PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO VARIABLE LIFE SEP ACCOUNT
S-6EL24/A, 1996-12-19
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                                                  Registration No. 333-00101
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                              Washington, DC 20549
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Pre-effective Amendment No. 3 to
                                    FORM S-6

                     FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                  OF SECURITIES OF UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS REGISTERED ON
                                   FORM N-8B-2

        PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
                            (Exact Name of Depositor)

                                 711 High Street
                             Des Moines, Iowa 50309
               (Address of Depositor's Principal Executive Offices)

                                 David J. Brown
                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
                                 711 High Street
                             Des Moines, Iowa 50309
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

               -------------------------------------------------------
               Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (515) 247-5111
               -------------------------------------------------------

                   Please send copies of all communications to

                              W. Randolph Thompson
                      Jorden, Burt, Berenson & Johnson LLP
                                 Suite 400 East
                       1025 Thomas Jefferson Street, N.W.
                            Washington, DC 20007-0805

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

Title and Amount of  Securities:  PrinFlex Life Insurance  Policy.  (Pursuant to
Rule 24f-2 under the Investment  Company Act of 1940, the Registrant has elected
to register an indefinite amount of securities being registered.)

Approximate date of proposed public offering:  As soon as practicable  after the
effective date of the Registration Statement.


                           --------------------------
<PAGE>
                     PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                         VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT

                       Registration Statement on Form S-6
                              Cross Reference Sheet

    Items of
   Form N-8B-2               Captions in Prospectus

        1..............  Cover Page

        2..............  Cover Page

        3..............  Not Applicable

        4..............  Distribution of the Policy

        5..............  Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Variable Life
                         Separate Account

        6(a)...........  Not Applicable

        6(b)...........  Not Applicable

        7..............  Not Required

        8..............  Not Required

        9..............  Legal Proceedings

        10(a)..........  Ownership, Beneficiaries, Assignment

        10(b)..........  Policy Values; Participating Policy

        10(c), 10(d)...  Summary (Transfers; Policy Loans; Total and Partial
                         Surrenders, Charges and Deductions; Maturity Proceeds;
                         Death Benefits and Proceeds, Termination and
                         Reinstatement; Policy "Free Look"); Policy "Free Look,"
                         Values Transfers; Policy Loans; Total and Partial
                         Surrenders); Death Benefits and Rights; Charges and
                         Deductions (Transaction Charge, Surrender Charge)
                         Policy Termination  and Reinstatement

        10(e)..........  Summary (Termination and Reinstatement); Policy
                         Termination and Reinstatement; Registration Statement

        10(f)..........  Other Matters (Voting Rights)

        10(g)(1),
        10(g)(2),
        10(h)(1),
        10(h)(2).......  Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Variable Life
                         Separate Account; General Provisions (Addition,
                         Deletion or Substitution of Investments; The
                         Contract)

        10(g)(3),
        10(g)(4),
        10(h)(3),
        10(h)(4).......  Not Applicable

        10(i)..........  Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Variable Life
                         Separate Account, Values and Policy Features While the
                         Policy is in Force; Death Benefits and Rights;
                         General Provisions (Addition, Deletion or Substitution
                         of Investments; Optional Insurance Benefits; Policy
                         Proceeds); Federal Tax Matters

        11.............  Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Variable Life
                         Separate Account (Separate Account Divisions); General
                         Provisions (Addition, Deletion or Substitution of
                         Investments)

        12(a)..........  Cover page

        12(b)..........  Not Applicable

        12(c)..........  Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Variable Life
                         Separate Account (Separate Account Divisions)

        12(d)..........  Distribution of the Policy

        12(e)..........  Not Applicable

        13(a)..........  Summary (Charges and Deductions); Principal Mutual Life
                         Insurance Company Variable Life Separate Account;
                         Charges and Deductions; Distribution of the Policy

        13(b), 13(c),
        13(d), 13(e),
        13(f), 13(g)...  Not Applicable

        14.............  Distribution of the Policy

        15.............  Summary (Premiums); Purchasing a Policy

        16.............  Summary (The Policy); Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                         Company Variable Life Separate Account; Purchasing a
                         Policy (Allocation of Premiums);
                         Values and Policy Features While the Policy is in
                         Force; General Provisions (Addition, Deletion or
                         Substitution of Investments)

        17(a), 17(b),
        17(c)..........  Captions referenced under Items 10(c), 10(d), 10(e),
                         and 10(i) above

        18(a)..........  Summary (Policy Value); Values and Policy Features
                          While the Policy is in Force

        18(b)..........  Not Applicable

        18(c)..........  Values and Policy Features While the Policy is in Force

        18(d)..........  Not Applicable

        19.............  Other Matters (Voting Rights; Statement of Values)

        20(a), 20(b)...  Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Variable Life
                         Separate Account; General Provisions (Addition,
                         Deletion or Substitution of Investments); Other Matters
                         (Voting Rights)

        20(c), 20(d),
        20(e), 20(f)...  Not Applicable

        21(a), 21(b)...  Summary (Policy Loans); Values and Policy Features
                         While the Policy is in Force (Policy Loans)

        21(c)..........  Not Applicable

        22.............  General Provisions (The Contract; Incontestability)

        23.............  Not Applicable

        24.............  Charges and Deductions (Special Provisions for Group or
                         Sponsored Arrangements)

        25.............  Description of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

        26.............  Not Applicable

        27.............  Description of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

        28.............  Officers and Directors of Principal Mutual Life
                         Insurance Company

        29.............  Description of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

        30.............  Not Applicable

        31.............  Not Applicable

        32.............  Not Applicable

        33.............  Not Applicable

        34.............  Not Applicable

        35.............  Description of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

        36.............  Not Applicable

        37.............  Not Applicable

        38(a), 38(b),
        38(c)..........  Distribution of the Policy

        39(a), 39(b)...  Distribution of the Policy

        40.............  Not Applicable

        41(a)..........  Distribution of the Policy

        41(b), 41(c)...  Not Applicable

        42.............  Not Applicable

        43.............  Not Applicable

        44(a), 44(b),
        44(c)..........  Summary (Policy Value; Transfers; Policy Loans; Total
                         and Partial Surrenders, Termination and Reinstatement;
                         Policy "Free-Look"); Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                         Company Variable Life Separate Account; Values
                         and Policy Features while the Policy is in Force
                         (Policy Values; Transfers; Policy Loans; Total and
                         Partial Surrender) Charges and Deductions

        45.............  Not Applicable

        46(a)..........  Captions referenced under items 44(a) above

        46(b)..........  Not Applicable

        47.............  Not Applicable

        48.............  Not Applicable

        49.............  Not Applicable

        50.............  Not Applicable

        51(a) - (j)....  Description of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company;
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Variable Life
                         Separate Account; Purchasing a Policy; Policy
                         Termination and Reinstatement; General Provisions;
                         Distribution of the Policy

        52(a)..........  Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Variable Life
                         Separate Account; General Provisions (Addition,
                         Deletion or Substitution of Investments)

        52(b)..........  Not Applicable

        52(c)..........  Captions referenced in 10(g) and 10(h) above

        52(d)..........  Not Applicable

        53(a)..........  Summary (Tax Consequences of the Policy); Federal Tax
                         Matters

        53(b)..........  Not Applicable
        54.............  Not Applicable

        55.............  Not Applicable

        56.............  Not Applicable

        57.............  Not Applicable

        58.............  Not Applicable

        59.............  Not Applicable

<PAGE>

                    Prospectus Dated ________________, 1996


   
     PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT
  PrinFlex LIFE(R) -- FLEXIBLE PREMIUM VARIABLE UNIVERSAL LIFE INSURANCE POLICY

     "PrinFlex Life(R)," the flexible premium variable universal life insurance
policy  (the  "Policy"  or the  "Policies")  offered by  Principal  Mutual  Life
Insurance  Company  ("Company")  and described in this Prospectus is designed to
provide lifetime insurance protection and maximum flexibility in connection with
premium payments and death benefits.  A policyowner may, within limits, vary the
frequency  and amount of premium  payments  and  increase or  decrease  the face
amount of the life insurance benefit under the Policy. This flexibility allows a
policyowner  to  provide  for  changing  life  insurance  needs  within a single
insurance policy.
    

     The Policy  provides : (1) a death  benefit upon the insured's  death;  (2)
policy  loans;  and (3) a net surrender  value  accessible by a partial or total
surrender of the Policy.

     Policy  values  may be  accumulated  on a  fixed  basis  or vary  with  the
investment  performance  of the division of the Principal  Mutual Life Insurance
Company Variable Life Separate Account to which the policyowner allocates policy
values. Each division invests in a corresponding open-end, management investment
company,  or a  separate  investment  portfolio  thereof  ("Mutual  Fund").  The
accompanying  prospectuses  describe the investment objectives and the attendant
risks of the Mutual Funds  currently  offered as  investment  choices  under the
Policy: Principal Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc., Principal Asset Allocation Fund,
Inc.,  Principal  Balanced  Fund,  Inc.,  Principal Bond Fund,  Inc.,  Principal
Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc., Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc., Principal
Government  Securities Fund, Inc.,  Principal Growth Fund, Inc., Principal Money
Market Fund,  Inc., and Principal World Fund, Inc.  ("Principal  Mutual Funds"),
Fidelity Variable  Insurance Products Fund II: Contrafund  Portfolio  ("Fidelity
VIP II  Contrafund  Portfolio"),  Fidelity  Variable  Insurance  Products  Fund:
Equity-Income  Portfolio  ("Fidelity VIP Equity-Income  Portfolio") and Fidelity
Variable  Insurance  Products Fund:  High Income  Portfolio  ("Fidelity VIP High
Income Portfolio").

     Prospective  purchasers  of this Policy are  advised  that  replacement  of
existing insurance coverage may not be financially advantageous.  It may also be
disadvantageous  to purchase a Policy as a means to obtain additional  insurance
protection if the purchaser already owns a flexible premium  universal  variable
life insurance policy.

     Please read this prospectus  carefully and retain it for future  reference.
This  Prospectus  is  valid  only if  accompanied  or  preceded  by the  current
prospectuses  for  the  Fidelity  Variable  Insurance  Products  Fund,  Fidelity
Variable Insurance Products Fund II and Principal Mutual Funds.


     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.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS ................................. 4

SUMMARY ................................................... 5

     The Policy............................................ 5

     Premiums.............................................. 6

     Policy Value.......................................... 6

     Transfers............................................. 6

     Policy Loans.......................................... 6

     Total and Partial Surrenders...........................7

     Charges and Deductions ............................... 7

     Maturity Proceeds..................................... 8

     Death Benefit and Proceeds............................ 8

     Adjustment Options.................................... 8

     Termination and Reinstatement......................... 8

     Policy "Free Look".................................... 10

     Distribution of the Policy............................ 10

     Tax Consequences of the Policy........................ 10

DESCRIPTION OF PRINCIPAL MUTUAL
LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY .....................................10

PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE
ACCOUNT....................................................10

     Separate Account Divisions............................11

PURCHASING A POLICY........................................13

     Purchase Procedures...................................13

     Payment of Premiums...................................13

     Premium Limitations...................................14

     Allocation of Premiums................................14

     Policy "Free Look"....................................14

VALUES AND POLICY FEATURES WHILE
     THE POLICY IS IN FORCE................................15

     Policy Values.........................................15
     Transfers.............................................15

     Policy Loans..........................................16

     Total and Partial  Surrenders.........................17

DEATH BENEFITS AND RIGHTS..................................17

     Death Proceeds........................................17

     Death Benefit.........................................18

     Applicable Percentage.................................18

     Change in Death Benefit Option........................19

     Adjustment Options....................................19

CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS.....................................20

     Premium Expense Charge................................20

     Monthly Policy Charge.................................20

     Cost of Insurance Charge..............................20

     Administration Charge.................................21

     Mortality and Expense Risks Charge....................21

     Transaction Charge....................................21

     Surrender Charge......................................21

     Contingent Deferred Sales Charge......................22

     Contingent Deferred Administration Charge.............22

     Surrender Charge Percentage...........................22

     Sales Charge Limitations..............................22

     Other Charges.........................................23

     Special Provisions for Group or Sponsored
     Arrangements..........................................23

THE FIXED ACCOUNT..........................................23

POLICY TERMINATION AND REINSTATEMENT.......................24

     Policy Termination....................................24

     Reinstatement.........................................25

OTHER MATTERS..............................................25

     Voting Rights.........................................25

     Statement of Value....................................26

     Service Available by Telephone........................26

GENERAL PROVISIONS.........................................26

     Addition, Deletion, or Substitution of
     Investments...........................................26

     Optional Insurance Benefits...........................27

     The Contract..........................................27

     Incontestability......................................27

     Misstatements.........................................28

     Suicide...............................................28

     Ownership.............................................28

     Beneficiaries.........................................28

     Benefit Instructions..................................28

     Postponement of Payments..............................28

     Assignment............................................28

     Policy Proceeds.......................................29

     Participating Policy..................................29

     Right to Exchange Policy..............................29

DISTRIBUTION OF THE POLICY.................................30

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF
PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY....................................................31

STATE REGULATION OF PRINCIPAL
MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY..............................32

FEDERAL TAX MATTERS........................................32

     Tax Status of the Company and the Separate
       Account.............................................33

     Charges for Taxes.....................................33

     Diversification Standards.............................33

     Life Insurance Status of Policy.......................33

     Modified Endowment Contract Status....................33

     Policy Surrenders and Partial Surrenders..............34

     Policy Loans and Interest Deductions..................34

     Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax.....................35

     Exchange or Assignments of Policies...................35

     Withholding...........................................35

     Taxation of Accelerated Death Benefits................35

     Other Tax Issues......................................35

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS.....................................35

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS..........................................35

LEGAL OPINION..............................................35

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS.......................................36

REGISTRATION STATEMENT.....................................36

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.......................................36

     Report of Independent Auditors........................37

     Variable Life Separate Account
     Financial Statements..................................38

     Report of Independent Auditors........................50

     Principal Mutual Life Insurance
     Company Financial Statements..........................51

APPENDIX A - SAMPLE ILLUSTRATIONS OF
POLICY VALUES, SURRENDER VALUES AND
DEATH BENEFITS.............................................72

APPENDIX B - TARGET PREMIUM................................77

   
APPENDIX C - EXCHANGE OFFER................................78
    

THIS  PROSPECTUS  DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING IN ANY  JURISDICTION  IN WHICH
SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.  PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
DOES NOT AUTHORIZE ANY  INFORMATION  OR  REPRESENTATIONS  REGARDING THE OFFERING
DESCRIBED IN THIS  PROSPECTUS  OTHER THAN AS CONTAINED IN THIS  PROSPECTUS,  THE
PROSPECTUSES  FOR THE  UNDERLYING  MUTUAL FUNDS OR THE  STATEMENTS OF ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION OF THESE FUNDS.

GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS

     Attained Age - The insured's age on the birthday  preceding the last Policy
Anniversary.

     Business  Day - Any day  that  the New  York  Stock  Exchange  is open  for
trading, and trading is not restricted.

     Division  - A part of the  Separate  Account to which Net  Premiums  may be
allocated  which  invests  in shares of a single  Mutual  Fund.  The value of an
investment in a Division is variable and is not guaranteed.

     Effective  Date - The date on which  all  requirements  for  issuance  of a
Policy have been satisfied.

     Face Amount - The minimum  death  benefit of a Policy so long as the Policy
remains in force.

     Fixed  Account - That part of Policy  Value that  reflects the value in the
general account of the Company.

     General  Account - The assets of the Company other than those  allocated to
any of the Separate Accounts of the Company.

     Guideline  Annual Premium - The level annual  payment  necessary to provide
the  death  benefit  under  a  Policy,  through  maturity,  based  on  the  1980
Commissioners Standard Ordinary Mortality Table, a 5% assumed interest rate, and
the fees and charges specified for a Policy.

     Internal Revenue Code - The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  and
regulations promulgated thereunder. Reference to the Internal Revenue Code means
such Internal  Revenue Code or the  corresponding  provisions of any  subsequent
revenue code and any regulations thereunder.

     Investment  Account - That part of the Policy Value that reflects the value
in one of the Divisions of the Separate Account.

     Loan  Account - That  part of the  Policy  Value  that  reflects  the value
transferred  from the Fixed  Account or  Separate  Account as  collateral  for a
policy loan.

     Maturity  Date  - The  Policy  Anniversary  following  the  insured's  95th
birthday.

     Monthly  Date - The day of the  month  which  is the same as the day of the
Policy Date. For example, if the Policy Date is June 10, 1997, the first Monthly
Date is July 10, 1997.

     Monthly Policy Charge - The amount subtracted from the Policy Value on each
Monthly Date equal to the sum of the cost of insurance and  additional  benefits
provided by any rider plus the monthly  administration  charge and mortality and
expense risks charge in effect on the Monthly Date.

     Mutual Fund - A registered,  open-end,  management investment company, or a
separate  investment  portfolio  thereof,  in which a Division  of the  Separate
Account invests.

     Net Premium - The gross premium less the deductions for the Premium Expense
Charge. It is the amount of premium allocated to the Fixed Account or Investment
Accounts.

     Net  Surrender  Value - The  Surrender  Value of the Policy  reduced by any
unpaid loans and loan interest.

     Notice - Any form of  communication  received in the Company's  home office
providing the  information  needed by the Company,  either in writing or another
manner approved in advance by the Company.

     Policy  Date - The  Policy  Date is the date from which  Monthly  Dates and
Policy Years and Anniversaries are determined.

     Policy Value - The sum of the values in the Loan Account, Fixed Account and
Investment Accounts.

     Policy  Years  and  Anniversaries  - The  Policy  Years  and  Anniversaries
computed from the Policy Date.  Example:  If the Policy Date is May 5, 1997, the
first Policy Year ends on May 4, 1998 and the first Policy  Anniversary falls on
May 5, 1998.

     Premium Expense Charge - The charge deducted from premium payments to cover
a sales charge, state and local premium taxes and federal taxes.

     Prorated Basis - The proportion  that the value of a particular  Investment
Account or Fixed Account for a Policy bears to the total value of all Investment
Accounts and the Fixed Account for that Policy.

     Separate  Account - Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company Variable Life
Separate  Account,  a  registered  unit  investment  trust  with  Divisions  and
segregated assets, to which Net Premiums may be allocated.

   
     Surrender  Charge - A charge  assessed upon total  surrender of a Policy or
termination of a Policy when a grace period expires without  sufficient  premium
payment.
    

     Surrender Value - The Policy Value reduced by the Surrender Charge.

     Target  Premium - A premium  amount used to  determine  the  maximum  sales
charge that is included as part of the Premium Expense Charge and any applicable
contingent  deferred sales charge under a Policy.  Target Premiums are set forth
in Appendix  B. The  policyowner  will be advised of the Target  Premium for any
increase in face amount.

     Unit - The accounting measure used to calculate Division values.

     Valuation  Period - The period  between  the time as of which the net asset
value of a Mutual  Fund is  determined  on one  business  day and the time as of
which that value is determined on the next following business day.

     Written  Request - Actual delivery to the Company at its home office in Des
Moines,  Iowa,  of a written  notice or  request,  signed and  dated,  on a form
supplied or approved by the Company.

 SUMMARY

     THE FOLLOWING  SUMMARY IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A GENERAL  DESCRIPTION OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT POLICY FEATURES.  IT IS NOT  COMPREHENSIVE  AND SHOULD BE READ IN
CONJUNCTION  WITH  THE  DETAILED   INFORMATION   APPEARING   ELSEWHERE  IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS.

The Policy

     The Policy is designed to provide a  policyowner  with  lifetime  insurance
protection  and  flexibility  in  connection  with the amount and  frequency  of
premium  payments and the amount of life  insurance  proceeds  payable under the
Policy. A policyowner may,  subject to certain  limitations,  vary the frequency
and amount of premium payments.  The Policy is a life insurance  contract with a
death benefit,  Policy Value, and other features  traditionally  associated with
life insurance.

     The policyowner  allocates Net Premium Payments to one or more of the Fixed
Account  and the  Divisions  of the  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company
Variable Life  Separate  Account.  Allocations  to the Divisions of the Separate
Account  are  invested  in  shares  of  a  particular  Mutual  Fund.  Allocation
instructions  may be changed at any time and  transfers  may be made  subject to
certain conditions.

     The Mutual Funds in which the Divisions currently invest are as follows:

                                                   Mutual Fund in
                  Division                    which the Division Invests
       ----------------------------------------------------------------------
       Aggressive Growth Division          Principal Aggressive Growth Fund
       Asset Allocation Division           Principal Asset Allocation Fund
       Balanced Division                   Principal Balanced Fund
       Bond Division                       Principal Bond Fund
       Capital Accumulation Division       Principal Capital Accumulation Fund
       Emerging Growth Division            Principal Emerging Growth Fund
       Government Securities Division      Principal Government Securities Fund
       Growth Division                     Principal Growth Fund
       Money Market Division               Principal Money Market Fund
       World Division                      Principal World Fund
       Fidelity Contrafund Division        Fidelity VIP II Contrafund Portfolio
       Fidelity Equity-Income Division     Fidelity VIP Equity-Income Portfolio
       Fidelity High Income Division       Fidelity VIP High Income Portfolio

Premiums

   
     The  required  initial  premium  payment  is equal to the  minimum  monthly
premium shown on the Policy's  current data pages.  Payment of a minimum premium
is required during the first  twenty-four  policy months (the "Minimum  Required
Premium").  If the face  amount of the  Policy  is  increased  during  the first
twenty-four  policy months,  the Minimum  Required Premium will increase for the
remainder of the twenty-four  month period following the date of the face amount
increase.  Payment of the Minimum  Required Premium ensures that the Policy will
not enter a grace period during the first  twenty-four  Policy months,  unless a
policy loan is taken.  See "Policy  Termination and  Reinstatement"  and "Policy
Loans".  The Company  allows  payments in accordance  with the planned  periodic
premium  schedule  established by the  policyowner in the  application  (annual,
semiannual,  quarterly,  or pre-authorized  withdrawal  payments of premium on a
monthly basis). However, if the minimum monthly premium is less than $30, only a
planned  periodic premium schedule that would result in a payment of $30 or more
will be made available to the policyowner.  The Company also allows  unscheduled
premium payments of $30 or more. The planned periodic premium schedule indicates
the  preference of the  policyowner  only, and other than payment of the Minimum
Required  Premium,  payment of premiums  is not  required.  (However,  the death
benefit  guarantee  premium must be paid to maintain the death benefit guarantee
rider.  See "Optional  Insurance  Benefits.")  Changes in frequency,  as well as
increases or decreases in the amount of planned periodic premiums,  may be made.
However,  the total of all premiums,  planned and  otherwise,  cannot exceed the
current  maximum premium  limitations set forth in the Internal  Revenue Code to
qualify  a  Policy  as a life  insurance  contract.  At  any  time  there  is an
outstanding policy loan, if a payment cannot be identified as a premium payment,
it will be considered a loan repayment.
    

     All Net Premium  payments  received  prior to the Effective Date and during
the first 20 days from the  Effective  Date are  allocated  to the Money  Market
Division of the Separate  Account.  On the 21st day from the Effective Date, the
Policy Value held in the Money Market  Division is  transferred to the Divisions
and the  Fixed  Account  in  accordance  with the  policyowner's  direction  for
allocation of premium payments.  (If the 21st day from the Effective Date is not
a Business Day, the transfer will occur on the first  Business Day  thereafter).
Net  Premium  payments  received  after the  Policy  Value in the  Money  Market
Division is  transferred  to the  Divisions  and the Fixed Account are allocated
among the Divisions and the Fixed Account in accordance  with the  directions in
the application for the Policy.

Policy Value

     The Policy Value reflects the following:  premium payments made; investment
performance  of the  Divisions to which  amounts have been  allocated;  interest
credited  by the  Company to amounts  allocated  to the Fixed  Account;  partial
withdrawals; loans taken; repayment of loans; and deduction of charges described
above under "Charges And  Deductions." The Policy Value is the sum of the values
in the Investment Accounts, the Fixed Account and the Loan Account.

     Investment  Account.  An Investment Account is established under the Policy
for each  Division  of the  Separate  Account to which Net  Premiums or transfer
amounts have been allocated.  An Investment Account measures the interest of the
Policy in the corresponding Division. The value of each Investment Account under
the Policy varies each Business Day and reflects the  investment  performance of
the Mutual Fund shares held in the corresponding Division. See "Policy Value".

     Fixed  Account.  The Fixed  Account  consists of that portion of the Policy
Value  based on Net  Premiums  allocated  to, and  amounts  transferred  to, the
general account of the Company.  The Company credits  interest on amounts in the
Fixed  Account at an  effective  annual rate  guaranteed  to be at least 3%. See
"Fixed Account."

     Loan  Account.  When a policy loan is taken,  the Company will  establish a
Loan Account under the Policy and will transfer an amount equal to the amount of
the loan from the  Investment  Accounts  and/or  the Fixed  Account  to the Loan
Account.  The Company will credit  interest to amounts in the Loan Account at an
effective  annual  rate of at least 6% through  Policy  Year ten at which  point
interest is credited at 7.75%. See "Policy Loans."

Transfers

     Scheduled and unscheduled transfers of Policy Value among Divisions and the
Fixed Account may be made by a  policyowner,  subject to certain  conditions and
charges.  The  Company  has  reserved  the right to  revoke  or modify  transfer
privileges and charges, except where prohibited by state law. See "Transfers."

Policy Loans

     A  policyowner  may borrow  against the Policy Value at any time the Policy
has Net  Surrender  Value.  The minimum  amount for a loan is $500.  Interest is
charged on policy loans at an annual rate of eight percent during any period the
loan is  outstanding.  Loan  interest is payable at the end of each Policy Year.
All policy loans and loan interest will be deducted from proceeds payable at the
insured's death, upon maturity, or upon total surrender. See "Policy Loans."

Total and Partial Surrenders

     A policyowner may elect to make a total surrender of the Policy and receive
its Net  Surrender  Value  determined  as of the date the Company  receives  the
policyowner's  Written  Request.  A  Surrender  Charge  is  imposed  upon  total
surrender  of a Policy at any time  within the first ten years  after the Policy
Date. In addition,  any increase in face amount is subject to a Surrender Charge
upon  total  surrender  of the  Policy at any time  within  ten years  after the
effective date of the adjustment.  After the second Policy Year, the policyowner
may request a partial  surrender of the Policy Value, but no more than two times
per  Policy  Year.  The  minimum  amount  for a  partial  surrender  is $500 and
aggregate  partial  surrenders  during a Policy  Year  cannot  exceed 75% of the
Policy's  Net  Surrender  Value at the  time  the  first  partial  surrender  is
requested.  A  transaction  charge of the  lesser of $25 or two  percent  of the
amount of the partial surrender is imposed on each partial surrender. The Policy
Value is reduced by the amount of any  partial  surrender  plus the  transaction
charge.  The amount  surrendered  will be withdrawn from the Policy on a last-in
first-out  basis.  If the  Option 1 death  benefit is in effect at the time of a
partial  surrender,  then the Policy's face amount is also reduced by the amount
of the partial surrender plus the transaction charge.

Charges and Deductions

     Charges under the Policy are assessed as:
         (1)  deductions from premiums
              o sales  load of 2.75% of  premiums  less  than or equal to Target
                Premium and .75% of premiums in excess of Target  Premium,  made
                during each of the first ten Policy  Years and,  with respect to
                premiums  attributable to any face amount increase,  made during
                each of the first ten years following the increase
              o 2.20% state and local taxes
              o 1.25% federal taxes
         (2) Surrender  Charges upon  termination or total surrender made during
the first ten Policy  Years (and ten years  after an increase in the Policy face
amount)  equal to a percentage  (described in the table below) of the sum of the
following:
              o deferred  administrative  charge of $3 for each  $1,000 of face
                amount  (but no greater  than $1,500 per  Policy),  and 
              o deferred
                sales  charge of 47.25% of  premiums  paid up to a maximum  of
                two Target Premiums (or less for persons age 66 and older. See 
                "Contingent Deferred Sales Charge")

                          Surrender               Surrender Charge
                             Year                     Percentage
                          ---------               ----------------
                             1-5                        100.0%
                               6                        95.24%
                               7                        85.71%
                               8                        71.43%
                               9                        52.38%
                              10                        28.57%
                              11+                         0.0%

   
         (3)  Monthly Policy Charges
              o administration charge:
                During the first Policy Year:  $.40 for each $1,000 of face 
                  amount,  but no less than  $6.00/month and no greater
                  than $16.67/month;
                During each Policy Year thereafter: $6.00/month
              o cost of insurance charge
              o mortality and expense risks charge of .90% per annum against the
                value of the policyowner's  Investment Accounts (After the ninth
                Policy  Year the  mortality  and expense  risks  charge will not
                exceed .27% per annum)
              o supplemental benefit(s) charge(s)
         (4)  Other Charges
              o investment management fees and other operating expenses for the 
                underlying Mutual Funds
              o transfer fee of $25 may be imposed on each unscheduled  transfer
                of Policy  Value  among  the  Investment  Accounts  in excess of
                twelve during a Policy Year
              o transaction charge of the lesser of $25 or 2% of the amount 
                surrendered on each partial surrender of Policy Value
    

     For  complete  discussion  of  charges  and  deductions  see  "Charges  and
Deductions".

Maturity Proceeds

     If the  insured  under a Policy is living on the  Policy's  Maturity  Date,
which is the Policy  Anniversary  following  the  birthday  on which the insured
reaches  age 95, the  Company  will pay the  Policy's  maturity  proceeds to the
policyowner.  A Policy's  maturity proceeds are the Policy Value less any Policy
loans and unpaid loan interest on the Maturity  Date.  If maturity  proceeds are
paid under a Policy, the Policy terminates with no further benefits payable.

Death Benefit and Proceeds

     The death proceeds under a Policy are payable to the  beneficiary  when the
insured dies,  subject to all provisions and conditions of the Policy. The death
proceeds,  determined  as of the date of the  insured's  death,  are:  the death
benefit  described below, plus proceeds from any benefit riders on the insured's
life,  less any Policy  loans and loan  interest,  and less any overdue  Monthly
Policy  Charges if the insured  dies during a Grace  Period.  All or part of the
death  proceeds may be paid in cash or applied  under one or more of the benefit
options available under the Policy, subject to certain restrictions. The Company
pays  interest  on the death  proceeds  from the date of death until the date of
payment  or until  applied  under a benefit  option.  Interest  is at a rate the
Company determines, but not less than required by state law.

     There are two options  available for the death benefit under a Policy. If a
policyowner  selects Option 1, the death benefit will be equal to the greater of
the  face  amount  of the  Policy  or the  Policy  Value  on the  date of  death
multiplied by an applicable  percentage  specified in the Internal Revenue Code.
If a policyowner  selects Option 2, the death benefit will be the greater of the
face  amount of the  Policy  plus the  Policy  Value on the date of death or the
Policy Value on the date of death multiplied by the applicable percentage.

     A policyowner may make a Written Request to change the death benefit option
on or after the second  Policy  Anniversary.  Any change must be approved by the
Company  before it takes effect.  Changes in death benefit option are limited to
two per Policy Year.  If the request is to change from Option 1 to Option 2, the
face amount will be reduced by the amount of the Policy  Value on the  effective
date of the change.  The Company  reserves the right to  disapprove a request to
change from  Option 1 to Option 2 if the face amount in effect  after the change
would be less than $50,000. Evidence of insurability satisfactory to the Company
under its  underwriting  guidelines  then in effect may be  required on a change
from  Option 1 to Option 2. If the  request is to change from Option 2 to Option
1, the face amount will be  increased  by the amount of the Policy  Value on the
effective  date of the change.  No evidence of  insurability  is required  for a
change from Option 2 to Option 1. The  effective  date of any change will be the
Monthly Date that  coincides with or next follows the day the request for change
is approved by the Company.

Adjustment Options

   
     Subject to certain conditions,  the face amount of a Policy may be adjusted
upon Written  Request to the Company.  If a payment in an amount greater than or
equal to the adjustment  conditional  receipt  premium deposit is submitted with
the  adjustment  application,  then  a  conditional  receipt  is  given  to  the
policyowner  reflecting  receipt  of  the  payment  and  outlining  any  interim
insurance  coverage  provided  by  the  conditional   receipt.   The  adjustment
conditional receipt premium deposit is that amount calculated by the Company and
provided to the policyowner in connection with the  policyowner's  request for a
face amount  increase.  No request to adjust the face amount of a Policy will be
approved if a Policy is in a grace period or if Monthly Policy Charges are being
waived under a rider.  In  addition,  a decrease in face amount may be requested
only after the second Policy Anniversary and may not reduce the face amount of a
Policy below $50,000.  A requested face amount increase must be at least $50,000
and is subject to evidence of insurability satisfactory to the Company under its
underwriting  guidelines  then in effect.  Any  adjustment  in face  amount of a
Policy  approved  by the Company  will be  effective  on the  Monthly  Date that
coincides  with or next  follows  the  Company's  approval  of the  request.  No
processing  charges are assessed in  connection  with  adjustments  of a Policy,
although an increase in face amount will result in Premium  Expense  Charges and
Surrender Charges applicable to the increase.  Additionally,  if the face amount
of the Policy is  increased  during the first  twenty-four  policy  months,  the
Minimum  Required  Premium will  increase for the  remainder of the  twenty-four
month period following the date of the face amount  increase.  Increases in face
amount made pursuant to a Cost of Living Rider,  Salary  Increase Rider or Extra
Protection  Increase Rider are not subject to the minimum  increase amount or to
evidence  of  insurability.   More  information  regarding  these  supplementary
benefits may be obtained from an authorized agent of the Company.
    

