Edgar Filing: AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO

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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

____________________________________

FORM 10-K


(Mark One)
x		ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010
or
o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-31911

______________________________________________

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Iowa (State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation)		42-1447959 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
6000 Westown Parkway West Des Moines, Iowa (Address of principal executive offices)		50266 (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (515) 221-0002
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:


Title of each class		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common stock, par value $1		New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock, par value $1

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this From 10-K. o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer o	Accelerated filer x	Non-accelerated filer o (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act.) Yes o No x

Aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $554,052,926 based on the closing price of $10.32 per share, the closing price of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2010.

Shares of common stock outstanding as of February 28, 2011: 59,291,669

Documents incorporated by reference: Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held June 9, 2011, which will be filed within 120 days after December 31, 2010, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.

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AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY

FORM 10-K FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2010

TABLE OF CONTENTS


PART I.
Item 1.	Business	1
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	8
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	14
Item 2.	Properties	14
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	14
Item 4.	Reserved	14
PART II.
Item 5.	Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	15
Item 6.	Selected Consolidated Financial Data	16
Item 7.	Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	18
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	49
Item 8.	Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	51
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	51
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	51
Item 9B.	Other Information	51
PART III.
	The information required by Items 10 through 14 is incorporated by reference from our definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after December 31, 2010.	51
PART IV.
Item 15.	Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules	51
SIGNATURES		52
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules		F-1
Exhibit Index
Exhibit 12.1	Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
Exhibit 21.2	Subsidiaries of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company
Exhibit 23.1	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Exhibit 31.1	Certification
Exhibit 31.2	Certification
Exhibit 32.1	Certification
Exhibit 32.2	Certification

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PART I

Item 1. Business

Introduction

We are a leader in the development and sale of fixed index and fixed rate annuity products. We were incorporated in the state of Iowa on December 15, 1995. We are a full service underwriter of fixed annuity and life insurance products through our wholly-owned life insurance subsidiaries, American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company ("American Equity Life"), American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company of New York, and Eagle Life Insurance Company ("Eagle Life"). Our business consists primarily of the sale of fixed index and fixed rate annuities and, accordingly, we have only one business segment. Our business strategy is to focus on our annuity business and earn predictable returns by managing investment spreads and investment risk. We are currently licensed to sell our products in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Throughout this report, unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires, all references to "American Equity", the "Company", "we", "our" and similar references are to American Equity Investment Life Holding Company and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Investor related information, including periodic reports filed on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and all amendments to such reports may be found on our internet website at www.american-equity.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). In addition, we have available on our website our: (i) code of business conduct and ethics; (ii) audit committee charter; (iii) compensation committee charter; (iv) nominating/corporate governance committee charter; and (v) corporate governance guidelines. The information incorporated herein by reference is also electronically accessible from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Annuity Market Overview

Our target market includes the group of individuals ages 45-75 who are seeking to accumulate tax-deferred savings. We believe that significant growth opportunities exist for annuity products because of favorable demographic and economic trends. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 35 million Americans age 65 and older in 2000, representing 12% of the U.S. population. By 2030, this sector of the population is expected to increase to 20% of the total population. Our fixed index and fixed rate annuity products are particularly attractive to this group as a result of the guarantee of principal with respect to those products, competitive rates of credited interest, tax-deferred growth and alternative payout options.

According to AnnuitySpecs.com, total industry sales of fixed index annuities increased 7% to $32.3 billion in 2010 from $30.1 billion in 2009. Our wide range of fixed index and fixed rate annuity products has enabled us to enjoy favorable growth during volatile equity and bond markets.

Strategy

Our business strategy is to grow our annuity business and earn predictable returns by managing investment spreads and investment risk. Key elements of this strategy include the following:

Enhance our Current Independent Agency Network. We believe that our successful relationships with approximately 50 national marketing organizations represent a significant competitive advantage. Our objective is to improve the productivity and efficiency of our core distribution channel by focusing our marketing and recruiting efforts on those independent agents capable of selling $1 million or more of annuity premium annually. This level of production qualifies them for our Gold Eagle program which was introduced at the beginning of 2007. We believe the Gold Eagle program has been effective as evidenced by the increase in Gold Eagle agents to 1,021 in 2010 as compared to 891 in 2009 and 566 in 2008, accounting for 57%, 57% and 56% of total production, respectively. Gold Eagle qualifiers receive a combination of cash and equity-based incentives as motivation for producing business for us. The equity-based incentive compensation component of our Gold Eagle program is unique in our industry and distinguishes us from our competitors. Our continuing focus on relationships and efficiency will ultimately reduce our independent agents to a core group of professional annuity producers. We will also be alert to opportunities to establish relationships with national marketing organizations and agents not presently associated with us and will continue to provide all of our marketers with the highest quality service possible.

Continue to Introduce Innovative and Competitive Products. We intend to be at the forefront of the fixed index and fixed rate annuity industry in developing and introducing innovative and new competitive products. We were one of the first companies to offer a fixed index annuity that allows a choice among interest crediting strategies which include both equity and bond indices as well as a traditional fixed rate strategy. We were also one of the first companies to include a living income benefit rider with our fixed index annuities. Most recently, we enhanced our living income benefit rider to provide policyholders with protection against inflation. We believe that our continued focus on anticipating and being responsive to the product needs of our independent agents and policyholders will lead to increased customer loyalty, revenues and profitability.

Use our Expertise to Achieve Targeted Spreads on Annuity Products. We have had a successful track record in achieving the targeted spreads on our annuity products. We intend to continue to leverage our experience and expertise in managing the investment spread during a range of interest rate environments to achieve our targeted spreads.

Maintain our Profitability Focus and Improve Operating Efficiency. We are committed to improving our profitability by advancing the scope and sophistication of our investment management and spread capabilities and continuously seeking out efficiencies within our operations. We have implemented competitive incentive programs for our national marketing organizations, agents and employees to stimulate performance.

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Take Advantage of the Growing Popularity of Index Products. We believe that the growing popularity of fixed index annuity products that allow equity and bond market participation without the risk of loss of the premium deposit presents an attractive opportunity to grow our business. We intend to capitalize on our reputation as a leading marketer of fixed index annuities in this expanding segment of the annuity market.

Focus on High Quality Service to Agents and Policyholders. We have maintained high quality personal service as one of our highest priorities since the inception of our business, and continue to strive for an unprecedented level of timely and accurate service to both our agents and policyholders. We believe this is one of our strongest competitive advantages.

Expand our Distribution Channels. We formed Eagle Life in 2008 with the vision of developing a network of affiliated and nonaffiliated broker-dealer firms to distribute a registered fixed index annuity product. We believe this to be the most effective means of building a core distribution channel of selling firms with registered representatives capable of selling $1 million or more of annuity premium annually.

Products

Annuities offer our policyholders a tax-deferred means of accumulating retirement savings, as well as a reliable source of income during the payout period. When our policyholders contribute cash to annuities, we account for these receipts as policy benefit reserves in the liability section of our consolidated balance sheet. The annuity deposits collected, by product type, during the three most recent fiscal years are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2010				2009				2008
	Deposits Collected		Deposits as a % of Total		Deposits Collected		Deposits as a % of Total		Deposits Collected		Deposits as a % of Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed index annuities:
Index strategies	$	2,401,891	52	%	$	1,535,477	42	%	$	1,303,871	57	%
Fixed strategy	1,551,007		33	%	1,849,833		50	%	937,227		41	%
	3,952,898		85	%	3,385,310		92	%	2,241,098		98	%
Fixed rate annuities	715,821		15	%	292,248		8	%	47,908		2	%
	$	4,668,719	100	%	$	3,677,558	100	%	$	2,289,006	100	%

Fixed Index Annuities

Fixed index annuities allow policyholders to earn index credits based on the performance of a particular index without the risk of loss of their principal. Most of these products allow policyholders to transfer funds once a year among several different crediting strategies, including one or more index based strategies and a traditional fixed rate strategy. Approximately 95%, 94% and 93% of our fixed index annuity sales for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, were "premium bonus" products. The initial annuity deposit on these policies is increased at issuance by a specified premium bonus ranging from 3% to 10%. Generally, there is a compensating adjustment in the commission paid to the agent or the surrender charges on the policy to offset the premium bonus.

The annuity contract value is equal to the sum of premiums paid, premium bonuses and interest credited ("index credits"), which is based upon an overall limit (or "cap") or a percentage (the "participation rate") of the annual appreciation (based in certain situations on monthly averages or monthly point-to-point calculations) in a recognized index or benchmark. Caps and participation rates limit the amount of annual interest the policyholder may earn in any one contract year and may be adjusted by us annually subject to stated minimums. Caps generally range from 4% to 12% and participation rates generally range from 25% to 100%. In addition, some products have an "asset fee" ranging from 1.5% to 5%, which is deducted from annual interest to be credited. For products with asset fees, if the annual appreciation in the index does not exceed the asset fee, the policyholder's index credit is zero. The minimum guaranteed contract values are equal to 87.5% of the premium collected plus interest credited at an annual rate ranging from 1.5% to 3.5%.

Fixed Rate Annuities

Fixed rate deferred annuities include annual reset and multi-year rate guaranteed products. Our annual reset fixed rate annuities have an annual interest rate (the "crediting rate") that is guaranteed for the first policy year. After the first policy year, we have the discretionary ability to change the crediting rate once annually to any rate at or above a guaranteed minimum rate. Our multi-year rate guaranteed annuities are similar to our annual reset products except that the initial crediting rate is guaranteed for up to a seven-year period before it may be changed at our discretion. The guaranteed rate on our fixed rate deferred annuities ranges from 2% to 4% and the initial guaranteed rate on our multi-year rate guaranteed policies ranges from 2.65% to 5.10%.

The initial crediting rate is largely a function of the interest rate we can earn on invested assets acquired with new annuity deposits and the rates offered on similar products by our competitors. For subsequent adjustments to crediting rates, we take into account the yield on our investment portfolio, annuity surrender assumptions, competitive industry pricing and crediting rate history for particular groups of annuity policies with similar characteristics. As of December 31, 2010, crediting rates on our outstanding fixed rate deferred annuities generally ranged from 2.5% to 5%. The average crediting rate on our outstanding fixed rate deferred annuities at December 31, 2010 was 3.38%.

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We also sell single premium immediate annuities ("SPIAs"). Our SPIAs are designed to provide a series of periodic payments for a fixed period of time or for life, according to the policyholder's choice at the time of issue. The amounts, frequency and length of time of the payments are fixed at the outset of the annuity contract. SPIAs are often purchased by persons at or near retirement age who desire a steady stream of payments over a future period of years. The implicit interest rate on SPIAs is based on market conditions when the policy is issued. The implicit interest rate on our outstanding SPIAs averaged 2.94% at December 31, 2010.

Withdrawal Options—Fixed Index and Fixed Rate Annuities

Policyholders are typically permitted penalty-free withdrawals up to 10% of the contract value in each year after the first year, subject to limitations. Withdrawals in excess of allowable penalty-free amounts are assessed a surrender charge during a penalty period which ranges from 5 to 17 years for fixed index annuities and 3 to 15 years for fixed rate annuities from the date the policy is issued. This surrender charge initially ranges from 4.7% to 20% for fixed index annuities and 8% to 25% for fixed rate annuities of the contract value and generally decreases by approximately one to two percentage points per year during the surrender charge period. Surrender charges are set at levels aimed at protecting us from loss on early terminations and reducing the likelihood of policyholders terminating their policies during periods of increasing interest rates. This practice lengthens the effective duration of the policy liabilities and enhances our ability to maintain profitability on such policies. The policyholder may elect to take the proceeds of the annuity either in a single payment or in a series of payments for life, for a fixed number of years or a combination of these payment options.

Beginning in July 2007, substantially all of our fixed index annuity policies were issued with a living income benefit rider. This rider provides an additional liquidity option to policyholders who elect to receive a guaranteed living income from their contract without requiring them to annuitize their contract value. The amount of the living income benefit available is determined by the growth in the policy's income account value as defined in the policy and the policyholder's age at the time the policyholder elects to begin receiving living income benefit payments. Living income benefit payments may be stopped and restarted at the election of the policyholder.

Life Insurance

These products include traditional ordinary and term, universal life and other interest-sensitive life insurance products. We have approximately $2.6 billion of life insurance in force as of December 31, 2010. We intend to continue offering a complete line of life insurance products for individual and group markets. Premiums related to this business accounted for 1% of revenues for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 and 4% of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2008.

Investments

Investment activities are an integral part of our business, and net investment income is a significant component of our total revenues. Profitability of many of our products is significantly affected by spreads between interest yields on investments, the cost of options to fund the annual index credits on our fixed index annuities and rates credited on our fixed rate annuities. We manage the index-based risk component of our fixed index annuities by purchasing call options on the applicable indices to fund the annual index credits on these annuities and by adjusting the caps, participation rates and asset fees on policy anniversary dates to reflect the change in the cost of such options which varies based on market conditions. All options are purchased to fund the index credits on our fixed index annuities on their respective anniversary dates, and new options are purchased at each of the anniversary dates to fund the next annual index credits. All credited rates on non-multi-year rate guaranteed fixed rate deferred annuities may be changed annually, subject to minimum guarantees. Changes in caps, participation rates and asset fees on fixed index annuities and crediting rates on fixed rate annuities may not be sufficient to maintain targeted investment spreads in all economic and market environments. In addition, competition and other factors, including the potential for increases in surrenders and withdrawals, may limit our ability to adjust or to maintain caps, participation rates, asset fees and crediting rates at levels necessary to avoid narrowing of spreads under certain market conditions. For the year ended December 31, 2010, the weighted average yield, computed on the average amortized cost basis of our investment portfolio, was 6.06% and the weighted average cost of our liabilities, excluding amortization of deferred sales inducements, was 2.91%.

For additional information regarding the composition of our investment portfolio and our interest rate risk management, see Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Financial Condition—Investments, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk and note 3 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

Marketing

We market our products through a variable cost brokerage distribution network of approximately 50 national marketing organizations and, through them, 37,000 independent agents as of December 31, 2010. We emphasize high quality service to our agents and policyholders along with the prompt payment of commissions to our agents. We believe this has been significant in building excellent relationships with our existing agency force.

Our independent agents and agencies range in profile from national sales organizations to personal producing general agents. We actively recruit new agents and terminate those agents who have not produced business for us in recent periods and are unlikely to sell our products in the future. In our recruitment efforts, we emphasize that agents have direct access to our executive officers, giving us an edge in recruiting over larger and foreign-owned competitors. We also emphasize our products and our Gold Eagle program which provides unique cash and equity-based incentives to those agents selling $1 million or more of annuity premium annually. We also have favorable relationships with our national marketing organizations, which have enabled us to efficiently sell through an expanded number of independent agents.

