Use these links to rapidly review the document
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.            )

---

Table of Contents

AMERICAN EQUITY
INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
6000 Westown Parkway
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266

---

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
June 6, 2019

---

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company will be held for the following purposes:

1.

To elect three directors to three-year terms.

2.

To ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019.

3.

To hold an advisory vote to approve the compensation of our named executive officers.

4.

To transact such other business that may properly come before the meeting.

Shareholders of record at the close of business on the record date, April 12, 2019, are entitled to the notice of and to vote at the meeting. It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the meeting, please vote your shares in one of the following ways:

By Order of the Board of Directors

Renee D. Montz
Secretary

West Des Moines, Iowa
April 22, 2019

---

Table of Contents

PROXY STATEMENT

AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
June 6, 2019

---

Table of Contents

---

Table of Contents

Annual Meeting and Proxy Solicitation Information

A Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials

American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 (referred to in this proxy statement as the "Company" or as "we," "our" or "us") is using "notice and access" to distribute proxy materials to shareholders, which means this Proxy Statement and the Company's Annual Report to Shareholders will be made available on the Internet instead of mailing a printed copy to each shareholder. Shareholders who receive a Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials (the "Notice") by mail will not receive a printed copy of these materials other than as described below. The Notice contains instructions as to how shareholders may access and review all of the important information contained in the materials on the Internet, including how to submit proxies. The Notice is first being mailed on or about April 22, 2019.

If you would prefer to receive a printed copy of the Company's proxy materials, please follow the instructions for requesting printed copies included in the Notice.

General Information

This proxy statement is provided to the shareholders of the Company in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors for the annual meeting of shareholders to be held on June 6, 2019 ("Annual Meeting"), at the time and place shown in the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and at any adjournment. To obtain directions to the Annual Meeting, you may contact us at our toll-free number: 1-888-221-1234.

We will bear all expenses in connection with this solicitation. Proxies may be solicited by the Board of Directors or management personally, telephonically or electronically.

Voting Rights

Only shareholders of record as of the close of business on April 12, 2019 will be entitled to the notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. We have a single class of voting common stock, $1 par value per share ("Common Stock"), of which 90,819,740 shares were outstanding and entitled to vote on such date. Each share is entitled to one vote.

Shares present in person or represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting will be tabulated to determine if a quorum is present. A quorum is present if a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on a matter are represented for any purpose at the Annual Meeting. Votes withheld for any director, broker non-votes and abstentions represented at the Annual Meeting will be counted for quorum purposes. Votes will be tabulated under the supervision of Alliance Advisors, L.L.C., which has been designated by the Board of Directors as inspector of the election.

If your shares of Common Stock are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, you will receive instructions from that holder to vote your shares at the Annual Meeting. Contact your bank, broker or other holder of record directly if you have any questions. Even if you do not provide instructions, your bank, broker or other holder of record may vote your shares on certain "routine matters." The New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") considers Proposal 2 to be a "routine matter." As a result, without instructions from you, your broker is permitted to vote your shares on this matter at its discretion. A broker non-vote occurs when a broker does not vote on some matter because the broker has not received instructions from you and does not have discretionary voting power for that particular item. Proposals 1 and 3 are considered "non-routine matters" and, therefore, brokers may not vote on these matters unless they receive specific voting instructions from you.

If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, you will have the opportunity to obtain a ballot when you arrive. If your shares of Common Stock are not registered in your own name and you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and vote your shares in person, you will need to contact the broker or agent in whose name your shares are registered to obtain a broker's proxy card. You will need to bring the broker's proxy card with you to the Annual Meeting in order to vote.

Voting

If you vote by proxy, the individuals named on the proxy card (your proxies) will vote your shares in the manner you indicate. If you sign, date and return the proxy card without indicating your instructions on how to vote your shares, the proxies will vote your shares as follows:

•

"FOR" the election of the three director nominees;

​

​

---

Table of Contents

•

"FOR" the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP ("KPMG") as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019; and

•

"FOR" the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").

If any other matter is presented at the Annual Meeting, your proxies will vote in accordance with their best judgment. At the time this proxy statement was printed, we knew of no other matters to be addressed at the Annual Meeting.

If you are a registered shareholder (that is, you own shares of Common Stock in your own name and not through a broker, nominee or in some other "street name"), you may vote by telephone, through the Internet or by obtaining a proxy card and returning it by mail. Please see the Notice for instructions on how to access the telephone and Internet voting systems. If you hold your shares in "street name," your broker or other nominee will advise you on whether you may vote by telephone or through the Internet as an alternative to voting by proxy card.

A proxy may be revoked at any time prior to the close of voting at the Annual Meeting. Such revocation may be made in person at the Annual Meeting, by notice in writing delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the Company, by voting by telephone or through the Internet at a later date or by a proxy bearing a later date.

The Board of Directors urges you to take advantage of internet or telephone voting. Instructions are included in the Notice or the proxy card.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Proposal 1—Election of Directors

The Board of Directors presently consists of twelve members. Each member of the Board has been appointed to one of three classes with three-year terms expiring on a staggered basis. The terms of the four directors presently serving as the Class I Directors expire at the Annual Meeting.

The nominees to serve as Class I Directors are John M. Matovina, Alan D. Matula and Gerard D. Neugent. Each is nominated for a term of three years expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders in 2022, or until their respective successors are elected and qualified, subject to their prior death, resignation or removal. Alexander M. Clark, who presently serves as a Class I Director, will not stand for reelection at the Annual Meeting. Accordingly, the Board of Directors intends to decrease its size to eleven members effective as of the Annual Meeting.

Mr. Matula and Mr. Neugent are independent under the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ("SOX"), and rules adopted by the SEC, as well as the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE ("NYSE Rules").

The Board of Directors anticipates the nominees will serve. In the event a nominee is unable to do so, proxies will be voted for such substitute nominee as the Board of Directors in its discretion may recommend. Proxies will be voted for the election of the nominees unless the shareholder giving the proxy withholds authority or votes against any nominee.

Directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the shares entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends you vote FOR the nominees listed below.

Class I Directors Whose Terms Expire at the Annual Meeting

John M. Matovina, 64, has served as a director since 2000. He has served as Chairman since April 2017 and as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company since 2012. He served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company from 2009 to 2012 and as the Company's Vice Chairman from 2003 to April 2017. Mr. Matovina was a private investor and a financial consultant to us from 1997 to 2003. From 1983 through 1996, he was a senior financial officer of The Statesman Group, Inc. ("Statesman") and many of its subsidiaries, and, prior to Statesman's acquisition in 1994, he served as Statesman's Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary. Mr. Matovina is a certified public accountant and has more than 25 years of experience in the life insurance industry. Mr. Matovina's role as Chief Executive Officer of the Company as well as his years of experience in and extensive knowledge of the life insurance industry led the Board of Directors to conclude that Mr. Matovina should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Executive and Investment Committees

Alan D. Matula, 58, has served as a director since December 2015. He has served as the Chief Information Officer of Weber-Stephen Products LLC, a privately owned company which manufactures charcoal, gas and electric outdoor grills and accessories, since December 2015. Mr. Matula worked for the Royal Dutch Shell plc organization for over 30 years. During that time, he served in various information technology capacities for the parent company and several of its subsidiaries, including chief information officer for Royal Dutch Shell plc from 2006 to 2015. Mr. Matula's experience as chief information officer overseeing technology and cyber-related risks as well as his deep business experience led the Board of Directors to conclude that Mr. Matula should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Risk Committee

Gerard D. Neugent, 67, has served as a director since 2010. He has served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Knapp Properties, Inc. ("Knapp Properties"), Des Moines, Iowa since 2014 and served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Knapp Properties from 1993 until 2014. His primary duties include real estate transactions, development and management. Mr. Neugent received his law degree from Drake University. Mr. Neugent's experience in real estate and business management as well as his legal background led the Board of Directors to conclude that Mr. Neugent should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee

​ ​

---

Table of Contents

Class II Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2020 Annual Meeting

Joyce A. Chapman, 74, has served as a director since 2008. She worked for over 35 years with West Bank, West Des Moines, Iowa until her retirement in 2006. While at West Bank, Ms. Chapman served in various capacities related to bank administration and operations. Ms. Chapman has served in numerous positions of leadership in philanthropic and banking industry organizations. Ms. Chapman also serves as a director for West Bank and West Bancorporation, Inc. Ms. Chapman's leadership experience in various organizations and her experience in the banking industry led the Board of Directors to conclude that Ms. Chapman should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees

James M. Gerlach, 77, has served as a director since 1996. He served as Executive Vice President of the Company from 1996 until his retirement in 2011. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Gerlach served as Executive Vice President of American Life and Casualty Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Statesman, and as Executive Vice President and Treasurer of Vulcan Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of American Life and Casualty Insurance Company. Mr. Gerlach was active in the insurance industry for over 45 years. Mr. Gerlach's knowledge of the Company's operations as well as his years of experience in the insurance industry led the Board of Directors to conclude that Mr. Gerlach should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Investment and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees

