VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL EQUITY OPPORTUNITY TRUST SER 126
487, 1998-12-15
Previous: SUN HYDRAULICS CORP, 8-K, 1998-12-15
Next: FIRST AVIATION SERVICES INC, 10-Q, 1998-12-15



                              MEMORANDUM OF CHANGES
                     VAN KAMPEN FOCUS PORTFOLIOS, SERIES 126

         The Prospectus filed with Amendment No. 1 of the Registration Statement
on Form S-6 has been revised to reflect information regarding the deposit of Van
Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126 on December 15, 1998. An effort has been
made to set forth below each of the major changes and also to reflect the same
by blacklining the marked counterparts of the Prospectus submitted with the
Amendment.

Cover Page.   The date of the Prospectus has been completed.

Pages 2-3.    "The Summary of Essential Financial Information" section and 
              "Fee Table" have been completed.

Pages 4-8.    Revisions have been made and the portfolios have been completed.

Pages 9-14.   The descriptions of the Securities issuers have been completed.

Pages 15-16.  The Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants and 
              Statements of Condition have been completed.

                                                              FILE NO. 333-67241
                                                                    CIK #1025279

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-1004

                                 Amendment No. 1
                                       to
                                    Form S-6

For Registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of Securities of Unit
Investment Trusts Registered on Form N-8B-2.

A. Exact Name of Trust:       VAN KAMPEN FOCUS PORTFOLIOS, SERIES 126

B. Name of Depositor:         VAN KAMPEN FUNDS INC.

C. Complete address of Depositor's principal executive offices:

   One Parkview Plaza
   Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois  60181

D. Name and complete address of agents for service:

   CHAPMAN AND CUTLER               VAN KAMPEN FUNDS INC.
   Attention:  Mark J. Kneedy       Attention:  Don G. Powell, Chairman
   111 West Monroe Street           One Parkview Plaza
   Chicago, Illinois  60603         Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois  60181

E. Title of securities being registered:  Units of proportionate interest

F. Approximate date of proposed sale to the public:

             AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

/ X /  Check box if it is proposed that this filing will become effective at 
- ---    2:00 p.m. on December 15, 1998 pursuant to Rule 487.

                                   Van Kampen
                                Focus Portfolios

   
Financial Services Trust, Series 3
Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm Trust, Series 2
    

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
   Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126 includes the unit investment trusts
described above (the "Trusts"). Each Trust seeks to increase the value of your
investment by investing in a portfolio of common stocks of companies diversified
within a single industry. Of course, we cannot guarantee that a Trust will
achieve its objective.
    

    The Units are not deposits or obligations of any bank or government agency
and are not guaranteed.

   
                                December 15, 1998
    

    You should read this prospectus and retain it for future reference.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved of
the Units or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any
contrary representation is a criminal offense.

   
                   Summary of Essential Financial Information
                                December 15, 1998

Public Offering Price
Aggregate value of Securities per Unit (1)                          $      9.900
Sales charge                                                               0.325
   Less deferred sales charge                                              0.225
Public offering price per Unit (2)                                  $     10.000

General Information
Initial Date of Deposit                                        December 15, 1998

Mandatory Termination Date                                     December 15, 2000
Record Dates                                             June 10 and December 10
Distribution Dates                                       June 25 and December 25

                                                    Financial
                                                    Services          EuroTec
                                                      Trust        IndexSM Trust
                                                  -------------    -------------
Trust Information
Initial number of Units (3)                              14,684           14,883
Aggregate value of Securities (1)                 $     145,365   $      147,341
Estimated initial distribution per Unit (4)       $         .05   $          .03
Estimated annual dividends per Unit (4)           $      .11731   $       .05348
Redemption price per Unit (5)                     $        9.67   $         9.66
    

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(1)Each Security is valued at the last closing sale price on its principal
   trading exchange or at the last asked price if not listed. You will bear all
   or a portion of the expenses incurred in organizing and offering your Trust.
   The Public Offering Price includes the estimated amount of these costs. The
   Trustee will deduct these expenses from your Trust at the end of the initial
   offering period (approximately three months). The estimated amount for each
   Trust is described on the next page.
(2)The Public Offering Price will include any accumulated dividends or cash in
   the Income or Capital Accounts of a Trust.
(3)At the Evaluation Time on the Initial Date of Deposit, the number of Units
   may be adjusted so that the Public Offering Price per Unit equals $10. The
   number of Units and fractional interest of each Unit in a Trust will increase
   or decrease to the extent of any adjustment.
(4)This estimate is based on the most recently declared quarterly dividends or
   interim and final dividends accounting for any foreign withholding taxes.
   Actual dividends may vary due to a variety of factors. See "Risk Factors".
(5)The redemption price is reduced by any remaining deferred sales charge. See
   "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units". The redemption price includes
   the estimated organizational and offering costs. The redemption price will
   not include these costs after the initial offering period.

                                    Fee Table

   
                                                   Financial
                                                   Services          EuroTec
                                                    Trust        IndexSM Trust
                                                 -------------    -------------
 Transaction Fees (as % of offering price)
Initial sales charge (1)                                 1.00%            1.00%
Deferred sales charge (2)                                2.25%            2.25%
                                                 -------------    -------------
Maximum sales charge                                     3.25%            3.25%
                                                 =============    =============
Maximum sales charge on reinvested dividends             2.25%            2.25%
                                                 =============    =============

Estimated Organizational Costs per Unit (3)      $     0.28561   $      0.29344
                                                 =============    =============

Estimated Annual Expenses per Unit
Trustee's fee and operating expenses             $     0.04282   $      0.04282
Supervisory and evaluation fees                  $     0.00500   $      0.00500
                                                 -------------    -------------
Estimated annual expenses per Unit               $     0.04782   $      0.04782
                                                 =============    =============

Estimated Costs Over Time
One year                                         $      66       $       67
Three years                                      $      76       $       77
Five years                                             N/A              N/A
Ten years                                              N/A              N/A
    

   This fee table is intended to assist you in understanding the costs that you
will bear and to present a comparison of fees. The "Estimated Costs Over Time"
example illustrates the expenses you would pay on a $1,000 investment assuming a
5% annual return and redemption at the end of each period. This example assumes
that you reinvest all distributions at the end of each year. Of course, you
should not consider this example a representation of actual past or future
expenses or annual rate of return which may differ from those assumed for this
example. The sales charge and expenses are described under "Public Offering" and
"Trust Operating Expenses".

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
(1)The initial sales charge is the difference between the maximum sales charge
   and the deferred sales charge.
(2)The deferred sales charge is actually equal to $0.225 per Unit. This amount
   will exceed the percentage above if the Public Offering Price per Unit falls
   below $10 and will be less than the percentage above if the Public Offering
   Price per Unit exceeds $10. The deferred sales charge accrues daily and is
   assessed from April 15, 1999 through December 15, 1999.
(3)You will bear all or a portion of the expenses incurred in organizing and
   offering your Trust. The Trustee will deduct the actual amount of these
   expenses from your Trust at the end of the initial offering period.
    

Financial Services Trust

   
   The Trust seeks to increase the value of your Units over time by investing in
a portfolio of common stocks issued by financial services companies. These
companies may include insurance companies, banks, savings and loans, consumer
and industrial finance companies, securities brokerage companies, real estate
investment companies, investment managers and leasing companies. We believe that
the financial services industry is attractive based on several factors:

[CHART APPEARS HERE]
    

      o The earnings per share growth rate for financial services companies is
        above that for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index.
      o The possibility for mergers within the industry may allow for cost
        savings and better pricing for certain companies.
      o Despite faster earnings growth and a better return on equity, we believe
        that financial services stocks may be undervalued.

   Consider the following industry factors that we believe may contribute to
future growth in this sector:

      o An increased number of consolidations and mergers
      o Relatively stable interest rates
      o Low inflationary expectations
      o Expansion of lending products
      o Consumer confidence
      o Growth in consumer spending
      o Growth in credit cards
      o Strong credit quality
      o Growth in electronic commerce
      o Increase in transaction volume due to improvements in technology

   Of course, we cannot guarantee that the Trust will achieve its objective. The
value of your Units may fall below the price you paid
for the Units. You should read the "Risk Factors" section before you invest.

<TABLE>
   
<CAPTION>
Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               Current              Cost of
Number                                                    Market Value         Dividend             Securities
of Shares       Name of Issuer (1)                        per Share (2)        Yield (3)            to Trust (2)
- ----------      -----------------------------------       ---------------      -----------          -------------
<S>             <C>                                       <C>                  <C>                  <C>
                Accident and Health Insurance:
     163          Torchmark Corporation                    $       35.125             1.02%         $   5,725.38
     108          UNUM Corporation                                 54.500             1.08              5,886.00
                Diversified Financial Services:
     220          Liberty Financial Companies, Inc.                27.063             1.48              5,953.75
      64          Providian Financial Corporation                  89.938             0.22              5,756.00
                Finance Companies:
      81          Associates First Capital Corporation             72.375             0.61              5,862.38
      58          Capital One Financial Corporation               101.688             0.31              5,897.88
     210          CIT Group, Inc.                                  28.000             1.43              5,880.00
      98          Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc.              44.875             0.71              4,397.75
      66          Fannie Mae                                       67.250             1.43              4,438.50
                Insurance Brokers/Services:
      79          Aon Corporation                                  55.250             2.03              4,364.75
                Investment Bankers/Brokers/Services:
     158          Bear Stearns Companies, Inc.                     36.125             1.66              5,707.75
                Investment Managers:
     253          United Asset Management Corporation              23.000             3.48              5,819.00
                Life Insurance:
     192          Conseco, Inc.                                    30.125             1.86              5,784.00
     103          ReliaStar Financial Corporation                  42.875             1.73              4,416.13
                Multi-Line Insurance:
     114          Allstate Corporation                             37.688             1.43              4,296.38
     140          Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.              41.688             0.77              5,836.25
                Property-Casualty Insurers:
      67          Chubb Corporation                                66.000             1.88              4,422.00
     175          Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc.               33.500             0.60              5,862.50
                Rental/Leasing Companies:
     162          Ryder System, Inc.                               26.125             2.30              4,232.25
                Specialty Insurers:
     110          Ambac Financial Group, Inc.                      52.188             0.77              5,740.63
     135          CMAC Investment Corporation                      43.625             0.28              5,889.38
     121          Financial Security Assurance Holdings Limited    48.438             0.93              5,860.94
     475          Frontier Insurance Group, Inc.                   11.938             2.35              5,670.31
     102          LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc.                57.125             0.35              5,826.75
      93          MBIA, Inc.                                       62.250             1.29              5,789.25
     164          MGIC Investment Corporation                      35.625             0.28              5,842.50
      83          PMI Group, Inc.                                  50.688             0.39              4,207.06
- ----------                                                                                          -------------
  3,794                                                                                             $ 145,365.44
==========                                                                                          =============
</TABLE>
    

See "Notes to Portfolios".

Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm Trust

   
   The Trust seeks to provide capital appreciation through an investment in a
fixed portfolio of the stocks included in the Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm on
the Initial Date of Deposit. In creating the index, Morgan Stanley sought to
design a European benchmark that provides broad industry representation of
equally-weighted, highly liquid, pure technology companies that is rebalanced
annually. The index is the exclusive property and is a service mark of Morgan
Stanley. We believe that the Trust offers a unique opportunity to increase your
exposure to a strong foreign sector. We believe that many European technology
companies are thriving right now. We believe that several companies have
excelled in the worldwide technology market and may provide above average
investment opportunities. These companies may be benefiting from the "new"
Europe. The region is spending more on telecommunications, preparing high-speed
data networks and exploring where technology will go in the next century.

[CHART APPEARS HERE]
    

   Of course, we cannot guarantee that the Trust will achieve its objective. The
value of your Units may fall below the price you paid for the Units. You should
read the "Risk Factors" section before you invest.

   The Index. Morgan Stanley set the beginning index value to 200 as of the
close of trading on June 21, 1996. From that time through July 31, 1998, the
value of the index grew to 687.89. Over the same time period the Morgan Stanley
High-Technology 35 Indexsm grew from 323.83 to 597.01, the Morgan Stanley
Capital International Europe Index grew from 764 to 1351 and the Standard &
Poor's 500 Index grew from 666.84 to 1120.67. If you set the values of each of
these indexes to 1.0000 on June 21, 1996 they would have grown to the following
values over this period: EuroTec IndexSM: 3.4395; High-Tech 35 Index: 1.8436;
MSCI Europe Index: 1.7683; and S&P 500: 1.6806. Past performance of these
indexes does not guarantee future results. This is not the past performance of
the Trust and does not reflect sales charges and expenses that you will pay if
you own Units. The Trust portfolio may differ from the EuroTec IndexSM for
certain reasons.

    Pure Technology. The index includes 20 European electronics-based technology
companies representing a wide range of technology industry segments. These
segments include Computer Hardware, Software and Services, Telecommunications
Equipment, Semiconductors and Semiconductor Capital Equipment, and Technology
Conglomerates. The index attempts to include bellwether stocks that provide a
balanced representation of these sub-industries within the European market. The
index includes only electronics-based technology companies and excludes
biotechnology, medical, test and instrumentation companies. The index currently
includes five United Kingdom, five French, four Dutch, two German, two Swedish
and two Finnish companies.

    Equal Weighting. The index is an equal weighted index that includes large
and small industry bellwether stocks. The index seeks to minimize the pitfalls
of market capitalization indexes. Morgan Stanley believes that market
capitalization indexes fail to accommodate the wide range of market
capitalizations and revenue bases common to the technology industry.

    Rebalancing. Morgan Stanley rebalances the index to an equal weighting per
company on the third Friday of each June. This allows stocks that appreciate
during the year to command increasing influence in the index while guarding
against the long-term negatives of a market-capitalization weighted index.
Morgan Stanley also evaluates the index twice a year, on the close of the last
trading days of May and November. Morgan Stanley evaluates index changes based
on nature of business, market capitalization and liquidity. Morgan Stanley
announces any changes the following week and changes take effect at the close of
the third Friday of the month. We will not rebalance the Trust portfolio during
its life. Changes in the index will not result in changes in the portfolio.
However, we may offer additional portfolios each year that include the current
index components and weightings.

<TABLE>
   
<CAPTION>
Portfolio
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                               Current              Cost of
Number                                                    Market Value         Dividend             Securities
of Shares       Name of Issuer (1)                        per Share (2)        Yield (3)            to Trust (2)
- ----------      -----------------------------------       ---------------      -----------          -------------
<S>             <C>                                       <C>                  <C>                  <C>
                Computer Services:
      35          Atos S.A.                                $       208.051            0.00%         $    7,281.77
      49          Cap Gemini S.A.                                  149.616            0.36               7,331.16
     299          CMG Plc                                           24.854            0.33               7,431.21
     157          Getronics N.V.                                    45.699            0.41               7,174.78
     920          Logica Plc                                         8.016            0.53               7,375.14
     832          SEMA Group Plc                                     8.931            0.40               7,430.33
     207          Tieto Corporation                                 36.322            0.83               7,518.71
     203          WM-Data AB                                        35.977            0.41               7,303.34
                Computer Software:
   1,157          Misys Plc                                          6.417            0.79               7,423.95
     316          Sage Group Plc                                    23.279            0.25               7,356.18
                Diversified:
     121          Siemens AG                                        62.064            1.32               7,509.74
                Electronics:
     112          Philips Electronics N.V.                          63.677            1.44               7,131.88
                Enterprise Software:
     738          Baan Company, N.V.                                10.173            0.00               7,507.91
      20          SAP AG                                           382.212            0.40               7,644.24
                Semiconductor Capital Equipment:
     261          ASM Lithography Holding N.V.                      27.882            0.00               7,277.32
                Semiconductors:
     100          STMicroelectronics                                72.926            0.00               7,292.63
                Technical Software:
     168          Dassault Systemes S.A.                            43.238            0.41               7,264.04
                Telecommunications Equipment:
      63          Alcatel                                          116.870            1.51               7,362.82
     322          LM Ericsson                                       22.346            0.83               7,195.28
      70          Nokia Oyj                                        107.550            0.59               7,528.49
- ----------                                                                                          -------------
   6,150                                                                                            $ 147,340.92
==========                                                                                          =============
</TABLE>
    

See "Notes to Portfolios".

Notes to Portfolios

   (1) The Securities are initially represented by "regular way" contracts for
the performance of which an irrevocable letter of credit has been deposited with
the Trustee. Contracts to acquire Securities were entered into on December 14,
1998 and have settlement dates ranging from December 17, 1998 to December 30,
1998 (see "The Trusts").

   (2) The market value of each Security is based on the closing sale price on
the applicable exchange on the day prior to the Initial Date of Deposit or the
last asked price if not listed on an exchange. Other information regarding the
Securities, as of the Initial Date of Deposit, is as follows:

   
                                                                     Profit
                                          Cost to                   (Loss) To
                                          Sponsor                    Sponsor
                                       --------------             --------------
Financial Services Trust               $      145,365             $           --
Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm Trust   $      147,963             $        (622)
    

          "3" indicates that the security is a stock of a foreign company traded
on a United States securities exchange.

   (3)Current Dividend Yield for each Security is based on the estimated annual
dividends per share and the Security's market value as of the close of trading
on the day prior to the Initial Date of Deposit. Estimated annual dividends per
share are calculated by annualizing the most recently declared dividends or by
adding the most recent interim and final dividends declared and reflect any
foreign withholding taxes.

   The Securities. A brief description of each of the issuers of the Securities
is listed below.

   
   Financial Services Trust

   Accident and Health Insurance:

   Torchmark Corporation. Torchmark Corporation is an insurance and financial
services holding company. The company's subsidiaries offer life and health
insurance, personal financial planning and mutual fund management through its
Waddell and Reed subsidiary. Torchmark is licensed to sell insurance in all 50
states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, New
Zealand and Canada.

   UNUM Corporation. UNUM Corporation provides group disability and special risk
insurance. The company provides disability insurance in North America and the
United Kingdom, as well as group life insurance, long term care insurance and
payroll-deducted voluntary benefits offered to employees at their worksites.
UNUM operates in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Pacific Rim,
Europe, Latin America and Bermuda.

