IDS LIFE ACCOUNT F
485BPOS, 1997-04-16
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PAGE 1
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    FORM N-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

     Post-Effective Amendment No.  7  (File No. 33-52518)        X

                                     and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

     Amendment No.  8  (File No. 811-3217)                       X
                   ---                                          --

                        IDS LIFE  ACCOUNT F
                        IDS LIFE ACCOUNT IZ
                        IDS LIFE ACCOUNT JZ
                        IDS  LIFE  ACCOUNT  G
                        IDS  LIFE  ACCOUNT  H
                        IDS  LIFE ACCOUNT N
                        IDS LIFE  ACCOUNT  KZ
                        IDS LIFE  ACCOUNT LZ
                        IDS LIFE ACCOUNT MZ
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
                           (Exact Name of Registrant)

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

                    IDS Tower 10, Minneapolis, MN 55440-0010
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
         (Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

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

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

It is proposed that this filing will become effective:

      immediately  upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
 X    on May 1, 1997, pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
      60 days after filing  pursuant to paragraph  (a)(i) of Rule 485
      on (date), pursuant to paragraph (a)(i) of Rule 485

If appropriate, check the following box:

____ this  post-effective   amendment   designates  a  new  effective  date  for
     previously filed post-effective amendment.

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


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PAGE 2
                                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET

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

Negative answers omitted from prospectus are so indicated.

           PART A                                             PART B
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                   Section in
              Section                                              Statement of
Item No.      in Prospectus                           Item No.     Additional Information

<S> <C>                                               <C>          <C>
    1         Cover page                              15           Cover page

    2         Key terms                               16           Table of contents

    3(a)      Expense summary                         17(a)        NA
     (b)      The Employee Benefit                      (b)        NA
                Annuity in brief                        (c)        About IDS Life*

    4(a)      Condensed financial information
     (b)      Performance information                 18(a)        NA
     (c)      Financial statements                      (b)        NA
                                                        (c)        Independent auditors
    5(a)      Cover page; About IDS Life                (d)        NA
     (b)      The variable accounts                     (e)        NA
     (c)      The funds                                 (f)        Principal underwriter
     (d)      Cover page; The funds
     (e)      Voting rights                           19(a)        Distribution of the certificates*;
     (f)      NA                                                     About IDS Life*
     (g)      NA                                        (b)        Certificate charges*

    6(a)      Certificate charges                     20(a)        Principal underwriter
     (b)      Certificate charges                       (b)        Principal underwriter
     (c)      Certificate charges                       (c)        Principal underwriter
     (d)      Distribution of the certificates          (d)        NA
     (e)      The funds
     (f)      NA                                      21(a)        Performance information
                                                        (b)        Performance information
    7(a)      Buying the contract and certificate;
                Benefits in case of death;            22           Calculating annuity payments
                The annuity payout period
     (b)      The variable accounts; Making           23(a)        Financial statements
                the most of your annuity                (b)        Financial statements
     (c)      The funds; certificate charges
     (d)      Cover page

    8(a)      The annuity payout period
     (b)      Buying the contract and certificate
     (c)      The annuity payout period
     (d)      The annuity payout period
     (e)      The annuity payout period
     (f)      The annuity payout period

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

   10(a)      Buying the contract and certificate; Valuing your investment
     (b)      Valuing your investment
     (c)      Buying the contract and certificate; Valuing your investment
     (d)      NA

   11(a)      Surrendering a certificate
     (b)      TSA - Special surrender provisions
     (c)      Surrendering a certificate
     (d)      Buying the contract and certificate
     (e)      The Employee Benefit Annuity in brief

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

   13         NA

   14         Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information
</TABLE>

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


<PAGE>



PAGE 3
IDS Life Employee Benefit Annuity

   
Prospectus
May 1, 1997

The Employee Benefit Annuity is a flexible premium group deferred fixed/variable
annuity contract (the contract) offered by IDS Life Insurance Company (IDS Life)
a subsidiary of American Express Financial Corporation (AEFC).  Participation in
the contract will be accounted  for  separately by the issuance of a certificate
showing the participant's interest under the contract.
    

The  contract  is a group  deferred  annuity  in  which  purchase  payments  are
accumulated on a fixed and/or variable basis and retirement benefits are paid to
the  participant  on a fixed or variable  basis or a combination  of both. It is
available for an employer-sponsored  plan and a salary-reduction plan that meets
the requirements of Section 403(b) of the Code (the plan).

IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ

   
Sold by:  IDS Life Insurance Company, IDS Tower 10, Minneapolis, MN
55440-0010  Telephone:  800-437-0602.

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

The prospectus is accompanied or preceded by the retirement  annuity mutual fund
prospectus for IDS Life Aggressive  Growth Fund, IDS Life  International  Equity
Fund,  IDS Life Capital  Resource  Fund, IDS Life Managed Fund, IDS Life Special
Income Fund, IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund, IDS Life
Global  Yield  Fund  and IDS Life  Income  Advantage  Fund.  Please  read  these
documents carefully and keep them for future reference.

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

IDS Life is not a financial  institution  and the  securities  it offers are not
deposits  or  obligations  of,  or  guaranteed  or  endorsed  by  any  financial
institution nor are they insured by the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation,
the Federal Reserve Board or any other agency.

A Statement of Additional Information (SAI) (incorporated by reference into this
prospectus) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is available
without  charge  by  contacting  IDS Life at the  telephone  number  above or by
completing and sending the order form on the last page of this  prospectus.  The
table of contents of the SAI is on the last page of this prospectus.
    



<PAGE>



PAGE 4
Table of contents

Key terms

The Employee Benefit Annuity in brief

Expense summary

Condensed financial information

Financial statements

Performance information

The variable accounts

   
The funds
IDS Life  Aggressive  Growth  Fund
IDS Life  International  Equity Fund
IDS Life Capital  Resource  Fund
IDS Life Managed  Fund
IDS Life Special  Income Fund
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund
IDS Life Growth  Dimensions Fund
IDS Life Global Yield Fund
IDS Life Income Advantage Fund
    

The fixed account

Buying the contract and certificate
The retirement date
Beneficiary
How to make purchase payments

Certificate charges
Administrative charge
Mortality and expense risk fee
Surrender charge
Premium taxes

Valuing your investment
Number of units
Accumulation unit value
Net investment factor
Factors that affect variable account
 accumulation units

Making the most of your certificate
Automated dollar-cost averaging
Transferring money  between  accounts
Transfer  policies
How to  request  a  transfer  or a surrender

Surrendering a certificate
Surrender policies
Receiving payment when a participant
 requests a surrender



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PAGE 5
TSA special surrender provisions

Changing ownership

Benefits in case of death

The annuity payout period
Annuity payout plans
Death after annuity payouts begin

Taxes

Voting rights

Substitution

Distribution of the certificates

   
About IDS Life
Legal proceedings
    

Regular and special reports
Services
Table of contents of the Statement of
 Additional Information



<PAGE>



PAGE 6
Key terms

These terms can help you understand details about your annuity.

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

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

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

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

Annuity unit - A measure of the value of each variable account used to calculate
the annuity payouts a participant receives.

Beneficiary  - The person  designated to receive  annuity  benefits in case of a
participant's  death. Each participant may name a beneficiary in accordance with
the applicable provisions of any plan and the Code.

Certificate  - The document  delivered to each  participant  that  evidences the
participant's coverage under the contract.

Certificate  value - The total value of the  certificate  before any  applicable
surrender charge and any administrative charge have been deducted.

Certificate year - A period of 12 months,  starting on the effective date of the
certificate and on each anniversary of the effective date.

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

Code - Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Contract owner (owner) - The person or party entitled to ownership rights stated
in the contract and in whose name the contract is issued.

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

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




<PAGE>



PAGE 7
Mutual funds (funds) - Nine IDS Life Retirement  Annuity mutual funds, each with
a different  investment  objective.  (See "The funds.") Purchase payments can be
allocated  into  variable  accounts  investing  in shares of any or all of these
funds.

Participant  - The person named in the  certificate  who is entitled to exercise
all rights and privileges of ownership under the certificate, except as reserved
by the owner. In this prospectus, "you" and "your" refer to the participant.

Purchase payments - Payments made to IDS Life under the contract by or on behalf
of a participant.

Retirement  date - The date when annuity  payouts are  scheduled to begin.  This
date is first  established  when  enrollment  in the  certificates  takes place,
subject to the terms of the plan. It can be changed in the future.

Surrender  charge - A deferred sales charge that may be applied if a participant
surrenders the certificate before the retirement date.

Surrender  value - The  amount a  participant  is  entitled  to  receive  if the
certificate is  surrendered.  It is the  certificate  value minus any applicable
surrender charge and administrative charge.

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

   
Variable  accounts -  Separate  accounts  to which a  participant  may  allocate
purchase payments; each invests in shares of one mutual fund. (See "The variable
accounts.") The value of your  investment in each variable  account changes with
the performance of the particular fund.
    

The Employee Benefit Annuity in brief

Purpose: The Employee Benefit Annuity is designed to allow you to build up funds
for  retirement.  This is  done by  making  one or  more  investments  (purchase
payments)  that may earn  returns that  increase the value of your  certificate.
Beginning at a specified  future date (the  retirement  date),  the contract and
related certificate provide you with lifetime or other forms of annuity payouts.

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




<PAGE>



PAGE 8
Accounts:  You may allocate purchase payments among any or all of:

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

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

Buying the contract  and  certificate:  A financial  advisor will help the owner
complete  and submit an  application  for a contract  and help you  complete and
submit an enrollment form for the certificate. Applications and enrollment forms
are subject to  acceptance  at our  Minneapolis  office.  The maximum  amount of
purchase payments is determined by any restrictions  imposed by the plan and the
Code.

o  Minimum  purchase  payment - ($1,000) unless you pay in installments  under a
   group billing arrangement such as a payroll deduction.
o  Minimum installment payment - $25 monthly or $300 annually.
o  Maximum first-year payment(s) - $50,000 to $1,000,000 depending
   on your age.
o  Maximum payment for each subsequent year - $50,000. (p.)

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

Surrenders:  You may surrender all or part of your certificate value at any time
before the retirement date subject to certain  restrictions  imposed by the Code
and the plan.  Surrenders  may be subject to charges and tax  penalties  and may
have other tax consequences. (p.)

Changing ownership:  Restrictions apply concerning change of ownership of rights
under a contract or certificate. (p.)

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

   
Annuity payouts:  The certificate  value of your investment can be applied to an
annuity  payout plan that begins on the  retirement  date. You may choose from a
variety of plans to make sure that payouts  continue as long as they are needed.
Payouts may be made on a fixed or variable basis, or both. Total monthly payouts
include  amounts from each variable  account and the fixed  account.  During the
annuity  payout  period,  you  cannot be  invested  in more  than five  variable
accounts at any one time unless we agree otherwise. (p.)
    



<PAGE>



PAGE 9 Taxes:  Generally,  your  certificate  value grows tax deferred until you
surrender it or begin to receive  payouts.  (Under  certain  circumstances,  IRS
penalty taxes may apply.) Even if you direct  payouts to someone else,  you will
still be taxed on the distribution. (p.)

Certificate  charges:  Your  certificate is subject to an annual  administrative
charge of $30, a 1% mortality  and expense risk fee, a surrender  charge and any
premium  taxes that may be imposed by state or local  governments  and  deducted
either from your  purchase  payments or upon total  withdrawal  or when  annuity
payments begin. (p.)

Expense summary

The purpose of this summary is to help the owner and participant  understand the
various   costs  and   expenses   associated   with  the  contract  and  related
certificates.

There is no sales charge when purchasing the contract or certificate. All direct
and indirect  costs for the variable  accounts and  underlying  mutual funds are
shown below. Some expenses may vary as explained under "Certificate charges."
   
Contract Owner Expenses*

Surrender charge
(Contingent deferred sales charge as percentage amount surrendered)
- -------------------------------------
Certificate year           Percentage
      1                        8%
      2                        8
      3                        8
      4                        8
      5                        7
      6                        6
      7                        5
      8                        4
      9                        3
      10                       2
      11                       1
      12 and later             0

Annual administrative charge:  $30
(deducted from certificate value of each Certificate)

Separate account annual expenses
(as a percentage of average daily net assets)

Mortality and expense risk fee:  1%

* Premium taxes imposed by some state and local governments are not reflected in
this table.
    


<PAGE>



PAGE 10
   
Annual operating  expenses of underlying  mutual funds management fees and other
expenses deducted as a percentage of average net assets as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                 IDS Life       IDS Life      IDS Life               IDS Life                 IDS Life    IDS Life   IDS Life
                Aggressive   International    Capital     IDS Life   Special    IDS Life       Growth      Global     Income
                  Growth         Equity       Resource    Managed    Income    Moneyshare    Dimensions    Yield     Advantage

<S>                 <C>           <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>
Management fees     .60           .82           .60         .59        .59        .50           .63         .84         .63

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

Total*              .69           .98           .68         .66        .69        .56           .85        1.46        1.17
</TABLE>

*Annualized operating expenses of underlying mutual funds at Dec.
31, 1996.
    