Termination and Reinstatement

     Failure to make a planned periodic  premium or additional  premium payments
may cause termination of a Policy. A notice of impending termination of a Policy
will be sent if:

     1. Twenty-four  months or later  following  the Policy Date, or at any time
        after a policy loan is taken, the Net Surrender Value of a Policy on any
        Monthly Date is less than the Monthly  Policy  Charge and, if the Policy
        has a death benefit guarantee rider, the death benefit guarantee premium
        requirement has not been satisfied; or

     2. During the 24 months  following the Policy Date, the sum of the premiums
        paid is less than the Minimum  Required  Premium on a Monthly Date (this
        provision  does not apply where  prohibited  by state laws;  a notice of
        impending termination will be sent as permitted therein).

     The Minimum  Required  Premium on a Monthly  Date is equal to (1) times (2)
where:

     1. Is the minimum monthly premium shown on the current data pages; and

     2. Is the number of completed months since the Policy Date.

     The  notice of  impending  termination  will show the 61-day  Grace  Period
during  which the Company  will accept a payment  required to keep the Policy in
force.

     If a Grace  Period  begins 24 months or more after the Policy Date  because
the Net Surrender  Value is less than the current  Monthly  Policy  Charge,  the
minimum payment is equal to (1) plus (2) divided by (3) where:

   
     1. Is the amount by which the  Surrender  Charge  exceeds  the  Accumulated
        Value on the Monthly Date on or  immediately  preceding the start of the
        grace period;
    

     2. Is three Monthly Policy Charges; and

     3. Is 1 minus the maximum Premium Expense Charge.

   
     If the grace period ends before we receive the minimum payment, the Company
will keep any remaining value in the Policy.

     If a grace period begins  because the sum of the premiums paid is less than
the Minimum Required Premium, the minimum payment is (1) minus (2) where:

     1. Is the Minimum Required Premium due on the second Monthly Date following
        the beginning of the grace period; and;
    

     2. Is the sum of the premiums paid since the Policy Date.

     If the Grace  Period ends before the Company  receives the past due Minimum
Required Premium, the Company will pay to the policyowner any remaining value in
the Policy, which would be the difference of (1) minus (2) where:

   
     1. Is the  Net  Surrender  Value  on the  Monthly  Date  on or  immediately
        preceding the start of the grace period; and

     2. Is the two Monthly Policy Charges applicable during the grace period.
    

     In the event the  61-day  Grace  Period  expires  without a payment  by the
policyowner at least equal to the minimum  payment,  the Policy will  terminate,
and the Company will retain the remaining value in the policy.

     Once a Policy has  terminated  as a result of  failure  to pay the  Minimum
Required  Premium on a Monthly  Date during the 24 months  following  the Policy
Date, or as a result of insufficient  value,  the policyowner may make a Written
Request to reinstate the Policy at any time within three years after the date of
termination,  so long as the  insured  is alive and it is prior to the  Policy's
Maturity Date. Satisfactory proof of insurability and payment of a reinstatement
premium is required.  The reinstatement  premium must be at least the greater of
((1) plus (2) divided by (3)) or ((4) minus (5)) where:

   
     1. Is the amount by which the  Surrender  Charge  exceeds  the  Accumulated
        Value on the Monthly Date on or  immediately  preceding the start of the
        grace period;
    

     2. Is three Monthly Policy Charges;

     3. Is one minus the maximum Premium Expense Charge;

   
     4. Is the Minimum Required Premium due on the second Monthly Date following
        the beginning of the grace period; and
    

     5. Is the sum of the premiums paid since the Policy Date.

Repayment or  reinstatement  of policy loans and loan  interest  which  remained
unpaid on the date the Policy terminated is also required.


Policy "Free Look"

     A policyowner has the limited right to return a Policy for cancellation and
receive a refund of all premiums paid  (Accumulated  Value for policies  applied
for in the state of California by Policyowners  over the age of 60). The Written
Request for cancellation,  along with return of the Policy,  must be made within
10 days (30 days if the Policy is applied  for in the state of  California  by a
policyowner  age 60 or over) after the Policy is  received  by the  policyowner,
within 10 days (30 days if the Policy is applied for in the state of  California
by a policyowner  age 60 or over) after written notice of this right is provided
to the policyowner, or within 45 days after the policyowner completes the Policy
application,  whichever  is  later.  For  Policies  applied  for in the state of
California by persons age 60 or over,  the amount  refunded is equal to (1) plus
(2) plus (3) where:

     1. Is  the  Policy   Value  as  of  the  date  the  Company   receives  the
        policyowner's Written Request for cancellation; and

     2. Is the Premium Expense Charge(s) deducted from gross premiums; and

     3. Is the Monthly Policy Charge(s) deducted from the Policy Value.

Distribution of the Policy

     The  Company may offer the Policy in states and  jurisdictions  where it is
licensed  to sell this type of  insurance  product.  The Policy  will be sold by
agents and brokers who represent the Company and are registered  representatives
of Princor  Financial  Services  Corporation,  the principal  underwriter of the
Policies,  or registered  representatives of other  broker-dealers which Princor
Financial Services Corporation selects and the Company approves.

Tax Consequences of the Policy

     The Policies will be treated as life insurance  contracts under  provisions
of the Internal  Revenue Code so long as certain  definitional  tests of Section
7702 of the Internal  Revenue Code are met and so long as the investments of the
Separate Account meet the diversification  requirements of Section 817(h) of the
Internal  Revenue  Code.  The  Company  has  designed  the  Policy to meet these
criteria. Thus, the death benefit under a Policy should be fully excludable from
the gross income of the beneficiary.  In addition, the policyowner should not be
taxed on any part of the Policy Value,  unless in the first 15 years of a Policy
a cash distribution is made as a result of a change in the benefits under (or in
other terms of) the Policy, such as a partial or total surrender of Policy Value
which causes a reduction in the face amount. Such a distribution will be taxable
to the extent of income in the Policy,  as limited by the  applicable  recapture
ceiling as set out in Section 7702(f)(7)(C) or (D) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Also,  partial surrenders may result in taxable income to the policyowner to the
extent  distributions  (or  deemed   distributions)   exceed  total  investments
(generally  premiums paid) in the Policy to the date of surrender.  If, however,
the Policy is considered a modified  endowment  contract  under the terms of the
Technical and  Miscellaneous  Revenue Act of 1988, all  distributions  under the
Policy would be taxed on an "income first" basis. Most distributions received by
a policyowner  directly or indirectly  (including policy loans, total or partial
surrenders or the assignment or pledge of any portion of the Policy Value) would
be  includable in gross income to the extent that the Policy Value of the Policy
exceeds  the  policyowner's  investment  in  the  contract.  (See  "Federal  Tax
Matters.") Death proceeds may also be subject to estate taxes.  Policyowners are
advised to consult with their own tax advisors  regarding  tax  treatment of the
Policies.

DESCRIPTION OF PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (The "Company")

     Principal Mutual Life Insurance  Company is a mutual life insurance company
with its home office at The Principal  Financial Group, Des Moines,  Iowa 50392,
telephone number (515) 247-5111.  It was originally  incorporated under the laws
of the State of Iowa in 1879 as Bankers  Life  Association,  changed its name to
Bankers  Life  Company in 1911 and  changed  its name to  Principal  Mutual Life
Insurance  Company in 1986. It is a member of The Principal  Financial  Group, a
diversified family of insurance and financial services companies.

     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company is authorized to do business in the
50 states of the United States,  the District of Columbia,  the  Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and the Canadian Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia,  Manitoba,
Ontario and Quebec. The Company offers a full range of products and services for
businesses, groups and individuals including individual insurance, pension plans
and  group/employee  benefits.  During the year ended  December  31,  1995,  the
Company  ranked in the upper one percent of life  insurers in assets and premium
income.  The Company has consistently  received excellent ratings from the major
rating firms based upon the Company's claims paying ability.  As of December 31,
1995,  the Company had $51.3 billion in assets under  management and served more
than 9.3 million individuals and their families.

PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT

     The Separate  Account was  established  on November 2, 1987,  pursuant to a
resolution of the Executive  Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company.
Under Iowa insurance law the income, gains or losses of the Separate Account are
credited to or charged against the assets of the Separate Account without regard
to the other income,  gains or losses of the Company. The assets of the Separate
Account, equal to the reserves and other liabilities arising under the Policies,
are not chargeable with liabilities  arising out of any other business conducted
by the  Company.  In  addition,  all  income,  gains or  losses,  whether or not
realized,  and  expenses  with  respect to a Division  shall be  credited  to or
charged  against that Division  without  regard to income,  gains or losses,  or
expenses of any other Division. The assets of the Separate Account are held with
relation to the Policies  described in this Prospectus and other policies issued
by the Company. All obligations arising under Policies, including the promise to
make benefit  payments,  are general corporate  obligations of the Company.  The
Separate  Account is organized as a unit  investment  trust under the Investment
Company Act of 1940.

     The Company is taxed as an  insurance  company  under the Tax Reform Act of
1984, as amended.  The operations of the Separate  Account are part of the total
operations  of the  Company,  but are  treated  separately  for  accounting  and
financial  statement  purposes and are  considered  separately  in computing the
Company's tax liability.

     The Separate  Account is not  affected by federal  income taxes paid by the
Company. The Company reserves the right to charge the Separate Account with, and
create a reserve for, any tax liability which the Company  determines may result
from maintenance of the Separate Account. To the best of the Company's knowledge
there is no current prospect of such liability.

Separate Account Divisions

     A policyowner may direct the Company to allocate Net Premium Payments among
the Divisions which invest exclusively in shares of a corresponding Mutual Fund.
Some of these Mutual Funds also offer their shares to variable  annuity separate
accounts of the Company ("Mixed  Funding") and to variable  annuity and variable
life separate accounts of unaffiliated  insurance  companies ("Shared Funding").
The potential risks  associated with "Mixed and Shared Funding" are disclosed in
the Mutual Fund  prospectuses.  The Mutual Funds in which the Divisions  invest,
and the  investment  adviser of each Mutual Fund,  are provided in the following
table.

                                         MUTUAL FUND IN
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<C>                                 <C>                                         <C>   
                                              MUTUAL FUND IN
                                           WHICH DIVISION INVESTS                              MUTUAL FUND
           DIVISION                        AND INVESTMENT ADVISER                          INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

Aggressive Growth Division          Principal Aggressive Growth Fund;           Seeks long-term  capital appreciation by
                                    Morgan Stanley Asset Management, Inc.       investing primarily in growth-oriented common
                                    through a sub-advisory agreement.           stocks of medium  and large capitalization
                                                                                U.S. corporations and, to a limited extent,
                                                                                foreign corporations.

Asset Allocation Division           Principal Asset Allocation Fund;            Seeks a total investment return consistent with
                                    Morgan Stanley Asset Management, Inc.       the preservation of capital.
                                    through a sub-advisory agreement.

Balanced Division                   Principal Balanced Fund;                    Seeks a total return consisting of current income
                                    Invista Capital Management, Inc.            and capital appreciation while assuming reasonable
                                    through a sub-advisory agreement.           risks in furtherance of the investment objective.

Bond Division                       Principal Bond Fund;                        Seeks to provide as high a level of income as is
                                    Princor Management Corporation.             consistent with preservation of capital and prudent
                                                                                investment risk.

Capital Accumulation Division       Principal Capital Accumulation Fund;        Seeks to achieve primarily long-term capital
                                    Princor Management Corporation.             appreciation and secondarily growth of investment
                                                                                income through the purchase primarily of common
                                                                                sotcks, but the Fund may invest in other securities.

Emerging Growth Division            Principal Emerging Growth Fund;             Seeks growth of capital through the purchase
                                    Princor Management Corporation.             primarily of common stocks, but the Fund may
                                                                                invest  in other securities.

Government Securities Division      Principal Government Securities Fund;       Seeks a high level of income, liquidity and safety 
                                    Princor Management Corporation.             of principal through the purchase of obligations 
                                                                                issued or guaranteed by the United States Government
                                                                                or its agencies, with emphasis on Government 
                                                                                National Mortgage Association Certificates ("GNMA
                                                                                Certificates"). Fund shares are not guaranteed by
                                                                                the United States Government.
                                               
Growth Division                     Principal Growth Fund;                      Seeks growth of capital through the purchase 
                                    Invista Capital Management, Inc.            primarily of common stocks, but the Fund may invest
                                    through a sub-advisory agreement.           in other securities.

Money Market Division               Principal Money Market Fund;                Seeks as high a level of income available from
                                    Princor Management Corporation.             short-term securities as is considered consistent
                                                                                with preservation of principal and maintenance of
                                                                                liquidity by investing all of its assets in a
                                                                                portfolio of money market instruments.

World Division                      Principal World Fund;                       Seeks long-term growth of capital by investing in a
                                    Invista Capital Management, Inc.            portfolio of equity securities of companies
                                    through a sub-advisory agreement.           domiciled in any of the nations of the world.

Fidelity Contrafund Division        Fidelity VIP II Contrafund Portfolio;       Seeks long-term capital appreciation.
                                    Fidelity Management and
                                     Research Company.

Fidelity Equity-Income Division     Fidelity  VIP Equity-Income  Portfolio;     Seeks  reasonable income by investing primarily in 
                                    Fidelity Management and                     income-producing equity securities,
                                    Research Company.

Fidelity High  Income  Division     Fidelity  VIP  High Income  Portfolio;      Seeks a high level of current income by investing
                                    Fidelity Management and                     primarily in high  yielding, lower quality, fixed  
                                    Research Company.                           income  securities,  while also  considering
                                                                                growth of capital.
</TABLE>
     Policyowners make their own decisions on the allocations to and between the
Divisions  based upon their unique  circumstances  and  perceptions  of economic
conditions.  Additional  information  concerning  these Mutual Funds,  including
their  investment  policies and  restrictions,  investment  management  fees and
expenses,  is given in the prospectuses  which accompany,  and should be read in
conjunction with, this Prospectus.

     Underlying  Mutual  Fund shares are  purchased  at net asset  value,  which
reflects the deduction of investment management fees and certain other expenses.
The  management  fees are charged by each  underlying  Mutual Fund's  investment
adviser for managing the  underlying  Mutual Fund and selecting its portfolio of
securities.  Other  underlying  Mutual Fund  expenses  can include such items as
interest  expense on loans and contracts with transfer agents,  custodians,  and
other  companies  that  provide  services to the  underlying  Mutual  Fund.  The
management fees and other expenses for each underlying  Mutual Fund for its most
recently  completed  fiscal year,  expressed as a percentage  of the  underlying
Mutual Fund's average assets, are as follows:

                                           Management       Other       Total
               Mutual Fund                   Fees          Expenses    Expenses

 Principal Aggressive Growth Fund            0.80            0.10        0.90
 Principal Asset Allocation Fund             0.80            0.09        0.89
 Principal Balanced Fund                     0.60            0.06        0.66
 Principal Bond Fund                         0.50            0.06        0.56
 Principal Capital Accumulation Fund         0.49            0.02        0.51
 Principal Emerging Growth Fund              0.65            0.05        0.70
 Principal Government Securities Fund        0.50            0.05        0.55
 Principal Growth Fund                       0.50            0.08        0.58
 Principal Money Market Fund                 0.50            0.08        0.58
 Principal World Fund                        0.75            0.20        0.95
 Fidelity VIP II Contrafund Portfolio        0.61            0.12        0.73
 Fidelity VIP Equity-Income Portfolio        0.51            0.10        0.61
 Fidelity VIP High-Income Portfolio          0.60            0.11        0.71

PURCHASING A POLICY

Purchase Procedures

     To apply for a Policy,  a completed  application,  including  any  required
supplements,  must be  submitted  to the  Company  through  the  agent or broker
selling the Policy.  If interim  coverage is desired,  a payment of at least the
required  minimum  initial  premium  amount must be submitted with the completed
application.  The  required  minimum  initial  premium  amount  for  any  Policy
(including a Policy issued on an application  submitted  without an accompanying
payment) is equal to the minimum monthly  premium shown on the Policy's  current
data pages. The Company generally will not issue policies to insure persons over
age 85 for  regularly  underwritten  Policies and age 70 for  guaranteed  issue,
expanded non-medical and batch underwriting  Policies.  Applicants for insurance
must furnish satisfactory evidence of insurability. Acceptance is subject to the
Company's insurance  underwriting  guidelines and suitability rules. The Company
reserves the right to reject any  application or related  premium if in the view
of the Company, the Company's insurance underwriting  guidelines and suitability
rules and procedures are not satisfied.  The minimum face amount for a Policy at
issue is $50,000 ($25,000 for guaranteed issue,  batch underwriting and expanded
non-medical  Policies).  The Company reserves the right to revise its rules from
time to time to specify either a higher or a lower minimum face amount.

     If a payment in at least the required  minimum  initial  premium  amount is
submitted with the completed application, then a conditional receipt is given to
the  applicant,  reflecting  receipt of the initial  payment and  outlining  any
interim conditional insurance coverage provided by the conditional receipt.

     If the  Company  determines  to issue a Policy  then a Policy  Date will be
established.  Policy Years and Anniversaries  will be determined from the Policy
Date  regardless  of when the Policy is  delivered.  The  Company  does not date
Policies on the 29th,  30th, or 31st day of any month.  Policies which otherwise
would be dated on these  days  except for this rule will be dated on the 28th of
the month. The Policy Date is shown on the Policy's current data pages.

     Upon  specific  Written  Request of the  applicant in the  application  and
subject  to the  Company's  approval,  a Policy may be issued  with a  backdated
Policy Date. The Policy Date may not be more than three months prior to the date
of the  application  or such shorter  maximum  backdating  period as required by
state law.  Payment of the Minimum  Required  Premium is required for the period
the Policy is backdated.

     Each Policy also has an Effective  Date.  The Policy Date and the Effective
Date will be the same unless (i) a backdated Policy Date is requested,  (ii) the
application  was not  accompanied  by a payment in an amount equal to or greater
than the minimum monthly premium,  or (iii)  additional  premiums or application
amendments are required.  In such cases,  the Effective Date will be the date on
which the required  premiums have been received at the Company's home office and
any  application  amendments have been received,  reviewed,  and accepted in the
Company's home office.

     No insurance under a Policy will take effect until actual physical delivery
to and  acceptance of a Policy by the  applicant.  If the proposed  insured dies
before actual physical  delivery to and acceptance of a Policy by the applicant,
there  will be no  coverage  under the Policy and  coverage  will be  determined
solely  under  the  terms  of the  conditional  receipt,  if any,  given  to the
applicant.

Payment Of Premiums

     Premiums must be paid to the Company at its home office.  There is no fixed
schedule of premium  payments on a Policy,  either as to the amount or timing of
the  payments,   although  a  minimum  premium  is  required  during  the  first
twenty-four  Policy months (the "Minimum Required  Premium").  A policyowner may
determine,  within specified  limits,  the planned periodic premium schedule for
the Policy.  These  limits  will be set forth by the Company and will  include a
minimum initial premium payment.  Planned periodic premium schedules may provide
for  annual,  semiannual,  quarterly  or  monthly  payments.  A  "pre-authorized
withdrawal" allows the Company to deduct premiums,  on a monthly basis, from the
policyowner's  checking or other financial  institution account. The policyowner
is not required to pay planned  periodic  premiums.  Failure to make any premium
payment will not result in termination of a Policy during the first  twenty-four
Policy months provided that any Minimum  Required  Premium is paid and no policy
loan is taken.  Likewise,  payment of  premiums in  accordance  with the planned
periodic  premium schedule does not guarantee that the Policy will stay in force
twenty-four months or later following the Policy Date or any time after a policy
loan is taken,  if the Policy's Net Surrender Value is not at least equal to the
Monthly  Policy  Charge on the current  Monthly  Date,  unless the death benefit
guarantee rider is in effect.

     The Company will send premium  reminder  notices in accordance with planned
periodic  premium  schedules to policyowners  who are on annual,  semi-annual or
quarterly  premium  payment  schedules.  Premium  payments  may  also be made by
unscheduled premium payment made to the Company at its home office or by payroll
deduction where allowed by law and approved by the Company.

Premium Limitations

     In no event can the total of all premiums  paid exceed the current  maximum
premium limitations  required by the Internal Revenue Code in order to qualify a
Policy as a life  insurance  contract.  The premium  limitations  are imposed in
order to assure  favorable  federal  income tax  treatment of the Policy and its
death  benefit.  If at any time a premium  is paid which  would  result in total
premiums exceeding the current maximum premium limitation, the Company will only
accept that  portion of the  premium  which will make total  premiums  equal the
maximum.  Any part of the premium in excess of that amount will be returned  and
no further  premiums  will be  accepted  until  allowed by the  maximum  premium
limitations  specified in the Internal  Revenue Code. No premium  payment may be
less than $30. Premium payments less than the minimum amount will be returned to
the policyowner.

     It is possible a premium payment could increase a Policy's death benefit by
more than it  increases  the  Policy  Value  because  of the manner in which the
Policy's  death  benefit is  calculated.  In order to qualify a Policy as a life
insurance  contract  under  provisions of the Internal  Revenue Code,  the death
benefit must be at least equal to an applicable  percentage of the Policy Value.
This  percentage  is 250% for  insureds age 40 and under and grades down to 100%
for insureds age 95. For example,  a hypothetical  Policy insuring the life of a
35-year old with a Policy Value of $20,000 must have a death benefit in at least
the amount of $50,000  ($20,000 x 250%,  the applicable  percentage).  Suppose a
premium is paid that,  after deduction of the Premium Expense Charge,  increases
this  hypothetical  Policy  Value by  $1,000.  The  Internal  Revenue  Code test
requires that the death benefit for the hypothetical  Policy be at least $52,500
($21,000 x 250%).  Hence,  if the death benefit before the premium were $50,000,
the $1,000 increase in Policy Value would produce a $2,500 increase in the death
benefit of this hypothetical Policy. In such a situation where a premium payment
increases a Policy's  death  benefit by more than it increases the Policy Value,
the  Company  reserves  the right to refund the  premium  payment.  Evidence  of
insurability under the Company's current underwriting  guidelines then in effect
may be required before acceptance of any such premium.

Allocation Of Premiums

     The initial Net Premium Payment and any additional premiums received at the
home office of the Company prior to the  Effective  Date and during the first 20
days from the Effective  Date are allocated to the Money Market  Division of the
Separate  Account at the end of the Valuation  Period during which such premiums
are received.  On the 21st day from the Effective Date, Policy Value held in the
Money  Market  Division is  automatically  transferred  to the  Divisions of the
Separate  Account  or to the Fixed  Account,  or both,  in  accordance  with the
policyowner's direction for allocation of premium payments. If the 21st day from
the  Effective  Date is not a Business  Day, then the transfer will occur on the
first Business Day after the 21st day from the Effective Date.

     Premium  payments  received  after  expiration of the initial 20-day period
described above are allocated among the Divisions, the Fixed Account, or both in
accordance  with the  directions  in the  application  for the Policy.  For each
Division and the Fixed  Account,  the  allocation  percentage  must be zero or a
whole number not less than ten. The sum of the percentages for all the Divisions
and the Fixed Account must equal 100. The  policyowner may change the allocation
of future  premium  payments  among the Divisions and the Fixed Account  without
payment of any fee or penalty, at any time, by Written Request to the Company or
by telephone as  described  below.  Changes in  allocation  percentages  will be
effective at the end of the Valuation  Period in which the Company  receives the
policyowner's request.

Policy "Free Look"

     The policyowner  has a limited right to return the Policy for  cancellation
and  receive a refund  in an amount  equal to the  premiums  paid (For  policies
applied  for in the state of  California  by  policyowners  age 60 or over,  the
amount  refunded  is  determined  as set forth  below).  The request to cancel a
Policy must be in writing. The Written Request and the Policy must be personally
delivered or mailed (as  determined  by its  postmark) to the home office of the
Company or to the agent or broker who sold the Policy before the later of:

     o 10 days (30 days for Policies  applied for in the state of  California by
policyowners age 60 or over) after the Policy is received by the policyowner;

     o 10 days (30 days for Policies  applied for in the state of  California by
policyowners  age 60 or over) after a written  notice is delivered or mailed (as
determined  by  its  postmark)  to  the   policyowner   which  tells  about  the
cancellation right; or

     o 45 days after the policyowner completes the application.

     For Policies  applied for in the state of  California  by persons age 60 or
over, the amount refunded is equal to (1) plus (2) plus (3) where:

     1. Is  the  Policy   Value  as  of  the  date  the  Company   receives  the
        policyowner's Written Request for cancellation; and

     2. Is the Premium Expense Charge(s) deducted from gross premiums; and

     3. Is the Monthly Policy Charge(s) deducted from the Policy Value.

     The  refunded  amount will  ordinarily  be  disbursed by the Company to the
policyowner within five Business Days after the Written Request for cancellation
and the Policy are received in the Company's home office.  (See "Postponement of
Payments." )

VALUES AND POLICY FEATURES WHILE THE POLICY IS IN FORCE

Policy Values

     A Policy  has a Policy  Value,  a  portion  of  which is  available  to the
policyowner  by taking a policy loan or upon total or partial  surrender  of the
Policy. See "Policy Loans" and "Total and Partial  Surrenders" below. The Policy
Value may also affect the amount of the death  benefit.  See DEATH  BENEFITS AND
RIGHTS - "Death  Benefit."  This Policy Value at any time is equal to the sum of
the Values in the Investment  Accounts,  the Fixed Account and the Loan Account.
The following discussion relates only to the Investment  Accounts.  Policy loans
are discussed under "Policy Loans" and the Fixed Account is discussed under "The
Fixed Account." The portion of the Policy Value based on the Investment Accounts
is  not  guaranteed  and  will  vary  each  Business  Day  with  the  investment
performance of the underlying Mutual Funds.

     An Investment Account is established under each Policy for each Division of
the  Separate  Account  to which Net  Premiums  or  transfer  amounts  have been
allocated.  Each Investment  Account under a Policy measures the interest of the
Policy  in the  corresponding  Division.  The  value of the  Investment  Account
established  for a  particular  Division is equal to the number of Units of that
Division credited to the Policy times the value of those Units.

     Units of a  particular  Division are credited to a Policy when Net Premiums
are  allocated to that  Division or amounts are  transferred  to that  Division.
Units of a Division are  cancelled  when amounts are  deducted,  transferred  or
withdrawn  from the  Division.  The number of Units  credited or cancelled for a
specific transaction is based on the dollar amount of the transaction divided by
the value of the Unit at the end of the  Business  Day on which the  transaction
occurs.  The number of Units credited with respect to a premium  payment will be
based on the applicable  Unit values at the end of the Business Day on which the
premium is received at the Company's home office.

     Units are valued at the end of each  Business Day. A Business Day is deemed
to end at the time of the  determination  of the net asset  value of the  Mutual
Fund shares.  When an order  involving  the  crediting or cancelling of Units is
received at the  Company's  home office  after the end of a Business Day or on a
day which is not a Business  Day,  the order will be  processed  on the basis of
Unit values  determined  at the end of the next  Business  Day.  Similarly,  any
determination of Policy Value,  Investment  Account value or death benefit to be
made on a day  which is not a  Business  Day will be made at the end of the next
Business Day.

     The value of a Unit of each Division was  initially  fixed at $10. For each
subsequent  Business Day the Unit value is  determined by  multiplying  the Unit
value for the  preceding  Business  Day by the "net  investment  factor" for the
particular  Division for such subsequent Business Day. The net investment factor
for a Division for any Business Day is equal to (a) divided by (b), where:

     (a)is the net asset  value of the  underlying  Mutual  Fund  shares held by
        that  Division  at the  end of  such  Business  Day  before  any  policy
        transactions are made that day; and

     (b)is the net asset  value of the  underlying  Mutual  Fund  shares held by
        that Division at the end of the immediately preceding Business Day after
        all policy transactions have been made for that day.

     The Company  reserves  the right to adjust the above  formula for any taxes
determined by it to be attributable to the operations of the Division.

Transfers

     The policyowner may transfer amounts among the Investment  Accounts and the
Fixed Account on either an unscheduled or a scheduled basis.

     Transfers From an Investment Account

         Unscheduled Transfers. Transfers of amounts from one Investment Account
         to another or to the Fixed  Account can be made by the  policyowner.  A
         transfer  from an  Investment  Account to the Fixed  Account may not be
         made if a transfer from the Fixed Account to an Investment  Account has
         been  made  within  the  six-month  period  prior  to the  date  of the
         requested  transfer or if  immediately  after the transfer to the Fixed
         Account the policyowner's  Fixed Account Value exceeds $1 million.  The
         amount  to be  transferred  may be  stated  as a dollar  amount or as a
         percentage  of the  value of the  Investment  Account  from  which  the
         transfer is to be made.  The amount  transferred  from each  Investment
         Account  must  equal  or  exceed  the  lesser  of  $100  or 100% of the
         policyowner's  interest in the  Investment  Account.  Transfers  may be
         completed  by  sending a Written  Request  to the  Company  at its home
         office, or by telephone as described below. (See "Service  Available by
         Telephone.")

         All or part of the  values in one or more  Investment  Accounts  may be
         transferred at one time.  Transfers from an Investment  Account will be
         executed and values will be determined in connection with the transfers
         at the next computed Unit value after the Company receives the transfer
         request.  There is currently no charge for the transfer but the Company
         reserves the right to impose  charges (not to exceed $25 per  transfer)
         on  unscheduled  transfers  after the twelfth  such  transfer  during a
         Policy Year.  For this  purpose,  all  transfers  between and among the
         Investment  Accounts  and the  Fixed  Account  will be  treated  as one
         transfer,  if all the  transfer  requests  are made at the same time as
         part of one  request.  The Company  also  reserves  the right to reject
         transfer  instructions provided by a person providing them for multiple
         contracts.

         Scheduled  Transfers.  The  policyowner  may  elect  to have  automatic
         transfers  completed on a periodic basis from any  Investment  Account.
         Scheduled transfers may be initiated from an Investment Account only if
         the value of the  Investment  Account  equals or  exceeds  $2,500  when
         scheduled  transfers  begin.  A  policyowner  may  establish  scheduled
         transfers  by  sending a Written  Request  to the  Company  at its home
         office  or  by  telephone.  (See  "Service  Available  by  Telephone.")
         Scheduled  transfers  will  be  completed  on  a  monthly,   quarterly,
         semiannual or annual basis  beginning on the Monthly Date following the
         date the Company  receives  the  request.  The amount of the  scheduled
         transfers  (minimum of $100) will be the dollar amount or percentage of
         the value of the Investment  Account as of the later of the Policy Date
         or most recent  Anniversary  Date,  as  specified  by the  policyowner.
         Scheduled  transfers  will  continue  until  the  Policy  Value  in the
         Investment  Account from which such  transfers are made is exhausted or
         until  the  policyowner   notifies  the  Company  to  discontinue  such
         transfers.  The  Company  reserves  the  right to limit  the  number of
         Investment  Accounts from which transfers will be made  simultaneously,
         but in no event  will  such  limitation  be less  than  two  Investment
         Accounts.

     Transfer From The Fixed Account

     Transfers  from the  Fixed  Account  have  special  limitations  which  are
described  below. A policyowner  may not make both an  unscheduled  transfer and
scheduled transfers from the Fixed Account during the same Policy Year.

         Unscheduled  Transfer.  An  unscheduled  transfer  in an amount  not to
         exceed 25% of the policyowner's  Fixed Account value as of the later of
         the Policy Date or the last  Anniversary,  may be made each Policy Year
         during the 30-day period  following the Policy Date or  Anniversary.  A
         transfer  request  must be made by the  policyowner  within such 30-day
         period.  The minimum  transfer  amount is $100 (or, if less, the entire
         amount of the Fixed Account value).

         Scheduled  Transfers.  The  policyowner  may  elect  to have  automatic
         transfers completed on a monthly basis from the Fixed Account to one or
         more Investment  Accounts.  Scheduled  transfers are available from the
         Fixed Account only if the  policyowner's  Fixed Account value equals or
         exceeds  $2,500 at the time  scheduled  transfers  begin.  (The Company
         reserves  the right to change  that  amount  but it will  never  exceed
         $10,000.) A policyowner may establish  scheduled transfers by sending a
         Written  Request to the Company at its home office or by telephone (See
         "Service  Available  by  Telephone").   Scheduled   transfers  will  be
         completed on a monthly  basis  beginning on the Monthly Date  following
         the date the Company  receives the  request.  The amount of the monthly
         transfers  (minimum  $50)  will be the dollar  amount  specified by the
         policyowner  or, if elected by the  policyowner,  a  percentage  of the
         Fixed  Account  Value as of the  later of the  Policy  Date or the most
         recent  Anniversary Date, or if requested by the policyowner,  the date
         the Company receives the request.  In no event shall the monthly amount
         be more than 2% of the Fixed Account value as of the  applicable  date,
         as specified  by the  policyowner.  Scheduled  monthly  transfers  will
         continue  until  the  Fixed  Account  value is  exhausted  or until the
         policyowner   notifies  the  Company  to   discontinue   the  scheduled
         transfers.  The amount of these  scheduled  transfers can be changed by
         the  policyowner  once each  Policy  Year,  by  Written  Request  or by
         telephone.  If the policyowner  discontinues  the scheduled  transfers,
         these  transfers may not begin again until six months after the date of
         the last scheduled transfer.