Robert L. Howe, 76, has served as a director since 2005. He is our Lead Independent Director. He served the State of Iowa Insurance Division from 1964 to 2002 in various capacities. He was named Deputy Commissioner and Chief Examiner in 1985 and served in that position until his retirement in 2002. During this time, Mr. Howe was responsible for the financial oversight of 220 domestic insurance companies. Since his retirement, Mr. Howe has been a self-employed insurance consultant. Mr. Howe served as a director of EMC National Life Company from 2003 until 2007, and, from 2007 until 2018, Mr. Howe served as a director of EMC Insurance Group. He also served as the designated financial expert on the board of directors of EMC Insurance Group. Mr. Howe is a certified financial examiner, certified insurance examiner, certified government financial manager and accredited insurance receiver. Mr. Howe's experience in the financial oversight of insurance companies and his expertise in finance led the Board of Directors to conclude that Mr. Howe should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Executive and Audit Committees

William R. Kunkel, 62, has served as a director since June 2016. He has served as General Counsel of the Archdiocese of Chicago since November 2016. From 2012 through April 1, 2016, he served as the Company's Executive Vice President, Legal and General Counsel. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Kunkel was a partner at the international law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP for over 25 years, where he focused his practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and other corporate governance and securities matters. Mr. Kunkel's experience as an executive of the Company and as legal counsel to the Company as well as his expertise in corporate governance and corporate finance led the Board of Directors to conclude that Mr. Kunkel should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Risk Committee

Debra J. Richardson, 62, has served as a director since 2008. She served as Executive Vice President and Secretary of the Company from 2009 to June 30, 2016. Prior to that, Ms. Richardson served as Senior Vice President and Secretary of the Company since 1996. Ms. Richardson was employed by Statesman from 1977 through 1996 serving in various positions including Vice President-Shareholder/Investor Relations. Ms. Richardson has been involved in the insurance industry for over 35 years. Ms. Richardson's experience as an executive of the Company and her years of involvement in the insurance industry led the Board of Directors to conclude that Ms. Richardson should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Risk Committee

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Class III Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2021 Annual Meeting

Brenda J. Cushing, 55, has served as a director since March 2017. Ms. Cushing has been an independent insurance consultant since August 2015. From August 2014 to August 2015, Ms. Cushing served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Athene Holding Ltd., a retirement services company, and from October 2013 to August 2014, Ms. Cushing served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Athene USA Corp., a subsidiary of Athene Holding Ltd. From 2008 until its acquisition by Athene Holding Ltd. in 2013, Ms. Cushing served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Aviva USA Corp., a diversified financial company that offered long-term savings, insurance and retirement income products. Ms. Cushing is a certified public accountant and has been involved in the insurance industry for over 20 years. Ms. Cushing's financial expertise and insurance company financial leadership for over two decades led the Board of Directors to conclude that Ms. Cushing should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Audit and Compensation Committees

David S. Mulcahy, 66, has served as a director since 2011. Mr. Mulcahy previously served as a member of the Company's Board of Directors from 1996 to 2006. Mr. Mulcahy currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Monarch Materials Group, Inc., a privately-owned company which manufactures residential, basement window systems, and as President of MABSCO Capital, Inc., a privately-owned company which provides a selection of services including portfolio management, financial consulting and private placement, private equity and joint venture transactions. Mr. Mulcahy was appointed the non-executive Chairman of the Board of Workiva Inc. in June 2018 and has served as a director since its initial public offering in 2014. Mr. Mulcahy is a certified public accountant and was a partner in the Des Moines office of Ernst & Young LLP, where he was employed from 1976 through 1994. Mr. Mulcahy's financial expertise, knowledge and experience in accounting and business management led the Board of Directors to conclude that Mr. Mulcahy should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Executive and Audit Committees

A. J. Strickland, III, 77, has served as a director since 1996. He has been the Thomas R. Miller Professor of Strategic Management in the Graduate School of Business at the University of Alabama since 1969. Dr. Strickland has been a director of United Security Bancshares, Inc. since February 2013 and was a director of Twenty Services, Inc. until March 2014. Dr. Strickland is also the co-author of many strategic management books and texts used at universities worldwide. In addition, he conducts frequent industry and competitive analyses of domestic and international firms. Dr. Strickland's extensive knowledge of strategic management and the finance industry arising from his academic experience led the Board of Directors to conclude that Dr. Strickland should serve as a director of the Company.

Member: Compensation Committee

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Board and Corporate Governance Information

Corporate Governance

The Company is committed to the highest standards of business conduct in our relationships with each other and with our customers, distributors, agents, national marketing organizations, suppliers, shareholders and others. This requires conducting our business in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations and in accordance with the highest standards of business conduct. The Company has established a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (the "Code of Conduct") to assure uniformity in standards of conduct. The Code of Conduct applies to the Company's directors, officers and employees. The Code of Conduct is available as "Code of Conduct" under "Corporate Governance" accessible through the "Investor Relations" link on the Company's website at www.american-equity.com. A copy of the Code of Conduct is available in print. Requests should be sent to the Corporate Secretary at 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.

Board Leadership Structure

Mr. Matovina serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors and also as our Chief Executive Officer and President. As Chairman of the Board, Mr. Matovina's focus is on the strategic direction of the Company. Mr. Matovina's service as our Chief Executive Officer and President and his substantial industry experience make him the appropriate leader of the Board. Mr. Howe serves as Lead Independent Director and works with the Chairman and other members of the Board of Directors to provide independent oversight of the Company. Among other things, Mr. Howe serves as principal liaison among the Chairman, the independent directors and senior management. Mr. Howe also chairs executive sessions of the independent and non-management directors.

Board of Directors' Oversight of Risk Management

The Company's Board of Directors administers its risk oversight function directly and through its committees. The Board of Directors participates in setting the Company's business strategy and plays a key role in the assessment of management's approach to risk. Through this process, the Board of Directors better understands and determines what level of risk is appropriate for the Company. While the Board of Directors has the ultimate oversight responsibility for the risk management process, various committees of the Board of Directors also have responsibility for risk management. For example, the Audit Committee focuses on financial reporting risk, including internal controls. The Risk Committee focuses on non-financial risks, liquidity risk and insurance risk. Additionally, the Compensation Committee is responsible for creating incentives that encourage a level of risk-taking behavior consistent with the Company's business strategy. Finally, the Investment Committee focuses on credit risk and market risk and investment policies and activities.

The responsibility for the day-to-day management of risk lies with the Chief Executive Officer and our management. The Company has an enterprise risk management ("ERM") policy approved by the Board of Directors and implemented by an ERM Committee comprised of the Chief Risk Officer and other members of senior management who, among other things, review and discuss reports from other members of management regarding the Company's risk management activities, including the areas management has identified as our major risk exposures, and the steps taken to monitor and manage those exposures. The Chief Executive Officer and ERM Committee are responsible for reporting the risk profile, risk trends and key risk metrics to the Board of Directors on a regular basis and meet with the Risk Committee at least annually.

The Company has a Disclosure Committee comprised of (i) the Audit Committee Chair, who also serves as Chairman for the Disclosure Committee, (ii) the Chief Financial Officer, (iii) the Chief Accounting Officer and (iv) the General Counsel and Secretary of the Company. The purpose of the Disclosure Committee is to assist senior officers of the Company in fulfilling the Company's and their responsibilities regarding the identification and disclosure of material information about the Company and the accuracy, completeness and timeliness of the Company's financial reports, SEC reports and press releases.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Majority of Independent Directors

Our Board of Directors includes twelve members and it has affirmatively determined the following ten are independent under applicable requirements:

Joyce A. Chapman
Alexander M. Clark
Brenda J. Cushing
James M. Gerlach
Robert L. Howe
William R. Kunkel
Alan D. Matula
David S. Mulcahy
Gerard D. Neugent
A. J. Strickland, III

Gerard D. Neugent is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Knapp Properties, which provides property management services to the owner of the building where the Company has its principal executive offices in West Des Moines, Iowa. The aggregate amount of fees paid to Knapp Properties by the owner of the building with respect to the Company's offices is immaterial in amount to both the Company and to Knapp Properties. Mr. Neugent is a member/manager of William C. Knapp, L.C., which is a 50% owner of West Lake Properties, L.C. West Lake Properties, L.C. owns a warehouse building, a portion of which is leased to the Company. The aggregate amount of rent and expenses relating to the warehouse space is immaterial in amount to both the Company and William C. Knapp, L.C.

David S. Mulcahy is the non-executive Chairman of the Board, a director and shareholder of Workiva Inc. The Company has entered into a subscription agreement with Workiva Inc. to utilize certain software. The fees paid to Workiva Inc. in 2018 pursuant to the subscription agreement are immaterial to the Company and to Workiva Inc.

The independent directors meet in executive session as a part of all regular quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors and as part of other meetings of the Board of Directors when warranted. At each executive session, the Lead Independent Director presides. The Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available under "Corporate Governance" accessible through the "Investor Relations" link on our website at www.american-equity.com and are also available in print for any shareholder upon request.

Any interested parties desiring to communicate with a member (or all members) of the Board of Directors regarding the Company may directly contact such directors by mail or electronically. To communicate with the Board of Directors, any individual director or any group or committee of directors, correspondence should be addressed to the Board of Directors or any such individual director or group or committee of directors by either name or title. All mail correspondence should be sent to the Corporate Secretary at 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266. All electronic correspondence should be sent to the Corporate Secretary at corpsecretary@american-equity.com. All correspondence received by the Corporate Secretary will be categorized and then forwarded to the Board of Directors, the individual director or any group or committee of directors.

