Retirement and Transition Agreement dated February 28, 2020 by and between American Equity Investment Life Holding Company and John M. Matovina

RETIREMENT AND TRANSITION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) made and entered into by and between American Equity Investment Life Holding Company (the “Company”) and John M. Matovina (the “Executive”), dated February 28, 2020 (the “Effective Date”). For purposes of this Agreement, “Company” shall be deemed to include the Company and its affiliated entities.

WHEREAS, the Executive has been employed with the Company since June 2003; and

WHEREAS, the Executive has determined that he wishes to retire from the Company; and

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company wish to set forth the terms and conditions under which he will retire from the Company and transition to non-executive Chairman of the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”).

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual promises, terms, provisions and conditions set forth in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree as follows:

The Executive shall receive the compensation and benefits as set forth in this Agreement from the Company only if the Executive executes and delivers to the Company on or before the Retirement Date a release in form and substance satisfactory to the Company (and does not revoke such release during the applicable revocation period).

The Executive acknowledges that (a) while employed by the Company, the Executive has had, and may continue to have, access to and/or acquired and assisted, or will acquire and assist, in the development of confidential and proprietary information, inventions, and trade secrets relating to the present and anticipated business and operations of the Company and its affiliates which is not generally known to the public, including without limitation: research projects; sales and marketing methods; business opportunities; marketing plans; sales forecasts and product plans; distributor and customer pricing information; personnel data regarding employees of the Company and its affiliates, including salaries; and other information of a similar confidential nature not available to the public (collectively, “Confidential Information”); and (b) such Confidential Information has been disclosed to the Executive in confidence and only for the use of the Company. The Executive agrees that at all times following the Transition Period, the Executive shall keep secret and retain in strictest confidence, and shall not use or disclose, directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information; provided, however, that nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the Executive from disclosing Confidential Information (i) that becomes publicly available or (ii) in response to any subpoena or court order, provided, however, that prior to making any such disclosure, the Executive shall provide the Company with written notice of the subpoena, court order or similar legal process sufficiently in advance of such disclosure to afford the Company a reasonable opportunity to challenge the subpoena, court order or similar legal process.

The Executive acknowledges and agrees that (1) the business in which the Company and its affiliates are engaged is intensely competitive, (2) the Executive has had access to and developed, and may have access to and develop, Confidential Information and (3) the confidentiality covenant set forth in this Section 4 is reasonable and necessary for the protection and continuity of the business and goodwill of the Company and its affiliates. The Executive further acknowledges and agrees that irreparable injury will result to the Company if the Executive breaches such covenant, and that in the event of the Executive’s actual or threatened breach of such covenant, the Company will have no adequate remedy at law. The Executive accordingly agrees that in the event of an actual or threatened breach or non-performance by the

Executive of such covenant, (A) the Company shall be entitled to injunctive and other equitable relief in perpetuity from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the necessity of showing actual monetary damages or the posting of a bond or other security and (B) the RSUs in Section 2(b), to the extent unvested, shall terminate and be forfeited immediately. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the Company from pursuing any other remedies available to it for such breach or threatened breach.

409A. Any payments that qualify for the “short-term deferral” exception or another exception under Section 409A shall be paid under the applicable exception. For purposes of the limitations on nonqualified deferred compensation under Section 409A of the Code, each payment of compensation under this Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment of compensation. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, to the extent required in order to avoid accelerated taxation and/or tax penalties under Section 409A, amounts that would otherwise be payable and benefits that would otherwise be provided pursuant to this Agreement during the six-month period immediately following the Transition Period shall instead be paid on the first business day after the date that is six months following the Retirement Date (or death, if earlier). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, all reimbursements and in-kind benefits provided under this Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirement that (x) the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits provided, during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement, or in kind benefits to be provided, in any other calendar year; (y) the reimbursement of an eligible expense shall be made no later than the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred; and (z) the right to reimbursement or in kind benefits is not subject to liquidation or exchange for another benefit. Neither the Company nor its affiliates shall be liable in any manner for any federal, state or local income or excise taxes (including but not limited to any taxes under Section 409A), or penalties or interest with respect thereto, as a result of the payment of any compensation or benefits hereunder or the inclusion of any such compensation or benefits or the value thereof in the Executive’s income. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the Company shall not be responsible for any additional taxes or penalties resulting from the application of Section 409A.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement on the date first set forth above, to be effective as of the Effective Date.