IDS LIFE ACCOUNT F
485BPOS, 1998-04-27
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<PAGE>


                                        SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                              Washington, D.C. 20549

                                                     FORM N-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

         Post-Effective Amendment No.  17    (File No. 33-4173)            [X]
                                     -------

                                     and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

         Amendment No.  19       (File No. 811-3217)                       [X]
                      -------

                         (Check appropriate box or boxes)

                                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 (check  appropriate box)
 [ ] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485
 [X] on May 1, 1998  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.

<PAGE>

                               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 the  prospectus  and  Statement  of  Additional
Information are so indicated.

<PAGE>
                                                      PART A


Item No.          Section in Prospectus
1                 Cover page
2                 Key terms
3   (a)           Expense Summary
    (b)           The Flexible Annuity in brief
4   (a)           Condensed financial information
    (b)           Performance information
    (c)           Financial statements
5   (a)           Cover page; About IDS Life
    (b)           The variable accounts
    (c)           The funds
    (d)           Cover page; The funds
    (e)           Voting rights
    (f)           NA
    (g)           NA
6   (a)           Charges
    (b)           Expense Summary; Charges
    (c)           Charges
    (d)           Distribution of the contracts
    (e)           The funds
    (f)           NA
7   (a)           Buying your annuity; Benefits in case of death; The annuity
                  payout period
    (b)           The variable accounts; Making the most of your annuity
    (c)           The funds; Charges
    (d)           Cover page
8   (a)           The annuity payout period
    (b)           Buying your annuity
    (c)           The annuity payout period
    (d)           The annuity payout period
    (e)           The annuity payout period
    (f)           The annuity payout period
9   (a)           Benefits in case of death
    (b)           Benefits in case of death
10  (a)           Buying your annuity; Valuing your investment
    (b)           Valuing your investment
    (c)           Buying your annuity; Valuing your investment
    (d)           NA
11  (a)           Surrendering your contract
    (b)           TSA - Special surrender provisions
    (c)           Surrendering your contract
    (d)           Buying your annuity
    (e)           The Flexible Annuity in brief
12  (a)           Taxes
    (b)           Key terms
    (c)           NA
13                About IDS Life
14                Table of contents of the Statement of Additional Information

                                               PART B

                  Section in
Item No.          Statement of Additional Information
15  (a)           Cover page
    (b)           NA
16                Table of Contents
17  (a)           NA
    (b)           NA
    (c)           About IDS Life*
18  (a)           NA
    (b)           NA
    (c)           Independent Auditors
    (d)           NA
    (e)           NA
    (f)           Principal underwriter
19  (a)           Distribution of the contracts*; About IDS Life*
    (b)           Charges*
20  (a)           Principal underwriter
    (b)           Principal underwriter
    (c)           Principal underwriter
    (d)           NA
21  (a)           Performance information
    (b)           Performance information
22                Calculating annuity payouts
23  (a)           Financial statements
    (b)           Financial statements

<PAGE>

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

<PAGE>

IDS Life Flexible Annuity

   
Prospectus
May 1, 1998
    

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

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

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>

Table of contents

Key terms

The Flexible 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 your annuity
The retirement date
Beneficiary
How to make purchase payments

Charges
Contract 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

<PAGE>

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

Surrendering your contract
Surrender policies
Receiving payment when you request a surrender

TSA special surrender provisions

Changing ownership

Benefits in case of death

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

Taxes

Voting rights

Distribution of the contracts

About IDS Life
Legal proceedings

   
Year 2000
    

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

<PAGE>

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 person 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 the owner  and/or any other  payee.  This  amount may be paid on a
variable or fixed basis or a combination of both.

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

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

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

Code - Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

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

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

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

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

Mutual funds (funds) - Nine IDS Life Retirement  Annuity mutual funds, each with
a different  investment  objective.  (See "The  funds.") You may  allocate  your
purchase  payments into variable  accounts  investing in shares of any or all of
these funds.

<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

All other annuities are considered nonqualified annuities.

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

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

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

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

Variable  accounts  -  Separate  accounts  to which  you 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.

<PAGE>

The Flexible Annuity in brief

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

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

Accounts:  You may allocate your 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. 18)

o        one fixed account, which earns interest at rates that are adjusted
         periodically by IDS Life. (p. 23)
    

Buying your annuity: Your financial advisor will help you complete and submit an
application. New annuity contracts are not being offered. Your financial advisor
will help you complete and submit an  application.  Applications  are subject to
acceptance at our Minneapolis  office.  You may buy a nonqualified  annuity or a
qualified  annuity including an IRA. Payment may be made either in a lump sum or
installments:

o        Minimum  purchase  payment - $2,000  ($1,000 for  qualified  annuities)
         unless  you pay in  installments  by means of a bank  authorization  or
         under a group billing arrangement such as a payroll deduction.

o        Minimum installment payment - $50 monthly; $23.08 biweekly payroll
         deductions.

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. 26)
    

<PAGE>
   
Transfers:  Subject to certain  restrictions,  you may  redistribute  your money
among accounts  without charge at any time until annuity  payouts begin and once
per contract  year among the variable  accounts  thereafter.  You may  establish
automated transfers among the fixed and variable account(s). (p. 37)

Surrenders:  You may surrender  all or part of your  contract  value at any time
before the retirement date. You also may establish automated partial surrenders.
Surrenders  may be subject to charges and tax  penalties  and may have other tax
consequences; also, certain restrictions apply. (p. 40)

Changing  ownership:  You may  change  ownership  of a  nonqualified  annuity by
written instruction,  however,  such changes of nonqualified  annuities may have
federal income tax consequences. Certain restrictions apply concerning change of
ownership of a qualified annuity. (p. 43)

Benefits in case of death:  If you or the annuitant dies before annuity  payouts
begin,  we will pay the  beneficiary  an amount at least  equal to the  contract
value. (p. 44)

Annuity  payouts:  The contract  value of your  investment  can be applied to an
annuity  payout plan that begins on the  retirement  date. You may choose from a
variety of plans to make sure that payouts  continue as long as they are needed.
If you purchased a qualified annuity, the payout schedule must meet requirements
of the  qualified  plan.  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. 46)

Taxes:  Generally,  your annuity  grows  tax-deferred  until you surrender it or
begin to receive  payouts  (under certain  circumstances,  IRS penalty taxes may
apply.) Even if you direct  payouts to someone else,  you will still be taxed on
the income if you are the owner.  Roth IRAs,  however may grow tax-free,  if you
meet certain distribution requirements. (p. 49)

Charges:  Your  Flexible  Annuity  is  subject to a $6  quarterly  ($24  annual)
contract  administrative  charge,  a 1% mortality  and expense  risk  charge,  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 payouts begin. (p. 28)
    
Expense summary

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

<PAGE>

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

Owner Expenses*

                  Surrender Charge
                  (Contingent deferred sales charge as a percentage of new 
                   purchase payments)

                  Purchase payments up to six contract years old             7%

                  Earnings and purchase payments six years old or more       0%

                  Annual Contract Administrative Charge                    $24

Separate Account Annual Expense
(As a percentage of average daily net assets of the underlying fund)

                  Mortality and expense risk fee:                            1%

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

Annual operating  expenses of underlying mutual funds (Management fees and other
expenses deducted as a percentage of average net assets)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                  IDS Life      IDS Life   IDS Life                 IDS Life                  IDS Life    IDS Life     IDS Life
                  Aggressive  InternationalCapital      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%        .83%          .60%       .59%          .60%        .51%        .63%          .84%       .62%

Other expenses        .07         .11           .07        .05           .07         .06         .08           .07        .03

Total *               .67%        .94%          .67%       .64%          .67%        .57%        .71%          .91%       .65%

    
*Annualized operating expenses of underlying mutual funds at Dec. 31, 1997.

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

Example:* You would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment,  assuming
5% annual return and surrender at the end of each time period:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                  IDS Life      IDS Life   IDS Life                  IDS Life                 IDS Life    IDS Life     IDS Life
                  Aggressive  InternationalCapital      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              $87.95      $90.72       $87.95      $87.64       $87.95       $86.92      $88.36       $90.41      $87.74

3 years             125.59      133.98       125.59      124.65       125.59       122.47      126.83       133.05      124.96

5 years             165.68      179.82       165.68      164.10       165.68       160.40      167.78       178.26      164.62

10 years            207.71      236.70       207.71      204.44       207.71       196.77      212.05       233.51      205.53
</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  InternationalCapital      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              $17.95      $20.72       $17.95      $17.64       $17.95       $16.92      $18.36       $20.41      $17.74

3 years              55.59       63.98        55.59       54.65        55.59        52.47       56.83        63.05       54.96

5 years              95.68      109.82        95.68       94.10        95.68        90.40       97.78       108.26       94.62

10 years            207.71      236.70       207.71      204.44       207.71       196.77      212.05       233.51      205.53
</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 $24 annual contract administrative charge is approximated
as a 0.081% charge based on our average contract size.
    

<PAGE>

Condensed financial information
(unaudited)

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
Condensed Financial Information (Unaudited)

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

Year Ended Dec. 31,
                                1997       1996       1995      1994    1993    1992      1991     1990    1989    1988
 
                        Account F (investing in shares of Capital Resource Fund)

<S>                            <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>     <C>       <C>      <C>     <C>     <C>  
Accumulation unit              $6.67      $6.25      $4.94     $4.93   $4.82   $4.67     $3.22    $3.23   $2.57   $2.31
value at beginning
of period

Accumulation unit value        $8.21      $6.67      $6.25     $4.94   $4.93   $4.82     $4.67    $3.22   $3.22   $2.57
at end of period

Number of accumulation       556,866    628,555    641,903   576,724 488,632 402,977   309,984  242,767 204,645 186,639
units outstanding at end
of period (000 omitted)

Ratio of operating              1.00%      1.00%      1.00%     1.00%   1.00%   1.00%     1.00%    1.00%   1.00%   1.00%
expense to average

                        Account IZ1 (investing in shares of International Equity Fund)

Accumulation unit              $1.49      $1.38      $1.25     $1.29   $0.98   $1.00        --       --      --      --
value at beginning
of period

Accumulation unit value        $1.52      $1.49      $1.38     $1.25   $1.29   $0.98        --       --      --      --
at end of period

Number of accumulation     1,168,353  1,220,486  1,088,874   913,364 405,536  69,874        --       --      --      --
units outstanding at end
of period (000 omitted)

Ration of operating             1.00%      1.00%      1.00%     1.00%   1.00%   1.00%       --       --      --      --
expense to average
net assets

                        Account JZ1 (investing in shares of Aggressive Growth Fund)

Accumulation unit              $1.68      $1.46      $1.12     $1.21   $1.08   $1.00        --       --      --      --
value at beginning
of period

Accumulation unit value        $1.88      $1.68      $1.46     $1.12   $1.21   $1.08        --       --      --      --
at end of period

Number of accumulation     1,168,829  1,172,793  1,007,976   780,423 347,336 115,574        --       --      --      --
units outstanding at end
of period (000 omitted)

Ration of operating             1.00%      1.00%      1.00%     1.00%   1.00%   1.00%       --       --      --      --
expense to average
net assets

<PAGE>
                        Account G (investing in shares of Special Income Fund)

Accumulation unit              $4.86      $4.59      $3.80     $3.99   $3.48   $3.21     $2.76    $2.67   $2.48   $2.27
value at beginning
of period

Accumulation unit value        $5.25      $4.86      $4.59     $3.80   $3.99   $3.48     $3.21    $2.76   $2.67   $2.48
at end of period

Number of accumulation       316,789    362,167    393,697   361,640 405,429 330,000   270,858  236,926 222,248 175,878
units outstanding at end
of period (000 omitted)

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

                        Account H (investing in shares of Moneyshare Fund)

Accumulation unit              $2.36      $2.27      $2.18     $2.12   $2.09   $2.04     $1.95    $1.82   $1.69   $1.59
value at beginning
of period

Accumulation unit value        $2.46      $2.36      $2.27     $2.18   $2.12   $2.09     $2.04    $1.95   $1.82   $1.69
at end of period

Number of accumulation        87,255     89,644    102,568    84,475  74,935 102,277   126,489  139,005 108,690  63,005
units outstanding at end
of period (000 omitted)

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

Simple yield2                   4.15%      3.84%      4.10%     4.39%   1.89%   1.76%     3.26%    6.25%   6.81%   7.30%

Compound yield2                 4.24%      3.92%      4.18%     4.49%   1.90%   1.77%     3.31%    6.44%   7.04%   7.57%

                        Account N (investing in shares of Managed Fund)

Accumulation unit              $2.97      $2.56      $2.09     $2.21   $1.98   $1.86     $1.45    $1.42   $1.14   $1.06
value at beginning
of period

Accumulation unit value        $3.51      $2.97      $2.56     $2.09   $2.21   $1.98     $1.86    $1.45   $1.42   $1.14
at end of period

Number of accumulation     1,178,735  1,197,162  1,212,021 1,127,834 910,254 650,797   496,554  400,961 331,315 325,918
units outstanding at end
of period (000 omitted)

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

<PAGE>
                        Account KZ3 (investing in shares of Global Yield Fund)

Accumulation unit              $1.07      $1.00         --        --      --      --        --       --      --      --
value at beginning
of period

Accumulation unit value        $1.10      $1.07         --        --      --      --        --       --      --      --
at end of period

Number of accumulation        65,609     24,878         --        --      --      --        --       --      --      --
units outstanding at end
of period (000 omitted)

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

                        Account LZ3 (investing in shares of Income Advantage Fund)

Accumulation unit              $1.05      $1.00         --        --      --      --        --       --      --
value at beginning
of period

Accumulation unit value        $1.18      $1.05         --        --      --      --        --       --      --
at end of period

Number of accumulation       175,024     59,939         --        --      --      --        --       --      --
units outstanding at end
of period (000 omitted)

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

                        Account MZ3 (investing in shares of Growth Dimensions Fund)

Accumulation unit              $1.11      $1.00         --        --      --      --        --       -- 
value at beginning
of period

Accumulation unit value        $1.37      $1.11         --        --      --      --        --       --
at end of period

Number of accumulation       831,259    350,598         --        --      --      --        --       --
units outstanding at end
of period (000 omitted)

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

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

   
The SAI dated May 1, 1998, contains:

o      complete audited financial statements of the variable accounts including:
         - statements of net assets as of Dec. 31, 1997;
         - statements of operations for the year ended Dec. 31, 1997, and
         - statements of changes in net assets for the years ended Dec. 31, 1997
           and Dec.31, 1996,  except for IDS Life  Accounts  KZ, LZ and MZ which
           are for the year ended Dec. 31, 1997 and 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, 1997 and Dec. 31, 1996;
           and
         - related consolidated statements of income, stockholder's equity and
           cash flows for the years ended Dec. 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995.
    

