NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
497, 1996-05-06
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                                                       -------------------------
                                                       April 30, 1996 Prospectus
                                                       -------------------------

                                                             INDIVIDUAL DEFERRED

                                                                  VARIABLE/FIXED

                                                                ANNUITY CONTRACT





                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

<PAGE>
                           20 Washington Avenue South
                          Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401

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

              INDIVIDUAL DEFERRED VARIABLE/FIXED ANNUITY CONTRACTS
                                    ISSUED BY
                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                                       AND
                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

     The Individual Deferred  Variable/Fixed Annuity Contracts described in this
Prospectus are flexible purchase payment contracts. The Contracts are sold to or
in  connection  with  retirement  plans which may or may not qualify for special
federal tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code. (See "Federal Tax Status"
on page 23.) Annuity  payments under the Contracts are deferred until a selected
later date.

     Purchase  payments  may  be  allocated  to  one or  more  of the  available
Sub-Accounts  of NWNL  Select  Variable  Account  (the  "Variable  Account"),  a
separate   account  of  Northwestern   National  Life  Insurance   Company  (the
"Company"),  and/or to the Fixed  Account  (which is the general  account of the
Company). The Fixed Account is not available to Contract Owners in the States of
Maryland, Oregon, South Carolina and Washington.

     Purchase payments allocated to one or more of the available Sub-Accounts of
the Variable  Account,  as selected by the Contract  Owner,  will be invested in
shares at net asset  value of one or more of a group of  investment  funds  (the
"Investment  Funds").  The Investment Funds are currently the five portfolios of
the  Variable  Insurance  Products  Fund and  four  portfolios  of the  Variable
Insurance Products Fund II, which are managed by Fidelity  Management & Research
Company of Boston, Massachusetts, three funds of the Northstar/NWNL Trust, which
are  managed  by  Northstar  Investment  Management  Corporation  of  Greenwich,
Connecticut,  and six  portfolios of Putnam  Capital  Manager  Trust,  which are
managed by Putnam Investment  Management,  Inc. ("Putnam Management") of Boston,
Massachusetts.  Each  Investment  Fund pays its investment  adviser certain fees
charged against the assets of the Investment Fund. The Variable Account Contract
Value and the amount of variable annuity payments will vary,  primarily based on
the investment  performance of the Investment Funds whose shares are held in the
Sub-Accounts  selected.  (For more information  about the Investment  Funds, see
"Investments of the Variable Account" on page 12.)

     Additional  information  about the Contracts,  the Company and the Variable
Account,  contained in a Statement  of  Additional  Information  dated April 30,
1996,  has been  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  and is
available  upon  request   without  charge  by  writing  to  Washington   Square
Securities, Inc., 20 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis,  Minnesota 55401. The
Statement of Additional  Information  relating to the Contracts  having the same
date as this  Prospectus is incorporated  by reference in this  Prospectus.  The
Table of Contents for the  Statement of Additional  Information  may be found on
page 29 of this Prospectus.

     INFORMATION  ABOUT THE FIXED  ACCOUNT  MAY BE FOUND IN  APPENDIX A, ON PAGE
A-1.

     NO  PERSON  IS  AUTHORIZED  TO  GIVE  ANY   INFORMATION   OR  TO  MAKE  ANY
REPRESENTATIONS  OTHER THAN THOSE  CONTAINED IN THIS  PROSPECTUS OR ACCOMPANYING
INVESTMENT  FUND  PROSPECTUSES  AND,  IF  GIVEN  OR MADE,  SUCH  INFORMATION  OR
REPRESENTATIONS  MUST  NOT BE  RELIED  UPON  AS  HAVING  BEEN  AUTHORIZED.  THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY ANY  SECURITIES  OTHER THAN THE  REGISTERED  SECURITIES TO WHICH IT RELATES.
THIS   PROSPECTUS   DOES  NOT  CONSTITUTE  AN  OFFER  OR   SOLICITATION  IN  ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.

     THIS PROSPECTUS  SETS FORTH  CONCISELY THE  INFORMATION  ABOUT THE CONTRACT
THAT A  PROSPECTIVE  INVESTOR  OUGHT TO KNOW  BEFORE  INVESTING  AND  SHOULD  BE
RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

THIS  PROSPECTUS IS  ACCOMPANIED  BY THE CURRENT  PROSPECTUSES  FOR THE VARIABLE
INSURANCE   PRODUCTS  FUND,  THE  VARIABLE   INSURANCE  PRODUCTS  FUND  II,  THE
NORTHSTAR/NWNL  TRUST AND PUTNAM  CAPITAL  MANAGER  TRUST AND IS VALID ONLY WHEN
ACCOMPANIED BY SUCH PROSPECTUSES.

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.

SHARES OF THE  INVESTMENT  FUNDS AND INTERESTS IN THE CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS
OR  OBLIGATIONS  OF, OR  GUARANTEED  OR ENDORSED BY, A BANK,  AND THE SHARES AND
INTERESTS  ARE  NOT  FEDERALLY   INSURED  BY  THE  FEDERAL   DEPOSIT   INSURANCE
CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.

                 THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS APRIL 30, 1996.

N700.207c
<PAGE>


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


Definitions .................................................................  3
Summary of Contract Expenses ................................................  5
Summary .....................................................................  8
Condensed Financial Information .............................................  9
Performance Information ..................................................... 11
The Company ................................................................. 12
The Variable Account ........................................................ 12
Investments of the Variable Account ......................................... 12
Charges Made by the Company ................................................. 15
   Surrender Charge (Contingent
     Deferred Sales Charge) ................................................. 15
   Annual Contract Charge ................................................... 16
   Mortality Risk Premium ................................................... 16
   Expense Risk Premium ..................................................... 16
   Administration Charge .................................................... 17
   Sufficiency of Charges ................................................... 17
   Premium and Other Taxes .................................................. 17
   Reduction of Charges ..................................................... 17
   Expenses of the Investment Funds ......................................... 17
Administration of the Contracts ............................................. 17
The Contracts ............................................................... 17
   Allocation of Purchase Payments .......................................... 18
   Sub-Account Accumulation Unit Value ...................................... 18
   Net Investment Factor .................................................... 18
   Death Benefit Before the Annuity
     Commencement Date ...................................................... 19
   Death Benefit After the Annuity
     Commencement Date ...................................................... 19
   Surrender (Redemption) ................................................... 19
   Systematic Withdrawals ................................................... 20
   Transfers ................................................................ 20
   Written Transfers ........................................................ 20
   Telephone Transfers ...................................................... 21
   Dollar Cost Averaging Transfers .......................................... 21
   Assignments .............................................................. 21
   Contract Owner and Beneficiaries ......................................... 21
   Contract Inquiries ....................................................... 22
Annuity Provisions .......................................................... 22
   Annuity Commencement Date ................................................ 22
   Annuity Form Selection ................................................... 22
   Annuity Forms ............................................................ 22
   Frequency and Amount
     of Annuity Payments .................................................... 22
   Annuity Payments ......................................................... 23
   Sub-Account Annuity Unit Value ........................................... 23
   Assumed Investment Rate .................................................. 23
Federal Tax Status .......................................................... 23
   Introduction ............................................................. 23
   Tax Status of the Contract ............................................... 24
   Taxation of Annuities .................................................... 24
   Transfers, Assignments or Exchanges of a Contract ........................ 26
   Withholding .............................................................. 26
   Multiple Contracts ....................................................... 26
   Taxation of Qualified Plans .............................................. 26
   Possible Charge for the Company's Taxes .................................. 27
   Other Tax Consequences ................................................... 27
Voting of Fund Shares ....................................................... 27
Distribution of the Contracts ............................................... 28
Revocation .................................................................. 28
Reports to Owners ........................................................... 28
Legal Proceedings ........................................................... 28
Financial Statements and Experts ............................................ 28
Further Information ......................................................... 28
Statement of Additional
   Information Table of Contents ............................................ 29
Appendix ..................................................................  A-1
Investment Fund Prospectuses
   Fidelity's Variable Insurance Products Fund (VIPF):
   Money Market Portfolio ...............................................  VIP-1
   High Income Portfolio ................................................  VIP-1
   Equity-Income Portfolio ..............................................  VIP-1
   Growth Portfolio .....................................................  VIP-1
   Overseas Portfolio ...................................................  VIP-1
Fidelity's Variable Insurance Products
Fund II (VIPF II):
   Asset Manager Portfolio ...........................................   VIPII-1
   Investment Grade Bond Portfolio ...................................   VIPII-1
   Index 500 Portfolio ...............................................   VIPII-1
   Contrafund Portfolio ..............................................   VIPII-1
Northstar/NWNL Trust (Northstar):
   Northstar Income and Growth Fund ..............................   Northstar-1
   Northstar Growth Fund .........................................   Northstar-1
   Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund ..............................   Northstar-1
Putnam Capital Manager Trust (PCM): 
   PCM Diversified Income Fund ..........................................  PCM-1
   PCM Growth and Income Fund ...........................................  PCM-1
   PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund .................................  PCM-1
   PCM Voyager Fund .....................................................  PCM-1
   PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund .........................................  PCM-1
   PCM New Opportunities Fund ...........................................  PCM-1

                                       2

<PAGE>

                                   DEFINITIONS


ANNUITANT- The person who is named by the Owner to receive annuity  payments and
     whose life determines the annuity benefits payable.

ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT  DATE  (COMMENCEMENT  DATE) - The date on which the annuity
     payments  begin,  which must be the first day of a month.  The date will be
     the first day of the month following the  Annuitant's  75th birthday unless
     an earlier or later date has been selected by the Owner and, if the date is
     later,  it has been agreed to by the Company.  If the Annuity  Commencement
     Date  selected by the Owner does not occur on a Valuation  Date at least 60
     days after the date on which the Contract was issued,  the Company reserves
     the right to adjust the Commencement Date to the first Valuation Date after
     the Commencement  Date selected by the Owner that is at least 60 days after
     the Contract issue date.

BENEFICIARY - The person who is named by the Owner to receive the Contract Value
     upon the death of the Owner  before  the  Annuity  Commencement  Date or to
     receive the balance of the annuity payments, if any, under the Annuity Form
     in effect at the Annuitant's death.

CODE - The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

CONTRACT  ANNIVERSARY - Occurs yearly on the same day and month the Contract was
     issued.

CONTRACT OWNER  (OWNER) - The person who controls all the rights and  privileges
     under the Contract. The Annuitant owns the Contract unless another Owner is
     named as provided  for in the  Contract.  The Contract may be owned by one,
     but no more than two, natural persons only,  except when it is held under a
     retirement  plan  described  in  Section  401(a)  or  403(a),  or a program
     described in Section 403(b) of the Code.

CONTRACT VALUE - The sum of (a) the Variable  Account  Contract Value,  which is
     the value of the Sub-Account Accumulation Units under the Contract plus (b)
     the Fixed Account  Contract  Value,  which is the sum of purchase  payments
     allocated to the Fixed Account under the Contract,  plus credited interest,
     minus surrenders,  surrender  charges  previously  applied,  and any annual
     administrative  charges  applicable  to the  Fixed  Account,  and minus any
     transfers to the Variable Account.

CONTRACT YEAR - Each twelve-month period starting with the date the Contract was
     issued and each Contract Anniversary after that.

DEATH BENEFIT - The amount payable upon the death of a Contract Owner before the
     Annuity   Commencement   Date.  (See  "Death  Benefit  Before  the  Annuity
     Commencement Date" on page 19.)

DEATH BENEFIT VALUATION DATE - The Death Benefit Valuation Date is the Valuation
     Date next  following  the date the  Company  receives  proof of death and a
     written request from the Beneficiary for a single sum payment or an Annuity
     Form permitted by Section 72(s) of the Code.

FIXED ACCOUNT - The Fixed  Account is the general  account of the Company, which
     consists  of all  assets of the  Company  other  than  those  allocated  to
     separate accounts of the Company.

FIXED ANNUITY - An annuity with payments which do not vary as to dollar amount.

INVESTMENT FUNDS - Any  open-end  management  investment  company (or  portfolio
     thereof)  or  unit  investment   trust  (or  series  thereof)  in  which  a
     Sub-Account invests as described herein.

NORTHSTAR - Northstar/NWNL Trust
     Northstar Income and Growth Fund
     Northstar Growth Fund
     Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund

PCM - Putnam Capital Manager Trust 
     PCM Diversified Income Fund 
     PCM Growth and Income Fund 
     PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund 
     PCM Voyager Fund 
     PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund 
     PCM New Opportunities Fund

QUALIFIED PLAN - A  retirement  plan  under  Sections  401,  403,  408 or 457 or
     similar provisions of the Code.

                                       3
<PAGE>

SPECIFIED CONTRACT  ANNIVERSARY - Each  consecutive  six year  anniversary  date
     measured  from the date the Contract  was issued.  The  Specified  Contract
     Anniversary is used to determine the Death Benefit  payable if the Contract
     Owner dies before the Annuity Commencement Date. (See "Death Benefit Before
     the Annuity Commencement Date" on page 19.)

SUB-ACCOUNT - That portion of the Variable Account  available under the Contract
     which invests in shares of a specific Investment Fund.

SUB-ACCOUNT ACCUMULATION UNIT - A unit of measure used to determine the Variable
     Account Contract Value before annuity payments start.

SUCCESSOR  BENEFICIARY  - The  person  named to become  the  Beneficiary  if the
     Beneficiary is not alive.

VALUATIONDATE - The close of the market each day the New York Stock  Exchange is
     open  for  trading  and the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  has not
     suspended Trading.

VALUATION  PERIOD - The time  interval  between  a  Valuation  Date and the next
     Valuation Date.

VARIABLE ACCOUNT - A separate  account of the Company  consisting  of assets set
     aside by the Company, the investment  performance of which is kept separate
     from that of the general assets of the Company.

VARIABLE ANNUITY - A series of periodic  payments  to the  Annuitant  which will
     vary in amount,  primarily based on the investment  results of the Variable
     Account Sub-Accounts under the Contract.

VARIABLE ANNUITY UNIT - A unit of measure used in the  calculation of the second
     and each subsequent variable annuity payment from the Variable Account.

VIPF - Variable Insurance Products Fund
     Money Market Portfolio
     High Income Portfolio
     Equity-Income Portfolio
     Growth Portfolio
     Overseas Portfolio

VIPF II - Variable Insurance Products Fund II
     Asset Manager Portfolio
     Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
     Index 500 Portfolio
     Contrafund Portfolio


                                       4
<PAGE>


                          SUMMARY OF CONTRACT EXPENSES


CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES

Sales Charge Imposed on Purchases......................................     None

Surrender  Charge  (as a  percentage  of  amounts  surrendered  attributable  to
purchase payments made in the last six Contract Years) (a)


      CONTRACT YEAR OF SURRENDER               Surrender Charge
        MINUS CONTRACT YEAR OF                as a Percentage of
           PURCHASE PAYMENT                  EACH PURCHASE PAYMENT
           ----------------                  ---------------------
                   0                                    6%
                   1                                    6
                   2                                    5
                   3                                    5
                   4                                    4
                   5                                    4
              6 and later                               0

Transfer Charge (b) ........................................................None
ANNUAL CONTRACT CHARGE ......................................................$30

SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average account value)
Mortality and Expense Risk Premiums .......................................1.25%
Other Account Fees and Expenses (See "Administration Charge" on page 17.).. .15%
Total Separate Account Annual Expense .....................................1.40%

ANNUAL INVESTMENT FUND EXPENSES
(as a percentage of Investment Fund average net assets)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                                  TOTAL INVESTMENT
                                                                              MANAGEMENT          OTHER             FUND ANNUAL
                                                                                 FEES           EXPENSES              EXPENSES
                                                                                 ----           --------              --------
<S>                                                                              <C>             <C>                   <C>  
VIPF Money Market Portfolio...............................................       0.24%           0.09%                 0.33%
VIPF High Income Portfolio (c)............................................       0.60%           0.11%                 0.71%
VIPF Equity-Income Portfolio..............................................       0.51%           0.10%                 0.61%
VIPF Growth Portfolio.....................................................       0.61%           0.09%                 0.70%
VIPF Overseas Portfolio...................................................       0.76%           0.15%                 0.91%


                                                                                                                  TOTAL INVESTMENT
                                                                              MANAGEMENT          OTHER             FUND ANNUAL
                                                                                 FEES           EXPENSES              EXPENSES
                                                                                 ----           --------              --------
<S>                                                                              <C>             <C>                   <C>  
VIPF II Asset Manager Portfolio (c)........................................      0.71%           0.08%                 0.79%
VIPF II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio....................................      0.45%           0.14%                 0.59%
VIPF II Index 500 Portfolio (d)............................................      0.28%           0.00%                 0.28%
VIPF II Contrafund Portfolio (c)...........................................      0.61%           0.11%                 0.72%


                                                                                                                  TOTAL INVESTMENT
                                                                              MANAGEMENT          OTHER             FUND ANNUAL
                                                                                 FEES           EXPENSES              EXPENSES
                                                                                 ----           --------              --------
<S>                                                                              <C>             <C>                   <C>  
Northstar Income and Growth Fund (e)......................................       0.75%           0.05%                 0.80%
Northstar Growth Fund (e).................................................       0.75%           0.05%                 0.80%
Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund (e)......................................       0.75%           0.05%                 0.80%


                                                                                                                  TOTAL INVESTMENT
                                                                              MANAGEMENT          OTHER             FUND ANNUAL
                                                                                 FEES           EXPENSES              EXPENSES
                                                                                 ----           --------              --------
<S>                                                                              <C>             <C>                   <C>  
PCM Diversified Income Fund...................................................   0.70%           0.15%                 0.85%
PCM Growth and Income Fund....................................................   0.52%           0.05%                 0.57%
PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund.(f)......................................   0.70%           0.08%                 0.78%
PCM Voyager Fund..............................................................   0.62%           0.06%                 0.68%
PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund (g)..............................................   0.33%           0.56%                 0.89%
PCM New Opportunities Fund....................................................   0.70%           0.14%                 0.84%
</TABLE>

     The fee and expense information regarding the Investment Funds was provided
by the  Investment  Funds.  The Variable  Insurance  Products Fund, the Variable
Insurance  Products Fund II and Putnam Capital  Manager Trust are not affiliated
with the Company.

                                       5
<PAGE>

EXAMPLES

     If you surrender  your contract at the end of the  applicable  time period,
you would pay the  following  expenses  on a $1,000  investment,  assuming  a 5%
annual return on assets.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                      1 YEAR      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                      ------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>          <C>          <C> 
VIPF Money Market Portfolio........................................................     $73         $103         $136         $216
VIPF High Income Portfolio.........................................................      77          115          155          256
VIPF Equity-Income Portfolio.......................................................      76          111          150          245
VIPF Growth Portfolio..............................................................      76          114          155          255
VIPF Overseas Portfolio............................................................      79          121          165          276

<CAPTION>
                                                                                      1 YEAR      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                      ------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>          <C>          <C> 
VIPF II Asset Manager Portfolio....................................................     $77         $117         $159         $264
VIPF II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio............................................      75          111          149          243
VIPF II Index 500 Portfolio........................................................      72          101          133          211
VIPF II Contrafund Portfolio.......................................................      77          115          156          257

<CAPTION>
                                                                                      1 YEAR      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                      ------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>          <C>          <C> 
Northstar Income and Growth Fund...................................................     $77         $117         $160         $265
Northstar Growth Fund..............................................................      77          117          160          265
Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund...................................................      77          117          160          265

<CAPTION>
                                                                                      1 YEAR      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                      ------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>          <C>          <C> 
PCM Diversified Income Fund........................................................     $78         $119         $162         $270
PCM Growth and Income Fund.........................................................      75          110          148          241
PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund...............................................      77          117          159          263
PCM Voyager Fund...................................................................      76          114          154          253
PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund.......................................................      78          120          164          274
PCM New Opportunities Fund.........................................................      78          118          162          269
</TABLE>

     If you annuitize  your contract at the end of the  applicable  time period,
you would pay the  following  expenses  on a $1,000  investment,  assuming  a 5%
annual return on assets.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     1 YEAR*      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                     -------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>          <C>         <C>          <C> 
VIPF Money Market Portfolio.......................................................      $73          $58         $100         $216
VIPF High Income Portfolio........................................................       77           70          119          256
VIPF Equity-Income Portfolio......................................................       76           66          114          245
VIPF Growth Portfolio.............................................................       76           69          119          255
VIPF Overseas Portfolio...........................................................       79           76          129          276

<CAPTION>
                                                                                     1 YEAR*      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                     -------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>          <C>         <C>          <C> 
VIPF II Asset Manager Portfolio...................................................      $77          $72         $123         $264
VIPF II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio...........................................       75           66          113          243
VIPF II Index 500 Portfolio.......................................................       72           56           97          211
VIPF II Contrafund Portfolio......................................................       77           70          120          257

<CAPTION>
                                                                                     1 YEAR*      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                     -------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>          <C>         <C>          <C> 
Northstar Income and Growth Fund..................................................      $78          $73         $126         $269
Northstar Growth Fund.............................................................       78           73          126          269
Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund..................................................       78           73          126          269

<CAPTION>
                                                                                     1 YEAR*      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                     -------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>          <C>         <C>          <C> 
PCM Diversified Income Fund.......................................................      $78          $74         $126         $270
PCM Growth and Income Fund........................................................       75           65          112          241
PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund..............................................       77           72          123          263
PCM Voyager Fund..................................................................       76           69          118          253
PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund......................................................       78           75          128          274
PCM New Opportunities Fund........................................................       78           73          126          269
</TABLE>

*If the  Contract's  Annuity  Commencement  Date  occurs  during  the  first two
Contract Years following the date the Contract was issued a Surrender  Charge is
deducted and the expenses shown in year 1 reflect this deduction.

                                       6
<PAGE>


     If you do not  surrender  or  annuitize  your  contract  at the  end of the
applicable  time  period,  you would  pay the  following  expenses  on a $ 1,000
investment, assuming a 5% annual return on assets.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                      1 YEAR      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                      ------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>         <C>           <C> 
VIPF Money Market Portfolio........................................................     $19         $58         $100          $216
VIPF High Income Portfolio.........................................................      23          70          119           256
VIPF Equity-Income Portfolio.......................................................      22          66          114           245
VIPF Growth Portfolio..............................................................      22          69          119           255
VIPF Overseas Portfolio............................................................      25          76          129           276

<CAPTION>

                                                                                      1 YEAR      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                      ------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>         <C>           <C> 
VIPF II Asset Manager Portfolio....................................................     $23         $72         $123          $264
VIPF II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio............................................      21          66          113           243
VIPF II Index 500 Portfolio........................................................      18          56           97           211
VIPF II Contrafund Portfolio.......................................................      23          70          120           257

<CAPTION>
                                                                                      1 YEAR      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                      ------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>         <C>           <C> 
Northstar Income and Growth Fund...................................................     $24         $73         $126          $269
Northstar Growth Fund..............................................................      24          73          126           269
Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund...................................................      24          73          126           269

<CAPTION>
                                                                                      1 YEAR      3 YEARS      5 YEARS      10 YEARS
                                                                                      ------      -------      -------      --------
<S>                                                                                     <C>         <C>         <C>           <C> 
PCM Diversified Income Fund........................................................     $24         $74         $126          $270
PCM Growth and Income Fund.........................................................      21          65          112           241
PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund...............................................      23          72          123           263
PCM Voyager Fund...................................................................      22          69          118           253
PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund.......................................................      24          75          128           274
PCM New Opportunities Fund.........................................................      24          73          126           269
</TABLE>

(a)  Under certain  situations  amounts may be surrendered free of any surrender
     charge.  For  more  information  on the  Surrender  Charge,  see  page  15,
     "Surrender Charge (Contingent Deferred Sales Charge)". The Company reserves
     the right to charge a partial  surrender  processing  fee not to exceed the
     lesser of 2% of the partial  surrender  amount or $25. For more information
     on the processing fee, see page 19, "Surrender (Redemption)".

(b)  The Company  currently  does not impose a charge on  transfers  between the
     Sub-Accounts  or to the Fixed  Account,  although the Company  reserves the
     right to impose a charge not to exceed $25 per each transfer.

(c)  During 1995, a portion of the brokerage commissions paid by the High Income
     Portfolio,  Asset Manager  Portfolio and  Contrafund  Portfolio was used to
     reduce each respective portfolio's expenses.  Without the reduction,  total
     operating  expenses would have been 0.71%,  0.81% and 0.73%,  respectively,
     for each portfolio. For more information on the portfolios' Management Fees
     and Expenses, see the prospectus for the Fund.

(d)  During 1995, the investment adviser to the Index 500 Portfolio reimbursed a
     portion of the  portfolio's  expenses.  Without  the  reimbursement,  total
     operating  expenses  would have been  0.47%.  For more  information  on the
     portfolio's Management Fees and Expenses, see the prospectus for the Fund.

(e)  The investment adviser to the Northstar/NWNL  Trust has agreed to reimburse
     the  three  Northstar  Funds  for any  expenses  in excess of 0.80% of each
     Fund's average daily net assets. In the absence of the investment adviser's
     expense  reimbursements,  the actual  expenses that would have been paid by
     each Fund during its fiscal year ended  December  31, 1995 would have been:
     Income and Growth  Fund-1.74%;  Growth  Fund-2.04%;  and Multi-Sector  Bond
     Fund-2.06%.

(f)  On January 7, 1996, the Trustees of Putnam Capital Manager Trust approved a
     proposal  to change  the fees  payable  to the  trust's  adviser  under its
     management  contract for PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund. The proposed
     change, which increases total operating expenses from 0.68% to 0.78% and is
     reflected in the figures shown above, is subject to shareholder approval at
     a meeting  scheduled for July 11, 1996. For more  information on the Fund's
     management fees and expenses, see the prospectus for the Fund.

(g)  In the absence of the  expense  limitation  in effect for the  period,  the
     estimated total operating expense would be 1.70%.

     THE  EXAMPLES  SHOWN  IN  THE  TABLE  ABOVE  SHOULD  NOT  BE  CONSIDERED  A
REPRESENTATION  OF PAST OR FUTURE EXPENSES.  ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE MORE OR LESS
THAN THOSE SHOWN. THE 5% ANNUAL RETURN ASSUMED IS HYPOTHETICAL AND SHOULD NOT BE
CONSIDERED  A  REPRESENTATION  OF PAST OR FUTURE  ANNUAL  RETURNS,  WHICH MAY BE
GREATER OR LESS THAN THE ASSUMED RATE.

     The purpose of this table is to assist the Contract Owner in  understanding
the various costs and expenses that a Contract  Owner will bear either  directly
or indirectly.  The table reflects the expenses of the Variable  Account as well
as those of the Investment Funds. The $30 Annual Contract Charge is reflected as
an annual percentage  charge in this table based on the anticipated  average net
assets in the Variable  Account and Fixed Account,  which translates to a charge
equal to an annual  rate of 0.113% of the  Variable  Account  and Fixed  Account
values.

     In addition to the costs and expenses  shown in this table,  state  premium
taxes may also be  applicable.  For more  information on state premium taxes see
page 17, "Premium and Other Taxes".

                                       7
<PAGE>

                                     SUMMARY

     The  Contracts  are flexible  premium  individual  deferred  variable/fixed
retirement  annuity  contracts  issued by the Variable  Account and the Company.
(See "The Company" and "The  Variable  Account" on page 12.) They are sold to or
in  connection  with  retirement  plans which may or may not qualify for special
federal tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code. (See "Federal Tax Status"
on page 23.) Annuity  payments  under the Contracts  are deferred  until a later
date.

     Purchase  payments  may  be  allocated  to  one or  more  of the  available
Sub-Accounts  of the  Variable  Account  and/or to the Fixed  Account (the Fixed
Account is not available to Contract  Owners in the States of Maryland,  Oregon,
South  Carolina  and  Washington).  Purchase  payments  allocated to one or more
Sub-Accounts  of the  Variable  Account  will be invested in shares at net asset
value of one or more of the  Investment  Funds.  The Variable  Account  Contract
Value and the amount of variable annuity payments will vary,  primarily based on
the investment  performance of the Investment Funds whose shares are held in the
Sub-Accounts selected. (See "Investments of the Variable Account" on page 12.)

     No deduction for a sales charge is made from the purchase  payments for the
Contracts.  However, a surrender charge (contingent  deferred sales charge) may,
with  certain  exceptions,  apply to whole or  partial  surrenders  of  purchase
payments that have been  credited  under the Contract for less than six Contract
Years.  Except for  Contracts  issued in the state of  Washington,  a  surrender
charge will also be deducted if the Contract's Annuity  Commencement Date occurs
within the first two years after the date the Contract was issued. The amount of
the surrender charge will vary as follows:


      CONTRACT YEAR OF SURRENDER             SURRENDER CHARGE AS A
        MINUS CONTRACT YEAR OF                PERCENTAGE OF EACH
           PURCHASE PAYMENT                    PURCHASE PAYMENT
           ----------------                    ----------------
                 0 - 1                                 6%
                 2 - 3                                 5
                 4 - 5                                 4
              6 and later                              0

(See "Surrender Charge (Contingent Deferred Sales Charge)" on page 15.)

     In addition,  on each  Contract  Anniversary  (and on the  surrender of the
Contract for its full value if it is not surrendered on a Contract  Anniversary)
the Company will deduct from the  Contract  Value an Annual  Contract  Charge of
$30.  During the annuity  period the Annual  Contract  Charge will be separately
assessed  against fixed annuity  payments and variable annuity payments and will
be  deducted  from each fixed  annuity  payment and from each  variable  annuity
payment in equal  installments  if both forms of annuity  payment are  selected.
Otherwise  such  charge  will be  deducted  from each fixed  annuity or variable
annuity  payment as applicable.  The Annual  Contract Charge is to reimburse the
Company for administrative expenses relating to the issue and maintenance of the
Contracts. (See "Annual Contract Charge" on page 16.)

     The Company also deducts a Mortality Risk Premium,  an Expense Risk Premium
and an Administration  Charge, equal to an annual rate of 1.40% of the daily net
assets of the available  Sub-Accounts  of the Variable  Account. (See "Mortality
Risk Premium" and "Expense Risk Premium" on page 16 and "Administration  Charge"
on page 17.)

     The initial  purchase  payment  must be $5,000 or more for a  Non-Qualified
Contract  and no  subsequent  individual  payment may be less than $500.  If the
Contract is being  purchased  by or in  connection  with a Qualified  Plan,  the
minimum initial purchase payment is $2,000, and no subsequent individual payment
may be less than $200.  The  Company  may  choose  not to accept any  subsequent
purchase payment if the additional purchase payment,  when added to the Contract
Value at the next Valuation Date, would exceed $ 1,000,000. The Company reserves
the  right to  accept  smaller  initial  and  subsequent  purchase  payments  in
connection  with  special  circumstances,   including  sales  through  group  or
sponsored arrangements.

     If the Contract Value at the Annuity Commencement Date is less than $5,000,
the Contract Value may be distributed in a single sum payment in lieu of annuity
payments.  If any annuity  payment  would be less than $50,  the Company has the
right to change the  frequency  of payments to such  intervals as will result in
payments of at least $50 each. (See  "Frequency and Amount of Annuity  Payments"
on page 22.) The minimum frequency and amount of annuity payments or the minimum
Contract Value required for annuity payments may vary by state.

     Premium taxes payable to any  governmental  entity will be charged  against
the Contracts. (See "Premium and Other Taxes" on page 17.)

     The  Contract  Owner may  request  early  withdrawal  of all or part of the
Contract  Value  before  the  Annuity   Commencement   Date.   (See   "Surrender
(Redemption)" on page 19.) Under the Code,  penalty taxes may apply to the early
withdrawal of amounts  accumulated under a Contract whether or not such Contract
is part of a Qualified Plan. (See "Taxation of Annuities" on page 24.)

     The  Contract  Owner may return the  Contract  within ten days after it was
delivered  to the  Owner,  and  receive a refund of the  Contract  Value  unless
otherwise required by law. (See "Revocation" on page 28.)

