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

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FORM 10-Q/A
Amendment No. 1

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(Mark One)

ý	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002

o	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                              to                             

Commission File Number: 0-25985

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American Equity Investment Life Holding Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

5000 Westown Parkway, Suite 440
West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
(Address of principal executive offices)

(515) 221-0002
(Telephone)

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes    ý    No    o

APPLICABLE TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:
Shares of common stock outstanding at April 30, 2002: 14,508,077

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

        This Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-Q/A is being filed with respect to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 10, 2002 (the "Form 10-Q"). The Form 10-Q is hereby amended and restated in its entirety.

PART I    FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

				March 31, 2002			December 31, 2001
Assets
Cash and investments:
	Fixed maturity securities:
		Available for sale, at market (amortized cost: 2002—$3,560,684; 2001—$3,101,040)		$	3,326,799		$	2,974,761
		Held for investment, at amortized cost (market: 2002—$406,275; 2001—$412,378)			461,200			454,605
	Equity securities, at market (cost: 2002—$19,289; 2001—$18,609)				19,062			18,245
	Mortgage loans on real estate				120,050			108,181
	Derivative instruments				49,764			40,052
	Policy loans				297			291
	Cash and cash equivalents				191,244			184,130
Total cash and investments					4,168,416			3,780,265
Receivable from other insurance companies					16			83
Premiums due and uncollected					1,464			1,386
Accrued investment income					32,252			22,100
Receivables from related parties					27,785			29,978
Property, furniture and equipment, less allowances for depreciation of $3,366 in 2002 and $3,150 in 2001					1,544			1,622
Value of insurance in force acquired					389			415
Deferred policy acquisition costs					552,128			492,757
Intangibles, less accumulated amortization of $1,017 in 2002 and $987 in 2001					2,118			2,148
Deferred income tax asset					81,840			51,244
Federal income taxes recoverable					3,306			4,224
Other assets					2,721			2,365
Assets held in separate account					3,937			3,858
Total assets				$	4,877,916		$	4,392,445

2

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AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

				March 31, 2002			December 31, 2001
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Liabilities:
	Policy benefit reserves:
		Traditional life and accident and health insurance products		$	27,542		$	25,490
		Annuity and single premium universal life products			4,368,473			3,968,455
	Other policy funds and contract claims				24,354			22,046
	Amounts due to related party under General Agency Commission and Servicing Agreement				42,138			46,607
	Other amounts due to related parties				33,607			22,990
	Notes payable				43,333			46,667
	Amounts due to reinsurers				13,636			14,318
	Amounts due on securities purchased				198,415			66,504
	Other liabilities				34,693			32,788
	Liabilities related to separate account				3,937			3,858
Total liabilities					4,790,128			4,249,723
Minority interests in subsidiaries:
	Company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts				100,155			100,155
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
	Series Preferred Stock, par value $1 per share, 2,000,000 shares authorized; 625,000 shares of 1998 Series A Participating Preferred Stock issued and outstanding				625			625
	Common Stock, par value $1 per share, 75,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: 2002—14,508,077 shares; 2001—14,516,974 shares				14,508			14,517
	Additional paid-in capital				57,374			57,452
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(91,636	)		(33,531	)
	Retained earnings				6,762			3,504
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)					(12,367	)		42,567
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)				$	4,877,916		$	4,392,445

See accompanying notes.

3

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AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2002			2001
Revenues:
	Traditional life and accident and health insurance premiums		$	2,937		$	3,282
	Annuity and single premium universal life product charges			3,017			2,661
	Net investment income			67,586			41,630
	Realized gains (losses) on sales of investments			(1,087	)		156
	Change in fair value of derivatives			(9,672	)		(25,848	)
Total revenues				62,781			21,881
Benefits and expenses:
	Insurance policy benefits and change in future policy benefits			2,321			2,197
	Interest credited to account balances			36,222			13,848
	Change in fair value of embedded derivatives			5,345			(4,190	)
	Interest expense on notes payable			557			896
	Interest expense on General Agency Commission and Servicing Agreement			1,050			1,582
	Interest expense on amounts due under repurchase agreements			—			951
	Interest expense due to reinsurer			117			—
	Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of insurance in force acquired			7,186			439
	Other operating costs and expenses			3,253			3,863
Total benefits and expenses				56,051			19,586
Income before income taxes, minority interests and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle				6,730			2,295
Income tax expense				(1,610	)		(117	)
Income before minority interests and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle				5,120			2,178
Minority interests in subsidiaries:
	Earnings attributable to company-obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts			(1,862	)		(1,862	)
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle				3,258			316
Cumulative effect of change in accounting for derivatives				—			(799	)
Net income (loss)			$	3,258		$	(483	)
Earnings (loss) per common share:
	Income before accounting change		$	0.20		$	0.02
	Cumulative effect of change in accounting for derivatives			—			(0.05	)
Earnings (loss) per common share			$	0.20		$	(0.03	)
Earnings (loss) per common share—assuming dilution:
	Income before accounting change		$	0.18		$	0.02
	Cumulative effect of change in accounting for derivatives			—			(0.05	)
	Earnings (loss) per common share—assuming dilution		$	0.18		$	(0.03	)

See accompanying notes.

