Name:	ael_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateCollateralDependent
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Mortgage loans that are in a workout period at the end of the reporting period. Workouts are payment periods that are not in compliance with original loan agreement, such as interest only periods, no debt service payment periods, or escrowing principal portion of payments to be used for capital improvements.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateInWorkout
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Mortgage loans that are in compliance with contractual terms at end of period.

No definition available.

Name:	ael_MortgageLoansOnRealEstatePerforming
Namespace Prefix:	ael_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
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Period Type:	instant

Amount before allowance of commercial loans issued to businesses to acquire, develop, construct, improve, or refinance land or building. Includes deferred interest and fees, undisbursed portion of loan balance, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts. Excludes loans covered under loss sharing agreements.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(c))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 310
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=d3e5066-111524

Name:	us-gaap_LoansReceivableCommercialRealEstate
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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_MortgageLoansOnRealEstateAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
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Amount of principal due on loans that have been delinquent, which may exclude loans having interest delinquent for three months or less, as of the balance sheet date.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 205
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 6
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-04.(c) Schedule IV)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27047687&loc=d3e5864-122674

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 948
-SubTopic 310
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.12-29.10(a))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6589523&loc=d3e617274-123014