Meetings and Committees of the Board of Directors

The Board of Directors met twelve times in 2018, and each of the directors attended at least 75% of the meetings of the Board of Directors and the committee meetings for any committee on which he or she served during 2018. We currently have six permanent committees, as described below. Under our Corporate Governance Guidelines, a

​

​

---

Table of Contents

director is invited and encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting. All directors, with the exception of Alexander M. Clark, Debra J. Richardson and A. J. Strickland, III attended the 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

The Audit Committee performs the following functions, among others: (i) assists the Board of Directors' oversight of (a) the integrity of our financial statements and systems of internal control over financial reporting; (b) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements as they pertain to the financial statements and annual audit process; (c) our independent registered public accounting firm's qualifications and independence; and (d) the performance of our independent registered public accounting firm and our internal audit function; and (ii) prepares the annual report on audit disclosures required to be prepared by the Audit Committee pursuant to the rules of the SEC. The Audit Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. The charter is available under "Corporate Governance" accessible through the "Investor Relations" link on our website at www.american-equity.com and is also available in print for any shareholder upon request. The annual report of the Audit Committee is set forth below.

The Audit Committee must include only directors who satisfy the independence requirements under SOX and the NYSE Rules. In addition, all Audit Committee members must have the ability to read and understand financial statements. The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Audit Committee meet the applicable standards. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that Ms. Cushing, Mr. Howe and Mr. Mulcahy are "audit committee financial experts," as that term is defined under SOX.

The Compensation Committee performs the following functions, among others: (i) oversees the Company's compensation and benefit plans and practices related to the Company's Chief Executive Officer; (ii) makes recommendations to the Board of Directors with respect to other senior officers' compensation, incentive compensation and equity-based plans; (iii) administers the Company's compensation plans including cash incentive and equity-based plans; and (iv) produces an annual report on executive compensation as required by the SEC. The Compensation Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. The charter is available under "Corporate Governance" accessible through the "Investor Relations" link on our website at www.american-equity.com and is also available in print for any shareholder upon request. The annual report of the Compensation Committee is set forth below.

The Compensation Committee has the authority to engage compensation consultants, independent legal counsel and other advisers as it deems necessary. The Compensation Committee has engaged Pearl Meyer & Partners, an independent compensation consultant ("Pearl Meyer"), to provide advice and data with respect to compensation benchmarking and market practices. In 2018, Pearl Meyer worked with the Compensation Committee to develop recommendations regarding (i) base salaries of executive officers, (ii) short-term incentive compensation awards and (iii) long-term incentive compensation awards. In performing the annual assessment of the compensation consultant's independence, the Compensation Committee has reviewed, among other items, a letter from Pearl Meyer addressing its independence and the independence of the members of the consulting team serving the Compensation Committee, including the following factors: (i) the nature of any services provided to the Company by Pearl Meyer other than as described above; (ii) the amount of fees paid by the Company in relation to Pearl Meyer's total revenue; (iii) Pearl Meyer's policies and procedures designed to prevent conflicts of interest; and (iv) the existence of any business or personal relationship or stock ownership that could impact the adviser's independence. Pursuant to SEC and NYSE Rules, the Compensation Committee assessed the independence of Pearl Meyer in February 2018 and determined Pearl Meyer is independent from the Company's management and that no conflict of interest exists that would prevent Pearl Meyer from serving as an independent consultant for the Compensation Committee.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Under the NYSE Rules, the Compensation Committee must be composed entirely of independent directors. The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Compensation Committee meet the applicable standard.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee performs the following functions, among others: (i) identifies and recommends to the Board of Directors individuals qualified to serves as directors of the Company; (ii) develops and recommends corporate governance principles for the Company as required by law; (iii) oversees the Chief Executive Officer succession planning process; and (iv) oversees the evaluation of the Board of Directors as a whole and the Company's management. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. The charter is available under "Corporate Governance" accessible through the "Investor Relations" link on our website at www.american-equity.com and is also available in print for any shareholder upon request.

Under the NYSE Rules, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee must be composed entirely of independent directors. The Board of Directors has determined that all members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee meet the applicable standard.

The Executive Committee performs the following functions, among others: (i) except as prohibited by applicable law, exercises, between meetings of our Board of Directors, all of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in our direction and management; (ii) reviews corporate matters presented, or to be presented, to our Board of Directors; and (iii) makes recommendations to the Board of Directors on policy matters.

The Investment Committee performs the following functions, among others: (i) oversees our general investment strategies, objectives, standards and limitations; (ii) oversees our use of derivatives and general hedging strategy; and (iii) reviews and monitors investment performance. The Investment Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors.

The Risk Committee performs the following functions, among others: oversight of the Company's (i) risk management governance structure; (ii) risk management and risk assessment guidelines and policies regarding risks that could have a material impact on the Company; and (iii) risk tolerance. The Risk Committee is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors.

Information Regarding the Company's Process for Identifying Director Nominees

The Company is committed to having a Board of Directors comprised of individuals who are accomplished in their fields, have the ability to make meaningful contributions to the Board of Directors' oversight of the business and affairs of the Company and have an impeccable record and reputation for honest and ethical conduct. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider candidates recommended by shareholders. In considering candidates submitted by shareholders, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will take into consideration the needs of the Board of Directors and the qualifications of the candidate. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may also take into consideration the number of shares held by the recommending shareholder and the length of time the shares have been held.

To have a candidate considered by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, a shareholder must submit the recommendation in writing and in accordance with the requirements of our Amended and Restated Bylaws.

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may apply several criteria in identifying nominees. At a minimum, the committee shall consider (i) whether each such nominee has demonstrated, by significant accomplishment in his or her field, an ability to make a meaningful contribution to the Board of Directors' oversight of our business and affairs and (ii) the nominee's reputation for honesty and ethical conduct in his or her personal and professional activities. Additional factors the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee may consider include a candidate's specific experiences and skills, relevant industry background and knowledge, time availability in light of other commitments, potential conflicts of interest, material relationships with us and independence from management. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also may seek to have the Board of Directors represent a diversity of backgrounds and experience.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The Board of Directors has affirmatively determined Ms. Chapman, Ms. Cushing and Dr. Strickland are independent under the requirements of SOX and the NYSE Rules and do not have any relationships requiring disclosure under Item 404 of Regulation S-K. None of the Company's Compensation Committee members has ever been an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and during our last fiscal year, none of our executive officers

​

​

---

Table of Contents

served on the compensation committee or board of directors of any company that had one or more executive officers who served on our Board of Directors or our Compensation Committee.

Director Compensation

The Compensation Committee uses the Board's independent compensation consultant, Pearl Meyer, to provide advice and data with respect to non-employee director compensation, including retainers and equity awards. Pearl Meyer last provided a report in May 2018 which included non-employee director compensation data from the same peer group used to evaluate executive compensation. Non-employee director compensation is intended to approximate the 25th percentile of the peer group and was increased in 2018 to restore alignment with the 25th percentile.

Pearl Meyer's May 2018 report included recommendations related to the compensation of the Company's non-employee directors based on an evaluation of the compensation practices of the peer group companies. Based on its review of the data provided by Pearl Meyer, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board, and the Board approved, increases to the compensation of the non-employee directors that align the average annual total non-employee director compensation to slightly above the 25th percentile of the peer group companies while also creating a cash and equity pay mix that closely matches the peer group pay mix. Specifically, the cash retainer for non-employee directors was increased to $72,000 annually from $50,000 effective July 1, 2018 and the annual restricted stock grant was increased to $96,000 grant date fair value from $75,000 grant date fair value effective for the grant of restricted stock made to non-employee directors on June 7, 2018. Cash retainer fees for committee members and committee chairs remained unchanged.

Directors who are our employees receive no compensation for their service as directors. Each member of the Board of Directors who is not an employee of the Company receives the following:

•

$18,000 per quarter

•

$1,500 per meeting for attending meetings of the Board of Directors, $1,000 per meeting if attended by phone and the meeting is otherwise an in-person meeting or $500 per meeting for telephonic meetings, plus reimbursement of expenses for attending such meetings

•

An annual restricted stock grant with a grant date value of approximately $96,000

The Lead Independent Director receives an additional $5,000 per quarter.

The Chairs of our committees receive the following, all amounts per quarter:

•

Audit Committee—$10,500

•

Compensation Committee—$3,750

•

Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee—$2,250

•

Risk Committee—$2,250

Non-Chair members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Risk Committee receive an additional $3,000, $1,500, $750 and $750 per quarter, respectively. Non-employee members of the Investment Committee and the Executive Committee receive an additional $750 per quarter.

On June 7, 2018, non-employee directors received a grant of 2,600 shares of restricted stock under our 2013 Director Equity and Incentive Plan (the "2013 Director Plan"), which vests on the earlier of (i) one year from the grant date or (ii) the date of the next annual meeting. The Board of Directors believes that, although there is no policy requiring the directors to have a specified level of share ownership, it is important for directors to each own a meaningful amount of Common Stock. Non-employee directors own not less than six times their respective annual cash retainer amount in Common Stock, except Ms. Cushing, who was elected to the Board of Directors in March 2017.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

The following table provides compensation information for the last completed fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 for each member of the Board of Directors who was not an employee of the Company:

​

​

---

Table of Contents

The following table provides information about outstanding shares of unvested restricted stock and unexercised stock options to acquire our Common Stock held by each member of the Board of Directors who is not an employee of the Company as of December 31, 2018. There were no unexercisable options held by a non-employee director as of such date.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Proposal 2—Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee has appointed KPMG as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019. The Board of Directors requests that the shareholders ratify the appointment of KPMG. If the appointment of KPMG is not ratified by shareholders, our Audit Committee may investigate the reasons and consider approving another independent registered public accounting firm.