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The insurance distribution system is comprised of insurance brokers and marketing organizations. We are pursuing a strategy to increase the efficiency of our distribution network by strengthening our relationships with key national and regional marketing organizations and are alert for opportunities to establish relationships with organizations not presently associated with us. These organizations typically recruit agents for us by advertising our products and our commission structure through direct mail advertising or seminars for insurance agents and brokers. These organizations bear most of the cost incurred in marketing our products. We compensate marketing organizations by paying them a percentage of the commissions earned on new annuity policy sales generated by the agents recruited by such organizations. We also conduct incentive programs for marketing organizations and agents from time to time, including equity-based programs for our leading national marketers and those agents qualifying for our Gold Eagle program. We believe the Gold Eagle program has been effective as evidenced by the increase in Gold Eagle agents to 1,021 in 2010 as compared to 891 in 2009 and 566 in 2008, accounting for 57%, 57% and 56% of total production, respectively. For additional information regarding our equity-based programs for our leading national marketers and independent agents, see note 11 to our audited consolidated financial statements. We generally do not enter into exclusive arrangements with these marketing organizations.

One of our national marketing organizations accounted for more than 10% of the annuity deposits collected during 2010 and we expect this organization to continue as a marketer for American Equity Life with a focus on selling our products. The states with the largest share of direct premiums collected during 2010 were: Florida (11.5%), California (8.8%), Texas (7.0%), Illinois (6.1%) and Pennsylvania (5.2%).

Competition and Ratings

We operate in a highly competitive industry. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and enjoy substantially greater financial resources, higher ratings by rating agencies, broader and more diversified product lines and more widespread agency relationships. Our annuity products compete with index, fixed rate and variable annuities sold by other insurance companies and also with mutual fund products, traditional bank investments and other investment and retirement funding alternatives offered by asset managers, banks, and broker-dealers. Our insurance products compete with products of other insurance companies, financial intermediaries and other institutions based on a number of features, including crediting rates, policy terms and conditions, service provided to distribution channels and policyholders, ratings, reputation and broker compensation.

The sales agents for our products use the ratings assigned to an insurer by independent rating agencies as one factor in determining which insurer's annuity to market. In recent years, the market for annuities has been dominated by those insurers with the highest ratings. Following is a summary of American Equity Life's financial strength ratings:


	Financial Strength Rating	Outlook Statement
A.M. Best Company
January 2011—current	A-	Stable
November 2008—January 2011	A-	Negative
August 2006—October 2008	A-	Stable
July 2002—July 2006	B++	Stable
Standard & Poor's
September 2010—current	BBB+	Positive
July 2010—September 2010	BBB+	Stable
July 2008—July 2010	BBB+	Negative
July 2002—June 2008	BBB+	Stable

The degree to which ratings adjustments have affected sales and persistency is unknown. We believe the rating upgrade from A.M. Best Company in 2006 enhanced our competitive position and improved our sales. However, the degree to which this rating will affect future sales and persistency is unknown.

Financial strength ratings generally involve quantitative and qualitative evaluations by rating agencies of a company's financial condition and operating performance. Generally, rating agencies base their ratings upon information furnished to them by the insurer and upon their own investigations, studies and assumptions. Ratings are based upon factors of concern to policyholders, agents and intermediaries and are not directed toward the protection of investors and are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities.

In addition to the financial strength ratings, rating agencies use an "outlook statement" to indicate a medium or long-term trend which, if continued, may lead to a rating change. A positive outlook indicates a rating may be raised and a negative outlook indicates a rating may be lowered. A stable outlook is assigned when ratings are not likely to be changed. Outlook statements should not be confused with expected stability of the issuer's financial or economic performance. A rating may have a "stable" outlook to indicate that the rating is not expected to change, but a "stable" outlook does not preclude a rating agency from changing a rating at any time without notice.

In July 2010, A.M. Best revised its rating outlook on the U.S. life/annuity sector to stable from negative. In December 2010, Standard & Poor's revised its outlook on the U.S. life insurance sector to stable from negative. Both agencies had their outlook on our industry stated as negative since late 2008. Strengthening balance sheets and recovering financial markets have been listed as reasons for the improved outlook. We believe the rating agencies think the economic recovery will continue to be slow, which may leave the potential for further credit losses. The rating agencies have heightened the level of scrutiny they apply to insurance companies, increased the frequency and scope of their credit reviews, and may adjust upward the capital and other requirements employed in the rating agency models for maintenance of certain ratings levels.

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A.M. Best Company ratings currently range from "A++" (Superior) to "F" (In Liquidation), and include 16 separate ratings categories. Within these categories, "A++" (Superior) and "A+" (Superior) are the highest, followed by "A" (Excellent) and "A-" (Excellent) then followed by "B++" (Good) and "B+" (Good). Publications of A.M. Best Company indicate that the "A-" rating is assigned to those companies that, in A.M. Best Company's opinion, have demonstrated an excellent ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders.

Standard & Poor's insurer financial strength ratings currently range from "AAA (extremely strong)" to "R (under regulatory supervision)", and include 21 separate ratings categories, while "NR" indicates that Standard & Poor's has no opinion about the insurer's financial strength. Within these categories, "AAA" and "AA" are the highest, followed by "A" and "BBB". Publications of Standard & Poor's indicate that an insurer rated "BBB" is regarded as having good financial security characteristics, but is more likely to be affected by adverse business conditions than are higher rated insurers.

A.M. Best Company and Standard & Poor's review their ratings of insurance companies from time to time. There can be no assurance that any particular rating will continue for any given period of time or that it will not be changed or withdrawn entirely if, in their judgment, circumstances so warrant. If our ratings were to be negatively adjusted for any reason, we could experience a material decline in the sales of our products and the persistency of our existing business.

Reinsurance

Coinsurance

American Equity Life has two coinsurance agreements with EquiTrust Life Insurance Company ("EquiTrust"), covering 70% of certain of our fixed index and fixed rate annuities issued from August 1, 2001 through December 31, 2001, 40% of those contracts issued during 2002 and 2003, and 20% of those contracts issued from January 1, 2004 to July 31, 2004, when the agreement was suspended by mutual consent of the parties. As a result of the suspension, new business is no longer ceded to EquiTrust. The business reinsured under these agreements is not eligible for recapture before the expiration of 10 years. Coinsurance deposits (aggregate policy benefit reserves transferred to EquiTrust under these agreements) were $1.3 billion and $1.4 billion at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. We remain liable to policyholders with respect to the policy liabilities ceded to EquiTrust should EquiTrust fail to meet the obligations it has coinsured. EquiTrust has received a financial strength rating of "B+" (Good) with a stable outlook from A.M. Best Company. None of the coinsurance deposits with EquiTrust are deemed by management to be uncollectible.

Effective July 1, 2009, we entered into two funds withheld coinsurance agreements with Athene Life Re Ltd. ("Athene"), an unauthorized life reinsurer domiciled in Bermuda. One agreement ceded 20% of certain of our fixed index annuities issued from January 1, 2009 through March 31, 2010. The business reinsured under this agreement is not eligible for recapture until the end of the month following seven years after the date of issuance of the policy. The other agreement cedes 80% of our multi-year rate guaranteed annuities issued on or after July 1, 2009. The business reinsured under this agreement may not be recaptured. Coinsurance deposits (aggregate policy benefit reserves transferred to Athene under these agreements) were $1.3 billion and $834.2 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. We remain liable to policyholders with respect to the policy liabilities ceded to Athene should Athene fail to meet the obligations it has coinsured. The annuity deposits that have been ceded to Athene are being held in a trust on a funds withheld basis. American Equity Life is named as the sole beneficiary of the trust. The funds withheld are required to remain at a value that is sufficient to support the current balance of policy benefit liabilities of the ceded business on a statutory basis. If the value of the funds withheld account would ever reach a point where it is less than the amount of the ceded policy benefit liabilities on a statutory basis, Athene is required to either establish a letter of credit or deposit securities in a trust for the amount of any shortfall. At December 31, 2010, Athene has adequate capital reserves and a significant capital commitment from its equity investor. None of the coinsurance deposits with Athene are deemed by management to be uncollectible.

Financing Arrangements

American Equity Life has two reinsurance transactions with Hannover Life Reassurance Company of America, ("Hannover"), which are treated as reinsurance under statutory accounting practices and as financing arrangements under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). The statutory surplus benefits under these agreements are eliminated under GAAP and the associated charges are recorded as risk charges and included in other operating costs and expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. Hannover has received a financial strength rating of "A" (Excellent) with a positive outlook from A.M. Best Company. The transactions became effective October 1, 2005 (the "2005 Hannover Transaction") and December 31, 2008 (the "2008 Hannover Transaction").

The 2008 Hannover Transaction is a coinsurance and yearly renewable term reinsurance agreement for statutory purposes and provided $29.5 million in net pretax statutory surplus benefit in 2008. Pursuant to the terms of this agreement, pretax statutory surplus was reduced by $6.7 million in 2010 and is expected to be reduced as follows: 2011—$6.7 million; 2012—$6.8 million; 2013—$6.9 million. These amounts include risk charges equal to 5.0% of the pretax statutory surplus benefit as of the end of each calendar quarter.

The 2005 Hannover Transaction is a yearly renewable term reinsurance agreement for statutory purposes covering 47% of waived surrender charges related to penalty free withdrawals and deaths on certain business. The agreement was amended in 2010 and 2009 to include policy forms that were not in existence at the time this agreement became effective. We may recapture the risks reinsured under this agreement as of the end of any quarter beginning October 1, 2008. The 2009 amendment includes a provision that makes it punitive for us not to recapture the business ceded prior to January 1, 2013. The reserve credit recorded on a statutory basis by American Equity Life was $135.2 million and $106.8 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. We pay quarterly reinsurance premiums under this agreement with an experience refund calculated on a quarterly basis resulting in a risk charge equal to approximately 5.8% of the weighted average statutory reserve credit.

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Indemnity Reinsurance

Consistent with the general practice of the life insurance industry, American Equity Life enters into agreements of indemnity reinsurance with other insurance companies in order to reinsure portions of the coverage provided by its annuity, life and accident and health insurance products. Indemnity reinsurance agreements are intended to limit a life insurer's maximum loss on a large or unusually hazardous risk or to diversify its risks. Indemnity reinsurance does not discharge the original insurer's primary liability to the insured.

The maximum loss retained by us on all life insurance policies we have issued was $0.1 million or less as of December 31, 2010. American Equity Life's reinsured business under indemnity reinsurance agreements is primarily ceded to two reinsurers. Reinsurance related to life and accident and health insurance that was ceded by us to these reinsurers was immaterial.

During 2007, American Equity Life entered into reinsurance agreements with Ace Tempest Life Reinsurance Ltd and Hannover to cede to each 50% of the risk associated with our living income benefit rider on certain fixed index annuities issued in 2007. The amounts ceded under these agreements were immaterial as of and for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009.

We believe the assuming companies will be able to honor all contractual commitments, based on our periodic review of their financial statements, insurance industry reports and reports filed with state insurance departments.

Regulation

Life insurance companies are subject to regulation and supervision by the states in which they transact business. State insurance laws establish supervisory agencies with broad regulatory authority, including the power to:


•	grant and revoke licenses to transact business;


•	regulate and supervise trade practices and market conduct;


•	establish guaranty associations;


•	license agents;


•	approve policy forms;


•	approve premium rates for some lines of business;


•	establish reserve requirements;


•	prescribe the form and content of required financial statements and reports;


•	determine the reasonableness and adequacy of statutory capital and surplus;


•	perform financial, market conduct and other examinations;


•	define acceptable accounting principles for statutory reporting;


•	regulate the type and amount of permitted investments; and


•	limit the amount of dividends and surplus note payments that can be paid without obtaining regulatory approval.

Our life subsidiaries are subject to periodic examinations by state regulatory authorities. In 2009, an examination of American Equity Life as of December 31, 2008, was performed for the Iowa Insurance Division by its examiners under the authority granted to the Iowa Insurance Commissioner. There were no adjustments to American Equity Life's 2008 statutory financial statements as a result of this examination. In 2009, the New York Insurance Department completed an examination of American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company of New York as of December 31, 2007. There were no adjustments to American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company of New York's 2007 statutory financial statements required as a result of this examination; however, it consented to a prospective change in its cash flow testing (asset adequacy) analysis which resulted in a $9.4 million increase in December 31, 2010 statutory reserves.

The payment of dividends or the distributions, including surplus note payments, by our life subsidiaries is subject to regulation by each subsidiary's state of domicile's insurance department. Currently, American Equity Life may pay dividends or make other distributions without the prior approval of the Iowa Insurance Commissioner, unless such payments, together with all other such payments within the preceding twelve months, exceed the greater of (1) American Equity Life's statutory net gain from operations for the preceding calendar year, or (2) 10% of American Equity Life's statutory surplus at the preceding December 31. For 2011, up to $187.5 million can be distributed as dividends by American Equity Life without prior approval of the Iowa Insurance Commissioner. In addition, dividends and surplus note payments may be made only out of earned surplus, and all surplus note payments are subject to prior approval by regulatory authorities. American Equity Life had $493.6 million of statutory earned surplus at December 31, 2010.

Most states have also enacted regulations on the activities of insurance holding company systems, including acquisitions, extraordinary dividends, the terms of surplus notes, the terms of affiliate transactions and other related matters. We are registered pursuant to such legislation in Iowa. A number of state legislatures have also considered or have enacted legislative proposals that alter and, in many cases, increase the authority of state agencies to regulate insurance companies and holding company systems.

Most states, including Iowa and New York where our life subsidiaries are domiciled, have enacted legislation or adopted administrative regulations affecting the acquisition of control of insurance companies as well as transactions between insurance companies and persons controlling them. The nature and extent of such legislation and regulations currently in effect vary from state to state. However, most states require administrative approval of the direct or indirect acquisition of 10% or more of the outstanding voting securities of an insurance company incorporated in the state. The acquisition of 10% of such securities is generally deemed to be the acquisition of "control" for the purpose of the holding company statutes and requires not only the filing of detailed information concerning the acquiring parties and the plan of acquisition, but also administrative approval prior to the acquisition. In many states, the insurance authority may find that "control" in fact does not exist in circumstances in which a person owns or controls more than 10% of the voting securities.

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Although the federal government does not directly regulate the business of insurance, federal legislation and administrative policies in several areas, including pension regulation, age and sex discrimination, financial services regulation, securities regulation and federal taxation can significantly affect the insurance business.

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Section 989J of this Act, known as the "Harkin Amendment," provides a safe harbor exemption from securities registration requirements for fixed index annuities, effectively overturning SEC Rule 151A which the SEC adopted in January 2009, providing for the regulation of fixed index annuities as securities beginning in January 12, 2011. Subsequently, in July 2010, Rule 151A was successfully challenged in court and vacated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, which led to the SEC withdrawing Rule 151A under the Securities Act of 1933 on October 14, 2010.