   Diversified Financial Services:

   Liberty Financial Companies, Inc. Liberty Financial Companies, Inc. is an
integrated asset accumulation and management organization. The company manages
assets on behalf of investors worldwide through an array of fixed, variable and
indexed annuities; private and institutional accounts; and 78 mutual funds.

   Providian Financial Corporation. Providian Financial Corporation provides
lending and deposit products to customers nationwide. The company serves a
broad, diversified market with loan products including credit cards, home loans
and secured credit cards.

   Finance Companies:

   Associates First Capital Corporation. Associates First Capital Corporation
provides finance, leasing, and related services to individual consumers and
businesses in the United States and internationally. The company offers both
consumer and commercial financing products and services.

   Capital One Financial Corporation. Capital One Financial Corporation, a
holding company, provides a variety of products and services to consumers
through its subsidiaries. The company, through Capital One Bank, offers credit
card products. Capital One F.S.B. provides certain consumer lending and deposit
services. Capital One Services, Inc. provides operating, administration and
other services to the Corporation.

   CIT Group, Inc. CIT Group, Inc. is a diversified finance organization
offering secured commercial and consumer financing to smaller, middle-market,
and larger businesses and to individuals through a nationwide distribution
network. The company operates business units that focus on specific industries,
asset types, and markets which are balanced by client and industry
diversification.

   Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc. Countrywide Credit Industries, Inc.
originates, purchases, sells and services mortgage loans. The company also
offers products and services complementary to its mortgage banking business.
Countrywide's subsidiaries include full-service and title insurance agencies, a
securities broker-dealer, a loan servicing brokerage firm, and a mutual fund
manager and service provider.

   Fannie Mae. Fannie Mae buys and holds mortgages, and issues and sells
guaranteed mortgage-backed securities to facilitate housing ownership for low-
to middle-income Americans. The company was chartered by the United States
Congress, but went public in 1970.

   Insurance Brokers/Services:

   Aon Corporation. Aon Corporation is an insurance services holding company.
The company is comprised of insurance brokerage, consulting, warranty and
consumer insurance companies. Aon provides insurance and consulting services
worldwide.

   Investment Bankers/Brokers/Services:

   Bear Stearns Companies, Inc. Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., through its
subsidiary Bear Stearns & Company, Inc., offers investment banking and
securities trading and brokerage services. The company's business includes
corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions, institutional equities and fixed
income sales and trading, private client services and more. Clients include
governments, corporations and individuals.

   Investment Managers:

   United Asset Management Corporation. United Asset Management Corporation
provides diverse investment management services to institutions and high net
worth and retail investors. These services are offered through a broad range of
operating firms serving clients located in the United States, Canada and
overseas.

   Life Insurance:

   Conseco, Inc. Conseco, Inc., a financial services holding company, develops,
markets, and administers supplemental health insurance, annuity, life insurance,
individual and group major medical insurance and other insurance products. The
company's insurance products are marketed in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia and certain protectorates of the United States.

   ReliaStar Financial Corporation. ReliaStar Financial Corporation is a holding
company that specializes in life insurance and related financial services
businesses. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides and distributes
individual life insurance and annuities, employee benefit products and services,
life and health insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, residential mortgages
and personal finance education.

   Multi-Line Insurance:

   Allstate Corporation. Allstate Corporation, through its subsidiaries,
provides property-liability insurance, as well as other types of insurance in
the United States and Canada. The company primarily sells private passenger
automobile and homeowners insurance through independent and specialized brokers.
Allstate also sells life insurance, annuity and group pension products through
agents.

   Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. is
the holding company for the long-term savings operations of Nationwide Insurance
Enterprise. Nationwide Insurance is a diversified financial services
organization led by Nationwide Mutual, which owns 81.5% of Nationwide Financial.
Through its primary subsidiary, the company provides retirement and long-term
savings insurance products in the United States.

   Property-Casualty Insurers:

   Chubb Corporation. Chubb Corporation, a holding company, offers commercial
and personal property and casualty insurance. The company also conducts business
operations in life and health insurance, as well as real estate development.
Chubb serves customers worldwide with employees located throughout North
America, Europe, South America and the Pacific Rim.

   Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc. Everest Reinsurance Holdings, Inc.
operates through its wholly owned subsidiary, Everest Reinsurance Company. The
company provides property and casualty reinsurance on a treaty and facultative
basis for insurance and reinsurance companies in the United States and selected
international markets.

   Rental/Leasing Companies:

   Ryder System, Inc. Ryder System, Inc. provides logistics and transportation
solutions. The company operates throughout the United States and in Canada, the
United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, The Netherlands, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina.

   Specialty Insurers:

   Ambac Financial Group, Inc. Ambac Financial Group, Inc., a holding company,
provides financial guarantee insurance and financial management services. The
company, through its subsidiary Ambac Assurance Corporation, insures municipal
and structured finance obligations. Ambac provides investment agreements,
interest rate swaps, investment management advisory, cash management, fund
administration and more.

   CMAC Investment Corporation. CMAC Investment Corporation is a holding company
for Commonwealth Mortgage Assurance Company, which provides private mortgage
insurance coverage. The coverage is provided to residential mortgage lenders,
including mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers, commercial banks and savings
institutions throughout the United States.

   Financial Security Assurance Holdings Limited. Financial Security Assurance
Holdings Limited, through its wholly owned subsidiary Financial Security
Assurance, Inc., provides financial guaranty insurance on asset-backed and
municipal obligations. The company operates throughout the entire United States
and Puerto Rico. Financial Security Assurance, through its other subsidiaries,
provides insurance and manages investment portfolios.

   Frontier Insurance Group, Inc. Frontier Insurance Group, Inc. is an insurance
holding company. The company, through its subsidiaries, is a national
underwriter and creator of specialty insurance products serving the needs of
insureds in niche markets.

   LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. is the
holding company for Commonwealth Land Title Insurance Company, Lawyers Title
Insurance Corporation and Transnation Title Insurance Company. The company
offers a full line of title insurance services to residential and commercial
customers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean.

   MBIA, Inc. MBIA, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a financial guarantor and
a provider of specialized financial services. The company provides products and
services that meet the credit enhancement, financial and investment needs of its
public and private clients worldwide.

   MGIC Investment Corporation. MGIC Investment Corporation, through its
subsidiary, provides private mortgage insurance coverage in the United States.
The company's customers include thrifts, mortgage bankers and brokers,
commercial banks, credit unions and other lending institutions. The company also
provides, through other subsidiaries, underwriting and contract services related
to home mortgage lending.

   PMI Group, Inc. PMI Group, Inc., through its subsidiary PMI Mortgage
Insurance, Inc., provides private mortgage insurance in the United States. The
company also offers title insurance and various services and products for the
home mortgage industry through its other subsidiaries.

   Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm Trust

   Computer Services:

   Atos S.A. Atos S.A. offers computer data services. The company processes,
transmits and stores data, verifies credit, offers software solutions, installs
computer networks and manages and markets mailing lists.

   Cap Gemini S.A. Cap Gemini S.A. offers computer consulting services. The
company offers software products and information systems management, project
management and education and training services. Cap Gemini serves customers in
the petroleum, financial services, automotive, aerospace and telecommunications
industries in Europe and the United States.

   CMG Plc. CMG Plc is an information technology (IT) company which provides
consultancy, systems and services to clients worldwide. The company's system
development/IT consultancy area provides services for systems development and
integration and project management and the processing services/facilities
management includes payroll processing, personnel administration and share
registration processing.

   Getronics N.V. Getronics N.V. provides computer products and computer
services around the world. Services provided by the company and its subsidiaries
include computer maintenance and installation services. The company also markets
computer products and components, data communication equipment and network
systems.

   Logica Plc. Logica Plc is a computer software and service company. Through
its subsidiaries, the group designs, produces, markets, integrates and supplies
maintenance of its custom-built software and associated hardware systems. Logica
also offers consulting and project management for the information technology
market. The group services a number of markets, namely finance, government,
energy and utilities.

   SEMA Group Plc. SEMA Group Plc is an information technology company. The
company provides facilities management, standard software products and systems
integration including consulting, outsourcing and products. SEMA provides
products and services to customers in the defense, energy, banking, transport,
industry, telecommunications and government sectors, internationally.

   Tieto Corporation. Tieto Corporation manufactures and sells computer software
and offers personal and professional services. The company offers services to
maintain data processing systems in day-to-day operations, banks and other
financial operatives, wholesale and retail traders, engineering and
manufacturing industries and payroll and personnel administrations. Tieto has 21
subsidiaries.

   WM-Data AB. WM-Data AB is a computer consulting company. The company provides
solutions involving studies and analysis, project management, development,
maintenance and software, as well as training and data processing services for
administrative systems. WM-Data sells its services to major companies,
organizations and public sector agencies in the Nordic Countries.

   Computer Software:

   Misys Plc. Misys Plc provides computer services and supplies complete
software and hardware solutions to end users throughout the United Kingdom. The
company also provides support services and data services. Misys serves the
insurance brokerage, health care, banking, Information Technology and
telecommunications sectors.

   Sage Group Plc. Sage Group Plc is a software publishing company. The group
develops, publishes and distributes accounting software for personal computer
systems. Through its subsidiaries, Sage also maintains a registered user
database which provides a market for their related products and services,
including computer forms, software support contracts, program upgrades and
customer training.

   Diversified:

   Siemens AG. Siemens AG manufactures a wide range of industrial and consumer
products. The company builds locomotives, traffic control systems, automotive
electronics and engineers electrical power plants. Siemens also provides public
and private communications networks, computers, building control systems,
medical equipment, household appliances and electrical components. The company
operates worldwide.

   Electronics:

   Philips Electronics N.V. Philips Electronics N.V. manufactures lighting,
consumer electronics, music and films, multimedia devices, domestic appliances
and personal care items, semi-conductors, medical devices, communication systems
and industrial electronics. The company sells its products worldwide.

   Enterprise Software:

   Baan Company, N.V. Baan Company, N.V. provides business management software.
The company's software integrates sales forecasting, component procurement,
inventory management, manufacturing control, project management, distribution,
transportation and finance. Baan's software is an open system which can be
reconfigured in response to changes in production and operational processes.

   SAP AG. SAP AG is a multinational software company with its headquarter in
Walldorf, Germany. The company develops business software, consults on
organizational usage of its application software and provides training services.
SAP markets its products and services through subsidiaries, distributors and
other business partners worldwide.

   Semiconductor Capital Equipment:

   ASM Lithography Holding N.V. ASM Lithography Holding N.V. develops,
manufactures, markets and services advanced photolithography projection systems,
known as "wafer steppers". The company supplies wafer steppers to integrated
circuit manufacturers located in the United States, Asia and Western Europe. ASM
also offers its customers a variety of support services.

   Semiconductors:

   STMicroelectronics. STMicroelectronics designs, develops, manufactures and
markets semiconductor integrated circuits and discrete devices. The company's
products are used in the telecommunications, consumer, automotive, computer and
industrial sectors. Geographically, customers are located in North America,
Europe, Asia/Pacific and Japan.

   Technical Software:

   Dassault Systemes S.A. Dassault Systemes S.A. develops computer-aided design,
manufacturing and engineering software products. The company markets and sells
through a relationship with International Business Machines, Inc. Dassault's
product, "Catia", provides designers and engineers with a fully integrated
three-dimensional computer modeling system.

   Telecommunications Equipment:

   Alcatel. Alcatel develops, produces and distributes telecommunications
equipment and systems for public network, business and residential applications.
The company also manufactures equipment for electrical power generation,
transmission and distribution networks and railway transportation. In addition,
Alcatel is active in shipbuilding and electrical engineering.

   LM Ericsson. LM Ericsson develops and produces advanced systems and products
for wired and mobile communications in public and private networks. The product
line includes digital and analog systems for telephones and networks, microwave
radio links, radar surveillance systems and business systems. The company
produces and markets worldwide.

   Nokia Oyj. Nokia Oyj is an international telecommunications company. The
company develops and manufactures mobile phones, networks and systems for
cellular and fixed networks. Nokia also develops and supplies access networks,
multimedia equipment and other telecom related products. The company operates in
about 45 countries and provides its products and services worldwide.

               REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

   To the Board of Directors of Van Kampen Funds Inc. and the Unitholders of Van
Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126:

   We have audited the accompanying statements of condition and the related
portfolios of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126 as of December 15, 1998.
The statements of condition and portfolios are the responsibility of the
Sponsor. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on such 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 an irrevocable letter of credit deposited to purchase securities
by correspondence with the Trustee. An audit also includes assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the Sponsor, as
well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.

   
   We believe 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 financial position of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series
126 as of December 15, 1998, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.
    

                               GRANT THORNTON LLP

   
Chicago, Illinois
December 15, 1998
    

   
                             STATEMENTS OF CONDITION
                             As of December 15, 1998

                                                   Financial
                                                   Services          EuroTec
                                                     Trust        IndexSM Trust
                                                  -------------    -------------
 INVESTMENT IN SECURITIES
Contracts to purchase Securities (1)              $     145,365   $      147,341
                                                  -------------    -------------
      Total                                       $     145,365   $      147,341
                                                  =============    =============

LIABILITIES AND INTEREST OF UNITHOLDERS
Liabilities--
   Organizational costs (2)                       $       4,194   $        4,367
   Deferred sales charge liability (3)                    3,304            3,349
Interest of Unitholders--
   Cost to investors (4)                                146,840          148,830
   Less: Gross underwriting commission and
      organizational costs (2)(4)(5)                      8,973            9,205
                                                  -------------    -------------
      Net interest to Unitholders (4)                   137,867          139,625
                                                  -------------    -------------
      Total                                       $     145,365   $      147,341
                                                  =============    =============
    

(1) The value of the Securities is determined by Interactive Data Corporation
    on the bases set forth under "Public Offering--Offering Price". The
    contracts to purchase Securities are collateralized by separate irrevocable
    letters of credit which have been deposited with the Trustee.
(2) A portion of the Public Offering Price represents an amount sufficient to
    pay for all or a portion of the costs incurred in establishing a Trust. The
    amount of these costs are set forth in the "Fee Table." A distribution will
    be made as of the close of the initial offering period to an account
    maintained by the Trustee from which this obligation of the investors will
    be satisfied.
(3) Represents the amount of mandatory distributions from a Trust on the bases
    set forth under "Public Offering".
(4) The aggregate public offering price and the aggregate sales charge are
    computed on the bases set forth under "Public Offering--Offering Price".
(5) Assumes the maximum sales charge.

THE TRUSTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   The Trusts were created under the laws of the State of New York pursuant to a
Trust Indenture and Trust Agreement (the "Trust Agreement"), dated the date of
this Prospectus (the "Initial Date of Deposit"), among Van Kampen Funds Inc., as
Sponsor, Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp., as Supervisor, The Bank of New
York, as Trustee, and American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of Van
Kampen Investment Advisory Corp., as Evaluator.

   The Trusts offer investors the opportunity to purchase Units representing
proportionate interests in portfolios of actively traded equity securities. A
Trust may be an appropriate medium for investors who desire to participate in a
portfolio of common stocks with greater diversification than they might be able
to acquire individually.

   On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor deposited delivery statements
relating to contracts for the purchase of the Securities and an irrevocable
letter of credit in the amount required for these purchases with the Trustee. In
exchange for these contracts the Trustee delivered to the Sponsor documentation
evidencing the ownership of Units of the Trusts. Unless otherwise terminated as
provided in the Trust Agreement, the Trusts will terminate on the Mandatory
Termination Date and any remaining Securities will be liquidated or distributed
by the Trustee within a reasonable time. As used in this Prospectus the term
"Securities" means the securities (including contracts to purchase these
securities) listed in "Portfolio" for each Trust and any additional securities
deposited into each Trust.

   Additional Units of a Trust may be issued at any time by depositing in the
Trust (i) additional Securities, (ii) contracts to purchase Securities together
with cash or irrevocable letters of credit or (iii) cash (or a letter of credit)
with instructions to purchase additional Securities. As additional Units are
issued by a Trust, the aggregate value of the Securities will be increased and
the fractional undivided interest represented by each Unit will be decreased.
The Sponsor may continue to make additional deposits into a Trust following the
Initial Date of Deposit provided that the additional deposits will be in amounts
which will maintain, as nearly as practicable, the same percentage relationship
among the number of shares of each Security in the Trustportfolio that existed
immediately prior to the subsequent deposit (except that for the first 90 days
these deposits will be in amounts which maintain, as nearly as practicable, the
original proportionate relationship among each Security for the Financial
Services Trust). Investors may experience a dilution of their investments and a
reduction in their anticipated income because of fluctuations in the prices of
the Securities between the time of the deposit and the purchase of the
Securities and because the Trusts will pay the associated brokerage or
acquisition fees.

   Each Unit of a Trust initially offered represents an undivided interest in
that Trust. To the extent that any Units are redeemed by the Trustee or
additional Units are issued as a result of additional Securities being deposited
by the Sponsor, the fractional undivided interest in that Trust represented by
each unredeemed Unit will increase or decrease accordingly, although the actual
interest in the Trust will remain unchanged. Units will remain outstanding until
redeemed upon tender to the Trustee by Unitholders, which may include the
Sponsor, or until the termination of the Trust Agreement.

   Each Trust consists of (a) the Securities (including contracts for the
purchase thereof) listed under the applicable "Portfolio" as may continue to be
held from time to time in the Trust, (b) any additional Securities acquired and
held by the Trust pursuant to the provisions of the Trust Agreement and (c) any
cash held in the related Income and Capital Accounts. Neither the Sponsor nor
the Trustee shall be liable in any way for any failure in any of the Securities.

OBJECTIVES AND SECURITIES SELECTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Each Trust seeks to increase the value of your investment by investing in a
portfolio of stocks of companies diversified within a particular industry. We
cannot guarantee that a Trust will achieve its objective.

   You should note that we applied the selection criteria to the Securities for
inclusion in the Trusts as of the Initial Date of Deposit. After this date, the
Securities may no longer meet the selection criteria. Should a Security no
longer meet the selection criteria, we will generally not remove the Security
from its Trust portfolio.