                                       8
<PAGE>

                         CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     The following table shows,  for each  Sub-Account of the Variable  Account,
the value of a Sub-Account  Accumulation Unit as they are invested in portfolios
at the dates  shown,  and the total  number of  Sub-Account  Accumulation  Units
outstanding at the end of each period:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                                                                          ----------------------
                                                                                                             1995        1994
                                                                                                             ----        ----
<S>                                                                                                      <C>           <C>     
SUB-ACCOUNT INVESTING IN
FIDELITY'S VIPF: (a)
(all portfolios from January 6, 1994):
Money Market Portfolio
   Beginning of period..............................................................................     $10.2767      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $10.7316      $10.2767
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................    1,002,405       427,592
High Income Portfolio
   Beginning of period..............................................................................      $9.6317      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $11.4563       $9.6317
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................      608,287       239,723
Equity-Income Portfolio
   Beginning of period..............................................................................     $10.5139      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $14.0081      $10.5139
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................    1,874,623       709,023
Growth Portfolio
   Beginning of period..............................................................................      $9.8584      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $13.1611       $9.8584
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................    1,527,407       747,558
Overseas Portfolio
   Beginning of period..............................................................................      $9.9447      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $10.7569       $9.9447
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................      765,862       503,864
FIDELITY'S VIPF II: (a)
Asset Manager Portfolio
(from January 6, 1994)
   Beginning of period..............................................................................      $9.1981      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $10.6096       $9.1981
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................    1,333,252     1,089,020
Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
(from January 6, 1994)
   Beginning of period..............................................................................      $9.4774      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $10.9662       $9.4774
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................      668,429       306,289
Index 500 Portfolio
(from January 6, 1994)
   Beginning of period..............................................................................      $9.9476      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $13.4594       $9.9476
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................      314,004        89,274
Contrafund Portfolio
(from May 1, 1995)
   Beginning of period..............................................................................     $10.0000             -
   End of period....................................................................................     $12.1031             -
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................      440,844             -

</TABLE>
                                       9
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                                                                          ----------------------
                                                                                                             1995        1994
                                                                                                             ----        ----
<S>                                                                                                      <C>           <C>     
NORTHSTAR'S: (a)
(all portfolios from January 3, 1995):
Income and Growth Fund
   Beginning of period..............................................................................     $10.0000             -
   End of period....................................................................................     $12.0224             -
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................       38,118             -
Growth Fund
   Beginning of period..............................................................................     $10.0000             -
   End of period....................................................................................     $12.3714             -
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................       16,298             -
Multi-Sector Bond Fund
   Beginning of period..............................................................................     $10.0000             -
   End of period....................................................................................     $11.3881             -
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................       21,964             -

PUTNAM'S: (a)
PCM Diversified Income Fund
(from January 6, 1994)
   Beginning of period..............................................................................      $9.4193      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $11.0666       $9.4193
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................      574,909       334,112
PCM Growth and Income Fund
(from January 6, 1994)
   Beginning of period..............................................................................      $9.8762      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $13.3162       $9.8762
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................      719,095       228,484
PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund
(from January 6, 1994)
   Beginning of period..............................................................................      $9.2881      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $12.0072       $9.2881
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................      237,434       109,160
PCM Voyager Fund
(from January 6, 1994)
   Beginning of period..............................................................................     $10.0386      $10.0000
   End of period....................................................................................     $13.9272      $10.0386
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................    1,090,262       338,970
PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund
(from May 1, 1995)
   Beginning of period..............................................................................     $10.0000             -
   End of period....................................................................................     $10.1361             -
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................       77,407             -
PCM New Opportunities Fund
(from May 1, 1995)
   Beginning of period..............................................................................     $10.0000             -
   End of period....................................................................................     $13.3506             -
   Units outstanding at end of period...............................................................      279,170             -

</TABLE>

(a)  The portfolios of VIPF, VIPF II, Northstar and PCM were not available under
     the Contract prior to 1994.

     The Sub-Accounts  investing in shares of the VIPF II Contrafund  Portfolio,
Northstar  Funds,  PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund and PCM New  Opportunities  Fund
were not available under the Contract prior to 1995.

                                       10
<PAGE>
                             PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

     From time to time, the Company may advertise or include in sales literature
yields,  effective  yields,  and total returns for the  available  Sub-Accounts.
THESE  FIGURES ARE BASED ON  HISTORICAL  EARNINGS AND DO NOT INDICATE OR PROJECT
FUTURE  PERFORMANCE.  Each  Sub-Account  may,  from time to time,  advertise  or
include in sales literature performance relative to certain performance rankings
and indices compiled by independent organizations.  More detailed information as
to the  calculation of  performance  information,  as well as  comparisons  with
unmanaged market indices, appears in the Statement of Additional Information.

     Yields,  effective  yields and total returns for the Sub-Accounts are based
on the investment performance of the corresponding  portfolios of the Investment
Funds. The performance in part reflects the Investment Funds' expenses.  See the
prospectuses for the Investment Funds.

     The yield of the Sub-Account  investing in the VIPF Money Market  Portfolio
refers to the annualized  income  generated by an investment in the  Sub-Account
over a specified  seven-day period. The yield is calculated by assuming that the
income  generated for that seven-day  period is generated each seven-day  period
over a  52-week  period  and is shown as a  percentage  of the  investment.  The
effective yield is calculated similarly but, when annualized,  the income earned
by an investment in the  Sub-Account is assumed to be reinvested.  The effective
yield will be slightly higher than the yield because of the  compounding  effect
of this assumed reinvestment.

     The yield of a Sub-Account  (except the Money Market Sub-Account  investing
in the VIPF Money Market Portfolio) refers to the annualized income generated by
an investment in the Sub-Account  over a specified  30-day or one-month  period.
The yield is calculated by assuming that the income  generated by the investment
during that 30-day or one-month  period is generated each period over a 12-month
period and is shown as a percentage of the investment.

     The total return of a Sub-Account  refers to return quotations  assuming an
investment under a Contract has been held in the Sub-Account for various periods
of time  including,  but not  limited  to, a period  measured  from the date the
Sub-Account  commenced  operations.  Average annual total return refers to total
return  quotations  that are annualized  based on an average return over various
periods of time.

     The average  annual total return  quotations  represent the average  annual
compounded  rates of return that would equate an initial  investment  of $1,000
under a Contract to the redemption  value of that  investment as of the last day
of each of the periods for which total return  quotations are provided.  Average
annual total return information shows the average percentage change in the value
of an investment  in the  Sub-Account  from the beginning  date of the measuring
period to the end of that period.  This  version of average  annual total return
reflects all  historical  investment  results,  less all charges and  deductions
applied against the Sub-Account (including any surrender charge that would apply
if an Owner  terminated  the Contract at the end of each period  indicated,  but
excluding any deductions for premium taxes).

     When a  Sub-Account  has been in operation  for one,  five,  and ten years,
respectively,  the total return for these periods will be provided.  For periods
prior to the date the Sub-Account commenced operations,  performance information
for  Contracts  funded  by the  Sub-Accounts  will be  calculated  based  on the
performance of the  Investment  Funds'  portfolios  and the assumption  that the
Sub-Accounts  were in existence for the same periods as those  indicated for the
Investment  Funds'  portfolios,  with the level of Contract charges that were in
effect at the inception of the Sub-Accounts for the Contracts.

     Average total return  information  may be  presented,  computed on the same
basis as  described  above,  except  deductions  will not include the  surrender
charge.  In addition,  the Company may from time to time disclose average annual
total return in non-standard  formats and cumulative  total return for Contracts
funded by the Sub-Accounts.

     The Company may, from time to time,  also disclose  yield and total returns
for the  portfolios of the  Investment  Funds,  including  such  disclosure  for
periods prior to the dates the Sub-Accounts commenced operations.

     For additional  information  regarding the calculation of other performance
data, please refer to the Statement of Additional Information.

     In advertising and sales  literature,  the performance of each  Sub-Account
may be compared to the performance of other variable  annuity issuers in general
or to the  performance of particular  types of variable  annuities  investing in
mutual funds, or investment  series of mutual funds with  investment  objectives
similar to each of the Sub-Accounts. Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. ("Lipper")
and the  Variable  Annuity  Research  Data  Service  ("VARDS")  are  independent
services which monitor and rank the  performance of variable  annuity issuers in
each of the major categories of investment objectives on an industry-wide basis.

     Lipper's  rankings  include  variable  life  insurance  issuers  as well as
variable annuity issuers.  VARDS rankings compare only variable annuity issuers.
The performance  analyses prepared by Lipper and VARDS each rank such

                                       11
<PAGE>
issuers on the basis of total return,  assuming  reinvestment of  distributions,
but do not take sales charges,  redemption fees or certain expense deductions at
the separate account level into consideration.  In addition, VARDS prepares risk
adjusted  rankings,  which  consider  the effects of market risk on total return
performance.  This type of ranking  provides  data as to which funds provide the
highest total return within various categories of funds defined by the degree of
risk inherent in their investment objectives.

     Advertising  and sales  literature may also compare the performance of each
Sub-Account  to the Standard & Poor's  Composite  Index of 500 Stocks,  a widely
used measure of stock performance. This unmanaged index assumes the reinvestment
of dividends but does not reflect any  "deduction"  for the expense of operating
or managing an investment  portfolio.  Other  independent  ranking  services and
indices may also be used as a source of performance comparison.

     The Company  may also  report  other  information  including  the effect of
tax-deferred  compounding on a Sub-Account's  investment  returns, or returns in
general,  which may be illustrated by tables,  graphs or charts.  All income and
capital gains derived from  Sub-Account  investments are reinvested and can lead
to substantial  long-term  accumulation of assets,  provided that the underlying
portfolio's investment experience is positive.

                                   THE COMPANY

     The  Company,  organized  in  1885,  is  a  stock  life  insurance  company
incorporated under the laws of the State of Minnesota.  The Company is a direct,
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Reliastar Financial Corp., a publicly-traded holding
company  incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware,  whose shares are
listed on the New York  Stock  Exchange.  The  Company  offers  individual  life
insurance and  annuities,  employee  benefits,  and  retirement  contracts.  The
Company is admitted to do  business in the  District of Columbia  and all states
except New York. Its home office is at 20 Washington Avenue South,  Minneapolis,
Minnesota 55401 (telephone 612/372-5507).

     The  Contracts  described  in this  Prospectus  are  nonparticipating.  The
capital and surplus of the Company should be considered as bearing only upon the
ability of the Company to meet its obligations under the Contracts.

                              THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT

     The Variable  Account is a Separate  Account of the Company  established by
the Board of Directors of the Company on November 12, 1981, pursuant to the laws
of the  State  of  Minnesota.  The  Variable  Account  is  registered  with  the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  as a  unit  investment  trust  under  the
Investment  Company Act of 1940, as amended ("1940 Act"). Such registration does
not involve  supervision  by the  Commission  of the  management  or  investment
policies or  practices of the Variable  Account,  the Company or the Funds.  The
Company  has  complete  ownership  and  control  of the  assets in the  Variable
Account,  but these assets are held  separately  from the Company's other assets
and are not part of the Company's General Account.

     The portion of the assets of the Variable Account equal to the reserves and
other  contract  liabilities  of the  Variable  Account will not be charged with
liabilities  incurred in any other  business  that the Company may conduct.  The
Company  has the right to  transfer  to its  General  Account  any assets of the
Variable Account which are in excess of such reserves and other liabilities. The
income,  if any, and gains and losses,  realized or unrealized,  of the Variable
Account  will be credited  to or charged  against  the amount  allocated  to the
Variable  Account,  in accordance  with the contracts  supported by the Variable
Account, without regard to the other income, gains or losses of the Company.

     Purchase  payments  allocated to the Variable  Account under a Contract are
invested in one or more  Sub-Accounts  of the  Variable  Account.  The  purchase
payments  under a Contract are  allocated  to the  Sub-Account  or  Sub-Accounts
selected by the Owner,  and the future Variable  Account  Contract Value depends
primarily on the investment performance of the Investment Funds whose shares are
held in the Sub-Accounts selected.

     Shares  of the  Investment  Funds  are also  available  to  other  variable
contracts  funded by the  Variable  Account and to separate  accounts  for other
types of variable contracts.

                       INVESTMENTS OF THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT

     When a  Contract  is  applied  for,  the Owner  may elect to have  purchase
payments  allocated to one or more of the available  Sub-Accounts  each of which
invests in shares of one of the  Investment  Funds at its net asset  value.  The
Owner may change a purchase payment  allocation for future purchase payments and
may at any time transfer all or part of any existing  values in a Sub-Account to
another Sub-Account that invests in shares of another Investment Fund.

    Fidelity  Management & Research  Company is the investment  adviser for the
five portfolios of VIPF and the four portfolios of VIPF II; Northstar Investment
Management  Corporation  is the  investment  adviser  for the three funds of 

                                       12
<PAGE>

the  Northstar/NWNL  Trust; and Putnam Management is the investment  adviser for
the  six  portfolios  of PCM  which  are  offered  through  this  Contract.  The
investment  advisers are paid fees for their  services by the  Investment  Funds
they manage.

     The Investment  Funds  currently  offered,  together with their  investment
objectives are briefly described below. More detailed information concerning the
investment  objectives,  policies and restrictions  pertaining to the Investment
Funds and the expenses,  investment  advisory services and charges and the risks
attendant to  investing  in the  portfolios  of the  Investment  Funds and other
aspects of their  operations  can be found in the  current  prospectus  for each
Investment  Fund which  accompany this  Prospectus and the current  Statement of
Additional   Information   for  each   Investment   Fund.  The  Investment  Fund
prospectuses should be read carefully before any decision is made concerning the
allocation of premium payments or transfers among the Sub-Accounts.

VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND (VIPF)

     VIPF is a mutual fund currently offering five investment  portfolios,  each
     with a different investment objective.

     MONEYMARKET  PORTFOLIO seeks to obtain as high a level of current income as
     is  consistent  with  preserving  capital  and  providing  liquidity.   The
     portfolio will invest only in high-quality  U.S. dollar  denominated  money
     market  instruments of domestic and foreign  issuers.  An investment in the
     portfolio is not insured or  guaranteed by the U.S.  Government,  and there
     can be no assurance  that the portfolio  will maintain a stable asset value
     per share of $1.00.

     HIGH  INCOME  PORTFOLIO  seeks to obtain a high level of current  income by
     investing  primarily in  lower-rated,  fixed-income  securities  (sometimes
     referred to as "junk  bonds"),  while also  considering  growth of capital.
     Lower-rated, fixed-income securities are considered speculative and involve
     greater risk of default than higher-rated,  fixed-income securities and are
     more sensitive to the issuer's capacity to pay. Consult the VIPF prospectus
     for  further  information  on the  risks  associated  with the  portfolio's
     investment in lower-rated, fixed income securities.

     EQUITY-INCOME  PORTFOLIO seeks reasonable income by investing  primarily in
     income-producing  equity  securities.  In  choosing  these  securities  the
     portfolio  will also consider the potential for capital  appreciation.  The
     portfolio's goal is to achieve a yield which exceeds the composite yield on
     the  securities  comprising  the Standard & Poor's  Composite  Index of 500
     Stocks.

     GROWTH  PORTFOLIO  seeks to achieve  capital  appreciation.  The  portfolio
     normally  purchases  common  stocks,   although  its  investments  are  not
     restricted to any one type of security.  Capital  appreciation  may also be
     found in other types of securities, including bonds and preferred stocks.

     OVERSEAS  PORTFOLIO  seeks long term  growth of capital  primarily  through
     investments in foreign securities.  Overseas Portfolio provides a means for
     investors to diversify their own portfolios by  participating  in companies
     and economies outside of the United States.

VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II (VIPF II)

     VIPF II is a mutual fund  currently  offering five  investment  portfolios,
     each with a different investment  objective.  The following four portfolios
     are available under this Contract:

     ASSET MANAGER  PORTFOLIO seeks high total return with reduced risk over the
     long-term by allocating its assets among domestic and foreign stocks, bonds
     and short-term, fixed-income instruments.

     INVESTMENT  GRADE BOND PORTFOLIO seeks as high a level of current income as
     is  consistent  with the  preservation  of capital by  investing in a broad
     range of investment-grade, fixed-income securities.

     INDEX 500 PORTFOLIO seeks to provide  investment results that correspond to
     the total return (i.e.,  the  combination of capital changes and income) of
     common  stocks  publicly  traded in the  United  States.  In  seeking  this
     objective,  the portfolio  attempts to duplicate the  composition and total
     return of the Standard & Poor's Composite Index of 500 Stocks while keeping
     transaction  costs and other  expenses  low. The portfolio is designed as a
     long-term investment option.

     CONTRAFUND  PORTFOLIO seeks capital  appreciation by investing in companies
     believed to be under-valued due to an overly  pessimistic  appraisal by the
     public.  The  portfolio  invests  primarily in common stock and  securities
     convertible  into common stock, but it has the flexibility to invest in any
     type of security that may produce capital appreciation.

NORTHSTAR/NWNL TRUST (NORTHSTAR)

     Northstar is a diversified management investment company currently offering
     four investment  funds,  each with a different  investment  objective.  The
     following three Northstar Funds are available under this Contract.

     NORTHSTAR  INCOME  AND  GROWTH  FUND  is a  diversified  portfolio  with an
     investment  objective of seeking current income balanced with the objective
     of  achieving  capital  appreciation.  This Fund will seek to  achieve  its
     objective through  investments in common and preferred stocks,  convertible
     securities,  investment  grade  corporate  debt  securities  and government
     securities,  selected for their  prospects of producing  income and capital
     appreciation.

                                       13
<PAGE>

     NORTHSTAR  GROWTH  FUND  is a  diversified  portfolio  with  an  investment
     objective  of long-term  growth of capital  through  investments  in equity
     securities  of  companies  that  are  believed  to  provide  above  average
     potential for capital appreciation.  Navellier Fund Management, Inc. serves
     as sub-adviser to the Fund and is responsible for the day-to-day investment
     management  of the  Fund,  subject  to the  supervision  of the  investment
     adviser  and the  Trustees  of the  Fund.  All  fees  and  expenses  of the
     subadvisory arrangement are borne by the investment adviser.

     NORTHSTAR  MULTI-SECTOR  BOND  FUND  is a  diversified  portfolio  with  an
     investment  objective of maximizing current income.  This Fund will seek to
     achieve its objective by  investment in the following  sectors of the fixed
     income  securities  markets:  (a)  securities  issued or  guaranteed  as to
     principal and interest by the U.S. Government, its agencies, authorities or
     instrumentalities;  (b) investment  grade  corporate debt  securities;  (c)
     investment  grade or comparable  quality debt securities  issued by foreign
     corporate issuers,  and securities issued by foreign  governments and their
     political subdivisions,  limited to 35% of assets determined at the time of
     investment;  and (d) high yield-high  risk fixed income  securities of U.S.
     and foreign  issuers,  limited to 50% of assets  determined  at the time of
     investment.

PUTNAM CAPITAL MANAGER TRUST (PCM)

     PCM is a mutual  fund  currently  offering  eleven  investment  funds  with
     differing  investment  objectives.  Six of these  portfolios  are currently
     available under this Contract.

     PCM  DIVERSIFIED  INCOME FUND seeks high  current  income  consistent  with
     capital  preservation by allocating its investments  among U.S.  government
     securities,  high-yield,  higher risk  securities  (commonly known as "junk
     bonds")  and  international  fixed  income  securities.   Consult  the  PCM
     Prospectus for further information on the risks associated with this Fund's
     investments in high-yield, higher-risk fixed income securities.

     PCM GROWTH  AND INCOME  FUND seeks  capital  growth and  current  income by
     investing  primarily  in common  stocks  that offer  potential  for capital
     growth, current income, or both.

     PCM  UTILITIES  GROWTH AND INCOME  FUND seeks  capital  growth and  current
     income by  concentrating  its  investments  in debt and  equity  securities
     issued by companies in the public utilities industries.

     PCM VOYAGER FUND seeks capital  appreciation  primarily from a portfolio of
     common stocks of companies that Putnam  Management  believes have potential
     for capital appreciation which is significantly greater than that of market
     averages.

     PCM ASIA PACIFIC  GROWTH FUND seeks  capital  appreciation  by investing in
     securities of companies  located in Asia and the Pacific Basin.  The Fund's
     investments  will  normally  include  common  stocks,   preferred   stocks,
     securities convertible into common stocks or preferred stocks, and warrants
     to purchase common stocks or preferred stocks.

     PCM  NEW  OPPORTUNITIES  FUND  seeks  long-term  capital   appreciation  by
     investing  principally  in common  stocks of  companies  in  sectors of the
     economy which Putnam Management  believes possess  above-average  long-term
     growth potential.

THERE IS NO  ASSURANCE  THAT THE STATED  OBJECTIVES  AND  POLICIES OF ANY OF THE
INVESTMENT FUNDS WILL BE ACHIEVED.

     The Company  reserves  the right,  subject to  compliance  with the law, to
offer additional Investment Funds.

     An investment in the Variable Account, or in any portfolio of an Investment
Fund, including the VIPF Money Market Portfolio, is not insured or guaranteed by
the U.S.  Government,  and there can be no assurance  that the VIPF Money Market
Portfolio will be able to maintain a stable net asset value of $1.00 per share.

     The Investment Funds are available to registered  separate  accounts of the
Company and of insurance  companies,  other than the Company,  offering variable
annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies.

     The  Company  currently  does  not  foresee  any  disadvantages  to  Owners
resulting from the  Investment  Funds selling shares to fund products other than
the  Contracts.  However,  there is a possibility  that a material  conflict may
arise between Owners whose Contract Values are allocated to the Variable Account
and the  owners  of  variable  life  insurance  policies  and  variable  annuity
contracts  issued by the  Company or by such other  companies  whose  assets are
allocated  to one or more other  separate  accounts  investing in any one of the
Investment Funds. In the event of a material conflict, the Company will take any
necessary  steps,  including  removing the Variable Account from that Investment
Fund,  to  resolve  the  matter.  The Board of  Directors  or  Trustees  of each
Investment Fund will monitor events in order to identify any material  conflicts
that possibly may arise and determine  what action,  if any,  should be taken in
response to those  events or  conflicts.  See each  individual  Investment  Fund
prospectus for more information.

                                       14

<PAGE>

REINVESTMENT

     The Investment  Funds described above have as a policy the  distribution of
income  dividend and capital gains.  However,  under the Contracts  described in
this Prospectus there is an automatic reinvestment of such distributions.

ADDITION, DELETION OR SUBSTITUTION OF INVESTMENT FUND SHARES

     The  Company  reserves  the  right,  subject  to  applicable  law,  to make
additions to, deletions from, or  substitutions  for the shares that are held in
the Variable Account or that the Variable Account may purchase. If the shares of
a portfolio of an Investment  Fund are no longer  available for investment or if
in the Company's  judgment further  investment in any portfolio of an Investment
Fund  should  become  inappropriate  in view  of the  purposes  of the  Variable
Account,  the  Company  may redeem the shares,  if any,  of that  portfolio  and
substitute shares of another registered open-end management  investment company.
The Company will not substitute any shares attributable to a Contract's interest
in a Sub-Account  of the Variable  Account  without notice and prior approval of
the SEC and state insurance authorities, as required by law.

     The Company also reserves the right to establish additional Sub-Accounts of
the Variable  Account,  each of which would invest in shares  corresponding to a
new portfolio of an Investment Fund or in shares of another  investment  company
having a  specified  investment  objective.  Subject to  applicable  law and any
required SEC approval,  the Company may, in its sole  discretion,  establish new
Sub-Accounts  or eliminate  one or more  Sub-Accounts  if marketing  needs,  tax
considerations  or investment  conditions  warrant.  Any new Sub-Accounts may be
made  available to existing  Contract  Owners on a basis to be determined by the
Company.

     If any of these  substitutions  or changes are made,  the  Company  may, by
appropriate  endorsement,  change the  Contract to reflect the  substitution  or
change.  If the Company deems it to be in the best  interest of Contract  Owners
and  Annuitants,  and  subject  to any  approvals  that  may be  required  under
applicable law, the Variable Account may be operated as a management  investment
company under the 1940 Act, it may be deregistered under the Act if registration
is no longer required, or it may be combined with other separate accounts of the
Company.

     If a purchase  payment for a selected  Sub-Account is unable to be invested
because shares of the  applicable  Investment  Fund are no longer  available for
investment or if in the judgment of the Company's  management further investment
in such Investment Fund shares would be inappropriate in view of the purposes of
the Contract,  the portion of the purchase payment  designated to be invested in
such  Investment  Fund will be returned to the Owner.  The Owner may then direct
investment of such purchase payment to a different Sub-Account.

                           CHARGES MADE BY THE COMPANY

SURRENDER CHARGE (CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE)

     No deduction for a sales charge is made from the purchase  payments for the
Contracts.  However, the surrender charge described below (which may be deemed a
contingent  deferred  sales  charge),  when it is  applicable,  is  intended  to
reimburse  the  Company  for  expenses  relating  to the sale of the  Contracts,
including  commissions  to sales  personnel,  costs of sales  material and other
promotional activities and sales administration costs.

     If part or all of a Contract's  value is surrendered,  or if the Contract's
Annuity  Commencement  Date occurs within the first two years after the Contract
was  issued,  surrender  charges  may be  made  by the  Company.  (See  "Annuity
Commencement  Date" on page 22.) For purposes of the following  surrender charge
description,  "New  Purchase  Payments"  are those  Contract  purchase  payments
received by the Company  during the Contract Year in which the surrender  occurs
or in the five immediately preceding Contract Years; "Old Purchase Payments" are
those  Contract  purchase  payments  not defined as New Purchase  Payments;  and
"Contract  Earnings" at any Valuation Date is the Contract Value less the sum of
New Purchase Payments and Old Purchase Payments.

     For purposes of determining  surrender  charges,  surrenders shall first be
taken  from Old  Purchase  Payments  until  they are  exhausted,  then  from New
Purchase  Payments  until  they are  exhausted,  and  thereafter  from  Contract
Earnings.

     Surrenders  taken from the following  amounts ("Free  Surrenders")  are not
subject to a surrender  charge  during any Contract  Year:  (a) any Old Purchase
Payments not already surrendered; (b) 10% of all New Purchase Payments that have
been received by the Company (with the exception of Systematic Withdrawals, this
does not apply to  surrenders  made  during the first  Contract  Year nor to any
surrenders after the first surrender made in each Contract Year thereafter); and
(c) any Contract Earnings being surrendered.

                                       15


<PAGE>

     TOTAL SURRENDERS - The surrender charge for a total surrender is determined
by multiplying the amount of each New Purchase Payment surrendered,  that is not
eligible for a free surrender,  by the applicable surrender charge percentage as
set forth in the following table:


                   SURRENDER CHARGE PERCENTAGE TABLE
                   ---------------------------------
      CONTRACT YEAR OF SURRENDER             SURRENDER CHARGE AS A
        MINUS CONTRACT YEAR OF                PERCENTAGE OF EACH
           PURCHASE PAYMENT                    PURCHASE PAYMENT
           ----------------                    ----------------
                   0                                  6%
                   1                                  6
                   2                                  5
                   3                                  5
                   4                                  4
                   5                                  4
              6 and later                             0


     PARTIAL  SURRENDERS  - The  amount of the  partial  surrender  subject to a
surrender  charge is determined by dividing (a) the portion of each New Purchase
Payment to be surrendered  which is not eligible for a Free Surrender by (b) one
minus the  applicable  surrender  charge  percentage  from the Surrender  Charge
Percentage  Table set forth above.  The  resulting  amount for each New Purchase
Payment to be surrendered is then multiplied by the applicable  surrender charge
percentage from the Surrender  Charge  Percentage Table shown above to arrive at
the amount of surrender charge to be assessed by the Company.

     If the  surrender  charge  is less than the  Contract  Value  that  remains
immediately  after  surrender,  it will be  deducted  proportionately  from  the
Sub-Accounts  that make up such Contract Value. If the surrender  charge is more
than such remaining Contract Value, the portion of the surrender charge that can
be deducted  from such  remaining  Contract  Value will be so  deducted  and the
balance will be deducted from the surrender  payment.  In computing  surrenders,
any portion of a surrender  charge that is deducted from the remaining  Contract
Value will be deemed a part of the surrender.

ANNUAL CONTRACT CHARGE

     Each  year on the  Contract  Anniversary,  the  Company  deducts  an Annual
Contract   Charge  of  $30  from  the   Contract   Value  to  reimburse  it  for
administrative  expenses relating to the Contract,  the Variable Account and the
Sub-Accounts.  The Company will not increase the Annual Contract Charge.  In any
Contract  Year when a Contract is  surrendered  for its full value on other than
the Contract  Anniversary,  the Annual  Contract  Charge will be deducted at the
time of such  surrender.  During  the  annuity  period  if both a fixed  annuity
payment and a variable  annuity  payment are selected,  then an Annual  Contract
Charge will be separately  assessed  against each payment type. The charges will
be  deducted  in  equal  installments  from  each  such  payment  made  during a
twelve-month  period.  If only a fixed  annuity  payment or a  variable  annuity
payment is selected,  then only one Annual  Contract Charge will be assessed and
deducted in equal installments.

MORTALITY RISK PREMIUM

     The variable  annuity  payments made to Annuitants  will vary in accordance
with the  investment  performance  of the  Sub-Accounts  selected  by the Owner.
However,  they will not be affected by the mortality  experience (death rate) of
persons  receiving  annuity  payments  from the  Variable  Account.  The Company
assumes this "mortality risk" and has guaranteed the annuity rates  incorporated
in the Contract, which cannot be changed.

     To  compensate  the  Company  for  assuming  this  mortality  risk  and the
mortality  risk that  Beneficiaries  of  Annuitants  dying  before  the  Annuity
Commencement  Date may receive  amounts in excess of the then  current  Contract
Value (see "Death Benefit Before the Annuity Commencement Date" on page 19), the
Company  deducts a Mortality  Risk Premium from the  Variable  Account  Contract
Value.  The deduction is made daily in an amount that is equal to an annual rate
of 0.85% of the daily Contract  Values under the Variable  Account.  The Company
may not  change  the rate  charged  for the  Mortality  Risk  Premium  under any
Contract.

EXPENSE RISK PREMIUM

     The  Company  will  not  increase  charges  for   administrative   expenses
regardless of its actual  expenses.  To compensate the Company for assuming this
expense  risk,  the Company  deducts an Expense  Risk  Premium from the Variable

                                       16

<PAGE>

Account  Contract Value.  The deduction is made daily in an amount that is equal
to an annual rate of 0.40% of the daily Variable Account  Contract  Values.  The
Company may not change the rate of the Expense Risk Premium under any Contract.

ADMINISTRATION CHARGE

     The Company deducts a daily Administration Charge from the Variable Account
Contract  Value in an  amount  equal  to an  annual  rate of 0.15% of the  daily
Contract Values under the Variable Account. This charge is deducted to reimburse
the  Company  for the  cost  of  providing  administrative  services  under  the
Contracts and the Variable  Account.  The Company may not change the rate of the
Administration Charge under any Contract.

SUFFICIENCY OF CHARGES

     If the amount of the  surrender  charge  assessed  in  connection  with the
Contracts  is  not  enough  to  cover  all  distribution  expenses  incurred  in
connection  therewith,  the  loss  will be  borne  by the  Company.  Any  excess
distribution  expenses  borne by the  Company  will be paid  out of its  general
account  which may  include,  among  other  things,  proceeds  derived  from the
Mortality  Risk Premium and the Expense Risk Premium  deducted from the Variable
Account.

PREMIUM AND OTHER TAXES

     Various  states  and  other  governmental  entities  levy  a  premium  tax,
currently  ranging  up to  3.50%,  on  annuity  contracts  issued  by  insurance
companies.  If the Owner of the Contract  lives in a  governmental  jurisdiction
that levies such a tax, the Company will pay the taxes when due and reserves the
right to deduct the amount of the tax either from purchase  payments as they are
received  or  from  the  Contract  Value  at  the  Annuity   Commencement   Date
(immediately  before  the  Contract  Value is  applied  to an  Annuity  Form) as
permitted or required by applicable law.

     The  current  range of premium  tax rates is a guide only and should not be
relied on to determine  actual premium taxes on any purchase payment or Contract
because  the taxes are subject to change  from time to time by  legislative  and
other governmental  action. The timing of tax levies also varies from one taxing
authority to another.  Consequently,  in many cases the  purchaser of a Contract
will not be able to  accurately  determine  the  premium tax  applicable  to the
Contract by reference  to the range of tax rates  described  above.  The Company
reserves  the right to deduct  charges  for any  other  tax or  economic  burden
resulting  from  the  application  of the  tax  laws  that it  determines  to be
applicable to the Contract.

REDUCTION OF CHARGES

     Any of the charges  under the  Contract,  as well as the  minimum  purchase
payment requirements set forth in this Prospectus, may be reduced due to special
circumstances that result in lower sales,  administrative or mortality expenses.
For  example,  special  circumstances  may  exist in  connection  with  group or
sponsored  arrangements,  sales to the Company's  policy and Contract  Owners or
those of affiliated insurance companies, or sales to employees or clients of the
Company's  affiliates.  The amount of any  reductions  will  reflect the reduced
sales effort and administrative costs resulting from, or the different mortality
experience expected as a result of, the special  circumstances.  Reductions will
not be unfairly discriminatory against any person, including the affected policy
or  Contract  owners and owners of all other  contracts  funded by the  Variable
Account.

EXPENSES OF THE INVESTMENT FUNDS

     There are fees  deducted  from and  expenses  paid out of the assets of the
Investment  Funds that are described in the  accompanying  prospectuses  for the
Funds.

                         ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTRACTS

     The Company  has  entered  into a contract  with  Continuum  Administrative
Services Corporation (formerly known as Vantage Computer Systems,  Inc.), Kansas
City,  Missouri  ("CASC")  under  which  CASC  has  agreed  to  perform  certain
administrative  functions  relating to the Contracts  and the Variable  Account.
These functions include,  among other things,  maintaining the books and records
of the Variable  Account and the  Sub-Accounts,  and maintaining  records of the
name, address, taxpayer identification number, Contract number, type of Contract
issued to each Owner,  Contract Value and other pertinent  information necessary
to the administration and operation of the Contracts.

                                  THE CONTRACTS

     The  Contracts  described in this  Prospectus  are designed for  retirement
plans which may or may not be Qualified  Plans.  Often a single purchase payment
is made for a deferred  annuity,  but this Contract  freely  permits  subsequent
purchase  payments  up to the  maximum  level of funding  set forth  below.  The
minimum amount the Company will accept as an initial  purchase payment is $5,000
for Non-Qualified Contracts and $2,000 for Qualified Contracts.  The Company may
choose  not to  accept  any  subsequent  purchase  payment  for a  Non-Qualified
Contract if it is less than $500 and for a 

                                       17
<PAGE>
Qualified  Contract if it is less than $200.  The Company may also choose not to
accept any subsequent purchase payment if the purchase payment together with the
Contract  Value at the next  Valuation  Date  exceeds  $1,000,000.  Any purchase
payment not accepted by the Company will be refunded.  The Company  reserves the
right to accept smaller or larger initial and  subsequet  purchase  payments in
connection with special circumstances,  such as sales through group or sponsored
arrangements.

ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS

     Purchase  payments may be allocated to the  available  Sub-Accounts  of the
Variable Account selected by the Owner and/or the Fixed  Account.  (See Appendix
A).  The Fixed  Account is not  available  to  Contract  Owners in the States of
Maryland, Oregon, South Carolina and Washington. Any purchase payment or portion
thereof for which no allocation election is made will be returned to the Owner.

     The initial purchase payment will be allocated to the selected Sub-Accounts
and/or the Fixed Account not later than two business days after receipt,  if the
application  and all  information  necessary  for  processing  the  Contract are
complete.  The Company may retain purchase payments for up to five business days
while  attempting  to complete an  incomplete  application.  If the  application
cannot be made complete  within this period,  the applicant  will be informed of
the reasons for the delay and the purchase payment will be returned  immediately
unless the  applicant  consents to retention of the payment by the Company until
the  application is made complete.  Once the completed  application is received,
the payment  must be  allocated  within two business  days.  For any  subsequent
purchase payments, the payments will be credited at the Sub-Account Accumulation
Unit Value next determined after receipt of the purchase payment.

     Upon allocation to Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account, a purchase payment
is  converted  into  Accumulation  Units of the  Sub-Account.  The amount of the
purchase payment  allocated to a particular  Sub-Account is divided by the value
of an  Accumulation  Unit  for  the  Sub-Account  to  determine  the  number  of
Accumulation  Units of the  Sub-Account to be held in the Variable  Account with
respect to the Contract.  The net investment  results of each  Sub-Account  vary
primarily  with the investment  performance of the Investment  Fund whose shares
are held in the Sub-Account.

     An  Investment  Fund may  impose a minimum  purchase  requirement.  If that
minimum  purchase  requirement  exceeds the  aggregate of all purchase  payments
received by the Company, less any redemption of Investment Fund shares resulting
from  transfers  or  surrenders,  on any given day that are to be  applied  to a
Sub-Account  for the purchase of shares of such  Investment  Fund, such purchase
payments will be refunded.

SUB-ACCOUNT ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUE

     Each  Sub-Account  Accumulation  Unit was initially  valued at $10 when the
first  Investment  Fund  shares  were  purchased.  Thereafter  the value of each
Sub-Account Accumulation Unit will vary up or down according to a Net Investment
Factor, which is primarily based on the investment performance of the applicable
Investment Fund.  Investment Fund shares in the  Sub-Accounts  will be valued at
their net asset value.

     Dividend and capital gain  distributions  from an  Investment  Fund will be
automatically  reinvested  in  additional  shares  of such  Investment  Fund and
allocated to the appropriate Sub-Account. The number of Sub-Account Accumulation
Units does not increase because of the additional  shares,  but the Accumulation
Unit value may increase.

NET INVESTMENT FACTOR

     The Net Investment  Factor is an index number which reflects  charges under
the Contract and the  investment  performance  during a Valuation  Period of the
Investment Fund whose shares are held in the particular Sub-Account.  If the Net
Investment  Factor is greater than one, the value of a Sub-Account  Accumulation
Unit has increased.  If the Net Investment Factor is less than one, the value of
a Sub-Account  Accumulation  Unit has decreased.  The Net  Investment  Factor is
determined by dividing (1) by (2) then subtracting (3) from the result, where:

     (1)  is the net result of:

          (a)  the net asset value per share of the Investment  Fund shares held
               in  the  Sub-Account,  determined  at  the  end  of  the  current
               Valuation Period, plus

          (b)  the  per  share   amount  of  any   dividend   or  capital   gain
               distributions  made on the  Investment  Fund  shares  held in the
               Sub-Account during the current Valuation Period, plus or minus

          (c)  a per share charge or credit for any taxes reserved for which the
               Company   determines  to  have   resulted  from  the   investment
               operations  of  the  Sub-Account  and  to be  applicable  to  the
               Contract;

                                       18
<PAGE>

     (2)  is the net result of:

          (a)  the net asset value per share of the Investment  Fund shares held
               in the  Sub-Account,  determined  at the  end of the  last  prior
               Valuation Period, plus or minus

          (b)  a per share  charge or credit for any taxes  reserved  for during
               the last prior Valuation  Period which the Company  determines to
               have resulted from the investment  operations of the  Sub-Account
               and to be applicable to the Contract; and

     (3)  is a factor representing the Mortality Risk Premium,  the Expense Risk
          Premium and the  Administration  Charge  deducted from the Sub-Account
          which factor is equal,  on an annual basis,  to 1.40% of the daily net
          asset value of the Sub-Account.

DEATH BENEFIT BEFORE THE ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE

     If  the  Owner,   including  any  joint  Owner,  dies  before  the  Annuity
Commencement  Date,  the  Beneficiary  will be  entitled  to  receive  the Death
Benefit. For this purpose the Death Benefit will be:

     (1)  if any Owner (including the Annuitant) dies on or before the first day
          of the month  following the Owner's 85th birthday,  the greater of (i)
          the Contract  Value on the Death Benefit  Valuation  Date, or (ii) the
          sum  of the  purchase  payments  received  by the  Company  under  the
          Contract  to the Death  Benefit  Valuation  Date,  less any  surrender
          payments  previously made by the Company;  or (iii) the Contract Value
          on the  Specified  Contract  Anniversary  (immediately  preceding  the
          Owner's  death),  plus any Purchase  Payments  and less any  surrender
          payments since that anniversary;

     (2)  if any Owner (including the Annuitant) dies after the first day of the
          month following the Annuitant's  85th birthday,  the Contract Value on
          the Death Benefit Valuation Date.

     If a single sum is  requested,  it will be paid within seven days after the
Death Benefit  Valuation  Date.  If an Annuity Form is requested,  it may be any
Annuity  Form  permitted  by Section  72(s) of the Code and which the Company is
willing  to issue.  An Annuity  Form  selection  must be in writing  and must be
received  by the  Company  within 60 days after the date of the  Owner's  death,
otherwise the Death Benefit as of the Death Benefit  Valuation Date will be paid
in a single sum to the Beneficiary and the Contract will be canceled.

     If the only Beneficiary is the Owner's  surviving  spouse,  such spouse may
continue the Contract as the Owner, and then (1) select a single sum payment, or
(2) select any Annuity Form which does not exceed such spouse's life expectancy.

     If the  Beneficiary  elects to receive  annuity  payments  under an Annuity
Form, the amount and duration of payments may vary depending on the Annuity Form
selected and whether fixed and/or variable annuity payments are requested.  (See
"Annuity Provisions" beginning on page 22.)

DEATH BENEFIT AFTER THE ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE

     If the  Annuitant  dies  after the  Annuity  Commencement  Date,  the Death
Benefit, if any, shall be as stated in the Annuity Form in effect.

SURRENDER (REDEMPTION)

     If a written  request  therefor  from the Owner is  received by the Company
before the Annuity  Commencement Date, all or part of the Contract Value will be
paid to the Owner after  deducting any  applicable  surrender  charge and taxes.
(See "Surrender Charge (Contingent  Deferred Sales Charge)" on page 15.) Partial
surrenders  may be made in amounts  not less than $500 and no partial  surrender
may cause the  Contract  Value to fall below  $1,000.  In  addition,  if a total
surrender occurs other than on a Contract Anniversary the Annual Contract Charge
will be deducted from the Contract Value before the surrender payment is made.

     Surrenders  must be consented to by each collateral  assignee.  The Company
reserves the right to require that  surrenders in excess of $50,000 be signature
guaranteed  by a  member  firm  of the  New  York,  American,  Boston,  Midwest,
Philadelphia,  or Pacific Stock Exchange, or by a commercial bank (not a savings
bank) which is a member of the Federal  Deposit  Insurance  Corporation,  or, in
certain  cases,  by a member  firm of the  National  Association  of  Securities
Dealers, Inc. that has entered into an appropriate agreement with the Company.

     The Company may require  that the  Contract be returned  before a surrender
takes place.  A surrender  will take place on the next  Valuation Date after the
requirements  for  surrender are completed and payment will be made within seven
days after such Valuation Date. Unless the Owner requests a partial surrender to
be made from the Fixed Account or particular  Sub-Accounts,  a partial surrender
will be taken  proportionately  from the Fixed Account and all Sub-Accounts on a
basis that reflects their proportionate percentage of the Contract Value.

                                       19
<PAGE>

     The Company  reserves the right to limit the number of partial  surrenders,
and to assess a  processing  fee not to exceed the  lesser of 2% of the  partial
surrender  amount or $25. No processing  fee will be charged in connection  with
total surrenders.

     The Company may cancel the Contract on any Contract Anniversary, or if such
Contract  Anniversary  is not a  Valuation  Date,  on the  next  Valuation  Date
thereafter,  by paying to the Owner the Contract Value as of such Valuation Date
if such Contract Value after all charges is less than $1,000.

     If this Contract is purchased as a  "tax-sheltered  annuity"  under Section
403(b) of the  Internal  Revenue  Code (the  "Code"),  it is  subject to certain
restrictions  on  redemption  imposed by Section  403(b)(11)  of the Code.  (See
"Tax-Sheltered  Annuities" on page 27.) These  restrictions  on  redemption  are
imposed by the Variable  Account and the Company in full  compliance with and in
reliance  upon the terms and  conditions  of a  no-action  letter  issued by the
Office of Insurance Products and Legal Compliance of the Securities and Exchange
Commission  to the  American  Council  of  Life  Insurance  (publicly  available
November 28, 1988).

     For tax purposes, surrender payments may be taxable. Such payments shall be
deemed to be from earnings and then gains until  cumulative  surrender  payments
equal all accumulated  earnings and gains, and thereafter from purchase payments
received by the Company.  Consideration  should be given to the tax implications
of a surrender  prior to making a surrender  request,  including a surrender  in
connection with a Qualified Plan.

SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWALS

     A Systematic  Withdrawal is a specialized form of Partial  Surrender.  (See
"Surrender  (Redemption)"  on page 19.) The  Owner may elect to take  Systematic
Withdrawals  by  surrendering  a  specified   dollar  amount  or  percentage  of
cumulative  purchase  payments on a monthly,  quarterly,  semi-annual  or annual
basis from  Sub-Accounts.  Systematic  Withdrawals  may be taken  from  Variable
Account  Contract  Value and/or Fixed Account  Contract  Value,  but are limited
annually to 10% of total cumulative purchase payments made under the Contract. A
Surrender  Charge  will be imposed on the amount of any  Systematic  Withdrawal,
Partial Surrender or any combination thereof which is not a Free Surrender. (See
"Surrender  Charge  (Contingent  Deferred Sales Charge)" on page 15.) Systematic
Withdrawals  may be  discontinued  by the  Owner  at any time by  notifying  the
Company in writing.

     The Company reserves the right to modify or discontinue offering Systematic
Withdrawals,  however,  any such modification or discontinuation will not affect
any Systematic Withdrawal programs already commenced. While the Company does not
currently charge a processing fee for Partial Surrenders under this program,  it
reserves the right to charge a processing  fee not to exceed the lesser of 2% of
the Systematic Withdrawal payment or $25.

     Systematic  Withdrawals may be subject to tax, including a penalty tax, and
the Owner  should  consult  with his or her tax advisor  before  requesting  any
Systematic Withdrawal. (See "FEDERAL TAX STATUS - Taxation of Annuities" on page
24.)

     Contract Owners  interested in participating  in the Systematic  Withdrawal
program may obtain a separate  application form and full information  concerning
the program and its restrictions from their registered representative.

TRANSFERS

     Before  the  Annuity  Commencement  Date,  the Owner may  transfer  amounts
between the Sub-Accounts or from the Sub-Accounts to the Fixed Account.  Subject
to certain restrictions,  amounts may also be transferred from the Fixed Account
to the Sub-Accounts.  Currently,  there are three methods by which transfers may
be made: in writing, by telephone and by Dollar Cost Averaging.

     WRITTEN  TRANSFERS  - Before the  Annuity  Commencement  Date the Owner may
request a  transfer  in  writing,  subject  to any  conditions  or  charges  the
Investment  Funds whose  shares are  involved  may  impose,  of all or part of a
Sub-Account's value to other Sub-Accounts or to the Fixed Account.  The transfer
will be made by the  Company on the first  Valuation  Date after the request for
such a transfer is received by the  Company.  Currently,  there is no charge for
such a  transfer,  other than those that may be made by the Funds.  The  Company
reserves  the right,  however,  to charge a  transfer  fee not to exceed $25 per
transfer and to limit the number of transfers  made by the Owner.  To accomplish
the transfer,  the Variable  Account will  surrender  Accumulation  Units in the
particular  Sub-Accounts and reinvest that value in Accumulation Units of one or
more of the available Sub-Accounts as directed in the request. After the Annuity
Commencement  Date, an Annuitant who has selected  Variable Annuity Payments may
request  transfer  of Annuity  Unit values in the same manner and subject to the
same  requirements as for an  Owner-transfer  of Sub-Account  Accumulation  Unit
values. However, no transfers may be made to the Fixed Account after the Annuity
Commencement Date.

     Before the Annuity  Commencement Date,  transfers may also be made from the
Fixed Account to the Variable Account, provided, however, that (a) transfers may
only be made during the period  starting 30 days before and ending 30 days after
the  Contract  Anniversary,  and only one  transfer may be made during each such
period,  (b) no more than 

                                       20
<PAGE>

50% of the Fixed Account  Contract Value may be the subject of any such transfer
(unless the balance,  after such transfer,  would be less than $1,000,  in which
case the full Fixed Account  Contract  Value may be  transferred),  and (c) such
transfer must involve at least $500 (or the total Fixed Account  Contract Value,
if  less).  No  transfers  may be made  from the  Fixed  Account  after  Annuity
Commencement Date.

     The  conditions  applicable  to Written  Transfers  also apply to Telephone
Transfers and Dollar Cost Averaging Transfers.

     TELEPHONE  TRANSFERS - Telephone  transfers  are  available  when the Owner
completes a telephone  authorization  form.  If the Owner elects to complete the
telephone  transfer  form,  the Owner  thereby  agrees  that the Company and its
Contract  Administrator  will not be  liable  for any loss,  liability,  cost or
expense when the Company,  and/or the Contract  Administrator  act in accordance
with the  telephone  transfer  instructions  which are  received and recorded on
voice recording  equipment.  If a telephone transfer,  processed after the Owner
has completed the telephone  transfer form, is later determined not to have been
made by the Owner or was made  without  the  Owner's  authorization,  and a loss
results from such unauthorized  transfer, the Owner bears the risk of this loss.
The Company  will employ  reasonable  procedures  to confirm  that  instructions
communicated by telephone are genuine.  In the event the Company does not employ
such procedures, the Company may be liable for any losses due to unauthorized or
fraudulent  instructions.  Such procedures may include, among others,  requiring
forms of personal  identification  prior to acting upon telephone  instructions,
providing  written  confirmation  of such  instructions  and/or  tape  recording
telephone instructions.

     DOLLAR  COST  AVERAGING  TRANSFERS  - The Owner may direct  the  Company to
automatically  transfer  a fixed  dollar  amount or a  specified  percentage  of
Sub-Account Value to any one or more other Sub-Accounts or to the Fixed Account.
No transfers from the Fixed Account are permitted under this service.  Transfers
of this type may be made on a monthly,  quarterly,  semi-annual or annual basis.
This service is intended to allow the Owner to utilize "Dollar Cost  Averaging,"
a long-term investment method which provides for regular, level investments over
time. The Company makes no guarantees  that Dollar Cost Averaging will result in
a profit  or  protect  against  loss.  The  Owner may  discontinue  Dollar  Cost
Averaging at any time by notifying the Company in writing.

     Contract  Owners  interested in Dollar Cost Averaging may obtain a separate
application  form  and  full   information   concerning  this  service  and  its
restrictions from their registered representatives.

     The Company  reserves the right to modify or  discontinue  offering  Dollar
Cost Averaging. Any such modification or discontinuation would not affect Dollar
Cost  Averaging  transfer  programs  already  commenced.  Although  the  Company
currently  charges no fees for  transfers  made under the Dollar Cost  Averaging
program,  the Company  reserves the right to charge a processing  fee for Dollar
Cost Averaging transfers not to exceed $25 per transfer.

ASSIGNMENTS

     If the  Contract is issued  pursuant to or in  connection  with a Qualified
Plan,  it may not be sold,  transferred,  pledged or  assigned  to any person or
entity other than the Company.  In other  circumstances,  an  assignment  of the
Contract is permitted,  but only before the Annuity Commencement Date, by giving
the Company the  original or a  certified  copy of the  assignment.  The Company
shall  not be  bound by any  assignment  until it is  actually  received  by the
Company and shall not be  responsible  for the validity of any  assignment.  Any
payments  made or  actions  taken by the  Company  before the  Company  actually
receives any assignment shall not be affected by the assignment.

CONTRACT OWNER AND BENEFICIARIES

     Unless  someone  else is named  as the  Owner  in the  application  for the
Contract,  the  applicant  is the Owner of the  Contract  and before the Annuity
Commencement Date may exercise all of the Owner's rights under the Contract.  No
more than two (2) natural persons may be named as Owner.

     The Owner may name a Beneficiary and a Successor Beneficiary.  In the event
an Owner dies  before the  Annuity  Commencement  Date,  the  Beneficiary  shall
receive a Death Benefit as provided in the Contract.  In the event an Owner dies
on or after the Annuity Commencement Date, the Beneficiary,  if the Annuity Form
in effect at the Owner's death so provides,  may continue receiving payments, be
paid a lump sum, or be paid nothing. If the Beneficiary or Successor Beneficiary
is not  living on the date  payment  is due or if no  Beneficiary  or  Successor
Beneficiary  has been named,  the Owner's  estate  will  receive the  applicable
proceeds.

     A person named as an Annuitant,  a Beneficiary  or a Successor  Beneficiary
shall not be  entitled  to exercise  any rights  relating to the  Contract or to
receive any  payments or  settlements  under the  Contract or any Annuity  Form,
unless such person is living on the earlier of (a) the day due proof of death of
the Owner,  the  Annuitant  or the  Beneficiary,  whichever  is  applicable,  is
received by the  Company or (b) the tenth day after the death of the Owner,  the
Annuitant or the Beneficiary, whichever is applicable.

     Unless different arrangements have been made with the Company by the Owner,
if more than one  Beneficiary  is  entitled  to  payments  from the  Company the
payments shall be in equal shares.

                                       21
<PAGE>

     Before the Annuity  Commencement  Date, the Owner may change the Annuitant,
the  Beneficiary  or the  Successor  Beneficiary  by giving the Company  written
notice of the  change,  but the change  shall not be  effective  until  actually
received by the Company.  Upon receipt by the Company of a notice of change,  it
will be effective as of the date it was signed but shall not affect any payments
made or actions taken by the Company before the Company received the notice, and
the Company shall not be responsible for the validity of any change.

CONTRACT INQUIRIES

     Inquiries  regarding  a  Contract  may be made by  writing  to the  Annuity
Service Center, P.O. Box 13208, Kansas City, Missouri 64199-3208.

                               ANNUITY PROVISIONS

ANNUITY COMMENCEMENT DATE

     The Owner selects the Annuity  Commencement  Date,  which must be the first
day of a month, when making  application for the Contract.  The date will be the
first day of the month following the Annuitant's 75th birthday unless an earlier
or later date has been  selected by the Owner and, if the date is later,  it has
been agreed to by the Company. The Owner may change an Annuity Commencement Date
selection by written notice received by the Company at least 30 days before both
the  Annuity   Commencement  Date  currently  in  effect  and  the  New  Annuity
Commencement  Date. The new date selected must satisfy the  requirements  for an
Annuity  Commencement  Date.  If the Annuity  Commencement  Date selected by the
Owner  does not  occur on a  Valuation  Date at least 60 days  after the date on
which the  Contract  was issued,  the Company  reserves  the right to adjust the
Annuity  Commencement  Date  to the  first  Valuation  Date  after  the  Annuity
Commencement  Date  selected  by the Owner  which is at least 60 days  after the
Contract issue date. If the Annuity  Commencement  Date occurs before the second
Contract Anniversary, the Company will deduct Surrender Charges. (See "Surrender
Charge (Contingent Deferred Sales Charge)" on page 15.)

ANNUITY FORM SELECTION

     The Owner may select a Variable  Annuity  Form, a Fixed  Annuity  Form,  or
both,  with  payments  starting  at the  Annuity  Commencement  Date when making
application  for the  Contract.  Thereafter,  the Owner may change  the  Annuity
Form(s)  by  written   notice   received  by  the  Company  before  the  Annuity
Commencement Date. If no election has been made before the Annuity  Commencement
Date, the Company will apply the Fixed Account Contract Value to provide a Fixed
Annuity and the Variable Account  Contract Value to provide a Variable  Annuity,
both in the form of a Life Annuity with  Payments  Guaranteed  for 10 years (120
months), which shall be automatically effective.

ANNUITY FORMS

     Variable  Annuity  Payments and Fixed Annuity Payments are available in any
of the following Annuity Forms:

     LIFE ANNUITY - An annuity payable on the first day of each month during the
Annuitant's life, starting with the first payment due according to the Contract.
Payments  cease with the payment made on the first day of the month in which the
Annuitant's  death occurs.  IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE UNDER THIS ANNUITY FORM FOR THE
ANNUITANT  TO  RECEIVE  ONLY ONE  PAYMENT  IF HE OR SHE DIED  BEFORE  THE SECOND
ANNUITY  PAYMENT,  ONLY TWO PAYMENTS IF HE OR SHE DIED BEFORE THE THIRD  ANNUITY
PAYMENT, ETC.

     LIFE ANNUITY WITH PAYMENTS GUARANTEED FOR 10 YEARS (120 MONTHS) OR 20 YEARS
(240  MONTHS) - An annuity  payable  on the first day of each  month  during the
Annuitant's life, starting with the first payment due according to the Contract.
If the Annuitant receives all of the guaranteed payments, payments will continue
thereafter  but  cease  with the  payment  made on the first day of the month in
which the Annuitant's death occurs.  If all of the guaranteed  payments have not
been  made  before  the  Annuitant's  death,  the  unpaid  installments  of  the
guaranteed payments will be continued to the Beneficiary.

     JOINT AND FULL  SURVIVOR  ANNUITY - An annuity  payable on the first day of
each  month  during the  Annuitant's  life and the life of a named  person  (the
"Joint  Annuitant"),  starting  with the  first  payment  due  according  to the
Contract.  Payments  will  continue  while  either  the  Annuitant  or the Joint
Annuitant  is living  and cease  with the  payment  made on the first day of the
month in which the death of the  Annuitant  or the  Joint  Annuitant,  whichever
lives longer,  occurs.  THERE IS NO MINIMUM NUMBER OF PAYMENTS  GUARANTEED UNDER
THIS ANNUITY  FORM.  PAYMENTS  CEASE UPON THE DEATH OF THE LAST  SURVIVOR OF THE
ANNUITANT AND THE JOINT ANNUITANT REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF PAYMENTS RECEIVED.

     The Company also has other annuity forms  available and  information  about
them can be obtained by writing to the Company.

FREQUENCY AND AMOUNT OF ANNUITY PAYMENTS

     Annuity payments will be paid as monthly installments, unless the Annuitant
and the Company agree to a different payment schedule.  However, if the Contract
Value at the Annuity  Commencement Date is less than $5,000, the Company may pay
the Contract Value in a single sum and the Contract will be canceled.  Also if a
monthly payment 

                                       22
<PAGE>

would be or become  less than $50,  the  Company  may  change the  frequency  of
payments to  intervals  that will  result in payments of at least $50 each.  The
minimum  frequency and amount of annuity  payments or the minimum Contract Value
required for annuity payments may vary by state.

ANNUITY PAYMENTS

     The amount of the first fixed annuity payment is determined by applying the
Contract Value to be used for a fixed annuity at the Annuity  Commencement  Date
to the annuity  table in the Contract for the fixed Annuity Form  selected.  The
table shows the amount of the initial  annuity  payment for each $1,000  applied
and all  subsequent  payments  shall be equal to this amount.  The amount of the
first variable  annuity  payment is determined by applying the Contract Value to
be used for a variable annuity at the Annuity  Commencement  Date to the annuity
table in the Contract for the Annuity Form selected.

     Subsequent  variable annuity payments vary in amount in accordance with the
investment performance of the applicable Sub-Account.  Assuming annuity payments
are based on the unit values of a single  Sub-Account,  the dollar amount of the
first  annuity  payment,  determined  as set  forth  above,  is  divided  by the
Sub-Account Annuity Unit Value as of the Annuity  Commencement Date to establish
the number of Variable Annuity Units  representing  each annuity  payment.  This
number of Variable  Annuity  Units  remains  fixed  during the  annuity  payment
period.  The  dollar  amount  of  the  second  and  subsequent  payments  is not
predetermined  and may  change  from month to month.  The  dollar  amount of the
second and each subsequent payment is determined by multiplying the fixed number
of  Variable  Annuity  Units  by the  Sub-Account  Annuity  Unit  Value  for the
Valuation  Period  with  respect  to which the  payment is due.  If the  monthly
payment is based upon the Annuity Unit Values of more than one Sub-Account,  the
foregoing  procedure is repeated for each applicable  Sub-Account and the sum of
the  payments  based on each  Sub-Account  is the amount of the monthly  annuity
payment.

     The Annual  Contract  Charge is  deducted in equal  installments  from each
annuity  payment.  When a fixed annuity  payment is made in  conjunction  with a
variable  annuity  payment,  an Annual Contract Charge is assessed  against each
type of payment and is deducted in equal installments from each annuity payment.

     The  annuity  tables  in the  Contracts  are  based on the 1983  Individual
Annuity Mortality Table (set back three years).

     The Company  guarantees  that the dollar  amount of each  variable  annuity
payment  after the first  payment will not be affected by variations in expenses
(including  those  related to the Variable  Account) or in mortality  experience
from the mortality assumptions used to determine the first payment.

SUB-ACCOUNT ANNUITY UNIT VALUE

     A Sub-Account's Variable Annuity Units will initially be valued at $10 each
at the time  Accumulation  Units  with  respect  to the  Sub-Account  are  first
converted into Variable  Annuity Units.  The Sub-Account  Annuity Unit Value for
any subsequent  Valuation  Period is determined by multiplying  the  Sub-Account
Annuity Unit Value for the  immediately  preceding  Valuation  Period by the Net
Investment  Factor for the  Sub-Account  for the Valuation  Period for which the
Sub-Account  Annuity Unit Value is being calculated,  and multiplying the result
by an interest factor to neutralize the assumed  investment rate of 4% per annum
built into the annuity tables  contained in the Contracts.  (See "Net Investment
Factor" on page 18.)

ASSUMED INVESTMENT RATE

     A 4% assumed  investment rate is built into the annuity tables contained in
the Contracts.  If the actual net investment  rate on the assets of the Variable
Account  is the same as the  assumed  investment  rate of 4% per year,  variable
annuity  payments will remain level.  If the actual net investment  rate exceeds
the assumed  investment  rate,  variable  annuity  payments  will  increase  and
conversely,  if it is less than the assumed  investment  rate the payments  will
decrease.

                               FEDERAL TAX STATUS

INTRODUCTION

     THIS  DISCUSSION IS GENERAL AND NOT INTENDED AS TAX ADVICE.  The discussion
is not  intended  to  address  the tax  consequences  resulting  from all of the
situations  in which a person may be entitled  to or may receive a  distribution
under the  Contract.  The  Contracts  are  designed  for use by  individuals  in
connection with  retirement  plans which may or may not be Qualified Plans under
the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"). The ultimate effect of
federal  income  taxes on the  Contract  Value,  on annuity  payments and on the
economic benefit to the Owner, the Annuitant or the Beneficiary depends upon the
type of retirement  plan for which the Contract is  purchased,  and upon the tax
and  employment  status  of the  individual  concerned.  No  attempt  is made to
consider any applicable  state or other tax laws. The discussion is based on the
Company's understanding of Federal Income Tax Laws as currently interpreted.  No
representation  is made  regarding  the  likelihood of the  continuation  of the
present  Federal Income Tax Laws or the current  interpretation  by the Internal
Revenue Service ("IRS").

                                       23
<PAGE>

     The  Contract may be purchased  on a  non-qualified  basis  ("Non-Qualified
Contract")  or  purchased  and used in  connection  with  plans  qualifying  for
favorable  tax  treatment  ("Qualified  Contract").  The  Qualified  Contract is
designed for use by individuals  whose premium  payments are comprised solely of
proceeds from and/or  contributions under retirement plans which are intended to
qualify as plans entitled to special income tax treatment under Sections 401(a),
403(b),  408 or 457 of the Code. The ultimate  effect of Federal income taxes on
the amounts  held under a Contract,  or annuity  payments,  and on the  economic
benefit to the Owner, the Annuitant,  or the Beneficiary  depends on the type of
retirement plan, on the tax and employment  status of the individual  concerned,
and on the  Company's  tax status.  In addition,  certain  requirements  must be
satisfied in purchasing a Qualified  Contract with proceeds from a tax-qualified
plan and receiving  distributions from a Qualified Contract in order to continue
receiving favorable tax treatment.  Therefore, purchasers of Qualified Contracts
should  seek  competent  legal and tax advice  regarding  the  suitability  of a
Contract for their situation, the applicable requirements, and the tax treatment
of the rights and benefits of a Contract.  The following discussion assumes that
Qualified Contracts are purchased with proceeds from and/or  contributions under
retirement  plans that  qualify  for the  intended  special  Federal  income tax
treatment.

TAX STATUS OF THE CONTRACT

     DIVERSIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

     Section  817(h) of the Code  provides  that  separate  account  investments
underlying  a contract  must be  "adequately  diversified"  in  accordance  with
Treasury regulations in order for the contract to qualify as an annuity contract
under  Section  72 of the  Code.  The  Variable  Account,  through  each  of the
Investment  Funds,  intends  to  comply  with the  diversification  requirements
prescribed in regulations under Section 817(h) of the Code, which affect how the
assets in the various  Sub-Accounts  may be invested.  Although the Company does
not have  control  over the  Investment  Funds in  which  the  Variable  Account
invests,  the Company  expects that each  Investment  Fund in which the Variable
Account  owns shares  will meet the  diversification  requirements  and that the
Contract will be treated as an annuity contract under the Code.

     The Treasury has also announced that the diversification regulations do not
provide  guidance  concerning  the  extent  to which  Owners  may  direct  their
investments to particular Sub-Accounts of a variable account or how concentrated
the investments of the Investment Funds underlying a variable account may be. It
is possible that if additional  guidance in this regard is issued,  the Contract
may need to be  modified  to comply  with such  additional  guidance.  For these
reasons,  the Company  reserves the right to modify the Contract as necessary to
attempt to prevent  the Owner from being  considered  the owner of the assets of
the  Investment  Funds or otherwise to qualify the  Contract for  favorable  tax
treatment.

     REQUIRED DISTRIBUTIONS

     In order to be  treated  as an  annuity  contract  for  Federal  income tax
purposes,  Section 72(s) of the Code also requires any Non-Qualified Contract to
provide that:  (a) if any Owner dies on or after the Annuity  Commencement  Date
but prior to the time the entire interest in the Contract has been  distributed,
the remaining  portion of such interest will be  distributed at least as rapidly
as under the method of  distribution  being used as of the date of that  Owner's
death;  and (b) if any Owner dies prior to the Annuity  Commencement  Date,  the
entire interest in the Contract will be distributed  within five years after the
date of the Owner's death. These requirements will be considered satisfied as to
any portion of the Owner's  interest which is payable to or for the benefit of a
"designated  Beneficiary"  and  which  is  distributed  over  the  life  of such
Beneficiary  or over a period not extending  beyond the life  expectancy of that
Beneficiary,  provided  that such  distributions  begin  within one year of that
Owner's death. The Owner's "designated  Beneficiary" is the person designated by
such owner as a  Beneficiary  and to whom  ownership of the  Contract  passes by
reason  of  death  and  must  be a  natural  person.  However,  if  the  Owner's
"designated  Beneficiary" is the surviving spouse of the Owner, the Contract may
be continued with the surviving  spouse as the new Owner. If the Owner is not an
individual,  any change in the primary Annuitant is treated as a change of Owner
for tax purposes.

     The Non-Qualified Contracts contain provisions which are intended to comply
with the  requirements  of Section  72(s) of the Code,  although no  regulations
interpreting  these  requirements  have yet been issued.  The Company intends to
review such  provisions  and modify them if necessary to assure that they comply
with the  requirements  of Code Section  72(s) when  clarified by  regulation or
otherwise. Other rules may apply to Qualified Contracts.

TAXATION OF ANNUITIES

     IN GENERAL

     Section 72 of the Code  governs  taxation  of  annuities  in  general.  The
Company believes that an Owner who is a natural person generally is not taxed on
increases in the value of a Contract  until  distribution  occurs by withdrawing
all or part of the  Contract  Value  (e.g.,  partial  withdrawals  and  complete
surrenders) or as annuity  payments  under the Annuity Form  selected.  For this
purpose, the assignment, pledge, or agreement to assign or pledge any portion of
the 

                                       24

<PAGE>

Contract  Value  (and in the case of a  Qualified  Contract,  any  portion of an
interest in the qualified plan) generally will be treated as a distribution. The
taxable  portion  of a  distribution  (in the form of a single  sum  payment  or
annuity) is taxable as ordinary income.

     The Owner of any annuity  contract  who is not a natural  person  generally
must  include in income any  increase in the excess of the net  surrender  value
over the  "investment  in the  contract"  during the taxable  year.  The Company
restricts  ownership  of  Non-Qualified  Contracts  to no more than two  natural
persons.

     The following  discussion  generally  applies to Contracts owned by natural
persons.