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AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)

			Preferred Stock			Common Stock			Additional Paid-in Capital			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			Retained Earnings			Total Stockholders' Equity (Deficit)
Balance at January 1, 2001			$	625		$	14,530		$	57,577		$	(16,876	)	$	2,796		$	58,652
Comprehensive income:
	Net loss for period			—			—			—			—			(483	)		(483	)
	Change in net unrealized investment gains/losses			—			—			—			6,575			—			6,575
Total comprehensive income																			6,092
Issuance of 4,500 shares of common stock				—			5			29			—			—			34
Balance at March 31, 2001			$	625		$	14,535		$	57,606		$	(10,301	)	$	2,313		$	64,778
Balance at January 1, 2002			$	625		$	14,517		$	57,452		$	(33,531	)	$	3,504		$	42,567
Comprehensive loss:
	Net income for period			—			—			—			—			3,258			3,258
	Change in net unrealized investment gains/losses			—			—			—			(58,105	)		—			(58,105	)
Total comprehensive loss																			(54,847	)
Net acquisition of 8,897 shares of common stock				—			(9	)		(78	)		—			—			(87	)
Balance at March 31, 2002			$	625		$	14,508		$	57,374		$	(91,636	)	$	6,762		$	(12,367	)

See accompanying notes.

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AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

				Three months ended March 31,
				2002			2001
Operating activities
Net income (loss)				$	3,258		$	(483	)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting for derivatives					—			799
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
	Adjustments related to interest sensitive products:
		Interest credited to account balances			36,222			13,848
		Annuity and single premium universal life product charges			(3,017	)		(2,661	)
	Change in fair value of embedded derivatives				5,345			(4,190	)
	Increase in traditional life insurance and accident and health reserves				2,052			1,616
	Policy acquisition costs deferred				(41,714	)		(30,188	)
	Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs				7,160			360
	Provision for depreciation and other amortization				272			291
	Amortization of discount and premiums on fixed maturity securities and derivative instruments				(21,998	)		(11,151	)
	Realized losses (gains) on sales of investments				1,087			(156	)
	Change in fair value of derivatives				9,672			25,848
	Deferred income tax expense (benefit)				692			(2,580	)
	Reduction of amounts due to related party under General Agency Commission and Servicing Agreement				(4,469	)		(4,198	)
	Changes in other operating assets and liabilities:
		Accrued investment income			(10,152	)		(8,098	)
		Receivables from related parties			2,193			5,599
		Federal income taxes recoverable			918			2,596
		Other policy funds and contract claims			2,308			1,419
		Other amounts due to related parties			9,635			(4,000	)
		Other liabilities			1,905			58,008
	Other				(353	)		(1,700	)
Net cash provided by operating activities					1,016			40,979

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AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)
(Dollars in thousands)
(Unaudited)

			Three months ended March 31,
			2002			2001
Investing Activities
Sales, maturities, or repayments of investments:
	Fixed maturity securities—available for sale			130,990			59,703
	Equity securities			492			1,200
	Mortgage loans on real estate			481			—
				131,963			60,903
Acquisition of investments:
	Fixed maturity securities—available for sale			(440,610	)		(190,694	)
	Equity securities			(1,172	)		(1,169	)
	Mortgage loans on real estate			(12,350	)		—
	Derivative instruments			(22,199	)		(21,336	)
	Policy loans			(6	)		(18	)
				(476,337	)		(213,217	)
Purchases of property, furniture and equipment				(138	)		(215	)
Net cash used in investing activities				(344,512	)		(152,529	)
Financing activities
Receipts credited to annuity and single premium universal life policyholder account balances				421,048			500,277
Return of annuity and single premium universal life policyholder account balances				(66,335	)		(47,596	)
Decrease in amounts due under repurchase agreements				—			(110,000	)
Repayments of notes payable				(3,334	)		—
Amounts due to reinsurers				(682	)		8,120
Net proceeds (payments) from issuance/acquisition of common stock				(87	)		34
Net cash provided by financing activities				350,610			350,835
Increase in cash and cash equivalents				7,114			239,285
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period				184,130			175,724
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period			$	191,244		$	415,009
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information
Cash paid during period for:
	Interest on notes payable and repurchase agreements		$	500		$	1,868
	Income taxes—life subsidiaries			—			100
Non-cash financing and investing activities:
	Bonus interest deferred as policy acquisition costs			6,740			3,531

See accompanying notes.