State insurance regulators and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") are continually reexamining existing laws and regulations and developing new legislation for the passage by state legislatures and new regulations for adoption by insurance authorities. Proposed laws and regulations or those still under development pertain to insurer solvency and market conduct and in recent years have focused on:


•	insurance company investments;


•	risk-based capital ("RBC") guidelines, which consist of regulatory targeted surplus levels based on the relationship of statutory capital and surplus, with prescribed adjustments, to the sum of stated percentages of each element of a specified list of company risk exposures;


•	the implementation of non-statutory guidelines and the circumstances under which dividends may be paid;


•	principles-based reserving;


•	product approvals;


•	agent licensing;


•	underwriting practices; and


•	life insurance and annuity sales practices.

The NAIC's RBC requirements are intended to be used by insurance regulators as an early warning tool to identify deteriorating or weakly capitalized insurance companies for the purpose of initiating regulatory action. The RBC formula defines a minimum capital standard which supplements low, fixed minimum capital and surplus requirements previously implemented on a state-by-state basis. Such requirements are not designed as a ranking mechanism for adequately capitalized companies.

The NAIC's RBC requirements provide for four levels of regulatory attention depending on the ratio of a company's total adjusted capital to its RBC. Adjusted capital is defined as the total of statutory capital and surplus, asset valuation reserve and certain other adjustments. Calculations using the NAIC formula at December 31, 2010, indicated that American Equity Life's ratio of total adjusted capital to the highest level at which regulatory action might be initiated was 339%.

Our life subsidiaries also may be required, under the solvency or guaranty laws of most states in which they do business, to pay assessments up to certain prescribed limits to fund policyholder losses or liabilities of insolvent insurance companies. These assessments may be deferred or forgiven under most guaranty laws if they would threaten an insurer's financial strength and, in certain instances, may be offset against future premium taxes. Assessments related to business reinsured for periods prior to the effective date of the reinsurance are the responsibility of the ceding companies.

Federal Income Tax

The annuity and life insurance products that we market generally provide the policyholder with a federal income tax advantage, as compared to certain other savings investments such as certificates of deposit and taxable bonds, in that federal income taxation on any increases in the contract values (i.e., the "inside build-up") of these products is deferred until it is received by the policyholder. With other savings investments, the increase in value is generally taxed each year as it is realized. Additionally, life insurance death benefits are generally exempt from income tax.

From time to time, various tax law changes have been proposed that could have an adverse effect on our business, including the elimination of all or a portion of the income tax advantage described above for annuities and life insurance. If legislation were enacted to eliminate the tax deferral for annuities, such a change would have an adverse effect on our ability to sell non-qualified annuities. Non-qualified annuities are annuities that are not sold to an individual retirement account or other qualified retirement plan.

Nearly all of the tax cuts which were contained in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (the "2001 Act") and accelerated by the provisions of the Jobs and Growth Tax Reconciliation Act of 2003 (the "2003 Act") were due to expire at the end of 2010. These tax cuts include a temporary reduction in individual income tax rates which can lower the present value of the tax deferred advantage of annuities and life insurance products for some individuals. On December 17, 2010, the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 was signed into law which eliminated the expiration of many of the 2001 Act tax cuts and also maintained the current level of individual tax bracket rates.

Beginning in 2013, distributions from non-qualified annuity policies will be considered "investment income" for purposes of the newly enacted Medicare tax on investment income contained in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. As a result, in certain circumstances a 3.8% tax ("Medicare Tax") may be applied to some or all of the taxable portion of distributions from non-qualified annuities to individuals whose income exceeds certain threshold amounts. This new tax may have an adverse effect on our ability to sell non-qualified annuities to individuals whose income exceeds these threshold amounts and could accelerate withdrawals due to additional tax. The constitutionality of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 is currently the subject of multiple litigation actions initiated by various state attorneys general, and it is also the subject of several proposals in the U.S. Congress for amendment and/or repeal. The outcome of such litigation and

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legislative action as it relates to the Medicare Tax is unknown at this time.

Employees

As of December 31, 2010, we had approximately 360 full-time employees. We have experienced no work stoppages or strikes and consider our relations with our employees to be excellent. None of our employees are represented by a union.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Although economic conditions both domestically and globally have continued to improve since the financial crisis in 2008, we remain vulnerable to market uncertainty and continued financial instability of national, state and local governments. Continued difficult conditions in the global capital markets and economy could deteriorate in the near future and affect our financial position and our level of earnings from our operations.

Markets in the United States and elsewhere experienced extreme volatility and disruption since the second half of 2007, due in part to the financial stresses affecting the liquidity of the banking system and the financial markets. This volatility and disruption reached unprecedented levels in late 2008 and early 2009. The United States entered a severe recession and recovery has proved to be slow and long-term. High unemployment rates and lower average household income levels have emerged as continued lagging indicators of a slow economic recovery. The continuing market uncertainty has directly and materially affected our investment portfolio. One of the strategies used by the U.S. government to stimulate the economy has been to keep interest rates low and increase the supply of United States dollars. While these strategies have appeared to be somewhat successful, any future economic downturn or market disruption could negatively impact our ability to reinvest these funds.

If market conditions deteriorate in 2011 or beyond it could result in additional other than temporary impairments and impairments on our commercial mortgage loans. This may result in us needing to raise additional capital to sustain our current business in force and new sales of our annuity products, which may be difficult under current market conditions. If capital is available, it may be at terms that are not favorable to us. If we are unable to raise adequate capital, we may be required to limit growth in sales of our annuity products.

Additionally, if market conditions occurred that would subsequently effect our liquidity we could be forced to limit our operations and our business could suffer. We need liquidity to pay our policyholder benefits, operating expenses, dividends on our capital stock, and to service our debt obligations. The principal sources of our liquidity are annuity deposits, investment income and proceeds from the sale, maturity and call of investments. Additional sources of liquidity in normal markets also include a variety of short and long-term instruments, including long-term debt and capital securities.

Governmental initiatives intended to improve global and local economies that have been adopted may not be effective and, in any event, may be accompanied by other initiatives, including new capital requirements or other regulations, that could materially affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity in ways that we cannot predict.

We are subject to extensive laws and regulations that are administered and enforced by a number of different regulatory authorities including state insurance regulators, the NAIC, the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange. Some of these authorities are or may in the future consider enhanced or new regulatory requirements intended to prevent future economic crises or otherwise assure the stability of institutions under their supervision. These authorities may also seek to exercise their supervisory or enforcement authority in new or more robust ways. All of these possibilities, if they occurred, could affect the way we conduct our business and manage our capital, and may require us to satisfy increased capital requirements, any of which in turn could materially affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

We are exposed to significant financial and capital risk, including changing interest rates, credit spreads and equity prices which may have an adverse affect on sales of our products, profitability, investment portfolio and reported book value per share.

Future changes in interest rates, credit spreads and equity and bond indices may result in fluctuations in the income derived from our investments. These and other factors due to the current economic uncertainty could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Interest rate and credit spread risk

Our interest rate risk is related to market price and changes in cash flow. Substantial and sustained increases and decreases in market interest rates can materially and adversely affect the profitability of our products, our ability to earn predictable returns, the fair value of our investments and the reported value of stockholders' equity. A rise in interest rates, in the absence of other countervailing changes, will increase the unrealized loss position of our investment portfolio. With respect to our available for sale fixed maturity securities, such declines in value (net of income taxes and certain adjustments for assumed changes in amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements) reduce our reported stockholders' equity and book value per share.

If interest rates rise dramatically within a short period of time, our business may be exposed to disintermediation risk. Disintermediation risk is the risk that our policyholders may surrender all or part of their contracts in a rising interest rate environment, which may require us to sell assets in an unrealized loss position. Alternatively, we may increase crediting rates to retain business and reduce the level of assets that may need to be sold at a loss. However, such action would reduce our investment spread and net income.

We hold a substantial amount of fixed maturity securities that are callable by the issuer prior to maturity, and since 2008, we have received significant amounts of redemption proceeds related to calls of securities issued by United States Government sponsored agencies. We have reinvested the proceeds from these redemptions into new securities issued by such agencies, corporate securities and securities issued by United

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States municipalities, states and territories. The callable United States Government sponsored agencies that we own / purchase typically provide for 12 months of call protection, after which they may be called on the first anniversary of the issue date, or any semi-annual or annual redemption date thereafter. As such, at any financial reporting date, substantially all of the securities we own issued by United States Government sponsored agencies that are not residential mortgage-backed securities all callable by the respective agency within 12 months.

Due to the long-term nature of our annuity liabilities, sustained declines in long-term interest rates may result in increased redemptions of our fixed maturity securities that are subject to call redemption prior to maturity by the issuer and expose us to reinvestment risk. If we are unable to reinvest the proceeds from such redemptions into investments with credit quality and yield characteristics of the redeemed securities, our net income and overall financial performance may be adversely affected. We have a certain ability to mitigate this risk by lowering crediting rates on our products subject to certain restrictions as discussed below.

Our exposure to credit spreads is related to market price and changes in cash flows related to changes in credit spreads. If credit spreads widen significantly it would probably lead to additional other than temporary impairments. If credit spreads tighten significantly it could result in reduced net investment income associated with new purchases of fixed maturity securities.

Credit risk

We are subject to the risk that the issuers of our fixed maturity securities and other debt securities and borrowers on our commercial mortgages, will default on principal and interest payments, particularly if a major downturn in economic activity occurs. An increase in defaults on our fixed maturity securities and commercial mortgage loan portfolios could harm our financial strength and reduce our profitability.

Credit and cash flow assumption risk is the risk that issuers of securities, mortgagees on mortgage loans or other parties, including reinsurers and derivatives counterparties, default on their contractual obligations or experience adverse changes to their contractual cash flow streams. We attempt to minimize the adverse impact of this risk by monitoring portfolio diversification by asset class, creditor, industry, and by complying with investment limitations governed by state insurance laws and regulations as applicable. We also consider all relevant objective information available in estimating the cash flows related to residential mortgage backed securities. We monitor and manage exposures to determine whether securities are impaired or loans are deemed uncollectible.

We use derivative instruments to fund the annual credits on our fixed index annuities. We purchase derivative instruments, consisting primarily of one-year call options, from a number of counterparties. Our policy is to acquire such options only from counterparties rated "A-"or better by a nationally recognized rating agency and the maximum credit exposure to any single counterparty is subject to concentration limits. In addition, we have entered into credit support agreements which allow us to require posting of collateral by our counterparties to secure their obligations to us under the derivative instruments. If our counterparties fail to honor their obligations under the derivative instruments, our revenues may not be sufficient to fund the annual index credits on our fixed index annuities. Any such failure could harm our financial strength and reduce our profitability.

Liquidity risk

We could have difficulty selling our commercial mortgage loans because they are less liquid than our publicly traded securities. If we require significant amounts of cash on short notice, we may have difficulty selling these loans at attractive prices or in a timely manner, or both.

Fluctuations in interest rates and investment spread could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

A key component of our net income is the investment spread. A narrowing of investment spreads may adversely affect operating results. Although we have the right to adjust interest crediting rates (cap, participation or asset fee rates for fixed index annuities) on most products, changes to crediting rates may not be sufficient to maintain targeted investment spreads in all economic and market environments. In general, our ability to lower crediting rates is subject to minimum crediting rates filed with and approved by state regulators. In addition, competition and other factors, including the potential for increases in surrenders and withdrawals, may limit our ability to adjust or maintain crediting rates at levels necessary to avoid the narrowing of spreads under certain market conditions. Our policy structure generally provides for resetting of policy crediting rates at least annually and imposes withdrawal penalties for withdrawals during the first 3 to 17 years a policy is in force.

Managing the investment spread on our fixed index annuities is more complex than it is for fixed rate annuity products. We manage the index-based risk component of our fixed index annuities by purchasing call options on the applicable indices to fund the annual index credits on these annuities and by adjusting the caps, participation rates and asset fees on policy anniversary dates to reflect changes in the cost of such options which varies based on market conditions. The price of such options generally increases with increases in the volatility in the indices and interest rates, which may either narrow the spread or cause us to lower caps or participation rates. Thus, the volatility of the indices adds an additional degree of uncertainty to the profitability of the index products. We attempt to mitigate this risk by resetting caps, participation rates and asset fees annually on the policy anniversaries.

Our valuation of fixed maturity and equity securities may include methodologies, estimates and assumptions which are subject to differing interpretations and could result in changes to investment valuations that may materially adversely affect our results of operations or financial condition.

Fixed maturity securities and equity securities are reported at fair value in our consolidated balance sheets. During periods of market disruption including periods of significantly rising or high interest rates, rapidly widening credit spreads or illiquidity, it may be difficult to value certain of our securities if trading becomes less frequent and/or market data becomes less observable. Prices provided by independent broker quotes or independent pricing services that are used in the determination of fair value can vary significantly for a particular security. There may be

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certain asset classes that were in active markets with significant observable data that become illiquid due to the current financial environment. As such, valuations may include inputs and assumptions that are less observable or require greater judgment as well as valuation methods that require greater judgment. Further, rapidly changing and unprecedented credit and equity market conditions could materially impact the valuation of securities as reported in our consolidated financial statements and the period-to-period changes in value could vary significantly. Decreases in value may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

Defaults on commercial mortgage loans and volatility in performance may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Commercial mortgage loans face heightened delinquency and default risk due to recent economic conditions which have had a negative impact on the performance of the underlying collateral, resulting in declining values and an adverse impact on the obligors of such instruments. An increase in the default rate of our commercial mortgage loan investments could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In addition, the carrying value of commercial mortgage loans is negatively impacted by such factors. The carrying value of commercial mortgage loans is stated at outstanding principal less any loan loss allowances recognized. Considerations in determining allowances include, but are not limited to, the following: (i) declining debt service coverage ratios and increasing loan to value ratios; (ii) bankruptcy filings of major tenants or affiliates of the borrower on the property; (iii) catastrophic events at the property; and (iv) other subjective events or factors, including whether the terms of the debt will be restructured. There can be no assurance that management's assessment of loan loss allowances on commercial mortgage loans will not change in future periods, which could lead to investment losses.

We face competition from companies that have greater financial resources, broader arrays of products, higher ratings and stronger financial performance, which may impair our ability to retain existing customers, attract new customers and maintain our profitability and financial strength.

We operate in a highly competitive industry. Many of our competitors are substantially larger and enjoy substantially greater financial resources, higher ratings by rating agencies, broader and more diversified product lines and more widespread agency relationships. Our annuity products compete with index, fixed rate and variable annuities sold by other insurance companies and also with mutual fund products, traditional bank investments and other retirement funding alternatives offered by asset managers, banks and broker-dealers. Our insurance products compete with those of other insurance companies, financial intermediaries and other institutions based on a number of factors, including premium rates, policy terms and conditions, service provided to distribution channels and policyholders, ratings by rating agencies, reputation and commission structures.