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  of  all   applicable   charges,   including  the  contract
administrative  charge,  mortality  and expense risk fee and  surrender  charge,
assuming a surrender at the end of the illustrated period.

Optional average annual total return  quotations may be made that do not reflect
a surrender charge deduction (assuming no surrender).

Aggregate  total return:  Represents  the  cumulative  change in the value of an
investment over a specified  period of time  (reflecting  change in an account's
accumulation  unit value).  The calculation  assumes  reinvestment of investment
earnings and reflects the  deduction of all  applicable  charges,  including the
contract  administrative  charge,  mortality  and expense risk fee and surrender
charge, assuming a surrender at the end of the illustrated period.

<PAGE>

Optional  aggregate  total return  quotations  may be made that do not reflect a
surrender charge deduction (assuming no surrender).

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 annuity,
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:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      IDS Life Account          Established

<S>                                                          <C>                <C> 
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
</TABLE>

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
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.

<PAGE>

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.

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.

<PAGE>

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

   
IDS Life is the investment  manager and AEFC is the investment  advisor for each
of  the  funds.   American  Express  Asset  Management   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.
    

The fixed account

   
Purchase payments also may 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.
    

<PAGE>

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

Buying your annuity

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

When you apply, you can select:

o        the account(s) in which you want to invest;

o        how you want to make purchase payments; and

o        a beneficiary.

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

<PAGE>

   
For nonqualified annuities and Roth IRAs, the retirement date must be:
    

o        no earlier than the 60th day after the contract's effective date; and

o        no later  than the  annuitant's  85th  birthday  (or the 10th  contract
         anniversary, if purchased after age 75).

   
For qualified  annuities  (except Roth IRAs),  to avoid IRS penalty  taxes,  the
retirement date generally must be:
    

o        on or after the date the annuitant reaches age 59 1/2; and

o        for IRAs,  SIMPLE IRAs,  and SEPs, by April 1 of the year following the
         calendar year when the annuitant reaches age 70 1/2; 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 IRA or TSA  distributions  as required by the Code
from another tax-qualified  investment or in the form of partial surrenders from
this annuity, annuity payouts can start as late as the annuitant's 85th birthday
or the 10th contract anniversary.

Certain  restrictions  on retirement  dates apply to  participants  in the Texas
Optional Retirement 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 contract value. If there is no named
beneficiary,  then you or your estate will be the beneficiary. (See "Benefits in
case of death" for more about beneficiaries.)

Purchase payments

Minimum purchase payment

If single payment:

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

<PAGE>

If installment payments:

$50 monthly; $23.08 biweekly

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

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

Minimum additional purchase payment(s):

   
$50 monthly; $23.08 biweekly
    

Maximum first-year payment(s):

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

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

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.  For qualified  annuities
the qualified plan's limits on annual contributions also apply.

How to make purchase payments

1      By letter

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

Regular mail:

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

<PAGE>

Express mail:

IDS Life Insurance Company
733 Marquette Avenue
Minneapolis, MN  55402

2        By scheduled payment plan

Your financial advisor can help you set up:

o        an automatic payroll deduction, salary reduction or other group billing
         arrangement; or

o        a bank authorization.

Charges

Contract administrative charge

This fee is for establishing and maintaining your records. We deduct $6 from the
contract  value at the end of each  contract  quarter (each  three-month  period
measured from the effective  date of your  contract).  This equates to an annual
charge of $24.

If you surrender  your  contract,  the quarterly  charge will be deducted at the
time of surrender.  The quarterly  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,  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.

<PAGE>

Expense  risk  arises  because  the  contract  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.

Surrender charge

A  surrender  charge of 7% applies on each  purchase  payment  you make.  We may
deduct this  surrender  charge if you  request a  surrender  within six years of
making that purchase payment.  The surrender amount you request is determined by
drawing from your total contract value in the following order:

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

2) Next, if necessary,  we surrender amounts representing  purchase payments six
contract years old or more and not previously surrendered. There is no surrender
charge on these old purchase payments.

3) Finally, if necessary, we surrender amounts representing purchase payments up
to six contract years old and not previously surrendered.  A surrender charge of
7% applies to any amount surrendered from these new purchase payments.

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

o        for a total surrender, the surrender charge equals the amount withdrawn
         from amounts representing new purchase payments times 7%; and

o        for a  partial  surrender,  the  surrender  charge  equals  the  amount
         withdrawn from amounts  representing  new purchase  payments divided by
         0.93 times 7%;

<PAGE>

Example of surrender charge on new purchase payments:

you request..............1,000 partial surrender      = $1,075.27
                         -----------------------
                                   .93

Total amount surrendered.............................$   1,075.27
                                                     x       0.07
Total surrender charge...............................$      75.27

There are no surrender charges for:

o        amounts  surrendered after the later of the annuitant  attaining age 65
         or the 10th contract anniversary (except in Washington and Oregon);

o        contracts settled using an annuity payout plan; and

o        death benefits.

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

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

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

Valuing your investment

Here is how your accounts are valued:

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

<PAGE>

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  contract for that  account.  Conversely,  each time you take a
partial surrender,  transfer amounts out of a variable account or are assessed a
contract  administrative  charge,  a certain  number of  accumulation  units are
subtracted from your contract.

The accumulation  units are the true measure of investment value in each 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 your  investment,  after  deduction of any premium taxes,  by the current
accumulation unit value.

Accumulation unit value

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

Net investment factor

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

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

o        additional purchase payments allocated to the variable account(s);

o        transfers into or out of the variable account(s);

<PAGE>

o        partial surrenders;

o        surrender charges; and/or

o        contract administrative charges.

   
Accumulation unit values will 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 annuity

Automated dollar-cost averaging

   
You can use  automated  transfers  to take  advantage of  dollar-cost  averaging
(investing a fixed amount at regular intervals).  For example,  you might have a
set amount transferred monthly from a relatively  conservative  variable account
to a more aggressive one or to several others,  or from the fixed account to one
or more variable accounts. There is no charge for dollar cost averaging.
    

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.

<PAGE>

How dollar-cost averaging works

                     Amount invested      Accumulation unit   Number of units
Month                                     value               purchased

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

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

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

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

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

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

Transferring money between accounts

   
You may transfer  money from any one account,  including the fixed  account,  to
another before the annuity payouts begin. We will process your transfer  request
at the next  close of  business  after we  receive  it.  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.

<PAGE>

Transfer policies

o        You may transfer contract values between the variable accounts, or from
         the variable  account(s) to the fixed account at any time.  However, if
         you  have  made a  transfer  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
         contract anniversary.

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

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

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

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

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

How to request a transfer or a surrender

1        By letter

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

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>

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

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

2        By phone

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

   
1-800-437-0602 (toll free) or
(612) 671-9900 (Minneapolis area)
    

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

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

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

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

We will  honor any  telephone  transfer  or  surrender  request  believed  to be
authentic  and will use  reasonable  procedures  to confirm that they are.  This
includes  asking  identifying  questions and tape  recording  calls. A telephone
surrender will not be allowed within 30 days of a phoned-in  address change.  As
long as 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 and automated partial surrenders

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

<PAGE>

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.

o        Automated transfers and automated partial surrenders are subject to all
         of the contract  provisions and terms,  including  transfer of contract
         values  between  accounts.  Automated  surrenders  may be restricted by
         applicable law under some contracts.

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

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

Minimum amount
Automated transfers or surrenders:  $50

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

Surrendering your contract

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

Surrender policies

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

<PAGE>

Receiving payment when you request a surrender

By regular or express mail:

o        payable to owner;

o        mailed to address of record;

o        special payee and/or addressee.

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

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

TSA special surrender provisions

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

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

                - you have attained age 59 1/2;
                - you have become disabled as defined in the Code;
                - you  have  separated  from the  service  of the  employer  who
                purchased  the annuity;  or - the  distribution  is made to your
                beneficiary because of your death.

<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Participants in the Texas Optional  Retirement  Program:  You cannot receive any
distribution  before  retirement  unless you become totally disabled or end your
employment at a Texas college or university.
This restriction affects your right to:

o        surrender all or part of your annuity at any time; and

o        move up your retirement date.

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

<PAGE>

Changing ownership

You may change  ownership of your  nonqualified  annuity at any time by filing a
change of ownership with us at our  Minneapolis  office.  The change will become
binding upon us when we receive and record it. We take no responsibility for the
validity of the change.

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

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

Benefits in case of death

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

For contracts issued in all states except Oregon, Texas and Washington:

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

o        the contract value;

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

o        purchase payments, minus any surrenders.

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

o        the contract value; or

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

For contracts issued in Oregon, Texas and Washington:

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

<PAGE>

o        purchase payments minus any surrenders; or

o        the contract value.

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

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

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

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

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

o        payouts begin no later than one year after death, or other date as 
         permitted by the Code; and

o the payout  period  does not  extend  beyond  the  beneficiary's  life or life
expectancy.

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

The annuity payout period

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

<PAGE>

You also decide  whether  annuity  payouts are to be made on a fixed or variable
basis,  or a combination  of fixed and  variable.  Amounts of fixed and variable
payouts depend on:

o        the annuity payout plan you select;

o        the annuitant's age and, in most cases, sex;

o        the annuity table in the contract; and

o        the amounts you allocated to the account(s) at settlement.

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

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

Annuity payout plans

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

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

o Plan B - Life annuity with five, 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.

<PAGE>

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

o Plan E -  Payouts  for a  specified  period:  Monthly  payouts  are made for a
specific  payout  period of 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 for some qualified plans: If you purchased a qualified annuity, you
must select a payout plan that provides for payouts:

o        over the life of the annuitant;

o        over the joint lives of the annuitant and a designated beneficiary;

o       for a period not exceeding the life expectancy of the annuitant; or

o       for a period not exceeding the joint life expectancies of the annuitant 
        and a designated beneficiary.

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

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

Death after annuity payouts begin

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

Taxes

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

<PAGE>

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

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

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

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

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

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

Penalties: If you receive amounts from your contract before reaching age 59 1/2,
you may have to pay a 10% IRS penalty on the amount  includable in your ordinary
income.  If you receive amounts from your SIMPLE IRA before reaching age 59 1/2,
generally the IRS 10% penalty  provisions apply.  However,  if you receive these
amounts  before age 59 1/2 and within the first two years of your  participation
in the SIMPLE IRA plan,  the IRS  penalty  will be  assessed  at the rate of 25%
instead of 10%.  However,  this penalty will not apply to any amount received by
you or your beneficiary:

o        because of your death;

<PAGE>

o        because you become disabled (as defined in the Code);

o        if the distribution is part of a series of substantially equal periodic
         payments, made at least annually, over your life or life expectancy (or
         joint lives or life expectancies of you and your beneficiary); or

o        if it is allocable to an investment before Aug. 14, 1982 (except for 
         qualified annuities).

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

   
Withholding from qualified annuities: If you receive directly all or part of the
contract value from a qualified  annuity  (except an IRA, Roth IRA, SEP,  SIMPLE
IRA or Section 457 plan), mandatory 20% income tax withholding generally will be
imposed at the time the payout is made.  This mandatory  withholding is in place
of the elective withholding discussed above. This mandatory withholding will not
be imposed if:
    

<PAGE>

o        instead of  receiving  the  distribution  check,  you elect to have the
         distribution rolled over directly to an IRA or another eligible plan;

o        the payout is one in a series of substantially  equal periodic payouts,
         made at least annually, over your life or life expectancy (or the joint
         lives or life  expectancies of you and your designated  beneficiary) or
         over a specified period of 10 years or more; or

o        the payment is a minimum distribution required under the Code.