     SURRENDERS

     In the case of a surrender from a Qualified  Contract,  under Section 72(e)
of the Code a ratable portion of the amount received is taxable, generally based
on the ratio of the  "investment  in the  contract" to the  participant's  total
accrued  benefit or balance under the retirement  plan.  The  "investment in the
contract"  generally equals the portion, if any, of any premium payments paid by
or on behalf of any individual  under a Contract which was not excluded from the
individual's  gross income.  For Contracts  issued in connection  with qualified
plans,  the  "investment in the contract" can be zero.  Special tax rules may be
available for certain distributions from Qualified Contracts.

     In the  case  of a  surrender  (including  Systematic  Withdrawals)  from a
Non-Qualified  Contract before the Annuity Commencement Date, under Code Section
72(e)  amounts  received are generally  first  treated as taxable  income to the
extent  that  the  Contract  Value  immediately  before  surrender  exceeds  the
"investment in the contract" at that time. Any additional amount  surrendered is
not taxable.

     In  the  case  of a full  surrender  under  a  Qualified  or  Non-Qualified
Contract,  the amount  received  generally will be taxable only to the extent it
exceeds the "investment in the contract."

     A Federal  penalty tax may apply to certain  surrenders  from Qualified and
Non-Qualified  Contracts.  (See "Penalty Tax on Certain  Distributions"  on page
25.)

     ANNUITY PAYMENTS

     Although tax  consequences  may vary depending on the Annuity Form selected
under the  Contract,  in general,  only the portion of the Annuity  Payment that
represents  the amount by which the Contract Value exceeds the investment in the
Contract will be taxed,  after the investment in the Contract is recovered,  the
full amount of any additional annuity payments is taxable.  For variable annuity
payments,  the taxable  portion is  generally  determined  by an  equation  that
establishes  a specific  dollar  amount of each payment  that is not taxed.  The
dollar amount is  determined  by dividing the  investment in the contract by the
total number of expected periodic  payments.  However,  the entire  distribution
will be taxable once the recipient has recovered the dollar amount of his or her
investment in the contract.  For fixed annuity payments, in general, there is no
tax on the  portion of each  payment  which  represents  the same ratio that the
investment  in the  contract  bears to the total  expected  value of the annuity
payments for the term of the  payments;  however,  the remainder of each annuity
payment is taxable until the recovery of the  investment  in the  Contract,  and
thereafter the full amount or each annuity payment is taxable.

     TAXATION OF DEATH BENEFIT PROCEEDS

     Amounts may be distributed from a Contract because of the death of an Owner
or an  Annuitant.  Generally,  such amounts are  includible in the income of the
recipient as follows:  (i) if  distributed  in a lump sum, they are taxed in the
same manner as a full surrender of the contract;  or (ii) if distributed under a
payment option, they are taxed in the same way as annuity payments.

     PENALTY TAX ON CERTAIN DISTRIBUTIONS

     In the case of a  distribution  pursuant  to a  Non-Qualified  Contract,  a
Federal  penalty  equal to 10% of the amount  treated  as taxable  income may be
imposed. In general, however, there is no penalty on distributions:

     1.   made on or after the taxpayer reaches age 59 1/2;

     2.   made on or after the death of the  holder (a holder is  considered  an
          Owner)  (or if the  holder  is not an  individual,  the  death  of the
          primary annuitant);

     3.   attributable to the taxpayer's becoming disabled;

     4.   a part of a series of substantially  equal periodic payments (not less
          frequently  than  annually) for the life (or life  expectancy)  of the
          taxpayer  or the  joint  lives  (or joint  life  expectancies)  of the
          taxpayer and his or her designated beneficiary;

     5.   made under an annuity contract that is purchased with a single premium
          when the annuity  starting  date is no later than a year from purchase
          of the annuity and substantially equal periodic payments are made, not
          less frequently than annually, during the annuity period; and

                                       25

<PAGE>

     6.   made under  certain  annuities  issued in connection  with  structured
          settlement agreements.

     Other tax  penalties may apply to certain  distributions  under a Qualified
Contract,  as well  as to  certain  contributions  to,  loans  from,  and  other
circumstances,  applicable to the Qualified Plan of which the Qualified Contract
is part.

     POSSIBLE CHANGES IN TAXATION

     In past years,  legislation  has been  proposed  that would have  adversely
modified  the  Federal  taxation of certain  annuities.  For  example,  one such
proposal  would have changed the tax treatment of  non-qualified  annuities that
did not have "substantial life contingencies" by taxing income as it is credited
to the  annuity.  Although  as of the date of this  prospectus  Congress  is not
considering any legislation regarding the taxation of annuities, there is always
the  possibility  that tax treatment of annuities could change by legislation or
other means  (such as IRS  regulations,  revenue  rulings,  judicial  decisions,
etc.).  Moreover, it is also possible that any change could be retroactive (that
is, effective prior to the date of the change).

TRANSFERS, ASSIGNMENTS OR EXCHANGES OF A CONTRACT

     A transfer of ownership or assignment of a Contract,  the designation of an
Annuitant, Payee or other Beneficiary who is not also the Owner, or the exchange
of a Contract may result in certain tax  consequences  to the Owner that are not
discussed  herein.  An Owner  contemplating  any such transfer,  assignment,  or
exchange of a Contract  should  contact a competent  tax advisor with respect to
the potential tax effects of such a transaction.

WITHHOLDING

     Pension and annuity distributions  generally are subject to withholding for
the recipient's Federal income tax liability at rates that vary according to the
type of  distribution  and the  recipient's  tax  status.  Recipients,  however,
generally  are provided the  opportunity  to elect not to have tax withheld from
distributions.  Effective January 1, 1993,  distributions from certain qualified
plans are generally subject to mandatory withholding.  Withholding for Contracts
issued to  retirement  plans  established  under  Section 401 of the Code is the
responsibility of the plan trustee.

MULTIPLE CONTRACTS

     Section  72(e)(11) of the Code treats all  non-qualified  deferred  annuity
contracts entered into after October 21, 1988 that are issued by the Company (or
its  affiliates)  to the same Owner  during  any  calendar  year as one  annuity
contract for purposes of determining the amount includible in gross income under
Code  Section  72(e).  The effects of this rule are not yet clear;  however,  it
could  affect  the time when  income is  taxable  and the  amount  that might be
subject to the 10%  penalty tax  described  above.  In  addition,  the  Treasury
Department  has  specific  authority  to  issue  regulations  that  prevent  the
avoidance of Section 72(e) through the serial  purchase of annuity  contracts or
otherwise. There may also be other situations in which the Treasury may conclude
that  it  would  be  appropriate  to  aggregate  two or more  annuity  contracts
purchased by the same Owner.  Accordingly,  an Owner should  consult a competent
tax advisor before purchasing more than one annuity contract.

TAXATION OF QUALIFIED PLANS

     The Contracts  are designed for use with several types of Qualified  Plans.
The tax rules applicable to participants in these Qualified Plans vary according
to the type of plan and the terms and  conditions  of the plan  itself.  Special
favorable tax treatment may be available for certain types of contributions  and
distributions.  Adverse tax consequences may result from contributions in excess
of  specified  limits;  distributions  prior to age 59 1/2  (subject  to certain
exceptions);  distributions  that do not conform to specified  commencement  and
minimum  distribution  rules;  aggregate  distributions in excess of a specified
annual amount; and in other specified  circumstances.  Therefore,  no attempt is
made to provide more than  general  information  about the use of the  Contracts
with the various types of Qualified Plans. Contract Owners, the Annuitants,  and
Beneficiaries  are cautioned that the rights of any person to any benefits under
these  Qualified  Plans will be subject to the terms and conditions of the plans
themselves,  regardless of the terms and  conditions of the Contracts  issued in
connection  with the  plans.  The  Company  shall  not be bound by the terms and
conditions  of such plans to the  extent  such terms  contradict  the  Contract,
unless the Company consents.  Brief descriptions  follow of the various types of
Qualified Plans in connection with a Contract.

     PENSION AND PROFIT SHARING PLANS

     Section 401(a) of the Code permits employers and  self-employed  persons to
establish various types of retirement plans for employees. Such retirement plans
may permit the  purchaser of the Contract to provide  benefits  under the plans.
Persons  intending  to use the Contract  with such plans  should seek  competent
advice.

     INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ANNUITIES

     Section 408 of the Code permits  eligible  individuals  to contribute to an
individual  retirement  program known as an "Individual  Retirement  Annuity" or
"IRA".  These IRAs are subject to limits on the amount that may be  contributed,
the  

                                       26
<PAGE>

persons who may be eligible,  and on the time when  distributions  may commence.
Also,  distributions from certain other types of qualified  retirement plans may
be "rolled over" on a tax-deferred  basis into an IRA. Sales of the Contract for
use with IRAs may be subject to special requirements of the IRS.

     TAX SHELTERED ANNUITIES

     Section 403(b) of the Code allows  employees of certain  Section  501(c)(3)
organizations and public schools to exclude from their gross income the premiums
paid,  within certain limits, on a Contract that will provide an annuity for the
employee's retirement.  Code section 403(b)(11) restricts the distribution under
Code section 403(b)  annuity  contracts of: (1) elective  contributions  made in
years  beginning  after December 31, 1988; (2) earnings on those  contributions;
and (3)  earnings  in such years on amounts  held as of the last year  beginning
before January 1, 1989.  Distribution of those amounts may only occur upon death
of the employee,  attainment of age 59 1/2, separation from service, disability,
or  financial   hardship.   In  addition,   income   attributable   to  elective
contributions may not be distributed in the case of hardship.

     DEFERRED  COMPENSATION  PLANS FOR PUBLIC  EMPLOYEES  AND  EMPLOYEES  OF TAX
EXEMPT ORGANIZATIONS

     Section 457 of the Code permits  state and local  government  employers and
tax exempt  employers  to  establish  deferred  compensation  plans for eligible
employees  and  independent  contractors.  Eligible  plans  limit the  amount of
compensation  which may be deferred.  Distribution from eligible plans may occur
only upon the death of the employee,  attainment of age 70 1/2, separation  from
service or in the event of an unforseeable  emergency.  Amounts  deferred may be
transferred  directly to another eligible deferred  compensation plan. Contracts
issued to 457 plans will be owned by the  employer and are subject to the claims
of the employer's general  creditors.  An employee has no present legal right or
vested interest in such Contracts; an employee is entitled to distributions only
in accordance with eligible plan provisions.

POSSIBLE CHARGE FOR THE COMPANY'S TAXES

     At the present time,  the Company makes no charge to the  Sub-Accounts  for
any  Federal,  state,  or local  taxes  that the  Company  incurs  which  may be
attributable  to such  Sub-Accounts or to the Contracts.  The Company,  however,
reserves  the right in the future to make a charge for any such tax laws that it
determines to be properly attributable to the Sub-Accounts of the Contracts.

OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES

     As noted above,  the foregoing  comments about the Federal tax consequences
under these  Contracts are not  exhaustive,  and special rules are provided with
respect to other tax situations not discussed in this Prospectus.  Further,  the
Federal  income  tax   consequences   discussed  herein  reflect  the  Company's
understanding  of current law and the law may change.  Federal  estate and state
and local  estate,  inheritance,  and other tax  consequences  of  ownership  or
receipt of distributions under a Contract depend on the individual circumstances
of each Owner or recipient of the  distribution.  A competent tax advisor should
be consulted for further information.

                              VOTING OF FUND SHARES

     As long as the Variable  Account is registered as a unit  investment  trust
under the Investment  Company Act of 1940 and the assets of the Variable Account
are allocated to Sub-Accounts  that are invested in Investment Fund shares,  the
Investment Fund shares held in the Sub-Accounts  will be voted by the Company in
accordance with  instructions  received from the person having voting  interests
under the Contracts as described  below. If the Company  determines  pursuant to
applicable  law  or  regulation   that   Investment  Fund  shares  held  in  the
Sub-Accounts  and  attributable  to the Contracts  need not be voted pursuant to
instructions  received from persons otherwise having the voting interests,  then
the Company may vote such Investment Fund shares held in the Sub-Accounts in its
own right.

     Before  the  Annuity  Commencement  Date,  the Owner  shall have the voting
interest  with  respect  to  the  Investment  Fund  shares  attributable  to the
Contract.

     On and after the Annuity  Commencement  Date,  the person then  entitled to
receive  annuity  payments  shall have the voting  interest  with respect to the
Investment Fund shares.  Such voting interest will generally decrease during the
annuity payout period.

     Any Investment Fund shares held in the Variable Account for which we do not
receive timely voting  instructions,  or which are not  attributable to Contract
Owners, will be voted by us in proportion to the instructions  received from all
Contract Owners having a voting interest in the Investment  Fund. Any Investment
Fund shares held by us or any of our  affiliates in general  accounts  will, for
voting purposes,  be allocated to all separate  accounts having voting interests
in the Investment  Fund in proportion to each account's  voting  interest in the
respective  Investment  Fund and will be  voted  in the same  manner  as are the
respective account's vote.

                                       27
<PAGE>

     All  Investment  Fund proxy  material will be sent to persons having voting
interests  together  with  appropriate  forms  which may be used to give  voting
instructions. Persons entitled to voting interests and the number of votes which
they may cast shall be  determined  as of a record  date,  to be selected by the
Company, not more than 90 days before the meeting of the applicable Fund.

     Persons having voting interests under the Contracts as described above will
not, as a result thereof,  have voting interests with respect to meetings of the
stockholders of the Company.

                          DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS

     The  Contracts  will be sold by licensed  insurance  agents in those states
where the  Contracts  may be  lawfully  sold.  Such  agents  will be  registered
representatives of broker-dealers  registered under the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934 who are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc.
The Contracts will be distributed by the General Distributor,  Washington Square
Securities,  Inc., 20 Washington  Avenue South,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota  55401,
which  is  controlled  by  the  Company.   Commissions  and  other  distribution
compensation  will be paid by the  Company.  Generally  such  payments  will not
exceed 7.00% of the purchase payments. In some cases a trail commission based on
the Contract Value may also be paid.

                                   REVOCATION

     The Contract  Owner may revoke the contract at any time between the date of
Application  and the date 10 days after  receipt of the  Contract  and receive a
refund of the Contract Value unless  otherwise  required by state and/or federal
law.  All  Individual  Retirement  Annuity  refunds  will be return of  purchase
payments. In order to revoke the Contract, it must be mailed or delivered to the
Company's Contract  Administrator at the mailing address shown on the back cover
page of this  Prospectus or the agent through whom it was purchased.  Mailing or
delivery  must occur on or before 10 days  after  receipt  of the  Contract  for
revocation to be  effective.  In order to revoke the Contract if it has not been
received,  written notice must be mailed or delivered to the Company's  Contract
Administrator  at the  mailing  address  shown  on the back  cover  page of this
Prospectus.

     The liability of the Variable  Account  under this  provision is limited to
the Contract Value in each Sub-Account on the date of revocation. Any additional
amounts refunded to the Contract Owner will be paid by the Company.

                                REPORTS TO OWNERS

     The Company will mail to the Contract  Owner,  at the last known address of
record at the home  office of the  Company,  at least  annually  after the first
Contract Year, a report  containing  such  information as may be required by any
applicable law or regulation and a statement showing the Contract Value.

                                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     There are no legal  proceedings  to which the Variable  Account is a party.
The Company is a defendant  in various  lawsuits in  connection  with the normal
conduct of its operations. In the opinion of management, the ultimate resolution
of such litigation will not result in any significant liability to the Company.

                        FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXPERTS

     The annual  financial  statements  of NWNL  Select  Variable  Account as of
December  31, 1995 and for each the three years in the period then ended and the
annual  financial  statements of Northwestern  National Life Insurance  Company,
which are included in the Statement of Additional Information, have been audited
by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their reports which
are  included  herein and have been so included in reliance  upon the reports of
such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                               FURTHER INFORMATION

     A  Registration  Statement  under the Securities Act of 1933 has been filed
with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  with  respect to the  contracts
described  herein.  The Prospectus  does not contain all of the  information set
forth in the Registration  Statement and exhibits thereto, to which reference is
hereby made for further information concerning the Variable Account, the Company
and  the  Contracts.  The  information  so  omitted  may be  obtained  from  the
Commission's  principal  office in  Washington,  D.C.,  upon  payment of the fee
prescribed  by the  Commission,  or examined  there without  charge.  Statements
contained in this  Prospectus  as to the  provisions  of the Contracts and other
legal  documents are summaries,  and reference is made to the documents as filed
with the Commission for a complete statement of the provisions thereof.

                                       28
<PAGE>

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


Introduction...................................................................2
Administration of the Contracts................................................3
Custody of Assets..............................................................3
Independent Auditors...........................................................3
Distribution of the Contracts..................................................3
Calculation of Yield and Return................................................4
Financial Statements..........................................................13


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

If you  would  like  to  receive  a copy of the  NWNL  Select  Variable  Account
Statement of Additional Information, please return this request to:

WASHINGTON SQUARE SECURITIES, INC.
20 WASHINGTON AVENUE SOUTH
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55401

Your name ......................................................................


Address ........................................................................


City ............................... State ...................  Zip ............

Please  send  me a  copy  of the  NWNL  Select  Variable  Account  Statement  of
Additional Information.

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

                                       29

<PAGE>


                                   APPENDIX A
                                THE FIXED ACCOUNT

     CONTRIBUTIONS  UNDER THE FIXED PORTION OF THE CONTRACT AND TRANSFERS TO THE
FIXED  PORTION  BECOME  PART OF THE GENERAL  ACCOUNT OF THE COMPANY  (THE "FIXED
ACCOUNT"),  WHICH  SUPPORTS  INSURANCE  AND  ANNUITY  OBLIGATIONS.   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 INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF
1940  ("1940  ACT").  ACCORDINGLY,  NEITHER THE FIXED  ACCOUNT NOR ANY  INTEREST
THEREIN ARE GENERALLY SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1933 OR 1940 ACTS AND THE
COMPANY  HAS  BEEN  ADVISED  THAT  THE  STAFF  OF THE  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE
COMMISSION HAS NOT REVIEWED THE DISCLOSURES IN THIS  PROSPECTUS  WHICH RELATE TO
THE FIXED  PORTION OF THE CONTRACT.  DISCLOSURES  REGARDING THE FIXED PORTION OF
THE ANNUITY CONTRACT AND 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.

     The Fixed  Account is made up of all of the  general  assets of the Company
other than those allocated to any separate  account.  Purchase  payments will be
allocated  to the Fixed  Account as elected by the Owner at the time of purchase
or as  subsequently  changed.  The  Company  will invest the assets of the Fixed
Account in those  assets  chosen by the Company and allowed by  applicable  law.
Investment  income from such Fixed Account assets will be allocated  between the
Company and the contracts participating in the Fixed Account, in accordance with
the terms of such contracts.

     Fixed annuity  payments  made to Annuitants  under the Contract will not be
affected by the  mortality  experience  (death rate) of persons  receiving  such
payments or of the general population. The Company assumes this "mortality risk"
by virtue of annuity rates incorporated in the Contract which cannot be changed.
In  addition,  the  Company  guarantees  that it will not  increase  charges for
maintenance of the Contracts regardless of its actual expenses.

     Investment  income from the Fixed Account allocated to the Company includes
compensation  for mortality and expense risks borne by the Company in connection
with Fixed Account  Contracts.  The Company expects to derive a profit from this
compensation.  The amount of such investment  income  allocated to the Contracts
will vary from year to year at the sole discretion of the Company.  However, the
Company  guarantees  that it will credit  interest at a rate of not less than 3%
per year,  compounded annually,  to amounts allocated to the Fixed Account under
the  Contract.  The  Company  may credit  interest at a rate in excess of 3% per
year; however,  the Company is not obligated to credit any interest in excess of
3% per  year.  There is no  specific  formula  for the  determination  of excess
interest credits.  Such credits, if any, will be determined by the Company based
on information as to expected  investment  yields.  Some of the factors that the
Company  may  consider  in  determining  whether to credit  interest  to amounts
allocated  to the Fixed  Account and the amount  thereof,  are general  economic
trends,  rates of return  currently  available and  anticipated on the Company's
investments,  regulatory  and tax  requirements  and  competitive  factors.  ANY
INTEREST  CREDITED TO AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO THE FIXED ACCOUNT IN EXCESS OF 3% PER
YEAR WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY. THE OWNER ASSUMES
THE RISK THAT INTEREST CREDITED TO FIXED ACCOUNT  ALLOCATIONS MAY NOT EXCEED THE
MINIMUM GUARANTEE OF 3% FOR ANY GIVEN YEAR.

     The Company is aware of no statutory  limitations  on the maximum amount of
interest  it may  credit,  and the Board of  Directors  has set no  limitations.
However,  inherent in the Company's exercise of discretion in this regard is the
equitable  allocation  of  distributable  earnings and surplus among its various
policyholders and Contract Owners and to its stockholders.

     Excess  interest,  if any, will be credited on the Fixed  Account  Contract
Value.  The Company  guarantees  that, at any time,  the Fixed Account  Contract
Value  will not be less  than the  amount of  purchase  payments  and  transfers
allocated  to the  Fixed  Account,  plus  interest  at the rate of 3% per  year,
compounded annually,  plus any additional interest which the Company may, in its
discretion,   credit  to  the  Fixed  Account,   less  the  sum  of  all  annual
administrative  or surrender charges levied,  any applicable  premium taxes, and
less any amounts surrendered or transferred from the Fixed Account. If the Owner
surrenders  the Contract,  the amount  available  from the Fixed Account will be
reduced by any applicable  surrender  charge and annual  administration  charge.
(See "Charges Made by the Company" on page 15).

                                      A-1
<PAGE>

This Prospectus is accompanied by the following Prospectuses for the Funds:



FUND PROSPECTUS                    CIK                    ACCESSION NUMBER
- ---------------                    ---                    ----------------

Fidelity Investments               0000356494             0000927384-96-000024
Variable Insurance
Products Funds Dated April
30, 1996

Fidelity Investments               0000831016             0000927384-96-000022
Variable Insurance
Products Funds II Dated
April 30, 1996

Northstar/NWNL Trust               0000916403             0000912057-96-003160
Dated April 30, 1996

Putnam Capital Manager             0000822671             0000822671-96-000011
Trust Dated May 1, 1996


<PAGE>

Contract Administrator
Annuity Service Center
301 West 11th Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64105

General Distributor
Washington Square Securities, Inc.
20 Washington Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55401



[LOGO] NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE
       A ReliaStar Company

     Select*Annuity III Prospectus
     N700.207c (April 30, 1996)

<PAGE>

                       STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
                                   ----------
              INDIVIDUAL DEFERRED VARIABLE/FIXED ANNUITY CONTRACTS
                                    ISSUED BY
                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                                       AND
                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

         This  Statement of  Additional  Information  is not a  Prospectus,  but
should be read in  conjunction  with the  Prospectus,  dated April 30, 1996 (the
"Prospectus")  relating  to  the  Individual  Deferred   Variable/Fixed  Annuity
Contracts  issued by NWNL Select Variable  Account (the "Variable  Account") and
Northwestern  National  Life  Insurance  Company  (the  "Company").  Much of the
information  contained in this Statement of Additional  Information expands upon
subjects  discussed in the Prospectus.  A copy of the Prospectus may be obtained
from  Washington   Square   Securities,   Inc.,  20  Washington   Avenue  South,
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401.

         Capitalized terms used in this Statement of Additional Information that
are not otherwise  defined  herein shall have the meanings  given to them in the
Prospectus.
                                  -------------
                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                            PAGE

Introduction..............................................................    2

Administration of the Contracts...........................................    3

Custody of Assets.........................................................    3

Independent Auditors......................................................    3

Distribution of the Contracts.............................................    3

Calculation of Yield and Return...........................................    4

Financial Statements......................................................   13

                                   ---------

     The date of this Statement of Additional Information is April 30, 1996.

                                       1
<PAGE>

                                  INTRODUCTION

         The Individual Deferred  Variable/Fixed  Annuity Contracts described in
the Prospectus are flexible purchase payment  contracts.  The Contracts are sold
to or in  connection  with  retirement  plans  which may or may not  qualify for
special federal tax treatment under the Internal Revenue Code. (See "Federal Tax
Status" on page 23 of the  Prospectus.)  Annuity payments under the Contracts
are deferred until a selected later date.

         Purchase  payments  may be  allocated  to one or more of the  available
Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account, a separate account of the Company,  and/or
to the Fixed Account (which is the general account of the Company).

         Purchase   payments   allocated  to  one  or  more  of  the   available
Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account, as selected by the Contract Owner, will be
invested  in shares at net asset  value of one or more of a group of  investment
funds (the  "Investment  Funds").  The  Investment  Funds are currently the five
portfolios of the Variable  Insurance  Products Fund, and four portfolios of the
Variable Insurance Products Fund II, which are managed by Fidelity  Management &
Research  Company of Boston,  Massachusetts;  three funds of the  Northstar/NWNL
Trust,  which are managed by  Northstar  Investment  Management  Corporation  of
Greenwich,  Connecticut;  and six  portfolios of Putnam  Capital  Manager Trust,
which  are   managed  by  Putnam   Investment   Management,   Inc.   of  Boston,
Massachusetts.  Each  Investment  Fund pays its investment  adviser certain fees
charged against the assets of the Investment Fund. The Variable Account Contract
Value and the amount of variable annuity payments will vary,  primarily based on
the investment  performance of the Investment Funds whose shares are held in the
Sub-Accounts  selected.  (For more information  about the Investment  Funds, see
"Investments of the Variable Account" on page 12 of the Prospectus.)

         Purchase payments allocated to the Fixed Account,  which is the general
account of the Company,  will be credited  with interest at a rate not less than
3% per year.  Interest  credited in excess of 3%, if any,  will be determined at
the sole  discretion of the Company.  That part of the Contract  relating to the
Fixed Account is not  registered  under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Fixed
Account is not  subject to the  restrictions  of the  Investment  Company Act of
1940. (See Appendix A to the Prospectus.)


                                       2
<PAGE>

                         ADMINISTRATION OF THE CONTRACTS

         The Company has entered into an agreement with Continuum Administrative
Services Corporation (formerly known as Vantage Computer Systems,  Inc.), Kansas
City,  Missouri  ("CASC")  under  which  CASC  has  agreed  to  perform  certain
administrative  functions  relating to the Contracts  and the Variable  Account.
These functions include,  among other things,  maintaining the books and records
of the Variable  Account and the  Sub-Accounts,  and maintaining  records of the
name, address, taxpayer identification number, Contract number, type of Contract
issued to each Owner,  Contract Value and other pertinent  information necessary
to the  administration  and  operation  of the  Contracts.  For the years  ended
December 31, 1994 and 1995, the Company paid fees to CASC under the agreement in
the  amounts  of  $129,682  and  $218,214,   respectively,  in  connection  with
administration of the Contracts.

                                CUSTODY OF ASSETS

         The  Company,  whose  address  appears on the cover of the  Prospectus,
maintains custody of the assets of the Variable Account.

                              INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     The  annual  financial  statements  of NWNL  Select  Variable  Account  and
Northwestern  National  Life  Insurance  Company,  which  are  included  in  the
Statement of Additional Information, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
400 One Financial  Plaza,  120 South 6th Street,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota 55402,
independent  auditors, as stated in their reports which are included herein, and
have been so included in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                          DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS

         The Contracts will be sold by licensed insurance agents in those states
where the  Contracts  may be  lawfully  sold.  Such  agents  will be  registered
representatives of broker-dealers  registered under the Securities  Exchange Act
of 1934 who are members of the National Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc.
The Contracts will be distributed by the General Distributor,  Washington Square
Securities,  Inc.,  which  is a  direct  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of  ReliaStar
Financial Corp. and is an affiliate of the Company.

                                       3
<PAGE>

         For the years ended December 31, 1994 and 1995 the General  Distributor
was paid fees by the  Company  with  respect to  distribution  of the  Contracts
aggregating $731,073, and $397,000, respectively.

         The offering of the Contracts is continuous.

         There  are  no  special  purchase  plans  or  exchange  privileges  not
described in the Prospectus (see "Transfers" at page 20 of the Prospectus).

         No deduction for a sales charge is made from the purchase  payments for
the Contracts.  However,  if part or all of a Contract's  value is  surrendered,
surrender charges (which may be deemed to be contingent  deferred sales charges)
may be made by the  Company.  The method  used to  determine  the amount of such
charge is described in the  Prospectus  under the heading  "Charges  Made By The
Company - Surrender  Charge  (Contingent  Deferred Sales Charge)" on page 15.
There is no  difference in the amount of this charge or any of the other charges
described in the  Prospectus  as between  Contracts  purchased by members of the
public  as  individuals  or  groups,  and  Contracts  purchased  by any class of
individuals,  such as  officers,  directors  or  employees  of the Company or of
Washington Square Securities, Inc.

                         CALCULATION OF YIELD AND RETURN

         CURRENT YIELD AND EFFECTIVE  YIELD.  Current yield and effective  yield
will be calculated only for the VIPF Money Market Portfolio Sub-Account.

         The current  yield is based on a seven-day  period (the "base  period")
and is calculated  by  determining  the "net change in value" on a  hypothetical
account  having a  balance  of one  Accumulation  Unit at the  beginning  of the
period,  dividing the net change in account value by the value of the account at
the  beginning  of the base  period  to  obtain  the  base  period  return,  and
multiplying  the base period  return by 365/7 with the  resulting  yield  figure
carried to the nearest hundredth of one percent. The effective yield is computed
in a similar manner,  except that the base period return is compounded by adding
1, raising the sum to a power equal to 365 divided by 7, and  subtracting 1 from
the result, according to the following formula:

                                       4
<PAGE>
                                                            
         EFFECTIVE YIELD  =  [(Base Period Return  +  1) ^ 365/7]  -  1

         Net  changes  in value  of a  hypothetical  account  will  include  net
investment  income of the account  (accrued  daily  dividends as declared by the
VIPF Money Market  Portfolio,  less daily  expense and  contract  charges to the
account) for the period,  but will not include  realized or unrealized  gains or
losses on its underlying fund shares.

         The VIPF Money Market Portfolio Sub-Account's yield and effective yield
will vary in response to any  fluctuations in interest rates and expenses of the
Sub-Account.

         The yield and effective  yield of the  Sub-Account  for the seven day 
period ending December 29, 1995 were as follows:

                      Yield:                  4.06%
                      Effective Yield:        4.14%

         STANDARDIZED  YIELD. A standardized  yield  computation may be used for
bond Sub-Accounts.  The yield quotation will be based on a recent 30 day (or one
month)  period,  and is  computed  by  dividing  the net  investment  income per
Accumulation  Unit earned during the period by the maximum offering price on the
last day of the period according to the following formula:

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



         Where:

                a =   net investment earned during the period by the Fund or 
                      Portfolio attributable to shares owned by the Sub-Account.

                b =   expenses accrued for the period (net of reimbursements).

                c =   the average daily number of Accumulation Units outstanding
                      during the period.

                d =   the maximum offering price per Accumulation Unit on the 
                      last day of the period.


         Yield on each Sub-Account is earned from dividends declared and paid by
the underlying Fund or Portfolio,  which are automatically reinvested in Fund or
Portfolio shares.

                                       5
<PAGE>

         AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS.  From time to time,  sales  literature or
advertisements  may also quote  average  annual total returns for one or more of
the Sub-Accounts for various periods of time.

         Average annual total returns  represent the average  annual  compounded
rates of return  that  would  equate an  initial  investment  of $1,000  under a
Contract to the redemption  value of that  investment as of the last day of each
of the  periods.  The  ending  date for  each  period  for  which  total  return
quotations  are  provided  will be for the most  recent  month-end  practicable,
considering  the type and media of the  communication  and will be stated in the
communication.

         Average annual total returns will be calculated using  Sub-Account unit
values  which  the  Company  calculates  on each  Valuation  Date  based  on the
performance of the Sub-Account's  underlying  Portfolio,  the deductions for the
Mortality and Expense Risk Premiums,  the Administration  Charge, and the Annual
Contract Charge. The calculation  assumes that the Annual Contract Charge is $30
per year per Contract deducted at the end of each Contract Year. For purposes of
calculating  average annual total return,  an average per dollar Annual Contract
Charge  attributable  to the  hypothetical  account for the period is used.  The
calculation also assumes  surrender of the Contract at the end of the period for
the return  quotation.  Total returns will therefore  reflect a deduction of the
Surrender  Charge for any period less than six years. The total return will then
be calculated according to the following formula:

                    TR =     ((ERV/P)^1/N) - 1


                    Where:

                    TR   =   The   average annual total  return  net  of
                             Sub-Account recurring charges.

                    ERV  =   the  ending  redeemable  value  (net of  any
                             applicable  surrender  charge) of the  hypothetical
                             account at the end of the period.

                    P =      a hypothetical initial payment of $1,000.

                    N =      the number of years in the period.

