Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2015

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs Disclosures [Abstract]

Schedule of Deferred Acquisition Costs Table

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

	2015			2014			2013
	(in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year	$	1,114,431		$	1,345,504		$	906,814
Capitalization of commissions, sales and issue expenses	1,535			2,804			4,050
Amortization-Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups	33,113			91,895			31,666
Amortization-All other	(342,265		)	(330,311		)	353,895
Changes in unrealized investment gains and losses	16,352			4,539			49,079
Ceded DAC upon Reinsurance Treaty with Prudential Insurance (1)	(73,864		)	0			0
Balance, end of year	$	749,302		$	1,114,431		$	1,345,504

(1) See Note 1 for further details.