While we compete with numerous other companies, we view the following as our most significant competitors:


•	Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America;


•	Aviva USA;


•	Midland National Life Insurance Company;


•	ING USA Annuity & Life Insurance Company; and


•	North American Company for Life and Health Insurance.

Our ability to compete depends in part on rates of interest credited to policyholder account balances or the parameters governing the determination of index credits which is driven by our investment performance. We will not be able to accumulate and retain assets under management for our products if our investment results under perform the market or the competition, since such under performance likely would result in asset withdrawals and reduced sales.

We compete for distribution sources for our products. We believe that our success in competing for distributors depends on factors such as our financial strength, the services we provide to, and the relationships we develop with these distributors and offering competitive commission structures. Our distributors are generally free to sell products from whichever providers they wish, which makes it important for us to continually offer distributors products and services they find attractive. If our products or services fall short of distributors' needs, we may not be able to establish and maintain satisfactory relationships with distributors of our annuity and life insurance products. Our ability to compete in the past has also depended in part on our ability to develop innovative new products and bring them to market more quickly than our competitors. In order for us to compete in the future, we will need to continue to bring innovative products to market in a timely fashion. Otherwise, our revenues and profitability could suffer.

Our reinsurance program involves risks because we remain liable with respect to the liabilities ceded to reinsurers if the reinsurers fail to meet the obligations assumed by them.

Our life insurance subsidiaries cede certain policies to other insurance companies through reinsurance agreements. American Equity Life has entered into two coinsurance agreements with EquiTrust covering $1.3 billion of policy benefit reserves at December 31, 2010 and into two funds withheld coinsurance agreements with Athene Life Re Ltd. ("Athene"), an unauthorized life reinsurer domiciled in Bermuda, covering $1.3 billion of policy benefit reserves at December 31, 2010. Since Athene is an unauthorized reinsurer, the annuity deposits that have been ceded to Athene are held in a trust on a funds withheld basis. The funds withheld are required to remain at a value that is sufficient to support the current balance of policy benefit liabilities of the ceded business on a statutory basis. If the value of the funds withheld would ever reach a point where it is less than the amount of the ceded policy benefit liabilities on a statutory basis, Athene is required to either establish a letter of credit or deposit securities to the funds withheld for the amount of any shortfall. Athene has adequate capital reserves and a significant capital commitment from its equity investor. We remain liable with respect to the policy liabilities ceded to EquiTrust and Athene should either fail to

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meet the obligations assumed by them.

In addition, we have entered into other types of reinsurance contracts including indemnity reinsurance and financing arrangements. Should any of these reinsurers fail to meet the obligations assumed under such contracts, we remain liable with respect to the liabilities ceded.

We may experience volatility in net income due to the application of fair value accounting to our derivative instruments.

All of our derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, are recognized in the balance sheet at their fair values and changes in fair value are recognized immediately in earnings. This impacts certain revenues and expenses we report for our fixed index annuity business as follows:

•

We must present the call options purchased to fund the annual index credits on our fixed index annuity products at fair value. The fair value of the call options is based upon the amount of cash that would be required to settle the call options obtained from the counterparties adjusted for the nonperformance risk of the counterparty. We record the change in fair value of these options as a component of our revenues. The change in fair value of derivatives includes the gains or losses recognized at expiration of the option term or upon early termination and changes in fair value for open positions.

•

The contractual obligations for future annual index credits are treated as a "series of embedded derivatives" over the expected life of the applicable contracts. Increases or decreases in the fair value of embedded derivatives generally correspond to increases or decreases in equity market performance and changes in the interest rates used to discount the excess of the projected policy contract values over the projected minimum guaranteed contract values. We record the change in fair value of these embedded derivatives as a component of our benefits and expenses in our consolidated statements of operations.

The application of fair value accounting for derivatives and embedded derivatives in future periods to our fixed index annuity business may cause substantial volatility in our reported net income.

We may face unanticipated losses if there are significant deviations from our assumptions regarding the probabilities that our annuity contracts will remain in force from one period to the next.

The expected future profitability of our annuity products is based in part upon expected patterns of premiums, expenses and benefits using a number of assumptions, including those related to the probability that a policy or contract will remain in force, or persistency, and mortality. Since no insurer can precisely determine persistency or mortality, actual results could differ significantly from assumptions, and deviations from estimates and assumptions could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. For example actual persistency that is lower than our assumptions could have an adverse impact on future profitability, especially in the early years of a policy or contract primarily because we would be required to accelerate the amortization of expenses we deferred in connection with the acquisition of the policy.

In addition, we set initial crediting rates for our annuity products based upon expected claims and payment patterns, using assumptions for, among other factors, mortality rates of our policyholders. The long-term profitability of these products depends upon how our actual experience compares with our pricing assumptions. For example, if mortality rates are lower than our pricing assumptions, we could be required to make more payments under certain annuity contracts in addition to what we had projected.

If our estimated gross profits change significantly from initial expectations we may be required to expense our deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred sales inducements in an accelerated manner, which would reduce our profitability.

Deferred policy acquisition costs represent costs that vary with and primarily relate to the acquisition of new business. Deferred sales inducements are contract enhancements such as first-year premium and interest bonuses that are credited to policyholder account balances. These costs are capitalized when incurred and are amortized over the life of the contracts. Current amortization of these costs is generally in proportion to expected gross profits from interest margins and, to a lesser extent, from surrender charges. Unfavorable experience with regard to expected expenses, investment returns, mortality or withdrawals may cause acceleration of the amortization of these costs resulting in an increase of expenses and lower profitability.

If we do not manage our growth effectively, our financial performance could be adversely affected; our historical growth rates may not be indicative of our future growth.

We have experienced rapid growth since our formation in December 1995. For the year ended December 31, 2010, our deposits from sales of new annuities were $4.7 billion. We intend to continue to grow by recruiting new independent agents, increasing the productivity of our existing agents, expanding our insurance distribution network, developing new products, expanding into new product lines, and continuing to develop new incentives for our sales agents. Future growth will impose significant added responsibilities on our management, including the need to identify, recruit, maintain and integrate additional employees, including management. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in expanding our business or that our systems, procedures and controls will be adequate to support our operations as they expand. In addition, due to our rapid growth and resulting increased size, it may be necessary to expand the scope of our investing activities to asset classes in which we historically have not invested or have not had significant exposure. If we are unable to adequately manage our investments in these classes, our financial condition or operating results in the future could be less favorable than in the past. Further, we have utilized reinsurance in the past to support our growth. The future availability and cost of reinsurance is uncertain. Our failure to manage growth effectively, or our inability to recruit, maintain and integrate additional qualified employees and independent agents, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, due to our rapid growth, our historical growth rates are not likely to accurately reflect

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our future growth rates or our growth potential. We cannot assure you that our future revenues will increase or that we will continue to be profitable.

If we are unable to attract and retain national marketing organizations and independent agents, sales of our products may be reduced.

We distribute our annuity products through a variable cost distribution network which included over 50 national marketing organizations and 37,000 independent agents as of December 31, 2010. We must attract and retain such marketers and agents to sell our products. Insurance companies compete vigorously for productive agents. We compete with other life insurance companies for marketers and agents primarily on the basis of our financial position, support services, compensation and product features. Such marketers and agents may promote products offered by other life insurance companies that may offer a larger variety of products than we do. Our competitiveness for such marketers and agents also depends upon the long-term relationships we develop with them. If we are unable to attract and retain sufficient marketers and agents to sell our products, our ability to compete and our revenues would suffer.

We may require additional capital to support our business and sustained future growth which may not be available when needed or may be available only on unfavorable terms.

Our long-term strategic capital requirements will depend on many factors including the accumulated statutory earnings of our life insurance subsidiaries and the relationship between the statutory capital and surplus of our life insurance subsidiaries and various elements of required capital. To support long-term capital requirements, we may need to increase or maintain the statutory capital and surplus of our life insurance subsidiaries through additional financings, which could include debt, equity, financing arrangements and/or other surplus relief transactions. Adverse market conditions have affected and continue to affect the availability and cost of capital. Such financings, if available at all, may be available only on terms that are not favorable to us. If we cannot maintain adequate capital, we may be required to limit growth in sales of new annuity products, and such action could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Changes in state and federal regulation may affect our profitability.

We are subject to regulation under applicable insurance statutes, including insurance holding company statutes, in the various states in which our life insurance subsidiaries transact business. Our life insurance subsidiaries are domiciled in New York and Iowa. We are currently licensed to sell our products in 50 states and the District of Columbia. Insurance regulation is intended to provide safeguards for policyholders rather than to protect shareholders of insurance companies or their holding companies. As increased scrutiny has been placed upon the insurance regulatory framework, a number of state legislatures have considered or enacted legislative proposals that alter, and in many cases increase, state authority to regulate insurance companies and holding company systems.

Regulators oversee matters relating to trade practices, policy forms, claims practices, guaranty funds, types and amounts of investments, reserve adequacy, insurer solvency, minimum amounts of capital and surplus, transactions with related parties, changes in control and payment of dividends.

State insurance regulators and the NAIC continually reexamine existing laws and regulations and may impose changes in the future.

Our life insurance subsidiaries are subject to the NAIC's risk-based capital requirements which are intended to be used by insurance regulators as an early warning tool to identify deteriorating or weakly capitalized insurance companies for the purpose of initiating regulatory action. Our life insurance subsidiaries also may be required, under solvency or guaranty laws of most states in which they do business, to pay assessments up to certain prescribed limits to fund policyholder losses or liabilities for insolvent insurance companies.

Although the federal government does not directly regulate the insurance business, federal legislation and administrative policies in several areas, including pension regulation, age and sex discrimination, financial services regulation, securities regulation and federal taxation, can significantly affect the insurance business. In addition, legislation has been introduced in Congress which could result in the federal government assuming some role in the regulation of the insurance industry.

On July 21, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Dodd-Frank Act which, among other things, imposes a comprehensive new regulatory regime on the over-the-counter ("OTC") derivatives marketplace. The derivatives legislation is set forth in Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act entitled "Wall Street Transparency and Accountability" (the "Derivatives Title"). With limited exceptions, the provisions of the Derivatives Title become effective on the later of 360 days following enactment and, to the extent a provision requires rulemaking, not less than 60 days after publication of the final rule. Once effective, this legislation will subject swap dealers and "major swap participants" (as defined in the legislation and further clarified by the rulemaking) to substantial supervision and regulation, including capital standards, margin requirements, business conduct standards, recordkeeping and reporting requirements. It also requires central clearing for certain derivatives transactions that the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission ("CFTC") determines must be cleared and are accepted for clearing by a "derivatives clearing organization" (subject to certain exceptions) and provides the CFTC with authority to impose position limits across markets. Many key concepts, processes and issues under the Derivatives Title have been left to the relevant regulators to define and address. Although it is not possible at this time to assess the impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and any future regulations implementing the new legislation, the Dodd-Frank Act and any such regulations may subject us to additional restrictions on our hedging positions which may have an adverse effect on our ability to hedge risks associated with our business, including our fixed index annuity business, or on the cost of our hedging activity.

The Dodd-Frank Act also created a Financial Stability and Oversight Council. The Council may designate by a 2/3 vote whether certain insurance companies and insurance holding companies pose a grave threat to the financial stability of the United States, in which case such companies would become subject to prudential regulation by the Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve (the "Federal Reserve Board") (including capital requirements, leverage limits, liquidity requirements and examinations). The Federal Reserve Board may limit such company's ability

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to enter into merger transactions, restrict its ability to offer financial products, require it to terminate one or more activities, or impose conditions on the manner in which it conducts activities. The Dodd-Frank Act also established a Federal Insurance Office under the U.S. Treasury Department to monitor all aspects of the insurance industry and of lines of business other than certain health insurance, certain long-term care insurance and crop insurance. The director of the Federal Insurance Office will have the ability to recommend that an insurance company or an insurance holding company be subject to heightened prudential standards. The Dodd-Frank Act also provides for the pre-emption of state laws in certain instances involving the regulation of reinsurance and other limited insurance matters. The Dodd-Frank Act requires extensive rule-making and other future regulatory action, which in some cases will take a period of years to implement.

The regulatory framework at the state and federal level applicable to our insurance products is evolving. The changing regulatory framework could affect the design of such products and our ability to sell certain products. Any changes in these laws and regulations could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Changes in federal income taxation laws, including any reduction in individual income tax rates, may affect sales of our products and profitability.

The annuity and life insurance products that we market generally provide the policyholder with certain federal income tax advantages. For example, federal income taxation on any increases in non-qualified annuity contract values (i.e. the "inside build-up") is deferred until it is received by the policyholder. With other savings investments, such as certificates of deposit and taxable bonds, the increase in value is generally taxed each year as it is realized. Additionally, life insurance death benefits are generally exempt from income tax.

From time to time, various tax law changes have been proposed that could have an adverse effect on our business, including the elimination of all or a portion of the income tax advantages described above for annuities and life insurance. If legislation were enacted to eliminate the tax deferral for annuities, such a change would have an adverse effect on our ability to sell non-qualified annuities. Non-qualified annuities are annuities that are not sold to a qualified retirement plan.

Beginning in 2013, distributions from non-qualified annuity policies will be considered "investment income" for purposes of the newly enacted Medicare tax on investment income contained in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. As a result, in certain circumstances a 3.8% tax (“Medicare Tax”) may be applied to some or all of the taxable portion of distributions from non-qualified annuities to individuals whose income exceeds certain threshold amounts. This new tax may have an adverse effect on our ability to sell non-qualified annuities to individuals whose income exceeds these threshold amounts and could accelerate withdrawals due to additional tax. The constitutionality of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 is currently the subject of multiple litigation actions initiated by various state attorneys general, and the Act is also the subject of several proposals in the US Congress for amendment and/or repeal. The outcome of such litigation and legislative action as it relates to the 3.8% Medicare tax is unknown at this time.

We face risks relating to litigation, including the costs of such litigation, management distraction and the potential for damage awards, which may adversely impact our business.

We are occasionally involved in litigation, both as a defendant and as a plaintiff. In addition, state regulatory bodies, such as state insurance departments, the SEC, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. ("FINRA"), the Department of Labor and other regulatory bodies regularly make inquiries and conduct examinations or investigations concerning our compliance with, among other things, insurance laws, securities laws, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and laws governing the activities of broker-dealers. Companies in the life insurance and annuity business have faced litigation, including class action lawsuits, alleging improper product design, improper sales practices and similar claims. We are currently a defendant in a class action and a purported class action lawsuit alleging improper sales practices. In these lawsuits, the plaintiffs are seeking returns of premiums and other compensatory and punitive damages.

