NEW ENGLAND LIFE RETIREMENT INVESTMENT ACCOUNT
24F-2NT, 1997-02-25
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<PAGE>
 
                    U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 24F-2
                       Annual Notice of Securities Sold
                            Pursuant to Rule 24f-2

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1.    Name and address of issuer:

      New England Life Retirement Investment Account

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2.    Name of each series or class of funds for which this notice is filed:

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3.    Investment Company Act File Number:   811-03285

      Securities Act File Number:   2-74407; 333-11133

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4.    Last day of fiscal year for which this notice is filed: December 31, 1996

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5.    Check box if this notice is being filed more than 180 days after the
      close of the issuer's fiscal year for purposes of reporting
      securities sold after the close of the fiscal year but before
      termination of the issuer's 24f-2 declaration:
                                                                       [_]


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6.    Date of termination of issuer's declaration under rule 24f-2(a)(1), 
      if applicable (see Instruction A.6):

                                  N/A

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7.    Number and amount of securities of the same class or series which had 
      been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 other than pursuant to 
      rule 24f-2 in a prior fiscal year,but which remained unsold at the 
      beginning of the fiscal year:

                N/A

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8.    Number and amount of securities registered during the fiscal year other
      than pursuant to rule 24f-2:    N/A

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9.    Number and aggregate sale price of securities sold during the fiscal year:

      $1,055,518 (The issuer's securities are sold by dollar value.)

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10.   Number and aggregate sale price of securities sold during the fiscal year 
      in reliance upon registration pursuant to rule 24f-2:  
      $1,055,518 (The issuer's securities are sold by dollar value.)

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<PAGE>
 
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11.   Number and aggregate sale price of securities issued during the fiscal
      year in connection with dividend reinvestment plans, if applicable (see
      Instruction B.7):

                      N/A

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12.   Calculation of registration fee:

      (i)  Aggregate sale price of securities sold during the fiscal year in
           reliance on rule 24f-2 (from Item 10):

                                                               $   1,055,518
                                                                ------------ 

      (ii)  Aggregate price of shares issued in connection with dividend
            reinvestment plans (from Item 11, if applicable):

                                                               +     -0-
                                                                ------------

      (iii) Aggregate price of shares redeemed or repurchased during 
            fiscal year (if applicable):

                                                               - $ 8,871,252
                                                                 ----------- 

      (iv)  Aggregate price of shares redeemed or repurchased and
            previously applied as a reduction to filing fees pursuant
            to rule 24e-2 (if applicable):

                                                               +     -0-
                                                                ------------

      (v)   Net aggregate price of securities sold and issued during
            the fiscal year in reliance on rule 24f-2 [line (i), plus
            line (ii), less line (iii), plus line (iv)] (if
            applicable):

                                                              ($  7,815,734)
                                                               -------------

      (vi)  Multiplier prescribed by Section 6(b) of the Securities Act
            of 1933 or other applicable law or regulation (see
            Instruction C.6):

                 (1/33rd of 1%)                                 x    N/A
                                                                  ---------   

      (vii) Fee due [line (i) or line (v) multiplied by line (vi)]:  -0-
                                                                   --------

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13.   Check box if fees are being remitted to the Commission's lockbox 
      depository as described in section 3a of the Commission's Rules of 
      Informal and Other Procedures (17 CFR 202.3a).

                                                                     [_]

      Date of mailing or wire transfer of filing fees to the Commission's
      lockbox depository:      N/A

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<PAGE>
 
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                                  SIGNATURES
      
This report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
issuer and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By (Signature and Title) -------------------------------------------------------
                         CHRISTOPHER P. NICHOLAS, ESQ. ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL
                         -------------------------------------------------------
                         METROPOLITAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY      

Date:  February 25, 1997


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                                       3

<PAGE>
 
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
One Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010-3690


                                           February 14, 1997


Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
New England Life Retirement Investment Account
One Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10010

Gentlemen and Ladies:

     In my capacity as Associate General Counsel of Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company (the "Company"), I am rendering the following opinion in connection with
the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Notice on Form 24F-2
(the "Notice") pursuant to Rule 24f-2 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
The Notice is being filed with respect to individual variable annuity contracts
issued on or before December 31, 1996 (the "Contracts") by New England Life
Retirement Investment Account (the "Account").

     In forming the following opinion, I have made such examination of law and
examined such records and other documents as in my judgment are necessary and
appropriate.

     It is my opinion that:

     1.   The Contracts, when issued in accordance with the Prospectus of the
          Account and in compliance with applicable local law, are legal and
          binding obligations of the Company in accordance with their terms;

     2.   The full authorized consideration in respect of the issuance of the
          Contracts has been received by the Company; and

     3.   Assets, attributable to reserves and other contract liabilities and
          held in the Account, will not be chargeable with liabilities arising
          out of any other business the Company may conduct.

     I consent to the filing of this opinion with and as a part of the Notice
under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

                                           Very truly yours,


                                           Christopher P. Nicholas
                                           Associate General Counsel


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