Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2016

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule Of Deferred Acquisition Costs

The balances of and changes in DAC as of and for the years ended December 31, were as follows: 

	2016			2015			2014
	(in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year	$	5,129,931		$	5,081,938		$	5,045,025
Capitalization of commissions, sales and issue expenses	316,828			616,002			626,718
Amortization-Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups	130,652			112,039			276,743
Amortization-All other	(758,753		)	(771,208		)	(708,555		)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses	(28,723		)	91,160			(67,056		)
Other(1)	(3,448,842		)	0			(90,937		)
Balance, end of year	$	1,341,093		$	5,129,931		$	5,081,938

(1) Represents ceded DAC upon reinsurance agreements with PALAC and Prudential Insurance in 2016 and PURC in 2014. See Note 1 and Note 12 for additional information.