Policy Loans

     So long as a Policy  remains in effect  and the  Policy  has Net  Surrender
Value,  a policyowner  may borrow money from the Company using the Policy as the
only  security for the loan.  The maximum  amount that may be borrowed is 90% of
the Net Surrender Value of the Policy as of the date a loan request is processed
at the Company's home office.

     The  minimum  amount of any policy loan is $500.  Proceeds of policy  loans
ordinarily will be disbursed  within five Business Days from the date of receipt
of a Written  Request  at the  Company's  home  office.  (See  "Postponement  of
Payments." )

     When a policy  loan is taken,  a portion of the Policy  Value  equal to the
amount of the loan is  transferred  from the Fixed Account and/or the Investment
Accounts to the Loan Account in the proportion requested by the policyowner.  If
no request for allocation of the loaned amount is made by the  policyowner,  the
loan amount will be withdrawn in the same  proportion as the allocation used for
the most recent Monthly Policy Charge.  Any loan interest that is due and unpaid
will be  transferred  in the same  manner.  The Loan  Account  will be  credited
interest from the date of transfer.  During the first ten Policy Years, the Loan
Account  will earn  interest at an annual rate of six  percent.  After the tenth
Policy  Anniversary,  the Loan Account  will earn  interest at an annual rate of
7.75%.  Loan  repayments  will be  allocated  among  the Fixed  Account  and the
Investment Accounts in the proportion  currently designated by a policyowner for
the  allocation  of premium  payments.  A Policy's  Loan  Account is part of the
Company's General Account.

     The Company charges interest on policy loans. Interest accrues daily and is
due and payable at the end of the Policy Year. Any interest not paid when due is
added to the loan principal and bears  interest at the same rate.  Adding unpaid
interest to the loan  principal  will cause  additional  amounts to be withdrawn
from  the  Fixed  Account  and/or  Investment  Accounts  in the same  manner  as
described  above for loans.  Amounts  withdrawn for unpaid loan interest will be
transferred to the Loan Account.

   
     Unpaid  policy loans and loan  interest  reduce the Policy's Net  Surrender
Value and may cause it to be less than the Monthly  Policy  Charges on a Monthly
Date.  If on any  Monthly  Date  occurring  after a policy loan is taken the Net
Surrender Value is not sufficient to pay the Monthly Policy Charges,  the 61-day
grace period provision will apply. (See "Policy Termination.")
    

     So long as a Policy remains in force, policy loans and loan interest may be
repaid in whole or in part at any time during the  insured's  life.  The minimum
loan repayment amount is $30. If the policyowner does not designate a payment as
a premium payment or if the Company cannot identify it as a premium payment, the
Company  will  apply  the  payment  received  as a loan  repayment  if a loan is
outstanding. Loan Account values equal to the loan repayment will be transferred
to the Fixed Account  and/or  Investment  Accounts in the  proportion  currently
designated by a policyowner for the allocation of premium  payments.  Any policy
loan,  whether repaid or not, is likely to have a permanent effect on the Policy
Value.  If the  policy  loan had not been  made,  the  Policy  Value  would have
reflected  the  investment  experience  of the  Investment  Accounts  and/or the
interest  credited to the Fixed Account.  Any policy loans and loan interest are
subtracted from life insurance  proceeds  payable at the insured's  death,  from
surrender  value upon total  surrender or  termination  of a Policy when a Grace
Period expires without  sufficient  premium  payment,  and from the Policy Value
payable at maturity.

Total and Partial Surrenders

     A Policy has a Surrender  Value and a Net  Surrender  Value.  The Surrender
Value  of a Policy  is the  Policy  Value  less the  Surrender  Charge.  The Net
Surrender  Value of a Policy  is its  Surrender  Value  less any  loans and loan
interest.  While the Policy is in effect,  a policyowner  may elect to surrender
the  Policy  and  receive  its Net  Surrender  Value as of the date the  Company
receives  the  policyowner's  Written  Request at its home  office.  A Surrender
Charge is imposed  upon total  surrender  of a Policy  which  occurs at any time
within  the  first ten  years  after the  Policy  Date.  In  addition,  if total
surrender  of a Policy  occurs at any time  within the first ten years after the
adjustment date of a face amount increase,  a Surrender  Charge  attributable to
the face amount increase will be imposed. (See "Surrender Charge.")

      After the second Policy  Anniversary and so long as a Policy is in effect,
a policyowner may request a partial  surrender from the Net Surrender Value, but
no more  than two  times  per  Policy  Year.  The  minimum  amount  of a partial
surrender  is $500 and the maximum  amount that may be  surrendered  in a Policy
Year is 75% of the Net  Surrender  Value  as of the  date of the  first  partial
surrender.  A  transaction  charge of the  lesser of $25 or two  percent  of the
amount  surrendered is imposed on each partial  surrender,  which is intended to
cover the administrative costs of processing the partial surrender. No Surrender
Charge is assessed upon a partial surrender.  The Policy Value is reduced by the
amount of the partial  surrender plus the amount of the transaction  charge.  If
the Option 1 death benefit is in effect at the time of a partial surrender, then
the Policy face  amount  also is reduced by the amount of the partial  surrender
and the transaction charge.

     A  policyowner  may  designate  the  amount of the  partial  surrender  and
transaction charge to be withdrawn from the Fixed Account and/or each Investment
Account.  If no designation is made, the amount of the partial surrender and the
transaction  charge will be withdrawn in the same  proportion as the  allocation
instruction in effect for the Monthly Policy Charge. The amount surrendered will
be withdrawn from the Policy on a last in, first out basis.

     Proceeds  from partial or total  surrender of a Policy will  ordinarily  be
disbursed  within  five  Business  Days  from the date of  receipt  of a Written
Request at the Company's home office. (See "Postponement of Payments.")

DEATH BENEFITS AND RIGHTS

Death Proceeds

     As long as a Policy remains in force,  the Company will,  upon proof of the
insured's death and receipt of all additional claim requirements,  pay the death
proceeds  under the  Policy  to the named  beneficiary  in  accordance  with the
designated death benefit option.  The death proceeds,  determined as of the date
of the  insured's  death,  are:  the death  benefit  described  below,  plus the
proceeds from any benefit rider on the insured's life, less any unpaid loans and
loan interest on the Policy,  and less any overdue Monthly Policy Charges if the
insured  died during a Grace  Period.  All or part of the death  proceeds may be
paid in cash or applied under one or more of the benefit options available under
the Policy.  The Company pays  interest on the death  proceeds  from the date of
death until date of payment or until applied under a benefit option. Interest on
death proceeds is credited at a rate the Company  determines,  but not less than
required by state law.

Death Benefit

     The Policy provides two death benefit  options:  Option 1 and Option 2. The
policyowner designates the death benefit option in the application.  Both Option
1 and Option 2 provide  insurance  protection  combined with the opportunity for
increasing  Policy Value.  Under Option 1, the amount of death  benefit  remains
level (until the Policy Value exceeds certain limits). Under Option 2, the total
death benefit increases as the Policy Value increases. Thus, Option 1 emphasizes
the growth of Policy Value while Option 2 emphasizes the total  available  death
benefit.

        Option 1

        The death benefit is the greater of the Policy's  current face amount or
        the  Policy  Value  on the date of death  multiplied  by the  applicable
        percentage.

        Option 2

        The death  benefit is the greater of the  Policy's  current  face amount
        plus its Policy  Value on the date of death or the Policy  Value on that
        date multiplied by the applicable percentage.

Applicable Percentage

     The Policy  provides that the death benefit is at least equal to the amount
of  insurance  proceeds  required by the  Internal  Revenue  Code to qualify the
Policy as a life insurance contract.  That death benefit amount is calculated by
multiplying  the  Policy  Value by an  applicable  percentage  set  forth in the
Internal  Revenue Code based on the insured's  age. The  applicable  percentages
are:

                        TABLE OF APPLICABLE PERCENTAGES*

                (For ages not shown, the applicable percentages
              decrease by a pro rata portion for each full year.)
                           Insured's Attained Age    %
              --------------------------------------------------
                     40 and under                    250
                     45                              215
                     50                              185
                     55                              150
                     60                              130
                     65                              120
                     70                              115
                     75 through 90                   105
                     95                              100

*The Company has reserved the right,  where  allowed by law, to change or delete
the  applicable  percentages  as required by amendments to the Internal  Revenue
Code.

     Illustration  of Option 1. Assume that the  insured's  attained  age at the
time of death is between 20 and 40,  that  there are no unpaid  policy  loans or
loan  interest  at the time of death,  and that the face amount of the Policy is
$50,000.

     Under Option 1, because the death  benefit will be equal to or greater than
250% of the Policy  Value under this  illustrative  Policy,  any time the Policy
Value of the Policy exceeds $20,000,  the death benefit will exceed the Policy's
$50,000 face amount.  Each additional dollar added to Policy Value above $20,000
will  increase  the death  benefit by $2.50.  Similarly,  any time Policy  Value
exceeds  $20,000,  each dollar  taken out of Policy  Value will reduce the death
benefit by $2.50.  If, for example,  the Policy Value is reduced from $24,000 to
$20,000 because of charges or negative investment performance, the death benefit
will be  reduced  from  $60,000 to  $50,000.  If,  however,  at any time in this
illustration  250% of the  Policy  Value is less  than  $50,000  and no  partial
surrenders  have been made,  the death  benefit  will equal  $50,000.  A partial
surrender  causes  the face  amount to  decrease  by the  amount of the  partial
surrender and the transaction charge.

     Illustration  of Option 2. Assume that the  insured's  attained  age at the
time of death is  between  20 and 40,  that  there are no  policy  loans or loan
interest unpaid at the time of death,  and that the face amount of the Policy is
$50,000.

     Under  Option 2, a Policy with an Policy Value of $10,000 will have a death
benefit of $60,000  ($50,000 + $10,000);  a Policy Value of $30,000 will yield a
death  benefit of $80,000  ($50,000 +  $30,000).  The death  benefit  under this
illustrative  Policy,  however,  must be at least equal to 250% of Policy  Value
(Policy Value plus 150% of Policy  Value).  As a result,  if the Policy Value of
the Policy  exceeds  $33,334,  the death  benefit  will be greater than the face
amount plus Policy Value.  Each additional  dollar of Policy Value above $33,334
will  increase the death  benefit by $2.50.  A contract on a 40-year old insured
that has an Policy  Value of $40,000  will  provide a death  benefit of $100,000
(250% x $40,000).  Similarly, any time Policy Value exceeds $33,334, each dollar
taken out of Policy Value reduces the death  benefit by $2.50.  If, for example,
the  Policy  Value is  reduced  from  $40,000  to  $34,000  because  of  partial
surrenders,  charges, or negative investment performance, the death benefit will
be  reduced  from  $100,000  to  $85,000.  If,  however,  at any  time  in  this
illustration  250% of the Policy Value were less than $50,000 plus Policy Value,
the death benefit would be $50,000 plus the Policy Value of the Policy.

     The Company  guarantees  that, so long as the Policy remains in force,  the
death  benefit  under  either death  benefit  option will never be less than the
current face amount of the Policy.  However,  the death proceeds  payable may be
less than the death benefit in the event of policy  loans,  unpaid loan interest
or overdue Monthly Policy Charges.

Change in Death Benefit Option

     A policyowner may make a Written Request to change the death benefit option
on or after the second  Policy  Anniversary.  Only two changes in death  benefit
option are allowed per Policy  Year.  There are no charges or fees for  changing
the death benefit option. Any Written Request for change in death benefit option
must be approved by the Company.  The  effective  date of any change will be the
Monthly Date that  coincides with or next follows the day the request for change
is approved by the Company.  A change in death benefit option will affect future
cost of insurance charges.

     If the death  benefit  option is changed from Option 1 to Option 2, the new
face  amount  will be the old  face  amount  decreased  by the  Policy  Value as
determined on the effective date of the change.  This change will not be allowed
if it will result in a face amount less than the minimum face amount of $50,000.
Changing  from  Option  1 to  Option  2 may  require  evidence  of  insurability
satisfactory  to the  Company  that the insured is  insurable  for the new death
benefit under its underwriting guidelines then in effect.

     If the death  benefit  option is changed from Option 2 to Option 1, the new
face  amount  will be the old  face  amount  increased  by the  Policy  Value as
determined on the effective date of the change. Changing from Option 2 to Option
1 does not require evidence of insurability.

Adjustment Options

     A policyowner  may make a Written  Request to increase the face amount of a
Policy  at any time,  so long as the  Policy  is not in a Grace  Period  and the
policyowner is not receiving  benefits under a waiver rider.  If the face amount
of the Policy is  increased  during the first  twenty-four  policy  months,  the
Minimum  Required  Premium will  increase for the  remainder of the  twenty-four
month period following the date of the face amount  increase.  A policyowner may
make a Written  Request to decrease  the face amount at any time on or after the
second  Policy  Anniversary  so long as the Policy is not in a Grace  Period and
Monthly Policy Charges are not being waived under a rider.  Any Written  Request
for  adjustment of face amount must be approved by the Company and is subject to
these additional conditions:

     1. Any  request  for an  increase  in face  amount must be applied for by a
        supplemental  application and an adjustment  application,  signed by the
        policyowner  and the  insured,  and  shall be  subject  to  evidence  of
        insurability   satisfactory  to  the  Company  under  its   underwriting
        guidelines  then in  effect.  The  minimum  increase  in face  amount is
        $50,000.  The age of the  insured  must be 85 or less at the time of the
        request.

     2. A request  for a  decrease  in face  amount  must be  applied  for by an
        adjustment  application,  signed by the Policyowner and the insured, and
        may not reduce the face amount of the Policy below $50,000.

     3. Any increase in face amount will be in a risk classification the Company
        determines.

     4. Any  adjustment  approved by the Company  will become  effective  on the
        Monthly Date that coincides with or next follows the Company's  approval
        of the request.

     If a  payment  in an  amount  greater  than  or  equal  to  the  adjustment
conditional   receipt   premium   deposit  is  submitted   with  the  adjustment
application,  then a conditional receipt is given to the policyowner  reflecting
receipt of the payment and outlining any interim insurance  coverage provided by
the conditional receipt.  The adjustment  conditional receipt premium deposit is
that  amount  calculated  by the  Company and  provided  to the  policyowner  in
connection  with the  policyowner's  request  for a face  amount  increase.  Any
payment  submitted with a proposed face amount increase is held initially in the
General Account without interest.  If the Company approves the adjustment,  then
on the effective  date of the  adjustment  the amount of the premium  payment so
held, less the Premium Expense Charge,  is allocated among the Divisions and the
Fixed Account in  accordance  with the  policyowner's  existing  directions  for
allocation  of premium  payments.  Net  premiums  paid after an increase in face
amount  also  are  allocated  among  the  Divisions  and the  Fixed  Account  in
accordance with the policyowner's  exiting  directions for allocation of premium
payments.

     There is no free look period with  respect to any  increase in face amount.
Any increase in face amount will,  however,  carry its own exchange right, which
will apply only to the increase in face amount,  not the entire  Policy.  During
the first 24 policy months following issuance of Policy data pages reflecting an
increased  face  amount,  but not while the  Policy  is in a Grace  Period,  the
policyowner  may exchange the increased  face amount for any other form of fixed
benefit  individual life insurance policy (other than term insurance)  currently
made  available by the Company for this purpose on the  insured's  life.  On the
date of  exchange,  a portion of the Policy Value  attributable  to the increase
will be transferred to the fixed benefit policy. The portion of the Policy Value
attributable to the increase in face amount is determined by use of the ratio of
the face amount of the increase  over the face amount of the Policy,  determined
at the adjustment date for the face amount increase.

     Premium  payments  made under the Policy  after  exercise of this  exchange
right will be  credited  only to the  Policy.  A new policy  will be issued upon
exercise of the exchange right which will require payment of its own premiums. A
portion of any unpaid policy loan and loan interest may be required to be repaid
prior to the exchange or transferred to the new policy.  In all other  respects,
this exchange right for face amount  increases is the same as that available for
the purchase of the Policy (See "Right to Exchange Policy." )

CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS

     The  Company  will make  certain  charges  and  deductions  to support  the
operation of the Policy and the Separate Account.  Some charges will be deducted
from premium payments as received, some charges will be deducted from the Policy
Value on a monthly  basis,  and other  charges will be deducted  from the Policy
Value upon total  surrender or termination of a Policy.  In addition,  there are
fees for the  administrative  costs involved in processing certain transfers and
all partial surrenders of Policy Value.

Premium Expense Charge

     Upon receipt of each premium payment, the Company deducts a Premium Expense
Charge.  The  Premium  Expense  Charge  includes a charge of 2.20% for state and
local  taxes and a charge of 1.25% for  federal  taxes.  The  charges for state,
local and federal taxes are not expected to exceed these taxes.  The charge also
includes a premium  sales load of 2.75% for premium  payments less than or equal
to the Target Premium and .75% for premium  payments in excess of Target Premium
made during  each of the first ten Policy  Years and,  with  respect to premiums
attributable  to any face  amount  increase,  made  during each of the first ten
years following the increase.  Sales loads,  including the sales load portion of
the Surrender  Charge more fully described below, are intended to compensate the
Company  for  distribution   expenses  including   registered   representatives'
commissions, the printing of prospectuses and sales literature, and advertising.
The sales loads imposed in any Policy Year are not necessarily related to actual
distribution  expenses  incurred in that year.  Instead,  the Company expects to
incur the majority of  distribution  expenses in the early years of a Policy and
to recover any deficiency over the life of a Policy. To the extent  distribution
expenses  exceed  sales loads  (including  the sales load  portion of  Surrender
Charges, if any) in any year, the Company will pay them from its other assets or
surplus in its general  account,  which includes  amounts derived from mortality
and expense risks charges and from mortality gains.

Monthly Policy Charge

     On each  Monthly  Date,  the Company  will deduct from the Policy  Value an
amount to cover certain  charges and expenses  incurred in  connection  with the
Policy.  The Monthly Policy Charge  deduction is made only from the Policy Value
held in the Fixed Account and/or Investment Accounts.  No deduction is made from
a Loan  Account  . The  Monthly  Policy  Charge  will  be  allocated  among  the
Investment  Accounts  and the  Fixed  Account  in  accordance  with  policyowner
instruction  on the  application  for the Policy.  The  policyowner's  choice of
allocation  percentages  may be: (1) the same as the allocation  percentages for
premiums,  (2) on a Prorated Basis or (3) any other method of allocation  agreed
upon  by the  policyowner  and  the  Company.  For  the  Fixed  Account  or each
Investment Account, the allocation percentage must be zero or a whole number not
less than ten nor greater than 100.  The  allocation  percentages  chosen by the
policyowner must total 100.  Requests for changes in allocation  percentages are
effective  on the next  Monthly  Date  following  approval  by the  Company.  If
following  the  policyowner's  instruction  would not be possible on any Monthly
Date due to insufficient value in the Fixed Account and/or Investment  Accounts,
Monthly Policy Charges will be deducted on a Prorated  Basis.  The deduction for
the Monthly  Policy Charge  consists of a charge for the cost of insurance and a
charge  for any  optional  benefits  added by rider,  a  monthly  administration
charge, and a mortality and expense risks charge.

Cost of Insurance Charge

     The monthly cost of insurance charge is calculated as (1) multiplied by the
result of (2) minus (3) where:

     (1) is the cost of insurance rate as described below divided by 1,000;

     (2) is the death benefit at the beginning of the policy month; and

     (3)is the Policy Value at the  beginning of the policy month  calculated as
        if the Monthly Policy Charges were zero.

     The cost of  insurance  rate is based on the  gender,  issue age,  duration
since issue,  smoking  status and risk  classification  of the insured under the
Policy.  (For  Policies  issued in states  which  require  unisex  pricing or in
connection  with  employment  related  insurance and benefit plans,  the cost of
insurance  is not  based  on the  gender  of the  insured.)  The  rate  will  be
determined by the Company  based upon its  expectations  as to future  mortality
experience,  but the rate  will  never  exceed  the rate  shown in the  Table of
Monthly  Guaranteed  Cost of  Insurance  Rates  set forth in the  Policy.  These
guaranteed   maximum   rates  are  based  on  the  1980  Smoker  and   Nonsmoker
Commissioners Standard Ordinary Mortality Tables. The table used will be male or
female according to the gender of the insured (where allowed by law). Any change
in current cost of  insurance  rates will apply to all  individuals  of the same
age, gender and risk classification of the insured.  However,  different maximum
cost of insurance  rates may apply to any face amount  increases under a Policy.
The cost of insurance rate for a face amount  increase is based on the insured's
gender (where allowed by law), age at time of increase, duration since increase,
smoking  status  and  risk  classification  of the  insured  at the  time of the
increase.

Administration Charge

   
     The current  monthly  administration  charge for a Policy  during the first
Policy Year is an amount  equal to $.40 for each  $1,000 of Policy face  amount,
but not less than $6.00 per month and not greater  than $16.67 per month.  After
the  first  Policy  Year,  the  monthly  administration  charge  for a Policy is
currently  set  at  $6.00  per  month.  The  monthly  administration  charge  is
guaranteed  not to exceed an amount equal to the greater of $.60 for each $1,000
of Policy  face  amount or $10.00 per month,  but no more than  $25.00 per month
during the first  Policy  Year and no more than $10.00 per month after the first
Policy Year. The Policy also provides for a contingent  deferred  administration
charge which is a part of the Surrender  Charge imposed upon total  surrender or
termination of a Policy when a grace period expires without  sufficient  premium
payment.  (See "Surrender  Charge.") The monthly  administration  charge and the
deferred   administration   charge  reimburse  the  Company  for  the  recurring
administrative  expenses related to the Policy and the Separate  Account.  These
expenses are expenses  other than sales expenses and include,  for example,  the
cost of processing  applications,  conducting medical examinations,  determining
insurability,  establishing  policy records,  premium  reminders and collection,
recordkeeping,  processing  death benefit claims and policy changes,  reporting,
and  overhead   costs.   The  Company  does  not  expect  to  recover  from  the
administration charges any amount above its accumulated expenses associated with
the Policies and the Separate Account.
    

Mortality and Expense Risks Charge

   
     The  Company  deducts  a  monthly  charge  from the  Policy  Value  for the
mortality and expense  risks it assumes under the Policies.  This charge is made
on each Monthly Date at an annual rate of .90% of the value of the policyowner's
Investment  Accounts.  The charge is currently reduced to an annual rate of .27%
after the ninth Policy Year. The Company reserves the right to increase the .27%
charge,  subject to the  guaranteed  maximum annual rate of .90%. If the Company
increases the charge such increase will be applicable only to Policies issued on
or after the date of the  increase.  The  mortality  risk  assumed is that lives
insured may live for a shorter  period of time than the Company  estimated.  The
expense risk assumed is that expenses  incurred in issuing and administering the
Policies will be greater than the Company estimated.  The Company will realize a
gain from this charge to the extent it is not needed to provide benefits and pay
expenses under the Policies.
    

Transaction Charge

     A  transaction  charge  of the  lesser  of $25  or 2% of the  amount  being
surrendered is imposed on each partial  surrender of Policy Value. A transaction
charge of $25 may be imposed on each unscheduled  transfer of Policy Value among
the Investment Accounts exceeding twelve per Policy Year. All transfers with the
same effective date count as one transfer.

Surrender Charge

     During the first ten Policy  Years,  the  Company  will  assess a Surrender
Charge upon total  surrender of a Policy or termination of a Policy when a Grace
Period expires without sufficient premium payment. In addition, the Company will
assess a  Surrender  Charge  upon  surrender  or  termination  of a  Policy  for
insufficient  premium  payment  which  occurs  during the first ten Policy Years
after the  adjustment  date for a face amount  increase.  Thus,  surrender  of a
Policy or  termination of a Policy for  insufficient  value within the first ten
Policy  Years and within ten Policy  Years after the  adjustment  date of a face
amount  increase  will  result in  assessment  of a composite  Surrender  Charge
representing  the  charge  imposed  on the  initial  face  amount and the charge
imposed on the face amount increase.  Surrender Charges do not decrease when the
face amount of a Policy is decreased. No additional Surrender Charges apply when
the death  benefit under a Policy is changed from Option 2 to Option 1. All or a
portion of the  Surrender  Charge  will be  partially  or  completely  waived on
Policies  issued with an accounting  benefit rider upon total surrender in early
Policy Years. An accounting benefit rider is a rider issued to a corporate owner
of a Policy  designed to permit the  corporation to include greater Policy Value
amounts  on its  Statement  of Net  Assets  in early  Policy  Years  than  would
otherwise be possible.

     The Surrender Charge is comprised of two parts: A contingent deferred sales
charge and a contingent deferred administration charge.

Contingent Deferred Sales Charge

     The contingent deferred sales charge is equal to 47.25% of premiums paid up
to a maximum of two Target  Premiums for  insureds  under age 66. This charge is
reduced for insureds age 66 and over in accordance with the following table:

 Insured's Age                                    Applicable
  on Issue or                                 Contingent Deferred
Adjustment Date                                  Sales Charge
- ---------------               --------------------------------------------------
     66-70                    47.25% on premiums paid up to 1.5 x Target Premium
     71-75                    47.25% on premiums paid up to 1.1 x Target Premium
     76-80                    47.25% on premiums paid up to 0.8 x Target Premium
     81-85                    47.25% on premiums paid up to 0.5 x Target Premium

The contingent deferred sales charge portion of the Surrender Charge is assessed
to recover sales expenses and is in addition to the 2.75% and .75% premium sales
load which is deducted when premium payments are made.

Contingent Deferred Administration Charge

     The contingent deferred  administration charge is equal to $3 per $1,000 of
Policy  face  amount,  but no greater  than $1,500 per  Policy.  The  contingent
deferred  administration  charge portion of the Surrender  Charge is intended to
reimburse the Company for administrative expenses associated with the Policy and
the Separate Account and is in addition to the monthly administration charge for
a Policy.

Surrender Charge Percentage

The  Surrender  Charge  during  any  Policy  Year  is  equal  to the  sum of the
contingent  deferred  sales charge and the  contingent  deferred  administration
charge multiplied by the applicable surrender percentage as shown below.

Policy Year of Surrender                Surrender Charge Percentage
- ------------------------                ---------------------------
         1-5                                      100.00%
           6                                       95.24%
           7                                       85.71%
           8                                       71.43%
           9                                       52.38%
          10                                       28.57%
          11+                                       0.00%

     If the face amount of a Policy is increased, Surrender Charges apply to the
net increase in face amount as though a new Policy had been issued for an amount
equal to the net  increase.  The net  increase  in face  amount  is equal to the
increase in face amount less earlier decreases in face amount not offset against
an earlier  increase in face amount.  The  Surrender  Charge  applicable to face
amount  increase  will be  determined  by  multiplying  the increase in the face
amount, in thousands,  by the contingent deferred  administration  charge on the
increase in face amount  (subject to the $1,500 limit per Policy) and adding the
premium  attributable to the face amount increase (up to a maximum of two Target
Premiums)  multiplied by the  contingent  deferred  sales charge  (47.25%).  The
premium  attributable to the increase in face amount is determined by use of the
ratio of the face  amount of the  increase  over the face  amount of the  Policy
determined at the adjustment  date for the face amount  increase.The  contingent
deferred  sales  charge is reduced for  insureds age 66 or older at the Issue or
Adjustment Date as discussed above under the heading "Contingent  Deferred Sales
Charge." The sum of these amounts is then  multiplied  by the  Surrender  Charge
percentage in the above table to determine the Surrender Charge.

     Surrender Charges following a Policy's  reinstatement  commence at the rate
in effect at the time of the Policy's termination.

Sales Charge Limitations

     If a Policy is  surrendered  at any time  during the first two years  after
issuance or after an increase in face  amount,  the Company  will forego  taking
that part of the deferred  sales charge with respect to "premiums"  paid for the
initial face amount or such increase, whichever is applicable, which would cause
the total sales load (premium  sales load portion of the Premium  Expense Charge
deducted from premium payments plus contingent  deferred sales charge) to exceed
the sum of (i) 30% of the premiums paid up to the lesser of one guideline annual
premium or the maximum  amount of premiums  subject to the deferred sales charge
plus (ii) 10% of the premiums paid in excess of one guideline annual premium, up
to the lesser of two guideline annual premiums or the maximum amount of premiums
subject to the deferred sales charge.

Other Charges

     Shares of the Mutual Funds are purchased by the corresponding  Divisions at
the shares' net asset values. The net asset value of Mutual Fund shares reflects
the investment management fees and corporate operating expenses already deducted
from the assets of the Mutual Funds. The current  investment  management fee and
total  operating  expenses  for each of the Mutual  Funds is provided  under the
heading "Separate  Account".  These fees and expenses are fully described in the
prospectus for each of the Mutual Funds.

Special Provisions for Group or Sponsored Arrangements

     Where permitted by state  insurance  laws,  Policies may be purchased under
group or sponsored  arrangements,  as well as on an individual  basis.  A "group
arrangement"  includes  a program  under  which a trustee,  employer  or similar
entity  purchases  Policies  covering a group of individuals on a group basis. A
"sponsored arrangement" includes a program under which an employer permits group
solicitation  of its employees or an association  permits group  solicitation of
its members for the purchase of Policies on an individual basis.

     The  charges and  deductions  described  above may be reduced for  Policies
issued in connection with group or sponsored arrangements. Such arrangements may
include sales without premium sales loads and/or Surrender Charges to employees,
officers,  directors,  agents,  immediate  family members of the foregoing,  and
employees of agents of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company will reduce
the above charges and  deductions  in accordance  with its rules in effect as of
the  date an  application  for a  Policy  is  approved.  To  qualify  for such a
reduction, a group or sponsored arrangement must satisfy certain criteria as to,
for example,  size of the group, expected number of participants and anticipated
premium  payments  from the group.  Generally,  the sales  contacts  and effort,
administrative costs and mortality cost per Policy vary based on such factors as
the size of the group or sponsored arrangements, the purposes for which Policies
are  purchased  and  certain  characteristics  of its  members.  The  amount  of
reduction  and the criteria  for  qualification  will reflect the reduced  sales
effort and  administrative  costs  resulting  from, and the different  mortality
experience  expected as a result of, sales to  qualifying  groups and  sponsored
arrangements.

     The  Company  may modify from time to time,  on a uniform  basis,  both the
amounts of reductions  and the criteria for  qualification.  Reductions in these
charges will not be unfairly  discriminatory  against any person,  including the
affected  policyowners  and all other  policyowners  with policies funded by the
Separate Account.

     In addition,  groups and persons  purchasing under a sponsored  arrangement
may apply for flexible  underwriting.  If flexible  underwriting is granted, the
cost of  insurance  charge  may  increase  as a  result  of  higher  anticipated
mortality experience. Flexible underwriting programs currently available include
batch  underwriting,  expanded  non-medical  underwriting  and guaranteed  issue
underwriting.

THE FIXED ACCOUNT

Policyowners  may allocate  Net Premiums and transfer  amounts from the Separate
Account to the Fixed Account, in which case such amounts are held in the General
Account  of the  Company.  Because of  exemptive  and  exclusionary  provisions,
interests in the Fixed Account have not been registered under the Securities Act
of 1933 and the General Account has not been registered as an investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Accordingly, neither the Fixed Account
nor any interests  therein are subject to the provisions of these Acts and, as a
result, the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has not reviewed the
disclosures  in this  prospectus  relating  to the  Fixed  Account.  Disclosures
regarding  the Fixed  Account  may,  however,  be subject  to certain  generally
applicable  provisions of the federal  securities  laws relating to the accuracy
and  completeness  of  statements  made  in  prospectuses.  This  prospectus  is
generally intended to serve as a disclosure document only for the aspects of the
Policy  involving the Separate  Account and contains  only selected  information
regarding the Fixed Account. More information regarding the Fixed Account may be
obtained from the Company's home office or from a sales representative.

The Company's obligations with respect to the Fixed Account are supported by the
Company's  General  Account.  Subject to  applicable  law,  the Company has sole
discretion over the investment of the assets in the General Account.

The Company  guarantees  that Net Premiums  allocated to the Fixed  Account will
accrue  interest daily at an effective  annual interest rate of not less than 3%
compounded  annually.  In its sole  discretion,  the Company may credit a higher
rate of interest.

Charges  under the  Policy  are the same as when the  Separate  Account is being
used,  except  that the  mortality  and expense  risks  charge is not imposed on
amounts of Policy Value in the Fixed Account.  The value of the Fixed Account on
any Business Day is the sum of the Net Premiums  allocated to the Fixed Account,
plus any transfers  from the Separate  Account,  plus  interest  credited to the
Fixed Account,  less surrenders,  Surrender  Charges,  Monthly Policy Charges or
transaction  fees  allocated  to the Fixed  Account or transfers to the Separate
Account.

POLICY TERMINATION AND REINSTATEMENT

Policy Termination

     An initial minimum premium payment is required to commence coverage under a
Policy. A minimum premium is required during the first twenty-four policy months
(the "Minimum Required Premium").  A notice of impending termination of a Policy
will be sent if during the 24 months  following the Policy Date,  the sum of the
premiums paid is less than the Minimum Required Premium on a Monthly Date.