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

State withholding also may be imposed on taxable distributions.

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

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

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

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

<PAGE>

Voting rights

As a contract owner 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 your contract, divided by

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

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

We calculate  votes  separately  for each 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.

Distribution of the contracts

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

About IDS Life

The Flexible  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.

<PAGE>

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 8,600
financial advisors.
    

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

Legal proceedings

   
A number of  lawsuits  have been  filed  against  life and  health  insurers  in
jurisdictions  in which  IDS Life 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  IDS Life and its  parent  AEFC.  A second  action was filed in
March,  1997.  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.  The complaint  puts at issue various  alleged sales
practices  and  misrepresentations,  alleged  breaches of  fiduciary  duties and
alleged  violations of consumer  fraud  statues.  Plaintiffs  seek damages in an
unspecified  amount and seek to establish a claims  resolution  facility for the
determination of individual issues.
    

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 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.

   
Year 2000

The Year 2000 issue is the result of computer programs having been written using
two  digits  rather  than four to  define a year.  Any  programs  that have time
sensitive  software may recognize a date using "00" as the year 1900 rather than
2000.  This could  result in the  failure of major  systems or  miscalculations,
which could have a material  impact on the operations of the Variable  Accounts.
The  Variable  Accounts  have no computer  systems of their own but is dependent
upon the systems maintained by AEFC and certain other third parties.
    

<PAGE>

   
A  comprehensive  review of AEFC's computer  systems and business  processes has
been  conducted to identify the major systems that could be affected by the Year
2000 issue.  Steps are being taken to resolve any potential  problems  including
modification  to  existing  software  and the  purchase of new  software.  These
measures are scheduled to be completed and tested on a timely basis. AEFC's goal
is to  complete  internal  remediation  and testing of each system by the end of
1998 and to continue compliance efforts through 1999. The Year 2000 readiness of
other third parties whose system  failures  could have an impact on the Variable
Accounts operations is currently being evaluated.  The potential  materiality of
any such impact is not known at this time.
    

Regular and special reports

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

Quarterly statements showing the value of your investment.

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

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

<PAGE>

Table of contents of the Statement of Additional Information

   
IDS Life Preferred Retirement Account...................................... 3
Performance information.....................................................3
Calculating annuity payout..................................................6
Rating agencies.............................................................8
Principal underwriter.......................................................8
Independent auditors........................................................9
Prospectus..................................................................9
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 Flexible 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>


                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                       for

                                FLEXIBLE ANNUITY

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

   
                                   May 1, 1998
    


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,  1998,  is  not  a
prospectus. It should be read together with the accounts' prospectus,  dated May
1, 1998,  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
800-437-0602
    

<PAGE>

Flexible Annuity-IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ & MZ
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
   
IDS Life Preferred Retirement Account.......................................p.3

Performance Information.....................................................p.4

Calculating Annuity Payouts.................................................p.7

Rating Agencies.............................................................p.9

Principal Underwriter.......................................................p.9

Independent Auditors........................................................p.9

Prospectus..................................................................p.9
    
Financial Statements
 .........- IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
 .........- IDS Life Insurance Company

<PAGE>

IDS LIFE PREFERRED RETIREMENT ACCOUNT

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

The   advantages  of  the  IDS  Life   Preferred   Retirement   Account  over  a
non-deductible IRA are shown below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                           <C>                                   <C>
                              IDS Life                              Non-deductible
                              Preferred Retirement                  IRA
                              Account

- ----------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Maximum                       $1 million initially, then            $2,000 per year
amount you                    $50,000 per year                      ($4,000 per year
can                           (spouse can have own                  for married
contribute                    plan and also contribute              individuals filing
                              $50,000, whether or                   jointly)
                              not employed)

- ----------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Highest age                   The later of age 85                   701/2years old
you can                       or the 10th contract
contribute                    anniversary

- ----------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Types of                      Any type: wages,                      Generally limited
income you                    investment income,                    to income from
can                           gifts, inheritance,                   employment
contribute                    etc.

- ----------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Records                       None required, but                    You must keep all
you must                      IDS Life furnishes you regular        records yourself
keep                          reports for your files

- ----------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Reports you                   None                                  You must report all
must file                                                           contributions and
with the IRS                                                        withdrawals each year

- ----------------------------- ------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Age at which                  The later of age 85                   701/2years old
you must                      or the 10th contract
begin                         anniversary
withdrawals

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

<PAGE>

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 charges,  including the
annual contract  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) x (365/7)] - 1

   
Based on the  seven-day  period ended Dec. 31, 1997,  the  account's  annualized
simple yield was 4.15% and its compound yield was 4.24%.
    

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>

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.

   
Based on the 30-day period ended Dec. 31, 1997, the annualized yield for Account
G was 6.85% for Account KZ was 5.88% and for Account LZ was 8.24%.
    

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).

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

<PAGE>

   
         Average Annual Total Return For Period Ended: Dec. 31, 1997
    

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)*           +4.42%          +12.96%           --             +10.42%
     Capital Resource Fund (10/81)           +15.80%          +10.27%          +13.44%          --
     International Equity Fund (1/92)         -5.40%           +8.15%           --              +6.39%
     Managed Fund (4/86)                     +11.22%          +11.14%          +12.68%          --
     Moneyshare Fund (10/81)                  -2.98%           +2.06%           +4.43%          --
     Special Income Fund (10/81)              +0.65%           +7.38%           +8.66%          --
     Growth Dimensions Fund (4/96)           +16.02%           --               --             +16.68%
     Global Yield Fund (4/96)                 -4.29%           --               --              +1.81%
     Income Advantage Fund (4/96)             +5.15%           --               --              +6.29%
    
Average Annual Total Return without Surrender
   
                                                                                                 Since
Account investing in:                         1 Year           5 Year          10 Year         Inception
- --------------------
IDS Life
     Aggressive Growth Fund (1/92)           +11.42%          +11.61%           --             +11.12%
     Capital Resource Fund (10/81)           +22.80%          +11.20%          +13.44%          --
     International Equity Fund (1/92)         +1.60%           +9.15%           --              +7.23%
     Managed Fund (4/86)                     +18.22%          +12.04%          +12.68%          --
     Moneyshare Fund (10/81)                  +4.02%           +3.32%           +4.43%          --
     Special Income Fund (10/81)              +7.65%           +8.42%           +8.66%          --
     Growth Dimensions Fund (4/96)           +23.02%           --               --             +20.43%
     Global Yield Fund (4/96)                 +2.71%           --               --              +5.91%
     Income Advantage Fund (4/96)            +12.15%           --               --             +10.27%
    
* inception dates of the funds are shown in parentheses
</TABLE>

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).

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

<PAGE>

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

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

CALCULATING ANNUITY PAYOUTS

The Variable Account

The  following  calculations  are  done  separately  for  each  of the  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 annuity as of the valuation date seven days
before the retirement date and then deduct any applicable premium tax.

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

Annuity Units:  The value of your 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 contract value according to the age and, when  applicable,  the sex of
the annuitant.  (Where required by law, we will use a unisex table of settlement
rates.) The

<PAGE>

table  assumes  that the  contract  value is  invested at the  beginning  of the
annuity  payout period and earns a 5% rate of return,  which is  reinvested  and
helps to support future payouts.

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

Annuity  Unit  Values:  This value was  originally  set at $1 for each  variable
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 contract.

<PAGE>

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.

              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 1997,  1996 and  1995,  aggregated
$14,502,145, $11,956,753 and $10,125,726,  respectively. Commissions paid by IDS
Life  for  1997,  1996  and  1995,   aggregated   $17,883,488,   $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, 1997, and the related
statements of operations for the year then ended, 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 year then  ended and 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, 1997 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,  1998,  is  incorporated  in  this  Statement  of
Additional Information by reference.
    

<PAGE>



<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, 1997, and the related  statements of operations for the year then ended, 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 year
ended December 31, 1997 and for the period from 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, 1997 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,  1997,  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 13, 1998


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statements of Net Assets                                                                                            Dec. 31, 1997


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

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investments  in shares of  mutual  funds,  
at  market  value:  
IDS Life  Capital Resource Fund - 
160,437,800 shares at net asset value
<S>                                        <C>                           <C>              <C>              <C>                  <C>
of  $28.58 per share (cost $3,678,651,426) $ 4,584,683,419               $ -              $ -              $ -                  $ -
IDS Life International Equity Fund -
130,686,066 shares at net asset value
of  $13.63 per share (cost $1,613,121,841)               -     1,781,109,841                -                -                    -
IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund -
137,156,967 shares at net asset value
of  $16.07 per share (cost $1,792,720,995)               -                 -    2,204,202,588                -                    -
IDS Life Special Income Fund -
141,282,453 shares at net asset value
of  $11.80 per share (cost $1,612,063,279)               -                 -                -    1,666,436,859                    -
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc. -
215,138,258 shares at net asset value
of  $1.00 per share (cost $215,120,122)                  -                 -                -                -          215,120,328
IDS Life Managed Fund, Inc. -
230,299,831 shares at net asset value
of  $18.04 per share (cost $3,193,105,944)               -                 -                -                -                    -
IDS Life Global Yield Fund -
6,971,024 shares at net asset value
of  $10.39 per share (cost $71,568,627)                  -                 -                -                -                    -
IDS Life Income Advantage Fund -
19,912,683 shares at net asset value
of  $10.38 per share (cost $202,033,753)                 -                 -                -                -                    -
IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund -
83,118,305 shares at net asset value
of  $13.70 per share (cost $962,791,340)                 -                 -                -                -                    -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                             4,584,683,419     1,781,109,841    2,204,202,588    1,666,436,859          215,120,328
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dividends receivable                                     -                 -                -       10,348,791            1,022,824
Accounts receivable from 
IDS Life for contract
purchase payments                                  349,345           188,022          225,771          108,828            5,559,283
Receivable from mutual funds for
share redemptions                                4,644,465         1,457,983        2,801,461          304,372                  327
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets                                 4,589,677,229     1,782,755,846    2,207,229,820    1,677,198,850          221,702,762
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Liabilities
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable to IDS Life for:
Mortality and expense risk fee                   4,154,706         1,619,451        1,993,160        1,513,283              196,340
Contract terminations                            4,644,465         1,457,983        2,801,461          304,372                  327
Payable to mutual funds for investments
purchased                                          349,345           188,022          225,771        8,944,363            6,385,768
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities                                9,148,516         3,265,456        5,020,392       10,762,018            6,582,435
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net assets applicable to contracts in
accumulation period                          4,570,911,413     1,777,169,898    2,198,611,830    1,662,313,715          214,938,668
Net assets applicable to contracts in
payment period                                   9,617,300         2,320,492        3,597,598        4,123,117              181,659
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net assets                           $ 4,580,528,713   $ 1,779,490,390  $ 2,202,209,428  $ 1,666,436,832        $ 215,120,327
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation units outstanding                 556,866,324     1,168,353,202    1,168,829,188      316,788,701           87,255,005
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value per accumulation unit                $8.21             $1.52            $1.88            $5.25                $2.46
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, 1997


                                                                       Segregrated Asset Account                                  
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------------  Combined
Assets                                                 N               KZ              LZ                MZ             Variable
                                                                                                                        Accounts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investments  in shares of  mutual  funds,  
at  market  value:  
IDS Life  Capital Resource Fund - 
160,437,800 shares at net asset value
<S>                                                   <C>            <C>              <C>               <C>       <C>            
of  $28.58 per share (cost $3,678,651,426)            $ -            $ -              $ -               $ -       $ 4,584,683,419
IDS Life International Equity Fund -
130,686,066 shares at net asset value
of  $13.63 per share (cost $1,613,121,841)              -              -                -                 -         1,781,109,841
IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund -
137,156,967 shares at net asset value
of  $16.07 per share (cost $1,792,720,995)              -              -                -                 -         2,204,202,588
IDS Life Special Income Fund -
141,282,453 shares at net asset value
of  $11.80 per share (cost $1,612,063,279)              -              -                -                 -         1,666,436,859
IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc. -
215,138,258 shares at net asset value
of  $1.00 per share (cost $215,120,122)                 -              -                -                 -           215,120,328
IDS Life Managed Fund, Inc. -
230,299,831 shares at net asset value
of  $18.04 per share (cost $3,193,105,944)  4,154,046,191              -                -                 -         4,154,046,191
IDS Life Global Yield Fund -
6,971,024 shares at net asset value
of  $10.39 per share (cost $71,568,627)                 -     72,415,160                -                 -            72,415,160
IDS Life Income Advantage Fund -
19,912,683 shares at net asset value
of  $10.38 per share (cost $202,033,753)                -              -      206,790,315                 -           206,790,315
IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund -
83,118,305 shares at net asset value
of  $13.70 per share (cost $962,791,340)                -              -                -     1,138,720,608         1,138,720,608
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                            4,154,046,191     72,415,160      206,790,315     1,138,720,608        16,023,525,309
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dividends receivable                                    -        383,982       1,514,846                  -            13,270,443
Accounts receivable from 
IDS Life for contract
purchase payments                                 337,735          4,853         305,852          1,029,184             8,108,873
Receivable from mutual funds for
share redemptions                                 931,768         49,818             321              1,502            10,192,017
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets                                4,155,315,694     72,853,813     208,611,334      1,139,751,294        16,055,096,642
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Liabilities
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payable to IDS Life for:
Mortality and expense risk fee                  3,757,501         64,967         183,116          1,012,641            14,495,165
Contract terminations                             931,768         49,818             321              1,502            10,192,017
Payable to mutual funds for investments
purchased                                         337,735        323,868       1,637,582          1,029,184            19,421,638
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities                               5,027,004        438,653       1,821,019          2,043,327            44,108,820
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Net assets applicable to contracts in
accumulation period                         4,140,286,625     72,324,955     206,374,719      1,135,319,470        15,978,251,293
Net assets applicable to contracts in
payment period                                 10,002,065         90,205         415,596          2,388,497            32,736,529
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total net assets                          $ 4,150,288,690   $ 72,415,160   $ 206,790,315    $ 1,137,707,967      $ 16,010,987,822
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Accumulation units outstanding              1,178,734,680     65,608,959     175,023,644        831,259,213
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net asset value per accumulation unit               $3.51          $1.10           $1.18              $1.37
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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, 1997