Example:* As a  participant,  you would pay the  following  expenses on a $1,000
investment,  assuming  5% annual  return and  surrender  at the end of each time
period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                 IDS Life       IDS Life      IDS Life               IDS Life                 IDS Life    IDS Life   IDS Life
                Aggressive   International    Capital     IDS Life   Special    IDS Life       Growth      Global     Income
                  Growth         Equity       Resource    Managed    Income    Moneyshare    Dimensions    Yield     Advantage

<S>              <C>            <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>    
1 year           $101.92        $104.65       $101.82     $101.63    $101.92    $100.69       $103.43     $109.18     $106.44

3 years           147.78         156.01        147.49      146.92     147.78     144.07        152.33      169.53      161.38

5 years           184.86         198.78        184.38      183.41     184.86     178.56        192.56      221.46      207.82

10 years          250.82         280.70        249.77      247.67     250.82     237.14        267.41      328.31      299.82
</TABLE>
    
You  would  pay the  following  expenses  on the  same  investment  assuming  no
surrender or selection of an annuity payout plan at the end of each time period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                 IDS Life       IDS Life      IDS Life               IDS Life                 IDS Life    IDS Life   IDS Life
                Aggressive   International    Capital     IDS Life   Special    IDS Life       Growth      Global     Income
                  Growth         Equity       Resource    Managed    Income    Moneyshare    Dimensions    Yield     Advantage

<S>              <C>            <C>           <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>         <C>         <C>    
1 year           $ 19.48        $ 22.45       $ 19.37     $ 19.17    $ 19.48    $ 18.14       $ 21.12     $ 27.37     $ 24.40

3 years            60.23          69.21         59.92       59.29      60.23      56.18         65.19       83.97       75.07

5 years           103.50         118.60        102.98      101.93     103.50      96.68        111.85      143.17      128.38

10 years          223.80         254.45        222.73      220.58     223.80     209.77        240.82      303.30      274.07
</TABLE>
    
This  example  should  not be  considered  a  representation  of past or  future
expenses. Actual expenses may be more or less than those shown.

   
* In this example,  the $30 annual  administrative  charge is  approximated as a
 .210% charge based on our average certificate size.
    

Condensed financial information
(unaudited)

The following tables give per-unit  information  about the financial  history of
each variable account.




<PAGE>



PAGE 11
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Years ended Dec. 31,
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                1996    1995     1994     1993     1992     1991     1990     1989     1988     1987

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Account F (investing in shares of IDS Life Capital Resource Fund)
Accumulation unit value at
beginning of period..........   $6.25   $4.94    $4.93    $4.82    $4.67    $3.22    $3.23    $2.57    $2.31    $2.07
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation unit value at
end of period................   $6.67   $6.25    $4.94    $4.93    $4.82    $4.67    $3.22    $3.23    $2.57    $2.31
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of accumulation units
outstanding at end of period
(000, 000 omitted)...........     629     642      577      489      403      310      243      205      187      181
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of operating expense to
average net assets...........   1.00%   1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Account  IZ1  (investing  in  shares  of IDS  Life  International  Equity  Fund)
Accumulation unit value at
beginning of period..........   $1.38   $1.25    $1.29    $0.98    $1.00     -        -        -        -        -
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation unit value at
end of period................   $1.49   $1.38    $1.25    $1.29    $0.98     -        -        -        -        -
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of accumulation units
outstanding at end of period
(000, 000 omitted)...........   1,220   1,089      913      406       70     -        -        -        -        -
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ratio of operating expense to
average net assets...........   1.00%   1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%     -        -        -        -        -
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Account  JZ2  (investing  in  shares  of  IDS  Life   Aggressive   Growth  Fund)
Accumulation unit value at
beginning of period..........   $1.46   $1.12    $1.21    $1.08    $1.00     -        -        -        -        -
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation unit value at
end of period................   $1.68   $1.46    $1.12    $1.21    $1.08     -        -        -        -        -
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of accumulation units
outstanding at end of period
(000, 000 omitted)...........   1,173   1,008      780      347      116     -        -        -        -        -
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of operating expense to
average net assets...........   1.00%   1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%     -        -        -        -        -
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Account G  (investing  in shares of IDS Life Special  Income Fund)  Accumulation
unit value at
beginning of period..........   $4.59   $3.80    $3.99    $3.48    $3.21    $2.76    $2.67    $2.48    $2.27    $2.27
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation unit value at
end of period................   $4.86   $4.59    $3.80    $3.99    $3.48    $3.21    $2.76    $2.67    $2.48    $2.27
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of accumulation units
outstanding at end of period
(000, 000 omitted)...........     362     394      362      405      330      271      237      222      176      170
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of operating expense to
average net assets...........   1.00%   1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Account H (investing in shares of IDS Life Moneyshare Fund)
Accumulation unit value at
beginning of period..........   $2.27   $2.18    $2.12    $2.09    $2.04    $1.95    $1.82    $1.69    $1.59    $1.51
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation unit value at
end of period................   $2.36   $2.27    $2.18    $2.12    $2.09    $2.04    $1.95    $1.82    $1.69    $1.59



<PAGE>



PAGE 12
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of accumulation units
outstanding at end of period
(000, 000 omitted)...........      90     103       84       75      102      126      139      109       63       52
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of operating expense to
average net assets...........   1.00%   1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Simple yield3                   3.73%   3.97%    4.12%   -1.56%    1.67%    3.26%    6.25%    6.81%    7.30%    5.72%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Compound yield3                 3.80%   4.04%    4.21%   -1.55%    1.69%    3.31%    6.44%    7.04%    7.57%    5.88%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Account N4 (investing in shares of IDS Life Managed Fund)
Accumulation unit value at
beginning of period...........  $2.56   $2.09    $2.21    $1.98    $1.86    $1.45    $1.42    $1.14    $1.06    $1.01
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation unit value at
end of period................   $2.97   $2.56    $2.09    $2.21    $1.98    $1.86    $1.45    $1.42    $1.14    $1.06
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of accumulation units
outstanding at end of period
(000, 000 omitted)...........   1,197   1,212    1,128      910      651      497      401      331      326      321
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of operating expense to
average net assets...........   1.00%   1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%    1.00%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Account KZ5  (investing  in shares of IDS Life Global  Yield Fund)  Accumulation
unit value at
beginning of period...........  $1.00      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation unit value at
end of period................   $1.07      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of accumulation units
outstanding at end of period
(000, 000 omitted)...........     25       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of operating expense to
average net assets...........   1.00%      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Account LZ5 (investing in shares of IDS Life Income Advantage Fund) Accumulation
unit value at
beginning of period...........  $1.00      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation unit value at
end of period................   $1.05      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of accumulation units
outstanding at end of period
(000, 000 omitted)...........     60       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of operating expense to
average net assets...........   1.00%      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Account  MZ5  (investing  in  shares  of  IDS  Life  Growth   Dimensions   Fund)
Accumulation unit value at
beginning of period...........  $1.00      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation unit value at
end of period................   $1.11      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of accumulation units
outstanding at end of period
(000, 000 omitted)...........     351      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ratio of operating expense to
average net assets...........   1.00%      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



<PAGE>



PAGE 13
1Account IZ commenced operations on Jan. 13, 1992.
2Account JZ commenced operations on Jan. 13, 1992.
3Net of annual contract administrative charge and mortality and expense risk fee.
4Account N commenced operations on April 30, 1986.
5Accounts KZ, LZ and MZ commenced operations on April 30, 1996.
</TABLE>

Financial statements

The SAI dated May 1, 1997, contains:

o     complete audited financial statements of the variable accounts
      including:
      - statements of net assets as of Dec. 31, 1996;
      - statements of operations for the year ended Dec. 31, 1996,
      except for IDS Life Accounts KZ, LZ and MZ which are for the
      period April 30, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31,
      1996; and
      - statements of changes in net assets for the years ended Dec.
      31, 1996 and Dec. 31, 1995, except for IDS Life Accounts KZ,
      LZ and MZ which are for the period April 30, 1996
      (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.

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

Performance  information for the variable  accounts may appear from time to time
in advertisements or sales literature.  In all cases, such information  reflects
the  performance of a hypothetical  investment in a particular  account during a
particular time period.  Calculations are performed as follows:

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

Compound  yield - Account H:  Calculated  like simple yield,  except that,  when
annualized,  the income is assumed to be  reinvested.  Compounding of reinvested
returns increases the yield as compared to a simple yield.

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

Average annual total return:  Expressed as an average annual  compounded rate of
return of a hypothetical  investment over a period of one, five and 10 years (or
up to the life of the  account  if it is less than 10 years  old).  This  figure
reflects deduction


<PAGE>



   
PAGE 14
of all applicable charges,  including the administrative  charge,  mortality and
expense risk fee and  surrender  charge,  assuming a surrender at the end of the
illustrated period.  Optional average annual total return quotations may be made
that do not reflect a surrender charge deduction (assuming no surrender).

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

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

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

The variable accounts

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

                                   IDS Life Account  Established

   
IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund        JZ            Sept. 20, 1991
IDS Life International Equity Fund     IZ            Sept. 20, 1991
IDS Life Capital Resource Fund         F             May 13, 1981
IDS Life Managed Fund                  N             April 17, 1985
IDS Life Special Income Fund           G             May 13, 1981
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund               H             May 13, 1981
IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund        MZ            April 2, 1996
IDS Life Global Yield Fund             KZ            April 2, 1996
IDS Life Income Advantage Fund         LZ            April 2, 1996
    

Each variable  account meets the definition of a separate  account under federal
securities  laws.  Income,  capital gains and capital losses of each account are
credited or charged to that account alone.  No variable  account will be charged
with liabilities of any other account or of our general business.  Each variable
account's net assets are held in relation to the contracts described in this


<PAGE>



PAGE 15
prospectus as well as other  variable  annuity  contracts that we issue that are
not described in this  prospectus.  All obligations  arising under the contracts
are general obligations of IDS Life.

All variable  accounts were  established  under Minnesota law and are registered
together as a single unit investment  trust under the Investment  Company Act of
1940 (the 1940 Act). This  registration  does not involve any supervision of our
management or investment practices and policies by the SEC.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<PAGE>



PAGE 16
   
IDS Life Global Yield Fund  Objective:  high total return through income
and growth of capital. Invests primarily in a non-diversified  portfolio of debt
securities of U.S. and foreign issuers.

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

More  comprehensive  information  regarding  each fund is  contained in the fund
prospectus. You should read the fund prospectus and consider carefully, and on a
continuing  basis,  which fund or  combination  of funds is best  suited to your
long-term investment needs. There is no assurance that the investment objectives
of the funds will be attained nor is there any  guarantee  that the  certificate
value will  equal or exceed the total  purchase  payments  made.  Some funds may
involve more risk than others--please monitor your investments accordingly.
    
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued final regulations  relating to the
diversification  requirements under Section 817(h) of the Code. Each mutual fund
intends to comply with these requirements.

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

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

   
IDS Life is the investment  manager and AEFC is the investment  advisor for each
of the funds. IDS International, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AEFC, is the
sub-investment  advisor for IDS Life  International  Equity Fund. The investment
manager and advisors cannot  guarantee that the funds will meet their investment
objectives.  Please  read the  Retirement  Annuity  Mutual Fund  prospectus  for
complete information on investment risks,  deductions,  expenses and other facts
you should know before investing.  It is available by contacting IDS Life at the
address  or  telephone  number  on the  front of this  prospectus,  or from your
financial advisor.
    




<PAGE>



PAGE 17
The fixed account

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

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

Buying the contract and certificate

   
A financial  advisor will help the owner prepare and submit an application.  The
financial  advisor  will  also  help  each  participant  prepare  and  submit an
enrollment  form.  These forms will be sent to our  Minneapolis  office.  Unless
otherwise provided in the contract, the owner has all rights under the contract.
Your interest under the contract,  as evidenced by your certificate,  is subject
to the  terms  of the  owner's  contract  and the  plan.  Please  remember  that
investment  performance,  expenses  and  deduction  of  certain  charges  affect
accumulation unit value.
    

When you enroll in the certificate, you can select:

o  the account(s) in which you want to invest;
o  the date you want to start receiving annuity payouts (the
   retirement date); and
o  a beneficiary.

The owner selects the frequency with which it will make purchase payments.

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

The retirement  date Upon  processing  your  application,  we will establish the
retirement date to the maximum age or date as specified below. You can also


<PAGE>



PAGE 18
select a date  within the  maximum  limits.  This date can be aligned  with your
actual retirement from a job, or it can be a different future date, depending on
your needs and goals and on certain restrictions.  You can also change the date,
provided  you send us  written  instructions  at least  30 days  before  annuity
payouts begin.

To avoid IRS penalty taxes, the retirement date generally must be:

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

If you are taking the minimum 403(b) plan  distributions as required by the Code
from  another  tax-qualified  investment,  or in the form of partial  surrenders
under  the  certificate,  retirement  payments  can  start as late as your  85th
birthday or the 10th contract anniversary.

Certain  restrictions  on retirement  dates apply to  participants  in the Texas
Optional Retirement Program, should the Employee Benefit Annuity be available in
the program. (See "Special surrender provisions.")

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

Minimum purchase payments

$25 monthly

Installments must total at least $300 per year.*

*If no purchase payments have been made on a participant's  behalf for 24 months
and  previous  payments  total  $600 or  less,  we  have  the  right  to pay the
participant  the total value of the  certificate  in a lump sum. This right does
not apply to contracts sold to New Jersey residents.