       The Minimum  Required Premium on a Monthly Date is equal to (1) times (2)
where:

       1.  Is the minimum monthly premium shown on the current data pages ; and

       2.  Is the number of completed months since the Policy Date.

   
     Further, a notice of impending  termination of a Policy will be sent if, 24
months after the Policy Date or later, or any time after a policy loan is taken,
the Net  Surrender  Value of the  Policy  is not at least  equal to the  Monthly
Policy Charge on the current Monthly Date and, if the Policy has a death benefit
guarantee rider, the death benefit  guarantee  premium  requirement has not been
satisfied. Payment of a planned periodic premium does not ensure that the Policy
will not enter a grace period 24 months or later following the Policy Date.

     The grace period begins when a notice of impending termination is mailed to
a  policyowner.  The notice will be sent to the last post office  address of the
policyowner  known to the Company.  It will show the minimum payment required to
keep the Policy in force.  The notice  will also show the 61-day  period  during
which the Company will accept the required payment.

     If the grace period  begins  because the sum of the  premiums  paid is less
than the Minimum Required Premium, the minimum payment is (1) minus (2) where:

     1. Is the Minimum Required Premium due on the second Monthly Date following
        the beginning of the grace period; and
    

     2. Is the sum of the premiums paid since the Policy Date.

   
     If the grace  period  ends  before  receipt by the  Company of the  minimum
payment  described  above, the Company will pay to the policyowner any remaining
value in the Policy which would be (1) minus (2) where:
    

     1. Is the  Net  Surrender  Value  on the  Monthly  Date  on or  immediately
        preceding the start of the grace period; and

   
     2. Is the two Monthly Policy Charges applicable during the grace period.

     If the grace period begins because the Net Surrender Value is less than the
current  Monthly  Policy  Charge,  the minimum  payment is equal to (1) plus (2)
divided by (3) where:

     1. Is the amount by which the  Surrender  Charge  exceeds  the  Accumulated
        Value on the Monthly Date on or  immediately  preceding the start of the
        grace period;
    

     2. Is three Monthly Policy Charges; and

     3. Is 1 minus the maximum Premium Expense Charge.

   
     If the grace period ends before we receive the minimum payment, the Company
will keep any remaining value in the Policy.

This payment is intended to reimburse the Company for the Monthly Policy Charges
during the 61-day  grace period and provide  sufficient  Policy Value to pay the
Monthly  Policy  Charge for the first  Monthly Date  following the grace period.
There is no guarantee the amount  requested at the beginning of the grace period
will be  sufficient  to  actually  meet the Monthly  Policy  Charges as they are
processed.  Should  the  Policy's  Net  Surrender  Value not at least  equal the
Monthly  Policy  Charges on any Monthly  Date,  a new 61-day  Grace  Period will
commence.

     The Policy  will  continue  in force  through a Grace  Period;  but, if the
required  payment is not received by the Company during the 61-day  period,  the
Policy will  terminate as of the Monthly Date on or  immediately  preceding  the
start of the grace period. If the insured dies during a grace period, the policy
proceeds  will be reduced by the amount of all  Monthly  Policy  Charges due and
unpaid at the insured's death, as well as by loans and unpaid loan interest.
    

     A Policy will also terminate if the policyowner  makes a total surrender of
the  Policy,  the death  proceeds  under  the  Policy  are paid or the  maturity
proceeds under the Policy are paid. When a Policy terminates for any reason, all
policy privileges and rights of the policyowner under the Policy end.

Reinstatement

     A policyowner may, however, reinstate a Policy which terminated as a result
of failure to pay the Minimum  Required  Premium on a Monthly Date during the 24
months following the Policy Date, or as a result of insufficient value,  subject
to certain  conditions.  A Policy may be  reinstated  only prior to the Maturity
Date and while the insured is alive. The application for  reinstatement  must be
personally  delivered  or mailed to the Company at its home office  within three
years of a Policy's termination. (In some states, the Company is required by law
to provide a longer  period of time  within  which a Policy may be  reinstated.)
Satisfactory  proof  of  insurability  based  upon  the  Company's  underwriting
guidelines then in effect and payment of a  reinstatement  premium are required.
The reinstatement  premium must be at least the greater of ((1) plus (2) divided
by (3)) or ((4) minus (5)) where:

   
     1. Is the amount by which the  Surrender  Charge  exceeds  the  Accumulated
        Value on the Monthly Date on or  immediately  preceding the start of the
        grace period;
    

     2. Is three Monthly Policy Charges;

     3. Is one minus the maximum Premium Expense Charge;

   
     4. Is the Minimum Required Premium due on the second Monthly Date following
        the beginning of the grace period; and
    

     5. Is the sum of the premiums paid since the Policy Date.

Payment of Monthly Policy Charges for the period of termination is not required.
If a policy loan or loan  interest  was unpaid at the time of  termination,  the
Company  will  require  repayment  or  reinstatement  of the  loan  and any loan
interest before permitting  reinstatement of the Policy.  Loan interest will not
be charged  for the period the  Policy  was  terminated.  Reinstatement  will be
effective on the next  Monthly  Date  following  the  Company's  approval of the
reinstatement application.  The Policy Date will remain the original Policy Date
and will not be changed at reinstatement,  although  Surrender Charges for total
surrender following reinstatement will resume at the rate charged at the time of
the Policy's  termination,  as adjusted for the payment of past due premiums, if
any.
Upon  reinstatement of a Policy,  all the rights and privileges of the owner are
restored.

OTHER MATTERS

Voting Rights

     The Company  shall vote Mutual Fund shares held in the Separate  Account at
regular  and special  meetings of  shareholders  of each Mutual  Fund,  but will
follow voting  instructions  received from persons having the voting interest in
such Mutual Fund shares.

     The  policyowner  has the voting  interest under a Policy.  The policyowner
shall  have one  vote  for each  $100 of  Policy  Value in the  Divisions,  with
fractional  votes  allocated for amounts less than $100.  The number of votes on
which the  policyowner  has the right to instruct  will be  determined as of the
date  coincident  with the date  established by the Mutual Fund for  determining
shareholders  eligible  to  vote  at the  meeting  of the  Mutual  Fund.  Voting
instructions will be solicited by written  communications prior to such meetings
in accordance with  procedures  established by the Mutual Fund. The Company will
vote other Mutual Fund shares held in the Separate Account,  including those for
which no instructions are received in the same proportion as it votes shares for
which it has received  instructions.  All Mutual Fund shares held in the general
account of the Company  will be voted in  proportion  to  instructions  that are
received with respect to participating contracts.

     If the  Company  determines  pursuant  to  applicable  law that Mutual Fund
shares held in the Separate  Account need not be voted pursuant to  instructions
received from persons  otherwise  having the voting  interest as provided above,
then the Company may vote Mutual Fund shares held in the Separate Account in its
own right.

     The Company may, when required by state insurance  regulatory  authorities,
disregard voting  instructions if the instructions  require that shares be voted
so as to cause a change in  subclassification  or  investment  objective  of the
Mutual Fund, or disapprove an investment  advisory  contract of the Mutual Fund.
In addition,  the Company may disregard voting  instructions in favor of changes
initiated by a policyowner in the investment policy or the investment adviser of
the Mutual Fund if the Company reasonably  disapproves of such changes. A change
would be  disapproved  only if the  proposed  change is contrary to state law or
prohibited by state  regulatory  authorities or the Company  determines that the
change would be inconsistent  with the investment  objectives of the Mutual Fund
or would  result in the  purchase of  securities  for the Mutual Fund which vary
from the general  quality and nature of investments  and  investment  techniques
utilized by other separate  accounts created by the Company or any affiliates of
the Company  which have  similar  investment  objectives.  In the event that the
Company does  disregard  voting  instructions,  a summary of that action and the
reason  for such  actions  will be  included  in the next  semiannual  report to
policyowners.

Statement of Values

     The Company will mail an annual statement to the policyowner  after the end
of each Policy Year until the Policy terminates. The statement will show:

      1. the current death benefit;
      2. the current Policy Value and Surrender Value;
      3. all premiums paid since the last statement;
      4. all charges since the last statement;
      5. any Policy loans and loan interest;
      6. any partial surrenders since the last statement;
      7. the number of Units and Unit value;
      8. the total value of each of the policyowner's Investment Accounts;
      9. any investment gain or loss since the last statement;
     10. the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries;
     11. all riders included with the Policy; and
     12. a detailed summary of activity which occurred during the Policy Year.

     Any  policyowner  may  request at any time a current  statement  of account
values, transactions and activities by telephoning 1-800-852-4450.

     The Company will also send to the policyowner  the reports  required by the
Investment Company Act of 1940.

Service Available by Telephone

     Unless  telephone  transaction  services are  declined on the  supplemental
application for a Policy, or at any subsequent time the policyowner notifies the
Company  in  writing  to  remove   telephone   transaction   services,   certain
transactions,  including transfers permitted by the Policy, Policy loans (Policy
loan  proceeds  will be mailed  only to the  policyowner's  address of  record),
changes in the allocation of future  premium  payments and changes in allocation
of the Monthly  Policy Charge,  may be made pursuant to telephone  instructions.
The  telephone  transactions  may be  exercised by  telephoning  1-800-852-4450.
Telephone  transfer requests must be received by the close of the New York Stock
Exchange on a day when the Company is open for  business  to be  effective  that
day.  Requests made after that time or on a day when the Company is not open for
business will be effective the next Business Day.  Although neither the Separate
Account  nor the  Company  is  responsible  for the  authenticity  of  telephone
transaction  requests,  the right is  reserved  to  refuse  to accept  telephone
requests  when in the  opinion  of the  Company  it seems  prudent to do so. The
policyowner bears the risk of loss caused by fraudulent  telephone  instructions
the  Company  reasonably  believes  to  be  genuine.  The  Company  will  employ
reasonable  procedures to assure telephone  instructions are genuine and if such
procedures  are not  followed,  the  Company  may be liable  for  losses  due to
unauthorized or fraudulent  transactions.  Such procedures include recording all
telephone instructions,  requesting personal identification  information such as
the caller's name,  daytime  telephone  number,  social  security  number and/or
birthdate  and  sending  a  written  confirmation  of  the  transaction  to  the
policyowner's address of record.  Policyowners may obtain additional information
and  assistance by telephoning  the toll free number.  The Company may modify or
terminate telephone transfer procedures at any time.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Addition, Deletion or Substitution of Investments

     The Company reserves the right,  subject to compliance with applicable law,
to make additions to,  deletions from, or  substitutions  for the shares held by
any Division or which any Division  may  purchase.  If shares of any Mutual Fund
should no longer be  available  for  investment  or if, in the  judgment  of the
Company's  management,  further  investment  in shares of any mutual fund should
become  inappropriate  in view of the  purposes of the  Policy,  the Company may
substitute shares of any other investment  company for shares already purchased,
or to be purchased in the near future under the  Policies.  No  substitution  of
securities  will take place  without  notice to  policyowners  and without prior
approval of the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  to the extent  required by
the Investment Company Act of 1940.

     The  investment  policy  of the  Separate  Account  will not be  materially
changed  unless a statement of the change is filed with and not  disapproved  by
the  Insurance  Commissioner  of the  State  of Iowa and the  Superintendent  of
Insurance of the State of New York, if required.  Whether a change in investment
policy is material will be determined in conjunction with the appropriate  state
insurance  commissioner(s).  The  policyowner  will be notified of any  material
investment  policy  change.  If the  Company  eliminates  or  combines  existing
Divisions or transfers  assets in one Division to another,  the  policyowner may
then  change  allocation  percentages  and  transfer  any  value in an  affected
Division to another Division without charge. In the alternative, the policyowner
may exchange the Policy for a  fixed-benefit,  flexible  premium life  insurance
policy  offered by the Company for this purpose.  The  policyowner  may exercise
this exchange  privilege until the later of 60 days after (i) the effective date
of such change,  or (ii) the receipt of a notice of the options  available.  The
face  amount of the new  policy  will be the death  benefit of the Policy on the
date of exchange.

     Each Mutual Fund is subject to certain  investment  restrictions  which may
not be changed  without the approval of the majority of the  outstanding  voting
securities. See the accompanying prospectuses for the Mutual Funds.

Optional Insurance Benefits

     Subject  to  certain   requirements   and   approval  by  state   insurance
departments,  one or more  supplementary  benefits  may be  added  to a  Policy,
including those providing term insurance  options,  providing  accidental  death
coverage,  waiving  Monthly Policy  Charges or waiving of premium  payments upon
disability,  accelerating  benefits in the event of terminal illness,  providing
cost of living  increases  in  benefits,  providing a death  benefit  guarantee,
providing  extended  coverage  beyond the  Maturity  Date,  and,  in the case of
business-owned Policies, permitting a change of the life insured, providing face
amount  increases  that reflect salary  increases,  providing  extra  protection
increases and providing  enhanced  policy values in the early years of a Policy.
More detailed information concerning supplementary benefits may be obtained from
an authorized agent of the Company.  The cost, if any, of any optional insurance
benefits will be deducted as part of the Monthly Policy Charge.

     The death  benefit  guarantee  rider  provides  that if the  death  benefit
guarantee  premium  requirement is satisfied the Policy will not enter its grace
period  even if the Net  Surrender  Value is  insufficient  to cover the monthly
deduction on a Monthly Date. This rider is automatically made a part of a Policy
if the issue age of the insured is under age 65 and (where permitted by law) the
planned periodic premium is equal to or greater than the death benefit guarantee
premium.  The rider terminates on the later of the Policy Anniversary  following
the insured's 65th birthday or five years after the effective date of the rider.
The death benefit guarantee  premium  requirement is satisfied if the sum of all
premiums paid less any partial  surrenders  and any Policy loans and unpaid loan
interest  equals or  exceeds  the sum of the  monthly  death  benefit  guarantee
premiums  applicable to the number of months the Policy has been in force,  less
one month. The death benefit guarantee premium is based on the issue age, gender
(where permitted by law),  death benefit option,  and risk class of the insured.
The monthly  death benefit  guarantee  premium will be considered to be zero for
any month that  deductions  are being  paid by the waiver of monthly  deductions
rider. The death benefit  guarantee premium may change if the Policy face amount
is changed, the death benefit option is changed, or a rider is added or deleted.
As a result of a change,  an  additional  premium may be required on the date of
the  change  in  order  to  satisfy  the new  death  benefit  guarantee  premium
requirement.  If on  any  Monthly  Date  the  death  benefit  guarantee  premium
requirement  is not met,  the  policyowner  will be sent a notice of the premium
required  to  maintain  the  guarantee.  If the  premium  is not  received  at a
Company's  home  office  prior to the  expiration  of 61 days after the date the
notice is mailed,  the death benefit  guarantee  will no longer be in effect and
the rider will terminate. If the rider terminates,  it may not be reinstated. If
this rider is in force,  the death  benefit  guarantee  premium  requirement  is
satisfied and the insured is alive on the Policy Maturity Date, the Company will
pay the  policyowner  the excess,  if any, of the face amount over the  maturity
proceeds.

The Contract

     The Policy, the application  attached to it, any supplemental  application,
any adjustment  applications,  any amendments to the application and the current
data pages make up the entire contract  between the Company and the policyowner.
Any  statements  made in the  application or an adjustment  application  will be
considered  representations and not warranties. No statement,  unless made in an
application,  will be used to void a Policy (or void an adjustment in case of an
adjustment  application)  or to defend against a claim. A Policy may be modified
by mutual agreement  between the policyowner and the Company.  Any alteration of
the Policy  must be in  writing  and  signed by one of the  Company's  corporate
officers. No one else, including the agent, may change the contract or waive any
provisions.

Incontestability

     The Company  will not  contest  the  insurance  coverage  provided  under a
Policy,  except for any subsequent increase in face amount, after the Policy has
been in force  during the lifetime of the insured for a period of two years from
the Policy Date. This provision does not apply to claims for total disability or
to accidental  death benefits which may be provided by a rider to a Policy.  Any
face amount  increase  made under the  Adjustment  Options has its own  two-year
contestable period which begins on the effective date of the adjustment.

Misstatements

     If the age or gender of the insured has been  misstated in an  application,
including a reinstatement  application,  the death benefit under the Policy will
be that which  would be  purchased  by the most recent  mortality  charge at the
correct age and gender.

Suicide

     A Policy  does not  cover the risk of  suicide  within  two years  from the
Policy  Date or two years  from the date of any  increase  in face  amount  with
respect to such increase, whether the insured is sane or insane. In the event of
suicide  within two years of the Policy Date,  the only liability of the Company
will be a refund of premiums paid,  without interest,  less any policy loans and
loan  interest and any partial  surrenders.  In the event of suicide  within two
years of an  increase  in face  amount,  the only  liability  of the  Company in
respect  to  that  increase  in face  amount  will be a  refund  of the  cost of
insurance for that increase.

Ownership

   
     The  owner of the  Policy  is as named in the  application.  The  owner may
exercise every right and enjoy every privilege  provided by the Policy,  subject
to the rights of any irrevocable  beneficiary.  All privileges and rights of the
owner  under a Policy end when the owner  surrenders  the  Policy for cash,  the
death  proceeds of the Policy are paid,  or the maturity  proceeds of the Policy
are paid.  Also, if the grace period ends without  receipt by the Company at its
home office of the payment  required to keep the Policy in force, the privileges
and  rights of the owner  terminate  as of the  Monthly  Date on or  immediately
preceding  the start of the Grace  Period.  If the owner is not the  insured and
dies  before the  insured,  the insured  becomes the owner  unless the owner has
provided  for a  successor  owner.  The owner may be changed by filing a Written
Request  with the  Company.  The  Company's  approval is needed and no change is
effective  until the Company  approves the Written  Request for change of owner.
Once  approved,  the  change is  effective  as of the date the owner  signed the
Written  Request.  The Company  reserves the right to require that the Policy be
sent to the Company so that the change may be recorded.
    

Beneficiaries

     The original  beneficiaries and contingent  beneficiaries are designated by
the policyowner on the application.  A primary and/or contingent  beneficiary or
beneficiaries  may be changed by Written  Request to the Company.  The Company's
approval is needed and no change is  effective  until the Company  approves  the
Written  Request  for  change  of  beneficiary.  Once  approved,  the  change is
effective as of the date the owner signed the Written Request.  If changed,  the
primary beneficiary or contingent  beneficiary is as shown in the latest written
change filed with the Company.  One or more primary or contingent  beneficiaries
may be named in the application or a later change request.

Benefit Instructions

     While the insured is alive, the owner may file instructions for the payment
of death  proceeds  under one of the  benefit  options  under the  Policy.  Such
instructions,  or a change of  instructions,  must be made by Written Request to
the Company.  If the owner changes the beneficiary,  that change will revoke any
prior benefit instructions.

Postponement of Payments

     Payment of any amount  upon total or partial  surrender,  policy  loan,  or
proceeds  payable at death or  maturity  and the right to transfer to or from an
Investment  Account may be  postponed or  suspended  whenever:  (1) the New York
Stock Exchange is closed other than customary weekend and holiday  closings,  or
trading  on the New York Stock  Exchange  is  restricted  as  determined  by the
Securities and Exchange  Commission;  (2) the Securities and Exchange Commission
by order permits  postponement  for the protection of  policyowners;  or (3) the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  requires  that trading be  restricted  or
declares  an  emergency,  as a result of which  disposal  of  securities  is not
reasonably  practicable or it is not reasonably practicable to determine the net
asset value of the Mutual Funds.

Assignment

     The Policy can be assigned as  collateral  for a loan.  The Company must be
notified in writing if the Policy has been  assigned.  Each  assignment  will be
subject  to any  payments  made or  action  taken  by the  Company  prior to its
notification of such assignment. The Company is not responsible for the validity
of an assignment.  An assignment as collateral does not change the owner but the
rights of  beneficiaries,  whenever  named,  become  subordinate to those of the
assignee.

Policy Proceeds

     Death proceeds under a Policy will  ordinarily be paid within five Business
Days after the Company receives due proof of death. Payments may be postponed in
certain  circumstances.  (See  "Postponement of Payments.") During the insured's
lifetime,  the  policyowner  may arrange for the death  proceeds to be paid in a
lump sum or under one or more of the settlement  options described below.  These
choices are also available if the Policy is surrendered or matures.

     When death proceeds are payable in a lump sum, the  beneficiary  may select
one or more of the settlement options.

     The following options are available:

Option A

     Special Benefit  Arrangement - A specially  designed  benefit option may be
arranged with the Company's approval.

Option B

     Proceeds  Left at  Interest - The Company  will hold the amount  applied on
deposit.  Interest  payments will be made annually,  semiannually,  quarterly or
monthly, as elected.

Option C

     Fixed  Income - The  Company  will pay an  income  of a fixed  amount or an
income for a fixed period not exceeding 30 years.

Option D

     Life Income - The Company will pay an income during a person's lifetime.  A
minimum guaranteed period may be used.

Option E

     Joint and Survivor  Life Income - The Company will pay an income during the
lifetime of two persons,  and continuing  until the death of the survivor.  This
option includes a minimum guaranteed period of 10 years.

Option F

     Joint and Two-Thirds  Survivor Life Income - The Company will pay an income
during the time two persons both remain  alive,  and  two-thirds of the original
amount during the remaining lifetime of the survivor.

     Interest  at a rate set by the  Company,  but never less than  required  by
state law, will be applied to determine the payment under Option B, and any such
interest in excess of the  guaranteed  minimum  will be added to payments  under
Option C.

Participating Policy

     The Policies  share in any  divisible  surplus of the Company.  The Company
will  determine  each  Policy's  share of the  surplus  and will  credit it as a
dividend at the end of each Policy Year.  The Company does not expect to pay any
dividends under the Policy.
Dividends, if any, will be paid in cash.

Right To Exchange Policy

     During the first 24 policy months  following  issuance of a Policy,  except
during a Grace  Period,  the  policyowner  may exchange the Policy for any other
form of  fixed  benefit  individual  life  insurance  policy  (other  than  term
insurance)  currently  made  available  by the Company  for this  purpose on the
insured's  life.  At  present,  the Company  makes  several  insurance  policies
available for exercise of this exchange  right.  Such request must be postmarked
or  delivered  to the home office of the  Company  before the  expiration  of 24
months  after the  Effective  Date.  At the option of the  policyowner,  the new
policy will provide  either the same death benefit or the same amount at risk as
the Policy did at the time of the exchange request.  Premiums for the new policy
will be based on the same  gender,  issue age,  and risk  classification  of the
insured under the Policy.  An equitable  adjustment in the new policy's payments
and cash or Policy  Values  will be made to reflect  variances,  if any,  in the
payments and Policy Values under the Policy and the new policy. Minimum benefits
of the new  policy  will be fixed and  guaranteed  and the new  policy  will not
participate  in the  experience of the Separate  Account.  Policy values will be
determined  as of the date the Written  Request for  exchange is received at the
Company's  home office.  Evidence of  insurability  will not be required for the
exchange.  No charge will be imposed on the exercise of this exchange privilege.
Any  policy  loan and loan  interest  must be repaid  prior to the  exchange  or
transferred to the new policy. Any benefit riders included as a part of a Policy
may be exchanged,  without evidence of insurability,  for similar benefit riders
on the new policy if both these conditions are met:

     1. The policyowner, in the Written Request for exchange, indicates that the
        rider or riders should be a part of the new policy; and

     2. The similar benefit rider or riders were available for the new policy on
        the effective date of the benefit rider for the Policy based on the same
        issue  age,  gender and risk  classification  of the  insured  under the
        Policy.

     The exchange  will be effective  upon proper  receipt by the Company of the
Written  Request,  any amount  required as an  adjustment  and  surrender of the
Policy.

     The policyowner may also exchange the Policy for a fixed-benefit,  flexible
premium  policy in the event of a  material  change  in  investment  policy of a
Division (see "Addition, Deletion or Substitution of Investments.")

     In  addition,  the  policyowner  has the right to  exchange  a face  amount
increase for a  fixed-benefit,  flexible  premium  policy at any time during the
first 24 months following issuance of Policy data pages reflecting a face amount
increase,  but not  while  the  Policy  is in a Grace  Period  (see  "Adjustment
Options.")

DISTRIBUTION OF THE POLICY

     The Policy will be sold by  individuals  who, in addition to being licensed
and  appointed as life  insurance  agents or brokers for the  Company,  are also
registered representatives of the principal underwriter of the Policies, Princor
Financial  Services  Corporation,  or  of  other  broker-dealers  which  Princor
Financial  Services  Corporation  selects  and  the  Company  approves.  Princor
Financial  Services  Corporation is registered  with the Securities and Exchange
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as a broker-dealer and is a
member of the National  Association  of  Securities  Dealers,  Inc. For Policies
distributed by the principal  underwriter  commissions will range between 0% and
50% of premium received in the first year of a Policy (and between 0% and 50% of
premium received in the first year following an adjustment date), up to a Target
Premium  determined  by a rate per $1,000 of face amount which varies by the age
and gender of the  insured.  In addition,  commissions  will include 0% to 3% of
premium received in the first year of the Policy,  above the Target Premium. For
years  two and  later  of a  Policy,  commissions  will  range  from 0% to 2% of
premiums  received.  A service fee of 0% to 2% is paid on all premiums  received
after the first Policy Year. In addition,  a persistency  renewal commission may
be paid which ranges from 1.25% to 5.25% of premiums received in the first three
Policy Years,  depending upon the agent's or broker's total life insurance sales
for the Company.  Expense  allowances  may also be payable to agents and brokers
based upon premiums  received.  Commission  amounts for Policies  distributed by
broker-dealers other than the principal underwriter will vary.

     The  Company  has  entered  into  a  distribution  agreement  with  Princor
Financial Services  Corporation.  Princor Financial Services Corporation is also
the principal  underwriter for various registered investment companies organized
by  the  Company.  Princor  Financial  Services  Corporation  is a  wholly-owned
subsidiary of Principal Holding Company.  Principal Holding Company is a holding
company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

     Principal Mutual Life Insurance  Company is managed by a Board of Directors
which is elected by its  policyowners.  The directors and executive  officers of
the  Company,  their  positions  with the  Company,  including  Board  Committee
memberships,  and their principal  occupation during the last five years, are as
follows:

DIRECTORS:
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS (OTHER THAN DIRECTORS):

JOHN EDWARD ASCHENBRENNER           Senior Vice President
RAY STEPHENS CRABTREE               Executive Vice President
THOMAS JEFFERSON GAARD              Senior Vice President
MICHAEL HARRY GERSIE                Senior Vice President
THOMAS JOHN GRAF                    Senior Vice President
JOHN BARRY GRISWELL                 Executive Vice President
RONALD EUGENE KELLER                Executive Vice President
GREGG ROSS NARBER                   Senior Vice President and General Counsel
CHARLES EDWARD ROHM                 Executive Vice President

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<C>                                         <C>    

                                            Principal Occupation
Name, Positions and Offices                 During Last 5 Years
- ---------------------------                 -------------------
MARY VERMEER ANDRINGA                       President and Chief Operating Officer, Vermeer Manufacturing Company.
Director
Member, Nominating Committee

RUTH MARGARET DAVIS                         President and Chief Executive Officer, The Pymatuning Group, Inc.
Director
Member, Nominating Committee

DAVID JAMES DRURY                           Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company since
Director                                    January 1995. President  and Chief Executive Officer from 1994 - 1995; President from
Chairman of the Board                       1993-1994; Executive Vice President from 1992-1993; Executive Vice President and Chair,
Executive Committee                         Chief  Actuary 1992; prior thereto, Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary.

CHARLES DANIEL GELATT, JR.                  President, NMT Corporation.
Director
Member, Executive and
Human Resources Committees

GERALD DAVID HURD                           Retired. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
Director                                    1989 - 1994.
Member, Executive and
Human Resources Committee

THEADORE MURTAGH HUTCHISON                  Vice Chairman, Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company since August 1994. Prior thereto,
Director                                    Executive Vice President.

CHARLES SAMUEL JOHNSON                      President and Chief Executive Officer, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. since
Director                                    September, 1995. President and Chief Operating Officer March 1995-September 1995.
                                            Executive Vice President 1993-March 1995. Prior thereto Senior Vice President.

WILLIAM TURNBALL  KERR                      President & Chief Executive Officer, Meredith Corporation since 1994.Prior thereto,
Director                                    Executive Vice President.
Member, Nominating Committee

LEE LIU                                     Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, IES Industries, Inc.
Director
Member, Executive and Human
Resources Committees

VICTOR HENDRIK LOEWENSTEIN                  Managing Partner, Egon Zehnder International
Director
Member, Audit Committee

RONALD DALE PEARSON                         Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hy-Vee, Inc..
Director
Member, Human Resources Committee

JOHN ROY PRICE                              Managing Director, The Chase Manhattan Corporation since April, 1996.
Director                                    Prior thereto, Managing Director, Chemical Banking Corporation.
Chair, Audit Committee

BARBARA ANN RICE                            Principal, Rice & Associates since 1994. Prior thereto, Vice President-Human Resources,
Director                                    Scott Paper Company.
Member, Human Resources Committee

JEAN-PIERRE CHARLES ROSSO                   Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Case Corporation since March 1996.
Director                                    President and Chief Executive Officer April 1994-March 1996. Prior thereto, President
Member, Audit Committee                     Honeywell, Inc.

DONALD MITCHELL STEWART                     President, The College Board.
Director
Chair, Nominating Committee

ELIZABETH EDITH TALLETT                     Bio-technology Consultant since 1996. President and Chief Executive Officer, Transcell
Director                                    Technologies, Inc. 1992-1996. Prior thereto, President - Pharmaceutical Division,
Member, Audit Committee                     Centocor, Inc.

DEAN DICKSON THORNTON                       Retired since 1993. Prior thereto President, Boeing Commercial Airplane Group.
Director
Chair, Human Resources Committee

FRED WILLIAM WEITZ                          President, Chairman of the Board  and Chief Executive Officer, Essex Meadows, Inc. since
Director                                    1995. Prior thereto,  President, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Executive Officer, The
Member, Executive and Nominating            Weitz Corporation and its subsidiaries.
Committees
</TABLE>

STATE REGULATION OF PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

     The Company is organized under the laws of the State of Iowa and is subject
to regulation by the  Commissioner of Insurance of Iowa. An annual  statement is
filed with the Iowa  Division  of  Insurance  on or before  March 1 of each year
covering the operations and reporting on the financial  condition of the Company
as of December 31 of the preceding year. Periodically, the Commissioner examines
the assets
 and  liabilities  of the Company and the Separate  Account and  verifies  their
adequacy.  A full  examination  of the Company's  operations is conducted by the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners at least every five years.

FEDERAL TAX MATTERS

The  discussion  contained  herein is general in  nature,  is not an  exhaustive
discussion of all tax questions that might arise under the policies,  and is not
intended as tax advice.  No attempt is made to consider any applicable  state or
other  tax  laws  and  no  representation  is  made  as  to  the  likelihood  of
continuation of current  federal income tax laws and treasury  regulations or of
current interpretations of the Internal Revenue Service.

While the  Company  reserves  the right to make  changes in the Policy to assure
that it continues to qualify as life  insurance  for tax  purposes,  the Company
cannot make any guarantee  regarding the future tax treatment of any Policy. For
complete  information  on the impact of changes  with  respect to the Policy and
federal and state considerations, a qualified tax advisor should be consulted.

The  ultimate  effect of federal  income taxes on values under the Policy and on
the  economic  benefit  to the  policyowner  or  beneficiary  depends  upon  the
Company's  tax  status,  upon the terms of the Policy and upon the tax status of
the individual concerned.

Tax Status of the Company and the Separate Account

The Company is taxed as an insurance  Company under Subchapter L of the Internal
Revenue  Code of 1986 (the  "Code").  The  Separate  Account  is not a  separate
taxable  entity  and its  operations  are taken into  account by the  Company in
determining  its income tax liability.  All  investment  income and realized net
capital  gains on the assets of the separate  account are  reinvested  and taken
into  account in  determining  Policy  Values and are  automatically  applied to
increase the book reserves associated with the Policies.  Under existing federal
income tax law,  neither the investment  income nor any net capital gains of the
Separate Account, are taxed to the Company to the extent those items are applied
to increase reserves associated with the Policies.

Charges for Taxes

The  Company  imposes a federal tax charge  equal to 1.25% of premiums  received
under the Policy to  compensate  for the federal  income tax liability it incurs
under  Section 848 of the Code by reason of its  receipt of  premiums  under the
Policy.  The Company  believes that this charge is reasonable in relation to the
increased  tax burden it incurs as a result of Section  848. No other  charge is
currently  made to the Separate  Account for federal income taxes of the Company
that may be  attributable  to the Separate  Account.  Periodically,  the Company
reviews the appropriateness of charges to the Separate Account for the Company's
federal income taxes, and in the future, a charge may be made for federal income
taxes incurred by the Company that are attributable to the Separate Account.  In
addition,  depending  on the method of  calculating  interest  on Policy  Values
allocated  to the Fixed  Account,  a charge may also be imposed for the Policy's
share of the Company's federal income taxes attributable to the Fixed Account.

Under current  laws,  the Company may incur state or local taxes (in addition to
premium taxes) in several states.  At present,  these taxes are not significant.
If there is a material change in applicable state or local tax laws, the Company
reserves the right to charge the Separate Account for the portion of such taxes,
if any, attributable to the Separate Account.

Diversification Standards

In addition to other requirements  imposed by the Code, a Policy will qualify as
life insurance under the Code only if the  diversification  requirements of Code
Section 817(h) are satisfied by each Separate Account in which any of the Policy
Values  are held.  To assure  that each  Policy  continues  to  qualify  as life
insurance for federal  income tax purposes,  the Company  intends to comply with
Code Section 817(h) and the regulations thereunder.