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AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

March 31, 2002
(Unaudited)

1.    Basis of Presentation

        The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (the Company) have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all the information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. The unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring items, which are necessary to present fairly our financial position and results of operations on a basis consistent with the prior audited financial statements. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 2002, are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ended December 31, 2002. For further information, refer to our consolidated financial statements and notes for the year ended December 31, 2001 included in our annual report on Form 10-K.

2.    Accounting Changes

        In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations and SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and other Intangible Assets. Under the new Statements, goodwill and intangibles with indefinite lives will no longer be amortized but will be subject to impairment tests at least on an annual basis. Intangible assets with finite lives will continue to be amortized over their estimated useful lives. Value of insurance in force acquired will continue to be amortized over the expected future gross profits of the acquired block of business. The adoption of these Statements on January 1, 2002 did not have a material impact to the Company. The Company's intangible assets at March 31, 2002 consist of deferred debt and trust preferred security costs of $1,785,000 and other intangible assets not subject to amortization of $333,000 related to insurance licences acquired in connection with the purchase of an inactive life insurance company in 1996.

3.    General Agency Commission and Servicing Agreement

        The Company has a General Agency Commission and Servicing Agreement with American Equity Investment Service Company (the Service Company), wholly-owned by the Company's chairman, whereby, the Service Company acts as a national supervisory agent with responsibility for paying commissions to agents of the Company. This Agreement is more fully described in Note 8 to the Audited Financial Statements included in the Company's Form 10-K for December 31, 2001.

        During the three months ended March 31, 2002 and 2001, the Company paid renewal commissions to the Service Company of $5,519,000 and $6,572,000, respectively, which were used to reduce the amount due under the General Agency Commission and Servicing Agreement, and amounts attributable to imputed interest.

        During 1999, the Company agreed to loan to the Service Company up to $50,000,000 pursuant to a promissory note bearing interest at the "reference rate" of the financial institution which is the Company's principal lender. Principal and interest are payable quarterly over five years from the date of the advance. At March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, amounts receivable from the Service Company totaled $27,042,000 and $29,139,000, respectively.

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4.    Reclassifications

        Certain amounts in the unaudited consolidated financial statements for the period ended March 31, 2001 have been reclassified to conform to the financial statement presentation for March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001.

5.    Earnings Per Share

        The following table sets forth the computation of earnings per common share and earnings per common share—assuming dilution:

			Three Months Ended March 31,
			2002			2001
			(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)
Numerator:
Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			$	3,258		$	316
Cumulative effect of change in accounting for derivative instruments				—			(799	)
Net income (loss)			$	3,258		$	(483	)
Denominator:
Weighted average shares outstanding				14,513,417			14,531,842
Participating preferred stock				1,875,000			1,875,000
Denominator for earnings (loss) per common share				16,388,417			16,406,842
Effect of dilutive securities:
	Warrants			9,307			4,932
	Stock options and management subscription rights			403,065			952,913
	Deferred compensation agreements			1,088,354			753,111
Denominator for earnings (loss) per common share—assuming dilution				17,889,143			18,117,798
Earnings (loss) per common share:
	Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		$	0.20		$	0.02
	Cumulative effect of change in accounting for derivatives			—			(0.05	)
Earnings (loss) per common share			$	0.20		$	(0.03	)
Earnings (loss) per common share—assuming dilution:
	Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		$	0.18		$	0.02
	Cumulative effect of change in accounting for derivatives			—			(0.05	)
Earnings (loss) per common share—assuming dilution			$	0.18		$	(0.03	)

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ITEM 2.    MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        Management's discussion and analysis reviews our consolidated financial position at March 31, 2002, and the consolidated results of operations for the periods ended March 31, 2002 and 2001, and where appropriate, factors that may affect future financial performance. This analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-Q, and the audited consolidated financial statements, notes thereto and selected consolidated financial data appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001.

        All statements, trend analyses and other information contained in this report and elsewhere (such as in filings by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases, presentations by us or our management or oral statements) relative to markets for our products and trends in our operations or financial results, as well as other statements including words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," and other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results to be materially different from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among other things:

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



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customer response to new products and marketing initiatives



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mortality and other factors which may affect the profitability of our products



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



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increasing competition in the sale of annuities



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



•

the risk factors or uncertainties listed from time to time in our private placement memorandums or filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2002 and 2001

        Our business has continued to grow rapidly, with reserves for annuities and single premium universal life policies increasing from $3,968,455,000 at December 31, 2001 to $4,368,473,000 at March 31, 2002. Deposits from sales of annuities and single premium universal life policies during the three months ended March 31, 2002, before reinsurance ceded, increased 22% to $610,526,000 compared to $500,277,000 for the same period in 2001. Deposits for the first quarter of 2002 were reduced by $189,478,000 for amounts ceded to an affiliate insurance company as part of a coinsurance agreement as described in Note 5 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K. The continued strong production is a direct result of the growth in our agency force which increased from 22,000 agents at December 31, 2000 to 34,000 agents at December 31, 2001 and 37,000 agents at March 31, 2002.