                                       6
<PAGE>

     Such average annual total return information for the Sub-Accounts is as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                 FOR THE PERIOD FROM
                                                                                                                  DATE OF INCEPTION
                                 FOR THE 1-YEAR PERIOD      FOR THE 5-YEAR PERIOD     FOR THE 10-YEAR PERIOD       OF SUB-ACCOUNT
SUB-ACCOUNT                          ENDED 12/31/95            ENDED 12/31/95             ENDED 12/31/95            TO 12/31/95
- -----------                          --------------            --------------             --------------            -----------
<S>                                      <C>                    <C>                            <C>                      <C>   
VIPF High Income Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         13.43%                    N/A                         N/A                     4.40%

VIPF Equity-Income Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         27.72%                    N/A                         N/A                    16.08%

VIPF Growth Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         27.99%                    N/A                         N/A                    12.33%

VIPF Overseas Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)          2.65%                    N/A                         N/A                     0.97%

VIPF II Asset Manager Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)          9.83%                    N/A                         N/A                     0.23%

VIPF II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         10.20%                    N/A                         N/A                     2.01%

VIPF II Index 500 Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         29.79%                    N/A                         N/A                    13.67%

VIPF II Contrafund Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  5/1/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                    15.66%

Northstar Income and Growth Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/3/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                    11.09%

Northstar Growth Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/3/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                    10.24%

Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/3/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                     8.44%

PCM Diversified Income Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         11.98%                   N/A                          N/A                     2.50%

PCM Growth and Income Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         29.32%                    N/A                         N/A                    13.03%

PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         23.76%                    N/A                         N/A                     7.02%

PCM Voyager Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         33.22%                    N/A                         N/A                    15.73%

PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  5/1/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                    -4.19%

PCM New Opportunities Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  5/1/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                    44.66%

</TABLE>

                                       7
<PAGE>

         From time to time, sales literature or advertisements may quote average
annual total  returns for periods prior to the date the  Sub-Accounts  commenced
operations. Such performance information for the Sub-Accounts will be calculated
based  on  the  performance  of the  Portfolios  and  the  assumption  that  the
Sub-Accounts  were in existence for the same periods as those  indicated for the
Portfolios, with the level of Contract charges currently in effect.

         Such average annual total return information for the Sub-Accounts is as
follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                 FOR THE PERIOD FROM
                                                                                                                  DATE OF INCEPTION
                                 FOR THE 1-YEAR PERIOD      FOR THE 5-YEAR PERIOD     FOR THE 10-YEAR PERIOD      OF FUND PORTFOLIO
SUB-ACCOUNT                          ENDED 12/31/95            ENDED 12/31/95             ENDED 12/31/95            TO 12/31/95
- -----------                          --------------            --------------             --------------            -----------
<S>                                      <C>                    <C>                            <C>                      <C>   
VIPF High Income Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  9/19/85)          13.43%                 16.85%                         N/A                    10.19%

VIPF Equity-Income Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  10/9/86)          27.72%                 19.22%                         N/A                    11.70%

VIPF Growth Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  10/9/86)          27.99%                 18.67%                         N/A                    13.18%

VIPF Overseas Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  1/28/87)           2.65%                  5.98%                         N/A                     5.73%

VIPF II Asset Manager Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  9/6/89)            9.83%                 10.64%                         N/A                     9.63%

VIPF II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  12/5/88)          10.20%                  7.09%                         N/A                     7.33%

VIPF II Index 500 Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  8/27/92)          29.79%                    N/A                         N/A                    12.77%

VIPF II Contrafund Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  1/3/95)           32.21%                    N/A                         N/A                    21.11%

Northstar Income and Growth Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/6/94)           14.09%                    N/A                         N/A                     9.02%

Northstar Growth Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/6/94)           17.44%                    N/A                         N/A                    11.95%

Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/6/94)            8.18%                    N/A                         N/A                     5.33%

PCM Diversified Income Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  9/15/93)          11.98%                    N/A                         N/A                     3.53%

PCM Growth and Income Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  2/1/88)           29.32%                 13.30%                         N/A                    13.43%

PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/1/92)           23.76%                    N/A                         N/A                     8.69%

PCM Voyager Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  2/1/88)           33.22%                 20.05%                         N/A                    16.03%

PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/1/95)              N/A                    N/A                         N/A                     1.26%

PCM New Opportunities Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/2/94)           36.95%                    N/A                         N/A                    26.17%

</TABLE>

                                       8
<PAGE>

         The Company may also  disclose  average  annual  total  returns for the
Investment  Fund's  Portfolios since their inception,  including such disclosure
for periods prior to the date the Variable Account commenced operations.

         Such average annual total return  information for the Portfolios of the
Investment Funds is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                                 FOR THE PERIOD FROM
                                                                                                                  DATE OF INCEPTION
                                 FOR THE 1-YEAR PERIOD      FOR THE 5-YEAR PERIOD     FOR THE 10-YEAR PERIOD      OF FUND PORTFOLIO
SUB-ACCOUNT                          ENDED 12/31/95            ENDED 12/31/95             ENDED 12/31/95            TO 12/31/95
- -----------                          --------------            --------------             --------------            -----------
<S>                                      <C>                    <C>                            <C>                      <C>   
VIPF High Income Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  9/19/85)          20.60%                 18.95%                         11.47%                 11.81%

VIPF Equity-Income Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  10/9/86)          35.09%                 21.33%                         N/A                    13.34%

VIPF Growth Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  10/9/86)          35.37%                 20.78%                         N/A                    14.84%

VIPF Overseas Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  1/28/87)           9.68%                  8.14%                         N/A                     7.31%

VIPF II Asset Manager Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  9/6/89)           16.96%                 12.76%                         N/A                    11.26%

VIPF II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  12/5/88)          17.32%                  9.23%                         N/A                     8.93%

VIPF II Index 500 Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  8/27/92)          37.19%                    N/A                         N/A                    15.48%

VIPF II Contrafund Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  1/3/95)           39.62%                    N/A                         N/A                     39.62

Northstar Income and Growth Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/6/94)           21.27%                    N/A                         N/A                    13.78%

Northstar Growth Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/6/94)           24.29%                    N/A                         N/A                    13.40%

Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/6/94)           15.28%                    N/A                         N/A                    10.10%

PCM Diversified Income Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  9/15/93)          19.13%                    N/A                         N/A                     6.99%

PCM Growth and Income Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  2/1/88)           36.71%                 15.42%                         N/A                    15.09%

PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/1/92)           31.08%                    N/A                         N/A                    11.31%

PCM Voyager Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  2/1/88)           40.67%                 22.16%                         N/A                    17.73%

PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/1/95)              N/A                    N/A                         N/A                     2.30%

PCM New Opportunities Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/2/94)           44.45%                    N/A                         N/A                    30.86%

</TABLE>

                                       9
<PAGE>

         OTHER  TOTAL  RETURNS.   From  time  to  time,   sales   literature  or
advertisements  may quote average annual total returns for the Sub-Accounts that
do not reflect the Surrender  Charge.  Such  performance  information  may quote
average  annual total  returns for periods  during which the  Sub-Accounts  were
operating  and  for  periods  prior  to  the  date  the  Sub-Accounts  commenced
operations.  These  returns  are  calculated  in exactly the same way as average
annual total returns described above, except that the ending redeemable value of
the hypothetical account for the period is replaced with an ending value for the
period that does not take into  account any  charges on amounts  surrendered  or
withdrawn. Such information is as follows:

                                       10
<PAGE>

              RETURNS SINCE DATE SUB-ACCOUNTS COMMENCED OPERATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                 FOR THE PERIOD FROM
                                                                                                                  DATE OF INCEPTION
                                 FOR THE 1-YEAR PERIOD      FOR THE 5-YEAR PERIOD     FOR THE 10-YEAR PERIOD       OF SUB-ACCOUNT
SUB-ACCOUNT                          ENDED 12/31/95            ENDED 12/31/95             ENDED 12/31/95            TO 12/31/95
- -----------                          --------------            --------------             --------------            -----------
<S>                                      <C>                    <C>                            <C>                      <C>   
VIPF High Income Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         18.83%                    N/A                         N/A                      6.98%

VIPF Equity-Income Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         33.12%                    N/A                         N/A                     18.41%

VIPF Growth Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         33.39%                    N/A                         N/A                     14.74%

VIPF Overseas Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)          8.05%                    N/A                         N/A                      3.63%

VIPF II Asset Manager Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         15.23%                    N/A                         N/A                      2.91%

VIPF II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         15.60%                    N/A                         N/A                      4.64%

VIPF II Index 500 Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         35.19%                    N/A                         N/A                     16.04%

VIPF II Contrafund Portfolio
(Sub-Account Inception:  5/1/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                     21.11%

Northstar Income and Growth Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/3/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                     16.54%

Northstar Growth Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/3/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                     15.69%

Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/3/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                     13.89%

PCM Diversified Income Fund
(Sub-Account Inception  1/6/94)          17.38%                    N/A                         N/A                      5.12%

PCM Growth and Income Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         34.72%                    N/A                         N/A                     15.42%

PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         29.16%                    N/A                         N/A                      9.54%

PCM Voyager Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  1/6/94)         38.62%                    N/A                         N/A                     18.06%

PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  5/1/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                      1.26%

PCM New Opportunities Fund
(Sub-Account Inception:  5/1/95)            N/A                    N/A                         N/A                     53.88%

</TABLE>

                                       11
<PAGE>



    RETURNS INCLUDING PERIOD PRIOR TO DATE SUB-ACCOUNTS COMMENCED OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                 FOR THE PERIOD FROM
                                                                                                                  DATE OF INCEPTION
                                 FOR THE 1-YEAR PERIOD      FOR THE 5-YEAR PERIOD     FOR THE 10-YEAR PERIOD      OF FUND PORTFOLIO
SUB-ACCOUNT                          ENDED 12/31/95            ENDED 12/31/95             ENDED 12/31/95            TO 12/31/95
- -----------                          --------------            --------------             --------------            -----------
<S>                                      <C>                    <C>                            <C>                      <C>   
VIPF High Income Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  9/19/85)          18.83%                 17.24%                         N/A                      10.19%

VIPF Equity-Income Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  10/9/86)          33.12%                 19.57%                         N/A                      11.70%

VIPF Growth Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  10/9/86)          33.39%                 19.03%                         N/A                      13.18%

VIPF Overseas Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  1/28/87)           8.05%                  6.54%                         N/A                       5.73%

VIPF II Asset Manager Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  9/6/89)           15.23%                 11.12%                         N/A                       9.63%

VIPF II Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  12/5/88)          15.60%                  7.63%                         N/A                       7.33%

VIPF II Index 500 Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  8/27/92)          35.19%                    N/A                         N/A                      13.78%

VIPF II Contrafund Portfolio
(Portfolio Inception:  1/3/95)           37.61%                    N/A                         N/A                      37.61%

Northstar Income and Growth Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/6/94)           19.49%                    N/A                         N/A                      12.09%

Northstar Growth Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/6/94)           22.84%                    N/A                         N/A                      14.97%

Northstar Multi-Sector Bond Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/6/94)           13.58%                    N/A                         N/A                       8.47%

PCM Diversified Income Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  9/15/93)          17.38%                    N/A                         N/A                       5.39%

PCM Growth and Income Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  2/1/88)           34.72%                 13.73%                         N/A                      13.43%

PCM Utilities Growth and Income Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/1/92)           29.16%                    N/A                         N/A                       9.67%

PCM Voyager Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  2/1/88)           38.62%                 20.39%                         N/A                      16.03%

PCM Asia Pacific Growth Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/1/95)           -0.11%                    N/A                         N/A                       0.00%

PCM New Opportunities Fund
(Portfolio Inception:  5/2/94)           42.35%                    N/A                         N/A                      28.94%

</TABLE>

                                       12
<PAGE>


         The Investment Funds have provided the total return information for the
Portfolios,  including the Portfolio total return  information used to calculate
the total returns of the  Sub-Accounts for periods prior to the inception of the
Sub-Accounts.  The Variable Insurance Products Fund, Variable Insurance Products
Fund II, and Putnam Capital Manager Trust are not affiliated with the Company.

         The Company may disclose  Cumulative  Total Returns in conjunction with
the standard  formats  described  above.  The  Cumulative  Total Returns will be
calculated using the following formula:

                  CTR =   ERV/P - 1

                  Where:

                  CTR  =  the Cumulative Total Return net of Sub-Account 
                          recurring charges for the period.

                  ERV  =  the  ending redeemable value of the hypothetical 
                          investment  at the  end of the period.

                  P =     a hypothetical single payment of $1,000.

         EFFECT OF THE ANNUAL CONTRACT CHARGE ON PERFORMANCE  DATA. The Contract
provides for a $30 Annual Contract Charge to be deducted  annually at the end of
each Contract  Year,  from the  Sub-Accounts  and the Fixed Account based on the
proportion  that the value of each  such  account  bears to the  total  Contract
Value.  For purposes of reflecting the Annual Contract Charge in yield and total
return  quotations,  the annual  charge is converted  into an annual  charge per
$1,000 invested based on the Annual Contract Charges  collected from the average
total assets of the Variable  Account and Fixed Account during the calendar year
ending December 31, 1995.

                              FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     This Statement of Additional  Information contains Financial Statements for
the Variable  Account as of December 31, 1995 and for each of the three years in
the period then ended.  Deloitte & Touche LLP serves as independent auditors for
the Variable Account.  Although the finanical statements are audited, the period
they cover is not necessarily  indicative of the longer term  performance of the
assets held in the Variable Account.

         The Company's statements of financial condition as of December 31, 1995
and 1994,  and the related  statements of operations,  shareholder's  equity and
cash flows for the years ended  December 31, 1995 and 1994 which are included in
this Statement of Additional  Information,  should be considered only as bearing
on the  Company's  ability to meet its  obligations  under the  Contracts.  They
should not be considered as bearing on the investment  performance of the assets
held in the Variable Account.

                                       13
<PAGE>

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT



Board of Directors
Northwestern National Life Insurance
Company and Contract Owners of
NWNL Select Variable Account:


  We have audited the  accompanying  statement of assets and liabilities of NWNL
Select  Variable  Account  as of  December  31,  1995 and the  related  combined
statements of operations and changes in Contract  Owners' equity for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1995.  These  financial  statements
are the responsibility of the management of Northwestern National Life Insurance
Company.  Our  responsibility  is to  express  an  opinion  on  these  financial
statements based on our audits.

  We have 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
misstatements. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  Our procedures include
confirmation of the securities owned as of December 31, 1995, by  correspondence
with the Account  custodians.  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 financial position of NWNL Select Variable Account as
of December 31, 1995,  and the results of its operations and changes in Contract
Owners'  equity for each of the three  years in the period  ended  December  31,
1995, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.




Deloitte & Touche LLP



Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 2, 1996





                                       i

<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                      STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
                               December 31, 1995
                   (in Thousands, Except Share and Unit Data)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      Select         Select       Fidelity's VIPF  Fidelity's VIPF   Fidelity's VIPF
                                                   Capital Growth    Managed       Money Market      High Income      Equity-Income
ASSETS:                                              Fund, Inc.     Fund, Inc.       Portfolio        Portfolio         Portfolio  
- -------
Investments in mutual funds at market value:       -------------   -------------   --------------   --------------    -------------
<S>                                                          <C>           <C>      <C>              <C>                <C>       
NORTHWESTERN'S:
   Select Capital Growth Fund, Inc.
     0 shares (cost $-)                                      $-
    Select Managed Fund, Inc.
     0 shares (cost $-)                                                   $ -

FIDELITY'S VIPF AND VIPF II:
   Money Market Portfolio
     19,384,402 shares (cost $19,384)                                                  $19,384
    High Income Portfolio
     1,917,187 shares (cost $21,472)                                                                    $23,102
    Equity-Income Portfolio
     4,804,452 shares (cost $71,360)                                                                                       $92,582
    Growth Portfolio
     3,114,103 shares (cost $68,697)                                                                                        
    Overseas Portfolio
     1,539,261 shares (cost $24,059)                                                                                        
    Asset Manager Portfolio
     3,137,752 shares (cost $44,874)                                                                                        
    Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
     1,282,434 shares (cost $14,901)                                                                                        
    Index 500 Portfolio
     105,609 shares (cost $6,885)                                                                                           
   Contrafund Portfolio
     388,952 shares (cost $5,225)                                                                                           

PUTNAM'S PCM:
   Diversified Income Fund
     637,861 shares (cost $6,466)
    Growth and Income Fund
     536,994 shares (cost $9,984)
    Utilities Growth and Income Fund
     268,645 shares (cost $3,148)
    Voyager Fund
     633,805 shares (cost $16,013)
   Asia Pacific Growth Fund
     76,773 shares (cost $765)
   New Opportunities Fund
     240,228 shares (cost $3,441)

NORTHSTAR'S:
   Income and Growth Fund
     40,273 shares (cost $461)
   Growth Fund
     17,484 shares (cost $213)
   Multi-Sector Bond Fund
     48,730 shares (cost $248)
                                                     ----------    ----------       ----------       ----------         ----------
   Total Assets                                              $-            $-          $19,384          $23,102            $92,582
                                                     ==========    ==========       ==========       ==========         ==========

LIABILITIES AND CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY:
Due to Northwestern National Life Insurance Company
   for contract charges and reserve transfers                $-            $-              $20              $24                $98
Contract Owners' Equity                                       -             -           19,364           23,078             92,484
                                                     ----------    ----------       ----------       ----------         ----------
   Total Liabilities and Contract Owners' Equity             $-            $-          $19,384          $23,102            $92,582
                                                     ==========    ==========       ==========       ==========         ==========

Units Outstanding:                                            -             -    1,607,916.548    1,368,646.703      4,437,068.543

Net Asset Value per Unit:
     Select*Annuity II
           Tax-Qualified                                     $-            $-       $14.093183       $21.133192         $25.834771
           Non-Tax Qualified                                 $-            $-       $14.093183       $21.133192         $25.834771
     Select*Annuity  III
           Tax-Qualified                                     $-            $-       $10.731589       $11.456275         $14.008100
           Non-Tax Qualified                                 $-            $-       $10.731589       $11.456275         $14.008100
</TABLE>
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                                       ii
<PAGE>

                 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              Fidelity's 
                                               Fidelity's                      Fidelity's      VIPF II       Fidelity's   Fidelity's
                                                  VIPF      Fidelity's VIPF     VIPF II       Investment        VIPF II     VIPF II
                                                 Growth        Overseas      Asset Manager    Grade Bond      Index 500   Contrafund
ASSETS:                                         Portfolio      Portfolio       Portfolio      Portfolio       Portfolio    Portfolio
- -------
Investments in mutual funds at market value: ------------- -------------     -------------   -------------  ------------ -----------
<S>                                            <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>          <C>       
NORTHWESTERN'S:
   Select Capital Growth Fund, Inc.
     0 shares (cost $-)                     
    Select Managed Fund, Inc.
     0 shares (cost $-)                     

FIDELITY'S VIPF AND VIPF II:
   Money Market Portfolio
     19,384,402 shares (cost $19,384)       
    High Income Portfolio
     1,917,187 shares (cost $21,472)        
    Equity-Income Portfolio
     4,804,452 shares (cost $71,360)        
    Growth Portfolio
     3,114,103 shares (cost $68,697)              $90,932
    Overseas Portfolio
     1,539,261 shares (cost $24,059)                              $26,244
    Asset Manager Portfolio
     3,137,752 shares (cost $44,874)                                             $49,545
    Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
     1,282,434 shares (cost $14,901)                                                            $16,005
    Index 500 Portfolio
     105,609 shares (cost $6,885)                                                                               $7,996
   Contrafund Portfolio
     388,952 shares (cost $5,225)                                                                                            $5,360

PUTNAM'S PCM:
   Diversified Income Fund
     637,861 shares (cost $6,466)
    Growth and Income Fund
     536,994 shares (cost $9,984)
    Utilities Growth and Income Fund
     268,645 shares (cost $3,148)
    Voyager Fund
     633,805 shares (cost $16,013)
   Asia Pacific Growth Fund
     76,773 shares (cost $765)
   New Opportunities Fund
     240,228 shares (cost $3,441)

NORTHSTAR'S:
   Income and Growth Fund
     40,273 shares (cost $461)
   Growth Fund
     17,484 shares (cost $213)
   Multi-Sector Bond Fund
     48,730 shares (cost $248)
                                               ----------      ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------   ----------
   Total Assets                                   $90,932         $26,244        $49,545        $16,005         $7,996       $5,360
                                                  =======         =======        =======        =======         ======       ======

LIABILITIES AND CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY:
Due to Northwestern National Life Insurance 
   Company for contract charges and reserve 
   transfers                                          $98             $28            $53            $18             $9           $6
Contract Owners' Equity                            90,834          26,216         49,492         15,987          7,987        5,354
                                               ----------      ----------     ----------     ----------     ----------   ----------
   Total Liabilities and Contract Owners' 
    Equity                                        $90,932         $26,244        $49,545        $16,005         $7,996       $5,360
                                                  =======         =======        =======        =======         ======       ======

Units Outstanding:                          4,004,682.840   1,821,113.544  3,660,661.401  1,284,788.353    575,979.607  440,844.341

Net Asset Value per Unit:
     Select*Annuity II
           Tax-Qualified                       $28.140162      $17.036049     $15.180714     $13.997190     $14.354982           $-
           Non-Tax Qualified                   $28.140162      $17.036049     $15.180714     $13.997190     $14.354982           $-
     Select*Annuity  III
           Tax-Qualified                       $13.161108      $10.756888     $10.609566     $10.966152     $13.459368   $12.103084
           Non-Tax Qualified                   $13.161108      $10.756888     $10.609566     $10.966152     $13.459368   $12.103084
</TABLE>
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                                      iii
<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                 STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, CONTINUED
                               December 31, 1995
                   (in Thousands, Except Share and Unit Data)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       Putnam's PCM   Putnam's PCM    Putnam's PCM                     Putnam's PCM 
                                                        Diversified    Growth and   Utilities Growth   Putnam's PCM    Asia Pacific 
                                                          Income         Income        and Income         Voyager         Growth    
ASSETS:                                                    Fund           Fund            Fund             Fund            Fund     
- -------
Investments in mutual funds at market value:           -------------  -------------   -------------    -------------   -------------
<S>                                                      <C>           <C>             <C>              <C>              <C>        
NORTHWESTERN'S:
    Select Capital Growth Fund, Inc.
     0 shares (cost $-)                                                                                                             
    Select Managed Fund, Inc.
     0 shares (cost $-)                                                                                                             

FIDELITY'S VIPF AND VIPF II:
   Money Market Portfolio
     19,384,402 shares (cost $19,384)                                                                                               
    High Income Portfolio
     1,917,187 shares (cost $21,472)                                                                                                
    Equity-Income Portfolio
     4,804,452 shares (cost $71,360)                                                                                                
    Growth Portfolio
     3,114,103 shares (cost $68,697)                                                                                                
    Overseas Portfolio
     1,539,261 shares (cost $24,059)                                                                                                
    Asset Manager Portfolio
     3,137,752 shares (cost $44,874)                                                                                                
    Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
     1,282,434 shares (cost $14,901)                                                                                                
    Index 500 Portfolio
     105,609 shares (cost $6,885)                                                                                                   
   Contrafund Portfolio
     388,952 shares (cost $5,225)                                                                                                   

PUTNAM'S PCM:
   Diversified Income Fund
     637,861 shares (cost $6,466)                            $7,036                                                                 
    Growth and Income Fund
     536,994 shares (cost $9,984)                                         $11,529                                                   
    Utilities Growth and Income Fund
     268,645 shares (cost $3,148)                                                          $3,568                                   
    Voyager Fund
     633,805 shares (cost $16,013)                                                                         $19,331                  
   Asia Pacific Growth Fund
     76,773 shares (cost $765)                                                                                                 $785 
   New Opportunities Fund
     240,228 shares (cost $3,441)                                                                                                   

NORTHSTAR'S:
   Income and Growth Fund
     40,273 shares (cost $461)                                                                                                      
   Growth Fund
     17,484 shares (cost $213)                                                                                                      
   Multi-Sector Bond Fund
     48,730 shares (cost $248)                                                                                                      
                                                         ----------    ----------      ----------       ----------       ---------- 
   Total Assets                                              $7,036       $11,529          $3,568          $19,331             $785 
                                                           =========    =========       =========        =========        ========= 

LIABILITIES AND POLICYOWNERS' EQUITY:
Due to Northwestern National Life Insurance Company
   for accrued mortality and expense risks                $       8    $       12       $       4       $       26          $     - 
Contract Owners' Equity                                       7,028        11,517           3,564           19,305              785 
                                                         ----------    ----------      ----------       ----------       ---------- 
   Total Liabilities and Policyowners' Equity                $7,036       $11,529          $3,568          $19,331             $785 
                                                             ======       =======          ======          =======          =======

Units Outstanding:                                      632,420.015   859,405.339     294,096.722    1,370,458.827       77,406.519 

Net Asset Value per Unit:
     Select*Annuity II
           Tax-Qualified                                 $11.574062    $13.669050      $12.590873       $14.531254         $      - 
           Non-Tax Qualified                             $11.574062    $13.669050      $12.590873       $14.531254         $      - 
     Select*Annuity  III
           Tax-Qualified                                 $11.066646    $13.316238      $12.007195       $13.927167       $10.136110 
           Non-Tax Qualified                             $11.066646    $13.316238      $12.007195       $13.927167       $10.136110 
</TABLE>
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.
                                       iv

<PAGE>

                STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         Putnam's PCM    Northstar's
                                                              New          Income       Northstar's     Northstar's
                                                         Opportunities   and Growth       Growth     Multi-Sector Bond
ASSETS:                                                      Fund           Fund           Fund            Fund            Total
- -------
Investments in mutual funds at market value:             -------------  ------------   ------------    ------------    ------------
NORTHWESTERN'S:
<S>                                                      <C>              <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>          
    Select Capital Growth Fund, Inc.
     0 shares (cost $-)                                                                                                         $-
    Select Managed Fund, Inc.
     0 shares (cost $-)                                                                                                          -

FIDELITY'S VIPF AND VIPF II:
   Money Market Portfolio
     19,384,402 shares (cost $19,384)                                                                                       19,384
    High Income Portfolio
     1,917,187 shares (cost $21,472)                                                                                        23,102
    Equity-Income Portfolio
     4,804,452 shares (cost $71,360)                                                                                        92,582
    Growth Portfolio
     3,114,103 shares (cost $68,697)                                                                                        90,932
    Overseas Portfolio
     1,539,261 shares (cost $24,059)                                                                                        26,244
    Asset Manager Portfolio
     3,137,752 shares (cost $44,874)                                                                                        49,545
    Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
     1,282,434 shares (cost $14,901)                                                                                        16,005
    Index 500 Portfolio
     105,609 shares (cost $6,885)                                                                                            7,996
   Contrafund Portfolio
     388,952 shares (cost $5,225)                                                                                            5,360

PUTNAM'S PCM:
   Diversified Income Fund
     637,861 shares (cost $6,466)                                                                                            7,036
    Growth and Income Fund
     536,994 shares (cost $9,984)                                                                                           11,529
    Utilities Growth and Income Fund
     268,645 shares (cost $3,148)                                                                                            3,568
    Voyager Fund
     633,805 shares (cost $16,013)                                                                                          19,331
   Asia Pacific Growth Fund
     76,773 shares (cost $765)                                                                                                 785
   New Opportunities Fund
     240,228 shares (cost $3,441)                             $3,755                                                         3,755

NORTHSTAR'S:
   Income and Growth Fund
     40,273 shares (cost $461)                                                  $459                                           459
   Growth Fund
     17,484 shares (cost $213)                                                                $202                             202
   Multi-Sector Bond Fund
     48,730 shares (cost $248)                                                                                $250             250
                                                          ----------      ----------    ----------      ----------      ----------
   Total Assets                                               $3,755            $459          $202            $250        $378,065
                                                              ======            ====          ====            ====        ========


LIABILITIES AND POLICYOWNERS' EQUITY:
Due to Northwestern National Life Insurance Company
   for accrued mortality and expense risks                 $       9          $    1       $     -              $-        $    414
Contract Owners' Equity                                        3,746             458           202             250         377,651
                                                          ----------      ----------    ----------      ----------      ----------
   Total Liabilities and Policyowners' Equity                 $3,755            $459          $202            $250        $378,065
                                                              ======            ====          ====            ====        ========

Units Outstanding:                                       279,169.636      38,118.380    16,298.318      21,963.823  22,791,039.459

Net Asset Value per Unit:
     Select*Annuity II
           Tax-Qualified                                   $       -         $     -       $     -         $     -
           Non-Tax Qualified                               $       -         $     -       $     -         $     -
     Select*Annuity  III
           Tax-Qualified                                  $13.350615      $12.022356    $12.371427      $11.388122
           Non-Tax Qualified                              $13.350615      $12.022356    $12.371427      $11.388122
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements. 

                                       v
<PAGE>
                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                      STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES
                           IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY
                                 (In Thousands)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    YEAR ENDED       YEAR ENDED         YEAR ENDED
                                                   DECEMBER 31,     DECEMBER 31,       DECEMBER 31,
                                                       1995             1994                1993
                                                   ------------      -----------        ------------
<S>                                                  <C>                <C>                <C>     
Net investment income:
  Reinvested dividend income ...............         $    5,942         $    3,970         $    3,263
  Reinvested capital gains .................              3,314              6,860              1,162
  Administrative Expenses .................              (4,764)            (3,286)            (2,078)
                                                      ---------          ---------          ---------
    Net investment income and capital gains               4,492              7,544              2,347
                                                      ---------          ---------          ---------
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
  Net realized gains on
    redemptions of fund shares .............              9,391              3,754              2,426
  Increase (decrease) in unrealized
    appreciation of investments ............             51,022            (13,578)            14,384
                                                      ---------          ---------          ---------
    Net realized and unrealized gains (losses)           60,413             (9,824)            16,810
                                                      ---------          ---------          ---------
       Net additions (reductions) from operations        64,905            (2,280)             19,157
                                                      ---------          ---------          ---------
Contract Owners' transactions:
  Net purchase payments ....................             90,585             88,469             59,995
  Surrenders ...............................            (21,291)           (13,237)            (9,072)
  Transfers between Sub-Accounts
     and Fixed Account .....................               (913)              (508)               539
  Annuity payments .........................               (958)            (1,265)              (602)
  Transfers (from) to required reserves ....               (146)                17                (91)
                                                      ---------          ---------          ---------
    Net additions for Contract Owners' transactions      67,277             73,476             50,769
                                                      ---------          ---------          ---------
         Net additions for the year.........            132,182             71,196             69,926

Contract Owners' Equity, beginning of the year          245,469            174,273            104,347
                                                      ---------          ---------          ---------
Contract Owners' Equity, end of the year ...           $377,651           $245,469           $174,273
                                                       ========           ========           ========

</TABLE>


    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                                       vi
<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES:
   ORGANIZATION AND CONTRACTS:
   NWNL  Select  Variable  Account  (the  "Account")  is a  separate  account of
   Northwestern  National Life Insurance Company ("NWNL" or  "Northwestern"),  a
   wholly owned  subsidiary  of ReliaStar  Financial  Corp.  (formerly  The NWNL
   Companies,  Inc.). The Account is registered as a unit investment trust under
   the Investment Company Act of 1940.

   Purchase  payments received under the contracts are allocated to Sub-Accounts
   of the Account,  each of which invested in one of the following  Funds during
   the period (see note 4):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

 FIDELITY'S VIPF AND VIPF II:             PUTNAM'S PCM:                               NORTHSTAR FUNDS:         
 ----------------------------             -------------                               ----------------         
<S>                                       <C>                                         <C> 
 Money Market Portfolio                   Diversified Income Fund                     Growth Fund              
 High Income Portfolio                    Growth and Income Fund                      Income and Growth Fund   
 Equity-Income Portfolio                  Utilities Growth and Income Fund            Multi-Sector Bond Fund   
 Growth Portfolio                         Voyager Fund                             
 Overseas Portfolio                       Asia Pacific Growth Fund
 Asset Manager Portfolio                  New Opportunities Fund
 Investment Grade Bond Portfolio
 Index 500 Portfolio
 Contrafund Portfolio

</TABLE>


   Northstar  Investment Management  Corporation,  an affiliate of NWNL, is the
   investment  adviser  for the three  Northstar  Funds and is paid fees for its
   services  by  the  Funds.  Fidelity  Management  &  Research  Company  is the
   investment  adviser for Fidelity's  VIPF and VIPF II and is paid fees for its
   services by the VIPF and VIPF II portfolios.  Putnam  Investment  Management,
   Inc.  is the  investment  adviser  for the PCM Funds and is paid fees for its
   services by the PCM Funds.  See the related Funds'  prospectuses  for further
   information.  On May 3, 1993, NWNL added the Sub-Accounts investing in shares
   of Index 500  Portfolio.  On  January 6, 1994 NWNL  established  sub-accounts
   investing in the PCM Funds which were made  available to purchasers of NWNL's
   Select*Annuity III variable annuity contracts.  On May 2, 1994,  Sub-Accounts
   investing in the PCM Funds were also made  available to  purchasers of NWNL's
   Select*Annuity  II  variable  annuity   contracts.   On  December  30,  1994,
   Sub-Accounts  investing  in  the  Northstar  Funds  were  made  available  to
   purchasers of NWNL's Select*Annuity III variable annuity contracts.  On April
   30, 1995, Sub-Accounts investing in the VIPF II Contrafund Portfolio, the PCM
   Asia  Pacific  Growth  Fund  and the PCM New  Opportunities  Fund  were  made
   available  to  purchasers  of  NWNL's  Select*Annuity  III  variable  annuity
   contracts.

   SECURITIES VALUATION TRANSACTIONS AND RELATED INVESTMENT INCOME:
   The market value of investments in the  Sub-Accounts  is based on the closing
   net asset values of the Fund shares held at the end of the period. Investment
   transactions  are accounted for on the trade date (date the order to purchase
   or redeem is executed) and dividend income and capital gain distributions are
   recorded  on  the  ex-dividend   date.  Net  realized  gains  and  losses  on
   redemptions  of shares of the Funds are  determined  on the basis of specific
   identification of Fund share costs.

   VARIABLE ANNUITY RESERVES:
   The  amount of the  reserves  for  contracts  in the  distribution  period is
   determined by actuarial assumptions which meet statutory requirements.  Gains
   or losses resulting from actual mortality experience, the full responsibility
   for which is assumed by NWNL, are offset by transfers to, or from, NWNL.