Minimum lump sum purchase payment

Initial payment:    $1,000

Minimum additional purchase payment(s):    $50

Maximum first-year payment(s):

This  maximum is based on the  participant's  age on the  effective  date of the
certificate.




<PAGE>



PAGE 19
Up to age 75             $1 million
76 to 85                 $500,000
86 to 90                 $50,000

Maximum payment for each subsequent year:    $50,000**

**These  limits apply in total to all IDS Life annuities you own. We reserve the
right to  increase  maximum  limits or reduce age limits.  The plan's  limits on
annual contribution also apply.

How to make purchase payments

By  scheduled  payment  plan:  A financial  advisor can help the owner set up an
automatic salary reduction arrangement.

Certificate charges

Administrative charge
This fee is for establishing and maintaining  records for each certificate under
the  contract.  We  deduct  $30  from the  certificate  value at the end of each
certificate year.

If a participant surrenders a certificate, the annual charge will be deducted at
the time of surrender.  The annual charge cannot be increased and does not apply
after annuity payouts begin.

Mortality and expense risk fee
This fee is to cover the mortality risk and expense risk and is applied daily to
the variable  accounts and  reflected  in the unit values of the  accounts.  The
variable  accounts pay this fee at the time that dividends are distributed  from
the funds in which they  invest.  Annually,  the fee  totals 1% of the  variable
accounts' average daily net assets.  Approximately  two-thirds of this amount is
for our  assumption  of mortality  risk and  one-third is for our  assumption of
expense risk. This fee does not apply to the fixed account.

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

Expense risk arises  because the  administrative  charge cannot be increased and
may not  cover  our  expenses.  Any  deficit  would  have to be made up from our
general assets.

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



<PAGE>



PAGE 20
Surrender charge
If part or all of a certificate is  surrendered  within the first 11 certificate
years, the following surrender charge applies:

- --------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Surrender Charge as
                                               Percent of
Certificate Year                           Amount Surrendered
- -------------------------------------------------------------
       1                                           8%
       2                                           8
       3                                           8
       4                                           8
       5                                           7
       6                                           6
       7                                           5
       8                                           4
       9                                           3
       10                                          2
       11                                          1
12 and later                                       0
- -------------------------------------------------------------

The  surrender  charge is further  limited so that it will never  exceed 8.5% of
aggregate purchase payments made to the certificate. IDS Life reserves the right
to reduce or eliminate the surrender charge.
       

   
Example of surrender charge:

Owner requests...$1,000 partial surrender = $1,052.63

Total amount surrendered................... $1,052.63
                                            x    0.05
Total surrender charge..................... $   52.63
    
No surrender charge: There is no surrender charge on amounts surrendered:

o  after the 11th certificate year;
o  due to a participant's retirement under the plan on or after age
   55;
o  due to the death of the participant; or
o  upon settlement of the certificate under an annuity payout plan.

Possible group reductions: In some cases lower sales and administrative expenses
may be incurred due to the size of the group,  the average  contribution and the
use of group enrollment  procedures.  In such cases, we may be able to reduce or
eliminate the administrative and surrender charges.  However,  we expect this to
occur infrequently.

Premium taxes
Certain state and local  governments  may impose  premium taxes. A charge may be
made by us against  the  certificate  value for any state  premium  taxes to the
extent the taxes are payable.




<PAGE>



PAGE 21
Valuing your investment

Here is how your accounts are valued:

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

Variable accounts: Amounts allocated to the variable accounts are converted into
accumulation  units.  Each time you make a purchase  payment or transfer amounts
into one of the variable  accounts,  a certain number of accumulation  units are
credited to your certificate for that account.  Conversely, each time you take a
partial surrender, transfer amounts out of a variable account or are assessed an
administrative  charge,  a certain number of  accumulation  units are subtracted
from your certificate.

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

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

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

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

Because the net asset value of the  underlying  mutual fund may  fluctuate,  the
accumulation  unit  value  may  increase  or  decrease.  The  owner  bears  this
investment risk in a variable account.

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

The number of accumulation units owned may fluctuate due to:

o  additional purchase payments allocated to the variable
   account(s);
o  transfers into or out of the variable account(s);
o  partial surrenders;


<PAGE>



PAGE 22
o  surrender charges; and/or
o  administrative charges.

Accumulation unit values may fluctuate due to:

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

Making the most of your certificate

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

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

How dollar-cost averaging works

         Amount      Accumulation    Number of units
Month    invested    unit value      purchased

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

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

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

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

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

Dollar-cost  averaging does not guarantee that any variable account will gain in
value, nor will it protect against a decline in value


<PAGE>



   
PAGE 23
if market prices fall. Because this strategy involves continuous investing, your
success with dollar-cost averaging will depend upon your willingness to continue
to invest regularly through periods of low price levels.  Dollar-cost  averaging
can be an effective way to help meet your long-term goals.
    

Transferring money between accounts
You may transfer  money from any one account,  including the fixed  account,  to
another before the annuity  payouts begin. If we receive your request before the
close of business,  we will  process it that day.  Requests  received  after the
close of business will be processed  the next  business day.  There is no charge
for transfers.  Before making a transfer, you should consider the risks involved
in switching investments.

We may suspend or modify transfer  privileges at any time. Certain  restrictions
apply to transfers  involving the fixed account.  In addition,  any  restriction
imposed by the plan will apply.

Transfer  policies
o  Subject to any restrictions imposed by the plan, you may transfer certificate
   values between the variable accounts,  or from the variable account(s)
   to the fixed account at any time.  However, if a transfer has been made from
   the fixed account to the  variable  account(s),  you may not make a transfer
   (including  automated  transfers) from any variable account back to the fixed
   account until the next eligible transfer period as defined in the plan, if
   any, or otherwise until the next certificate anniversary.

o  You may transfer  certificate  values from the fixed  account to the variable
   account(s) once per certificate year, (except for automated transfers,  which
   can be set up for  transfer  periods  of your  choosing  subject  to  certain
   minimums).

o  Once annuity  payouts  begin,  no transfers  may be made to or from the fixed
   account,  but transfers may be made once per contract year among the variable
   accounts.

How to request a transfer or a surrender

1    By letter

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

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

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




<PAGE>



PAGE 24
Minimum amount
Mail transfers:     $250 or entire account balance
Mail surrenders:    $250 or entire account balance

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

2    By phone

For salary reduction plans only.

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

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

TTY service for the hearing impaired:

1-800-285-8846 (toll free)

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

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

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

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

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

3    By automated transfers

Your  financial  advisor  can help you set up  automated  transfers  among  your
accounts.

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

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


<PAGE>



PAGE 25
o  Automated  transfers are subject to all of the contract provisions and terms,
   including transfer of certificate values between accounts.

Minimum amount
Automated transfers:     $50

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

Surrendering a certificate

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

Surrender policies
If you have a balance in more than one account and request a partial  surrender,
we will withdraw money from all of your accounts in the same  proportion as your
value  in  each  account  correlates  to the  total  certificate  value,  unless
requested otherwise.

Receiving payment when a participant requests a surrender

By regular or express mail:

o  Payable to participant;

o  Mailed to address of record.

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

By wire:

o  Request that payment be wired to your bank;

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

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

Payment  normally  will be sent within seven days after  receiving  the request.
However, we may postpone the payment if:
      -the  surrender  amount  includes  a purchase  payment  check that has not
      cleared;
      -the NYSE is  closed,  except  for normal  holiday  and  weekend
      closings;
      -trading on the NYSE is restricted,  according to SEC rules;
      -an emergency,  as  defined  by  SEC rules, makes it impractical to  sell
      securities or value the net assets of the accounts; or


<PAGE>



PAGE 26
      -the SEC permits us to delay payment for the protection of
      security holders.

TSA special surrender provisions

The Code imposes certain  restrictions on a participant's right to receive early
distributions   attributable  to  salary  reduction  contributions  from  a  Tax
Sheltered Annuity (TSA):

o  Distributions  attributable to salary reduction contributions made after Dec.
   31,  1988,  plus the  earnings on them,  or to transfers or rollovers of such
   amounts from other contracts, may be made from the TSA only if:

      -the  participant  has attained age 59-1/2;  -the  participant  has become
      disabled as defined in the Code;  -the  participant has separated from the
      service of the employer who purchased the contract;  or -the  distribution
      is made to the participant's beneficiary because of death.

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

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

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

o  If the contract/certificate has a loan provision, the right to recieve a loan
   from your fixed account continues to exist and is described in detail in your
   contract/certificate and is subject to the contract/certificate plan.

o  For certain types of  contributions  under a TSA contract to be excluded from
   taxable  income,  the  employer  must comply with  certain  nondiscrimination
   requirements.

Participation  in the Texas  Optional  Retirement  Program:  Should the Employee
Benefit  Annuity be available in this program,  participants  cannot receive any
distribution  before retirement unless they become totally disabled or end their
employment  at a  Texas  college  or  university.  This  restriction  affects  a
participant's  right to: o surrender all or part of the certificate at any time;
and o move up the retirement date.

If a  participant  is in the  program  for only one  year,  the  portion  of the
purchase payments made by the state of Texas will be


<PAGE>



PAGE 27
refunded to the state with no surrender charge.  These restrictions are based on
an opinion of the Texas Attorney General interpreting Texas law.

Changing ownership

The contract and related  certificates  cannot be sold,  assigned,  transferred,
discounted  or  pledged  as  collateral  for a  loan  or  as  security  for  the
performance  of an  obligation or for any other purpose to any person other than
IDS Life. Your vested rights under the certificate are nonforfeitable.

Benefits in case of death

If you die  before  annuity  payouts  begin,  we will  pay your  beneficiary  as
follows:

If death occurs before your 75th birthday,  the beneficiary receives the greater
of: o the  certificate  value; or o purchase  payments made to the  certificate,
minus any surrenders.

If death occurs on or after your 75th  birthday,  the  beneficiary  receives the
certificate value.

   
If your spouse is sole  beneficiary and you die before the retirement date, your
spouse may keep the certificate in force. To do this your spouse must, within 60
days after we receive proof of death,  give us written  instructions to keep the
certificate  in force.  If you die before the retirement  date,  your spouse may
keep the certificate in force until the date on which you would have reached age
70 1/2 or any other date permitted by the Code.
    

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

o  the beneficiary asks us in writing within 60 days after we
   receive proof of death;
o  payouts begin no later than one year after death, or other date
   as permitted by the code; and
o  the payout period does not extend beyond the beneficiary's life
   or life expectancy.

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

The annuity payout period

As the participant, you have the right to decide how and to whom annuity payouts
will be made starting at the retirement  date. You may select one of the annuity
payout plans outlined below or we


<PAGE>



PAGE 28
will  mutually  agree on other payout  arrangements.  The amount  available  for
payouts  under the plan you select is the  certificate  value on the  retirement
date. No surrender charges are deducted under the payout plans listed below.

The contract and related certificates allow you to determine whether payouts are
to be made on a fixed or variable basis, or a combination of fixed and variable.
Amounts of fixed and variable  payouts  depend on:
o the annuity payout plan you select;
o your  age;
o the  annuity  table  in  the  contract  and  related certificates; and
o the amounts allocated to the account(s) at settlement on the retirement date.

In addition, for variable payouts only, amounts depend on:

o  the investment performance of the account(s) selected.

These  payouts  will vary from month to month  because  the  performance  of the
underlying mutual funds will fluctuate. (In the case of fixed annuities, payouts
remain the same from month to month.)

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

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

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

   
o Plan B - Life annuity with five, 10 or 15 years certain:  Monthly  payouts are
made for a guaranteed payout period of five, 10 or 15 years that you elect. This
election will  determine the length of the payout period to the  beneficiary  if
the annuitant  should die before the elected period has expired.  The guaranteed
payout period is calculated from the retirement date. If the annuitant  outlives
the  elected   guaranteed  payout  period,   payouts  will  continue  until  the
annuitant's death.
    

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

o Plan D - Joint and last survivor life annuity - no refund: Monthly payouts are
made  while both the  annuitant  and a joint  annuitant  are  living.  If either
annuitant dies, monthly payouts


<PAGE>



PAGE 29 continue at the full amount until the death of the surviving  annuitant.
Payouts end with the death of the second annuitant.

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

Restrictions on payout options:  Because the certificate was purchased under the
plan, you must select a payout plan that provides for payouts:

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

If we do not receive instructions: You must give us written instructions for the
annuity payouts at least 30 days before your retirement  date. If you do not, we
will make payouts under Plan B, with 120 monthly payouts guaranteed, unless this
option is contrary to applicable provisions of the plan or the Code.

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

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

Taxes

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

Annuity  payouts:  The entire  payout  generally  will be includable as ordinary
income and subject to tax. If you or your employer  invested in the  certificate
with  pre-tax  dollars,  such  amounts  are  not  considered  to be part of your
investment in the certificate and will be taxed when paid to you.



<PAGE>



PAGE 30
Surrenders:  Generally,  if you surrender part or all of the certificate  before
annuity payouts begin, the surrender payment will be taxed. You also may have to
pay a 10% IRS penalty for surrenders before reaching age 59 1/2. Other penalties
may apply if you surrender the  certificate  before the plan  specifies that you
can receive payouts.