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        Our net income increased $2,942,000 to $3,258,000 for the first quarter of 2002, compared to income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle of $316,000 for the same period in 2001. This increase is primarily attributable to an increase in net investment income during the first quarter of 2002.

        Traditional life and accident and health insurance premiums decreased 11% to $2,937,000 for the first quarter of 2002, compared to $3,282,000 for the same period in 2001. These changes are principally attributable to corresponding changes in direct sales of life products.

        Annuity and single premium universal life product charges (surrender charges assessed against policy withdrawals and mortality and expense charges assessed against single premium universal life policyholder account balances) increased 13% to $3,017,000 for the first quarter of 2002, compared to $2,661,000 for the same period in 2001. These increases are principally attributable to the growth in our annuity business and correspondingly, an increase in annuity policy withdrawals subject to surrender charges. Withdrawals from annuity and single premium universal life policies were $66,335,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2002 compared to $47,596,000 for the same period in 2001.

        Net investment income increased $25,956,000 to $67,586,000 in the first quarter of 2002, compared to $41,630,000 for the same period in 2001. Invested assets (amortized cost basis) increased 13% to $4,201,935,000 at March 31, 2002 compared to $3,720,435,000 at December 31, 2001, while the effective yield earned on invested assets (excluding cash and cash equivalents) was 7.1% for the three months ended March 31, 2002 compared to 7.3% for the same period in 2001.

        Realized gains (losses) on the sale of investments consisted of net realized losses of $1,087,000 in the first quarter of 2002 compared to realized gains of $156,000 for the same period in 2001. In the first three months of 2002, net realized losses of $1,087,000 included: (i) realized gains of $913,000 on the sale of certain corporate fixed maturity and equity securities and (ii) the write down of $2,000,000 in the fair value of a security in recognition of an "other than temporary" impairment.

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        Change in fair value of derivatives that we hold to fund the annual index credits on our equity index annuities was $(9,672,000) in the first quarter of 2002 compared to $(25,848,000) for the first quarter of 2001. The difference between the change in fair value of derivatives between the two quarters is primarily due to the improved performance of the indexes upon which our call options are based. The change in fair value of derivatives arises from the adoption of SFAS No. 133. We adopted SFAS No. 133 on January 1, 2001, which requires that we mark to market the purchased call options we use to fund the annual index credits on our equity index annuities. We include this as a component of our revenues. See Critical Accounting Policies—Derivative Instruments—Equity Index Products included in Management's Discussion and Analysis found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

        Traditional life and accident and health insurance benefits increased 6% to $2,321,000 in the first quarter of 2002, compared to $2,197,000 for the same period in 2001. These increases are principally attributable to an increase in death benefits and surrenders.

        Interest credited to annuity policyholder account balances increased $22,374,000 to $36,222,000 in the first quarter of 2002, compared to $13,848,000 for the same period in 2001. These increases are principally attributable to the increase in annuity liabilities.

        The amounts are also impacted by changes in the weighted average crediting rates for our annuity liabilities, which are summarized as follows:

		Fixed Rate (without bonuses)		Fixed Rate (with bonuses)		Equity Index Credits		Equity Index Option Costs
March 31, 2002		5.49	%	6.04	%	3.04	%	4.01	%
March 31, 2001		5.61	%	6.22	%	0.98	%	5.02	%

        The above crediting rates on our fixed rate annuities includes both multi-year rate guaranteed and annually adjustable rate products. Such rates are disclosed with and without the impact of first-year bonuses paid to policyholders. Generally such bonuses are deducted from the commissions paid to sales agents on such products and deferred as policy acquisition costs. With respect to our equity index annuities, the weighted average option costs represent the expenses we incur to fund the annual index credits on the equity index business. Gains realized on such options are recorded as part of the change in fair value of derivatives, and are also reflected as an expense in interest credited to annuity policyholder account balances.

        Change in fair value of embedded derivatives was $5,345,000 in the first quarter of 2002 and $(4,190,000) for the three months ended March 31, 2001. These amounts arise from the adoption of SFAS No. 133 as of January 1, 2001, which requires recognition of the change in estimated fair value of equity index annuity reserves. Under SFAS No. 133, the annual crediting liabilities on our equity index annuities are treated as a "series of embedded derivatives" over the life of the applicable contracts. We are required to estimate the fair value of these future liabilities by projecting the cost of the annual options we will purchase in the future to fund the index credits. See Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

        Interest expense on notes payable decreased 38% to $557,000 for the first quarter of 2002, compared to $896,000 for the same period in 2001. This decrease is attributable to a decrease in the average cost of funds borrowed.

        Interest expense on General Agency Commission and Servicing Agreement decreased 34% to $1,050,000 for the first quarter of 2002, compared to $1,582,000 for the same period in 2001. The decrease for the first quarter of 2002 was principally attributable to a decrease in the amounts due under General Agency Commission and Servicing Agreement. See Note 8 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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        Interest expense on amounts due under repurchase agreements was $951,000 for the first quarter of 2001. There was no interest expense on amounts due under repurchase agreements for the first quarter of 2002 as no borrowings were outstanding during the quarter.

        Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs and value of insurance in force acquired increased $6,747,000 to $7,186,000 in the first quarter of 2002, compared to $439,000 for the same period in 2001. This increase is primarily due to: (i) growth in our annuity business as discussed above; and (ii) the introduction of multi-year rate guaranteed products with shorter expected lives. See Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

        Other operating costs and expenses decreased 16% to $3,253,000 in the first quarter of 2002, compared to $3,863,000 for the same period in 2001. This decrease is principally attributable to a decrease in salary expense, related benefits and certain marketing expenses.

        Income tax expense increased $1,493,000 to $1,610,000 in the first quarter of 2002, compared to $117,000 for the same period in 2001. The increase is principally due to an increase in pretax income. The effective income tax rate for the 2002 periods is less than the applicable statutory federal income tax rate of 35% because of (i) tax benefits for earnings attributable to redeemable preferred securities of subsidiary trusts and (ii) state income tax benefits on the parent company's non-life loss (life insurance subsidiary taxable income is taxed at the 35% federal income tax rate and not generally subject to state income taxes).

Financial Condition

Investments

        Cash and investments increased 10% to $4,168,416,000 at March 31, 2002 compared to $3,780,265,000 at December 31, 2001as a result of the growth in our annuity business discussed above offset by a decrease in the fair value of our available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities. At March 31, 2002, the fair value of our available-for-sale fixed maturity and equity securities was $234,112,000 less than the amortized cost of those investments, compared to $126,643,000 at December 31, 2001. At March 31, 2002, the amortized cost of our fixed maturity securities held for investment exceeded the market value by $54,925,000, compared to $42,227,000 at December 31, 2001. The increase in the net unrealized investment losses at March 31, 2002 compared to December 31, 2001 is related to an increase of approximately 35 basis points in market interest rates. Such unrealized losses are recognized in the accumulated other comprehensive loss component of stockholders' equity (deficit), net of related changes in the amortization patterns of deferred policy acquisition costs and deferred income taxes. The resulting deferred tax asset has been reviewed by management and no related valuation allowance was considered necessary at March 31, 2002. However, if management were to determine that an allowance was required in subsequent 2002 quarters, such amounts would increase the accumulated other comprehensive loss component of stockholders' equity (deficit).

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        Substantially all of the market value decline in our portfolio at March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001 is related to interest rate movement, and substantially all of our invested assets are marketable. We do not believe that such declines will have a material impact on our future operations or liquidity. Interest rate changes tend to cause volatility in our fixed income asset values, which is magnified by the relatively long duration of the assets and by redemption call options applicable to a portion of such assets. The longer duration of our assets corresponds to the longer duration of our liabilities. All of our annuity reserves are subject to surrender charges which we believe limit our exposure to policyholder withdrawals. At March 31, 2002, the remaining weighted average surrender charge period for our aggregate annuity reserves was 9.25 years and the weighted average remaining surrender charge percentage was 12.19%. In light of our growth in new annuity sales in 2001 and the expected continued growth in 2002, we expect the surrender charge periods to continue to lengthen as new annuities with longer surrender periods are added to the aggregate reserve balance. Although the duration of the assets exposes us to greater market value volatility, we believe that it does not impact our ability to earn a targeted spread based upon the yield to amortized cost of the assets. As our annuity reserves mature over the next ten years, we expect to be exposed to higher levels of policyholder withdrawals, and we intend to manage that risk by gradually reducing the overall duration of the invested assets over that ten year period.

        Our investment portfolio is summarized in the tables below:

				March 31, 2002					December 31, 2001
				Carrying Amount			Percent		Carrying Amount			Percent
				(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturities:
	United States Government and agencies			$	2,394,034		57.4	%	$	2,087,484		55.2	%
	State, municipal, and other governments				5,033		0.1	%		5,099		0.1	%
	Public utilities				37,468		0.9	%		38,472		1.0	%
	Corporate securities				435,182		10.4	%		473,556		12.5	%
	Redeemable preferred stocks				92,158		2.2	%		92,649		2.5	%
	Mortgage and asset-backed securities
		Government			620,988		14.9	%		528,325		14.0	%
		Non-Government			203,136		4.9	%		203,781		5.4	%
	Total fixed maturities				3,787,999		90.8	%		3,429,366		90.7	%
Equity securities					19,062		0.5	%		18,245		0.5	%
Mortgage loans					120,050		2.9	%		108,181		2.9	%
Derivative instruments					49,764		1.2	%		40,052		1.1	%
Policy loans					297		0.0	%		291		0.0	%
Cash and cash equivalents					191,244		4.6	%		184,130		4.8	%
		Total cash and investments		$	4,168,416		100.0	%	$	3,780,265		100.0	%