2. FEDERAL INCOME TAXES:
   Under current tax law, the income, gains and losses from the separate account
   investments are not taxable to either the Account or NWNL.

3. CONTRACT CHARGES:
   No deduction is made for a sales charge from the purchase  payments  made for
   the  contracts.  However,  on certain  surrenders,  NWNL will deduct from the
   contract value a surrender charge as set forth in the contract.

   Certain charges are made by NWNL to Contract  Owners'  Variable  Accumulation
   Values in the Account in accordance  with the terms of the  Contracts.  These
   charges may  include:  an annual  administrative/contract  charge of $30 from
   each  contract  on the  anniversary  date  or at the  time of  surrender,  if
   surrender   is  at  a  time  other  than  the   anniversary   date;  a  daily
   administrative  charge;  and a daily  charge for  mortality  and expense risk
   assumed by NWNL. NWNL bears the risk of adverse mortality  experience and any
   costs for sales and  administrative  services and expenses which exceed these
   periodic charges.

   Various  states and other  governmental  units levy a premium  tax on annuity
   contracts issued by insurance companies.  If the owner of a contract lives in
   a state which  levies such a tax,  NWNL may deduct the amount of the tax from
   the purchase payments received or the value of the contract at annuitization.

4. NORTHWESTERN'S SELECT FUNDS:
   On May 1, 1995, Select Capital Growth Fund, Inc. ("SCG") and Select Managed  
   Fund, Inc. ("SMF") were liquidated, and Contract Owners' values in the       
   Sub-Accounts investing in SCG and SMF were transferred to the Sub-Accounts   
   investing in shares of the VIPF Growth Portfolio and VIPF II Asset Manager   
   Portfolio, respectively.

                                      vii
<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED


5. INVESTMENTS:
   The net realized  gains  (losses) on redemptions of fund shares for the years
   ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, were as follows, (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                          SELECT              
                                                                                     CAPITAL GROWTH         
                                         TOTAL                                          FUND, INC.          
                     ---------------------------------------------      ----------------------------------------------

                     Year ended      Year ended      Year ended      Year ended     Year ended     Year ended     
                      Dec. 31,        Dec. 31,        Dec. 31,        Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,     
                        1995            1994            1993            1995           1994           1993       
                      ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------    
<S>                     <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>            <C>       
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......    $83,108         $49,854         $25,718          $6,333         $1,992         $1,749    
Cost ...............     73,717          46,100          23,292           6,809          2,111          1,738    
                      ---------       ---------       ---------       ---------      ---------      ---------    
Net realized gains
   (losses) on
   redemptions of
   fund shares .....   $  9,391          $3,754          $2,426           ($476)         ($119)           $11   
                       ========          ======          ======           =====          =====            ===   

<CAPTION>

                                    FIDELITY'S VIPF                                      FIDELITY'S VIPF   
                                      HIGH INCOME                                         EQUITY-INCOME    
                                       PORTFOLIO                                            PORTFOLIO      
                     -----------------------------------------      ----------------------------------------

                     Year ended     Year ended      Year ended       Year ended     Year ended    Year ended 
                      Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,        Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,     
                        1995           1994            1993            1995            1994          1993       
                      ---------      ---------       ---------       ----------      ---------    ----------    
<S>                      <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>      
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......     $5,766         $4,887          $1,962          $7,777         $5,135         $1,901   
Cost ...............      5,414          4,460           1,419           5,469          4,129          1,570   
                      ---------      ---------       ---------        ---------      ---------     ---------   
Net realized gains
  (losses) on
  redemptions of
  fund shares ......    $   352         $  427         $   543          $2,308         $1,006           $331   
                        =======         ======         =======          ======         ======           ====   



                                  FIDELITY'S VIPF II                            FIDELITY'S VIPF II                 
                                     ASSET MANAGER                               INVESTMENT GRADE                  
                                       PORTFOLIO                                  BOND PORTFOLIO                   
                     ----------------------------------------       ------------------------------------------ 

                     Year ended     Year ended     Year ended       Year ended      Year ended     Year ended    
                      Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,        Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,     
                        1995           1994           1993             1995            1994           1993       
                      ---------      ---------      ---------        ---------       ---------      ----------    
<S>                      <C>            <C>              <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>      
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......     $9,653         $2,543           $337           $5,108          $5,246          $1,759   
Cost ...............      8,857          2,270            285            4,997           5,342           1,648   
                      ---------      ---------      ---------        ---------       ---------       ---------   
Net realized gains
  (losses) on
  redemptions of
  fund shares ......     $  796         $  273          $  52         $    111           ($96)        $   111   
                      =========      =========      =========         ========      =========         =======   

</TABLE>




                                      viii
<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                         SELECT                                        FIDELITY'S VIPF
                                         MANAGED                                        MONEY MARKET
                                        FUND, INC.                                        PORTFOLIO
                     ---------------------------------------------       ---------------------------------------------

                     Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended
                      Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,
                        1995              1994             1993              1995             1994              1993
                      ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------
<S>                      <C>                 <C>              <C>               <C>                <C>               <C>
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......     $6,137            $2,175           $3,098           $16,985          $15,801            $9,347
Cost ...............      6,129             2,035            2,858            16,985           15,801             9,347
                      ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------
Net realized gains
   (losses) on
   redemptions of
   fund shares .....     $    8           $   140           $  240            $    -        $       -          $      -
                         ======           =======            =====             =====        =========          ========

<CAPTION>

                                     FIDELITY'S VIPF                                     FIDELITY'S VIPF
                                         GROWTH                                             OVERSEAS
                                        PORTFOLIO                                           PORTFOLIO
                     ---------------------------------------------       ----------------------------------------------

                     Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended
                      Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,
                        1995              1994             1993              1995             1994              1993
                      ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------
<S>                     <C>                <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>   
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......    $11,631            $6,277           $3,178            $6,179           $3,143            $2,269
Cost ...............      7,195             4,716            2,113             5,293            2,551             2,197
                      ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------
Net realized gains
  (losses) on
  redemptions of
  fund shares ......     $4,436            $1,561           $1,065            $  886           $  592           $     72
                         ======            ======            =====             =====           ======           ========

<CAPTION>

                                   FIDELITY'S VIPF II                                  FIDELITY'S VIPF II
                                        INDEX 500                                          CONTRAFUND
                                        PORTFOLIO                                           PORTFOLIO
                     ---------------------------------------------        ---------------------------------------------

                     Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended
                      Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,
                        1995              1994             1993              1995             1994              1993
                      ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------
<S>                      <C>                 <C>              <C>               <C>                <C>               <C>
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......     $1,802              $355             $118              $140               $-                $-
Cost ...............      1,542               352              117               119                -                 -
                      ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------
Net realized gains
  (losses) on
  redemptions of
  fund shares ......     $  260                $3            $   1             $  21               $-                $-
                      =========         =========        =========         =========        =========         =========
</TABLE>


                                       ix
<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED



5. INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED):
   The net realized  gains  (losses) on redemptions of fund shares for the years
   ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993, were as follows, (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                                        
                                     PUTNAM'S PCM                                         PUTNAM'S PCM                  
                                  DIVERSIFIED INCOME                                    GROWTH AND INCOME               
                                         FUND                                                 FUND                      
                     ---------------------------------------------       ---------------------------------------------- 

                     Year ended       Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended       Year ended  
                      Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,   
                        1995             1994              1993             1995              1994             1993     
                     ----------        ----------        ---------        ----------        ----------      ----------- 
<S>                      <C>                 <C>                <C>           <C>                <C>                 <C>
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......     $1,414              $500               $-            $1,006             $400                $-
Cost................      1,334               515                -               876              407                 - 
                      ---------         ---------        ---------        ----------        ---------       ----------- 
Net realized gains
  (losses) on
  redemptions of
  fund shares ......    $    80            ($ 15)               $-            $  130           ($  7)                $- 
                      =========         =========        =========         =========        =========         ========= 

<CAPTION>

                                     PUTNAM'S PCM                                         PUTNAM'S PCM                       
                                     ASIA PACIFIC                                       NEW OPPORTUNITIES                    
                                      GROWTH FUND                                             FUND                           
                     ---------------------------------------------       ----------------------------------------------      

                     Year ended       Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended       Year ended       
                      Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,        
                        1995             1994              1993             1995              1994             1993          
                      ---------        ---------         ---------        ----------         ---------        ---------      
<S>                         <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>      
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......        $96               $-               $-               $321              $-                $-       
Cost ...............         96                -                -                262               -                 -       
                      ---------        ---------         ---------        ----------         ---------        ---------      
Net realized gains
  (losses) on
  redemptions of
  fund shares ......         $-               $-               $-              $  59              $-                $-       
                      =========        =========        =========          =========         =========        ========       
</TABLE>


                                      NORTHSTAR'S
                                   MULTI-SECTOR BOND
                                         FUND
                     ---------------------------------------------

                     Year ended       Year ended        Year ended
                      Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,
                        1995             1994              1993
                      ---------        ---------         ---------
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......        $37               $-               $-
Cost ...............         37                -                -
                      ---------        ---------         ---------
Net realized gains
  (losses) on
  redemptions of
  fund shares ......         $-               $-               $-
                      =========        =========         ========



                                       x

<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                       PUTNAM'S PCM
                                         UTILITIES                                          PUTNAM'S PCM
                                     GROWTH AND INCOME                                        VOYAGER
                                           FUND                                                FUND
                      ----------------------------------------------       ---------------------------------------------

                      Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended
                       Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,
                         1995              1994             1993              1995             1994              1993
                        ---------         ---------        ---------       ----------         ---------         ---------
<S>                          <C>              <C>                 <C>          <C>               <C>                   <C>
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......         $548             $231                $-           $2,124            $1,169                $-
Cost................          493              240                 -            1,764             1,171                 -
                        ---------        ---------         ---------        ---------         ---------         ---------
Net realized gains
  (losses) on
  redemptions of
  fund shares ......        $  55           ($  9)                $-           $  360         ($     2)                $-
                        =========       =========          =========        =========         ========          =========

<CAPTION>
                                        NORTHSTAR'S                                         NORTHSTAR'S
                                     INCOME AND GROWTH                                        GROWTH
                                           FUND                                                FUND
                      ---------------------------------------------        ---------------------------------------------

                      Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended       Year ended        Year ended
                       Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,          Dec. 31,
                         1995              1994             1993              1995             1994              1993
                      ----------         ---------        ---------         ---------        ---------       -----------
<S>                          <C>               <C>               <C>              <C>               <C>               <C>
Proceeds from
  redemptions ......         $36               $-                $-               $15               $-                $-
Cost ...............          34                -                 -                12                -                 -
                      ----------         ---------        ---------         ---------        ---------       -----------
Net realized gains
  (losses) on
  redemptions of
  fund shares ......          $ 2              $-                $-               $ 3               $-                $-
                        =========        ========         =========         =========        =========         =========
</TABLE>



                                       xi
<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED


6. CONTRACT OWNERS' TRANSACTIONS:
   Unit  transactions  in each  Sub-Account  during the years ended December 31,
   1995, 1994 and 1993, were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                   SELECT
                                                   CAPITAL                                    SELECT                    
                                                   GROWTH                                     MANAGED                   
                                                 FUND, INC.                                 FUND, INC.                  
                                   ----------------------------------------  ----------------------------------------   

                                   Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended     
                                    Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      
                                      1995          1994          1993          1995          1994          1993        
                                   -----------   -----------   ------------  ------------   -----------   ------------  
<S>                                 <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year ............   199,602.754   236,351.642   271,515.708   385,981.897   495,999.026   638,164.404   
Units purchased .................     2,170.070     9,956.716    15,436.126     3,513.590    20,863.027    37,212.420   
Units redeemed ..................    (9,983.707)  (28,276.780)  (34,147.193)  (20,308.314)  (74,417.627) (110,890.381)  
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account.................  (191,789.117)  (18,428.824)  (16,452.999) (369,187.173)  (56,462.529)  (68,487.417)  
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   
Units outstanding,
   end of year ..................             -   199,602.754   236,351.642             -   385,981.897   495,999.026   
                                    ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   


<CAPTION>
                                              FIDELITY'S VIPF                            FIDELITY'S VIPF                
                                                   GROWTH                                    OVERSEAS                   
                                                  PORTFOLIO                                  PORTFOLIO                  
                                  ----------------------------------------   -----------------------------------------    

                                   Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended     
                                    Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      
                                      1995          1994          1993          1995          1994          1993        
                                  -------------   -----------   -----------  ------------   -----------   -----------   
<S>                               <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>           
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year............. 3,085,291.094 2,019,876.667 1,448,782.791 1,680,499.232   819,347.654   456,485.166   
Units purchased .................   769,630.128 1,070,554.250   581,545.451   381,191.472   724,437.332   286,453.475   
Units redeemed ..................  (279,858.707) (153,211.193) (100,708.718) (120,861.323)  (55,236.857)  (38,568.188)  
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account.................   429,620.325   148,071.370    90,257.143  (119,715.837)  191,951.103   114,977.201   
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   
Units outstanding,
   end of year..................  4,004,682.840 3,085,291.094 2,019,876.667 1,821,113.544 1,680,499.232   819,347.654   
                                  ============= ============= ============= ============= =============   ===========
</TABLE>



                                      xii

<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                FIDELITY'S VIPF                           FIDELITY'S VIPF              
                                                  MONEY MARKET                               HIGH INCOME               
                                                    PORTFOLIO                                 PORTFOLIO                
                                   --------------------------------------------  -----------------------------------------
 
                                   Year ended      Year ended    Year ended       Year ended    Year ended    Year ended  
                                     Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,   
                                       1995            1994          1993             1995          1994          1993     
                                    -------------   ------------  ------------   -------------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                <C>               <C>           <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>         
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year ............  1,183,020.139     827,229.012   987,749.178   1,018,223.635   798,986.176   441,254.684 
Units purchased .................  1,210,518.082     947,248.323   434,478.460     405,708.793   421,702.041   352,007.382 
Units redeemed ..................   (120,871.417)   (125,836.730) (133,871.819)    (74,441.049)  (62,304.904)  (24,288.804)
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account.................   (664,750.256)   (465,620.466) (461,126.807)     19,155.324  (140,159.678)   30,012.914 
                                     -----------     -----------   -----------     -----------   -----------   ----------- 
Units outstanding,
   end of year ..................  1,607,916.548   1,183,020.139   827,229.012    1,368,646.703 1,018,223.635  798,986.176 
                                   =============   =============   ===========    ============= =============  =========== 
</TABLE>


                                               FIDELITY'S VIPF
                                                 EQUITY-INCOME
                                                   PORTFOLIO

                                   --------------------------------------------
                                     Year ended    Year ended      Year ended
                                      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,        Dec. 31,
                                        1995          1994            1993
                                   ------------   -------------   -------------
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year ............ 3,257,109.719   2,319,003.995   1,655,722.841
Units purchased ................. 1,101,417.898     933,801.967     660,349.935
Units redeemed ..................   259,661.010)   (196,100.661)   (114,399.458)
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account.................   338,201.936     200,404.418     117,330.677
                                    -----------     -----------     -----------
Units outstanding,
   end of year .................. 4,437,068.543   3,257,109.719   2,319,003.995
                                    ===========   =============   =============
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 FIDELITY'S VIPF II                          FIDELITY'S VIPF II            
                                                    ASSET MANAGER                            INVESTMENT GRADE             
                                                      PORTFOLIO                                BOND PORTFOLIO              
                                   -------------------------------------------     --------------------------------------- 
 
                                   Year ended      Year ended    Year ended       Year ended    Year ended    Year ended  
                                     Dec. 31,        Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,         Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,   
                                       1995            1994          1993             1995          1994          1993     
                                   -------------     -----------   -----------     -----------   -----------   ----------- 
<S>                                <C>             <C>             <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>         
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year.............  3,382,528.684   1,727,140.831   522,703.230     993,890.531   729,334.990   352,117.005 
Units purchased .................    542,582.388   1,624,947.759   999,767.151     723,466.175   651,757.704   487,892.585 
Units redeemed ..................   (270,565.326)   (115,058.014)  (25,959.676)    (49,436.532)  (69,080.787)  (32,664.573)
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account.................      6,115.655     145,498.108   230,630.126    (383,131.821) (318,121.376)  (78,010.027)
                                   -------------     -----------   -----------     -----------   -----------   ----------- 
Units outstanding,
   end of year..................   3,660,661.401   3,382,528.684 1,727,140.831   1,284,788.353   993,890.531   729,334.990 
                                   =============   ============= =============   =============   ===========   =========== 
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
                                             FIDELITY'S VIPF II
                                                  INDEX 500
                                                  PORTFOLIO
                                   ---------------------------------------

                                   Year ended    Year ended    Year ended
                                    Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,
                                      1995          1994          1993
                                   -----------   -----------   -----------
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year.............  263,727.290   102,493.314             -
Units purchased .................  230,822.310   139,102.547    89,685.213
Units redeemed ..................  (16,245.621)  (12,679.127)       (5.659)
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account.................   97,675.628    34,810.556    12,813.760
                                   -----------   -----------   -----------
Units outstanding,
   end of year..................   575,979.607   263,727.290   102,493.314
                                   ===========   ===========   ===========

                                      xiii
<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED



6. CONTRACT OWNERS' TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED):
   Unit  transactions  in each  Sub-Account  during the years ended December 31,
   1995, 1994 and 1993, were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                             FIDELITY'S VIPF II                            PUTNAM'S PCM                 
                                                 CONTRAFUND                             DIVERSIFIED INCOME              
                                                  PORTFOLIO                                    FUND                     
                                    -------------------------------------    ----------------------------------------   

                                   Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended     
                                    Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      
                                      1995          1994          1993          1995          1994          1993        
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   
<S>                                 <C>                    <C>           <C>  <C>           <C>                   <C>   
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year ............             -             -             -   350,570.940             -             -   
Units purchased .................   349,595.850             -             -   342,422.647   364,540.968             -   
Units reedeemed .................    (2,747.245)            -             -   (18,550.684)   (4,879.794)            -   
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account ................    93,995.736             -             -   (42,022.888)   (9,090.234)            -   
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   
Units outstanding,
   end of year...................   440,844.341             -             -   632,420.015   350,570.940             -   
                                    ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========  


<CAPTION>

                                                PUTNAM'S PCM                               PUTNAM'S PCM                 
                                                ASIA PACIFIC                             NEW OPPORTUNITIES              
                                                 GROWTH FUND                                   FUND                     
                                    -------------------------------------      -------------------------------------    

                                   Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended    Year ended     
                                    Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      
                                      1995          1994          1993          1995          1994          1993        
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   
<S>                                 <C>           <C>               <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>           
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year ............             -             -             -             -             -             -   
Units purchased .................    59,171.003             -             -   191,561.789             -             -   
Units reedeemed .................      (164.483)            -             -    (1,607.939)            -             -   
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account ................    18,399.999             -             -    89,215.786             -             -   
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   
Units outstanding,
   end of year.................      77,406.519             -             -   279,169.636             -             -   
                                     ==========   ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========
</TABLE>




                                      xiv
<PAGE>
                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 PUTNAM'S PCM                              PUTNAM'S PCM               
                                                GROWTH & INCOME                         UTILITIES GROWTH &            
                                                     FUND                                   INCOME FUND               
                                   ----------------------------------------   ---------------------------------------  

                                   Year ended    Year ended    Year ended     Year ended    Year ended    Year ended  
                                    Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,   
                                      1995          1994          1993           1995          1994          1993     
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------- 
<S>                                 <C>           <C>           <C>              <C>           <C>         <C>        
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year ............   263,273.051             -             -   120,645.331             -             - 
Units purchased .................   411,254.359   211,628.753             -   109,716.900   104,433.541             - 
Units reedeemed .................   (19,519.533)   (6,596.040)            -    (6,323.494)   (1,165.178)            - 
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account ................   204,397.462    58,240.338             -    70,057.985    17,376.968             - 
                                    -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------- 
Units outstanding,
   end of year...................   859,405.339   263,273.051             -   294,096.722   120,645.331             - 
                                    ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========   =========== 
</TABLE>

                                                  PUTNAM'S PCM
                                                     VOYAGER
                                                      FUND
                                     ---------------------------------------

                                     Year ended    Year ended    Year ended
                                      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,
                                        1995          1994          1993
                                     -----------   -----------   -----------
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year ............    423,202.264             -             -
Units purchased .................    702,903.236   305,026.287             -
Units reedeemed .................    (23,265.910)   (4,175.151)            -
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account ................    267,619.237   122,351.128             -
                                     -----------   -----------   -----------
Units outstanding,
   end of year...................  1,370,458.827   423,202.264             -
                                   =============   ===========   ===========
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                  NORTHSTAR'S                               NORTHSTAR'S              
                                                INCOME & GROWTH                               GROWTH                 
                                                     FUND                                      FUND                  
                                   ---------------------------------------  ---------------------------------------- 

                                   Year ended    Year ended    Year ended     Year ended    Year ended    Year ended 
                                    Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,       Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,  
                                      1995          1994          1993           1995          1994          1993    
                                   ------------   ---------   -----------   -------------   -----------   ----------
<S>                                  <C>          <C>         <C>            <C>             <C>          <C>        
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year ............             -           -             -             -             -              -   
Units purchased .................    36,112.093           -             -    15,762.759             -              -   
Units reedeemed .................       (76.821)          -             -      (272.010)            -              -   
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account ................     2,083.108           -             -       807.569             -              -   
                                    -----------   ---------   -----------   -----------   -----------    -----------
Units outstanding,
   end of year.................      38,118.380           -             -    16,298.318             -              -   
                                     ==========   =========      ========    ==========      ========       ========

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

                                                  NORTHSTAR'S
                                                MULTI-SECTOR BOND
                                                      FUND
                                     ---------------------------------------

                                     Year ended    Year ended    Year ended
                                      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,      Dec. 31,
                                        1995          1994          1993
                                     -----------   -----------   -----------
Units outstanding,
   beginning of year ............             -              -             -
Units purchased .................    21,443.118              -             -
Units reedeemed .................        (0.504)             -             -
Units transferred between
   Sub-Accounts and/or
   Fixed Account ................       521.209              -             -
                                     ----------    -----------    ----------
Units outstanding, 
   end of year.................      21,963.823              -             -
                                     ==========     ==========    ==========

                                       xv
<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED



7. STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY:
   Operations and changes in Contract Owners' equity for the year ended December
   31, 1995 were as follows, (in thousands):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                               
                                                 Select                  Fidelity's   Fidelity's    Fidelity's   Fidelity's    
                                                 Capital      Select        VIPF         VIPF          VIPF         VIPF       
                                                 Growth       Managed   Money Market  High Income  Equity-Income   Growth      
                                     Total     Fund, Inc.   Fund, Inc.    Portfolio    Portfolio     Portfolio    Portfolio    
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------    
<S>                                  <C>            <C>           <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>       
Net investment income:
  Reinvested dividend income....  $    5,942  $         -   $         -    $     889     $  1,195    $   1,757    $     316    
  Reinvested capital gains ......      3,314            -             -            -            -        2,956            -    
  Administrative expenses.......      (4,764)         (31)          (37)        (258)        (362)      (1,160)      (1,186)   
                                   ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    
        Net investment income (loss)
            and capital gains ...      4,492          (31)          (37)         631          833        3,553         (870)   
                                   ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
  Net realized gains (losses) on
     redemptions of fund shares..      9,391         (476)            8            -          352        2,308        4,436    
  Increase (decrease) in unrealized
    appreciation of investments .     51,022          671           191            -        2,123       14,818       17,432    
                                   ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    
        Net realized and
          unrealized gains (losses)   60,413          195           199            -        2,475       17,126       21,868    
                                   ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    
            Net additions
              from operations....     64,905          164           162          631        3,308       20,679       20,998    
                                   ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    
Contract Owners' transactions:
  Net purchase payments.........      90,585           54            55       13,020        4,741       15,132       11,039    
  Surrenders ....................    (21,291)        (276)         (303)      (1,520)      (1,153)      (5,022)      (6,438)   
  Transfers between Sub-Accounts
    and/or Fixed Account........        (913)      (5,856)       (5,808)      (7,383)         125        5,000        8,840    
  Annuity payments ..............       (958)         (34)           (1)         (40)        (110)        (147)        (264)   
  Transfers (from) to required
    reserves ....................       (146)        (147)           (3)          (1)          (2)          (2)          24    
                                   ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    
    Net additions (reductions) for
      Contract Owners' transactions   67,277       (6,259)       (6,060)       4,076        3,601       14,961       13,201    
                                   ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    
        Net additions (reductions)
           for the year.........     132,182       (6,095)       (5,898)       4,707        6,909       35,640       34,199    

Contract Owners' Equity,
   beginning of the year ........    245,469        6,095         5,898       14,657       16,169       56,844       56,635    
                                   ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    
Contract Owners' Equity,
   end of the year ..............   $377,651    $       -     $       -      $19,364      $23,078      $92,484      $90,834    
                                    ========    =========     =========      =======      =======      =======      =======    
</TABLE>



                                      xvi
<PAGE>

                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                                            Putnam's
                                                            Fidelity's                              Putnam's    Putnam's      PCM
                                  Fidelity's   Fidelity's      VIPF II    Fidelity's   Fidelity's       PCM         PCM    Utilities
                                    VIPF        VIPF II     Investment     VIPF II      VIPF II    Diversified  Growth &    Growth &
                                   Overseas   Asset Manager  Grade Bond    Index 500   Contrafund     Income      Income      Income
                                   Portfolio    Portfolio     Portfolio    Portfolio    Portfolio      Fund        Fund       Fund
                                   --------    ---------     ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------   ---------   --------
<S>                                  <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>        <C>       <C>   
Net investment income:
  Reinvested dividend income....  $       92    $     842    $     380     $     47          $ 22      $   193      $  108    $  73
  Reinvested capital gains ......         92            -            -            6            45            -          61        -
  Administrative expenses.......        (382)        (701)        (187)         (69)          (23)         (72)        (90)      29)
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------   ---------   -------
        Net investment income (loss)
            and capital gains ...       (198)         141          193          (16)           44          121          79       44
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------   ---------   -------
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
  Net realized gains (losses) on
     redemptions of fund shares..        886          796          111          260            21           80         130       55
  Increase (decrease) in unrealized
    appreciation of investments .      1,317        5,644        1,533        1,091           135          580       1,552      430
                                    --------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------   ---------   -------
        Net realized and
          unrealized gains (losses)    2,203        6,440        1,644        1,351           156          660       1,682      485
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------   ---------   -------
            Net additions
              from operations....      2,005        6,581        1,837        1,335           200          781       1,761      529
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------   ---------   -------
Contract Owners' transactions:
  Net purchase payments.........       4,248        5,759        7,616        2,858         4,088        3,564       4,937    1,190
  Surrenders ....................     (1,631)      (3,440)        (577)        (167)          (15)        (187)       (223)     (54)
  Transfers between Sub-Accounts
    and/or Fixed Account........      (1,843)         481       (4,104)       1,251         1,098         (437)      2,415      785
  Annuity payments ..............       (128)        (125)         (25)         (27)          (17)           -          (1)     (12)
  Transfers (from) to required
    reserves ....................         (2)          (3)          (2)           -             -            -          (2)       -
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------   ---------   -------
    Net additions (reductions) for
      Contract Owners' transactions .    644        2,672        2,908        3,915         5,154        2,940       7,126    1,909
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------   ---------   -------
        Net additions (reductions)
           for the year.........       2,649        9,253        4,745        5,250         5,354        3,721       8,887    2,438

Contract Owners' Equity,
   beginning of the year ........     23,567       40,239       11,242        2,737             -        3,307       2,630    1,126
                                   ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------     ---------    ---------   ---------   -------
Contract Owners' Equity,
   end of the year ..............    $26,216      $49,492      $15,987       $7,987        $5,354       $7,028     $11,517   $3,564
                                     =======      =======      =======       ======        ======       ======     =======   ======

</TABLE>


                                      xvii
<PAGE>


                          NWNL SELECT VARIABLE ACCOUNT
                    NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, CONTINUED




7. STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY (CONTINUED):
   Operations and changes in Contract Owners' equity for the year ended December
   31, 1995 were as follows, (in thousands):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                   Putnam's       Putnam's
                                    Putnam's          PCM            PCM        Northstar's                   Northstar's
                                       PCM        Asia Pacific       New          Income and   Northstar's   Multi-Sector
                                     Voyager        Growth      Opportunities     Growth         Growth          Bond
                                      Fund           Fund           Fund           Fund           Fund           Fund
                                    ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
<S>                                  <C>              <C>          <C>              <C>            <C>            <C> 
Net investment income:
  Reinvested dividend income....... $     18       $     -         $    -          $   5          $   1             $4
  Reinvested capital gains .........     132             -              -             10             12              -
  Administrative expenses..........     (157)           (4)           (13)            (1)            (1)            (1)
                                   ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
    Net investment income (loss)
       and capital gains ...........      (7)           (4)           (13)            14             12              3
                                   ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
Realized and unrealized gains (losses):
  Net realized gains (losses) on
     redemptions of fund shares ....     360             -             59              2              3              -
  Increase (decrease) in unrealized
    appreciation of investments ....   3,182            20            314             (2)           (11)             2
                                   ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
    Net realized and
        unrealized gains (losses) ..   3,542            20            373              -             (8)             2
                                   ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
    Net additions
        from operations............    3,535            16            360             14              4              5
                                   ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
Contract Owners' transactions:
  Net purchase payments ............   8,520           587          2,326            421            191            239
  Surrenders .......................    (272)           (1)            (8)            (1)            (3)             -
  Transfers between Sub-Accounts
    and/or Fixed Account ...........   3,218           183          1,082             24             10              6
  Annuity payments .................     (15)            -            (12)             -              -              -
  Transfers (from) to required
    reserves .......................      (4)            -             (2)             -              -              -
                                   ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
    Net additions (reductions) for
      Contract Owners' transactions   11,447           769          3,386            444            198            245
                                   ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
    Net additions (reductions)
      for the year .................  14,982           785          3,746            458            202            250

Contract Owners' Equity,
   beginning of the year ...........   4,323             -              -              -              -              -
                                   ---------     ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------      ---------
Contract Owners' Equity,
   end of the year ................. $19,305          $785         $3,746           $458           $202           $250
                                   =========     =========      =========      =========      =========      =========

</TABLE>


                                     xviii
<PAGE>

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

Board of Directors and Shareholder
Northwestern National Life Insurance Company
(A Wholly Owned Subsidiary of ReliaStar Financial Corp.)

Minneapolis, Minnesota

     We  have  audited  the   accompanying   consolidated   balance   sheets  of
Northwestern National Life Insurance Company and Subsidiaries as of December 31,
1995 and 1994, and the related statements of income,  shareholder's  equity, and
cash  flows for each of the two years in the period  ended  December  31,  1995.
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 consolidated  financial  statements  referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Northwestern
National Life  Insurance  Company and  Subsidiaries  as of December 31, 1995 and
1994 and the  results of their  operations  and their cash flows for each of the
two years in the period ended  December 31, 1995 in  conformity  with  generally
accepted accounting principles.


DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Minneapolis, Minnesota
February 1, 1996


                                       i

<PAGE>



                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

                                  (IN MILLIONS)

                                     ASSETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                         DECEMBER 31
                                                                                                     -------------------
                                                                                                     1995           1994
                                                                                                     ----           ----
<S>                                                                                             <C>            <C> 
Investments
      Fixed Maturity Securities
        Available-for-Sale (Amortized Cost: 1995, $8,485.4; 1994, $3,638.6) ..............      $   9,053.7    $   3,470.6
        Held-to-Maturity (Fair Value: $2,253.0) ..........................................               --        2,310.4
      Equity Securities (Cost: 1995, $34.8; 1994, $45.9) .................................             35.9           43.7
      Mortgage Loans on Real Estate ......................................................          1,948.4        1,570.3
      Real Estate and Leases .............................................................             97.9          111.0
      Policy Loans ................................. ................ ....................            499.8          306.8
      Other Invested Assets ..............................................................             47.0           42.3
      Short-Term Investments .............................................................            122.4           59.9
                                                                                                      -----           ----
          Total Investments ..............................................................         11,805.1        7,915.0
     Cash ................................................................................             43.0           19.8
     Accounts and Notes Receivable .......................................................            150.9          118.2
     Reinsurance Receivable ..............................................................            162.9           93.9
     Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs ...................................................            860.7          885.2
     Present Value of Future Profits .....................................................            192.0             --
     Property and Equipment, Net .........................................................            122.6          121.1
     Accrued Investment Income ...........................................................            164.7          112.2
     Other Assets ........................................................................            275.0          128.4
     Participation Fund Account Assets ...................................................            319.6          323.4
     Assets Held in Separate Accounts ....................................................          1,369.0          623.6
                                                                                                    -------          -----
          Total Assets ...................................................................      $  15,465.5    $  10,340.8
                                                                                                ===========    ===========

<CAPTION>


                                                            LIABILITIES
<S>                                                                                             <C>            <C> 
     Future Policy and Contract Benefits .................................................      $  11,033.2    $   7,823.6
     Pending Policy Claims ...............................................................            257.7          193.5
     Other Policyholder Funds ............................................................            174.4          157.2
     Notes and Mortgages Payable - Unaffiliated ..........................................            144.6           74.8
     Note Payable - Parent ...............................................................            100.0          100.0
     Income Taxes ........................................................................            169.2             --
     Other Liabilities ...................................................................            328.9          235.0
     Participation Fund Account Liabilities ..............................................            319.6          323.4
     Liabilities Related to Separate Accounts ............................................          1,362.9          623.6
                                                                                                    -------          -----
          Total Liabilities ..............................................................         13,890.5        9,531.1
                                                                                                   --------        -------

<CAPTION>

                                                        SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY

<S>                                                                                             <C>            <C> 
     Common Stock (2.0 Million Shares Issued in 1995 and 1994) ...........................              2.5            2.5
     Additional Paid-In Capital ..........................................................            538.9          216.4
     Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses) ............................................            246.8          (79.4)
     Retained Earnings ...................................................................            786.8          670.2
                                                                                                      -----          -----
          Total Shareholder's Equity .....................................................          1,575.0          809.7
                                                                                                    -------          -----
               Total Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity ................................      $  15,465.5    $  10,340.8
                                                                                                ===========    ===========

               The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.


