Schedule of Deferred Sales Inducement Activity (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Movement in Deferred Sales Inducements [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of year	$ 1,076,530us-gaap_DeferredSalesInducementsNet	$ 673,944us-gaap_DeferredSalesInducementsNet	$ 1,167,736us-gaap_DeferredSalesInducementsNet
Capitalization	143,717	131,127	161,828
Amortization	(183,504)	(242,605)	(289,641)
Interest	35,528	38,936	43,279
Change in shadow DSI	(225,271)	475,128	(409,258)
Balance, end of year	$ 847,000us-gaap_DeferredSalesInducementsNet	$ 1,076,530us-gaap_DeferredSalesInducementsNet	$ 673,944us-gaap_DeferredSalesInducementsNet

Deferred Sales Inducements, Effect Of Unrealized Gains Losses

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- Definition

The amount of deferred sales inducement costs capitalized during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416

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- Definition

Amount of any adjustments, including write-offs and the effect of dispositions and internal replacements of contracts, that increases or decreases the gross carrying amount of deferred sales inducements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6481800&loc=d3e11332-158416

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- Definition

The amount of deferred sales inducement costs charged against earnings during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=31042434&loc=d3e3602-108585

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- Definition

The unamortized carrying amount of deferred sales inducement costs as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 944

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

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