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        At March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, the amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities and equity securities that were in an unrealized loss position were as follows:

					March 31, 2002
					Amortized Cost			Unrealized Losses			Estimated Fair Value
					(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturity securities:
	Available for sale:
		United States Government and agencies			$	2,018,343		$	(133,659	)	$	1,884,684
		State, municipal and other governments				5,328			(296	)		5,032
		Public utilities				29,356			(2,336	)		27,020
		Corporate securities				383,837			(33,575	)		350,262
		Redeemable preferred stocks				4,028			(244	)		3,784
		Mortgage and asset-backed securities:
			Government			649,743			(46,244	)		603,499
			Non-government			155,846			(22,726	)		133,120
					$	3,246,481		$	(239,080	)	$	3,007,401
	Held for investment:
		United States Government and agencies			$	385,587		$	(55,600	)	$	329,987
					$	385,587		$	(55,600	)	$	329,987
	Equity securities:
		Non-redeemable preferred stocks			$	15,418		$	(237	)	$	15,181
		Common stocks				995			(67	)		928
					$	16,413		$	(304	)	$	16,109

					December 31, 2001
					Amortized Cost			Unrealized Losses			Estimated Fair Value
					(Dollars in thousands)
Fixed maturity securities:
	Available for sale:
		United States Government and agencies			$	1,334,060		$	(64,631	)	$	1,269,429
		State, municipal and other governments				5,234			(135	)		5,099
		Public utilities				29,364			(1,368	)		27,996
		Corporate securities				320,703			(27,228	)		293,475
		Redeemable preferred stocks				3,528			(188	)		3,340
		Mortgage and asset-backed securities:
			Government			493,295			(23,854	)		469,441
			Non-government			168,321			(21,366	)		146,955
					$	2,354,505		$	(138,770	)	$	2,215,735
	Held for investment:
		United States Government and agencies			$	379,011		$	(45,210	)	$	333,801
					$	379,011		$	(45,210	)	$	333,801
	Equity securities:
		Non-redeemable preferred stocks			$	6,850		$	(130	)	$	6,720
		Common stocks				2,992			(252	)		2,740
					$	9,842		$	(382	)	$	9,460

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        The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities at March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, by contractual maturity, that were in an unrealized loss position are shown below. Actual maturities will differ from contractual maturities because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties. All of our mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities provide for periodic payments throughout their lives, and are shown below as a separate line.

		March 31, 2002
		Available-for-sale						Held for investment
		Amortized Cost			Estimated Fair Value			Amortized Cost			Estimated Fair Value
		(Dollars in thousands)
Due after one year through five years		$	10,644		$	10,350		$	—		$	—
Due after five years through ten years			125,456			119,047			—			—
Due after ten years through twenty years			525,857			493,560			—			—
Due after twenty years			1,778,935			1,647,825			385,587			329,987
			2,440,892			2,270,782			385,587			329,987
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities			805,589			736,619			—			—
		$	3,246,481		$	3,007,401		$	385,587		$	329,987

		December 31, 2001
		Available-for-sale						Held for investment
		Amortized Cost			Estimated Fair Value			Amortized Cost			Estimated Fair Value
		(Dollars in thousands)
Due after one year through five years		$	4,718		$	4,554		$	—		$	—
Due after five years through ten years			69,715			66,307			—			—
Due after ten years through twenty years			377,480			351,674			—			—
Due after twenty years			1,240,976			1,176,804			379,011			333,801
			1,692,889			1,599,339			379,011			333,801
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities			661,616			616,396			—			—
		$	2,354,505		$	2,215,735		$	379,011		$	333,801

        The table below presents our fixed maturity securities by NAIC designation and the equivalent ratings of the nationally recognized securities rating organizations.

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        Approximately 72% and 69% of our total invested assets were in United States Government and agency fixed maturity securities including government guaranteed mortgage-backed securities at March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, respectively. Corporate securities represented approximately 10% and 13% at March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001 of our total invested assets, respectively. There are no other significant concentrations in the portfolio by type of security or by industry.

        At March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, the fair value of investments we owned that were non-investment grade or not rated was $39,403,000 and $33,801,000, respectively. The unrealized losses on investments we owned that were non-investment grade or not rated at March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, was $12,857,000 and $8,479,000, respectively.

        At March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001, we identified certain invested assets which have characteristics (i.e., significant unrealized losses compared to book value and industry trends) creating uncertainty as to our future assessment of other than temporary impairments which are listed below by length of time these invested assets have been in an unrealized loss position. We have excluded from this list securities with unrealized losses which are related to market movements in interest rates.

