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( Mark One ) UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington , D.C. 20549 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31 , 2020 or TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 ( d ) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to FORM 10 - K Commission File Number : 001-31911 American Equity Investment Life Holding Company ( Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter ) Iowa ( State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation ) 6000 Westown Parkway West Des Moines , Iowa 50266 ( Address of principal executive offices , including zip code ) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( b ) of the Act : Title of each class Common stock , par value $ 1 Depositary Shares , each representing a 1 / 1,000th interest in a share of 5.95 % Fixed - Rate Reset Non - Cumulative Preferred Stock , Series . ( 515 ) 221-0002 ( Registrant's telephone number , including area code ) Depositary Shares , each representing a 1 / 1,000th interest in a share of 6.625 % Fixed - Rate Reset Non - Cumulative Preferred Stock , Series B Trading Symbol ( s ) AEL AELPRA ( I.R.S. Employer Identification No. ) AELPRB 42-1447959 Name of each exchange on which registered New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange New York Stock Exchange Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 ( g ) of the Act : Common Stock , par value $ 1 No 0 Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well - known seasoned issuer , as defined Rule 405 of the Securities Act . Yes x Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Act . Yes o No X Indicate by check mark whether the registrant ( 1 ) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 ( d ) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months ( or for 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 x No o Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S - T during the preceding 12 months ( or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files ) . Yes x No o