</TABLE>
                                       ii
<PAGE>


                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

                        CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

                                  (IN MILLIONS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                                                                              ----------------------
                                                                                                               1995            1994
                                                                                                               ----            ----
REVENUES
<S>                                                                                                            <C>           <C>    
      Premiums .......................................................................................         $ 851.5       $ 726.9
      Net Investment Income ..........................................................................           890.3         618.1
      Realized Investment Gains (Losses) .............................................................             7.4        (27.4)
      Policy and Contract Charges ....................................................................           218.5         136.2
      Other Income ...................................................................................            94.4         111.1
                                                                                                                  ----         -----
          Total ......................................................................................         2,062.1       1,564.9
                                                                                                               -------       -------
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
      Benefits to Policyholders ......................................................................         1,321.9       1,025.8
      Sales and Operating Expenses ...................................................................           344.4         281.8
      Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Present Value of Future Profits ..........            90.5          56.7
      Interest Expense ...............................................................................            13.5          15.2
      Dividends and Experience Refunds to Policyholders ..............................................            23.4          19.0
                                                                                                                  ----          ----
          Total ......................................................................................         1,793.7       1,398.5
                                                                                                               -------       -------
     Income from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes ...........................................           268.4         166.4
       Income Tax Expense ............................................................................            94.4          57.9
                                                                                                                  ----          ----
          Income from Continuing Operations ..........................................................           174.0         108.5
                                                                                                                 -----         -----
       Loss from Discontinued Operations .............................................................            (5.4)        (2.6)
                                                                                                                  ----         ---- 
          Net Income .................................................................................        $  168.6      $  105.9
                                                                                                              ========      ========


          The  accompanying  notes  are an  integral  part of the  consolidated  financial statements.

</TABLE>

                                       iii
<PAGE>


                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY

                                  (IN MILLIONS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                                                                    ----------------------
SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY                                                                                  1995          1994
                                                                                                      ----          ----
<S>                                                                                             <C>              <C>     
Common Stock
      Beginning and End of Year ........................................................        $      2.5       $    2.5
                                                                                                ----------       --------
Additional Paid-In Capital
      Beginning of Year ................................................................             216.4          216.4
      Capital Contributions from Parent ................................................             322.5             --
                                                                                                     -----          -----
          End of Year ..................................................................             538.9          216.4
                                                                                                     -----          -----

Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)
      Beginning of Year ................................................................             (79.4)           1.8
      Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change - Securities ..............................                --           85.3
      Change for the Year ..............................................................             326.2          166.5)
                                                                                                     -----          ----- 
          End of Year ..................................................................             246.8          (79.4)
                                                                                                     -----          ----- 
Retained Earnings
      Beginning of Year ................................................................             670.2          588.3
      Net Income .......................................................................             168.6          105.9
      Dividends to Shareholder .........................................................             (52.0)         (24.0)
                                                                                                     -----          ----- 
          End of Year ..................................................................             786.8          670.2
                                                                                                     -----          -----
Total Shareholder's Equity .............................................................        $  1,575.0       $  809.7
                                                                                                ==========       ========



          The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

</TABLE>

                                       iv
<PAGE>


                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

                                  (IN MILLIONS)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                                                                                           ----------------------
                                                                                                              1995         1994
                                                                                                              ----         ----
<S>                                                                                                      <C>             <C>     
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net Income .................................................................................            $    168.6       $  105.9
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net
     Cash Provided by Operating Activities
          Interest Credited to Insurance Contracts .........................................                 500.1          364.7
          Future Policy Benefits ...........................................................                (117.5)         (60.1)
          Capitalization of Policy Acquisition Costs .......................................                (176.6)        (119.0)
          Amortization of Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs
             and Present Value of Future Profits ...........................................                  90.5           56.7
          Deferred Income Taxes ............................................................                  11.5            9.2
          Net Change in Receivables and Payables ...........................................                   8.5           45.2
          Other Assets .....................................................................                 (83.4)           4.0
          Realized Investment (Gains) Losses, Net ..........................................                  (7.4)          27.4
          Other ............................................................................                  (3.5)          15.7
                                                                                                              ----           ----
               Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities ...................................                 390.8          449.7
                                                                                                             -----          -----
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from Sales of Fixed Maturity Securities ...........................................                 190.5          158.5
Proceeds from Maturities or Repayment of Fixed Maturity Securities
     Available-for-Sale ....................................................................                 329.9          177.2
     Held-to-Maturity ......................................................................                 415.6          390.2
Cost of Fixed Maturity Securities Acquired
     Available-for-Sale ....................................................................                (971.4)        (720.7)
     Held-to-Maturity ......................................................................                (519.8)        (617.5)
Sales (Purchases) of Equity Securities, Net ................................................                  31.0           (9.0)
Proceeds of Mortgage Loans Sold, Matured or Repaid .........................................                 314.2          358.2
Cost of Mortgage Loans Acquired ............................................................                (385.2)        (149.4)
Sales of Real Estate and Leases, Net .......................................................                  28.8           14.5
Policy Loans Issued, Net ...................................................................                 (63.0)         (49.4)
Sales of Other Invested Assets, Net ........................................................                  39.0           19.6
Sales (Purchases) of Short-Term Investments, Net ...........................................                 (56.4)          13.8
Cash Acquired with Acquisition of USLICO ...................................................                    .4             --
                                                                                                            ------         ------
     Net Cash Used by Investing Activities .................................................                (646.4)        (414.0)
                                                                                                            ------         ------ 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Deposits to Insurance Contracts ............................................................               1,265.6          862.6
Maturities and Withdrawals from Insurance Contracts ........................................              (1,015.3)        (849.7)
Increase in Notes and Mortgages Payable ....................................................                  72.1             --
Repayment of Notes and Mortgages Payable ...................................................                  (2.3)         (35.8)
Dividends to Shareholder ...................................................................                 (41.3)         (24.0)
                                                                                                             -----          ----- 
      Net Cash Provided (Used) by Financing Activities .....................................                 278.8          (46.9)
                                                                                                             -----          ----- 
Increase (Decrease) in Cash ................................................................                  23.2          (11.2)
Cash at Beginning of Year ..................................................................                  19.8           31.0
                                                                                                              ----           ----
Cash at End of Year ........................................................................             $    43.0       $   19.8
                                                                                                         =========       ========


          The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

</TABLE>

                                       v
<PAGE>

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 1. CHANGES IN ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES

     ACCOUNTING BY CREDITORS FOR IMPAIRMENT OF A LOAN

     Effective  January 1, 1995,  Northwestern  National Life Insurance  Company
(Northwestern) and its subsidiaries (the Company) adopted Statement of Financial
Accounting  Standards (SFAS) No. 114, "Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of
a Loan" and SFAS No. 118  "Accounting  by Creditors  for  Impairment of a Loan -
Income  Recognition  and  Disclosure."  SFAS No. 114 and SFAS No. 118  require a
company to measure  impairment  based upon the present value of expected  future
cash  flows  discounted  at the  loan's  effective  interest  rate,  the  loan's
observable  market  price or the fair  value  of the  collateral  if the loan is
collateral dependent.  If foreclosure is probable, the measurement of impairment
must be based  upon the fair  value of the  collateral.  The  adoption  of these
standards  did not have a  significant  effect on the  financial  results of the
Company.

     ACCOUNTING FOR CERTAIN INVESTMENTS IN DEBT AND EQUITY SECURITIES

     Effective  January 1, 1994, the Company  adopted SFAS No. 115,  "Accounting
for Certain  Investments in Debt and Equity Securities." SFAS No. 115 requires a
company to classify its  securities  into  categories  based upon the  company's
intent relative to the eventual disposition of the securities.

     SFAS  No.  115  establishes  three  categories  of  securities.  The  first
category,  held-to-maturity  securities,  is composed of debt securities which a
company  has  the  positive  intent  and  ability  to hold  to  maturity.  These
securities   are   carried   at   amortized    cost.   The   second    category,
available-for-sale  securities,  may be sold to address the  liquidity and other
needs of a company.  Debt and equity securities classified as available-for-sale
are carried at fair value on the balance sheet with unrealized  gains and losses
excluded  from income and  reported  as a separate  component  of  shareholder's
equity.  The  third  category,  trading  securities,  is  for  debt  and  equity
securities  acquired  for the  purpose  of selling  them in the near  term.  The
Company has not classified any of its securities as trading securities.

     The  December  31, 1995 balance of  shareholder's  equity was  increased by
$246.8 million (comprised of an increase in the carrying value of the securities
of $569.9 million,  reduced by $189.4 million of related adjustments to deferred
policy acquisition costs and $133.7 million in deferred income taxes), while the
December 31, 1994 balance of  shareholder's  equity was reduced by $79.4 million
(comprised  of a decrease  in the  carrying  value of the  securities  of $170.2
million,  reduced by $48.1  million of related  adjustments  to deferred  policy
acquisition costs and $42.7 million in deferred income taxes) to reflect the net
unrealized gain/loss on fixed maturity securities classified as available-for-
sale.

NOTE 2. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     NATURE OF OPERATIONS

     The  Company is  principally  engaged in the  business  of  providing  life
insurance and related financial service products. The Company operates primarily
in the United States and,  through its subsidiaries is authorized to do business
in all 50 states.

     PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

     The consolidated  financial statements include the accounts of Northwestern
and its  subsidiaries.  Northwestern  is a wholly owned  subsidiary of ReliaStar
Financial Corp. (ReliaStar).  Northwestern's principal subsidiaries are Northern
Life Insurance Company (Northern), United Services Life Insurance Company (USL),
Bankers Security Life Insurance Society (BSL),  ReliaStar  Mortgage  Corporation
and  Washington  Square  Advisors,  Inc.  During 1995,  The North  Atlantic Life
Insurance Company of America was merged into BSL. These  consolidated  financial
statements exclude the effects of all material intercompany transactions.

                                       vi
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 2. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

     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,  the
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 maturity securities (bonds and redeemable preferred stocks) which may
be sold to meet  liquidity  and other needs of the Company  are  categorized  as
available-for-sale and are valued at fair value. Fixed maturity securities which
the  Company  has the  positive  intent  and  ability  to hold to  maturity  are
categorized as held-to-maturity and are valued at amortized cost less write-offs
for other than temporary declines in fair value.

     Equity securities  (common stocks and  nonredeemable  preferred stocks) are
valued at fair value.

     Mortgage  loans on real  estate  are  carried  at  amortized  cost  less an
impairment allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts.

     Investment  real  estate  owned  directly by the Company is carried at cost
less accumulated  depreciation and allowances for estimated losses.  Investments
in real estate joint  ventures are accounted for using the equity  method.  Real
estate acquired through  foreclosure is carried at the lower of fair value minus
estimated costs to sell or cost.

     Short-term investments are carried at amortized cost.

     Unrealized  investment  gains and  losses of  equity  securities  and fixed
maturity securities  classified as  available-for-sale,  net of related deferred
acquisition  costs and tax effects,  are accounted  for as a direct  increase or
decrease in shareholder's equity.

     Realized  investment  gains and losses enter into the  determination of net
income.  Realized  investment  gains  and  losses  on  sales of  securities  are
determined on the specific identification method. Write-offs of investments that
decline in value  below cost on other than a  temporary  basis and the change in
the allowance for mortgage  loans and wholly owned real estate are included with
realized investment gains and losses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

     The Company records write-offs or allowances for its investments based upon
an  evaluation  of  specific  problem  investments.  The Company  reviews,  on a
continual  basis,  all invested  assets  (including  marketable  bonds,  private
placements,  mortgage loans and real estate investments) to identify investments
where the Company has credit concerns.  Investments with credit concerns include
those the  Company  has  identified  as  problem  investments,  which are issues
delinquent in a required payment of principal or interest,  issues in bankruptcy
or  foreclosure  and  restructured  or  foreclosed   assets.  The  Company  also
identifies  investments as potential problem investments,  which are investments
where the  Company  has serious  doubts as to the  ability of the  borrowers  to
comply with the present loan repayment terms.

     PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENt

     Property and equipment are carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation
of $79.8 million and $67.5 million at December 31, 1995 and 1994,  respectively.
The Company provides for depreciation  of  

                                       vii
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 2. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

property and equipment  using  straight-line  and  accelerated  methods over the
estimated useful lives of the assets.  Buildings are generally  depreciated over
35 to 50 years.  Depreciation expense for 1995 and 1994 amounted to $9.1 million
and $8.4 million, respectively.

     PARTICIPATION FUND ACCOUNT

     On January 3, 1989, the  Commissioner of Commerce of the State of Minnesota
approved a Plan of  Conversion  and  Reorganization  (the Plan) which  provided,
among other things, for the conversion of Northwestern from a combined stock and
mutual insurance company to a stock life insurance company.

     The Plan provided for the  establishment  of a  Participation  Fund Account
(PFA)  for the  benefit  of  certain  participating  individual  life  insurance
policies and annuities issued by Northwestern prior to the effective date of the
Plan.  Under the terms of the PFA,  the  insurance  liabilities  and assets with
respect  to  such  policies  are  segregated  in  the   accounting   records  of
Northwestern  to  assure  the  continuation  of  current  policyholder  dividend
practices.  Assets and  liabilities of the PFA are presented in accordance  with
statutory accounting  practices.  Earnings derived from the operation of the PFA
will inure  solely to the  benefit of the  policies  covered by the PFA,  and no
benefit will inure to the Company.  Accordingly,  results of operations  for the
PFA are excluded from the Company's  Consolidated  Statements of Income.  In the
event that the assets of the PFA are  insufficient  to provide  the  contractual
benefits  guaranteed by the affected  policies,  Northwestern  must provide such
contractual benefits from its general assets.

     SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

     The  Company   operates   separate   accounts.   The  assets   (principally
investments) and liabilities  (principally to  contractholders)  of each account
are clearly  identifiable and distinguishable  from other assets and liabilities
of the Company. Assets are valued at fair value.

     PREMIUM REVENUE AND BENEFITS TO POLICYHOLDERS

     Recognition  of traditional  life,  group and annuity  premium  revenue and
benefits to  policyholders - Traditional  life insurance  products include those
products  with  fixed  and  guaranteed   premiums  and  benefits,   and  consist
principally  of whole life  insurance  policies and certain  annuities with life
contingencies  (immediate  annuities).  Life  insurance  premiums and  immediate
annuity  premiums are recognized as premium  revenue when due.  Group  insurance
premiums  are  recognized  as premium  revenue over the time period to which the
premiums relate. Benefits and expenses are associated with earned premiums so as
to  result  in  recognition  of  profits  over the life of the  contracts.  This
association is accomplished by means of the provision for liabilities for future
policy benefits and the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs.

     Recognition  of  universal  life-type  contracts  revenue  and  benefits to
policyholders - Universal  life-type policies are insurance contracts with terms
that are not fixed and  guaranteed.  The terms that may be changed could include
one or more of the  amounts  assessed  the  policyholder,  premiums  paid by the
policyholder or interest accrued to policyholder  balances.  Amounts received as
payments for such contracts are not reported as premium revenues.

     Revenues  for  universal  life-type  policies  consist of charges  assessed
against  policy  account  values for  deferred  policy  loading  and the cost of
insurance and policy administration. Policy benefits and claims that are charged
to expense include interest credited to contracts and benefit claims incurred in
the period in excess of related policy account balances.

                                       viii
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 2. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

     Recognition of investment  contract revenue and benefits to policyholders--
Contracts  that do not subject the Company to risks  arising  from  policyholder
mortality  or  morbidity  are referred to as  investment  contracts.  Guaranteed
Investment  Contracts  (GICs) and  certain  deferred  annuities  are  considered
investment  contracts.  Amounts  received as payments for such contracts are not
reported as premium revenues.

     Revenues for investment  contracts  consist of investment income and policy
administration  charges.  Contract  benefits that are charged to expense include
benefit claims  incurred in the period in excess of related  contract  balances,
and interest credited to contract balances.

     POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS

     Those costs of acquiring  new  business,  which vary with and are primarily
related to the production of new business, have been deferred to the extent that
such costs are deemed recoverable. Such costs include commissions, certain costs
of policy issuance and underwriting and certain variable agency expenses.

     Costs deferred related to traditional life insurance are amortized over the
premium  paying  period of the related  policies,  in proportion to the ratio of
annual premium revenues to total anticipated premium revenues.  Such anticipated
premium  revenues are estimated  using the same  assumptions  used for computing
liabilities for future policy benefits.

     Costs  deferred  related to universal  life-type  policies  and  investment
contracts  are  amortized  over the lives of the  policies,  in  relation to the
present value of estimated gross profits from mortality,  investment and expense
margins.

     PRESENT VALUE OF FUTURE PROFITS

     The present value of future  profits  (PVFP)  reflects the  estimated  fair
value of the acquired  insurance business in force and represents the portion of
the cost to acquire USLICO  Corporation  (USLICO) that is allocated to the value
of  future  cash  flows  from  insurance  contracts  existing  at  the  date  of
acquisition.  Such  value is the  present  value of the  actuarially  determined
projected  net cash flows from the acquired  insurance  contracts.  The weighted
average discount rate used to determine such value was approximately 15%.

     An analysis of the present value of the future profits asset account is
presented below:

                                                                     YEAR ENDED
                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                                        1995
                                                                    -----------
                                                                   (IN MILLIONS)
Balance at Acquisition...............................................  $300.0
Imputed Interest.....................................................    17.6
Amortization.........................................................  (32.6)
Adjustment for Unrealized Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities.....  (93.0)
                                                                       ----- 
Balance, December 31, 1995........................................... $192.0
                                                                      ======

     Based on current conditions and assumptions as to future events on acquired
policies  in  force,  the  Company  expects  that  the net  amortization  of the
beginning  balance  of the PVFP will be  between  5% and 6% in each of the years
1996 through  2000.  The interest  rates used to determine the amount of imputed
interest on the unamortized PVFP balance ranged from 5% to 8%.

                                       ix
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 2. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

     GOODWILL

     Goodwill  is the  excess of the amount  paid to acquire a Company  over the
fair value of the net assets acquired.  Goodwill is amortized on a straight-line
basis over 40 years.  The carrying value of goodwill is monitored for impairment
of value based on the Company's estimate of future earnings.  The carrying value
of goodwill is reduced and a charge to income is recorded  when an impairment in
value is identified. No goodwill impairment charges have been recorded.

     FUTURE POLICY AND CONTRACT BENEFITS

     Liabilities for future policy  benefits for traditional  life contracts are
calculated  using the net level premium method and  assumptions as to investment
yields,  mortality,  withdrawals  and dividends.  The  assumptions  are based on
projections of past experience and include  provisions for possible  unfavorable
deviation. These assumptions are made at the time the contract is issued or, for
purchased contracts, at the date of acquisition.

     Liabilities for future policy and contract benefits on universal  life-type
and investment-type contracts are based on the policy account balance.

     The liabilities for future policy and contract  benefits for group disabled
life  reserves and  long-term  disability  reserves are based upon interest rate
assumptions and morbidity and termination rates from published tables,  modified
for Company experience.

     INCOME TAXES

     The  provision  for income taxes  includes  amounts  currently  payable and
deferred  income taxes  resulting from the cumulative  differences in the assets
and liabilities determined on a tax return and financial statement basis.

     INTEREST RATE SWAP AGREEMENTS

     Interest  rate  swap  agreements  are used as  hedges  for  asset/liability
management of adjustable rate and short-term  invested assets.  The Company does
not enter into any  interest  rate swap  agreements  for trading  purposes.  The
interest rate swap transactions  involve the exchange of fixed and floating rate
interest  payments without the exchange of underlying  principal  amounts and do
not contain other optional  provisions.  The difference between amounts paid and
amounts received on interest rate swaps is reflected in net investment income.

     INTEREST RATE FUTURES CONTRACTS

     Futures  contracts  are used as hedges for  asset/liability  management  of
fixed  maturity  securities  and  liabilities  arising  from GICs.  Realized and
unrealized gains and losses on futures contracts are deferred and amortized over
the life of the hedged asset or liability.

NOTE 3. ACQUISITION

     On  January  17,  1995,  ReliaStar  acquired  USLICO.  USLICO was a holding
company with two primary  subsidiaries:  USL of  Arlington,  Virginia and BSL of
Uniondale, New York. Concurrent with the acquisition,  ReliaStar contributed all
of the  capital  stock  of USL  and  BSL to the  Company.  The  acquisition  was
accounted  for using the  purchase  method of  accounting  and,  therefore,  the
consolidated  financial statements include the accounts of USL and BSL since the
date of acquisition.  Goodwill totaling $44.3 million representing the excess of
the  purchase  price  allocated  to USL and BSL over  the fair  value of the net
assets acquired has been recorded.

                                       x
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 3. ACQUISITION (CONTINUED)

     The  following  pro  forma  consolidated  financial  information  has  been
prepared assuming the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of 1994:

                                                                    YEAR ENDED
                                                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                                                       1994
                                                                   -----------
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Revenues..............................................        $1,961.1
     Net Income............................................           139.0

     The pro forma financial  information is not  necessarily  indicative of the
results of operations that would have occurred had the  acquisition  taken place
at the beginning of 1994 or of future operations of the combined companies.

NOTE 4. INVESTMENTS
     Investment income summarized by type of investment was as follows:


                                                                  YEAR ENDED
                                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                                                ---------------
                                                                 1995    1994
                                                                 ----    ----
                                                                 (IN MILLIONS)
     Fixed Maturity Securities...........................      $673.4    $449.6
     Equity Securities...................................         3.1       1.6
     Mortgage Loans on Real Estate.......................       184.3     160.0
     Real Estate and Leases..............................        16.8      15.7
     Policy Loans........................................        28.9      17.6
     Other Invested Assets...............................         7.8       3.6
     Short-Term Investments..............................         7.6       4.2
                                                                -----     -----
          Gross Investment Income........................       921.9     652.3
     Investment Expenses.................................        31.6      34.2
                                                                 ----      ----
          Net Investment Income..........................      $890.3    $618.1
                                                               ======    ======

                                       xi
<PAGE>

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 4. INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
     Net pretax realized investment gains (losses) were as follows:

                                                                  YEAR ENDED
                                                                  DECEMBER 31,
                                                                ---------------
                                                                 1995    1994
                                                                 ----    ----
                                                                 (IN MILLIONS)
     Net Gains (Losses) on Sales of Investments
          Fixed Maturity Securities.....................         $3.3     $2.1
          Equity Securities.............................         15.1       .6
          Mortgage Loans................................          (.1)      --
          Foreclosed Real Estate........................           .6       .7
          Real Estate ..................................          1.7      (.2)
          Other ........................................          2.2      3.2
                                                                  ---      ---
                                                                 22.8      6.4
                                                                 ----      ---
     Provisions for Losses on Investments
          Fixed Maturity Securities.....................         (3.0)   (13.9)
          Equity Securities.............................          (.1)    (1.0)
          Mortgage Loans................................         (6.3)    (4.9)
          Foreclosed Real Estate........................         (5.2)   (11.8)
          Real Estate ..................................          (.8)      --
          Other Assets .................................           --     (2.2)
                                                                 ----     ---- 

                                                                (15.4)   (33.8)
                                                                -----    ----- 
          Net Pretax Realized Investment Gains (Losses).         $7.4   $(27.4)
                                                                 ====   ====== 


     Gross realized  investment gains of $8.3 million and $5.0 million and gross
realized  investment  losses of $5.0 million and $2.9 million were recognized on
sales of fixed maturity  securities during the years ended December 31, 1995 and
1994,  respectively.  All 1995 and 1994 fixed maturity  security sales were from
the available-for-sale portfolio.

                                       xii
<PAGE>

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 4. INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

     The  amortized  cost  and  fair  value of  investments  in  fixed  maturity
securities by type of investment were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  GROSS UNREALIZED
                                                                                 AMORTIZED        ----------------  
                                                                                   COST        GAINS       (LOSSES)    FAIR VALUE
                                                                                   ----        -----       --------    ----------
                                                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE
<S>                                                                              <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>     
      United States Government and Government Agencies and Authorities.....        $172.8      $13.2          --        $186.0
      States, Municipalities and Political Subdivisions....................          64.4        4.2        $(.1)         68.5
      Foreign Governments..................................................          82.1        6.8         (.2)         88.7
      Public Utilities.....................................................         775.3       74.5         (.9)        848.9
      Corporate Securities.................................................       5,330.7      392.2       (21.6)      5,701.3
      Mortgage-Backed/Structured Finance Securities........................       2,058.0      102.7        (2.4)      2,158.3
      Redeemable Preferred Stock............ ..............................           2.1         --         (.1)          2.0
                                                                                      ---        ---         ---           ---
          Total............................................................      $8,485.4     $593.6      $(25.3)     $9,053.7
                                                                                 ========     ======      ======      ========

<CAPTION>


                                                                                                  DECEMBER 31, 1994
                                                                                -------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  GROSS UNREALIZED
                                                                                 AMORTIZED        ----------------  
                                                                                   COST        GAINS       (LOSSES)    FAIR VALUE
                                                                                   ----        -----       --------    ----------
                                                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE
<S>                                                                              <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>     
     United States Government and Government Agencies and Authorities......          $5.8         --        $(.3)         $5.5
     States, Municipalities and Political Subdivisions.....................           5.7         --          --           5.7
     Foreign Governments...................................................          56.4         --        (3.4)         53.0
     Public Utilities......................................................         309.4       $1.3       (17.5)        293.2
     Corporate Securities..................................................       2,649.8       13.3      (136.4)      2,526.7
     Mortgage-Backed/Structured Finance Securities.........................         608.5        2.5       (27.1)        583.9
     Redeemable Preferred Stock ...........................................           3.0         --         (.4)          2.6
                                                                                      ---        ---         ---           ---
          Total Available-for-Sale.........................................       3,638.6       17.1      (185.1)      3,470.6
                                                                                  =======       ====      ======       =======

HELD-TO-MATURITY
     States, Municipalities and Political Subdivisions.....................            .7         --         (.1)           .6
     Public Utilities......................................................          42.5         .8        (1.8)         41.5
     Corporate Securities..................................................       1,202.1       15.0       (37.7)      1,179.4
     Mortgage-Backed/Structured Finance Securities.........................       1,065.1         .6       (34.2)      1,031.5
                                                                                  -------         --       -----       -------
          Total Held-to-Maturity...........................................       2,310.4       16.4       (73.8)      2,253.0
                                                                                  -------       ----       -----       -------
          Total............................................................      $5,949.0      $33.5     $(258.9)     $5,723.6
                                                                                 ========      =====     =======      ========

</TABLE>

                                       xiii
<PAGE>

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 4. INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

         The  amortized  cost and fair  value of fixed  maturity  securities  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.

                                                       DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                       -----------------
                                                      AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE
                                                      --------------------
                                                      AMORTIZED       FAIR
                                                        COST          VALUE
                                                        ----          -----
Due in One Year or Less..........................    $  123.1      $  122.8
Due After One Year Through Five Years............     2,497.4       2,634.3
Due After Five Years Through Ten Years...........     2,750.4       2,965.4
Due After Ten Years..............................     1,056.5       1,172.9
Mortgage-Backed/Structured Finance Securities....     2,058.0       2,158.3
                                                      -------       -------
   Total........................................     $8,485.4      $9,053.7
                                                     ========      ========



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    DECEMBER 31, 1994
                                                 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE            HELD-TO-MATURITY                    TOTAL
                                                 ------------------------      ------------------------     ------------------------
                                                   AMORTIZED         FAIR      AMORTIZED          FAIR       AMORTIZED        FAIR
                                                     COST           VALUE        COST            VALUE         COST           VALUE
                                                     ----           -----        ----            -----         ----           ----- 
                                                                                      (IN MILLIONS)
<S>                                             <C>             <C>           <C>              <C>           <C>            <C>     
Due in One Year or Less.......................     $63.4           $63.0         $47.7            $47.8        $111.1         $110.8
Due After One Year Through Five Years.........     928.2           898.3         425.9            422.1       1,354.1        1,320.4
Due After Five Years Through Ten Years........   1,697.3         1,600.7         445.0            437.2       2,142.3        2,037.9
Due After Ten Years...........................     341.2           324.7         326.7            314.4         667.9          639.1
Mortgage-Backed/Structured Finance Securities.     608.5           583.9       1,065.1          1,031.5       1,673.6        1,615.4
                                                   -----           -----       -------          -------       -------        -------
   Total......................................  $3,638.6        $3,470.6      $2,310.4         $2,253.0      $5,949.0       $5,723.6
                                                ========        ========      ========         ========      ========       ========

</TABLE>

     The fair  values for the  marketable  bonds are  determined  based upon the
quoted market prices for bonds actively  traded.  The fair values for marketable
bonds without an active market are obtained through several  commercial  pricing
services  which  provide the  estimated  fair  values.  Fair values of privately
placed  bonds  which are not  considered  problems  are  determined  utilizing a
commercially  available  pricing model. The model considers the current level of
risk-free interest rates,  current corporate spreads,  the credit quality of the
issuer and cash flow characteristics of the security.  Utilizing these data, the
model generates  estimated market values which the Company considers  reflective
of the fair value of each  privately  placed  bond.  Fair  values for  privately
placed bonds which are considered  problems are determined though  consideration
of  factors  such as the net worth of  borrower,  the value of  collateral,  the
capital structure of the borrower,  the presence of guarantees and the Company's
evaluation of the borrower's ability to compete in the relevant market.

     At December 31, 1995,  the largest  industry  concentration  of the private
placement portfolio was consumer products/services, where 18.9% of the portfolio
was invested,  and the largest  industry  concentration  of the marketable  bond
portfolio was structured finance/mortgage-backed  securities, where 31.9% of the
portfolio  was  invested.   At  December 31, 1995,   the  largest   geographic
concentration  of  commercial  mortgage  loans was in the midwest  region of the
United  States,  where  approximately  32.5%  of the  commercial  mortgage  loan
portfolio was invested.

                                       xiv
<PAGE>

            NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 4. INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

     At December  31, 1995 and 1994,  gross  unrealized  appreciation  of equity
securities was $3.0 million and $7.5 million, respectively, and gross unrealized
depreciation was $1.9 million and $9.7 million, respectively.

     Invested assets which were nonincome  producing (no income received for the
12 months preceding the balance sheet date) were as follows:

                                                                 DECEMBER 31
                                                               --------------- 
                                                               1995       1994
                                                               ----       ----
                                                                (IN MILLIONS)
     Fixed Maturity Securities.............................    $ .7      $ 7.8
     Mortgage Loans on Real Estate.........................     2.8        2.5
     Real Estate and Leases................................    17.6       29.9
                                                               ----       ----
          Total.............................................  $21.1      $40.2
                                                              =====      =====


     Allowances  for losses on  investments  are  reflected on the  Consolidated
Balance Sheets as a reduction of the related assets and were as follows:

                                                                 DECEMBER 31
                                                               --------------- 
                                                               1995       1994
                                                               ----       ----
                                                                (IN MILLIONS)
     Mortgage Loans........................................   $12.4       $4.1
     Foreclosed Real Estate................................    10.6       11.9
     Investment Real Estate................................     1.0         .2
     Other Invested Assets.................................     2.3        2.5


     At December 31,  1995,  the total  investment  in impaired  mortgage  loans
(before  allowances  for credit  losses)  and the related  allowance  for credit
losses on these  impaired  mortgage  loans was $25.4 million and $12.4  million,
respectively.  Increases to the allowance for credit losses  account  charged to
income and the amount of  decreases to the  allowance  account were $6.3 million
and $9.5 million,  respectively,  during the year ended  December 31, 1995.  The
average  investment in impaired  mortgage  loans (before  allowances  for credit
losses) and the amount of the related  interest  income  recognized  on impaired
mortgage loans during 1995,  were  approximately  $2.0 million and $1.7 million,
respectively.  The Company does not accrue interest income on impaired  mortgage
loans when the likelihood of collection is doubtful.  Cash receipts for interest
payments are recognized as income in the period received.

         Noncash investing activities consisted of the following:

                                                                   YEAR ENDED
                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Real Estate Assets Acquired Through Foreclosure...........  $28.0    $24.9
     Mortgage Loans Acquired in Sales of Real Estate Assets....   15.3     27.9


     During 1994, the Company transferred four fixed maturity securities with an
amortized  cost of $31.0  million  and a fair  value of $27.1  million  from the
held-to-maturity  portfolio  to the  available-for-sale  portfolio.  Each of the
securities  transferred were private  placement  securities which  experienced a
significant  deterioration in the issuers'  creditworthiness  during the period.
None of the securities transferred were sold during the year.

                                       xv
<PAGE>

           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 4. INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

     Effective  December  31,  1995,  the  Company  adopted  the  implementation
guidance  contained in the Financial  Accounting Series Special Report, "A Guide
to Implementation of Statement 115 on Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt
and Equity  Securities."  Concurrent  with the  adoption of this  implementation
guidance,  the Company  reclassified all of its  held-to-maturity  securities to
available-for-sale  based  upon a  reassessment  of the  appropriateness  of the
classifications  of all securities held at that time. The amortized cost and net
unrealized  appreciation of the securities  reclassified  were $2.42 billion and
$108.1  million,  respectively,  at December 31, 1995.  In  accordance  with the
special report,  financial  statements  prior to December 31, 1995 have not been
restated  to  reflect  the  effects of  initially  adopting  the  implementation
guidance.