In February 2011, we entered into a settlement with the plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit. Preliminary approval of the settlement was issued by the court on March 1, 2011, and although we anticipate final court approval of the settlement, there can be no assurance of such final approval. The pending purported class action lawsuit is in the pre-litigation and discovery stages. Although we do not believe this lawsuit will have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations, there can be no assurance that such litigation, or any other pending or future litigation, will not have such an effect, whether financially, through distraction of management or otherwise.

A downgrade in our credit or financial strength ratings may increase our future cost of capital and may reduce new sales, adversely affect relationships with distributors and increase policy surrenders and withdrawals.

Currently, our senior unsecured indebtedness carries a "bbb-" rating from A.M. Best Company and a "BB+" rating from Standard & Poor's. Our ability to maintain such ratings is dependent upon the results of operations of our subsidiaries and our financial strength. If we fail to preserve the strength of our balance sheet and to maintain a capital structure that rating agencies deem suitable, it could result in a downgrade of the ratings applicable to our senior unsecured indebtedness. A downgrade would likely reduce the fair value of the common stock and may increase our future cost of capital.

Financial strength ratings are important factors in establishing the competitive position of life insurance and annuity companies. In recent years, the market for annuities has been dominated by those insurers with the highest ratings. A ratings downgrade, or the potential for a ratings downgrade, could have a number of adverse effects on our business. For example, distributors and sales agents for life insurance and annuity products use the ratings as one factor in determining which insurer's annuities to market. A ratings downgrade could cause those distributors and agents to seek alternative carriers. In addition, a ratings downgrade could materially increase the number of policy or contract surrenders we experience, as well as our ability to obtain reinsurance or obtain reasonable pricing on reinsurance.

Financial strength ratings are measures of an insurance company's ability to meet contractholder and policyholder obligations and generally

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involve quantitative and qualitative evaluations by rating agencies of a company's financial condition and operating performance. Generally, rating agencies base their ratings upon information furnished to them by the insurer and upon their own investigations, studies and assumptions. Ratings are based upon factors of concern to agents, policyholders and intermediaries and are not directed toward the protection of investors and are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold securities.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2. Properties

We lease commercial office space in one building in West Des Moines, Iowa, for our principal offices under an operating lease that expires on November 21, 2021. We also lease our office in Pell City, Alabama, pursuant to an operating lease that expires on December 31, 2011. We are fully utilizing these facilities and believe both locations to be sufficient to house our operations for the foreseeable future.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

We are occasionally involved in litigation, both as a defendant and as a plaintiff. In addition, state regulatory bodies, such as state insurance departments, the SEC, FINRA, the Department of Labor, and other regulatory bodies regularly make inquiries and conduct examinations or investigations concerning our compliance with, among other things, insurance laws, securities laws, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and laws governing the activities of broker-dealers.

In recent years, companies in the life insurance and annuity business have faced litigation, including class action lawsuits, alleging improper product design, improper sales practices and similar claims. We are currently a defendant in two lawsuits, one class action and one purported class action, involving allegations of improper sales practices and similar claims as described below. In February 2011, we entered into a settlement with the plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit, which is subject to final court approval and is more fully described below. The pending purported class action lawsuit referred to below is in the pre-litigation and discovery stages and we do not have sufficient information to make an assessment of the plaintiffs' claims for liability or damages. The plaintiffs are seeking undefined amounts of damages or other relief, including punitive damages, which are difficult to quantify and cannot be estimated based on the information currently available. While we are uncertain as to the ultimate outcome of the pending purported class action lawsuit, there can be no assurance that such litigation, or any other pending or future litigation, will not have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, or results of operations.

We are a defendant in two cases, including (i) Stephens v. American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, et. al., in the San Luis Obispo Superior Court, San Francisco, California (complaint filed November 29, 2004) (the "SLO Case") and (ii) McCormack, et al. v. American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, et al., in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division and Anagnostis v. American Equity, et al., coordinated in the Central District, entitled, In Re: American Equity Annuity Practices and Sales Litigation, in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division (complaint filed September 7, 2005) (the "Los Angeles Case").

The plaintiffs in the SLO Case represent a class of individuals who are California residents age 65 and older and who either purchased their annuity from us through a co-defendant marketing organization or who purchased one of a defined set of particular annuities issued by us. The named plaintiffs in this case are: Chalys M. Stephens and John P. Stephens. Following a mediation conducted on January 21, 2011, we reached a settlement in principal with the plaintiffs. Preliminary approval of the settlement was issued by the court on March 1, 2011, and although we anticipate final court approval of the settlement, there can be no assurance of such final approval. The settlement, if final court approval is received, will provide a total settlement benefit of $36 million to past and present policyholders who are members of the class and, if awarded by the court, will provide for attorneys' fees payable to the plaintiffs' counsel of up to $11 million, litigation expenses in an amount up to $950,000, and incentives of $25,000 payable to each of the two class representatives. The net charge to operations for the settlement (after related reductions in amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs and income taxes) was $27.3 million and is included in our consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.

The Los Angeles Case is a consolidated action involving several lawsuits filed by individuals, and the individuals are seeking class action status for a national class of purchasers of annuities issued by us. The named plaintiffs in this consolidated case are Bernard McCormack, Gust Anagnostis by and through Gary S. Anagnostis and Robert C. Anagnostis, Regina Bush by and through Sharon Schipiour, Lenice Mathews by and through Mary Ann Maclean and George Miller. The allegations generally attack the suitability of sales of deferred annuity products to persons over the age of 65. The plaintiffs seek recessionary and injunctive relief including restitution and disgorgement of profits on behalf of all class members under California Business & Professions Code section 17200 et seq. and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act; compensatory damages for breach of fiduciary duty and aiding and abetting of breach of fiduciary duty; unjust enrichment and constructive trust; and other pecuniary damages under California Civil Code section 1750 and California Welfare & Institutions Codes section 15600 et seq. We are vigorously defending against both class action status as well as the underlying claims.

Item 4. Reserved

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the symbol AEL. The following table sets forth the high and low prices of our common stock as quoted on the NYSE.


2010	High		Low
First Quarter	$	10.99	$	6.65
Second Quarter	$	11.64	$	8.53
Third Quarter	$	11.19	$	9.19
Fourth Quarter	$	13.01	$	10.11
2009
First Quarter	$	7.40	$	2.96
Second Quarter	$	8.86	$	4.01
Third Quarter	$	8.65	$	5.24
Fourth Quarter	$	8.40	$	6.10

As of March 2, 2011, there were approximately 7,700 holders of our common stock. In 2010 and 2009, we paid an annual cash dividend of $0.10 and $0.08, respectively, per share on our common stock. We intend to continue to pay an annual cash dividend on such shares so long as we have sufficient capital and/or future earnings to do so. However, we anticipate retaining most of our future earnings, if any, for use in our operations and the expansion of our business. Any further determination as to dividend policy will be made by our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors, including our future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and future prospects and such other factors as our board of directors may deem relevant.

Since we are a holding company, our ability to pay cash dividends depends in large measure on our subsidiaries' ability to make distributions of cash or property to us. Iowa insurance laws restrict the amount of distributions American Equity Life can pay to us without the approval of the Iowa Insurance Commissioner. See Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and note 12 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

There were no issuer purchases of equity securities for the quarter ended December 31, 2010.

We have a Rabbi Trust, the NMO Deferred Compensation Trust, which purchases our common shares to fund the amount of shares earned by our agents and vested under the NMO Deferred Compensation Plan. At December 31, 2010, agents had earned 81,745 shares which had vested but had not yet been purchased and contributed to the Rabbi Trust.

In addition, we have a share repurchase program under which we are authorized to purchase up to 10,000,000 shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2010 we have repurchased 3,845,296 shares of our common stock under this program. We suspended the repurchase of our common stock under this program in August of 2008.

The maximum number of shares that may yet be purchased under these plans is 6,236,449 at December 31, 2010.

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Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data

The summary consolidated financial and other data should be read in conjunction with Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this report. The results for past periods are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for future periods.


	Year ended December 31,
	2010			2009			2008			2007			2006
	(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Consolidated Statements of Operations Data:
Revenues
Annuity product charges	$	69,075		$	63,358		$	52,671		$	45,828		$	39,472
Net investment income	1,036,106			932,172			822,077			719,916			677,638
Change in fair value of derivatives	168,862			216,896			(372,009		)	(59,985		)	183,783
Net realized gains on investments, excluding other than temporary impairment ("OTTI") losses	23,726			51,279			5,555			501			2,682
Net OTTI losses recognized in operations	(23,867		)	(86,771		)	(192,648		)	(4,383		)	(1,337		)
Total revenues	1,285,592			1,188,913			337,904			714,500			915,860
Benefits and expenses
Interest sensitive and index product benefits	733,218			347,883			205,131			560,209			404,269
Change in fair value of embedded derivatives	130,950			529,508			(210,753		)	(67,902		)	151,057
Amortization of deferred sales inducements and policy acquisition costs	192,261			128,008			157,443			68,038			119,716
Interest expense on notes payable and subordinated debentures	37,031			30,672			39,218			43,436			42,632
Interest expense on amounts due under repurchase agreements	—			534			8,207			15,926			32,931
Other operating costs and expenses	114,615			57,255			52,633			48,230			40,418
Total benefits and expenses	1,220,326			1,102,749			260,851			676,356			799,831
Income before income taxes	65,266			86,164			77,053			38,144			116,029
Income tax expense	22,333			17,634			61,106			11,914			41,068
Net income	42,933			68,530			15,947			26,230			74,961
Per Share Data:
Earnings per common share	$	0.73		$	1.22		$	0.30		$	0.46		$	1.33
Earnings per common share—assuming dilution	0.68			1.18			0.30			0.46			1.26
Dividends declared per common share	0.10			0.08			0.07			0.06			0.05
Non-GAAP Financial Measure (a):
Operating income	$	108,947		$	101,778		$	72,472		$	61,532		$	69,977
Reconciliation to net income:
Net income	$	42,933		$	68,530		$	15,947		$	26,229		$	74,961
Net realized gains and net OTTI losses on investments, net of offsets	379			(1,339		)	92,524			1,688			(427		)
Convertible debt extinguishment, net of income taxes	171			687			(5,702		)	—			—
Net effect of derivatives, embedded derivatives and other index annuity, net of offsets	38,167			29,952			(31,038		)	33,615			(4,557		)
Effect of counterparty default, net of offsets	—			3,948			741			—			—
Litigation settlement, net of offsets	27,297			—			—			—			—
Operating income	$	108,947		$	101,778		$	72,472		$	61,532		$	69,977
Operating income per common share	$	1.86		$	1.81		$	1.35		$	1.08		$	1.24
Operating income per common share—assuming dilution	1.70			1.75			1.30			1.05			1.18

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	As of and for the Year Ended December 31,
	2010		2009			2008			2007			2006
	(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
Total investments	$	19,816,931	$	15,374,110		$	12,719,605		$	12,610,895		$	11,385,464
Total assets	26,426,763		21,312,004			17,081,740			16,384,690			14,979,198
Policy benefit reserves	23,655,807		19,336,221			15,809,539			14,711,780			13,207,931
Notes payable	330,835		316,468			247,750			248,968			243,022
Subordinated debentures	268,435		268,347			268,209			268,330			268,489
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI")	81,820		(30,456		)	(147,376		)	(38,929		)	(38,769		)
Total stockholders' equity	938,047		754,623			496,844			621,324			607,502
Other Data:
Life subsidiaries' statutory capital and surplus and asset valuation reserve	1,456,679		1,239,651			1,011,682			1,013,845			1,009,192
Life subsidiaries' statutory net gain from operations before income taxes and realized capital gains (losses)	322,133		253,146			129,046			41,473			95,217
Life subsidiaries' statutory net income (loss)	172,865		116,895			(7,073		)	17,010			89,875
Book value per share (b)	$	16.07	$	13.08		$	9.46		$	11.11		$	10.82
Book value per share, excluding AOCI (b)	14.67		13.61			12.27			11.81			11.51

____________________

(a)

In addition to net income, we have consistently utilized operating income, operating income per common share and operating income per common share—assuming dilution, non-GAAP financial measures commonly used in the life insurance industry, as economic measures to evaluate our financial performance. Operating income equals net income adjusted to eliminate the impact of net realized gains on investments including net OTTI losses recognized in operations and related deferred tax asset valuation allowance, (gain) loss on extinguishment of convertible debt, fair value changes in derivatives and embedded derivatives, the Lehman counterparty default on expired call options and the net charge to settle a class action lawsuit. Because these items fluctuate from year to year in a manner unrelated to core operations, we believe measures excluding their impact are useful in analyzing operating trends. We believe the combined presentation and evaluation of operating income together with net income, provides information that may enhance an investor's understanding of our underlying results and profitability.

(b)

Book value per share and book value per share excluding AOCI is calculated as total stockholders' equity and total stockholders' equity excluding AOCI divided by the total number of shares of common stock outstanding. AOCI fluctuates from year to year due to unrealized changes in the fair value of available for sale investments. Shares outstanding include shares held by the NMO Deferred Compensation Trust and exclude unallocated shares held by our employee stock ownership plan—see note 11 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

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Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management's discussion and analysis reviews our consolidated financial position at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and our consolidated results of operations for the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, and where appropriate, factors that may affect future financial performance. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and selected consolidated financial data appearing elsewhere in this report.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

All statements, trend analyses and other information contained in this report and elsewhere (such as in filings by us with the SEC, press releases, presentations by us or our management or oral statements) relative to markets for our products and trends in our operations or financial results, as well as other statements including words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend" and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements. We caution that these statements may and often do vary from actual results and the differences between these statements and actual results can be material. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that actual results will not differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could contribute to these differences include, among other things:

•

general economic conditions and other factors, including prevailing interest rate levels and stock and credit market performance which may affect (among other things) our ability to sell our products, our ability to access capital resources and the costs associated therewith, the fair value of our investments, which could result in impairments and other than temporary impairments, and certain liabilities, and the lapse rate and profitability of policies;


•	customer response to new products and marketing initiatives;


•	changes in the Federal income tax laws and regulations which may affect the relative income tax advantages of our products;


•	increasing competition in the sale of annuities;


•	regulatory changes or actions, including those relating to regulation of financial services affecting (among other things) bank sales and underwriting of insurance products and regulation of the sale, underwriting and pricing of products; and


•	the risk factors or uncertainties listed from time to time in our filings with the SEC.

For a detailed discussion of these and other factors that might affect our performance, see Item 1A of this report.

Executive Summary

Since our formation in 1995, we have emphasized industry leading customer service to both our distribution force and our policyholders. We believe this to be a major part of our ability to attract production from our independent agent network as well as a low rate of policy surrenders. Excellent customer service teamed with our ability to design innovative insurance products that provide principal protection and tax deferred growth have continued to result in significant sales of our annuity products year over year. High sales levels has driven us to industry leading growth rates and to cash and investments in excess of $20 billion at December 31, 2010, in only 15 years of operations. We have applied a conservative investment strategy to the annuity deposits we continue to manage which has provided reliable returns on our invested assets. Our profitability has also been driven by maintaining an efficient operation.

