OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2016
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	$ 1,105,297	$ 1,126,913
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	135,389	142,010
Realized (losses) gains on investments and derivatives	(23,040)	29,832
Income before income tax	112,349	171,842
Income tax (expense) benefit	(36,935)	(56,494)
Net income	75,414	115,348
Adjusted operating income tax (expense) benefit	(44,999)	(46,053)
After-tax adjusted operating income	90,390	95,957
Income tax benefit (expense) on adjustments	8,064	(10,441)
Realized investment (losses) gains:
Derivative financial instruments	(69,878)	(73,499)
All other investments	22,841	81,728
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(7,831)	(2,617)
Less: related amortization	(10,744)	(4,050)
Less: VA GLWB economic cost	(21,084)	(20,170)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	72,477,702		$ 71,501,997
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	2,065,274		2,019,829
Other intangibles	675,507		688,083
Goodwill	793,470		793,470
Total assets	76,011,953		75,003,379
Operating | Life Marketing
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	421,392	409,082
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	18,945	13,701
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	14,257,164		14,050,170
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	1,246,081		1,218,944
Other intangibles	296,638		301,399
Goodwill	200,274		200,274
Total assets	16,000,157		15,770,787
Operating | Acquisitions
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	401,367	424,807
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	53,667	68,653
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	19,629,308		19,679,690
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	102,691		106,532
Other intangibles	36,465		37,103
Goodwill	14,524		14,524
Total assets	19,782,988		19,837,849
Operating | Annuities
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	108,642	138,414
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	53,007	53,629
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	20,485,877		20,243,333
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	680,597		655,618
Other intangibles	180,116		183,449
Goodwill	336,677		336,677
Total assets	21,683,267		21,419,077
Operating | Stable Value Products
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	40,843	29,902
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	23,899	14,448
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	3,486,857		3,373,646
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	4,999		5,455
Other intangibles	8,556		8,722
Goodwill	113,813		113,813
Total assets	3,614,225		3,501,636
Operating | Asset Protection
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	80,083	64,248
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	5,599	5,300
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	1,005,914		1,013,399
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	30,906		33,280
Other intangibles	141,216		143,865
Goodwill	128,182		128,182
Total assets	1,306,218		1,318,726
Operating | Corporate and Other
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Revenues	52,970	60,460
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	(19,728)	$ (13,721)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	13,612,582		13,141,759
Deferred policy acquisition costs and value of business acquired	0		0
Other intangibles	12,516		13,545
Goodwill	0		0
Total assets	$ 13,625,098		$ 13,155,304