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

Penalties:  If you receive amounts from the  certificate  before reaching age 59
1/2,  you may have to pay a 10% IRS  penalty  on the amount  includable  in your
ordinary income.  However, this penalty will not apply to any amount received by
you or your beneficiary:

   
o  because of your death;
o  because you become disabled (as defined in the Code);
o  if the distribution is part of a series of substantially equal
   periodic payments after separation from service, made at least annually, over
   your life or life expectancy (or joint lives or life  expectancies of you and
   your designated beneficiary); or
o  after you separate from service during or after the year you
   attain age 55.
    

Other penalties or exceptions may apply if you surrender your certificate before
your plan specifies that payments can be made.

Mandatory  withholding:  If you receive  directly all or part of the certificate
value,  mandatory 20% income tax  withholding  generally  will be imposed at the
time the payment is made. Any  withholding  that is done represents a prepayment
of your tax due for the year and you would take  credit for such  amounts on the
annual tax return you file. This mandatory withholding will not be imposed if:
o  instead of receiving the distribution check, you elect to have
   the distribution rolled over directly to an IRA or another
   eligible plan;
o  the payment is one in a series of substantially equal periodic payments, made
   at least  annually,  over your life or life expectancy (or the joint lives or
   life expectancies of you and your designated beneficiary) or over a specified
   period of 10 years or more; or
o  the payment is a minimum distribution required under the Code.

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

Elective   withholding:   If  the  distribution  is  not  subject  to  mandatory
withholding as described above, you can elect not to have any withholding occur.
To do this you must provide us with a valid Social  Security  Number or Taxpayer
Identification Number.

If you do not make this election and if the payout is part of an annuity  payout
plan, the amount of withholding generally is


<PAGE>



PAGE 31
computed using payroll  tables.  You can provide us with a statement of how many
exemptions to use in calculating  the  withholding.  If the  distribution is any
other type of  payment  (such as a partial or full  surrender),  withholding  is
computed using 10% of the taxable portion.

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

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

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

Tax   qualification:   The  contract  (and  your  certificate  of  participation
thereunder)  is  intended  to  qualify  as an  annuity  for  Federal  income tax
purposes.  To that end, the provisions of the contract and your  certificate are
to be interpreted to ensure or maintain such tax qualification,  notwithstanding
any other provisions to the contrary. We reserve the right to amend the contract
and/or related  certificates to reflect any clarifications that may be needed or
are appropriate to maintain such qualification or to conform the contract and/or
certificates to any applicable changes in the tax qualification requirements. We
will send you a copy of any such amendment.

Voting rights

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

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

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

o  the reserve held in each account for the contract or
   certificate, divided by

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

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


<PAGE>



PAGE 32
We calculate  votes  separately  for each account not more than 60 days before a
shareholders' meeting. Notice of these meetings, proxy materials and a statement
of the number of votes to which the voter is entitled, will be sent.

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

Substitution

Shares of any of the  underlying  funds may not always be available for purchase
by the variable  accounts,  or we may decide that further investment in any such
fund's shares is no longer  appropriate  in view of the purposes of the variable
account.  In either  event,  shares of another  registered  open-end  management
investment  company may be substituted both for fund shares already purchased by
the variable account and for purchases to be made in the future. In the event of
any substitution pursuant to this provision, we may make appropriate endorsement
to the contract and certificates to reflect the substitution.

We reserve the right to split or combine  the value of  accumulation  units.  In
effecting  such change of unit values,  strict  equity will be preserved  and no
change will have a material effect on the benefits under the  certificates or on
any other provisions of the contract and related certificates.

Distribution of the certificates

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

About IDS Life

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

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

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

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


<PAGE>



PAGE 33
Other  subsidiaries  provide  investment  management  and related  services  for
pension, profit-sharing,  employee savings and endowment funds of businesses and
institutions.

   
Legal proceedings

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

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

Regular and special reports

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

Quarterly statements showing the value of your investment.

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

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

Table of contents of the Statement of Additional Information

   
Performance information....................... 3
Calculating annuity payouts................... 6
Rating agencies............................... 7
Principal underwriter......................... 8
Independent auditors.......................... 8
Prospectus.................................... 8
    



<PAGE>



   
PAGE 34
Financial statements -
      IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N,
      KZ, LZ and MZ
      IDS Life Insurance Company
    
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
Please  check  the  appropriate  box to  receive  a copy  of  the  Statement  of
Additional Information for:

_____ IDS Life Employee Benefit Annuity

_____ IDS Life Retirement Annuity Mutual Funds

Please return this request to:

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

Your name _______________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________

City ______________________  State ______________ Zip ___________



<PAGE>



PAGE 35

















                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                       for

   
                            EMPLOYEE BENEFIT ANNUITY
    

               IDS LIFE ACCOUNTS F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ

   
                                   May 1, 1997
    


IDS Life  Accounts  F, IZ,  JZ,  G, H, N, KZ,  LZ and MZ are  separate  accounts
established and maintained by IDS Life Insurance Company (IDS Life).

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



IDS Life Insurance Company
P10/199
P.O. Box 74
Minneapolis, MN 55440-0074
612-671-3131



<PAGE>



PAGE 36
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

   
Performance Information.......................................p. 3

Calculating Annuity Payouts...................................p. 6

Rating Agencies...............................................p. 7

Principal Underwriter.........................................p. 8

Independent Auditors..........................................p. 8

Prospectus....................................................p. 8

Financial Statements
           - IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ
             and MZ
           - IDS Life Insurance Company
    


<PAGE>



PAGE 37
PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Calculation of yield for Account H

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

The simple yield is calculated by  determining  the net change in the value of a
hypothetical  account  having  the  balance  of  one  accumulation  unit  at the
beginning  of the  seven-day  period.  (The net change does not include  capital
change,  but does  include a pro rata share of the annual  certificate  charges,
including  the annual  administrative  charge and the mortality and expense risk
fee.) The net change in the account value is divided by the value of the account
at the beginning of the period to obtain the return for the period.  That return
is then  multiplied  by 365/7 to obtain an annualized  figure.  The value of the
hypothetical account includes the amount of any declared dividends, the value of
any shares  purchased with any dividend paid during the period and any dividends
declared  for such  shares.  The  variable  account's  (account)  yield does not
include any  realized  or  unrealized  gains or losses,  nor does it include the
effect of any applicable surrender charge.

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

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

   
On Dec.  31,  1996,  the  account's  annualized  simple  yield was 3.73% and its
compound yield was 3.80%.
    

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

Calculation of yield for accounts investing in income funds

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

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




<PAGE>



PAGE 38
where:    a = dividends and investment income earned during the
              period.
          b = expenses accrued for the period (net of
              reimbursements).
          c = the  average  daily  number of  accumulation  units  outstanding
              during the period that were entitled to receive dividends.
          d = the maximum offering price per accumulation unit on
              the last day of the period.

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

   
On Dec. 31, 1996,  the  annualized  yield for Account G was 7.64% for Account KZ
2.79% and for Account LZ 9.34%.
    

Calculation of average annual total return

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

                         P(1+T)n = ERV

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

   
Account  average  annual  total  return  figures  reflect the  deduction  of the
administrative  charge and mortality and expense risk fee.  Performance  figures
will be  shown  with  the  deduction  of the  applicable  surrender  charge;  in
addition,  performance figures may be shown without the deduction of a surrender
charge.  The Securities and Exchange  Commission  requires that an assumption be
made that the contract owner  surrenders  the entire  contract at the end of the
one,  five and ten year periods (or, if less, up to the life of the account) for
which performance is required to be calculated.
    




<PAGE>



PAGE 39
The  following  performance  figures are  calculated  on the basis of historical
performance of the funds.

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

Average Annual Total Return with Surrender
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     Since
Account investing in:                     1 Year        5 Year       10 Year       Inception
- --------------------

<S>                                      <C>             <C>          <C>            <C>
IDS Life
  Aggressive Growth Fund (1/92)*          7.94%            --%           --%         10.08%
  Capital Resource Fund (10/81)          -0.22           6.23         12.28             --
  International Equity Fund (1/92)        1.36             --            --           7.32
  Managed Fund (4/86)                     8.70           8.67         11.29             --
  Moneyshare Fund (10/81)                -3.11           1.62          4.46             --
  Special Income Fund (10/81)            -1.21           7.54          7.81             --
  Growth Dimensions Fund (4/96)             --             --            --           3.80
  Global Yield Fund (4/96)                  --             --            --           0.12
  Income Advantage Fund (4/96)              --             --            --          -2.06

Average Annual Total Return without Surrender

                                                                                     Since
Account Investing in:                     1 Year        5 Year       10 Year       Inception
- --------------------

IDS Life
  Aggressive Growth Fund (1/92)           14.94%           --%           --%         11.03%
  Capital Resource Fund (10/81)            6.78          7.30         12.28             --
  International Equity Fund (1/92)         8.36            --            --           8.37
  Managed Fund (4/86)                     15.70          9.66         11.29             --
  Moneyshare Fund (10/81)                  3.89          2.90          4.46             --
  Special Income Fund (10/81)              5.79          8.57          7.81             --
  Growth Dimensions Fund (4/96)              --            --            --          10.80
  Global Yield Fund (4/96)                   --            --            --           7.12
  Income Advantage Fund (4/96)               --            --            --           4.94
</TABLE>

  * inception dates of the funds are shown in parentheses
    
Aggregate total return

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

                               ERV - P
                                  P

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

   
Performance  of the accounts may be quoted or compared to rankings,  yields,  or
returns as published or prepared by independent  rating or statistical  services
or  publishers or  publications  such as The Bank Rate Monitor  National  Index,
Barron's, Business Week, CDA Technologies,  Donoghue's Money Market Fund Report,
Financial  Services Week,  Financial Times,  Financial World,  Forbes,  Fortune,
Global Investor, Institutional Investor, Investor's Daily,
    



<PAGE>



   
PAGE 40
Kiplinger's Personal Finance,  Lipper Analytical Services,  Money,  Morningstar,
Mutual Fund Forecaster, Newsweek, The New York Times, Personal Investor, Stanger
Report, Sylvia Porter's Personal Finance, USA Today, U.S. News and World Report,
The Wall Street Journal and Wiesenberger Investment Companies Service.
    

CALCULATING ANNUITY PAYOUTS

The Variable Account

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

Initial  Payout:  To compute your first  monthly  payment,  we:
o determine the dollar value of your  certificate as of the valuation date seven
days before the retirement date and then deduct any applicable premium tax.

o apply the result to the annuity table  contained in the certificate or another
table at least as  favorable.  The  annuity  table shows the amount of the first
monthly payment for each $1,000 of value which depends on factors built into the
table, as described below.

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

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

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

Substitution of 3.5% Table: If you ask us at least 30 days before the retirement
date, we will  substitute  an annuity table based on an assumed 3.5%  investment
rate for the 5% table in the  certificate.  The assumed  investment rate affects
both the amount of the first payout and the extent to which subsequent payouts


<PAGE>



PAGE 41
increase or decrease.  Using the 5% table results in a higher  initial  payment,
but later  payouts will increase more slowly when annuity unit values are rising
and decrease more rapidly when they are declining.

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

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

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

The Fixed Account

Your fixed annuity payout amounts are guaranteed.  Once calculated,  your payout
will remain the same and never change. To calculate your annuity payouts we:

o take the value of your fixed  account at the  retirement  date or the date you
have selected to begin receiving your annuity  payouts;  then o using an annuity
table we apply the value according to the annuity payout plan you select;  and o
the annuity payout table we use will be the one in effect at the time you choose
to begin your  annuity  payouts.  The table will be equal to or greater than the
table in your certificate.

RATING AGENCIES

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




<PAGE>



PAGE 42
Rating agency            Rating

A.M. Best                  A+
                       (Superior)

Duff & Phelps             AAA

Moody's                   Aa2

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

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

   
Surrender  charges  received  by IDS Life for 1996,  1995 and  1994,  aggregated
$11,956,753, $10,125,762 and $6,969,493,  respectively.  Commissions paid by IDS
Life  for  1996,  1995  and  1994,   aggregated   $17,247,007,   $9,019,184  and
$17,331,801,  respectively. The surrender charges were applied toward payment of
commissions.
    

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

   
The financial  statements of IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
including the  statements of net assets as of December 31, 1996, and the related
statements of operations  for the year then ended,  except for IDS Life Accounts
KZ,  LZ and MZ  which  are  for the  period  April  30,  1996  (commencement  of
operations)  to December 31, 1996 and the related  statements  of changes in net
assets for each of the two years in the period then  ended,  except for IDS Life
Accounts KZ, LZ and MZ which are for the period April 30, 1996  (commencement of
operations) to December 31, 1996 and the  consolidated  financial  statements of
IDS Life  Insurance  Company as of  December  31, 1996 and for each of the three
years in the period  then ended,  appearing  in this SAI,  have been  audited by
Ernst & Young LLP,  independent  auditors,  as stated in their reports appearing
herein.
    
       

PROSPECTUS

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



<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ, and MZ
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Net Assets                                                                                           Dec. 31, 1996

                                                                 Segregated Asset Account
                                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets                                              F                IZ                 JZ                G              H

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>              <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>         
Investments in shares of mutual funds,                                                                                      
at market value:                                                                                                            
IDS Life Capital Resource Fund -                                                                                            
177,781,561 shares at net asset value                                                                                       
of  $23.65 per share (cost $4,047,345,917)    $4,204,493,423   $            -   $            -    $             -   $          -
IDS Life International Equity Fund -                                                                                        
132,770,113 shares at net asset value                                                                                       
of  $13.77 per share (cost $1,626,031,699)                 -    1,828,581,064                -                  -              -
IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund -                                                                                           
126,606,113 shares at net asset value                                                                                       
of  $15.66 per share (cost $1,602,355,316)                 -                -    1,982,701,223                  -              -
IDS Life Special Income Fund -                                                                                        
148,555,482 shares at net asset value                                                                                       
of  $11.90per share (cost $1,689,083,214)                  -                -                -      1,767,315,909              -
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc. -                                                                                           
212,289,597 shares at net asset value                                                                                       
of  $1.00 per share (cost $212,271,725)                    -                -                -                  -    212,272,517
IDS Life Manged Fund, Inc. -                                                                                                
212,504,249 shares at net asset value                                                                                       
of  $16.77 per share (cost $2,850,375,313)                 -                -                -                  -              -
IDS Life Global Yield Fund -                                                                                            
2,544,154 shares at net asset value                                                                                         
of  $10.49 per share (cost $25,940,207)                    -                -                -                  -              -
IDS Life Income Advantage Fund -                                                                                       
6,285,705 shares at net asset value                                                                                         
of  $10.04 per share (cost $62,236,522)                    -                -                -                  -              -
IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund -                                                                                      
35,067,279 shares at net asset value                                                                                        
of  $11.11 per share (cost $371,114,515)                   -                -                -                  -              -
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               4,204,493,423    1,828,581,064    1,982,701,223      1,767,315,909    212,272,517

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends receivable                                       -                -                -         11,146,045        887,697
Accounts receivable from IDS Life for
contract purchase payments                           607,519          388,946          472,456            517,589        136,398
Receivable from mutual funds for
share redemptions                                  4,695,478        1,107,574        1,381,659          1,461,420        193,445
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets                                   4,209,796,420    1,830,077,584    1,984,555,338      1,780,440,963    213,490,057
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable to IDS Life for:
  Mortality and expense risk fee                   3,712,650        1,599,841        1,730,113          1,556,957        181,332
  Contract terminations                            4,695,478        1,107,574        1,381,659          1,461,420        193,445
Payable to mutual funds for 
investments purchased                                607,519          388,946          472,456         10,106,705        842,763
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities                                  9,015,647        3,096,361        3,584,228         13,125,082      1,217,540
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net assets applicable to contracts in
   accumulation period                         4,190,377,748    1,823,818,352    1,975,789,754      1,761,644,974    211,896,599
Net assets applicable to contracts in
   payment period                                 10,403,025        3,162,871        5,181,356          5,670,907        375,918
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net assets                              $4,200,780,773   $1,826,981,223   $1,980,971,110     $1,767,315,881   $212,272,517
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation units outstanding                   628,555,221    1,220,479,990    1,172,792,754        362,167,237     89,644,495
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value per accumulation unit                 $ 6.67           $ 1.49           $ 1.68             $ 4.86         $ 2.36
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ, and MZ
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Net Assets  (continued)                                                                              Dec. 31, 1996

                                                                 Segregated Asset Account
                                              ----------------------------------------------------------------------    Combined
Assets                                                N                  KZ              LZ              MZ             Variable
                                                                                                                        Accounts
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>              <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>         
Investments in shares of mutual funds,
at market value:
IDS Life Capital Resource Fund -
177,781,561 shares at net asset value
of  $23.65 per share (cost $4,047,345,917)     $                 $                 $               $                 $4,204,493,423
IDS Life International Equity Fund -                                                           
132,770,113 shares at net asset value                                                           
of  $13.77 per share (cost $1,626,031,699)                  -                 -               -               -       1,828,581,064
IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund -                                                              
126,606,113 shares at net asset value                                                           
of  $15.66 per share (cost $1,602,355,316)                  -                 -               -               -       1,982,701,223
IDS Life Special Income Fund -                                                            
148,555,482 shares at net asset value                                                           
of  $11.90per share (cost $1,689,083,214)                   -                 -               -               -       1,767,315,909
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc. -               
212,289,597 shares at net asset value          
of  $1.00 per share (cost $212,271,725)                     -                 -               -               -         212,272,517
IDS Life Manged Fund, Inc. -                   
212,504,249 shares at net asset value          
of  $16.77 per share (cost $2,850,375,313)      3,564,460,564                 -               -               -       3,564,460,564
IDS Life Global Yield Fund -              
2,544,154 shares at net asset value            
of  $10.49 per share (cost $25,940,207)                     -        26,698,213               -               -          26,698,213
IDS Life Income Advantage Fund -                                                          
6,285,705 shares at net asset value                                                             
of  $10.04 per share (cost $62,236,522)                     -                 -      63,086,555               -          63,086,555
IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund -                                                        
35,067,279 shares at net asset value                                                            
of  $11.11 per share (cost $371,114,515)                    -                 -               -     389,599,034         389,599,034
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                3,564,460,564        26,698,213      63,086,555     389,599,034      14,039,208,502

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dividends receivable                                                     56,745         443,676                          12,534,163
Accounts receivable from IDS Life for
contract purchase payments                            512,639           246,418         491,716       1,252,804           4,626,485
Receivable from mutual funds for
share redemptions                                   2,489,155                 -               -             469          11,329,200
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets                                   $3,567,462,358      $ 27,001,376    $ 64,021,947   $ 390,852,307      14,067,698,350
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable to IDS Life for:
  Mortality and expense risk fee                    3,125,997            21,575          51,280         319,803          12,299,548
  Contract terminations                             2,489,155                                 -             469          11,329,200
Payable to mutual funds for investments
   purchased                                          512,639           281,588         884,112       1,252,804          15,349,532
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities                                   6,127,791           303,163         935,392       1,573,076          38,978,280
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net assets applicable to contracts in
   accumulation period                          3,553,505,785        26,676,156      62,866,363     388,517,661      13,995,093,392
Net assets applicable to contracts in
   payment period                                   7,828,782            22,057         220,192         761,570          33,626,678
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net assets                               $3,561,334,567      $ 26,698,213    $ 63,086,555   $ 389,279,231    $ 14,028,720,070
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation units outstanding                  1,197,162,300        24,878,248      59,938,791     350,597,571
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value per accumulation unit                  $ 2.97            $ 1.07          $ 1.05          $ 1.11
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ, and, MZ
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Operations                                                                             Year ended Dec. 31, 1996

                                                                      Segregated Asset Account
                                       --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Income                               F                IZ                JZ                 G                  H

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                <C>             <C>               <C>                <C>         
Dividend income from mutual funds        $ 670,221,352      $ 66,056,258    $ 207,061,621     $ 139,215,103      $ 10,634,560
Mortality and expense
risk fee                                    43,557,533        17,435,477       18,289,942        18,205,869         2,170,979
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income (loss) - net             626,663,819        48,620,781      188,771,679       121,009,234         8,463,581
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized gain (loss) on sales of
investments in mutual funds:
Proceeds from sales                        303,010,271        57,280,381       38,496,615       201,451,882       219,529,327
Cost of investments sold                   263,167,821        51,653,208       29,215,833       195,303,803       219,530,075
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain(loss)
 on investments                             39,842,450         5,627,173        9,280,782         6,148,079              (748)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized
appreciation or
depreciation of
of investments                           (394,337,953)        81,683,280       42,813,163      (25,950,503)               825
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain (loss) on
 investments                             (354,495,503)        87,310,453       52,093,945      (19,802,424)                77
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase
 from operations                         $ 272,168,316     $ 135,931,234    $ 240,865,624     $ 101,206,810       $ 8,463,658
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ, and MZ

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Operations  (continued)                                                                 Year ended Dec. 31, 1996

                                         Segregated Asset Account
                                        -------------------------------------------------------------------           Combined
Investment Income                              N                    KZ *          LZ *               MZ *             Variable
                                                                                                                      Accounts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                      <C>                   <C>            <C>                 <C>         <C>            
Dividend income from mutual funds        $ 308,414,735         $ 329,878      $ 1,607,718         $ 883,328   $ 1,404,424,553
Mortality and expense
risk fee                                    34,077,081            81,313          190,335         1,101,122       135,109,651
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income (loss) - net             274,337,654           248,565        1,417,383         (217,794)     1,269,314,902
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized gain (loss) on sales of
investments in mutual funds:
Proceeds from sales                        142,237,920            92,587                -            18,353       962,117,336
Cost of investments sold                   113,436,943            91,391                -            16,802       872,415,876
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain(loss)
 on investments                             28,800,977             1,196                -             1,551        89,701,460
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized
appreciation or
depreciation of
of investments                             191,117,363           758,006          850,033        18,484,519       (84,581,267)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain (loss) on
 investments                               219,918,340           759,202          850,033        18,486,070         5,120,193
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase
 from operations                         $ 494,255,994       $ 1,007,767      $ 2,267,416      $ 18,268,276   $ 1,274,435,095
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*For the period April 30, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ, and MZ

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

                                                                  Segregated Asset Account
                                           ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operations                                        F                   IZ                JZ                  G               H
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>                 <C>              <C>                 <C>               <C>        
Investment income (loss) - net               $ 626,663,819       $ 48,620,781     $ 188,771,679       $ 121,009,234     $ 8,463,581
Net realized gain (loss) on investments         39,842,450          5,627,173         9,280,782           6,148,079           (748)
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments                  (394,337,953)         81,683,280        42,813,163        (25,950,503)             825
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase from operations                   272,168,316        135,931,234       240,865,624         101,206,810       8,463,658
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Transactions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Variable annuity contract 
purchase payments                              247,034,837        136,590,270       137,497,822         136,598,453      71,251,781
Net transfers**                                  7,353,251        158,214,068       227,344,754       (130,631,868)    (73,493,878)
Loan repayments                                  6,524,720          2,185,648         2,289,136           1,948,047         542,980
Annuity payments                                 (618,433)          (145,076)         (211,338)           (302,440)        (16,311)
Contract charges                               (4,665,100)        (1,844,449)       (1,844,915)         (1,651,986)       (186,455)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits                           (323,487,903)       (99,067,158)      (97,711,535)       (138,993,547)    (26,610,434)
Death benefits                                (19,407,560)        (6,956,648)       (6,698,818)        (13,852,642)     (1,119,093)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) from contract 
transactions                                  (87,266,188)        188,976,655       260,665,106       (146,885,983)    (29,631,410)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at beginning of year              4,015,878,645      1,502,073,334     1,479,440,380       1,812,995,054     233,440,269
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year                  $ 4,200,780,773    $ 1,826,981,223   $ 1,980,971,110     $ 1,767,315,881   $ 212,272,517
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accumulation Unit Activity
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at beginning of year         641,902,761      1,088,873,599     1,007,975,519         393,696,727     102,567,540
Contract purchase payments                      38,493,929         95,677,544        87,429,534          29,931,965      31,461,578
Net transfers**                                  1,526,639        110,170,298       143,201,245        (28,111,632)    (32,033,370)
Transfers for policy loans                       1,013,895          1,512,631         1,436,806             419,834         233,492
Contract charges                                 (729,091)        (1,286,561)       (1,166,154)           (358,645)        (81,536)
Contract terminations:                                                                                               
Surrender benefits                            (50,461,665)       (69,287,451)      (61,605,600)        (30,226,184)    (11,981,080)
Death benefits                                 (3,191,247)        (5,180,070)       (4,478,596)         (3,184,828)       (522,129)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at end of year               628,555,221      1,220,479,990     1,172,792,754         362,167,237      89,644,495
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Includes transfer activity from (to) other Accounts and transfers (from) to IDS Life for conversion from (to) Fixed Account.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ, and MZ