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

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>               <C>               <C>               <C>                <C>         
Dividend income from mutual funds            $ 126,502,302     $ 67,130,767      $ 193,435,313     $ 157,493,878      $ 11,494,327
Mortality and expense risk fee                  44,568,477       18,423,272         20,668,494        17,084,438         2,286,046
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income (loss) - net                  81,933,825       48,707,495        172,766,819       140,409,440         9,208,281
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments - net

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized gain (loss) on sales 
of investments in mutual funds:
Proceeds from sales                            550,019,453      154,762,560        116,634,433       227,994,923       227,989,506
Cost of investments sold                       480,242,340      134,945,151         91,242,736       217,907,534       227,989,718
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain (loss) on investments         69,777,113       19,817,409         25,391,697        10,087,389              (212)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments                    748,884,487      (34,561,365)        31,135,686       (23,859,115)             (586)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain (loss) on investments                 818,661,600      (14,743,956)        56,527,383       (13,771,726)             (798)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations                    $ 900,595,425     $ 33,963,539      $ 229,294,202     $ 126,637,714       $ 9,207,483
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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, 1997

                                                                Segregated Asset Account                      
                                      --------------------------------------------------------------------------------    Combined
Investment income                            N                   KZ                LZ                 MZ                  Variable
                                                                                                                          Accounts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                   
<S>                                       <C>                 <C>               <C>                <C>               <C>          
Dividend income from mutual funds         $ 416,352,602       $ 2,693,029       $ 12,724,423       $ 7,014,788       $ 994,841,429
Mortality and expense risk fee               39,781,435           530,675          1,377,872         8,113,272         152,833,981
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income (loss) - net              376,571,167         2,162,354         11,346,551        (1,098,484)        842,007,448
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Realized and unrealized gain (loss) on investments - net

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Realized gain (loss) on sales 
of investments in mutual funds:
Proceeds from sales                         103,684,853         1,443,742            679,825           717,699       1,383,926,994
Cost of investments sold                     74,961,930         1,417,139            656,625           612,142       1,229,975,315
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net realized gain (loss) on investments      28,722,923            26,603             23,200           105,557         153,951,679
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments                 246,854,996            88,527          3,906,529       157,444,749       1,129,893,908
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gain (loss) on investments              275,577,919           115,130          3,929,729       157,550,306       1,283,845,587
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations                 $ 652,149,086       $ 2,277,484       $ 15,276,280     $ 156,451,822     $ 2,125,853,035
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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, 1997

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

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>               <C>               <C>                <C>               <C>        
Investment income (loss) - net                 $ 81,933,825      $ 48,707,495      $ 172,766,819      $ 140,409,440     $ 9,208,281
Net realized gain (loss) on investments          69,777,113        19,817,409         25,391,697         10,087,389            (212)
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments                     748,884,487       (34,561,365)        31,135,686        (23,859,115)           (586)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
from operations                                 900,595,425        33,963,539        229,294,202        126,637,714       9,207,483
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Transactions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract purchase payments                      134,271,812        78,292,637         87,605,673         49,361,355      26,471,423
Net transfers*                                 (330,558,730)      (40,464,119)        30,217,819       (141,589,262)      2,490,728
Transfers for policy loans                        6,741,393         2,538,097          2,700,859          1,893,361         415,203
Annuity payments                                   (839,990)         (218,797)          (325,569)          (404,625)        (21,359)
Contract charges                                 (4,189,959)       (1,744,401)        (1,879,204)        (1,396,704)       (170,801)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits                             (306,180,259)     (110,545,864)      (118,237,119)      (119,861,011)    (33,151,710)
Death benefits                                  (20,091,752)       (9,311,925)        (8,138,343)       (15,519,877)     (2,393,157)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) from
contract transactions                          (520,847,485)      (81,454,372)        (8,055,884)      (227,516,763)     (6,359,673)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at beginning of year               4,200,780,773     1,826,981,223      1,980,971,110      1,767,315,881     212,272,517
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year                   $ 4,580,528,713   $ 1,779,490,390    $ 2,202,209,428    $ 1,666,436,832   $ 215,120,327
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accumulation Unit Activity
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at beginning of year          628,555,221     1,220,479,990      1,172,792,754        362,167,237      89,644,495
Contract purchase payments                       18,318,230        51,062,806         50,910,206          9,842,757      10,978,965
Net transfers*                                  (46,459,818)      (25,974,782)        17,204,464        (28,290,096)      1,243,189
Transfers for policy loans                          911,718         1,642,862          1,552,061            376,163         172,138
Contract charges                                   (572,335)       (1,139,369)        (1,087,659)          (279,982)        (71,845)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits                              (40,932,101)      (71,076,097)       (67,429,599)       (23,650,436)    (13,512,157)
Death benefits                                   (2,954,591)       (6,642,208)        (5,113,039)        (3,376,942)     (1,199,780)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at end of year                556,866,324     1,168,353,202      1,168,829,188        316,788,701      87,255,005
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*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, 1997

                                                                        Segregated Asset Account                      
                                         ----------------------------------------------------------------------------  Combined
Operations                                   N               KZ             LZ                  MZ                     Variable
                                                                                                                       Accounts
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>              <C>            <C>                 <C>                  <C>          
Investment income (loss) - net            $ 376,571,167    $ 2,162,354    $ 11,346,551        $ (1,098,484)        $ 842,007,448
Net realized gain (loss) on investments      28,722,923         26,603          23,200             105,557           153,951,679
Net change in unrealized appreciation or
depreciation of investments                 246,854,996         88,527       3,906,529         157,444,749         1,129,893,908
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations                   652,149,086      2,277,484      15,276,280         156,451,822         2,125,853,035
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Transactions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract purchase payments                  125,778,517      3,443,369      10,032,844          58,794,952           574,052,582
Net transfers*                               72,184,459     42,846,230     125,588,307         572,710,885           333,426,317
Transfers for policy loans                    4,673,820         43,334          80,094           1,398,475            20,484,636
Annuity payments                               (818,698)        (7,873)        (31,168)           (147,303)           (2,815,382)
Contract charges                             (3,418,455)       (26,651)        (70,043)           (632,210)          (13,528,428)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits                         (236,462,530)    (2,695,820)     (6,707,680)        (37,984,244)         (971,826,237)
Death benefits                              (25,132,076)      (163,126)       (464,874)         (2,163,641)          (83,378,771)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) from 
contract transactions                       (63,194,963)    43,439,463     128,427,480         591,976,914          (143,585,283)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at beginning of year           3,561,334,567     26,698,213      63,086,555         389,279,231        14,028,720,070
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at end of year               $ 4,150,288,690   $ 72,415,160   $ 206,790,315     $ 1,137,707,967      $ 16,010,987,822
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Accumulation Unit Activity
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at beginning of year    1,197,162,300    24,878,248      59,938,791         350,597,571
Contract purchase payments                   38,914,736     3,250,861       9,009,695          47,250,516
Net transfers*                               23,088,309    40,199,836     112,669,161         465,445,880
Transfers for policy loans                    1,423,911        40,853          70,990           1,099,049
Contract charges                             (1,055,013)      (24,882)        (62,522)           (502,902)
Contract terminations:
Surrender benefits                          (72,296,420)   (2,560,115)     (6,187,383)        (30,794,587)
Death benefits                               (8,503,143)     (175,842)       (415,088)         (1,836,314)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Units outstanding at end of year          1,178,734,680    65,608,959     175,023,644         831,259,213
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*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                                                                        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 (decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations                272,168,316         135,931,234        240,865,624          101,206,810         8,463,658
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Transactions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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)
Transfers for policy loans                 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

                                                                                          Segregated Asset Account               
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Combined
Operations                                    N                    KZ *           LZ *                MZ *                Variable
                                                                                                                          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 (decrease) in net assets
resulting from operations                    494,255,994         1,007,767        2,267,416         18,268,276        1,274,435,095
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contract Transactions
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
Transfers for policy loans                     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>

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 and  commenced
operations  on Oct. 13, 1981.  Account N was  established  on April 17, 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 variable
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 or series of an open-end management  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 MZ invests in the shares of IDS Life
Growth Dimensions Fund.

IDS Life serves as investment manager and principal underwriter for the Accounts
and the underlying nine mutual funds.  American  Express  Financial  Corporation
(AEFC), an affiliated  company, is the investment advisor for each of the funds.
American Express Asset Management International, Inc., an affiliated company, is
the   sub-investment   advisor   for  IDS  Life   International   Equity   Fund.

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 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.

Use of Estimates

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  disclosures  of
contingent  assets and  liabilities at the date of the financial  statements and
the  reported  amounts of increase  and  decrease in net assets from  operations
during the period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

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  federal income tax
law, no income taxes are payable with  respect to any  investment  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.  A quarterly
charge  of $125 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  or  certificate  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 six contract
     years old or more.

Charges  by  IDS  Life  for  surrenders  are  not  identified  on an  individual
segregated  asset  account  basis.  Charges for all  segregated  asset  accounts
amounted to  $14,502,145 in 1997 and  $11,956,753 in 1996.  Such charges are not
treated as a separate expense of the Accounts. They are ultimately deducted from
contract surrender benefits paid by IDS Life.

4. Investment Transactions

The  Accounts'  purchases  of mutual  fund  shares,  including  reinvestment  of
dividend distributions, were as follows:

                                                         Year ended Dec. 31,    
Account   Investment                                 1997            1996   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  F       IDS Life Capital Resource Fund..... $  111,547,849 $  842,940,565
 IZ       IDS Life International Equity Fund.    122,035,293    295,290,858
 JZ       IDS Life Aggressive Growth Fund....    281,608,415    488,497,853
  G       IDS Life Special Income Fund ......    140,887,599    175,575,133
  H       IDS Life Moneyshare Fund, Inc......    230,838,115    198,361,500
  N       IDS Life Managed Fund, Inc.........    417,692,561    372,910,559
 KZ       IDS Life Global Yield Fund ........     47,045,559     26,031,598*
 LZ       IDS Life Income Advantage Fund ....    140,453,856     62,236,522*
 MZ       IDS Life Growth Dimensions Fund ...    592,288,967    371,131,317*
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Combined Variable Account.......... $2,084,398,214 $2,832,975,905
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*For the period April 30, 1996 (commencement of operations)to Dec. 31, 1996.


5. Year 2000 Issue (Unaudited)

The Year 2000 issue is the result of computer programs having been written using
two  digits  rather  than  four  to  define  a  year.  Any  programs  that  have
time-sensitive  software may recognize a date using "00" as the year 1900 rather
than 2000. This could result in the failure of major systems or miscalculations,
which could have a material  impact on the operations of the Variable  Accounts.
The Variable  Accounts  have no computer  systems of their own but are dependent
upon the systems maintained by AEFC and certain other third parties.

A  comprehensive  review of AEFC's computer  systems and business  processes has
been  conducted to identify the major systems that could be affected by the Year
2000 issue.  Steps are being taken to resolve any potential  problems  including
modification  to  existing  software  and the  purchase of new  software.  These
measures are scheduled to be completed and tested on a timely basis. AEFC's goal
is to  complete  internal  remediation  and testing of each system by the end of
1998 and to continue compliance efforts through 1999.

The Year 2000 readiness of other third parties whose system  failures could have
an impact on the Variable Accounts' operations is currently being evaluated. The
potential materiality of any such impact is not known at this time.


 

<PAGE>



<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,  1997 and 1996 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, 1997.  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, 1997 and 1996, and the consolidated results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.




Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 5, 1998


<PAGE>

IDS Life Financial Information


                          IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS


                                                    Dec. 31,     Dec. 31,
ASSETS                                                1997         1996  
                                                         (thousands)
Investments:
Fixed maturities:
Held to maturity, at amortized cost (Fair value:
1997, $9,743,410; 1996, $10,521,650)              $9,315,450       $10,236,379
Available for sale, at fair value (Amortized cost:
1997, $12,515,030; 199, $11,008,622)              12,876,694        11,146,845
Mortgage loans on real estate                      3,618,647         3,493,364
Policy loans                                         498,874           459,902
Other investments                                    318,591           251,465
Total investments                                 26,628,256        25,587,955
Cash and cash equivalents                             19,686           224,603
Amounts recoverable from reinsurers                  205,716           157,722
Amounts due from brokers                               8,400            11,047
Other accounts receivable                             37,895            44,089
Accrued investment income                            357,390           343,313
Deferred policy acquisition costs                  2,479,577         2,330,805
Deferred income taxes, net                                --            33,923
Other assets                                          22,700            37,364
Separate account assets                           23,214,504        18,535,160
Total assets                                     $52,974,124       $47,305,981
                                                   =========         =========

<PAGE>

                          IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                   CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (continued)


                                                   Dec. 31,        Dec. 31
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY                1997             1996    
                                                          (thousands)


Liabilities:
Future policy benefits:
Fixed annuities                                  $22,009,747      $21,838,008
Universal life-type insurance                      3,280,489        3,177,149
Traditional life insurance                           213,676          209,685
Disability income and long-term care insurance       533,124          424,200
Policy claims and other policyholders' funds          68,345           83,634
Deferred income taxes, net                            61,582               --
Amounts due to brokers                               381,458          261,987
Other liabilities                                    345,383          332,078
Separate account liabilities                      23,214,504       18,535,160
Total liabilities                                 50,108,308       44,861,901
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                           290,847          283,615
Net unrealized gain on investments                   226,359           86,102
Retained earnings                                  2,345,610        2,071,363
Total stockholder's equity                         2,865,816        2,444,080
Total liabilities and stockholder's equity       $52,974,124      $47,305,981
                                                   =========        =========
See accompanying notes.


<PAGE>

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

 
                                                           Years ended Dec. 31,
                                                      1997        1996       1995
                                                               (thousands)
<S>                                               <C>          <C>            <C>     
Revenues:
Premiums:
Traditional life insurance                        $  52,473    $  51,403      $ 50,193
Disability income and long-term care insurance      154,021      131,518       111,337

Total premiums                                      206,494      182,921       161,530

Policyholder and contractholder charges             341,726      302,999       256,454
Management and other fees                           340,892      271,342       215,581
Net investment income                             1,988,389    1,965,362     1,907,309
Net realized gain (loss) on investments                 860         (159)       (4,898)

Total revenues                                    2,878,361    2,722,465     2,535,976

Benefits and expenses:
Death and other benefits:
Traditional life insurance                           28,951       26,919        29,528
Universal life-type insurance
and investment contracts                             92,814       85,017        71,691
Disability income and
long-term care insurance                             22,333       19,185        16,259
Increase (decrease) in liabilities for
future policy benefits:
Traditional life insurance                            3,946        1,859        (1,315)
Disability income and
long-term care insurance                             63,631       57,230        51,279

Interest credited on universal life-type
insurance and investment contracts                1,386,448    1,370,468     1,315,989
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs   322,731      278,605       280,121
Other insurance and operating expenses              276,596      261,468       211,642

Total benefits and expenses                       2,197,450    2,100,751     1,975,194

Income before income taxes                          680,911      621,714       560,782

Income taxes                                        206,664      207,138       195,842

Net income                                       $  474,247   $  414,576    $  364,940
                                                   ========     ========       ======= 
 
See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>



<PAGE>

                             IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY
                          Three years ended Dec. 31, 1997
                                    (thousands)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                            Additional  Net Unrealized
                                 Capital     Paid-In     Gain (Loss) on   Retained
                                  Stock      Capital    on Investments    Earnings     Total

<S>                               <C>         <C>          <C>           <C>         <C>      
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
Net income                           --            --            --        474,247     474,247
Change in net unrealized
gain (loss) on investments           --            --       140,257             --     140,257
Capital contribution from parent     --         7,232            --             --       7,232
Cash dividends                       --            --            --       (200,000)   (200,000)

Balance, Dec. 31, 1997           $3,000      $290,847      $226,359     $2,345,610  $2,865,816
                                  =====       =======       =======      =========    ========

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

                             IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                       CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
                                                       Years ended Dec. 31,
                                                  1997         1996          1995
                                                             (thousands)
<S>                                            <C>          <C>           <C>      
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income                                     $ 474,247    $ 414,576     $ 364,940
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Policy loan issuance, excluding universal
life-type insurance                              (54,665)     (49,314)      (46,011)
Policy loan repayment, excluding universal
life-type insurance                               46,015       41,179        36,416
Change in amounts recoverable from reinsurers    (47,994)     (43,335)      (34,083)
Change in other accounts receivable                6,194       (4,981)       12,231
Change in accrued investment income              (14,077)       4,695       (30,498)
Change in deferred policy acquisition
costs, net                                      (156,486)    (294,755)     (196,963)
Change in liabilities for future policy
benefits for traditional life,
disability income and
long-term care insurance                         112,915       97,479        85,575
Change in policy claims and other
policyholders' funds                             (15,289)      27,311         6,255
Change in deferred income tax provision (benefit) 19,982      (65,609)      (33,810)
Change in other liabilities                       13,305       46,724        (6,548)
(Accretion of discount)
amortization of premium, net                      (5,649)     (23,032)      (22,528)
Net realized (gain) loss on investments             (860)         159         4,898
Policyholder and contractholder
charges, non-cash                               (160,885)    (154,286)     (140,506)
Other, net                                         7,161      (10,816)        3,849

Net cash provided by (used in) operating
activities                                     $ 223,914    $ (14,005)     $  3,217
</TABLE>
 

<PAGE>

                             IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (continued)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 
                                                         Years ended Dec. 31,
                                                  1997             1996          1995
                                                               (thousands)
<S>                                             <C>            <C>          <C>          
Cash flows from investing activities:
Fixed maturities held to maturity:
Purchases                                       $     (1,996)  $  (43,751)  $ (1,007,208)
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls          686,503      759,248        538,219
 Sales                                               236,761      279,506        332,154
Fixed maturities available for sale:
Purchases                                         (3,160,133)  (2,299,198)    (2,452,181)
Maturities, sinking fund payments and calls        1,206,213    1,270,240        861,545
Sales                                                457,585      238,905        136,825
Other investments, excluding policy loans:
Purchases                                           (524,521)    (904,536)      (823,131)
Sales                                                335,765      236,912        160,521
Change in amounts due from brokers                     2,647      (11,047)         7,933
Change in amounts due to brokers                     119,471      140,369       (105,119)

Net cash used in investing activities               (641,705)    (333,352)    (2,350,442)

Cash flows from financing activities:
Activity related to universal life-type insurance
and investment contracts:
Considerations received                            2,785,758    3,567,586      4,189,525
Surrenders and death benefits                     (3,736,242)  (4,250,294)    (3,141,404)
Interest credited to account balances              1,386,448    1,370,468      1,315,989
Universal life-type insurance policy loans:
Issuance                                             (84,835)     (86,501)       (84,700)
Repayment                                             54,513       58,753         52,188
Capital contribution from parent                       7,232        4,801             --
Dividends paid                                      (200,000)    (165,000)      (180,000)

Net cash provided by financing activities            212,874      499,813      2,151,598

Net (decrease) increase in cash and
cash equivalents                                    (204,917)     152,456       (195,627)

Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of year                                    224,603       72,147        267,774

Cash and cash equivalents at
end of year                                         $ 19,686    $ 224,603      $  72,147
                                                     =======     ========       ========
See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

                         IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
                                ($ 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 (AEFC), 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), American Partners
      Life Insurance Company and American Express Corporation.

      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 (see Note 4).

      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 reported as a separate component
      of stockholder's equity, net of deferred taxes.


<PAGE>

      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.

<PAGE>


1.    Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
      ------------------------------------------

      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 judgment 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.

      During 1997, 1996 and 1995, the Company purchased and wrote index
      options to protect against significant declines in fee income as a
      result of a decrease in the market value of its managed assets.  These
      options were marked-to-market through the income statement.

      During 1997, the Company purchased and wrote index options to hedge
      1998 management fee and other income from separate accounts and the
      underlying mutual funds.  These index options are carried at market
      value and are included in other investments.  Gains or losses on these
      instruments are deferred and recognized in management and other fees in
      the same period as the hedged fee 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.


<PAGE>

      Supplementary information to the consolidated statements of cash flows
      for the years ended December 31 is summarized as
      follows:
                                           1997           1996      1995
                                           ----           ----      ----
       Cash paid during the year for:
         Income taxes                    $174,472       $317,283  $191,011
         Interest on borrowings             8,213          4,119     5,524


<PAGE>

1.    Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
      ------------------------------------------

      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.  Under this method, profits are recognized 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
      received from the variable annuity and variable life insurance separate
      accounts and underlying mutual 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 accumulation values and surrender charge revenue.
      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 and deferred annuities
      are accumulation values.

      Liabilities for fixed annuities in a benefit status are based on
      established industry mortality tables and interest rates ranging from
      5% to 9.5%, depending on year of issue.


<PAGE>

      Liabilities for future benefits on traditional life insurance are based
      on the net level premium method, using anticipated mortality, policy
      persistency and interest earning rates.  Anticipated mortality rates
      are based on established industry mortality tables.  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
      range from 4% to 10%, depending on policy form, issue year and policy
      duration.


<PAGE>

1.    Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
      ------------------------------------------

      Liabilities for future disability income and long-term care policy
      benefits include both policy reserves and claim reserves.  Policy
      reserves are based on the net level premium method, using anticipated
      morbidity, mortality, policy persistency and interest earning rates.
      Anticipated morbidity and mortality rates are based on established
      industry morbidity and mortality tables.  Anticipated policy
      persistency rates vary by policy form, issue age, policy duration and,
      for disability income policies, occupation class.  Anticipated interest
      rates for disability income and long-term care policy reserves are 3%
      to 9.5% at policy issue and grade to ultimate rates of 5% to 10% over 5
      to 10 years.

      Claim reserves are calculated based on claim continuance tables and
      anticipated interest earnings.  Anticipated claim continuance rates are
      based on a national survey.  Anticipated interest rates for claim
      reserves for both disability income and long-term care range from 6% to
      8%.

      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 AEFC 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 AEFC and its subsidiaries
      that AEFC will reimburse subsidiaries for all tax benefits.

      Included in other liabilities at December 31, 1997 and 1996 are $12,061
      and $33,358, respectively, receivable from 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 receives investment
      management fees from the proprietary mutual funds used as investment
      options for variable annuities and variable life insurance.  The
      Company receives mortality and expense risk fees from the  separate
      accounts.


<PAGE>

1.    Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
      ------------------------------------------

      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.

      Reclassification

      Certain 1996 and 1995 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the
      1997 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.

      The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair values
      of investments in fixed maturities and equity securities at December
      31, 1997 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  $41,932      $ 2,950  $       --  $   44,881
       State and municipal obligations       9,684          568          --      10,252
       Corporate bonds and obligations   7,280,646      415,700       9,322   7,687,024
       Mortgage-backed securities        1,983,188       25,976       7,911   2,001,253
                                         ---------       ------       -----   ---------
                                        $9,315,450     $445,194     $17,233  $9,743,410
                                         =========      =======      ======   =========
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

<S>                                       <C>          <C>         <C>             <C>    
       U.S. Government agency obligations $   65,291   $    4,154  $       --      $69,445
       State and municipal obligations        11,045        1,348          --       12,393
       Corporate bonds and obligations     5,308,129      232,761      30,198    5,510,692
       Mortgage-backed securities          7,130,565      160,478       6,879    7,284,164
                                           ---------      -------       -----    ---------
       Total fixed maturities             12,515,030      398,741      37,077   12,876,694
       Equity securities                       3,000          361          --        3,361
                                          ----------      -------      ------   ----------
                                         $12,518,030     $399,102     $37,077  $12,880,055
                                          ==========      =======      ======   ==========
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


2.    Investments (continued)
      -----------

      The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair values
      of investments in fixed maturities and equity securities at December
      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
                                               ==========       =======     ======   ==========
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

<S>                                            <C>             <C>        <C>        <C>       
       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 and fair value of investments in fixed maturities at
      December 31, 1997 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.

