<PAGE>
FORM N-SAR
ANNUAL REPORT
FOR REGISTERED INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Report for six month period ending: ____/____/____ (a)
or fiscal year ending: 12 / 31 / 98 (b)
---------------------
Is this a transition report? (Y/N) N
--------------
Is this an amendment to a previous filing? (Y/N) N
----------
Those items or sub-items with a box " " after the item number should be
completed only if the answer has changed from the previous filing on this form.
1. A. Registrant Name: PFL Life Variable Annuity Account A
B. File Number: 811- 08197
C. Telephone Number: 319-297-8121
2. A. Street: 4333 Edgewood Road N.E.
B. City: Cedar Rapids C. State: IA D. Zip Code: 52499
Zip Ext: 0001
E. Foreign Country: Foreign Postal Code:
3. Is this the first filing on this form by Registrant? (Y/N) N
-----------------
4. Is this the last filing on this form by Registrant? (Y/N) N
------------------
5. Is Registrant a small business investment company (SBIC)? (Y/N) N
-------------
[If answer is "Y" (Yes), complete only items 89 through 110.]
6. Is Registrant a unit investment trust (UIT)? (Y/N) Y
--------------------------
[If answer if "Y" (Yes), complete only items 111 through 132.]
7. A. Is Registrant a series or multiple portfolio company? (Y/N)____________
[If answer is "N" (No), go to item 8.]
B. How many separate series or portfolios did Registrant have at the end
of the period?_________________________________________________________
01
<PAGE>
If filing more than one
Page 48, "X" box:[_]
For period ending 12/31/98
------------
File number 811- 08197
--------
113. A. [_] Trustee Name:____________________________________________________
B. [_] City:____________ State:______ Zip Code:__________ Zip Ext.:_____
[_] Foreign Country:________________ Foreign Postal Code:____________
113. A. [_] Trustee Name:____________________________________________________
B. [_] City:____________ State:______ Zip Code:__________ Zip Ext.:_____
[_] Foreign Country:________________ Foreign Postal Code:____________
114. A. [_] Principal Underwriter Name: AFSG Securities Corporation
--------------------------------------
B. [_] File Number 8- 36562
-------
C. [_] City:Cedar Rapids State: IA Zip Code: 52499 Zip Ext.:0001
------------- ------ ---------- -----
[_] Foreign Country:________________ Foreign Postal Code:____________
114. A. [_] Principal Underwriter Name:______________________________________
B. [_] File Number 8- _______
C. [_] City:____________ State:______ Zip Code:__________ Zip Ext.:_____
[_] Foreign Country:________________ Foreign Postal Code:____________
115. A. [_] Independent Public Accountant Name: Ernst & Young, LLP
------------------------------
B. [_] City: Des Moines State: IA Zip Code: 50309 Zip Ext.:_____
------------ ------ ----------
[_] Foreign Country:________________ Foreign Postal Code:____________
115. A. [_] Independent Public Accountant Name:______________________________
B. [_] City:____________ State:______ Zip Code:__________ Zip Ext.:_____
[_] Foreign Country:________________ Foreign Postal Code:____________
48
<PAGE>
If filing more than one
Page 49, "X" box:
For period ending 12/31/98
-----------------
File number 811- 08197
-------------------
116. Family of investment companies information:
A. [_] Is Registrant part of a family of investment companies? (Y/N) N
----
Y/N
B. Identify the family in 10 letters: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
(NOTE: In filing this form, use this identification consistently for
all investment companies in family. This designation is for purposes
of this form only.)
117. A. [_] Is Registrant a separate account of an insurance company? (Y/N) Y
---
Y/N
If answer is "Y" (Yes), are any of the following types of contracts funded
by the Registrant?
B. [_] Variable annuity contracts? (Y/N) Y
---------------------------- ---
Y/N
C. [_] Scheduled premium variable life contracts? (Y/N) N
------------- ---
Y/N
D. [_] Flexible premium variable life contracts? (Y/N) N
-------------- ---
Y/N
E. [_] Other types of insurance products registered under the Securities
Act of 1933? (Y/N) N
------------------------------------------- ---
Y/N
118. [_] State the number of series existing at the end of the period that had
securities registered under the Securities Act of 1933 _______________
119. [_] State the number of new series for which registration statements under
the Securities Act of 1933 became effective during the period 0
---- ---
120. [_] State the total value of the portfolio securities on the date of
deposit for the new series included in item 119 ($000's omitted) $0
-- ---
121. [_] State the number of series for which a current prospectus was in
existence at the end of the period. ______________________________ ___
122. [_] State the number of existing series for which additional units were
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 during the current period
__________________________________________________________________ ___
49
<PAGE>
If filing more than one
Page 50, "X" box: [_]
For period ending 12/31/98
-----------
File number 811- 08197
-------------
123. [_] State the total value of the additional units considered in answering
item 122 ($000's) omitted. $
---------------------------------------- ---
124. [_] State the total value of units of prior series that were placed in the
portfolios of subsequent series during the current period (the value
of these units is to be measured on the date they were placed in the
subsequent series) ($000's omitted) $
------------------------------- ---
125. [_] State the total dollar amount of sales loads collected (before
reallowances to other brokers or dealers) by Registrant's principal
underwriter and any underwriter which is an affiliated person of the
principal underwriter during the current period solely from the sale
of units of all series of Registrant ($000's omitted) $
------------- ---
126. [_] Of the amount shown in item 125, state the total dollar amount of
sales loads collected from secondary market operations in Registrant's
units (include the sales loads, if any, collected on units of a prior
series placed in the portfolio of a subsequent series.) ($000's
omitted) $
---------------------------------------------------------- ---
127. [_] List opposite the appropriate description below the number of series
whose portfolios are invested primarily (based upon a percentage of
NAV) in each type of security shown, the aggregate total assets at
market value as of the date at or near the end of the current period
of each such group of series and the total income distributions made
by each such group of series during the current period (excluding
distributions of realized gains, if any): $
------------------------- ---
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number Total Assets Total Income
of Series ($000's Distributions
------------
Investing omitted) ($000's omitted)
--------- ------------ ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
A. U.S. Treasury direct issue ________ $____________ $____________
B. U.S. Government agency ________ $____________ $____________
C. State and municipal tax-free ________ $____________ $____________
D. Public utility debt ________ $____________ $____________
E. Brokers or dealers debt or
debt of brokers' or dealers' parent ________ $____________ $____________
F. All other corporate intermed. & long-term debt ________ $____________ $____________
G. All other corporate short-term debt ________ $____________ $____________
H. Equity securities of brokers or dealers
or parents of brokers or dealers ________ $____________ $____________
I. Investment company equity securities ________ $____________ $____________
J. All other equity securities 1 $60,874 $508
-------- $------------ $------------
K. Other securities ________ $____________ $____________
L. Total assets of all series of registrant ________ $____________ $____________
</TABLE>
50
<PAGE>
If filing more than one
Page 51, "X" box: [_]
For period ending 12/31/98
--------
File number 811- 08197
--------
128. [_] Is the timely payment of principal and interest on any of the
portfolio securities held by any of Registrant's series at the end of
the current period insured or guaranteed by an entity other than the
issue? (Y/N)_____________________________________________________ ____
Y/N
[If answer is "N" (No), go to item 131.]
129. [_] Is the issuer of any instrument covered in item 128 delinquent or in
default as to payment of principal or interest at the end of the
current period? (Y/N)____________________________________________ ____
Y/N
[If answer is "N" (No), go to item 131.]
130. [_] In computations of NAV or offering price per unit, is any part of the
value attributed to instruments identified in item 129 derived from
insurance or guarantees? (Y/N)___________________________________ ____
Y/N
131. [_] Total expenses incurred by all series of Registrant during the current
reporting period ($000's omitted) $ 470
-------------------------------- ----
132. [_] List the "811" (Investment Company Act of 1940) registration number
for all Series of Registrant that are being included in this filing:
811- 811- 811- 811- 811-
811- 811- 811- 811- 811-
811- 811- 811- 811- 811-
811- 811- 811- 811- 811-
811- 811- 811- 811- 811-
811- 811- 811- 811- 811-
811- 811- 811- 811- 811-
811- 811- 811- 811- 811-
811- 811- 811- 811- 811-
51
<PAGE>
FORM N-SAR - PFL LIFE VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT A,
A SEPARATE ACCOUNT OF PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
FILE NO. 811-08197
This report is signed on behalf of the registrant in the City of Cedar Rapids
and the State of Iowa on the 16th day of February, 1999.
PFL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
By: /s/ Ronald L. Ziegler
----------------------------
Ronald L. Ziegler
Vice President and Actuary
Witness:
/s/ Frank A. Camp
- --------------------------
Frank A. Camp
Division General Counsel
Financial Markets Division
PFL Life Insurance Company