   A balanced investment portfolio incorporates various style and capitalization
characteristics. We offer unit trusts with a variety of styles and
capitalizations to meet your needs. We determine style characteristics (growth
or value) based on the criteria used in selecting the Trust portfolio.
Generally, a growth portfolio includes companies in a growth phase of their
business with increasing earnings. A value portfolio generally includes
companies with low relative price-earnings ratios that we believe are
undervalued. We determine market capitalizations as follows based on the
weighted median market capitalization of a portfolio: Small-Cap-- less than $1
billion; Mid-Cap-- $1 billion to $5 billion; and Large-Cap-- over $5 billion. We
determine all style and capitalization characteristics as of the Initial Date of
Deposit and the characteristics may vary thereafter. We will not remove a
Security from a Trust as a result of any change in characteristics.

RISK FACTORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Price Volatility. The Trusts invest in stocks of U.S. and foreign companies.
The value of Units will fluctuate with the value of these stocks and may be more
or less than the price you originally paid for your Units. The market value of
stocks sometimes moves up or down rapidly and unpredictably. Because the Trusts
are unmanaged, the Trustee will not sell stocks in response to market
fluctuations as is common in managed investments. As with any investment, we
cannot guarantee that the performance of a Trust will be positive over any
period of time.

   Dividends. Stocks represent ownership interests in the issuers and are not
obligations of the issuers. Common stockholders have a right to receive
dividends only after the company has provided for payment of its creditors,
bondholders and preferred stockholders. Common stocks do not assure dividend
payments. Dividends are paid only when declared by an issuer's board of
directors and the amount of any dividend may vary over time.

   Foreign Stocks. Because the EuroTec Index Trust invests in stocks of foreign
companies, it involves additional risks that differ from an investment in
domestic stocks. These risks include the risk of losses due to future political
and economic developments, international trade conditions, foreign withholding
taxes and restrictions on foreign investments and exchange of securities. This
Trust also involves the risk that fluctuations in exchange rates between the
U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may negatively affect the value of the
stocks. This Trust involves the risk that information about the stocks is not
publicly available or is inaccurate due to the absence of uniform accounting and
financial reporting standards. In addition, some foreign securities markets are
less liquid than U.S. markets. This could cause the Trust to buy stocks at a
higher price or sell stocks at a lower price than would be the case in a highly
liquid market. Foreign securities markets are often more volatile and involve
higher trading costs than U.S. markets, and foreign companies, securities
markets and brokers are also generally not subject to the same level of
supervision and regulation as in the U.S.

   Single Industry. Each Trust invests in a single industry. Any negative impact
on the related industry will have a greater impact on the value of Units than on
a portfolio diversified over several industries. You should understand the risks
of these industries before you invest.

   Financial Services Issuers. The Financial Services Trust primarily invests in
insurance companies, consumer and commercial finance companies, investment
banking and brokerage firms and investment management companies. These issuers
face risks related to such factors as general economic conditions, volatile
interest rates, economic recession, competition from other financial services
companies and government regulation.

   Insurance companies underwrite, reinsure, sell and distribute property,
casualty, life, health, disability, title and financial guarantee insurance. In
addition, many companies also offer various investment products or services.
Insurance companies face particular risks such as uncertainty in establishing
property-liability loss reserves, catastrophe losses that could have a material
adverse impact on financial condition, the need to maintain appropriate levels
of statutory capital and surplus, the need to maintain acceptable financial
strength or claims-paying ability ratings, extensive government regulation and
supervision, significant legal action, changes in interest rates that could
adversely impact a company's investment portfolio or its investment products,
planning to meet cash flow requirements related to life insurance policies, and
availability of reinsurance and the ability to collect recoverable reinsurance
amounts.

   Insurance companies face extensive government regulation and supervision.
Among other things, these regulations set maximum rate levels, require that
companies maintain certain levels of capital and surplus, impose limits on
acceptable investments and require diversification of investments. State and
federal governments re-examine existing regulations from time to time. Any
change in current regulations could negatively impact insurance companies.
Insurance companies often face litigation regarding coverage issues. Certain of
these issues involve clean-up of waste sites under federal and state
environmental laws. The outcome of this or any other litigation could negatively
impact insurance companies.

   Technology Issuers. The Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm Trust invests in
technology companies. These companies face risks related to rapidly changing
technology, rapid product obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving
industry standards and frequent new product introductions. An unexpected change
in technology can have a significant negative impact on a company. The failure
of a company to introduce new products or technologies or keep pace with rapidly
changing technology, can have a negative impact on the company's results.
Technology stocks tend to experience substantial price volatility and
speculative trading. Announcements about new products, technologies, operating
results or marketing alliances can cause stock prices to fluctuate dramatically.
At times, however, extreme price and volume fluctuations are unrelated to the
operating performance of a company. This can impact your ability to redeem your
Units at a price equal to or greater than what you paid.

   The market for certain products may have only recently begun to develop, is
rapidly evolving or is characterized by increasing suppliers. Key components of
some technology products are available only from limited sources. This can
impact the cost of and ability to acquire these components. Some technology
companies serve highly concentrated customer bases with a limited number of
large customers. Any failure to meet the standard of these customers can result
in a significant loss or reduction in sales. Many products and technologies are
incorporated into other products. As a result, some companies are highly
dependent on the performance of other technology companies. We cannot guarantee
that these customers will continue to place additional orders or will place
orders in similar quantities as in the past.

     Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure. The following two paragraphs constitute
"Year 2000 Readiness Disclosure" within the meaning of the Year 2000 Information
and Readiness Disclosure Act of 1998. The Trusts could be negatively impacted if
computer systems used by the Sponsor, Evaluator, Supervisor or Trustee or other
service providers to the Trusts do not properly process date-related information
after December 31, 1999. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000 Problem". The
Sponsor, Evaluator, Supervisor and Trustee are taking steps to address this
problem and to obtain reasonable assurances that other service providers to the
Trusts are taking comparable steps. We cannot guarantee that these steps will be
sufficient to avoid any adverse impact on the Trusts. This problem is expected
to impact corporations to varying degrees based on factors such as industry
sector and degree of technological sophistication. We cannot predict what
impact, if any, this problem will have on the issuers of stocks in the Trusts.

     In addition, it is possible that the markets for the Securities may be
detrimentally affected by computer failures throughout the financial services
industry beginning January 1, 2000. Improperly functioning trading systems may
result in settlement problems and liquidity issues. Moreover, corporate and
governmental data processing errors may result in production problems for
individual companies and overall economic uncertainties. Earnings of individual
issuers will be affected by remediation costs, which may be substantial and may
be reported inconsistently in U.S. and foreign financial statements.
Accordingly, the Securities may be adversely affected.

PUBLIC OFFERING
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
   General. Units are offered at the Public Offering Price which includes the
underlying value of the Securities, the initial sales charge, and cash, if any,
in the Income and Capital Accounts. The initial sales charge is equal to the
difference between the total sales charge (3.25% of the Public Offering Price)
and the deferred sales charge ($0.225 per Unit). The deferred sales charge is
assessed as described in the "Fee Table". If any deferred sales charge payment
date is not a business day, the payment will be charged on the next business
day. Units purchased subsequent to the initial deferred sales charge payment
will be subject to only that portion of the deferred sales charge payments not
yet collected. The maximum sales charge assessed to each Unitholder is 3.25% of
the Public Offering Price (3.359% of the aggregate value of the Securities less
the deferred sales charge). A portion of the Public Offering Price includes an
amount of Securities to pay for all or a portion of the costs incurred in
establishing your Trust, including the cost of preparing documents relating to
the Trust (such as the prospectus, trust agreement and closing documents,
federal and state registration fees, the initial fees and expenses of the
Trustee and legal and audit expenses). Beginning on December 15, 1999, the
secondary market sales charge will be 2.75% and will not include deferred
payments. The initial offering period sales charge is reduced as follows:
    

       Aggregate
     Dollar Amount
   of Units Purchased*                      Sales Charge
- ---------------------                     ----------------
 $100,000 - $249,999                           3.00%
 $250,000 - $499,999                           2.75
 $500,000 - $999,999                           2.50
  $1,000,000 or more                           2.00
- ---------------
*The breakpoint sales charges are also applied on a Unit basis utilizing a
breakpoint equivalent in the above table of $10 per Unit and will be applied on
whichever basis is more favorable to the investor.

   Any sales charge reduction is the responsibility of the selling broker,
dealer or agent. An investor may aggregate purchases of Units of the Trusts for
purposes of qualifying for volume purchase discounts listed above. The reduced
sales charge structure will also apply on all purchases by the same person from
any one dealer of units of Van Kampen-sponsored unit investment trusts which are
being offered in the initial offering period (a) on any one day (the "Initial
Purchase Date") or (b) on any day subsequent to the Initial Purchase Date if the
units purchased are of a unit investment trust purchased on the Initial Purchase
Date. In the event units of more than one trust are purchased on the Initial
Purchase Date, the aggregate dollar amount of such purchases will be used to
determine whether purchasers are eligible for a reduced sales charge. Such
aggregate dollar amount will be divided by the public offering price per unit of
each respective trust purchased to determine the total number of units which
such amount could have purchased of each individual trust. Purchasers must then
consult the applicable trust's prospectus to determine whether the total number
of units which could have been purchased of a specific trust would have
qualified for a reduced sales charge and the amount of such reduction. To
determine the applicable sales charge reduction it is necessary to accumulate
all purchases made on the Initial Purchase Date and all purchases made in
accordance with (b) above. Units purchased in the name of the spouse of a
purchaser or in the name of a child of such purchaser ("immediate family
members") will be deemed to be additional purchases by the purchaser for the
purposes of calculating the applicable sales charge. The reduced sales charges
will also be applicable to a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing securities
for one or more trust estate or fiduciary accounts.

   Units may be purchased in the primary or secondary market at the Public
Offering Price less the concession the Sponsor typically allows to brokers and
dealers for purchases by (1) investors who purchase Units through registered
investment advisers, certified financial planners and registered broker-dealers
who in each case either charge periodic fees for financial planning, investment
advisory or asset management service, or provide such services in connection
with the establishment of an investment account for which a comprehensive "wrap
fee" charge is imposed, (2) bank trust departments investing funds over which
they exercise exclusive discretionary investment authority and that are held in
a fiduciary, agency, custodial or similar capacity, (3) any person who for at
least 90 days, has been an officer, director or bona fide employee of any firm
offering Units for sale to investors or their immediate family members (as
described above) and (4) officers and directors of bank holding companies that
make Units available directly or through subsidiaries or bank affiliates.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Prospectus, such investors,
bank trust departments, firm employees and bank holding company officers and
directors who purchase Units through this program will not receive sales charge
reductions for quantity purchases.

   A purchaser desiring to purchase during a 13 month period $500,000 or more of
any combination of series of Van Kampen unit investment trusts may qualify for a
reduced sales charge by signing a nonbinding Letter of Intent with any single
broker-dealer. After signing a Letter of Intent, at the date total purchases,
less redemptions, of units of any combination of series of Van Kampen unit
investment trusts by a purchaser (including units purchased in the name of the
spouse of a purchaser or in the name of a child of such purchaser under 21 years
of age) exceed $500,000, the selling broker-dealer, bank or other will credit
the unitholder with cash as a retroactive reduction of the sales charge on such
units equal to the amount which would have been paid for the total aggregated
sales amount. If a purchase does not complete the required purchases under the
Letter of Intent within the 13 month period, no such retroactive sales charge
reduction shall be made.

   During the initial offering period, unitholders of any Van Kampen-sponsored
unit investment trust may utilize their redemption or termination proceeds to
purchase Units of all Trusts at the Public Offering Price per Unit less 1%.

   Employees, officers and directors (including their spouses, children,
grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law,
sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and trustees, custodians or fiduciaries for the
benefit of such persons) of the Van Kampen Funds Inc. and its affiliates,
dealers and their affiliates and vendors providing services to the Sponsor may
purchase Units at the Public Offering Price less the applicable dealer
concession.

   The minimum purchase is 100 Units (25 Units for retirement accounts) but may
vary by selling firm. However, in connection with fully disclosed transactions
with the Sponsor, the minimum purchase requirement will be that number of Units
set forth in the contract between the Sponsor and the related broker or agent.

   Offering Price. The Public Offering Price of Units will vary from the amounts
stated under "Summary of Essential Financial Information" in accordance with
fluctuations in the prices of the underlying Securities in the Trusts. The
initial price of the Securities was determined by Interactive Data Corporation,
a firm regularly engaged in the business of evaluating, quoting or appraising
comparable securities. The Evaluator will generally determine the value of the
Securities as of the Evaluation Time on each business day and will adjust the
Public Offering Price of Units accordingly. This Public Offering Price will be
effective for all orders received prior to the Evaluation Time on each business
day. The Evaluation Time is the close of the New York Stock Exchange on each
Trust business day. Orders received by the Trustee or Sponsor for purchases,
sales or redemptions after that time, or on a day which is not a business day,
will be held until the next determination of price. The term "business day", as
used herein and under "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units", excludes
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays observed by the New York Stock Exchange.

   The aggregate underlying value of the Securities during the initial offering
period is determined on each business day by the Evaluator in the following
manner: If the Securities are listed on a national or foreign securities
exchange, this evaluation is generally based on the closing sale prices on that
exchange (unless it is determined that these prices are inappropriate as a basis
for valuation) or, if there is no closing sale price on that exchange, at the
closing ask prices. If the Securities are not listed on a national or foreign
securities exchange or, if so listed and the principal market therefor is other
than on the exchange, the evaluation shall generally be based on the current ask
price on the over-the-counter market (unless it is determined that these prices
are inappropriate as a basis for evaluation). If current ask prices are
unavailable, the evaluation is generally determined (a) on the basis of current
ask prices for comparable securities, (b) by appraising the value of the
Securities on the ask side of the market or (c) by any combination of the above.
The value of any foreign securities is based on the applicable currency exchange
rate as of the Evaluation Time. The value of the Securities for purposes of
secondary market transactions and redemptions is described under "Rights of
Unitholders--Redemption of Units".

   In offering the Units to the public, neither the Sponsor nor any
broker-dealers are recommending any of the individual Securities but rather the
entire pool of Securities in a Trust, taken as a whole, which are represented by
the Units.

   Unit Distribution. Units will be distributed to the public by the Sponsor,
broker-dealers and others at the Public Offering Price. Units repurchased in the
secondary market, if any, may be offered by this Prospectus at the secondary
market Public Offering Price in the manner described above.

   The Sponsor intends to qualify Units for sale in a number of states. Brokers,
dealers and others will be allowed a concession or agency commission in
connection with the distribution of Units during the initial offering period as
described below.

 Aggregate Dollar Amount of Units      Concession or Agency
   Purchased*                               Commission
 ---------------------------------------------------------
 Up to $99,999                                  2.25%
 $100,000 - $249,999                           2.00
 $250,000 - $499,999                           1.90
 $500,000 - $999,999                           1.75
 $1,000,000 or more                            1.40

 ---------------
 *The breakpoint concessions or agency commissions are also applied on a Unit
basis using a breakpoint equivalent of $10 per Unit and are applied on whichever
basis is more favorable to the distributor.

   In addition to the amounts above, during the initial offering period any firm
that distributes 500,000 - 999,999 Units of a Trust will receive additional
compensation of $.005 per Unit; any firm that distributes 1,000,000 - 1,999,999
Units of such Trust will receive additional compensation of $.01 per Unit; any
firm that distributes 2,000,000 - 2,999,999 Units of such Trust will receive
additional compensation of $.015 per Unit; any firm that distributes 3,000,000
Units or more of such Trust will receive additional compensation of $.02 per
Unit. This additional compensation will be paid by the Sponsor out of its own
assets at the end of the initial offering period.

   Any discount provided to investors will be borne by the selling dealer or
agent as indicated under "General" above. For transactions involving unitholders
of other Van Kampen unit investment trusts who use their redemption or
termination proceeds to purchase Units of the Trusts, the total concession or
agency commission will amount to 1.50% per Unit. For all secondary market
transactions the total concession or agency commission will amount to 70% of the
sales charge. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no case shall
the total of any concessions, agency commissions and any additional compensation
allowed or paid to any broker, dealer or other distributor of Units with respect
to any individual transaction exceed the total sales charge applicable to such
transaction. The Sponsor reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part, any
order for the purchase of Units and to change the amount of the concession or
agency commission to dealers and others from time to time.

   Broker-dealers of the Trusts, banks and/or others may be eligible to
participate in a program in which such firms receive from the Sponsor a nominal
award for each of their representatives who have sold a minimum number of units
of unit investment trusts created by the Sponsor during a specified time period.
In addition, at various times the Sponsor may implement other programs under
which the sales forces of brokers, dealers, banks and/or others may be eligible
to win other nominal awards for certain sales efforts, or under which the
Sponsor will reallow to such brokers, dealers, banks and/or others that sponsor
sales contests or recognition programs conforming to criteria established by the
Sponsor, or participate in sales programs sponsored by the Sponsor, an amount
not exceeding the total applicable sales charges on the sales generated by such
persons at the public offering price during such programs. Also, the Sponsor in
its discretion may from time to time pursuant to objective criteria established
by the Sponsor pay fees to qualifying entities for certain services or
activities which are primarily intended to result in sales of Units of the
Trusts. Such payments are made by the Sponsor out of its own assets, and not out
of the assets of any Trust. These programs will not change the price Unitholders
pay for their Units or the amount that a Trust will receive from the Units sold.

   Sponsor Compensation. The Sponsor will receive a gross sales commission equal
to the total sales charge applicable to each transaction. Any sales charge
discount provided to investors will be borne by the selling dealer or agent. In
addition, the Sponsor will realize a profit or loss as a result of the
difference between the price paid for the Securities by the Sponsor and the cost
of the Securities to each Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit as well as on
subsequent deposits. See "Notes to Portfolios". The Sponsor has not participated
as sole underwriter or as manager or as a member of the underwriting syndicates
or as an agent in a private placement for any of the Securities. The Sponsor may
realize profit or loss as a result of the possible fluctuations in the market
value of the Securities, since all proceeds received from purchasers of Units
are retained by the Sponsor. In maintaining a secondary market, the Sponsor will
realize profits or losses in the amount of any difference between the price at
which Units are purchased and the price at which Units are resold (which price
includes the applicable sales charge) or from a redemption of repurchased Units
at a price above or below the purchase price. Cash, if any, made available to
the Sponsor prior to the date of settlement for the purchase of Units may be
used in the Sponsor's business and may be deemed to be a benefit to the Sponsor,
subject to the limitations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

   An affiliate of the Sponsor may have participated in a public offering of one
or more of the Securities. The Sponsor, an affiliate or their employees may have
a long or short position in these Securities or related securities. An affiliate
may act as a specialist or market maker for these Securities. An officer,
director or employee of the Sponsor or an affiliate may be an officer or
director for issuers of the Securities.

   Market for Units. Although it is not obligated to do so, the Sponsor
currently intends to maintain a market for Units and to purchase Units at the
secondary market repurchase price (which is described under "Right of
Unitholders--Redemption of Units"). The Sponsor may discontinue purchases of
Units or discontinue purchases at this price at any time. In the event that a
secondary market is not maintained, a Unitholder will be able to dispose of
Units by tendering them to the Trustee for redemption at the Redemption Price.
See "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units". Unitholders should contact
their broker to determine the best price for Units in the secondary market.
Units sold prior to the time the entire deferred sales charge has been collected
will be assessed the amount of any remaining deferred sales charge at the time
of sale. The Trustee will notify the Sponsor of any tendered of Units for
redemption. If the Sponsor's bid in the secondary market equals or exceeds the
Redemption Price per Unit, it may purchase the Units not later than the day on
which Units would have been redeemed by the Trustee. The Sponsor may sell
repurchased Units at the secondary market Public Offering Price per Unit.

   Tax-Sheltered Retirement Plans. Units are available for purchase in
connection with certain types of tax-sheltered retirement plans, including
Individual Retirement Accounts for the individuals, Simplified Employee Pension
Plans for employees, qualified plans for self-employed individuals, and
qualified corporate pension and profit sharing plans for employees. The minimum
purchase for these accounts is reduced to 25 Units but may vary by selling firm.
The purchase of Units may be limited by the plans' provisions and does not
itself establish such plans.

RIGHTS OF UNITHOLDERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Distributions. Dividends and any net proceeds from the sale of Securities
received by a Trust will be distributed to Unitholders on each Distribution Date
to Unitholders of record on the preceding Record Date. These dates are listed
under "Summary of Essential Financial Information". A person becomes a
Unitholder of record on the date of settlement (generally three business days
after Units are ordered). Unitholders may elect to receive distributions in cash
or to have distributions reinvested into additional Units. Distributions may
also be reinvested into Van Kampen mutual funds. See "Rights of
Unitholders--Reinvestment Option".

   Dividends received by a Trust are credited to the Income Account of the
Trust. Other receipts (e.g., capital gains, proceeds from the sale of
Securities, etc.) are credited to the Capital Account. Proceeds received on the
sale of any Securities, to the extent not used to meet redemptions of Units or
pay deferred sales charges, fees or expenses, will be distributed to
Unitholders. Proceeds received from the disposition of any Securities after a
record date and prior to the following distribution date will be held in the
Capital Account and not distributed until the next distribution date. Any
distribution to Unitholders consists of each Unitholder's pro rate share of the
available cash in the Income and Capital Accounts as of the related Record Date.

   Reinvestment Option. Unitholders may have distributions automatically
reinvested in additional Units under the Automatic Reinvestment Option (to the
extent Units may be lawfully offered for sale in the state in which the
Unitholder resides) through two options. Brokers and dealers can use the
Dividend Reinvestment Service through Depository Trust Company or purchase the
Automatic Reinvestment Option CUSIP, if available. Unitholders will be subject
to the remaining deferred sales charge payments due on Units. To participate in
this reinvestment option, a Unitholder must file with the Trustee a written
notice of election, together with any certificate representing Units and other
documentation that the Trustee may then require, at least five days prior to the
related Record Date. A Unitholder's election will apply to all Units owned by
the Unitholder and will remain in effect until changed by the Unitholder. If
Units are unavailable for reinvestment, distributions will be paid in cash.
Purchases of additional Units made pursuant to the reinvestment plan will be
made at the net asset value for Units as of the Evaluation Time on the
Distribution Date.

   In addition, under the Guaranteed Reinvestment Option Unitholders may elect
to have distributions automatically reinvested in certain Van Kampen mutual
funds (the "Reinvestment Funds"). Each Reinvestment Fund has investment
objectives which differ from those of the Trusts. The prospectus relating to
each Reinvestment Fund describes its investment policies and how to begin
reinvestment. A Unitholder may obtain a prospectus for the Reinvestment Funds
from the Sponsor. Purchases of shares of a Reinvestment Fund will be made at a
net asset value computed on the Distribution Date. Unitholders with an existing
Guaranteed Reinvestment Option account (whereby a sales charge is imposed on
distribution reinvestments) may transfer their existing account into a new
account which allows purchases of Reinvestment Fund shares at net asset value.

   A participant may elect to terminate his or her reinvestment plan and receive
future distributions in cash by notifying the Trustee in writing no later than
five days before a distribution date. The Sponsor, each Reinvestment Fund, and
its investment adviser shall have the right to suspend or terminate these
reinvestment plans at any time.

   Redemption of Units. A Unitholder may redeem all or a portion of his Units by
tender to the Trustee at its Unit Investment Trust Division, 101 Barclay Street,
20th Floor, New York, New York 10286. Certificates must be tendered to the
Trustee, duly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of transfer with
signature guaranteed (or by providing satisfactory indemnity in connection with
lost, stolen or destroyed certificates) and by payment of applicable
governmental charges, if any. On the seventh day following the tender, the
Unitholder will be entitled to receive in cash an amount for each Unit equal to
the Redemption Price per Unit next computed on the date of tender. The "date of
tender" is deemed to be the date on which Units are received by the Trustee,
except that with respect to Units received by the Trustee after the Evaluation
Time or on a day which is not a Trust business day, the date of tender is deemed
to be the next business day.

   Unitholders tendering 1,000 or more Units of a Trust for redemption may
request an in kind distribution of Securities equal to the Redemption Price per
Unit on the date of tender. Trusts generally do not offer in kind distributions
of portfolio securities that are held in foreign markets. An in kind
distribution will be made by the Trustee through the distribution of each of the
Securities in book-entry form to the account of the Unitholder's broker-dealer
at Depository Trust Company. Amounts representing fractional shares will be
distributed in cash. The Trustee may adjust the number of shares of any Security
included in a Unitholder's in kind distribution to facilitate the distribution
of whole shares.

   The Trustee may sell Securities to satisfy Unit redemptions. To the extent
that Securities are redeemed in kind or sold, the size of a Trust will be, and
the diversity of a Trust may be, reduced. Sales may be required at a time when
Securities would not otherwise be sold and may result in lower prices than might
otherwise be realized. The price received upon redemption may be more or less
than the amount paid by the Unitholder depending on the value of the Securities
at the time of redemption. Special federal income tax consequences will result
if a Unitholder requests an in kind distribution. See "Taxation".

   The Redemption Price per Unit and the secondary market repurchase price per
Unit are equal to the pro rate share of each Unit in each Trust determined on
the basis of (i) the cash on hand in the Trust, (ii) the value of the Securities
in the Trust and (iii) dividends receivable on the Securities in the Trust
trading ex-dividend as of the date of computation, less (a) amounts representing
taxes or other governmental charges payable out of the Trust, (b) the accrued
expenses of the Trust and (c) any unpaid deferred sales charge payments. During
the initial offering period, the redemption price and the secondary market
repurchase price will also include estimated organizational costs. For these
purposes, the Evaluator may determine the value of the Securities in the
following manner: If the Securities are listed on a national or foreign
securities exchange, this evaluation is generally based on the closing sale
prices on that exchange (unless it is determined that these prices are
inappropriate as a basis for valuation) or, if there is no closing sale price on
that exchange, at the closing bid prices. If the Securities are not so listed
or, if so listed and the principal market therefore is other than on the
exchange, the evaluation may be based on the current bid price on the
over-the-counter market. If current bid prices are unavailable or inappropriate,
the evaluation may be determined (a) on the basis of current bid prices for
comparable securities, (b) by appraising the Securities on the bid side of the
market or (c) by any combination of the above. The value of any foreign
securities is based on the applicable currency exchange rate as of the
Evaluation Time.

   The right of redemption may be suspended and payment postponed for any period
during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than for customary
weekend and holiday closings, or any period during which the SEC determines that
trading on that Exchange is restricted or an emergency exists, as a result of
which disposal or evaluation of the Securities is not reasonably practicable, or
for other periods as the SEC may permit.

   Certificates. Ownership of Units is evidenced in book entry form unless a
Unitholder makes a written request to the Trustee that ownership be in
certificate form. Units are transferable by making a written request to the
Trustee and, in the case of Units in certificate form, by presentation of the
certificate to the Trustee properly endorsed or accompanied by a written
instrument or instruments of transfer. A Unitholder must sign the written
request, and certificate or transfer instrument, exactly as his name appears on
the records of the Trustee and on the face of any certificate with the signature
guaranteed by a participant in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program
("STAMP") or a signature guarantee program accepted by the Trustee. In certain
instances the Trustee may require additional documents such as, but not limited
to, trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor or
administrator or certificates of corporate authority. Fractional certificates
will not be issued. The Trustee may require a Unitholder to pay a reasonable fee
for each certificate reissued or transferred and to pay any governmental charge
that may be imposed in connection with each transfer or interchange. Destroyed,
stolen, mutilated or lost certificates will be replaced upon delivery to the
Trustee of satisfactory indemnity, evidence of ownership and payment of expenses
incurred. Mutilated certificates must be surrendered to the Trustee for
replacement.

   Reports Provided. Unitholders will receive a statement of dividends and other
amounts received by a Trust for each distribution. Within a reasonable time
after the end of each year, each person who was a Unitholder during that year
will receive a statement describing dividends and capital received, actual Trust
distributions, Trust expenses, a list of the Securities and other Trust
information. Unitholders may obtain the Evaluator's evaluations of the
Securities upon request.

TRUST ADMINISTRATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Portfolio Administration. The Trusts are not managed funds and, except as
provided in the Trust Agreement, Securities generally will not be sold or
replaced. The Sponsor may, however, direct that Securities be sold in certain
limited circumstances to protect the Trust based on advice from the Supervisor.
These situations may include events such as the issuer having defaulted on
payment of any of its outstanding obligations or the price of a Security has
declined to such an extent or other credit factors exist so that in the opinion
of the Sponsor retention of the Security would be detrimental to the Trust. In
addition, the Trustee may sell Securities to redeem Units or pay Trust expenses
or deferred sales charges. The Trustee must reject any offer for securities or
property in exchange for the Securities. If securities or property are
nonetheless acquired by a Trust, the Sponsor may direct the Trustee to sell the
securities or property and distribute the proceeds to Unitholders or to accept
the securities or property for deposit in the Trust. Should any contract for the
purchase of any of the Securities fail, the Sponsor will (unless substantially
all of the moneys held in the Trust to cover the purchase are reinvested in
substitute Securities in accordance with the Trust Agreement) refund the cash
and sales charge attributable to the failed contract to all Unitholders on or
before the next distribution date.

   To the extent practicable, the Supervisor may (but is not obligated to)
designate Securities to be sold by the Trustee in order to maintain the
proportionate relationship among the number of shares of individual issues of
Securities in a Trust. To the extent this is not practicable, the composition
and diversity of the Securities in the Trust may be altered. In order to obtain
the best price for a Trust, it may be necessary for the Supervisor to specify
minimum amounts (generally 100 shares) in which blocks of Securities are to be
sold. In effecting purchases and sales of a Trust's portfolio securities, the
Sponsor may direct that orders be placed with and brokerage commissions be paid
to brokers, including brokers which may be affiliated with the Trusts, the
Sponsor or dealers participating in the offering of Units. In addition, in
selecting among firms to handle a particular transaction, the Sponsor may take
into account whether the firm has sold or is selling units of unit investment
trusts which is sponsors.

   Amendment of the Trust Agreement. The Trustee and the Sponsor may amend the
Trust Agreement without the consent of Unitholders to correct any provision
which may be defective or to make other provisions that will not adversely
affect Unitholders (as determined in good faith by the Sponsor and the Trustee).
The Trust Agreement may not be amended to increase the number of Units or permit
acquisition of securities in addition to or substitution for the Securities
(except as provided in the Trust Agreement). The Trustee will notify Unitholders
of any amendment.

   Termination. Each Trust will terminate on the Mandatory Termination Date or
upon the sale or other disposition of the last Security held in the Trust. A
Trust may be terminated at any time with consent of Unitholders representing
two-thirds of the outstanding Units or by the Trustee when the value of the
Trust is less than $500,000 ($3,000,000 if the value of the Trust has exceeded
$15,000,000) (the "Minimum Termination Value"). Unitholders will be notified of
any termination. The Trustee may begin to sell Securities in connection with a
Trust termination nine business days before, and no later than, the Mandatory
Termination Date. Approximately thirty days before this date, the Trustee will
notify Unitholders of the termination and provide a form enabling qualified
Unitholders to elect an in kind distribution of Securities. See "Rights of
Unitholders--Redemption of Units". This form must be returned at least five
business days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date. Unitholders will receive
a final cash distribution within a reasonable time after the Mandatory
Termination Date (unless the Unitholder has elected an in kind distribution or
is a participant in the final Rollover). All distributions will be net of Trust
expenses and costs. Unitholders will receive a final distribution statement
following termination. The Information Supplement contains further information
regarding termination of the Trusts. See "Additional Information".

   Limitations on Liabilities. The Sponsor, Evaluator, Supervisor and Trustee
are under no liability for taking any action or for refraining from taking any
action in good faith pursuant to the Trust Agreement, or for errors in judgment,
but shall be liable only for their own willful misfeasance, bad faith or gross
negligence (negligence in the case of the Trustee) in the performance of their
duties or by reason of their reckless disregard of their obligations and duties
hereunder. The Trustee is not be liable for depreciation or loss incurred by
reason of the sale by the Trustee of any of the Securities. In the event of the
failure of the Sponsor to act under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee may act
thereunder and is not be liable for any action taken by it in good faith under
the Trust Agreement. The Trustee is not liable for any taxes or other
governmental charges imposed on the Securities, on it as Trustee under the Trust
Agreement or on a Trust which the Trustee may be required to pay under any
present or future law of the United States of America or of any other taxing
authority having jurisdiction. In addition, the Trust Agreement contains other
customary provisions limiting the liability of the Trustee. The Trustee, Sponsor
and Supervisor may rely on any evaluation furnished by the Evaluator and have no
responsibility for the accuracy thereof. Determinations by the Evaluator shall
be made in good faith upon the basis of the best information available to it.

   Sponsor. Van Kampen Funds Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the Sponsor of the
Trust. The Sponsor is an indirect subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
Van Kampen Funds Inc. specializes in the underwriting and distribution of unit
investment trusts and mutual funds with roots in money management dating back to
1926. The Sponsor is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. and has offices at One Parkview Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181,
(630) 684-6000 and 2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77056, (713)
993-0500. As of November 30, 1997, the total stockholders' equity of Van Kampen
Funds Inc. was $132,381,000 (audited). The Information Supplement contains
additional information about the Sponsor.

   If the Sponsor shall fail to perform any of its duties under the Trust
Agreement or become incapable of acting or shall become bankrupt or its affairs
are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (i) appoint a
successor Sponsor at rates of compensation deemed by the Trustee to be
reasonable and not exceeding amounts prescribed by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, (ii) terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trusts as
provided therein or (iii) continue to act as Trustee without terminating the
Trust Agreement.

   Trustee. The Trustee is The Bank of New York, a trust company organized under
the laws of New York. The Bank of New York has its unit investment trust
division offices at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 (800) 221-7668.
The Bank of New York is subject to supervision and examination by the
Superintendent of Banks of the State of New York and the Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation to the extent permitted by law. Additional information
regarding the Trustee is set forth in the Information Supplement, including the
Trustee's qualifications and duties, its ability to resign, the effect of a
merger involving the Trustee and the Sponsor's ability to remove and replace the
Trustee. See "Additional Information".

   Performance Information. The Sponsor may from time to time in its advertising
and sales materials compare the then current estimated returns on the Trusts and
returns over specified time periods on other similar Van Kampen trusts (which
may show performance net of expenses and charges which the Trusts would have
charged) with returns on other taxable investments such as the common stocks
comprising the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500, other investment
indices, corporate or U.S. government bonds, bank CDs, money market accounts or
money market funds, or with performance data from Lipper Analytical Services,
Inc., Morningstar Publications, Inc. or various publications, each of which has
characteristics that may differ from those of the Trusts. Information on
percentage changes in the dollar value of Units may be included from time to
time in advertisements, sales literature, reports and other information
furnished to current or prospective Unitholders. Total return figures may not be
averaged and may not reflect deduction of the sales charge, which would decrease
return. No provision is made for any income taxes payable. Past performance may
not be indicative of future results. The Trust portfolios are not managed and
Unit price and return fluctuate with the value of common stocks in the
portfolios, so there may be a gain or loss when Units are sold. As with other
performance data, performance comparisons should not be considered
representative of the Trust's relative performance for any future period.

TAXATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   The following is a general discussion of certain of the federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Units of the
Trusts. The summary is limited to investors who hold the Units as "capital
assets" (generally, property held for investment within the meaning of Section
1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code")). Unitholders should
consult their tax advisers in determining the federal, state, local and any
other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Units in
the Trust. For purposes of the following discussion and opinion, it is assumed
that each Security is equity for federal income tax purposes.

   In the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, special counsel for the Sponsor, under
existing law:

   1. The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for federal
income tax purposes; each Unitholder will be treated as the owner of a pro rata
portion of each of the assets of the Trust under the Code; and the income of the
Trust will be treated as income of the Unitholders thereof under the Code. Each
Unitholder will be considered to have received his pro rata share of income
derived from each Trust asset when such income is considered to be received by
the Trust.

   2. A Unitholder will be considered to have received all of the dividends paid
on his pro rata portion of each Security when such dividends are considered to
be received by the Trust regardless of whether such dividends are used to pay a
portion of the deferred sales charge. Unitholders will be taxed in this manner
regardless of whether distributions from the Trust are actually received by the
Unitholder or are automati cally reinvested.

   3. Each Unitholder will have a taxable event when the Trust disposes of a
Security (whether by sale, exchange, liquidation, redemption, or otherwise) or
upon the sale or redemption of Units by such Unitholder (except to the extent an
in kind distribution of stock is received by such Unitholder as described
below). The price a Unitholder pays for his Units, generally including sales
charges, is allocated among his pro rata portion of each Security held by the
Trust (in proportion to the fair market values thereof on the valuation date
nearest the date the Unitholder purchase his Units) in order to determine his
initial tax basis for his pro rata portion of each Security held by the Trust.
Unitholders should consult their own tax advisers with regard to calculation of
basis. For federal income tax purposes, a Unitholder's pro rata portion of
dividends as defined by Section 316 of the Code paid by a corporation with
respect to a Security held by the Trust are taxable as ordinary income to the
extent of such corporation's current and accumulated "earnings and profits". A
Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends paid on such Security which exceeds
such current and accumulated earnings and profits will first reduce a
Unitholder's tax basis in such Security, and to the extent that such dividends
exceed a Unitholder's tax basis in such Security shall generally be treated as
capital gain. In general, the holding period for such capital gain will be
determined by the period of time a Unitholder has held his Units.

   4. A Unitholder's portion of gain, if any, upon the sale or redemption of
Units or the disposition of Securities held by the Trust will generally be
considered a capital gain, except in the case of a dealer or a financial
institution. A Unitholder's portion of loss, if any, upon the sale or redemption
of Units or the disposition of Securities held by the Trust will generally be
considered a capital loss (except in the case of a dealer or a financial
institution). Unitholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the
recognition of such capital gains and losses for federal income tax purposes.

   Deferred Sales Charge. Generally, the tax basis of a Unitholder includes
sales charges, and such charges are not deductible. A portion of the sales
charge for the Trust is deferred. The income (or proceeds from redemption) a
Unitholder must take into account for federal income tax purposes is not reduced
by amounts deducted to pay the deferred sales charge. Unitholders should consult
their own tax advisers as to the income tax consequences of the deferred sales
charge.

   Dividends Received Deduction. A corporation that owns Units will generally be
entitled to a 70% dividends received deduction with respect to such Unitholder's
pro rata portion of dividends received by the Trust (to the extent such
dividends are taxable as ordinary income, as discussed above, and are
attributable to domestic corporations) in the same manner as if such corporation
directly owned the Securities paying such dividends (other than corporate
Unitholders, such as "S" corporations, which are not eligible for the deduction
because of their special characteristics and other than for purposes of special
taxes such as the accumulated earnings tax and the personal holding corporation
tax). However, a corporation owning Units should be aware that Sections 246 and
246A of the Code impose additional limitations on the eligibility of dividends
for the 70% dividends received deduction. These limitations include a
requirement that stock (and therefore Units) must generally be held at least 46
days (as determined under Section 246(c) of the Code). Final regulations have
been issued which address special rules that must be considered in determining
whether the 46 day holding requirement is met. Moreover, the allowable
percentage of the deduction will be reduced from 70% if a corporate Unitholder
owns certain stock (or Units) the financing of which is directly attributable to
indebtedness incurred by such corporation. To the extent dividends received by
the Trust are attributable to foreign corporations, a corporation that owns
Units will not be entitled to the dividends received deduction with respect to
its pro rata portion of such dividends, since the dividends received deduction
is generally available only with respect to dividends paid by domestic
corporations. It should be noted that various legislative proposals that would
affect the dividends received deduction have been introduced. Unitholders should
consult with their tax advisers with respect to the limitations on and possible
modifications to the dividends received deduction.

   Limitations on Deductibility of Trust Expenses by Unitholders. Each
Unitholder's pro rata share of each expense paid by the Trust is deductible by
the Unitholder to the same extent as though the expense had been paid directly
by him. It should be noted that as a result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986,
certain miscellaneous itemized deductions, such as investment expenses, tax
return preparation fees and employee business expenses will be deductible by an
individual only to the extent they exceed 2% of such individual's adjusted gross
income. Unitholders may be required to treat some or all of the expenses of the
Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation.
Unitholders should consult with their own tax advisers regarding the
deductibility of Trust expenses.

   Recognition of Taxable Gain or Loss Upon Disposition of Securities by the
Trust or Disposition of Units. As discussed above, a Unitholder may recognize
taxable gain (or loss) when an Security is disposed of by the Trust or if the
Unitholder disposes of a Unit. The Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and
Reform Act of 1998 (the "1998 Tax Act") provides that for taxpayers other than
corporations, net capital gain (which is defined as net long-term capital gain
over net short-term capital loss for the taxable year) realized from property
(with certain exclusions) is subject to a maximum marginal stated tax rate of
20% (10% in the case of certain taxpayers in the lowest tax bracket). Capital
gain or loss is long-term if the holding period for the asset is more than one
year, and is short-term if the holding period for the asset is one year or less.
The date on which a Unit is acquired (i.e., the "trade date") is excluded for
purposes for determining the holding period of the Unit. Capital gains realized
from assets held for one year or less are taxed at the same rates as ordinary
income.

   In addition, please note that capital gains may be recharacterized as
ordinary income in the case of certain financial transactions that are
considered "conversion transactions" effective for transactions entered into
after April 30, 1993. Unitholders and prospective investors should consult with
their tax advisers regarding the potential effect of this provision on their
investment in Units.

   If a Unitholder disposes of a Unit he is deemed thereby to have disposed of
his entire pro rata interest in all assets of the Trust including his pro rata
portion of all Securities represented by a Unit.

   The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (the "1997 Act") includes provisions that
treat certain transactions designed to reduce or eliminate risk of loss and
opportunities for gain (e.g., short sales, offsetting notional principal
contracts, futures or forward contracts or similar transactions) as constructive
sales for purposes of recognition of gain (but not of loss) and for purposes of
determining the holding period. Unitholders should consult their own tax
advisers with regard to any such constructive sales rules.

   Special Tax Consequences of In Kind Distributions Upon Redemption of Units or
Termination of the Trust. As discussed in "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of
Units", under certain circumstances a Unitholder tendering Units for redemption
may request an in kind distribution. A Unitholder may also under certain
circumstances request an in kind distribution upon the termination of the Trust.
See "Rights of Unitholders--Redemption of Units." As previously discussed, prior
to the redemption of Units or the termination of the Trust, a Unitholder is
considered as owning a pro rata portion of each of the Trust's assets for
federal income tax purposes. The receipt of an in kind distribution will result
in a Unitholder receiving an undivided interest in whole shares of stock plus,
possibly, cash.

   The potential tax consequences that may occur under an in kind distribution
with respect to each Security held by the Trust will depend on whether or not a
Unitholder receives cash in addition to Securities. A "Security" for this
purpose is a particular class of stock issued by a particular corporation. A
Unitholder will not recognize gain or loss if a Unitholder only receives
Securities in exchange for his or her pro rata portion in the Securities held by
the Trust. However, if a Unitholder also receives cash in exchange for a
fractional share of Security held by the Trust, such Unitholder will generally
recognize gain or loss based upon the difference between the amount of cash
received by the Unitholder and his tax basis in such fractional share of
Security held by the Trust.

   Because the Trust will own many Securities, a Unitholder who requests an in
kind distribution will have to analyze the tax consequences with respect to each
Security owned by the Trust. The amount of taxable gain (or loss) recognized
upon such exchange will generally equal the sum of the gain (or loss) recognized
under the rules described above by such Unitholder with respect to each Security
owned by the Trust. Unitholders who request an in kind distribution are advised
to consult their tax advisers in this regard.

   Computation of the Unitholder's Tax Basis. Initially, a Unitholder's tax
basis in his Units will generally equal the price paid by such Unitholder of his
Units. The cost of the Units is allocated among the Securities held in the Trust
in accordance with the proportion of the fair market values of such Securities
on the valuation date nearest the date the Units are purchased in order to
determine such Unitholder's tax basis for his pro rata portion of each Security.

   A Unitholder's tax basis in his Units and his pro rata portion of a Security
held by the Trust will be reduced to the extent dividends paid with respect to
such Security are received by the Trust which are not taxable as ordinary income
as described above.

   General. Each Unitholder will be requested to provide the Unitholder's
taxpayer identification number to the Trustee and to certify that the Unitholder
has not been notified that payments to the Unitholder are subject to back-up
withholding. If the proper taxpayer identification number and appropriate
certification are not provided when requested, distributions by the Trust to
such Unitholder (including amounts received upon the redemption of Units) will
be subject to back-up withholding. Distributions by the Trust (other than those
that are not treated as United States source income, if any) will generally be
subject to United States income taxation and withholding in the case of Units
held by non-resident alien individuals, foreign corporations or other non-United
States persons. Such persons should consult their tax advisers.

   In general, income that is not effectively connected to the conduct of a
trade or business within the United States that is earned by non-U.S.
Unitholders and derived from dividends of foreign corporations will not be
subject to U.S. withholding tax provided that less than 25 percent of the gross
income of the foreign corporations for a three-year period ending with the close
of its taxable year preceding payment was not effectively connected to the
conduct of a trade or business within the United States. In addition, such
earnings may be exempt from U.S. withholding pursuant to a specific treaty
between the United States and a foreign country. Non-U.S. Unitholders should
consult their own tax advisers regarding the imposition of U.S. withholding on
distributions from the Trust.

   It should be noted that payments to the Trust of dividends on Securities that
are attributable to foreign corporations may be subject to foreign withholding
taxes and Unitholders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential
tax consequences relating to the payment of any such withholding taxes by the
Trust. Any dividends withheld as a result thereof will nevertheless be treated
as income to the Unitholders. Because, under the grantor trust rules, an
investor is deemed to have paid directly his share of foreign taxes that have
been paid or accrued, if any, an investor may be entitled to a foreign tax
credit or deduction for United States tax purposes with respect to such taxes. A
required holding period is imposed for such credits. Investors should consult
their tax advisers with respect to foreign withholding taxes and foreign tax
credits.

   At the termination of the Trust, the Trustee will furnish to each Unitholder
of the Trust a statement containing information relating to the dividends
received by the Trust on the Securities, the gross proceeds received by the
Trust from the disposition of any Security (resulting from redemption or the
sale of any Security), and the fees and expenses paid by the Trust. The Trustee
will also furnish annual information returns to Unitholders and to the Internal
Revenue Service.

   In the opinion of special counsel to the Trust for New York tax matters, the
Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation and the income of the Trust
will be treated as the income of the Unitholders under the existing income tax
laws of the State and City of New York.

   The foregoing discussion relates only to the tax treatment of U.S.
Unitholders ("U.S. Unitholders") with regard to federal and certain aspects of
New York State and City income taxes. Unitholders may be subject to taxation in
New York or in other jurisdictions and should consult their own tax advisers in
this regard. As used herein, the term "U.S. Unitholder" means an owner of a Unit
of the Trust that (a) is (i) for United States federal income tax purposes a
citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or
other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or
of any political subdivision thereof, or (iii) an estate or trust the income of
which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its
source or (b) does not qualify as a U.S. Unitholder in paragraph (a) but whose
income from a Unit is effectively connected with such Unitholder's conduct of a
United States trade or business. The term also includes certain former citizens
of the United States whose income and gain on the Units will be taxable.
Unitholders should consult their tax advisers regarding potential foreign, state
or local taxation with respect to the Units.

TRUST OPERATING EXPENSES
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Compensation of Sponsor, Supervisor and Evaluator. The Sponsor will not
receive any fees in connection with its activities relating to the Trusts.
However, the Supervisor and Evaluator, which are affiliates of the Sponsor, will
receive the annual fee for portfolio supervisory and evaluation services set
forth in the "Fee Table". These fees may exceed the actual costs of providing
these services to the Trusts but at no time will the total amount received for
supervisory and evaluation services rendered to all Van Kampen unit investment
trusts in any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost of providing these
services in that year.

   Trustee's Fee. For its services the Trustee will receive the fee from each
Trust set forth in the "Fee Table" (which includes the estimated amount of
miscellaneous Trust expenses). The Trustee benefits to the extent there are
funds in the Capital and Income Accounts since these Accounts are non-interest
bearing to Unitholders and the amounts earned by the Trustee are retained by the
Trustee. Part of the Trustee's compensation for its services to each Trust is
expected to result from the use of these funds.

   Miscellaneous Expenses. The following additional charges are or may be
incurred by a Trust: (a) normal expenses (including the cost of mailing reports
to Unitholders) incurred in connection with the operation of such Trust, (b)
fees of the Trustee for extraordinary services, (c) expenses of the Trustee
(including legal and auditing expenses) and of counsel designated by the
Sponsor, (d) various governmental charges, (e) expenses and costs of any action
taken by the Trustee to protect a Trust and the rights and interests of
Unitholders, (f) indemnification of the Trustee for any loss, liability or
expenses incurred in the administration of a Trust without negligence, bad faith
or wilful misconduct on its part, (g) foreign custodial and transaction fees,
(h) costs associated with liquidating the securities held in a Trust portfolio
and (i) expenditures incurred in contacting Unitholders upon termination of a
Trust.

   General. During the initial offering period, all of the fees and expenses of
a Trust will accrue on a daily basis and will be charged to the Trust at the end
of the initial offering period. After the initial offering period, all of the
fees and expenses of a Trust will accrue on a daily basis and will be charged to
the Trust on a monthly basis.

   The deferred sales charge, fees and expenses are paid out of the Capital
Account of the related Trust. When these amounts are paid by or owing to the
Trustee, they are secured by a lien on the related Trust's portfolio. It is
expected that Securities will be sold to pay these amounts which will result in
capital gains or losses to Unitholders. See "Taxation". The Supervisor's,
Evaluator's and Trustee's fees may be increased without approval of the
Unitholders by amounts not exceeding proportionate increases under the category
"All Services Less Rent of Shelter" in the Consumer Price Index or, if this
category is not published, in a comparable category.

OTHER MATTERS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Legal Opinions. The legality of the Units offered hereby has been passed upon
by Chapman and Cutler, 111 West Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, as
counsel for the Sponsor. Winston & Strawn has acted as counsel to the Trustee
and as special counsel for New York tax matters.

   Independent Certified Public Accountants. The statements of condition and the
related portfolios included in this Prospectus have been audited by Grant
Thornton LLP, independent certified public accountants, as set forth in their
report in this Prospectus, and are included herein in reliance upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the
Registration Statement filed by the Trusts with the SEC. The Information
Supplement, which has been filed with the SEC, includes more detailed
information concerning the Securities, investment risks and general information
about the Trusts. The Information Supplement may be obtained by contacting the
Trustee at (800) 856-8487 or is available along with other related materials at
the SEC's internet site (http://www.sec.gov).

TABLE OF CONTENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title                                                                       Page
- -----                                                                       ----
Summary of Essential Financial Information...............................     2
Fee Table................................................................     3
Financial Services Trust.................................................     4
Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm Trust.....................................     6
Notes to Portfolios......................................................     8
The Securities...........................................................     9
Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants.......................    14
Statements of Condition .................................................    15
The Trusts...............................................................   A-1
Objectives and Securities Selection......................................   A-1
Risk Factors.............................................................   A-2
Public Offering..........................................................   A-3
Rights of Unitholders....................................................   A-7
Trust Administration.....................................................   A-9
Taxation.................................................................  A-11
Trust Operating Expenses.................................................  A-15
Other Matters............................................................  A-15
Additional Information...................................................  A-16

                                   PROSPECTUS

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

   
                                December 15, 1998
    

                           Van Kampen Focus Portfolios

   
                 Financial Services Trust, Series 3
                 Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm Trust, Series 2
    

                              Van Kampen Funds Inc.

                               One Parkview Plaza
                        Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181

                             2800 Post Oak Boulevard
                              Houston, Texas 77056

              Please retain this prospectus for future reference.

                                   Van Kampen
                             Information Supplement

   
                     Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126
    

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     This Information Supplement provides additional information concerning the
risks and operations of the Trust which is not described in the Prospectus. This
Information Supplement should be read in conjunction with the Prospectus. This
Information Supplement is not a prospectus, does not include all of the
information that an investor should consider before investing in a Trust and may
not be used to offer or sell Units without the Prospectus. Copies of the
Prospectus can be obtained by contacting the Sponsor at One Parkview Plaza,
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois 60181 or by contacting your broker. This Information
Supplement is dated as of the date of the Prospectus and all capitalized terms
have been defined in the Prospectus.

                                Table of Contents

                                                                   Page
        Risk Factors                                                 2
        The Trusts                                                   6
        Sponsor Information                                          7
        Trustee Information                                          8
        Trust Termination                                            9

RISK FACTORS

     Price Volatility. Because the Trusts invest in stocks of U.S. and foreign
companies, you should understand the risks of investing in stocks before
purchasing Units. These risks include the risk that the financial condition of
the company or the general condition of the stock market may worsen and the
value of the stocks (and therefore Units) will fall. Stocks are especially
susceptible to general stock market movements. The value of common stocks often
rises or falls rapidly and unpredictably as market confidence and perceptions of
companies change. These perceptions are based on factors including expectations
regarding government economic policies, inflation, interest rates, economic
expansion or contraction, political climates and economic or banking crises. The
value of Units will fluctuate with the value of the stocks in a Trust and may be
more or less than the price you originally paid for your Units. As with any
investment, we cannot guarantee that the performance of a Trust will be positive
over any period of time. Because the Trusts are unmanaged, the Trustee will not
sell stocks in response to market fluctuations as is common in managed
investments. In addition, because some Trusts hold a relatively small number of
stocks, you may encounter greater market risk than in a more diversified
investment.

     Dividends. Stocks represent ownership interests in a company and are not
obligations of the company. Common stockholders have a right to receive payments
from the company that is subordinate to the rights of creditors, bondholders or
preferred stockholders of the company. This means that common stockholders have
a right to receive dividends only if a company's board of directors declares a
dividend and the company has provided for payment of all of its creditors,
bondholders and preferred stockholders. If a company issues additional debt
securities or preferred stock, the owners of these securities will have a claim
against the company's assets before common stockholders if the company declares
bankruptcy or liquidates its assets even though the common stock was issued
first. As a result, the company may be less willing or able to declare or pay
dividends on its common stock.

     Foreign Stocks. Because certain Trusts invest in foreign stocks, they
involve additional risks that differ from an investment in domestic stocks.
Investments in foreign securities may involve a greater degree of risk than
those in domestic securities. There is generally less publicly available
information about foreign companies in the form of reports and ratings similar
to those that are published about issuers in the United States. Also, foreign
issuers are generally not subject to uniform accounting, auditing and financial
reporting requirements comparable to those applicable to United States issuers.
With respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of adverse
changes in investment or exchange control regulations, expropriation,
nationalization or confiscatory taxation, limitations on the removal of funds or
other assets of a Trust, political or social instability, or diplomatic
developments which could affect United States investments in those countries.
Moreover, industrial foreign economies may differ favorably or unfavorably from
the United States' economy in terms of growth of gross national product, rate of
inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency and balance of
payments position. Foreign securities markets are generally not as developed or
efficient as those in the United States. While growing in volume, they usually
have substantially less volume than the New York Stock Exchange, and securities
of some foreign issuers are less liquid and more volatile than securities of
comparable United States issuers. Fixed commissions on foreign exchanges are
generally higher than negotiated commissions on United States exchanges. There
is generally less government supervision and regulation of securities exchanges,
brokers and listed issuers than in the United States.

     Foreign Currencies. Certain Trusts also involve the risk that fluctuations
in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and foreign currencies may negatively
affect the value of the stocks. For example, if a foreign stock rose 10% in
price but the U.S. dollar gained 5% against the related foreign currency, a U.S.
investor's return would be reduced to about 5%. This is because the foreign
currency would "buy" fewer dollars or, conversely, a dollar would buy more of
the foreign currency. Many foreign currencies have fluctuated widely against the
U.S. dollar for a variety of reasons such as supply and demand of the currency,
investor perceptions of world or country economies, political instability,
currency speculation by institutional investors, changes in government policies,
buying and selling of currencies by central banks of countries, trade balances
and changes in interest rates. A Trust's foreign currency transactions will be
conducted with foreign exchange dealers acting as principals on a spot (i.e.,
cash) buying basis. These dealers realize a profit based on the difference
between the price at which they buy the currency (bid price) and the price at
which they sell the currency (offer price). The Evaluator will estimate the
currency exchange rates based on current activity in the related currency
exchange markets, however, due to the volatility of the markets and other
factors, the estimated rates may not be indicative of the rate a Trust might
obtain had the Trustee sold the currency in the market at that time.

     Liquidity. Whether or not the stocks in a Trust are listed on a stock
exchange, the stocks may delist from the exchange or principally trade in an
over-the-counter market. As a result, the existence of a liquid trading market
could depend on whether dealers will make a market in the stocks. We cannot
guarantee that dealers will maintain a market or that any market will be liquid.
The value of the stocks could fall if trading markets are limited or absent.

     Additional Units. The Sponsor may create additional Units of a Trust by
depositing into the Trust additional stocks or cash with instructions to
purchase additional stocks. A cash deposit could result in a dilution of your
investment and anticipated income because of fluctuations in the price of the
stocks between the time of the deposit and the purchase of the stocks and
because the Trust will pay brokerage fees.

     Voting. Only the Trustee may sell or vote the stocks in a Trust. While you
may sell or redeem your Units, you may not sell or vote the stocks in your
Trust. The Sponsor will instruct the Trustee how to vote the stocks. The Trustee
will vote the stocks in the same general proportion as shares held by other
shareholders if the Sponsor fails to provide instructions.

   Financial Services Issuers. The Financial Services Trust is concentrated in
issuers within the financial services industry. A portfolio concentrated in a
single industry may present more risk than a portfolio broadly diversified over
several industries. The Trust, and therefore Unitholders, may be particularly
susceptible to a negative impact resulting from adverse market conditions or
other factors affecting financial services issuers because any negative impact
on the financial services industry will not be diversified among issuers within
other unrelated industries. Accordingly, an investment in Units should be made
with an understanding of the characteristics of the financial services industry
and the risks which such an investment may entail.

   An investment in Units should be made with an understanding of the problems
and risks inherent in the insurance sector. Companies involved in the insurance
industry are engaged in underwriting, reinsuring, selling, distribution or
placing of property and casualty, life or health insurance. Other growth areas
within the insurance industry include brokerage, reciprocals, claims processors
and multiline insurance companies. Multiline insurance companies provide
property and casualty coverage, as well as life and health insurance. The Trust
may also invest in diversified financial companies with subsidiaries (including
insurance brokerage, reciprocals and claims processors) engaged in underwriting,
reinsuring, selling, distributing or placing insurance with independent third
parties.

   Insurance company profits are affected by interest rate levels, general
economic conditions, and price and marketing competition. Property and casualty
insurance profits may also be affected by weather catastrophes and other
disasters. Life and health insurance profits may be affected by morality and
morbidity rates. Individual companies may be exposed to material risks including
reserve inadequacy and the inability to collect from reinsurance carriers.
Insurance companies are subject to extensive governmental regulation, including
the imposition of maximum rate levels, which may not be adequate for some lines
of business. Proposed or potential tax law changes may also adversely affect
insurance companies' policy sales, tax obligations, and profitability. In
addition to the foregoing, profit margins of these companies continue to shrink
due to the commoditization of traditional businesses, new competitors, capital
expenditures on new technology and the pressures to compete globally.

   In addition to the normal risks of business, companies involved in the
insurance industry are subject to significant risk factors, including those
applicable to regulated insurance companies, such as: (i) the inherent
uncertainty in the process of establishing property-liability loss reserves,
particularly reserves for the cost of environmental, asbestos and mass tort
claims, and the fact that ultimate losses could materially exceed established
loss reserves which could have a material adverse effect on results of
operations and financial condition; (ii) the fact that insurance companies have
experienced, and can be expected in the future to experience, catastrophe losses
which could have a material adverse impact on their financial condition, results
of operations and cash flow; (iii) the inherent uncertainty in the process of
establishing property-liability loss reserves due to changes in loss payment
patterns caused by new claims settlement practices; (iv) the need for insurance
companies and their subsidiaries to maintain appropriate levels of statutory
capital and surplus, particularly in light of continuing scrutiny by rating
organizations and state insurance regulatory authorities, and in order to
maintain acceptable financial strength or claims-paying ability rating; (v) the
extensive regulation and supervision to which insurance companies' subsidiaries
are subject, various regulatory initiatives that may affect insurance companies,
and regulatory and other legal actions; (vi) the adverse impact that increases
in interest rates could have on the value of an insurance company's investment
portfolio and on the attractiveness of certain of its products; (vii) the need
to adjust the effective duration of the assets and liabilities of life insurance
operations in order to meet the anticipated cash flow requirements of its
policyholder obligations; and (viii) the uncertainty involved in estimating the
availability of reinsurance and the collectibility of reinsurance recoverables.

   The state insurance regulatory framework has, during recent years, come under
increased federal scrutiny, and certain state legislatures have considered or
enacted laws that alter and, in many cases, increase state authority to regulate
insurance companies and insurance holding company systems. Further, the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") and state insurance regulators
are re-examining existing laws and regulations, specifically focusing on
insurance companies, interpretations of existing laws and the development of new
laws. In addition, Congress and certain federal agencies have investigated the
condition of the insurance industry in the United States to determine whether to
promulgate additional federal regulation. The Sponsor is unable to predict
whether any state or federal legislation will be enacted to change the nature or
scope of regulation of the insurance industry, or what effect, if any, such
legislation would have on the industry.

   All insurance companies are subject to state laws and regulations that
require diversification of their investment portfolios and limit the amount of
investments in certain investment categories. Failure to comply with these laws
and regulations would cause non-conforming investments to be treated as
non-admitted assets for purposes of measuring statutory surplus and, in some
instances, would require divestiture. Environmental pollution clean-up is the
subject of both federal and state regulation. By some estimates, there are
thousands of potential waste sites subject to clean up. The insurance industry
is involved in extensive ligation regarding coverage issues. The Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 ("Superfund") and
comparable state statutes ("mini-Superfund") govern the clean-up and restoration
by "Potentially Responsible Parties" ("PRP's"). Superfund and the
mini-Superfunds ("Environmental Clean-up Laws or "ECLs") establish a mechanism
to pay for clean-up of waste sites if PRP's fail to do so, and to assign
liability to PRP's. The extent of liability to be allocated to PRP is dependent
on a variety of factors. Further, the number of waste sites subject to clean-up
is unknown. Very few sites have been subject to clean-up to date. The extent of
clean-up necessary and the assignment of liability has not been established. The
insurance industry is disrupting many such claims. Key coverage issues include
whether Superfund response costs are considered damages under the policies, when
and how coverage is triggered, applicability of pollution exclusions, the
potential for joint and several liability and definition of an occurrence.
Similar coverage issues exist for clean up and waste sites not covered under
Superfund. To date, courts have been inconsistent in their rulings on these
issues. An insurer's exposure to liability with regard to its insureds which
have been, or may be, named as PRPs is uncertain. Superfund reform proposals
have been introduced in Congress, but none have been enacted. There can be no
assurance that any Superfund reform legislation will be enacted or that any such
legislation will provide for a fair, effective and cost-efficient system for
settlement of Superfund related claims.

   Proposed federal legislation which would permit banks greater participation
in the insurance business could, if enacted, present an increased level of
competition for the sale of insurance products. In addition, while current
federal income tax law permits the tax-deferred accumulation of earnings on the
premiums paid by an annuity owner and holders of certain savings-oriented life
insurance products, no assurance can be given that future tax law will continue
to allow such tax deferrals. If such deferrals were not allowed, consumer demand
for the affected products would be substantially reduced. In addition, proposals
to lower the federal income tax rates through a form of flat tax or otherwise
could have, if enacted, a negative impact on the demand for such products.

   An investment in Units should also be made with an understanding of the
problems and risks of companies engaged in investment banking/brokerage and
investment management. Such companies include brokerage firms, broker/dealers,
investment banks, finance companies and mutual fund companies. Earnings and
share prices of companies in this industry are quite volatile, and often exceed
the volatility levels of the market as a whole. Recently, ongoing consolidation
in the industry and the strong stock market has benefited stocks which investors
believe will benefit from greater investor and issuer activity. Major
determinants of future earnings of these companies are the direction of the
stock market, investor confidence, equity transaction volume, the level and
direction of long-term and short-term interest rates, and the outlook for
emerging markets. Negative trends in any of these earnings determinants could
have a serious adverse effect on the financial stability, as well as the stock
prices, of these companies. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the
issuers of the Equity Securities will be able to respond in a timely manner to
compete in the rapidly developing marketplace. In addition to the foregoing,
profit margins of these companies continue to shrink due to the commoditization
of traditional businesses, new competitors, capital expenditures on new
technology and the pressures to compete globally.

   Technology Issuers. The Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm Trust is concentrated
in issuers within the technology industry. A portfolio concentrated in a single
industry may present more risk than a portfolio broadly diversified over several
industries. The Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm Trust, and therefore Unitholders,
may be particularly susceptible to a negative impact resulting from adverse
market conditions or other factors affecting technology issuers because any
negative impact on the technology industry will not be diversified among issuers
within other unrelated industries. Accordingly, an investment in Units should be
made with an understanding of the characteristics of the technology industry and
the risks which such an investment may entail.

   Technology companies generally include companies involved in the development,
design, manufacture and sale of computers, computer related equipment, computer
networks, communications systems, telecommunications products, electronic
products, and other related products, systems and services. The market for
technology products and services, especially those specifically related to the
Internet, is characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product
obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and frequent
new product introductions. The success of the issuers of the Securities depends
in substantial part on the timely and successful introduction of new products.
An unexpected change in one or more of the technologies affecting an issuer's
products or in the market for products based on a particular technology could
have a material adverse affect on an issuer's operating results. Furthermore,
there can be no assurance that the issuers of the Securities will be able to
respond timely to compete in the rapidly developing marketplace.

   The market for certain technology products and services may have only
recently begun to develop, is rapidly evolving and is characterized by an
increasing number of market entrants. Additionally, certain technology companies
may have only recently commenced operations or offered equity securities to the
public. Such companies are in the early stage of development and have a limited
operating history on which to analyze future operating results. It is important
to note that following its initial public offering a security is likely to
experience substantial stock price volatility and speculative trading.
Accordingly, there can be no assurance that upon redemption of Units or
termination of a Trust a Unitholder will receive an amount greater than or equal
to the Unitholder's initial investment.

   Based on trading history, factors such as announcements of new products or
development of new technologies and general conditions of the industry have
caused and are likely to cause the market price of technology common stocks to
fluctuate substantially. In addition, technology company stocks have experienced
extreme price and volume fluctuations that often have been unrelated to the
operating performance of such companies. This market volatility may adversely
affect the market price of the Securities and therefore the ability of a
Unitholder to redeem units, or roll over Units into a new trust, at a price
equal to or greater than the original price paid for such Units.

   Some key components of certain products of technology issuers are currently
available only from single sources. There can be no assurance that in the future
suppliers will be able to meet the demand for components in a timely and cost
effective manner. Accordingly, an issuer's operating results and customer
relationships could be adversely affected by either an increase in price for, or
and interruption or reduction in supply of, any key components. Additionally,
many technology issuers are characterized by a highly concentrated customer base
consisting of a limited number of large customers who may require product
vendors to comply with rigorous and constantly developing industry standards.
Any failure to comply with such standards may result in a significant loss or
reduction of sales. Because many products and technologies are incorporated into
other related products, certain companies are often highly dependent on the
performance of other computer, electronics and communications companies. There
can be no assurance that these customers will place additional orders, or that
an issuer of Securities will obtain orders of similar magnitude as past orders
form other customers. Similarly, the success of certain companies is tied to a
relatively small concentration of products or technologies with intense
competition between companies. Accordingly, a decline in demand of such
products, technologies or from such customers could have a material adverse
impact on issuers of the Securities.

THE TRUSTS

     In seeking the Trusts' objectives, the Sponsor considered the ability of
the Securities to outpace inflation. While inflation is currently relatively
low, the United States has historically experienced periods of double-digit
inflation. While the prices of securities will fluctuate, over time securities
have outperformed the rate of inflation, and other less risky investments, such
as government bonds and U.S. Treasury bills. Past performance is, however, no
guarantee of future results.

     Investors should note that the above criteria were applied to the
Securities for inclusion in the Trusts as of the Initial Date of Deposit. Should
a Security no longer meet the criteria used for selection for a Trust, such
Security will not as a result thereof be removed from a Trust portfolio.

   Stocks have been acknowledged as one of the best ways to stay ahead of
inflation over time. For example, common stocks (as represented by the Standard
& Poor's 500 Index) have generally outperformed long-term U.S. Government bonds,
U.S. Treasury bills and the rate of inflation over the long-term. Of course,
this represents past performance of these categories and there is no guarantee
of future results, either of these categories or of the Trust. In addition, the
certain Trusts seek to provide access to international markets which have often
generated historical returns superior to those in the United States. For
example, during 1993-1997, the United States stock market ranked among the top
three developed markets in total return only once and never ranked first
(measured by the Morgan Stanley Capital International USA Index and MSCI country
indexes).

   The Morgan Stanley EuroTec Indexsm ("Index") is the exclusive property of
Morgan Stanley and is a service mark of Morgan Stanley and has been licensed for
use by the Trust and Van Kampen Funds Inc.

   This fund is not sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by Morgan Stanley.
Morgan Stanley makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the
owners of this fund or any member of the public regarding the advisability of
investing in funds generally or in this fund particularly or the ability of the
Index to track general stock market performance. Morgan Stanley is the licensor
of certain trademarks, service marks and trade names of Morgan Stanley and of
the Index which is determined, composed and calculated by Morgan Stanley without
regard to the issuer of this fund or this fund. Morgan Stanley has no obligation
to take the needs of the issuer of this fund or the owners of this fund into
consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Index. Morgan Stanley
is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of or the
timing of, prices at, or quantities of this fund to be issued or in the
determination or calculation of the equation by which Units of this fund is
redeemable for cash. Morgan Stanley has no obligation or liability to owners of
this fund in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of this
fund.

   ALTHOUGH MORGAN STANLEY SHALL OBTAIN INFORMATION FOR INCLUSION IN OR FOR USE
IN THE CALCULATION OF THE INDEX FROM SOURCES WHICH MORGAN STANLEY CONSIDERS
RELIABLE, NEITHER MORGAN STANLEY NOR ANY OTHER PARTY GUARANTEES THE ACCURACY
AND/OR THE COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. NEITHER
MORGAN STANLEY NOR ANY OTHER PARTY MAKES ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO
RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY LICENSEE, LICENSEE'S CUSTOMERS AND COUNTERPARTIES,
OWNERS OF THE FUND, OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR
ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIGHTS LICENSED HEREUNDER OR
FOR ANY OTHER USE. NEITHER MORGAN STANLEY NOR ANY OTHER PARTY MAKES ANY EXPRESS
OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND MORGAN STANLEY HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE WITH RESPECT
TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. WITHOUT LIMITING ANY OF THE
FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL MORGAN STANLEY OR ANY OTHER PARTY HAVE ANY
LIABILITY FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, CONSEQUENTIAL OR ANY
OTHER DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST PROFITS) EVEN IF NOTIFIED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
SUCH DAMAGES.

SPONSOR INFORMATION

   Van Kampen Funds Inc., a Delaware corporation, is the Sponsor of the Trust.
The Sponsor is an indirect subsidiary of Van Kampen Investments Inc. Van Kampen
Investments Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of MSAM Holdings II, Inc., which
in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.
("MSDW").

     MSDW, together with various of its directly and indirectly owned
subsidiaries, is engaged in a wide range of financial services through three
primary businesses: securities, asset management and credit services. These
principal businesses include securities underwriting, distribution and trading;
merger, acquisition, restructuring and other corporate finance advisory
activities; merchant banking; stock brokerage and research services; asset
management; trading of futures, options, foreign exchange commodities and swaps
(involving foreign exchange, commodities, indices and interest rates); real
estate advice, financing and investing; global custody, securities clearance
services and securities lending; and credit card services.

     Van Kampen Funds Inc. specializes in the underwriting and distribution of
unit investment trusts and mutual funds with roots in money management dating
back to 1926. The Sponsor is a member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. and has offices at One Parkview Plaza, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
60181, (630) 684-6000 and 2800 Post Oak Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77056, (713)
993-0500. As of November 30, 1997, the total stockholders' equity of Van Kampen
Funds Inc. was $132,381,000 (audited). (This paragraph relates only to the
Sponsor and not to the Trust or to any other Series thereof. The information is
included herein only for the purpose of informing investors as to the financial
responsibility of the Sponsor and its ability to carry out its contractual
obligations. More detailed financial information will be made available by the
Sponsor upon request.)

     As of September 30, 1997, the Sponsor and its Van Kampen affiliates managed
or supervised approximately $65.3 billion of investment products, of which over
$10.85 billion is invested in municipal securities. The Sponsor and its Van
Kampen affiliates managed $54 billion of assets, consisting of $34.3 billion for
55 open-end mutual funds (of which 45 are distributed by Van Kampen Funds Inc.)
$14.2 billion for 37 closed-end funds and $5.5 billion for 106 institutional
accounts. The Sponsor has also deposited approximately $26 billion of unit
investment trusts. All of Van Kampen's open-end funds, closed-ended funds and
unit investment trusts are professionally distributed by leading financial firms
nationwide. Based on cumulative assets deposited, the Sponsor believes that it
is the largest sponsor of insured municipal unit investment trusts, primarily
through the success of its Insured Municipals Income Trust(R) or the IM-IT(R)
trust. The Sponsor also provides surveillance and evaluation services at cost
for approximately $13 billion of unit investment trust assets outstanding. Since
1976, the Sponsor has serviced over two million investor accounts, opened
through retail distribution firms.

   If the Sponsor shall fail to perform any of its duties under the Trust
Agreement or become incapable of acting or shall become bankrupt or its affairs
are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (i) appoint a
successor Sponsor at rates of compensation deemed by the Trustee to be
reasonable and not exceeding amounts prescribed by the Securities and Exchange
Commission, (ii) terminate the Trust Agreement and liquidate the Trusts as
provided therein or (iii) continue to act as Trustee without terminating the
Trust Agreement.

TRUSTEE INFORMATION

     The Trustee is The Bank of New York, a trust company organized under the
laws of New York. The Bank of New York has its unit investment trust division
offices at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286 (800) 221-7668. The Bank
of New York is subject to supervision and examination by the Superintendent of
Banks of the State of New York and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation to the extent permitted by law.

     The duties of the Trustee are primarily ministerial in nature. It did not
participate in the selection of Securities for the Trust portfolios.

     In accordance with the Trust Agreement, the Trustee shall keep proper books
of record and account of all transactions at its office for each Trust. Such
records shall include the name and address of, and the number of Units of each
Trust held by, every Unitholder. Such books and records shall be open to
inspection by any Unitholder at all reasonable times during the usual business
hours. The Trustee shall make such annual or other reports as may from time to
time be required under any applicable state or federal statute, rule or
regulation. The Trustee is required to keep a certified copy or duplicate
original of the Trust Agreement on file in its office available for inspection
at all reasonable times during the usual business hours by any Unitholder,
together with a current list of the Securities held in each Trust.

     Under the Trust Agreement, the Trustee or any successor trustee may resign
and be discharged of its responsibilities created by the Trust Agreement by
executing an instrument in writing and filing the same with the Sponsor. The
Trustee or successor trustee must mail a copy of the notice of resignation to
all Unitholders then of record, not less than 60 days before the date specified
in such notice when such resignation is to take effect. The Sponsor upon
receiving notice of such resignation is obligated to appoint a successor trustee
promptly. If, upon such resignation, no successor trustee has been appointed and
has accepted the appointment within 30 days after notification, the retiring
Trustee may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor. The Sponsor may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee as
provided in the Trust Agreement at any time with or without cause. Notice of
such removal and appointment shall be mailed to each Unitholder by the Sponsor.
Upon execution of a written acceptance of such appointment by such successor
trustee, all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of the original trustee
shall vest in the successor. The resignation or removal of a Trustee becomes
effective only when the successor trustee accepts its appointment as such or
when a court of competent jurisdiction appoints a successor trustee.

     Any corporation into which a Trustee may be merged or with which it may be
consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or consolidation to
which a Trustee shall be a party, shall be the successor trustee. The Trustee
must be a banking corporation organized under the laws of the United States or
any state and having at all times an aggregate capital, surplus and undivided
profits of not less than $5,000,000.

TRUST TERMINATION

     A Trust may be liquidated at any time by consent of Unitholders
representing 66 2/3% of the Units of such Trust then outstanding or by the
Trustee when the value of the Securities owned by a Trust, as shown by any
evaluation, is less than $500,000 ($3,000,000 if the value of the Trust has
exceeded $15,000,000). A Trust will be liquidated by the Trustee in the event
that a sufficient number of Units of such Trust not yet sold are tendered for
redemption by the Sponsor, so that the net worth of such Trust would be reduced
to less than 40% of the value of the Securities at the time they were deposited
in such Trust. If a Trust is liquidated because of the redemption of unsold
Units by the Sponsor, the Sponsor will refund to each purchaser of Units the
entire sales charge paid by such purchaser. The Trust Agreement will terminate
upon the sale or other disposition of the last Security held thereunder, but in
no event will it continue beyond the Mandatory Termination Date.

     Commencing during the period beginning nine business days prior to, and no
later than, the Mandatory Termination Date, Securities will begin to be sold in
connection with the termination of the Trusts. The Sponsor will determine the
manner, timing and execution of the sales of the Securities. The Sponsor shall
direct the liquidation of the Securities in such manner as to effectuate orderly
sales and a minimal market impact. In the event the Sponsor does not so direct,
the Securities shall be sold within a reasonable period and in such manner as
the Trustee, in its sole discretion, shall determine. At least 30 days before
the Mandatory Termination Date the Trustee will provide written notice of any
termination to all Unitholders of the appropriate Trust and in the case of a
Trust will include with such notice a form to enable Unitholders owning 1,000 or
more Units to request an in kind distribution of the U.S.-traded Securities. To
be effective, this request must be returned to the Trustee at least five
business days prior to the Mandatory Termination Date. On the Mandatory
Termination Date (or on the next business day thereafter if a holiday) the
Trustee will deliver each requesting Unitholder's pro rata number of whole
shares of the U.S.-traded Securities in a Trust to the account of the
broker-dealer or bank designated by the Unitholder at Depository Trust Company.
The value of the Unitholder's fractional shares of the Securities will be paid
in cash. Unitholders with less than 1,000 Units, Unitholders in a Trust with
1,000 or more Units not requesting an in kind distribution will receive a cash
distribution from the sale of the remaining Securities within a reasonable time
following the Mandatory Termination Date. Regardless of the distribution
involved, the Trustee will deduct from the funds of the appropriate Trust any
accrued costs, expenses, advances or indemnities provided by the Trust
Agreement, including estimated compensation of the Trustee, costs of liquidation
and any amounts required as a reserve to provide for payment of any applicable
taxes or other governmental charges. Any sale of Securities in a Trust upon
termination may result in a lower amount than might otherwise be realized if
such sale were not required at such time. The Trustee will then distribute to
each Unitholder of each Trust his pro rata share of the balance of the Income
and Capital Accounts of such Trust.

     Within 60 days of the final distribution Unitholders will be furnished a
final distribution statement of the amount distributable. At such time as the
Trustee in its sole discretion will determine that any amounts held in reserve
are no longer necessary, it will make distribution thereof to Unitholders in the
same manner.

                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENTS

         This Amendment of Registration Statement comprises the following papers
and documents:

         The facing sheet
         The Prospectus
         The signatures
         The consents of independent public accountants and legal counsel

The following exhibits:

1.1 Copy of Trust Agreement.

3.1 Opinion and consent of counsel as to legality of securities being 
    registered.

3.2 Opinion of counsel as to the Federal Income tax status of securities being
    registered.

3.3 Opinion and consent of counsel as to New York tax status of securities being
    registered.

4.1 Consent of Interactive Data Corporation.

4.2 Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants.

                                   SIGNATURES

         The Registrant, Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126, hereby
identifies Van Kampen Merritt Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 1, Series 2,
Series 4 and Series 7 and Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust,
Series 13, Series 14, Series 57 and Series 89 for purposes of the
representations required by Rule 487 and represents the following: (1) that the
portfolio securities deposited in the series as to the securities of which this
Registration Statement is being filed do not differ materially in type or
quality from those deposited in such previous series; (2) that, except to the
extent necessary to identify the specific portfolio securities deposited in, and
to provide essential financial information for, the series with respect to the
securities of which this Registration Statement is being filed, this
Registration Statement does not contain disclosures that differ in any material
respect from those contained in the registration statements for such previous
series as to which the effective date was determined by the Commission or the
staff; and (3) that it has complied with Rule 460 under the Securities Act of
1933.

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126 has duly caused this
Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Chicago and State of
Illinois on the 15th day of December, 1998.

                                   Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126
                                   By Van Kampen Funds Inc.

                                   By Gina M. Costello
                                      Assistant Secretary

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below on December 15,
1998 by the following persons who constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors of Van Kampen Funds Inc.

SIGNATURE                TITLE

Don G. Powell            Chairman and Chief Executive  )
                         Officer                       )

John H. Zimmerman        President and Chief Operating )
                         Officer                       )

Ronald A. Nyberg         Executive Vice President and  )
                         General Counsel               )

William R. Rybak         Executive Vice President and  )
                         Chief Financial Officer       )

Gina M. Costello         (Attorney-in-fact*)

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         *An executed copy of each of the related powers of attorney is filed
herewith or was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection
with the Registration Statement on Form S-6 of Van Kampen American Capital
Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 64 (File No. 333-33087) and Van Kampen American
Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series 87 (File No. 333-44581) and the same
are hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                           VAN KAMPEN FOCUS PORTFOLIOS
                                   SERIES 126
                                 TRUST AGREEMENT

                                                        Dated: December 15, 1998

         This Trust Agreement among Van Kampen Funds Inc., as Depositor,
American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of Van Kampen Investment
Advisory Corp., as Evaluator, Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp., as
Supervisory Servicer, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, sets forth certain
provisions in full and incorporates other provisions by reference to the
document entitled "Van Kampen American Capital Equity Opportunity Trust, Series
87 and Subsequent Series, Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust, Effective
January 27, 1998" (herein called the "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust")
and such provisions as are set forth in full and such provisions as are
incorporated by reference constitute a single instrument. All references herein
to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust.

                                WITNESSETH THAT:

         In consideration of the premises and of the mutual agreements herein
contained, the Depositor, Evaluator, Supervisory Servicer and Trustee agree as
follows:

                                     PART I
                     STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST

         Subject to the provisions of Part II hereof, all the provisions
contained in the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust are herein incorporated
by reference in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this
instrument as fully and to the same extent as though said provisions had been
set forth in full in this instrument.

                                     PART II
                      SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST

         The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed to:

                    1. The Securities defined in Section 1.01(24), listed in the
         Schedule hereto, have been deposited in trust under this Trust
         Agreement.

                    2. The fractional undivided interest in and ownership of
         each Trust represented by each Unit is an amount the numerator of which
         is one and the denominator of which is the amount set forth under
         "Summary of Essential Financial Information - Initial Number of Units"
         in the Prospectus. Such fractional undivided interest may be (a)
         increased by the number of any additional Units issued pursuant to
         Section 2.03, (b) increased or decreased in connection with an
         adjustment to the number of Units pursuant to Section 2.03, or (c)
         decreased by the number of Units redeemed pursuant to Section 5.02.

          3. The terms "Capital Account Record Date" and "Income Account Record
Date" shall mean the "Record Dates" set forth under "Summary of Essential
Financial Information" in the Prospectus.

          4. The terms "Capital Account Distribution Date" and "Income Account
Distribution Date" shall mean the "Distribution Dates" set forth under "Summary
of Essential Financial Information" in the Prospectus.

          5. The term "Mandatory Termination Date" shall mean the "Mandatory
Termination Date" set forth under "Summary of Essential Financial Information"
in the Prospectus.

          6. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust and subject to the requirements set forth in this paragraph,
unless the Prospectus otherwise requires, the Sponsor may, on any Business Day
(the "Trade Date"), subscribe for additional Units as follows:

                (a) Prior to the Evaluation Time on such Business Day, the
Sponsor shall provide notice (the "Subscription Notice") to the Trustee, by
telephone or by written communication, of the Sponsor's intention to subscribe
for additional Units. The Subscription Notice shall identify the additional
Securities to be acquired (unless such additional Securities are a precise
replication of the then existing portfolio) and shall either (i) specify the
quantity of additional Securities to be deposited by the Sponsor on the
settlement date for such subscription or (ii) instruct the Trustee to purchase
additional Securities with an aggregate value as specified in the Subscription
Notice.

                (b) Promptly following the Evaluation Time on such Business Day,
the Sponsor shall verify with the Trustee the number of additional Units to be
created.

                (c) Not later than the time on the settlement date for such
subscription when the Trustee is to deliver or assign the additional Units
created hereby, the Sponsor shall deposit with the Trustee (i) any additional
Securities specified in the Subscription Notice (or contracts to purchase such
additional Securities together with cash or a letter of credit in the amount
necessary to settle such contracts) or (ii) cash or a letter of credit in an
amount equal to the aggregate value of the additional Securities specified in
the Subscription Notice, and adding and subtracting the amounts specified in the
first and second sentences of Section 5.01, computed as of the Evaluation Time
on the Business Day preceding the Trade Date divided by the number of Units
outstanding as of the Evaluation Time on the Business Day preceding the Trade
Date, times the number of additional Units to be created.

                (d) On the settlement date for such subscription, the Trustee
shall, in exchange for the Securities and cash or letter of credit described
above, deliver to, or assign in the name of or on the order of, the Sponsor the
number of Units verified by the Sponsor with the Trustee.

          7. Section 6.01(e) is hereby replaced with the following:

                   (e) (1) Subject to the provisions of subparagraph (2) of this
         paragraph, the Trustee may employ agents, sub-custodians, attorneys,
         accountants and auditors and shall not be answerable for the default or
         misconduct of any such agents, sub-custodians, attorneys, accountants
         or auditors if such agents, sub-custodians, attorneys, accountants or
         auditors shall have been selected with reasonable care. The Trustee
         shall be fully protected in respect of any action under this Indenture
         taken or suffered in good faith by the Trustee in accordance with the
         opinion of counsel, which may be counsel to the Depositor acceptable to
         the Trustee, provided, however that this disclaimer of liability shall
         not excuse the Trustee from the responsibilities specified in
         subparagraph (2) below. The fees and expenses charged by such agents,
         sub-custodians, attorneys, accountants or auditors shall constitute an
         expense of the Trust reimbursable from the Income and Capital Accounts
         of the affected Trust as set forth in section 6.04 hereof.

                   (2) The Trustee may place and maintain in the care of an
         Eligible Foreign Custodian (which is employed by the Trustee as a
         sub-custodian as contemplated by subparagraph (1) of this paragraph (e)
         and which may be an affiliate or subsidiary of the Trustee or any other
         entity in which the Trustee may have an ownership interest) any
         investments (including foreign currencies) for which the primary market
         is outside the United States, and such cash and cash equivalents in
         amounts reasonably necessary to effect the Trust's transactions in such
         investments, provided that:

                            (a) The Trustee shall perform all duties assigned to
                  the Foreign Custody Manager by Rule 17f-5 under the Investment
                  Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR ss. 270.17f-5) ("Rule 17f-5"), as
                  now in effect or as such rule may be amended in the future.
                  The Trustee shall not delegate such duties.

                            (b) The Trustee shall exercise reasonable care,
                  prudence and diligence such as a person having responsibility
                  for the safekeeping of Trust assets would exercise, and shall
                  be liable to the Trust for any loss occurring as a result of
                  its failure to do so.

                            (c) The Trustee shall indemnify the Trust and hold
                  the Trust harmless from and against any risk of loss of Trust
                  assets held in accordance with the foreign custody contract.

                            (d) The Trustee shall maintain and keep current
                  written records regarding the basis for the choice or
                  continued use of a particular Eligible Foreign Custodian
                  pursuant to this subparagraph for a period of not less than
                  six years from the end of the fiscal year in which the Trust
                  was terminated, the first two years in an easily accessible
                  place. Such records shall be available for inspection by
                  Unitholders and the Securities and Exchange Commission at the
                  Trustee's offices at all reasonable times during its usual
                  business hours.

                  (3) "Eligible Foreign Custodian" shall have the meaning
assigned to it in Rule 17f-5.

                  (4) "Foreign Custody Manager" shall have the meaning assigned
to it in Rule 17f-5.

          8. Section 1.01 (1), (3) and (4) shall be replaced in their entirety 
by the following:

                (1) "Depositor" shall mean Van Kampen Funds Inc. and its
succesors in interest, or any successor depositor appointed as hereinafter
provided.

                (3) "Evaluator" shall mean American Portfolio Evaluation
Services (a division of a Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp.) and its
successors in interest, or any successor evaluator appointed as hereinafter
provided.

                (4) "Supervisory Servicer" shall mean Van Kampen Investment
Advisory Corp. and its successors in interest, or any successor portfolio
supervisor appointed as hereinafter provided.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused this Trust Agreement to
be executed and their corporate seals to be hereto affixed and attested; all as
of the day, month and year first above written.

                                   Van Kampen Funds Inc.

                                   By James J. Boyne
                                      Vice President

Attest:

By  Nicholas Dalmaso
    Assistant Secretary

                                   American Portfolio Evaluation Services,
                                   a division of Van Kampen Investment
                                   Advisory Corp.

                                   By James J. Boyne
                                      Vice President

Attest

By  Nicholas Dalmaso
    Assistant Secretary

                                   Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp.

                                   By James J. Boyne
                                      Vice President

Attest

By  Nicholas Dalmaso
    Assistant Secretary

                                   The Bank of New York

                                   By Jeffrey Cohen
                                      Vice President

Attest

By  Robert Weir
    Assistant Treasurer

                          SCHEDULE A TO TRUST AGREEMENT
                         SECURITIES INITIALLY DEPOSITED

                                       IN

                     VAN KAMPEN FOCUS PORTFOLIOS, SERIES 126

(Note: Incorporated herein and made a part hereof is each "Portfolio" as set 
       forth in the Prospectus.)

                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.1

                               CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                             111 WEST MONROE STREET
                             CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603

                                December 15, 1998

Van Kampen Funds Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois  60181

                   Re: Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126
                     ---------------------------------------

Gentlemen:

         We have served as counsel for Van Kampen Funds Inc. as Sponsor and
Depositor of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126 (hereinafter referred to as
the "Trust"), in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery of a
Trust Agreement dated December 15, 1998, among Van Kampen Funds Inc., as
Depositor, American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of Van Kampen
Investment Advisory Corp., as Evaluator, Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp.,
as Supervisory Servicer, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, pursuant to which
the Depositor has delivered to and deposited the Securities listed in the
Schedule to the Trust Agreement with the Trustee and pursuant to which the
Trustee has provided to or on the order of the Depositor documentation
evidencing ownership of Units of fractional undivided interest in and ownership
of the Trust (hereinafter referred to as the "Units"), created under said Trust
Agreement.

         In connection therewith we have examined such pertinent records and
documents and matters of law as we have deemed necessary in order to enable us
to express the opinions hereinafter set forth.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

                    1. The  execution  and delivery of the Trust  Agreement and 
         the execution and issuance of certificates evidencing the Units in the
         Trust have been duly authorized; and

                    2. The certificates evidencing the Units in the Trust, when
         duly executed and delivered by the Depositor and the Trustee in
         accordance with the aforementioned Trust Agreement, will constitute
         valid and binding obligations of such Trust and the Depositor in
         accordance with the terms thereof.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement (File No. 333-67241) relating to the Units referred to
above and to the use of our name and to the reference to our firm in said
Registration Statement and in the related Prospectus.

                                        Respectfully submitted,

                                        CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.2

                               CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                             111 WEST MONROE STREET
                             CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603

                                December 15, 1998

Van Kampen Funds Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois  60181

The Bank of New York
101 Barclay Street
New York, New York  10286

                   Re: Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126
                     ---------------------------------------

Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel for Van Kampen Funds Inc., Depositor of Van
Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126 (the "Fund"), in connection with the
issuance of Units of fractional undivided interest in the Fund, under a Trust
Agreement dated December 15, 1998 (the "Indenture") among Van Kampen Funds Inc.,
as Depositor, American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of Van Kampen
Investment Advisory Corp., as Evaluator, Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp.,
as Supervisory Servicer, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee. The Fund is
comprised of the following separate unit investment trusts, Financial Services
Trust, Series 3 and Morgan Stanley EuroTec Index Trust, Series 2 (each a
"Trust").

         In this connection, we have examined the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, the Indenture, and such other instruments and documents as we have
deemed pertinent.

         The assets of the Trust will consist of a portfolio of equity
securities (the "Equity Securities") as set forth in the Prospectus. For
purposes of this opinion, it is assumed that each Equity Security is equity for
federal income tax purposes.

         Based upon the foregoing and upon an investigation of such matters of
law as we consider to be applicable, we are of the opinion that, under existing
United States Federal income tax law:

                   (i) The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation
         for Federal income tax purposes but will be governed by the provisions
         of subchapter J (relating to Trusts) of chapter 1, Internal Revenue
         Code of 1986 (the "Code").

                  (ii) A Unitholder will be considered as owning a pro rata
         share of each asset of the Trust in the proportion that the number of
         Units held by him bears to the total number of Units outstanding. Under
         subpart E, subchapter J of chapter 1 of the Code, income of the Trust
         will be treated as income of each Unitholder in the proportion
         described, and an item of Trust income will have the same character in
         the hands of a Unitholder as it would have in the hands of the Trustee.
         Each Unitholder will be considered to have received his pro rata share
         of income derived from each Trust asset when such income is considered
         to be received by the Trust. A Unitholder's pro rata portion of
         distributions of cash or property by a corporation with respect to an
         Equity Security ("dividends" as defined by Section 316 of the Code )
         are taxable as ordinary income to the extent of such corporation's
         current and accumulated "earnings and profits." A Unitholder's pro rata
         portion of dividends which exceed such current and accumulated earnings
         and profits will first reduce the Unitholder's tax basis in such Equity
         Security, and to the extent that such dividends exceed a Unitholder's
         tax basis in such Equity Security, shall be treated as gain from the
         sale or exchange of property.

                 (iii) The price a Unitholder pays for his Units, generally
         including sales charges, is allocated among his pro rata portion of
         each Equity Security held by Trust (in proportion to the fair market
         values thereof on the valuation date closest to the date the Unitholder
         purchases his Units), in order to determine his tax basis for his pro
         rata portion of each Equity Security held by the Trust.

                  (iv) Gain or loss will be recognized to a Unitholder (subject
         to various nonrecognition provisions under the Code) upon redemption or
         sale of his Units, except to the extent an in kind distribution of
         stock is received by such Unitholder from the Trust as discussed below.
         Such gain or loss is measured by comparing the proceeds of such
         redemption or sale with the adjusted basis of his Units. Before
         adjustment, such basis would normally be cost if the Unitholder had
         acquired his Units by purchase. Such basis will be reduced, but not
         below zero, by the Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends with
         respect to each Equity Security which are not taxable as ordinary
         income.

                   (v) If the Trustee disposes of a Trust asset (whether by
         sale, exchange, liquidation, redemption, payment on maturity or
         otherwise) gain or loss will be recognized to the Unitholder (subject
         to various nonrecognition provisions under the Code) and the amount
         thereof will be measured by comparing the Unitholder's aliquot share of
         the total proceeds from the transaction with his basis for his
         fractional interest in the asset disposed of. Such basis is ascertained
         by apportioning the tax basis for his Units (as of the date on which
         his Units were acquired) among each of the Trust assets (as of the date
         on which his Units were acquired) ratably according to their values as
         of the valuation date nearest the date on which he purchased such
         Units. A Unitholder's basis in his Units and of his fractional interest
         in each Trust asset must be reduced, but not below zero, by the
         Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends with respect to the Equity
         Security which is not taxable as ordinary income.

                  (vi) Under the Indenture, under certain circumstances, a
         Unitholder tendering Units for redemption may request an in kind
         distribution of Equity Securities upon the redemption of Units or upon
         the termination of the Trust. As previously discussed, prior to the
         redemption of Units or the termination of the Trust, a Unitholder is
         considered as owning a pro rata portion of each of the Trust's assets.
         The receipt of an in kind distribution will result in a Unitholder
         receiving an undivided interest in whole shares of stock and possibly
         cash. The potential federal income tax consequences which may occur
         under an in kind distribution with respect to each Equity Security
         owned by the Trust will depend upon whether or not a Unitholder
         receives cash in addition to Equity Securities. An "Equity Security"
         for this purpose is a particular class of stock issued by a particular
         corporation. A Unitholder will not recognize gain or loss if a
         Unitholder only receives Equity Securities in exchange for his or her
         pro rata portion in the Equity Securities held by the Trust. However,
         if a Unitholder also receives cash in exchange for a fractional share
         of an Equity Security held by the Trust, such Unitholder will generally
         recognize gain or loss based upon the difference between the amount of
         cash received by the Unitholder and his tax basis in such fractional
         share of an Equity Security held by the Trust. The total amount of
         taxable gains (or losses) recognized upon such redemption will
         generally equal the sum of the gain (or loss) recognized under the
         rules described above by the redeeming Unitholder with respect to each
         Equity Security owned by the Trust.

         A domestic corporation owning Units in the Trust may be eligible for
the 70% dividends received deduction pursuant to Section 243(a) of the Code with
respect to such Unitholder's pro rata portion of dividends received by the Trust
(to the extent such dividends are taxable as ordinary income and are
attributable to domestic corporations), subject to the limitations imposed by
Sections 246 and 246A of the Code.

         To the extent dividends received by the Trust are attributable to
foreign corporations, a corporation that owns Units will not be entitled to the
dividends received deduction with respect to its pro rata portion of such
dividends since the dividends received deduction is generally available only
with respect to dividends paid by domestic corporations.

         Section 67 of the Code provides that certain itemized deductions, such
as investment expenses, tax return preparation fees and employee business
expenses will be deductible by individuals only to the extent they exceed 2% of
such individual's adjusted gross income. Unitholders may be required to treat
some or all of the expenses of the Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions
subject to this limitation.

         A Unitholder will recognize taxable gain (or loss) when all or part of
his pro rata interest in an Equity Security is either sold by the Trust or
redeemed or when a Unitholder disposes of his Units in a taxable transaction, in
each case for an amount greater (or less) than his tax basis therefor, subject
to various non-recognition provisions of the Code.

         It should be noted that payments to the Trust of dividends on Equity
Securities that are attributable to foreign corporations may be subject to
foreign withholding taxes and Unitholders should consult their tax advisers
regarding the potential tax consequences relating to the payment of any such
withholding taxes by the Trust. Any dividends withheld as a result thereof will
nevertheless be treated as income to the Unitholders. Because under the grantor
trust rules, an investor is deemed to have paid directly his share of foreign
taxes that have been paid or accrued, if any, an investor may be entitled to a
foreign tax credit or deduction for United States tax purposes with respect to
such taxes. A required holding period is imposed for such credits.

         Any gain or loss recognized on a sale or exchange will, under current
law, generally be capital gain or loss.

         The scope of this opinion is expressly limited to the matters set forth
herein, and, except as expressly set forth above, we express no opinion with
respect to any other taxes, including foreign, state or local taxes or
collateral tax consequences with respect to the purchase, ownership and
disposition of Units.

                                        Very truly yours

                                        CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.3

                                WINSTON & STRAWN
                                 200 Park Avenue
                          New York, New York 10166-4193

                                December 15, 1998

Van Kampen Focus Portfolios, Series 126
c/o The Bank of New York, As Trustee
101 Barclay Street, 17 West
New York, New York  10286

Dear Sirs:

         We have acted as special counsel for the Van Kampen Focus Portfolios,
Series 126 (the "Fund") consisting of Financial Services Trust, Series 3 and
Morgan Stanley EuroTec Index Trust, Series 2 (individually a "Trust" and, in the
aggregate, the "Trusts") for purposes of determining the applicability of
certain New York taxes under the circumstances hereinafter described.

         The Fund is created pursuant to a Trust Agreement (the "Indenture"),
dated as of today (the "Date of Deposit") among Van Kampen Funds Inc. (the
"Depositor"), American Portfolio Evaluation Services, a division of an affiliate
of the Depositor, as Evaluator, Van Kampen Investment Advisory Corp., an
affiliate of the Depositor, as Supervisory Servicer (the "Supervisory
Servicer"), and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"). As described
in the prospectus relating to the Fund dated today to be filed as an amendment
to a registration statement heretofore filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Prospectus") (File
Number 333-67241), the objectives of the Fund are to provide the potential for
dividend income and capital appreciation through investment in a fixed portfolio
of actively traded equity securities of companies engaged in, providing services
to companies in, the industry identified in Trust's name, or are the type of
securities identified in the name of the Trusts. It is noted that no opinion is
expressed herein with regard to the Federal tax aspects of the securities, the
Trusts, units of the Trusts (the "Units"), or any income, gains or losses in
respect thereof.

         As more fully set forth in the Indenture and in the Prospectus, the
activities of the Trustee will include the following:

         On the Date of Deposit, the Depositor will deposit with the Trustee
with respect to the Trust the securities and/or contracts and cash for the
purchase thereof together with an irrevocable letter of credit in the amount
required for the purchase price of the securities comprising the corpus of the
Trust as more fully set forth in the Prospectus.

         The Trustee did not participate in the selection of the securities to
be deposited in the Trust, and, upon the receipt thereof, will deliver to the
Depositor a registered certificate for the number of Units representing the
entire capital of the Trusts as more fully set forth in the Prospectus. The
Units, which are represented by certificates ("Certificates"), will be offered
to the public upon the effectiveness of the registration statement.

         The duties of the Trustee, which are ministerial in nature, will
consist primarily of crediting the appropriate accounts with cash dividends
received by the Fund and with the proceeds from the disposition of securities
held in the Fund and the proceeds of the treasury obligation on maturity and the
distribution of such cash dividends and proceeds to the Unit holders. The
Trustee will also maintain records of the registered holders of Certificates
representing an interest in the Fund and administer the redemption of Units by
such Certificate holders and may perform certain administrative functions with
respect to an automatic reinvestment option.

         Generally, equity securities held in the Trust may be removed therefrom
by the Trustee at the direction of the Depositor upon the occurrence of certain
specified events which adversely affect the sound investment character of the
Fund, such as default by the issuer in payment of declared dividends or of
interest or principal on one or more of its debt obligations.

         Prior to the termination of the Fund, the Trustee is empowered to sell
equity securities designated by the Supervisory Servicer only for the purpose of
redeeming Units tendered to it and of paying expenses for which funds are not
available. The Trustee does not have the power to vary the investment of any
Unit holder in the Fund, and under no circumstances may the proceeds of sale of
any equity securities held by the Fund be used to purchase new equity securities
to be held therein.

         Article 9-A of the New York Tax Law imposes a franchise tax on business
corporations, and, for purposes of that Article, Section 208(l) defines the term
"corporation" to include, among other things, "any business conducted by a
trustee or trustees wherein interest or ownership is evidenced by certificate or
other written instrument."

         The Regulations promulgated under Section 208 provide as follows:

                  A business conducted by a trustee or trustees in which
                  interest or ownership is evidenced by certificate or other
                  written instrument includes, but is not limited to, an
                  association commonly referred to as a "business trust" or
                  "Massachusetts trust". In determining whether a trustee or
                  trustees are conducting a business, the form of the agreement
                  is of significance but is not controlling. The actual
                  activities of the trustee or trustees, not their purposes and
                  powers, will be regarded as decisive factors in determining
                  whether a trust is subject to tax under Article 9-A. The mere
                  investment of funds and the collection of income therefrom,
                  with incidental replacement of securities and reinvestment of
                  funds, does not constitute the conduct of a business in the
                  case of a business conducted by a trustee or trustees. 20
                  NYCRR 1-2.5(b)(2) (July 11, 1990).

         New York cases dealing with the question of whether a trust will be
subject to the franchise tax have also delineated the general rule that where a
trustee merely invests funds and collects and distributes the income therefrom,
the trust is not engaged in business and is not subject to the franchise tax.
Burrell v. Lynch, 274 A.D. 347, 84 N.Y.S.2d 171 (3rd Dept. 1948), order
resettled, 274 A.D. 1083, 85 N.Y.S.2d 705 (3rd Dept. 1949).

         In an Opinion of the Attorney General of the State of New York, 47 N.Y.
Att'y. Gen. Rep. 213 (Nov. 24, 1942), it was held that where the trustee of an
unincorporated investment trust was without authority to reinvest amounts
received upon the sales of securities and could dispose of securities making up
the trust only upon the happening of certain specified events or the existence
of certain specified conditions, the trust was not subject to the franchise tax.

         In the instant situation, the Trustee is not empowered to, and we
assume will not, sell equity securities contained in the corpus of the Fund and
reinvest the proceeds therefrom. Further, the power to sell such equity
securities is limited to circumstances in which the credit-worthiness or
soundness of the issuer of such equity security is in question or in which cash
is needed to pay redeeming Unit holders or to pay expenses, or where the Fund is
liquidated subsequent to the termination of the Indenture. In substance, the
Trustee will merely collect and distribute income and will not reinvest any
income or proceeds, and the Trustee has no power to vary the investment of any
Unit holder in the Fund.

         Under Subpart E of Part I, Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the grantor of a trust will be
deemed to be the owner of the trust under certain circumstances, and therefore
taxable on his proportionate interest in the income thereof. Where this Federal
tax rule applies, the income attributed to the grantor will also be income to
him for New York income tax purposes. See TSB-M-78(9)(c), New York Department of
Taxation and Finance, June 23, 1978.

         By letter dated today, Messrs. Chapman and Cutler, counsel for the
Depositor, rendered their opinion that each Unit holder will be considered as
owning a share of each asset of the Trust in the proportion that the number of
Units held by such holder bears to the total number of Units outstanding and the
income of a Trust will be treated as the income of each Unit holder in said
proportion pursuant to Subpart E of Part I, Subchapter J of Chapter 1 of the
Code.

         Based on the foregoing and on the opinion of Messrs. Chapman and
Cutler, counsel for the Depositor, dated today, upon which we specifically rely,
we are of the opinion that under existing laws, rulings, and court decisions
interpreting the laws of the State and City of New York:

                    1. Each of the Trusts will not constitute an association
         taxable as a corporation under New York law, and, accordingly, will not
         be subject to tax on its income under the New York State franchise tax
         or the New York City general corporation tax.

                    2. The income of the Trusts  will be  treated  as the income
         of the Unit  holders  under the income tax laws of the State and City
         of New York.

                    3. Unit holders who are not residents of the State of New
         York are not subject to the income tax laws thereof with respect to any
         interest or gain derived from the Fund or any gain from the sale or
         other disposition of the Units, except to the extent that such interest
         or gain is from property employed in a business, trade, profession or
         occupation carried on in the State of New York.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement relating to the Units and to the use of our name and the
reference to our firm in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        WINSTON & STRAWN

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1

                                Interactive Data
                           14 Wall Street, 11th Floor
                               New York, NY 10005

                               December 15, 1998

Van Kampen Funds Inc.
One Parkview Plaza
Oakbrook Terrace, IL 60181

      Re: Van Kampen Focus Portfolios
          Financial Services Trust, Series 3,
          Morgan Stanley EuroTec Index Trust, Series 2
          (A Unit Investment Trust) Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933,
          File No. 333-67241

  Gentlemen:

         We have examined the Registration Statement for the above captioned
Fund, a copy of which is attached hereto.

         We hereby consent to the reference in the Prospectus and Registration
Statement for the above captioned Fund to Interactive Data Corporation, as the
Evaluator, and to the use of the Obligations prepared by us which are referred
to in such Prospectus and Statement.

         You are authorized to file copies of this letter with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        James Perry
                                        Vice President

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS' CONSENT

         We have issued our report dated December 15, 1998 on the statements of
condition and related securities portfolios of Van Kampen Focus Portfolios,
Series 126 as of December 15, 1998 contained in the Registration Statement on
Form S-6 and Prospectus. We consent to the use of our report in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus and to the use of our name as it appears under the
caption "Other Matters-Independent Certified Public Accountants."

                                        Grant Thornton LLP

Chicago, Illinois
December 15, 1998


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission