Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership (3)

FORM 3	UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES	OMB APPROVAL OMB Number: 3235-0104 Estimated average burden hours per response... 0.5
	Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person ^*

Zanghi Phyllis Joy

2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (MM/DD/YYYY) 4/20/2021

3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol

AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO [AEL]

(Last) (First) (Middle)

6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY

4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable)

_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
___X___ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Sec /

(Street)

WEST DES MOINES, IA 50266

(City) (State) (Zip)

5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(MM/DD/YYYY)

6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)

_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	1734	D

*Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)*
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (MM/DD/YYYY)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
1. Title of Derivate Security (Instr. 4)	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares	4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security		6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Options - Right to Buy	11/19/2021 ⁽¹⁾	11/19/2030	Common Stock	33043.0	$27.05	D
Options - Right to Buy	2/25/2022 ⁽²⁾	2/25/2031	Common Stock	6096.0	$27.4	D

Explanation of Responses:
(1)	Fifty percent (50%) of the Option Award granted vests upon the later of: (i) the Company attaining a $37.00 per share common stock price (based on a 30-day trading average); and (ii) the one year anniversary of the Grant Date. The remaining fifty percent (50%) of the Option Award vests on the one year anniversary of the vesting of the initial fifty percent (50%) of the Option Award. If the Company does not achieve the $37 per share common stock price on or before the fifth anniversary of the Grant Date, the Option Award shall be forfeited.
(2)	An award of stock options pursuant to the American Equity Investment Life Holding Company Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan, 1/3 of which vest one year from date of grant; 1/3 vest two years from date of grant and 1/3 vest three years from date of grant.

Reporting Owners
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
Reporting Owner Name / Address	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
Zanghi Phyllis Joy 6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY WEST DES MOINES, IA 50266			EVP, Chief Legal Officer & Sec