Summary of AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors;
Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On November 20, 2008, the Board of Directors (the "Board") of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (the "Company"), approved the implementation of a senior management succession plan. As part of the succession plan, David J. Noble announced that he will retire as the Company's Chief Executive Officer, President and Treasurer, effective January 1, 2009. Mr. Noble will remain as Chairman of the Board of the Company.

The Board appointed, effective January 1, 2009, Wendy L. Carlson as the Company's Chief Executive Officer and President and John M. Matovina as the Company's Vice Chairman, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. Ms. Carlson will no longer serve as the Company's Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel, but she and Mr. Matovina will retain their positions as Directors of the Company. Additional biographical information concerning Ms. Carlson and Mr. Matovina is reported in the Company's definitive proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 22, 2008.

Also on November 20, 2008, Kevin M. Wingert announced that he will resign as a Director of the Company and as the President of the Company's primary operating subsidiary, American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company ("American Equity Life"), effective January 1, 2009, to focus on forming his own business as a national marketing organization. Ronald J. Grensteiner, American Equity Life's Senior Vice President of Marketing, will succeed Mr. Wingert as President.

Attached and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.1 is a copy of the Press Release issued by the Company on November 21, 2008, announcing the Company's senior management succession plan.