<PAGE>

                                        Amortized         Fair
       Held to maturity                   Cost           Value
       ----------------                 ---------      --------

       Due in one year or less        $   356,597      $360,956
       Due from one to five years       1,536,239     1,619,875
       Due from five to ten years       4,337,547     4,577,552
       Due in more than ten years       1,101,879     1,183,774
       Mortgage-backed securities       1,983,188     2,001,253
                                        ---------     ---------
                                       $9,315,450    $9,743,410
                                        =========     =========

                                        Amortized        Fair
       Available for sale                 Cost           Value
                                        ---------        -----

       Due in one year or less          $ 162,663    $  164,012
       Due from one to five years         633,339       679,561
       Due from five to ten years       2,418,162     2,517,098
       Due in more than ten years       2,170,301     2,231,859
       Mortgage-backed securities       7,130,565     7,284,164
                                       ----------    ----------
                                      $12,515,030   $12,876,694
                                       ==========    ==========
<PAGE>


2.    Investments (continued)
      -----------

      During the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, fixed
      maturities classified as held to maturity were sold with amortized cost
      of $229,848, $277,527 and $333,508, 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' credit
      worthiness.

      Fixed maturities available for sale were sold during 1997 with proceeds
      of $457,585 and gross realized gains and losses of $6,639 and $7,518,
      respectively.  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.

      At December 31, 1997, bonds carried at $14,351 were on deposit with
      various states as required by law.

      At December 31, 1997, investments in fixed maturities comprised 83
      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 $2.7 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 December 31 is as follows:
 
          Rating                   1997            1996
       ---------                 ---------      ---------
       Aaa/AAA                $ 9,195,619     $ 9,460,134
       Aaa/AA                          --           2,870
       Aa/AA                      232,451         241,914
       Aa/A                       246,792         192,631
       A/A                      2,787,936       2,949,895
       A/BBB                    1,200,345       1,034,661
       Baa/BBB                  5,226,616       4,531,515
       Baa/BB                     475,084         768,285
       Below investment grade   2,465,637       2,063,096
                                ---------       ---------
                              $21,830,480     $21,245,001
                               ==========      ==========

      At December 31, 1997, 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 one percent of the Company's  total
      investments in fixed maturities.

      At December 31, 1997, approximately 14 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:


<PAGE>

                                 December 31, 1997          December 31, 1996
                              ------------------------   -----------------------
                              On Balance   Commitments   On Balance  Commitments
           Region               Sheet      to Purchase     Sheet     to Purchase
       -------------          ----------   ------------  ----------  -----------
       East North Central   $  748,372     $  32,462    $  777,960     $  19,358
       West North Central      456,934        14,340       389,285        29,620
       South Atlantic          922,172        14,619       891,852        35,007
       Middle Atlantic         545,601        15,507       553,869        17,959
       New England             316,250         2,136       310,177        14,042
       Pacific                 184,917         3,204       190,770         4,997
       West South Central      125,227            --       105,173        11,246
       East South Central       60,274            --        75,176            --
       Mountain                297,545        28,717       236,597        11,401
                             ---------       -------     ---------       -------
                             3,657,292       110,985     3,530,859       143,630
       Less allowance for
       losses                   38,645            --        37,495            --
                             ---------       -------     ---------       -------
                            $3,618,647      $110,985    $3,493,364      $143,630
                             =========       =======     =========       =======

<PAGE>


2.    Investments (continued)
      -----------

                                 December 31, 1997          December 31, 1996
                            ------------------------   -------------------------
                            On Balance   Commitments   On Balance    Commitments
         Property type         Sheet     to Purchase      Sheet      to Purchase
       ---------------      ----------   -----------   ----------    -----------
       Department/retail    
       stores              $1,189,203      $  27,314    $1,154,179     $  68,032
       Apartments           1,089,127         16,576     1,119,352        23,246
       Office buildings       716,729         34,546       611,395        27,653
       Industrial buildings   295,889         21,200       296,944         6,716
       Hotels/motels          101,052             --        97,870         6,257
       Medical buildings       99,979          9,748        67,178         8,289
       Nursing/retirement
       homes                   72,359             --        88,226         1,877
       Mixed Use               71,007             --        73,120            --
       Other                   21,947          1,601        22,595         1,560
                            ---------        -------     ---------        ------
                            3,657,292        110,985     3,530,859       143,630
       Less allowance for
       losses                  38,645             --        37,495            --
                             ---------       -------     ---------       -------
                           $3,618,647       $110,985    $3,493,364      $143,630
                            =========        =======     =========       =======

      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 it 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 December 31, 1997 and 1996, the Company's recorded investment in
      impaired loans was $45,714 and $79,441, respectively, with allowances
      of $9,812 and $16,162, respectively.  During 1997 and 1996, the average
      recorded investment in impaired loans was $61,870 and $74,338,
      respectively.

      The Company recognized $2,981, $4,889 and $5,014 of interest income
      related to impaired loans for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996
      and 1995 respectively.


<PAGE>

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

                                          1997          1996        1995 
                                         ------        ------      ------ 
       Balance, January 1               $37,495       $37,340     $35,252
       Provision for investment losses    8,801        10,005      15,900
       Loan payoffs                      (3,851)       (4,700)    (11,900)
       Foreclosures                      (3,800)       (5,150)     (1,350)
       Other                                 --            --        (562)
                                         ------        ------      -------

       Balance, December 31             $38,645       $37,495     $37,340
                                         ======        ======      ======

      At December 31, 1997, the Company had commitments to purchase
      investments other than mortgage loans for $234,485.  Commitments to
      purchase investments are made in the ordinary course of business.  The
      fair value of these commitments is $nil.


<PAGE>

2.    Investments (continued)
      -----------

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

                                            1997           1996         1995
                                          ---------      ---------    ---------
       Interest on fixed maturities      $1,692,481     $1,666,929   $1,656,136
       Interest on mortgage loans           305,742        283,830      232,827
       Other investment income               25,089         43,283       35,936
       Interest on cash equivalents           5,914          5,754        5,363
                                          ---------      ---------    ---------
                                          2,029,226      1,999,796    1,930,262
       Less investment expenses              40,837         34,434       22,953
                                          ---------      ---------    ---------
                                         $1,988,389     $1,965,362   $1,907,309
                                          =========      =========    =========

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

                                     1997         1996         1995
                                    ------        -----        -----
       Fixed maturities           $ 16,115      $ 8,736     $  9,973
       Mortgage loans               (6,424)      (8,745)     (13,259)
       Other investments            (8,831)        (150)      (1,612)
                                   -------        -----      -------
                                  $    860      $  (159)    $ (4,898)
                                   =======        ======       ======

      Changes in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments
      for the years ended December 31 are summarized as follows:

                                      1997           1996         1995 
                                     -------        -------      ------- 
       Fixed maturities available
         for sale                   $223,441      $(231,853)    $811,649
       Equity securities                  53            (52)       3,118

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.

      The income tax expense consists of the following:

                                    1997           1996         1995
       Federal income taxes:
       Current                    $176,879       $260,357     $218,040
       Deferred                     19,982        (65,609)     (33,810)
                                   -------        --------     -------
                                   196,861        194,748      184,230
       State income taxes-current    9,803         12,390       11,612
                                   -------        -------      -------
       Income tax expense         $206,664       $207,138     $195,842
                                   =======        =======      =======


<PAGE>

3.    Income taxes (continued)
      ------------

      Increases (decreases) to the federal tax provision applicable to pretax
      income based on the statutory rate are attributable to:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                     1997               1996               1995
                               ----------------    ---------------   ---------------
                               Provision   Rate    Provision  Rate   Provision  Rate
                               ---------   ----    ---------  ----   ---------  ----
<S>                             <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>     <C>       <C>  
      Federal income
        taxes based on
        the statutory rate      $238,319   35.0%    $217,600  35.0%   $196,274  35.0%
      Increases (decreases)
      are attributable to:
      Tax-excluded interest
        and dividend income      (10,294)  (1.5)      (9,636) (1.5)     (8,524) (1.5)
      State Taxes, net of federal
         benefit                   6,372    0.9        8,053   1.3       7,548   1.3
      Low income housing
        credits                  (20,705)  (3.0)      (5,090) (0.8)       (861) (0.2)
      Other, net                  (7,028)  (1.0)      (3,789) (0.7)      1,405   0.3
                                 -------   -----     -------  ----     -------  ----
      Federal income taxes      $206,664   30.4%    $207,138  33.3%   $195,842  34.9%
                                 =======   ====      =======  ====     =======  ====
</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 December 31, 1997, 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.

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

                                                  1997          1996
                                                  ----          ----
       Deferred tax assets:
       Policy reserves                          $748,204      $724,412
       Life insurance guarantee
          fund assessment reserve                 20,101        29,854
       Other                                       9,589         2,763
                                                 -------       -------
       Total deferred tax assets                 777,894       757,029
                                                 -------       -------


<PAGE>

       Deferred tax
       liabilities:
       Deferred policy acquisition costs        700,032      665,685
       Unrealized gain on investments           121,885       48,486
       Investments, other                        17,559        8,935
                                                -------      -------
       Total deferred tax liabilities           839,476      723,106
                                                -------      -------
       Net deferred tax (liabilities) assets   $(61,582)    $ 33,923
                                                 ======       ======

      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.


<PAGE>

4.    Stockholder's equity
      --------------------

      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 $1,468,677 as of
      December 31, 1997 and $1,261,592 as of December 31, 1996 (see Note 3
      with respect to the income tax effect of certain distributions).  In
      addition, any dividend distributions in 1998 in excess of approximately
      $331,480 would require approval of the Department of Commerce of the
      State of Minnesota.

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

                                           1997          1996          1995
                                        ----------    ----------    ----------
       Statutory net income             $  379,615    $  365,585    $  326,799
       Statutory capital and surplus     1,765,290     1,565,082     1,398,649
       surplus

5.    Related party transactions
      --------------------------

      The Company loans funds to American Express Financial Corporation under
      a collateral loan agreement.  The balance of the loan was $nil and
      $11,800 at December 31, 1997 and 1996, 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.  Interest income on related party loans totaled
      $103, $780 and $1,371 in 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

      The Company purchased a five year secured note from an affiliated
      company which was redeemed in 1996.  The interest rate on the note was
      8.42 percent.  Interest income on the above note totaled $1,637 and
      $1,937 in 1996 and 1995, respectively.
 
      The Company participates in the American Express Company Retirement
      Plan which covers all permanent employees age 21 and over who have met
      certain employment requirements.  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 $201, $174
      and $155 in 1997, 1996 and 1995, 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 1997,
      1996 and 1995 were $1,245, $990 and $815, respectively.


<PAGE>

      The Company participates in defined benefit health care plans of AEFC
      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 AEFC.  AEFC 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.


<PAGE>

5.    Related party transactions (continued)
      --------------------------

      Charges by AEFC for use of joint facilities, marketing services and
      other services aggregated $414,155, $397,362 and $377,139 for 1997,
      1996 and 1995, respectively.  Certain of these costs are included in
      deferred policy acquisition costs.  In addition, the Company rents its
      home office space from AEFC on an annual renewable basis.

6.    Commitments and contingencies
      -----------------------------

      At December 31, 1997 and 1996, traditional life insurance and universal
      life-type insurance in force aggregated $74,730,720 and $67,274,354,
      respectively, of which $4,351,904 and $3,875,921 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 $60,495, $48,250 and $39,399 and reinsurance recovered from
      reinsurers amounted to $19,042, $15,612, and $14,088 for the years
      ended December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995, respectively.  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,
      AEFC.  A second action was filed in March, 1997.  The plaintiffs
      purport to represent a class consisting of all persons who replaced
      existing Company policies with new Company policies from and after
      January 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.  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.

      The IRS routinely examines the Company's federal income tax returns,
      and is currently auditing the Company's returns for the 1990 through
      1992 tax years. Management does not believe there will be a material
      adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial position as a
      result of this audit.

7.    Lines of credit
      ---------------

      The Company has an available line of credit with its parent aggregating
      $100,000.  The rate for the line of credit is the parent's cost of
      funds, ranging from 20 to 45 basis points over the established index.
      Borrowings outstanding under this agreement were $nil at
      December 31, 1997 and 1996.


<PAGE>

8.    Derivative financial instruments
      --------------------------------

      The Company enters into transactions involving derivative financial
      instruments to manage its exposure to interest rate risk and equity
      market 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.


<PAGE>

8.    Derivative financial instruments (continued)
      --------------------------------

      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 or
      equity market index.  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 risk related to
      derivative financial instruments through established approval
      procedures, including setting concentration limits by counterparty, 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 risk related to interest rate caps and floors and index options
      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 risk.

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

                                 Notional     Carrying      Fair    Total Credit
       December 31, 1997          Amount       Amount       Value     Exposure
       -----------------         --------     --------      -----   ------------
       Assets:
         Interest rate caps   $ 4,600,000    $ 24,963    $ 15,665    $ 15,665
         Interest rate floors   1,000,000       1,561       4,551       4,551
         Put index options        221,984      11,120      11,120      11,120
       Liabilities:
         Call index options       221,984      (8,273)     (8,273)         --
       Off balance sheet:
         Interest rate swaps    1,267,000          --     (45,799)         --
                                ---------      ------      ------      ------
                                              $29,371    $(22,736)    $31,336
                                               ======      ======      ======

                                 Notional      Carrying     Fair    Total Credit
       December 31, 1996          Amount        Amount      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
       Off balance sheet:
         Interest rate swaps    1,000,000         --       (24,715)        --
                                ---------     ------       --------    ------
                                             $18,268      $(12,935)   $11,780
                                              ======        ======     ======


<PAGE>

      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 1998 to 2003.  The interest rate
      swaps expire on various dates from 2000 to 2003.  All put and call
      options expire in 1998.