NOTE 5. INCOME TAXES

     The income tax liability  (asset) as reflected on the Consolidated  Balance
Sheets consisted of the following:

                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Current Income Taxes....................................     $6.4     $5.4
     Deferred Income Taxes...................................    162.8     (5.6)
                                                                 -----     ---- 
          Total..............................................   $169.2     $(.2)
                                                                ======     ==== 

     The provision for income taxes reflected on the Consolidated  Statements of
Income consisted of the following:

                                                                   YEAR ENDED
                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Currently Payable......................................     $82.9     $47.3
     Deferred...............................................      11.5      10.6
                                                                  ----      ----
          Total.............................................     $94.4     $57.9
                                                                 =====     =====


     The Internal  Revenue Service has completed its review of the Company's tax
return for all years through 1991.

                                       xvi
<PAGE>

           NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 5. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)

     Deferred income taxes reflect the impact for financial  statement reporting
purposes of "temporary  differences"  between the financial  statement  carrying
amounts and tax bases of assets and  liabilities.  The  "temporary  differences"
that give rise to a significant  portion of the deferred tax  liability  (asset)
relate to the following:

                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Future Policy and Contract Benefits..................    $(269.7)  $(221.2)
     Investment Write-Offs and Allowances.................      (35.0)    (17.7)
     Pension and Postretirement Benefit Plans.............       (8.3)     (6.3)
     Employee Benefits....................................       (9.3)     (5.2)
     Deferred Futures Gains...............................       (1.8)     (5.1)
     Net Unrealized Investment Losses.....................         --     (42.7)
     Other ...............................................      (42.0)    (35.8)
                                                                -----     ----- 
     Gross Deferred Tax Asset.............................     (366.1)   (334.0)
                                                               ------    ------ 
     Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs....................      267.9     260.4
     Present Value of Future Profits......................       99.0        --
     Net Unrealized Investment Gains......................       90.2        --
     Property and Equipment...............................       27.1      26.3
     Real Estate Joint Ventures...........................       12.2      14.3
     Accrual of Market Discount...........................        8.4       3.2
     Policyholder Dividends...............................        4.4       3.0
     Other................................................       19.7      21.2
                                                                 ----      ----
     Gross Deferred Tax Liability.........................      528.9     328.4
                                                                -----     -----
          Net Deferred Tax Liability (Asset)..............     $162.8     $(5.6)
                                                               ======     ===== 

     Federal income tax regulations  allowed certain special deductions for 1983
and prior years which are accumulated in a memorandum tax account  designated as
"policyholders'  surplus." Generally,  this policyholders'  surplus account will
become subject to tax at the then current rates only if the accumulated  balance
exceeds certain maximum  limitations or if certain cash distributions are deemed
to be paid out of the account.  At December 31, 1995,  Northwestern and its life
insurance  subsidiaries  have accumulated  approximately  $51.0 million in their
separate policyholders' surplus accounts.  Deferred taxes have not been provided
on this temporary difference.

     There have been no deferred  taxes  recorded for the  unremitted  equity in
subsidiaries  as the earnings are considered to be permanently  invested or will
be remitted only when tax effective to do so.

     The  difference   between  the  U.S.   federal  income  tax  rate  and  the
consolidated tax provision rate is summarized as follows:

                                                                   YEAR ENDED
                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Statutory Tax Rate......................................    35.0%     35.0%
     Other...................................................      .2       (.2)
                                                                   --       --- 
          Provision for Income Taxes...........................  35.2%     34.8%
                                                                 ====      ==== 

                                       xvii
<PAGE>

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 5.  INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)

     Cash paid to ReliaStar for federal income taxes was $90.3 million and $29.8
million for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

NOTE 6.  NOTES AND MORTGAGES PAYABLE

     A summary of notes and mortgages payable is as follows:

                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Unaffiliated:
          Commercial Paper.....................................  $135.6   $ 65.6
          Other Indebtedness - Current Portion.................      .1       .1
                                                                  -----     ----
               Short-Term Debt.................................   135.7     65.7
                                                                  -----     ----
          Other Indebtedness - Noncurrent Portion..............     8.9      9.1
                                                                    ---      ---
               Total Unaffiliated..............................  $144.6   $ 74.8
                                                                 ======   ======
               Note Payable to Parent..........................  $100.0   $100.0
                                                                 ======   ======


     At December 31, 1995 and 1994, other indebtedness is primarily mortgage
notes assumed in connection with certain real estate  investments  with interest
rates ranging from 6.2% to 11.5%.

     The weighted average  interest rate on the commercial paper  outstanding at
December 31, 1995 and 1994 was 6.06% and 6.10%,  respectively,  with  maturities
ranging from 5 to 44 days at December 31, 1995.

     Principal  payments required on notes and mortgages payable to unaffiliated
companies in each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

                                     (IN MILLIONS)
                                     -------------
                    1996 - $135.7                       1999 - $ .2
                    1997 - $   .1                       2000 - $ .2
                    1998 - $   .2        2001 and thereafter - $8.2


     ReliaStar has loaned $100.0 million to  Northwestern  under a surplus note.
The  original  note,  dated  April  1,  1989,  was  issued  in  connection  with
Northwestern's  demutualization  and was used to offset  the  surplus  reduction
related  to  the  cash   distribution  to  the  mutual   policyholders   in  the
demutualization.  This  original  note was replaced by a successor  surplus note
(the 1994 Note) dated November 1, 1994.  The 1994 Note provides,  subject to the
regulatory constraints discussed below, that (i) it is a surplus note which will
mature on September 15, 2003 with principal due at maturity, but payable without
penalty, in whole or in part before maturity; (ii) interest is at 6 5/8% payable
semi-annually;  and (iii) in the event  that  Northwestern  is in default in the
payment of any  required  interest or  principal,  Northwestern  cannot pay cash
dividends on its capital  stock (all of which is owned  directly by  ReliaStar).
The 1994 Note  further  provides  that there may be no payment  of  interest  or
principal without the express approval of the Minnesota Department of Commerce.

     Interest  paid on debt was $14.2  million  and $16.0  million  for 1995 and
1994, respectively.

                                       xviii
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 7.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

     PENSION PLANS

     The Company has  noncontributory  defined benefit retirement plans covering
substantially all employees. The plans, which may be terminated as to accrual of
additional  benefits at any time by the Board of Directors,  provide benefits to
employees upon retirement.

     The  benefits  under  the  plans  are  based on years  of  service  and the
employee's compensation during the last five years of employment.  The Company's
policy  is to fund  the  minimum  required  contribution  necessary  to meet the
present  and future  obligations  of the plans.  Contributions  are  intended to
provide not only for benefits  attributed  to service to date but also for those
expected  to be earned in the  future.  Contributions  are made to a  tax-exempt
trust.  Plan assets consist  principally of investments in stock and bond mutual
funds,  common stock and  corporate  bonds.  Included in plan assets are 616,491
shares of ReliaStar common stock with a fair value of $27.4 million.

     The  Company  and  ReliaStar  also have  unfunded  noncontributory  defined
benefit  plans  providing  for  benefits  to  employees  in excess of limits for
qualified  retirement  plans and for  benefits  to  nonemployee  members  of the
ReliaStar Board of Directors.

     Net periodic  pension expense for ReliaStar and its  subsidiaries  included
the following components:

                                                                   YEAR ENDED
                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Service Cost - Benefits Earned During the Year............   $3.4     $3.1
     Interest Cost on Projected Benefit Obligation.............   11.9      5.2
     Actual Return on Plan Assets..............................  (33.7)     2.4
     Net Amortization and Deferral.............................   19.1     (7.5)
                                                                  ----     ---- 
          Net Periodic Pension Expense.........................    $.7     $3.2
                                                                  ====     ====

     The  following  table sets forth for  ReliaStar  and its  subsidiaries  the
funded status of the plans as of December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             FUNDED PLANS        UNFUNDED PLANS
                                                                                            1995      1994      1995       1994
                                                                                            ----      ----      ----       ----
                                                                                                         (IN MILLIONS)
<S>                                                                                        <C>         <C>     <C>        <C>   
     Accumulated Benefit Obligation
          Vested......................................................................   $(157.1)   $(48.5)    $(10.7)    $(3.5)
          Nonvested...................................................................      (5.1)     (3.2)      (1.2)      (.2)
     Effect of Projected Future Compensation Increases................................     (10.6)     (8.1)      (2.1)     (2.3)
                                                                                           -----      ----     ------     ------
     Projected Benefit Obligation.....................................................    (172.8)    (59.8)     (14.0)     (6.0)
     Plan Assets at Fair Value........................................................     169.9      53.3         --        --
                                                                                           -----      ----     ------     ------
     Plan Assets Less Than Projected Benefit Obligation...............................      (2.9)     (6.5)     (14.0)     (6.0)
     Unrecognized Net Loss............................................................      24.2       8.4        6.2       1.8
     Unrecognized Transition Obligation (Asset).......................................       (.8)     (1.1)        .1        .1
     Additional Minimum Liability.....................................................        --        --       (4.2)      (.1)
                                                                                           -----      ----     ------     ------
          Net Pension Asset (Liability)...............................................     $20.5       $.8     $(11.9)    $(4.2)
                                                                                           =====      ====     ======     ===== 

</TABLE>

                                       xix
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 7.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)

     The above amounts are for ReliaStar and its  subsidiaries  as the Company's
portion is not  determinable.  The net periodic  pension expense relating to and
billed to ReliaStar was insignificant.

     The projected  benefit  obligation was determined using an assumed discount
rate of  7.25%  and  8.5%,  and a  weighted-average  assumed  long-term  rate of
compensation   increase   of  4.5%  and  5.0%  at  January  1,  1996  and  1995,
respectively. The assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets was 9.5%.

     POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS

     The Company  provides  certain health care and life  insurance  benefits to
retired  employees (and their  eligible  dependents).  Substantially  all of the
Company's  employees  will  become  eligible  for  those  benefits  if they meet
specified age and service  requirements  and reach  retirement age while working
for the Company,  unless the plans are terminated or amended. The postretirement
health care plan is contributory,  with retiree contributions adjusted annually;
the life insurance plan is  noncontributory  and benefits are primarily based on
the employee's final compensation levels.

     The Company's  postretirement  health care plans  currently are not funded.
The  accumulated  postretirement  benefit  obligation  (APBO)  and  the  accrued
postretirement benefit liability were as follows:

                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Retirees...............................................    $10.3       $8.4
     Fully Eligible Active Plan Participants................      4.5        2.4
     Other Active Plan Participants.........................      4.9        2.6
                                                                  ---        ---
        Unfunded APBO.......................................     19.7       13.4
     Unrecognized Prior Service Cost........................       .1         .3
     Unrecognized Gain (Loss)...............................      (.3)       1.6
                                                                  ---        ---
          Accrued Postretirement Benefit Liability..........    $19.5      $15.3
                                                                =====      =====

     Net  periodic  postretirement  benefit  costs  consisted  of the  following
components:

                                                                   YEAR ENDED
                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Service Cost - Benefits Earned........................      $1.2      $1.1
     Interest Cost on APBO.................................       1.3       1.0
     Amortization of Prior Service Cost....................       (.1)      (.1)
                                                                  ---       --- 
          Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Costs........      $2.4      $2.0
                                                                 ====      ====

     The assumed  health care cost trend rate used in  measuring  the APBO as of
January 1, 1996 was  10.0%,  decreasing  gradually  to 5.0% in the year 2010 and
thereafter.  The assumed  health care cost trend rate used in measuring the APBO
as of January 1, 1995 was 10.0%,  decreasing  gradually to 6.0% in the year 2009
and thereafter. The assumed discount rate used in determining the APBO was 7.25%
and 8.5% at January 1, 1996 and 1995, respectively. The assumed health care cost
trend rate has a  significant  effect on the amounts  reported.  For example,  a
one-percentage-point  increase  in the  assumed  health care cost trend rate for
each year would  increase  the APBO as of December 31, 1995  approximately  $2.4
million  and 1995 net  postretirement  health  care  cost by  approximately  $.4
million.

                                       xx
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 7.  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (CONTINUED)

     SUCCESS SHARING PLAN AND ESOP

     The Success  Sharing Plan and ESOP  (Success  Sharing Plan) was designed to
increase   employee   ownership  and  reward   employees  when  certain  Company
performance  objectives  are met.  Essentially  all  employees  are  eligible to
participate  in the Success  Sharing  Plan.  The Success  Sharing  Plan has both
qualified and nonqualified  components.  The nonqualified  component is equal to
25% of the  annual  award  and is  paid  in cash  to  employees.  The  qualified
component  is equal  to 75% of the  annual  award,  with  25%  contributed  to a
deferred  investment  account  and the  remaining  50%  contributed  to the ESOP
portion of the Success  Sharing  Plan.  Costs charged to expense for the Success
Sharing Plan were $8.6 million and $8.4 million in 1995 and 1994, respectively.

NOTE 8.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     The Company and ReliaStar have entered into  agreements  whereby  ReliaStar
and the Company provide certain  management,  administrative,  legal,  and other
services to each other.  The net amounts  billed  resulted in the Company making
payments  of $25.1  million  and $13.6  million to  ReliaStar  in 1995 and 1994,
respectively.  During  1995 the  Company  paid  dividends  of $52.0  million  to
ReliaStar  consisting of $41.3 million paid in cash and $10.7 million in noncash
dividends.

NOTE 9. SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY

     DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

     The  ability  of  Northwestern  to  pay  cash  dividends  to  ReliaStar  is
restricted by law or subject to approval of the insurance regulatory authorities
of Minnesota.  These authorities  recognize only statutory  accounting practices
for the ability of an insurer to pay dividends to its shareholders.

     Under  Minnesota  insurance  law  regulating  the payment of  dividends  by
Northwestern,   any  such   payment  must  be  an  amount   deemed   prudent  by
Northwestern's  Board  of  Directors  and,  unless  otherwise  approved  by  the
Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce (the Commissioner), must be
paid solely from the adjusted  earned surplus of  Northwestern.  Adjusted earned
surplus means the earned  surplus as determined  in  accordance  with  statutory
accounting  practices  (unassigned funds), less 25% of the amount of such earned
surplus which is attributable to net unrealized capital gains. Further,  without
approval of the Commissioner,  Northwestern may not pay in any calendar year any
dividend which,  when combined with other dividends paid within the preceding 12
months,  exceeds the greater of (i) 10% of  Northwestern's  statutory surplus at
the  prior  year-end  or (ii)  100% of  Northwestern's  statutory  net gain from
operations (not including  realized  capital gains) for the prior calendar year.
For 1996,  the amount of  dividends  which can be paid by  Northwestern  without
commissioner approval is $117.7 million.

     STATUTORY SURPLUS AND NET INCOME

     Net  income  of  Northwestern  and  its  subsidiaries,   as  determined  in
accordance  with  statutory  accounting  practices  was $97.8  million and $57.6
million for 1995 and 1994,  respectively.  Northwestern's  statutory surplus was
$728.3 million and $565.2 million at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

NOTE 10.  REINSURANCE

     The Company is a member of  reinsurance  associations  established  for the
purpose  of ceding  the  excess of life  insurance  over  retention  limits.  In
addition,  Northwestern's Life and Health Reinsurance Division assumes and cedes
reinsurance  on  certain  life  and  health  risks  as  its  primary   business.
Reinsurance  contracts  do not  relieve  the  Company  from its  obligations  to
policyholders.  Failure of reinsurers to honor their obligations could result in
losses to the Company;  consequently,  allowances  are  established  for amounts
deemed uncollectible.  The amount of the allowance for uncollectible

                                       xxi
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 10.  REINSURANCE (CONTINUED)

reinsurance  receivables  was  immaterial  at  December 31,  1995.  The Company
evaluates the financial condition of its reinsurers and monitors  concentrations
of credit risk to minimize its  exposure to  significant  losses from  reinsurer
insolvencies.  The Company's retention limit is $400,000 per life for individual
coverage and, to the extent that Northwestern reinsures life policies written by
Northern and North Atlantic, the limit is increased up to $600,000 per life. For
group coverage and reinsurance  assumed, the retention is $500,000 per life with
per  occurrence  limitations,  subject to certain  maximums.  As of December 31,
1995, $12.0 billion of life insurance in force was ceded to other companies. The
Company has assumed $36.7 billion of life  insurance in force as of December 31,
1995  (including  $32.0  billion of  reinsurance  assumed  pertaining to Federal
Employees'  Group Life Insurance and Servicemans'  Group Life  Insurance).  Also
included  in these  amounts  are $513.1  million of  reinsurance  ceded and $4.7
billion of reinsurance  assumed by  Northwestern's  Life and Health  Reinsurance
Division.

     The effect of reinsurance on premiums and recoveries is as follows:

                                                                   YEAR ENDED
                                                                   DECEMBER 31
                                                                 ---------------
                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Direct Premiums........................................   $643.8    $533.2
     Reinsurance Assumed....................................    297.6     261.8
     Reinsurance Ceded......................................    (89.9)    (68.1)
                                                                -----     ----- 
     Net Premiums ..........................................   $851.5    $726.9
                                                               ======    ======
     Reinsurance Recoveries.................................    $80.4     $59.0
                                                                =====     =====


NOTE 11.  LIABILITY FOR UNPAID ACCIDENT AND HEALTH CLAIMS AND CLAIM ADJUSTMENT 
          EXPENSE

     The change in the liability for unpaid accident and health claims and claim
adjustment expenses is summarized as follows:

                                                                 1995       1994
                                                                 ----       ----
                                                                  (IN MILLIONS)
     Balance at January 1....................................    $322.9  $244.6
     Less Reinsurance Recoverables...........................      59.5    32.8
                                                                   ----    ----
              Net Balance at January 1.......................     263.4   211.8
     Incurred Related to:
          Current Year.......................................     273.1   266.2
          Prior Year.........................................      (2.7)  (16.6)
                                                                   ----   ----- 
               Total Incurred................................     270.4   249.6
     Paid Related to:
          Current Year.......................................     157.0   140.3
          Prior Year.........................................      89.0    66.7
                                                                   ----    ----
               Total Paid....................................     246.0   207.0
     Net Balance at December 31..............................     287.8   254.4
     Plus Reinsurance Recoverables...........................      81.6    50.5
                                                                   ----    ----
          Balance at December 31.............................    $369.4  $304.9
                                                                 ======  ======

                                       xxii
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 11.  LIABILITY FOR UNPAID ACCIDENT AND HEALTH CLAIMS AND CLAIM ADJUSTMENT 
          EXPENSE (CONTINUED)

     The  liability for unpaid  accident and health claims and claim  adjustment
expenses is included in Future Policy and Contract  Benefits on the Consolidated
Balance Sheets.

NOTE 12.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

     LITIGATION

     The  Company is a  defendant  in a number of  lawsuits  arising  out of the
normal course of the business of the Company. In the opinion of Management,  the
ultimate  resolution of such litigation will not result in any material  adverse
impact to operations or financial condition of the Company.

     JOINT GROUP LIFE AND ANNUITY CONTRACTS

     Northwestern has issued certain  participating group annuity and group life
insurance  contracts  jointly with another insurance  company.  Northwestern has
entered  into  an  arrangement  with  this  insurer  whereby  Northwestern  will
gradually transfer these liabilities  (approximately  $328.4 million at December
31, 1995) to the other  insurer over a ten year period which  commenced in 1993.
The terms of the  arrangement  specify the interest rate on the  liabilities and
provide  for  a  transfer  of  assets  and  liabilities  scheduled  in a  manner
consistent  with the expected cash flows of the assets  allocated to support the
liabilities.  A contingent  liability exists with respect to the joint obligor's
portion of the contractual  liabilities  attributable to contributions  received
prior to July 1,  1993 in the  event  the  joint  obligor  is unable to meet its
obligations.

     RESERVE INDEMNIFICATION

     In March 1992, the Company sold Chartwell Re Corporation  (Chartwell),  its
property  and casualty  reinsurance  subsidiary.  The Company and the  acquiring
company  entered  into  a  separate  agreement  which  provides  for  reciprocal
indemnity (but with different  ultimate exposure amounts) between the parties to
the  agreement  with  respect to the  adequacy  of the loss and loss  adjustment
expense  reserves of Chartwell  for all accident  years which ended on or before
December 31, 1991.  The  indemnity is measured for the period ending on December
31, 1996.  Under the terms of the  agreement,  the maximum amount payable by the
Company would be $23.0 million and the maximum amount payable by the acquirer to
the Company would be $5.0 million.

     Based  upon  analyses  completed  during the  fourth  quarter of 1995,  the
Company has accrued a cumulative total of $8.0 million of the maximum  potential
payment under the indemnification agreement. The ultimate amount to be paid will
be affected by subsequent favorable or adverse claims development.

     The amounts  accrued under the  indemnification  agreement are presented as
discontinued operations in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

     FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

     The Company is a party to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk
in the normal  course of business  to reduce its  exposure  to  fluctuations  in
interest  rates.  These  financial  instruments  include  commitments  to extend
credit,  financial guarantees,  futures contracts and interest rate swaps. Those
instruments  involve, to varying degrees,  elements of credit,  interest rate or
liquidity risk in excess of the amount  recognized in the  Consolidated  Balance
Sheets.

     The Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of nonperformance by the
other party to the financial  instrument  for  commitments  to extend credit and
financial  guarantees  written is represented by the contractual amount of those
instruments. The Company uses the same credit policies in making commitments and
conditional obligations as it does for on-balance-sheet instruments. For 

                                       xxiii
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 12.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)

futures contracts and interest rate swap transactions,  the contract or notional
amounts do not  represent  exposure to credit  loss.  For swaps,  the  Company's
exposure  to credit  loss is limited to those  swaps  where the  Company  has an
unrealized  gain. For futures  contracts,  the Company has no exposure to credit
risk, as the contracts are marked to market daily.

     Unless otherwise  noted,  the Company does not require  collateral or other
security to support financial instruments with credit risk.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                              CONTRACT OR NOTIONAL AMOUNT
                                                                                                      DECEMBER 31 
                                                                                              ---------------------------
                                                                                                 1995            1994
                                                                                                 ----            ----
                                                                                                     (In Millions)
Financial Instruments Whose Contract Amounts Represent Credit Risk
<S>                                                                                              <C>            <C>  
      Commitments to Extend Credit........................................................       $82.6          $36.4
      Financial Guarantees................................................................        41.8           47.5
Financial Instruments Whose Notional or Contract 
     Amounts Exceed the Amount of Credit Risk
      Futures Contracts...................................................................        80.4           84.4
      Interest Rate Swap Agreements.......................................................     1,222.5        1,320.0

</TABLE>

     COMMITMENTS  TO EXTEND  CREDIT -  Commitments  to extend credit are legally
binding  agreements  to lend to a  customer.  Commitments  generally  have fixed
expiration dates or other termination  clauses and may require payment of a fee.
They generally may be terminated by the Company in the event of deterioration in
the  financial  condition of the  borrower.  Since some of the  commitments  are
expected to expire without being drawn upon, the total commitment amounts do not
necessarily represent future liquidity requirements.  The Company evaluates each
customer's creditworthiness on a case-by-case basis.

     FINANCIAL  GUARANTEES - Financial  guarantees are  conditional  commitments
issued by the Company  guaranteeing  the  performance of the borrower to a third
party.  Those  guarantees  are  primarily  issued to support  public and private
commercial  mortgage  borrowing  arrangements.   The  credit  risk  involved  is
essentially the same as that involved in issuing commercial mortgage loans.

     Northwestern  is a partner in eight real estate joint ventures where it has
guaranteed the repayment of loans of the  partnership.  As of December 31, 1995,
Northwestern  had  guaranteed  repayment  of $41.8  million  ($47.5  million  at
December 31, 1994) of such loans including the portion  allocable to the PFA. If
any payments were made under these guarantees,  Northwestern would be allowed to
make a claim for repayment  from the joint  venture,  foreclose on the assets of
the  joint  venture  including  its  real  estate  investment  and,  in  certain
instances, make a claim against the joint venture's general partner.

     For  certain  of  these   partnerships,   Northwestern   has  made  capital
contributions from time to time to provide the partnerships with sufficient cash
to meet its obligations,  including operating expenses,  tenant improvements and
debt service.  Capital  contributions  during 1995 and 1994 were  insignificant.
Further  capital  contributions  are likely to be required in future periods for
certain of the joint  ventures with the  guarantees.  The Company cannot predict
the amount of such future contributions.

     FUTURES CONTRACTS - Futures contracts are contracts for delayed delivery of
securities  or money  market  instruments  in which  the  seller  agrees to make
delivery at a specified future date of a specified  

                                       xxiv

<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 12.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (CONTINUED)

instrument,  at a specified price or yield.  These contracts are entered into to
manage  interest  rate  risk  as  part  of the  Company's  asset  and  liability
management.  Risks arise from the  movements in  securities  values and interest
rates.

     INTEREST RATE SWAP  AGREEMENTS - The Company also enters into interest rate
swap  agreements to manage  interest rate  exposure.  The primary reason for the
interest  rate swap  agreements  is to extend the  duration of  adjustable  rate
investments.  Interest rate swap transactions  generally involve the exchange of
fixed and floating rate interest payment obligations without the exchange of the
underlying  principal  amounts.  Changes in market  interest rates impact income
from  adjustable  rate  investments  and  have an  opposite  (and  approximately
offsetting)  effect on the reported  income from the swap  portfolio.  The risks
under interest rate swap  agreements  are generally  similar to those of futures
contracts.  Notional  principal  amounts are often used to express the volume of
these  transactions  but do not represent the much smaller  amounts  potentially
subject to credit risk.

     LEASES

     The  Company has  operating  leases for office  space and certain  computer
processing and other equipment. Rental expense for these items was $13.6 million
and $11.0 million for 1995 and 1994, respectively.

     Future  minimum  aggregate  rental  commitments  at  December  31, 1995 for
operating leases were as follows:

                                  (IN MILLIONS)
                                  -------------
               1996 - $7.6                                  1999 - $4.6
               1997 - $6.8                                  2000 - $5.4
               1998 - $5.7                   2001 and thereafter - $4.4


NOTE 13. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

     The following  disclosures are made in accordance with the  requirements of
SFAS No. 107, "Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial  Instruments." SFAS No.
107 requires  disclosure of fair value information about financial  instruments,
whether or not recognized in the balance  sheet,  for which it is practicable to
estimate that value. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair
values are based on estimates using present value or other valuation techniques.
Those techniques are significantly  affected by the assumptions used,  including
the  discount  rate and  estimates  of future cash flows.  In that  regard,  the
derived fair value estimates,  in many cases, could not be realized in immediate
settlement of the instrument.

     SFAS No. 107 excludes  certain  financial  instruments and all nonfinancial
instruments from its disclosure  requirements.  Accordingly,  the aggregate fair
value amounts presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company.

     The  fair  value  estimates   presented   herein  are  based  on  pertinent
information  available to Management as of December 31, 1995 and 1994.  Although
Management  is not aware of any  factors  that  would  significantly  affect the
estimated  fair  value  amounts,  such  amounts  have not  been  comprehensively
revalued for purposes of these financial statements since that date;  therefore,
current  estimates  of fair  value may  differ  significantly  from the  amounts
presented herein.

     The  following  methods  and  assumptions  were  used  by  the  Company  in
estimating its fair value disclosures for financial instruments:

     FIXED MATURITY  SECURITIES - The estimated fair value  disclosures for debt
securities  satisfy the fair value disclosure  requirements of SFAS No. 107 (See
Note 4).

                                       xxv

<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)

                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 13.  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)

     EQUITY  SECURITIES - Fair value equals  carrying value as these  securities
are carried at quoted market value.

     MORTGAGE  LOANS ON REAL ESTATE - The fair values for mortgage loans on real
estate are estimated using  discounted cash flow analyses,  using interest rates
currently  being offered in the  marketplace for similar loans to borrowers with
similar credit ratings.  Loans with similar  characteristics  are aggregated for
purposes of the calculations.

     CASH,  SHORT-TERM  INVESTMENTS AND POLICY LOANS - The carrying  amounts for
these assets approximate the assets' fair values.

     OTHER FINANCIAL  INSTRUMENTS  REPORTED AS ASSETS - The carrying amounts for
these financial  instruments  (primarily  premiums and other accounts receivable
and accrued investment income) approximate those assets' fair values.

     INVESTMENT CONTRACT LIABILITIES - The fair value for deferred annuities was
estimated  to be the  amount  payable on demand at the  reporting  date as those
investment  contracts  have no  defined  maturity  and are  similar to a deposit
liability.  The  amount  payable at the  reporting  date was  calculated  as the
account balance less applicable surrender charges.

     The fair value for GICs was estimated using  discounted cash flow analyses.
The discount rate used was based upon current industry offering rates on GICs of
similar durations.

     The fair values for supplementary  contracts without life contingencies and
immediate  annuities were estimated  using  discounted  cash flow analyses.  The
discount rate was based upon treasury rates plus a pricing margin.

     The carrying amounts reported for other investment contracts which includes
participating pension contracts and retirement plan deposits,  approximate those
liabilities' fair value.

     CLAIM AND OTHER  DEPOSIT  FUNDS - The carrying  amounts for claim and other
deposit funds approximate the liabilities' fair value.

     NOTES AND  MORTGAGES  PAYABLE  - The fair  value  for the note  payable  to
ReliaStar  was based  upon the  quoted  market  price of the  related  ReliaStar
publicly traded debt. For other debt obligations,  discounted cash flow analyses
were used.  The discount  rate was based upon the  Company's  estimated  current
incremental borrowing rates.

     OTHER FINANCIAL  INSTRUMENTS REPORTED AS LIABILITIES - The carrying amounts
for other  financial  instruments  (primarily  normal  payables of a  short-term
nature) approximate those liabilities' fair values.

     FINANCIAL  GUARANTEES  - The fair  values  for  financial  guarantees  were
estimated using discounted cash flow analyses based upon the expected future net
amounts to be expended. The estimated net amounts to be expended were determined
based on projected cash flows and a valuation of the underlying collateral.

     INTEREST RATE SWAPS - The fair value for interest rate swaps was estimated
using  discounted  cash flow  analyses.  The discount  rate was based upon rates
currently  being offered for similar  interest rate swaps available from similar
counterparties.

                                      xxvi
<PAGE>

             NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)


                  NORTHWESTERN NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
            (A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF RELIASTAR FINANCIAL CORP.)

NOTE 13.  FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)

     The carrying  amounts and estimated fair values of the Company's  financial
instruments were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                  DECEMBER 31
                                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    1995                                1994
                                                                       -------------------------------    --------------------------
                                                                         CARRYING            FAIR            CARRYING          FAIR
                                                                          AMOUNT            VALUE             AMOUNT          VALUE
                                                                          ------            -----             ------          -----
                                                                                                 (In Millions)
<S>                                                                      <C>              <C>               <C>            <C>     
Financial Instruments Recorded as Assets
      Fixed Maturity Securities
          Available-for-Sale.....................................        $9,053.7         $9,053.7          $3,470.6       $3,470.6
          Held-to-Maturity............................. .........              --               --           2,310.4        2,253.0
      Equity Securities.......................... ...............            35.9             35.9              43.7           43.7
      Mortgage Loans on Real Estate
          Commercial ............................................         1,465.0          1,525.8           1,120.1        1,068.8
          Residential and Other .................................           483.4            496.1             450.2          443.1
      Policy Loans ..............................................           499.8            499.8             306.8          306.8
      Cash and Short-Term Investments ...........................           165.4            165.4              79.7           79.7
      Other Financial Instruments Recorded as Assets ............           503.3            503.3             349.7          349.7
Financial Instruments Recorded as Liabilities
      Investment Contracts
          Deferred Annuities................................... .        (6,704.9)        (6,285.6)         (4,690.0)      (4,369.3)
          GICs....................................... ...........          (115.0)          (148.6)           (239.9)        (261.5)
          Supplementary Contracts and Immediate Annuities .......           (99.8)           (99.7)            (99.1)         (93.9)
          Other Investment Contracts ............................          (529.2)          (529.2)           (539.4)        (539.4)
      Claim and Other Deposit Funds .............................          (114.9)          (114.9)           (101.2)        (101.2)
      Notes and Mortgages Payable ...............................          (243.6)          (244.4)           (173.7)        (159.4)
      Other Financial Instruments Recorded as Liabilities .......          (224.8)          (224.8)           (167.8)        (167.8)
Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments
      Financial Guarantees.......................................              --             (4.6)               --           (5.2)
      Interest Rate Swaps........................................              --             42.7                --          (46.5)

</TABLE>

     Fair  value  estimates  are made at a  specific  point  in  time,  based on
relevant  market  information and  information  about the financial  instrument.
These  estimates  do not reflect any premium or discount  that could result from
offering for sale at one time the Company's  holdings of a particular  financial
instrument.  Because no market exists for a significant portion of the Company's
financial  instruments,  fair value  estimates are based on judgments  regarding
future   expected   loss   experience,   current   economic   conditions,   risk
characteristics  of  various  financial  instruments  and other  factors.  These
estimates  are  subjective  in nature and involve  uncertainties  and matters of
significant  judgment  and,  therefore,  cannot be  determined  with  precision.
Changes in assumptions could significantly affect the estimates.

     Fair  value  estimates  are  based on  existing  on and  off-balance  sheet
financial  instruments  without  attempting to estimate the value of anticipated
future business and the value of assets and liabilities  that are not considered
financial  instruments.  In  addition,  the  tax  ramifications  related  to the
realization of the unrealized gains and losses can have a significant  effect on
fair value estimates and have not been considered in the estimates.

                                      xxvii



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