KPMG fees during the last two fiscal years were:

The Audit Committee is responsible for the appointment, retention, compensation and oversight of the independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee has adopted policies and procedures for pre-approving services (audit and non-audit) and all fees for services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm. These policies were adopted in compliance with SOX and rules adopted by the SEC thereunder. In accordance with such policies and procedures, the Audit Committee is required to pre-approve the audit and non-audit services performed by the independent registered public accounting firm in order to assure that the provision of such services does not impair the auditors' independence. These services may include audit services, audit-related services, tax services and other services. Permissible non-audit services are usually limited to fees for accounting assistance or audits in connection with acquisitions and other services specifically related to accounting or audit matters such as comfort letters related to common stock or debt offerings, audits of employee benefit plans and tax services. Unless a type of service to be provided by the independent registered public accounting firm has received general pre-approval, it will require specific pre-approval by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee specific pre-approval authority provided the estimated fee for any such engagement does not exceed $25,000. The Chairman of the Audit Committee must report, for information purposes only, any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. Requests to provide services that require separate approval by the Audit Committee will be submitted to the Audit Committee by both the independent registered public accounting firm and our Chief Financial Officer and must include a joint statement as to whether, in their view, the request or application is consistent with the SEC's rules on auditor independence. In fiscal year 2018, all of the services and fees described above were pre-approved by the Audit Committee.

We anticipate that representatives of KPMG will be present at the Annual Meeting, will be available to respond to questions concerning the 2018 audit and are permitted to make a statement if they so desire.

If a quorum exists, action on this proposal will be approved if the votes cast favoring the proposal exceed the votes cast opposing the proposal.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends you vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of KPMG as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2019.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Audit Committee Disclosures

The responsibilities of the Audit Committee, which are set forth in the Audit Committee charter adopted by the Board of Directors, include providing oversight of the Company's financial reporting process on behalf of the Board of Directors. Management is responsible for the Company's financial reporting process, the preparation, presentation and integrity of the Company's financial statements and the systems of internal control, including disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. The Company's independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and issuing an opinion on the fair presentation of those financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), as well as issuing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee is responsible for monitoring and overseeing the conduct of these activities, appointing the Company's independent registered public accounting firm and for supervising the relationship between the Company and the independent registered public accounting firm. In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities, the Audit Committee meets regularly with management and the independent registered public accounting firm, both jointly and separately.

The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 with management and KPMG, the Company's independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee also reviewed Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and KPMG's Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2018 filed with the SEC.

The Audit Committee discussed with KPMG the matters required to be communicated to the Audit Committee by applicable Public Company Accounting Oversight Board standards. The Audit Committee received the written disclosures and letter from KPMG required by applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public accounting firm's communications with the Audit Committee concerning independence, and has discussed with KPMG its independence. KPMG confirmed in its letter that it is independent of the Company under all relevant professional and regulatory standards.

Based on the review and discussions with management and KPMG referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2018 be included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2018 filed with the SEC.

As specified in the Audit Committee charter, the Audit Committee is not responsible for preparing or certifying financial statements, for planning or conducting audits or for determining that the Company's financial statements are complete and accurate and in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Such matters are the responsibility of management, and where applicable, the independent registered public accounting firm. In giving its recommendation to the Board of Directors, the Audit Committee has relied on (i) management's representation that such consolidated financial statements have been prepared with integrity and objectivity and in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and (ii) the report of KPMG with respect to such consolidated financial statements.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

David S, Mulcahy, Chair
Brenda J. Cushing
Robert L. Howe

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Executive Officers and Compensation

Executive Officers

Executive officers of the Company do not have fixed terms and serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The executive officers of the Company are:

John M. Matovina (age 64) has served as Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company since 2012 and has served as Chairman of the Company since April 2017. He served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company from 2009 until 2012 and as the Company's Vice Chairman from 2003 until April 2017. Mr. Matovina is a certified public accountant and has more than 25 years of experience in the life insurance industry.

Ted M. Johnson (age 49) has served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company since 2012. He served as Vice President-Controller of the Company from 2001 to 2012. Mr. Johnson is a certified public accountant and has over 25 years of experience in the life insurance industry.

Ronald J. Grensteiner (age 56) has served as President of American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, the Company's primary wholly-owned life insurance subsidiary ("American Equity Life"), since 2009 and is an Executive Vice President of the Company. He has more than 25 years of experience in the life insurance industry.

Jeffrey D. Lorenzen (age 53) has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer since June 2015 and served as Senior Vice President and Chief Investment Officer since 2009. Mr. Lorenzen has more than 20 years of experience in the life insurance industry.

Renee D. Montz (age 47) has served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel since April 2016 and as Corporate Secretary since July 2016. She previously served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel since June 2014. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Montz served in various roles at AEGON Asset Management, a global asset management company, from 2004 to 2014, including as General Counsel, AEGON USA Investment Management, LLC from January 2012 to June 2014. She has over 20 years of legal experience and 15 years of experience in the life insurance industry.

Jennifer L. Bryant (age 47) has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer of American Equity Life since June 2017 and was Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer from October 2016 to June 2017. From May 2013 to October 2016, Ms. Bryant was Senior Vice President, Human Resources of Bankers Trust Company, a banking and financial institution. Ms. Bryant served as Human Resources Business Partner at Aviva USA from December 2008 to May 2013. She has over 20 years of human resources experience.

Scott A. Samuelson (age 46) has served as Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of the Company since June 2017. Prior to that, Mr. Samuelson served as Vice President-Controller of the Company since 2012. Mr. Samuelson is a certified public accountant and has over 20 years of experience in the life insurance industry.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The Compensation Discussion and Analysis describes the Company's compensation objectives and philosophy and our 2018 compensation program. It also reviews the outcomes, including the Company's financial performance in 2018. Our named executive officers in 2018 were:

2018 Company Performance and Compensation Highlights

We delivered strong financial performance in 2018 despite the continuation of a challenging sales environment. We continued to grow our policyholder funds under management, which increased 5.5% to $51.1 billion at the end of

​

​

---

Table of Contents

2018. We delivered net income of $458 million, or $5.01 per common share-assuming dilution. Our net income was, among other things, positively impacted by an increase in the discount rate used to estimate the embedded derivative liability related to our fixed index annuities, by revisions of assumptions used to determine deferred sales inducements and deferred policy acquisition costs and reserves held for lifetime income benefit riders and by a decrease in tax expense as a result of the decrease in the statutory federal income tax rate as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Net income was negatively impacted by realized investment losses of $73.8 million. Approximately $50 million of the realized investment losses were related to our opportunistic replacement of lower yielding securities with higher yielding securities as we sold $2.1 billion in book value of lower yielding securities for a yield pick-up of 170 basis points on these investments. These losses should be recovered from higher yields on the securities acquired with the proceeds from the sales in less than two years.

At our 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, our shareholders cast an advisory vote (a "say-on-pay" vote) to approve the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in our proxy statement. Shareholders approved the say-on-pay proposal by an affirmative vote of 94% of the shares cast on that proposal. The Compensation Committee believes this affirms shareholders' support of the Company's approach to executive compensation.

In the first quarter of 2018, the Compensation Committee reviewed the executive compensation program and made the following changes: (i) increased the number of performance-based restricted stock units ("RSUs") granted to Mr. Matovina and the other named executive officers to 120% and 84%, respectively, of base salary on the grant date; and (ii) increased the number of shares of time-based restricted stock granted to Mr. Matovina and the other named executive officers to 30% and 21%, respectively, of base salary on the grant date.

Based on our 2018 annual performance achievements, including achievement for individual goals, 2018 performance incentive payouts for our named executive officers averaged 154.0% of pre-determined target amounts. Based on our three-year performance achievements, our named executive officers earned 84.7% of the target number of performance-based RSUs awarded to them for the 2016-2018 three-year performance period.

Compensation Philosophy and Overview

Our compensation policies and programs are designed to:

•

attract and retain highly qualified and motivated executive officers and employees;

•

encourage and reward achievement of our annual and long-term goals; and

•

encourage executive officers and employees to own stock to align their interests with shareholders.

Elements.    The primary elements of compensation for the named executive officers for 2018 include: base pay; annual cash incentive compensation under our Short-Term Performance Incentive Plan (the "Short-Term Plan"); and long-term equity incentive compensation through performance-based RSUs and time-based restricted stock granted under our 2016 Employee Incentive Plan (the "Equity Incentive Plan").

Program Highlights

•

Pay for performance philosophy demonstrated through significant compensation opportunity in the form of performance-based annual cash incentive and three-year, performance-based RSUs.

​ ​

---

Table of Contents

•

The Company has a robust anti-hedging policy prohibiting our executive officers and directors from engaging in hedging or monetization transactions, purchasing our securities on margin or borrowing against accounts holding our securities.

•

The Company offers limited perquisites to named executive officers.

Pay Mix.    For 2018, approximately 62% of the Chief Executive Officer's target annual compensation and 55% of each other named executive officer's target annual compensation is considered variable based on achieving performance objectives.

