FORM 4 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
STRICKLAND ALONZO A J J

(Last) (First) (Middle)
6000 WESTOWN PARKWAY

(Street)
WEST DES MOINES IA 50266

(City) (State) (Zip)
2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERICAN EQUITY INVESTMENT LIFE HOLDING CO [ AEL ]
5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
X Director 10% Owner
Officer (give title below) Other (specify below)
3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year)
06/10/2021
4. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
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 Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed Of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price
Common Stock 06/10/2021   A   3,021 (1) A $ 0 293,121 D  
Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3) 2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year) 7. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 3 and 4) 8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5) 9. Number of derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4) 10. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)
Code V (A) (D) Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Explanation of Responses:
1. An award of restricted stock that vests one year from the date of grant or on the day of AEL's 2022 annual meeting of the shareholders, whichever is earlier.
Remarks:
Exhibit List: Exhibit 24 - Power of Attorney
/s/ Mark A. Schuman, authorized signer 06/14/2021
** Signature of Reporting Person Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4 (b)(v).
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EXHIBIT 24

POWER OF ATTORNEY

WHEREAS, the undersigned director of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company, an Iowa corporation, hereby constitutes and appoints Phyllis J. Zanghi, Mark A. Schuman and/or Anant Bhalla, his true and lawful attorney and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, in the name of and on behalf of each of the undersigned, to do any and all acts and things that execute any and all reports of stock ownership on Form 3, Form 4 and/or Form 5, and all such related instruments which such attorneys and agents may deem necessary or advisable to enable American Equity Investment Life Holding Company to comply with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any rules and regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in connection with reports to be filed by certain beneficial owners of securities under Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including specifically, but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the power and authority to sign the name of the undersigned in his capacity as a director of American Equity Investment Life Holding Company to one or more Forms 3, 4 or 5 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect thereto, any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to such Forms and to any and all instruments and documents filed as part of or in connection with such Forms or amendments thereto; hereby ratifying and confirming all that such agent and attorney has done, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day of June, 2021.

/s/ Alonzo J. Strickland
Alonzo J. Strickland