OPERATING SEGMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Total revenues	$ 1,414,030	$ 1,165,832
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	142,670	92,821
Realized (losses) gains on investments and derivatives	32,245	(1,023)
Income before income tax	174,915	91,798
Income tax expense	(36,631)	(17,686)
Net income	138,284	74,112
Adjusted operating income tax (expense) benefit	(29,859)	(18,044)
After-tax adjusted operating income	112,811	74,777
Income tax benefit (expense) on adjustments	(6,772)	358
Realized investment (losses) gains:
Derivative financial instruments	(119,671)	78,059
All other investments	129,590	(87,599)
Net impairment losses recognized in earnings	(3,142)	(3,645)
Less: related amortization	(4,361)	9,156
Less: VA GLWB economic cost	(21,107)	(21,318)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	88,048,702		$ 85,476,658
DAC and VOBA	2,986,686		3,023,154
Other intangibles	601,603		613,431
Goodwill	825,511		825,511
Total assets	92,462,502		89,938,754
Life Marketing
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Total revenues	457,340	434,916
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	1,234	(17,849)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	15,038,044		14,575,702
DAC and VOBA	1,496,282		1,499,386
Other intangibles	258,010		262,758
Goodwill	215,254		215,254
Total assets	17,007,590		16,553,100
Acquisitions
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Total revenues	609,942	379,094
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	74,912	55,520
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	31,805,017		31,859,520
DAC and VOBA	431,788		458,977
Other intangibles	32,776		31,975
Goodwill	23,862		23,862
Total assets	32,293,443		32,374,334
Annuities
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Total revenues	139,217	150,713
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	54,216	40,531
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	20,690,159		20,199,597
DAC and VOBA	885,926		889,697
Other intangibles	153,452		156,785
Goodwill	343,247		343,247
Total assets	22,072,784		21,589,326
Stable Value Products
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Total revenues	59,579	53,868
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	22,239	29,080
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	5,401,470		5,107,334
DAC and VOBA	5,249		6,121
Other intangibles	7,222		7,389
Goodwill	113,924		113,924
Total assets	5,527,865		5,234,768
Asset Protection
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Total revenues	76,198	76,375
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	9,743	6,218
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	1,025,637		1,019,297
DAC and VOBA	167,441		168,973
Other intangibles	120,046		122,590
Goodwill	129,224		129,224
Total assets	1,442,348		1,440,084
Corporate and Other
Summarized financial information for the company's segments
Total revenues	71,754	70,866
Pre-tax Adjusted Operating Income (Loss)	(19,674)	$ (20,679)
Operating Segment Assets
Investments and other assets	14,088,375		12,715,208
DAC and VOBA	0		0
Other intangibles	30,097		31,934
Goodwill	0		0
Total assets	$ 14,118,472		$ 12,747,142