External Market Data.    The Compensation Committee reviews and considers external market data provided by its independent consultant. For 2018, the Compensation Committee engaged Pearl Meyer to conduct a study as well as provide advice and data with respect to compensation benchmarking and market practices for the Company's named executive officers. The Compensation Committee also determined to change the timing of base salary increases for the named executive officers from mid-year to the beginning of the year with 2018 the last year for mid-year base salary increases. As a result of this change, Pearl Meyer provided a trended market values report in early 2018 that supplemented the complete report they previously provided in 2017 that normally would have been used for short-term and long-term incentive plan compensation decisions for 2018 made in the first quarter of 2018. The trended market values report (in lieu of a new complete study and report) was also used for base salary adjustments that became effective on July 1, 2018 and the new complete study and report from Pearl Meyer was postponed from mid-year 2018 to the fourth quarter of 2018 for use with all 2019 compensation decisions, including the new cadence for base salary increases.

To develop a blended market consensus base salary, target total cash compensation and target total direct compensation for the position of each named executive, Pearl Meyer utilized proxy data from twelve publicly traded insurance companies and compensation surveys, with a focus on financial services and insurance companies. The twelve insurance companies included in our peer group are shown below:

For positions with a peer group and survey data source, Pearl Meyer arrives at market consensus compensation that is equally weighted using the peer group and survey data. For positions having only a survey data source, Pearl Meyer uses the survey data to arrive at market consensus compensation. Pearl Meyer focused on companies having total assets targeted at $62 billion. The specific surveys used by Pearl Meyer were the Mercer 2017 US Benchmark Database Executive Survey and the Willis Towers Watson Data Services 2017 General Industry Top Management Compensation Survey Report—U.S.

In using this external market data, the Compensation Committee generally seeks to establish and maintain base salaries near the 50th percentile of market consensus and target total cash and target total direct compensation between the 25th and 50th percentile of market consensus. However, this external market data is only one of many factors reviewed and considered by the Compensation Committee, with other relevant factors including company performance, individual executive performance, individual executive experience, internal pay equity, executive retention, and succession planning. Accordingly, not every pay element or individual executive pay level is at the targeted market level.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Compensation Elements and Decisions for 2018

Base Salary.    In addition to the data provided by Pearl Meyer in its trended market values report, in determining specific salaries for named executive officers for 2018, the Compensation Committee considered each executive's performance, length of service in the position and experience. In June 2018, the Compensation Committee awarded the following base salaries and increases to named executive officers:

The increases in base salary for our named executive officers were at levels consistent with those offered to employees. Base salaries for our named executives are positioned between the 25th and 50th percentile of the market consensus levels with the objective of having base salaries approximate the 50th percentile of market consensus.

Short-Term Incentive Compensation for 2018.    In the first quarter of 2018, the Compensation Committee approved the structure of the short-term incentive compensation program for 2018 (the "2018 Program") and specific performance goals for the 2018 Program. Under the 2018 Program, each named executive officer had a threshold, target and maximum incentive opportunity expressed as a percentage of base salary as of December 31, 2018. These earnings opportunities were tied to threshold, target and maximum performance goals established with respect to annuity deposits, non-GAAP operating income, investment spread and other than temporary impairments ("OTTI") and realized losses (the "Company Goals"). Each of the Company Goals is weighted 25% for Mr. Matovina and each of the Company Goals is weighted 20% for the other named executive officers. For the named executive officers other than Mr. Matovina, 20% of the award opportunity was based on individual goals related to their respective areas of responsibility. Attainment of each Company Goal was measured independently, and a named executive officer received an award if the threshold for the particular Company Goal or individual goal was achieved. The Company Goals were the same measures used in the prior year except for the replacement of net investment income with investment spread which is a broader measure that captures both net investment income and cost of money. The Company Goals encompass key areas of Company performance that drive shareholder value and focus on growth in policyholder funds under management (annuity deposits) and financial performance (non-GAAP operating income, investment spread and OTTI and realized losses).

Non-GAAP operating income is a performance measure used in our 2018 Program which is not a financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. For information on how we compute this non-GAAP financial measure please refer to Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

The 2018 Program threshold, target and maximum award opportunities remained the same as the prior year with target total cash compensation for each of the named executive officers generally positioned between the 25th and 50th percentile of the market consensus level with the objective of having total target cash compensation approximate the 50th percentile of the market consensus. The Compensation Committee believes these award opportunities are appropriate, competitive and do not create an incentive to take undue or unnecessary risk that could materially harm the Company.

​ ​

---

Table of Contents

The 2018 Program design for each named executive officer, as a percentage of his or her base salary, was:

Mr. Matovina

Mr. Johnson, Mr. Grensteiner Mr. Lorenzen and Ms. Montz

The following table shows our targets and achievement for the Company Goals:

The outcomes under the Company Goals segment of the 2018 Program resulted in the following awards expressed as a percentage of base salary as of December 31, 2018: Mr. Matovina—156.5%; each of the other named executive officers—87.6%. Additionally, attainment of the individual goals was 21.0% for Mr. Johnson, 15.8% for Mr. Grensteiner, 24.5% for Mr. Lorenzen and 17.5% for Ms. Montz resulting in a total award of 108.6% for Mr. Johnson, 103.4% for Mr. Grensteiner, 112.1% for Mr. Lorenzen and 105.1% for Ms. Montz. The amounts awarded to each named executive officer for 2018 are included in the Summary Compensation Table appearing in the Executive Compensation Tables section of this Proxy Statement.

Long-Term Equity Compensation for the Three-Year Performance Period Ended December 31, 2018.    In February 2019, the Compensation Committee certified the results for the performance-based RSUs granted to the named executive officers in March 2016 for the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2018. The final results certified by the Compensation Committee included appropriate consideration of the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and eliminated the unanticipated benefit from the reduction in the corporate federal income tax rate for 2018 so that the number of performance-based RSUs earned was consistent with the information that was known at the time the performance-based RSUs were awarded and the applicable performance goals established. As indicated in the table that follows, the Company's actual performance was between threshold and target for each of the three performance measures. This resulted in 84.7% of the performance-based RSUs granted in 2016 being earned. The number of shares of Common Stock earned by each named executive officer in settlement of the performance-based RSUs was as follows: Mr. Matovina-28,350; Mr. Johnson-19,429; Mr. Grensteiner-19,825; Mr. Lorenzen-17,248; and Ms. Montz-14,274. In addition, each named executive officer

​

​

---

Table of Contents

received a cash payment equivalent to the cumulative cash dividends on the number of shares of Common Stock earned for 2016-2018.

Long-Term Equity Compensation Awarded for 2018.    In February 2018, the Compensation Committee awarded the named executive officers performance-based RSUs and shares of time-based restricted stock under the Equity Incentive Plan. The total target incentive opportunity awarded for 2018 was equal to 150% of base salary at the grant date for Mr. Matovina and was equal to 105% of base salary at the grant date for the other named executive officers, compared to 75% of base salary at the grant date for each named executive officer for 2017. These increases were consistent with Pearl Meyer's recommendations and were made by the Compensation Committee to improve the overall competitive positioning of target total direct compensation for each named executive officer with total target direct compensation for each named executive officer generally positioned between the 25th and 50th percentile of the market consensus level with the objective of having total target direct compensation approximate the 50th percentile of market consensus or progressing toward that benchmark. The mix of 80% performance-based and 20% time-based long-term equity compensation for 2018 was the same mix as 2017 consistent with Pearl Meyer's recommendation.

Performance-Based RSU Grant: The performance-based RSUs are tied to threshold, target and maximum performance goals approved by the Compensation Committee for the three-year period ending December 31, 2020, established with respect to Book Value Per Share Growth, based on book value per share excluding accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI"), and Return on Average Equity ("ROAE"), based on operating income and average stockholders' equity excluding AOCI and fair value changes in derivatives and embedded derivatives, each weighted at 50% and measured independently. The target number of performance-based RSUs granted to Mr. Matovina and the other named executive officers was equal to 120% and 84%, respectively, of base salary on the grant date divided by the closing price of the Common Stock on the grant date and the target number of performance-based RSUs that can be earned are included in the 2018 Grant of Plan-Based Awards table appearing in the Executive Compensation Tables section of this Proxy Statement. If the threshold performance level is not reached for a performance goal, none of the performance-based RSUs will be earned for that performance goal. If the threshold performance level is achieved for a performance goal, 50% of the performance-based RSUs will be earned for that performance goal. If the target performance level is achieved for a performance goal, 100% of the performance-based RSUs will be earned for that performance goal. If the maximum performance level is achieved for a performance goal, 150% of the performance-based RSUs will be earned for that performance goal. The target number of performance-based RSUs shall become fully vested and non-forfeitable upon a change in control. Subject to certain limited exceptions, including death, disability and retirement, the performance-based RSUs are forfeited without consideration upon termination of employment. Performance-based RSUs are earned as follows:

Book value per share excluding AOCI is a performance measure used in our performance-based RSU program, which is not a financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. For information on how we compute this non-GAAP financial measure please refer to Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial Data included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018. ROAE is determined by dividing non-GAAP operating income by average stockholders' equity excluding AOCI and fair value changes in derivatives and embedded derivatives.

The specific performance goals for the three-year period ending December 31, 2020 will be disclosed in the proxy statement for 2021. At the time the performance goals were approved by the Compensation Committee, the

​ ​

---

Table of Contents

performance targets reflected an appropriate degree of stretch but were believed to be attainable based on successful execution of the Company's business plan and the realization of macro-economic and stock market conditions reasonably aligned with the Company's expectations.

Restricted Stock Grant: In 2018, the number of shares of time-based restricted stock granted to Mr. Matovina and the other named executive officers was equal to 30% and 21%, respectively, of base salary on the grant date divided by the closing price of the Common Stock on the grant date. The shares vest on the earlier of: (i) three years after the grant date; and (ii) attainment of age 65 and following 10 years of service with the Company. The number of shares granted to the named executive officers and grant date fair value are included in the 2018 Grant of Plan-Based Awards table appearing in the Executive Compensation Tables section of this Proxy Statement. The restrictions applicable to the shares lapse with respect to 100% of the shares upon a change in control, death or disability. Subject to certain limited exceptions, the shares are forfeited without consideration upon termination of employment.

Time-Based RSU Grant: The Compensation Committee recommended and the Board of Directors approved time-based RSUs in August 2018 to the named executive officers other than Mr. Matovina. Mr. Johnson and Ms. Montz were each awarded 6,000 time-based RSUs and Mr. Grensteiner and Mr. Lorenzen were each awarded 3,500 time-based RSUs. The time-based RSUs vest one year after the grant date. The time-based RSUs were granted for retention purposes in recognition of the highly qualified nature of the named executive officers and the need for the named executive officers continued engagement in executing the Company's business plans and objectives. The number of shares granted to the named executive officers and grant date fair value of the time-based RSUs are included in the 2018 Grant of Plan-Based Awards table appearing in the Executive Compensation Tables section of this Proxy Statement. The restrictions applicable to the time-based RSUs lapse with respect to 100% of the RSUs upon a change in control, death or disability. Subject to certain limited exceptions, the time-based RSUs are forfeited without consideration upon termination of employment.

Compensation Decisions Relating to 2019 Compensation

Base Salaries.    In November 2018, the Compensation Committee approved increases to the base salaries of named executive officers effective January 1, 2019 as shown in the table below. These base salary increases included a proration factor of 50% to account for the recency of the July 1, 2018 base salary increases discussed above.

Short-Term Incentive Compensation.    In November 2018, the Compensation Committee approved the structure of the short-term incentive compensation program for 2019. The short-term incentive compensation for fiscal year 2019 eliminated individual goals for named executive officers and will be paid, if earned, in cash, subject to the achievement of threshold, target and maximum performance goals approved by the Compensation Committee established with respect to annuity deposits, non-GAAP operating income per share, investment spread and OTTI and realized losses (the "2019 Company Goals"). Each 2019 Company Goal is weighted at 25% and each 2019 Company Goal is measured independently. Target and maximum award opportunities for fiscal year 2019 are 100% and 200% of base salary, respectively, for Mr. Matovina and 70% and 140% of base salary, respectively, for each other named executive officer.

The specific performance goals for 2019 under the Short-Term Plan will be disclosed in next year's proxy statement. At the time the performance goals were approved by the Compensation Committee, it was believed that the performance targets reflected an appropriate degree of stretch but that they were attainable based on successful execution of the Company's business plan and the realization of macro-economic and stock market conditions reasonably aligned with the Company's near-term expectations.

Long-Term Incentive Compensation.    In February 2019, the Compensation Committee granted performance-based RSUs to the named executive officers. The performance-based RSUs will be tied to threshold, target and

​

​

---

Table of Contents

maximum performance goals approved by the Compensation Committee for the three-year period ending December 31, 2021 established with respect to Book Value Per Share Growth (based on book value per share excluding AOCI) and ROAE (based on operating income and average stockholders' equity excluding AOCI and fair value changes in derivatives and embedded derivatives), each weighted at 50% and measured independently. The target number of performance-based RSUs granted to Mr. Matovina and the other named executive officers was equal to 195% and 108%, respectively, of base salary on the grant date divided by the closing price of the Common Stock on the grant date. If the threshold performance level is not reached for a performance goal, none of the performance-based RSUs will be earned for that performance goal. If the threshold performance level is achieved for a performance goal, 50% of the performance-based RSUs will be earned for that performance goal. If the target performance level is achieved for a performance goal, 100% of the performance-based RSUs will be earned for that performance goal. If the maximum performance level is achieved for a performance goal, 150% of the performance-based RSUs will be earned for that performance goal. The target number of performance-based RSUs shall become fully vested and non-forfeitable upon a change in control. Subject to certain limited exceptions, including death, disability and retirement, the performance-based RSUs are forfeited without consideration upon termination of employment.

The specific performance goals for the three-year period ending December 31, 2021 will be disclosed in the proxy statement for 2022. At the time the performance goals were approved by the Compensation Committee, they reflected an appropriate degree of stretch but are believed to be attainable based on successful execution of the Company's business plan and the realization of macro-economic and stock market conditions reasonably aligned with the Company's long-term expectations.

In February 2019, the Compensation Committee granted time-based RSUs to the named executive officers. Mr. Matovina received a grant having a value equal to 30% of his base salary on the grant date and the other named executive officers received grants having a value equal to 27% of their base salary on the grant date. The time-based RSUs vest on the earlier of: (i) three years after the grant date; and (ii) attainment of age 65 and following 10 years of service with the Company. The restrictions applicable to the time-based RSUs lapse with respect to 100% of the RSUs upon a change in control, death or disability. Subject to certain limited exceptions, the time-based RSUs are forfeited without consideration upon termination of employment.

Additional Programs and Policies

Stock Ownership.    We emphasize long-term equity compensation in our total compensation package for all employees and particularly for senior officers. We believe this helps align the interests of employees and officers with shareholders and creates an incentive to build our Common Stock value. Senior officers are encouraged to own shares of Common Stock and to retain shares awarded to them under our equity incentive plans. Although there is no policy requiring the named executive officers to have a specified level of share ownership, we note that Mr. Matovina owns more than eight times his base salary in Common Stock and each of our other named executive officers owns not less than three times their respective base salaries in Common Stock, other than Ms. Montz who became an executive officer in April 2016.

Hedging and Pledging Restrictions.    Our directors and executive officers are prohibited from engaging in forms of hedging or monetization transactions, such as certain types of forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds, which allow a shareholder to lock in much of the value of his or her stock holding without the full risks and rewards of stock ownership. In addition, directors and executive officers are prohibited from purchasing Company securities on margin or borrowing against any account in which shares of Common Stock are owned.

Severance Plan.    The Company has a severance plan to provide benefits to employees including the named executive officers whose employment is terminated by the Company due to reorganization or reduction in workforce. Additional details on the terms of the severance plan are described under "Potential Payments Upon Termination or a Change in Control."

Change in Control and Separation Arrangements.    We have no written employment contracts or separation agreements with any of our named executive officers. To promote retention of senior officers, we have entered into change in control agreements with a small group of our executives including each named executive officer. The terms of such agreements are described under "Potential Payments Upon Termination or a Change in Control".

Other Compensation.    We have a qualified 401(k) plan for all employees, who are eligible to participate after thirty days of employment and attainment of age 18. We match 100% of employee contributions to the plan up to 3% of the employee's total eligible compensation and match 50% of employee contributions up to the next 2% of the employee's total eligible compensation, subject to the limitations specified in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"). In addition to the 401(k) plan, all employees participate in the Employee Stock Ownership Plan

​ ​

---

Table of Contents

("ESOP") as described below and have access to employer-sponsored annuities. We offer a package of insurance benefits to all employees including health, dental, long-term disability and life insurance. We offer limited perquisites to our named executive officers. The only other perquisite available to our named executive officers in 2018 was limited personal travel on the Company's aircraft.

The Company established the ESOP effective July 1, 2007. The Company makes semi-annual discretionary contributions to the ESOP. The principal purpose of the ESOP is to provide each eligible employee with an equity interest in the Company. Employees become eligible once they have completed a minimum of six months of service. Employees become 100% vested after two years of service.

Tax Implications of Executive Compensation.    Federal income tax law limits deductibility of compensation in excess of $1 million paid to certain named executive officers. For taxable years prior to 2018, there was an exception to this limitation for "performance-based compensation" meeting certain criteria but this exception has generally been repealed for taxable years after 2017 (subject to certain limited grandfathering of compensation payable pursuant to binding written agreements in effect on November 2, 2017). In addition, compensation for the Chief Financial Officer was not subject to the $1 million limitation for taxable years prior to 2018 but is subject to the limitation for taxable years after 2017. Historically, the general intent of the Company and the Compensation Committee has been to qualify the Company's executives' compensation for deductibility under applicable tax laws. However, other factors, such as the need to have a competitive and effective compensation program that attracts and retains senior executives and provides appropriate incentives to achieve the Company's business plans and objectives, may cause the Compensation Committee to continue to provide compensation opportunities that are generally consistent with those previously provided, despite the probability that some of the compensation payable to some or all of the named executive officers will not be tax deductible.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K with management and based on such review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

A. J. Strickland, III, Chair
Joyce A. Chapman
Brenda J. Cushing

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Executive Compensation Tables

Summary Compensation Table

​

​

---

Table of Contents

The following table provides information regarding grants of plan-based awards including RSUs, restricted stock and non-equity compensation granted to the named executives during 2018.

2018 Grant of Plan-Based Awards

​

​

---

Table of Contents

The following table provides information about unexercised stock options to acquire Common Stock, unvested performance-based RSUs, unvested time-based restricted stock and unvested time-based RSUs granted to named executive officers. The time-based restricted stock vests on the earlier of: (i) the date three years following the grant date; and (ii) attainment of age 65 and following 10 years of service with the Company. The performance-based RSUs vest following the three-year performance period upon approval by the Compensation Committee of attainment of performance levels during the applicable three-year period. The time-based RSUs vest on the date one year following the grant date. Subject to certain limited exceptions, including death, disability and retirement, the performance-based RSUs are forfeited without consideration upon termination of employment. Vesting for time-based restricted stock and time-based RSUs will accelerate upon change in control, death or disability. Subject to certain limited exceptions, the time-based restricted stock and time-based RSUs are forfeited without consideration upon termination of employment.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

Set forth below are the stock option exercises and the stock vested for the named executive officers during 2018.

Potential Payments Upon Termination or a Change in Control

We have no employment contracts or separation agreements with any of our named executive officers. Messrs. Matovina, Johnson, Grensteiner and Lorenzen and Ms. Montz are eligible for severance under the Company's severance plan if they are terminated because of a reduction of or realignment in the Company's work force or elimination of their position, function or operation. They are not eligible for severance benefits if they take a comparable job with the Company, fail to sign a release of claims, do not remain in compliance with Company policies, fail to abide by all applicable confidentiality, non-solicitation, non-disclosure and non-compete policies, as applicable, and/or other specified reasons. The benefit payable under the severance plan is two weeks of base salary for each year of service with the Company. The severance plan has a minimum benefit of twelve weeks and a maximum benefit of 26 weeks of base pay. The following is the severance benefit that the named executive officers would have received had they qualified for such benefits on December 31, 2018: Mr. Matovina—$438,500; Mr. Johnson—$273,500; Mr. Grensteiner—$278,500; Mr. Lorenzen—$167,885 and Ms. Montz—$103,845.

We have change in control agreements with a small group of senior officers including each of the named executives, which would provide payments and benefits to them in the event of the termination of their employment under certain circumstances following a change in control of the Company. In the absence of a change in control, however, regardless of the manner in which the termination of employment occurs (with the exception of death, disability and retirement for certain benefits), the named executives would be entitled only to the following payments and benefits which are provided pursuant to the terms of the plan or contract governing such payment or benefit or are otherwise applicable to all Company employees:

•

Base salary to the termination date (two-week notice of termination by either the employer or employee is required), with no right to receive any cash bonus or incentive amounts not paid prior to notice of termination;

•

The right to exercise vested stock options within thirty or sixty days of the termination date depending on the terms of the stock options;

•

Distribution of the executive's 401(k) account and ESOP account;

•

COBRA benefits, if elected, for the purchase of medical and dental insurance; and

•

The right to convert group life insurance to an individual policy without proof of insurability, at the executive's ongoing expense.

Under the change in control agreements, the named executives would have additional rights in the event of the termination of their employment following a change in control in defined circumstances including discharge

​

​

---

Table of Contents

without "cause" or voluntary resignation for "good reason". A "change in control" is defined to include: (i) the acquisition by any person of 35% of the combined voting power of the Company; (ii) a majority of the directors originally on the Board of Directors (and with certain designated successors) ceasing to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors; (iii) a merger with another entity in which the Company's voting securities cease to represent at least 50% of the combined voting power of the surviving entity; or (iv) the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company.

"Cause" under the change in control agreements generally includes (i) the executive's willful and continued failure to substantially perform the executive's duties (other than a failure resulting from the executive's incapacity due to physical or mental illness), after a written demand for substantial performance from the Board of Directors; (ii) the conviction of the executive of, or an entering of a guilty plea or a plea of no contest by the executive to, a felony; or (iii) the willful engaging by the executive in illegal conduct or gross misconduct which is materially and demonstrably injurious to the Company. "Good Reason" generally means any of the following without the executive's consent and subject to certain notice and cure periods: (i) subject to certain exceptions, the assignment to the executive of any duties inconsistent with the executive's position, including any change in status, authority, duties or responsibilities or any other action that results in a material diminution in such status, authority, duties or responsibilities; (ii) a reduction in the executive's base salary; (iii) the relocation of the executive's office to a location more than 50 miles outside West Des Moines, Iowa; (iv) unless a plan providing a substantially similar compensation or benefit is substituted, (a) the Company's failure to continue in effect any fringe benefit or compensation plan, retirement plan, life insurance plan, health and accident plan or disability plan in which the executive is participating prior to the change in control which adversely affects the executive's total compensation in a material manner, or (b) the Company's action that adversely affects the executive's participation in or materially reduces or deprives him of his benefits under, such plans; or (v) the Company's failure to obtain the assumption of the change in control agreement by a successor.

During the term of the agreement and during the period in which the executive is entitled to continued salary payments, the executive may not (i) solicit or entice any other employee to leave us or our affiliates to go to work for any competitor, or (ii) request or advise a customer or client of ours or our affiliates to curtail or cancel its business relationship with us or our affiliates.

If a qualifying termination of a named executive officer occurs within thirty-six months following a change in control, the executive would be entitled to the following in addition to the items set forth in the bullets above:

•

Salary continuation payments for three years, payable in installments for Mr. Matovina and payable in a lump sum for Mr. Johnson, Mr. Grensteiner, Mr. Lorenzen and Ms. Montz;

•

A cash lump sum equal to the amount of the target annual bonus that the executive would receive for the year in which the executive's termination occurs, prorated through the date of termination;

•

A cash lump sum equal to three times the executive's target annual bonus;

•

Automatic vesting of unvested stock options, unvested shares of time-based restricted stock, unvested performance-based RSUs at target and time-based RSUs; and

•

Continuation of health, dental and life insurance benefits during the salary continuation period.

In addition, Mr. Matovina would also receive an amount equal to a full gross-up for any excise tax incurred by him as a result of receiving change in control payments. Mr. Johnson's, Mr. Grensteiner's, Mr. Lorenzen's and Ms. Montz's change in control agreements provide that if payments and benefits provided to them would constitute an "excess parachute payment" for purposes of Section 280G of the Code, they would have their payments and benefits reduced to the highest amount that could be paid without triggering Section 280G of the Code or, if greater, receive the after-tax amount of the payment taking into account the excise tax imposed under Section 4999 of the Code and any applicable federal, state and local taxes. If any of the named executive officers receive change in control payments they are ineligible to receive severance under the Company's severance plan.

The following table sets forth the estimated amount of compensation each named executive officer continuing to serve the Company would receive under the change in control situations, as applicable, discussed above. The table assumes that such terminations occurred at December 31, 2018. No pro-rated portion of target annual bonus

​

​

---

Table of Contents

amounts is included for the year of termination since there would be no such reduction for a termination occurring on December 31.

CEO Pay Ratio

We are required to disclose the ratio of the median annual total compensation of all employees (except our Chief Executive Officer) to the annual total compensation of our Chief Executive Officer. For the purposes of this disclosure, we identified the median employee, excluding our Chief Executive Officer, based on our payroll as of December 31, 2018. The median employee was determined using a consistently applied compensation measure, which was total cash compensation from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018. Total cash compensation included salary, bonus and holiday gift. As permitted by the SEC rules, we annualized only the compensation for those employees who worked on a full-time, permanent basis but were hired after January 1, 2018.

For 2018, the compensation of our Chief Executive Officer was $3,552,535 and the compensation of our median employee was $64,906, resulting in a CEO pay ratio of 55:1.

This ratio represents a reasonable estimate calculated in a manner consistent with SEC rules based on our payroll records and the methodology described above. Significant flexibility is provided to companies in determining their median employee, and our ratio may not be useful for comparison to those reported by other companies, including those in our peer group and industry.

​ ​

---

Table of Contents

Proposal 3—Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

As discussed in "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," our compensation policies and programs are designed to attract and retain highly qualified and motivated executive officers and employees, encourage and reward achievement of our annual and long-term goals and encourage executive officers and employees to become shareholders with interests aligned with those of other shareholders. The primary elements of compensation for most of our executive officers include: (1) base pay; (2) cash incentive compensation pursuant to the Short-Term Plan; and (3) long-term equity incentive compensation under the Equity Incentive Plan. This compensation structure is central to the Company's ability to attract, retain and motivate individuals who can achieve superior financial results. Please refer to "Compensation Discussion and Analysis" for an overview of the compensation of the Company's named executive officers.

Pursuant to Section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"), we are asking for shareholder approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement in accordance with SEC rules under "Compensation Discussion and Analysis," the related compensation tables and the narrative discussion following the compensation tables. This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the policies and practices described in this proxy statement. Accordingly, we ask our shareholders to vote on the following resolution:

This vote is advisory and not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors and Compensation Committee value the opinions of the Company's shareholders. To the extent there is a significant vote against the named executive officer compensation as disclosed in this proxy statement, we will consider those shareholders' concerns, and the Board of Directors and Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns. We currently provide our shareholders with the opportunity to vote on the compensation of our named executive officers at each annual meeting.

If a quorum exists, action on this proposal will be approved if the votes cast favoring the proposal exceed the votes cast opposing the proposal.

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends you vote FOR the approval of the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in this proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Additional Information

Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of March 31, 2019 by: (i) each director and nominee for director; (ii) our chief executive officer, our chief financial officer and each of our other three most highly compensated executive officers; (iii) all executive officers, directors and nominees for directors as a group; and (iv) each shareholder known by us to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Common Stock. On March 31, 2019, there were 90,816,340 shares of Common Stock outstanding.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Equity Plan Information

The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2018 concerning plans and arrangements the Company has with its directors, officers, employees and independent insurance agents under which they have received equity-based rights to receive shares of Common Stock. The Company has granted or reserved options, restricted stock and RSUs under the 2000 Employee Stock Option Plan, the 2000 Directors Stock Option Plan, the 2007 Independent Insurance Agent Stock Option Plan ("2007 Agent Plan"), the 2009 Employee Incentive Plan, the 2010 Independent Insurance Agent Stock Option Plan ("2010 Agent Plan"), the 2011 Directors Stock Option Plan, the 2012 Independent Insurance Agent Stock Option Plan ("2012 Agent Plan"), the 2013 Director Plan, the Amended and Restated 2014 Independent Insurance Agent Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Unit Plan ("2014 Agent Plan") and the Equity Incentive Plan.

The 2007 Agent Plan, the 2010 Agent Plan and the 2012 Agent Plan (the "Agent Plans") included in the "Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders" line in the table above are intended to benefit the Company and its shareholders by assisting the Company's wholly-owned operating subsidiary, American Equity Life, in attracting and retaining certain independent agents of outstanding ability and to align the interests of such independent agents with those of the Company's shareholders by increasing their long-term financial stake in the Company's continued success through the use of stock options. The 2007 Agent Plan and the 2010 Agent Plan both provided for the issuance of up to an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock. The 2012 Agent Plan provided for the issuance of up to an aggregate of 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Each of the Agent Plans has terminated as to future awards without affecting the validity of options outstanding. The Agent Plans are administered by the Company's Executive Committee. The Executive Committee has the authority to determine sales production criteria for the receipt of awards, the terms of all awards and provisions relating to vesting and any other terms and conditions or restrictions the Executive Committee deems appropriate. Options awarded under the Agent Plans are not transferable other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution. If there is a Change in Control, as defined in the Agent Plans, or the independent insurance agent dies, the vesting of all outstanding options will accelerate and any other restrictions will lapse.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Related Person Transaction Disclosures

It is our policy to enter into or ratify Related Person Transactions (as defined below) only when the Board of Directors, acting through our Audit Committee or as otherwise described herein, determines that the Related Person Transaction in question is in, or is not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, including but not limited to situations where the Company may obtain products or services of a nature, quantity or quality, or on other terms, not readily available from alternative sources or when the Company provides products or services to related persons on an arm's length basis on terms comparable to those provided to unrelated third parties or on terms comparable to those provided to employees generally. Therefore, the Company has adopted the procedures below for the review, approval or ratification of Related Person Transactions.

To deal with the potential conflicts inherent in such transactions, our Audit Committee adopted a written policy regarding Related Person Transactions. For the purposes of this policy, a "Related Person Transaction" is a transaction, arrangement, or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements, or relationships) in which the Company was, is, or will be a participant and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, and in which any related person had, has, or will have a direct or indirect material interest, and a "related person" means:

•

any person who is, or at any time since the beginning of our last fiscal year was, a director or executive officer of the Company or a nominee to become a director of the Company;

•

any person who is known to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of any class of our voting securities;

•

any immediate family member of any of the foregoing persons; and

•

any firm, corporation, or other entity in which any of the foregoing persons is employed or is a general partner or principal or in a similar position or in which such person has a 5% or greater beneficial ownership interest.

Any proposed transaction with a related person shall be consummated or amended only if the following steps are taken:

•

Counsel (either inside or outside) will assess whether the proposed transaction is a Related Person Transaction for purposes of this policy.

•

If counsel determines that the proposed transaction is a Related Person Transaction, the proposed transaction shall be submitted to the Audit Committee for consideration at the next committee meeting or, in those instances in which counsel, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer, determines that it is not practicable or desirable to wait until the next committee meeting, to the Chairman of the Audit Committee (who has been delegated authority to act between committee meetings).

•

The Audit Committee, or where submitted to the Chairman of the committee, the Chairman, shall consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances available to the committee or the Chairman, including (if applicable) but not limited to: (i) the benefits to the Company; (ii) the impact on a director's independence in the event the related person is a director, an immediate family member of a director, or an entity in which a director is a partner, shareholder, or executive officer; (iii) the availability of other suppliers or customers for comparable products or services; (iv) the terms of the transaction; and (v) the terms available to unrelated third parties or to employees generally.

•

The Audit Committee (or the Chairman) shall approve only those Related Person Transactions in, or not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its shareholders, as the committee (or the Chairman) determines in good faith. The Audit Committee or Chairman, as applicable, shall convey the decision to counsel, who shall convey the decision to the appropriate persons within the Company.

At the Audit Committee's first meeting of each fiscal year, the committee shall review any previously approved Related Person Transactions that remain ongoing and have a remaining term of more than six months or remaining amounts payable to or receivable from the Company of more than $120,000. Based on all relevant facts and circumstances, taking into consideration the Company's contractual obligations, the committee shall determine if it is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders to continue, modify, or terminate the Related Person Transaction.

No member of the Audit Committee shall participate in any review, consideration, or approval of any Related Person Transaction with respect to which such member or any of his or her immediate family members is the related person.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

During fiscal year 2018, the Company had the following Related Person Transactions:

BlackRock, Inc. ("BlackRock") provides investment management services to the Company. BlackRock is a shareholder known by the Company to be the beneficial owner of more than 5% of the Company's Common Stock as set forth in the Security Ownership of Management and Certain Beneficial Owners section of this Proxy Statement. For 2018, the Company paid BlackRock and its affiliates an aggregate of $152,903 in the form of investment management fees.

Knapp Properties provides property management services to the owner of the building where the Company has its principal executive offices in West Des Moines, Iowa and an affiliate of Knapp Properties owns a warehouse building, a portion of which is leased to the Company. Gerard Neugent, who serves as a director and is a nominee for director, is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Knapp Properties and a member/manager of a company that is a 50% owner of the affiliate that owns the warehouse building. For 2018, the Company paid Knapp Properties and its affiliates an aggregate of $161,233 in the form of fees and rent.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act generally requires the officers and directors of a reporting company, and persons who own more than ten percent of a registered class of a reporting company's equity securities, to file reports of beneficial ownership and changes in beneficial ownership with the SEC. Based solely on our review of the copies of such reports received by us, or upon written representations received from certain reporting persons, we believe that during 2018, our officers, directors and ten-percent shareholders complied with all Section 16(a) filing requirements applicable to them.

Shareholder Proposals for the 2020 Annual Meeting

Shareholder proposals to be considered for inclusion in our proxy statement for the annual meeting to be held in 2020 or shareholder proposals to be presented from the floor of the meeting must be submitted in writing to the Corporate Secretary, 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266, and must comply with SEC rules to be eligible for inclusion in our proxy materials for our 2020 meeting.

A shareholder may present a proposal for inclusion in our proxy statement if such shareholder (i) is a record or beneficial owner of at least one percent or $2,000 in value of shares entitled to be voted at the meeting and has held the shares for at least one year prior to the time the proposal is submitted; and (ii) continues to own the shares through the date of the meeting. Any such proposal must be received by us prior to December 24, 2019.

In addition, under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, a shareholder who desires to present a proposal from the floor of the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders must submit the proposal to the Corporate Secretary, and such proposal must be delivered (or mailed and received) between March 8, 2020 and April 7, 2020. Any such proposal must set forth as to each matter such shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and record address of such shareholder, (iii) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are owned beneficially or of record by such shareholder, (iv) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such shareholder and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such shareholder and any material interest of such shareholder in such business and (v) a representation that such shareholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting.

Shareholder Communications

Shareholders may communicate with the Company through its Investor Relations Department by writing to Investor Relations at 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.

Shareholders interested in communicating with our Board of Directors, any committee of the Board of Directors, any individual director or any group of directors should send written correspondence to American Equity Investment Life Holding Company Board of Directors, c/o Corporate Secretary, 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.

Householding; Annual Report on Form 10-K

The SEC permits companies and intermediaries, such as a brokerage firm or a bank, to satisfy the delivery requirements for Notices and proxy materials with respect to two or more shareholders sharing the same address by delivering only one Notice or set of proxy materials to that address. This process, which is commonly referred to as "householding," can effectively reduce our printing and postage costs.

​

​

---

Table of Contents

Certain of our shareholders whose shares are held in street name and who have consented to householding will receive only one Notice or set of proxy materials per household. If you would like to receive a separate set of proxy materials in the future, or if your household is currently receiving multiple copies of the same items and you would like to receive only a single copy at your address in the future, please contact Investor Relations, at 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 (1-888-221-1234, ext. 3602) and indicate your name, the name of each of your brokerage firms or banks where your shares are held, and your account numbers.

Simultaneously with the mailing of this proxy statement to certain of our shareholders, we are mailing our 2018 Annual Report and Form 10-K to shareholders of record on April 12, 2019. The Annual Report and Form 10-K are available online at www.american-equity.com.

Any shareholder who desires to obtain additional copies, free of charge, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 (including our audited consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules), as filed with the SEC, may contact Investor Relations, at 6000 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 (1-888-221-1234, ext. 3602).

​ ​

---