In 2010, we issued $200 million principal amount of convertible senior notes. We used the proceeds from issuance of the convertible senior notes to fully repay the $150 million line of credit. Subsequent to the end of 2010, we obtained a new three year $160 million revolving line of credit and have terminated the $150 million line. We have $74.5 million principal amount of convertible notes that holders may require us to redeem in 2011 and at December 31, 2010, the parent company had cash and cash equivalents totaling $62.3 million available to extinguish this debt.

Over the past several years we have steadily grown our invested assets, investment spread and operating income (a non-GAAP financial measurement - see Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data) despite the challenging economic conditions and interest rate environment. Our business model contemplates continued growth in invested assets and operating income while maintaining a high quality investment portfolio that will not experience significant losses from impairments of invested assets. Growth in invested assets is predicated on a continuation of our high sales achievements of the last two years while at the same time maintaining a high level of retention of the funds received. The economic and personal investing environments continue to be conducive for high sales levels as retirees and others look to put their money in instruments that will protect their principal and provide them with consistent cash flow sources in their retirement years. We expect to continue to grow our operating income by maintaining a reliable investment spread of 2.90% or more through effective management of our investment portfolio and the cost of money for our annuity business. We are committed to maintaining a high quality investment portfolio with limited exposure to below investment grade securities and other riskier assets.

Overview

We specialize in the sale of individual annuities (primarily deferred annuities) and, to a lesser extent, we also sell life insurance policies. Under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), premium collections for deferred annuities are reported as deposit liabilities instead of as revenues. Similarly, cash payments to policyholders are reported as decreases in the liabilities for policyholder account balances and not as expenses. Sources of revenues for products accounted for as deposit liabilities are net investment income, surrender and other charges deducted from the account balances of policyholders, net realized gains (losses) on investments and changes in fair value of derivatives. Components of expenses for products accounted for as deposit liabilities are interest sensitive and index product benefits (primarily interest credited to account balances), changes in fair value of embedded derivatives, amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs, other operating costs and expenses, and income taxes.

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Earnings from products accounted for as deposit liabilities are primarily generated from the excess of net investment income earned over the interest credited or the cost of providing index credits to the policyholder, or the "investment spread." Our investment spread is summarized as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2010		2009		2008
Average yield on invested assets	6.06	%	6.30	%	6.20	%
Cost of money:
Aggregate	2.91	%	3.26	%	3.43	%
Cost of money for fixed index annuities	2.86	%	3.24	%	3.43	%
Average crediting rate for fixed rate annuities:
Annually adjustable	3.26	%	3.26	%	3.26	%
Multi-year rate guaranteed	3.74	%	3.88	%	3.88	%
Investment spread:
Aggregate	3.15	%	3.04	%	2.77	%
Fixed index annuities	3.20	%	3.06	%	2.77	%
Fixed rate annuities:
Annually adjustable	2.80	%	3.04	%	2.94	%
Multi-year rate guaranteed	2.32	%	2.42	%	2.32	%

The cost of money for fixed index annuities and average crediting rates for fixed rate annuities are computed based upon policyholder account balances and do not include the impact of amortization of deferred sales inducements. See Critical Accounting Policies—Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements. With respect to our fixed index annuities, the cost of money includes the average crediting rate on amounts allocated to the fixed rate strategy, expenses we incur to fund the annual index credits and where applicable, minimum guaranteed interest credited. Proceeds received upon expiration or early termination of call options purchased to fund annual index credits are recorded as part of the change in fair value of derivatives, and are largely offset by an expense for interest credited to annuity policyholder account balances. See Critical Accounting Policies—Policy Liabilities for Fixed Index Annuities and Financial Condition—Derivative Instruments.

Our profitability depends in large part upon the amount of assets under our management, investment spreads we earn on our policyholder account balances, our ability to manage our investment portfolio to maximize returns and minimize risks such as interest rate changes and defaults or impairment of investments, our ability to manage interest rates credited to policyholders and costs of the options purchased to fund the annual index credits on our fixed index annuities, our ability to manage the costs of acquiring new business (principally commissions to agents and bonuses credited to policyholders) and our ability to manage our operating expenses.

Results of Operations for the Three Years Ended December 31, 2010

Annuity deposits by product type collected during 2010, 2009 and 2008, were as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
Product Type	2010		2009		2008
	(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed index annuities:
Index strategies	$	2,401,891	$	1,535,477	$	1,303,871
Fixed strategy	1,551,007		1,849,833		937,227
	3,952,898		3,385,310		2,241,098
Fixed rate annuities:
Single-year rate guaranteed	331,705		113,511		28,930
Multi-year rate guaranteed	384,116		178,737		18,978
	715,821		292,248		47,908
Total before coinsurance ceded	4,668,719		3,677,558		2,289,006
Coinsurance ceded	478,963		749,259		1,310
Net after coinsurance ceded	$	4,189,756	$	2,928,299	$	2,287,696

Annuity deposits before coinsurance ceded increased 27% during 2010 compared to 2009 and 61% during 2009 compared to 2008. We attribute these increases to factors including the highly competitive rates of our products, our continued strong relationships with our national marketing organizations and field force of licensed, independent insurance agents the increased attractiveness of safe money products in volatile markets, lower interest rates on competing products such as bank certificates of deposit and product enhancements including a new generation of guaranteed income withdrawal benefit riders. In addition, we continue to benefit from the actions of several significant competitors who have been less aggressive in marketing their products than in prior periods. The extent to which this trend will be sustained in future periods is uncertain.

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As reported in our 2009 filings, we undertook several actions in 2009 to manage our statutory capital position to facilitate growth. These actions included a restructuring of commission payments to agents, an amendment to a reinsurance agreement to expand such agreement to cover certain policy forms that were not in existence when the agreement was executed and the entry into two funds withheld coinsurance agreements to reinsure a portion of our 2009 sales. Under the 2009 coinsurance agreements, we ceded to the reinsurer 20% of annuity deposits received in 2009 and the first quarter of 2010 from our two top selling fixed index annuity products and 80% of the annuity deposits received after June 30, 2009 from a multi-year rate guaranteed fixed annuity product. The agreement to cede 80% of the annuity deposits from the multi-year rate guaranteed fixed annuity product is ongoing. Effective April 1, 2010, we are retaining 100% of our fixed index annuity deposits and are no longer ceding any portion of those annuity deposits to the reinsurer. We believe our existing statutory capital and surplus and the statutory surplus we expect to generate internally through statutory earnings will support a higher level of new business growth than in previous years. However, while we have the capital resources to accept more business than was sold in 2009, our capacity is not unlimited and sales growth must be matched with available resources to maintain desired financial strength ratings from credit rating agencies and in particular, A.M. Best Company. Should sales growth accelerate to levels that cannot be supported by internal capital generation, we would intend to obtain capital from external sources to facilitate such growth. Given the prospects for higher levels of new business in 2011, in February 2011 we entered into a binding letter of intent to complete an additional surplus relief reinsurance transaction on or before March 31, 2011 that will provide an initial pretax statutory surplus benefit of $49.2 million.

Net income decreased 37% to $42.9 million in 2010 and increased 330% to $68.5 million in 2009 from $15.9 million in 2008. Net income for 2008 does not include the impact of applying the FASB guidance for recognition and presentation of other than temporary impairments that was released in April 2009 as discussed below. Net income for 2008 includes the impact of the adoption of fair value measurement accounting standards as discussed below.

Net income has been positively impacted by the growth in the volume of business in force and the investment spread earned on this business. Average annuity account values outstanding increased 18% for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to 2009 and 14% for the year ended December 31, 2009 compared to 2008. Our investment spread measured on a percentage basis was 3.15%, 3.04% and 2.77% for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The increase in investment spread in 2010 resulted from a lower aggregate cost of money on our fixed index annuities, offset in part, by a smaller decline in the yield on invested assets. The lower cost of money for fixed index annuities during 2010 was due to lower costs of options purchased to fund the annual index credits on fixed index annuities and lower rates for the fixed rate strategy in fixed index annuities. The 2010 decrease in the average yield on invested assets was primarily attributable to a lag in reinvestment of proceeds from bonds called for redemption during the year into new assets resulting in high levels of low yielding short-term investments and interest earning cash and cash equivalents. The 2010 decrease in average yield on invested assets was also effected by lower yields on investments purchased in 2010. The increase in investment spread in 2009 resulted from a higher investment yield earned in 2009 on average assets due to higher yields on investments purchased subsequent to 2007 and a lower aggregate cost of money on our fixed index annuities for 2010 and 2009. The lower cost of money for fixed index annuities during 2009 was due to adjustments we made throughout 2007 to caps, participation rates and asset fees to manage the cost of options purchased to fund the annual index credits. The benefit from these adjustments was not fully recognized until the fourth quarter of 2008.

Operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure (see reconciliation to net income in Item 6 - Selected Consolidated Financial Data) increased 7% to $108.9 million in 2010 and increased 40% to $101.8 in 2009 from $72.5 million in 2008.

In addition to net income, we have consistently utilized operating income, a non-GAAP financial measure commonly used in the life insurance industry, as an economic measure to evaluate our financial performance. Operating income equals net income adjusted to eliminate the impact of net realized gains on investments, including net other than temporary impairment ("OTTI") losses recognized in operations and related deferred tax asset valuation allowance, (gain) loss on retirement of debt, fair value changes in derivatives and embedded derivatives, the Lehman counterparty default on expired call options and the cost to settle a class action lawsuit. Because these items fluctuate from year to year in a manner unrelated to core operations, we believe measures excluding their impact are useful in analyzing operating trends. We believe the combined presentation and evaluation of operating income together with net income, provides information that may enhance an investor's understanding of our underlying results and profitability.

Operating income is not a substitute for net income determined in accordance with GAAP. The adjustments made to derive adjusted operating income are important to understanding our overall results from operations and, if evaluated without proper context, operating income possesses material limitations. As an example, we could produce a low level of net income in a given period, despite strong operating performance, if in that period we generate significant net realized losses from our investment portfolio. We could also produce a high level of net income in a given period, despite poor operating performance, if in that period we generate significant net realized gains from our investment portfolio. As an example of another limitation of operating income, it does not include the decrease in cash flows expected to be collected as a result of credit loss OTTI. Therefore, our management and board of directors also separately review net realized investment gains (losses) and analyses of our net investment income, including impacts related to OTTI write-downs, in connection with their review of our investment portfolio. In addition, our management and board of directors examine net income as part of their review of our overall financial results.

Net realized gains on investments and net impairment losses recognized in operations fluctuate from year to year based upon changes in the interest rate and economic environment and the timing of the sale of investments or the recognition of other than temporary impairments. We adopted the FASB guidance for recognition and presentation of other than temporary impairments that was released in April 2009 on January 1, 2009, which amended the determination of the amount of other than temporary impairments recognized in the statement of operations resulting in the noncredit portion of other than temporary impairments being recognized in other comprehensive income for debt securities that we do not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not we will be required to sell but also do not expect to recover the entire amortized cost basis of the security. The amounts disclosed in the non-GAAP reconciliation in Item 6-Selected Consolidated Financial Data are net of related reductions in amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs and income taxes. Income tax benefits related to net realized

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gains on investments and net other than temporary impairment losses recognized in operations were reduced by $34.5 million in 2008 for the establishment of a deferred tax valuation allowance related to the other than temporary impairments and capital loss carryforwards. Net income for 2009 includes a benefit of $11.9 million for the reduction of the deferred tax valuation allowance related to other than temporary impairments and capital loss carryforwards.

Amounts attributable to the fair value accounting for derivatives and embedded derivatives primarily fluctuate from year to year based upon changes in the fair values of call options purchased to fund the annual index credits for fixed index annuities and changes in the interest rates used to discount the embedded derivative liability. The amounts disclosed in the non-GAAP reconciliation in Item 6-Selected Consolidated Financial Data are net of related adjustments to amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs and income taxes. The significant changes in the impact from the item disclosed in the non-GAAP reconciliation in Item 6-Selected Consolidated Financial Data relate primarily to changes in the interest rates used to discount the embedded derivative liabilities. Pursuant to fair value measurements accounting standards adopted prospectively on January 1, 2008, the discount rates are based on risk-free interest rates adjusted for our nonperformance risk. These rates decreased during the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 resulting in decreases in net income for those years. Prior to the adoption of the fair value measurements accounting standards, the discount rates used were risk-free interest rates without adjustment for our nonperformance risk. The change to discount rates including our nonperformance risk resulted in a decrease in policy benefit reserves on January 1, 2008 of $150.6 million. The net income impact of this decrease in reserves net of the related adjustments to amortization of deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs and income taxes was $40.7 million.

See note 13 in our audited consolidated financial statements for further discussion of the litigation settlement.

Annuity product charges (surrender charges assessed against policy withdrawals and fees deducted from policyholder account balances for living income benefit riders) increased 9% to $69.1 million in 2010 and 20% to $63.4 million in 2009 from $52.7 million in 2008. These increases were principally attributable to increases in the amount of fees assessed for lifetime income benefit riders which were $13.5 million and $4.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Withdrawals from annuity and single premium universal life policies subject to surrender charges were $418.9 million, $432.1 million and $420.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The average surrender charge collected on withdrawals subject to a surrender charge was 13.2%, 13.5% and 12.4% for the year ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Net investment income increased 11% to $1,036.1 million in 2010 and 13% to $932.2 million in 2009 from $822.1 million in 2008. These increases were principally attributable to the growth in our annuity business and corresponding increases in our invested assets. Average invested assets excluding derivative instruments (on an amortized cost basis) increased 15% to $17.1 billion in 2010 and 12% to $14.8 billion in 2009 compared to $13.2 billion in 2008. The average yield earned on invested assets was 6.06%, 6.30% and 6.20% for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The decrease in yield earned on average invested assets in 2010 was attributable to a lag in reinvestment of proceeds from bonds called for redemption during 2010 into new assets causing excess liquidity. The 2010 decrease yield on invested assets was also effected by lower yields on investments purchased in 2010. Based on yields received for purchases of fixed maturity securities in 2010, we estimate that approximately $27.9 million in net investment income was foregone during 2010, as a result of the excess liquidity, and the average yield on invested assets would have been 6.23% for 2010 if such income had been earned. The increase in yield earned on average invested assets in 2009 was attributable to higher yields on investments purchased in 2009 and 2008.