Life Insurance Status of Policy

The Company  believes  that the Policy meets the  statutory  definition  of life
insurance  under Code Section 7702 and that the  policyowner  and beneficiary of
any Policy will receive the same federal  income tax  treatment as that accorded
to  owners  and   beneficiaries  of  fixed  benefit  life  insurance   policies.
Specifically,  the death benefit  under the Policy will be  excludable  from the
gross income of the  beneficiary  subject to the terms and conditions of Section
101(a)(1) of the Code. (Death benefits under a "modified  endowment contract" as
discussed  below are  treated in the same  manner as death  benefits  under life
insurance contracts that are not so classified.)

In addition, unless the Policy is a "modified endowment contract," in which case
the receipt of any loan under the Policy may result in  recognition of income to
the  policyowner,  the  policyowner  will not be  deemed  to be in  constructive
receipt of the Policy Values,  including  increments  thereon,  under the Policy
until  proceeds of the Policy are received upon a total or partial  surrender of
the Policy.

Modified Endowment Contract Status

A Policy will be a modified endowment contract if it satisfies the definition of
life  insurance set out in the Internal  Revenue  Code,  but it either fails the
additional  "7-pay  test" set forth in Code  Section  7702A or was  received  in
exchange for a modified endowment contract. A Policy will fail the 7-pay test if
the  accumulated  amount  paid under the  contract  at any time during the first
seven  contract  years  exceeds the total  premiums that would have been payable
under a Policy providing for guaranteed benefits upon the payment of seven level
annual premiums. A Policy received in exchange for a modified endowment contract
will be taxed  as a  modified  endowment  contract  even if it  would  otherwise
satisfy the 7-pay test.

 While the 7-pay test is generally  applied as of the time the Policy is issued,
certain changes in the contractual terms of a Policy will require a Policy to be
retested  to  determine  whether  the  change  has caused the Policy to become a
modified endowment  contract.  For example, a reduction in death benefits during
the first seven contract years will cause the Policy to be retested as if it had
originally been issued with the reduced death benefit.

In addition,  if a "material  change"  occurs at any time while the Policy is in
force,  a new  7-pay  test  period  will  start and the  Policy  will need to be
retested to  determine  whether it  continues  to meet the 7-pay test.  The term
"material change" generally includes  increases in death benefits,  but does not
include an increase in death  benefits which is  attributable  to the payment of
premiums necessary to fund the lowest level of death benefits payable during the
first  seven  contract  years,  or which is  attributable  to the  crediting  of
interest with respect to such premiums.

Because the Policy  provides  for  flexible  premium  payments,  the Company has
instituted  procedures  to  monitor  whether  increases  in  death  benefits  or
additional  premium  payments  cause either the start of a new  seven-year  test
period or the  taxation  of  distributions  and loans.  All  additional  premium
payments will be considered in these determinations.

If a Policy fails the 7-pay test, all distributions  (including loans) occurring
in the year of failure and thereafter  will be subject to the rules for modified
endowment   contracts.   A  recapture   provision  also  applies  to  loans  and
distributions that are received in anticipation of failing the 7-pay test. Under
the Code, any  distribution or loan made within two years prior to the date that
a Policy fails the 7-pay test is considered to have been made in anticipation of
the failure.

Policy Surrenders and Partial Surrenders

Upon a total  surrender of a Policy,  the  policyowner  will recognize  ordinary
income for federal  tax  purposes  to the extent  that the Net  Surrender  Value
exceeds the  investment  in the Policy (the total of all  premiums  paid but not
previously  recovered plus any other consideration paid for the Policy). The tax
consequences  of a partial  surrender from a Policy will depend upon whether the
partial surrender results in a reduction of future benefits under the Policy and
whether the Policy is a modified endowment contract.

If the Policy is not a modified endowment  contract,  the general rule is that a
partial  surrender  from a Policy is taxable  only to the extent that it exceeds
the total investment in the contract. An exception to this general rule applies,
however,  if a reduction  of future  benefits  occurs  during the first 15 years
after a Policy is issued and there is a cash  distribution  associated with that
reduction.  In such a case,  the Code  prescribes  a  formula  under  which  the
policyowner  may be taxed on all or a part of the amount  distributed.  After 15
years,  cash  distributions  from a  Policy  that  is not a  modified  endowment
contract  will not be subject to federal  income tax,  except to the extent they
exceed  the total  investment  in the  contract.  The  Company  suggests  that a
policyowner consult with a tax advisor in advance of a proposed decrease in face
amount or a partial  surrender.  In addition,  any amounts  distributed  under a
"modified  endowment  contract"  (including proceeds of any loan) are taxable to
the extent of any accumulated income in the Policy. In general, the amount which
may be  subject  to tax is the  excess of the  Policy  Value  (both  loaned  and
unloaned) over the previously unrecovered premiums paid.

Under certain circumstances,  a distribution under a modified endowment contract
(including  a loan)  may be  taxable  even  though  it  exceeds  the  amount  of
accumulated  income  in the  Policy.  This can occur  because  for  purposes  of
determining the amount of income  received upon a distribution  (or loan) from a
modified endowment  contract,  the Code requires the aggregation of all modified
endowment  contracts  issued  to the  same  policyowner  by an  insurer  and its
affiliates  within the same calendar year.  Therefore,  loans and  distributions
from any one such Policy are taxable to the extent of the income  accumulated in
all the modified endowment contracts required to be so aggregated.

If any amount is taxable as a distribution of income under a modified  endowment
contract (as a result of a total surrender,  a partial  surrender or a loan), it
may also be  subject to a 10%  penalty  tax under Code  Section  72(v).  Limited
exceptions   from  the   additional   penalty  tax  are  available  for  certain
distributions  to  individual  policyowners.  The  penalty tax will not apply to
distributions:  (i) that are made on or after the date the taxpayer  attains age
59 1/2; or (ii) that are attributable to the taxpayer's  becoming  disabled;  or
(iii) that are part of a series of substantial equal periodic payments (made not
less  frequently  than  annually)  made for the life or life  expectancy  of the
taxpayer.

Policy Loans and Interest Deductions

The Company also believes  that under  current law any loan  received  under the
Policy will be treated as a Policy debt of a  policyowner  and that,  unless the
Policy is a modified endowment contract, no part of any loan under a Policy will
constitute  income to the  policyowner.  If the Policy is a  modified  endowment
contract (see discussion above) loans will be fully taxable to the extent of the
income  in the  Policy  (and  in any  other  contracts  with  which  it  must be
aggregated) and could be subject to the additional 10 percent tax.

Code Section 264 imposes stringent limitations on the deduction of interest paid
or  accrued  on loans in  connection  with a  Policy.  In  addition,  under  the
"personal" interest  limitation  provisions of Code Section 163, no deduction is
allowed for  interest on any policy loan if the  proceeds  are used for personal
purposes,  even if the Policy and loan otherwise meet the  requirements  of Code
Section 264. The limitations on deductibility of personal interest may not apply
to  disallow  all or part of the  interest  expense as a  deduction  if the loan
proceeds are used for "trade or business" or "investment"  purposes. The Company
suggests consultation with a tax advisor for further guidance.

Corporate Alternative Minimum Tax

Ownership of a Policy by a corporation may affect the policyowner's  exposure to
the corporate  alternative  maximum tax. In determining whether it is subject to
alternative  minimum tax a  corporate  policyowner  must make two  computations.
First,  the  corporation  must take into account a portion of the current year's
increase in the  built-in  gain in its  corporate-owned  policies.  Second,  the
corporation  must take into  account a portion  of the amount by which the death
benefits  received  under any Policy  exceed the sum of (i) the premiums paid on
that Policy in the year of death, and (ii) the corporation's basis in the Policy
(as  measured  for  alternative  minimum  tax  purposes)  as of  the  end of the
corporation's tax year immediately preceding the year of death.

Exchange or Assignments of Policies

A change of the  policyowner  or the insured or an exchange or  assignment  of a
Policy may have significant tax consequences depending on the circumstances. For
example,  an assignment or exchange of a Policy may result in taxable  income to
the transferring policyowner.  Further, Code Section 101(a) provides, subject to
certain exceptions, that where a Policy has been transferred for value, only the
portion of the death benefit which is equal to the total  consideration paid for
the Policy may be excluded  from gross  income.  For complete  information  with
respect to Policy  assignments and exchanges,  a qualified tax advisor should be
consulted.

Withholding

Under Section 3405 of the Code,  withholding is generally  required with respect
to certain  taxable  distributions  under  insurance  contracts.  In the case of
periodic  payments  (payments  made as an  annuity or on a similar  basis),  the
withholding is at graduated rates (as though the payments were employee  wages).
With respect to non-periodic distributions, the withholding is at a flat rate of
10%. A policyowner can elect to have either  non-periodic  or periodic  payments
made without  withholding  except  where the  policyowner's  tax  identification
number has not been furnished to the Company or the Internal Revenue Service has
notified  the  Company  that  the tax  identification  number  furnished  by the
policyowner is incorrect.

Taxation of Accelerated Death Benefits

The Company provides  accelerated death benefits based upon a lien method. It is
unclear  whether  benefits  paid under this rider are taxable.  For  information
regarding taxation of accelerated death benefits, a qualified tax advisor should
be consulted.

Other Tax Issues

Federal  estate  and  state  and  local  estate,  inheritance,   and  other  tax
consequences   of  ownership  or  receipt  of  Policy  proceeds  depend  on  the
circumstances of each policyowner or beneficiary.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

     Employers and employee  organizations should consider, in consultation with
counsel, the impact of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on the purchase
of a Policy in connection with an employment-related  insurance or benefit plan.
The United States Supreme Court held, in the 1983 decision of Arizona  Governing
Committee v. Norris,  that,  under Title VII,  optional annuity benefits under a
deferred  compensation plan could not vary on the basis of gender.  Policies are
available  for use in  connection  with such  employment-related  insurance  and
benefit plans which do not vary in any respect  between male and female insureds
of a particular age and underwriting classification.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     There are no legal  proceedings to which the Separate Account is a party or
to which the assets of any of the Divisions thereof are subject.  The Company is
not involved in any litigation that is of material importance in relation to its
total assets or that relate to the Separate Account.

LEGAL OPINION

     Legal matters  applicable to the issue and sale of the Policies,  including
the right of the Company to issue  Policies  under Iowa insurance law, have been
passed upon by Gregg R. Narber, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the
Company.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     The  financial  statements  of  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company
Variable Life Separate Account and Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company which
are included in this  registration  statement have been audited by Ernst & Young
LLP,  independent  auditors,  for the periods indicated in their reports thereon
which appear elsewhere in the registration statement.

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     A  registration  statement  has been  filed with the  Commission  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the Policies offered hereby.
This  Prospectus  does  not  contain  all  the  information  set  forth  in  the
registration  statement  and the  amendments  and  exhibits to the  registration
statement to all of which reference is made for further  information  concerning
the Separate  Account,  the Company and the Policy  offered  hereby.  Statements
contained  in this  Prospectus  as to the contents of the Policy and other legal
instruments  are  summaries.  For a  complete  statement  of the terms  thereof,
reference is made to such instruments as filed.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     The  financial  statements  of the  Company  which  are  included  in  this
Prospectus should be considered only as bearing on the ability of the Company to
meet its obligations under the Policy.  They should not be considered as bearing
on the investment performance of the assets held in the Separate Account.
<PAGE>
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
Variable Life Separate Account

Report of Independent Auditors

Board of Directors and Participants
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company


We have audited the  accompanying  statement  of net assets of Principal  Mutual
Life Insurance Company Variable Life Separate Account (comprising, respectively,
the Balanced, Bond, Capital Accumulation, Emerging Growth, High Yield, and Money
Market  Divisions)  as of  December  31,  1995,  and the related  statements  of
operations  and  changes in net assets for each of the three years in the period
then ended.  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. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 1995, by correspondence with
the transfer agent. 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 Principal Mutual Life Insurance
Company  Variable Life Separate Account at December 31, 1995, and the results of
its  operations and the changes in its net assets for each of the three years in
the  period  then  ended,  in  conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting
principles.

ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Des Moines, Iowa
February 7, 1996
<PAGE>
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
Variable Life Separate Account

Statement of Net Assets

December 31, 1995

Assets
Investments (Note 1):
   Balanced Division:
     Principal Balanced Fund, Inc. - 200,063 shares at net
       asset value of $13.97 per share (cost - $2,557,217)          $  2,794,881
   Bond Division:
     Principal Bond Fund, Inc. - 78,645 shares at net asset
       value of $11.73 per share (cost - $878,731)                       922,511
   Capital Accumulation Division:
     Principal Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc. - 142,987 shares
       at net asset value of $27.80 per share (cost - $3,656,186)      3,975,025
   Emerging Growth Division:
     Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc. - 305,125 shares at
       net asset value of $25.33 per share (cost - $6,575,712)         7,728,821
   High Yield Division:
     Principal High Yield Fund, Inc. - 101,791 shares at net asset
       value of $8.39 per share (cost - $882,335)                        854,028
   Money Market Division:
     Principal Money Market Fund, Inc. - 402,869 shares at net
       asset value of $1.00 per share (cost - $402,869)                  402,869
                                                                     -----------
Net assets                                                           $16,678,135
                                                                     ===========

                                                  Unit
                                      Units      Value
                                   -----------------------
Net assets are represented by:
   Balanced Division                137,574      $20.31       $ 2,794,881
   Bond Division                     45,999       20.05           922,511
   Capital Accumulation Division    184,750       21.51         3,975,025
   Emerging Growth Division         283,791       27.23         7,728,821
   High Yield Division               48,615       17.57           854,028
   Money Market Division             27,948       14.42           402,869
                                                              -----------
Net assets                                                    $16,678,135
                                                              ===========

See accompanying notes.
<PAGE>
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
Variable Life Separate Account

Statements of Operations
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Combined
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                                                            Year ended December 31
                                                                       1995            1994          1993
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
Investment income
Income:
<S>                                                                  <C>              <C>           <C>
   Dividends (Note 1)                                                $   376,014      $205,850      $148,055
   Capital gains distributions                                           429,058       211,019       318,056
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
                                                                         805,072       416,869       466,111
Expenses (Note 2):
   Mortality and expense risks                                            95,590        55,513        35,413
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
Net investment income                                                    709,482       361,356       430,698

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (Note 4)

   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                            254,585        31,582       153,033
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of
     investments                                                       1,956,773      (442,230)      (62,738)
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations       $2,920,840      $(49,292)     $520,993
                                                                 ==============================================

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Balanced Division
                                                                          Year ended December 31
                                                                 -----------------------------------------
                                                                     1995          1994          1993
                                                                 ------------------------------------------
Investment income 
Income:
<S>                                                                <C>           <C>           <C>
   Dividends (Note 1)                                              $  85,937     $  53,356     $  45,460
   Capital gains distributions                                        72,211        25,558        76,753
                                                                 ------------------------------------------
                                                                     158,148        78,914       122,213
Expenses (Note 2):
   Mortality and expense risks                                        17,258        12,058         9,014
                                                                 ------------------------------------------
Net investment income                                                140,890        66,856       113,199

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (Note 4)

   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                         28,104         6,900        21,878
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of
     investments                                                     316,677      (120,904)      (16,979)
                                                                 ------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations     $485,671      $ 47,148)     $118,098
                                                                 ==========================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Bond Division
                                                                        Year ended December 31
                                                                 --------------------------------------
                                                                    1995          1994         1993
Investment income                                                --------------------------------------
Income:
<S>                                                               <C>            <C>           <C>
   Dividends (Note 1)                                             $  47,997      $ 33,025      $28,730
   Capital gains distributions                                            -             -            -
                                                                 --------------------------------------
                                                                     47,997        33,025       28,730
Expenses (Note 2):
   Mortality and expense risks                                        5,384         3,207        3,166
                                                                 --------------------------------------
Net investment income                                                42,613        29,818       25,564

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (Note 4)

   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                         4,064        (2,792)      13,739
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of
     investments                                                     85,230       (40,136)         304
                                                                 --------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations    $131,907      $(13,110)     $39,607
                                                                 ======================================

</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      Capital Accumulation Division
                                                                          Year ended December 31
                                                                ------------------------------------------
                                                                     1995          1994         1993
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Investment income
Income:
<S>                                                                <C>           <C>          <C>
   Dividends (Note 1)                                              $  79,394     $  56,729    $  37,967
   Capital gains distributions                                       293,683        54,291      110,884
                                                                ------------------------------------------
                                                                     373,077       111,020      148,851
Expenses (Note 2):
   Mortality and expense risks                                        22,976        14,428       10,069
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Net investment income                                                350,101        96,592      138,782

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (Note 4)

   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                         49,320       (13,565)      15,162
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of
     investments                                                     433,439       (87,735)     (62,178)
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations     $832,860     $  (4,708)   $  91,766
                                                                ==========================================

</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
Variable Life Separate Account

Statement of Operations (continued)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                           Emerging Growth Division
                                                                            Year ended December 31
                                                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                                                       1995            1994          1993
                                                                 ---------------------------------------------
Investment income
Income:
<S>                                                                 <C>              <C>           <C>
   Dividends (Note 1)                                               $     65,593     $  26,319     $  14,369
   Capital gains distributions                                            63,164       131,170       130,419
                                                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                                                         128,757       157,489       144,788
Expenses (Note 2):
   Mortality and expense risks                                            43,103        21,185        10,184
                                                                 ---------------------------------------------
Net investment income                                                     85,654       136,304       134,604

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (Note 4)
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                            172,414        42,332        98,424
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of
     investments                                                       1,127,081      (174,867)       18,087
                                                                 ---------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                  $1,385,149    $    3,769      $251,115
                                                                 =============================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  High Yield Division
                                                                                 Year ended December 31
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                        1995              1994              1993
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------
Investment income
Income:
<S>                                                                    <C>               <C>               <C>
   Dividends (Note 1)                                                  $72,460           $21,527           $15,343
   Capital gains distributions                                               -                 -                 -
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                        72,460`           21,527            15,343
Expenses (Note 2):
   Mortality and expense risks                                           3,702             1,585             1,251
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------
Net investment income                                                   68,758            19,942            14,092

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (Note 4)
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                              683            (1,293)            3,830
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of
     investments                                                        (5,654)          (18,588)           (1,972)
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                   $63,787          $     61           $15,950
                                                                 =====================================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                Money Market Division
                                                                                Year ended December 31

                                                                       1995              1994             1993
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------
Investment income
Income:
<S>                                                                   <C>               <C>               <C>
   Dividends (Note 1)                                                 $24,633           $14,894           $6,186
   Capital gains distributions                                              -                 -                -
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                        24,633            14,894            6,186
Expenses (Note 2):
   Mortality and expense risks                                          3,167             3,050            1,729
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------------
Net investment income                                                  21,466            11,844            4,457

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on investments (Note 4)
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                              -                  -                -
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of
     investments                                                           -                  -                -
                                                                 ----------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                 $21,466           $11,844           $4,457
                                                                 ====================================================
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes.

<PAGE>
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
Variable Life Separate Account

Statements of Changes in Net Assets

Years ended December 31, 1995, 1994 and 1993
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        Balanced
                                                                                    Combined            Division
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
<S>                   <C>                                                           <C>                <C>

Net assets at January 1, 1993                                                       $3,571,056         $   912,717

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                               430,698             113,199
   Net realized gains on investments                                                   153,033              21,878
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments                   (62,738)            (16,979)
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                                   520,993             118,098



Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                           4,243,839             722,419
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                               (302,559)            (41,473)
   Death benefit payments                                                               (1,961)               (627)
   Policy loan transfers                                                              (162,427)            (29,608)
   Transfers to other contracts                                                     (1,444,635)            (70,023)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                       (591,394)           (126,288)
   Surrender charges                                                                   (30,418)             (4,170)
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from policy related transactions                   1,710,445             450,230
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
Total increase (decrease)                                                            2,231,438             568,328
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1993                                                      5,802,494           1,481,045

<PAGE>
Net assets at January 1, 1994

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                               361,356              66,856
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                                           31,582               6,900
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments                  (442,230)           (120,904)
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations                        (49,292)            (47,148)

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                           7,030,808             805,108
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                               (200,983)            (61,360)
   Death benefit payments                                                               (4,614)                  -
   Policy loan transfers                                                              (131,130)            (25,740)
   Transfers to other contracts                                                     (2,149,666)           (155,607)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                     (1,002,937)           (178,431)
   Surrender charges                                                                   (41,439)            (12,651)
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------

Increase in net assets from policy related transactions                              3,500,039             371,319
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
Total increase                                                                       3,450,747             324,171
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1994                                                      9,253,241           1,805,216

Net assets at January 1, 1995                                                        9,253,241          $1,805,216

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                               709,482             140,890
   Net realized gains on investments                                                   254,585              28,104
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments                 1,956,773             316,677
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                                 2,920,840             485,671

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                           9,511,939           1,036,158
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                               (514,344)            (89,520)
   Death benefit payments                                                               (9,358)                  -
   Policy loan transfers                                                              (275,660)            (52,264)
   Transfers to other contracts                                                     (2,602,796)           (145,034)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                     (1,539,242)           (233,775)
   Surrender charges                                                                   (66,485)            (11,571)
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from policy related transactions                   4,504,054             503,994
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
Total increase (decrease)                                                            7,424,894             989,665
                                                                                -----------------   ------------------
 Net assets at December 31, 1995                                                    $16,678,135          $2,794,881
                                                                                =================   ==================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                         Capital
                                                                                      Bond             Accumulation
                                                                                    Division             Division
                                                                                ------------------  ------------------
<S>                                                                                   <C>                <C>
Net assets at January 1, 1993                                                         $256,631           $1,005,168

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                                25,564             138,782
   Net realized gains on investments                                                    13,739              15,162
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments                       304             (62,178)
                                                                                 ------------------  ------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                                    39,607              91,766

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                             344,656             939,904
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                               (107,373)            (53,383)
   Death benefit payments                                                                    -                (642)
   Policy loan transfers                                                                (5,743)            (40,134)
   Transfers to other contracts                                                        (77,910)           (123,748)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                        (43,267)           (149,902)
   Surrender charges                                                                   (10,795)             (5,367)
                                                                                ------------------  ------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from policy related transactions                      99,568             566,728
                                                                                ------------------  ------------------
Total increase (decrease)                                                              139,175             658,494
                                                                                ------------------  ------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1993                                                        395,806           1,663,662

Net assets at January 1, 1994

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                                29,818              96,592
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                                           (2,792)            (13,565)
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments                   (40,136)            (87,735)
                                                                                ------------------  ------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations                        (13,110)             (4,708)

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                             288,736           1,149,226
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                                 (4,871)            (39,008)
   Death benefit payments                                                                    -              (3,319)
   Policy loan transfers                                                                (3,819)            (42,994)
   Transfers to other contracts                                                        (92,188)           (226,938)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                        (59,452)           (218,560)
   Surrender charges                                                                    (1,004)             (8,043)
                                                                                ------------------  ------------------

Increase in net assets from policy related transactions                                127,402             610,364
                                                                                ------------------  ------------------
 Total increase                                                                        114,292             605,656
                                                                                ------------------  ------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1994                                                        510,098           2,269,318
<PAGE>
Net assets at January 1, 1995                                                          510,098           2,269,318

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                                42,613             350,101
   Net realized gains on investments                                                     4,064              49,320
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investment                     85,230             433,439
                                                                                -------------------  -----------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                                   131,907             832,860

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                             444,236           1,633,021
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                                (24,317)           (149,990)
   Death benefit payments                                                                   -               (2,336)
   Policy loan transfers                                                                (4,770)            (56,174)
   Transfers to other contracts                                                        (52,638)           (218,351)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                        (78,861)           (313,935)
   Surrender charges                                                                    (3,144)            (19,388)
                                                                                -------------------  -----------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from policy related transactions                     280,506             872,847
                                                                                -------------------  -----------------
Total increase (decrease)                                                              412,413           1,705,707
                                                                                -------------------  -----------------
Net assets at December 31, 1995                                                       $922,511          $3,975,025
                                                                                ===================  =================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    Emerging            High
                                                                                     Growth             Yield
                                                                                    Division           Division
                                                                                -----------------  -----------------

<S>                                                                                <C>                <C>
Net assets at January 1, 1993                                                      $1,033,749         $  71,862

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                              134,604            14,092
   Net realized gains on investments                                                   98,424             3,830
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments                   18,087            (1,972)
                                                                                -----------------  -----------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                                  251,115            15,950

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                          1,179,248           196,359
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                               (94,725)           (2,641)
   Death benefit payments                                                                (692)                -
   Policy loan transfers                                                              (60,229)           (5,136)
   Transfers to other contracts                                                      (236,343)          (74,398)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                      (188,113)          (22,433)
   Surrender charges                                                                   (9,523)             (265)
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from policy related transactions                    589,623            91,486
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Total increase (decrease)                                                             840,738           107,436
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Net assets at December 31, 1993                                                     1,874,487           179,298

Net assets at January 1, 1994

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                              136,304            19,942
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                                          42,332            (1,293)
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments                 (174,867)          (18,588)
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations                         3,769                61

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                             2,765,121            120,265
   Death benefit payments                                                             (83,480)            (9,690)
   Policy loan transfers                                                               (1,295)                 -
   Transfers to other contracts                                                       (59,784)            (3,260)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                      (284,168)           (7,501)
   Surrender charges                                                                 (396,646)           (32,323)
                                                                                      (17,212)            (1,998)
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Increase in net assets from policy related transactions                             1,922,536             65,493
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Total increase                                                                      1,926,305             65,554
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Net assets at December 31, 1994                                                     3,800,792            244,852
<PAGE>
Net assets at January 1, 1995                                                       3,800,792            244,852

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                               85,654             68,758
   Net realized gains on investments                                                  172,414                683
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investmen                  1,127,081             (5,654)
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                                1,385,149             63,787

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                          4,022,336            673,413
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                              (238,336)           (10,016)
   Death benefit payments                                                              (4,755)                 -
   Policy loan transfers                                                             (159,532)            (3,158)
   Transfers to other contracts                                                      (338,865)           (52,617)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                      (707,162)           (60,938)
   Surrender charges                                                                  (30,806)            (1,295)
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from policy related transactions                  2,542,880            545,389
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Total increase (decrease)                                                           3,928,029            609,176
                                                                                ------------------  ----------------
Net assets at December 31, 1995                                                    $7,728,821           $854,028
                                                                                ==================  ================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     Money
                                                                                     Market
                                                                                    Division
                                                                                ------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>
Net assets at January 1, 1993                                                      $   290,929

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                                 4,457
   Net realized gains on investments                                                         -
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments                         -
                                                                                ------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                                     4,457

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                             861,253
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                                 (2,964)
   Death benefit payments                                                                    -
   Policy loan transfers                                                               (21,577)
   Transfers to other contracts                                                       (862,213)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                        (61,391)
   Surrender charges                                                                      (298)
                                                                                ------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from policy related transactions                     (87,190)
                                                                                ------------------
Total increase (decrease)                                                              (82,733)
                                                                                ------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1993                                                        208,196

Net assets at January 1, 1994

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                                11,844
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments                                                -
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investments                         -
                                                                                ------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting from operations                         11,844

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                           1,902,352
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                                 (2,574)
   Death benefit payments                                                                    -
   Policy loan transfers                                                                 4,467
   Transfers to other contracts                                                     (1,383,264)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                       (117,525)
   Surrender charges                                                                      (531)
                                                                                ------------------

Increase in net assets from policy related transactions                                402,925
                                                                                ------------------
 Total increase                                                                        414,769
                                                                                ------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1994                                                        622,965
<PAGE>
Net assets at January 1, 1995                                                          622,965

Increase (decrease) in net assets Operations:
   Net investment income                                                                21,466
   Net realized gains on investments                                                         -
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/depreciation of investmen                           -
                                                                                ------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from operations                                    21,466

Policy related transactions (Note 2):
   Net premium payments, less sales charges and applicable premium
     taxes                                                                           1,702,775
   Contract terminations and surrenders                                                 (2,165)
   Death benefit payments                                                               (2,267)
   Policy loan transfers                                                                   238
   Transfers to other contracts                                                     (1,795,291)
   Cost of insurance and administration charges                                       (144,571)
   Surrender charges                                                                      (281)
                                                                                ------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from policy related transactions                    (241,562)
                                                                                ------------------
Total increase (decrease)                                                             (220,096)
                                                                                ------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1995                                                    $   402,869
                                                                                ==================

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company
Variable Life Separate Account

Notes to Financial Statements

December 31, 1995

1.  Investment and Accounting Policies

Principal  Mutual Life  Insurance  Company  Variable Life Separate  Account is a
segregated  investment  account  of  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company
(Principal Mutual) and is registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as
a unit investment trust, with no stated  limitations on the number of authorized
units. As directed by eligible policyowners, the Separate Account invests solely
in shares of Principal Balanced Fund, Inc., Principal Bond Fund, Inc., Principal
Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc., Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc., Principal
High Yield Fund,  Inc.,  and  Principal  Money  Market Fund,  Inc.,  diversified
open-end  management   investment   companies  organized  by  Principal  Mutual.
Investments are stated at the closing net asset values per share on December 31,
1995.

The  average  cost  method is used to  determine  realized  gains and  losses on
investments.  Dividends  are taken  into  income on an  accrual  basis as of the
ex-dividend date.

2.  Expenses and Policy Charges

Principal Mutual is compensated for the following expenses and charges:

Mortality and expense risks assumed by Principal Mutual are compensated for by a
charge  equivalent  to an annual rate of .75% of the asset value of each policy.
An annual  administration  charge of $57 for each policy and a cost of insurance
charge, which is based on the Company's expected future mortality experience, is
deducted  as   compensation   for   administrative   and   insurance   expenses,
respectively.  The  mortality  and  expense  risk,  annual  administration,  and
insurance charges amounted to $95,590,  $166,464, and $1,372,778,  respectively,
in 1995; $55,513,  $119,268, and $883,669,  respectively,  in 1994; and $35,413,
$72,362, and $519,032, respectively, in 1993. A sales charge of 5.0% is deducted
from  each  payment  made on  behalf of each  participant.  The sales  charge is
deducted  from the payments by Principal  Mutual prior to their  transfer to the
Variable Life Separate Account. In addition,  a surrender charge up to a maximum
of 25% of the minimum first year premium may be imposed upon total  surrender or
termination of a policy for insufficient value.

3.  Federal Income Taxes

Operations  of the Separate  Account are a part of the  operations  of Principal
Mutual.  Under  current  practice,  no federal  income  taxes are  allocated  by
Principal  Mutual to the operations of Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company
Variable Life Separate Account.

<PAGE>
4.  Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities

The aggregate units and cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments
were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Capital Accumulation
                                      Balanced Division         Bond Division             Division
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Units      Amount      Units       Amount      Units      Amount
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended December 31, 1995
Units purchased and reinvested
<S>                                   <C>      <C>           <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>
   dividends and capital gains        56,758   $1,194,305    24,137     $492,234     87,030     $2,006,098
Units redeemed                        29,073      549,421     8,980      169,115     40,420        783,150
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase                          27,685   $  644,884    15,157     $323,119     46,610     $1,222,948
                                    =======================================================================

Year ended December 31, 1994
Units purchased and reinvested
   dividends and capital gains        48,225     $884,022    17,428     $321,761     69,938     $1,260,246
Units redeemed                       (25,949)    (445,847)   (9,652)    (164,541)   (32,805)      (553,290)
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase                          22,276     $438,175     7,776     $157,220     37,133     $  706,956
                                    =======================================================================
Year ended December 31, 1993
Units purchased and reinvested
   dividends and capital gains        45,069     $844,632    21,131     $373,386     59,306     $1,088,755
Units redeemed                       (16,973)    (281,203)  (14,639)    (248,254)   (23,597)      (383,245)
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase                          28,096     $563,429     6,492     $125,132     35,709     $  705,510
                                    =======================================================================
</TABLE>

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                        Emerging Growth                              Money Market Division
                                           Division          High Yield Division
                                    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Units      Amount       Units      Amount       Units       Amount
                                    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended December 31, 1995
Units purchased and reinvested
<S>                                   <C>      <C>            <C>       <C>          <C>         <C>
   dividends and capital gains        165,606  $4,151,094     40,295    $745,873     120,838     $1,727,408
Units redeemed                         60,516   1,522,560      7,739     131,726     138,209      1,947,504
                                    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease)               105,090  $2,628,534     32,556    $614,147     (17,371)    $ (220,096)
                                    =========================================================================

Year ended December 31, 1994
Units purchased and reinvested
   dividends and capital gains        129,908  $2,922,610      7,938    $141,792     140,805     $1,917,246
Units redeemed                        (39,368)   (863,770)    (3,624)    (56,357)   (111,080)    (1,502,477)
                                    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase                           90,540  $2,058,840      4,314    $ 85,435      29,725     $  414,769
                                    =========================================================================

Year ended December 31, 1993
Units purchased and reinvested
   dividends and capital gains         61,758  $1,324,037     13,653    $211,702      65,053     $  867,441
Units redeemed                        (31,157)   (599,810)    (7,155)   (106,124)    (71,680)      (950,174)
                                    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease)                30,601 $   724,227      6,498    $105,578      (6,627)    $  (82,733)
                                    =========================================================================
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

5.  Net Assets

Net assets at December 31, 1995 consisted of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                Net Unrealized
                                                                          Accumulated Net        Appreciation
                                                     Unit Transactions   Investment Income    (Depreciation) of
                                        Combined                                                 Investments
                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                     <C>              <C>                 <C>                  <C>
   Balanced Division                    $  2,794,881     $  2,273,642        $   283,575          $   237,664
   Bond Division                             922,511          805,743             72,988               43,780
   Capital Accumulation Division           3,975,025        3,166,851            489,335              318,839
   Emerging Growth Division                7,728,821        6,330,029            245,683            1,153,109
   High Yield Division                       854,028          797,025             85,310              (28,307)
   Money Market Division                     402,869          398,502              4,367                    -
                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         $16,678,135      $13,771,792         $1,181,258           $1,725,085
                                    ==============================================================================
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

Report of Independent Auditors

The Board of Directors
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

We have audited the accompanying  statements of financial  position of Principal
Mutual Life  Insurance  Company (the  Company) as of December 31, 1995 and 1994,
and the related  statements of operations and surplus and cash flows for each of
the  three  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 financial  statements  referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Principal Mutual Life Insurance
Company at December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995, in
conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles and with reporting
practices prescribed or permitted by the Insurance Division of the Department of
Commerce of the State of Iowa.

ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Des Moines, Iowa
January 31, 1996
<PAGE>
                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                        Statements of Financial Position

                                                   December 31
                                                1995         1994
                                            ---------------------------
                                                  (In Millions)
Assets
Bonds                                          $21,798      $20,626
Preferred stocks                                    93           69
Common stocks                                    1,330          914
Investment in subsidiaries                         546          501
Commercial mortgage loans                        9,794        8,901
Residential mortgage loans                         234          287
Investment real estate                           1,313        1,155
Properties held for Company use                    204          159
Policy loans                                       711          683
Cash and short-term investments                    913          485
Accrued investment income                          467          468
Separate account assets                         12,957        9,197
Other assets                                       908          672
                                            ---------------------------
Total assets                                   $51,268      $44,117
                                            ===========================

Liabilities
Insurance reserves                            $  6,297     $  6,007
Annuity reserves                                25,770       24,311
Reserves for policy dividends                      578          583
Other policy liabilities                           748          618
Investment valuation reserves                    1,041          792
Tax liabilities                                    241          189
Separate account liabilities                    12,891        9,099
Other liabilities                                1,494          591
                                            ---------------------------
Total liabilities                               49,060       42,190

Surplus
Surplus notes                                      298          298
Unassigned and other surplus funds               1,910        1,629
                                            ---------------------------
Total surplus                                    2,208        1,927
                                            ---------------------------
Total liabilities and surplus                  $51,268      $44,117
                                            ===========================

See accompanying notes.

<PAGE>

                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                      Statements of Operations and Surplus
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         Year ended December 31
                                                                    1995           1994          1993
                                                                ------------------------------------------
                                                                               (In Millions)
Income
<S>                                                               <C>           <C>            <C>
Premiums and annuity and other considerations                      $11,940       $10,718       $  9,983
Net income from investments                                          2,651         2,520          2,369
Other income                                                            25           505             18
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Total income                                                        14,616        13,743         12,370

Benefits and expenses
Benefit payments other than dividends                                9,268         8,211          6,729
Dividends to policyowners                                              309           317            410
Additions to policyowner reserves                                    3,439         3,756          3,890
 Insurance expenses and taxes                                        1,199         1,145          1,029
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Total benefits and expenses                                         14,215        13,429         12,058
                                                                ------------------------------------------

Income before federal income taxes and realized
   capital gains (losses)                                              401           314            312

Federal income taxes                                                   140           130             48
                                                                 ------------------------------------------

Net gain from operations before realized capital gains (losses)
                                                                       261           184            264


Realized capital gains (losses)                                          2           (32)           (52)
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Net income                                                        $    263      $    152       $    212
                                                                ==========================================

Surplus
Surplus at beginning of year                                      $  1,927      $  1,641       $  1,440
Net income                                                             263           152            212
Issuance of surplus notes                                                -           298              -
Increase in investment valuation reserves                             (249)         (131)           (43)
Increase in non-admitted assets and related items                      (45)          (51)           (59)
Net unrealized capital gains                                           326            47             57
Adjustment for prior years' federal income taxes                         -           (63)             -
Net policyowner reserve adjustments                                      1            31             18
Other adjustments - net                                                (15)            3             16
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Surplus at end of year                                            $  2,208      $  1,927       $  1,641
                                                                ==========================================
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes.

<PAGE>

                    Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                            Statements of Cash Flows

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                               Year ended December 31
                                                                          1995          1994          1993
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
                                                                                    (In Millions)
CASH PROVIDED
Proceeds from operating activities
   Premiums and annuity and other considerations
<S>                                                                       <C>           <C>          <C>
     received                                                             $11,923       $10,711      $  9,967
   Net investment income received                                           2,723         2,509         2,421
   Benefit payments other than dividends                                   (9,277)       (8,186)       (6,700)
   Dividends paid to policyowners                                            (317)         (293)         (396)
   Insurance expenses and taxes paid                                       (1,198)       (1,159)       (1,007)
   Federal income taxes paid                                                 (125)          (67)         (119)
   Transfers for separate account operations                               (1,549)       (1,396)       (1,120)
   Other                                                                       (3)            7            (5)
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Net cash provided from operations                                           2,177         2,126         3,041

Proceeds from investments sold, matured or repaid
   Bonds and stocks                                                        12,028        10,951        20,072
   Mortgage loans                                                           1,276         2,043         6,852
   Real estate and other invested assets                                       70           168            37
   Tax on capital gains                                                       (22)          (25)          (29)
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Total cash provided from investments                                       13,352        13,137        26,932

Issuance of surplus notes                                                       -           298             -
Other cash provided                                                           793             -            85
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Total cash provided                                                        16,322        15,561        30,058

CASH APPLIED
Cost of investments acquired
   Bonds and stocks acquired                                              (13,234)      (13,709)      (22,434)
   Mortgage loans acquired or originated                                   (2,265)       (1,611)       (7,253)
   Real estate and other invested assets acquired                            (195)          (91)         (132)
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Total cash applied to investments                                         (15,694)      (15,411)      (29,819)

Other cash applied                                                           (200)         (135)          (72)
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Total cash applied                                                        (15,894)      (15,546)      (29,891)

SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
   Proceeds of short-term borrowings                                          990         3,152         1,743
   Repayment of short-term borrowings                                        (990)       (3,152)       (1,743)
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by short-term borrowings                                      -             -             -
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Net increase in cash and short-term investments                               428            15           167

Cash and short-term investments at beginning of year                          485           470           303
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Cash and short-term investments at end of year                            $   913       $   485       $   470
                                                                      ==========================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
<PAGE>

                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                          Notes to Financial Statements

                                December 31, 1995

1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company (the Company) is primarily  engaged in
the marketing  and  management of life  insurance,  annuity,  health and pension
products.  In addition,  the Company provides  various other financial  services
through its subsidiaries.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of the Company's  financial  statements and  accompanying  notes
requires  management to make estimates and  assumptions  that affect the amounts
reported and  disclosed.  These  estimates and  assumptions  could change in the
future as more  information  becomes  known,  which  could  impact  the  amounts
reported and disclosed in the financial statements and accompanying notes.

Basis of Presentation

The Company's financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting
practices prescribed or permitted by the Insurance Division of the Department of
Commerce of the State of Iowa (statutory accounting practices),  which practices
are currently  regarded as generally accepted  accounting  principles (GAAP) for
mutual life insurance companies.

Beginning in 1996,  however,  under the  requirements  of  Financial  Accounting
Standards  Board  (FASB)  Interpretation  No. 40,  "Applicability  of  Generally
Accepted Accounting  Principles to Mutual Life Insurance and Other Enterprises,"
as amended,  financial  statements prepared on the basis of statutory accounting
practices will no longer be described as prepared "in conformity with GAAP." The
Accounting  Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified
Public  Accountants and the FASB issued  authoritative  accounting and reporting
pronouncements in January 1995, effective for calendar year 1996, addressing how
mutual life insurance companies should account for certain insurance activities.
Applying  the  provisions  of  these  authoritative   accounting  and  reporting
pronouncements may result in surplus and net income that differ from the amounts
reported under existing statutory accounting practices.  The Company has not yet
determined the impact of these pronouncements on its financial  statements.  The
Company plans to issue  general-purpose  financial  statements for calendar year
1996 that follow  these  authoritative  pronouncements  and will be described as
prepared in conformity with GAAP. These  statutory-basis  financial  statements,
however, will continue to be required by insurance regulatory authorities.

The National  Association of Insurance  Commissioners (NAIC) currently is in the
process of recodifying  statutory accounting  practices,  the result of which is
expected to  constitute  the only source of  "prescribed"  statutory  accounting
practices.  Accordingly,  that  project,  which is not  expected to be completed
before 1997, will likely change, to some extent, prescribed statutory accounting
practices and may result in changes to the accounting practices that the Company
uses to prepare its statutory-basis financial statements.

Subsidiaries

Investment in subsidiaries  is reported at equity in net assets  determined on a
statutory  basis  for  insurance  subsidiaries  and on the  basis of  prescribed
valuation  alternatives for  non-insurance  subsidiaries,  resulting in carrying
values  periodically  approved by the Securities  Valuation  Office of the NAIC.
Total assets of these  unconsolidated  subsidiaries  amounted to $2.6 billion at
December 31, 1995 and $2.1 billion at December 31, 1994, and total revenues were
$1,190  million in 1995,  $911 million in 1994 and $669 million in 1993.  During
1995, 1994 and 1993, the Company included $(48) million,  $(2) million and $(37)
million,  respectively,  in net income from investments representing the current
year net losses of its subsidiaries.

Investments

Investments in bonds,  short-term  investments,  and commercial and  residential
mortgage  loans are reported  principally  at cost (unpaid  principal  balance),
adjusted for  amortization  of premiums and accrual of discounts,  both computed
using the interest  method;  policy loans and  investments  in preferred  stocks
primarily  at cost;  common  stocks at market  value based on the latest  quoted
market prices;  and  investments in real estate and properties  held for Company
use generally at cost less  encumbrances and accumulated  depreciation.  For the
loan-backed  and  structured  securities  included  in the bond  portfolio,  the
Company  recognizes  income using the prospective  method which results in a new
constant  effective  yield  based  on  currently   anticipated   prepayments  as
determined by broker-dealer  surveys or internal estimates.  Properties acquired
through loan  foreclosures  with  cumulative  carrying values of $946 million at
December  31, 1995,  and $830 million at December 31, 1994,  are recorded at the
lower of cost  (principal  balance of the former  mortgage  loan) or fair market
value at the time of foreclosure or receipt of deed in lieu of foreclosure. This
becomes  the new  cost  basis of the  real  estate  and is  subject  to  further
potential  carrying value  reductions as a result of depreciation  and quarterly
valuation  determinations.  Depreciation  expense is computed  primarily  on the
basis of accelerated and  straight-line  methods over the estimated useful lives
of the  assets.  Other  admitted  assets  are valued as  prescribed  by the Iowa
Insurance  laws.  Net  realized  capital  gains and  losses on  investments  are
determined using the specific identification basis.

The Asset Valuation Reserve (AVR) provides a reserve for losses from investments
in bonds,  preferred and common stocks,  mortgage loans, real estate,  and other
invested assets,  with related increases or decreases being recorded directly to
surplus.  At  December  31, 1995 and 1994,  the AVR was $1,041  million and $792
million,  respectively.  At both December 31, 1995 and 1994,  other  liabilities
include  additional   investment  reserves  of  $36  million  and  $51  million,
respectively,  of which $9 million is required by statutory accounting practices
as a provision for potential losses on specific mortgages in default. Unrealized
capital  gains and losses on  investments,  including  changes in  mortgage  and
security reserves, are recorded directly in surplus.  Comparable adjustments are
also made to the AVR.

The Interest Maintenance Reserve (IMR) primarily defers certain interest-related
gains and losses (net of tax) on fixed  income  securities  which are  amortized
into net income  from  investments  over the  estimated  remaining  lives of the
investments  sold. At December 31, 1995 and 1994,  the IMR, which is included in
other liabilities, was $109 million and $52 million, respectively.

In  connection  with  preparation  of its  statement of cash flows,  the Company
considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of one year or less when
purchased to be short-term investments.

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The Company has  accumulated  information to disclose the fair values of certain
financial  instruments,  whether or not recognized in the statement of financial
position,  as  required  by  the  FASB.  The  FASB  excludes  certain  financial
instruments and all nonfinancial  instruments from its disclosure  requirements.
The  aggregate  fair value asset  amounts for  investments  (including  cash and
short-term investments, policy loans and accrued investment income and excluding
investment in  subsidiaries  and investment real estate) are presented in Note 2
(carrying value: 1995 - $35.3 billion,  1994 - $32.4 billion; fair value: 1995 -
$37.5 billion,  1994 - $31.9  billion).  Fair value  information for derivatives
held  or  issued  for  purposes  other  than  trading  is  presented  in Note 3.
Information  for certain of the  Company's  reserves  and  liabilities  that are
investment-type contracts (insurance, annuity and other policy contracts that do
not involve  significant  mortality  or  morbidity  risk) is presented in Note 4
(carrying value: 1995 - $21.4 billion,  1994 - $20.0 billion; fair value: 1995 -
$22.0 billion,  1994 - $19.5 billion).  Those referenced notes also describe the
methods and  assumptions  utilized by the Company in  estimating  its fair value
disclosures for financial  instruments.  Those techniques utilized in estimating
the fair values of financial  instruments are affected by the assumptions  used,
including  discount  rates and estimates of the amount and timing of future cash
flows.  Care should be exercised  in deriving  conclusions  about the  Company's
business, its value or financial position based on the fair value information of
certain financial instruments presented in the referenced notes.

Futures and Forward Contracts and Interest Rate and Equity Swaps

The Company uses financial futures contracts,  forward purchase  commitments and
interest rate swaps to hedge risks  associated  with interest rate  fluctuations
and uses equity  swaps to hedge risks  associated  with market  fluctuations  of
certain  unaffiliated common stocks.  Realized capital gains and losses on those
contracts  which hedge risks  associated  with  interest rate  fluctuations  are
amortized  over the  remaining  lives of the  underlying  assets,  primarily  by
including them in the IMR. Realized capital gains and losses on equity swaps are
recognized in the period incurred.

Reserves for Insurance, Annuity and Accident and Health Policies

The reserves for life, health and annuity  policies,  all developed by actuarial
methods,  are established and maintained on the basis of mortality and morbidity
tables using assumed interest rates and valuation methods that will provide,  in
the aggregate,  reserves that are greater than the minimum valuation required by
law or  guaranteed  policy cash  values.  The  cumulative  effects of changes in
valuation  bases  at  the  beginning  of the  year  for  previously  established
policyowner  reserves  are  included  as  adjustments  to  surplus.  Significant
decreases  in  valuation  bases are  approved by the  Insurance  Division of the
Department of Commerce of the State of Iowa.

The  liability  for  unpaid  accident  and  health  claims is  determined  using
statistical  analyses and case basis evaluations.  This liability is an estimate
of the ultimate net cost of all reported and unreported  losses that are unpaid.
This liability is determined using estimates of future trends in claim severity,
frequency,  and other factors that could vary as claims are ultimately  settled.
Although  considerable  variability is inherent in such  estimates,  the Company
believes that the liability for unpaid claims is adequate.  These  estimates are
continually  reviewed and, as adjustments to this  liability  become  necessary,
such adjustments are reflected in current operations.

Recognition of Premium Revenues and Costs

For life and annuity  contracts,  premiums are  recognized  as revenues over the
premium-paying  period,  whereas  commissions and other costs  applicable to the
acquisition of new business are charged to operations as incurred.

Reinsurance

The Company reinsures certain of its risks. Reinsurance premiums,  expenses, and
reserves  related to reinsured  business are accounted  for on bases  consistent
with those used in accounting for the original  policies issued and the terms of
the  reinsurance  contracts.  Premiums  ceded  to  other  companies  (1995 - $27
million,  1994 - $21 million and 1993 - $19 million) are reported as a reduction
of premium income, and insurance  reserves  applicable to reinsurance ceded have
also been  reported as  reductions of these items (1995 - $33 million and 1994 -
$24 million).  The Company is  contingently  liable with respect to  reinsurance
ceded to other  companies  in the  event  the  reinsurer  is  unable to meet the
obligations that it has assumed.

Separate Accounts

The separate accounts presented in the financial  statements  represent the fair
market  value of funds  that are  separately  administered  by the  Company  for
contracts with equity,  real estate and fixed-income  investments.  The separate
account  contract owner,  rather than the Company,  bears the investment risk of
these  funds.  The  Company  receives a fee for  administrative  and  investment
advisory services.

Separate  account assets and  liabilities  are disclosed in the aggregate in the
statements of financial  position.  The  statements  of  operations  include the
premiums,  increases in  reserves,  benefits,  and other items  arising from the
operations of the separate  accounts of the Company.  The  statements of surplus
reflect the gain from operations and surplus of the separate accounts. Such gain
from  operations and surplus arises from the transfer by the Company of funds to
the separate accounts to facilitate their operations.

Reclassifications

Certain  reclassifications  have  been  made  to the  1994  and  1993  financial
statements to conform to the 1995 presentation.

2.  Investments

Investments  in debt  securities,  preferred  stocks,  and other fixed  maturity
instruments  are  generally  held for  investment  purposes  to  maturity,  and,
therefore,  are carried in the  financial  statements  at  amortized  cost.  The
Company's  liabilities,  to which such fixed  maturity  investments  are closely
matched,  are  long-term in nature so the Company does not expect to be required
to sell such securities prior to maturity.

The carrying  values and  estimated  market values of  investments  in bonds and
preferred stocks as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, are as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                   Gross           Gross        Estimated
                                              Carrying Value    Unrealized      Unrealized        Market
                                                                   Gains          Losses          Value
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
   December 31, 1995 Bonds:
<S>                                               <C>           <C>                  <C>          <C>
     United States Government and agencies        $     232     $       4            $  -         $     236
     States and political subdivisions                  230            21               -               251
     Corporate - public                               4,374           328              16             4,686
     Corporate - private                             13,877         1,332              15            15,194
     Mortgage-backed securities                       3,085           134               4             3,215
                                               ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     21,798         1,819              35            23,582
   Preferred stocks                                      93            12               -               105
                                               ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    $21,891        $1,831             $35           $23,687
                                               ===============================================================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   December 31, 1994 Bonds:
<S>                                                <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>
     United States Government and agencies         $    111        $    1          $    4         $     108
     States and political subdivisions                  198             2              12               188
     Corporate - public                               3,986            74             142             3,918
     Corporate - private                             13,678           365             391            13,652
     Mortgage-backed securities                       2,653             2             166             2,489
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                     20,626           444             715            20,355
   Preferred stocks                                      69             4               2                71
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    $20,695          $448            $717           $20,426
                                              ===============================================================
</TABLE>

Market values of public bonds and preferred  stocks have been  determined by the
Company from public  quotations,  when available,  or bonds have been assigned a
market rate by the Securities  Valuation Office of the NAIC.  Private  placement
securities are valued by discounting the expected total cash flows. Market rates
used are applicable to the yield,  credit  quality and average  maturity of each
security.

The carrying  values and estimated  market values of bonds at December 31, 1995,
by expected maturity, are as follows (in millions):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      Carrying Value   Estimated Market
                                                                                            Value
                                                                      ------------------------------------

<S>                                                                     <C>               <C>
   Due in one year or less                                              $     747         $     768
   Due after one year through five years                                    6,878             7,271
   Due after five years through ten years                                   6,189             6,695
   Due after ten years                                                      3,176             3,657
                                                                      ------------------------------------
                                                                           16,990            18,391
   Mortgage-backed and other securities without
     a single maturity date                                                 4,808             5,191
                                                                      ------------------------------------
   Total                                                                  $21,798           $23,582
                                                                      ====================================
</TABLE>

The carrying value and estimated  market value of mortgage loans at December 31,
1995 and 1994, are as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                       1995                            1994
                                          -----------------------------  ----------------------------------
                                                             Estimated                    Estimated Market
                                          Carrying Value      Market      Carrying Value       Value
                                      Value
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>            <C>              <C>             <C>
   Commercial mortgage loans                   $9,794         $10,129          $8,901          $8,580
   Residential mortgage loans                     234             262             287             299
</TABLE>

Market  values of  commercial  mortgage  loans are  valued  by  discounting  the
expected  total cash flows using market rates that are  applicable to the yield,
credit quality, and maturity of each loan. Market values of residential mortgage
loans are valued by a pricing and  servicing  model using  market rates that are
applicable to the yield, rate structure,  credit quality,  size, and maturity of
each loan. The carrying value for policy loans approximates the fair value.

Major  categories  of income  from  investments  are  summarized  as follows (in
millions):

                                               Year ended December 31
                                           1995          1994          1993
                                      ------------------------------------------

   Bonds                                  $1,761        $1,622        $1,549
   Preferred stocks                            6             3             2
   Common stocks                              35            22            26
   Investment in subsidiaries                (48)           (2)          (37)
   Mortgage loans                            808           766           811
   Investment real estate                    211           179           129
   Policy loans                               48            44            44
   Cash and short-term investments            29            20             6
   Other                                      18            48             1
                                      ------------------------------------------
                                           2,868         2,702         2,531

   Less investment expenses                  217           182           162
                                      ------------------------------------------
   Net income from investments            $2,651        $2,520        $2,369
                                      ==========================================

The major components of realized capital gains (losses) on investments reflected
in operations,  and unrealized  capital gains (losses) on investments  reflected
directly in surplus, are summarized as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                     Realized                         Unrealized
                                        ---------------------------------   -----------------------------
                                             1995      1994      1993         1995      1994      1993
                                        ---------------------------------   -----------------------------
<S>                                           <C>      <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>      <C>
   Bonds                                      $101     $(133)     $150        $ (17)     $32      $(32)
   Preferred stocks                             (1)        -       (11)           1       (7)       11
   Common stocks                                32         6        29          398        7        23
   Mortgage loans                              (24)      (34)      (81)           9        3        41
   Investment real estate                        7         3         1            5        6        (1)
   Investment in subsidiaries                    1        32         -           (6)       6        (5)
   Other                                         4        45       (44)          (1)       -        20
                                           ------------------------------   -----------------------------
      Net capital gains (losses)               120       (81)       44          389       47        57

   Related federal income taxes                (41)        6       (26)         (63)       -         -
   Transferred (to) from interest
     maintenance reserve                       (77)       43       (70)           -        -         -
                                           ------------------------------   -----------------------------
   Total capital gains (losses)             $    2    $  (32)     $(52)        $326      $47       $57
                                           ==============================   =============================
</TABLE>
Proceeds  from  sales  of  investments  (excluding  maturity  proceeds)  in debt
securities  were $6.5 billion in both 1995 and 1994,  and $11.9 billion in 1993.
Gross gains of $93 million, $53 million and $173 million and gross losses of $54
million, $213 million and $65 million in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively, were
realized on those sales. Of the 1995, 1994 and 1993 proceeds, $6.1 billion, $5.7
billion and $11.5  billion,  respectively,  relates to sales of  mortgage-backed
securities.   The  Company  actively  manages  its  mortgage-backed   securities
portfolio to control  prepayment risk.  Gross gains of $66 million,  $19 million
and $152 million and gross  losses of $17 million,  $139 million and $29 million
in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively,  were realized on sales of mortgage-backed
securities.  At December 31, 1995,  the Company had security  purchases  payable
totaling $426 million relating to the purchases of mortgage-backed securities at
forward dates.

The  Company  has  a  revolving  credit  agreement  with  Principal  Residential
Mortgage,  Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary which conducts the Company's mortgage
banking operations,  of up to $800 million,  which had a balance of $458 million
outstanding at December 31, 1995.

Commercial  mortgage loans and corporate  private  placement bonds originated or
acquired by the Company represent its primary areas of credit risk exposure.  At
December 31, 1995 and 1994, the commercial  mortgage portfolio is diversified by
geographic region and specific collateral property type as follows:

        Geographic Distribution                   Property Type Distribution
- ------------------------------------------    ----------------------------------
                          December 31                             December 31

                       1995        1994                         1995       1994
                   -----------------------    ---------------------------------

   South Atlantic       22%         21%       Industrial         43%        47%
   Pacific              34          38        Office             26         24
   Mid Atlantic         17          17        Retail             26         24
   North Central        14          13        Other               5          5
   South Central         7           6
   New England           4           3
   Mountain              2           2

The corporate  private  placement  bond  portfolio is  diversified by issuer and
industry.  Restrictive  bond  covenants are monitored by the Company to regulate
the activities of issuers and control their leveraging  capabilities.  Under the
NAIC bond classification system, 99.8% and 99.7% of the Company's bond portfolio
were carried at amortized cost at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively, with
the remainder carried at the lower of amortized cost or market value.

Effective  December 29, 1995, the Company  entered into  short-term  equity swap
agreements  to mitigate its exposure to declines in the value of about  one-half
of its marketable  common stock portfolio.  Under the agreements,  the return on
that portion of the Company's  marketable common stock portfolio was swapped for
a fixed short-term interest rate. At December 31, 1995, there was no realized or
unrealized  gains  or  losses  recorded  on  the  equity  swap  agreements  and,
accordingly,  there was no credit  exposure.  The  unrealized  appreciation  and
depreciation of marketable common stocks  recognized in the Company's  statement
of  financial  position  were $814  million and $85  million,  respectively,  at
December 31, 1995.

Investment  real estate  includes  properties  directly owned by the Company and
investments  in  subsidiaries  include  properties  owned  jointly  with venture
partners and operated by the partners.  Joint  ventures in which the Company has
an  interest  have  mortgage  loans  with the  Company  of $2.2  billion at both
December 31, 1995 and  December  31,  1994.  The Company is committed to provide
additional  mortgage financing for such joint ventures  aggregating $304 million
at December 31, 1995.

3.  Derivatives Held or Issued for Purposes Other Than Trading

The Company uses exchange-traded  interest rate futures and forward contracts to
hedge against  interest rate risks.  The Company attempts to match the timing of
when interest rates are committed on insurance  products and on new investments.
However,  timing  differences do occur and can expose the Company to fluctuating
interest rates. Interest rate futures and forward contracts are used to minimize
these  risks.  In these  contracts,  the Company is subject to the risk that the
counterparties  will fail to perform and to the risks associated with changes in
the value of the underlying securities; however, such changes in value generally
are  offset by  opposite  changes  in the  value of the  hedged  items.  Futures
contracts  are  marked  to  market  and  settled  daily,   which  minimizes  the
counterparty  risk. The notional amounts of futures and forward  contracts ($303
million at December  31, 1995,  and $80 million at December 31, 1994)  represent
the extent of the Company's involvement but not the risk of loss.

The  Company  enters  into  interest  rate swaps to  minimize  its  exposure  to
fluctuations  in interest  rates and to correct  duration  mismatches.  The most
common use is to modify the duration of an asset or portfolio, a less common use
is to convert a  floating  rate asset  into a fixed  rate  asset.  The  notional
principal  amounts of the swaps  outstanding at December 31, 1995 and 1994, were
$599 million and $586 million, respectively, and the credit exposure at December
31, 1995 and  December 31, 1994 was $8 million.  The  Company's  current  credit
exposure  on swaps is  limited  to the value of  interest  rate  swaps that have
become favorable to the Company.  The average  unexpired terms of the swaps were
approximately three years at both December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.  The
net  amount  payable or  receivable  from  interest  rate swaps is accrued as an
adjustment  to interest  income.  The Company's  interest  rate swap  agreements
include  cross-default  provisions  when two or more swaps are transacted with a
given counterparty. Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

3.  Derivatives Held or Issued for Purposes Other Than Trading (continued)

The Company  enters into currency  exchange swap  agreements to convert  certain
foreign  denominated fixed rate assets into dollar denominated fixed rate assets
and eliminate the exposure to future currency volatility on those securities. At
December 31, 1995, the Company had various foreign currency exchange  agreements
with  maturities  ranging from 1995 to 2002,  with an aggregate  notional amount
involved of  approximately  $312 million and the credit exposure was $4 million.
The average unexpired term of the swaps was approximately five years at December
31, 1995.

4.  Insurance, Annuity and Accident and Health Reserves

The carrying  values and fair values of the Company's  reserves and  liabilities
for  investment-type  insurance  contracts  (which  are  only a  portion  of the
insurance reserves,  annuity reserves, and other policy liabilities appearing in
the  statement  of  financial  position)  at  December  31,  1995 and 1994,  are
summarized as follows (in millions):
 <TABLE>
 <CAPTION>

                                                    1995                               1994
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Carrying Value        Fair         Carrying Value        Fair
                                                            Value                              Value
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                    <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>
   Insurance reserves                  $       30       $       33        $       30       $       30
   Annuity reserves                        20,989           21,524            19,714           19,168
   Other policy liabilities                   398              403               270              270
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total                                  $21,417          $21,960           $20,014          $19,468
                                     ======================================================================
</TABLE>

The fair values for the Company's reserves and liabilities under investment-type
contracts  (insurance,  annuity and other policy  contracts  that do not involve
significant  mortality or morbidity  risk) are estimated  using  discounted cash
flow  analyses  (based on current  interest  rates  being  offered  for  similar
contracts   with   maturities   consistent   with   those   remaining   for  the
investment-type contracts being valued) or surrender values.

The fair values for the Company's  insurance contracts  (insurance,  annuity and
other policy contracts that do involve significant mortality or morbidity risk),
other than  investment-type  contracts,  are not required to be  disclosed.  The
Company does consider,  however,  the various  insurance and investment risks in
choosing investments for both insurance and investment-type contracts.

4.  Insurance, Annuity and Accident and Health Reserves (continued)

Activity  in the  liability  for unpaid  accident  and health  claims,  which is
included  with  insurance  reserves in the statement of financial  position,  is
summarized as follows (in millions):


                                             Year ended December 31
                                        1995          1994          1993
                                    ------------------------------------------
   Balance at beginning of year        $   844       $   723       $   657

   Incurred:
     Current year                        2,665         2,735         2,307
     Prior years                           (24)         (105)          (37)
                                    ------------------------------------------
   Total incurred                        2,641         2,630         2,270

   Payments:
     Current year                        2,196         2,065         1,814
     Prior years                           481           444           390
                                    ------------------------------------------
   Total payments                        2,677         2,509         2,204
                                    ------------------------------------------

   Balance at end of year:
     Current year                          469           670           493
     Prior years                           339           174           230
                                    ------------------------------------------
   Total balance at end of year        $   808       $   844       $   723
                                    ==========================================

5.  Federal Income Taxes

The Company  files a  consolidated  income tax return that  includes  all of its
qualifying subsidiaries,  and has a policy of allocating income tax expenses and
benefits to companies in the group based upon pro rata  contribution  of taxable
income or operating  losses.  The Company is taxed at corporate rates on taxable
income  based on existing  tax laws.  Due to the  inherent  differences  between
income  for  financial  reporting  purposes  and income  for tax  purposes,  the
Company's  provision  for  federal  income  taxes  may not  have  the  customary
relationship of taxes to income.

Deferred  income  taxes are  generally  not  recognized  for the tax  effects of
temporary differences between income for financial reporting purposes and income
for tax purposes.  In 1993,  1994 and 1995,  however,  the Company  recognized a
deferred  tax asset and  operating  benefit  for the tax  effect of  unamortized
deferred  acquisition  costs required for tax purposes.  This deferred tax asset
was non-admitted in accordance with statutory accounting practices. In 1995, the
Company also  recognized a deferred tax liability and surplus charge for the tax
effect of unrealized gains for common stocks identified for sale in 1996.

5.  Federal Income Taxes (continued)

In December  1994, a U.S.  Court of Appeals with  jurisdiction  over the Company
ruled that federal law did not permit mutual life  insurance  companies to use a
negative  recomputed  differential  earnings  rate to compute  their  equity tax
liability  for the  preceding  year.  Accordingly,  the  Company  increased  its
liability for federal income taxes attributable to its equity for years prior to
1994 and  made a  corresponding  adjustment  to  surplus  in the  amount  of $63
million.

6.  Short-Term Borrowings

The Company  issues  commercial  paper to meet its short-term  financing  needs.
There were no  outstanding  borrowings at December 31, 1995 or 1994. The Company
also maintains  credit  facilities  with various banks for short-term  borrowing
purposes.


7.  Employee and Agent Benefits

The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering  substantially all of its
employees and certain  agents.  The  employees  and agents are  generally  first
eligible for the pension plans when they reach age 21. The pension  benefits are
based on the years of service and  generally the  employee's or agent's  average
annual  compensation  during the last five years of employment.  Partial benefit
accrual  of  pension  benefits  is  recognized  from  first   eligibility  until
retirement based on attained service divided by potential service to age 65 with
a minimum of 35 years of potential service.

During 1995, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Standards (SFAS) No. 87,
"Employers'  Accounting  for Pensions,"  and  accordingly  changed its method of
accounting for the costs of defined  benefit pension plans to an accrual method.
Prior  to  this  change,   the  cost  of  pension  benefits  was  recognized  as
contributions  were made to the pension trusts.  The Company's policy is to fund
the cost of  providing  pension  benefits  in the years that the  employees  and
agents are providing service to the Company.  The Company's funding policy is to
deposit the actuarial normal cost and any change in unfunded  accrued  liability
over a 30-year period as a percentage of compensation.

