortized cost	$ 16,359	$ 10,786
Total - Average LTV	44.00%	41.00%
Agricultural | Debt Service Coverage Ratio: Less Than 1.0
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items]
Amortized cost, year one, originated in current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 11,467
Average LTV, year one, originated in current fiscal year	0.00%	48.00%
Amortized cost, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	$ 8,623	$ 0
Average LTV, year two, originated in fiscal year before current fiscal year	59.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, year three, originated two years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, year four, originated three years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, year five, originated four years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Amortized cost, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	$ 0	$ 0
Average LTV, originated more than five years before current fiscal year	0.00%	0.00%
Mortgage loans, amortized cost	$ 8,623	$ 11,467
Total - Average LTV	59.00%	48.00%

X

- Definition

Financing Receivable, Excluding Accrued Interest, before Allowance for Credit Loss, Average Loan To Value, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestBeforeAllowanceForCreditLossAverageLoanToValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Financing Receivable, Excluding Accrued Interest, Originated, More than Five Years before Current Fiscal Year, Average Loan To Value, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestOriginatedMoreThanFiveYearsBeforeCurrentFiscalYearAverageLoanToValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Financing Receivable, Excluding Accrued Interest, Year Five, Originated, Four Years before Current Fiscal Year, Average Loan To Value, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestYearFiveOriginatedFourYearsBeforeCurrentFiscalYearAverageLoanToValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Financing Receivable, Excluding Accrued Interest, Year Four, Originated, Three Years before Current Fiscal Year, Average Loan To Value, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestYearFourOriginatedThreeYearsBeforeCurrentFiscalYearAverageLoanToValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Financing Receivable, Excluding Accrued Interest, Year One, Originated, Current Fiscal Year, Average Loan To Value, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestYearOneOriginatedCurrentFiscalYearAverageLoanToValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Financing Receivable, Excluding Accrued Interest, Year Three, Originated, Two Years before Current Fiscal Year, Average Loan To Value, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestYearThreeOriginatedTwoYearsBeforeCurrentFiscalYearAverageLoanToValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Financing Receivable, Excluding Accrued Interest, Year Two, Originated, Fiscal Year before Current Fiscal Year, Average Loan To Value, Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ael_FinancingReceivableExcludingAccruedInterestYearTwoOriginatedFiscalYearBeforeCurrentFiscalYearAverageLoanToValuePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Amount excluding accrued interest, before allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919230-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255206&loc=SL82895884-210446

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL120267963-210447

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount excluding accrued interest of financing receivable originated more than five years prior to current fiscal year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL120267963-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919232-210447

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124267575&loc=SL82922352-210448

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount excluding accrued interest of financing receivable originated four years prior to current fiscal year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124267575&loc=SL82922352-210448

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919232-210447

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL120267963-210447

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount excluding accrued interest of financing receivable originated three years prior to current fiscal year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919232-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124267575&loc=SL82922352-210448

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL120267963-210447

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount excluding accrued interest of financing receivable originated in current fiscal year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919232-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124267575&loc=SL82922352-210448

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL120267963-210447

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount excluding accrued interest of financing receivable originated two years prior to current fiscal year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL120267963-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919232-210447

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124267575&loc=SL82922352-210448

+ Details

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

X

- Definition

Amount excluding accrued interest of financing receivable originated in fiscal year prior to current fiscal year.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3B
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL120267963-210447

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 6
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124255953&loc=SL82919232-210447

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 326
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 79
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=124267575&loc=SL82922352-210448

+ Details

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

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

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=us-gaap_CommercialRealEstatePortfolioSegmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis=ael_DebtServiceCoverageRatioGreaterThanOrEqualto1.5Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis=ael_DebtServiceCoverageRatioGreaterThanOrEqualTo1.2AndLessThan1.5Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis=ael_DebtServiceCoverageRatioGreaterThanOrEqualTo1.0AndLessThan1.2Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_InternalCreditAssessmentAxis=ael_DebtServiceCoverageRatioLessThan1.0Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivablePortfolioSegmentAxis=ael_AgriculturalMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: