Dispositions, Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations Balance Sheet and Income Statement of Discontinued Operations(Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Reinsurance receivables	$ 255,556	$ 0
Total assets held for sale	5,129,745	4,950,727
Deferred tax liabilities	58,478	742
Total liabilities held for sale	5,006,901	4,836,411
Revenues:
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total	8,961	6,887
Interest income	14,845	11,650
Service and administrative fees	8,657	0
Other income	2,255	815
Total revenue	80,313	23,743
Expenses:
Payroll and employee commissions	33,788	16,741
Professional fees	9,254	7,137
Commission expense	4,287	0
Provision for income taxes	4,141	560
Total expense	99,050	36,341
PFG [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Cash and Cash Equivalents	28,361	22,912
Disposal Group, Including Discontinue Operation, Available for Sale Investments	17,409	17,763
Policy loans	99,102	102,147
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Intangible Assets, Net	149,932	153,636
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Goodwill	3,088	3,088
Other Assets	22,982	16,940
Separate Account Assets	4,799,429	4,625,099
Reinsurance receivables	9,442	9,142
Total assets held for sale	5,129,745	4,950,727
Disposal Group, Including Discontinue Operation, Debt	83,348	91,015
Disposal Group, Including Discontinue Operation, Policy Liabilities	108,455	112,358
Deferred tax liabilities	801	0
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Liabilities	14,060	7,938
Disposal Group, Including Discontinue Operation, Separate Account Liabilities	4,799,429	4,625,099
Total liabilities held for sale	5,006,093	4,836,410
Revenues:
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total	45	83
Interest income	4,649	4,946
Fees on Separate Accounts	23,390	22,248
Service and administrative fees	50,600	49,489
Rental revenue reimbursable income	0	0
Reimbursable income	0	0
Other income	2	6
Total revenue	78,686	76,772
Expenses:
Reimbursable expense	0	0
Interest expense	11,475	12,430
Payroll and employee commissions	19,697	18,819
Professional fees	1,800	1,858
Liability for Future Policy Benefits, Period Expense (Income)	4,363	4,710
Mortality Expenses	10,710	10,476
Commission expense	2,825	2,344
Provision for income taxes	5,525	6,090
Depreciation and amortization expenses	4,379	2,997
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Expense	9,975	9,136
Total expense	65,224	62,770
Income from discontinued operations, net	7,937	7,912
Bickford Senior Living Portfolio [Member]
Revenues:
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments, Total		0
Interest income		0
Fees on Separate Accounts		0
Service and administrative fees		0
Rental revenue reimbursable income		5,920
Reimbursable income		655
Other income		0
Total revenue		6,575
Expenses:
Reimbursable expense		550
Interest expense		2,627
Payroll and employee commissions		0
Professional fees		0
Liability for Future Policy Benefits, Period Expense (Income)		0
Mortality Expenses		0
Commission expense		0
Depreciation and amortization expenses		1,708
Disposal Group, Including Discontinued Operation, Other Expense		43
Total expense		4,928
Income from discontinued operations, net		$ 1,647