Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Revenues:
Premiums and other considerations		$ 12,731	$ 8,335	$ 31,534	$ 25,369
Annuity product charges		47,675	37,975	125,304	99,066
Net investment income		463,583	436,085	1,374,239	1,253,930
Change in fair value of derivatives		103,794	(351,360)	68,828	(405,484)
Net realized gains (losses) on investments, excluding other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses		5,256	1,159	10,680	10,362
OTTI losses on investments:
Total OTTI losses		(4,554)	(10,000)	(11,334)	(10,132)
Portion of OTTI losses recognized in (from) other comprehensive income		1,575	4,771	(1,785)	3,943
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations		(2,979)	(5,229)	(13,119)	(6,189)
Total revenues		630,060	126,965	1,597,466	977,054
Benefits and expenses:
Insurance policy benefits and change in future policy benefits		15,065	10,959	37,567	32,629
Interest sensitive and index product benefits		278,943	213,465	487,735	802,431
Amortization of deferred sales inducements		69,245	65,807	127,396	152,278
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives		144,404	(414,724)	694,564	(583,112)
Interest expense on notes and loan payable		6,887	7,283	20,649	21,976
Interest expense on subordinated debentures		3,253	3,075	9,627	9,138
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs		98,108	67,885	198,486	186,871
Other operating costs and expenses		25,133	24,497	78,786	70,487
Total benefits and expenses		641,038	(21,753)	1,654,810	692,698
Income (loss) before income taxes		(10,978)	148,718	(57,344)	284,356
Income tax expense (benefit)		(3,558)	51,412	(19,791)	98,302
Net income (loss)		$ (7,420)	$ 97,306	$ (37,553)	$ 186,054
Earnings (loss) per common share		$ (0.09)	$ 1.22	$ (0.45)	$ 2.39
Earnings (loss) per common share - assuming dilution		$ (0.09)	$ 1.19	$ (0.45)	$ 2.33
Weighted average common shares outstanding: earnings (loss) per common share	[1]	86,261,692	79,675,955	83,645,427	77,994,602
Weighted average common shares outstanding: earnings (loss) per common share - assuming dilution		87,043,926	81,558,636	84,412,553	79,977,310

[1] Weighted average common shares outstanding include shares vested under the NMO Deferred Compensation Plan.