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)                                                            Year ended Dec. 31, 1996
                                                                                                                           Combined
                                               -------------------------------------------------------------------------   Variable
Operations                                          N                  KZ*             LZ*                 MZ*             Accounts
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>                   <C>             <C>               <C>            <C>            
Investment income (loss) - net               $ 274,337,654         $ 248,565       $ 1,417,383       $ (217,794)    $ 1,269,314,902
Net realized gain (loss) on investments         28,800,977             1,196                 -             1,551         89,701,460
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments                    191,117,363           758,006           850,033        18,484,519        (84,581,267)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase from operations                   494,255,994         1,007,767         2,267,416        18,268,276      1,274,435,095
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Transactions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Variable annuity contract
purchase payments                              178,726,120         2,213,183         4,646,202        18,844,441        933,403,109
Net transfers**                                 11,968,781        23,859,394        57,148,839       358,733,822        640,497,163
Loan repayments                                  4,253,041             4,127            18,815           208,070         17,974,584
Annuity payments                                 (458,457)           (1,456)           (4,943)          (17,149)        (1,775,603)
Contract charges                               (3,435,971)           (4,484)          (10,289)          (88,337)       (13,731,986)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits                           (219,622,814)         (377,077)         (950,606)       (6,499,453)      (913,320,527)
Death benefits                                (15,758,360)           (3,241)          (28,879)         (170,439)       (63,995,680)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) from contract 
transactions                                  (44,327,660)        25,690,446        60,819,139       371,010,955        599,051,060
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at beginning of year              3,111,406,233                 -                 -                 -     12,155,233,915
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year                  $ 3,561,334,567      $ 26,698,213      $ 63,086,555     $ 389,279,231   $ 14,028,720,070
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accumulation Unit Activity
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at beginning 
of year                                      1,212,021,386                 -                 -                 -
Contract purchase payments                      67,036,198         2,150,213         4,593,557        17,880,563
Net transfers**                                  5,024,835        23,110,914        56,411,486       339,165,647
Transfers for policy loans                       1,578,243             3,961            18,315           194,231
Contract charges                               (1,282,363)           (4,320)          (10,113)          (82,302)
Contract terminations:                                                                          
Surrender benefits                            (80,844,746)         (379,430)       (1,045,166)       (6,403,548)
Death benefits                                 (6,371,253)           (3,090)          (29,288)         (157,020)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at end of year             1,197,162,300        24,878,248        59,938,791       350,597,571
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*For the period April 30, 1996 (commencement of operations) to Dec. 31, 1996.
**Includes transfer activity from (to) other Accounts and transfers (from) to IDS Life for conversion from (to) Fixed Account.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, and N

Statements of Changes in Net Assets                                                                        Year ended Dec. 31, 1995
                                                                                                                           Combined
                                                                    Segregated Asset Account                               Variable
Operations                       F             IZ             JZ               G                H              N           Accounts
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                      <C>           <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>          <C>             <C>
Investment income (loss)
- -- net.................. $ 382,304,326 $  16,811,232   $ (3,271,462)   $  108,341,613   $  8,962,535 $   47,655,603  $  560,803,847
Net realized gain (loss)
on investments..........     1,981,692       232,727      2,279,635        (1,229,421)          (275)     1,251,386       4,515,744
Net change in unrealized
appreciation or
depreciation of
investments.............   416,704,333   119,413,997    312,088,997       188,951,733             (8)   512,608,047   1,549,767,099
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase
from operations.........   800,990,351   136,457,956    311,097,170       296,063,925      8,962,252    561,515,036   2,115,086,690
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Contract Transactions                                                                                                              
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Variable annuity
contract purchase
payments................   322,088,024   166,423,047    160,903,570      211,623,765    124,651,412    238,185,358   1,223,875,176
Net transfers*..........   225,750,236   115,024,536    178,588,839       24,885,088    (65,080,217)   103,698,960     582,867,442
Loan repayments.........     5,346,926     1,706,764      1,590,494        1,874,596        498,840      3,315,089      14,332,709
Annuity payments........      (305,244)      (61,793)      (110,594)        (146,183)       (12,430)      (250,512)       (886,756)
Contract charges........    (4,315,769)   (1,655,121)    (1,462,175)      (1,623,209)      (193,070)    (3,278,764)    (12,528,108)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits......  (168,713,260)  (54,092,983)   (45,135,117)     (81,995,494)   (17,710,675)  (128,865,985)   (496,513,514)
Death benefits..........   (13,025,950)   (4,773,415)    (4,031,004)     (11,829,653)    (1,744,859)   (15,779,578)    (51,184,459)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase from
contract transactions...   366,824,963   222,571,035    290,344,013      142,788,910     40,409,001    197,024,568   1,259,962,490
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at beginning
of year................. 2,848,063,331 1,143,044,343    877,999,197    1,374,142,219    184,069,016  2,352,866,629   8,780,184,735
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of
year....................$4,015,878,645$1,502,073,334 $1,479,440,380   $1,812,995,054   $233,440,269 $3,111,406,233 $12,155,233,915
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Accumulation Unit Activity                                                                                                         
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at
beginning of year.......   576,723,791   913,363,825    780,422,772       361,639,812     84,475,351  1,127,833,738
Contract purchase
payments................    57,636,862   131,707,429    125,753,542        49,975,261     56,237,498    102,978,794
Net transfers*..........    40,143,198    90,463,426    139,820,238         4,867,638    (29,247,982)    44,116,848
Transfers for policy
loans...................       947,593     1,338,975      1,217,057           446,825        221,952      1,420,549
Contract charges........      (777,408)   (1,312,071)    (1,134,381)         (392,206)       (88,252)    (1,423,957)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits......   (30,273,815)  (42,742,065)   (34,796,218)      (19,834,181)    (8,256,611)   (55,615,949)
Death benefits..........    (2,497,460)   (3,945,920)    (3,307,491)       (3,006,422)      (774,416)    (7,288,637)
Units outstanding at end
of year.................   641,902,761 1,088,873,599  1,007,975,519       393,696,727    102,567,540  1,212,021,386
*Includes transfer activity from (to) other Accounts and transfers (from) to IDS Life for conversion from (to) Fixed Account.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ

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

IDS Life Accounts F, G, H and N were established as segregated asset accounts of
IDS Life  Insurance  Company (IDS Life) under  Minnesota law and are  registered
collectively as a single unit investment trust under the Investment  Company Act
of 1940.  Accounts F, G and H were  established  on May 13, 1981.  Account N was
established  on April 22,  1985 and  commenced  operations  on April  30,  1986.
Accounts IZ and JZ were  established  as segregated  asset accounts on Sept. 20,
1991 and  commenced  operations  on Jan. 13,  1992.  Accounts KZ, LZ and MZ were
established as segregated asset accounts on April 2, 1996 and commenced 
operations on April 30, 1996.  IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ 
and MZ are collectively  referred to as "the Accounts."

The assets of the Accounts are held for the exclusive  benefit of the Retirement
Annuity contract owners and are not chargeable with  liabilities  arising out of
the business  conducted by any other  segregated  asset accounts or by IDS Life.
Contract owners allocate their variable  purchase payments to one or more of the
nine segregated  asset accounts.  Such funds are then invested in shares of nine
mutual  funds  organized  by IDS Life as the  investment  vehicles  for variable
annuity contracts issued by IDS Life and its subsidiaries.

Each  Fund  is  registered  under  the  Investment  Company  Act  of  1940  as a
diversified,  (non-diversified for Global Yield) open-end management  investment
company.  IDS Life Capital  Resource  Fund, IDS Life Special Income Fund and IDS
Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc. commenced  operations Oct. 13, 1981. IDS Life Managed
Fund, Inc. commenced  operations April 30, 1986. IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund
and IDS Life  International  Equity Fund commenced  operations on Jan. 13, 1992.
IDS Life Global Yield Fund,  IDS Life Income  Advantage Fund and IDS Life Growth
Dimensions Fund commenced  operations on April 30, 1996.  Funds allocated to IDS
Life Account F are invested in the shares of IDS Life Capital Resource Fund; IDS
Life Account IZ invests in the shares of IDS Life International Equity Fund; IDS
Life Account JZ invests in the shares of IDS Life  Aggressive  Growth Fund;  IDS
Life Account G invests in the shares of IDS Life Special  Income Fund;  IDS Life
Account H invests  in the shares of IDS Life  Moneyshare  Fund,  Inc.;  IDS Life
Account N invests in the shares of IDS Life Managed Fund, Inc.; IDS Life Account
KZ invests in the shares of IDS Life  Global  Yield  Fund;  IDS Life  Account LZ
invests in the shares of IDS Life Income  Advantage Fund and IDS Life Account KZ
invests in the shares of IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund.

IDS Life serves as manager, investment adviser and distributor for the Accounts 
and the underlying nine mutual funds.
___________________________________________________________________ 
2.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

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

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

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

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

IDS Life makes  contractual  assurances  to the Accounts  that  possible  future
adverse  changes in  administrative  expenses and  mortality  experience  of the
annuitants  and  beneficiaries  will not affect the Accounts.  The mortality and
expense risk fee paid to IDS Life is computed  daily and is equal,  on an annual
basis, to 1 percent of the average daily net assets of the Accounts.

An annual  charge of $20 is deducted  from the contract  value of each  Variable
Retirement  Annuity  contract.  An  annual  charge of $30 is  deducted  from the
contract value of each Combination Retirement Annuity contract. An annual charge
of $500 is  deducted  from the  contract  value of each Group  Variable  Annuity
contract. An annual charge of $30 is deducted from the certificate value of each
Employee Benefit Annuity certificate.  A quarterly charge of $6 is deducted from
the contract  value of each Flexible  Annuity  contract.  The annual charges are
deducted at contract year end and the quarterly charges are deducted at contract
quarter  end,  during  the  accumulation  period,  for  administrative  services
provided to the Accounts by IDS Life.

A contingent  deferred sales charge (surrender charge or withdrawal charge) will
be imposed upon:

a) certain Variable Retirement Annuity contract surrenders during
   the first seven years,
b) Combination Retirement Annuity contract surrenders during the
   first seven, eight or eleven years, depending on type of
   contract,
c) Group Variable Annuity contract withdrawals during the first
   seven years,
d) Employee Benefit Annuity certificate surrenders during the first
   eleven years, and
e) Flexible Annuity contract surrenders of amounts other than those representing
   earnings or those representing purchase payments more than six years old.

Charges by IDS Life for surrenders are not available on an individual segregated
asset account  basis.  Charges for all  segregated  asset  accounts  amounted to
$11,956,753 in 1996 and  $10,125,762 in 1995. Such charges are not an expense of
the Accounts.  They are deducted from  contract  surrender  benefits paid by IDS
Life.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------
4.  Investment Transactions

The  Accounts'  purchases  of mutual  fund shares  (net of  charges),  including
reinvestment of dividend distributions, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                         Year Ended Dec. 31,        
Account   Investment                                                 1996                    1995   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                            <C>                    <C>
  F       IDS Life Capital Resource Fund.....................  $  842,940,565         $  765,524,150
 IZ       IDS Life International Equity Fund.................     295,290,858            254,418,892
 JZ       IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund....................     488,497,853            300,849,208
  G       IDS Life Special Income Fund ......................     175,575,133            273,349,783
  H       IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc......................     198,361,500            140,810,125
  N       IDS Life Managed Fund, Inc.........................     372,910,559            259,968,265
 KZ       IDS Life Global Yield Fund ........................      26,031,598*                    --
 LZ       IDS Life Income Advantage Fund ....................      62,236,522*                    --
 MZ       IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund ...................     371,131,317*                    --
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               $2,832,975,905         $1,994,920,423
*For the period April 30, 1996 to Dec. 31, 1996.
</TABLE>

- -------------------------------------------------------------------
5.  Annuity Contracts in Payment Period

Net assets and annuity units relating to contracts in the payment period as of 
Dec. 31, 1996, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                           F            IZ           JZ            G           H  .      N          KZ        LZ         MZ  .   
<S>                  <C>           <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>      <C>          <C>       <C>        <C>        
Net assets 
applicable 
to contracts                                                                                                                
in payment period... $10,403,025   $3,162,871   $5,181,356   $5,670,907    $375,918  $7,828,782   $22,057   $220,192   $761,570   
Annuity units in 
payment period.....       31,398       22,708       29,585       17,819       1,466      41,892     1,239      2,314      5,406   
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   
                                                                                                   
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

Annual Financial Information


Report of Independent Auditors

The Board of Directors IDS Life Insurance Company

We have  audited the  accompanying  individual  and combined  statements  of net
assets of IDS Life  Accounts  F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ, and MZ as of  December
31, 1996,  and the related  statements  of  operations  for the year then ended,
except for IDS Life  Accounts  KZ, LZ and MZ which are for the period  April 30,
1996  (commencement  of  operations) to December 31, 1996, and the statements of
changes in net assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, except
for IDS Life  Accounts  KZ, LZ and MZ which are for the  period  April 30,  1996
(commencement  of operations) to December 31, 1996.  These financial  statements
are the  responsibility  of the  management of IDS Life Insurance  Company.  Our
responsibility  is to express an opinion on these financial  statements based on
our audits.

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

In our opinion,  the financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material  respects,  the individual and combined  financial  position of IDS
Life  Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ at December 31,  1996,  and the
individual  and combined  results of their  operations  and changes in their net
assets for the periods  described  above, in conformity with generally  accepted
accounting principles.



Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
March 21, 1997


<PAGE>

                           IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


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

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

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

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

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

<PAGE>

                           IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                     CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>

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

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

Total premiums                                        182,921            161,530             144,640

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Income taxes                                         207,138            195,842             176,343

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

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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

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

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

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

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

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>


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

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

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

<PAGE>


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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

<PAGE>


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

1. Summary of significant accounting policies

   Nature of business

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

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

   Basis of presentation

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

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

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

   Investments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   Statements of cash flows

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

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

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

   Recognition of profits on annuity contracts and insurance policies

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

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

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

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

   Deferred policy acquisition costs

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

   Liabilities for future policy benefits

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

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

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

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

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

   Reinsurance

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

   Federal income taxes

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

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

   Separate account business

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

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

   Accounting changes

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

   Reclassification

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

2. Investments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                           Amortized             Fair
   Held to maturity                           Cost               Value

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

                                            Amortized             Fair
   Available for sale                         Cost                Value

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

<PAGE>

3. Income taxes

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

   Income tax expense consists of the following:

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

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

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

<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

4. Stockholder's equity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Related party transactions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6. Commitments and contingencies

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

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

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

7. Lines of credit 

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

8. Derivative financial instruments

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

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

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

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

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

<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

9. Fair values of financial instruments

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

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

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

<PAGE>

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

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

10.Segment information

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

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

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

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

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

<PAGE>

Report of Independent Auditors


The Board of Directors
IDS Life Insurance Company

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

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

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

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



Ernst & Young LLP
February 7, 1997
Minneapolis, Minnesota


<PAGE>



PAGE 43
PART C.