The pension plans' combined funded status,  reconciled to amounts  recognized in
the statements of financial position and statements of operations and surplus as
of and for the years  ended  December  31,  1995 and  1994,  is as  follows  (in
millions):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      December 31
                                                                                 1995           1994
                                                                             ------------------------------
   Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
<S>                                                                               <C>           <C>
      Vested benefit obligation                                                   $437          $324
                                                                             ==============================
      Accumulated benefit obligation                                              $457          $338
                                                                             ==============================

   Plan assets at fair value, primarily affiliated mutual funds
      and investment contracts of the Company                                     $719          $581
   Projected benefit obligation                                                    661           462
                                                                             ------------------------------
   Plan assets in excess of projected benefit obligation                            58           119

   Unrecognized net (gains) losses and funding different from that assumed
      and from changes in assumptions                                               42           (23)
   Unrecognized net transition asset as of January 1, 1994                         (72)          (83)
                                                                             ------------------------------
   Prepaid pension asset (non-admitted)                                          $  28         $  13
                                                                             ==============================
</TABLE>

Net periodic pension income included the following components (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                Year ended December 31
                                                                                 1995           1994
                                                                             ------------------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>           <C>
   Service cost                                                                    $22           $26
   Interest cost on projected benefit obligation                                    39            37
   Actual return on plan assets                                                   (144)            6
   Net amortization and deferral                                                    79           (72)
                                                                             ------------------------------
   Total net periodic pension income                                              $ (4)         $ (3)
                                                                             ==============================
</TABLE>

During 1994 and 1993, $10 million and $8 million,  respectively,  was charged to
expense and  contributed  to the trusts  previously  established  to provide for
future costs of pension  benefits.  During 1995, $12 million was  contributed to
these pension trusts. In addition,  to adjust the pension  accounting to the new
method required by SFAS No. 87 and to make the change effective as of January 1,
1994, surplus as of January 1, 1995 has been increased by $13 million. According
to the requirements of statutory accounting practices,  pension expense for 1994
has  not  been  restated  and the  1994  pension  amounts  shown  above  are for
comparative  purposes  only.  The pension asset at January 1, 1995 ($13 million)
and December 31, 1995 ($28 million) was  non-admitted as prescribed by statutory
accounting practices.

The  weighted-average  assumed  discount rate used in determining  the projected
benefit obligation was 7% and 8.5% at December 31, 1995 and 1994,  respectively.
Some of the trusts  holding the plan assets are subject to federal  income taxes
at a 35% tax rate while others are not subject to federal income taxes. For both
1995 and 1994,  the  expected  long-term  rates of return  on plan  assets  were
approximately  6% (after  estimated  income  taxes) for those trusts  subject to
federal  income  taxes and  approximately  10% for those  trusts not  subject to
federal income taxes. The assumed rate of increase in future compensation levels
varies by age for both the qualified and non-qualified pension plans.

In  addition,  the  Company has defined  contribution  plans that are  generally
available to all employees and agents who are age 21 or older and have completed
one year of service.  Eligible  participants  may  contribute up to 15% of their
compensation  or  $9,240  annually  to  the  plans.   The  Company  matches  the
participant's  contribution with a 50% contribution up to a maximum contribution
of 2% of the participant's compensation.  During both 1995 and 1994, the Company
contributed  $7 million to the defined  contribution  plans.  During 1993,  such
contributions totaled $6 million.

The Company also provides  certain health care,  life  insurance,  and long-term
care  benefits for retired  employees.  Substantially  all  employees  are first
eligible  for these  postretirement  benefits  when  they  reach age 57 and have
completed  ten years of service with the  Company.  Partial  benefit  accrual of
these  health,  life,  and  long-term  care  benefits is  recognized  from first
eligibility  until  retirement  based on attained  service  divided by potential
service to age 65 with a minimum of 35 years of potential service. The Company's
policy is to fund the cost of providing  retiree  benefits in the years that the
employees are providing service to the Company.  The Company's funding policy is
to deposit the  actuarial  normal cost and an accrued  liability  over a 30-year
period as a percentage of compensation.

The  postretirement  plans'  combined  funded  status,   reconciled  to  amounts
recognized  in the  statement of financial  position and statement of operations
and surplus as of and for the years  ended  December  31,  1995 and 1994,  is as
follows (in millions):
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     December 31
                                                                                 1995            1994
                                                                            -------------------------------
   Plan assets at fair value, primarily affiliated mutual funds and
<S>                                                                              <C>             <C>
     investment contracts of the Company                                         $208            $155
   Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation:
     Retirees                                                                     (83)            (71)
     Eligible employees                                                           (40)            (31)
                                                                            -------------------------------
   Total accumulated postretirement benefit obligation                           (123)           (102)
                                                                            -------------------------------
    Plan assets in excess of accumulated postretirement benefit
      obligation                                                                   85              53

   Unrecognized net losses and funding different from that assumed and
     from changes in assumptions                                                    3              29
                                                                            -------------------------------
   Postretirement benefit asset (non-admitted)                                  $  88           $  82
                                                                            ===============================
</TABLE>

The net periodic  postretirement  benefit cost included the following components
(in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    Year ended
                                                                                    December 31
                                                                             1995       1994      1993
                                                                          --------------------------------

<S>                                                                         <C>       <C>          <C>
   Service cost                                                             $   5     $    4       $ 3
   Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit cost                     9          7         6
   Expected return on plan assets                                             (10)       (10)       (6)
   Net amortization of gains and losses                                         1          -         -
                                                                          ================================
   Total net periodic postretirement benefit cost                           $   5     $    1       $ 3
                                                                          ================================
</TABLE>

The  weighted-average  assumed discount rate used in determining the accumulated
postretirement benefit obligation was 7% and 8.5% at December 31, 1995 and 1994,
respectively.  Some of the trusts holding the plan assets are subject to federal
income  taxes at a 35% tax rate while  others are not subject to federal  income
taxes.  For both 1995 and 1994, the expected  long-term  rates of return on plan
assets were  approximately  6% (after  estimated  income taxes) for those trusts
subject  to  federal  income  taxes and  approximately  9% for those  trusts not
subject to federal  income  taxes.  These rates of return on plan assets vary by
benefit type and employee group.

The  assumed  health  care cost trend  rate used in  measuring  the  accumulated
postretirement  benefit obligations starts at 11.5% in 1995, declines to 9.5% in
2001,  and then declines to an ultimate rate of 6.5% in 2036. If the health care
cost trend rate  assumptions  were increased by 1% in each year, the accumulated
postretirement  benefits  obligation  for health  plans as of December  31, 1995
would increase by 11.8% ($10 million). The effect of this 1% increase would also
increase the aggregate of the service cost and interest  cost  components of the
net  periodic  postretirement  benefit  cost of health  plans for the year ended
December 31, 1995 by 13.5% ($1 million).

These  statutory  accounting  provisions  are similar to  Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 106,  "Employers'  Accounting for Postretirement
Benefits  Other  Than  Pensions,"  issued by the FASB  except  that SFAS No. 106
includes  ineligible  employees  in  the  accumulated   postretirement   benefit
obligation calculations.  The accumulated  postretirement benefit obligation for
ineligible  employees  was $77 million and $48 million at December  31, 1995 and
1994, respectively.

8.  Surplus Notes

On March 10, 1994, the Company  issued $300 million of surplus notes,  including
$200  million  due  March  1,  2024 at a  7.875%  annual  interest  rate and the
remaining  $100  million  due March 1, 2044 at an 8% annual  interest  rate.  No
affiliates  of the Company hold any portion of the surplus  notes.  The discount
and direct costs  associated with issuing these surplus notes is being amortized
to expense over their respective terms using the interest method.  For statutory
accounting  purposes,  these notes are considered a part of total surplus of the
Company. Each payment of interest and principal on the surplus notes may be made
only with the prior  approval of the  Commissioner  of Insurance of the State of
Iowa (the  Commissioner)  and only to the extent that the Company has sufficient
surplus  earnings to make such  payments.  For the years ended December 31, 1995
and 1994, interest of $24 million and $11 million, respectively, was approved by
the  Commissioner,  paid and charged to expense.  Had the accrual of interest on
surplus notes not been subject to approval of the Commissioner, accrued interest
payable on surplus  notes at both  December 31, 1995 and 1994 would have been $8
million.

Subject to  Commissioner  approval,  the surplus  notes due March 1, 2024 may be
redeemed at the Company's election on or after March 1, 2004 in whole or in part
at a  redemption  price of  approximately  103.6% of par. The  approximate  3.6%
premium is scheduled to gradually  diminish over the following ten years.  These
surplus  notes may then be redeemed on or after March 1, 2014,  at a  redemption
price of 100% of the  principal  amount  plus  interest  accrued  to the date of
redemption.  Non-insurance companies individually held over 10% of these surplus
notes  (approximately $50 million and $73 million at December 31, 1995 and 1994,
respectively).

In addition,  subject to Commissioner  approval,  the surplus notes due March 1,
2044 may be redeemed  at the  Company's  election on or after March 1, 2014,  in
whole or in part at a  redemption  price of  approximately  102.3%  of par.  The
approximate  2.3% premium is scheduled to gradually  diminish over the following
ten years.  These  surplus notes may be redeemed on or after March 1, 2024, at a
redemption  price of 100% of the principal  amount plus interest  accrued to the
date of redemption.  Non-insurance companies individually held over 10% of these
surplus  notes  (approximately  $43 million and $62 million at December 31, 1995
and 1994, respectively).

9.  Other Commitments and Contingencies

The Company  leases  office space and  furniture  and  equipment  under  various
operating leases. Rental expense for all operating leases totaled $48 million in
1995, $43 million in 1994 and $44 million in 1993. At December 31, 1995,  future
minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating leases for office space
and electronic data processing equipment totaled approximately $97 million.

The Company is a defendant in various legal actions arising in the normal course
of its investment and insurance  operations.  In the opinion of management,  any
losses  resulting  from such  actions  would not have a  material  effect on the
financial statements.

The Company is also subject to insurance  guarantee  laws in the states in which
it writes  business.  These  laws  provide  for  assessments  against  insurance
companies  for the  benefit  of  policyholders  and  claimants  in the  event of
insolvency  of other  insurance  companies.  At  December  31,  1995  and  1994,
approximately  $18  million  and  $15  million,   respectively,  of  surplus  is
appropriated for possible  guarantee fund assessments for which notices have not
been received.

In 1995, the Company sold its wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Principal National Life
Insurance Company (Principal  National),  at a gain of approximately $1 million.
At December 31, 1994,  substantially all the assets ($513 million),  liabilities
($470 million),  and equity ($43 million) of Principal National were transferred
to and assumed by the Company.  This  resulted in increases in both other income
and additions to policyowner reserves of $470 million in 1994.
<PAGE>
                                  APPENDIX - A

   SAMPLE ILLUSTRATIONS OF POLICY VALUES, SURRENDER VALUES AND DEATH BENEFITS

     The  following  illustrations  have been  prepared  to help show how Policy
Values  and  Surrender   Values  under  the  Policies   change  with  investment
performance  and differing death benefit  options.  The  illustrations  show how
death  benefits  and values would vary over time if the return on assets held by
the Mutual  Funds were  uniform,  gross,  annual rates of 0%, 6% and 12% (or net
rates of -.69%, 5.31% and 11.31%,  respectively).  The death benefits and values
would be different  from those shown if the return  averaged 0%, 6% and 12%, but
fluctuated above and below those averages during  individual  years.  Both Death
Benefit Option 1 and Death Benefit Option 2 are illustrated.

     The  four  illustrations  set out  show  hypothetical  Policies  issued  to
45-year-old  male  nonsmokers.  Illustrations  for females or for younger  males
would be more favorable;  illustrations  for older males or for smokers would be
less favorable than those  presented.  The Policies are illustrated on the basis
of $4,000 Target  Premium and a face amount at issue of $250,000.  The first and
third illustrations show the selection of Death Benefit Option 1; the second and
fourth, Death Benefit Option 2.

     The  illustrations  reflect all Policy charges  (including  deductions from
premiums for sales loads and state and federal taxes;  monthly  deductions  from
Policy Value of administration  charges, cost of insurance charges and mortality
and expense risk charges; and the contingent deferred  administration charge and
contingent  deferred  sales load that may be deducted  upon full  surrenders  or
lapse of a Policy) and the average  fees and expenses of the Mutual  Funds.  The
first two  illustrations  reflect current  administrative  and cost of insurance
charges.  The third and fourth  illustrations  reflect  the  guaranteed  maximum
administration and cost of insurance  charges.  The average fees and expenses of
the  Mutual  Funds may  decrease  or  increase  in the future  making  operating
expenses actually incurred by the Mutual Funds differ from the .69% average rate
shown in the illustrations.

     The four  illustrations  are based on the assumption that payments are made
in accordance with a $4,000 annual Target Premium  schedule,  that no values are
allocated  to the Fixed  Account,  no  changes in death  benefit  option or face
amount are made, no policy loans or partial surrenders occur, and that no riders
are in effect. Upon request, the Company will prepare a comparable  illustration
reflecting the proposed  insured's actual age, gender,  risk  classification and
desired policy features.

     From time to time, in  advertisements  or sales literature for the Policies
that quote performance data for one or more of the Mutual Funds, the Company may
include Policy Values, Surrender Values and death benefit figures computed using
the same methodology as that used in the following  illustrations,  but with the
average annual total return of the Fund for which  performance  data is shown in
the  advertisement  replacing  the  hypothetical  rates of  return  shown in the
following tables.  This information may be shown in the form of graphs,  charts,
tables and examples  and may include  data for periods  prior to the offering of
the Policies for which a Mutual Funds has had  performance  (with Policy charges
assumed to be equal to current  charges  for any periods  prior to offering  the
Policies).
<PAGE>
                     PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                  PRINFLEX LIFE
                             MALE AGE 45 NON-SMOKER
                            ASSUMING CURRENT CHARGES

PLANNED PREMIUM $4,000                             Initial Face Amount $250,000
                                                         Death Benefit Option 1
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Death Benefit (2)                   
                                    Assuming Hypothetical Gross              
             Accumulated            Annual Investment Return of              
              Premiums       -------------------------------------------     
  End of    (at 5% annual        0%             6%               12%         
   Year    rate of return)   (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net)     
     1         $  4,200       $250,000       $250,000         $250,000       
     2            8,610        250,000        250,000          250,000       
     3           13,241        250,000        250,000          250,000       
     4           18,103        250,000        250,000          250,000       
     5           23,208        250,000        250,000          250,000       
     6           28,568        250,000        250,000          250,000       
     7           34,196        250,000        250,000          250,000       
     8           40,106        250,000        250,000          250,000       
     9           46,312        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    10           52,827        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    11           59,669        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    12           66,852        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    13           74,395        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    14           82,314        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    15           90,630        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    16           99,361        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    17          108,530        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    18          118,156        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    19          128,264        250,000        250,000          250,000       
    20          138,877        250,000        250,000          250,000       



                                        Accumulated Value (2)             
                                     Assuming Hypothetical Gross          
             Accumulated             Annual Investment Return of          
              Premiums       -------------------------------------------  
  End of    (at 5% annual        0%             6%               12%      
   Year    rate of return)   (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net)  
     1         $  4,200       $ 2,928         $ 3,126         $ 3,324     
     2            8,610         5,788           6,365           6,967     
     3           13,241         8,550           9,692          10,930     
     4           18,103        11,243          13,138          15,275     
     5           23,208        13,862          16,705          20,041     
     6           28,568        16,406          20,396          25,269     
     7           34,196        18,871          24,213          31,005     
     8           40,106        21,242          28,145          37,289     
     9           46,312        23,504          32,185          44,166     
    10           52,827        25,819          36,564          52,028     
    11           59,669        28,132          41,203          60,822     
    12           66,852        30,387          46,053          70,587     
    13           74,395        32,591          51,133          81,445     
    14           82,314        34,767          56,480          93,546     
    15           90,630        36,840          62,041         106,979     
    16           99,361        38,788          67,809         121,897     
    17          108,530        40,598          73,791         138,480     
    18          118,156        42,255          79,992         156,941     
    19          128,264        43,750          86,423         177,522     
    20          138,877        45,087          93,112         200,515     
                                              



                                         Surrender Value (2)               
                                     Assuming Hypothetical Gross           
             Accumulated             Annual Investment Return of           
              Premiums       ----------------------------------------------
  End of    (at 5% annual        0%             6%               12%       
   Year    rate of return)   (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net)   
     1         $  4,200       $   288         $   486        $    684      
     2            8,610         1,658           2,235           2,836      
     3           13,241         4,420           5,561           6,799      
     4           18,103         7,112           9,008          11,145      
     5           23,208         9,731          12,575          15,911      
     6           28,568        12,472          16,462          21,335      
     7           34,196        15,330          20,672          27,465      
     8           40,106        18,291          25,194          34,338      
     9           46,312        21,341          30,021          42,003      
    10           52,827        24,639          35,384          50,848      
    11           59,669        28,132          41,203          60,822      
    12           66,852        30,387          46,053          70,587      
    13           74,395        32,591          51,133          81,445      
    14           82,314        34,767          56,480          93,546      
    15           90,630        36,840          62,041         106,979      
    16           99,361        38,788          67,809         121,897      
    17          108,530        40,598          73,791         138,480      
    18          118,156        42,255          79,992         156,941      
    19          128,264        43,750          86,423         177,522      
    20          138,877        45,087          93,112         200,515      
                                               
(1) Assumes net interest of 5% compounded annually.

(2) Assumes no policy loan has been made.

The death benefit, accumulated value and surrender value will differ if premiums
are  paid in  different  amounts  or  frequencies.  It is  emphasized  that  the
hypothetical investment results are illustrative only and should not be deemed a
representation of past or future investment  results.  Actual investment results
may be more or less than those shown. The death benefit,  accumulated  value and
surrender value for a policy would be different from those shown if actual rates
of  investment  return  applicable  to the policy  averaged 0%, 6% or 12% over a
period of years,  but also fluctuated above or below that average for individual
policy years.  The death benefit,  accumulated  value and surrender  value for a
policy would also be different  from those  shown,  depending on the  investment
allocations  made to the  investment  divisions of the separate  account and the
different  rates  of  return  of the Fund  portfolios,  if the  actual  rates of
investment  return  applicable to the policy  averaged 0%, 6% or 12%, but varied
above or below that average for individual divisions.  No representations can be
made that these hypothetical rates of return can be achieved for any one year or
sustained over any period of time.
<PAGE>
                     PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                  PRINFLEX LIFE
                             MALE AGE 45 NON-SMOKER
                           ASSUMING GUARANTEED CHARGES

 PLANNED PREMIUM $4,000                          Initial Face Amount $250,000
                                                       Death Benefit Option 1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Death Benefit (2)                  
                                    Assuming Hypothetical Gross             
             Accumulated            Annual Investment Return of             
              Premiums       -------------------------------------------    
  End of    (at 5% annual        0%             6%               12%        
   Year    rate of return)   (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net)    
     1         $  4,200       $250,000       $250,000         $250,000      
     2            8,610        250,000        250,000          250,000      
     3           13,241        250,000        250,000          250,000      
     4           18,103        250,000        250,000          250,000      
     5           23,208        250,000        250,000          250,000      
     6           28,568        250,000        250,000          250,000      
     7           34,196        250,000        250,000          250,000      
     8           40,106        250,000        250,000          250,000      
     9           46,312        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    10           52,827        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    11           59,669        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    12           66,852        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    13           74,395        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    14           82,314        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    15           90,630        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    16           99,361        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    17          108,530        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    18          118,156        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    19          128,264        250,000        250,000          250,000      
    20          138,877        250,000        250,000          250,000      



                                       Accumulated Value (2)            
                                    Assuming Hypothetical Gross         
             Accumulated            Annual Investment Return of         
              Premiums      ------------------------------------------- 
  End of    (at 5% annual       0%             6%               12%     
   Year    rate of return)  (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net) 
     1         $  4,200       $ 2,714        $ 2,905         $ 3,097    
     2            8,610        5,357           5,908           6,482    
     3           13,241        7,897           8,978          10,152    
     4           18,103       10,328          12,115          14,132    
     5           23,208       12,647          15,315          18,451    
     6           28,568       14,845          18,572          23,136    
     7           34,196       16,911          21,878          28,216    
     8           40,106       18,833          25,223          33,725    
     9           46,312       20,596          28,594          39,697    
    10           52,827       22,332          32,186          46,470    
    11           59,669       23,992          35,924          53,991    
    12           66,852       25,464          39,699          62,235    
    13           74,395       26,738          43,510          71,291    
    14           82,314       27,795          47,344          81,257    
    15           90,630       28,607          51,184          92,242    
    16           99,361       29,151          55,016         104,378    
    17          108,530       29,395          58,821         117,820    
    18          118,156       29,290          62,565         132,742    
    19          128,264       28,791          66,220         149,360    
    20          138,877       27,846          69,753         167,939    
                                                                        
                            


                                       Surrender Value (2)                
                                   Assuming Hypothetical Gross            
             Accumulated           Annual Investment Return of            
              Premiums     ---------------------------------------------- 
  End of    (at 5% annual      0%             6%               12%        
   Year    rate of return) (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net)    
     1         $  4,200     $    74         $   265        $    457       
     2            8,610       1,227           1,777           2,351       
     3           13,241       3,766           4,848           6,021       
     4           18,103       6,197           7,984          10,001       
     5           23,208       8,516          11,184          14,320       
     6           28,568      10,911          14,638          19,202       
     7           34,196      13,371          18,338          24,676       
     8           40,106      15,883          22,273          30,774       
     9           46,312      18,432          26,430          37,533       
    10           52,827      21,151          31,006          45,289       
    11           59,669      23,992          35,924          53,991       
    12           66,852      25,464          39,699          62,235       
    13           74,395      26,738          43,510          71,291       
    14           82,314      27,795          47,344          81,257       
    15           90,630      28,607          51,184          92,242       
    16           99,361      28,151          55,016         104,378       
    17          108,530      29,395          58,821         117,820       
    18          118,156      29,290          62,565         132,742       
    19          128,264      28,791          66,220         149,360       
    20          138,877      27,846          69,753         167,939       

(1) Assumes net interest of 5% compounded annually.

(2) Assumes no policy loan has been made.

The death benefit, accumulated value and surrender value will differ if premiums
are  paid in  different  amounts  or  frequencies.  It is  emphasized  that  the
hypothetical investment results are illustrative only and should not be deemed a
representation of past or future investment  results.  Actual investment results
may be more or less than those shown. The death benefit,  accumulated  value and
surrender value for a policy would be different from those shown if actual rates
of  investment  return  applicable  to the policy  averaged 0%, 6% or 12% over a
period of years,  but also fluctuated above or below that average for individual
policy years.  The death benefit,  accumulated  value and surrender  value for a
policy would also be different  from those  shown,  depending on the  investment
allocations  made to the  investment  divisions of the separate  account and the
different  rates  of  return  of the Fund  portfolios,  if the  actual  rates of
investment  return  applicable to the policy  averaged 0%, 6% or 12%, but varied
above or below that average for individual divisions.  No representations can be
made that these hypothetical rates of return can be achieved for any one year or
sustained over any period of time.

                     PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                  PRINFLEX LIFE
                             MALE AGE 45 NON-SMOKER
                            ASSUMING CURRENT CHARGES


PLANNED PREMIUM PLANNED PREMIUM $4,000              Initial Face Amount $250,000
                                                          Death Benefit Option 1
                      
                                         Death Benefit (2)                      
                                    Assuming Hypothetical Gross                 
             Accumulated            Annual Investment Return of                 
              Premiums
  End of    (at 5% annual        0%             6%               12%            
   Year    rate of return)   (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net)        
     1         $  4,200       $252,919       $253,116         $253,314          
     2            8,610        255,760        256,334          256,933          
     3           13,241        258,494        259,627          260,855          
     4           18,103        261,147        263,023          265,139          
     5           23,208        263,716        266,524          269,817          
     6           28,568        266,198        270,127          274,925          
     7           34,196        268,589        273,833          280,500          
     8           40,106        270,871        277,627          286,570          
     9           46,312        273,028        281,492          293,166          
    10           52,827        275,214        285,650          300,654          
    11           59,669        277,376        290,015          308,963          
    12           66,852        279,462        294,541          318,122          
    13           74,395        281,479        299,242          328,229          
    14           82,314        283,454        304,154          339,418          
    15           90,630        285,299        309,197          351,711          
    16           99,361        286,985        314,345          365,199          
    17          108,530        288,497        319,587          379,993          
    18          118,156        289,814        324,905          396,213          
    19          128,264        290,923        330,286          414,000          
    20          138,877        291,831        335,739          433,527          


                                         Accumulated Value (2)           
                                      Assuming Hypothetical Gross        
             Accumulated              Annual Investment Return of         
              Premiums                                                    
  End of    (at 5% annual         0%             6%               12%    
   Year    rate of return     (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net)
     1         $  4,200        $ 2,919         $ 3,116         $ 3,314   
     2            8,610          5,760           6,334           6,933   
     3           13,241          8,494           9,627          10,855   
     4           18,103         11,147          13,023          15,139   
     5           23,208         13,716          16,524          19,817   
     6           28,568         16,198          20,127          24,925   
     7           34,196         18,589          23,833          30,500   
     8           40,106         20,871          27,627          36,570   
     9           46,312         23,028          31,492          43,166   
    10           52,827         25,214          35,650          50,654   
    11           59,669         27,376          40,015          58,963   
    12           66,852         29,462          44,541          68,122   
    13           74,395         31,479          49,242          78,229   
    14           82,314         33,454          54,154          89,418   
    15           90,630         35,299          59,197         101,711   
    16           99,361         36,985          64,345         115,199   
    17          108,530         38,497          69,587         129,993   
    18          118,156         39,814          74,905         146,213   
    19          128,264         40,923          80,286         164,000   
    20          138,877         41,831          85,739         183,527   


                                           Surrender Value (2)             
                                       Assuming Hypothetical Gross            
             Accumulated               Annual Investment Return of         
              Premiums                                                     
  End of    (at 5% annual          0%             6%               12%     
   Year    rate of return      (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net) 
     1         $  4,200         $   279         $   476        $    674       
     2            8,610           1,630           2,204           2,802    
     3           13,241           4,363           5,496           6,724    
     4           18,103           7,016           8,893          11,009    
     5           23,208           9,585          12,393          15,687    
     6           28,568          12,264          16,193          20,991       
     7           34,196          15,048          20,293          26,959    
     8           40,106          17,920          24,676          33,619    
     9           46,312          20,864          29,328          41,002    
    10           52,827          24,033          34,470          49,474    
    11           59,669          27,376          40,015          58,963    
    12           66,852          29,462          44,541          68,122    
    13           74,395          31,479          49,242          78,229    
    14           82,314          33,454          54,154          89,418    
    15           90,630          35,299          59,197         101,711    
    16           99,361          36,985          64,345         115,199    
    17          108,530          38,497          69,587         129,993    
    18          118,156          39,814          74,905         146,213    
    19          128,264          40,923          80,286         164,000    
    20          138,877          41,831          85,739         183,527    
                            

(1) Assumes net interest of 5% compounded annually.

(2) Assumes no policy loan has been made.

The death benefit, accumulated value and surrender value will differ if premiums
are  paid in  different  amounts  or  frequencies.  It is  emphasized  that  the
hypothetical investment results are illustrative only and should not be deemed a
representation of past or future investment  results.  Actual investment results
may be more or less than those shown. The death benefit,  accumulated  value and
surrender value for a policy would be different from those shown if actual rates
of  investment  return  applicable  to the policy  averaged 0%, 6% or 12% over a
period of years,  but also fluctuated above or below that average for individual
policy years.  The death benefit,  accumulated  value and surrender  value for a
policy would also be different  from those  shown,  depending on the  investment
allocations  made to the  investment  divisions of the separate  account and the
different  rates  of  return  of the Fund  portfolios,  if the  actual  rates of
investment  return  applicable to the policy  averaged 0%, 6% or 12%, but varied
above or below that average for individual divisions.  No representations can be
made that these hypothetical rates of return can be achieved for any one year or
sustained over any period of time.
<PAGE>
                     PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                                  PRINFLEX LIFE
                             MALE AGE 45 NON-SMOKER
                           ASSUMING GUARANTEED CHARGES

PLANNED PREMIUM $4,000                              Initial Face Amount $250,000
                                                          Death Benefit Option 2


                                         Death Benefit (2)                    
                                    Assuming Hypothetical Gross               
             Accumulated            Annual Investment Return of               
              Premiums
  End of    (at 5% annual        0%             6%               12%          
   Year    rate of return)   (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net)      
     1         $  4,200       $252,703       $252,893         $253,084        
     2            8,610        255,324        255,871          256,442        
     3           13,241        257,830        258,902          260,064        
     4           18,103        260,215        261,979          263,971        
     5           23,208        262,473        265,098          268,183        
     6           28,568        264,594        268,247          272,718        
     7           34,196        266,565        271,413          277,594        
     8           40,106        268,372        274,578          282,828        
     9           46,312        269,997        277,722          288,434        
    10           52,827        271,565        281,024          294,716        
    11           59,669        273,028        284,401          301,595        
    12           66,852        274,268        287,731          309,005        
    13           74,395        275,276        290,999          316,989        
    14           82,314        276,028        294,177          325,586        
    15           90,630        276,495        297,226          334,827        
    16           99,361        276,650        300,111          344,751        
    17          108,530        276,461        302,785          355,397        
    18          118,156        275,876        305,184          366,785        
    19          128,264        274,850        307,241          378,943        
    20          138,877        273,335        308,886          391,901        

                            

                                        Accumulated Value (2)           
                                     Assuming Hypothetical Gross        
             Accumulated             Annual Investment Return of        
              Premiums                                                  
  End of    (at 5% annual        0%             6%               12%    
   Year    rate of return)   (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net)
     1         $  4,200       $ 2,703         $ 2,893         $ 3,084  
     2            8,610         5,324           5,871           6,442   
     3           13,241         7,830           8,902          10,064   
     4           18,103        10,215          11,979          13,971   
     5           23,208        12,473          15,098          18,183   
     6           28,568        14,594          18,247          22,718   
     7           34,196        16,565          21,413          27,594   
     8           40,106        18,372          24,578          32,828   
     9           46,312        19,997          27,722          38,434   
    10           52,827        21,565          31,024          44,716   
    11           59,669        23,028          34,401          51,595   
    12           66,852        24,268          37,731          59,005   
    13           74,395        25,276          40,999          66,989   
    14           82,314        26,028          44,177          75,586   
    15           90,630        26,495          47,226          84,827   
    16           99,361        26,650          50,111          94,751   
    17          108,530        26,461          52,785         105,397   
    18          118,156        25,876          55,184         116,785   
    19          128,264        24,850          57,241         128,943   
    20          138,877        23,335          58,886         141,901   
                            

                             
                                         Surrender Value (2)              
                                     Assuming Hypothetical Gross          
             Accumulated             Annual Investment Return of          
              Premiums                                                    
  End of    (at 5% annual        0%             6%               12%      
   Year    rate of return)   (-.69% Net)    (5.31% Net)     (11.31% Net)  
     1         $  4,200       $    63         $   253        $    444     
     2            8,610         1,194           1,741           2,311     
     3           13,241         3,699           4,771           5,934     
     4           18,103         6,084           7,848           9,840     
     5           23,208         8,342          10,967          14,052     
     6           28,568        10,660          14,313          18,784     
     7           34,196        13,025          17,872          24,054     
     8           40,106        15,421          21,627          29,877     
     9           46,312        17,833          25,558          36,270     
    10           52,827        20,385          29,844          43,536     
    11           59,669        23,028          34,401          51,595     
    12           66,852        24,268          37,731          59,005     
    13           74,395        25,276          40,999          66,989     
    14           82,314        26,028          44,177          75,586     
    15           90,630        26,495          47,226          84,827     
    16           99,361        26,650          50,111          94,751     
    17          108,530        26,461          52,785         105,397     
    18          118,156        25,876          55,184         116,785     
    19          128,264        24,850          57,241         128,943     
    20          138,877        23,335          58,886         141,901     
                             
(1) Assumes net interest of 5% compounded annually.

(2) Assumes no policy loan has been made.