Change in fair value of derivatives (principally call options purchased to fund annual index credits on fixed index annuities) is affected by the performance of the indices upon which our options are based and the aggregate cost of options purchased. The components of change in fair value of derivatives are as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2010			2009			2008
	(Dollars in thousands)
Call options:
Gain (loss) on option expiration	$	208,881		$	(196,000	)	$	(270,361	)
Change in unrealized gain (loss)	(67,078		)	415,276			(100,453		)
2015 notes hedges	29,595			—			—
Interest rate swaps	(2,536		)	(2,380		)	(1,195		)
	$	168,862		$	216,896		$	(372,009	)

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The differences between the change in fair value of derivatives between years for call options are primarily due to the performance of the indices upon which our call options are based. A substantial portion of our call options are based upon the S&P 500 Index with the remainder based upon other equity and bond market indices. The range of index appreciation for options expiring during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 is as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2010	2009	2008
S&P 500 Index
Point-to-point strategy	1.9% - 68.6%	0.0% - 45.1%	0.0% - 2.6%
Monthly average strategy	0.4% - 51.2%	0.0% - 22.9%	0.0% - 6.4%
Monthly point-to-point strategy	0.0% - 23.7%	0.0% - 9.9%	0.0% - 0.0%
Fixed income (bond index) strategies	0.0% - 13.5%	0.0% - 13.8%	0.3% - 7.0%

Actual amounts credited to policyholder account balances may be less than the index appreciation due to contractual features in the fixed index annuity policies (caps, participation rates, and asset fees) which allow us to manage the cost of the options purchased to fund the annual index credits. The change in fair value of derivatives is also influenced by the aggregate costs of options purchased. The aggregate cost of options has increased primarily due to an increased amount of fixed index annuities in force. The aggregate cost of options is also influenced by the amount of policyholder funds allocated to the various indices and market volatility which affects option pricing. Costs for options purchased during the year ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 decreased compared to prior years due to lower volatility in equity markets and adjustments to caps, participation rates, and asset fees.

We had unsecured counterparty exposure in connection with options purchased from affiliates of Lehman Brothers ("Lehman") which declared bankruptcy during the third quarter of 2008. All options purchased from affiliates of Lehman had expired as of June 30, 2010. The amount of option proceeds due on expired options purchased from affiliates of Lehman that we did not receive payment on was $12.0 million and $2.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively. No amount has been recognized for any recovery of these amounts that may result from our claim in Lehman's bankruptcy proceedings.

Concurrently with the issuance of the 2015 notes, we entered into hedge transactions (the “2015 notes hedges”) to provide the cash needed to meet our cash obligations in excess of the principal amount of the 2015 notes upon conversion of the 2015 notes. The fair value of the 2015 notes hedges changes based upon changes in the price of our common stock which increased in 2010 subsequent to the date of origination. Similarly, the fair value of the conversion option obligation to the holders of the 2015 notes changes based upon changes in the price of our common stock and the conversion option obligation is accounted for as an embedded derivative liability with changes in fair value reported in the Change in fair value of embedded derivatives. The amount for the change in fair value of the 2015 notes hedges equals the amount for the change in the related embedded derivative liabilities and there is an offsetting expense in the change in fair value of embedded derivatives. See note 9 to our audited consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the 2015 notes hedges.

Net realized gains on investments, excluding OTTI losses include gains and losses on the sale of securities and impairment losses on mortgage loans on real estate which fluctuate from year to year due to changes in the interest rate and economic environment and the timing of the sale of investments. The components of net realized gains on investments for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 are set forth in the table that follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2010			2009			2008
	(Dollars in thousands)
Available for sale fixed maturity securities:
Gross realized gains	$	27,755		$	54,401		$	5,852
Gross realized losses	(2,575		)	(2,162		)	(589		)
	25,180			52,239			5,263
Equity securities:
Gross realized gains	14,384			5,620			292
Gross realized losses	(71		)	(96		)	—
	14,313			5,524			292
Other investments:
Impairment losses	(542		)	—			—
Mortgage loans on real estate:
Impairment losses	(15,225		)	(6,484		)	—
	$	23,726		$	51,279		$	5,555

Gross realized gains have increased in 2010 due to tax planning strategies to generate taxable capital gains that will permit deduction of capital losses for income tax purposes. Gross realized losses in 2010 primarily relate to securities that experienced credit events during 2010 resulting in the decision to sell the securities at a loss. See Financial Condition—Investments for additional discussion of impairment losses recognized on mortgage loans on real estate.

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Net OTTI losses recognized in operations decreased to $23.9 million in 2010 and decreased to $86.8 million in 2009 from $192.6 million in 2008. See Financial Condition—Investments for additional discussion of write downs of securities for other than temporary impairments.

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt includes a $0.3 million loss on an extinguishment of $6.7 million principal amount of our 5.25% convertible senior notes due in December 2024 (the "2024 notes") during the year ended December 31, 2010. The $0.7 million loss on extinguishment of debt in 2009 includes a $3.1 million gain on an exchange of five million shares of our common stock for $37.2 million principal amount of our 2024 notes and a $3.8 million loss on an exchange of $63.6 million principal amount of our 5.25% convertible senior notes due in December 2029 for the same principal amount of the 2024 notes. The fair value of the common stock issued was $31.3 million. The $9.7 million gain on extinguishment of debt in 2008 resulted from the purchase of $78.1 million principal amount of the 2024 notes for $61.4 million in cash, of which $0.4 million was assigned to the reacquisition of the equity component of the 2024 notes.

Interest sensitive and index product benefits increased 111% to $733.2 million in 2010 and 70% to $347.9 million in 2009 from $205.1 million in 2008. The components of interest credited to account balances are summarized as follows:


	Year Ended December 31,
	2010		2009		2008
	(Dollars in thousands)
Index credits on index policies	$	454,660	$	94,601	$	33,337
Interest credited (including changes in minimum guaranteed interest for fixed index annuities)	265,539		249,015		171,794
Living income benefit rider	13,019		4,267		—
	$	733,218	$	347,883	$	205,131

The changes in index credits were attributable to changes in the appreciation of the underlying indices (see discussion above under change in fair value of derivatives) and the amount of funds allocated by policyholders to the respective index options. Total proceeds received upon expiration of the call options purchased to fund the annual index credits were $438.4 million, $70.6 million and $26.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Proceeds for 2009 and 2008 were adversely affected by the Lehman defaults as discussed above. The increases in interest credited for 2010 and 2009 were due to an increase in the average amount of annuity liabilities outstanding receiving a fixed rate of interest. The average amount of annuity liabilities outstanding (net of annuity liabilities ceded under coinsurance agreements) increased 18% to $18.1 billion in 2010 and 14% to $15.4 billion in 2009 from $13.5 billion in 2008.

Amortization of deferred sales inducements increased 50% to $59.9 million in 2010 and 30% to $40.0 million in 2009 from $30.7 million in 2008. The 2010 increase includes the $0.3 million impact of unlocking in 2010 and the 2009 decrease includes the $1.3 million impact of unlocking in 2008. See Critical Accounting Policies - Deferred Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements. In general, amortization of deferred sales inducements has been increasing each year due to growth in our annuity business and the deferral of sales inducements incurred with respect to sales of premium bonus annuity products. Bonus products represented 95%, 94% and 93% of our total annuity deposits during 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The anticipated increase in amortization from these factors has been affected by amortization associated with fair value accounting for derivatives and embedded derivatives utilized in our fixed index annuity business, amortization associated with the net realized gains on investments and net OTTI losses recognized in operations and, in 2010, amortization associated with the litigation settlement.

Fair value accounting for derivatives and embedded derivatives utilized in our fixed index annuity business creates differences in the recognition of revenues and expenses from derivative instruments including the embedded derivative liabilities in our fixed index annuity contracts. The change in fair value of the embedded derivatives will not correspond to the change in fair value of the derivatives (purchased call options) because the purchased call options are one-year options while the options valued in the fair value of embedded derivatives cover the expected life of the contracts which typically exceeds ten years. The gross profit adjustments resulting from fair value accounting for derivatives and embedded derivatives utilized in our fixed index annuity business increased (decreased) amortization by ($39.2) million, ($29.2) million and $13.9 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The gross profit adjustments from net realized gains on investments and net OTTI losses recognized in operations increased (decreased) amortization by $0.5 million, ($6.8) million and ($35.6) million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The gross profit adjustments from the litigation settlement decreased amortization in 2010 by $1.3 million. Excluding the amortization amounts attributable to fair value accounting for derivatives and embedded derivatives, realized gains on investments and net OTTI losses recognized in operations, and the litigation settlement, amortization would have been $99.9 million, $76.0 million and $52.4 million for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. See Critical Accounting Policies - Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements.

Change in fair value of embedded derivatives was an increase of $131.0 million during 2010 and $529.5 million in 2009 and a decrease of $210.8 million in 2008. The 2010 increase includes $29.6 million for the increase in the fair value of the 2015 notes embedded conversion derivative. As discussed previously, this amount was offset by an increase in the fair value of the 2015 notes hedges. The remainder of the 2010 increase and the 2009 and 2008 changes relate to the fixed index annuity embedded derivatives and resulted from (i) changes in the expected index credits on the next policy anniversary dates, which are related to the change in fair value of the call options acquired to fund these index credits discussed above in change in fair value of derivatives; (ii) changes in discount rates used in estimating our liability for policy growth; (iii) changes in estimates of expected costs of annual call options that will be purchased in the future to fund index credits beyond the next policy anniversary; and (iv) the growth in the host component of the policy liability. See Critical Accounting Policies - Policy Liabilities for Fixed Index Annuities. The primary reason for the increase in the change in fair value of fixed index annuity embedded derivatives in 2010 was decreases in the discount rates used in estimating our liability for policy growth offset in part by decreases in the expected index credits which correlated with the decrease in the change in fair value of derivatives for 2010 discussed above. The primary reasons for the significant increase

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in the change in fair value of fixed index annuity embedded derivatives in 2009 were decreases in the discount rates used in estimating our liability for policy growth and increases in the expected index credits which correlated with the increase in the change in fair value of derivatives for 2009 discussed above. The primary reasons for the significant decrease in the change in fair value of fixed index annuity embedded derivatives in 2008 were increases in the discount rates used in estimating our liability for policy growth, a decrease in the expected index credits which correlated with a decrease in the change in fair value of derivatives for 2008 and a decrease in our estimate of the expected future cost of annual call options. The increase in the discount rates to reflect our nonperformance risk upon the adoption of the fair value measurements accounting requirements on January 1, 2008 as discussed previously decreased the fair value of embedded derivatives by $150.6 million and the decrease in the estimate of future option costs decreased the fair value of the embedded derivatives for 2008 by $51.6 million.

Interest expense on notes payable increased 49% to $22.1 million in 2010 and decreased 25% to $14.9 million in 2009 from $19.8 million in 2008. The 2010 increase was primarily due to the December 2009 issuance of an additional $52.2 million of 5.25% convertible senior notes and a higher effective rate of interest on $63.6 million principal amount of 5.25% convertible senior notes that were issued in December 2009 in exchange for the same principal amount of another issue of 5.25% convertible senior notes. The 2010 increase was also due to additional interest associated with the September 2010 issuance of $200 million principal amount of 3.50% convertible senior notes. The decrease in 2009 was primarily attributable to the extinguishment of $78.1 million principal amount of our 2024 notes during 2008 and extinguishment of $37.2 million principal amount of our 2024 notes through the exchange of five million shares of our common stock in the second quarter of 2009. The 2010 increase and 2009 decrease in interest expense on the convertible notes were partially offset by a decrease in 2010 and an increase in 2009 in interest expense on borrowings under our revolving line of credit with banks. The weighted average interest rates were 1.10%, 1.49% and 4.15% and the average borrowings outstanding were $108.5 million, $113.3 million and $35.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Interest expense on notes payable is expected to increase in 2011 due to the September 2010 issuance of the 2015 notes that carry an effective interest rate of 8.9%. See note 9 to our audited consolidated financial statements.

Interest expense on subordinated debentures decreased 6% to $14.9 million in 2010 and 19% to $15.8 million in 2009 from $19.4 million in 2008. These decreases were primarily due to decreases in the weighted average interest rates on the outstanding subordinated debentures which were 5.47%, 5.82% and 7.15% for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The weighted average interest rates have decreased because $149 million principal amount of the subordinated debentures have a floating rate of interest based upon the three month London Interbank Offered Rate plus an applicable margin. See Financial Condition—Liabilities.

Interest expense on amounts due under repurchase agreements decreased 93% $0.5 million in 2009 and $8.2 million in 2008. There were no amounts outstanding during the year ended December 31, 2010. Weighted average interest rates were 0.35% and 2.28% for 2009 and 2008, respectively, and average borrowings outstanding were $150.7 million and $359.9 million during 2009 and 2008, respectively. Repurchase agreements were not utilized during 2010 due to the high level of calls on investment securities during the year. See Financial Condition—Investments.

Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs increased 55% to $136.4 million in 2010 and decreased 31% to $88.0 million in 2009 from $126.7 million in 2008. The 2010 increase includes the $1.4 million impact of unlocking in 2010 and the 2009 decrease includes the $14.6 million impact of unlocking in 2008. See Critical Accounting Policies - Deferred Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements. In general, amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs has been increasing each year due to the growth in our annuity business and the deferral of policy acquisition costs incurred with respect to sales of annuity products. The anticipated increase in amortization from these factors has been affected by amortization associated with fair value accounting for derivatives and embedded derivatives utilized in our fixed index annuity business, amortization associated with net realized gains on investments and net OTTI losses recognized in operations and, in 2010, the amortization associated with the litigation settlement.

As discussed above, fair value accounting for derivatives and embedded derivatives utilized in our fixed index annuity business creates differences in the recognition of revenues and expenses from derivative instruments including the embedded derivative liabilities in our fixed index annuity contracts. The gross profit adjustments resulting from fair value accounting for derivatives and embedded derivatives utilized in our fixed index annuity business increased (decreased) amortization by ($48.3) million, ($60.6) million and $44.2 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The gross profit adjustments from net realized gains on investments and net OTTI losses recognized in operations decreased amortization by $0.0 million, $12.2 million and $61.6 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The gross profit adjustments from the litigation settlement decreased amortization in 2010 by $4.4 million. Excluding the amortization amounts attributable to fair value accounting for derivatives and embedded derivatives, realized gains on investments and net OTTI losses recognized in operations, and the litigation settlement, amortization would have been $189.1 million, $160.9 million and $144.2 million for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Other operating costs and expenses increased 100% to $114.6 million in 2010 and 9% to $57.3 million in 2009 from $52.6 million in 2008. The increase in 2010 was principally attributable to the litigation settlement accrual of $48.0 million, a $6.8 million increase in salaries and benefits and a $2.2 million increase in legal costs. See note 13 in our audited consolidated financial statements for a discussion of the litigation settlement. The increase in salaries and benefits for 2010 was due to an increase in incentive bonuses incurred for employees including the implementation of a short-term incentive plan for senior management and an increase in the number of employees due to growth in our business. The increase in litigation expense during 2010 was related to the defense of a class action lawsuit which we entered into a settlement with the plaintiffs in February 2011. The increase in 2009 was principally attributable to an increase in salaries and benefits of $3.3 million, an increase in risk charges on reinsurance of $3.7 million, and an increase in general overhead of $1.0 million offset by a decrease in legal expense of $3.1 million. The increase in salaries and benefits for 2009 was primarily due to an increase in the number of employees due to the growth in our business. Also, we recorded post employment benefit expense of $1.2 million during the second quarter of 2009 related to a post employment benefit agreement with our Executive Chairman, David J. Noble which was approved by our board of directors on June 4, 2009. The increase in risk charges on reinsurance was due to a reinsurance treaty entered into on December 31, 2008 and the expansion of the in-force business covered under an existing reinsurance treaty during the second quarter of 2009. The increase in general overhead costs was due to the growth

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in our business from increased sales. The decreases in legal expense were primarily related to a decrease in the cost of defense related to ongoing litigation.