Item 24.    Financial Statements and Exhibits

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

     IDS Life Accounts F,IZ,JZ,G,H,N,KZ,LZ,& MZ:

         Statements of Net Assets at Dec. 31, 1996.
         Statements of Operations for the year ended Dec. 31, 1996.
         Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the years ended
              Dec. 31, 1996 and Dec. 31, 1995.
         Notes to Financial Statements.
         Report of Independent Auditors dated March 14, 1997.

     IDS Life Insurance Company:

         Consolidated Balance Sheets at Dec. 31, 1996 and 1995;
         Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended Dec.
              31, 1996, 1995, and 1994;
         Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Equity for the
              years ended Dec. 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994;
         Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
              Dec. 31, 1996, 1995, and 1994; and
         Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
         Report of Independent Auditors dated February 7, 1997.

      Exhibits to Financial Statements included in Part C:

      Financial  Statement Schedules I, III, IV, and V as required by Regulation
      S-X:

         Schedule I - Consolidated Summary of Investments Other
                      than Investments in Related Parties
         Schedule  III  -  Supplementary  Insurance  Information
         Schedule  IV -    Reinsurance
         Schedule V - Valuation and Qualifying  Accounts
         Report of Independent Auditors dated February 7, 1997.

      All other schedules to the consolidated  financial  statements required by
      Article  7  of  Regulation   S-X  are  not  required   under  the  related
      instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.

(b)  Exhibits:

1.1   Copy of Resolution of the Executive Committee of the Board of
      Directors of IDS Life establishing  Accounts C, D, E, F, G,
      and H adopted May 13, 1981, filed electronically as Exhibit
      1.1 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to Registration
      Statement No. 33-52518 is incorporated herein by reference.

1.2   Copy of Resolution of the Board of Directors of IDS Life
      establishing Account N on April 17, 1985, filed electronically
      as Exhibit 1.2 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to
      Registration Statement No. 33-52518 is incorporated herein by
      reference.



<PAGE>



PAGE 44
1.3   Copy of Resolution of the Board of Directors of IDS Life
      establishing Accounts IZ and JZ on September 20, 1991, filed
      electronically as Exhibit 1.3 to Post-Effective Amendment No.
      2 to Registration Statement No. 33-52518 is incorporated
      herein by reference.

1.4   Consent in Writing in Lieu of Meeting of Board of Directors
      establishing Accounts MZ, KZ and LZ on April 2, 1996, filed
      electronically as Exhibit 1.4 to Post-Effective Amendment No.
      6 to Registration Statement No. 33-52518 is incorporated
      herein by reference.

2.    Not applicable.

3.    Not applicable.

4.1   Copy of Group Deferred Fixed/Variable Contract (form 34607)
      filed electronically as Exhibit 4 to Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-52518 is incorporated
      herein by reference.

4.2   Copy of Group Deferred Fixed/Variable Certificate (form 34610-
      MN) filed electronically as Exhibit 5 to Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-52518 is
      incorporated herein by reference.

5.1   Form of Master Application for Group Deferred Annuity Contract
      (form 34608C) filed electronically as Exhibit 5.1 to Post-
      Effective Amendment No. 4 to Registration Statement No. 33-
      52518 is incorporated herein by reference.

5.2   Form of Participant Enrollment Form (form 34609A) filed
      electronically as Exhibit 5.2 to Post-Effective Amendment No.
      4 to Registration Statement No. 33-52518 is incorporated
      herein by reference.

6.1   Copy of Articles of Incorporation of IDS Life dated July 24,
      1957, filed electronically as Exhibit 6.1 to Post-Effective
      Amendment No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-52518 is
      incorporated herein by reference.

6.2   Copy of Amendment to By-Laws of IDS Life filed  electronically  as Exhibit
      6.2  to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  2 to  Registration  Statement  No
      33-52518 is incorporated herein by reference.

7.    Not applicable.

8.    Not applicable.

9.    Opinion  of  counsel  and  consent  to its use as to the  legality  of the
      securities registered was filed with Registrant's 24f-2 notice on or about
      February 19, 1997.

10.   Consent of Independent Auditors, filed electronically
      herewith.



<PAGE>



PAGE 45
11.   Financial Statement Schedules and Report of Independent
      Auditors, filed electronically herewith.

12.   Not applicable.

13.   Copy of Schedule for computation of each performance quotation
      filed electronically as Exhibit 13 to Post-Effective Amendment
      No. 2 to Registration Statement No. 33-52518 is incorporated
      herein by reference.

14.   Financial Data Schedules filed electronically herewith.

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

Item 25.    Directors and Officers of the Depositor (IDS Life
            Insurance Company)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        Positions and
Name                     Principal Business Address     Offices with Depositor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



<PAGE>



PAGE 46
Item 25.    Directors and Officers of the Depositor (IDS Life Insurance Company (cont'd)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                                                  Jurisdiction
Name of Subsidiary                                of Incorporation

I.   Travel Related Services

    American Express Travel Related
     Services Company, Inc.                          New York

II.  International Banking Services

    American Express Bank Ltd.                       Connecticut

III. Companies engaged in Financial Services

    Advisory Capital Strategies Group Inc.           Minnesota
    American Centurion Life Assurance Company        New York
    American Enterprise Investment Services Inc.     Minnesota
    American Enterprise Life Insurance Company       Indiana
    American Express Client Services Corporation     Minnesota
    American Express Financial Advisors Inc.         Delaware
    American Express Financial Corporation           Delaware
    American Express Insurance Agency of Arizona Inc.Arizona
    American Express Insurance Agency of Idaho Inc.  Idaho
    American Express Insurance Agency of Nevada Inc. Nevada
    American Express Minnesota Foundation            Minnesota
    American Express Property Casualty Insurance
      Agency of Kentucky Inc.                        Kentucky


<PAGE>



PAGE 47
    American Express Property Casualty Insurance
      Agency of Mississippi Inc.                     Mississippi
    American Express Property Casualty Insurance
      Agency of Pennsylvania Inc.                    Pennsylvania
    American Express Service Corporation             Delaware
    American Express Tax and Business Services Inc.  Minnesota
    American Express Trust Company                   Minnesota
    American Partners Life Insurance Company         Arizona
    AMEX Assurance Company                           Illinois
    IDS Advisory Group Inc.                          Minnesota
    IDS Aircraft Services Corporation                Minnesota
    IDS Cable Corporation                            Minnesota
    IDS Cable II Corporation                         Minnesota
    IDS Capital Holdings Inc.                        Minnesota
    IDS Certificate Company                          Delaware
    IDS Deposit Corp.                                Utah
    IDS Fund Management Limited                      U.K.
    IDS Futures Corporation                          Minnesota
    IDS Insurance Agency of Alabama Inc.             Alabama
    IDS Insurance Agency of Arkansas Inc.            Arkansas
    IDS Insurance Agency of Massachusetts Inc.       Massachusetts
    IDS Insurance Agency of Mississippi Ltd.         Mississippi
    IDS Insurance Agency of New Mexico Inc.          New Mexico
    IDS Insurance Agency of North Carolina Inc.      North Carolina
    IDS Insurance Agency of Ohio Inc.                Ohio
    IDS Insurance Agency of Texas Inc.               Texas
    IDS Insurance Agency of Utah Inc.                Utah
    IDS Insurance Agency of Wyoming Inc.             Wyoming
    IDS International, Inc.                          Delaware
    IDS Life Insurance Company                       Minnesota
    IDS Life Insurance Company of New York           New York
    IDS Management Corporation                       Minnesota
    IDS Partnership Services Corporation             Minnesota
    IDS Plan Services of California, Inc.            Minnesota
    IDS Property Casualty Insurance Company          Wisconsin
    IDS Real Estate Services, Inc.                   Delaware
    IDS Realty Corporation                           Minnesota
    IDS Sales Support Inc.                           Minnesota
    IDS Securities Corporation                       Delaware
    Investors Syndicate Development Corp.            Nevada

Item 27.    Number of Contractowners

            On January  31,  1997,  there  were  16,409  contract  owners of the
            Employee Benefit Annuity.

Item 28.    Indemnification

            The By-Laws of the  depositor  provide that it shall  indemnify  any
            person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party, by
            reason of the fact that he is or was a director,  officer,  employee
            or agent of this Corporation,  or is or was serving at the direction
            of the  Corporation  as a  director,  officer,  employee or agent of
            another  corporation,  partnership,  joint  venture,  trust or other
            enterprise, to any threatened,  pending or completed action, suit or
            proceeding, wherever brought, to the fullest extent permitted by the
            laws  of the  State  of  Minnesota,  as now  existing  or  hereafter
            amended,


<PAGE>



PAGE 48
            provided  that this Article  shall not indemnify or protect any such
            director,  officer,  employee or agent  against any liability to the
            Corporation or its security  holders to which he would  otherwise be
            subject  by reason  of  willful  misfeasance,  bad  faith,  or gross
            negligence,  in the  performance  of his  duties or by reason of his
            reckless disregard of his obligations and duties.

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

Item 29.    Principal Underwriters

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

            (b)   This table is the same as our response to Item 25 of
                  this Registration Statement.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

            (c)
               Name of       Net Underwriting
               Principal     Discounts and     Compensation on   Brokerage
               Underwriter   Commissions       Redemption        Commissions   Compensation

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

Item 30.    Location of Accounts and Records

            IDS Life Insurance Company
            IDS Tower 10
            Minneapolis, MN

Item 31.    Management Services

            Not applicable.



<PAGE>



PAGE 49
Item 32.    Undertakings

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

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

            (c)   Registrant  undertakes  to deliver any Statement of Additional
                  Information and any financial  statements  required to be made
                  available  under  this  Form  promptly  upon  written  or oral
                  request to IDS Life  Contract  Owner Service at the address or
                  phone number listed in the prospectus.

            (d)   The sponsoring  insurance company represents that the fees and
                  charges  deducted under the contract,  in the  aggregate,  are
                  reasonable in relation to the services rendered,  the expenses
                  expected  to  be  incurred,  and  the  risks  assumed  by  the
                  insurance company.



<PAGE>



PAGE 50
                                   SIGNATURES

As  required by the  Securities  Act of 1933 and the  Investment  Company Act of
1940, IDS Life Insurance Company, on behalf of the Registrant  certifies that it
meets the  requirements of Securities Act Rule 485(b) for  effectiveness of this
Registration  Statement and, has caused this Registration Statement to be signed
on its behalf in the City of  Minneapolis,  and State of Minnesota,  on the 16th
day of April, 1997.

                                        IDS LIFE  ACCOUNT F
                                        IDS LIFE  ACCOUNT IZ
                                        IDS LIFE  ACCOUNT JZ
                                        IDS LIFE  ACCOUNT G
                                        IDS LIFE  ACCOUNT  H
                                        IDS LIFE  ACCOUNT N
                                        IDS LIFE  ACCOUNT KZ
                                        IDS LIFE ACCOUNT LZ
                                        IDS LIFE ACCOUNT MZ
                                            (Registrant)

                                   By IDS Life Insurance Company
                                            (Sponsor)

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

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration  Statement has been
signed by the following  persons in the capacities  indicated on the 16th day of
April, 1997.

Signature                             Title

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

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

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

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

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




<PAGE>



PAGE 51
Signature                             Title

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

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


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



- -----------------------------
Colin Lancaster



<PAGE>



PAGE 52
                   CONTENTS OF POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 7

This  Post-Effective   Amendment  is  comprised  of  the  following  papers  and
documents:

The Cover Page.

Cross-reference sheet.

Part A.

     The prospectus.

Part B.

     Statement of Additional Information.

     Financial Statements.

Part C.

     Other Information.

     The signatures.

Exhibits.





<PAGE>



PAGE 1
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
Registration No. 33-52518/811-3217

EXHIBIT INDEX

10.  Consent of Independent Auditors

11. Financial Statement Schedules and Report of
    Independent Auditors

14. Financial Data Schedules:
      IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
      IDS Life Insurance Company

15. Power of Attorney





<PAGE>



PAGE 1







CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS


We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Independent Auditors"
and to the  use of our  reports  dated  February  7,  1997  on the  consolidated
financial  statements and schedules of IDS Life Insurance Company and our report
dated March 21, 1997 on the financial statements of IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ,
G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ in Post  Effective  Amendment  No. 7 to the  Registration
Statement (Form N-4 No.  33-52518) for the  registration of the Employee Benefit
Annuity to be offered by IDS Life Insurance Company.



Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 15, 1997




<PAGE>
<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE I - CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS
OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES ($ thousands)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Column A                                  Column B         Column C           Column D

Type of Investment                          Cost            Value         Amount at which
                                                                            shown in the
                                                                           balance sheet
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>               <C>                 <C>       
Fixed maturities:
    Held to maturity:
        United States Government and
          government agencies and
          authorities (a)             $    2,085,280  $      2,060,778  $        2,085,280
        States, municipalities and
           political subdivisions              9,685            10,097               9,685
        All other corporate bonds          8,141,414         8,450,775           8,141,414
                                        -------------   ---------------   -----------------
              Total held to maturity      10,236,379        10,521,650          10,236,379

    Available for sale:
        United States Government and
          government agencies and
          authorities (b)                  6,925,876         6,960,002           6,960,002
        States, municipalities and
           political subdivisions             11,032            12,368              12,368
        All other corporate bonds          4,071,714         4,174,475           4,174,475
                                        -------------   ---------------   -----------------
              Total available for sale    11,008,622        11,146,845          11,146,845

Mortgage loans on real estate              3,493,364         XXXXXXXXX           3,493,364
Policy loans                                 459,902         XXXXXXXXX             459,902
Other investments                            251,465         XXXXXXXXX             251,465
                                        -------------                     -----------------

              Total investments       $   25,449,732  $      XXXXXXXXX  $       25,587,955
                                        =============                     =================

(a) - Includes mortgage-backed securities with a cost and market value of $2,041,278 and $2,017,119,
           respectively.
(b) - Includes mortgage-backed securities with a cost and market value of $6,847,932 and $6,879,547,
           respectively.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

    Column A     Column B      Column C  Column D    Column E    Column F   Column G    Column H    Column I      Column J  Column K

    Segment      Deferred      Future    Unearned  Other policy  Premium      Net       Benefits,  Amortization    Other    Premiums
                  policy       policy    premiums   claims and  revenue    investment   claims,     of deferred  operating  written
                 acquisition  benefits,              benefits                income    losses and    policy       expenses
                   cost        losses,                payable                          settlement   acquisition
                              claims and                                                 expenses     costs
                                loss
                               expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>           <C>           <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>
Annuities     $  1,398,025  $ 21,838,008 $       -  $    50,137  $        -  $1,702,364  $    2,724  $   189,645  $ 180,942    N/A



Life, DI, and
Long-term 
Care Insurance      932,780    3,811,034          -       33,497     182,921     262,998     187,486       88,960     80,526   N/A

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

Total         $  2,330,805  $ 25,649,042 $       -  $    83,634  $  182,921  $1,965,362  $  190,210  $   278,605  $ 261,468    N/A

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

    Column A      Column B     Column C    Column D    Column E    Column F   Column G    Column H    Column I    Column J  Column K

    Segment      Deferred     Future       Unearned  Other policy  Premium      Net       Benefits,  Amortization Other     Premiums
                  policy      policy       premiums   claims and  revenue    investment   claims,     of deferred operating  written
                 acquisition benefits,                benefits                income     losses and    policy     expenses
                   cost       losses,                 payable                            settlement   acquisition
                              claims and                                                  expenses     costs
                               loss
                               expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>            <C>         <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>            <C>
Annuities      $ 1,227,169 $ 21,404,836 $       -  $     28,191  $       -  $1,651,067  $    2,693  $   189,626  $  166,191     N/A



Life, DI, 
and Long-term 
Care Insurance     798,556    3,613,253          -        28,132    161,530     256,242     164,749       90,495      45,451    N/A


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

Total          $ 2,025,725 $ 25,018,089 $       -  $     56,323  $ 161,530  $1,907,309  $  167,442  $   280,121  $  211,642     N/A

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

  Column A        Column B    Column C    Column D    Column E    Column F  Column G    Column H    Column I      Column J  Column K

   Segment       Deferred     Future      Unearned  Other policy  Premium     Net       Benefits,  Amortization   Other     Premiums
                  policy      policy      premiums   claims and  revenue   investment   claims,     of deferred  operating   written
                 acquisition benefits,              benefits                income     losses and    policy       expenses
                   cost       losses,                payable                           settlement   acquisition
                             claims and                                                 expenses     costs
                               loss
                              expenses
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>            <C>         <C>          <C>       <C>          <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>             <C>
Annuities      $ 1,150,585 $ 19,361,979 $       - $    23,888  $        - $1,534,826  $   (5,762) $   194,060  $  131,515      N/A



Life, DI, and
Long-term Care
Insurance         714,739    3,346,931          -      26,180     144,640    247,047     134,128       86,312      78,586      N/A


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

Total          $ 1,865,324 $ 22,708,910 $       - $    50,068  $  144,640 $1,781,873  $  128,366  $   280,372  $  210,101      N/A

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Column A              Column B       Column C        Column D      Column E    Column F

                             Gross amount  Ceded to other   Assumed from      Net     % of amount
                                            companies     other companies   Amount   assumed to net
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                        <C>            <C>            <C>              <C>               <C>  
For the year ended
  December 31, 1996

Life insurance in force    $  65,571,173  $   3,875,921  $     1,703,181  $63,398,433       2.69%
===================================================================================================

Premiums:
  Life insurance           $      54,111  $       3,253  $           545  $   51,403        1.06%
  DI & LTC insurance             164,561         33,043               --     131,518        0.00%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total premiums             $     218,672  $      36,296  $           545  $  182,921        0.30%
===================================================================================================

For the year ended
  December 31, 1995

Life insurance in force    $  57,895,180  $   3,771,204  $     1,788,352  $55,912,328       3.20%
===================================================================================================

Premiums:
  Life insurance           $      53,089  $       2,648  $          (248) $   50,193       -0.49%
  DI & LTC insurance             137,016         25,679               --     111,337        0.00%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total premiums             $     190,105  $      28,327  $          (248) $  161,530       -0.15%
===================================================================================================

For the year ended
  December 31, 1994

Life insurance in force    $  50,814,651  $   3,246,608  $     1,851,916  $49,419,959       3.75%
===================================================================================================

Premiums:
  Life insurance           $      51,219  $       3,354  $           319  $   48,184        0.66%
  DI & LTC insurance             114,049         17,593               --      96,456        0.00%
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total premiums             $     165,268  $      20,947  $           319  $  144,640        0.22%
===================================================================================================
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE V - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Column A           Column B        Column C                       Column D      Column E

                                                  Additions
                                                -------------
                                 Balance at                       Charged to
              Description         Beginning      Charged to     Other Accounts- Deductions-  Balance at End
                                  of Period   Costs & Expenses     Describe      Describe *    of Period
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                  <C>                   <C>               <C>          <C>       <C>    
For the year ended
  December 31, 1996
- ------------------------------
Reserve for Mortgage Loans           $37,340               $155              $0           $0        $37,495
Reserve for Other Investments         $4,713              ($750)             $0           $0         $3,963

For the year ended
  December 31, 1995
- ------------------------------
Reserve for Mortgage Loans           $35,252             $1,088              $0      ($1,000)       $37,340
Reserve for Other Investments         $7,515            ($2,802)             $0           $0         $4,713

For the year ended
  December 31, 1994
- ------------------------------
Reserve for Mortgage Loans           $35,020               $232              $0           $0        $35,252
Reserve for Fixed Maturities         $22,777           ($16,777)             $0       $6,000             $0
Reserve for Other Investments        $10,700            ($3,185)             $0           $0         $7,515

* 1995 amount represents a reserve on mortgage loans which were transferred from an affiliate. 
  1994 amount represents a direct writedown of the related investments in fixed maturities.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


Report of Independent Auditors

The Board of Directors
IDS Life Insurance Company

We have audited the  consolidated  financial  statements  of IDS Life  Insurance
Company as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and for each of the three years in the
period  ended  December  31,  1996,  and have  issued our report  thereon  dated
February 7, 1997 (included elsewhere in this Registration Statement). Our audits
also included the  financial  statement  schedules  listed in Item 24(a) of this
Registration Statement.  These schedules are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits.

In our  opinion,  the  financial  statement  schedules  referred to above,  when
considered  in  relation  to the basic  financial  statements  taken as a whole,
present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.



Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 7, 1997

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                          7
<CIK> 0000353965
<NAME>                     IDS Life Insurance Company
<MULTIPLIER>               1000
<CURRENCY>                 U.S. DOLLAR
       
<S>                                       <C>    
<PERIOD-START>                            JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                         DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    YEAR
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                     1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                         11146845
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                        10236379
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                          10521650
<EQUITIES>                                       3308
<MORTGAGE>                                    3493364
<REAL-ESTATE>                                   70290
<TOTAL-INVEST>                               25587955
<CASH>                                         224603
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               1803
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                        2330805
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               47305981
<POLICY-LOSSES>                              25649042
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                 0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                      0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                           83634
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                     0
<COMMON>                                         3000
                               0
                                         0
<OTHER-SE>                                    2144080
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 47305981
                                     182921
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                           1965362
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                              (159)
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 574341
<BENEFITS>                                    1560678
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                    278605
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                           261468
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                621714
<INCOME-TAX>                                   207138
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            414576
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                   414576
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                       0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                       0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                  24192
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             88549
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                   0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              86354
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                    0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                 26387
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                             0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                            6
<NAME>  IDS LIFE ACCOUNTS F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ AND MZ
<CIK> 0000353965
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1
<CURRENCY>                                 U.S. DOLLAR
       
<S>                                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                     YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-31-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      12486754429
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     14039208502
<RECEIVABLES>                                 28489848
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             14028720070
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                   (38978280)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                         (38978280)
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                             0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       5106238999
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       4447037532
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                             0
<NET-ASSETS>                               14028720070
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                           1404424553
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                    0
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                             (135109651)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     1269314902
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      89701460
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   (84581267)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       1274435095
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                     1059699945
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                (400498478)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      1873486155
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                            (135109651)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       13091976993
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                0
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                  0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                      0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>




<PAGE>



PAGE 1

                           IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

City of Minneapolis

State of Minnesota

      Each of the  undersigned,  as directors of IDS Life  Insurance  Company on
behalf of the below listed  registrants that previously have filed  registration
statements and amendments thereto pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Act of 1933 and the  Investment  Company  Act of 1940  with the  Securities  and
Exchange Commission:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        1933 Act        1940 Act
                                                        Reg. Number     Reg. Number
<S>                                                     <C>             <C>
IDS Life Variable Account 10
  IDS Life Flexible Portfolio Annuity                   33-62407        811-07355
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
  IDS Life Flexible Annuity                             33-4173         811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
  IDS Life Variable Retirement and Combination
  Retirement Annuities                                  2-73114         811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
  IDS Life Employee Benefit Annuity                     33-52518        811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
  IDS Life Group Variable Annuity Contract              33-47302        811-3217
IDS Life Insurance Company
  IDS Life Group Variable Annuity Contract
  (Fixed Account)                                       33-48701           N/A
IDS Life Insurance Company
  IDS Life Guaranteed Term Annuity                      33-28976           N/A
IDS Life Insurance Company
  IDS Life Flexible Payment Market Value Annuity        33-50968           N/A
IDS Life Variable Life Separate Account
  Flexible Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy       33-11165        811-4298
IDS Life Variable Life Separate Account
  Flexible Premium Survivorship Variable
  Life Insurance Policy                                 33-62457        811-4298
IDS Life Variable Life Separate Account
  Single Premium Variable Life
  Insurance Policy                                      2-97637         811-4298
IDS Life Variable Account for Smith Barney
  Single Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy         33-5210         811-4652
IDS Life Account SBS
  Symphony Annuity                                      33-40779        812-7731
IDS Life Account RE
IDS Life Real Estate Variable Annuity                   33-13375           N/A
IDS Life Variable Annuity Fund A                        2-29081         811-1653
IDS Life Variable Annuity Fund B                        2-47430         811-1674
</TABLE>

hereby  constitutes  and appoints  William A.  Stoltzmann,  Mary Ellyn  Minenko,
Eileen J. Newhouse, Sherilyn K. Beck, Colin Lancaster, Bruce Kohn and Timothy S.
Meehan or any one of them, as her or his attorney-in-fact and agent, to sign for
her or him in her or his name, place and stead any and all filings, applications
(including



<PAGE>



PAGE 2
applications for exemptive relief),  periodic reports,  registration  statements
(with all exhibits  and other  documents  required or  desirable  in  connection
therewith),  other documents,  and amendments  thereto and to file such filings,
applications,  periodic reports,  registration statements,  other documents, and
amendments  thereto  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission,  and  any
necessary states,  and grants to any or all of them the full power and authority
to do and  perform  each and every  act  required  or  necessary  in  connection
therewith.

     Dated the 12th day of March, 1997.



/s/ David R. Hubers                             March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    David R. Hubers
    Director


/s/ Richard W. Kling                            March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    Richard W. Kling
    Director and President


/s/ Paul F. Kolkman                             March 11, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    Paul F. Kolkman
    Director and Executive Vice
    President


/s/ James A. Mitchell                           March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    James A. Mitchell
    Director, Chairman of the
    Board and Chief Executive Officer


/s/ Barry J. Murphy                             March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    Barry J. Murphy
    Director and Executive Vice
    President, Client Service


/s/ Stuart A. Sedlacek                          March 7, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    Stuart A. Sedlacek
    Director and Executive Vice
    President, Assured Assets


/s/ Melinda S. Urion                            March 10, 1997
- ---------------------------------
    Melinda S. Urion
    Director, Executive Vice
    President and Controller



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