		March 31, 2002
		Amortized Cost			Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
		(Dollars in thousands)
3 months or less		$	12,840		$	(1,687	)	$	11,153
Greater than 3 months to 6 months			5,026			(1,051	)		3,975
Greater than 6 months to 9 months			16,186			(4,061	)		12,125
Greater than 9 months to 12 months			9,266			(2,121	)		7,145
Greater than 12 months			32,841			(10,750	)		22,091
		$	76,159		$	(19,670	)	$	56,489

		December 31, 2001
		Amortized Cost			Unrealized Losses			Fair Value
		(Dollars in thousands)
3 months or less		$	8,361		$	(1,075	)	$	7,286
Greater than 3 months to 6 months			24,968			(5,418	)		19,550
Greater than 6 months to 9 months			9,547			(1,155	)		8,392
Greater than 9 months to 12 months			26,664			(7,849	)		18,815
Greater than 12 months			—			—			—
		$	69,540		$	(15,497	)	$	54,043

        We have reviewed these investments and concluded that there was no other than temporary impairment on these investments at March 31, 2002 and December 31, 2001. The factors that we considered in making this determination included the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer, whether the issuer is current on all payments and all contractual payments have been made, our intent and ability to hold the investment to allow for any anticipated recovery and the length of time and extent to which the fair value has been less than cost.

        During 2001, we began a commercial mortgage loan program. At March 31, 2002, we held $120,050,000 of mortgage loans compared to $108,181,000 at December 31, 2001. These mortgage loans are diversified as to property type, location, and loan size, and are collateralized by the related properties. Our mortgage lending policies establish limits on the amount that can be loaned to one borrower and require diversification by geographic location and collateral type. At March 31, 2002, the

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commercial mortgage loan portfolio is diversified by geographic region and specific collateral property type as follows:

Liquidity

        The rate of growth in new annuity sales has generated a very high volume of current liquidity. For the year ended December 31, 2001, our net cash receipts from new annuity sales were $2,007,000,000 compared to total returns of policyholder account balances of $223,000,000. For the three months ended March 31, 2002, our net cash receipts from new annuity sales were $421,000,000 compared to total returns of policyholder account balances of $66,000,000.

        If further sales of new annuity products were to cease, expected lapses in annuities and other anticipated cash outlays would be fully funded from investment earnings, offset by the applicable surrender charges. In that situation, we would also consider whether to reduce crediting rates to widen our gross spreads. In the unlikely event that the entire block of our annuity reserves were to lapse, we anticipate that applicable surrender charges would offset losses realized upon the sale of our invested assets and would offset, in whole or in part, our unamortized deferred acquisition costs.

        We did not issue any debt securities during the first three months of 2002, although certain restrictive covenants of our credit agreement related to the Company's notes payable were amended during the quarter. Management may be required to take certain actions to remain in compliance with the amended covenants. For information related to the Company's notes payable and requirements under the related credit agreement, see Note 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements found in the Annual Report on Form 10-K.

        The statutory capital and surplus of our life insurance subsidiary at March 31, 2002 was $183,765,000. The life insurance subsidiary made surplus note interest payments to us of $660,000 during the three months ended March 31, 2002. For the remainder of 2002, up to $17,800,000 can be distributed by the life insurance subsidiary as dividends without prior regulatory approval. Dividends

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and surplus note payments may be made only out of earned surplus, and all surplus note payments are subject to prior approval by regulatory authorities. Our life insurance subsidiary had $13,958,000 of earned surplus at March 31, 2002.

        The transfer of funds by our life insurance subsidiary is also restricted by certain covenants in our loan agreements, which, among other things, require the life insurance subsidiary to maintain statutory capital and surplus (including asset valuation and interest maintenance reserves) equal to a minimum of $140,000,000 plus 25% of statutory net income and 75% of the capital contributions to life insurance subsidiary for periods subsequent to December 31, 2000. Under the most restrictive of these limitations, none of our earned surplus at March 31, 2002 would be available for distribution by American Equity Life to the parent company in the form of dividends or other distributions.

ITEM 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

        We seek to invest our available funds in a manner that will maximize shareholder value and fund future obligations to policyholders and debtors, subject to appropriate risk considerations. We seek to meet this objective through investments that: (i) consist predominately of investment grade fixed maturity securities of very high credit quality; (ii) have projected returns which satisfy our spread targets; and (iii) have characteristics which support the underlying liabilities. Many of our products incorporate surrender charges, market interest rate adjustments or other features to encourage persistency.

        We seek to maximize the total return on our available for sale investments through active investment management. Accordingly, we have determined that our available for sale portfolio of fixed maturity securities is available to be sold in response to: (i) changes in market interest rates; (ii) changes in relative values of individual securities and asset sectors; (iii) changes in prepayment risks; (iv) changes in credit quality outlook for certain securities; (v) liquidity needs: and (vi) other factors. We have a portfolio of held for investment securities which consists principally of zero coupon bonds issued by U.S. government agencies. These securities are purchased to secure long-term yields which meet our spread targets and support the underlying liabilities.

        Interest rate risk is our primary market risk exposure. Substantial and sustained increases and decreases in market interest rates can affect the profitability of our products and the market value of our investments. The profitability of most of our products depends on the spreads between interest yield on investments and rates credited on insurance liabilities. We have the ability to adjust crediting rates (participation or asset fee rates for equity-index annuities) on substantially all of our annuity policies at least annually (subject to minimum guaranteed values). In addition, substantially all of our annuity products have surrender and withdrawal penalty provisions designed to encourage persistency and to help ensure targeted spreads are earned. However, competitive factors, including the impact of the level of surrenders and withdrawals, may limit our ability to adjust or maintain crediting rates at levels necessary to avoid narrowing of spreads under certain market conditions.

        A major component of our interest rate risk management program is structuring the investment portfolio with cash flow characteristics consistent with the cash flow characteristics of our insurance liabilities. We use computer models to simulate cash flows expected from our existing business under various interest rate scenarios. These simulations enable us to measure the potential gain or loss in fair value of our interest rate-sensitive financial instruments, to evaluate the adequacy of expected cash flows from our assets to meet the expected cash requirements of our liabilities and to determine if it is necessary to lengthen or shorten the average life and duration of our investment portfolio. (The "duration" of a security is the time weighted present value of the security's expected cash flows and is used to measure a security's sensitivity to changes in interest rates.) When the durations of assets and liabilities are similar, exposure to interest rate risk is minimized because a change in value of assets should be largely offset by a change in the value of liabilities. At March 31, 2002, the effective duration

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of our cash and invested assets backing our insurance liabilities was approximately 10.2 years and the estimated duration of our insurance liabilities was approximately 6.8 years.

        If interest rates were to increase 10% from levels at March 31, 2002, we estimate that the fair value of our fixed maturity securities, net of corresponding changes in the values of deferred policy acquisition costs and insurance in force acquired would decrease by approximately $233,064,000 The computer models used to estimate the impact of a 10% change in market interest rates incorporate numerous assumptions, require significant estimates and assume an immediate and parallel change in interest rates without any management of the investment portfolio in reaction to such change. Consequently, potential changes in value of our financial instruments indicated by the simulations will likely be different from the actual changes experienced under given interest rate scenarios, and the differences may be material. Because we actively manage our investments and liabilities, our net exposure to interest rates can vary over time.

        At March 31, 2002, 71.6% of our fixed income securities have call features and 4.7% are subject to current redemption. Another 54.9% will become subject to call redemption through December 31, 2002. During the first quarter of 2002, we received $15,000,000 in net redemption proceeds related to the exercise of such call options. We have reinvestment risk related to these redemptions to the extent we cannot reinvest the net proceeds in assets with credit quality and yield characteristics similar to the redeemed bonds. Such reinvestment risk typically occurs in a declining rate environment. Should rates decline to levels which tighten the spread between our average portfolio yield and average cost of credited income on our annuity liability reserves, we have the ability to reduce crediting rates on most of our annuity liabilities to maintain the spread at our targeted level. Approximately 71.2% of our annuity liabilities are subject to annual adjustment of the applicable crediting rates at our discretion, limited by minimum guaranteed crediting rates of 3 to 4%.

        With respect to our equity index business, we purchase call options on the applicable equity indexes to fund the annual index credits on such annuities. These options are primarily one-year instruments purchased to match the funding requirements of the underlying policies. Our risk associated with the current options we hold is limited to the cost of such options. Market value changes associated with those investments are substantially offset by an increase or decrease in the amounts added to policyholder account balances for equity-indexed products. In the first quarter of 2002, we realized gains of $1,687,000 on our equity index options, and we credited $1,801,000 to policy holders. On the respective anniversary dates of the equity index policies, we purchase new one-year call options to fund the next annual index credits. The risk associated with these prospective purchases is the uncertainty of the cost, which will determine whether we are able to earn our spread on our equity index business. This is a risk we manage through the terms of our equity index annuities, which permit us to change annual participation rates, asset fees, and/or caps, subject to guaranteed minimums. By reducing participation rates, asset fees or caps, we can limit option costs to budgeted amounts except in cases where the minimum guarantees would prevent further reductions. Based upon actuarial testing conducted as a part of the design of our equity index product, we believe the risk that minimum guarantees would prevent us from controlling option costs is negligible.

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PART II    OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 2.    CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

(c)

In March 2002, one employee exercised options to purchase 103 shares of common stock at $9.67 per share, resulting in proceeds of approximately $996.

ITEM 6.    EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)

Exhibits:

None

(b)

No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the quarter ended March 31, 2002.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

Date: July 11, 2002	AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE     HOLDING COMPANY
	By:		/s/  DAVID J. NOBLE       David J. Noble, President (Authorized Officer)

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QuickLinks

EXPLANATORY NOTE
PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING COMPANY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS March 31, 2002 (Unaudited)

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 2. CHANGES IN SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

SIGNATURES