Income tax expense increased 27% to $22.3 million in 2010 and decreased 71% to $17.6 million in 2009 from $61.1 million in 2008. These changes were primarily related to changes in income before income taxes and the impact of changes in the valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets related to capital loss carryforwards and other than temporary impairments on investment securities. The effective tax rates were 34.2%, 20.5% and 79.3% for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The effective tax rate for 2010 was less than the applicable statutory federal income tax rate of 35% primarily due to state income tax benefits attributable to losses in the non-life subgroup. The effective tax rate for 2009 was less than the applicable statutory federal income tax rate of 35% primarily due to a decrease in the deferred income tax asset valuation allowance established in 2008 for capital loss carryforwards and other than temporary impairments which decreased income tax expense in 2009 by $11.9 million. This decrease was primarily due to current year taxable income from capital gain sources which resulted from the recognition of net realized gains on available for sale fixed maturity and equity securities that were sold as part of a tax planning strategy to generate capital gains to offset capital losses as discussed above. The effective tax rate for 2008 was more than the applicable statutory federal income tax rate of 35% primarily due to the establishment of a valuation allowance for deferred income tax assets related to capital loss carryforwards and other than temporary impairments on investment securities. See note 8 to our consolidated financial statements.

Financial Condition

Investments

Our investment strategy is to maintain a predominantly investment grade fixed income portfolio, provide adequate liquidity to meet our cash obligations to policyholders and others and maximize current income and total investment return through active investment management. Consistent with this strategy, our investments principally consist of fixed maturity securities and mortgage loans on real estate.

Insurance statutes regulate the type of investments that our life subsidiaries are permitted to make and limit the amount of funds that may be used for any one type of investment. In light of these statutes and regulations and our business and investment strategy, we generally seek to invest in United States government and government-sponsored agency securities and corporate securities rated investment grade by established nationally recognized statistical rating organizations ("NRSRO's") or in securities of comparable investment quality, if not rated and commercial mortgage loans on real estate.

The composition of our investment portfolio is summarized as follows:


	December 31,
	2010				2009
	Carrying Amount		Percent		Carrying Amount		Percent
	(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturity securities:
United States Government full faith and credit	$	4,388	—	%	$	3,310	—	%
United States Government sponsored agencies	3,750,065		18.9	%	5,557,971		36.2	%
United States municipalities, states and territories	2,367,003		12.0	%	355,634		2.3	%
Corporate securities	7,652,850		38.6	%	3,933,198		25.6	%
Residential mortgage backed securities	2,878,557		14.5	%	2,489,101		16.2	%
Total fixed maturity securities	16,652,863		84.0	%	12,339,214		80.3	%
Equity securities	65,961		0.4	%	93,086		0.6	%
Mortgage loans on real estate	2,598,641		13.1	%	2,449,778		15.9	%
Derivative instruments	479,786		2.4	%	479,272		3.1	%
Other investments	19,680		0.1	%	12,760		0.1	%
	$	19,816,931	100.0	%	$	15,374,110	100.0	%

During 2010 and 2009, we received $5.2 billion and $4.2 billion, respectively, in net redemption proceeds related to calls of our callable United States Government sponsored agency securities, of which $1.6 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively, were classified as held for investment. We reinvested the proceeds from these redemptions primarily in United States Government sponsored agencies, corporate securities and United States municipalities, states, and territories classified as available for sale. At December 31, 2010, 36% of our fixed income securities have call features and 1% ($0.1 billion) of those securities were subject to call redemption. Another 21% ($3.4 billion) of our fixed income securities will become subject to call redemption during 2011.

Fixed Maturity Securities

Our fixed maturity security portfolio is managed to minimize risks such as interest rate changes and defaults or impairments while earning a sufficient and stable return on our investments. Historically, we have had a high percentage of our fixed maturity securities in U.S. Government sponsored agency securities (for the most part Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation and Federal National Mortgage Association). While U.S. Government sponsored agency securities are of high credit quality, the call features have resulted in our excess cash position in 2010. These calls resulted from the low interest rate and tight agency spread environment experienced in 2010. Since 2007, when we had almost 80% of our

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fixed maturity portfolio invested in callable agencies, we have reallocated a significant portion of our fixed maturities from the callable agency securities to other highly rated, long-term securities. The largest portion of our fixed maturity securities are now in investment grade (NAIC designation 1 or 2) publicly traded or privately placed corporate securities. We have also built a portfolio of residential mortgage backed securities ("RMBS") that provide our investment portfolio a source of regular cash flow and higher yielding assets than our agency securities. Additionally, in 2009 we began building a portfolio of taxable bonds issued by municipalities, states and territories of the United States that provide us with attractive yields while consistent with our aversion to credit risk.

A summary of our fixed maturity securities by NRSRO ratings is as follows:


	December 31,
	2010				2009
Rating Agency Rating	Carrying Amount		Percent		Carrying Amount		Percent
	(Dollars in thousands)
Aaa/Aa/A	$	11,599,255	69.6	%	$	8,666,467	70.2	%
Baa	3,725,920		22.4	%	2,442,897		19.8	%
Total investment grade	15,325,175		92.0	%	11,109,364		90.0	%
Ba	294,200		1.8	%	367,427		3.0	%
B	69,033		0.4	%	358,288		2.9	%
Caa and lower	959,437		5.8	%	481,389		3.9	%
In or near default	5,018		—	%	22,746		0.2	%
Total below investment grade	1,327,688		8.0	%	1,229,850		10.0	%
	$	16,652,863	100.0	%	$	12,339,214	100.0	%

The NAIC's Securities Valuation Office ("SVO") is responsible for the day-to-day credit quality assessment and valuation of securities owned by state regulated insurance companies. Insurance companies report ownership of securities to the SVO when such securities are eligible for regulatory filings. The SVO conducts credit analysis on these securities for the purpose of assigning an NAIC designation and/or unit price. Typically, if a security has been rated by an NRSRO, the SVO utilizes that rating and assigns an NAIC designation based upon the following system:


NAIC Designation		NRSRO Equivalent Rating
1		Aaa/Aa/A
2		Baa
3		Ba
4		B
5		Caa and lower
6		In or near default

In November 2010, the NAIC membership approved continuation of a process developed in 2009 to assess non-agency RMBS for the 2010 filing year that does not rely on NRSRO ratings. The NAIC retained the services of PIMCO Advisory to model each non-agency RMBS owned by U.S. insurers at year-end 2010 and 2009. PIMCO Advisory has provided 5 prices for each security for life insurance companies to utilize in determining the NAIC designation for each RMBS based on each insurer's statutory book value price. This process is used to determine the level of RBC requirements for non-agency RMBS.

A summary of our fixed maturity securities by NAIC designation is as follows:


	December 31, 2010								December 31, 2009
NAIC Designation	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Percentage of Total Carrying Amount		Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Percentage of Total Carrying Amount
	(Dollars in thousands)								(Dollars in thousands)
1	$	12,152,552	$	12,246,954	$	12,262,263	73.6	%	$	9,495,015	$	9,370,647	$	9,374,900	76.0	%
2	3,892,680		4,012,076		4,012,076		24.1	%	2,571,815		2,555,826		2,555,826		20.7	%
3	368,680		323,113		348,256		2.1	%	409,860		315,948		344,914		2.8	%
4	19,820		19,178		19,178		0.1	%	24,375		20,799		20,799		0.2	%
5	6,089		6,262		6,262		0.1	%	21,013		20,749		20,749		0.1	%
6	4,273		4,828		4,828		—	%	25,685		22,026		22,026		0.2	%
	$	16,444,094	$	16,612,411	$	16,652,863	100.0	%	$	12,547,763	$	12,305,995	$	12,339,214	100.0	%

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A summary of our RMBS by collateral type and split by NAIC designation, as well as a separate summary of securities for which we have recognized OTTI and those which we have not yet recognized any OTTI is as follows as of December 31, 2010:


Collateral Type	NAIC Designation	Principal Amount		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
		(Dollars in thousands)
OTTI has not been recognized
Government agency	1	$	341,430	$	308,917	$	307,939
Prime	1	1,661,865		1,573,960		1,634,953
	2	1,500		1,480		1,363
	3	52,677		51,239		45,499
Alt-A	1	55,022		54,512		56,072
	2	5,123		5,216		4,708
		$	2,117,617	$	1,995,324	$	2,050,534
OTTI has been recognized
Prime	1	$	135,747	$	123,053	$	115,519
	2	331,762		304,578		279,488
	3	62,145		58,765		52,738
Alt-A	1	260,021		224,492		212,030
	2	183,992		146,413		125,259
	3	49,314		43,343		40,287
	6	4,709		4,060		2,702
		$	1,027,690	$	904,704	$	828,023
Total by collateral type
Government agency		$	341,430	$	308,917	$	307,939
Prime		2,245,696		2,113,075		2,129,560
Alt-A		558,181		478,036		441,058
		$	3,145,307	$	2,900,028	$	2,878,557
Total by NAIC designation
	1	$	2,454,085	$	2,284,934	$	2,326,513
	2	522,377		457,687		410,818
	3	164,136		153,347		138,524
	6	4,709		4,060		2,702
		$	3,145,307	$	2,900,028	$	2,878,557

The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity securities at December 31, 2010, by contractual maturity are shown below. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. All of our residential mortgage backed securities provide for periodic payments throughout their lives and are shown below as a separate line.


	Available for sale				Held for investment
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
Due in one year or less	$	26,033	$	26,284	$	—	$	—
Due after one year through five years	401,008		440,698		—		—
Due after five years through ten years	1,647,988		1,816,850		—		—
Due after ten years through twenty years	2,895,065		2,910,182		—		—
Due after twenty years	7,751,772		7,758,092		822,200		781,748
	12,721,866		12,952,106		822,200		781,748
Residential mortgage backed securities	2,900,028		2,878,557		—		—
	$	15,621,894	$	15,830,663	$	822,200	$	781,748

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Unrealized Losses

At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturity securities and equity securities that were in an unrealized loss position were as follows:


	Number of Securities	Amortized Cost		Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
	(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2010
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale:
United States Government full faith and credit	2	$	566	$	(18	)	$	548
United States Government sponsored agencies	1	111,747		(1,646		)	110,101
United States municipalities, states and territories	289	1,571,263		(53,384		)	1,517,879
Corporate securities:
Finance, insurance and real estate	79	784,844		(44,353		)	740,491
Manufacturing, construction and mining	111	1,102,886		(36,226		)	1,066,660
Utilities and related sectors	145	987,093		(39,209		)	947,884
Wholesale/retail trade	25	169,125		(6,251		)	162,874
Services, media and other	18	206,317		(10,801		)	195,516
Residential mortgage backed securities	98	1,470,836		(108,421		)	1,362,415
	768	$	6,404,677	$	(300,309	)	$	6,104,368
Fixed maturity securities, held for investment:
United States Government sponsored agencies	3	$	746,414	$	(15,309	)	$	731,105
Corporate security:
Finance, insurance and real estate	1	75,786		(25,143		)	50,643
	4	$	822,200	$	(40,452	)	$	781,748
Equity securities, available for sale:
Finance, insurance and real estate	8	$	32,782	$	(1,946	)	$	30,836
December 31, 2009
Fixed maturity securities, available for sale:
United States Government full faith and credit	2	$	338	$	(6	)	$	332
United States Government sponsored agencies	27	3,026,593		(118,388		)	2,908,205
United States municipalities, states and territories	32	114,232		(2,263		)	111,969
Corporate securities:
Finance, insurance and real estate	68	443,859		(50,555		)	393,304
Manufacturing, construction and mining	28	178,642		(10,462		)	168,180
Utilities and related sectors	36	226,604		(13,156		)	213,448
Wholesale/retail trade	17	80,599		(5,423		)	75,176
Services, media and other	17	113,308		(5,324		)	107,984
Residential mortgage backed securities	109	1,719,481		(306,372		)	1,413,109
	336	$	5,903,656	$	(511,949	)	$	5,391,707
Fixed maturity securities, held for investment:
United States Government sponsored agencies	4	$	365,000	$	(5,900	)	$	359,100
Corporate security:
Finance, insurance and real estate	1	75,649		(28,966		)	46,683
	5	$	440,649	$	(34,866	)	$	405,783
Equity securities, available for sale:
Finance, insurance and real estate	14	$	41,948	$	(3,269	)	38,679

Unrealized losses decreased $207.4 million from $550.1 million at December 31, 2009 to $342.7 million at December 31, 2010. We decreased unrealized losses by recognizing $23.9 million of credit OTTI losses on debt securities for the year ended December 31, 2010. The remaining decrease in unrealized losses was due to improving market and economic conditions and tightening of credit spreads resulting in higher fair values for many of our fixed maturity securities. The increase in fair value of RMBS is also due to an increased demand in the market for these types of securities.

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The following table sets forth the composition by credit quality (NAIC designation) of fixed maturity securities with gross unrealized losses:


	Carrying Value of Securities with Gross Unrealized Losses		Percent of Total		Gross Unrealized Losses			Percent of Total
	(Dollars in thousands)
December 31, 2010
1	$	5,017,596	72.4	%	$	(186,066	)	54.6	%
2	1,619,437		23.4	%	(102,931		)	30.2	%
3	269,555		3.9	%	(49,764		)	14.6	%
4	17,278		0.2	%	(642		)	0.2	%
5	—		—	%	—			—	%
6	2,702		0.1	%	(1,358		)	0.4	%
	$	6,926,568	100.0	%	$	(340,761	)	100.0	%
December 31, 2009
1	$	4,577,573	78.5	%	$	(295,280	)	54.0	%
2	904,027		15.5	%	(147,214		)	26.9	%
3	302,630		5.2	%	(94,679		)	17.3	%
4	20,799		0.4	%	(3,576		)	0.7	%
5	14,499		0.2