IDS LIFE VARIABLE ACCOUNT 10
485BPOS, 1997-04-22
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PAGE 1
                                SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                      Washington, D.C.  20549

                                             FORM N-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

     Pre-Effective Amendment No.   1     (File No. 33-62407)   X

     Post-Effective Amendment No.   2

                                              and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT
OF 1940

     Amendment No.   3    (File No. 811-07355)                 X
                   -----                                      --

                                   IDS LIFE VARIABLE ACCOUNT 10
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    (Exact Name of Registrant)

                                    IDS Life Insurance Company
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        (Name of Depositor)

                   80 South 8th Street, P.O. Box 534, Minneapolis, MN 55440-0534
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

Depositor's Telephone Number, including Area Code (612) 671-3678

                   Mary Ellyn Minenko, IDS Tower 10, Minneapolis, MN 55440-0010
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
                              (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check
appropriate box)
    immediately  upon filing  pursuant to paragraph  (b) of Rule 485 
X   on May 1, 1997 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
    60 days after  filing  pursuant  to  paragraph  (a)(i) of Rule 485
    on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of Rule 485

If appropriate, check the following box:
    this  post-effective  amendment  designates  a  new  effective  date  for  a
    previously filed post-effective amendment.

The Registrant has registered an indefinite number or amount of securities under
the Securities  Act of 1933 pursuant to Section 24-f of the  Investment  Company
Act of 1940.  Registrant's  Rule 24-2  Notice for its most  recent  fiscal  year
ending Dec. 31, 1996 was filed on or about Feb. 19, 1997.



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PAGE 2
                                                         CROSS REFERENCE SHEET

Cross  reference  sheet showing  location in the  prospectus of the  information
called for by the items enumerated in Part A and B of Form N-4.

Negative answers omitted from prospectus are so indicated.

          PART A                                                     PART B
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>               <C>                                        <C>             <C>    
                  Section                                                    Section in Statement of
  Item No.        in Prospectus                              Item No.        Additional Information
     1            Cover page                                    15           Cover page

     2            Key terms                                     16           Table of Contents

     3(a)         Expense Summary                               17(a)        NA
      (b)         The Flexible Portfolio Annuity in brief         (b)        NA
                                                                  (c)        About IDS Life*
     4(a)         Condensed financial information
      (b)         Performance information                       18(a)        NA
      (c)         Financial statements                            (b)        NA
                                                                  (c)        Independent Auditors
     5(a)         Cover page; About IDS Life                      (d)        NA
      (b)         The variable account                            (e)        NA
      (c)         The funds                                       (f)        Principal underwriter
      (d)         Cover page; The funds
      (e)         Voting rights                                 19(a)        Distribution of the contracts*; About
      (f)         NA                                                           IDS Life*
      (g)         NA                                              (b)        Charges*

     6(a)         Charges                                       20(a)        Principal underwriter
      (b)         Charges                                         (b)        Principal underwriter
      (c)         Charges                                         (c)        NA
      (d)         Distribution of the contracts                   (d)        NA
      (e)         The funds
      (f)         NA                                            21(a)        Performance information
                                                                  (b)        Performance information
     7(a)         Buying your annuity; Benefits in case of
                    death; The annuity payout period            22           Calculating annuity payouts
      (b)         The variable account; Making the most of
                    your annuity, Transferring money between    23(a)        NA
                    charge accounts                               (b)        NA
      (c)         The funds; Charges
      (d)         Cover page

     8(a)         The annuity payout period
      (b)         Buying your annuity
      (c)         The annuity payout period
      (d)         The annuity payout period
      (e)         The annuity payout period
      (f)         The annuity payout period

     9(a)         Benefits in case of death
      (b)         Benefits in case of death

    10(a)         Buying your annuity; Valuing your
                    investment
      (b)         Valuing your investment
      (c)         Buying your annuity; Valuing your
                    investment
      (d)         NA

    11(a)         Surrendering your contract
      (b)         TSA - Special surrender provisions
      (c)         Surrendering your contract
      (d)         Buying your annuity
      (e)         The Flexible Portfolio Annuity in brief

</TABLE>



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PAGE 3
    12(a)         Taxes
      (b)         Key terms
      (c)         NA

    13            NA

    14            Table of contents of the Statement of
                    Additional Information

*Designates section in the prospectus, which is hereby incorporated by reference
in this statement of Additional Information.



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PAGE 4
IDS Life Flexible Portfolio Annuity

   
Prospectus
May 1, 1997
    

The Flexible Portfolio Annuity is an individual deferred  fixed/variable annuity
contract  offered by IDS Life  Insurance  Company (IDS Life),  a  subsidiary  of
American  Express  Financial  Corporation  (AEFC).   Purchase  payments  may  be
allocated among different accounts,  providing variable and/or fixed returns and
payouts.  The annuity is available  for qualified  and  nonqualified  retirement
plans.

IDS Life Variable Account 10

   
Sold by:  IDS Life Insurance Company, IDS Tower 10, Minneapolis, MN
55440-0010, Telephone: 800-437-0602.
http://www.americanexpress.com/advisors.
    

This  prospectus  contains the information  about the variable  account that you
should  know  before  investing.   Refer  to  "The  variable  account"  in  this
prospectus.

   
The  prospectus is accompanied  or preceded by the following  prospectuses:  the
Retirement Annuity Mutual Funds (describing IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund, IDS
Life International Equity Fund, IDS Life Capital Resource Fund, IDS Life Managed
Fund, IDS Life Special Income Fund,  IDS Life  Moneyshare  Fund, IDS Life Growth
Dimensions Fund, IDS Life Global Yield Fund and IDS Life Income Advantage Fund);
AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. (describing AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund);
Putnam  Variable   Trust,   formerly  known  as  Putnam  Capital  Manager  Trust
(describing  Putnam  VT New  Opportunities  Fund,  formerly  known  as  PCM  New
Opportunities Fund); American Century Variable Portfolios,  Inc., formerly known
as TCI Portfolios, Inc. (describing American Century VP Value, formerly known as
TCI  Value);  Templeton  Variable  Products  Series Fund  (describing  Templeton
Developing  Markets Fund) and Warburg  Pincus Trust  (describing  Warburg Pincus
Trust/Small Company Growth Portfolio). Please read these documents carefully and
keep them for future reference.
    

These  securities  have not been approved or  disapproved  by the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or any state securities commission,  nor has the Securities
and  Exchange  Commission  or any state  securities  commission  passed upon the
accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.

IDS Life is not a financial  institution,  and the  securities it offers are not
deposits  or  obligations  of,  or  guaranteed  or  endorsed  by  any  financial
institution nor are they insured by the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation,
the Federal  Reserve  Board or any other  agency.  Investments  in this  annuity
involve investment risk including the possible loss of principal.


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PAGE 5
A Statement of Additional Information (SAI) (incorporated by reference into this
prospectus)  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  (SEC),  is
available for reference, along with other related materials, on the SEC Internet
website (http://www.sec.gov).  The SAI is available without charge by contacting
IDS Life at the telephone  number above or by  completing  and sending the order
form on the last page of this prospectus. The table of contents of the SAI is on
the last page of this prospectus.
    


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PAGE 6
                                         Table of contents

   
Key terms.......................................................
The Flexible Portfolio Annuity in brief.........................
Expense summary.................................................
Condensed financial information (unaudited).......................
Financial statements............................................
Performance information.........................................
The variable account............................................
The funds.......................................................
     IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund............................
     IDS Life International Equity Fund.........................
     IDS Life Capital Resource Fund.............................
     IDS Life Managed Fund......................................
     IDS Life Special Income Fund...............................
     IDS Life Moneyshare Fund...................................
     IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund............................
     IDS Life Global Yield Fund.................................
     IDS Life Income Advantage Fund.............................
     AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund............................
     Putnam VT New Opportunities Fund...........................
     American Century VP Value..................................
     Templeton Developing Markets Fund: Class 1.................
     Warburg Pincus Trust/Small Company Growth Portfolio........
The fixed account...............................................
Buying your annuity.............................................
     The retirement date........................................
     Beneficiary................................................
     How to make purchase payments..............................
Charges.........................................................
     Contract administrative charge.............................
     Mortality and expense risk fee.............................
     Surrender charge...........................................
     Waiver of surrender charges................................
     Premium taxes..............................................
Valuing your investment.........................................
     Number of units............................................
     Accumulation unit value....................................
     Net investment factor......................................
     Factors that affect variable subaccount
     accumulation units.........................................
Making the most of your annuity.................................
     Automated dollar-cost averaging............................
     Transferring money between subaccounts.....................
     Transfer policies..........................................
     How to request a transfer or a surrender...................
Surrendering your contract......................................
     Surrender policies.........................................
     Receiving payment when you request a surrender.............
TSA-special surrender provisions................................
Changing ownership..............................................
Benefits in case of death.......................................
    



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PAGE 7
The annuity payout period.......................................
     Annuity payout plans.......................................
     Death after annuity payouts begin..........................
Taxes...........................................................
Voting rights...................................................
Substitution of investments.....................................
Distribution of the contracts...................................
About IDS Life .................................................
      Legal proceedings.........................................
Regular and special reports.....................................
        Services..................................................
      Table of contents of the Statement of
      Additional Information...................................
    


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PAGE 8
Key terms

These terms can help you understand details about your annuity.

Accumulation  unit - A measure of the value of each variable  subaccount  before
annuity payouts begin.

Annuitant - The person on whose life or life  expectancy the annuity payouts are
based.

Annuity  -  A  contract   purchased  from  an  insurance   company  that  offers
tax-deferred growth of the investment until earnings are withdrawn, and that can
be tailored to meet the specific needs of the individual during retirement.

Annuity payouts - An amount paid at regular intervals under one of several plans
available  to the owner  and/or any other  payee.  This  amount may be paid on a
variable or fixed basis or a combination of both.

Annuity  unit - A  measure  of the  value of each  variable  subaccount  used to
calculate the annuity payouts you receive.

Beneficiary - The person  designated to receive annuity  benefits in case of the
owner's or annuitant's death.

Close of business - When the New York Stock Exchange  (NYSE) closes,  normally 3
p.m. Central time.

Code - Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Contract value - The total value of your annuity before any applicable surrender
charge and any contract administrative charge have been deducted.

Contract year - A period of 12 months,  starting on the  effective  date of your
contract and on each anniversary of the effective date.

Fixed account - An account to which you may allocate purchase payments.  Amounts
allocated to this account earn interest at rates that are declared  periodically
by IDS Life.

IDS Life - In this  prospectus,  "we,"  "us,"  "our" and "IDS Life" refer to IDS
Life Insurance Company.

Mutual  funds  (funds)  - Mutual  funds or  portfolios,  each  with a  different
investment objective. (See "The funds.") You may allocate your purchase payments
into variable subaccounts investing in shares of any or all of these funds.

Owner (you,  your) - The person who controls the annuity  (decides on investment
allocations,  transfers,  payout options,  etc.).  Usually,  but not always, the
owner is also the annuitant.  The owner is responsible for taxes,  regardless of
whether he or she receives the annuity's benefits.



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PAGE 9
Purchase payments - Payments made to IDS Life for an annuity.

Qualified  annuity - An annuity  purchased for a retirement plan that is subject
to applicable federal law and any rules of the plan itself. These plans include:

   
o  Individual Retirement Annuities (IRAs)
o  SIMPLE IRAs
o  Simplified Employee pension (SEP) Plans
o  Section 401(k) plans
o  Custodial and trusteed pension and profit-sharing plans
o  Tax-Sheltered Annuities (TSAs)
o  Section 457 plans.
    

All other annuities are considered nonqualified annuities.

Retirement  date - The date when annuity  payouts are  scheduled to begin.  This
date is first established when you start your contract. You can change it in the
future.

Surrender  charge - A deferred sales charge that may be applied if you surrender
your annuity before the retirement date.

Surrender  value - The amount you are entitled to receive if you surrender  your
annuity.  It is the contract  value minus any  applicable  surrender  charge and
contract administrative charge.

Valuation date - Any normal business day,  Monday through Friday,  that the NYSE
is open.  The value of each  variable  subaccount  is calculated at the close of
business on each valuation date.

Variable  account - Consists of separate  subaccounts  to which you may allocate
purchase payments; each invests in shares of one mutual fund. (See "The variable
account.") The value of your investment in each variable subaccount changes with
the performance of the particular fund.

The Flexible Portfolio Annuity in brief

Purpose:  The  Flexible  Portfolio  Annuity is designed to allow you to build up
funds for retirement.  You do this by making one or more  investments  (purchase
payments)  that  may earn  returns  that  increase  the  value  of the  annuity.
Beginning at a specified future date (the retirement date), the annuity provides
lifetime or other forms of payouts to you or to anyone you designate.

Ten-day free look: You may return your annuity to your financial  advisor or our
Minneapolis  office  within 10 days after it is  delivered  to you and receive a
full refund of the contract  value.  No charges will be deducted.  However,  you
bear the investment risk from the time of purchase until return of the contract;
the refund amount may be more or less than the payment you made. (Exception:  if
the law so requires, all of your purchase payment will be refunded.)




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PAGE 10
Accounts:  You may allocate your purchase payments among any or all
of:

   
o  variable  subaccounts,  each  of  which  invests  in a  mutual  fund  with  a
   particular investment objective. The value of each variable subaccount varies
   with the  performance  of the particular  fund. We cannot  guarantee that the
   value at the  retirement  date  will  equal or exceed  the total of  purchase
   payments allocated to the variable subaccounts. (p.15)

o  one fixed account, which earns interest at rates that are
   adjusted periodically by IDS Life. (p.20)
    

Buying your annuity: Your financial advisor will help you complete and submit an
application.  Applications are subject to acceptance at our Minneapolis  office.
You may buy a  nonqualified  annuity or a qualified  annuity  including  an IRA.
Payment may be made either in a lump sum or installments:

   
o  Minimum initial  purchase  payment - $2,000 ($1,000 for qualified  annuities)
   unless you pay in  installments by means of a bank  authorization  or under a
   group billing arrangement such as a payroll deduction.
o  Minimum additional purchase payment - $50.
o  Minimum installment payment - $50 monthly; $23.08 biweekly
   (scheduled payment plan billing).
o  Maximum first-year payment(s) - $50,000 to $1,000,000 depending
   on your age.
o  Maximum payment for each subsequent year - $50,000 to $100,000
   depending upon your age.  (p.23)

Transfers:  Subject to certain restrictions you may redistribute
your money among accounts without charge at any time until annuity
payouts begin, and once per contract year among the variable
subaccounts thereafter.  You may establish automated transfers
among the fixed account and variable subaccount(s).  (p.31)

Surrenders: You may surrender all or part of your contract value at
any time before the retirement date.  You also may establish
automated partial surrenders.  Surrenders may be subject to charges
and tax penalties and may have other tax consequences; also,
certain restrictions apply.  (p.35)

Changing  ownership:  You may  change  ownership  of a  nonqualified  annuity by
written instruction,  however,  such changes of nonqualified  annuities may have
federal income tax consequences. Certain restrictions apply concerning change of
ownership of a qualified annuity. (p.38)

Benefits in case of death: If you or the annuitant dies before
annuity payouts begin, we will pay the beneficiary an amount at
least equal to the contract value.  (p.39)
    

Annuity  payouts:  The contract  value of your  investment  can be applied to an
annuity  payout plan that begins on the  retirement  date. You may choose from a
variety of plans to make sure that payouts  continue as long as they are needed.
If you purchased a


<PAGE>



   
PAGE 11
qualified  annuity,  the  payout  schedule  must  meet the  requirements  of the
qualified plan. Payouts may be made on a fixed or variable basis, or both. Total
monthly payouts may include amounts from each variable  subaccount and the fixed
account.  During the annuity payout period,  you cannot be invested in more than
five variable subaccounts at any one time unless we agree otherwise. (p.41)

Taxes: Generally, your annuity grows tax-deferred until you
surrender it or begin to receive payouts.  (Under certain
circumstances, IRS penalty taxes may apply.)  Even if you direct
payouts to someone else, you will still be taxed on the income if
you are the owner.  (p.45)

Charges:  Your Flexible Portfolio Annuity is subject to a $30
annual contract administrative charge, a 1.25% mortality and
expense risk charge, a surrender charge and any applicable premium
taxes that may be imposed by state or local governments and
deducted as applicable either from your purchase payments or upon
total withdrawal or when annuity payouts begin.  (p.25)
    

Expense summary

The  purpose  of this  table is to help you  understand  the  various  costs and
expenses associated with your annuity.

You pay no sales charge when you  purchase the annuity.  All costs that you bear
directly or indirectly for the variable  subaccounts and underlying mutual funds
are shown below. Some expenses may vary as explained under "Contract charges."

   
Contract Owner Expenses*

Surrender charge
           (contingent deferred sales
           charge as percent of purchase
           payments surrendered)            Contract year
                    7                            1-3
                    6                             4
                    5                             5
                    4                             6
                    3                             7
                    2                             8
                    0                       After 8 years

                Annual Contract Administrative Charge           $30

Variable Account Annual Expense

                Mortality and Expense Risk Fee
                (as a percentage of daily net asset value)    1.25%
    



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PAGE 12
Annual Operating Expenses of Underlying Mutual Funds
(as a percentage of average net assets)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
           IDS Life  IDS Life
           Aggres-   Inter-    IDS Life            IDS Life             IDS Life    IDS Life  IDS Life   AIM V.I.    Putnam VT
           sive      national  Capital   IDS Life  Special  IDS Life    Growth      Global    Income     Growth and  New Oppor-
           Growth    Equity    Resource  Managed   Income   Moneyshare  Dimensions  Yield     Advantage  Income      tunities
<S>         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>          <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>
Management
fees        .60%      .82%      .60%      .59%      .59%     .50%         .63%      .84%        .63%       .65%        .63%

Other
expenses    .09       .16       .08       .07       .10      .06          .22       .62         .54        .13         .09

Total       .69%**    .98%**    .68%**    .66%**    .69%**   .56%**       .85%**   1.46%**     1.17%**     .78%**      .72%**

                                              Warburg Pincus
              American     Templeton          Trust/Small
              Century      Developing         Company
              VP Value     Markets: Class 1   Growth
                           (After Fee         (After Expense
                            Limitation)        Waivers)

Management
fees           1.00%          1.25%             .90%

Other
expenses         --            .53              .26

Total          1.00%**        1.78%++          1.16%+

*  Premium taxes imposed by some state and local governments are not reflected in this table.
** Annualized operating expenses of underlying mutual funds at Dec. 31, 1996.
+ Figures in "Management fees," "Other expenses" and "Total" are based on actual
expenses  for the  fiscal  year ended Dec.  31,  1996 net of any fee  waivers or
expense reimbursements.  Without such waivers or reimbursements "Other Expenses"
would equal .27%,  "Total" would equal 1.17%.  ++ Figures are estimates for 1997
based on  annualized  1996  figures.  The fund began  operations  in March 1996.
Figures do not reflect the Investment  Manger's agreement in advance to waive of
a portion of its fees during 1996. After the waiver,  actual management fees and
total  operating  expenses of the  portfolio in 1996 were 1.17% and 1.70% of net
assets, respectively. This waiver agreement has been terminated.

         IDS Life   IDS Life
         Aggres-    Inter-    IDS Life            IDS Life              IDS Life    IDS Life  IDS Life   AIM V.I.    Putnam VT
         sive       national  Capital   IDS Life  Special   IDS Life    Growth      Global    Income     Growth and  New Oppor-
         Growth     Equity    Resource  Managed   Income    Moneyshare  Dimensions  Yield     Advantage  Income      tunities

Example:* You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment,  assuming
5% annual return and surrender at the end of each time period:

1 year   $ 92.94    $ 95.70   $ 92.84   $ 92.65   $ 92.94   $ 91.70     $ 94.46     $100.28   $ 97.51    $ 93.79     $ 93.22

3 years   140.83     149.14    140.54    139.97    140.83    137.09      145.42      162.77    154.55     143.41      141.69

5 years   168.47     182.65    167.98    166.99    168.47    162.06      176.31      205.73    191.84     172.89      169.95

10 years  238.60     268.84    237.54    235.42    238.60    224.76      255.39      317.01    288.18     248.08      241.77
    
</TABLE>


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PAGE 13
   
                                            Warburg Pincus
          American      Templeton           Trust/Small
          Century       Developing          Company
          VP Value      Markets: Class 1    Growth

1 year    $ 95.89        $103.33            $ 97.42

3 years    149.71         171.78             154.26

5 years    183.62         220.86             191.36

10 years   270.89         347.87             287.17

You  would  pay the  following  expenses  on the  same  investment  assuming  no
surrender  or the  selection  of an annuity  payout plan at the end of each time
period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
       IDS Life   IDS Life
       Aggres-    Inter-    IDS Life            IDS Life             IDS Life    IDS Life  IDS Life   AIM V.I.   Putnam VT
       sive       national  Capital   IDS Life  Special  IDS Life    Growth      Global    Income    Growth and  New Oppor-
       Growth     Equity    Resource  Managed   Income   Moneyshare  Dimensions  Yield     Advantage  Income     tunities


<S>      <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>       <C>        <C>        <C>    
1 year   $ 20.90    $ 23.87   $ 20.80   $ 20.59   $ 20.90   $ 19.57     $ 22.54    $ 28.79   $ 25.82    $ 21.82    $ 21.21

3 years    64.54      73.50     64.23     63.61     64.54     60.51       69.49      88.22     79.35      67.33      65.47

5 years   110.76     125.76    110.24    109.20    110.76    103.98      119.06     150.20    135.49     155.44     112.32

10 years  238.60     268.84    237.54    235.47    238.60    224.76      255.39     317.01    288.18     248.08     241.77
</TABLE>

                                          Warburg Pincus
           American    Templeton          Trust/Small
           Century     Developing         Company
           VP Value    Markets: Class 1   Growth

1 year     $ 24.01       $ 32.07          $ 25.72

3 years      74.12         97.95            79.04

5 years     126.79        166.22           134.98

10 years    270.89        347.87           287.17
    


This  example  should  not be  considered  a  representation  of past or  future
expenses. Actual expenses may be more or less than those shown.

   
* In this example, the $30 annual contract administrative charge is approximated
as a .099% charge based on the average  contract size. IDS Life has entered into
certain arrangements under which it is compensated by the funds' advisers and/or
distributors for the administrative services it provides to the funds.
    




<PAGE>



Condensed Financial Information (unaudited)

                                          Period from
                                        March 5, 1996
                                     to Dec. 31, 1996*
Subaccount HC (invests in IDS Life Capital
  Resource Fund)
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period...................................       $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period.       $1.03
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........      72,833
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HI (invests in IDS Life International
  Equity Fund)
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period...................................       $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period.       $1.06
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........      52,955
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HA (invests in IDS Life Aggressive
  Growth Fund)
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period....................................      $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period..      $1.09
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)............     56,318
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HS (invests in IDS Life Special
  Income Fund)
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period...................................       $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period.       $1.05
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........      86,467
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HM (invests in IDS Life Moneyshare Fund)
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period...................................       $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period.       $1.03
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........     111,372
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
            1
Simple Yield                                    3.59%
              1
Compound Yield                                  3.66%
Subaccount HD (invests in IDS Life Managed Fund)
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period...................................       $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period.       $1.12
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........      50,902
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HG (invests in IDS Life Growth
  Dimensions Fund)**
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period...................................       $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period.       $1.11
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........      91,977
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%

 *Operations commenced on March 5, 1996.
**Operations commenced on May 1, 1996.
1
 Net of annual contact administrative charge
 and mortality and expense risk fee.


<PAGE>


Subaccount HY (invests in IDS Life Global Yield Fund)**
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period...................................       $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period.       $1.07
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........      21,035
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HV (invests in IDS Life Income
  Advantage Fund)**
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period....................................      $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period..      $1.05
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)............     55,065
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HW (invests in AIM V.I. Growth and Income)
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period....................................      $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period..      $1.12
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........      72,803
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HN (invests in Putnam VT New Opportunities)
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period...................................       $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period.       $1.02
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........     119,724
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HP (invests in American Century VP Value)**
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period...................................       $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period.       $1.11
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........      19,657
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HK (invests in Templeton Developing
  Markets Fund)
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period....................................      $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period..      $0.93
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)............     74,610
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
Subaccount HT (invests in Warburg Pincus
  Trust/Small Company Growth Portfolio)
Accumulation unit value at beginning of
period....................................      $1.00
Accumulation unit value at end of period..      $1.09
Number of accumulation units outstanding
at end of period (000 omitted)...........      62,743
Ratio of operating expense to
  average net assets.....................       1.25%
 *Operations commenced on March 5, 1996.
**Operations commenced on May 1, 1996.



<PAGE>



PAGE 16
Financial statements

   
The SAI, dated May 1, 1997, contains:

The audited financial statements of IDS Life Insurance Company including:
    -          consolidated balance sheets as of Dec. 31, 1996 and Dec.
               31, 1995; and
    -          related consolidated statements of income, stockholder's
               equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the
               period ended Dec. 31, 1996.

The audited financial statements of the Variable Account including:
    - statements of net assets as of Dec. 31, 1996; and
    - statements of operations for the period from March 5, 1996
      (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996, except for
      subaccounts HG, HY, HV and HP which are for the period May 1,
      1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996; and
    - statements  of changes  in net  assets  for the period  from March 5, 1996
      (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996,  except for subaccounts HG,
      HY,  HV and HP which  are for the  period  May 1,  1996  (commencement  of
      operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
    

Performance information

   
Performance  information  for the variable  subaccounts  may appear from time to
time in  advertisements  or sales  literature.  In all cases,  such  information
reflects the  performance of a hypothetical  investment in a particular  account
during a particular time period.  The performance  figures are calculated on the
basis of historical  performance of the funds. The performance  figures relating
to these funds  assume  that the  contract  was offered  prior to March 1, 1996,
which it was not.  Before the subaccounts  began  investing in these funds,  the
figures  show  what  the  subaccount   performance  would  have  been  if  these
subaccounts had existed during the illustrated  periods.  Once these subaccounts
began investing in these funds, actual values are used for the calculations.

Simple yield - Account HM (investing in IDS Life Moneyshare Fund): Income over a
given  seven-day  period (not  counting  any change in the capital  value of the
investment) is annualized (multiplied by 52) by assuming that the same income is
received for 52 weeks. This annual income is then stated as an annual percentage
return on the investment.

Compound yield - Account HM (investing in IDS Life Moneyshare Fund):  Calculated
like simple yield,  except that,  when  annualized,  the income is assumed to be
reinvested. Compounding of reinvested returns increases the yield as compared to
a simple yield.
    

Yield - For accounts  investing in income funds:  Net investment  income (income
less expenses) per accumulation  unit during a given 30-day period is divided by
the value of the unit on the last day of the period.  The result is converted to
an annual percentage.




<PAGE>



   
PAGE 17
Average annual total return:  Expressed as an average annual  compounded rate of
return of a hypothetical investment over a period of one, five and ten years (or
up to the life of the  account if it is less than ten years  old).  This  figure
reflects   deduction  of  all   applicable   charges,   including  the  contract
administrative  charge,  mortality  and expense risk fee and  surrender  charge,
assuming a surrender  at the end of the  illustrated  period.  Optional  average
annual  total  return  quotations  may be made that do not  reflect a  surrender
charge deduction (assuming no surrender).

Aggregate  total return:  Represents  the  cumulative  change in the value of an
investment over a specified period of time (reflecting  change in a subaccount's
accumulation  unit value).  The calculation  assumes  reinvestment of investment
earnings and reflects the  deduction of all  applicable  charges,  including the
contract  administrative  charge,  mortality  and expense risk fee and surrender
charge,  assuming a surrender  at the end of the  illustrated  period.  Optional
aggregate  total return  quotations  may be made that do not reflect a surrender
charge deduction (assuming no surrender). Aggregate total return may be shown by
means of schedules, charts or graphs.
    

Performance  information  should  be  considered  in  light  of  the  investment
objectives  and policies,  characteristics  and quality of the fund in which the
subaccount invests, and the market conditions during the given time period. Such
information is not intended to indicate future  performance.  Because advertised
yields and total return figures include all charges attributable to the annuity,
which  has  the  effect  of  decreasing   advertised   performance,   subaccount
performance  should  not be  compared  to that of mutual  funds  that sell their
shares directly to the public. (See the SAI for a further description of methods
used to determine yield and total return for the subaccounts.)

If you would like additional information about actual performance,  contact your
financial advisor.

The variable account

Purchase  payments  can be  allocated  to any or all of the  subaccounts  of the
variable account that invest in shares of the following funds:

                                                     Subaccount

   
    IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund                      HA
    IDS Life International Equity Fund                   HI
    IDS Life Capital Resource Fund                       HC
    IDS Life Managed Fund                                HD
    IDS Life Special Income Fund                         HS
    IDS Life Moneyshare Fund                             HM
    IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund                      HG
    IDS Life Global Yield Fund                           HY
    IDS Life Income Advantage Fund                       HV
    AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund                      HW
    



<PAGE>



   
PAGE 18
    Putnam VT New Opportunities Fund                     HN
    American Century VP Value                            HP
    Templeton Developing Markets Fund: Class 1           HK
    Warburg Pincus Trust/Small Company Growth Portfolio  HT
    

Each  variable  subaccount  meets the  definition  of a separate  account  under
federal  securities  laws.  Income,  capital  gains and  capital  losses of each
subaccount  are  credited  or  charged to that  subaccount  alone.  No  variable
subaccount  will be  charged  with  liabilities  of any other  account or of our
general  business.  All  obligations  arising  under the  contracts  are general
obligations of IDS Life.

   
The variable account was established under Minnesota law on Aug. 23, 1995 and is
registered as a unit investment  trust under the Investment  Company Act of 1940
(the 1940 Act).  This  registration  does not  involve  any  supervision  of our
management or investment practices and policies by the SEC.
    

The funds

IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund
Objective: capital appreciation.  Invests primarily in common stock
of small-and medium-size companies.  The fund also may invest in
warrants or debt securities or in large, well-established companies
when the portfolio manager believes such investments offer the best
opportunity for capital appreciation.

IDS Life International Equity Fund
Objective:  capital  appreciation.  Invests primarily in common stock of foreign
issuers and foreign securities  convertible into common stock. The fund also may
invest in certain  international  bonds if the portfolio  manager  believes they
have a greater potential for capital appreciation than equities.

IDS Life Capital Resource Fund
Objective: capital appreciation.  Invests primarily in U.S. common
stocks and other securities convertible into common stock,
diversified over many different companies in a variety of
industries.

IDS Life Managed Fund
Objective: maximum total investment return.  Invests primarily in
U.S. common stocks, securities convertible into common stock,
warrants, fixed income securities (primarily high-quality corporate
bonds) and money-market instruments.  The fund invests in many
different companies in a variety of industries.

   
IDS Life Special Income Fund
Objective: high level of current income while conserving the value
of the investment for the longest time period.  Invests primarily
in high-quality, lower-risk corporate bonds issued by many
different companies in a variety of industries, and in government
bonds.
    




<PAGE>



PAGE 19
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund
Objective:  maximum current income consistent with liquidity and conservation of
capital.   Invests  in  high-quality  money  market  securities  with  remaining
maturities of 13 months or less.  The fund also will maintain a  dollar-weighted
average portfolio  maturity not exceeding 90 days. The fund attempts to maintain
a constant net asset value of $1 per share.

IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund
Objective: long-term growth of capital.  Invests primarily in
common stocks of U.S. and foreign companies showing potential for
significant growth.

IDS Life Global Yield Fund
Objective: high total return through income and growth of capital.
Invests primarily in a non-diversified portfolio of debt securities
of U.S. and foreign issuers.

IDS Life Income Advantage Fund
Objective: high current income, with capital growth as a secondary
objective.  Invests primarily in long-term, high-yielding, high-
risk debt securities below investment grade issued by U.S. and
foreign corporations.

   
AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund
Objective:  growth of capital, with current income as a secondary objective. The
fund seeks to achieve its  objective by generally  investing at least 65% of its
net assets in stocks of companies  believed by  management to have the potential
for above average growth in revenues and earnings.

Putnam VT New Opportunities Fund
Objective: long-term capital appreciation.  Invests principally in
common stocks of companies in sectors of the economy that Putnam
Investment Management, Inc., the fund's investment manager,
believes possess above-average, long-term growth potential.

American Century VP Value
Objective: long-term capital growth, with income as a secondary
objective.  Invests primarily in securities that management
believes to be undervalued at the time of purchase.
    

Templeton Developing Markets Fund
Objective: long-term capital appreciation.  Invests primarily in
equity securities of issuers in countries having developing
markets.

Warburg Pincus Trust/Small Company Growth Portfolio
Objective: capital growth. Invests primarily in equity securities
of small-sized domestic companies.

   
More  comprehensive  information  regarding  each fund is  contained in the fund
prospectus. You should read the fund prospectus and consider carefully, and on a
continuing  basis,  which fund or  combination  of funds is best  suited to your
long-term investment needs. There is no assurance that the investment objectives
of the
    



<PAGE>



PAGE 20
funds will be attained nor is there any guarantee  that the contract  value will
equal or exceed the total purchase  payments  made.  Some funds may involve more
risk than others--please monitor your investments accordingly.

All funds are  available  to serve as the  underlying  investment  for  variable
annuities,  and some funds are available to serve as the  underlying  investment
for variable  annuities,  variable life insurance contracts and qualified plans.
It is  conceivable  that in the future it may be  disadvantageous  for  variable
annuity  separate  accounts,  variable life insurance  separate  accounts and/or
qualified  plans to invest in the available funds  simultaneously.  Although IDS
Life and the funds do not currently foresee any such  disadvantages,  the boards
of directors or trustees of the  appropriate  funds will monitor events in order
to identify any material  conflicts between such contract owners,  policy owners
and  qualified  plans to  determine  what  action,  if any,  should  be taken in
response to a conflict.  If a board were to conclude that separate  funds should
be established for variable annuity,  variable life insurance and qualified plan
separate  accounts,  the variable  annuity  contract  holders would not bear any
expenses associated with establishing separate funds.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued final regulations  relating to the
diversification  requirements under Section 817(h) of the Code. Each mutual fund
intends to comply with these requirements.

   
The U.S.  Treasury and the IRS have indicated  that they may provide  additional
guidance  concerning how many variable  subaccounts  may be offered and how many
exchanges  among  variable  subaccounts  may be  allowed  before  the  owner  is
considered  to have  investment  control and thus is  currently  taxed on income
earned within variable  subaccount  assets. We do not know at this time what the
additional  guidance will be or when action will be taken.  We reserve the right
to modify  the  contract,  as  necessary,  to ensure  that the owner will not be
subject to current taxation as the owner of the variable subaccount assets.
    

We intend to  comply  with all  federal  tax laws to  ensure  that the  contract
continues to qualify as an annuity for federal  income tax purposes.  We reserve
the right to modify the contract as necessary to comply with any new tax laws.

The investment managers for the funds are as follows:

   
o  IDS Life  Funds - IDS Life,  IDS Tower 10,  Minneapolis,  MN 55440.  American
   Express  Financial  Corporation  is the  investment  advisor for the IDS Life
   Funds.  IDS  International,  Inc., a wholly-owned  subsidiary of AEFC, is the
   sub-investment advisor for IDS Life International Equity Fund;
    
o  AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund - A I M Advisors, Inc., 11
   Greenway Plaza, Suite 1919, Houston, TX 77046-1173;

   
o  Putnam VT New Opportunities Fund - Putnam Investment Management,
   Inc., One Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109;
    


<PAGE>



   
PAGE 21
o  American Century VP Value - American Century Investment
   Management, Inc., American Century Tower, 4500 Main
   Street, Kansas City, MO 64111;

o  Templeton Developing Markets Fund - Templeton Asset Management
   Ltd., Temasek Blvd., #38-03, Suntec Tower One, Singapore 038987
    

o  Warburg Pincus Trust/Small Company Growth Portfolio - Warburg,
   Pincus Counsellors, Inc., 466 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY
   10017-3147.

   
The investment  managers and advisors cannot  guarantee that the funds will meet
their  investment  objectives.  Please read the  prospectuses  for the funds for
complete information on investment risks,  deductions,  expenses and other facts
you should know before investing. These prospectuses are available by contacting
IDS Life at the address or telephone number on the front of this prospectus,  or
from your financial advisor.
    

The fixed account

   
Purchase payments may also be allocated to the fixed account.  The cash value of
the fixed  account  increases as interest is credited to the  account.  Purchase
payments and transfers to the fixed account  become part of the general  account
of IDS Life, the company's main portfolio of  investments.  Interest is credited
daily and  compounded  annually.  We may change the interest  rates from time to
time.
    

Because of exemptive and exclusionary provisions, interests in the fixed account
have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (1933 Act), nor is the
fixed  account   registered  as  an  investment  company  under  the  1940  Act.
Accordingly,  neither the fixed  account nor any  interests in it are  generally
subject to the  provisions  of the 1933 or 1940 Acts,  and we have been  advised
that the staff of the SEC has not reviewed the  disclosures  in this  prospectus
that  relate to the fixed  account.  Disclosures  regarding  the fixed  account,
however,  may be subject  to  certain  generally  applicable  provisions  of the
federal  securities laws relating to the accuracy and completeness of statements
made in prospectuses.

Buying your annuity

   
Your financial  advisor will help you prepare and submit your  application,  and
send it along with your initial purchase payment to our Minneapolis  office.  As
the owner,  you have all rights and may receive all benefits under the contract.
The annuity cannot be owned in joint tenancy, except in spousal situations.  You
cannot buy an annuity or be an annuitant if you are 91 or older. Please remember
that the investment performance expenses and deduction of certain charges affect
accumulation value.
    

When you apply, you can select:
o  the account(s) in which you want to invest;
o  how you want to make purchase payments; and
o  a beneficiary.


<PAGE>



PAGE 22
The contract  provides for allocation of purchase payments to the subaccounts of
the variable account and/or to the fixed account in even 1% increments.

   
If your  application  is complete,  we will  process it and apply your  purchase
payment to your  account(s)  within two business days after we receive it at our
Minneapolis  office.  If  your  application  is  accepted,  we will  send  you a
contract.  If we cannot accept your  application  within five business  days, we
will  decline it and return your  payment.  We will credit  additional  purchase
payments to your  account(s) at the next close of business  after we receive and
accept your payments at our Minneapolis office.
    

The retirement date

   
Upon processing your  application,  we will establish the retirement date to the
maximum age or date as  specified  on the next page.  You can also select a date
within the maximum limits.  This date can be aligned with your actual retirement
from a job, or it can be a different  future  date,  depending on your needs and
goals and on certain  restrictions.  You can also change the date,  provided you
send us written instructions at least 30 days before annuity payouts begin.
    

For nonqualified annuities, the retirement date must be:

   
o  no earlier than the 60th day after the contract's effective
   date; and
o  no later than the  annuitant's  85th  birthday  or before  the 10th  contract
   anniversary, if purchased after age 75. (In Pennsylvania, the maximum annuity
   start date  ranges  from age 85 to 95 based on the  annuitant's  age when the
   contract is issued.
   See contract for details.)
    

For  qualified  annuities,  to avoid IRS  penalty  taxes,  the  retirement  date
generally must be:

   
o on or after the date the annuitant  reaches age 59 1/2; and o for IRAs, SIMPLE
IRAs and SEPs, by April 1 of the year following
   the calendar year when the annuitant reaches age 70 1/2; or
o  for all other qualified annuities, by April of the year
   following  the calendar  year when the  annuitant  reaches age 70 1/2; or, if
   later,  retires;  except that 5% business  owners may not select a retirement
   date that is later than April 1 of the year  following the calendar year when
   they reach age 70 1/2.

If you are taking the minimum IRA or TSA  distributions  as required by the Code
from another tax-qualified investment, or in the form of partial surrenders from
this annuity, annuity payouts can start as late as the annuitant's 85th birthday
or the 10th contract  anniversary.  (In Pennsylvania,  the annuity payout ranges
from age 85 to 95 based on the annuitant's age when the contract is issued.
See contract for details.)
    

Certain restrictions on retirement dates apply to participants in
the Texas Optional Retirement Program.  (See "Special surrender
provisions.")


<PAGE>



PAGE 23
Beneficiary

If death  benefits  become  payable  before  the  retirement  date,  your  named
beneficiary will receive all or part of the contract value. If there is no named
beneficiary,  then you or your estate will be the beneficiary. (See "Benefits in
case of death" for more about beneficiaries.)

Minimum purchase payment

If single payment:

Nonqualified:       $2,000
Qualified:          $1,000

o  Minimum additional purchase payment: $50

If installment payments:

o  Minimum installment payment(s): $50 monthly; $23.08 biweekly
   (scheduled payment plan billing)

Installments must total at least $600 in the first year.*

*If you make no purchase  payments  for 24 months,  and your  previous  payments
total $600 or less,  we have the right to give you 30 days'  written  notice and
pay you the total  value of your  contract  in a lump sum.  This  right does not
apply to contracts sold to New Jersey residents.

Maximum first-year payment(s):

This maximum is based on your age or age of the annuitant (whomever is older) on
the effective date of the contract.

Up to age 75           $1 million
76 to 85               $500,000
86 to 90               $50,000

o Maximum payment for each subsequent year:** $100,000 Up to age 85
                                              $ 50,000 Ages 86-90

**These  limits apply in total to all IDS Life annuities you own. We reserve the
right to increase maximum limits.  For qualified  annuities the qualified plan's
limits on annual contributions also apply.

How to make purchase payments

1    By letter

Send your check along with your name and account number to:




<PAGE>



PAGE 24
Regular mail:

IDS Life Insurance Company
Box 74
Minneapolis, MN  55440-0074

Express mail:

IDS Life Insurance Company
733 Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN  55402

2    By scheduled payment plan

Your financial advisor can help you set up:

o  an automatic payroll deduction, salary reduction or other group
   billing arrangement; or
o  a bank authorization.

Charges

Contract administrative charge
This fee is for establishing  and maintaining  your records.  We deduct $30 from
the contract  value on your contract  anniversary.  This $30 charge is waived if
your contract value, or total purchase  payments less any payments  surrendered,
equals or exceeds $25,000 on your contract anniversary.

If you  surrender  your  contract,  the charge  will be  deducted at the time of
surrender regardless of the contract value or purchase payments made. The charge
cannot be increased and does not apply after annuity payouts begin.

Mortality and expense risk fee

   
This fee is to cover the mortality risk and expense risk and is applied daily to
the variable  subaccounts and reflected in the  accumulation  unit values of the
subaccounts.  The  subaccounts  pay  this  fee at the time  that  dividends  are
distributed  from the funds in which they invest.  Annually the fee totals 1.25%
of the subaccounts' average daily net assets.  Approximately  two-thirds of this
amount  is for our  assumption  of  mortality  risk,  and  one-third  is for our
assumption of expense risk. This fee does not apply to the fixed account.
    

Mortality  risk arises  because of our  guarantee to pay a death benefit and our
guarantee to make annuity  payouts  according to the terms of the  contract,  no
matter  how long a  specific  annuitant  lives and no matter how long the entire
group of IDS Life annuitants live. If, as a group,  IDS Life annuitants  outlive
the life expectancy we have assumed in our actuarial  tables,  then we must take
money from our general assets to meet our obligations.  If, as a group, IDS Life
annuitants  do not live as long as expected,  we could profit from the mortality
risk fee. Expense risk arises because the contract  administrative charge cannot
be


<PAGE>



PAGE 25
increased and may not cover our expenses.  Any deficit would have
to be made up from our general assets.

   
We may use any profits  realized from the mortality and expense risk fee for any
proper  corporate  purpose,  including,  among others,  payment of  distribution
(selling) expenses. We do not expect that the surrender charge, discussed in the
following paragraphs, will cover sales and distribution expenses.
    

Surrender charge

A surrender  charge  applies to all purchase  payments  surrendered in the first
eight contract years.  The surrender amount you request is determined by drawing
from your total contract value in the following order:

   
o  First, we surrender any contract earnings (contract value minus
   all purchase payments received and not previously surrendered).
   There is no surrender charge on contract earnings.  Note:
   Contract earnings are determined by looking at the entire
   contract value, not the earnings of any particular variable
   subaccount or the fixed account.
    

o  If  necessary,  we  surrender  amounts  representing  purchase  payments  not
   previously surrendered.  The surrender charge rate on these purchase payments
   is as follows:

Surrender charge as
percent of purchase
payments surrendered        Contract year
- --------------------        -------------
     7                        1-3
     6                         4
     5                         5
     4                         6
     3                         7
     2                         8
     0                         After 8 years

The surrender charge is calculated so that the total amount  surrendered,  minus
any surrender charge, equals the amount you request.

Waiver of surrender charges There are no surrender charges for:

o  contract earnings;
o  minimum required distributions after you reach age 70 1/2; (for
   qualified plans)
o  contracts settled using an annuity payout plan; and
o  death benefits.

If your  contract  includes a "Waiver of  Surrender  Charges  for  Nursing  Home
Confinement"  Annuity  Endorsement,  we will waive  surrender  charges  that are
normally   assessed  upon  full  or  partial  surrender  if  you  provide  proof
satisfactory to us that, as of the


<PAGE>



PAGE 26
date you request  the  surrender,  you or your spouse are  confined to a nursing
home and have been for the prior 90 days.

To qualify, the nursing home must meet the following criteria:

o  be licensed by an appropriate licensing agency to provide
   nursing care;
o  provide  24-hour-a-day  nursing  services;  o have  a  doctor  available  for
emergency situations; o have a nurse on duty or on call at all times; o maintain
clinical records; and o have appropriate methods for administering drugs.

To the extent  permitted by state law, this endorsement is included in contracts
issued when the owner is under age 76 on the date that we issue the contract.

   
Other information on charges: AEFC makes certain custodial services available to
some  custodial and trusteed  pension and profit  sharing plans and 401(k) plans
funded by IDS Life annuities.  Fees for these services start at $30 per calendar
year per  participant.  A  termination  fee for owners  under age 59 1/2 will be
charged (fee waived in case of death or disability).
    

Possible group  reductions:  In some cases (for example,  an employer making the
annuity available to employees),  lower sales and administrative expenses may be
incurred due to the size of the group,  the average  contribution and the use of
group  enrollment  procedures.  In  such  cases,  we may be able  to  reduce  or
eliminate the contract administrative and surrender charges.  However, we expect
this to occur infrequently.

   
Premium taxes
Certain state and local  governments  impose  premium taxes (up to 3.5%).  These
taxes  are  dependent  upon the  state of  residence  or the  state in which the
contract was sold and are deducted as applicable.  In some cases,  premium taxes
are deducted from your purchase  payments  before they are  allocated.  In other
cases,  the deduction is made when you  surrender  your contract or when annuity
payouts begin.
    