      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.


<PAGE>

8.    Derivative financial instruments (continued)
      --------------------------------

      Index options are used to manage the equity market risk related to the
      fee income that the Company receives from its separate accounts and the
      underlying mutual funds.  The amount of the fee income received is
      based upon the daily market value of the separate account and mutual
      fund assets.  As a result, the Company's fee income could be impacted
      significantly by changing economic conditions in the equity market.
      The Company entered into index option collars (combination of puts and
      calls) to hedge anticipated fee income for 1998 related to separate
      accounts and mutual funds which invest in equity securities. Testing
      has demonstrated the impact of these instruments on the income
      statement closely correlates with the amount of fee income the Company
      realizes.  In the event that testing demonstrates that this correlation
      no longer exists, or in the event the Company disposes of the index
      options collars, the instruments will be marked-to-market through the
      income statement.  At December 31, 1997, deferred gains on purchased
      put index options were $11,120 and deferred losses on written call
      index options were $8,273.

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 and liabilities is significant.  The fair value of the
      Company, therefore, cannot be estimated by aggregating the amounts
      presented.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 1997                         1996
                                         ------------------          ---------------------
                                         Carrying      Fair          Carrying        Fair
       Financial Assets                   Amount       Value          Amount         Value
       ----------------                  --------     ------         -------         -----
<S>                                    <C>          <C>            <C>          <C>        
       Investments:
         Fixed maturities (Note 2):
           Held to maturity            $9,315,450   $9,743,410     $10,236,379  $10,521,650
           Available for sale          12,876,694   12,876,694      11,146,845   11,146,845
         Mortgage loans on
           real estate (Note 2)         3,618,647    3,808,570       3,493,364    3,606,077
         Other:
           Equity securities (Note 2)       3,361        3,361           3,308        3,308
           Derivative financial
             instruments (Note 8)          37,644       31,336          18,268       11,780
           Other                           82,347       85,383          63,993       66,242
       Cash and
         cash equivalents (Note 1)         19,686       19,686         224,603      224,603
       Separate account assets
         (Note 1)                      23,214,504   23,214,504      18,535,160   18,535,160


<PAGE>

       Financial Liabilities
         Future policy benefits
           for fixed annuities         20,731,052   19,882,302      20,641,986   19,721,968
           Derivative financial
             instruments (Note 8)          (8,273)     (54,072)             --      (24,715)
         Separate account liabilities  21,488,282   20,707,620      17,358,087   16,688,519
</TABLE>



<PAGE>

9.    Fair values of financial instruments (continued)
      ------------------------------------

      At December 31, 1997 and 1996, the carrying amount and fair value of
      future policy benefits for fixed annuities exclude life
      insurance-related contracts carried at $1,185,155 and $1,112,155,
      respectively, and policy loans of $93,540 and $83,867, respectively.
      The fair value of these benefits is based on the status of the
      annuities at December 31, 1997 and 1996.  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
      1997 and 1996.

      At December 31, 1997 and 1996, 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 $1,726,222 and $1,177,073, 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
      December 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995 and total assets at December 31, 1997,
      1996 and 1995 by segment are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                               1997           1996            1995
<S>                                       <C>            <C>             <C>        
       Net investment income:
       Life, disability income
         and long-term care insurance     $   269,874    $   262,998     $   256,242
       Annuities                            1,718,515      1,702,364       1,651,067
                                            ---------      ---------       ---------
                                          $ 1,988,389    $ 1,965,362     $ 1,907,309
                                            =========      =========       =========
       Premiums, charges and fees:
       Life, disability income
         and long-term care insurance     $   514,838    $   448,389     $   384,008
       Annuities                              374,274        308,873         249,557
                                              -------        -------         -------
                                          $   889,112    $   757,262     $   633,565
                                              =======        =======         =======
       Income before income taxes:
       Life, disability income
         and long-term care insurance     $   178,717    $   161,115     $   125,402
       Annuities                              501,334        460,758         440,278
       Net gain (loss) on investments             860           (159)         (4,898)
                                              -------        -------         -------
                                          $   680,911    $   621,714     $   560,782
                                              =======        =======         =======

<PAGE>

       Total assets:
       Life, disability income
         and long-term care insurance     $ 8,193,796    $ 7,028,906     $ 6,195,870
       Annuities                           44,780,328     40,277,075      36,704,208
                                           ----------     ----------      ----------
                                          $52,974,124    $47,305,981     $42,900,078
                                           ==========     ==========      ==========
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

      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.

11.   Year 2000 Issue (unaudited)
      ---------------

      The Year 2000 issue is the result of computer programs having been
      written using two digits rather than four to define a year.  Any
      programs that have time-sensitive software may recognize a date using "00"
      as the year 1900 rather than 2000.  This could result in the failure of
      major systems or miscalculations, which could have a material impact on 
      the operations of the Company.  All of the systems used by the Company are
      maintained by AEFC and are utilized by multiple subsidiaries and
      affiliates of AEFC.  The Company's business is heavily dependent
      upon AEFC's computer systems and has significant interactions with
      systems of third parties.

      A comprehensive review of AEFC's computer systems and business
      processes, including those specific to the Company, has been conducted to
      identify the major systems that could be affected by the Year 2000
      issue.  Steps are being taken to resolve any potential problems including
      modification to existing software and the purchase of new software.  These
      measures are scheduled to be completed and tested on a timely basis.
      AEFC's goal is to complete internal remediation and testing of each
      system by the end of 1998 and to continue compliance efforts through
      1999.

      AEFC is evaluating the Year 2000 readiness of advisors and other third
      parties whose system failures could have an impact on the Company's
      operations.  The potential materiality of any such impact is not known at
      this time.

 

<PAGE>

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, and MZ:

                  Statements of Net Assets at Dec. 31, 1997.
                  Statements of Operations for the year ended Dec. 31, 1997.
                  Statements of Changes in Net Assets for the years ended Dec. 
                  31, 1997 and Dec.31, 1996.
                  Notes to Financial Statements.
                  Report of Independent Auditors dated March 13, 1998.

         IDS Life Insurance Company:

                  Consolidated Balance Sheets at Dec. 31, 1997 and 1996;
                  Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended Dec. 31,
                  1997, 1996 and 1995;
                  Consolidated Statements of Stockholder's Equity for the years 
                  ended Dec. 31, 1997, 1996 and 1995;
                  Consolidated  Statements  of Cash Flows for the years ended 
                  Dec. 31, 1997,  1996 and 1995; and Notes to Consolidated
                  Financial  Statements.  Report of  Independent  Auditors dated
                  February 5, 1998.

         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 5, 1998.

         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      Resolution of the Executive  Committee of the Board of Directors of IDS
         Life  adopted  May 13,  1981,  filed  electronically  as Exhibit 1.1 to
         Post-Effective  Amendment No. 11 to Registration  Statement No. 33-4173
         is incorporated herein by reference.

1.2      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. 11 to Registration  Statement No. 33-4173
         is incorporated herein by reference.

<PAGE>

1.3      Resolution of the Board of Directors of IDS Life establishing Account 
         IZ and Account JZ on Sept. 20, 1991, filed electronically as Exhibit 
         1.3 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to Registration Statement No. 
         33-4173 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. 15 to
         Registration Statement No. 33-4173 is incorporated herein by reference.

2.       Not applicable.

3.       Not applicable.

4.1      Copy  of   Qualified   Deferred   Annuity   Contract   (form  30307)
         filed electronically  as  Exhibit  4.1  to  Post-Effective  Amendment
         No.  11 to Registration Statement No. 33-4173 is incorporated herein by
         reference.

4.2      Copy  of  Non-Qualified  Deferred  Annuity  Contract  (form  30302D)
         filed electronically  as  Exhibit  4.2  to  Post-Effective  Amendment  
         No.  11 to Registration Statement No. 33-4173 is incorporated herein by
         reference.

4.3      Copy of Deferred Annuity  Contract (IRA) (form 30307) filed  
         electronically as Exhibit 4.3 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 11 to 
         Registration Statement No. 33-4173 is incorporated herein by reference.

5        Copy of Application for IDS Flexible Annuity Contract, filed as Exhibit
         5(b) to Registration  Statement No. 33-4173 is  incorporated  herein by
         reference.

6.1      Copy of Certificate of Incorporation of IDS Life dated July 24, 1957, 
         filed electronically as Exhibit 6.1 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 
         to Registration Statement No. 33-4173 is incorporated herein by 
         reference.

6.2      Copy of Amended By-Laws of IDS Life filed electronically as Exhibit 6.2
         to Post-Effective Amendment No. 12 to Registration Statement No. 
         33-4173 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 being registered, filed electronically herewith.

10.      Consent of Independent Auditors, filed electronically herewith.

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

12.      Not applicable.

<PAGE>

13.      Schedule for computation of each performance quotation is filed 
         electronically as Exhibit 13 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 15 to 
         Registration Statement No. 33-4173 is incorporated herein by reference.

14.      Financial Data Schedules, filed electronically herewith.

15.1     Power of Attorney to sign  Amendments  to this  Registration  Statement
         dated April 9, 1998, filed electronically herewith.

15.2     Power of Attorney to sign  Amendments  to this  Registration  Statement
         dated August 19, 1997, filed electronically herewith.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Item 25.          Directors and Officers of the Depositor (IDS Life Insurance Company)
<S>                              <C>                                 <C> 
                                                                     Positions and Offices with Depositor
Name                             Principal Business Address
- -------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

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

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

Mark W. Carter                   IDS Tower 10                        Executive Vice President-Marketing
                                 Minneapolis, MN  55440

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

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

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

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

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

<PAGE>

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

                                                                     Positions and Offices with Depositor
Name                             Principal Business Address
- -------------------------------- ----------------------------------- ---------------------------------------

Pamela J. Moret                  IDS Tower 10                        Executive Vice President-Variable
                                 Minneapolis, MN  55440                  Assets

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

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

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

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

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

Philip C. Wentzel                IDS Tower 10                        Vice President and Controller
                                 Minneapolis, MN  55440
</TABLE>

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

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

                  The following list includes the names of major subsidiaries of
American Express.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                     <C>
Name of Subsidiary                                                                      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 Asset Management Group Inc.                                       Minnesota
     American Express Asset Management International Inc.                               Delaware
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

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

<S>                                                                                     <C>
Name of Subsidiary                                                                      Incorporation

     American Express Asset Management International (Japan) Ltd.                       Japan
     American Express Asset Management Ltd.                                             England
     American Express Client Service Corporation                                        Minnesota
     American Express Corporation                                                       Delaware
     American Express Financial Advisors Inc.                                           Delaware
     American Express Financial Corporation                                             Minnesota
                                                                                        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 Insurance Agency of Oregon Inc.                                   Oregon
     American Express Minnesota Foundation                                              Minnesota
     American Express Property Casualty Insurance Agency of Kentucky Inc.               Kentucky
     American Express Property Casualty Insurance Agency of Maryland Inc.               Maryland
     American Express Property Casualty Insurance Agency of Pennsylvania Inc.           Pennsylvania
     American Express Trust Company                                                     Minnesota
     American Partners Life Insurance Company                                           Arizona
     IDS Cable Corporation                                                              Minnesota
     IDS Cable II Corporation                                                           Minnesota
     IDS Capital Holdings Inc.                                                          Minnesota
     IDS Certificate Company                                                            Delaware
     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 New Mexico Inc.                                            New Mexico
     IDS Insurance Agency of North Carolina Inc.                                        North Carolina
     IDS Insurance Agency of Utah Inc.                                                  Utah
     IDS Insurance Agency of Wyoming Inc.                                               Wyoming
     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
     North Dakota Public Employee Payment Company                                       Minnesota
</TABLE>

Item 27.       Number of Contractowners

               On February  28,  1998,  there were  364,928  contract  owners of
               qualified Flexible Annuity  contracts.  There were 182,401 owners
               of non-qualified contracts.

Item 28.       Indemnification

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

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

Item 29.       Principal Underwriters

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

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

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

               IDS Life       $17,883,488         $14,502,145          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>


Item 32.              Undertakings

(a) (b) & (c)         These undertakings were filed with the Registrant's 
                      initial Registration Statements, File No. 33-4173 and
                      811-3217.

(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>

                                                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 24th
day of April, 1998.


                                                           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/ James A. Mitchell*
                                                            James A. Mitchell
                                                            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 24th day of
April, 1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                  <C>
Signature                                            Title

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

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

/s/  Jeffrey S. Horton**                             Vice President and Treasurer
     Jeffrey S. Horton

/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
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                  <C> 
Signature                                            Title

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

/s/  Philip C. Wentzel**                             Vice President and Controller
     Philip C. Wentzel
</TABLE>

*Signed   pursuant  to  Power  of  Attorney   dated  August  19,   1997,   filed
electronically herewith as Exhibit 15.2.

**Signed pursuant to Power of Attorney dated April 9, 1998, filed electronically
herewith.




- ---------------------------
Mary Ellyn Minenko

<PAGE>

                                CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 17

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

The Cover Page.

Cross-reference sheet.

Part A.

         The prospectus.

Part B.

         Statement of Additional Information.

         Financial Statements.

Part C.

         Other Information.

         The signatures.

Exhibits.



<PAGE>

IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ (Flex)
File No. 33-4173/811-3217

                       EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit 9:      Opinion of Counsel

Exhibit 10:     Consent of Independent Auditors

Exhibit 11:     Financial Statement Schedules and Report of
                Independent Auditors

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

Exhibit 15.1:   Power of Attorney dated April 9, 1998

Exhibit 15.2:   Power of Attorney dated August 19, 1997









April 24, 1998



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

RE:     Registration Statement on Form N-4
        File No.: 33-4173

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I am familiar with the  establishment  of the IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H,
N,  KZ,  LZ and MZ,  ("Accounts"),  which  are  separate  accounts  of IDS  Life
Insurance  Company  ("Company")  established by the Company's Board of Directors
according  to   applicable   insurance   law.  I  also  am  familiar   with  the
above-referenced  registration  Statement  filed by the Company on behalf of the
Accounts with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

I have made such  examination  of law and examined such documents and records as
in my judgment are necessary and  appropriate to enable me to give the following
opinion:

 1.  The Company is duly  incorporated,  validly  existing and in good  standing
     under applicable state law and is duly licensed or qualified to do business
     in each  jurisdiction  where it  transacts  business.  The  Company has all
     corporate  powers  required  to carry  on its  business  and to  issue  the
     contracts.

 2.  The Accounts  are validly  created and  existing  separate  accounts of the
     Company and are duly authorized to issue the securities registered.

 3.  The  contracts  issued by the  Company  during the past fiscal  year,  when
     offered  and  sold in  accordance  with  the  prospectus  contained  in the
     Registration  Statement and in compliance with applicable law, were legally
     issued and represent binding  obligations of the Company in accordance with
     their terms.

I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement.

Sincerely,



Colin M. Lancaster
Associate Counsel
(612) 671-7981

CML/EGN/rdh




<PAGE>


                         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  5,  1998  on the  consolidated
financial  statements and schedules of IDS Life Insurance Company and our report
dated March 13, 1998 on the financial statements of IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ,
G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ in Post  Effective  Amendment No. 17 to the  Registration
Statement (Form N-4 No. 33-4173) and related  Prospectus for the registration of
the Flexible Annuity Contracts to be offered by IDS Life Insurance Company.



Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
April 20, 1998







<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, 1997 and 1996, and for each of the three years in the
period  ended  December  31,  1997,  and have  issued our report  thereon  dated
February 5, 1998 (included elsewhere in this Registration Statement). Our audits
also included the financial statement schedules listed in the index to financial
statement  schedules 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 5, 1998




<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE I - CONSOLIDATED SUMMARY OF INVESTMENTS
OTHER THAN INVESTMENTS IN RELATED PARTIES ($ thousands)
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 1997



- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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)                    $    1,829,112          $ 1,846,833   $    1,829,112
        States, municipalities and
           political subdivisions                     9,684               10,252            9,684
        All other corporate bonds (b)             7,476,654            7,886,325        7,476,654
                                               ------------           ----------       ----------
              Total held to maturity              9,315,450            9,743,410        9,315,450

    Available for sale:
        United States Government and
          government agencies and
          authorities (c)                         6,798,425            6,944,942        6,944,942
        States, municipalities and
           political subdivisions                    11,045               12,393           12,393
        All other corporate bonds (d)             5,705,560            5,919,359        5,919,359
                                               ------------           ----------       ----------
              Total available for sale           12,515,030           12,876,694       12,876,694

Mortgage loans on real estate                     3,618,647            XXXXXXXXX        3,618,647
Policy loans                                        498,874            XXXXXXXXX          498,874
Other investments                                   318,591            XXXXXXXXX          318,591
                                               ------------                            ----------

              Total investments              $   26,266,592          $ XXXXXXXXX     $ 26,628,256
                                               ============           ==========       ==========

(a) - Includes mortgage-backed securities with a cost and market value of $1,787,180 and $1,801,952,
           respectively.
(b) - Includes mortgage-backed securities with a cost and market value of $196,008 and $199,301,
           respectively.
(c) - Includes mortgage-backed securities with a cost and market value of $6,733,134 and $6,875,498,
           respectively.
(d) - Includes mortgage-backed securities with a cost and market value of $397,431 and $408,667,
           respectively.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE III - SUPPLEMENTARY INSURANCE INFORMATION ($
thousands)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997

    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>               
Annuities       $ 1,453,441  $ 22,009,747 $      -    $ 35,007  $       -  $1,718,515   $  1,720     $229,729     $262,680       N/A



Life, DI, and
Long-term Care
Insurance         1,026,136     4,027,289        -     33,338     206,494     269,874    209,955       93,002       13,916       N/A


- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total           $ 2,479,577  $ 26,037,036 $      -    $ 68,345  $ 206,494 $ 1,988,389  $ 211,675     $322,731     $276,596       N/A

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Allocations of net investment income and other operating expenses are based on various assumptions and estimates.

</TABLE>
<PAGE>


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

    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>               
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

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Allocations of net investment income and other operating expenses are based on various assumptions and estimates.

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

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

    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>                
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

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Allocations of net investment income and other operating expenses are based on various assumptions and estimates.

</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE IV - REINSURANCE ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         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, 1997
 
Life insurance in force  $ 73,119,122   $ 4,351,904    $ 1,611,596    $ 70,378,814    2.29%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Premiums:
  Life insurance         $     55,094   $     3,124    $       503    $     52,473    0.96%
  DI & LTC insurance          196,799        42,778             --         154,021    0.00%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total premiums           $    251,893   $    45,902    $       503    $    206,494    0.24%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
SCHEDULE V - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS ($ thousands)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997, 1996 AND 1995
 
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
      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, 1997
- ----------------------------
Reserve for Mortgage Loans    $37,495         $8,801            $0             $7,651        $38,645
Reserve for Other Investments $3,963          $2,100            $0                 $0         $6,063
 
For the year ended
  December 31, 1996
- ----------------------------
Reserve for Mortgage Loans    $37,340        $10,005            $0             $9,850        $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        $15,900            $0            $13,812       $37,340
Reserve for Other Investments $7,515         ($2,802)           $0                 $0        $4,713
 
 
* 1997, 1996 and 1995 amounts represent $7,651, $9,850, and $13,812, respectively, for loan
  payoffs and foreclosures.
</TABLE>

 

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                              6
<MULTIPLIER>                           1
<CURRENCY>                   U.S. DOLLAR
       
<S>                          <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>            DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>               JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                 DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                        1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>        13341177327
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>       16023525309
<RECEIVABLES>                   31571333
<ASSETS-OTHER>                         0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                   0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>               16055096642
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>               0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>      (44108820)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>            (44108820)
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                        0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>               0
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>         5548718916
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>         5106216607
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>               0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>               0
<NET-ASSETS>                 16010987822
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>              994841429
<INTEREST-INCOME>                      0
<OTHER-INCOME>                         0
<EXPENSES-NET>                (152833981)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>        842007448
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>       153951679
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>     1129893908
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>         2125853035
<EQUALIZATION>                         0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>              0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>               0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                  0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>        906679356
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>   (464177047)
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                    0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>        1982267752
<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>               (152833981)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>         15019853946
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                  0
<PER-SHARE-NII>                        0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                   0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>              0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                   0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                    0
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                        0
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                   0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                                       7
<MULTIPLIER>                                 1000
<CURRENCY>                            U.S. DOLLAR
       
<S>                                   <C>
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                     DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                        JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                YEAR
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                 1
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                     12876694
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                     9315450
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                       9743410
<EQUITIES>                                   3361
<MORTGAGE>                                3618647
<REAL-ESTATE>                              102433
<TOTAL-INVEST>                           26628256
<CASH>                                      19686
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                            989
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                    2479577
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                           52974124
<POLICY-LOSSES>                          26037036
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                             0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                  0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                       68345
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 0
<COMMON>                                     3000
                           0
                                     0
<OTHER-SE>                                2862816
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>             52974124
                                 206494
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       1988389
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                            860
<OTHER-INCOME>                             682618
<BENEFITS>                                1598123
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                322731
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                       276596
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            680911
<INCOME-TAX>                               206664
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        474247
<DISCONTINUED>                                  0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                 0
<CHANGES>                                       0
<NET-INCOME>                               474247
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                   0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                   0
<RESERVE-OPEN>                              26387
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                        144098
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                               0
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                         143237
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                0
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                             27248
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                         0
        

</TABLE>


                           IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

City of Minneapolis

State of Minnesota

         Each of the undersigned, as principal financial officer and controller,
respectively,  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>
<S>                                                                  <C>                   <C>   
                                                                     1933 Act              1940 Act
                                                                     Reg. Number           Reg. Number
IDS Life Variable Account 10
     IDS Life Flexible Portfolio Annuity                               33-62407              811-07355
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
     IDS Life Flexible Annuity                                         33-4173               811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
     IDS Life Variable Retirement and Combination
     Retirement Annuities                                              2-73114               811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
     IDS Life Employee Benefit Annuity                                 33-52518              811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
     IDS Life Group Variable Annuity Contract                          33-47302              811-3217
IDS Life Insurance Company
     IDS Life Group Variable Annuity Contract (Fixed Account)          33-48701              N/A
IDS Life Insurance Company
     IDS Life Guaranteed Term Annuity                                  33-28976              N/A
IDS Life Insurance Company
     IDS Life Flexible Payment Market Value Annuity                    33-50968              N/A
IDS Life Insurance Company
     Portfolio Guaranteed Term Annuity                                 333-42793             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
     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 his attorney-in-fact and agent, to sign for him in
his  name,  place  and  stead  any  and  all  filings,  applications  (including
applications for exemptive relief),  periodic reports,  registration  statements
for existing or future products of existing separate accounts (with all

<PAGE>

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 9th day of April, 1998.




/s/  Jeffrey S. Horton                                        April 8, 1998
- ------------------------------------
     Jeffrey S. Horton
     Vice President, Treasurer
     and Assistant Secretary




/s/  Philip C. Wentzel                                        April 9, 1998
- ------------------------------------
     Philip C. Wentzel
     Vice President and Controller





                           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>
<S>                                                                  <C>                   <C>
                                                                     1933 Act              1940 Act
                                                                     Reg. Number           Reg. Number
IDS Life Variable Account 10
     IDS Life Flexible Portfolio Annuity                               33-62407              811-07355
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
     IDS Life Flexible Annuity                                         33-4173               811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
     IDS Life Variable Retirement and Combination
     Retirement Annuities                                              2-73114               811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
     IDS Life Employee Benefit Annuity                                 33-52518              811-3217
IDS Life Accounts F, IZ, JZ, G, H, N, KZ, LZ and MZ
     IDS Life Group Variable Annuity Contract                          33-47302              811-3217
IDS Life Insurance Company
     IDS Life Group Variable Annuity Contract (Fixed Account)          33-48701              N/A
IDS Life Insurance Company
     IDS Life Guaranteed Term Annuity                                  33-28976              N/A
IDS Life Insurance Company
     IDS Life Flexible Payment Market Value Annuity                    33-50968              N/A
IDS Life Variable Life Separate Account
     Flexible Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy                   33-11165              811-4298
IDS Life Variable Life Separate Account
     Flexible Premium Survivorship Variable Life
     Insurance Policy                                                  33-62457              811-4298
IDS Life Variable Life Separate Account
     Single Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy                     2-97637               811-4298
IDS Life Variable Account for Smith Barney
     Single Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy                     33-5210               811-4652
IDS Life Account SBS
     Symphony Annuity                                                  33-40779              812-7731
IDS Life Account RE
     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  applications for exemptive relief),  periodic reports,  registration
statements for existing or future products of existing  separate  accounts (with
all exhibits and other documents required or desirable in connection therewith),
other

<PAGE>

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 19th day of August, 1997.


/s/  David R. Hubers                                          August 15, 1997
- ------------------------------------
     David R. Hubers
     Director


/s/  Richard W. Kling                                         August 18, 1997
 -----------------------------------
     Richard W. Kling
     Director and President


/s/  Paul F. Kolkman                                          August 19, 1997
- ------------------------------------
     Paul F. Kolkman
     Director and Executive Vice
     President


/s/  James A. Mitchell                                        August 15, 1997
- ------------------------------------
     James A. Mitchell
     Director, Chairman of the
     Board and Chief Executive Officer


/s/  Barry J. Murphy                                          August 14, 1997
- ------------------------------------
     Barry J. Murphy
     Director and Executive Vice
     President, Client Service


/s/  Stuart A. Sedlacek                                       August 19, 1997
- ------------------------------------
     Stuart A. Sedlacek
     Director and Executive Vice
     President, Assured Assets


/s/  Melinda S. Urion                                         August 14, 1997
- ------------------------------------
     Melinda S. Urion
     Director, Executive Vice
     President and Controller



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