The death benefit, accumulated value and surrender value will differ if premiums
are  paid in  different  amounts  or  frequencies.  It is  emphasized  that  the
hypothetical investment results are illustrative only and should not be deemed a
representation of past or future investment  results.  Actual investment results
may be more or less than those shown. The death benefit,  accumulated  value and
surrender value for a policy would be different from those shown if actual rates
of  investment  return  applicable  to the policy  averaged 0%, 6% or 12% over a
period of years,  but also fluctuated above or below that average for individual
policy years.  The death benefit,  accumulated  value and surrender  value for a
policy would also be different  from those  shown,  depending on the  investment
allocations  made to the  investment  divisions of the separate  account and the
different  rates  of  return  of the Fund  portfolios,  if the  actual  rates of
investment  return  applicable to the policy  averaged 0%, 6% or 12%, but varied
above or below that average for individual divisions.  No representations can be
made that these hypothetical rates of return can be achieved for any one year or
sustained over any period of time.
<PAGE>
Appendix B 
Target Premiums 
Annual per $1,000 Face Amount 
Nonsmoker and Smoker 

Age*     Male  Female    Unisex      Age*      Male     Female      Unisex
- ----    -----  ------    ------      ----    -------    -------    -------
   0   $ 3.50  $ 2.83    $ 3.41       43     $ 12.91    $ 10.82    $ 12.64
   1     3.50    2.83      3.41       44       13.59      11.36      13.30
   2     3.50    2.83      3.41       45       14.31      11.93      14.00
   3     3.50    2.83      3.41       46       15.09      12.53      14.76
   4     3.50    2.83      3.41       47       15.90      13.16      15.54
   5     3.50    2.83      3.41       48       16.77      13.83      16.39
   6     3.50    2.83      3.41       49       17.70      14.54      17.29
   7     3.50    2.83      3.41       50       18.68      15.30      18.24
   8     3.50    2.83      3.41       51       19.74      16.10      19.27
   9     3.50    2.83      3.41       52       20.86      16.94      20.35
  10     3.50    2.83      3.41       53       22.05      17.85      21.50
  11     3.65    2.91      3.55       54       23.32      18.80      22.73
  12     3.80    3.00      3.70       55       24.67      19.82      24.04
  13     3.95    3.08      3.84       56       26.11      20.90      25.43
  14     4.10    3.17      3.98       57       27.65      22.05      26.92
  15     4.25    3.25      4.12       58       29.30      23.29      28.52
  16     4.62    3.63      4.49       59       31.05      24.62      30.21
  17     4.99    4.00      4.86       60       32.93      26.06      32.04
  18     5.36    4.38      5.23       61       34.94      27.60      33.99
  19     5.73    4.75      5.60       62       37.10      29.26      36.08
  20     6.10    5.13      5.97       63       39.40      31.06      38.32
  21     6.11    5.16      5.99       64       41.86      32.97      40.70
  22     6.12    5.20      6.00       65       44.48      35.02      43.25
  23     6.13    5.23      6.01       66       47.29      37.21      45.98
  24     6.14    5.27      6.03       67       50.30      39.58      48.91
  25     6.15    5.30      6.04       68       53.52      42.14      52.04
  26     6.29    5.42      6.18       69       56.98      44.93      55.41
  27     6.43    5.54      6.31       70       60.71      47.98      59.06
  28     6.57    5.65      6.45       71       64.73      51.30      62.98
  29     6.71    5.77      6.59       72       69.02      54.93      67.19
  30     6.85    5.89      6.73       73       73.62      58.86      71.70
  31     7.17    6.16      7.04       74       78.48      63.12      76.48
  32     7.51    6.44      7.37       75       83.65      67.71      81.58
  33     7.87    6.74      7.72       76       87.41      71.10      85.29
  34     8.26    7.06      8.10       77       91.34      74.66      89.17
  35     8.66    7.40      8.50       78       95.45      78.39      93.23
  36     9.10    7.76      8.93       79       99.75      82.31      97.48
  37     9.55    8.13      9.37       80      104.24      86.43     101.92
  38    10.03    8.53      9.84       81      112.06      94.21     109.74
  39    10.54    8.94     10.33       82      120.46     102.69     118.15
  40    11.09    9.38     10.87       83      129.49     111.93     127.21
  41    11.66    9.83     11.42       84      139.20     122.00     136.96
  42    12.26   10.32     12.01       85      149.64     132.98     147.47

* Last Birthday
<PAGE>
   
                            APPENDIX C EXCHANGE OFFER

     The  Company,   the  Separate  Account,   and  Princor  Financial  Services
Corporation  have filed an application  with the SEC for an order  permitting an
offer to exchange the policy  described in this  Prospectus  (the  PrinFlex Life
Policy) for certain outstanding Flexible Variable Life Insurance policies issued
by the Company  (the FVLI  Policy).  The  applicants  intend to make an exchange
offer to owners of the FVLI Policies if the SEC issues an order  permitting  the
exchange.  There can be no assurance that the SEC will issue an order permitting
the exchange.  If the SEC permits the exchange,  the exchange  offer will remain
open for at least one year after the date of the order granting the application.
Thereafter,  the  Company  may  withdraw  the  exchange  offer at any time.  The
exchange  offer will be made only in states in which the PrinFlex Life Policy is
available  for sale.  In  considering  whether to accept the exchange  offer you
should consult this  Prospectus and the prospectus for the FVLI Policy since the
provisions and charges of the FVLI Policy differ from those of the PrinFlex Life
Policy.  Owners of the FVLI Policy may request personalized policy illustrations
for the FVLI  Policy  and the  PrinFlex  Life  Policy  from the  Company.  These
illustrations  are available at no charge.  

     The FVLI Policy will be exchanged at net asset value for the PrinFlex  Life
Policy. Because the exchange will be at net asset value, at the time of exchange
the  accumulated  value of the PrinFlex  Life Policy issued in the exchange will
equal the  accumulated  value of the FVLI Policy  surrendered  in the  exchange.
However,  because  the  surrender  charges of the two  policies  are  calculated
differently,  the  surrender  value of the  PrinFlex  Life Policy at the time of
exchange may be lower or higher than the surrender value of the FVLI Policy.  

     To effect an exchange,  the Company must receive from the policyowner (1) a
completed  application  for the PrinFlex Life Policy,  (2) a request and release
for the exchange on a form  supplied by the Company,  and (3) the FVLI Policy to
be exchanged  (or, if the FVLI Policy has been lost or destroyed,  an indication
to that effect on the request and release). The policyowner and the insured must
be the same  person(s)  under the  PrinFLex  Life  Policy  acquired as under the
exchanged FVLI Policy.  The PrinFlex Life Policy will be issued without evidence
of  insurability  for the same  amount  of  insurance  as the FVLI  Policy.  The
exchange will become  effective as of the close of the Valuation Period in which
all of these three items are  received  by the Company at its home  office.  The
accumulated  value  of the FVLI  Policy  will be  determined  as of the time the
exchange becomes  effective and will be transferred to the PrinFlex Life Policy.

     No surrender charge  otherwise  applicable to the FVLI Policy will apply to
the surrender in connection  with the exchange,  and no Premium  Expense  Charge
will be deducted  from the proceeds of that  surrender  when these  proceeds are
applied to the purchase of a PrinFlex Life Policy as part of an exchange. If the
Policy Date of the FVLI Policy  surrendered  in the  exchange is the same day of
the month as the Policy Date of the PrinFlex Life Policy issued in the exchange,
then surrender charges and front-end sales loads on subsequent  premium payments
for the  PrinFlex  Life Policy will be  calculated  using the Policy Date of the
FVLI Policy,  as if the Policy Date of the FVLI Policy were also the Policy Date
of the PrinFlex Life Policy.  (Example: If the Policy Date of the FVLI Policy is
December 1, 1990 and the FVLI  Policy is  exchanged  for a PrinFlex  Life Policy
with a Policy Date of April 1, 1997,  then  front-end  sales loads on subsequent
premium  payments and  surrender  charges for the  PrinFlex  Life Policy will be
calculated  as if the Policy Date of the PrinFlex  Life Policy were  December 1,
1990). 

     If the Policy Date of the FVLI Policy  surrendered  in the exchange is on a
day of the month  different  from the Policy  Date of the  PrinFlex  Life Policy
issued in the exchange, then surrender charges and front-end loads on subsequent
premium  payments  for the  PrinFlex  Life Policy will be  calculated  using the
hypothetical   Monthly  Date  of  the  PrinFlex  Life  Policy  that  would  have
immediately  preceded  the Policy  Date of the FVLI  Policy  surrendered  in the
exchange,  as if that  hypothetical  Monthly  Date were the  Policy  Date of the
PrinFlex  Life  Policy.  (Example:  If the  Policy  Date of the FVLI  Policy  is
December  15, 1990 and the FVLI Policy is exchanged  for a PrinFlex  Life Policy
with a Policy Date of April 1, 1997,  then  front-end  sales loads on subsequent
premium  payments and  surrender  charges for the  PrinFlex  Life Policy will be
calculated  as if the Policy Date of the PrinFlex  Life Policy were  December 1,
1990).  

If the FVLI Policy  includes one or more face amount  increases,  then surrender
charges and  front-end  sales  loads for the entire face amount of the  PrinFlex
Life Policy acquired in the exchange will be calculated using the same date that
would be used if no face  amount  increases  had  occurred.  (Example:  The FVLI
Policy was issued with a Policy Date of June 15, 1989 in an initial  face amount
of  $100,000.  On  September  15,  1994,  the face amount of the FVLI Policy was
increased  to  $150,000.  If the FVLI Policy is  exchanged  for a PrinFlex  Life
Policy with a Policy Date of August 1, 1997, the surrender charges and front-end
sales loads for the entire $150,000 face amount of the PrinFlex Life Policy will
be  calculated  as if the Policy  Date of the  PrinFlex  Life Policy were June 1
1989).

     All other  duration-related  charges under the PrinFlex Life Policy and the
time period  restrictions  associated  with certain policy  transactions  (e.g.,
death benefit option changes,  face amount  decreases,  and partial  surrenders)
will be calculated  based on the actual Policy Date of the PrinFlex Life Policy.
The Policy Date of the  PrinFlex  Life  Policy will be the date the  exchange is
effected,  unless that date falls on the 29th,  30th or 31st of a month. In that
event,  the PrinFlex Life Policy will be dated on the 28th of the  month.

Summary of Charges  Under  Policies 

     The charges  under the FVLI  Policy and the  PrinFlex  Life  Policy  differ
substantially,  as summarized below. There may be other differences important to
you and the prospectuses  for both policies should be reviewed  carefully before
you decide whether to exchange your FVLI Policy for a PrinFlex Life Policy.  The
table does not include  management  fees and other  expenses  of the  underlying
mutual funds in which the Divisions of the Separate Account invest. Please refer
to the prospectus  for both policies for  information  regardomg  these fees and
expenses. A table summarizing charges under the respective policies follows:

                            FVLI POLICY                     PRINFLEX LIFE POLICY
FRONT-END                5% of all premiums                2.75% of all premiums
SALES LOAD                                                 up to one Target
                                                           Premium in a Policy
                                                           Year during the first
                                                           ten Policy Years; 
                                                           0.75% of all premiums
                                                           in excess of Target
                                                           Premium during the
                                                           first ten Policy 
                                                           Years; and 0.00% of 
                                                           all premiums after 
                                                           ten policy years. 
                                                           (Credit is given for
                                                           time in the FVLI 
                                                           Policy in calculating
                                                           front-end sales loads
                                                           on the PrinFlex Life
                                                           Policy).  A new 10-
                                                           year period for 
                                                           imposition of fron-
                                                           end sales loads
                                                           commences with any 
                                                           face amount increase
                                                           for all premium
                                                           payments attributable
                                                           to the increase.

PREMIUM                   2% of all premiums for state     2.20% of all premiums
TAX CHARGE                premium taxes                    for state and local
                                                           premium taxes (this
                                                           charge is not 
                                                           deducted from amounts
                                                           transferred from the 
                                                           FVLI Policy to the
                                                           PrinFlex Life Policy)

CHARGE FOR FEDERAL        None                             1.25% of all premiums
TAXES                                                      (this charge is not
                                                           decucted from amounts
                                                           transferred from the
                                                           FVLI Policy to the
                                                           PrinFlex Life Policy)

MONTHLY                   Currently $4.75 per month        During the first 
ADMINISTRATIVE            (guaranteed never to exceed      Policy Year, an 
CHARGE                    $5.00 per month)                 amount equal to $.40
                                                           for each $1,000 of 
                                                           policy face amount
                                                           but not less than 
                                                           $6.00 per month and 
                                                           no greater than 
                                                           $16.67 per month 
                                                           (PrinFlex Life 
                                                           Policies issued in 
                                                           the exchange are
                                                           subject to first-year
                                                           administrative 
                                                           charges).  After the
                                                           first Policy Year, 
                                                           the monthly 
                                                           administrative charge
                                                           is currently $6.00
                                                           (guaranteed to be no
                                                           more than $10.00).

POLICY LOANS               Interest on policy loans        During the first ten
                           is charged at an effective      years, interest on 
                           annual rate of 8% and           policy loans is 
                           interest on amounts in the      charged at an 
                           loan account accrues at an      effective annual rate
                           annual rate of 6%               of 8% and interest on
                                                           amounts in the Loan
                                                           Account is credited
                                                           at an annual rate of
                                                           6%.  After the tenth
                                                           Policy Year, interest
                                                           on amounts in the 
                                                           Loan Account is
                                                           credited at an annual
                                                           rate of 7.75%.  (For
                                                           PrinFlex Life 
                                                           Policies issued in 
                                                           the exchange, 
                                                           interest crediting
                                                           rate on amounts in 
                                                           the Loan Account is
                                                           based on Policy Date
                                                           of PrinFlex Life
                                                           Policy).

PARTIAL                   Allowed after the first policy   Allowed after second
SURRENDERS                anniversary, but no more than    policy anniversary
                          two times per Policy Year.       (PrinFlex Life 
                          Minimum partial surrender is     Policies issued in 
                          $500 and maximum is 50% of       the exchange are 
                          Policy's net surrender value     subject to this 
                          at the time the written request  limitation), but not
                          for surrender is received in     more than two times
                          the home office.  A transaction  per Policy Year.  The
                          charge of the lesser of $25.00   minimum partial
                          or 2% of the amount of each      surrender is $500 and
                          partial surrender applies.       the maximum in any
                          (The transaction charge will be  Policy Year is 75% of
                          waived for partial surrenders    the PrinFlex Life
                          to pay off loans in connection   Policy's Net 
                          with the exchange).              Surrender Value as of
                                                           the date of the first
                                                           partial surrender
                                                           during the Policy
                                                           Year.  A transaction
                                                           charge of the lesser
                                                           of $25.00 or 2% of 
                                                           the amount 
                                                           surrendered is 
                                                           imposed on each 
                                                           partial surrender.

COST OF INSURANCE         COI charges each month are       COI charges are
("COI") CHARGES           based on attained age, sex       based on the same
                          (except where unisex values      factors as apply to
                          are mandated by law)             determine COI charges
                          smoking status, and risk         on the FVLI Policy 
                          class.  No "preferred"           and two additional
                          underwriting classification      factors:  issue age
                          is available.                    and duration since
                                                           issue.  (For PrinFlex
                                                           Life Policies issued
                                                           in the exchange, 
                                                           issue age and 
                                                           duration since issue
                                                           are calculated based
                                                           on the Policy Date of
                                                           the PrinFlex Life
                                                           Policy.  "Preferred"
                                                           underwriting 
                                                           classification is
                                                           available.

MORTALITY AND             Assessed daily on the assets     Deducted monthly from
EXPENSE RISKS             of each division at a current    the Policy Value
CHARGE                    annual rate of .75%              allocated to the
                          (guaranteed not to exceed .90%). Divisions at an 
                                                           annual rate of .90%
                                                           of the value of the
                                                           PrinFlex Life Policy
                                                           allocated to the
                                                           Divisions.  The 
                                                           charge is not
                                                           deducted from values
                                                           allocated to the
                                                           Fixed Account.  After
                                                           the ninth Policy 
                                                           Year, the charge is
                                                           reduced to a 0.27% 
                                                           annual rate.  (For
                                                           PrinFlex Life        
                                                           Policies issued in 
                                                           the exchange, the 
                                                           charge is calculated
                                                           based on the Policy
                                                           Date of the PrinFlex
                                                           Life Policy).

SURRENDER                 10-year surrender charge         10-year surrender
CHARGES                   period.  Surrender charge        charge period.  
                          consists of contingent           Surrender charge 
                          deferred sales load that never   consists of         
                          exceeds 25% of minimum           Contingent Deferred
                          required first year premium,     Sales Charge of up
                          and contingent deferred          to 47.25% of premium
                          administrative charge that       payments up to a 
                          varies with age and (where       maximum of two Target
                          allowed by law) sex of the       Premiums and a 
                          insured from $0.43 per           contingent deferred
                          $1,000 of face amount to         administration charge
                          $10.58 per $1,000 of face        of $3.00 per $1,000
                          amount.                          of face amount for
                                                           the first $500,000
                                                           of face amount.  
                                                           (Credit is given for
                                                           time in the FVLI
                                                           Policy in calculating
                                                           surrender charges on
                                                           the PrinFlex Life
                                                           Policy).  A new 10-
                                                           year surrender charge
                                                           period commences with
                                                           respect to face 
                                                           amount increases to 
                                                           the PrinFlex Life
                                                           Policy.

   Policy Free Look and Calculation of Certain Time Periods for PrinFlex Life
                         Policies Acquired by Exchange

     For  PrinFlex   Life  Policies   acquired  by  exchange,   the  free  look,
incontestability,  and suicide clause time periods shall be calculated as if the
Policy Date of the PrinFlex Life Policy were the Policy Date of the FVLI Policy.
Therefore,  any of these periods that had expired under the FVLI Policy will not
start anew,  and any that had not expired will  continue  until they  originally
were to expire.  For FVLI  Policies  with one or more face amount  increases  or
riders  added after  issue,  the new suicide  clause and  incontestability  time
periods for the  increases  in face amount or riders  carry over to the PrinFlex
Life Policy.

     Values  transferred from an FVLI Policy to a PrinFlex Life Policy issued in
an exchange,  and all additional net premium  payments made to the PrinFlex Life
Policy, will be allocated  immediately among the Divisions and the Fixed Account
in  accordance  with  the  policyowners  current  allocation  instructions.  (By
contrast,  for a PrinFlex  Life Policy not  acquired by exchange the initial Net
Premium Payment and any additional premiums received prior to the Effective Date
and during the first 20 days from the Effective  Date are allocated to the Money
Market  Division until the 21st day from the Effective Date of the PrinFlex Life
Policy).

Risk Class for PrinFlex Life Policies Acquired by Exchange 

     The risk class for a PrinFlex Life Policy  acquired by exchange will be the
one most similar to the risk class for the  exchanged  FVLI  Policy.  If an FVLI
Policy  includes a face amount increase at a risk class less favorable than that
for the FVLI Policy as originally issued,  then the PrinFlex Life Policy will be
issued at the risk class most similar to that for the FVLI Policy as  originally
issued.  New evidence of insurability will not be required as a condition of the
exchange unless (i) the owner requests one or more of certain optional insurance
riders under the  PrinFlex  Life Policy that were not a part of the FVLI Policy;
(ii) the owner applies to have the insureds  underwriting  class upgraded to the
preferred class that is offered under the PrinFlex Life Policy but not under the
FVLI Policy or (iii) the owner  requests a face  amount  increase at the time of
the exchange.  The PrinFlex Life Policys  $50,000  minimum face amount  increase
will be reduced to $25,000 for increases  requested at the time of the exchange.
If new underwriting is required as part of the exchange because of reason number
(ii)  above,  a charge of $100  normally  would be  imposed.  If the owner  also
requests a face amount  increase of $25,000 or more at the time of the exchange,
however,  this $100 charge for the new underwriting will be waived. Any increase
in face  amount,  upgrade  to a  preferred  rating  or any new  rider  added  in
connection  with an exchange will take effect on the next Monthly Date following
underwriting approval.

Minimum Required Premium

     Under the FVLI Policy,  payment of a minimum  required  premium is required
during the first  policy  year.  For a PrinFlex  Life  Policy  not  acquired  by
exchange, payment of a Minimum Required Premium is required during the first two
Policy Years. For a PrinFlex Life Policy acquired by exchange of an FVLI Policy,
there will be no Minimum Required Premium even if the FVLI Policy was within the
first policy year. 

     A PrinFlex  Life Policy  (other than one  acquired  by  exchange)  will not
terminate  during the first 24 months  following the Policy Date even if the Net
Surrender  Value of the PrinFlex  Life Policy on a Monthly Date is less than the
Monthly  Policy  Charge,  provided  that no policy loans have been taken and the
policyowner has paid at least the Minimum Required Premium.  Because the Minimum
Required  Premium does not apply to a PrinFlex Life Policy acquired by exchange,
such a policy will enter a grace period  during the first 24 Policy  Months (and
thereafter)  if the Net  Surrender  Value  on a  Monthly  Date is less  than the
Monthly  Policy  Charge,  even if no loans  have been  taken.  (However,  if the
PrinFlex Life Policy has a death benefit  guarantee  rider,  the Policy will not
enter a grace  period if the terms of the  rider  are  satisfied).

Policy  Riders

     Where  permitted by law, the following  riders are currently  available for
issue  with  the  FVLI  Policy:  Cost of  Living  Increase,  Waiver  of  Monthly
Deductions,  Guaranteed Increase Option, Accidental Death Benefit, Children Term
Insurance, Spouse Term Insurance, Change of Insured,  Accelerated Death Benefit,
and Death Benefit Guarantee.  The Guaranteed Increase Option is not available on
the PrinFlex Life Policy. With that exception,  the same or corresponding riders
are available on the PrinFlex  Life Policy.  There are  differences  between the
terms  of  some  riders  available  for  issue  with  the  FVLI  Policy  and the
corresponding  riders  available for issue with the PrinFlex Life Policy.  Where
permitted by law, the following  additional riders are available on the PrinFlex
Life Policy  that are not  available  on the FVLI  Policy:  Waiver of  Specified
Premium,  Salary Increase,  Extra Protection  Increase,  Extended Coverage,  and
Accounting  Benefit.  

     If an FVLI Policy with one or more policy riders is exchanged,  then except
as provided  below,  the  policyowner may elect to have the PrinFlex Life Policy
issued with the same riders (or, if the terms of the available  rider differ for
the PrinFlex Life Policy, the corresponding  rider) by applying for the rider on
the exchange offer application. However, if the FVLI Policy has a Cost of Living
Increase  Rider,  then the  PrinFlex  Life  Policy will be issued with a Cost of
Living  Increase Rider  automatically.  If a PrinFlex Life Policy with a Cost of
Living  Increase  Rider is issued  in the  exchange,  the  first  cost of living
increase  offer  under the  PrinFlex  Life  Policy will be three years after the
Policy Date of the PrinFlex Life Policy.  

     The death benefit guarantee rider is available for issue with both the FVLI
Policy and the PrinFlex Life Policy.  The terms of the rider differ  between the
FVLI Policy and the PrinFlex Life Policy.  The death benefit  guarantee rider is
included automatically on all FVLI Policies but, where permitted by law, is only
included  on a PrinFlex  Life Policy if the insured is under age 65 at issue and
if the  planned  periodic  premium  at issue is  equal  to or  greater  than the
guaranteed  death benefit premium amount specified for the PrinFlex Life Policy.
While  the  death  benefit  guarantee  rider  under  the FVLI  Policy  can apply
throughout  the insureds  life,  the  comparable  rider under the PrinFlex  Life
Policy  terminates on the later of the age 65 policy  anniversary  or five years
after the effective  date of the rider.  If an FVLI Policy has the death benefit
guarantee  rider,  the PrinFlex Policy will be issued with the comparable  death
benefit  guarantee  rider  only if the  insured  is under  age 65 on the date of
exchange and the planned  periodic premium is equal to or greater than the death
benefit  guarantee  premium. 

     Certain riders  available under the PrinFlex Life Policy may be applied for
in  connection  with the exchange  offer  application,  subject to  underwriting
approval.  Additional  information about riders and the differences between them
is available from the Company.
    

<PAGE>
                          PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


                           UNDERTAKING TO FILE REPORTS
Subject to the terms and conditions of Section 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  undersigned  Registrant  hereby  undertakes  to file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission such supplementary and periodic  information,
documents  and reports as may be  prescribed  by any rule or  regulation  of the
Commission heretofore or hereafter adopted under the authority conferred in that
section.

                        UNDERTAKING PURSUANT TO RULE 484
Insofar as  indemnification  for liability  arising under the  Securities Act of
1933 may be permitted to  directors,  officers  and  controlling  persons of the
Registrant,  the  Registrant  has  been  advised  that  in  the  opinion  of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is,  therefore,  unenforceable.  In the event that a
claim for  indemnification  against such liabilities  (other than the payment by
the  Registrant  of  expenses  incurred  or  paid  by  a  director,  officer  or
controlling  person of the Registrant in the  successful  defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director,  officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered,  the Registrant will, unless
in the  opinion  of its  counsel  the matter  had been  settled  by  controlling
precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the question whether
such  indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

  REPRESENTATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 26 OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940

Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company represents the fees and charges deducted
under the Policy,  in the aggregate,  are reasonable in relation to the services
rendered,  the expenses  expected to be incurred,  and the risks  assumed by the
Company.

<PAGE>
                       CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT



This registration statement comprises the following papers and documents:

     The facing sheet;

     The prospectus, consisting of 83 pages;

     The undertaking to file reports;

     The undertaking pursuant to Rule 484;

     Representations  pursuant  to Section 26 of the  Investment  Company Act of
          1940;

     The signatures;

     Written consents of the following persons:

          G.R. Narber, Esq.(Filed January 8, 1996)

     The following exhibits:

1.             Copies  of  all   exhibits   required  by   paragraph  A  of  the
               instructions  as to  exhibits  in Form N-8B-2 are set forth below
               under designations based on such instructions:

1.A(1)         Resolution of Executive Committee of Board of Directors of
               Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company establishing the Variable
               Life Separate Account.(*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(3)(a)      Distribution Agreement between Princor Financial Services
               Corporation and Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company.
               (*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(3)(a)(i)   Form of Selling Agreement.(*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(3)(b)      Registered Representative Agreement.(*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(3)(c)      Schedule of sales commissions.(*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)      Form of PrinFlex Life Insurance Policy.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(i)   Cost of Living Increase Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(ii)  Waiver of Monthly Policy Charge Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(iii) Waiver of Specified Premium Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(iv)  Accidental Death Benefit Rider.(*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(v)   Children Term Insurance Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(vi)  Spouse Term Insurance Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(vii) Change of Insured Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(viii)Death Benefit Guarantee Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(ix)  Salary Increase Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(x)   Extra Protection Increase Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(xi)  Accounting Benefits Rider.(*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(xii) Extended Coverage Rider.(*Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(a)(xiii)Accelerated Benefits Rider.(*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(5)(b)      Form of PrinFlex Life Insurance Policy - Unisex Version.
               (**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(b)(i)   Accidental Death Benefit Rider.(**Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(5)(b)(ii)  Children Term Insurance Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(b)(iii) Spouse Term Insurance Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(b)(iv)  Change of Insured Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(5)(b)(v)   Death Benefit Guarantee Rider.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

1.A(6)(a)      Articles of Incorporation, as Amended of Principal Mutual Life
               Insurance Company.(*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(6)(b)      By-laws of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company.
               (*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(10)        Form of Application for PrinFlex Life Insurance Policy.
               (*Filed January 8, 1996)

1.A(10)(b)     Form of Supplemental Application for PrinFlex Life Insurance
               Policy.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

2.             Opinion and consent of G.R. Narber, Senior Vice President and
               General Counsel of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company.
               (*Filed January 8, 1996)

3.             No financial statements will be omitted from the prospectus
               pursuant to Instruction 1(b) or (c) or Part I.

4.             Not applicable.

5.             Not applicable.

6.             Consent of Ernst & Young.(**Filed June 5, 1996)

7.             Description of Issuance, Transfer and Redemption Procedures
               Pursuant to Rule 6e-3(T)(b)(12)(iii).(***Filed October 23, 1996)

8.             Powers of Attorney of Directors of Principal Mutual Life
               Insurance Company.(* & ***)

9.             Opinion and consent of Lisa Huebert, Assistant Actuary.
               (**Filed June 5, 1996)

- ---------------------------
 * Filed by Initial Filing.
** Filed by Amendment No. 1.
***Filed by Amendment No. 2.

<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES


As  required  by the  Securities  Act of 1933,  the  Registrant  has caused this
Amendment  to the  Registration  Statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned  thereunto duly  authorized,  and its seal to be herunto affixed and
attested,  all in the City of Des Moines,  and State of Iowa on this 18th day of
December, 1996.

                          PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
                          VARIABLE LIFE SEPARATE ACCOUNT

                                      (Registrant)


                          By:  PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                      (Depositor)

                                    D. J. DRURY
                          By ______________________________________________
                             D. J. Drury 
                             Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Attest:

JOYCE N. HOFFMAN
- -----------------------------------
Joyce N. Hoffman
Vice President and
  Corporate Secretary

<PAGE>


     As required by the  Securities Act of 1933,  Amendment to the  Registration
Statement has been signed by the following  persons in the capacities and on the
date indicated.

        Signature                         Title                       Date


D. J. DRURY                        Chairman, President and
D. J. Drury                        Chief Executive Officer     December 18, 1996


D. C. CUNNINGHAM                   Vice President and
D. C. Cunningham                   Controller (Principal
                                   Accounting Officer)         December 18, 1996


M. H. GERSIE                       Senior Vice President
M. H. Gersie                       (Principal Financial
                                   Officer)


(M. V. Andringa)*                   Director                   December 18, 1996
M. V. Andringa


(R. M. Davis)*                      Director                   December 18, 1996
R. M. Davis


(C. D. Gelatt, Jr.)*                Director                   December 18, 1996
C. D. Gelatt, Jr.


(G. D. Hurd)*                       Director                   December 18, 1996
G. D. Hurd


(T. M. Hutchison)*                  Director                   December 18, 1996
T. M. Hutchison


(C.S. Johnson)*                     Director                   December 18, 1996
C.S. Johnson


(W. T. Kerr)*                       Director                   December 18, 1996
W. T. Kerr


(L. Liu)*                           Director                   December 18, 1996
L. Liu


(V. H. Loewenstein)*                Director                   December 18, 1996
V. H. Loewenstein


(R. D. Pearson)*                    Director                   December 18, 1996
R. D. PEARSON


(J. R. Price, Jr.)*                 Director                   December 18, 1996
J. R. Price, Jr.


(B. A. Rice)*                       Director                   December 18, 1996
B. A. Rice


(J-P. C. Rosso)*                    Director                   December 18, 1996
J-P. C. Rosso


(D. M. Stewart)*                    Director                   December 18, 1996
D. M. Stewart


(E. E. Tallett)*                    Director                   December 18, 1996
E. E. Tallett


(D. D. Thornton)*                   Director                   December 18, 1996
D. D. Thornton


(F. W. Weitz)*                      Director                   December 18, 1996
F. W. Weitz


                                 *By  D. J. DRURY
                                      D. J. Drury
                                      Chief Executive Officer



                                      Pursuant to Powers of Attorney
                                      Previously Filed or Included Herein
<PAGE>
                                    EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                                                            Page Number in
                                                                                         Sequential Numbering
Exhibit No.                          Description                                      Where Exhibit Can Be Found

<S>                                  <C>                                                          <C>                              
  1.A(1)                             Resolution of Executive Committee                             *
                                     of Board of Directors of Depositor
                                     establishing Variable Life Separate
                                     Account.

  1.A(3)(a)                          Distribution Agreement Between                                *
                                     Depositor and Principal Underwriter.

  1.A(3)(a)(i)                       Form of Selling Agreement.                                    *

  1.A(3)(b)                          Registered Representative Agreement.                          *

  1.A(3)(c)                          Schedule of Sales Commissions.                                *

  1.A(5)(a)                          PrinFlex Life Policy.                                         *

  1.A(5)(a)(i)                       Cost of Living Increase Rider.                                *

  1.A(5)(a)(ii)                      Waiver of Monthly Policy Charge Rider.                        *

  1.A(5)(a)(iii)                     Waiver of Specified Premium Rider.                            *

  1.A(5)(a)(iv)                      Accidental Death Benefit Rider.                               *

  1.A(5)(a)(v)                       Children Term Insurance Rider.                                *

  1.A(5)(a)(vi)                      Spouse Term Insurance Rider.                                  *

  1.A(5)(a)(vii)                     Change of Insured Rider.                                      *

  1.A(5)(a)(viii)                    Death Benefit Guarantee Rider.                                *

  1.A(5)(a)(ix)                      Salary Increase Rider.                                        *

  1.A(5)(a)(x)                       Extra Protection Increase Rider.                              *

  1.A(5)(a)(xi)                      Accounting Benefits Rider.                                    *

  1.A(5)(a)(xii)                     Extended Coverage Rider.                                      *

  1.A(5)(a)(xiii)                    Accelerated Benefits Rider.                                   *

  1.A(5)(b)                          PrinFlex Life Policy - Unisex Version.                        *

  1.A(5)(b)(i)                       Accidental Death Benefit Rider.                               *

  1.A(5)(b)(ii)                      Children Term Insurance Rider.                                *

  1.A(5)(b)(iii)                     Spouse Term Insurance Rider.                                  *

  1.A(5)(b)(iv)                      Change of Insured Rider.                                      *
  
  1.A(5)(b)(v)                       Death Benefit Guarantee Rider.                                *
          
  1.A(6)(a)                          Articles of Incorporation, as Amended,                        *
                                     of Depositor.

  1.A(6)(b)                          By-laws of Depositor.                                         *

  1.A(10)                            Form of Application for the PrinFlex                          *
                                     Life Policy.

  1.A(10)(a)                         Form or Supplemental Application                              *
                                     For the PrinFlex Life Policy.

  2                                  Opinion and consent of G.R. Narber,                           *
                                     Senior Vice President and General
                                     Counsel.

  6                                  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP                                  *

  7                                  Description of Issuance, Transfer and Redemption Procedures
                                     pursuant to Rule 6e-3(T)(b)(12(iii).                          *

  8                                  Powers of Attorney of Directors of                            *
                                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                                     Company.

  9                                  Opinion and consent of Lisa Huebert,                          *
                                     Senior Actuary.

*Previously filed.
</TABLE>


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