Valuing your investment

Here is how your accounts are valued:

Fixed account: The amounts allocated to the fixed account are valued directly in
dollars and equal the sum of your purchase payments,  plus interest earned, less
any amounts  surrendered or transferred and any contract  administrative  charge
assessed.

Variable  subaccounts:   Amounts  allocated  to  the  variable  subaccounts  are
converted  into  accumulation  units.  Each time you make a purchase  payment or
transfer  amounts  into one of the  variable  subaccounts,  a certain  number of
accumulation   units  are  credited  to  your  contract  for  that   subaccount.
Conversely, each


<PAGE>



PAGE 27
time  you  take  a  partial  surrender,  transfer  amounts  out  of  a  variable
subaccount,  or are assessed a contract  administrative charge, a certain number
of accumulation units are subtracted from your contract.

The  accumulation  units  are the  true  measure  of  investment  value  in each
subaccount during the accumulation period. They are related to, but not the same
as,  the net  asset  value of the  underlying  fund.  The  dollar  value of each
accumulation  unit can rise or fall daily  depending on the  performance  of the
underlying mutual fund and on certain fund expenses. Here is how unit values are
calculated:

Number of units
To calculate the number of accumulation  units for a particular  subaccount,  we
divide your  investment,  after  deduction of any premium taxes,  by the current
accumulation unit value.

Accumulation unit value
The current accumulation unit value for each variable subaccount equals the last
value times the subaccount's current net investment factor.

Net investment factor
o  Determined  each business day by adding the underlying  mutual fund's current
   net asset value per share,  plus per share amount of any current  dividend or
   capital gain distribution; then
o  dividing that sum by the previous net asset value per share; and
o  subtracting the percentage factor representing the mortality and
   expense risk fee from the result.

Because the net asset value of the  underlying  mutual fund may  fluctuate,  the
accumulation unit value may increase or decrease.  You bear this investment risk
in a variable subaccount.

Factors that affect variable  subaccount  accumulation  units Accumulation units
may  change in two ways;  in number  and in  value.  Here are the  factors  that
influence those changes:

The number of accumulation units you own may fluctuate due to:

o  additional purchase payments allocated to the variable
   subaccount(s);
o  transfers into or out of the variable subaccount(s);  
o  partial surrenders;  
o  surrender charges; and/or 
o  contract administrative charges.

Accumulation unit values may fluctuate due to:

o changes in underlying mutual fund(s) net asset value; o dividends  distributed
to the variable  subaccount(s);  
o capital gains or losses of underlying  mutual
funds;  
o mutual fund  operating  expenses;  and/or o mortality and expense risk fees.




<PAGE>



PAGE 28
Making the most of your annuity

Automated dollar-cost averaging
You can use  automated  transfers  to take  advantage of  dollar-cost  averaging
(investing a fixed amount at regular intervals).  For example,  you might have a
set  amount  transferred  monthly  from  a  relatively   conservative   variable
subaccount to a more aggressive one, or to several others.

This systematic  approach can help you benefit from fluctuations in accumulation
unit values  caused by  fluctuations  in the market  value(s) of the  underlying
mutual fund(s).  Since you invest the same amount each period, you automatically
acquire more units when the market value falls,  fewer units when it rises.  The
potential  effect is to lower the average cost per unit.  For specific  features
contact your financial advisor.

How dollar-cost averaging works

         Amount      Accumulation    Number of units
Month    invested    unit value      purchased

Jan      $100          $20           5.00
Feb       100           18           5.56
March     100           17           5.88
April     100           15           6.67
May       100           16           6.25
June      100           18           5.56
July      100           17           5.88
Aug       100           19           5.26
Sept      100           21           4.76
Oct       100           20           5.00

(footnotes to table) By investing an equal number of dollars each
month...

(arrow in table pointing to April) you automatically buy more units when the per
unit market price is low...

(arrow in table  pointing to September) and fewer units when the per unit market
price is high.

You have paid an average price of only $17.91 per unit over the 10 months, while
the average market price actually was $18.10.

   
Dollar-cost  averaging does not guarantee that any variable subaccount will gain
in value,  nor will it protect against a decline in value if market prices fall.
Because  this  strategy  involves  continuous   investing,   your  success  with
dollar-cost  averaging  will depend upon your  willingness to continue to invest
regularly through periods of low price levels.  Dollar-cost  averaging can be an
effective way to help meet your long-term goals.

Transferring money between subaccounts
You may transfer money from any one subaccount, or the fixed account, to another
subaccount before annuity payouts begin.
    


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PAGE 29
If we receive your request before the close of business, we will process it that
day.  Requests  received  after the close of business will be processed the next
business day.  There is no charge for transfers.  Before making a transfer,  you
should consider the risks involved in switching investments.

Certain  restrictions  apply to transfers  involving the fixed  account.  We may
suspend or modify transfer  privileges at any time.  Excessive  trading activity
can disrupt mutual fund  management  strategy and increase  expenses,  which are
borne by all  contract  owners  participating  in the fund  regardless  of their
transfer  activity.  We may apply  modifications  or  restrictions in any manner
reasonably  designed to prevent any use of the transfer  right we consider to be
to the disadvantage of other contract owners.

Transfer policies

o  Before annuity  payouts begin,  you may transfer  contract values between the
   variable subaccounts, or from the variable subaccount(s) to the fixed account
   at any time.  However,  if you have made a transfer from the fixed account to
   the variable subaccount(s),  you may not make a transfer (including automated
   transfers)  from any variable  subaccount back to the fixed account until the
   next contract anniversary.

o  You may  transfer  contract  values  from the fixed  account to the  variable
   subaccount(s)  once a year during a 31-day  transfer  period starting on each
   contract anniversary (except for automated transfers,  which can be set up at
   any time for transfer periods of your choosing subject to certain minimums).

o  If we receive  your  transfer  request  within 30 days  before  the  contract
   anniversary  date,  the  transfer  from the  fixed  account  to the  variable
   subaccount(s) will be effective on the anniversary.

o  If  we  receive  your  request  on or  within  30  days  after  the  contract
   anniversary  date,  the  transfer  from the  fixed  account  to the  variable
   subaccount(s) will be effective on the day we receive it.

o  We will not accept requests for transfers from the fixed account at any other
   time.

o  Once annuity  payouts  begin,  no transfers  may be made to or from the fixed
   account,  but transfers may be made once per contract year among the variable
   subaccounts. During the annuity payout period, you cannot be invested in more
   than five variable subaccounts at any one time unless we agree otherwise.

How to request a transfer or a surrender

1    By letter

Send  your  name,   account   number,   Social   Security   Number  or  Taxpayer
Identification Number and signed request for a transfer or surrender to:


<PAGE>



PAGE 30
Regular mail:
IDS Life Insurance Company
IDS Tower 10
Minneapolis, MN  55440-0010

Express mail:
IDS Life Insurance Company
733 Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN  55402

Minimum amount
Mail transfers:        $250 or entire account balance
Mail surrenders:       $250 or entire account balance

Maximum amount
Mail transfers:        None (up to contract value)
Mail surrenders:       None (up to contract value)

2    By phone

Call between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Central time:

1-800-437-0602 (toll free) or
(612) 671-4738 (Minneapolis/St. Paul area)

TTY service for the hearing impaired:
1-800-285-8846 (toll free)

Minimum amount
Phone transfers:       $250 or entire account balance
Phone surrenders:      $250 or entire account balance

Maximum amount
Phone transfers:       None (up to contract value)
Phone surrenders:      $50,000

We answer phone requests  promptly,  but you may experience delays when the call
volume  is  unusually  high.  If you are  unable  to get  through,  use the mail
procedure as an alternative.

We will  honor any  telephone  transfer  or  surrender  request  believed  to be
authentic  and will use  reasonable  procedures  to confirm that they are.  This
includes  asking  identifying  questions and tape  recording  calls. A telephone
surrender will not be allowed within 30 days of a phoned-in  address change.  As
long as the procedures are followed, neither IDS Life nor its affiliates will be
liable for any loss resulting from fraudulent requests.

Telephone transfers or surrenders are automatically  available.  You may request
that telephone  transfers or surrenders  not be authorized  from your account by
writing IDS Life.

3    By automated transfers and automated partial surrenders

   
Your  financial  advisor  can help you set up  automated  transfers  among  your
subaccount or fixed account or partial surrenders from the accounts.
    


<PAGE>



PAGE 31
You can start or stop this service by written request or other method acceptable
to IDS Life. You must allow 30 days for IDS Life to change any instructions that
are currently in place.

o  Automated  transfers  from  the  fixed  account  to any  one of the  variable
   subaccount(s) may not exceed an amount that, if continued,  would deplete the
   fixed account within 12 months.

o  Automated surrenders may be restricted by applicable law under
   some contracts.

o  You may not make additional purchase payments if automated
   partial surrenders are in effect.

o  Automated partial  surrenders may result in IRS taxes and penalties on all or
   part of the amount surrendered.

Minimum amount
Automated transfers or surrenders:  $50

Maximum amount
Automated transfers or surrenders:  None (except for automated
                                    transfers from the fixed
                                    account)

Surrendering your contract

As owner,  you may  surrender  all or part of your  contract  at any time before
annuity  payouts  begin by sending a written  request or calling  IDS Life.  For
total  surrenders  we will  compute  the value of your  contract at the close of
business  after we receive your request.  We may ask you to return the contract.
You may have to pay surrender charges (see "Surrender charge") and IRS taxes and
penalties (see "Taxes"). No surrenders may be made after annuity payouts begin.

Surrender policies

If you have a balance in more than one account and request a partial  surrender,
we will  withdraw  money from all your  accounts in the same  proportion as your
value in each  account  correlates  to your  total  contract  value,  unless you
request otherwise. The minimum contract value after partial surrender is $600.

Receiving payment when you request a surrender

By regular or express mail:

o  Payable to owner;

o  Mailed to address of record;

o  Special payee and/or addressee.

   
NOTE:  You will be charged a fee if you request express mail
delivery.
    


<PAGE>



PAGE 32 By wire:

o  Request that payment be wired to your bank;

o  Bank account must be in the same ownership as your contract;

o  Pre-authorization required.  For instructions, contact your
   financial advisor.

Payment  normally will be sent within seven days after  receiving  your request.
However, we may postpone the payment if:

     -the surrender amount includes a purchase payment check that
      has not cleared;
     -the NYSE is closed, except for normal holiday and weekend
      closings;
     -trading on the NYSE is restricted, according to SEC rules;
     -an emergency, as defined by SEC rules, makes it impractical
      to sell securities or value the net assets of the accounts;
      or
     -the SEC permits us to delay payment for the protection of
      security holders.

TSA-special surrender provisions

Participants in Tax-Sheltered  Annuities:  The Code imposes certain restrictions
on your right as owner to receive early distributions from a TSA:

o  Distributions  attributable to salary reduction contributions made after Dec.
   31,  1988,  plus the  earnings on them,  or to transfers or rollovers of such
   amounts from other contracts, may be made from the TSA only if:
     -you have attained age 59 1/2; 
     -you have become disabled as defined in the Code; 
     -you have separated from the service of the employer who
      purchased the annuity; or
     -the distribution is made to your beneficiary because of your
      death.

o  If you encounter a financial  hardship  (within the meaning of the Code), you
   may receive a  distribution  of all contract  values  attributable  to salary
   reduction contributions made after Dec.
   31, 1988, but not the earnings on them.

o  Even though a distribution may be permitted under the above
   rules, it still may be subject to IRS taxes and penalties.  (See
   "Taxes.")

o  The above  restrictions  on the right to receive a distribution do not affect
   the  availability of the amount credited to the contract as of Dec. 31, 1988.
   The  restrictions  do not apply to transfers  or exchanges of contract  value
   within the annuity,  or to another  registered  variable  annuity contract or
   investment vehicle available through the employer.



<PAGE>



PAGE 33
o  If the contract has a loan  provision,  the right to receive a loan from your
   fixed  account is described in detail in your  contract.  You may borrow from
   the contract value allocated to the fixed account.

o  For certain types of  contributions  under a TSA contract to be excluded from
   taxable  income,  the  employer  must comply with  certain  nondiscrimination
   requirements.  You should  consult  your  employer to  determine  whether the
   nondiscrimination rules apply to you.

Participation  in the  Portland  Public  Schools  TSA  program:  IDS  Life  will
guarantee  that your  fixed  account  surrender  value will not be less than the
purchase payments paid, less any amounts previously surrendered, provided:

o  all purchase payments under the contract have been allocated
   only to the fixed account; and

o  there have been no transfers of fixed account contract values to any variable
   subaccount.  If payments are allocated to a variable subaccount or monies are
   transferred  from the fixed account to a variable  subaccount,  the guarantee
   does not apply.

Participants in the Texas Optional  Retirement  Program:  You cannot receive any
distribution  before  retirement  unless you become totally disabled or end your
employment at a Texas college or university. This restriction affects your right
to: o  surrender  all or part of your  annuity  at any time;  and o move up your
retirement date.

If you are in the  program  for only  one  year,  the  portion  of the  purchase
payments  made by the  state of Texas  will be  refunded  to the  state  with no
surrender  charge.  These  restrictions  are  based on an  opinion  of the Texas
Attorney General interpreting Texas law.

Changing ownership

   
You may change  ownership of your  nonqualified  annuity at any time by filing a
change of ownership with us at our  Minneapolis  office.  The change will become
binding  upon us when we  receive  and  record  it. We will  honor any change of
ownership request believed to be authentic and will use reasonable procedures to
confirm that it is. If these procedures are followed,  we take no responsibility
for the validity of the change.
    

If you  have a  nonqualified  annuity,  you may  lose  your  tax  advantages  by
transferring, assigning or pledging any part of it.
(See "Taxes.")

If you have a qualified annuity, you may not sell, assign, transfer, discount or
pledge  your  contract  as  collateral  for a  loan,  or  as  security  for  the
performance  of an  obligation or for any other purpose to any person except IDS
Life. However, if the owner is a trust or custodian,  or an employer acting in a
similar


<PAGE>



PAGE 34
capacity, ownership of a contract may be transferred to the
annuitant.

Benefits in case of death

If you or the  annuitant  dies (or, for  qualified  annuities,  if the annuitant
dies) before annuity payouts begin, we will pay the beneficiary as follows:

   
For contracts issued in all states except Texas:
    

If death occurs before the annuitant's 75th birthday,  the beneficiary  receives
the greatest of:

o  the contract value;
o  the contract value as of the most recent sixth contract
   anniversary, minus any surrenders since that anniversary; or
o  purchase payments, minus any surrenders.

If death  occurs on or after the  annuitant's  75th  birthday,  the  beneficiary
receives the greater of:

o  the contract value; or
o  the contract  value as of the most recent sixth contract  anniversary,  minus
   any surrenders since that anniversary.

   
For contracts issued in Texas:
    

If death occurs before the annuitant's 75th birthday,  the beneficiary  receives
the greater of: o purchase  payments  minus any  surrenders;  or o the  contract
value.

If death  occurs on or after the  annuitant's  75th  birthday,  the  beneficiary
receives the contract value.

If your  spouse is sole  beneficiary  under a  nonqualified  annuity and you die
before the  retirement  date,  your spouse may keep the annuity as owner.  To do
this your spouse must,  within 60 days after we receive proof of death,  give us
written instructions to keep the contract in force.

   
Under a qualified annuity, if the annuitant dies before the retirement date, and
the spouse is the only  beneficiary,  the  spouse may keep the  annuity in force
until the date on which the annuitant would have reached age 70 1/2 or any other
date  permitted  by the  Code.  To do this,  the  spouse  must  give us  written
instructions within 60 days after we receive proof of death.
    

Payments:  We will pay the  beneficiary in a single sum unless you have given us
other written  instructions,  or the  beneficiary  may receive payouts under any
annuity payout plan available under this contract if:

o  the beneficiary asks us in writing within 60 days after we
   receive proof of death;



<PAGE>



   
PAGE 35
o  payouts begin no later than one year after death, or other date
   as permitted by the Code; and
o  the payout period does not extend beyond the beneficiary's life
   or life expectancy.
    

When paying the beneficiary, we will determine the contract's value
at the next close of business after our death claim requirements
are fulfilled.  Interest, if any, will be paid from the date of
death at a rate no less than required by law.  We will mail payment
to the beneficiary within seven days after our death claim
requirements are fulfilled.  (See "Taxes.")

The annuity payout period

As owner of the  contract,  you have the right to decide how and to whom annuity
payouts will be made starting at the retirement  date. You may select one of the
annuity payout plans outlined  below,  or we will mutually agree on other payout
arrangements.  The amount available for payouts under the plan you select is the
contract value on your retirement date. No surrender  charges are deducted under
the payout plans listed below.

You also decide whether annuity payouts are to be made on a fixed
or variable basis, or a combination of fixed and variable.  Amounts
of fixed and variable payouts depend on:
o  the annuity payout plan you select;
o  the annuitant's age and, in most cases, sex;
o  the annuity table in the contract;
o  the amounts you allocated to the account(s) at settlement.

In  addition,  for  variable  payouts  only,  amounts  depend on the  investment
performance of the subaccount(s) you select.  These payouts will vary from month
to month because the performance of the underlying  mutual funds will fluctuate.
(In the case of fixed annuities, payouts remain the same from month to month.)

For information with respect to transfers between accounts after annuity payouts
begin, see "Transfer policies."

Annuity payout plans

You may  choose  any one of these  annuity  payout  plans by giving  us  written
instructions  at least 30 days before contract values are to be used to purchase
the payout plan.

o Plan A - Life  annuity  - no  refund:  Monthly  payouts  are  made  until  the
annuitant's  death.  Payouts  end with the last  payout  before the  annuitant's
death;  no further  payouts will be made.  This means that if the annuitant dies
after only one monthly payout has been made, no more payouts will be made.

   
o Plan B - Life annuity with five, ten or 15 years certain:  Monthly payouts are
made for a guaranteed  payout period of five, ten or 15 years that the annuitant
elects.  This  election  will  determine  the length of the payout period to the
beneficiary if the
    



<PAGE>



PAGE 36
annuitant  should die before the  elected  period has  expired.  The  guaranteed
payout period is calculated from the retirement date. If the annuitant  outlives
the  elected   guaranteed  payout  period,   payouts  will  continue  until  the
annuitant's death.

o Plan C - Life annuity - installment refund: Monthly payouts are made until the
annuitant's death, with our guarantee that payouts will continue for some period
of time.  Payouts will be made for at least the number of months  determined  by
dividing  the amount  applied  under this  option by the first  monthly  payout,
whether or not the annuitant is living.

   
o Plan D - Joint and last survivor life annuity - no refund: Monthly payouts are
made  while both the  annuitant  and a joint  annuitant  are  living.  If either
annuitant dies,  monthly payouts  continue at the full amount until the death of
the surviving annuitant. Payouts end with the death of the second annuitant.

o Plan E - Payouts for a specified period:  Monthly payouts are
made for a specific payout period of ten to 30 years chosen by the
annuitant.  Payouts will be made only for the number of years
specified whether the annuitant is living or not.  Depending on the
time period selected, it is foreseeable that an annuitant can
outlive the payout period selected.  In addition, a 10% IRS penalty
tax could apply under this payout plan.  (See "Taxes.")
    

Restrictions for some qualified plans: If you purchased a qualified annuity, you
must select a payout plan that provides for payouts:

o  over the life of the annuitant;
o  over the joint lives of the annuitant and a designated
   beneficiary;
o  for a period not exceeding the life expectancy of the
   annuitant; or
o  for a period not exceeding the joint life expectancies
   of the annuitant and a designated beneficiary.

If we do not receive instructions: You must give us written instructions for the
annuity payouts at least 30 days before the annuitant's  retirement date. If you
do not, we will make payouts under Plan B, with 120 monthly payouts guaranteed.

If  monthly  payouts  would be less than $20:  We will  calculate  the amount of
monthly  payouts  at the time the  contract  value is used to  purchase a payout
plan. If the  calculations  show that monthly payouts would be less than $20, we
have the right to pay the contract value to the owner in a lump sum.

Death after annuity payouts begin

If you or the annuitant dies after annuity payouts begin,  any amount payable to
the beneficiary will be provided in the annuity payout plan in effect.




<PAGE>



PAGE 37
Taxes

   
Generally,  under current law, any increase in your contract value is taxable to
you only when you  receive  a payout  or  surrender.  (See  detailed  discussion
below.) Any portion of the annuity  payouts and any  surrenders you request that
represent  ordinary  income are  normally  taxable.  You will receive a 1099 tax
information form for any year in which a taxable distribution was made according
to our records.
    

Annuity payouts under nonqualified  annuities:  A portion of each payout will be
ordinary  income  and  subject  to tax,  and a portion  of each  payout  will be
considered  a return  of part of your  investment  and will  not be  taxed.  All
amounts received after your investment in the annuity is fully recovered will be
subject to tax.

Tax law requires that all nonqualified  deferred annuity contracts issued by the
same  company  to the same  owner  during a  calendar  year are to be taxed as a
single,  unified  contract  when  distributions  are taken  from any one of such
contracts.

Annuity payouts under qualified annuities: Under a qualified annuity, the entire
payout generally will be includable as ordinary income and subject to tax except
to the extent that  contributions  were made with after-tax  dollars.  If you or
your  employer  invested  in your  contract  with  pre-tax  dollars as part of a
qualified  retirement  plan,  such amounts are not considered to be part of your
investment in the contract and will be taxed when paid to you.

Surrenders:  If you surrender  part or all of your contract  before your annuity
payouts begin, your surrender payment will be taxed to the extent that the value
of your contract  immediately before the surrender exceeds your investment.  You
also may have to pay a 10% IRS penalty for  surrenders  before  reaching  age 59
1/2. For qualified  annuities,  other  penalties may apply if you surrender your
annuity before your plan specifies that you can receive payouts.

   
Death  benefits  to  beneficiaries:  The death  benefit  under an annuity is not
tax-exempt.  Any amount received by the beneficiary  that represents  previously
deferred income  earnings within the contract,  is taxable as ordinary income to
the beneficiary in the year(s) he or she receives the payment(s).

Annuities  owned by  corporations,  partnerships  or  trusts:  For  nonqualified
annuities  any annual  increase in the value of annuities  held by such entities
generally will be treated as ordinary  income  received  during that year.  This
provision is effective for purchase payments made after Feb. 28, 1986.  However,
if the trust was set up for the  benefit of a natural  person  only,  the income
will continue to be tax-deferred.

Penalties:  If you receive amounts from your contract before
reaching age 59 1/2, you may have to pay a 10% IRS penalty on the
amount includable in your ordinary income.  If you receive amounts
    


<PAGE>



   
PAGE 38
from your SIMPLE IRA before  reaching age 59 1/2,  generally the IRS 10% penalty
provisions  apply.  However,  if you receive these amounts before age 59 1/2 and
within the first two years of your participation in the SIMPLE IRA plan, the IRS
penalty  will be  assessed  at the rate of 25%  instead  of 10%.  However,  this
penalty will not apply to any amount received by you or your beneficiary:
o  because of your death;
o  because you become disabled (as defined in the Code);
o  if the distribution is part of a series of substantially equal
   periodic payments,  made at least annually, over your life or life expectancy
   (or joint lives or life expectancies of you and your beneficiary); or
o  if it is allocable to an investment before Aug. 14, 1982 (except
   for qualified annuities).

For other  qualified  annuities,  other penalties or exceptions may apply if you
surrender your annuity before your plan specifies that payouts can be made.
    

Withholding, generally: If you receive all or part of the contract value from an
annuity,  withholding  may be imposed  against the taxable income portion of the
payout. Any withholding that is done represents a prepayment of your tax due for
the year.  You take  credit for such  amounts on the annual tax return  that you
file.

If the  payout is part of an annuity  payout  plan,  the  amount of  withholding
generally is computed using payroll tables.  You can provide us with a statement
of how many exemptions to use in calculating the withholding.  As long as you've
provided  us with a valid  Social  Security  Number or  Taxpayer  Identification
Number, you
can elect not to have any withholding occur.

If the  distribution  is any other  type of  payment  (such as a partial or full
surrender), withholding is computed using 10% of the taxable portion. Similar to
above,  as long as you've  provided us with a valid  Social  Security  Number or
Taxpayer  Identification  Number,  you can elect  not to have  this  withholding
occur.

   
If a  distribution  is taken from a contract  offered  under a Section  457 Plan
(deferred  compensation  plan of state  and  local  governments  and  tax-exempt
organizations), withholding is computed using payroll methods depending upon the
type of payment.

Some  states  also may impose  withholding  requirements  similar to the federal
withholding  described above. If this should be the case, any payment from which
federal withholding is deducted may also have state withholding deducted.
    

The withholding  requirements  may differ if payment is being made to a non-U.S.
citizen or if the payment is being delivered outside the United States.

   
Withholding from qualified annuities: If you receive directly all or part of the
contract  value from a  qualified  annuity  (except an IRA,  SEP,  SIMPLE IRA or
Section 457 plan), mandatory 20% income tax
    



<PAGE>



PAGE 39
withholding  generally  will be  imposed  at the time the  payout is made.  This
mandatory  withholding is in place of the elective withholding  discussed above.
This mandatory withholding will not be imposed if:

o  instead  of  receiving  the  distribution   check,  you  elect  to  have  the
   distribution rolled over directly to an IRA or another eligible plan;
o  the payout is one in a series of substantially  equal periodic payouts,  made
   at least  annually,  over your life or life expectancy (or the joint lives or
   life expectancies of you and your designated beneficiary) or over a specified
   period of 10 years or more; or
o  the payment is a minimum distribution required under the Code.

Payments made to a surviving  spouse instead of being directly rolled over to an
IRA may also be subject to mandatory 20% income tax withholding.

State withholding also may be imposed on taxable distributions.

   
Transfer of ownership  of a  nonqualified  annuity:  If you make such a transfer
without receiving adequate consideration, the transfer is considered a gift, and
also may be considered a surrender for federal income tax purposes.  If the gift
is a currently  taxable  event for income tax  purposes,  the amount of deferred
earnings at the time of the transfer  will be taxed to the original  owner,  who
also may be subject to a 10% IRS penalty as discussed earlier. In this case, the
new owner's  investment  in the annuity  will be the value of the annuity at the
time of the transfer.
    

Collateral  assignment of a nonqualified  annuity: If you collaterally assign or
pledge your contract, earnings on purchase payments you made after Aug. 13, 1982
will be taxed to you like a surrender.

Important: Our discussion of federal tax laws is based upon our understanding of
these  laws as they are  currently  interpreted.  Federal  tax  laws or  current
interpretations of them may change. For this reason and because tax consequences
are complex and highly  individual and cannot always be anticipated,  you should
consult a tax advisor if you have any questions about taxation of your contract.

Tax qualification: The contract is intended to qualify as an annuity for federal
income tax  purposes.  To that end,  the  provisions  of the  contract are to be
interpreted to ensure or maintain such tax  qualification,  notwithstanding  any
other provisions of the contract.  We reserve the right to amend the contract to
reflect any  clarifications  that may be needed or are  appropriate  to maintain
such  qualification or to conform the contract to any applicable  changes in the
tax qualification requirements. We will send you a copy of any such amendments.




<PAGE>



PAGE 40
Voting rights

As a contract owner with investments in the variable  subaccount(s) you may vote
on important mutual fund policies until annuity payouts begin.  Once they begin,
the person receiving them has voting rights.  We will vote fund shares according
to the instructions of the person with voting rights.

Before annuity payouts begin,  the number of votes is determined by applying the
percentage  interest in each  variable  subaccount  to the total number of votes
allowed to the subaccount.

After annuity payouts begin, the number of votes is equal to:

   
o  the reserve held in each subaccount for the contract,
   divided by;
    

o  the net asset value of one share of the applicable underlying
   mutual fund.

As we make annuity payouts,  the reserve for the annuity  decreases;  therefore,
the number of votes also will decrease.

We calculate votes separately for each subaccount not more than 60 days before a
shareholders' meeting. Notice of these meetings, proxy materials and a statement
of the number of votes to which the voter is entitled, will be sent.

We will vote  shares  for which we have not  received  instructions  in the same
proportion  as the votes for which we have received  instructions.  We also will
vote the shares for which we have voting  rights in the same  proportion  as the
votes for which we have received instructions.

Substitution of investments

If shares of any fund should not be available  for  purchase by the  appropriate
variable  subaccount  or if, in the judgment of IDS Life's  Management,  further
investment  in such shares is no longer  appropriate  in view of the purposes of
the  subaccount,  investment in the  subaccount may be  discontinued  or another
registered  open-end  management  investment company may be substituted for fund
shares  held in the  subaccounts  if IDS Life  believes  it would be in the best
interest of persons  having  voting  rights  under the  contract.  The  variable
account may be operated as a management  company under the 1940 Act or it may be
deregistered  under this Act if the registration is no longer  required.  In the
event of any such  substitution  or change,  IDS Life,  without  the  consent or
approval of the  owners,  may amend the  contract  and take  whatever  action is
necessary and appropriate.  However, no such substitution or change will be made
without the necessary approval of the SEC and state insurance  departments.  IDS
Life will notify owners of any substitution or change.




<PAGE>



PAGE 41
Distribution of the contracts

IDS Life, a registered  broker/dealer,  is the sole distributor of the contract.
IDS Life pays total  commissions  of up to 7.0% of the total  purchase  payments
received  on the  contracts.  A  portion  of this  total  commission  is paid to
district managers and field vice presidents of the selling representative.

About IDS Life

   
The Flexible Portfolio Annuity is issued by IDS Life, a wholly-owned  subsidiary
of AEFC,  which itself is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of the  American  Express
Company, a financial services company headquartered in New York City.
    

IDS Life is a stock life insurance  company  organized in 1957 under the laws of
the State of Minnesota and located at IDS Tower 10, Minneapolis,  MN 55440-0010.
IDS Life  conducts a  conventional  life  insurance  business in the District of
Columbia and all states except New York.

American Express Financial Advisors Inc. offers mutual funds,
investment certificates and a broad range of financial management
services.  IDS Life offers insurance and annuities.

American Express Financial Advisors Inc. serves individuals and
businesses through its nationwide network of more than 175 offices
and more than 7,800 financial advisors.

Other  subsidiaries  provide  investment  management  and related  services  for
pension, profit-sharing,  employee savings and endowment funds of businesses and
institutions.

   
Legal Proceedings

A number of  lawsuits  have been  filed  against  life and  health  insurers  in
jurisdictions  in  which  IDS  Life  does  business  involving  insurers'  sales
practices,  alleged agent misconduct,  failure to properly supervise agents, and
other matters. IDS Life, like other life and health insurers,  from time to time
is involved in such  litigation.  On Dec. 13, 1996, an action of this nature was
commenced in Minnesota state court. The plaintiffs  purport to represent a class
consisting  of all persons who replaced  existing IDS Life policies with new IDS
Life  policies  from and after  Jan.  1,  1985.  Plaintiffs  seek  damages in an
unspecified  amount and also seek to establish a claims resolution  facility for
the  determination  of  individual  issues.  IDS  Life  filed an  answer  to the
Complaint on Feb.  18,  1997. A similar  action  involving  the  replacement  of
existing IDS Life insurance policies and annuity contracts was filed in the same
court on March 21, 1997.

IDS Life believes it has meritorious defenses to these and other actions arising
in connection with the conduct of its business  activities and intends to defend
them vigorously. IDS Life believes that it is not a party to, nor are any of its
properties  the  subject of, any pending  legal  proceedings  which would have a
material adverse effect on its consolidated financial condition.
    

<PAGE>



PAGE 42
Regular and special reports

Services
To help you track and evaluate the performance of your annuity, we provide:

Quarterly statements showing the value of your investment.

Annual reports containing required information on the annuity and its underlying
investments.

A personalized annuity progress report detailing the cumulative return since the
contract  was  purchased  and  the  average   annual  rate  of  return  on  your
investments.  This report,  which is unique in the industry,  is available  upon
request from your financial advisor.

Table of contents of the Statement of Additional Information

   
IDS Life Preferred Retirement Account.........3
Performance information.......................3
Calculating annuity payouts...................7
Rating agencies...............................9
Principal underwriter.........................9
Independent auditors..........................9
Prospectus....................................9
Financial statements -
      IDS Life Variable Account 10
      IDS Life Insurance Company
    

- -------------------------------------------------------------------
Please  check  the  appropriate  box to  receive  a copy  of  the  Statement  of
Additional Information for:

_____ IDS Life Flexible Portfolio Annuity

_____ IDS Life Retirement Annuity Mutual Funds

_____ AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc.

   
_____ Putnam Variable Trust

_____ American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.
    

_____ Templeton Variable Products Series Fund

_____ Warburg Pincus Trust/Small Company Growth Portfolio

Please return this request to:

IDS Life Insurance Company
IDS Tower 10
Minneapolis, MN  55440-0010




<PAGE>



PAGE 43
Your name _______________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________

City ______________________  State ______________ Zip ___________



<PAGE>



PAGE 44

















                                STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                                for

                                IDS LIFE FLEXIBLE PORTFOLIO ANNUITY

                                   IDS Life Variable Account 10

   
                                            May 1, 1997


IDS Life Flexible  Variable  Account 10 is a separate  account  established  and
maintained by IDS Life Insurance Company (IDS Life).

This  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  dated  May  1,  1997,  is  not  a
prospectus. It should be read together with the account's prospectus,  dated May
1, 1997,  which may be obtained from your  financial  advisor,  or by writing or
calling IDS Life at the address or telephone number below.



IDS Life Insurance Company
IDS Tower 10
Minneapolis, MN 55440
800-437-0602
    



<PAGE>



PAGE 45
                                         TABLE OF CONTENTS

IDS Life Preferred Retirement Account.........................p.

Performance Information.......................................p.

Calculating Annuity Payouts...................................p.

Rating Agencies...............................................p.

Principal Underwriter.........................................p.

Independent Auditors..........................................p.
       

Prospectus....................................................p.

   
Financial Statements
          IDS Life Variable Account 10
          IDS Life Insurance Company
    



<PAGE>



PAGE 46
IDS LIFE PREFERRED RETIREMENT ACCOUNT

The  Flexible  Portfolio  Annuity  may be used to fund  the IDS  Life  Preferred
Retirement Account (PRA) as a way to build  tax-deferred  retirement income. The
PRA can be used to supplement,  or as an alternative to, a non-deductible IRA or
other retirement plan.

The   advantages  of  the  IDS  Life   Preferred   Retirement   Account  over  a
non-deductible IRA are shown below:

   
               IDS Life Preferred         Non-deductible IRA
               Retirement
               Account
- -------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum        $50,000 to $1 million      $2,000 per year
amount you     initially, then $50,000    ($4,000 per year
can            to $100,000 per year       for married individuals
contribute     depending on your          filing jointly)
               age. (spouse can have
               own plan)
    
- --------------------------------------------------------------
Highest age    The later of age 85        70 1/2 years old
you can        or the 10th contract
contribute     anniversary


- --------------------------------------------------------------
Types of       Any type: wages,           Generally limited
income you     investment income,         to income from
can            gifts, inheritance,        employment
contribute     etc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------
Records        None required, but         You must keep all
you must       IDS Life furnishes you     records yourself
keep           regular reports
               for your files
- --------------------------------------------------------------
Reports you    None                       You must report all
must file                                 contributions and
with the                                  withdrawals each
IRS                                       year
- --------------------------------------------------------------
Age at which   The later of age 85        70 1/2 years old
you must       or the 10th contract
begin          anniversary
withdrawals
- --------------------------------------------------------------

PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

   
The  following  performance  figures are  calculated  on the basis of historical
performance of the funds. The performance figures relating to these funds assume
that the contract was offered prior to March 1, 1996,  which it was not.  Before
the  subaccounts  began  investing  in these  funds,  the figures  show what the
subaccount
    



<PAGE>



PAGE 47
performance  would  have  been if  these  subaccounts  had  existed  during  the
illustrated  periods.  Once these  subaccounts  began  investing in these funds,
actual values are used for the calculations.

Calculation of yield for Subaccount HM (Investing in IDS Life
Moneyshare Fund)

   
Subaccount  HM,  which  invests  in IDS  Life  Moneyshare  Fund,  calculates  an
annualized simple yield and a compound yield based on a seven-day period.
    

The simple yield is calculated by  determining  the net change in the value of a
hypothetical  subaccount  having  the  balance of one  accumulation  unit at the
beginning  of the  seven-day  period.  (The net change does not include  capital
change,  but does  include  a pro rata  share of the  annual  contract  charges,
including  the  annual  contract  administrative  charge and the  mortality  and
expense  risk  fee.) The net  change in the  subaccount  value is divided by the
value of the  subaccount at the beginning of the period to obtain the return for
the period.  That  return is then  multiplied  by 365/7 to obtain an  annualized
figure.

The value of the  hypothetical  subaccount  includes  the amount of any declared
dividends,  the value of any shares  purchased with any dividend paid during the
period and any  dividends  declared for such shares.  The variable  subaccount's
yield does not include any realized or unrealized  gains or losses,  nor does it
include the effect of any applicable surrender charge.

The subaccount calculates its compound yield according to the following formula:

                                                  365/7
Compound Yield = [(return for seven-day period +1)     ]  - 1
       

Annualized Yield based on Seven-Day Period ended Dec. 31, 1996

Subaccount investing in:    Simple Yield         Compound Yield

   
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund        3.59%                 3.66%
    

The  rate of  return,  or  yield,  on the  subaccount's  accumulation  unit  may
fluctuate  daily and does not  provide a basis for  determining  future  yields.
Investors  must  consider,  when  comparing an  investment in subaccount HM with
fixed  annuities,  that fixed annuities often provide an agreed-to or guaranteed
fixed yield for a stated period of time, whereas the variable subaccount's yield
fluctuates.  In comparing the yield of subaccount HM to a money market fund, you
should consider the different services that the annuity provides.




<PAGE>



PAGE 48
Calculation of yield for Subaccounts (Investing in income funds)

Quotations  of yield  will be based on all  investment  income  earned  during a
particular  30-day  period,   less  expenses  accrued  during  the  period  (net
investment  income) and will be computed by dividing net  investment  income per
accumulation  unit by the value of an  accumulation  unit on the last day of the
period, according to the following formula:

                        YIELD = 2[(a-b + 1)6 - 1]
                                    cd

where:    a = dividends and investment income earned during the
              period.
          b = expenses accrued for the period (net of
              reimbursements).
          c   = the  average  daily  number of  accumulation  units  outstanding
              during the period that were entitled to receive dividends.
          d = the maximum offering price per accumulation unit on
              the last day of the period.

Yield on the  subaccount  is earned from the  increase in the net asset value of
shares of the fund in which the subaccount  invests and from dividends  declared
and paid by the fund, which are automatically invested in shares of the fund.

Annualized Yield based on 30-day Period ended Dec. 31, 1996

Subaccounts investing in:              Yield

   
IDS Life Special Income                7.60%
IDS Life Global Yield                  2.77
IDS Life Income Advantage              9.28
    

Calculation of average annual total return

   
Quotations of average annual total return for a subaccount  will be expressed in
terms  of the  average  annual  compounded  rate  of  return  of a  hypothetical
investment in the annuity contract over a period of one, five and ten years (or,
if less, up to the life of the account),  calculated  according to the following
formula:
    

                         P(1+T)n = ERV

where:       P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
             T = average annual total return.
             n = number of years.
           ERV   = Ending Redeemable Value of a hypothetical $1,000 payment made
                 at the  beginning  of the one,  five,  or ten  year (or  other)
                 period  at the end of the one,  five,  or ten  year (or  other)
                 period (or fractional portion thereof).




<PAGE>



   
PAGE 49
Average Annual Total Return For Period Ended:  Dec. 31, 1996
    

Average Annual Total Return with Surrender

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                                                                                   Since
Subaccount investing in:*                   1 Year       5 Year       10 Year      Inception
- -----------------------
<S>                                         <C>            <C>          <C>         <C>  
IDS LIFE
  Aggressive Growth Fund (1/92)              7.67%           --%           --%        9.95%
  Capital Resource Fund (10/81)             -0.47          6.30         12.06           --
  Global Yield (4/96)                          --            --            --        -0.04
  Growth Dimensions (4/96)                     --            --            --         3.64
  Income Advantage (4/96)                      --            --            --        -2.22
  International Equity Fund (1/92)           1.11            --            --         7.20
  Managed Fund (4/86)                        8.43          8.72         10.41           --
  Moneyshare Fund (10/81)                   -3.35          1.76          4.29           --
  Special Income Fund (10/81)               -1.46          7.59          7.61           --
AIM
  AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund (5/94)    11.34            --            --         15.81
American Century VP Value (5/96)               --            --            --          4.25
Putnam VT
  New Opportunities Fund (5/94)              1.70            --            --         19.14
Templeton
 Developing Markets Fund: Class 1 (5/96)       --            --            --        -13.75
Warburg Pincus Trust
  Small Company Growth (6/95)**              5.39            --            --         20.60

Average Annual Total Return without Surrender
                                                                                     Since
Subaccount investing in:*                   1 Year       5 Year       10 Year      Inception
- -----------------------

IDS LIFE
  Aggressive Growth Fund (1/92)             14.67%           --%           --%        10.76%
  Capital Resource Fund (10/81)              6.53          7.07         12.06            --
  Global Yield (4/96)                          --            --            --          6.96
  Growth Dimensions (4/96)                     --            --            --         10.64
  Income Advantage (4/96)                      --            --            --          4.78
  International Equity Fund (1/92)           8.11            --            --          8.11
  Managed Fund (4/86)                       15.43          9.42         10.41            --
  Moneyshare Fund (10/81)                    3.65          2.68          4.29            --
  Special Income Fund (10/81)                5.54          8.33          7.61            --
AIM
  AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund (5/94)    18.34            --            --         17.83
American Century VP Value (5/96)               --            --            --         11.25
Putnam VT
  New Opportunities Fund (5/94)              8.70            --            --         21.07
Templeton
  Developing Markets Fund: Class 1 (5/96)      --            --            --         -6.75
Warburg Pincus Trust
  Small Company Growth (6/95)**             12.39            --            --         24.79
</TABLE>

*inception dates of the funds are shown in parentheses.
**Annualized return at Dec. 31, 1996 with expense limitation.
    
Aggregate Total Return

Aggregate  total  return  represents  the  cumulative  change in the value of an
investment over a specified period of time (reflecting  change in a subaccount's
accumulation unit value) and is computed by the following formula:

                               ERV - P
                                  P

where:       P = a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.
           ERV = Ending Redeemable Value of a hypothetical $1,000
                 payment made at the beginning of the one, five,



<PAGE>



PAGE 50
                 or ten year (or other)  period at the end of the one,  five, or
                 ten year (or other) period (or fractional portion thereof).

The Securities and Exchange  Commission requires that an assumption be made that
the contract owner  surrenders  the entire  contract at the end of the one, five
and ten year  periods  (or, if less,  up to the life of the  account)  for which
performance is required to be calculated.  In addition,  performance figures may
be shown without the deduction of a surrender charge.

   
Total return figures reflect the deduction of all applicable  charges  including
the contract administrative charge and mortality and expense risk fee.
    

Performance of the subaccounts may be quoted or compared to rankings, yields, or
returns as published or prepared by independent  rating or statistical  services
or  publishers or  publications  such as The Bank Rate Monitor  National  Index,
Barron's, Business Week, CDA Technologies,  Donoghue's Money Market Fund Report,
Financial  Services Week,  Financial Times,  Financial World,  Forbes,  Fortune,
Global Investor,  Institutional Investor, Investor's Daily, Kiplinger's Personal
Finance, Lipper Analytical Services, Money, Morningstar, Mutual Fund Forecaster,
Newsweek, The New York Times, Personal Investor, Stanger Report, Sylvia Porter's
Personal Finance, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report, The Wall Street Journal
and Wiesenberger Investment Companies Service.

CALCULATING ANNUITY PAYOUTS

The Variable Account

The following  calculations  are done  separately for each of the subaccounts of
the variable account. The separate monthly payouts, added together, make up your
total variable annuity payout.

Initial  Payout:  To compute your first  monthly  payment,  we: o determine  the
dollar  value of your  annuity as of the  valuation  date seven days  before the
retirement  date and then deduct any applicable  premium tax. o apply the result
to the annuity  table  contained  in the  contract or another  table at least as
favorable.  The annuity table shows the amount of the first monthly  payment for
each $1,000 of value which depends on factors built into the table, as described
below.

Annuity Units:  The value of your subaccount is then converted to annuity units.
To compute the number  credited to you, we divide the first  monthly  payment by
the  annuity  unit  value  (see  below)  on the  valuation  date on (or next day
preceding) the seventh  calendar day before the  retirement  date. The number of
units in your  subaccount is fixed.  The value of the units  fluctuates with the
performance of the underlying mutual fund.




<PAGE>



PAGE 51
Subsequent Payouts:  To compute later payouts, we multiply:
o  the annuity unit value on the valuation date on or immediately
preceding the seventh calendar day before the payout is due; by
the fixed number of annuity units credited to you.

Annuity Table:  The table shows the amount of the first monthly payment for each
$1,000 of contract value according to the age and, when  applicable,  the sex of
the annuitant.  (Where required by law, we will use a unisex table of settlement
rates.) The table  assumes that the contract  value is invested at the beginning
of the annuity payout period and earns a 5% rate of return,  which is reinvested
and helps to support future payouts.

Substitution of 3.5% Table: If you ask us at least 30 days before the retirement
date, we will  substitute  an annuity table based on an assumed 3.5%  investment
rate for the 5% table in the contract.  The assumed investment rate affects both
the  amount of the first  payout  and the  extent  to which  subsequent  payouts
increase or decrease.  Using the 5% table results in a higher  initial  payment,
but later  payouts will increase more slowly when annuity unit values are rising
and decrease more rapidly when they are declining.

Annuity  Unit  Values:  This value was  originally  set at $1 for each  variable
subaccount.  To calculate later values we multiply the last annuity value by the
product of: o the net investment  factor;  and o the  neutralizing  factor.  The
purpose  of the  neutralizing  factor is to  offset  the  effect of the  assumed
investment rate built into the annuity table. With an assumed investment rate of
5%, the neutralizing factor is 0.999866 for a one day valuation period.

Net Investment Factor:
o Determined  each business day by adding the  underlying  mutual fund's current
net asset  value per share  plus per share  amount of any  current  dividend  or
capital gain  distribution;  then o dividing  that sum by the previous net asset
value per share;  and o  subtracting  the  percentage  factor  representing  the
mortality and expense risk fee from the result.

Because the net asset value of the underlying mutual fund may fluctuate, the net
investment  factor may be greater or less than one,  and the  accumulation  unit
value may  increase or  decrease.  You bear this  investment  risk in a variable
subaccount.

The Fixed Account

Your fixed annuity payout amounts are guaranteed.  Once calculated,  your payout
will remain the same and never change.  To calculate your annuity  payouts we: o
take the value of your fixed account at the retirement date or the date you have
selected to begin receiving your annuity payouts;  then o using an annuity table
we apply the value according to the annuity payout plan you select; and



<PAGE>



PAGE 52
o the  annuity  payout  table we use will be the one in  effect  at the time you
choose to begin your annuity payouts. The table will be equal to or greater than
the table in your contract.

RATING AGENCIES

The following chart reflects the ratings given to IDS Life by independent rating
agencies.  These  agencies  evaluate the financial  soundness and  claims-paying
ability of  insurance  companies  based on a number of different  factors.  This
information  does not relate to the  management or  performance  of the variable
subaccounts of the annuity.  This information  relates only to the fixed account
and  reflects  IDS  Life's  ability  to make  annuity  payouts  and to pay death
benefits and other distributions from the annuity.

Rating agency            Rating

A.M. Best                  A+
                       (Superior)

Duff & Phelps             AAA

Moody's                   Aa2

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

The principal underwriter for the variable account is IDS Life, which offers the
variable annuities on a continuous basis.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

   
The financial statements of IDS Life Variable Account 10 as of Dec. 31, 1996 and
for the period from March 5, 1996  (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996
and the consolidated  financial statements of IDS Life Insurance Company at Dec.
31, 1996 and 1995,  and for each of the three years in the period ended Dec. 31,
1996 appearing in this Statement of Additional  Information have been audited by
Ernst & Young LLP,  independent  auditors,  as stated in their reports appearing
herein.
    

PROSPECTUS

   
The prospectus  dated May 1, 1997, is hereby  incorporated  in this Statement of
Additional Information by reference.
    





<PAGE>
IDS Life Variable Account 10

Annual Financial Information

Report of Independent Auditors

The Board of Directors
IDS Life Insurance Company

We have  audited the  accompanying  individual  and combined  statements  of net
assets of the  segregated  asset  subaccounts  of IDS Life  Variable  Account 10
(comprised of subaccounts HC, HI, HA, HS, HM, HD, HG, HY, HV, HW, HN, HP, HK and
HT) as of December  31,  1996,  and the related  statements  of  operations  and
changes in net assets for the period March 5, 1996  (commencement of operations)
to December 31, 1996, except for subaccounts HG, HY, HV and HP which are for the
period May 1, 1996  (commencement  of  operations)  to December 31, 1996.  These
financial  statements  are the  responsibility  of the  management  of IDS  Life
Insurance  Company.  Our  responsibility  is to  express  an  opinion  on  these
financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards.
Those standards  require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable
assurance   about  whether  the  financial   statements  are  free  of  material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation  of securities  owned at December 31, 1996 with the  affiliated and
unaffiliated  mutual  fund  managers.  An  audit  also  includes  assessing  the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well
as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our
audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material  respects,  the individual and combined  financial  position of the
segregated  asset  subaccounts  of IDS Life Variable  Account 10 at December 31,
1996, and the individual and combined results of their operations and changes in
their net assets for the periods  described  above, in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.



Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 21, 1997


<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IDS Life Variable Account 10

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Net Assets                                                                                  Dec. 31, 1996


                                                                          Segregated Asset Subaccounts
                                                  ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets                                                 HC             HI              HA              HS            HM

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
Investments in shares of mutual funds,
at market value:
IDS Life Capital Resource Fund -
 3,186,536 shares at net asset value
 of $23.68 per share (cost $82,886,785)          $ 75,450,081   $         --    $      --     $       --         $   --
IDS Life International Equity -
 4,086,531 shares at net asset value
 of $13.77 per share (cost $55,584,857)                  --       56,281,886           --             --             --
IDS Life Aggressive Growth -
 3,945,375 shares at net asset value
 of $15.66 per share (cost $64,587,174)                  --             --       61,786,112           --             --
IDS Life Special Income Fund -
 7,651,721 shares at net asset value
 of $11.90 per share (cost $89,412,010)                  --             --             --       91,030,075           --
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc. -
 114,748,599 shares at net asset value
 of $1.00 per share (cost $114,738,923)                  --             --             --             --      114,739,329
IDS Life Managed Fund, Inc. -
 3,407,620 shares at net asset value
 of $16.77 per share (cost $56,160,069)                  --             --             --             --             --
IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund -
 9,194,996 shares at net asset value
 of $11.11 per share (cost $97,225,075)                  --             --             --             --             --
IDS Life Global Yield Fund -
 2,146,650 shares at net asset value
 of $10.49 per share (cost $21,946,365)                  --             --             --             --             --
IDS Life Income Advantage Fund -
 5,758,836 shares at net asset value
 of $10.04 per share (cost $57,063,348)                  --             --             --             --             --
AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund -
 5,447,220 shares at net asset value
 of $15.03 per share (cost $76,959,484)                  --             --             --             --             --
Putnam VT New Opportunities Fund -
 7,120,073 shares at net asset value
 of $17.22 per share (cost $125,057,005)                 --             --             --             --             --
American Century VP Value -
 3,929,247 shares at net asset value
 of $5.58 per share (cost $20,351,702)                   --             --             --             --             --
Templeton Developing Markets Fund -
 7,401,061 shares at net asset value
 of $9.43 per share (cost $70,570,045)                   --             --             --             --             --
Warburg Pincus Trust/Small
 Company Growth Portfolio -
 4,797,904 shares at net asset value
 of $14.25 per share (cost $66,599,503)                  --             --             --             --             --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    75,450,081     56,281,886     61,786,112     91,030,075   114,739,329
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends receivable .........................           --             --             --          537,638        450,958
Accounts receivable from IDS Life for contract
purchase payments ............................        305,086        266,140        404,893        836,910      1,718,433
Receivable from mutual funds for
share redemptions ............................            238            231           --             --          220,174
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets .................................     75,755,405     56,548,257     62,191,005     92,404,623    117,128,894
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

Liabilities
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable to IDS Life for:
  Mortality and expense risk fee .............         79,129         57,765         63,289         93,919        115,106
  Contract terminations ......................            238            231           --             --          220,174
Payable to mutual funds for investments
   purchased .................................        305,086        266,230        404,893      1,280,628      2,054,286
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities ............................        384,453        324,226        468,182      1,374,547      2,389,566
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets applicable to contracts in
   accumulation period .......................     75,060,593     56,103,301     61,574,245     90,923,490    114,739,328
Net assets applicable to contracts in
   payment period ............................        310,359        120,730        148,578        106,586           --
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net assets .............................   $ 75,370,952   $ 56,224,031   $ 61,722,823   $ 91,030,076   $114,739,328
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation units outstanding ...............     72,833,032     52,954,574     56,317,608     86,466,532    111,372,433
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value per accumulation unit ........          $1.03          $1.06          $1.09          $1.05          $1.03
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Variable Account 10

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Net Assets - continued                                                                         Dec. 31, 1996

                                                                        Segregated Asset Subaccounts
                                                  ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets                                                    HD            HG              HY           HV            HW
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
Investments in shares of mutual funds,
at market value:
IDS Life Capital Resource Fund -
 3,186,536 shares at net asset value
 of $23.68 per share (cost $82,886,785)            $         -   $          -   $          -   $          -   $          -
IDS Life International Equity -
 4,086,531 shares at net asset value
 of $13.77 per share (cost $55,584,857)                      -              -              -              -              -
IDS Life Aggressive Growth -
 3,945,375 shares at net asset value
 of $15.66 per share (cost $64,587,174)                      -              -              -              -              -
IDS Life Special Income Fund -
 7,651,721 shares at net asset value
 of $11.90 per share (cost $89,412,010)                      -              -              -              -              -
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc. -
 114,748,599 shares at net asset value
 of $1.00 per share (cost $114,738,923)                      -              -              -              -              -
IDS Life Managed Fund, Inc. -
 3,407,620 shares at net asset value
 of $16.77 per share (cost $56,160,069)             57,158,038             --             --             --             --
IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund -
 9,194,996 shares at net asset value
 of $11.11 per share (cost $97,225,075)                     --    102,156,811             --             --             --
IDS Life Global Yield Fund -
 2,146,650 shares at net asset value
 of $10.49 per share (cost $21,946,365)                     --             --     22,526,831             --             --
IDS Life Income Advantage Fund -
 5,758,836 shares at net asset value
 of $10.04 per share (cost $57,063,348)                     --             --             --     57,798,625             --
AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund -
 5,447,220 shares at net asset value
 of $15.03 per share (cost $76,959,484)                     --             --             --             --     81,873,050
Putnam VT New Opportunities Fund -
 7,120,073 shares at net asset value
 of $17.22 per share (cost $125,057,005)                    --             --             --             --             --
American Century VP Value -
 3,929,247 shares at net asset value
 of $5.58 per share (cost $20,351,702)                      --             --             --             --             --
Templeton Developing Markets Fund -
 7,401,061 shares at net asset value
 of $9.43 per share (cost $70,570,045)                      --             --             --             --             --
Warburg Pincus Trust/Small
 Company Growth Portfolio -
 4,797,904 shares at net asset value
 of $14.25 per share (cost $66,599,503)                     --             --             --             --             --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    57,158,038    102,156,811     22,526,831     57,798,625     81,873,050
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends receivable ..........................             --             --         47,057        394,236             --
Accounts receivable from IDS Life for contract
purchase payments .............................        502,616      1,016,341        228,956        835,245        539,360
Receivable from mutual funds for
share redemptions .............................            573         49,057             --         98,550             --
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets ..................................     57,661,227    103,222,209     22,802,844     59,126,656     82,412,410
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

Liabilities
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable to IDS Life for:
  Mortality and expense risk fee ..............         58,121        101,520         22,329         56,948         82,890
  Contract terminations .......................            573         49,057             --         98,550             --
Payable to mutual funds for investments
   purchased ..................................        502,616      1,016,341        253,685      1,172,532        539,360
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities .............................        561,310      1,166,918        276,014      1,328,030        622,250
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets applicable to contracts in
   accumulation period ........................     56,863,236    101,641,588     22,512,494     57,698,036     81,707,479
Net assets applicable to contracts in
   payment period .............................        236,681        413,703         14,336        100,590         82,681
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   $57,099,917   $102,055,291   $ 22,526,830   $ 57,798,626   $ 81,790,160
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation units outstanding ................     50,902,429     91,977,207     21,035,193     55,065,097     72,802,697
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value per accumulation unit .........          $1.12          $1.11          $1.07          $1.05          $1.12
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to financial statements
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Variable Account 10

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Net Assets - continued                                                                                  Dec. 31, 1996


                                                                      Segregated Asset Subaccounts
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------------     Combined
Assets                                                  HN               HP                HK              HT              Variable
                                                                                                                            Account
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
Investments in shares of mutual funds,
at market value:
IDS Life Capital Resource Fund -
 3,186,536 shares at net asset value
 of $23.68 per share (cost $82,886,785)          $            -   $            -   $            -   $            -   $   75,450,081
IDS Life International Equity -
 4,086,531 shares at net asset value
 of $13.77 per share (cost $55,584,857)                       -                -                -                -       56,281,886
IDS Life Aggressive Growth -
 3,945,375 shares at net asset value
 of $15.66 per share (cost $64,587,174)                       -                -                -                -       61,786,112
IDS Life Special Income Fund -
 7,651,721 shares at net asset value
 of $11.90 per share (cost $89,412,010)                       -                -                -                -       91,030,075
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc. -
 114,748,599 shares at net asset value
 of $1.00 per share (cost $114,738,923)                       -                -                -                -      114,739,329
IDS Life Managed Fund, Inc. -
 3,407,620 shares at net asset value
 of $16.77 per share (cost $56,160,069)                       -                -                -                -       57,158,038
IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund -
 9,194,996 shares at net asset value
 of $11.11 per share (cost $97,225,075)                       -                -                -                -      102,156,811
IDS Life Global Yield Fund -
 2,146,650 shares at net asset value
 of $10.49 per share (cost $21,946,365)                       -                -                -                -       22,526,831
IDS Life Income Advantage Fund -
 5,758,836 shares at net asset value
 of $10.04 per share (cost $57,063,348)                       -                -                -                -       57,798,625
AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund -
 5,447,220 shares at net asset value
 of $15.03 per share (cost $76,959,484)                       -                -                -                -       81,873,050
Putnam VT New Opportunities Fund -
 7,120,073 shares at net asset value
 of $17.22 per share (cost $125,057,005)            122,607,657               --               --               --      122,607,657
American Century VP Value -
 3,929,247 shares at net asset value
 of $5.58 per share (cost $20,351,702)                       --       21,925,201               --               --       21,925,201
Templeton Developing Markets Fund -
 7,401,061 shares at net asset value
 of $9.43 per share (cost $70,570,045)                       --               --       69,792,002               --       69,792,002
Warburg Pincus Trust/Small
 Company Growth Portfolio -
 4,797,904 shares at net asset value
 of $14.25 per share (cost $66,599,503)                      --               --               --       68,370,999       68,370,999
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    122,607,657       21,925,201       69,792,002       68,370,999    1,003,496,697
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends receivable .........................               --               --               --               --        1,429,889
Accounts receivable from IDS Life for contract
purchase payments ............................          660,304          174,142          364,012          452,597        8,305,035
Receivable from mutual funds for
share redemptions ............................               --               --               --               --          368,823
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets .................................      123,267,961       22,099,343       70,156,014       68,823,596    1,013,600,444
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<PAGE>

Liabilities
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable to IDS Life for:
  Mortality and expense risk fee .............          124,613           21,787           70,829           68,421        1,016,666
  Contract terminations ......................               --               --               --               --          368,823
Payable to mutual funds for investments
   purchased .................................          660,304          174,142          364,012          452,597        9,446,712
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities ............................          784,917          195,929          434,841          521,018       10,832,201
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets applicable to contracts in
   accumulation period .......................      122,329,562       21,888,698       69,636,742       68,234,086    1,000,912,878
Net assets applicable to contracts in
   payment period ............................          153,482           14,716           84,431           68,492        1,855,365
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net assets .............................   $  122,483,044   $   21,903,414   $   69,721,173   $   68,302,578   $1,002,768,243
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation units outstanding ...............      119,724,152       19,657,041       74,609,737       62,742,823
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value per accumulation unit ........            $1.02            $1.11            $0.93            $1.09
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Variable Account 10

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Operations                                                                          Period ended Dec. 31, 1996

                                                                          Segregated Asset Subaccounts
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       HC*               HI*            HA*           HS*            HM*
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                               <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>
Investment Income:

Dividend income from mutual funds .............   $ 10,383,126    $    940,649   $  5,498,192    $  3,382,248   $  2,342,360
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses:
Mortality and expense risk fee ................        395,755         263,092        283,043         524,174        601,315
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income (loss) - net ................      9,987,371         677,557      5,215,149       2,858,074      1,741,045
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments - net
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized gain (loss) on sales of investments in mutual funds:
Proceeds from sales ...........................        411,822         177,132        288,119       1,504,229      9,326,132
Cost of investments sold ......................        399,714         175,696        278,375       1,492,955      9,326,155
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain(loss) on investments ........         12,108           1,436          9,744          11,274            (23)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments ...................     (7,436,704)        697,029     (2,801,062)      1,618,065            406
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain (loss) on investments ................     (7,424,596)        698,465     (2,791,318)      1,629,339            383
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from operations .......   $  2,562,775    $  1,376,022   $  2,423,831    $  4,487,413   $  1,741,428
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* For the period March 5, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Variable Account 10

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Operations - continued                                                                  Period ended Dec. 31, 1996

                                                                                Segregated Asset Subaccounts
                                                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                 HD*           HG**           HY**         HV**            HW*

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                        <C>           <C>            <C>           <C>            <C>
Investment Income:
Dividend income from mutual funds ......................   $ 3,565,415   $   223,217    $   252,952   $ 1,317,655    $   869,259
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses:
Mortality and expense risk fee .........................       265,109       351,338         78,388       194,542        343,273
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income (loss) - net ........................     3,300,306      (128,121)       174,564     1,123,113        525,986
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments - net
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized gain (loss) on sales of investments in mutual funds:
Proceeds from sales ....................................       672,163        49,083         92,305        12,627        364,258
Cost of investments sold ...............................       635,400        44,744         89,751        12,677        345,387
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain(loss) on investments .................        36,763         4,339          2,554           (50)        18,871
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments ............................       997,969     4,931,736        580,466       735,277      4,913,566
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain (loss) on investments .........................     1,034,732     4,936,075        583,020       735,227      4,932,437
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from operations ................   $ 4,335,038   $ 4,807,954    $   757,584   $ 1,858,340    $ 5,458,423
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* For the period March 5, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
** For the period May 1, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Variable Account 10

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Operations - continued                                                                    Period ended Dec. 31, 1996

                                                                                   Segregated Asset Subaccounts
                                                           -------------------------------------------------------------- Combined
                                                                HN*            HP**          HK*             HT*          Variable
                                                                                                                           Account
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                            <C>             <C>           <C>            <C>          <C>
Investment Income:
Dividend income from mutual funds ......................   $        --    $    38,683     $       --   $         --    $28,813,756
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Expenses:
Mortality and expense risk fee .........................       535,475         75,335        309,686        268,990      4,489,515
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income (loss) - net ........................      (535,475)       (36,652)      (309,686)      (268,990)    24,324,241
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Investments - net
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized gain (loss) on sales of investments in mutual funds:
Proceeds from sales ....................................       775,740         53,548        339,420        339,241     14,405,819
Cost of investments sold ...............................       769,867         51,701        350,655        339,854     14,312,931
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain(loss) on investments .................         5,873          1,847        (11,235)          (613)        92,888
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments ............................    (2,449,348)     1,573,499       (778,043)     1,771,496      4,354,352
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain (loss) on investments .........................    (2,443,475)     1,575,346       (789,278)     1,770,883      4,447,240
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from operations ................   $(2,978,950)   $ 1,538,694    $(1,098,964)   $ 1,501,893    $28,771,481
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* For the period March 5, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
** For the period May 1, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IDS Life Variable Account 10

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Changes in Net Assets                                                                    Period ended Dec. 31, 1996

                                                                   Segregated Asset Subaccounts
                                               ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operations                                               HC*               HI*             HA*             HS*             HM*

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>            <C>
Investment income (loss) - net ...............   $   9,987,371    $     677,557    $   5,215,149    $   2,858,074  $     1,741,045
Net realized gain (loss) on investments ......          12,108            1,436            9,744           11,274              (23)
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments ..................      (7,436,704)         697,029       (2,801,062)       1,618,065              406
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from operations ......       2,562,775        1,376,022        2,423,831        4,487,413        1,741,428
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Transactions
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Variable annuity contract purchase payments ..      56,060,581       41,554,519       44,191,843      103,496,668      191,361,572
Net transfers*** .............................      17,159,991       13,498,067       15,362,767      (16,626,341)     (77,976,542)
Loan repayments ..............................           4,384              336              628               82               --
Annuity payments .............................          (5,797)          (2,734)          (2,227)          (3,280)              --
Contract charges .............................            (703)            (266)            (577)            (222)            (236)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits ...........................        (257,056)        (145,563)        (194,679)        (253,029)        (269,706)
Death benefits ...............................        (153,223)         (56,350)         (58,763)         (71,215)        (117,188)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase from contract transactions ..........      72,808,177       54,848,009       59,298,992       86,542,663      112,997,900
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at beginning of period ............              --               --               --               --               --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of period ..................   $  75,370,952    $  56,224,031    $  61,722,823    $  91,030,076    $ 114,739,328
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accumulation Unit Activity
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at beginning of period .....              --               --               --               --               --
Contract purchase payments ...................      56,400,154       40,418,074       42,259,043      103,731,974      189,836,790
Net transfers*** .............................      17,272,101       13,010,729       14,584,736      (16,476,053)     (76,476,138)
Transfers for policy loans ...................           4,324              319              586               78               --
Contract charges .............................          (1,132)            (420)            (896)            (305)            (349)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits ...........................        (666,034)        (420,182)        (469,681)        (713,000)      (1,872,914)
Death benefits ...............................        (176,381)         (53,946)         (56,180)         (76,162)        (114,956)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at end of period ...........      72,833,032       52,954,574       56,317,608       86,466,532      111,372,433
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* For the period March 5, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
** For the period May 1, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
***Includes  transfer  activity from (to) other Accounts and transfers (from) to
IDS Life for  conversion  from (to) Fixed  Account.  See  accompanying  notes to
financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Variable Account 10

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Changes in Net Assets - continued                                                          Period ended Dec. 31, 1996

                                                                                            Segregated Asset Subaccounts
                            ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operations                                               HD*               HG**             HY**            HV**              HW*

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>
Investment income (loss) - net ...............   $   3,300,306    $    (128,121)   $     174,564    $   1,123,113   $      525,986
Net realized gain (loss) on investments ......          36,763            4,339            2,554              (50)          18,871
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments ..................         997,969        4,931,736          580,466          735,277        4,913,566
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from operations ......       4,335,038        4,807,954          757,584        1,858,340        5,458,423
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Transactions
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Variable annuity contract purchase payments ..      42,757,191       71,415,379       16,169,875       51,746,000       56,231,920
Net transfers*** .............................      10,438,891       26,110,325        5,641,014        4,265,679       20,365,242
Loan repayments ..............................           1,902              234               --               20              741
Annuity payments .............................          (1,970)          (3,374)             (97)          (2,118)          (2,586)
Contract charges .............................            (390)            (399)             (19)             (17)            (287)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits ...........................        (230,950)        (193,049)         (25,668)         (56,519)        (217,802)
Death benefits ...............................        (199,795)         (81,779)         (15,859)         (12,759)         (45,491)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase from contract transactions ..........      52,764,879       97,247,337       21,769,246       55,940,286       76,331,737
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at beginning of period ............              --               --               --               --               --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of period ..................   $  57,099,917    $ 102,055,291    $  22,526,830    $  57,798,626   $   81,790,160
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accumulation Unit Activity
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at beginning of period .....              --               --               --               --               --
Contract purchase payments ...................      41,643,373       68,063,843       15,756,300       51,071,007       54,078,974
Net transfers*** .............................       9,912,266       24,517,537        5,427,313        4,191,671       19,260,816
Transfers for policy loans ...................           1,770              211               --               19              675
Contract charges .............................            (574)            (534)             (27)             (31)            (378)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits ...........................        (469,290)        (506,393)        (124,138)        (165,797)        (487,721)
Death benefits ...............................        (185,116)         (97,457)         (24,255)         (31,772)         (49,669)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at end of period ...........      50,902,429       91,977,207       21,035,193       55,065,097       72,802,697
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* For the period March 5, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
** For the period May 1, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
***Includes  transfer  activity from (to) other Accounts and transfers (from) to
IDS Life for  conversion  from (to) Fixed  Account.  See  accompanying  notes to
financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Variable Account 10

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Changes in Net Assets - continued                                                         Period ended Dec. 31, 1996

                                                                          Segregated Asset Subaccounts
                                                 ------------------------------------------------------------------       Combined
Operations                                                HN*              HP**            HK*              HT*           Variable
                                                                                                                           Account
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>             <C>
Investment income (loss) - net ...............   $    (535,475)   $     (36,652)   $    (309,686)   $    (268,990)  $   24,324,241
Net realized gain (loss) on investments ......           5,873            1,847          (11,235)            (613)          92,888
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments ..................      (2,449,348)       1,573,499         (778,043)       1,771,496        4,354,352
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) from operations ......      (2,978,950)       1,538,694       (1,098,964)       1,501,893       28,771,481
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Transactions
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Variable annuity contract purchase payments ..      93,797,674       14,929,878       54,156,061       49,448,431      887,317,592
Net transfers*** .............................      32,064,285        5,460,855       16,824,989       17,498,210       90,087,432
Loan repayments ..............................           1,072               50              532              161           10,142
Annuity payments .............................          (2,813)            (308)          (1,191)          (1,249)         (29,744)
Contract charges .............................            (757)             (25)            (262)            (208)          (4,368)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits ...........................        (322,379)         (23,144)        (114,828)        (103,864)      (2,408,236)
Death benefits ...............................         (75,088)          (2,586)         (45,164)         (40,796)        (976,056)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase from contract transactions ..........     125,461,994       20,364,720       70,820,137       66,800,685      973,996,762
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at beginning of period ............              --               --               --               --               --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of period ..................   $ 122,483,044    $  21,903,414    $  69,721,173    $  68,302,578  $ 1,002,768,243
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accumulation Unit Activity
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at beginning of period                    --               --               --               --
Contract purchase payments .............            90,058,689       14,509,560       57,054,308       46,639,240
Net transfers*** .......................            30,676,346        5,225,591       17,958,600       16,445,856
Transfers for policy loans .............                 1,028               46              579              154
Contract charges .......................                  (907)             (11)            (447)            (296)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits .....................              (919,136)         (75,431)        (320,321)        (296,685)
Death benefits .........................               (91,868)          (2,714)         (82,982)         (45,446)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at end of period .....           119,724,152       19,657,041       74,609,737       62,742,823
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* For the period March 5, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
** For the period May 1, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
***Includes  transfer  activity from (to) other Accounts and transfers (from) to
IDS Life for  conversion  from (to) Fixed  Account.  See  accompanying  notes to
financial statements.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

IDS Life Variable Account 10

Notes to Financial Statements
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
1.  Organization

IDS Life Variable Account 10 (the Account) was established as a segregated asset
account of IDS Life Insurance  Company (IDS Life) under  Minnesota law and is 
registered as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940. 
The Account commenced operations on March 5, 1996.

The assets of the Account  are held for the  exclusive  benefit of the  Flexible
Portfolio  Annuity  contract  owners  and are not  chargeable  with  liabilities
arising out of the business  conducted by any other segregated asset accounts or
by IDS Life. Contract owners allocate their variable purchase payments to one or
more of the fourteen subaccounts. Such funds are then invested in shares of nine
mutual  funds  organized  by IDS Life as the  investment  vehicles  for variable
annuity  contracts  issued by IDS Life and its  subsidiaries or in shares of one
fund organized by AIM Advisors,  Inc.,  one fund organized by Putnam  Investment
Management,  Inc., one fund organized by American Century Investment Management,
Inc.,  one  fund  organized  by  Templeton  Asset  Management  Ltd.  or one fund
portfolio organized by Warburg Pincus Counsellors, Inc.

Each  Fund  is  registered  under  the  Investment  Company  Act  of  1940  as a
diversified,  (non-diversified for Global Yield) open-end management  investment
company, except for Putnam Variable Trust, which was organized on Sept. 24, 1987
and is a Massachusetts  business trust. IDS Life Capital Resource Fund, IDS Life
Special Income Fund and IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc.  commenced  operations on
Oct. 13, 1981.  IDS Life Managed Fund,  Inc.  commenced  operations on April 30,
1986. IDS Life  Aggressive  Growth Fund and IDS Life  International  Equity Fund
commenced  operations  on Jan.  13, 1992.  IDS Life Global Yield Fund,  IDS Life
Income Advantage Fund and IDS Life Growth  Dimensions Fund commenced  operations
on April 30, 1996. AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund commenced  operations on May,
2, 1994. Putnam VT New Opportunities  Fund commenced  operations on May 2, 1994.
American  Century  VP  Value  commenced  operations  on May 1,  1996.  Templeton
Developing  Markets Fund  commenced  operations  March 4, 1996.  Warburg  Pincus
Trust/Small  Company  Growth  Portfolio  commenced  operations on June 30, 1995.
Funds  allocated to subaccount HC are invested in the shares of IDS Life Capital
Resource  Fund;  subaccount  HI invests in the shares of IDS Life  International
Equity Fund;  subaccount HA invests in the shares of IDS Life Aggressive  Growth
Fund;  subaccount  HS  invests in the shares of IDS Life  Special  Income  Fund;
subaccount  HM  invests  in  the  shares  of IDS  Life  Moneyshare  Fund,  Inc.;
subaccount HD invests in the shares of IDS Life Managed Fund,  Inc.;  subaccount
HG invests in the  shares of IDS Life  Growth  Dimensions  Fund;  subaccount  HY
invests in the shares of IDS Life Global  Yield Fund;  subaccount  HV invests in
the  shares of IDS Life  Income  Advantage  Fund;  subaccount  HW invests in the
shares of AIM V.I.  Growth and Income Fund;  subaccount HN invests in the shares
of Putnam VT New  Opportunities  Fund;  subaccount  HP  invests in the shares of
American  Century VP Value;  subaccount  HK  invests in the shares of  Templeton
Developing  Markets  Fund and  subaccount  HT  invests  in the shares of Warburg
Pincus Trust/Small Company Growth Portfolio.

IDS Life  serves  as the  investment  manager  and  American  Express  Financial
Corporation (AEFC) is the investment advisor for each of the IDS Life Funds. IDS
International,  Inc., a wholly owned  subsidiary of AEFC, is the  sub-investment
advisor  for IDS Life  International  Equity  Fund.  AIM  Advisors,  Inc. is the
investment  manager  for AIM V.I.  Growth and  Income  Fund.  Putnam  Investment
Management, Inc. is the investment manager for Putnam VT New Opportunities Fund.
Investors Research Corporation is the investment manager for American Century VP
Value.  Templeton  Asset  Management  Ltd.  is the  investment  manager  for the
Templeton  Developing  Markets Fund.  Warburg  Pincus  Counsellors,  Inc. is the
investment manager for the Warburg Pincus Trust/Small Company Growth Portfolio.


<PAGE>


- -------------------------------------------------------------------
2.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Investments in Mutual Funds
Investments  in shares of the mutual funds are stated at market value,  which is
the net asset value per share as determined by the respective funds.  Investment
transactions  are  accounted  for on the date the shares are purchased and sold.
The cost of  investments  sold and  redeemed is  determined  on the average cost
method.  Dividend  distributions  received from the mutual funds are reinvested,
net of any  expenses  payable to IDS Life,  in  additional  shares of the mutual
funds and are recorded as income by the subaccounts on the ex-dividend date.

Unrealized  appreciation  or  depreciation  of investments  in the  accompanying
financial  statements  represents  the  subaccounts'  share of the mutual funds'
undistributed net investment income, undistributed realized gain or loss and the
unrealized appreciation or depreciation on their investment securities.

Federal Income Taxes
IDS Life is taxed as a life insurance company. The Account is treated as part of
IDS Life for federal  income tax  purposes.  Under  existing  tax law, no income
taxes are payable with respect to any income of the Account.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------
3.  Mortality and Expense Risk Fee and Contract Charges

IDS Life makes  contractual  assurances  to the  Account  that  possible  future
adverse  changes in  administrative  expenses and  mortality  experience  of the
annuitants  and  beneficiaries  will not affect the Account.  The  mortality and
expense risk fee paid to IDS Life is computed  daily and is equal,  on an annual
basis, to 1.25 percent of the average daily net assets of the subaccounts.

An annual  charge of $30 is deducted  from the contract  value of each  Flexible
Portfolio Annuity contract. The annual charges are deducted at contract year end
during the  accumulation  period for  administrative  services  provided  to the
Account by IDS Life.  The deduction  will be allocated to the  subaccounts  on a
pro-rata  basis.  If the contract  value or total  purchase  payments  (less any
payments surrendered) equals or exceeds $25,000 on the contract anniversary, the
charge will be waived.  The charge  cannot be increased and does not apply after
annuity payouts begin.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Surrender Charges

There are surrender charges for all purchase payments surrendered in the first
eight contract years. Charges by IDS Life for surrenders are not available on an
individual  segregated  asset account basis.  Charges for all  segregated  asset
accounts amounted to $11,956,753 in 1996. Such charges are not an expense of the
subaccounts or the Account.  They are deducted from contract  surrender benefits
paid by IDS Life.



<PAGE>


- -------------------------------------------------------------------
5.  Investment Transactions

The subaccounts' purchases of mutual fund shares (net of charges), including
reinvestment of dividend distributions, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         Period from
                                                       March 5, 1996
                                                    (commencement of
                                                      operations) to
Subaccount   Investment                                Dec. 31, 1996
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                  <C>           
 HC       IDS Life Capital Resource Fund..........   $   83,286,499
 HI       IDS Life International Equity Fund......       55,760,553
 HA       IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund.........       64,865,549
 HS       IDS Life Special Income Fund............       90,904,965
 HM       IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc...........      124,065,078
 HD       IDS Life Managed Fund, Inc..............       56,795,469
 HG       IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund.........       97,269,819*
 HY       IDS Life Global Yield Fund..............       22,036,116*
 HV       IDS Life Income Advantage Fund..........       57,076,025*
 HW       AIM V.I. Growth and Income Fund.........       77,304,871
 HN       Putnam VT New Opportunities Fund........      125,826,872
 HP       American Century VP Value...............       20,403,403*
 HK       Templeton Developing Markets Fund.......       70,920,700
 HT       Warburg Pincus Trust/Small Company
            Growth Portfolio......................       66,939,357
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     $1,013,455,276
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
*For the period May 1, 1996 (commencement of operations) to
Dec. 31, 1996.
</TABLE>

- -------------------------------------------------------------------
6.  Annuity Contracts in Payment Period

Net assets and annuity units relating to contracts in the payment
period as of Dec. 31, 1996, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Net assets applicable
                  to contracts in         Annuity units in
Subaccount         payment period           payment period
- ----------------------------------------------------------
    <S>            <C>                          <C>  
    HC             $310,359                     3,791
    HI              120,730                     1,848
    HA              148,578                     1,477
    HS              106,586                     3,152
    HM                   --                        --
    HD              236,681                       713
    HG              413,703                     1,411
    HY               14,336                        47
    HV              100,590                     1,748
    HW               82,681                     1,415
    HN              153,482                     1,040
    HP               14,716                       144
    HK               84,431                       739
    HT               68,492                       494
- -----------------------------------------------------
                 $1,855,365
- -----------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>



<PAGE>

                           IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


                                                        Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,
ASSETS                                                    1996           1995
- ------                                                    ----        ---------
                                                             (thousands)

Investments:
Fixed maturities:
Held to maturity, at amortized cost (Fair value:
1996, $10,521,650; 1995, $11,878,377) ..............   $10,236,379   $11,257,591
Available for sale, at fair value (Amortized cost:
1996, $11,008,622; 1995, $10,146,136) ..............    11,146,845    10,516,212
Mortgage loans on real estate ......................     3,493,364     2,945,495
Policy loans .......................................       459,902       424,019
Other investments ..................................       251,465       146,894

Total investments ..................................    25,587,955    25,290,211

Cash and cash equivalents ..........................       224,603        72,147
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers ................       157,722       114,387
Amounts due from brokers ...........................        11,047            --
Other accounts receivable ..........................        44,089        39,108
Accrued investment income ..........................       343,313       348,008
Deferred policy acquisition costs ..................     2,330,805     2,025,725
Deferred income taxes ..............................        33,923            --
Other assets .......................................        37,364        36,410
Separate account assets ............................    18,535,160    14,974,082

Total assets .......................................   $47,305,981   $42,900,078
                                                       ===========   ===========

<PAGE>

                           IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)


                                                       Dec. 31,        Dec. 31
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY                    1996             1995
- ------------------------------------                    ----             ----
                                                             (thousands)


Liabilities:
Future policy benefits:
Fixed annuities ....................................   $21,838,008   $21,404,836
Universal life-type insurance ......................     3,177,149     3,076,847
Traditional life insurance .........................       209,685       209,249
Disability income and long-term care insurance .....       424,200       327,157

Policy claims and other
policyholders' funds ...............................        83,634        56,323
Deferred income taxes ..............................          --         112,904
Amounts due to brokers .............................       261,987       121,618
Other liabilities ..................................       332,078       285,354
Separate account liabilities .......................    18,535,160    14,974,082

Total liabilities ..................................    44,861,901    40,568,370

Stockholder's equity:
Capital stock, $30 par value per share;
100,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding ..         3,000         3,000
Additional paid-in capital .........................       283,615       278,814
Net unrealized gain on investments .................        86,102       230,129
Retained earnings ..................................     2,071,363     1,819,765

Total stockholder's equity .........................     2,444,080     2,331,708

Total liabilities and stockholder's equity .........   $47,305,981   $42,900,078
                                                       ===========   ===========

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>

                                              IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                   Years ended Dec. 31,
                                                       1996               1995                1994
                                                       ----               ----                ----
                                                                      (thousands)
<S>                                               <C>                 <C>                 <C>
Revenues:
Premiums:
Traditional life insurance                        $    51,403         $   50,193          $   48,184
Disability income and long-term care insurance        131,518            111,337              96,456

Total premiums                                        182,921            161,530             144,640

Policyholder and contractholder charges               302,999            256,454             219,936
Management and other fees                             271,342            215,581             164,169
Net investment income                               1,965,362          1,907,309           1,781,873
Net realized loss on investments                         (159)            (4,898)             (4,282)

Total revenues                                      2,722,465          2,535,976           2,306,336

Benefits and expenses:
Death and other benefits:
Traditional life insurance                             26,919             29,528              28,263
Universal life-type insurance
and investment contracts                               85,017             71,691              52,027
Disability income and
long-term care insurance                               19,185             16,259              13,393

Increase (decrease) in liabilities for future policy benefits:
Traditional life insurance                              1,859             (1,315)             (3,229)
Disability income and
long-term care insurance                               57,230             51,279              37,912

Interest credited on universal life-type
insurance and investment contracts                  1,370,468          1,315,989           1,174,985
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs     278,605            280,121             280,372
Other insurance and operating expenses                261,468            211,642             210,101

Total benefits and expenses                         2,100,751          1,975,194           1,793,824

Income before income taxes                            621,714            560,782             512,512

Income taxes                                         207,138            195,842             176,343

Net income                                         $  414,576         $  364,940          $  336,169
                                                   ==========         ==========          ==========
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
                                             Three years ended Dec. 31, 1996
                                                       (thousands)

                                                            Additional    Net Unrealized
                                              Capital           Paid-In     Gain (Loss) on     Retained
                                               Stock            Capital       Investments      Earnings            Total
                                               -----            -------       -----------      --------            -----
<S>                                           <C>            <C>           <C>               <C>              <C>
Balance, Dec. 31, 1993                         $3,000         $ 222,000     $      114        $1,468,230       $1,693,344
Initial adoption of SFAS No. 115                   --                --        181,269                --          181,269
Net income                                         --                --             --           336,169          336,169
Change in net unrealized
gain (loss) on  investments                        --                --       (457,091)               --         (457,091)
Cash dividends                                     --                --             --          (165,000)        (165,000)

Balance, Dec. 31, 1994                          3,000           222,000       (275,708)        1,639,399        1,588,691
Net income                                         --                --             --           364,940          364,940
Change in net unrealized
gain (loss) on investments                         --                --        505,837                --          505,837
Capital contribution from parent                   --            56,814             --                --           56,814
Loss on reinsurance transaction
with affiliate                                     --                --             --            (4,574)          (4,574)
Cash dividends                                     --                --             --          (180,000)        (180,000)

Balance, Dec. 31, 1995                          3,000           278,814        230,129         1,819,765        2,331,708
Net income                                         --                --             --           414,576          414,576
Change in net unrealized
gain (loss) on investments                         --                --       (144,027)               --         (144,027)
Capital contribution from parent                   --             4,801             --                --            4,801
Other changes                                      --                --             --             2,022            2,022
Cash dividends                                     --                --             --          (165,000)        (165,000)

Balance, Dec. 31, 1996                         $3,000          $283,615       $ 86,102        $2,071,363       $2,444,080
                                                =====           =======         ======          ========         ========
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                              CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                                                       Years ended Dec. 31,
                                                            1996               1995                1994
                                                            ----               ----                ----
                                                                            (thousands)
<S>                                                      <C>                <C>                 <C>      
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income                                               $ 414,576          $ 364,940           $ 336,169
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash (used in) provided by operating activities:
Policy loan issuance, excluding universal
life-type insurance                                        (49,314)           (46,011)            (37,110)
Policy loan repayment, excluding universal
life-type insurance                                         41,179             36,416              33,384
Change in amounts recoverable from reinsurers              (43,335)           (34,083)            (25,006)
Change in other accounts receivable                         (4,981)            12,231             (28,551)
Change in accrued investment income                          4,695            (30,498)            (10,333)
Change in deferred policy acquisition
costs, net                                                (294,755)          (196,963)           (192,768)
Change in liabilities for future policy
benefits for traditional life,
disability income and
long-term care insurance                                    97,479             85,575              55,354
Change in policy claims and other
policyholders' funds                                        27,311              6,255               5,552
Change in deferred income taxes                            (65,609)           (33,810)            (19,176)
Change in other liabilities                                 46,724             (6,548)               (122)
(Accretion of discount)
amortization of premium, net                               (23,032)           (22,528)             30,921
Net realized loss on investments                               159              4,898               4,282
Policyholder and contractholder
charges, non-cash                                         (154,286)          (140,506)           (126,918)
Other, net                                                 (10,816)             3,849              (8,709)

Net cash (used in) provided by operating
activities                                               $ (14,005)         $   3,217           $  16,969
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)


                                                                         Years ended Dec. 31,
                                                            1996               1995                1994
                                                                            (thousands)
<S>                                                   <C>                <C>                   <C>
Cash flows from investing activities:
Fixed maturities held to maturity:
Purchases                                             $    (43,751)      $ (1,007,208)         $ (879,740)
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls                759,248            538,219           1,651,762
Sales                                                      279,506            332,154              58,001
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Purchases                                               (2,299,198)        (2,452,181)         (2,763,278)
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls              1,270,240            861,545           1,234,401
Sales                                                      238,905            136,825             374,564
Other investments, excluding policy loans:
Purchases                                                 (904,536)          (823,131)           (634,807)
Sales                                                      236,912            160,521             243,862
Change in amounts due from brokers                         (11,047)             7,933              (2,214)
Change in amounts due to brokers                           140,369           (105,119)           (124,749)

Net cash used in investing activities                     (333,352)        (2,350,442)           (842,198)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Activity related to universal life-type insurance
and investment contracts:
Considerations received                                  3,567,586          4,189,525           3,566,814
Surrenders and death benefits                           (4,250,294)        (3,141,404)         (3,602,392)
Interest credited to account balances                    1,370,468          1,315,989           1,174,985
Universal life-type insurance policy loans:
Issuance                                                   (86,501)           (84,700)            (78,239)
Repayment                                                   58,753             52,188              50,554
Capital contribution from parent                             4,801                 --                  --
Cash dividends to parent                                  (165,000)          (180,000)           (165,000)

Net cash provided by financing activities                  499,813          2,151,598             946,722

Net increase (decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents                                           152,456           (195,627)            121,493

Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of year                                           72,147            267,774             146,281

Cash and cash equivalents at
end of year                                          $     224,603        $    72,147         $   267,774
                                                         =========           ========            ========
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>


                           IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                  ($ thousands)

1. Summary of significant accounting policies

   Nature of business

   IDS Life Insurance  Company (the Company) is a stock life  insurance  company
   organized  under the laws of the State of Minnesota.  The Company is a wholly
   owned subsidiary of American Express Financial Corporation, which is a wholly
   owned subsidiary of American Express Company. The Company serves residents of
   all  states  except  New York.  IDS Life  Insurance  Company of New York is a
   wholly owned  subsidiary of the Company and serves New York State  residents.
   The Company also wholly owns  American  Enterprise  Life  Insurance  Company,
   American  Centurion Life Assurance Company (ACLAC) and American Partners Life
   Insurance Company.

   The Company's  principal  products are deferred  annuities and universal life
   insurance,  which are  issued  primarily  to  individuals.  It offers  single
   premium and flexible premium deferred  annuities on both a fixed and variable
   dollar  basis.  Immediate  annuities  are  offered  as  well.  The  Company's
   insurance  products include universal life (fixed and variable),  whole life,
   single  premium  life and term  products  (including  waiver of  premium  and
   accidental death benefits).  The Company also markets  disability  income and
   long-term care insurance.

   Basis of presentation

   The accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements include the accounts of
   the Company and its wholly  owned  subsidiaries.  All  material  intercompany
   accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

   The  accompanying  consolidated  financial  statements  have been prepared in
   conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  which  vary in
   certain  respects from reporting  practices  prescribed or permitted by state
   insurance regulatory authorities.

   The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
   accounting  principles  requires management to make estimates and assumptions
   that affect the reported  amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of
   contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and
   the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period.
   Actual results could differ from those estimates.

   Investments

   Fixed  maturities  that the  Company  has both the  positive  intent  and the
   ability to hold to maturity are classified as held to maturity and carried at
   amortized  cost.  All  other  fixed  maturities  and  all  marketable  equity
   securities  are  classified  as available for sale and carried at fair value.
   Unrealized  gains and losses on  securities  classified as available for sale
   are carried as a separate component of stockholder's  equity, net of deferred
   taxes.

   Realized investment gain or loss is determined on an identified cost basis.

   Prepayments  are  anticipated  on  certain   investments  in  mortgage-backed
   securities  in  determining  the constant  effective  yield used to recognize
   interest income.  Prepayment estimates are based on information received from
   brokers who deal in mortgage-backed securities.

   Mortgage loans on real estate are carried at amortized cost less reserves for
   mortgage  loan losses.  The  estimated  fair value of the  mortgage  loans is
   determined by a discounted  cash flow analysis using mortgage  interest rates
   currently offered for mortgages of similar maturities.

   Impairment of mortgage loans is measured as the excess of the loan's recorded
   investment over its present value of expected principal and interest payments
   discounted  at the  loan's  effective  interest  rate,  or the fair  value of
   collateral.  The  amount of the  impairment  is  recorded  in a  reserve  for
   mortgage loan losses.  The reserve for mortgage loans losses is maintained at
   a level that management  believes is adequate to absorb  estimated  losses in
   the  portfolio.  The level of the  reserve  account  is  determined  based on
   several factors,  including historical experience,  expected future principal
   and  interest  payments,   estimated   collateral  values,  and  current  and
   anticipated economic and political conditions. Management regularly evaluates
   the adequacy of the reserve for mortgage loan losses.

   The Company  generally  stops  accruing  interest on mortgage loans for which
   interest   payments  are  delinquent   more  than  three  months.   Based  on
   management's  judgement  as to  the  ultimate  collectibility  of  principal,
   interest  payments received are either recognized as income or applied to the
   recorded investment in the loan.

   The cost of interest rate caps and floors is amortized to  investment  income
   over the life of the  contracts  and  payments  received as a result of these
   agreements  are recorded as investment  income when  realized.  The amortized
   cost of  interest  rate caps and  floors is  included  in other  investments.
   Amounts paid or received under  interest rate swap  agreements are recognized
   as an adjustment to investment income.

   Policy loans are carried at the aggregate of the unpaid loan  balances  which
   do not exceed the cash surrender values of the related policies.

   When  evidence  indicates a decline,  which is other than  temporary,  in the
   underlying value or earning power of individual investments, such investments
   are written down to the fair value by a charge to income.

   Statements of cash flows

   The  Company  considers  investments  with a  maturity  at the  date of their
   acquisition of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  These securities
   are carried principally at amortized cost which approximates fair value.

   Supplementary information to the consolidated statements of cash flows
   for the years ended Dec. 31 is summarized as follows:

                                         1996         1995          1994
                                      ---------      --------      -----
     Cash paid during the year for:
       Income taxes                    $317,283     $191,011     $226,365
       Interest on borrowings             4,119        5,524        1,553

   Recognition of profits on annuity contracts and insurance policies

   Profits on fixed  deferred  annuities are  recognized by the Company over the
   lives  of  the  contracts,  using  primarily  the  interest  method.  Profits
   represent the excess of investment  income earned from investment of contract
   considerations over interest credited to contract owners and other expenses.

   The  retrospective  deposit  method  is  used  in  accounting  for  universal
   life-type  insurance.  This method  recognizes  profits over the lives of the
   policies  in  proportion  to  the  estimated  gross  profits  expected  to be
   realized.

   Premiums on traditional life,  disability income and long-term care insurance
   policies  are  recognized  as revenue  when due,  and  related  benefits  and
   expenses  are  associated  with  premium  revenue in a manner that results in
   recognition  of  profits  over the  lives  of the  insurance  policies.  This
   association  is  accomplished  by means of the  provision  for future  policy
   benefits and the deferral and subsequent  amortization of policy  acquisition
   costs.

   Policyholder and contractholder charges include the monthly cost of insurance
   charges and issue and  administrative  fees.  These  charges also include the
   minimum  death  benefit  guarantee  fees  received  from  the  variable  life
   insurance  separate  accounts.  Management and other fees include  investment
   management fees and mortality and expense risk fees from the variable annuity
   and variable life insurance separate accounts and underlying funds.

   Deferred policy acquisition costs

   The costs of acquiring new business,  principally sales compensation,  policy
   issue costs,  underwriting and certain sales expenses,  have been deferred on
   insurance  and annuity  contracts.  The deferred  acquisition  costs for most
   single premium deferred annuities and installment  annuities are amortized in
   relation  to  surrender  charge  revenue  and a  portion  of  the  excess  of
   investment income earned from investment of the contract  considerations over
   the interest credited to contract owners.  The costs for universal  life-type
   insurance and certain installment  annuities are amortized as a percentage of
   the  estimated  gross profits  expected to be realized on the  policies.  For
   traditional life,  disability  income and long-term care insurance  policies,
   the costs are amortized over an  appropriate  period in proportion to premium
   revenue.

   Liabilities for future policy benefits

   Liabilities  for  universal  life-type  insurance,  single  premium  deferred
   annuities and installment annuities are accumulation values.

   Liabilities  for  fixed  annuities  in a  benefit  status  are  based  on the
   Progressive  Annuity  Table with interest at 5 percent,  the 1971  Individual
   Annuity Table with interest at 7 percent or 8.25 percent,  or the 1983a Table
   with  various  interest  rates  ranging  from  5.5  percent  to 9.5  percent,
   depending on year of issue.

   Liabilities  for future  benefits on traditional  life insurance are based on
   the net level  premium  method and  anticipated  rates of  mortality,  policy
   persistency  and interest  earnings.  Anticipated  mortality  rates generally
   approximate the 1955-1960 Select and Ultimate Basic Table for policies issued
   prior to 1980,  the  1965-1970  Select and Ultimate  Basic Table for policies
   issued from  1981-1984 and the 1975-1980  Select and Ultimate Basic Table for
   policies  issued after 1984.  Anticipated  policy  persistency  rates vary by
   policy form,  issue age and policy  duration with  persistency  on cash value
   plans generally  anticipated to be better than  persistency on term insurance
   plans.  Anticipated  interest  rates are 4% for policies  issued before 1974,
   5.25% for policies issued from 1974-1980,  and range from 10% to 6% depending
   on policy form,  issue year and policy  duration  for  policies  issued after
   1980.

   Liabilities for future  disability income policy benefits include both policy
   reserves  and  claim  reserves.  Policy  reserves  are based on the net level
   premium  method  and  anticipated  rates  of  morbidity,   mortality,  policy
   persistency and interest earnings.  Anticipated  morbidity rates are based on
   the 1964  Commissioners  Disability Table for policies issued before 1996 and
   the 1985 CIDA table for policies issued in 1996.  Anticipated mortality rates
   are based on the 1958  Commissioners  Standard  Ordinary  Table for  policies
   issued before 1996 and the 1975-1980 Basic Table for policies issued in 1996.
   Anticipated policy  persistency rates vary by policy form,  occupation class,
   issue age and policy duration. Anticipated interest rates are 3% for policies
   issued  before  1996 and grade from 7.5% to 5% over five  years for  policies
   issued in 1996.  Claim  reserves are  calculated on the basis of  anticipated
   rates  of  claim  continuance  and  interest   earnings.   Anticipated  claim
   continuance  rates are based on the 1964  Commissioners  Disability Table for
   claims incurred before 1993 and the 1985 CIDA Table for claims incurred after
   1992. Anticipated interest rates are 8% for claims incurred prior to 1992, 7%
   for claims incurred in 1992 and 6% for claims incurred after 1992.

   Liabilities  for future  long-term care policy  benefits  include both policy
   reserves  and  claim  reserves.  Policy  reserves  are based on the net level
   premium  method  and  anticipated  rates  of  morbidity,   mortality,  policy
   persistency and interest earnings.  Anticipated  morbidity rates are based on
   the 1985 National Nursing Home Survey.  Anticipated mortality rates are based
   on the 1983a Table. Anticipated policy persistency rates vary by policy form,
   issue age and policy duration. Anticipated interest rates are 9.5% grading to
   7% over 10 years for policies  issued from  1989-1992 and 7.75% grading to 7%
   over 4 years for policies issued after 1992. Claim reserves are calculated on
   the basis of anticipated  rates of claim  continuance and interest  earnings.
   Anticipated  claim  continuance  rates are based on the 1985 National Nursing
   Home Survey.  Anticipated  interest rates are 8% for claims incurred prior to
   1992, 7% claims incurred in 1992 and 6% for claims incurred after 1992.

   Reinsurance

   The maximum  amount of life insurance risk retained by the Company on any one
   life is $750 of life and waiver of premium  benefits  plus $50 of  accidental
   death benefits.  The maximum amount of disability income risk retained by the
   Company on any one life is $6 of monthly  benefit for benefit  periods longer
   than three  years.  The  excesses  are  reinsured  with other life  insurance
   companies on a yearly  renewable  term basis.  Graded  premium whole life and
   long-term care policies are primarily reinsured on a coinsurance basis.

   Federal income taxes

   The Company's  taxable income is included in the consolidated  federal income
   tax return of American Express Company. The Company provides for income taxes
   on a separate return basis,  except that, under an agreement between American
   Express  Financial  Corporation and American Express Company,  tax benefit is
   recognized for losses to the extent they can be used on the  consolidated tax
   return.  It is the  policy  of  American  Express  Financial  Corporation  to
   reimburse subsidiaries for all tax benefits.

   Included  in other  liabilities  at Dec.  31,  1996 and 1995 are  $33,358 and
   ($13,415),  respectively,   receivable  from/(payable  to)  American  Express
   Financial Corporation for federal income taxes.

   Separate account business

   The separate  account  assets and  liabilities  represent  funds held for the
   exclusive  benefit  of the  variable  annuity  and  variable  life  insurance
   contract owners.

   The Company makes  contractual  mortality  assurances to the variable annuity
   contract  owners  that the net assets of the  separate  accounts  will not be
   affected by future variations in the actual life expectancy experience of the
   annuitants and the beneficiaries from the mortality  assumptions  implicit in
   the annuity  contracts.  The Company  makes  periodic  fund  transfers to, or
   withdrawals  from, the separate  accounts for such actuarial  adjustments for
   variable  annuities that are in the benefit payment period. For variable life
   insurance,  the Company  guarantees that the rates at which insurance charges
   and  administrative  fees are deducted  from  contract  funds will not exceed
   contractual maximums. The Company also guarantees that the death benefit will
   continue payable at the initial level regardless of investment performance so
   long as minimum premium payments are made.

   Accounting changes

   The Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board's (FASB) Statement  of  Financial
   Accounting  Standards (SFAS)  No. 121,  "Accounting  for  the  Impairment  of
   Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of," was effective
   Jan. 1, 1996.  The new rule did not have a material  impact on the  Company's
   results of operations or financial condition.  The Company adopted SFAS No.
   115, "Accounting for Certain  Investments in Debt and Equity Securities." The
   effect of  adopting the  new rule was to  increase  stockholder's  equity by
   $181,269,  net of tax, as of Jan. 1, 1994,  but the adoption had no impact on
   the Company's net income.

   Reclassification

   Certain 1995 and 1994 amounts have been  reclassified  to conform to the 1996
   presentation.

2. Investments

   Fair values of investments in fixed maturities represent quoted market prices
   and estimated  values when quoted prices are not available.  Estimated values
   are  determined  by  established  procedures  involving,  among other things,
   review of market  indices,  price levels of current  offerings of  comparable
   issues,  price  estimates  and  market  data  from  independent  brokers  and
   financial files.

   Net realized gain (loss) on investments for the years ended Dec. 31 is
   summarized as follows:

                                          1996           1995            1994
                                       --------        --------        --------

   Fixed maturities ............       $  8,736        $  9,973        $ (1,575)
   Mortgage loans ..............         (8,745)        (13,259)         (3,013)
   Other investments ...........           (150)         (1,612)            306
                                       --------        --------        --------
                                       $   (159)       $ (4,898)       $ (4,282)
                                       ========        ========        ========

   <PAGE>
   Changes in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments for the
   years ended Dec. 31 are summarized as follows:

                                         1996          1995            1994
                                     ----------    ------------     -----------
   Fixed maturities:
      Held to maturity .......     $  (335,515)     $ 1,195,847     $(1,329,740)
      Available for sale .....        (231,853)         811,649        (720,449)
   Equity securities .........             (52)           3,118          (2,917)

   The  amortized  cost,  gross  unrealized  gains and losses and fair values of
   investments in fixed maturities and equity securities at Dec. 31, 1996 are as
   follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    Gross       Gross
                                        Amortized  Unrealized  Unrealized   Fair
   Held to maturity                         Cost      Gains     Losses      Value
   ----------------                         ----      -----     ------      -----
<S>                                      <C>         <C>      <C>          <C>
   U.S. Government agency obligations    $ 44,002    $   933  $  1,276     $ 43,659
   State and municipal obligations          9,685        412        --       10,097
   Corporate bonds and obligations      8,057,997    356,687    47,639    8,367,045
   Mortgage-backed securities           2,124,695     21,577    45,423    2,100,849
                                     ------------  ---------   ------- ------------
                                      $10,236,379   $379,609   $94,338  $10,521,650
                                      ===========   ========   =======  ===========

                                                      Gross       Gross
                                       Amortized  Unrealized  Unrealized       Fair
   Available for sale                       Cost      Gains      Losses        Value
   ------------------                       ----      -----      ------        -----
   U.S. Government agency obligations $    77,944   $  2,607   $     96  $    80,455
   State and municipal obligations         11,032      1,336         --       12,368
   Corporate bonds and obligations      3,701,604    122,559     24,788    3,799,375
   Mortgage-backed securities           7,218,042    104,808     68,203    7,254,647
                                       ----------   --------     ------  -----------
   Total fixed maturities              11,008,622    231,310     93,087   11,146,845
   Equity securities                        3,000        308         --        3,308
                                      -----------   --------    -------  -----------
                                      $11,011,622   $231,618    $93,087  $11,150,153
                                      ===========   ========    =======  ===========
</TABLE>

   The  amortized  cost,  gross  unrealized  gains and losses and fair values of
   investments in fixed maturities and equity securities at Dec. 31, 1995 are as
   follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                       Gross         Gross
                                          Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized     Fair
   Held to maturity                           Cost      Gains       Losses        Value

<S>                                     <C>           <C>          <C>       <C>
   U.S. Government agency obligations   $    64,523   $  3,919     $    --   $    68,442
   State and municipal obligations           11,936        362          32        12,266
   Corporate bonds and obligations        8,921,431    620,327      36,786     9,504,972
   Mortgage-backed securities             2,259,701     42,684       9,688     2,292,697
                                        -----------  ---------     -------   -----------
                                        $11,257,591   $667,292     $46,506   $11,878,377
                                        ===========   ========     =======   ===========

                                                        Gross        Gross
                                          Amortized   Unrealized   Unrealized     Fair
   Available for sale                        Cost       Gains       Losses        Value

   U.S. Government agency obligations   $    84,082  $   3,248    $     50   $    87,280
   State and municipal obligations           11,020      1,476          --        12,496
   Corporate bonds and obligations        2,514,308    186,596       3,451     2,697,453
   Mortgage-backed securities             7,536,726    206,288      24,031     7,718,983
                                         ----------   --------     -------    ----------
   Total fixed maturities                10,146,136    397,608      27,532    10,516,212
   Equity securities                          3,156        361          --         3,517
                                         ----------   --------     -------    ----------
                                        $10,149,292   $397,969     $27,532   $10,519,729
                                        ===========   ========     =======   ===========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
   The amortized cost and fair value of investments in fixed  maturities at Dec.
   31, 1996 by contractual  maturity are shown below.  Expected  maturities will
   differ from contractual  maturities  because  borrowers may have the right to
   call or prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties.

                                           Amortized             Fair
   Held to maturity                           Cost               Value

   Due in one year or less               $    197,711       $    200,134
   Due from one to five years               2,183,374          2,294,335
   Due from five to ten years               4,606,775          4,779,690
   Due in more than ten years               1,123,824          1,146,642
   Mortgage-backed securities               2,124,695          2,100,849
                                         ------------       ------------
                                          $10,236,379        $10,521,650

                                            Amortized             Fair
   Available for sale                         Cost                Value

   Due in one year or less               $    227,051       $    229,650
   Due from one to five years                 851,428            899,098
   Due from five to ten years               2,140,579          2,182,079
   Due in more than ten years                 571,522            581,371
   Mortgage-backed securities               7,218,042          7,254,647
                                         ------------       ------------
                                          $11,008,622        $11,146,845

   During  the years  ended  Dec.  31,  1996,  1995 and 1994,  fixed  maturities
   classified  as held to maturity  were sold with  amortized  cost of $277,527,
   $333,508 and $61,290,  respectively. Net gains and losses on these sales were
   not  significant.  The sale of these fixed  maturities was due to significant
   deterioration in the issuers' creditworthiness.

   As a result of adopting the FASB Special Report,  "A Guide to  Implementation
   of Statement 115 on  Accounting  for Certain  Investments  in Debt and Equity
   Securities," the Company reclassified securities with a book value of $91,760
   and net unrealized  gains of $881 from held to maturity to available for sale
   in December 1995.

   In addition,  fixed maturities  available for sale were sold during 1996 with
   proceeds of $238,905 and gross realized gains and losses of $571 and $16,084,
   respectively.  Fixed maturities available for sale were sold during 1995 with
   proceeds of $136,825 and gross  realized gains and losses of $nil and $5,781,
   respectively.  Fixed maturities available for sale were sold during 1994 with
   proceeds  of  $374,564  and gross  realized  gains and  losses of $1,861  and
   $7,602, respectively.

   At Dec. 31, 1996, bonds carried at $13,571 were on deposit with various
   states as required by law.
<PAGE>

   Net investment income for the years ended Dec. 31 is summarized as follows:

                                         1996            1995           1994
                                        ---------       -------        -----

   Interest on fixed maturities       $1,666,929      $1,656,136    $1,556,756
   Interest on mortgage loans            283,830         232,827       196,521
   Other investment income                43,283          35,936        38,366
   Interest on cash equivalents            5,754           5,363         6,872
                                   -------------         -------   -----------
                                       1,999,796       1,930,262     1,798,515
   Less investment expenses               34,434          22,953        16,642
                                    ------------       ---------    ----------
                                      $1,965,362      $1,907,309    $1,781,873
                                      ==========      ==========    ==========

   At Dec. 31, 1996, investments in fixed maturities comprised 84 percent of the
   Company's total invested  assets.  These  securities are rated by Moody's and
   Standard & Poor's (S&P),  except for securities carried at approximately $1.9
   billion which are rated by American Express  Financial  Corporation  internal
   analysts using criteria  similar to Moody's and S&P. A summary of investments
   in fixed maturities, at amortized cost, by rating on Dec. 31 is as follows:

     Rating                              1996               1995
     ------                          -----------         -----------
     Aaa/AAA ....................... $ 9,460,134         $ 9,907,664
     Aaa/AA ........................       2,870               3,112
     Aa/AA .........................     241,914             279,403
     Aa/A ..........................     192,631             154,846
     A/A ...........................   2,949,895           3,104,122
     A/BBB .........................   1,034,661             871,782
     Baa/BBB .......................   4,531,515           4,417,654
     Baa/BB ........................     768,285             657,633
     Below investment grade ........   2,063,096           2,007,511
                                     -----------         -----------
                                     $21,245,001         $21,403,727

   At Dec. 31, 1996, 95 percent of the securities rated Aaa/AAA are GNMA, FNMA
   and FHLMC mortgage-backed securities.  No holdings of any other issuer are
   greater than 1 percent of the Company's  total investments in fixed
   maturities.
<PAGE>

   At Dec. 31, 1996, approximately 13.7 percent of the Company's invested assets
   were mortgage loans on real estate.  Summaries of mortgage loans by region of
   the United States and by type of real estate are as follows:

                                 Dec. 31, 1996               Dec. 31, 1995
                           -------------------------    ------------------------
                           On Balance   Commitments    On Balance   Commitments
     Region                   Sheet     to Purchase       Sheet     to Purchase
   ------------------      -----------   -----------    -----------   ----------
   East North Central      $  777,960      $  19,358     $  720,185    $ 67,206
   West North Central         389,285         29,620        303,113      34,411
   South Atlantic             891,852         35,007        732,529     111,967
   Middle Atlantic            553,869         17,959        508,634      37,079
   New England                310,177         14,042        244,816      40,452
   Pacific                    190,770          4,997        168,272      23,161
   West South Central         105,173         11,246         61,860      27,978
   East South Central          75,176             --         58,462      10,122
   Mountain                   236,597         11,401        184,964      16,774
                           ----------       --------       --------      ------
                            3,530,859        143,630      2,982,835     369,150
   Less allowance for losses   37,495             --         37,340          --
                           ----------       --------        -------         ---
                           $3,493,364       $143,630     $2,945,495    $369,150
                           ==========       ========     ==========    ========

                                   Dec. 31, 1996                Dec. 31, 1995
                           -------------------------    ------------------------
                           On Balance    Commitments    On Balance   Commitments
     Property type             Sheet     to Purchase       Sheet     to Purchase
- -----------------------     ---------      ---------    -----------  -----------
Department/retail stores   $1,154,179      $  68,032    $   985,660    $ 134,538
Apartments                  1,119,352         23,246      1,038,446       84,978
Office buildings              611,395         27,653        464,381       62,664
Industrial buildings          296,944          6,716        255,469       22,721
Hotels/motels                  97,870          6,257         31,335       48,816
Nursing/retirement homes       88,226          1,877         80,864        4,378
Mixed Use                      73,120             --         53,169           --
Medical buildings              67,178          8,289         57,772        2,495
Other                          22,595          1,560         15,739        8,560
                         ------------     ----------      ---------     --------
                            3,530,859        143,630      2,982,835      369,150
Less allowance for losses      37,495             --         37,340           --
                         ------------         ------      ---------       ------
                           $3,493,364       $143,630     $2,945,495     $369,150
                           ==========       ========     ==========     ========
<PAGE>

Mortgage loan fundings are restricted by state insurance regulatory  authorities
to 80  percent  or less of the  market  value of the real  estate at the time of
origination  of the loan. The Company holds the mortgage  document,  which gives
the right to take  possession  of the property if the borrower  fails to perform
according to the terms of the agreement. The fair value of the mortgage loans is
determined by a discounted  cash flow analysis  using  mortgage  interest  rates
currently offered for mortgages of similar  maturities.  Commitments to purchase
mortgages  are made in the ordinary  course of  business.  The fair value of the
mortgage commitments is $nil.

At Dec. 31, 1996 and 1995, the Company's  recorded  investment in impaired loans
was  $79,441 and $83,874  with a reserve of $16,162 and  $19,307,  respectively.
During 1996 and 1995,  the average  recorded  investment  in impaired  loans was
$74,338 and $74,567, respectively.

The Company  recognized $4,889 and $5,014 of interest income related to impaired
loans for the year ended Dec. 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

The  following  table  presents  changes in the  reserve for  investment  losses
related to all loans:

                                            1996              1995
                                         ---------         --------
Balance, Jan. 1 ....................      $ 37,340         $ 35,252
Provision for investment losses ....        10,005           15,900
Loan payoffs .......................        (4,700)         (11,900)
Foreclosures .......................        (5,150)          (1,350)
Other ..............................            --             (562)
                                          --------         --------
Balance, Dec. 31 ...................      $ 37,495         $ 37,340
                                          ========         ========

At Dec. 31, 1996,  the Company had  commitments to purchase  affordable  housing
limited partnership  investments of $28,476, which is recorded as a liability in
the accompanying  balance sheets.  The total amounts  committed in 1997 and 1998
are $25,234 and  $3,242,  respectively.  The  Company  also had  commitments  to
purchase  real estate  investments  for $35,425.  Commitments  to purchase  real
estate  investments are made in the ordinary course of business.  The fair value
of these commitments is $nil.

<PAGE>

3. Income taxes

   The Company  qualifies  as a life  insurance  company for federal  income tax
   purposes.  As such,  the  Company  is subject to the  Internal  Revenue  Code
   provisions applicable to life insurance companies.

   Income tax expense consists of the following:

                                     1996          1995          1994
                                    ------       --------      -------
   Federal income taxes:
         Current                   $260,357      $218,040     $186,508
         Deferred                   (65,609)      (33,810)     (19,175)
                                   --------      --------     --------
                                    194,748       184,230      167,333
   State income taxes-current        12,390        11,612        9,010
                                  ---------       -------       ------
   Income tax expense              $207,138      $195,842     $176,343
                                   ========      ========     ========

   Increases  (decreases)  to the federal  tax  provision  applicable  to pretax
   income based on the statutory rate are attributable to:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        1996                  1995                  1994
                                 -----------------     -----------------     -----------------
                                 Provision    Rate     Provision    Rate     Provision    Rate
<S>                              <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>
        Federal income
          taxes based on
        the statutory rate       $217,600    35.0%      $196,274    35.0%     $179,379    35.0%
        Increases (decreases)
        are attributable to:
        Tax-excluded interest
          and dividend income      (9,636)   (1.6)        (8,524)   (1.5)       (9,939)   (2.0)
        Other, net                (13,216)   (2.1)        (3,520)   (0.6)       (2,107)   (0.4)
                                ---------   -----       --------    ----      --------    ----
        Federal income taxes     $194,748    31.3%      $184,230    32.9%     $167,333    32.6%
                                 ========   =====       ========    ====      ========    ====
</TABLE>

   A portion  of life  insurance  company  income  earned  prior to 1984 was not
   subject to current  taxation  but was  accumulated,  for tax  purposes,  in a
   policyholders'  surplus  account.  At  Dec.  31,  1996,  the  Company  had  a
   policyholders' surplus account balance of $20,114. The policyholders' surplus
   account  is  only  taxable  if  dividends  to  the  stockholder   exceed  the
   stockholder's  surplus  account  or if the  Company is  liquidated.  Deferred
   income taxes of $7,040 have not been established  because no distributions of
   such amounts are contemplated.

<PAGE>

   Significant components of the Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities
   as of Dec. 31  are as follows:

                                           1996            1995
                                          -------         -----
   Deferred tax assets:
   Policy reserves                       $724,412       $600,176
   Life insurance guarantee
      fund assessment reserve              29,854         26,785
   Other                                    2,763             --
                                        ---------        -------
   Total deferred tax assets              757,029        626,961
                                        ---------        -------

   Deferred tax liabilities:
   Deferred policy acquisition costs      665,685        590,762
   Unrealized gain on investments          48,486        129,653
   Investments, other                       8,935         17,152
   Other                                       --          2,298
                                         --------        -------
   Total deferred tax liabilities         723,106        739,865
                                         --------        -------
   Net deferred tax assets (liabilities)$  33,923      $(112,904)
                                        =========      =========

   The Company is required to establish a "valuation  allowance" for any portion
   of the deferred tax assets that management believes will not be realized.  In
   the opinion of  management,  it is more likely than not that the Company will
   realize  the  benefit of the  deferred  tax assets  and,  therefore,  no such
   valuation allowance has been established.

4. Stockholder's equity

   During 1996,  the Company  received a $4,801  capital  contribution  from its
   parent,  American  Express  Financial  Corporation.  During 1995, the Company
   received  a  $39,700  capital  contribution  from its  parent  in the form of
   investments in fixed  maturities and mortgage loans.  In addition,  effective
   Jan. 1, 1995, the Company began consolidating the financial results of ACLAC.
   This  change  reflected  the  transfer of  ownership  of ACLAC from Amex Life
   Assurance  Company (Amex Life), a former  affiliate,  to the Company prior to
   the sale of Amex Life to an  unaffiliated  third party on Oct. 2, 1995.  This
   transfer  of  ownership  to the  Company  has  been  reflected  as a  capital
   contribution of $17,114 in the accompanying financial statements.  The effect
   of this change in reporting entity was not significant and prior periods have
   not been restated.

   As discussed in Note 5, the Company entered into a reinsurance agreement with
   Amex Life during 1995. As a result of this transaction,  a loss of $4,574 was
   realized and reported as a direct charge to retained earnings.

   Other changes in the statements of stockholder's equity are primarily related
   to reinsurance transactions with affiliates.

   Retained  earnings  available for distribution as dividends to the parent are
   limited to the Company's  surplus as determined in accordance with accounting
   practices  prescribed by state insurance  regulatory  authorities.  Statutory
   unassigned surplus  aggregated  $1,261,592 as of Dec. 31, 1996 and $1,103,993
   as of Dec.  31,  1995 (see Note 3 with  respect  to the  income tax effect of
   certain  distributions).  In addition,  any dividend distributions in 1997 in
   excess of approximately  $351,306 would require approval of the Department of
   Commerce of the State of Minnesota.

   Statutory net income for the years ended Dec. 31 and capital and surplus as
   of Dec. 31 are summarized as follows:

                                       1996            1995           1994
                                      ------          ------        ------
   Statutory net income            $ 365,585       $ 326,799       $ 294,699
   Statutory capital and surplus   1,565,082       1,398,649       1,261,958

   Dividends paid to American  Express  Financial  Corporation  were $165,000 in
   1996, $180,000 in 1995, and $165,000 in 1994.

5. Related party transactions

   The Company has loaned funds to American Express Financial  Corporation under
   a collateral loan agreement.  The balance of the loan was $11,800 and $25,800
   at Dec.  31, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  This loan can be  increased  to a
   maximum of $75,000 and pays interest at a rate equal to the preceding month's
   effective  new money  rate for the  Company's  permanent  investments.  It is
   collateralized  by equity  securities  valued at $116,543 at Dec.  31,  1996.
   Interest  income on related party loans  totaled  $780,  $1,371 and $2,894 in
   1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

   The Company  purchased a five year  secured note from an  affiliated  company
   which had an  outstanding  balance of $nil and  $19,444 at Dec.  31, 1996 and
   1995,  respectively.  The note bears a fixed rate of 8.42  percent.  Interest
   income on the above note totaled $1,637,  $1,937 and $2,278 in 1996, 1995 and
   1994, respectively.

   The Company has a reinsurance  agreement  whereby it assumed 100 percent of a
   block of single  premium life  insurance  business  from Amex Life  Assurance
   Company  (Amex  Life),  a former  affiliate.  The  accompanying  consolidated
   balance  sheets at Dec.  31, 1996 and 1995  include  $758,812  and  $764,663,
   respectively, of future policy benefits related to this agreement.

   The Company has a  reinsurance  agreement to cede 50 percent of its long-term
   care insurance business to Amex Life. The accompanying  consolidated  balance
   sheets at Dec. 31, 1996 and 1995 include $134,121 and $95,484,  respectively,
   of reinsurance receivables related to this agreement. Premiums ceded amounted
   to $32,917,  $25,553 and $20,360 and  reinsurance  recovered from  reinsurers
   amounted to $5,135, $4,998 and $3,022 for the years ended Dec. 31, 1996, 1995
   and 1994, respectively.

   The Company has a reinsurance  agreement to assume deferred annuity contracts
   from Amex Life. At Oct. 1, 1995, a $803,618  block of deferred  annuities and
   $28,327 of deferred policy acquisition costs were transferred to the Company.
   The  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheet  at Dec.  31,  1996  includes
   $828,298 of future policy benefits related to this agreement.  Contracts with
   future policy benefits  totaling $50,400 were still reinsured with the former
   affiliate at Dec.  31,  1996.  The  remaining  contracts  had been novated to
   Company contracts.

   Until July 1, 1995, the Company  participated  in the IDS Retirement  Plan of
   American Express Financial  Corporation which covered all permanent employees
   age 21 and over who had met certain employment  requirements.  Effective July
   1, 1995, the IDS Retirement Plan was merged with American  Express  Company's
   American Express Retirement Plan, which simultaneously was amended to include
   a  cash  balance  formula  and  a  lump  sum  distribution  option.  Employer
   contributions  to the plan are based on  participants'  age, years of service
   and total  compensation  for the year.  Funding of retirement  costs for this
   plan complies with the applicable minimum funding  requirements  specified by
   ERISA.  The Company's share of the total net periodic  pension cost was $174,
   $155 and $156 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

   The  Company  also  participates  in defined  contribution  pension  plans of
   American  Express  Company  which  cover all  employees  who have met certain
   employment requirements.  Company contributions to the plans are a percent of
   either each employee's eligible compensation or basic contributions. Costs of
   these plans charged to operations in 1996,  1995 and 1994 were $990, $815 and
   $957, respectively.

   The Company  participates  in defined  benefit  health care plans of American
   Express  Financial  Corporation  that provide  health care and life insurance
   benefits to retired  employees  and  retired  financial  advisors.  The plans
   include   participant   contributions   and   service   related   eligibility
   requirements.  Upon  retirement,  such  employees are considered to have been
   employees  of  American  Express  Financial  Corporation.   American  Express
   Financial  Corporation  expenses these benefits and allocates the expenses to
   its  subsidiaries.  Accordingly,  costs of such  benefits  to the Company are
   included in employee  compensation and benefits and cannot be identified on a
   separate company basis.

   Charges  by  American  Express   Financial   Corporation  for  use  of  joint
   facilities,  marketing  services  and  other  services  aggregated  $397,362,
   $377,139,  and $335,183  for 1996,  1995 and 1994,  respectively.  Certain of
   these costs are included in deferred policy  acquisition  costs. In addition,
   the  Company  rents its home office  space from  American  Express  Financial
   Corporation on an annual renewable basis.

6. Commitments and contingencies

   At Dec. 31, 1996 and 1995, traditional life insurance and universal life-type
   insurance in force aggregated $67,274,354 and $59,683,532,  respectively,  of
   which  $3,875,921 and $3,771,204  were reinsured at the respective year ends.
   The Company also  reinsures a portion of the risks assumed  under  disability
   income  and  long-term  care  policies.  Under  all  reinsurance  agreements,
   premiums  ceded to  reinsurers  amounted to $48,250,  $39,399 and $31,016 and
   reinsurance  recovered  from  reinsurers  amounted to $15,612,  $14,088,  and
   $10,778  for the years  ended  Dec.  31,  1996,  1995 and  1994.  Reinsurance
   contracts  do  not  relieve  the  Company  from  its  primary  obligation  to
   policyholders.

   A number of  lawsuits  have been filed  against  life and health  insurers in
   jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries do business involving
   insurers'  sales  practices,  alleged agent  misconduct,  failure to properly
   supervise agents, and other matters. In December 1996, an action of this type
   was brought against the Company and its parent,  American  Express  Financial
   Corporation.  The plaintiffs  purport to represent a class  consisting of all
   persons who replaced existing Company policies with new Company policies from
   and after Jan. 1, 1985.  The complaint  puts at issue  various  alleged sales
   practices and  misrepresentations,  alleged  breaches of fiduciary duties and
   alleged violations of consumer fraud statutes.  Plaintiffs seek damages in an
   unspecified amount and seek to establish a claims resolution facility for the
   determination of individual  issues.  The Company and its parent believe they
   have meritorious defenses to the claims raised in the lawsuit. The outcome of
   any litigation cannot be predicted with certainty,  particularly in the early
   stages of an action.  In the opinion of  management,  however,  the  ultimate
   resolution of the above  lawsuit and others filed against the Company  should
   not have a material  adverse effect on the Company's  consolidated  financial
   position.

   During 1996, the Company  settled the federal tax audit for 1987 through 1989
   tax years.  There was no material impact as a result of that audit. Also, the
   IRS is  currently  auditing  the  Company's  1990  through  1992  tax  years.
   Management  does not believe  there will be a material  impact as a result of
   this audit.

7. Lines of credit 

   The  Company  has  available  lines of credit with two banks and its parent
   aggregating $175,000, of which $100,000 is with its parent. The lines of
   credit are at 40 to 80 basis  points over the lenders' cost of funds or equal
   to the prime rate,  depending on which line of credit agreement is used.  The
   $25,000 line of credit with one bank expired on Dec. 31, 1996 and the Company
   did not seek renewal. The $50,000 line  of credit with the other bank expires
   on  June 30, 1997  and  the  Company expects  to seek  renewal.  Borrowings
   outstanding under these agreements were $nil at Dec. 31, 1996 and 1995.

8. Derivative financial instruments

   The  Company  enters  into  transactions   involving   derivative   financial
   instruments to manage its exposure to interest rate risk,  including  hedging
   specific  transactions.  The Company does not hold derivative instruments for
   trading purposes. The Company manages risks associated with these instruments
   as described below.

   Market risk is the  possibility  that the value of the  derivative  financial
   instruments  will  change  due to  fluctuations  in a factor  from  which the
   instrument derives its value,  primarily an interest rate. The Company is not
   impacted by market risk related to derivatives held for non-trading  purposes
   beyond  that  inherent  in cash  market  transactions.  Derivatives  held for
   purposes  other than trading are largely used to manage risk and,  therefore,
   the cash flow and  income  effects  of the  derivatives  are  inverse  to the
   effects of the underlying transactions.

   Credit risk is the  possibility  that the  counterparty  will not fulfill the
   terms of the  contract.  The  Company  monitors  credit  exposure  related to
   derivative  financial  instruments through established  approval  procedures,
   including  setting  concentration  limits by counterparty  and industry,  and
   requiring  collateral,  where  appropriate.  A vast majority of the Company's
   counterparties are rated A or better by Moody's and Standard & Poor's.

   Credit  exposure  related to interest rate caps and floors is measured by the
   replacement  cost of the contracts.  The replacement cost represents the fair
   value of the instruments.

   The  notional or contract  amount of a  derivative  financial  instrument  is
   generally used to calculate the cash flows that are received or paid over the
   life of the  agreement.  Notional  amounts  are not  recorded  on the balance
   sheet. Notional amounts far exceed the related credit exposure.

<PAGE>

   The Company's holdings of derivative financial instruments are as follows:

                               Notional    Carrying      Fair      Total Credit
   Dec. 31, 1996                Amount       Value       Value       Exposure
   -------------              ---------     -------     --------   ------------
   Assets:
    Interest rate caps      $ 4,000,000     $16,227     $  7,439      $  7,439
    Interest rate floors      1,000,000       2,041        4,341         4,341
    Interest rate swaps       1,000,000          --      (24,715)           --
                             ----------     -------     --------       -------
                             $6,000,000     $18,268     $(12,935)      $11,780
                             ==========     =======     ========       =======
   Dec. 31, 1995
   Assets:
     Interest rate caps      $5,100,000     $26,680     $  8,366       $ 8,366
                             ==========     =======     ========       =======

   The fair  values  of  derivative  financial  instruments  are based on market
   values,  dealer quotes or pricing  models.  The interest rate caps and floors
   expire on various  dates from 1996 to 2001.  The  interest  rate swaps are in
   effect through 2001.

   Interest  rate  caps,  swaps and floors  are used  principally  to manage the
   Company's  interest  rate risk.  These  instruments  are used to protect  the
   margin between  interest  rates earned on investments  and the interest rates
   credited to related annuity contract holders.

9. Fair values of financial instruments

   The Company  discloses fair value  information  for most on- and  off-balance
   sheet  financial  instruments  for which it is  practicable  to estimate that
   value.  Fair  values  of life  insurance  obligations  and all  non-financial
   instruments,  such as deferred  acquisition  costs are excluded.  Off-balance
   sheet  intangible  assets,  such as the  value of the field  force,  are also
   excluded.  Management  believes the value of excluded  assets is significant.
   The fair value of the Company,  therefore, cannot be estimated by aggregating
   the amounts presented.

                                           1996                        1995
                                          ------                      -----
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                 Carrying         Fair        Carrying         Fair
   Financial Assets               Value           Value         Value         Value
   ----------------               -----           -----         -----         -----
<S>                            <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>        
   Investments:
     Fixed maturities (Note 2):
       Held to maturity        $10,236,379   $10,521,650   $11,257,591   $11,878,377
       Available for sale       11,146,845    11,146,845    10,516,212    10,516,212
     Mortgage loans on
       real estate (Note 2)      3,493,364     3,606,077     2,945,495     3,184,666
     Other:
       Equity securities (Note 2)    3,308         3,308         3,517         3,517
       Derivative financial
         instruments (Note 8)       18,268       (12,935)       26,680         8,366
       Other                        63,993        66,242        52,182        52,182
   Cash and
     cash equivalents (Note 1)     224,603       224,603        72,147        72,147
   Separate account assets
     (Note 1)                   18,535,160    18,535,160    14,974,082    14,974,082

   Financial Liabilities
     Future policy benefits
       for fixed annuities      20,641,986    19,721,968    20,259,265    19,603,114
     Separate account 
         liabilities            17,358,087    16,688,519    14,208,619    13,665,636
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

   At Dec.  31,  1996 and 1995,  the  carrying  amount  and fair value of future
   policy benefits for fixed annuities exclude life insurance-related  contracts
   carried at  $1,112,155  and  $1,070,598,  respectively,  and policy  loans of
   $83,867 and $74,973,  respectively. The fair value of these benefits is based
   on the status of the  annuities at Dec. 31, 1996 and 1995.  The fair value of
   deferred  annuities is estimated as the carrying  amount less any  applicable
   surrender charges and related loans. The fair value for annuities in non-life
   contingent  payout  status is  estimated  as the present  value of  projected
   benefit payments at rates appropriate for contracts issued in 1996 and 1995.

   At Dec. 31, 1996 and 1995, the fair value of liabilities  related to separate
   accounts is estimated as the carrying  amount less any  applicable  surrender
   charges and less  variable  insurance  contracts  carried at  $1,177,073  and
   $765,463, respectively.

10.Segment information

   The Company's operations consist of two business segments;  first, individual
   and group life insurance, disability income and long-term care insurance, and
   second,  annuity  products  designed for  individuals,  pension plans,  small
   businesses  and   employer-sponsored   groups.  The  consolidated   condensed
   statements  of income for the years ended Dec.  31,  1996,  1995 and 1994 and
   total  assets at Dec. 31, 1996,  1995 and 1994 by segment are  summarized  as
   follows:

                                          1996           1995            1994
                                         ------         ------          -----
   Net investment income:
   Life, disability income
     and long-term care insurance   $    262,998   $    256,242   $     247,047
   Annuities                           1,702,364      1,651,067       1,534,826
                                     -----------    -----------    ------------
                                     $ 1,965,362    $ 1,907,309    $  1,781,873
                                     ===========    ===========    ============
   Premiums, charges and fees:
   Life, disability income
     and long-term care insurance   $    448,389   $    384,008   $     335,375
   Annuities                             308,873        249,557         193,370
                                    ------------   ------------   -------------
                                    $    757,262   $    633,565   $     528,745
                                    ============   ============   =============
   Income before income taxes:
   Life, disability income
     and long-term care insurance   $    161,115   $    125,402   $     122,677
   Annuities                             460,758        440,278         394,117
   Net loss on investments                  (159)        (4,898)         (4,282)
                                   -------------  -------------  --------------
                                    $    621,714   $    560,782   $     512,512
                                    ============   ============   =============
   Total assets:
   Life, disability income
     and long-term care insurance   $  7,028,906   $  6,195,870    $  5,269,188
   Annuities                          40,277,075     36,704,208      30,478,355
                                     -----------    -----------     -----------
                                     $47,305,981    $42,900,078     $35,747,543
                                     ===========    ===========     ===========

   Allocations of net investment  income and certain general  expenses are based
   on various assumptions and estimates.

   Assets are not  individually  identifiable by segment and have been allocated
   principally based on the amount of future policy benefits by segment.

   Capital  expenditures  and  depreciation   expense  are  not  material,   and
   consequently, are not reported.

<PAGE>

Report of Independent Auditors


The Board of Directors
IDS Life Insurance Company

We have  audited  the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets  of IDS  Life
Insurance  Company (a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of American  Express  Financial
Corporation)  as of  December  31, 1996 and 1995,  and the related  consolidated
statements of income,  stockholder's equity and cash flows for each of the three
years in the period ended December 31, 1996. These financial  statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  generally   accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the consolidated financial position of IDS Life Insurance
Company at  December  31,  1996 and 1995,  and the  consolidated  results of its
operations  and its cash flows for each of the three  years in the period  ended
December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note 1 to the  consolidated  financial  statements,  the Company
changed  its method of  accounting  for certain  investments  in debt and equity
securities in 1994.



Ernst & Young LLP
February 7, 1997
Minneapolis, Minnesota





<PAGE>



PAGE 53
PART C.

Item 24.       Financial Statements and Exhibits

(a)     Financial statements included in Part B of this Registration
        Statement:

        IDS Life Insurance Company:

        Consolidated Balance Sheets at Dec. 31, 1996 and 1995.
        Consolidated Statements of income, stockholder's equity and
        cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
        Dec. 31, 1996.
        Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
        Report of Independent Auditors dated February 7, 1997.

      The audited financial statements of the Variable Account
      including:
      - statements of net assets as of Dec. 31, 1996,
      - statements of operations for the period from March 5, 1996
        (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996, except for
        subaccounts HG, HY, HV and HP which are for the period May
        1, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996, and
      - statements  of changes  in net assets for the period  from March 5, 1996
        (commencement  of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996,  except for  subaccounts
        HG, HY, HV and HP which are for the period May 1, 1996  (commencement of
        operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.

        (b)  Exhibits:

1.      Resolution  of the Board of Directors of IDS Life  establishing  the IDS
        Life Variable Account 10 dated August 23, 1995, filed  electronically as
        Exhibit 1 to Initial  Registration  Statement is incorporated  herein by
        reference.

2.      Not applicable.

3.      Not applicable.

4.1     Copy of Deferred Annuity Contract for non-qualified contract
        (form 31030), filed electronically herewith.

4.2     Copy of Deferred Annuity Contract for tax qualified (form 31031),  filed
        electronically  as Exhibit  4.2 to  Initial  Registration  Statement  is
        incorporated herein by reference.

4.3     Copy of Deferred Annuity Contract for IRA (form 31032-IRA),
        filed electronically herewith.

5.1     Copy of Application for IDS Life Variable Annuity (form
        34055), filed electronically herewith.

5.2     Form of Application for IDS Life Variable Annuity (form
        34054), to be filed by amendment.



<PAGE>



PAGE 54
6.1     Copy of  Certificate of  Incorporation  of IDS Life dated July 24, 1957,
        filed electronically as Exhibit 6.1 to Initial Registration Statement is
        incorporated herein by reference.

6.2     Copy of Amended By-Laws of IDS Life filed  electronically as Exhibit 6.2
        to Initial Registration Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

7.      Not applicable.

8.1     Participation Agreement between IDS Life Insurance Company and
        Putnam Capital Manager Trust and Putnam Mutual Funds Corp.,
        dated March 1, 1996, filed electronically as Exhibit 8.1 to
        Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No.
        33-62407 is incorporated herein by reference.

8.2     Copy of Participation Agreement between IDS Life Insurance
        Company and Templeton Variable Products Series Fund and
        Franklin Templeton Distributors, Inc., dated March 1, 1996,
        filed electronically as Exhibit 8.2 to Post-Effective
        Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-62407 is
        incorporated herein by reference.

8.3     Copy of Participation Agreement between IDS Life Insurance
        Company and Warburg Pincus Trust and Warburg Pincus
        Counsellors, Inc. and Counsellors Securities Inc., dated March
        1, 1996,  filed electronically as Exhibit 8.3 to Post-
        Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-
        62407 is incorporated herein by reference.

8.4     Participation Agreement between IDS Life Insurance Company and
        AIM Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. and AIM Distributors, Inc.,
        dated March 4, 1996, filed electronically as Exhibit 8.4 to
        Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No.
        33-62407 is incorporated herein by reference.

8.5     Copy of Participation  Agreement  between IDS Life Insurance Company and
        TCI  Portfolios,   Inc.,  dated  April  24,  1996  filed  electronically
        herewith.

9.      Opinion of counsel,  dated  January 12, 1996,  filed  electronically  as
        Exhibit  9 to  Pre-Effective  Amendment  1, is  incorporated  herein  by
        reference.

10.     Consent of Independent Auditors filed electronically herewith.

11.     Financial Statement Schedules and Report of Independent
        Auditors filed electronically herewith.

        Financial Statement Schedules

         Schedule I      Consolidated Summary of Investments Other
                         Than Investments In Related Parties




<PAGE>



PAGE 55
        Schedule III    Supplementary Insurance Information

        Schedule IV     Reinsurance

        Schedule V      Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

        Report of Independent Auditors dated February 7, 1997

        All other schedules to the financial  statements  required by Article 7
        of Regulation  s-4 are not  required  under the related  instructions  
        or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.
   
12.     Not applicable.

13.     Copy of schedule for computation of each performance  quotation provided
        in  the   Registration   Statement   in  response  to  Item  21,   filed
        electronically  as  Exhibit  13 to Initial  Registration  Statement,  is
        incorporated herein by reference.

14.     Financial Data Schedule filed electronically herewith.

15      Power of Attorney to sign this  Registration  Statement  dated March 12,
        1997, filed electronically herewith.

Item 25.       Directors and Officers of the Depositor (IDS Life
               Insurance Company)

                                                        Positions and
Name                     Principal Business Address     Offices with Depositor

Timothy V. Bechtold      IDS Tower 10                   Vice President-Risk
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           Management Products

David J. Berry           IDS Tower 10                   Vice President
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440

Robert M. Elconin        IDS Tower 10                   Vice President
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440

Morris Goodwin Jr.       IDS Tower 10                   Vice President and 
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           Treasurer

Lorraine R. Hart         IDS Tower 10                   Vice President-
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           Investments

David R. Hubers          IDS Tower 10                   Director
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440

James M. Jensen          IDS Tower 10                   Vice President-Insurance
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           Product Development

Richard W. Kling         IDS Tower 10                   Director and President
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440




<PAGE>



PAGE 56
Item 25.       Directors and Officers of the Depositor (IDS Life Insurance
               Company (cont'd)

Paul F. Kolkman          IDS Tower 10                   Director and Executive
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           Vice President

Ryan R. Larson           IDS Tower 10                   Vice President
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440

James A. Mitchell        IDS Tower 10                   Director, Chairman of
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           the Board and Chief
                                                          Executive Officer

Barry J. Murphy          IDS Tower 10                   Director and Executive
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           Vice President-
                                                          Client Service

James R. Palmer          IDS Tower 10                   Vice President-Taxes
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440

Stuart A. Sedlacek       IDS Tower 10                   Director and Executive
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           Vice President-Assured
                                                          Assets

F. Dale Simmons          IDS Tower 10                   Vice President-
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           Real Estate
                                                          Loan Management

William A. Stoltzmann    IDS Tower 10                   Vice President, General
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           Counsel and Secretary

Melinda S. Urion         IDS Tower 10                   Director, Executive
                         Minneapolis, MN  55440           Vice President and
                                                          Controller

Item 26.       Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the
               Depositor or Registrant

               IDS  Life  Insurance  Company  is a  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of
            American Express Financial  Corporation.  American Express Financial
            Corporation is a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Express Company
            (American Express).

               The following  list includes the names of major  subsidiaries  of
               American Express.

                                                  Jurisdiction
Name of Subsidiary                                of Incorporation

I.   Travel Related Services

    American Express Travel Related
     Services Company, Inc.                          New York




<PAGE>



PAGE 57
Item 26.       Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with the
               Depositor or Registrant (Continued)

                                                  Jurisdiction
Name of Subsidiary                                of Incorporation

II.  International Banking Services

    American Express Bank Ltd.                       Connecticut

III. Companies engaged in Investors Diversified Financial Services

    American Centurion Life Assurance Company        New York
    American Enterprise Investment Services Inc.     Minnesota
    American Enterprise Life Insurance Company       Indiana
    American Express Financial Advisors Inc.         Delaware
    American Express Financial Corporation           Delaware
    American Express Insurance Agency of Nevada Inc. Nevada
    American Express Minnesota Foundation            Minnesota
    American Express Service Corporation             Delaware
    American Express Tax and Business Services Inc.  Minnesota
    American Express Trust Company                   Minnesota
    American Partners Life Insurance Company         Arizona
    AMEX Assurance Company                           Illinois
    IDS Advisory Group Inc.                          Minnesota
    IDS Aircraft Services Corporation                Minnesota
    IDS Cable Corporation                            Minnesota
    IDS Cable II Corporation                         Minnesota
    IDS Capital Holdings Inc.                        Minnesota
    IDS Certificate Company                          Delaware
    IDS Deposit Corp.                                Utah
    IDS Fund Management Limited                      U.K.
    IDS Futures Corporation                          Minnesota
    IDS Futures III Corporation                      Minnesota
    IDS Insurance Agency of Alabama Inc.             Alabama
    IDS Insurance Agency of Arkansas Inc.            Arkansas
    IDS Insurance Agency of Massachusetts Inc.       Massachusetts
    IDS Insurance Agency of Mississippi Ltd.         Mississippi
    IDS Insurance Agency of New Mexico Inc.          New Mexico
    IDS Insurance Agency of North Carolina Inc.      North Carolina
    IDS Insurance Agency of Ohio Inc.                Ohio
    IDS Insurance Agency of Texas Inc.               Texas
    IDS Insurance Agency of Utah Inc.                Utah
    IDS Insurance Agency of Wyoming Inc.             Wyoming
    IDS International, Inc.                          Delaware
    IDS Life Insurance Company                       Minnesota
    IDS Life Insurance Company of New York           New York
    IDS Management Corporation                       Minnesota
    IDS Partnership Services Corporation             Minnesota
    IDS Plan Services of California, Inc.            Minnesota
    IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company          Wisconsin
    IDS Real Estate Services, Inc.                   Delaware
    IDS Realty Corporation                           Minnesota
    IDS Sales Support Inc.                           Minnesota
    IDS Securities Corporation                       Delaware
    Investors Syndicate Development Corp.            Nevada



<PAGE>



PAGE 58
Item 27.       Number of Contractowners

               On January  31,  1997,  there  were  38,446  contract  holders of
               qualified  contracts.  There were 31,494 owners of  non-qualified
               contracts.

Item 28.       Indemnification

               The By-Laws of the depositor  provide that it shall indemnify any
               person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party,
               by  reason  of the fact  that he is or was a  director,  officer,
               employee  or agent of this  Corporation,  or is or was serving at
               the direction of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee
               or agent of  another  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,
               trust  or  other  enterprise,  to  any  threatened,   pending  or
               completed action,  suit or proceeding,  wherever brought,  to the
               fullest  extent  permitted by the laws of the State of Minnesota,
               as now existing or hereafter amended,  provided that this Article
               shall  not  indemnify  or  protect  any such  director,  officer,
               employee or agent against any liability to the Corporation or its
               security holders to which he would otherwise be subject by reason
               of willful  misfeasance,  bad faith, or gross negligence,  in the
               performance of his duties or by reason of his reckless  disregard
               of his obligations and duties.

Insofar as  indemnification  for liability  arising under the  Securities Act of
1933 may be  permitted  to director,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

Item 29.       Principal Underwriters

               (a)    IDS  Life  is  the  principal  underwriter  for  IDS  Life
                      Accounts  F,  IZ,  JZ,  G, H, N,  KZ,  LZ and MZ IDS  Life
                      Variable Annuity Fund A, IDS Life Variable Annuity Fund B,
                      IDS Life  Account  RE,  IDS  Life  Account  MGA,  IDS Life
                      Account  SBS,  IDS  Life  Variable  Account  10,  IDS Life
                      Variable  Life  Separate  Account  and IDS  Life  Variable
                      Account for Smith Barney.


<PAGE>



PAGE 59
               (b)    This table is the same as our response to Item 25 of
                      this Registration Statement.

               (c)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

               <S>           <C>               <C>              <C>          <C>   
               Name of       Net Underwriting
               Principal     Discounts and     Compensation on  Brokerage    Other
               Underwriter   Commissions       Redemption       Commissions  Compensation

               IDS Life        17,247,007        11,956,753       None       None
</TABLE>

Item 30.                      Location of Accounts and Records

                              IDS Life Insurance Company
                              IDS Tower 10
                              Minneapolis, MN

Item 31.                      Management Services

                              Not applicable.

Item 32.                      Undertakings

(a)                           Registrant undertakes to file a post-effective
                              amendment to this registration statement as
                              frequently as is necessary to ensure that the
                              audited financial statements in the
                              registration statement are never more than 16
                              months old for so long as payments under the
                              variable annuity contracts may be accepted.

(b)                           Registrant undertakes to include either (1) as
                              part of any application to purchase a contract
                              offered by the prospectus, a space that an
                              applicant can check to request a Statement of
                              Additional Information, or (2) a post card or
                              similar written communication affixed to or
                              included in the prospectus that the applicant
                              can remove to send for a Statement of
                              Additional Information.

(c)                           Registrant  undertakes to deliver any Statement of
                              Additional    Information    and   any   financial
                              statements  required  to be made  available  under
                              this Form promptly upon written or oral request.

(d)                           Registrant represents that it is relying upon
                              the no-action assurance given to the American
                              Council of Life Insurance (pub. avail. Nov. 28,
                              1988).  Further, Registrant represents that it
                              has complied with the provisions of paragraphs
                              (1)-(4) of that no-action letter.

(e)                           The sponsoring insurance company represents
                              that the fees and charges deducted under the


<PAGE>



PAGE 60
                              contract,  in  the  aggregate,  are  resonable  in
                              relation to the  services  rendered,  the expenses
                              expeceted to be incurred, and the risks assumed by
                              the insurance company.



<PAGE>



PAGE 61
                                            SIGNATURES

As  required by the  Securities  Act of 1933 and the  Investment  Company Act of
1940, IDS Life Insurance Company, on behalf of the Registrant, certifies that it
meets  requirements  for  effectiveness  of this  Amendment to its  Registration
Statement  pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly
caused  this  Registration  Statement  to be signed on its behalf in the City of
Minneapolis, and State of Minnesota, on the 21st day of April, 1997.

                              IDS LIFE VARIABLE ACCOUNT 10
                                      (Registrant)

                            By IDS Life Insurance Company
                                       (Sponsor)

                            By /s/ Richard W. Kling*
                                   Richard W. Kling
                                   President

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration  Statement has been
signed by the following  persons in the capacities  indicated on the 21st day of
April, 1997.

Signature                             Title

/s/ James A. Mitchell*                Director, Chairman of the
    James A. Mitchell                 Board and Chief Executive
                                      Officer

/s/ Richard W. Kling*                 Director and President
    Richard W. Kling

/s/ David R. Hubers*                  Director
    David R. Hubers

/s/ Paul F. Kolkman*                  Director and Executive Vice
    Paul F. Kolkman                   President

/s/ Janis E. Miller*                  Director and Executive Vice
    Janis E. Miller                   President, Variable Assets

/s/ Barry J. Murphy*                  Director and Executive Vice
    Barry J. Murphy                   President, Client Service



<PAGE>



PAGE 62
Signature                             Title

/s/ Stuart A. Sedlacek*               Director and Executive Vice
    Stuart A. Sedlacek                President, Assured Assets

/s/ Melinda S. Urion*                 Director, Executive Vice
    Melinda S. Urion                  President and Controller


*Signed pursuant to Power of Attorney dated March 12, 1997, filed electronically
herewith by:



- ---------------------------
Sherilyn K. Beck



<PAGE>



PAGE 63
                            CONTENTS OF POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 2

This Registration Statement is comprised of the following papers and documents:

The Cover Page.

Cross-reference sheet.

Part A.

     The prospectus.

Part B.

     Statement of Additional Information.

     Financial Statements.

Part C.

     Other Information.

     The signatures.

Exhibits.





<PAGE>



PAGE 1
IDS Life Variable Account 10 (FPA)
Registration No. 33-62407/811-07355

EXHIBIT INDEX

4.1.  Deferred Annuity Contract (form 31030)

4.3.  Deferred Annuity Contract (form 31032-IRA)

5.1.  Application for IDS Life Variable Annuity (form 34055)

8.5.  Participation Agreement between IDS Life Insurance Company
      and TCI Portfolios, Inc., dated April 24, 1996

10.   Consent of Independent Auditors

11.   Financial Statement Schedules and Report of Independent
      Auditors

14.   Financial Data Schedules
         IDS Life Variable Account 10
         IDS Life Insurance Company

15.   Power of Attorney





<PAGE>



PAGE 1
American Express Financial Advisors

IDS Life Insurance Company
IDS Tower 10
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440

DEFERRED ANNUITY CONTRACT

- - Flexible purchase payments.
- - Optional fixed dollar or variable accumulation values and annuity
  payments.
- - Annuity payments to begin on the retirement date.
- - This contract is nonparticipating.  Dividends are not payable.

Annuitant:  John Doe
Contract Number:  9300-1234567
Contract Date:  October 1, 1995
Retirement Date:  October 1, 2015

This is a deferred annuity contract.  It is a legal contract
between you, as the owner, and us, IDS Life Insurance Company, a
stock company, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  PLEASE READ YOUR CONTRACT
CAREFULLY.

If the annuitant is living on the Retirement  Date,  upon your request,  we will
begin to pay you monthly annuity  payments.  Any payments made by us are subject
to the terms of this contract.

We issue this contract in  consideration  of your application and the payment of
the purchase payments.

Signed for and issued by IDS Life Insurance  Company in Minneapolis,  Minnesota,
as of the contract date shown above.

ACCUMULATION VALUES AND ANNUITY PAYMENTS, WHEN BASED ON THE
INVESTMENT RESULTS OF THE VARIABLE SUBACCOUNTS, ARE VARIABLE AND
NOT GUARANTEED AS TO FIXED DOLLAR AMOUNT.  SEE PAGE 9 FOR VARIABLE
PROVISIONS.

NOTICE OF YOUR RIGHT TO EXAMINE THIS  CONTRACT FOR 10 DAYS If for any reason you
are not  satisfied  with this  contract,  return it to us or our  representative
within 10 days after you receive it. We will then  cancel  this  contract.  Upon
such cancellation we will refund an amount equal to the sum of: (1) the contract
value;  and (2) any  premium  tax  charges  paid.  This  contract  will  then be
considered void from its start.

President

/s/ Richard W. Kling

Secretary

/s/ William A. Stoltzmann

31030


<PAGE>



PAGE 2
                                   GUIDE TO CONTRACT PROVISIONS

Definitions                     Important words and meanings/Page 3

General Provisions              Entire contract; Incontestability;
                                Benefits based upon incorrect data;
                                State Laws; Federal Laws; Reports
                                to owner; Evidence of survival;
                                Protection of proceeds; Payments by
                                us; Voting rights/Page 4

Ownership and Beneficiary       Owner rights; Change of ownership;
                                Beneficiary; Change of Beneficiary;
                                Assignment/Page 5

Payments to Beneficiary         Describes options and amounts
                                payable upon death/Page 6

Purchase Payments               Purchase payments amounts and
                                intervals; Payment limits;
                                Allocation of purchase
                                payments/Page 7

Contract Value                  Describes the fixed and variable
                                account contract values; Interest
                                to be credited; Contract
                                administrative charge; Premium
                                taxes; Transfers of Contract
                                Values/Page 8

Fixed and Variable Accounts     Describes the variable subaccounts,
                                accumulation units and values; Net
                                investment factor; Mortality and
                                expense risk charge; Annuity unit
                                value/Page 9

Surrender Provisions            Surrender of the contract for its
                                surrender value; Surrender Charges;
                                Waiver of Surrender Charges; Rules
                                for surrender/Page 11

Annuity Provisions              When annuity payments begin;
                                Different ways to receive annuity
                                payments; Determination of payment
                                amounts/Page 13

Table of Settlement Rates       Tables showing amount of first
                                variable annuity payment and the
                                guaranteed fixed annuity payments
                                for the various payment plans/Page
                                15


<PAGE>



PAGE 3
                                           CONTRACT DATA

Annuitant:  John Doe
Contract Number:  9300-1234567
Contract Owner:  John Doe
Contract Date: January 3, 1996
Retirement Date:  January 3, 2016

Deferred Annuity Contract ("Flexible Portfolio Annuity")

Upon issuance of this contract your purchase  payments have been scheduled to be
paid and applied to the fixed and variable  subaccounts as shown below.  You may
change the amount, frequency and allocations as provided in this contract. Refer
to the purchase payments provision on Page 7.

Amount Submitted With Application:         1,000
Scheduled Purchase Payment:
                       Annual Amount:    $12,000

 Variable                                       Purchase Payments
Subaccounts               Mutual Fund         Allocation Percentage
- -----------               -----------         ---------------------
    HC         IDS Life Capital Resource Fund          25%
    HS         IDS Life Special Income Fund             0%
    HM         IDS Life Moneyshare Fund                 0%
    HD         IDS Life Managed Fund                   25%
    HI         IDS Life International Equity Fund       0%
    HA         IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund          0%
    HV         IDS Life Income Advantage Fund           0%
    HG         IDS Life Global Yield Fund               0%
    HW         AIM Variable Ins. Growth & Income        0%
    HN         Putnam Variable Trust New Opportunities
                 Fund                                   0%
    HT         Warburg Pincus Trust Small Company
                 Portfolio                              0%
    HK         Templeton Devoloping Markets Fund        0%
    HP         TCI Portfolios Value                     0%

Fixed Account                                          50%

              Schedule of Surrender Charges

                              Surrender Charge Applied to
   Contract Year             Purchase Payments Surrendered
    1 Through 3                            7%
         4                                 6%
         5                                 5%
         6                                 4%
         7                                 3%
         8                                 2%
     Thereafter                            0%

Contract Administrative Charge:  $30 annually.  Charge is waived if
                                 contract value, or purchase
                                 payments less surrenders, equals
                                 or exceeds $25,000.  See Page 8.


<PAGE>



PAGE 4
Maximum Purchase Payments Permitted:
                  1st contract year:  $1,000,000
      Each contract year thereafter:  $  100,000

Fixed Account Guaranteed Interest Rate:  3% Annual Effective Rate

As of the date this  contract  was issued,  any amounts  allocated  to the fixed
account will earn interest,  for the first year, at the annual effective rate of
4.65%. New rates may be declared from time to time.

                                            DEFINITIONS

The following  words are used often in this  contract.  When we use these words,
this is what we mean:

annuitant

The person or persons on whose life monthly annuity payments depend.

you, your

The owner of this  contract.  The owner may be someone other than the annuitant.
The owner may be changed as provided in this contract.

we, our, us

IDS Life Insurance Company

accumulation unit

An accumulation  unit is an accounting unit of measure.  It is used to calculate
the contract value prior to settlement.

annuity unit

An annuity unit is an  accounting  unit of measure.  It is used to calculate the
value of  annuity  payments  from the  variable  subaccounts  on and  after  the
retirement date.

contract date

It is the date from which contract  anniversaries,  contract years, and contract
months are determined. Your contract date is shown under Contract Data.

contract anniversary

The same day and month as the contract date each year that the contract  remains
in force.




<PAGE>



PAGE 5
contract value

The sum of the Fixed Account Contract Value (which receives a declared  interest
rate) and the Variable  Account Contract Value (which varies with the investment
performance of the elected subaccounts) for this contract.

retirement date

The date shown under Contract Data on which annuity payments are to begin.  This
date may be changed as provided in this contract.  You will be notified prior to
the retirement date in order to select an appropriate annuity payment plan.

settlement

The  application  of the contract  value of this contract to an Annuity  Payment
Plan to provide annuity payments.

valuation date

A valuation date is each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.

valuation period

A valuation  period is the interval of time  commencing at the close of business
on each valuation date and ending at the close of business on the next valuation
date.

fixed account

The fixed  account is made up of all our assets other than those in any separate
account.

variable subaccounts

The  portfolios  of the  Variable  Account.  The  subaccounts  available  on the
contract date are named under Contract Data.

fixed annuity

A fixed  annuity is an annuity with  payments  which are  guaranteed by us as to
dollar amount during the annuity payment period.

variable annuity

A fixed annuity is an annuity with payments which (1) are not  predetermined  or
guaranteed  as to  dollar  amount;  and (2) vary in amount  with the  investment
experience of one or more of the variable subaccounts.

written request

A request in writing signed by you and delivered to us at our home office.



<PAGE>



PAGE 6
                                        GENERAL PROVISIONS

Entire Contract

This contract form is the entire contract between you and us.

No  one  except  one of  our  corporate  officers  (President,  Vice  President,
Secretary  or  Assistant  Secretary)  can  change or waive any of our  rights or
requirements under this contract. That person must do so in writing. None of our
representatives or other persons has the authority to change or waive any of our
rights or requirements under this contract.

Incontestable

This contract is incontestable from its date of issue.

Benefits Based on Incorrect Data

If the amount of benefits is determined by data as to a person's age or sex that
is incorrect,  benefits will be  recalculated  on the basis of the correct data.
Any underpayments made by us will be made up immediately.  Any overpayments made
by us will be subtracted from the future payments.

State Laws

This contract is governed by the law of the state in which it is delivered.  The
values and  benefits of this  contract  are at least equal to those  required by
such state.

Federal Laws

This contract is intended to qualify as an annuity  contract for Federal  income
tax purposes. To that end, the provisions of this contract are to be interpreted
to ensure or maintain such tax  qualification,  despite any other  provisions to
the  contrary.  We reserve  the right to amend  this  contract  to  reflect  any
clarifications   that  may  be  needed  or  are  appropriate  to  maintain  such
qualification  or to conform the contract to any  applicable  changes in the tax
qualification requirements. We will send you a copy of any such amendments.

Reports to Owner

At least once a year we will send you a statement showing the contract value and
the cash surrender  value of this contract.  This statement will be based on any
laws or regulations that apply to contracts of this type.

Evidence of Survival

Where any  payments  under this  contract  depend on the  recipient or annuitant
being alive on a given date, proof that such condition


<PAGE>



PAGE 7
has been met may be required by us.  Such proof may be required
prior to making the payments.

Protection of Proceeds

Payments under this contract are not assignable by any beneficiary  prior to the
time they are due. To the extent allowed by law, payments are not subject to the
claims of creditors or to the legal process.

Payments By Us

All sums  payable  by us are  payable  from our home  office.  Any  payment of a
variable  annuity or  surrender  based on the variable  contract  value shall be
payable only from the variable subaccounts.

Voting Rights

So long as federal law requires,  we will give certain voting rights to contract
owners.  As contract  owner,  if you have voting rights we will send a notice to
you telling  you the time and place of a  shareholder  meeting.  The notice will
also explain matters to be voted upon and how many votes you get.

                                     OWNERSHIP AND BENEFICIARY

Owner's Rights

As long as the  annuitant  is  living  and  unless  otherwise  provided  in this
contract,  you may exercise all rights and privileges  provided in this contract
or allowed by us.

Change of Ownership

You can change  the  ownership  of this  contract  by written  request on a form
approved by us. The change must be made while the annuitant is living.  Once the
change is recorded  by us, it will take  effect as of the date of your  request,
subject to any action taken or payment made by us before the recording.

Beneficiary

Beneficiaries  are those  you name,  in a form  satisfactory  to us, to  receive
benefits of this  contract if you or the annuitant die while this contract is in
force.

Only those  beneficiaries  who are living when death benefits become payable may
share in the benefits, if any. If no beneficiary is then living, we will pay the
benefits to you, if living, otherwise to your estate.

Change of Beneficiary

You may change the beneficiary anytime while the annuitant is
living by satisfactory written request to us.  Once the change is


<PAGE>



PAGE 8
recorded by us, it will take effect as of the date of your  request,  subject to
any action taken or payment made by us before the recording.

Assignment

While the  annuitant is living,  you can assign this contract or any interest in
it. Your interest and the interest of any beneficiary is subject to the interest
of the  assignee.  An assignment is not a change of ownership and an assignee is
not an owner as these terms are used in this  contract.  Any amounts  payable to
the assignee will be paid in a single sum.

A copy of any  assignment  must  be  submitted  to us at our  home  office.  Any
assignment  is  subject to any  action  taken or  payment  made by us before the
assignment  was  recorded at our home  office.  We are not  responsible  for the
validity of any assignment.

                                      PAYMENTS TO BENEFICIARY

Death Benefits Before the Retirement Date

If the annuitant or owner dies before the  retirement  date and the  annuitant's
age 75,  while  this  contract  is in force we will pay to the  beneficiary  the
greater of:

1. the contract value; or

2. the contract value as of the most recent sixth contract
   anniversary less any amounts surrendered; or

3. the purchase payments paid less any amounts surrendered.

If the  annuitant or owner dies before the  retirement  date and on or after the
annuitant's  75th birthday,  while this contract is in force, we will pay to the
beneficiary the greater of:

1. the contract value; or

2. the contract value as of the most recent sixth contract
   anniversary, less any amounts surrendered.

The above  amount will be payable in a lump sum upon the receipt of due proof of
death of the annuitant or owner  whichever  first occurs.  The  beneficiary  may
elect to receive payment anytime within 5 years after the date of death.

In lieu of a lump  sum,  payment  may be made  under an  Annuity  Payment  Plan,
provided:

1. the beneficiary elects the plan within 60 days after we receive
   due proof of death; and

2. payments begin no later than one year after the date of death;
   and



<PAGE>



PAGE 9
3. the plan provides payments over a period which does not exceed
   the life of the beneficiary, or the life expectancy of the
   beneficiary.

In this event,  the reference to  "annuitant"  in the Annuity  Provisions  shall
apply to the beneficiary.

Any amounts  payable or applied by us as described in this section will be based
on the contract  value as of the valuation date on or next following the date on
which due proof of death is received at our Home Office.

Spouse Option to Continue Contract Upon Owner's Death

If the owner's death occurs prior to the retirement date, the owner's spouse, if
designated as sole  beneficiary,  may elect in writing to forego  receipt of the
death benefit and instead continue this contract in force as owner. The election
by the spouse must be made within 60 days after we receive due proof of death.

Death Benefit After the Retirement Date

If the annuitant or owner dies after the retirement date, the amount payable, if
any, will be as provided in the Annuity Payment Plan then in effect.

                                         PURCHASE PAYMENTS

Purchase Payments

Purchase  payments are the payments you make for this  contract and the benefits
it provides.  Purchase  payments must be paid or mailed to us at our home office
or to an  authorized  agent.  If  requested,  we'll give you a receipt  for your
purchase payments. Upon payment to us, purchase payments become our property.

Net purchase  payments are that part of your  purchase  payments  applied to the
contract value. A net purchase payment is equal to the purchase payment less any
applicable premium tax charge.

Amount and Intervals

Purchase  payments  may be paid in a single  sum or in  installments  until  the
earlier of: (1) the date this contract terminates by surrender or otherwise;  or
(2) the date on which annuity payments begin.

Subject  to the  Payment  Limits  Provision  you may:  (1) stop  and/or  restart
purchase  payments;  or (2)  increase  or decrease  the amount of your  purchase
payments; or (3) change the interval of your purchase payments.




<PAGE>



PAGE 10
Payment Limits Provision

Maximum Purchase  Payments - The maximum purchase payments in the first or later
contract years may not exceed the amounts shown `under Contract Data. We reserve
the right to increase the maximums.

Minimum  Purchase  Payments - Upon issue of this  contract,  a purchase  payment
intended  as a  Single  Purchase  Payment  must be at least  $2,000.  Additional
purchase  payments  must be at least  $50.  If you  intend  to make  installment
purchase payments such payments,  on an annualized basis, must be at least equal
to $600.

We also  reserve  the right to cancel  this  contract  if both of the  following
conditions exist at the same time: (1) no purchase payments have been paid for a
continuous period of 24 months; and (2) less than $600 in purchase payments have
been paid under this  contract.  In this event we will give you 30 days  written
notice of our intent to cancel this contract. Upon such cancellation we will pay
you the contract value in one sum. This contract will then terminate.

Allocation of Purchase Payments

You instruct us on how you want your purchase payments allocated among the fixed
account and  variable  subaccounts.  Your choice for each account may be made in
any whole  percent  from 0% to 100% as long as the total  adds up to 100%.  Your
allocation  instructions  as of the Contract Date are shown under Contract Data.
By written  request,  or by another  method agreed to by us, you may change your
choice of  accounts  or  percentages.  The first net  purchase  payment  will be
allocated  as of the  end of the  valuation  period  during  which  we  make  an
affirmative  decision to issue this  contract.  Net purchase  payments after the
first will be allocated as of the end of the  valuation  period  during which we
receive the payment at our home office.

                                          CONTRACT VALUE

Contract Value

The contract value at any time is the sum of:  (1) the Fixed
Account Contract Value; and (2) the Variable Account Contract
Value.

If:  (1)  part or all of the  contract  value  is  surrendered;  or (2)  charges
described  herein  are  made  against  the  contract  value;  then a  number  of
accumulation  units from the variable  subaccounts  and an amount from the fixed
account will be deducted to equal such amount.  For the  surrenders,  deductions
will be made from the fixed or variable subaccounts that you specify. Otherwise,
the number of units from the variable  subaccounts and the amount from the fixed
account will be deducted in the same  proportion that you interest in each bears
to the total contract value.




<PAGE>



PAGE 11
Fixed Account Contract Value

The fixed account contract value at any time will be: (1) the sum of all amounts
credited to the fixed account under this contract; less (2) any amounts deducted
for charges or surrenders.

Interest to be Credited

We will credit interest to the fixed account contract value. Interest will begin
to accrue on the date the  purchase  payments  which  are  received  in our home
office  become  available to us for use. Such interest will be credited at rates
that we determine  from time to time.  However,  we guarantee that the rate will
not be less than the Guaranteed Interest Rate shown under Contract Data.

Variable Account Contract Value

The  variable  account  contract  value at any time will be:  (1) the sum of the
value  of  all  variable  subaccount  accumulation  units  under  this  contract
resulting from purchase  payments so allocated,  or transfers among the variable
and fixed accounts; less (2) any units deducted for charges or surrenders.

Contract Administrative Charge

We charge a fee for  establishing and maintaining our records for this contract.
The charge is $30 per year and is deducted from the contract value at the end of
each contract year or, if earlier,  when the contract is fully  surrendered.  We
waive this charge if your contract value,  or your total purchase  payments less
any purchase payments  surrendered,  equals or exceeds $25,000.  The charge does
not apply after settlement of this contract under an annuity payment plan.

Premium Tax Charges

A charge will be made by us against the contract  value of this  contract at the
time that any premium taxes not previously deducted are payable.

Transfers of Contract Values

While this  contract  is in force  prior to the  settlement  date,  transfer  of
contract values may be made as outlined below:

1. You  may  transfer  all or a part  of the  values  held in one or more of the
   variable  subaccounts  to another  one or more of the  variable  subaccounts.
   Subject to item 2, you may also  transfer  values  held in one or more of the
   variable subaccounts to the fixed account.

2. On or within the 30 days after a contract anniversary you may transfer values
   from the fixed account to one or more of the variable  subaccounts.  Only one
   such transfer is allowed  during this period each year. If such a transfer is
   made, no transfers



<PAGE>



PAGE 12
   from a variable  subaccount  to the fixed  account may be made until the next
   contract anniversary.

You may make a transfer by written request.  Transfer  requests may also be made
according to telephone procedures or automated transfer procedures that are then
currently  in effect,  if any.  There is no fee or charge  for these  transfers.
However,  the minimum  transfer  amount is $250, or if less, the entire value in
the account from which the transfer is being made. Smaller minimums may apply to
automated  transfer  procedures.  This  transfer  privilege  may be suspended or
modified by us at any time.

                                    FIXED AND VARIABLE ACCOUNT

The Fixed Account

The fixed  account is our  general  account.  It is made up of all of our assets
other than:  (1) those in the variable  subaccounts;  and (2) those in any other
segregated asset account.

The Variable Account

The variable  account is a separate  investment  account of ours. It consists of
several  subaccounts  which are named under  Contract  Data. We have allocated a
part of our assets for this  contract  to the  variable  accounts.  Such  assets
remain our property.  However, they may not be charged with the liabilities from
any other business in which we may take part.

Investments of the Variable Account

Purchase  payments  applied to the  variable  subaccounts  will be  allocated as
specified by the owner.  Each variable  subaccount will buy, at net asset value,
shares of the fund shown for that  subaccount  under  Contract  Data or as later
added or changed.

We may change the mutual funds from which the variable subaccounts buy shares if
laws or  regulations  change,  the existing  funds become  unavailable or in our
judgment, the funds are no longer suitable for the subaccounts.  If any of these
situations  occur, we would have the right to substitute  funds other than those
shown under Contract Data. We may also add additional  subaccounts  investing in
other funds.

When  required,  we would first seek  approval of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  and, the  insurance  regulator  of the state where this  contract is
delivered.

Valuation of Assets

Mutual fund shares in the variable subaccounts will be valued at their net asset
value.




<PAGE>



PAGE 13
Variable Account Accumulation Units

The company will credit net purchase payments and amounts of variable subaccount
transfers in the form of accumulation  units. The number of units to be credited
to each  subaccount  will be determined by dividing the net amount  allocated to
that subaccount by the unit value of the subaccount.  In the case of the initial
net purchase payment,  units will be credited on the date we make an affirmative
decision to issue this contract. For additional payments, units will be credited
as of the valuation period during which the purchase payment is received.

The amount of any Contract Administrative Charge, or other applicable charges or
partial  surrenders  from the variable  account  contract  value will reduce the
number of units credited to the contract in the variable subaccounts. A transfer
out of a subaccount  will reduce the number of units credited to the contract in
that  subaccount  while a transfer into a subaccount will increase the number of
units.

Variable Account Accumulation Unit Value

The  value of an  accumulation  unit for each of the  variable  subaccounts  was
arbitrarily  set at $1 when the first mutual fund shares were bought.  The value
for any later valuation period is found as follows:

   The accumulation  unit value for each variable  subaccount for the last prior
   valuation  period is  multiplied  by the net  investment  factor for the same
   account  for  the  next  following   valuation  period.  The  result  is  the
   accumulation  unit value.  The value of an accumulation  unit may increase or
   decrease from on valuation period to the next.

Net Investment Factor

The net  investment  factor  is an  index  applied  to  measure  the  investment
performance of a variable  subaccount from one valuation period to the next. The
net investment factor may be greater or less than one;  therefore,  the value of
an accumulation unit may increase or decrease.

The net investment  factor for any such  subaccount for any valuation  period is
determined by: dividing (1) by (2) and subtracting (3) from the result.  This is
done where:

(1) is the sum of

    a. the net asset value per share of the mutual fund held in the
       variable subaccount determined at the end of the current
       valuation period; plus

    b. the per share amount of any dividend or capital gain
       distributions made by the mutual fund held in the variable
       subaccount, if the "ex-dividend" date occurs during the
       current valuation period.



<PAGE>



PAGE 14
(2) is the net asset  value per share of the  mutual  fund held in the  variable
    subaccount, determined at the end of the last prior valuation period.

(3) is a factor representing the mortality and expense risk charge.

Mortality and Expense Risk Charge

In calculating  accumulation  unit values we will deduct a mortality and expense
risk charge from the variable subaccounts equal, on an annual basis, to 1.25% of
the daily net asset value.  This deduction is made to compensate us for assuming
the mortality  and expense risks under  contracts of this type. We estimate that
approximately  2/3 of this charge is for assumption of mortality risk and 1/3 is
for  assumption  of  expense  risk.  The  deduction  will be: (1) made from each
variable subaccount; and (2) computed on a daily basis.

Annuity Unit Value

The value of an Annuity Unit for each variable subaccount was arbitrarily set at
$1 when the first mutual funds were  bought.  The value for any later  valuation
period is found as follows:

1. The  annuity  unit  value for each  variable  subaccount  for the last  prior
   valuation  period  is  multiplied  by  the  net  investment  factor  for  the
   subaccount for the valuation period for which the annuity unit value is being
   calculated.

2. The result is  multiplied by an interest  factor.  This is done to neutralize
   the assumed  investment  rate which is built into the annuity  tables on page
   15.

                                       SURRENDER PROVISIONS

Surrender

By written request and subject to the rules below you may:

1. surrender this contract for the total surrender value; or

2. partially surrender this contract for a part of the surrender
   value.

Surrender Value

The surrender value at any time will be:

1. the contract value;

2. minus the contract administrative charge;

3. minus any surrender charge.




<PAGE>



PAGE 15
Surrender Charges

A surrender charge may apply during the first eight contract years. To determine
the charge  during this period for a partial or total  surrender we first divide
the contract value into two parts.

1. Contract  earnings - This is the contract value minus the sum of all purchase
   payments we have received that have not been previously surrendered.

2. Purchase  payments - These are the total  purchase  payments we received that
   have not been previously surrendered.

We will then surrender  your contract  value in the following  order so that the
amount  surrendered,  less  any  surrender  charge  that  applies,  equals  your
requested surrender amount:

1. Contract Earnings, if any, are surrendered first.  There is no
   surrender charge on contract earnings.

2. Next, if necessary, we surrender purchase payments not
   previously surrendered.

The  surrender  charge shown under  Contract  Data applies to purchase  payments
surrendered.

Determining Contract Earnings

Contract  Earnings are determined by looking at the entire contract  value,  not
just the earnings of a certain variable subaccount or the fixed account.

For example, the gains you may have in a certain variable subaccount or interest
earned  in the fixed  account  may be  offset  by  losses  in  another  variable
subaccount. This may result in not having any contract earnings available at the
time of surrender.

At the time of a surrender,  we will surrender any amounts representing contract
earnings first in order to minimize any applicable surrender charge.

Waiver of Surrender Charges

There are no surrender charges for:

1. Death benefit payments; or

2. Contracts settled under an Annuity Payment Plan; or

3. Amounts  surrendered to meet  applicable  minimum  distribution  requirements
   under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  its regulations  and/or
   promulgations of the Internal Revenue Service. Amounts surrendered under this
   waiver provision are limited to one time per year unless we agree otherwise.




<PAGE>



PAGE 16
Rules For Surrender

All surrenders will have the following conditions:

1. You must apply by written request or other method agreed to by
   us:  (a) while this contract is in force; and (b) prior to the
   earlier of the retirement date or the death of the annuitant.

2. Unless we agree  otherwise,  you must  surrender  an amount equal to at least
   $250 or the entire  contract  value,  if less.  The  contract  value  after a
   partial surrender must be at least $600.

3. The amount surrendered, less any charges, will normally be paid to you within
   seven days of our receipt of your written surrender request and the return of
   this contract,  if required.  For surrenders from the fixed account,  we have
   the right to defer payment to you for up to 6 months from the date we receive
   your request.

4. For  partial  surrenders,  if you do not  specify  from  which  accounts  the
   surrender  is to be  made,  the  surrender  will be made  from  the  variable
   subaccounts and fixed account in the same proportion as your interest in each
   bears to the contract value.

5. Any amounts surrendered and charges which apply cannot be
   repaid.

Upon surrender for the full surrender value this contract will terminate. We may
require  that you return  the  contract  to us before we pay the full  surrender
value.

Suspension of Delay in Payment of Surrender

We have the right to suspend or delay the date of any surrender payment from the
variable subaccounts for any period:

1. When the New York Stock Exchange is closed; or

2. When trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted; or

3. When an emergency exists as a result of which:  (a) disposal of
   securities held in the variable subaccounts is not reasonably
   practicable; or (b) it is not reasonably practicable to fairly
   determine the value of the net assets of the variable account;
   or

4. During any other period when the Securities and Exchange
   Commission, by order, so permits for the protection of security
   holders.

Rules and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission will govern as
to whether the conditions set forth in 2 and 3 exist.





<PAGE>



PAGE 17
                                        ANNUITY PROVISIONS

Settlement

When  settlement  occurs,  the  contract  value will be applied to make  annuity
payments. The first payment will be made as of the retirement date. This date is
shown under Contract Data.  Before  payments begin we will require  satisfactory
proof that the  annuitant is alive.  We may also require that you exchange  this
contract for a supplemental contract which provides the annuity payments.

Change of Retirement Date

You may change the retirement date shown for this contract. Tell us the new date
by written request. However, the retirement date may not be later than the later
of: (1) the annuitant's  85th birthday;  or (2) the tenth contract  anniversary.
Also,  if you  select a new date,  it must be at least 30 days  after we receive
your written request at our home office.

Annuity Payment Plans

Subject to the terms of this contract,  annuity  payments may be made on a fixed
dollar  basis,  a variable  basis,  or a combination  of both.  You can schedule
receipt of annuity  payments  according to one of the Plans A through E below or
another plan agreed to by us.

   Plan A - This provides  monthly  annuity  payments during the lifetime of the
   annuitant. No payments will be made after the annuitant dies.

   Plan B - This provides  monthly  annuity  payments during the lifetime of the
   annuitant  with a guarantee by us that  payments will be made for a period of
   at least five, ten, or fifteen years. You must select the guaranteed period.

   Plan C - This provides  monthly  annuity  payments during the lifetime of the
   annuitant  with a guarantee  by us that  payments  will be made for a certain
   number of months.  We  determine  the number of months by dividing the amount
   applied under this Plan by the amount of the first monthly annuity payment.

   Plan D - Monthly  payments  will be paid during the lifetime of the annuitant
   and a joint annuitant.  When either the annuitant or the joint annuitant dies
   we  will  continue  to make  monthly  payments  during  the  lifetime  of the
   survivor.  No payments will be paid after the death of both the annuitant and
   joint annuitant.

   Plan E - (Installments  for a specified period) This provides monthly annuity
   payments  for a period of years.  The  period of years may be no less than 10
   nor more than 30.

By written  request to us at least 30 days before the  Retirement  Date, you may
select the Plan. If not at least 30 days before the


<PAGE>



PAGE 18
Retirement  Date we have not received at our home office your written request to
select a Plan,  we will  make  fixed-dollar  payments  according  to Plan B with
payments guaranteed for ten years.

If the  amount to be applied  to a Plan  would not  provide  an initial  monthly
payment  of at least  $20,  we have the right to make a lump sum  payment of the
contract value.

Allocation of Contract Values at Settlement

At the time of settlement  under an Annuity Payment Plan you may reallocate your
contract  value to the Fixed  Account to provide  fixed dollar  payments  and/or
among the variable  subaccounts to provide variable annuity payments.  Unless we
agree otherwise,  you may use a maximum of five variable  subaccounts at any one
time during settlement.

Fixed Annuity

A fixed  annuity is an annuity with  payments  that are  guaranteed  by us as to
dollar  amount.  Fixed annuity  payments after the first will never be less than
the amount of the first payment. At settlement, the fixed account contract value
will be applied to the applicable Annuity Table. This will be done in accordance
with the Payment Plan chosen.  The amount  payable for each $1,000 so applied is
shown in Table B on page 16.

Variable Annuity

A variable annuity is an annuity with payments which: (1) are not  predetermined
or guaranteed as to dollar  amount;  and (2) vary in amount with the  investment
experience of the variable subaccounts.

Determination of First Variable Annuity Payment

At  settlement,  the  variable  account  contract  value  will be applied to the
applicable  Annuity  Table.  This will be done:  (1) on the valuation date on or
next  preceding  the 7th calendar  day before the  retirement  date;  and (2) in
accordance  with the  Payment  Plan  chosen.  The amount  payable  for the first
payment for each $1,000 so applied is shown in Table A on page 15.

Variable Annuity Payments After the First Payment

Variable  annuity  payments  after the first vary in amount.  The amount changes
with the investment  performance of the variable subaccounts.  The dollar amount
of variable  annuity  payments after the first is not fixed.  It may change from
month to month. The dollar amount of such payments is determined as follows:

1. The dollar amount of the first annuity  payment is divided by the value of an
   annuity unit as of the valuation  date on or next  preceding the 7th calendar
   day before the retirement  date. This result  establishes the fixed number of
   annuity units for each



<PAGE>



PAGE 19
   monthly annuity payment after the first. This number of annuity units remains
   fixed during the annuity payment period.

2. The fixed number of annuity  units is multiplied by the annuity unit value as
   of the  valuation  date on or next  preceding the 7th calendar day before the
   date the payment is due.  This result  establishes  the dollar  amount of the
   payment.

We guarantee  that the dollar amount of each payment after the first will not be
affected by variations in expenses or mortality experience.

Exchange of Annuity Units

After annuity  payments begin,  annuity units of any variable  subaccount may be
exchanged for units of any of the other variable  subaccounts.  This may be done
no more than once a year.  Unless we agree  otherwise  you may use a maximum  of
five  variable  subaccounts  at any one time.  Once  annuity  payments  start no
exchanges may be made to or from any fixed annuity.




<PAGE>



PAGE 20
                                     TABLE OF SETTLEMENT RATES

Table A below shows the amount of the first monthly variable
annuity payment, based on a 5% assumed investment return, for each
$1,000 of value applied under any Payment Plan.  The amount of the
first and all subsequent monthly fixed dollar annuity payments for
each $1,000 of value applied under any Payment Plan will be based
on our fixed dollar Table of Settlement Rates in effect on the
settlement date.  Such rates are guaranteed to be not less than
those shown in Table B.  The amount of such annuity payments under
Plans A, B, and C will depend upon the sex and the adjusted age of
the annuitant on the date of settlement.  The amount of such
annuity payments under Plan D will depend upon the sex and the
adjusted age of the annuitant and joint annuitant on the date of
settlement.  Adjusted age shall be equal to the age nearest
birthday minus an "adjustment" depending on the calendar year of
birth of the annuitant as follows:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calendar Year of                       Calendar Year of
Annuitant's Birth      Adjustment      Annuitant's Birth     Adjustment

Prior to 1920             0            1945 through 1949         6
1920 through 1924         1            1950 through 1959         7
1925 through 1929         2            1960 through 1969         8
1930 through 1934         3            1970 through 1979         9
1935 through 1939         4            1980 through 1989        10
1940 through 1944         5            After 1989               11
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE A - Dollar Amount of First Monthly Variable Annuity Payment Per $1000 
Applied
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     PLAN A                     PLAN B                    PLAN C               PLAN D - Joint and Survivor
                                                                               Adjusted Age of Female Joint Annuitant
     Life         5 Years       10 Years     15 Years     With         Adj.
Adj. Income       Certain       Certain      Certain      Refund       Male    10 Years  5 Years  Same      5 Years   10 Years
Age* M     F      M     F       M     F      M     F      M     F      Age     Younger   Younger  Age       Older     Older
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>   <C>   <C>    <C>   <C>    <C>   <C>    <C>   <C>    <C>   <C>    <C>     <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C> 
55    5.89  5.44   5.86  5.43   5.79  5.40   5.67  5.34   5.68  5.33   55      4.73      4.88      5.04      5.21      5.38
60    6.46  5.89   6.42  5.87   6.28  5.80   6.07  5.69   6.13  5.70   60      4.94      5.15      5.37      5.61      5.83
65    7.27  6.51   7.18  6.47   6.91  6.34   6.52  6.14   6.74  6.21   65      5.23      5.52      5.83      6.17      6.49
66    7.47  6.66   7.36  6.61   7.06  6.47   6.62  6.24   6.88  6.33   66      5.30      5.61      5.95      6.30      6.65
67    7.68  6.82   7.56  6.77   7.21  6.60   6.71  6.34   7.04  6.46   67      5.38      5.70      6.07      6.45      6.82
68    7.91  7.00   7.76  6.93   7.36  6.74   6.81  6.44   7.19  6.60   68      5.46      5.80      6.20      6.61      7.01
69    8.15  7.19   7.98  7.11   7.52  6.89   6.90  6.54   7.36  6.74   69      5.54      5.92      6.34      6.79      7.21
70    8.41  7.39   8.21  7.31   7.68  7.04   6.98  6.65   7.54  6.90   70      5.63      6.03      6.49      6.97      7.42
71    8.69  7.62   8.46  7.51   7.84  7.21   7.07  6.75   7.73  7.06   71      5.73      6.16      6.65      7.17      7.66
72    8.99  7.86   8.71  7.74   8.01  7.38   7.15  6.86   7.92  7.24   72      5.84      6.30      6.83      7.39      7.90
73    9.31  8.12   8.98  7.98   8.18  7.56   7.23  6.96   8.13  7.42   73      5.95      6.44      7.02      7.62      8.17
74    9.65  8.41   9.27  8.23   8.35  7.74   7.30  7.06   8.35  7.63   74      6.07      6.60      7.22      7.87      8.46
75   10.02  8.72   9.57  8.51   8.52  7.93   7.37  7.15   8.58  7.84   75      6.19      6.77      7.44      8.14      8.77
76   10.41  9.05   9.88  8.80   8.68  8.12   7.43  7.24   8.83  8.06   76      6.33      6.96      7.68      8.43      9.10
77   10.84  9.42  10.21  9.11   8.85  8.31   7.49  7.32   9.08  8.31   77      6.48      7.15      7.94      8.75      9.45
78   11.29  9.81  10.55  9.44   9.00  8.51   7.54  7.40   9.36  8.56   78      6.64      7.37      8.22      9.08      9.83
79   11.78 10.24  10.90  9.80   9.16  8.70   7.59  7.46   9.64  8.83   79      6.81      7.60      8.52      9.45     10.24
80   12.29 10.71  11.27 10.17   9.30  8.88   7.63  7.52   9.93  9.13   80      6.99      7.85      8.84      9.83     10.67
81   12.85 11.22  11.64 10.55   9.44  9.06   7.66  7.58  10.25  9.43   81      7.19      8.12      9.12     10.25     11.12
82   13.44 11.76  12.01 10.96   9.57  9.23   7.69  7.62  10.58  9.76   82      7.41      8.42      9.56     10.69     11.61
83   14.06 12.36  12.40 11.38   9.69  9.40   7.72  7.66  10.92 10.10   83      7.64      8.73      9.97     11.17     12.12
84   14.73 13.00  12.78 11.81   9.80  9.55   7.74  7.69  11.27 10.47   84      7.89      9.07     10.40     11.67     12.66
85   15.42 13.70  13.16 12.25   9.90  9.68   7.76  7.72  11.65 10.85   85      8.17      9.44     10.86     12.20     13.24
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Adjusted age of annuitant.  M = Male  F = Female
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
Table A above is based on the "1983  Individual  Annuitant  Mortality  Table A."
Settlement rates for any age, or any combination of age and sex not shown above,
will be  calculated  on the same basis as those rates shown in the table  above.
Such rates will be furnished by us upon request.



<PAGE>



PAGE 21
PLAN E - Dollar Amount of Each Monthly Variable Dollar Annuity Payment Per
$1,000 Applied (based on 5% AIR)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Years    Monthly         Years    Monthly         Years    Monthly
        Payable   Payment        Payable   Payment        Payable   Payment
        -------   -------        -------   -------        -------   -------
          10      $10.51           17      $7.20            24      $5.88
          11      $ 9.77           18       6.94            25       5.76
          12        9.16           19       6.71            26       5.65
          13        8.64           20       6.51            27       5.54
          14        8.20           21       6.33            28       5.45
          15        7.82           22       6.17            29       5.36
          16        7.49           23       6.02            30       5.28
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table B - Dollar Amount of Each Monthly Fixed Dollar Annuity Payment Per $1,000
 Applied
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

     PLAN A                     PLAN B                    PLAN C               PLAN D - Joint and Survivor
                                                                               Adjusted Age of Female Joint Annuitant
     Life         5 Years       10 Years     15 Years     With         Adj.
Adj. Income       Certain       Certain      Certain      Refund       Male    10 Years  5 Years   Same     5 Years   10 Years
Age* M     F      M     F       M     F      M     F      M     F      Age     Younger   Younger   Age      Older     Older
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>   <C>   <C>    <C>   <C>    <C>   <C>    <C>   <C>    <C>   <C>    <C>     <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C> 
55    4.70  4.25   4.68  4.25   4.62  4.22   4.53  4.18   4.42  4.10   55      3.51      3.69      3.88      4.06      4.23
60    5.28  4.72   5.25  4.70   5.14  4.66   4.96  4.57   4.86  4.48   60      3.76      3.99      4.24      4.49      4.79
65    6.10  5.35   6.03  5.32   5.81  5.22   5.46  5.05   5.43  4.97   65      4.07      4.38      4.72      5.07      5.39
66    6.29  5.51   6.21  5.47   5.96  5.36   5.56  5.16   5.56  5.08   66      4.15      4.48      4.84      5.21      5.55
67    6.50  5.67   6.41  5.50   5.66  5.26   5.70  5.20   5.70  5.20   67      4.23      4.58      4.97      5.36      5.73
68    6.73  5.85   6.62  5.80   6.28  5.65   5.76  5.37   5.85  5.33   68      4.31      4.69      5.10      5.53      5.92
69    6.97  6.04   6.84  5.98   6.44  5.80   5.86  5.49   6.00  5.47   69      4.40      4.80      5.25      5.70      6.12
70    7.23  6.25   7.07  6.18   6.61  5.96   5.96  5.60   6.16  5.61   70      4.50      4.93      5.40      5.89      6.34
71    7.51  6.47   7.32  6.39   6.78  6.14   6.05  5.71   6.33  5.76   71      4.60      5.06      5.57      6.10      6.57
72    7.80  6.71   7.58  6.62   6.96  6.31   6.14  5.83   6.51  5.93   72      4.71      5.20      5.75      6.31      6.82
73    8.12  6.97   7.85  6.86   7.14  6.50   6.23  5.94   6.70  6.10   73      4.83      5.35      5.94      6.55      7.09
74    8.45  7.26   8.14  7.12   7.32  6.69   6.31  6.04   6.90  6.28   74      4.95      5.51      6.15      6.80      7.37
75    8.82  7.56   8.44  7.39   7.49  6.89   6.38  6.14   7.11  6.48   75      5.08      5.68      6.37      7.07      7.69
76    9.21  7.90   8.76  7.69   7.67  7.09   6.49  6.24   7.33  6.68   76      5.22      5.87      6.61      7.36      8.01
77    9.62  8.26   9.09  8.01   7.84  7.29   6.51  6.33   7.56  6.90   77      5.37      6.07      6.87      7.67      8.36
78   10.07  8.65   9.44  8.34   8.01  7.49   6.57  6.41   7.80  7.13   78      5.54      6.29      7.15      8.01      8.74
79   10.55  9.07   9.80  8.69   8.17  7.69   6.62  6.48   8.05  7.38   79      5.71      6.52      7.45      8.37      9.14
80   11.06  9.53  10.17  9.07   8.33  7.89   6.66  6.55   8.32  7.64   80      5.90      6.78      7.77      8.76      9.57
81   11.61 10.03  10.55  9.46   8.48  8.08   6.70  6.61   8.60  7.91   81      6.10      7.05      8.12      9.17     10.02
82   12.19 10.57  10.94  9.87   8.61  8.26   6.73  6.66   8.89  8.21   82      6.32      7.34      8.49      9.61     10.51
83   12.81 11.16  11.33 10.30   8.74  8.43   6.76  6.70   9.20  8.51   83      6.55      7.65      8.90     10.08     11.02
84   13.46 11.79  11.72 10.74   8.86  8.59   6.79  6.74   9.52  8.83   84      6.80      7.99      9.33     10.58     11.56
85   14.16 12.48  12.12 11.19   8.97  8.74   6.81  6.77   9.85  9.18   85      7.07      8.36      9.78     11.11     12.13
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Adjusted age of annuitant.  M = Male  F = Female
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table B above is based on the  "1983  Individual  Annuitant  Mortality  Table A"
assuming a 3% annual effective interest rate.
Settlement rates for any age, or any combination of age and sex not shown above, will be calculated on the same basis as those
rates shown in the table above. Such rates will be furnished by us upon request.
Amounts  shown in the Table  below are based on  assuming a 3% annual  effective
interest rate.
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PLAN E - Dollar Amount of Each Monthly Fixed Dollar Annuity Payment Per $1,000
Applied
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Years    Monthly         Years    Monthly         Years    Monthly
           Payable   Payment        Payable   Payment        Payable   Payment
           -------   -------        -------   -------        -------   -------
             10      $9.61            17      $6.23            24      $4.84
             11       8.86            18       5.96            25       4.71
             12       8.24            19       5.73            26       4.59
             13       7.71            20       5.51            27       4.47
             14       7.26            21       5.32            28       4.37
             15       6.87            22       5.15            29       4.27
             16       6.53            23       4.99            30       4.18
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------



<PAGE>



PAGE 22
DEFERRED ANNUITY CONTRACT

- - Flexible purchase payments.
- - Optional fixed dollar or variable accumulation values and annuity
  payments.
- - Annuity payments to begin on the retirement date.
- - This contract is nonparticipating.  Dividends are not payable.


IDS Life Insurance Company
IDS Tower 10
Minneapolis, MN  55440





<PAGE>



PAGE 1
American Express Financial Advisors
IDS Life Insurance Company
IDS Tower 10
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440

DEFERRED ANNUITY CONTRACT

- - Flexible purchase payments.
- - Optional fixed dollar or variable accumulation values and annuity
  payments.
- - Annuity payments to begin on the retirement date.
- - This contract is nonparticipating.  Dividends are not payable.

Annuitant:            John Doe

Contract Number:      9300-1234567

Contract Date:        October 1, 1995

Retirement Date:      October 1, 2015

This is a deferred annuity contract.  It is a legal contract
between you, as the owner, and us, IDS Life Insurance Company, a
Stock Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota.  PLEASE READ YOUR CONTRACT
CAREFULLY.

If the annuitant is living on the Retirement  Date,  upon your request,  we will
begin to pay you monthly annuity  payments.  Any payments made by us are subject
to the terms of this contract.

We issue this contract in  consideration  of your application and the payment of
the purchase payments.

Signed for and issued by IDS Life Insurance  Company in Minneapolis,  Minnesota,
as of the contract date shown above.

ACCUMULATION VALUES AND ANNUITY PAYMENTS, WHEN BASED ON THE
INVESTMENT RESULTS OF THE VARIABLE SUBACCOUNTS, ARE VARIABLE AND
NOT GUARANTEED AS TO FIXED DOLLAR AMOUNT.  SEE PAGE 9 FOR VARIABLE
PROVISIONS.

NOTICE OF YOUR RIGHT TO EXAMINE THIS  CONTRACT FOR 10 DAYS If for any reason you
are not  satisfied  with this  contract,  return it to us or our  representative
within 10 days after you receive it. We will then  cancel  this  contract.  Upon
such cancellation we will refund an amount equal to the sum of: (1) the contract
value;  and (2) any  premium  tax  charges  paid.  This  contract  will  then be
considered void from its start.

President

/s/ Richard W. Kling

Secretary

/s/ William A. Stoltzmann

31032-IRA


<PAGE>



PAGE 2
                                   GUIDE TO CONTRACT PROVISIONS

Definitions                    Important words and meanings/Page 3

General Provisions             Entire contract; Incontestability;
                               Benefits based upon incorrect data;
                               State Laws; Federal Laws; Reports to
                               owner; Evidence of survival;
                               Protection of proceeds; Payments by
                               us; Voting rights/Page 4

Ownership and Beneficiary      Owner rights; Change of ownership;
                               Beneficiary; Change of Beneficiary;
                               Page 5

Payments to Beneficiary        Describes options and amounts
                               payable upon death/Page 6

Purchase Payments              Purchase payments amounts and
                               intervals; Payment limits;
                               Allocation of purchase payments
                               Page 7

Contract Value                 Describes the fixed and variable
                               account contract values; Interest to
                               be credited; Contract administrative
                               charge; Premium taxes; Transfers of
                               Contract Values/Page 8

Fixed                          and  Variable  Accounts  Describes  the  variable
                               subaccounts,  accumulation  units and values; Net
                               investment  factor;  Mortality  and expense  risk
                               charge; Annuity unit
                               value/Page 9

Surrender Provisions           Surrender of the contract for its
                               surrender value; Surrender Charges;
                               Waiver of Surrender Charges; Rules
                               for surrender/Page 11

Annuity Provisions             When annuity payments begin;
                               Different ways to receive annuity
                               payments; Determination of payment
                               amounts/Page 13

Table of Settlement Rates      Tables showing amount of
                               first variable annuity payment and
                               the guaranteed fixed annuity
                               payments for the various payment
                               plans/Page 15




<PAGE>



PAGE 3
                                           CONTRACT DATA

Annuitant:            John Doe

Contract Number:      9300-1234567

Contract Date:        October 1, 1995

Retirement Date:      October 1, 2015

Contract Owner:       John Doe

Deferred Annuity Contract ("Flexible Portfolio Annuity")

Upon issuance of this contract your purchase  payments have been scheduled to be
paid and applied to the fixed and variable  subaccounts as shown below.  You may
change the amount, frequency and allocations as provided in this contract. Refer
to the purchase payments provisions on Page 7.

Amount Submitted With Application:     None
Scheduled Purchase Payment:
                      Annual Amount:   $1,200

Variable                                     Purchase Payments
SubAccounts         Mutual Fund              Allocation Percentage

  HC           IDS Life Capital Resource Fund           10%
  HS           IDS Life Special Income Fund              5%
  HM           IDS Life Moneyshare Fund                  5%
  HD           IDS Managed Fund                          5%
  HI           IDS Life International Equity Fund        5%
  HA           IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund          10%
  HV           IDS Life Income Advantage Fund           10%
  HG           IDS Life Global Yield Fund                5%
  HW           AIM Variable Ins. Growth & Income         5%
  HN           Putnam Variable Trust New Opportunities
                 Fund                                   10%
  HT           Warburg Pincus Trust Small Company
                 Portfolio                               5%
  HK           Templeton Devoloping Markets Fund         5%
  HP           TCI Portfolios Value                      5%

Fixed Account                                           10%

                     Schedule of Surrender Charges

                                    Surrender Charge Applied to
            Contract Year           Purchase Payments Surrendered

            1 Through 3                     7%
                4                           6%
                5                           5%
                6                           4%



<PAGE>



PAGE 4
                                     CONTRACT DATA (continued)

                7                           3%
                8                           2%
            Thereafter                      0%

Contract Administrative Charge: $30 annually.  Charge is waived if
                                contract value, or purchase
                                payments less purchase payments
                                surrendered, equals or exceeds
                                $25,000.  See Page 8.

Maximum Purchase Payments Permitted Subject to IRA Limits:

           1st contract year:           $1,000,000

           Each contract year
               thereafter:              $  100,000

Fixed Account Guaranteed Interest Rate: 3% Annual Effective Rate

As of the date this  contract  was issued,  any amounts  allocated  to the fixed
account will earn interest,  for the first year, at the annual effective rate of
4.65%. New Rates may be declared from time to time.




<PAGE>



PAGE 5
                                            DEFINITIONS

The following  words are used often in this  contract.  When we use these words,
this is what we mean:

annuitant

The person or persons on whose life monthly annuity payments depend.

you, your

The owner of this contract.

we, our, us

IDS Life Insurance Company.

accumulation unit

An accumulation  unit is an accounting unit of measure.  It is used to calculate
the contract value prior to settlement.

annuity unit

An annuity unit is an  accounting  unit of measure.  It is used to calculate the
value of  annuity  payments  from the  variable  subaccounts  on and  after  the
retirement date.

contract date

It is the date from which contract  anniversaries,  contract years, and contract
months are determined. Your contract date is shown under Contract Data.

contract anniversary

The same day and month as the contract date each year that the contract  remains
in force.

contract value

The sum of the Fixed Account Contract Value (which receives a declared  interest
rate) and the Variable  Account Contract Value (which varies with the investment
performance of the elected subaccounts) for this contract.

retirement date

The date shown under Contract Data on which annuity payments are to begin.  This
date may be changed as provided in this contract.  You will be notified prior to
the retirement date in order to select an appropriate annuity payment plan.




<PAGE>



PAGE 6
                                      DEFINITIONS (continued)

settlement

The  application  of the contract  value of this contract to an Annuity  Payment
Plan to provide annuity payments.

valuation date

A valuation date is each day the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading.

valuation period

A valuation  period is the interval of time  commencing at the close of business
on each valuation date and ending at the close of business on the next valuation
date.

fixed account

The fixed  account is made up of all our assets other than those in any separate
account.

variable subaccounts

The  portfolios  of the  Variable  Account.  The  subaccounts  available  on the
contract date are named under Contract Data.

fixed annuity

A fixed  annuity is an annuity with  payments  which are  guaranteed by us as to
dollar amount during the annuity payment period.

variable annuity

A variable  annuity is an annuity with payments which (1) are not  predetermined
or guaranteed as to dollar  amount;  and (2) vary in amount with the  investment
experience of one or more of the variable subaccounts.

written request

A request in writing signed by you and delivered to us at our home office.




<PAGE>



PAGE 7
                                        GENERAL PROVISIONS

Entire Contract

This contract form is the entire contract between you and us.

No  one  except  one of  our  corporate  officers  (President,  Vice  President,
Secretary  or  Assistant  Secretary)  can  change or waive any of our  rights or
requirements under this contract. That person must do so in writing. None of our
representatives or other persons has the authority to change or waive any of our
rights or requirements under this contract.

This contract is intended to qualify as an Individual  Retirement Annuity (IRA).
We agree to and  reserve  the  right  to  modify  this  contract  to the  extent
necessary  to qualify  this  contract  as an  Individual  Retirement  Annuity as
described in Sections  408(b) and 219 of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as
amended and all related sections and regulations  which are in effect during the
term of the contract.

Incontestable

This contract is incontestable from its date of issue.

Benefits Based on Incorrect Data

If the amount of benefits is determined by data as to a person's age or sex that
is incorrect,  benefits will be  recalculated  on the basis of the correct data.
Any underpayments made by us will be made up immediately.  Any overpayments made
by us will be subtracted from the future payments.

State Laws

This contract is governed by the law of the state in which it is delivered.  The
values and  benefits of this  contract  are at least equal to those  required by
such state.

Federal Laws

This contract is intended to qualify as an annuity  contract for Federal  income
tax purposes. To that end, the provisions of this contract are to be interpreted
to ensure or maintain such tax  qualification,  despite any other  provisions to
the  contrary.  We reserve  the right to amend  this  contract  to  reflect  any
clarifications   that  may  be  needed  or  are  appropriate  to  maintain  such
qualification  or to conform the contract to any  applicable  changes in the tax
qualification requirements. We will send you a copy of any such amendments.

Reports to Owner

At least once a year we will send you a statement showing the
contract value and the cash surrender value of this contract.  This



<PAGE>



PAGE 8
                                  GENERAL PROVISIONS (continued)

statement will be based on any laws or regulations  that apply contracts of this
type.

Evidence of Survival

Where any  payments  under this  contract  depend on the  recipient or annuitant
being  alive on a given  date,  proof  that such  condition  has been met may be
required by us. Such proof may be required prior to making the payments.

Protection of Proceeds

Payments under this contract are not assignable by any beneficiary  prior to the
time they are due. To the extent allowed by law, payments are not subject to the
claims of creditors or to legal process.

Payments By Us

All sums  payable  by us are  payable  from our home  office.  Any  payment of a
variable  annuity or  surrender  based on the variable  contract  value shall be
payable only from the variable subaccounts.

Voting Rights

So long as federal law requires,  we will give certain voting rights to contract
owners.  As contract  owner,  if you have voting rights we will send a notice to
you telling  you the time and place of a  shareholder  meeting.  The notice will
also explain matters to be voted upon and how many votes you get.

Trustee or custodian owners shall cast votes according to instructions  received
from appropriate annuitants.  All other votes of such trustee or custodian under
the same trust or custodial  agreement shall be cast in the same proportion.  If
no  instructions  are  received,  the  votes  may be  cast at the  trustee's  or
custodian's discretion.



<PAGE>



PAGE 9
                                     OWNERSHIP AND BENEFICIARY

Owner's Rights

As long as the  annuitant  is  living  and  unless  otherwise  provided  in this
contract,  you may exercise all rights and privileges  provided in this contract
or allowed by us. Your entire interest is non- forfeitable.

Trust or Custodial Ownership

If you are a tax qualified trust or tax qualified  custodial account,  then your
trustees or  custodian  (or their  successors)  properly  named by your trust or
custodial  agreement  may  exercise all rights and  privileges  provided in this
contract or allowed by us.

Change of Ownership (Restricted)

Your right to change the ownership of this contract is restricted. This contract
may not be sold, assigned, transferred,  discounted or pledged as collateral for
a loan or as security for  performance of an obligation or for any other purpose
to any person  other than as may be required or permitted  under  Section 408 of
the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986,  as amended.  Your interest in this contract
may be transferred  to your former  spouse,  if any, under a divorce decree or a
written instrument incident to such divorce.

However,  if this contract is owned by a trustee of a tax-qualified trust or the
custodian of a tax-qualified  custodial  account,  such trustee or custodian may
transfer ownership of this contract to the annuitant or to a qualified successor
trustee or custodian. Such transfer shall be effective only if received by us at
our home office.  When so received,  such  transfer  shall take effect as of the
date of  instrument,  subject to any payment  made or other  action  taken by us
before such receipt.

Beneficiary

Beneficiaries  are those  you name,  in a form  satisfactory  to us, to  receive
benefits of this  contract if you or the annuitant die while this contract is in
force.

Only those  beneficiaries  who are living when death benefits become payable may
share in the benefits, if any. If no beneficiary is then living, we will pay the
benefits to you, if living, otherwise to your estate.

Change of Beneficiary

You may  change  the  beneficiary  anytime  while  the  annuitant  is  living by
satisfactory  written  request to us. Once the change is recorded by us, it will
take  effect as of the date of your  request,  subject  to any  action  taken or
payment made by us before the recording.



<PAGE>



PAGE 10
                                      PAYMENTS TO BENEFICIARY

Death Benefit Before the Retirement Date

If the annuitant dies before the retirement date and age 75, while this contract
is in force we will pay to the beneficiary the greater of:

1.                the contract value; or

2.                the contract value as of the most recent sixth contract
                  anniversary less any amounts surrendered; or

3.                the purchase payments paid less any amounts
                  surrendered.

If the  annuitant or owner dies before the  retirement  date and on or after the
annuitant's  75th birthday,  while this contract is in force, we will pay to the
beneficiary the greater of:

1.                the contract value; or

2.                the contract value as of the most recent sixth contract
                  anniversary, less any amounts surrendered.

The above  amount will be payable in a lump sum upon the receipt of due proof of
death of the annuitant.  The  beneficiary  may elect to receive  payment anytime
within 5 years after the date of death of the annuitant.

In lieu of a lump  sum,  payment  may be made  under an  Annuity  Payment  Plan,
provided:

1.                the beneficiary elects the plan within 60 days after we
                  receive due proof of death; and

2.                payments begin no later than one year after the date of
                  death; and

3.                the plan provides payments over a period which does not
                  exceed the life of the beneficiary, or the life
                  expectancy of the beneficiary.

In this event,  the reference to  "annuitant"  in the Annuity  Provisions  shall
apply to the beneficiary.

Any amounts  payable or applied by us as described in this section will be based
on the contract  value as of the valuation date on or next following the date on
which due proof of death is received at our Home Office.

Spouse Option to Continue Contract Upon Owner's Death

If the annuitant dies prior to the  retirement  date, a spouse who is designated
as sole beneficiary, may elect in writing to forego receipt of the death benefit
and instead continue this contract in


<PAGE>



PAGE 11
                                PAYMENTS TO BENEFICIARY (continued)

force.  The election by the spouse must be made within 60 days
after we receive due proof of death.

In this event,  the retirement  date may not be later than the April 1 following
the calendar  year in which the  annuitant  would have  attained 70 1/2, or such
other  date  which  allows  the  spouse  to  satisfy  the  minimum  distribution
requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, its regulation
and/or promulgations by the Internal Revenue Service.

Annuitant's Death After the Retirement Date

If the annuitant dies after the retirement  date,  the amount  payable,  if any,
will be as provided in the Annuity Payment Plan then in effect.




<PAGE>



PAGE 12
                                         PURCHASE PAYMENTS

Purchase Payments

Purchase  payments are the payments you make for this  contract and the benefits
it provides.  Purchase  payments must be paid or mailed to us at our home office
or to an  authorized  agent.  If  requested,  we'll give you a receipt  for your
purchase payments. Upon payment to us, purchase payments become our property.

Net purchase  payments are that part of your  purchase  payments  applied to the
contract value. A net purchase payment is equal to the purchase payment less any
applicable premium tax charge.

Amount and Intervals

Purchase  payments  may be paid in a single  sum or in  installments  until  the
earlier of: (1) the date this contract terminates by surrender or otherwise;  or
(2) the date on which annuity payments begin.

Subject  to the  Payment  Limits  Provision  you may:  (1) stop  and/or  restart
purchase  payments;  or (2)  increase  or decrease  the amount of your  purchase
payments; or (3) change the interval of your purchase payments.

With the  exception of employer  purchase  payments  made in  connection  with a
Simplified  Employee Pension Plan, no annual purchase  payments may be made with
respect to the  taxable  year in which the  annuitant  attains age 70-1/2 or any
later year.

Payment Limits Provision

Maximum Purchase  Payments - The maximum purchase payments in the first or later
contract  years may not exceed the amounts shown under Contract Data. We reserve
the right to increase the maximums.

Minimum  Purchase  Payments - Upon issue of this  contract,  a purchase  payment
intended  as a  Single  Purchase  Payment  must be at least  $1,000.  Additional
payments  must be at least  $50.  If you  intend  to make  installment  purchase
payments such payments, on an annualized basis, must be at least equal to $600.

In addition,  except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the total purchase
payments for any taxable year may not exceed  $2,000.  In the case of a rollover
contribution  described in Sections  402(a) (5),  402(a) (7), 403(a) (4), 403(b)
(8) or, 408(d) (3), of the Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  there is
no limit on the amount of your purchase payment.  If this contract is maintained
in  connection  with a  Simplified  Employee  Pension  Plan,  employer  purchase
payments  for any  taxable  year  may not  exceed  15% of your  compensation  or
$30,000,  whichever is less. All purchase  payments must be made in cash. If you
die before your entire  interest in this contract has been  distributed  to you,
and your beneficiary is


<PAGE>



PAGE 13
                                   PURCHASE PAYMENTS (continued)

other than your  surviving  spouse,  no  additional  purchase  payments  will be
accepted from your beneficiary under this contract.

We also  reserve  the right to cancel  this  contract  if both of the  following
conditions exist at the same time: (1) no purchase payments have been paid for a
continuous period of 24 months; and (2) less than $600 in purchase payments have
been paid under this  contract.  In this event we will give you 30 days  written
notice of our intent to cancel this contract. Upon such cancellation we will pay
you the contract value in one sum. This contract will then terminate.

Allocation of Purchase Payments

You instruct us on how you want your purchase payments allocated among the fixed
account and  variable  subaccounts.  Your choice for each account may be made in
any whole  percent  from 0% to 100% as long as the total  adds up to 100%.  Your
allocation  instructions  as of the contract date are shown under Contract Data.
By written  request,  or by another  method agreed to by us, you may change your
choice of  accounts  or  percentages.  The first net  purchase  payment  will be
allocated  as of the  end of the  valuation  period  during  which  we  make  an
affirmative  decision to issue this  contract.  Net purchase  payments after the
first will be allocated as of the end of the  valuation  period  during which we
receive the payment at our home office.




<PAGE>



PAGE 14
                                          CONTRACT VALUE

Contract Value

The contract value at any time is the sum of: (1) the Fixed Account
Contract Value; and (2) the Variable Account Contract Value.

If:  (1)  part or all of the  contract  value  is  surrendered;  or (2)  charges
described  herein  are  made  against  the  contract  value;  then a  number  of
accumulation  units from the variable  subaccounts  and an amount from the fixed
account will be deducted to equal such amount.  For surrenders,  deductions will
be made from the fixed or variable subaccounts that you specify.  Otherwise, the
number of units from the  variable  subaccounts  and the  amount  from the fixed
account will be deducted in the same proportion that your interest in each bears
to the total contract value.

Fixed Account Contract Value

The fixed account contract value at any time will be: (1) the sum of all amounts
credited to the fixed account under this contract; less (2) any amounts deducted
for charges or surrenders.

Interest to be Credited

We will credit interest to the fixed account contract value. Interest will begin
to accrue on the date the  purchase  payments  which  are  received  in our home
office  become  available to us for use. Such interest will be credited at rates
that we determine  from time to time.  However,  we guarantee that the rate will
not be less than the Guaranteed Interest Rate shown under Contract Data.

Variable Account Contract Value

The  variable  account  contract  value at any time will be:  (1) the sum of the
value  of  all  variable  subaccount  accumulation  units  under  this  contract
resulting from purchase  payments so allocated,  or transfers among the variable
and fixed accounts; less (2) any units deducted for charges or surrenders.

Contract Administrative Charge

We charge a fee for  establishing and maintaining our records for this contract.
The charge is $30 per year and is deducted from the contract value at the end of
each contract year or, if earlier,  when the contract is fully  surrendered.  We
waive this charge if your contract value,  or your total purchase  payments less
any purchase payments  surrendered,  equals or exceeds $25,000.  The charge does
not apply after settlement of this contract under an annuity payment plan.

Premium Tax Charges

A charge will be made by us against the contract  value of this  contract at the
time that any premium taxes not previously deducted are payable.


<PAGE>



PAGE 15
                                    CONTRACT VALUE (continued)

Transfers of Contract Values

While this  contract  is in force  prior to the  settlement  date,  transfer  of
contract values may be made as outlined below:

1.                You may  transfer  all or a part of the values  held in one or
                  more of the variable subaccounts to another one or more of the
                  variable subaccounts. Subject to item 2, you may also transfer
                  values held in one or more of the variable  subaccounts to the
                  fixed account.

2.                On or within the 30 days after a contract anniversary
                  you may transfer values from the fixed account to one
                  or more of the variable subaccounts.  Only one such
                  transfer is allowed during this period each year.  If
                  such a transfer is made, no transfers from a variable
                  subaccount to the fixed account may be made until the
                  next contract anniversary.

You may make a transfer by written request.  Transfer  requests may also be made
according to telephone procedures or automated transfer procedures that are then
currently  in effect,  if any.  There is no fee or charge  for these  transfers.
However,  the minimum  transfer  amount is $250, or if less, the entire value in
the account from which the transfer is being made. Smaller minimums may apply to
automated  transfer  procedures.  This  transfer  privilege  may be suspended or
modified by us at any time.




<PAGE>



PAGE 16
                                    FIXED AND VARIABLE ACCOUNTS

The Fixed Account

The fixed  account is our  general  account.  It is made up of all of our assets
other than:  (1) those in the variable  subaccounts;  and (2) those in any other
segregated asset account.

The Variable Account

The variable  account is a separate  investment  account of ours. It consists of
several  subaccounts  which are named under  Contract  Data. We have allocated a
part of our assets for this  contract  to the  variable  accounts.  Such  assets
remain our property.  However, they may not be charged with the liabilities from
any other business in which we may take part.

Investments of the Variable Account

Purchase  payments  applied to the  variable  subaccounts  will be  allocated as
specified by the owner.  Each variable  subaccount will buy, at net asset value,
shares of the fund shown for that  subaccount  under  Contract  Data or as later
added or changed.

We may change the mutual funds from which the variable subaccounts buy shares if
laws or  regulations  change,  the existing  funds become  unavailable or in our
judgment, the funds are no longer suitable for the subaccounts.  If any of these
situations  occur, we would have the right to substitute  funds other than those
shown under Contract Data. We may also add additional  subaccounts  investing in
other funds.

When  required,  we would first seek  approval of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission  and, the  insurance  regulator  of the state where this  contract is
delivered.

Valuation of Assets

Mutual fund shares in the variable subaccounts will be valued at their net asset
value.

Variable Account Accumulation Units

The company will credit net purchase payments and amounts of variable subaccount
transfers in the form of accumulation  units. The number of units to be credited
to each  subaccount  will be determined by dividing the net amount  allocated to
that subaccount by the unit value of the subaccount.  In the case of the initial
net purchase payment,  units will be credited on the date we make an affirmative
decision to issue this contract. For additional payments, units will be credited
as of the valuation period during which the purchase payment is received.




<PAGE>



PAGE 17
                              FIXED AND VARIABLE ACCOUNTS (continued)

The amount of any Contract Administrative Charge, or other applicable charges or
partial  surrenders  from the variable  account  contract  value will reduce the
number of units credited to the contract in the variable subaccounts. A transfer
out of a subaccount  will reduce the number of units credited to the contract in
that  subaccount  while a transfer into a subaccount will increase the number of
units.

Variable Account Accumulation Unit Value

The  value of an  accumulation  unit for each of the  variable  subaccounts  was
arbitrarily  set at $1 when the first mutual fund shares were bought.  The value
for any later valuation period is found as follows:

                  The accumulation  unit value for each variable  subaccount for
                  the last  prior  valuation  period  is  multiplied  by the net
                  investment  factor for the same account for the next following
                  valuation  period.  The result is the accumulation unit value.
                  The value of an  accumulation  unit may  increase  or decrease
                  from one valuation period to the next.

Net Investment Factor

The net  investment  factor  is an  index  applied  to  measure  the  investment
performance of a variable  subaccount from one valuation period to the next. The
net investment factor may be greater or less than one;  therefore,  the value of
an accumulation unit may increase or decrease.

The net investment  factor for any such  subaccount for any valuation  period is
determined by: dividing (1) by (2) and subtracting (3) from the result.  This is
done where:

(1) is the sum of:

                  a.     the net asset value per share of the mutual fund
                         held in the variable subaccount determined at the
                         end of the current valuation period; plus

                  b.     the per share amount of any dividend or capital
                         gain distributions made by the mutual fund held in
                         the variable subaccount, if the "ex-dividend" date
                         occurs during the current valuation period.

(2)               is the net asset value per share of the mutual fund
                  held in the variable subaccount, determined at the end
                  of the last prior valuation period.

(3)               is a factor representing the mortality and expense risk
                  charge.



<PAGE>



PAGE 18
                              FIXED AND VARIABLE ACCOUNTS (continued)

Mortality and Expense Risk Charge

In calculating  accumulation  unit values we will deduct a mortality and expense
risk charge from the variable subaccounts equal, on an annual basis, to 1.25% of
the daily net asset value.  This deduction is made to compensate us for assuming
the mortality  and expense risks under  contracts of this type. We estimate that
approximately  2/3 of this charge is for assumption of mortality risk and 1/3 is
for  assumption  of  expense  risk.  The  deduction  will be: (1) made from each
variable subaccount; and (2) computed on a daily basis.

Annuity Unit Value

The value of an Annuity Unit for each variable subaccount was arbitrarily set at
$1 when the first mutual funds were  bought.  The value for any later  valuation
period is found as follows:

1.                The annuity unit value for each  variable  subaccount  for the
                  last  prior   valuation   period  is  multiplied  by  the  net
                  investment  factor for the subaccount for the valuation period
                  for which the annuity unit value is being calculated.

2.                The result is multiplied by an interest factor.  This
                  is done to neutralize the assumed investment rate which
                  is built into the annuity tables on page 15.



<PAGE>



PAGE 19
                                       SURRENDER PROVISIONS

Surrender

By written request and subject to the rules below you may:

1.                surrender this contract for the total surrender value;
                  or

2.                partially surrender this contract for a part of the
                  surrender value.

Surrender Value

The surrender value at any time will be:

1.                the contract value;

2.                minus the contract administrative charge;

3.                minus any surrender charge.

Surrender Charge

A surrender charge may apply during the first eight contract years. To determine
the charge  during this period for a partial or total  surrender we first divide
the contract value into two parts.

1.                Contract  earnings - This is the contract  value minus the sum
                  of all purchase  payments we have  received that have not been
                  previously surrendered.

2.                Purchase payments - These are the total purchase
                  payments we received that have not been previously
                  surrendered.

We will then surrender  your contract  value in the following  order so that the
amount  surrendered,  less  any  surrender  charge  that  applies,  equals  your
requested surrender amount:

1.                Contract Earnings, if any, are surrendered first.
                  There is no surrender charge on contract earnings.

2.                Next, if necessary, we surrender purchase payments not
                  previously surrendered.

The  surrender  charge shown under  Contract  Data applies to purchase  payments
surrendered.

Determining Contract Earnings

Contract  earnings are determined by looking at the entire contract  value,  not
just the earnings of a certain variable subaccount or the fixed account.




<PAGE>



PAGE 20
                                 SURRENDER PROVISIONS (continued)

For example, the gains you may have in a certain variable subaccount or interest
earned  in the fixed  account  may be  offset  by  losses  in  another  variable
subaccount. This may result in not having any contract earnings available at the
time of surrender.

At the time of surrender,  we will surrender any amounts  representing  contract
earnings first in order to minimize any applicable surrender charge.

Waiver of Surrender Charges

There are no surrender charges for:

1.  Death benefit payments; or

2.  Contracts settled under an Annuity Payment Plan; or

3.  Amounts  surrendered to meet applicable  minimum  distribution  requirements
    under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  its regulations and/or
    promulgations of the Internal Revenue Service.  Surrenders under this waiver
    provision are limited to one per year unless we agree otherwise.

Rules For Surrender

All surrenders will have the following conditions:

1.                You must apply by written request or other method
                  agreed to by us: (a) while this contract is in force;
                  and (b) prior to the earlier of the retirement date or
                  the death of the annuitant.

2.                Unless we agree otherwise,  you must surrender an amount equal
                  to at least $250 or the entire  contract  value,  if less. The
                  contract  value  after a  partial  surrender  must be at least
                  $600.

3.                The amount  surrendered,  less any charges,  will  normally be
                  paid to you within  seven days of our receipt of your  written
                  surrender  request  and  the  return  of  this  contract,   if
                  required.  For surrenders from the fixed account,  we have the
                  right to defer payment to you for up to 6 months from the date
                  we receive your request.

4.                For  partial  surrenders,  if you do not  specify  from  which
                  accounts the surrender is to be made,  the  surrender  will be
                  made from the variable  subaccounts  and fixed  account in the
                  same proportion as your interest in each bears to the contract
                  value.

5.                Any amounts surrendered and charges which may apply can
                  not be repaid.




<PAGE>



PAGE 21
                                 SURRENDER PROVISIONS (continued)

Upon surrender for the full surrender value this contract will terminate. We may
require  that you return  the  contract  to us before we pay the full  surrender
value.

Suspension or Delay in Payment of Surrender

We have the right to suspend or delay the date of any surrender payment from the
variable subaccounts for any period:

1.                When the New York Stock Exchange is closed; or

2.                When trading on the New York Stock Exchange is
                  restricted; or

3.                When an emergency exists as a result of which: (a)
                  disposal of securities held in the variable subaccounts
                  is not reasonably practicable; or (b) it is not
                  reasonably practicable to fairly determine the value of
                  the net assets of the variable account; or

4.                During any other period when the Securities and
                  Exchange Commission, by order, so permits for the
                  protection of security holders.

Rules and  regulations of the Securities and Exchange  Commission will govern as
to whether the conditions set forth in 2 and 3 exist.




<PAGE>



PAGE 22
                                        ANNUITY PROVISIONS

Settlement

When  settlement  occurs,  the  contract  value will be applied to make  annuity
payments. The first payment will be made as of the retirement date. This date is
shown under Contract Data.  Before  payments begin we will require  satisfactory
proof that the  annuitant is alive.  We may also require that you exchange  this
contract for a supplemental contract which provides for the annuity payments.

Change of Retirement Date

You may change the retirement date shown for this contract. Tell us the new date
by written request. The maximum Retirement Date is the later of:

1.                April 1 following the calendar year in which the
                  annuitant attains age 70 1/2; or

2.                such other date which satisfies the minimum
                  distribution requirements under the Internal Revenue
                  Code of 1986, as amended, its regulations and/or
                  promulgations by the Internal Revenue Service; or

3.                such other date as agreed upon by us.

Notwithstanding the above, the maximum Retirement Date is the later of:

1.                The contract anniversary on or preceding the
                  annuitant's 85th birthday; or

2.                the 10th contract anniversary.

Also, if you select a new retirement  date, it must be at least 30 days after we
receive your written request at our home office.

Annuity Payment Plans

Subject to the terms of this contract,  annuity  payments may be made on a fixed
dollar  basis,  a variable  basis,  or a combination  of both.  You can schedule
receipt of annuity  payment  according  to one of the Plans A through E below or
another plan agreed to by us.

1.                the Plan selected provides for payments over the life
                  of the annuitant or over the life of the annuitant and
                  a joint annuitant; or

2.                the Plan selected provides for payments over a period
                  which does not exceed the life expectancy of the
                  annuitant, or the life expectancy of the annuitant and
                  a joint annuitant; and




<PAGE>



PAGE 23
                                  ANNUITY PROVISIONS (continued)

3.                the Plan selected meets the minimum death incidental
                  benefit requirements under the Internal Revenue Code of
                  1986, as amended.

                  Plan A - This provides  monthly  annuity  payments  during the
                  lifetime of the annuitant.  No payments will be made after the
                  annuitant dies.

                  Plan B - This provides  monthly  annuity  payments  during the
                  lifetime of the annuitant with a guarantee by us that payments
                  will be made for a period  of at least  five,  ten or  fifteen
                  years. You must select the guaranteed period.

                  Plan C - This provides  monthly  annuity  payments  during the
                  lifetime of the annuitant with a guarantee by us that payments
                  will be made for a certain number of months.  We determine the
                  number of months by  dividing  the amount  applied  under this
                  Plan by the amount of the first monthly annuity payment.

                  Plan D - Monthly  payments will be paid during the lifetime of
                  the annuitant and a joint annuitant. When either the annuitant
                  or the joint  annuitant  dies we will continue to make monthly
                  payments during the lifetime of the survivor. No payments will
                  be paid  after  the  death of both  the  annuitant  and  joint
                  annuitant.

                  Plan E - (Installments  for a specified  period) This provides
                  monthly annuity  payments for a period of years. The period of
                  years may be no less than 10 nor more than 30.

By written  request to us at least 30 days before the  Retirement  Date, you may
select  the Plan.  If at least 30 days  before the  Retirement  Date we have not
received at our home office your written  request to select a Plan, we will make
fixed-dollar  payments  according  to Plan B with  payments  guaranteed  for ten
years.

If the  amount to be applied  to a Plan  would not  provide  an initial  monthly
payment  of at least  $20,  we have the right to make a lump sum  payment of the
contract value.

Allocation of Contract Values at Settlement

At the time of settlement  under an Annuity Payment Plan you may reallocate your
contract  value to the Fixed  Account to provide  fixed dollar  payments  and/or
among the variable  subaccounts to provide variable annuity payments.  Unless we
agree otherwise,  you may use a maximum of five variable  subaccounts at any one
time during settlement.



<PAGE>



PAGE 24
                                  ANNUITY PROVISIONS (continued)

Fixed Annuity

A fixed  annuity is an annuity with  payments  that are  guaranteed  by us as to
dollar  amount.  Fixed annuity  payments after the first will never be less than
the amount of the first payment. At settlement, the fixed account contract value
will be applied to the applicable Annuity Table. This will be done in accordance
with the Payment Plan chosen.  The amount  payable for each $1,000 so applied is
shown in Table B on page 16.

Variable Annuity

A variable annuity is an annuity with payments which: (1) are not  predetermined
or guaranteed as to dollar  amount;  and (2) vary in amount with the  investment
experience of the variable subaccounts.

Determination of First Variable Annuity Payment

At  settlement,  the  variable  account  contract  value  will be applied to the
applicable  Annuity  Table.  This will be done:  (1) on the valuation date on or
next  preceding  the 7th calendar  day before the  retirement  date;  and (2) in
accordance  with the  Payment  Plan  chosen.  The amount  payable  for the first
payment for each $1,000 so applied is shown in Table A on page 15.

Variable Annuity Payments After the First Payment

Variable  annuity  payments  after the first payment vary in amount.  The amount
changes with the investment performance of the variable subaccounts.  The dollar
amount of variable  annuity payments after the first is not fixed. It may change
from  month to month.  The  dollar  amount of such  payments  is  determined  as
follows:

1.                The dollar amount of the first annuity payment is
                  divided by the value of an annuity unit as of the
                  valuation date on or next preceding the 7th calendar
                  day before the retirement date.  This result
                  establishes the fixed number of annuity units for each
                  monthly annuity payment after the first.  This number
                  of annuity units remains fixed during the annuity
                  payment period.

2.                The fixed number of annuity units is multiplied by the annuity
                  unit value as of the valuation  date on or next  preceding the
                  7th  calendar  day  before the date the  payment is due.  This
                  result establishes the dollar amount of the payment.

We guarantee  that the dollar amount of each payment after the first will not be
affected by variations in expenses or mortality experience.




<PAGE>



PAGE 25
                                  ANNUITY PROVISIONS (continued)

Exchange of Annuity Units

After annuity  payments begin,  annuity units of any variable  subaccount may be
exchanged for units of any of the other variable  subaccounts.  This may be done
no more than once a year.  Unless we agree  otherwise  you may use a maximum  of
five  variable  subaccounts  at any one time.  Once  annuity  payments  start no
exchanges may be made to or from any fixed annuity.



<PAGE>



PAGE 26
                                     TABLE OF SETTLEMENT RATES

Table A below shows the amount of the first monthly  variable  annuity  payment,
based on a 5% assumed  investment return, for each $1,000 of value applied under
any  Payment  Plan.  The amount of the first and all  subsequent  monthly  fixed
dollar annuity  payments for each $1,000 of value applied under any Payment Plan
will be based on our fixed  dollar  Table of  Settlement  Rates in effect on the
settlement  date.  Such rates are  guaranteed to be not less than those shown in
Table B. The amount of such annuity payments under Plans A, B, and C will depend
upon the sex and adjusted age of the  annuitant on the date of  settlement.  The
amount of such  annuity  payments  under Plan D will depend upon the sex and the
adjusted age of the  annuitant  and joint  annuitant on the date of  settlement.
Adjusted age shall be equal to the age nearest  birthday  minus an  "adjustment"
depending on the calendar year of birth of the annuitant as follows:

Calendar Year of                       Calendar Year of
Annuitant's Birth      Adjustment      Annuitant's Birth     Adjustment

Prior to 1920             0            1945 through 1949         6
1920 through 1924         1            1950 through 1959         7
1925 through 1929         2            1960 through 1969         8
1930 through 1934         3            1970 through 1979         9
1935 through 1939         4            1980 through 1989        10
1940 through 1944         5            After 1989               11
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE A Dollar Amount of First Monthly Variable Annuity Payment Per $1,000
Applied

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        PLAN A                                                   PLAN B                PLAN C            PLAN D-Joint and Survivor
                                                                                                         Adjusted Age of Female
                                                                                                         Joint Annuitant

Adj.  Life            5 years         10 years          15 years         With       Adj    10      5              5     10
Age* Income           Certain          Certain          Certain          Refund     Male Years   Years   Same  Years   Years
       M      F        M      F        M      F        M      F        M      F     Age* Younger Younger  Age  Older   Older

<S>   <C>    <C>      <C>    <C>      <C>    <C>      <C>    <C>      <C>    <C>     <C>  <C>     <C>     <C>    <C>    <C> 
55    5.89   5.44     5.86   5.43     5.79   5.40     5.67   5.34     5.68   5.33    55   4.73    4.88    5.04   5.21   5.38
60    6.46   5.89     6.42   5.87     6.28   5.80     6.07   5.69     6.13   5.70    60   4.94    5.15    5.37   5.61   5.83
65    7.27   6.51     7.18   6.47     6.91   6.34     6.52   6.14     6.74   6.21    65   5.23    5.52    5.83   6.17   6.49
66    7.47   6.66     7.36   6.61     7.06   6.47     6.62   6.24     6.88   6.33    66   5.30    5.61    5.95   6.30   6.65
67    7.68   6.82     7.56   6.77     7.21   6.60     6.71   6.34     7.04   6.46    67   5.38    5.70    6.07   6.45   6.82
68    7.91   7.00     7.76   6.93     7.36   6.74     6.81   6.44     7.19   6.60    68   5.46    5.80    6.20   6.61   7.01
69    8.15   7.19     7.98   7.11     7.52   6.89     6.90   6.54     7.36   6.74    69   5.54    5.92    6.34   6.79   7.21
70    8.41   7.39     8.21   7.31     7.68   7.04     6.98   6.65     7.54   6.90    70   5.63    6.03    6.49   6.97   7.42
71    8.69   7.62     8.46   7.51     7.84   7.21     7.07   6.75     7.73   7.06    71   5.73    6.16    6.65   7.17   7.66
72    8.99   7.86     8.71   7.74     8.01   7.38     7.15   6.86     7.92   7.24    72   5.84    6.30    6.83   7.39   7.90
73    9.31   8.12     8.98   7.98     8.18   7.56     7.23   6.96     8.13   7.42    73   5.95    6.44    7.02   7.62   8.17
74    9.65   8.41     9.27   8.23     8.35   7.74     7.30   7.06     8.35   7.63    74   6.07    6.60    7.22   7.87   8.46
75   10.02   8.72     9.57   8.51     8.52   7.93     7.37   7.15     8.58   7.84    75   6.19    6.77    7.44   8.14   8.77
76   10.41   9.05     9.88   8.80     8.68   8.12     7.43   7.24     8.83   8.06    76   6.33    6.96    7.68   8.43   9.10
77   10.84   9.42    10.21   9.11     8.85   8.31     7.49   7.32     9.08   8.31    77   6.48    7.15    7.94   8.75   9.45
78   11.29   9.81    10.55   9.44     9.00   8.51     7.54   7.40     9.36   8.56    78   6.64    7.37    8.22   9.08   9.83
79   11.78  10.24    10.90   9.80     9.16   8.70     7.59   7.46     9.64   8.83    79   6.81    7.60    8.52   9.45  10.24
80   12.29  10.71    11.27  10.17     9.30   8.88     7.63   7.52     9.93   9.13    80   6.99    7.85    8.84   9.83  10.67
81   12.85  11.22    11.64  10.55     9.44   9.06     7.66   7.58    10.25   9.43    81   7.19    8.12    9.19  10.25  11.12
82   13.44  11.76    12.01  10.96     9.57   9.23     7.69   7.62    10.58   9.76    82   7.41    8.42    9.56  10.69  11.61
83   14.06  12.36    12.40  11.38     9.69   9.40     7.72   7.66    10.92  10.10    83   7.64    8.73    9.97  11.17  12.12
84   14.73  13.00    12.78  11.81     9.80   9.55     7.74   7.69    11.27  10.47    84   7.89    9.07   10.40  11.67  12.66
85   15.42  13.70    13.16  12.25     9.90   9.68     7.76   7.72    11.65  10.85    85   8.17    9.44   10.86  12.20  13.24
</TABLE>

* Adjusted age of annuitant.  M=Male  F=Female

Table A above is based on the "1983  Individual  Mortality  Table A." Settlement
rates for any age, or any  combination  of age and sex not shown above,  will be
calculated on the same basis as those rates shown in the table above. Such rates
will be furnished by us upon request.

PLAN E Dollar Amount of Each Monthly Fixed Dollar Annuity Payment Per $1,000 
Applied

         Years    Monthly           Years     Monthly          Years     Monthly
        Payable  Payment           Payable   Payment          Payable    Payment
 
          10     $10.51               17      $ 7.20             24      $ 5.88
          11       9.77               18        6.94             25        5.76
          12       9.16               19        6.71             26        5.65
          13       8.64               20        6.51             27        5.54
          14       8.20               21        6.33             28        5.45
          15       7.82               22        6.17             29        5.36
          16       7.49               23        6.02             30        5.28


<PAGE>



PAGE 27
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               TABLE OF SETTLEMENT RATES (Continued)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE B Dollar Amount of Each Monthly Fixed Dollar Annuity Payment Per $1,000 Applied

        PLAN A          PLAN B          PLAN C                                      PLAN D-Joint and Survivor
                                                                                    Adjusted Age of Female Joint Annuitant

Adj.  Life            5 years         10 years          15 years         With       Adj    10      5              5     10
Age* Income           Certain          Certain          Certain          Refund     Male Years   Years   Same  Years   Years
       M      F        M      F        M      F        M      F        M      F     Age* Younger Younger  Age  Older   Older

<S>   <C>    <C>      <C>    <C>      <C>    <C>      <C>    <C>      <C>    <C>     <C>  <C>     <C>     <C>    <C>    <C> 
55    4.70   4.25     4.68   4.25     4.62   4.22     4.53   4.18     4.42   4.10    55   3.51    3.69    3.88   4.06   4.23
60    5.28   4.72     5.25   4.70     5.14   4.66     4.96   4.57     4.86   4.48    60   3.76    3.99    4.24   4.49   4.72
65    6.10   5.35     6.03   5.32     5.81   5.22     5.46   5.05     5.43   4.97    65   4.07    4.38    4.72   5.07   5.39
66    6.29   5.51     6.21   5.47     5.96   5.36     5.56   5.16     5.56   5.08    66   4.15    4.48    4.84   5.21   5.55
67    6.50   5.67     6.41   5.63     6.11   5.50     5.66   5.26     5.70   5.20    67   4.23    4.58    4.97   5.36   5.73
68    6.73   5.85     6.62   5.80     6.28   5.65     5.76   5.37     5.85   5.33    68   4.31    4.69    5.10   5.53   5.92
69    6.97   6.04     6.84   5.98     6.44   5.80     5.86   5.49     6.00   5.47    69   4.40    4.80    5.25   5.70   6.12
70    7.23   6.25     7.07   6.18     6.61   5.96     5.96   5.60     6.16   5.61    70   4.50    4.93    5.40   5.89   6.34
71    7.51   6.47     7.32   6.39     6.78   6.14     6.05   5.71     6.33   5.76    71   4.60    5.06    5.57   6.10   6.57
72    7.80   6.71     7.58   6.62     6.96   6.31     6.14   5.83     6.51   5.93    72   4.71    5.20    5.75   6.31   6.82
73    8.12   6.97     7.85   6.86     7.14   6.50     6.23   5.94     6.70   6.10    73   4.83    5.35    5.94   6.55   7.09
74    8.45   7.26     8.14   7.12     7.32   6.69     6.31   6.04     6.90   6.28    74   4.95    5.51    6.15   6.80   7.37
75    8.82   7.56     8.44   7.39     7.49   6.89     6.38   6.14     7.11   6.48    75   5.08    5.68    6.37   7.07   7.68
76    9.21   7.90     8.76   7.69     7.67   7.09     6.48   6.24     7.33   6.68    76   5.22    5.87    6.61   7.36   8.01
77    9.62   8.26     9.09   8.01     7.84   7.29     6.51   6.33     7.56   6.90    77   5.37    6.07    6.87   7.67   8.36
78   10.07   8.65     9.44   8.34     8.01   7.49     6.57   6.41     7.80   7.13    78   5.54    6.29    7.15   8.01   8.74
79   10.55   9.07     9.80   8.69     8.17   7.69     6.62   6.48     8.05   7.38    79   5.71    6.52    7.45   8.37   9.14
80   11.06   9.53    10.17   9.07     8.33   7.89     6.66   6.55     8.32   7.64    80   5.90    6.78    7.77   8.76   9.57
81   11.61  10.03    10.55   9.46     8.48   8.08     6.70   6.61     8.60   7.91    81   6.10    7.05    8.12   9.17  10.02
82   12.19  10.57    10.94   9.87     8.61   8.26     6.73   6.66     8.89   8.21    82   6.32    7.34    8.49   9.61  10.51
83   12.81  11.16    11.33  10.30     8.74   8.43     6.76   6.70     9.20   8.51    83   6.55    7.65    8.90  10.08  11.02
84   13.46  11.79    11.72  10.74     8.86   8.59     6.79   6.74     9.52   8.83    84   6.80    7.99    9.33  10.58  11.56
85   14.16  12.48    12.12  11.19     8.97   8.74     6.81   6.77     9.85   9.18    85   7.07    8.36    9.78  11.11  12.13

* Adjusted age of annuitant.  M=Male  F=Female

Table B above is based on the  "1983  Individual  Annuitant  Mortality  Table A"
assuming a 3% annual effective interest rate.
Settlement rates for any age, or any combination of age and sex not shown above, will be calculated on the same basis as
those rates shown in the table  above.  Such rates will be  furnished by us upon
request.  Amounts  shown in the Table  below are based on  assuming  a 3% annual
effective interest rate.
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
PLAN E Dollar Amount of Each Monthly Fixed Dollar Annuity Payment Per $1,000 
Applied

         Years    Monthly           Years     Monthly          Years     Monthly
        Payable   Payment           Payable   Payment          Payable   Payment

          10     $ 9.61               17      $ 6.23             24      $ 4.84
          11       8.86               18        5.96             25        4.71
          12       8.24               19        5.73             26        4.59
          13       7.71               20        5.51             27        4.47
          14       7.26               21        5.32             28        4.37
          15       6.87               22        5.15             29        4.27
          16       6.53               23        4.99             30        4.18
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>



PAGE 28
DEFERRED ANNUITY CONTRACT


- - Flexible purchase payments.
- - Optional fixed dollar or variable accumulation values and annuity
  payments.
- - Annuity payments to begin on the retirement date.
- - This contract is nonparticipating.  Dividends are not payable.



IDS Life Insurance Company
IDS Tower 10
Minneapolis, MN 55440





<PAGE>



PAGE 1

IDS Life Insurance Company                              Annuity
IDS Tower 10                                            Client Profile
Minneapolis, Minnesota  55440
ONE ACCOUNT PER APPLICATION  Check if money is not being sent with application:
__ Money Enclosed $__________                           State
__ No Money                                             Application
__ Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA)                          signed in:  __________
__ 1035 Exchange/Transfer
__ Redemption/Surrender of Investment
   (Attach Form F119)
__ Redemption/Surrender of IDS Life Annuity Product
   (Attach Form 33442

__ Wire ($50,000 or more) -- IDS Life Acc't. No. ______________

__Check  here if  this  is a  Financial  Institutions  Group - FIG,  CPA or JCAT
  client.

AFFINITY MARKET CODE MUST BE ENTERED HERE:

- - - -  - - - - -  - - - - -



INSTRUCTIONS:  (Additional instructions appear on Page 10)

 1)       The investment  summary at the top of this page must be completed.  It
          used  by the  home  office  in  processing  this  application  and the
          client(s)   check(s).   Normally  a  check(s)  must   accompany   this
          application.  a. If no money is accompanying the application  (such as
          an  installment  TSA or an internal or external  exchange),  check the
          appropriate box above. b. If this  application is for an account where
          the money is being wired to IDSL,  check box indicating this and enter
          account number.
2)        The Client Profile is not part of the state-approved application form.
          As a  result,  there  is a small  amount  of  unavoidable  duplication
          between the forms.  Those  duplicate  items must be  completed in this
          application.   When   submitting  an  Investment  of  IRA   Investment
          Application at the same time as this Annuity Application,  full client
          information or any change of client  information should be recorded on
          the Client Profile of the Investment Application.
3)        Read and answer every  question in sequence and skip an item (section,
          subsection  or  individual  question)  only  if a)  the  item  has  no
          provision  for a negative  (not  applicable)  response and b) the item
          does not pertain to this purchase.
4)        Look for the brief notes at the start of some  sections and follow any
          instructions associated with individual questions.
5)        Billing a. If employer  billing or payroll  deduction,  complete  Form
          3188 on Page 14. b. If bank authorization is requested,  complete Form
          1748 on Page 13. 6) Redemption/Surrender
          a.     Complete Form 443 on Page 15 if the client is using the
                 proceeds  from  a  surrender  or  redemption  of an IDS
                 mutual  fund,   IDS   certificate,   American   Express
                 Securities  Services  or IDS Life  product to make this
                 investment.
7)        1035 Exchage 
          a.     If 1035 Exchange, see reference manual instructions.
8)        For completion of Automated Annuity Partial  Surrender,  attached Form
          30318. If Dollar-Cost Average is requested, complete form on Page 16.

Notes:
















Application 34055 A attached                                              (6/96)



<PAGE>

Section A    First Client Profile Information 
(Please have client verify information on this page)

__ For a new client (no accounts, check box and complete all information below.
__ for existing client(s), check box and attach updated client review
   documents(s) (CRD). Note all changes in red on the CRD. If no CRD is
   attached, complete client name, address, Social Security number, birthdate,
   client annual income, taxable annual income, liquid assets and tax bracket.
__ Mrs.    First client's name   (first)           (middle)         (last)     
           Social Security No.
__ Miss   __ Ms.     ________________________________________________________ 

Home address (street)                               (city)       
(state)               (zip)


Birthdate          Mailing address (if different from above)             
(city)                                (state)    (zip)

Citizenship  __ U.S.   __ Other ______      Sex            
Home Phone no.    Work phone no.  (Ext.)    Spouse or
Legal Resident of U.S.?  __ Yes  __ No      __ M  __ F     (    )         (    )
Partners?  __ Yes  __ No

Self-employed?   Non-American Express Financial   Client annual income   
Taxable annual income*   Net worth     Liquid assets**
__ Yes  __ No    
Corporation IRA?  __ Yes __ No  
$___________________   $_____________________   $__________   $______________

% Tax bracket    Total minor
_____________    dependents ____

Client is: 
 __ Employee  __ American Express Financial Corporation Subsidiary_____________
 __ Financial Advisor
    
Spouse's name (if not second client listed below) 
Social Security Number  Birthdate
                
Client is affiliated with or works for      Affiliated company name
__  Broker/dealer or brokerage form         ____________________________________
__  Bank, trust or insurance company
                                            Affiliated company address
                                            ------------------------------------

First client's occupation                   First client's employer      
- -------------------------------------     -----------------------------------
Employer's Address_______________________________    

Client no.                                  Group no.                         
- ---------------------------------------     ----------------------------------
Spouse's client no.                         Cert cd.
- ---------------------------------------     ----------------------------------


__  Release  of  information.  It is our policy  and  practice  to respect  each
individual's right to privacy.  Releasing limited client information occurs when
there is a service  we do not  provide  and  believe  could  meet your  specific
financial needs. If you object to such release, check here __.

Second  Client  Profile  Information  (Please  have client  verify  information)
(complete for joint owners or minor under UGMA)

__  For a new client (no accounts, check box and complete all information below.
__ for existing client(s), check box and attach updated client review
   documents(s) (CRD). Note all changes in red on the CRD. If no CRD is
   attached, complete client name, address, Social Security number, birthdate, 
   client annual income, taxable annual income, liquid assets and tax bracket.

__ Mr.    __ Mrs.    First client's name   (first)         (middle)       (last)
                     Social Security No.
__ Miss   __ Ms.     

Home address (street)                                                    
(city)                                (state)    (zip)


Birthdate           Mailing address (if different from above)             (city)
                    (state)    (zip)

Citizenship  __ U.S.   __ Other ______      Sex           
Home Phone no.    Work phone no.  (Ext.)    Spouse or
Legal Resident of U.S.?  __ Yes  __ No      __ M  __ F     (    )         (    )
Partners?  __ Yes  __ No
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>              <C>                              <C>                    <C>                      <C>           <C>   

Self-employed?   Non-American Express Financial   Client annual income   Taxable annual income*   Net worth     Liquid assets**
__ Yes  __ No    Corporation IRA?  __ Yes __ No   $___________________   $_____________________   $__________   $______________

% Tax bracket    Total minor
_____________    dependents ____
</TABLE>




<PAGE>



PAGE 3
Client is:  __ Employee  
            __ American Express Financial Corporation  
               Subsidiary ________________________  
            __ Financial Advisor           
               Spouse's name (if not second client listed below) 
               Social Security Number                 Birthdate

Client is affiliated with or works for      Affiliated company name
__  Broker/dealer or brokerage form         ___________________________________
__  Bank, trust or insurance company
                                            Affiliated company address
                                            -----------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                         <C>                                      <C>    

First client's occupation                   First client's employer                  Employer's address
- ---------------------------------------     -------------------------------------    ------------------------------------------

Client no.                                  Group no.                                   Spouse's client no.         Cert cd.
- ---------------------------------------     -------------------------------------    ---------------------------    -----------
</TABLE>

 * If a client files a joint income tax return, include spouse's taxable income.
** Excluding home, home furnishings and automobiles.

Section B Business  or  Organizational  Information  (Also  complete if first or
second client owns a business)

__ If  business or  organization  is a new client (no  accounts),  check box and
   complete the information in this section.  Please have client verify 
   information before  submitting to home office.
__ If business or organization is an existing Client, check box and attach
   updated CRD. Note changes in red on the CRD.

Business name                                         Business taxpayer ID no.

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Business address (street)                     (city) 
                  
(state)          (zip)

Business phone no.                 Date business began      
       
Business fiscal year end (month, day)       No. of employees

Client no.                         Group no.                  Cert cd.


<PAGE>



PAGE 4
IDS Life Insurance Company                                              Annuity
IDS Tower 10                                                        Application
Minneapolis, Minnesota  55440

Section A    Clients


1  Annuitant

   a      Name (first)  _____________________________  (mi)  __________  (last)
                        
   b      Social Security no. ______-____-______      __ Male   __ Female

   c      Birthdate ________/________/_______      Age _____ 
                                                       (submit proof of age 
                                                        for immediate annuity)

2  Joint Annuitant  (for immediate Joint Annuity)

   a      Name (first)  _____________________________  (mi)  __________  (last)
                         
   b      Social Security no. ______-____-______      __ Male   __ Female

   c      Birthdate ________/________/_______     Age _____ 
                                                     (submit proof of age
                                                      for immediate annuity)

3  Owner

a      Will the annuitant own this annuity)  (must be "yes" for IRA and TSA)

       __ Yes (complete the following if not on attached Client Profile or
          Client Review Document

          Home address (street, city, state, zip)
              ------------------------------------------------------------------
          Phone no. (____)
                         
       __ No (complete the following seven (*) items)

      * Owner's name(s)    __ American Express Trust Co.      __ Other
                  ------------------------------------------

      * Type of ownership (check one)

      __ Trustee         __ Sole Proprietorship             __ 457 Governmental

      __ Custodian       __ Partnership

      __ Individual      __ Corporation (State of incorporation) _______________

      __ Other ___________________________________________________________

     * Trust or Custodial ownership basis (complete one if applicable)

      __ Retirement plan (name)
         ----------------------------------------------------------------------

      __ Trust (name) __________________________________________   
         Trust date ______/____________

      __ Purchased under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minors Act of (state) ______

     * Owner's relationship to annuitant
            ------------------------------------------------------------------
       (Complete the following if not on attached Client Profile or Client
        Review Document)

     * Owner's address (street, city, state, zip)
             ---------------------------------------------------------------

        ________________________________      Phone no. (______) _______________

     * Owner's Social Security or 
       Taxpayer Identification no. ______ - ____ - ______

    * If ownership is individual, give owner's birthdate ______/______/______  
                                                         Age ______




<PAGE>



PAGE 5
Section B Purchase  Basis  (complete  only one of the four (*)  sections on this
page) See New Business Section of Reference Manual for required papers


   * __ Nonqualified

     __ individual purchase

     __ 1035 exchange

     __ deferred compensation plan (nongovernmental) (private)
     __ Gift under Uniform Gifts/Transfers to Minor's Act (If donor is not 
        custodian, give donor's name, Soc. Sec. no., residence state and 
        relationship to annuitant.)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     __ Other nonqualified: ____________________________________________________
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* __ IRA (complete all that apply)     __ SEP Adoption Agreement is with another
                                          company

1  __  Regular (active) IRA                                 Group no. of SEP
- --------------------------------

a   Type    __ Personal   __ Spousal   __ SEP                  Name of Employer
- --------------------------------
         (1)           (2)          (3)
                             Address _________________________________________
b   Amount paid with this application for prior year     $___________________

c   Amount paid with this application for current year   $___________________

2 __  Rollover IRA (Rollover qualifications are specified in Your Guide to IRAs)

a Source  __  IRA/SEP   distribution   __   Deductible voluntary  employee 
                                            contribution  
          __  Trusteed  or Custodial plan,  Tax-Sheltered  Annuity or Custodial
              Account

b   Amount paid with this application for rollover       $___________________

3  __  Transfer IRA (must submit "Request for Transfer" form along with
        application)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  * __ Tax-qualified Retirement Plan (IRC Section 401)

1  Type    __ Profit Sharing (05)     __ Assumed/Target Benefit (04)     
           __ 401(k) (02) ___________________________
           __ Money Purchase (06)  __ Defined Benefit Pension (01) 
           __ Other (10)  ___________________________

2  Plan fiscal year-end   Mo. ______  Day ______     
   Plan starting date   Mo. ______   Yr. ______

3  Is the Plan an American Express Financial Advisors prototype? __ Yes   __ No

4  If Custodial Plan, identify participant (annuitant) as   __ Employer/Sponsor
                                                            __ Other participant
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* __ Other Tax-qualified Plan

1  Type of Plan       __ 403(b) TSA  __ 457/Government (07)
                      __ Texas optional retirement

2  Type of group   a. __ Public schools and universities __ State or subdivision
                                                             program (ORP)
                   b. __ 501(c)(3) Nonprofit

3  __ This is a TSA Transfer.
   __ This is a TSA Rollover.

See explanation section on Page 10 for more information.

4  403(b) participant (owner/annuitant) information

   a    Current annual salary from employer $_____________________(required)
                                                       

   b    Employment date ____/____/____   Has employment been continuous?
                                         __ Yes   __ No

   c    Is owner/annuitant covered by employer's retirement plan? __ Yes   __ No

If yes, give name of plan ____________________________________________________

If the  contribution  amount  exceeds 20% of net salary,  a copy of the InfoServ
TSA/TSCA  calculation must be attached.  Complete and initial the TSA Disclosure
and Acknowledgement on Page 6, Form 31647.


<PAGE>



PAGE 6
Section C    Annuity Applied For

Deferred Annuities

__  Flexible Portfolio Annuity (check A or B or C; complete amount)

    __  A. Single payment only; $ ____________________
           NOTE: minimum single payment $1,000 TQ, $2,000 NQ

    __  B. Installment payments only; $ ____________________ annually
           NOTE: minimum $600/year (BAs, PDS, group billing only)

    __  C. Combination:
           Single payment: $ ____________________ with installment
           payments $ ____________________ annually

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
    <S>                                                            <C>  
    Initial Payment Allocation:                                    Future Payment Allocation:
    (FA)  IDS Life Fixed Account........................ ______%   (FA)  IDS Life Fixed Account........................ ______%
    (CR)  IDS Life Capital Resource Fund................ ______%   (CR)  IDS Life Capital Resource Fund................ ______%
    (SI)  IDS Life Special Income Fund.................. ______%   (SI)  IDS Life Special Income Fund.................. ______%
    (MS)  IDS Life Moneyshare Fund...................... ______%   (MS)  IDS Life Moneyshare Fund...................... ______%
    (MF)  IDS Life Managed Fund......................... ______%   (MF)  IDS Life Managed Fund......................... ______%
    (IE)  IDS Life International Equity Fund............ ______%   (IE)  IDS Life International Equity Fund............ ______%
    (AG)  IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund............... ______%   (AG)  IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund............... ______%
    (GY)  IDS Life Global Yield Fund.................... ______%   (GY)  IDS Life Global Yield Fund.................... ______%
    (IA)  IDS Life Income Advantage Fund................ ______%   (IA)  IDS Life Income Advantage Fund................ ______%
    (GD)  IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund............... ______%   (GD)  IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund............... ______%
    (GI)  AIM Variable Ins. Growth & Income Fund........ ______%   (GI)  AIM Variable Ins. Growth & Income Fund........ ______%
    (NO)  PCM New Opportunities Fund.................... ______%   (NO)  PCM New Opportunities Fund.................... ______%
    (SC)  Warburg Pincus Trust Small Company Portfolio.. ______%   (SC)  Warburg Pincus Trust Small Company Portfolio.. ______%
    (DM)  Templeton Developing Markets Fund............. ______%   (DM)  Templeton Developing Markets Fund............. ______%
    (TV)  TCI Value..................................... ______%   (TV)  TCI Value..................................... ______%

    Total must equal 100%                                ______%   Total must equal 100%                                ______%
</TABLE>

Future Payments (Flexible only)

1)  Frequency of payment


    __ Biweekly 26/Year

    __ Semiannually 2/Year   __ Monthly 12/Year         __ Semimonthly 24/Year  
    __ Weekly 52/Year

    __ Other (specify months)   __ Jan    __ Feb    __ Mar    __ Apr    __ May
                                __ Jun    __ Jul    __ Aug    __ Sep    __ Oct 
                                __ Nov    __ Dec

2)  Payments to start*  ____/____/____
    * Must be at least 30 days from date  received in home  office (if  omitted,
the home office will establish start date)

3)  Method of payment

   __ Add to existing BA with account no. ____________________

   __ New BA Form 1748 (see Page 13 of application)

   __ Add to existing PDS/Employer Billing no. __________ (contact the employer)

   __ New PDS/Employer Billing Form 3188 (see Page 14 of application)

   __ Systematic Payout, submit Form F137

   __ Other allowed method (see reference manual)



<PAGE>



PAGE 7
Section C    Annuity Applied For (continued)


__  Fixed Retirement Annuity -- Value Plus (FRA-VP)     
    Single payment $ ____________________
    Note: minimum $5,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
__  Fixed Retirement Annuity -- Extra Rate (FRA-XR)    
    Single payment $ _____________________
    Note: minimum $5,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
__  Guaranteed Term Annuity (GTA)                       
    Single payment $ _____________________
    Note: minimum $5,000

   Initial  Guarantee  Period  (check one) __ 1 Year __ 6 Years __ 2 Years 
   __ 7 Years __ 3 Years __ 8 Years __ 4 Years __ 9 Years __ 5 Years __ 10 Years
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
__  Other _____________________________________________________________________
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

__  Fixed Immediate Annuity                               Required Proof of Age
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                <C>                           <C>                           <C>                       
1)  Single payment $ ____________________  Note: $5,000 minimum                Proof of age submitted:

    Monthly payment quoted $ ____________________                              __ Copy of birth certificate enclosed or:

2)  Payout Option:                                                             Submit copies of two (2) of the following
                                                                               when birth certificate is not available:
    __ Individual annuitant         __ Joint and full to survivor
    __ Joint and 2/3 to survivor    __ Joint and 1/2 to survivor               __ Baptism certificate
                                                                               __ Family birth record
3)  Payout Mode:                                                               __ Confirmation record showing age at time
                                                                                  of confirmation
    __ Nonrefund                                                               __ Marriage certificate
                                                                               __ Naturalization record
    __ Life income with period certain.  Circle one:  5  10  15  20 years      __ Passport (at least five years old)
                                                                               __ Military discharge papers
    __ Installment refund (not available with Joint and 2/3 or 1/2 option

    __ Term certain only (Mode E)  ______ year (5 to 30 years)

</TABLE>
4)  Payout checks to start  _____/_____/_____
                            Month  Day  Year

    Note: Must be at least 30 days from received home office date.

    __ Monthly     __ Quarterly     __ Semiannual     __ Annual

5)  Withholding to apply?   __ Yes   __ No     If yes, indicate $ __________

6)  __ Direct deposit. Form 33581

7)  __ Direct deposit to account no. ____________________

8)  __ Special payee name __________________________________________________

       Address _____________________________________________________________



<PAGE>



PAGE 8
Section D  Agreements and Signatures

a)  All Annuities ______  Client's initials

__ Investment Objectives:  You understand the investment objectives and risks of
   the contract(s) for which you are applying.  There can be no assurance that
   such objectives will be achieved. Your risk tolerance for investment is:
   __ Low     __ Medium     __ High

       Your specific long-term goals and objectives are:

       __ Aggressive Growth __ Growth with Income  __ Income __   
       __ Growth  __ Preservation of Principal     __ Tax Deferral     
       __ Other ____________________________ (specify)

    __ Earnings:  The method for crediting  fixed and/or  variable  earnings for
       your  particular  contract  has  been  explained  to  you.  Any  interest
       crediting rates are annual effective rates.

    __ Changes:  Only  officers of the company have the  authority to accept any
       representation  or  information  not contained in this  application or to
       modify any annuity  contract or waive any requirement in the application.
       They must do so in  writing.  Our sales  representatives  do not have the
       authority to make any changes.

    __ Cancellation:  You  understand  the  contract  provides  you with certain
       cancellation  privileges  for a period of time from  receipt  (usually 10
       days)  under  which no  surrender  charges or fees will be charged by the
       company.

    Please  note the  Guaranteed  Term  Annuity  (GTA)  does not have these same
    cancellation  privileges.  Generally,  the GTA allows for cancellation of an
    Individual   Retirement   Annuity   (usually  7  days)  and  certain   other
    arrangements based on individual state requirements.

b)  Products ______  Client's initials

    Deferred Annuity (Please read all headings,  because several  categories may
    apply to your type of contract)

    __ You  understand  that the  basic  purpose  of an  annuity  is to  provide
       lifetime  income  at  retirement  and it  should  be  purchased  for this
       purpose.  You understand the benefits and  consequences  of tax deferral,
       and are confident that it can work to your advantage.  The contract value
       may be surrendered in full or in part before annuity  payments begin, but
       not after. Surrender of a contract may result in a loss to you because of
       fees and  charges  that may apply.  They are  explained  in detail in the
       contract.

    __ The Guaranteed Term Annuity  contains a market value adjustment which may
       result  in  either  or  both  upward  and  downward  adjustments  in cash
       surrender benefits.

    __ You have  received the current  prospectus(es)  for the variable  annuity
       applied for.  Investment  earnings,  values and monthly  income  benefits
       based on the  performance of a Variable Fund or Variable  Account are not
       guaranteed and may both increase and decrease.

    __ We reserve the right to terminate certain  installment  payment contracts
       for full value, if in any 24-month period no purchase  payments have been
       received and the amount paid is less than $600.

    __ The FRA-XR annuity includes a first-year bonus interest rate, which is no
       longer credited after one (1) year.

    Immediate Annuity

    __ You cannot surrender or take loans from an Immediate Annuity. Also, there
       is no death benefit under the nonrefund payout mode.

    __ You understand that this transaction is not reversible.

    IRA Applications

    __ You have received a copy of Your Guide to IRA's and  understand the terms
       contained in it.

    __ You assume all responsibility for any tax consequences and penalties that
       may  result  from  making   contributions  to,   transactions  with,  and
       distributions from this IRA.



<PAGE>



PAGE 9
Section D  Agreements and Signatures

c)  Additional disclosures:  (must have client initial)

    __ Serial Annuity

    Instructions: Complete Section A when applying for any nonqualified deferred
    annuity; and/or Section B when more than one Fixed Retirement  Annuity-Extra
    Rate,  Fixed  Retirement  Annuity-Value  Plus or Guaranteed  Term Annuity is
    being purchased whether nonqualified or tax-qualified.

    Section A  ______ Client's initials

    This  section  discusses  current  federal tax laws as IDS Life  understands
    them. Federal tax laws and their interpretations may change. The client must
    initial above indicating that he/she has read and understands the following:

    Multiple   Contracts   (Serial   Annuities)   Tax  law  requires   that  all
    non-qualified  deferred annuity contracts issued by the same company, to the
    same  policyholder  (owner),  during a calendar  year are to be treated as a
    single,  unified  contract.  The  amount of income  included  and taxed in a
    distribution  (or a transaction  deemed a distribution  under tax law) taken
    from any one of such  contracts is determined by summing all such  contracts
    together.

    Section B  ______ Client's initials

    If more than one Fixed Retirement  Annuity-XR or Fixed Retirement Annuity-VP
    product is being  purchased,  the client must initial  above and provide the
    requested information below.

    Benefits of Larger Contracts The single premium Fixed Retirement  Annuity-XR
    or Fixed Retirement  Annuity-VP  provides for crediting interest at a higher
    rate at certain premium sizes.  You may be able to receive a higher interest
    choice  rate by  purchasing  one  larger  contract  rather  than two or more
    smaller ones.

    Multiple Beneficiaries More than one beneficiary may be named under a single
    contract.  Each  beneficiary  has a choice to receive  any death  benefit as
    either a lump sum or in the form of  annuity  payments  as  provided  by the
    contract.

    Reasons:  Your reason(s) for purchasing more than one contract is (are):


- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

__ Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA)          _____ Client's initials
   Disclosure and Acknowledgement
   (Form 31647)

   Effective  January 1, 1989, a distribution from  Tax-Sheltered  Annuity (TSA)
   purchased  under __ 403(b) of the  Internal  Revenue Code may be made only if
   the employee/participant has:

   1. attained age 59 1/2; or

   2. separated from the service of the employer that purchased the TSA; or

   3. died; or

   4. become disabled, as defined in Section 72(m) (7) of the Code; or

   5. encountered financial hardship within the meaning of Section 403(b) of 
      the Code.

   The  restriction  applies to  contributions  of  deferred  salary  made after
   December 31, 1988, and all earnings credited to the contract after that date.
   The "hardship" exception above is limited to the amount of contributions made
   and does not apply to any earnings credited to the contract.

The restriction does not apply to any values in the TSA as of December 31, 1988,
nor to  transfers  or  exchanges  of  contract  values  within the annuity or to
another  registered  variable annuity contract or investment  vehicle  available
through the employer.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Client acknowledges that the representative has reviewed and explained the above
information.  Client should consult a tax advisor if he/she has questions  about
the taxation of his/her annuity contract.



<PAGE>



PAGE 10
Section D  Agreements and Signatures (continued)


Backup Withholding

__ Check here if the IRS has notified that you are subject to backup withholding
   because of a failure to report all interest and dividends.

__ Check here if you are a tax-exempt payee.

Replacement

__ Is this annuity  intended to replace  existing  annuities or life  insurance?
   __Yes __ No If "Yes," see State  Requirements  section of the Annuity  
   Reference Manual for required papers.

__ Consolidated Statement

   We periodically send out informational statements,  for each of our accounts,
   which are  consolidated  into one  statement  covering all accounts  owned by
   members of the same  household.  We understand that by applying as spouses or
   domestic  partners that all of our  accounts,  whether in individual or joint
   ownership,  will be reported together by American Express Financial Advisors.
   If you don't want this account reported that way, check here __.



<PAGE>



PAGE 11
Section D  Agreements and Signatures (continued)


__ Declaration Agreement

   You declare that each of the statements and answers given in this application
   is true and complete to the best of your knowledge and belief and will be the
   basis of any annuity issued from this application.

   By signing this application and checking each statement that pertains to your
   annuity, you understand and acknowledge the above:


Signatures

  Signatures of all Annuitants                         x

                                                       x

  Owner/trustee/plan administrator signature           x

  Other applicant's signature (if required)            x

  Signed at (city)                                  (state)                     
  on (date) ____/____/____




<PAGE>



PAGE 12
Section D  Agreements and Signatures (continued)

Representative's Report


     Declaration and signature.  You certify that you personally  solicited this
     application and witnessed its signing.  The application and this report are
     complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge and belief.

     Are you related to the annuitant/owner? Please state relationship(required)

     This application __ does   __ does not involve replacement of existing
     insurance or annuities.


     Representative's signature                   Team ID     Representative ID
     *Compensation        Area Office
          %          
     (Set up as client's servicing representative)                            

      (     )
      Phone                Florida License no.


     Joint Representative's signature             
     Team ID         Representative ID      *Compensation        Area Office

                            (       )
     Florida License no.    Phone no.

                            (     )
                             Fax no.

     *Total percentages must equal 100%.

     __ Junior
     Name                          No.

     Send contract to:  __ Owner   __ Representative (if sent to representative,
     delivery assurance form is required)

     Note:  Contract will be mailed to owner unless otherwise indicated.


For Home Office Use Only


     Amount submitted                          Purchased date

     Accepted by



<PAGE>



PAGE 13
IDS Life Insurance Company                                            Benficiary
IDS Tower 10                                                         Designation
Minneapolis, Minnesota  55440


Annuitant's Name                                 Birthdate

The  undersigned  hereby states that the named  beneficiary  for the new annuity
contract  to be issued  from the  application  bearing  the same date and serial
number is to be as follows:

(Check applicable box)

__    A Beneficiary is:  Annuitant's  designated  spouse, if living, if not, the
      beneficiaries  ar ethe living,  lawful  children of the annuitant and they
      will receive equal shares of the proceeds.

__    B Beneficiary is:  Annuitant's  designated  spouse, if living, if not, the
      beneficiaries  ar ethe living,  lawful  children of the annuitant and they
      will receive equal shares of the proceeds. If a child of the annuitant has
      died before the annuitant, that child's share of the proceeds will be paid
      to his or her living lawful children in equal shares.

__    C  Beneficiares are: The living lawful children of the annuitant and 
      they will receive equal shares of the proceeds.

__    D Children Per Stirpes.  Beneficiary is: the living lawful children of the
      owner equally, the survivors equally, or the survivor;  provided, however,
      that if a child of the owner has died  before the owner,  the share  which
      the child would have received is he or she survived the owner will be paid
      to his or her living lawful children or their direct  descendants in equal
      shares.

- --    E Equally with Rights of Survivorship.  Beneficiary is: the  beneficiaries
      are as listed  below and they will receive  equal shares of the  proceeds;
      provided,  however, that if a beneficiary dies before the owner, the share
      which the beneficiary  would have received if he or she survived the owner
      will  be  equally  divided  among  the  surviving  beneficiaries.  (Attach
      separate page for additional beneficiaries.)

__    F Equally.  Beneficiary  is: the  beneficiaries  are listed below and they
      will receive equal share sof the proceeds;  provided,  however,  that if a
      beneficiary  dies before the  Annuitant,  the share which the  beneficiary
      would  have  received  if he/she  survived  the owner  will be paid to the
      owner's estate. (Attach separate page for additional beneficiaries.)

__    G With Rights of Survivorship.  Beneficiary is: the  beneficiaries  are as
      listed  below and they will  receive  the  percentage  of the share of the
      proceeds as  indicated;  provided,  however,  that if a  beneficiary  dies
      before the annuitant,  the share which the beneficiary would have received
      if he/she  survived the owner,  will be  proportionally  divided among the
      surviving    beneficiaries.    (Attach   separate   page   for   aditional
      beneficiaries.)

__ H  Other. Use the option only if none of the above options apply.  This 
      designation is subject to the approval of the home office.

__ I  Must be completed for Custodial (Keogh) Plans only:
      American Express Trust Company, Custodian of the
      (Plan Name)                                         plan.
__ J  Must be completed for Trusteed Pension/Profit Sharing/401(k) Plan only:

                                              , trustee of the
      (Name of the Trustee(s))                                plan.

__ K  Must be completed for Section 457 Deferred Compensation Plans only:

                                                , as Owner.
      (Name of the Plan)

   If A, B or C checked above

   Spouse's Name

   Children's Names



- ---- Residents of Community Property States Must Read and Sign if Applicable ---
Check apropriate box to indicate
Marital  Status __ Single __ Married  (See  "Consent  of  Spouse") 
__ Widowed or Divorced.



<PAGE>



PAGE 14
Consent of Spouse

This  consent  of  spouse  must be signed if all the  following  conditions  are
present:  (a)  the  spouse  of the  owner  is  living,  (b) is not  the  primary
beneficiary  named and (c) the owner and spouse  are  residents  of a  community
property  state  (Arizona,   California,   Idaho,  Nevada,  New  Mexico,  Texas,
Washington and  Wisconsin).  I have reviewed the above  beneficiary  designation
and, as the spouse of the owner, I consent to the  beneficiary  designation  and
all  contributions  of money or  perpety  to be used  for the  purchase  of such
accounts to be issued in my spouse's name, whether heretofore,  now or heheafter
and I relinguish all my statutory or other rights thereto.

Date:                         Spouse's Signature:

Signatures Required


Executed this              day of                              , 19       .
             ---------------      ------------------------------     -----

Signature                                      Witness
           Owner/Trustee/Plan Administrator

Note: If a custodial plan, the Employer/Plan Administrator must sign as owner.



<PAGE>



PAGE 15
American Express Financial Advisors Inc.          Bank Authorization (Form 1748)
Box 534
Minneapolis, Minnesota  55440-0074

                                                Service Team Number ____________

Section 1      Client Name                                   Client ID Number

Section 2 Check only one box for A, B, C or D. Combo defined on back of form.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>            <C>                                     <C>            <C>    
__ Life                                             |  __ Life
__ Annuity     A. Add New Account to New BA         |  __ Annuity     C. Existing Account to New BA
__ Combo                                            |  __ Mutual
                                                    |  __ Combo
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
__ Life        B. Add New Account to Existing BA    |  __ Life        D. Existing BA with New Bank Information
__ Annuity     List One Account Number              |  __ Annuity     Does this Affect All Accounts   __ yes  __ no
__ Combo       Already Attached to BA               |  __ Mutual      If Yes, List Account Numbers This Change Will
                                                    |  __ Combo       Affect
                                                    |
                                                    |
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
For CHANGES to an existing BA (e.g.,  Amount; Date;  Frequency;  Stop; or Add an
Existing Account) -- Call TransAction Services 1-800-437-3133.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section 3
<S>                     <C>                <C>      <C>           <C>       <C>               <C>
Account Number          Month(s) Action                           Payment   Check for         IRA Pmt. for
or Product Name         is Effective       Date     Frequency     Amount    Loan Repayment    Prior Yr. Thru Mo. of

                                            10         Monthly
                                            25         Quarterly                              Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.
                                             Other               Other
                                            10         Monthly
                                            25         Quarterly                              Jan.  Feb.  Mar.  Apr.
                                             Other               Other

Section 4 - Checking                                                        Section 5 - Additional Information

(STAPLE CHECK HERE)                                                      |
                              Voided Check                               |
                       Please -- No Deposit Slip                         |
                                                                         |

Section 6- Checking                                                        Section 7 - Additional Information

                                                                         |
Routing Transit Number (9 digits)  ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___   |
                                                                         |  Area Office No.
Account Number                                                           |  Representative ID
                                                                         |  Date Prepared
Name of Bank or Credit Union                                             |  Prepared by
                                                                         |  Phone No.
Street                                                                   |
                                                                         |
City                                 State          Zip Code             |

</TABLE>
Section 8

Authorization Card (Required for all new requests) By signing below:
- - you authorize American Express Financial Advisors Inc. to charge your
  account at the financial institution named above to pay the
  amount indicated into the account or on the contract; and
- - you authorize the financial institution named above to honor these charges for
payment, as if they were signed by you. - you certify this agreement will remain
in effect until you notify American Express Financial Advisors or your financial
institution  in writing to cancel it,  allowing  reasonable  time to act on your
cancellation.
You may stop any payment by  notifying  the  financial  institition  or American
Express  Financial  Advisors at least three banking days before the charge is to
be made. You will receive notice from American Express Financial Advisors of any
payment that differs from the previous payment.

Signature of Bank Account Owner(s) X                     Date

                                   X                     Date


<PAGE>



PAGE 16
Authorization for Group Payment Setup and Changes (Form 3188)

Section 1 -- Employer Information

Employer Name:                         Employer Contact Name:
Address:                               Employer Telephone  (      )
                                       Employer Fax:       (      )
                                       Send Printed Bill to Employer:  
                                                       __ Yes  __ No
                                       Start Date of First Group Payment:

Section 2 -- Payment Frequency (Check One)

Note: Payment frequency must match other existing Group Payment Accounts
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                               <C>                            <C>                                 <C>  

____ Annually 1/Year              ____ Quarterly 4/Year          ____ Bifortnightly 13/Year          ____ Biweekly 26/Year
____ Semiannually 2/Year          ____ Monthly 12/Year           ____ Semimonthly 24/Year            ____ Weekly 52/Year
____ Irregular      Indicate months when employer should not be billed.

Section 3 -- Employee Information

Employee Name                                            Employee Social Security Number _____ - ___ - _____
              ---------------------------------------
</TABLE>


Section 4 -- Start a New Group  Payment  Add/Drop  Existing  Accounts  or Change
Payment Amount 
1. Complete  information below. 
2. Allow three weeks for accounts to show on Group Payment Detail.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>        <C>       <C>          <C>                                           <C>     <C>            <C>
                      Change                                                            Admini-
  Add       Drop     Payment                                                    Check   strator        Payment
Account    Account    Amount      Accounts Affected:                            Digit   Code           Amount
  --         --         --        --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -  ---  - --- --- ---    $
</TABLE>






<PAGE>



PAGE 1
FUND PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT

     THIS FUND PARTICIPATION  AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of April 24,
1996 by and among IDS LIFE INSURANCE  COMPANY (the  "Company"),  TCI PORTFOLIOS,
INC. (the "Issuer") and the investment adviser of the Issuer, INVESTORS RESEARCH
CORPORATION ("Investors Research").

     WHEREAS,   the  Company  offers  to  the  public   certain   qualified  and
nonqualified variable annuity contracts  (collectively,  the "Contracts",  which
the Company has  registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"); and

     WHEREAS,  the  Company  wishes  to offer as  investment  options  under the
Contracts,  TCI  Value  (the  "Fund"),  a series  of  mutual  fund  shares to be
registered  under the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940,  as amended  (the "1940
Act"), and issued by the Issuer; and

     WHEREAS,  on the terms and  conditions  hereinafter  set  forth,  Investors
Research  and the  Issuer  desire  to make  shares  of the  Funds  available  as
investment options under the Contracts;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  the Company,  the Issuer and Investors  Research agree as
follows:

     1.  Transactions in the Funds.  Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement,  the Issuer will make shares of the Funds  available to be purchased,
exchanged,  or  redeemed,  by the Company on behalf of the  Account  (defined in
Section  6(a)  below)  through a single  account per Fund at the net asset value
applicable to each order. The Funds' shares shall be purchased and redeemed on a
net basis in such  quantity  and at such time as  determined  by the  Company to
satisfy  the  requirements  of the  Contracts  for  which  the  Funds  serve  as
underlying  investment media.  Dividends and capital gains distributions will be
automatically reinvested in full and fractional shares of the Funds.

     2.  Administrative  Services.  The Company shall be solely  responsible for
providing  all  administrative  services for the Contracts  owners.  The Company
agrees that it will  maintain  and preserve all records as required by law to be
maintained and preserved,  and will  otherwise  comply with all laws,  rules and
regulations  applicable  to the  marketing of the Contracts and the provision of
administrative services to the Contract owners.

     3.  Processing and Timing of Transactions.

     (a) The Issuer  hereby  appoints  the  Company as its agent for the limited
purpose of  accepting  purchase and  redemption  orders for Fund shares from the
Contract  owners.  On each day the New York Stock  Exchange (the  "Exchange") is
open for business (each, a "Business Day"), the Company may receive instructions
from the Contract  owners for the purchase or  redemption of shares of the Funds
("Orders"). Orders received and accepted by the Company


<PAGE>



PAGE 2
prior to the close of regular  trading on the Exchange  (the "Close of Trading")
on any given Business Day (currently, 3:00 p.m. Central time) and transmitted to
the Issuer by 9:00 a.m. Central time on the next following  Business Day will be
executed  by the  Issuer at the net asset  value  determined  as of the Close of
Trading on the  previous  Business  Day ("Day 1").  Any Orders  received  by the
Company after the Close of Trading,  and all Orders that are  transmitted to the
Issuer after 9:00 a.m. Central time on the next following  Business Day, will be
executed by the Issuer at the net asset value  determined  following  receipt by
the Issuer of such Order. The day as of which an Order is executed by the Issuer
pursuant  to the  provisions  set  forth  above is  referred  to  herein  as the
"Effective Trade Date".

     (b) By 5:30 p.m. Central time on each Business Day, Investors Research will
provide to the Company via facsimile or other electronic transmission acceptable
to the Company the Funds' net asset value, dividend and capital gain information
and, in the case of income  funds,  the daily  accrual for interest  rate factor
(mil rate), determined at the Close of Trading.

     (c) By 9:00 am. Central time on each Business Day, the Company will provide
to Investors Research via facsimile or other electronic  transmission acceptable
to Investors  Research a report  (referred to in subsection  (a) above)  stating
whether the Orders  received by the Company from Contract owners by the Close of
Trading on the  preceding  Business  Day  resulted  in the  Account  being a net
purchaser or net seller of shares of the Funds. As used in this  Agreement,  the
phrase "other electronic transmission acceptable to Investors Research" includes
the use of remote computer terminals located at the premises of the Company, its
agents  or  affiliates,  which  terminals  may be linked  electronically  to the
computer system of Investors  Research,  its agents or affiliates  (hereinafter,
"Remote Computer Terminals").

     (d) Upon the timely  receipt  from the Company of the report  described  in
subsection (c) above, Investors Research will execute the purchase or redemption
transactions  (as the case may be) at the net  asset  value  computed  as of the
Close of Trading on Day 1. Payment for net purchase  transactions  shall be made
by wire transfer by the Company to the custodial account  designated by the Fund
on the Business Day next following the Effective Trade Date. Such wire transfers
shall be initiated  by the  Company's  bank prior to 3:00 p.m.  Central time and
received by the Funds prior to 5:00 p.m.  Central  time on the Business Day next
following  the  Effective  Trade Date.  If payment  for a purchase  Order is not
timely  received,  such  Order  will be  executed  at the net asset  value  next
computed following receipt of payment.  Payments for net redemption transactions
shall be made by wire  transfer by the Issuer to the account  designated  by the
Company within the time period set forth in the applicable  Fund's  then-current
prospectus;  provided,  however,  Investors  Research  will  use all  reasonable
efforts  to settle  all  redemptions  on the  Business  Day next  following  the
Effective Trade Date. On any Business Day when the Federal Reserve Wire Transfer
System is closed,  all  communication and processing rules will be suspended for
the settlement of Orders. Orders will


<PAGE>



PAGE 3
be settled on the next  Business Day on which the Federal  Reserve Wire Transfer
System is open and the Effective Trade Date will apply.

     4.  Prospectus and Proxy Materials.

     (a) Investors Research shall provide to the shareholder of record copies of
the  Issuer's  proxy  materials,  periodic  reports  to  shareholders  and other
materials that are required by law to be sent to the Issuer's  shareholders.  In
addition,  Investors  Research  shall  provide the Company  copies of the Fund's
prospectuses  and periodic  reports to  shareholders  in sufficient  quantity to
distribute to each Contract owner,  together with such additional  copies of the
Fund's  prospectuses as may be reasonably  requested by Company.  If the Company
provides for pass-through voting by the Contract owners, Investors Research will
provide the Company  with a  sufficient  quantity  of proxy  materials  for each
Contract owner.

    (b) The cost of preparing, typesetting, printing and shipping to the Company
the  Fund's  separate  prospectuses,   proxy  materials,   periodic  reports  to
shareholders  and other  materials  shall be paid by  Investors  Research or its
agents or affiliates.

     (c) The  cost of  mailing  prospectuses,  proxy  materials,  periodic  fund
reports and other materials of the Issuer to the Contract owners and prospective
Contract owners shall be paid by the Company and shall not be the responsibility
of Investors Research or the Issuer.

     5.  Compensation and Expenses.

     (a)  Investors Research will pay no fee or other compensation
to the Company under this Agreement.

     (b) All expenses  incident to performance by the Issuer of its duties under
this  Agreement,  including,  but not limited to, the cost of  registration  and
qualification  of the Fund's shares,  will be paid by Investors  Research to the
extent permitted by law. All expenses  incident to performance by the Company of
its duties  under this  Agreement,  including,  but not  limited to, the cost of
providing the administrative  services to Contract owners,  shall be paid by the
Company.

     6.  Representations and Warranties.

     (a) The Company  represents  and warrants that: (i) this Agreement has been
duly  authorized  by all  necessary  corporate  action and,  when  executed  and
delivered,  shall  constitute  the legal,  valid and binding  obligation  of the
Company,  enforceable in accordance with its terms;  (ii) it has established IDS
Life  Variable  Account 10 (the  "Account"),  which is a separate  account under
Minnesota  Insurance law, and has registered  each Account as a unit  investment
trust under the  Investment  Company Act of 1940 (the "1940 Act") to serve as an
investment  vehicle for the  Contracts;  (iii) each  Contract  provides  for the
allocation of net amounts  received by the Company to an Account for  investment
in the shares of one of more specified investment companies selected among those


<PAGE>



PAGE 4
companies  available through the Account to act as underlying  investment media;
(iv) selection of a particular  investment company is made by the Contract owner
under a particular Contract,  who may change such selection from time to time in
accordance with the terms of the applicable Contract,  and (v) the activities of
the Company  contemplated by this Agreement comply in all material respects with
all  provisions  of  federal  and  state  insurance,  securities,  and all  laws
applicable to such activities.

     (b) Investors  Research  represents  that: (i) this Agreement has been duly
authorized by all necessary  corporate  action and, when executed and delivered,
shall constitute the legal,  valid and binding  obligation of Investors Research
and Issuer,  enforceable in accordance with its terms;  and (ii) the investments
of the Funds will at all times be adequately  diversified  within the meaning of
Section  817(h) of the Internal  Revenue  Service Code of 1986,  as amended (the
"Code"),  and the  regulations  thereunder,  and that at all  times  while  this
Agreement is in effect,  all  beneficial  interests in each of the Funds will be
owned by one or more insurance  companies or by any other party  permitted under
Section  1.817-5(f)(3)  of the  Regulations  promulgated  under the Code. In the
event of a breach,  Investors  Research will take reasonable steps to notify the
Company of such  breach and to  adequately  diversify  the Fund so as to achieve
compliance within the grace period afforded by Regulation 1.817-5.

     (c) Investors  Research  represents that the Fund's investment  objectives,
policies and restrictions  comply in all material respects with applicable state
investment laws as they may apply to the Fund.  Neither the Issuer nor Investors
Research  makes any  representation  as to  whether  any  aspect  of the  Fund's
operations  (including,  but not limited to, fees and  expenses  and  investment
policies,  objectives  and  restrictions)  complies with the insurance  laws and
regulations of any state.  Investors Research agrees that it will use reasonable
effort to furnish  such  information  regarding  the Funds as may be  reasonably
required by state  insurance  laws so that the Company may obtain the  authority
needed to issue the Contracts in the various states.

     7.  Additional Covenants and Agreements.

     (a) Each Party shall comply with all  provisions  of federal and state laws
applicable to its respective activities under this Agreement.

     (b) Each party shall promptly notify the other parties in the event that it
is,  for any  reason,  unable  to  perform  any of its  obligations  under  this
Agreement.

     (c)  The  Company  covenants  and  agrees  that  all  Orders  accepted  and
transmitted  by it  hereunder  with  respect to each Account on any Business Day
will be based upon  instructions  that it received  from the Contract  owners in
proper  form  prior to the Close of  Trading  of the  Exchange  on the  previous
Business Day.




<PAGE>



PAGE 5
     (d) The Company  covenants  and agrees that all Orders  transmitted  to the
Issuer,  whether  by  telephone,  telecopy,  or  other  electronic  transmission
acceptable  to Investors  Research,  shall be sent by or under the authority and
direction of a person  designated by the Company as being duly authorized to act
on behalf of the owner of the Account.  Absent actual knowledge to the contrary,
Investors  Research shall be entitled to rely on the existence of such authority
and to assume that any person transmitting  Orders for the purchase,  redemption
or transfer of Fund shares on behalf of the Company is "an  appropriate  person"
as used in Sections 8-308 and 8-404 of the Uniform  Commercial Code with respect
to the transmission of instructions regarding Fund shares on behalf of the owner
of such Fund  shares.  The Company  shall  maintain the  confidentiality  of all
passwords and security  procedures  issued,  installed or otherwise put in place
with  respect  to  the  use  of  Remote  Computer  Terminals  and  assumes  full
responsibility  for the  security  therefor.  The Company  further  agrees to be
solely  responsible  for the accuracy,  propriety and  consequences  of all data
transmitted to Investors Research by the Company by telephone, telecopy or other
electronic transmission acceptable to Investors Research.

     (e) The  Company  agrees to make  every  reasonable  effort  to market  its
Contracts.  It will use its best efforts to give equal emphasis and promotion to
shares of the Funds as is given to other underlying investments of the Account.

     (f) The Company or its employees or agents will not give any information or
advice, or make any representations or statements on behalf of or concerning the
Issuer or the Fund,  in connection  with the sale of the Contracts  unless based
upon information or representations  contained in the registration statement for
the Fund's shares, as such registration statement may be amended or supplemented
from  time to  time,  or in  reports  or proxy  statements  of the  Fund,  or in
published  reports  for the  Fund  that are  published  in  reputable  financial
publications  or approved by Investors  Research for  distribution,  or in sales
literature or other material provided by Investors Research.  Investors Research
agrees to use  reasonable  efforts to respond to any request  for  approval on a
prompt and timely basis.

     (g)  Notwithstanding  anything  in Section  7(f) above,  the  Company  will
furnish,  or will cause to be  furnished,  to the Issuer or Investors  Research,
each piece of sales literature or other  promotional  material in which the Fund
or the Issuer or Investors  Research is named,  at least ten (10)  business days
prior to its use. No such material will be used if Investors Research reasonably
objects to such use.  Investors  Research  agrees to use  reasonable  efforts to
respond to any request for approval on a prompt and timely basis.

     (h)  Investors  Research  will furnish or will cause to be furnished to the
Company or its designee,  each piece of sales  literature  or other  promotional
material  in which  the  Company  or its  Account  is  named,  at least ten (10)
business days prior to its


<PAGE>



PAGE 6
use. No such  material  will be used if the Company  reasonably  objects to such
use. The Company agrees to use reasonable  efforts to respond to any request for
approval on a prompt and timely basis.

     (i)  Investors   Research  will  not  give  any  information  or  make  any
representations  or  statements  on  behalf of the  Company  or  concerning  the
Company,  the  Account,  or the  Contracts  unless  based  upon  information  or
representations  contained in the registration  statement for the Contracts,  as
such registration statement may be amended or supplemented from time to time, or
in reports for the  Contracts,  or in  published  reports for the Account or the
Contracts that are published in reputable financial publications or are approved
by the  Company  for  distribution,  or in sales  literature  or other  material
provided by the Company. The Company agrees to use reasonable efforts to respond
to any request for approval on a prompt and timely basis.

     (j) The Company will  provide to  Investors  Research at least one complete
copy of all  registration  statements,  annual and  semi-annual  reports,  proxy
statements, and all amendments or supplements to any of the above that include a
description of or  information  regarding the Funds promptly after the filing of
such document with the SEC or other regulatory authority.

     (k) For purposes of this Section 7, the phrase  "sales  literature or other
promotional  material" includes,  but is not limited to, advertisements (such as
material  published,  or designed  for use in, a newspaper,  magazine,  or other
periodicals, radio, television,  telephone or tape recording, videotape display,
signs or  billboards,  motion  pictures,  or other public  media (e.g.,  on-line
networks such as the Internet or other  electronic  messages),  sales literature
(i.e.,  any written  communication  distributed or made  generally  available to
customers  or the public,  including  brochures,  circulars,  research  reports,
market letters,  form letters,  seminar texts, reprints or excerpts of any other
advertisement,  sales literature, or published article), educational or training
materials or other  communications  distributed or made  generally  available to
some or all agents or employees,  registration statements,  shareholder reports,
and proxy  materials and any other  material  constituting  sales  literature or
advertising under the NASD rules, the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act.

     8.  Use of  Names.  Except  as  otherwise  expressly  provided  for in this
Agreement,  neither  Investors  Research nor the Funds shall use any  trademark,
trade name,  service mark or logo of the Company,  or any  variation of any such
trademark, trade name, service mark or logo, without the Company's prior written
consent, the granting of which shall be at the Company's sole option.  Except as
otherwise  expressly  provided for in this Agreement,  the Company shall not use
any  trademark,  trade  name,  service  mark or logo of the Issuer or  Investors
Research,  or any variation of any such trademarks,  trade names, service marks,
or logos,  without the prior  written  consent of either the Issuer or Investors
Research, as appropriate, the


<PAGE>



PAGE 7
granting of which shall be at the sole option of Investors Research
and/or the Issuer.

     9.  Proxy Voting.

     (a)  The  Company  shall  provide  pass-through  voting  privileges  to all
Contract  owners  so long as the SEC  continues  to  interpret  the  1940 Act as
requiring  such  privileges.  It shall be the  responsibility  of the Company to
assure that it and the separate  accounts of the other  Participating  Companies
(as defined in Section 11(a) below)  participating  in any Fund calculate voting
privileges in a consistent manner.

     (b) The  Company  will  distribute  to Contract  owners all proxy  material
furnished  by  Investors  Research  and will  vote  shares  in  accordance  with
instructions  received  from such Contract  owners.  The Company shall vote Fund
shares for which no  instructions  have been received in the same  proportion as
shares for which such  instructions  have been  received.  The  Company  and its
agents shall not oppose or interfere with the  solicitation  of proxies for Fund
shares held for such Contract owners.

     10.  Indemnity.

     (a)  Investors  Research  agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company
and each person,  if any,  who  controls  the Company  within the meaning of the
Securities  Act of 1933, and any officers,  directors,  employees,  agents,  and
affiliates  of  the  foregoing  (collectively,  the  "Indemnified  Parties"  for
purposes of this Section 10(a)) against any losses, claims, expenses, damages or
liabilities  (including  amounts  paid  in  settlement  thereof)  or  litigation
expenses  (including   reasonable  legal  and  other  expenses)   (collectively,
"Losses"), to which the Indemnified Parties may become subject,  insofar as such
Losses (i) result from a breach by Investors Research of a material provision of
this  Agreement,  including the incorrect  calculation or reporting of the daily
net asset value per share or dividend or capital gain distribution rate, or (ii)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue  statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained in any  registration  statement or any prospectus
of the Fund or arise out of or are based upon the  omission or alleged  omission
to state therein a material  fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to
make the statements  therein not misleading.  Investors  Research will reimburse
any legal or other expenses  reasonably  incurred by the Indemnified  Parties in
connection with  investigating or defending any such Losses.  Investors Research
shall  not  be  liable  for   indemnification   hereunder  if  such  Losses  are
attributable  to the  negligence  or misconduct  of the Company  performing  its
obligations under this Agreement or as a result of a breach of Section 21.

     (b) The Company  agrees to indemnify and hold harmless  Investors  Research
and the Issuer and each  person,  if any,  who  controls the Issuer or Investors
Research within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, and their  respective
officers, directors,


<PAGE>



PAGE 8
employees,   agents,  and  affiliates  of  the  foregoing   (collectively,   the
"Indemnified  Parties" for purposes of this Section 10(b)) against any Losses to
which the  Indemnified  Parties may become  subject,  insofar as such Losses (i)
result from a breach by the Company of a material  provision of this  Agreement,
or (ii) arise out of or are based upon any untrue  statement  or alleged  untrue
statement of any material fact contained in the sales  literature of the Company
or in a registration  statement or any  prospectus of the Company  regarding the
Contracts or the Account, if any, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged  omission  to state  therein a material  fact  required  to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arise out
of or as a result of conduct,  statements or  representations  of the Company or
its  agents  (other  than  statements  or   representations   contained  in  the
prospectuses  or sales  literature  of the Fund),  with  respect to the sale and
distribution  of Contracts for which the Fund's  shares serve as the  underlying
investment,  or (iii)  result  from the use by any  person of a Remote  Computer
Terminal.  The Company will  reimburse  any legal or other  expenses  reasonably
incurred  by  the  Indemnified  Parties  in  connection  with  investigating  or
defending any such Losses.  The Company shall not be liable for  indemnification
hereunder if such Losses are  attributable  to the  negligence  or misconduct of
Investors  Research or the Issuer in  performing  their  obligations  under this
Agreement.

     (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified  party  hereunder of notice of
the commencement of action,  such indemnified  party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made  against  the  indemnifying  party  hereunder,  notify the
indemnifying  party of the commencement  thereof;  but the omission so to notify
the indemnifying  party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have
to any indemnified  party otherwise than under this Section 10. In case any such
action  is  brought  against  any  indemnified   party,   and  it  notifies  the
indemnifying party of the commencement  thereof,  the indemnifying party will be
entitled to  participate  therein and, to the extent that it may wish to, assume
the defense thereof,  with counsel  satisfactory to such indemnified  party, and
after  notice  from  the  indemnifying  party to such  indemnified  party of its
election  to assume the  defense  thereof,  the  indemnifying  party will not be
liable to such  indemnified  party under this  Section 10 for any legal or other
expenses  subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.

     (d) If the indemnifying  party assumes the defense of any such action,  the
indemnifying  party  shall  not,  without  the  prior  written  consent  of  the
indemnified  parties in such action,  settle or compromise  the liability of the
indemnified  parties in such action, or permit a default or consent to the entry
of any judgment in respect  thereof,  unless in connection with such settlement,
compromise or consent,  each  indemnified  party  receives from such claimant an
unconditional release from all liability in respect of such claim.




<PAGE>



PAGE 9
     11.  Potential Conflicts.

     (a) The Company has received a copy of an application for exemptive relief,
as amended,  filed by Investors  Research on December 21, 1987, with the SEC and
the order issued by the SEC in response  thereto (the "Shared Funding  Exemptive
Order").  The Company has reviewed the  conditions to the  requested  relief set
forth  in  such  application  for  exemptive   relief.  As  set  forth  in  such
application, the Board of Directors of the Issuer (the "Board") will monitor the
Issuer for the  existence of any material  irreconcilable  conflict  between the
interests  of the  contract  owners  of all  separate  accounts  ("Participating
Companies")  investing  in  funds  of the  Issuer.  An  irreconcilable  material
conflict  may arise for a variety  of  reasons,  including  (i) an action by any
state insurance  regulatory  authority;  (ii) a change in applicable  federal or
state  insurance,  tax, or securities laws or  regulations,  or a public ruling,
private  letter  ruling,  no-action  or  interpretative  letter,  or any similar
actions  by  insurance,  tax or  securities  regulatory  authorities;  (iii)  an
administrative or judicial decision in any relevant proceeding;  (iv) the manner
in which the investments of any portfolio are being managed; (v) a difference in
voting  instructions given by variable annuity contract owners and variable life
insurance  contract  owners;  or (vi) a decision by an insurer to disregard  the
voting  instructions  of contract  owners.  The Board shall promptly  inform the
Company if it determines that an irreconcilable material conflict exists and the
implications thereof.

     (b) The Company will report any potential or existing conflicts of which it
is aware to the Board.  The Company  will  assist the Board in carrying  out its
responsibilities under the Shared Funding Exemptive Order by providing the Board
with all information  reasonably  necessary for the Board to consider any issues
raised.  This  includes,  but is not limited to, an obligation by the Company to
inform the Board whenever contract owner voting instructions are disregarded.

     (c) If a majority of the Board,  or a majority of its  disinterested  Board
members,  determines that a material  irreconcilable conflict exists with regard
to contract  owner  investments in a Fund, the Board shall give prompt notice to
all  Participating  Companies.  If the  Board  determines  that the  Company  is
responsible for causing or creating said conflict, the Company shall at its sole
cost and expense,  and to the extent reasonably  practicable (as determined by a
majority of the disinterested  Board members),  take such action as is necessary
to remedy or eliminate the  irreconcilable  material  conflict.  Such  necessary
action may include but shall not be limited to:

          (i)         withdrawing  the assets  allocable to the Account from the
                      Fund and reinvesting such assets in a different investment
                      medium  or   submitting   the  question  of  whether  such
                      segregation  should  be  implemented  to  a  vote  of  all
                      affected contract owners and as


<PAGE>



PAGE 10
                      appropriate,  segregating  the  assets of any  appropriate
                      group  (i.e.,  annuity  contract  owners,  life  insurance
                      contract  owners,  or variable  contract  owners of one or
                      more Participating  Companies) that votes in favor of such
                      segregation,  or offering to the affected  contract owners
                      the option of making such a change; and/or

          (ii)        establishing a new registered management investment
                      company or managed separate account.

     (d) If a material  irreconcilable conflict arises as a result of a decision
by the Company to disregard  its contract  owner  voting  instructions  and said
decision represents a minority position or would preclude a majority vote by all
of its contract owners having an interest in the Issuer, the Company at its sole
cost,  may be  required,  at the Board's  election,  to  withdraw  an  Account's
investment in the Issuer and terminate this Agreement;  provided,  however, that
such withdrawal and  termination  shall be limited to the extent required by the
foregoing  material  irreconcilable  conflict as determined by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board.

     (e) For the purpose of this  Section  11, a majority  of the  disinterested
Board  members shall  determine  whether or not any proposed  action  adequately
remedies any irreconcilable  material conflict,  but in no event will the Issuer
be required to  establish a new  funding  medium for any  Contract.  The Company
shall not be required by this Section 11 to  establish a new funding  medium for
any Contract if an offer to do so has been declined by vote of a majority of the
Contract owners materially  adversely  affected by the  irreconcilable  material
conflict.

     12. Term and  Termination.  The term of this Agreement  shall commence only
upon the granting of effectiveness of the Issuer's  registration  statement with
respect  to the Fund.  Investors  Research  shall  notify the  Company  upon the
effectiveness  of  the  Fund's  registration  statement.  This  Agreement  shall
terminate as to the sale and issuance of new Contracts:

     (a) at the option of either the Company,  Investors  Research or the Issuer
upon six months' advance written notice,  except that if exemptive  relief or an
exemptive order from the SEC is required in connection with such termination, at
such later date as may be necessary to obtain such exemptive relief;

     (b)  at the option of the Company if the Funds' shares are not
available for any reason to meet the requirement of Contracts as
determined by the Company.  Reasonable advance notice of election
to terminate shall be furnished by Company;

     (c) at the option of either the Company,  Investors Research or the Issuer,
upon   institution  of  formal   proceedings   against  the   broker-dealer   or
broker-dealers marketing the Contracts, the


<PAGE>



PAGE 11
Account, the Company, or the Issuer by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"), the SEC or any other
regulatory body;

     (d) upon  termination  of the Management  Agreement  between the Issuer and
Investors  Research.  Notice of such termination shall be promptly  furnished to
the   Company.   This   Section   12(d)   shall   not  be  deemed  to  apply  if
contemporaneously  with such termination a new contract of substantially similar
terms is entered into between the Issuer and Investors Research;

     (e) upon the  requisite  vote of Contract  owners having an interest in the
Issuer to substitute  for the Issuer's  shares the shares of another  investment
company in accordance  with the terms of Contracts for which the Issuer's shares
had been selected to serve as the underlying investment medium. The Company will
give 60 days'  written  notice  to the  Issuer  and  Investors  Research  of any
proposed vote to replace the Funds' shares;

     (f)  upon assignment of this Agreement unless made with the
written consent of all other parties hereto;

     (g)  if  the  Issuer's  shares  are  not  registered,  issued  or  sold  in
conformance  with Federal law or such law precludes the use of Fund shares as an
underlying investment medium of Contracts issued or to be issued by the Company.
Prompt notice shall be given by either party should such situation occur,

     (h) at the option of the Issuer,  if the Issuer  reasonably  determines  in
good faith that the  Company is not  offering  shares of the Fund in  conformity
with the terms of this Agreement or applicable law;

     (i) at the option of any party hereto upon a determination  that continuing
to  perform  under  this  Agreement  would,  in the  reasonable  opinion  of the
terminating party's counsel,  violate any applicable federal or state law, rule,
regulation or judicial order;

     (j) at the option of the Company,  if the Company  determines,  in its sole
judgment  exercised  in good  faith,  that  Investors  Research  has  suffered a
material adverse change in its business, operations or financial condition since
the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse  publicity that
is likely to have a material  adverse impact upon the business and operations of
the Company,  such termination to be effective sixty (60) days' after receipt by
Investors Research of written notice of the Company's election to terminate this
Agreement, or

     (k) at the option of Investors Research,  if Investors Research determines,
in its sole  judgment  exercised in good faith,  that the Company has suffered a
material adverse change in its business, operations or financial condition since
the date of this Agreement or is the subject of material adverse  publicity that
is


<PAGE>



PAGE 12
likely to have a material adverse impact upon the business and operations of the
Fund or Investors  Research,  such  termination to be effective sixty (60) days'
after receipt by the Company of written notice of Investors  Research's election
to terminate this Agreement.

     13.  Continuation  of  Agreement.  Termination  as the  result of any cause
listed in Section 12 shall not affect the Issuer's obligation to furnish,  under
the terms of this Agreement, its shares to Contracts then in force for which its
shares serve or may serve as the underlying  medium (unless such further sale of
Fund shares is proscribed by law or the SEC or other regulatory body).

     14.  Non-Exclusivity.  Each of the parties acknowledges and
agrees that this Agreement and the arrangement described herein are
intended to be non-exclusive and that each of the parties is free
to enter into similar agreements and arrangements with other
entities.

     15.  Survival.  The provisions of Section 8 (use of names) and
Section 10 (indemnity) of this Agreement shall survive termination
of this Agreement.

     16.  Amendment.  Neither this Agreement, nor any provision
hereof, may be amended, waived, discharged or terminated orally,
but only by an instrument in writing signed by all of the parties
hereto.

17. Notices.  All notices and other  communications  hereunder shall be given or
made in writing and shall be delivered personally, or sent by telex, telecopier,
express  delivery or  registered  or certified  mail,  postage  prepaid,  return
receipt  requested,  to the party or  parties to whom they are  directed  at the
following  addresses,  or at such other addresses as may be designated by notice
from such party to all other parties.

     To the Company:

          IDS Life Insurance Company
          IDS Tower 10
          Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440-0010
          Attention: Wendell Halvorson
          (612) 671-3095 (office number)
          (612) 671-2269 (telecopy number)

     With a simultaneous copy to:

          IDS Life Insurance Company
          IDS Tower 10
          Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440
          Attention: Mary Ellyn Minenko, Counsel
          (612) 671-3678 (office number)
          (612) 671-3767 (telecopy number)




<PAGE>



PAGE 13
     To the Issuer or Investors Research:

          Twentieth Century Mutual Funds
          4500 Main Street
          Kansas City, Missouri 64111
          Attention: Charles A. Etherington, Esq.
          (816) 340-4051 (office number)
          (816) 340-4964 (telecopy number)

Any notice,  demand or other  communication given in a manner prescribed in this
Section 17 shall be deemed to have been delivered on receipt.

     18.  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement may not be
assigned without the written consent of all parties to the
Agreement at the time of such assignment.  This Agreement shall be
binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective permitted successors and assigns.

     19.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall
constitute one agreement, and any party hereto may execute this
Agreement by signing any such counterpart.

     20.  Severability.  In case any one or more of the provisions
contained in this Agreement should be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall
not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

     21.  Confidentiality.

     (a) Investors Research acknowledges that the identities of the customers of
the Company or any of its affiliates (collectively,  the "Protected Parties" for
purposes of this Section 21), information  maintained regarding those customers,
and all  computer  programs and  procedures  or other  confidential  information
developed or used by the Protected  Parties or any of their  employees or agents
in connection with the Company's  performance of its duties under this Agreement
are the valuable property of the Protected  Parties.  Investors  Research agrees
that if in connection with the performance of its duties under this Agreement it
comes into  possession of any list or  compilation of the identities of or other
confidential  information about the Protected Parties'  customers,  or any other
confidential  information or property of the Protected Parties,  other than such
information as may be independently developed, compiled or obtained by Investors
Research,  whether from information supplied by the Protected Parties' customers
who also  maintain  accounts  directly  with the Issuer or another  affiliate of
Investors  Research or otherwise,  Investors Research will hold such information
or property in confidence and refrain from using, disclosing or distributing any
of such  information  or other  property  except  (a) with the  Company's  prior
written consent, or (b) as required by law or judicial


<PAGE>



PAGE 14
process.  Investors Research  acknowledges that any breach of this Section 21(a)
would result in immediate  and  irreparable  harm to the  Protected  Parties for
which there would be no adequate or quantifiable remedy at law. As a result, the
parties agree that in the event of a breach, as their sole remedy, the Protected
Parties will be entitled to equitable  relief by way of temporary  and permanent
injunctions,  as well as such  other  equitable  relief as a court of  competent
jurisdiction deems appropriate.

     (b)  The  parties   acknowledge  that  it  is  not  contemplated  that  any
confidential   information  of  the  Protected  Parties  is  necessary  for  the
performance by Investors Research or the Issuer of their respective duties under
this  Agreement.  If the  parties  determine  that  the  communication  of  such
confidential  information  is  necessary  or  desirable,  the  parties  agree to
cooperate in the  establishment  of procedures to identify such  information  as
confidential in order to ensure its protection.

     22.  Access to Books and Records.  Each party to this  Agreement  agrees to
cooperate  with each  other  party and all  appropriate  government  authorities
(including without limitation the SEC, the NASD and state insurance  regulators)
and will permit each other and such authorities  reasonable  access to its books
and records in connection  with any  investigation  or inquiry  relating to this
Agreement or the transactions  contemplated  hereby. Each party agrees to permit
the other  party or the  appropriate  governmental  authority  to make copies of
portions of its books and records that relate to the party's  performance of its
duties  under  this   Agreement  and  which  are  the  subject   matter  of  the
investigation or inquiry.

     23. Entire  Agreement.  This Agreement,  including the Attachments  hereto,
constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the matters
dealt with herein, and supersedes all previous agreements, written or oral, with
respect to such matters.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the
date set forth above.


INVESTORS RESEARCH CORPORATION        IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY


By: /s/ William M. Lyons              By: /s/ Richard W. Kling
        William M. Lyons              Name:   Richard W. Kling
        Executive Vice President      Title:  President

TCI PORTFOLIOS, INC.                  Attest:

By: /s/ William M. Lyons              By: /s/ Paul D. Sand
        William M. Lyons              Name:   Paul D. Sand
        Executive Vice President      Title:  Assistant Secretary





<PAGE>



PAGE 1






CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Independent Auditors"
and to the  use of our  reports  dated  February  7,  1997  on the  consolidated
financial  statements and schedules of IDS Life Insurance Company and our report
dated March 21, 1997 on the financial statements of IDS Life Variable Account 10
in Post Effective  Amendment No. 2 to the Registration  Statement (Form N-4, No.
33-62407) and related  Prospectus for the  registration of the IDS Life Variable
Account 10 to be offered by IDS Life Insurance Company.



Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 18, 1997





<PAGE>



<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE I - CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS
OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES ($ thousands)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Column A                                  Column B         Column C           Column D

Type of Investment                          Cost            Value         Amount at which
                                                                            shown in the
                                                                           balance sheet
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>               <C>                 <C>       
Fixed maturities:
    Held to maturity:
        United States Government and
          government agencies and
          authorities (a)             $    2,085,280  $      2,060,778  $        2,085,280
        States, municipalities and
           political subdivisions              9,685            10,097               9,685
        All other corporate bonds          8,141,414         8,450,775           8,141,414
                                        -------------   ---------------   -----------------
              Total held to maturity      10,236,379        10,521,650          10,236,379

    Available for sale:
        United States Government and
          government agencies and
          authorities (b)                  6,925,876         6,960,002           6,960,002
        States, municipalities and
           political subdivisions             11,032            12,368              12,368
        All other corporate bonds          4,071,714         4,174,475           4,174,475
                                        -------------   ---------------   -----------------
              Total available for sale    11,008,622        11,146,845          11,146,845

Mortgage loans on real estate              3,493,364         XXXXXXXXX           3,493,364
Policy loans                                 459,902         XXXXXXXXX             459,902
Other investments                            251,465         XXXXXXXXX             251,465
                                        -------------                     -----------------

              Total investments       $   25,449,732  $      XXXXXXXXX  $       25,587,955
                                        =============                     =================

(a) - Includes mortgage-backed securities with a cost and market value of $2,041,278 and $2,017,119,
           respectively.
(b) - Includes mortgage-backed securities with a cost and market value of $6,847,932 and $6,879,547,
           respectively.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

    Column A     Column B      Column C  Column D    Column E    Column F   Column G    Column H    Column I      Column J  Column K

    Segment      Deferred      Future    Unearned  Other policy  Premium      Net       Benefits,  Amortization    Other    Premiums
                  policy       policy    premiums   claims and  revenue    investment   claims,     of deferred  operating  written
                 acquisition  benefits,              benefits                income    losses and    policy       expenses
                   cost        losses,                payable                          settlement   acquisition
                              claims and                                                 expenses     costs
                                loss
                               expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>           <C>           <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>
Annuities     $  1,398,025  $ 21,838,008 $       -  $    50,137  $        -  $1,702,364  $    2,724  $   189,645  $ 180,942    N/A



Life, DI, and
Long-term 
Care Insurance      932,780    3,811,034          -       33,497     182,921     262,998     187,486       88,960     80,526   N/A

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total         $  2,330,805  $ 25,649,042 $       -  $    83,634  $  182,921  $1,965,362  $  190,210  $   278,605  $ 261,468    N/A

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

    Column A      Column B     Column C    Column D    Column E    Column F   Column G    Column H    Column I    Column J  Column K

    Segment      Deferred     Future       Unearned  Other policy  Premium      Net       Benefits,  Amortization Other     Premiums
                  policy      policy       premiums   claims and  revenue    investment   claims,     of deferred operating  written
                 acquisition benefits,                benefits                income     losses and    policy     expenses
                   cost       losses,                 payable                            settlement   acquisition
                              claims and                                                  expenses     costs
                               loss
                               expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>            <C>         <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>            <C>
Annuities      $ 1,227,169 $ 21,404,836 $       -  $     28,191  $       -  $1,651,067  $    2,693  $   189,626  $  166,191     N/A



Life, DI, 
and Long-term 
Care Insurance     798,556    3,613,253          -        28,132    161,530     256,242     164,749       90,495      45,451    N/A


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total          $ 2,025,725 $ 25,018,089 $       -  $     56,323  $ 161,530  $1,907,309  $  167,442  $   280,121  $  211,642     N/A

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

  Column A        Column B    Column C    Column D    Column E    Column F  Column G    Column H    Column I      Column J  Column K

   Segment       Deferred     Future      Unearned  Other policy  Premium     Net       Benefits,  Amortization   Other     Premiums
                  policy      policy      premiums   claims and  revenue   investment   claims,     of deferred  operating   written
                 acquisition benefits,              benefits                income     losses and    policy       expenses
                   cost       losses,                payable                           settlement   acquisition
                             claims and                                                 expenses     costs
                               loss
                              expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>            <C>         <C>          <C>       <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>             <C>
Annuities      $ 1,150,585 $ 19,361,979 $       - $    23,888  $        - $1,534,826  $   (5,762) $   194,060  $  131,515      N/A



Life, DI, and
Long-term Care
Insurance         714,739    3,346,931          -      26,180     144,640    247,047     134,128       86,312      78,586      N/A


- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total          $ 1,865,324 $ 22,708,910 $       - $    50,068  $  144,640 $1,781,873  $  128,366  $   280,372  $  210,101      N/A

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Column A              Column B       Column C        Column D      Column E    Column F

                             Gross amount  Ceded to other   Assumed from      Net     % of amount
                                            companies     other companies   Amount   assumed to net
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                        <C>            <C>            <C>              <C>               <C>  
For the year ended
  December 31, 1996

Life insurance in force    $  65,571,173  $   3,875,921  $     1,703,181  $63,398,433       2.69%
===================================================================================================

Premiums:
  Life insurance           $      54,111  $       3,253  $           545  $   51,403        1.06%
  DI & LTC insurance             164,561         33,043               --     131,518        0.00%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total premiums             $     218,672  $      36,296  $           545  $  182,921        0.30%
===================================================================================================

For the year ended
  December 31, 1995

Life insurance in force    $  57,895,180  $   3,771,204  $     1,788,352  $55,912,328       3.20%
===================================================================================================

Premiums:
  Life insurance           $      53,089  $       2,648  $          (248) $   50,193       -0.49%
  DI & LTC insurance             137,016         25,679               --     111,337        0.00%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total premiums             $     190,105  $      28,327  $          (248) $  161,530       -0.15%
===================================================================================================

For the year ended
  December 31, 1994

Life insurance in force    $  50,814,651  $   3,246,608  $     1,851,916  $49,419,959       3.75%
===================================================================================================

Premiums:
  Life insurance           $      51,219  $       3,354  $           319  $   48,184        0.66%
  DI & LTC insurance             114,049         17,593               --      96,456        0.00%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total premiums             $     165,268  $      20,947  $           319  $  144,640        0.22%
===================================================================================================
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE V - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Column A           Column B        Column C                       Column D      Column E

                                                  Additions
                                                -------------
                                 Balance at                       Charged to
              Description         Beginning      Charged to     Other Accounts- Deductions-  Balance at End
                                  of Period   Costs & Expenses     Describe      Describe *    of Period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                  <C>                   <C>               <C>          <C>       <C>    
For the year ended
  December 31, 1996
- ------------------------------
Reserve for Mortgage Loans           $37,340               $155              $0           $0        $37,495
Reserve for Other Investments         $4,713              ($750)             $0           $0         $3,963

For the year ended
  December 31, 1995
- ------------------------------
Reserve for Mortgage Loans           $35,252             $1,088              $0      ($1,000)       $37,340
Reserve for Other Investments         $7,515            ($2,802)             $0           $0         $4,713

For the year ended
  December 31, 1994
- ------------------------------
Reserve for Mortgage Loans           $35,020               $232              $0           $0        $35,252
Reserve for Fixed Maturities         $22,777           ($16,777)             $0       $6,000             $0
Reserve for Other Investments        $10,700            ($3,185)             $0           $0         $7,515

* 1995 amount represents a reserve on mortgage loans which were transferred from an affiliate. 
  1994 amount represents a direct writedown of the related investments in fixed maturities.
</TABLE>




<PAGE>



PAGE 1







Report of Independent Auditors

The Board of Directors
IDS Life Insurance Company

We have audited the  consolidated  financial  statements  of IDS Life  Insurance
Company as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and for each of the three years in the
period  ended  December  31,  1996,  and have  issued our report  thereon  dated
February 7, 1997 (included elsewhere in this Registration Statement). Our audits
also included the  financial  statement  schedules  listed in Item 24(b) of this
Registration Statement.  These schedules are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits.

In our  opinion,  the  financial  statement  schedules  referred to above,  when
considered  in  relation  to the basic  financial  statements  taken as a whole,
present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.



Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 7, 1997


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                           6
<CIK>                                      0001000191
<NAME>                            IDS Life Account 10
<MULTIPLIER>                                        1
<CURRENCY>                                U.S. DOLLAR
       
<S>                                       <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                            MAR-05-1996
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                     1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       999142344
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     1003496697
<RECEIVABLES>                                10103747
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                      0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             1013600444
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                            0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                             0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                  (10832201)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                        (10832201)
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                     0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                            0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       948460555
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         1881431
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                           0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                             0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                            0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                            0
<NET-ASSETS>                               1002768243
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            28813756
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                   0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                      0
<EXPENSES-NET>                              (4489515)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      24324241
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        92888
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     4354352
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        28771481
<EQUALIZATION>                                      0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                           0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                               0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                    1050014680
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>               (101554125)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                     1002768243
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                             0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                             0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                          0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                               0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                             (4489515)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        501384122
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                               0
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                     0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                             0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                           0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                 0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                     0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                              0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                          7
<CIK>                      0001000191
<NAME>                     IDS Life Insurance Company
<MULTIPLIER>               1000
<CURRENCY>                 U.S. DOLLAR
       
<S>                                       <C>    
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    YEAR
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                     1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         11146845
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        10236379
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          10521650
<EQUITIES>                                       3308
<MORTGAGE>                                    3493364
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   70290
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               25587955
<CASH>                                         224603
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               1803
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                        2330805
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               47305981
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              25649042
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                 0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                      0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           83634
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                     0
<COMMON>                                         3000
                               0
                                         0
<OTHER-SE>                                    2144080
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 47305981
                                     182921
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           1965362
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              (159)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 574341
<BENEFITS>                                    1560678
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    278605
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           261468
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                621714
<INCOME-TAX>                                   207138
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            414576
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   414576
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  24192
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             88549
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              86354
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                    0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 26387
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                             0
        

</TABLE>




<PAGE>



PAGE 1
                                    IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                         POWER OF ATTORNEY

City of Minneapolis

State of Minnesota

        Each of the undersigned,  as directors of IDS Life Insurance  Company on
behalf of the below listed  registrants that previously have filed  registration
statements and amendments thereto pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933 and the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940  with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission:

                                                        1933 Act     1940 Act
                                                        Reg. Number  Reg. Number
IDS Life Variable Account 10
  IDS Life Flexible Portfolio Annuity                   33-62407      811-07355
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
  IDS Life Flexible Annuity                             33-4173       811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
  IDS Life Variable Retirement and Combination
  Retirement Annuities                                  2-73114       811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
  IDS Life Employee Benefit Annuity                     33-52518      811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
  IDS Life Group Variable Annuity Contract              33-47302      811-3217
IDS Life Insurance Company
  IDS Life Group Variable Annuity Contract
  (Fixed Account)                                       33-48701        N/A
IDS Life Insurance Company
  IDS Life Guaranteed Term Annuity                      33-28976        N/A
IDS Life Insurance Company
  IDS Life Flexible Payment Market Value Annuity        33-50968        N/A
IDS Life Variable Life Separate Account
  Flexible Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy       33-11165      811-4298
IDS Life Variable Life Separate Account
  Flexible Premium Survivorship Variable
  Life Insurance Policy                                 33-62457      811-4298
IDS Life Variable Life Separate Account
  Single Premium Variable Life
  Insurance Policy                                      2-97637       811-4298
IDS Life Variable Account for Smith Barney
  Single Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy         33-5210       811-4652
IDS Life Account SBS
  Symphony Annuity                                      33-40779      812-7731
IDS Life Account RE
IDS Life Real Estate Variable Annuity                   33-13375         N/A
IDS Life Variable Annuity Fund A                        2-29081       811-1653
IDS Life Variable Annuity Fund B                        2-47430       811-1674


hereby constitutes and appoints William A. Stoltzmann, Mary Ellyn
Minenko, Eileen J. Newhouse, Sherilyn K. Beck, Colin Lancaster,
Bruce Kohn and Timothy S. Meehan or any one of them, as her or his
attorney-in-fact and agent, to sign for her or him in her or his
name, place and stead any and all filings, applications (including


<PAGE>



PAGE 2
applications for exemptive relief),  periodic reports,  registration  statements
(with all exhibits  and other  documents  required or  desirable  in  connection
therewith),  other documents,  and amendments  thereto and to file such filings,
applications,  periodic reports,  registration statements,  other documents, and
amendments  thereto  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  and  any
necessary states,  and grants to any or all of them the full power and authority
to do and  perform  each and every  act  required  or  necessary  in  connection
therewith.

     Dated the 12th day of March, 1997.



/s/ David R. Hubers                             March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    David R. Hubers
    Director


/s/ Richard W. Kling                            March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    Richard W. Kling
    Director and President


/s/ Paul F. Kolkman                             March 11, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    Paul F. Kolkman
    Director and Executive Vice
    President


/s/ James A. Mitchell                           March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    James A. Mitchell
    Director, Chairman of the
    Board and Chief Executive Officer


/s/ Barry J. Murphy                             March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    Barry J. Murphy
    Director and Executive Vice
    President, Client Service


/s/ Stuart A. Sedlacek                          March 7, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    Stuart A. Sedlacek
    Director and Executive Vice
    President, Assured Assets


/s/ Melinda S. Urion                            March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    Melinda S. Urion
    Director, Executive Vice
    President and Controller



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