AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS INC
485APOS, 1999-03-17
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               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                    Washington, D.C.   20549

                           FORM N-1A

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933               [X]

     File No. 33-14567

     Pre-Effective Amendment No.                                      [ ]

     Post-Effective Amendment No. 25                                  [X]

                             and/or

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940       [X]
     
     File No. 811-5188

     Amendment No. 25                                                 [X]

                        (Check appropriate box or boxes.)


                   AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.
       _________________________________________________________________
               (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)


                     4500 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
       _________________________________________________________________
               (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)


       Registrant's Telephone Number, including Area Code: (816) 531-5575


            William M. Lyons, 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64111
       _________________________________________________________________
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

            Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: May 1, 1999

It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check
appropriate box)

     [ ] immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
     [ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (b)
     [ ] 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
     [X] on May 1, 1999 pursuant to paragraph (a)(1)
     [ ] 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(2)
     [ ] on (date) pursuant to paragraph (a)(2) of rule 485.

If appropriate, check the following box:

     [X] This post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a 
         previously filed post-effective amendment.
<PAGE>
[front cover]

                               AMERICAN CENTURY

                               Prospectus

                                                                  VP Value Fund

                                                 [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                                                        American
                                                                         Century


 [left margin]
                                                                    MAY 1, 1999

  THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANYONE WHO
                   TELLS YOU OTHERWISE IS COMMITTING A CRIME.

                                        Distributed by  Funds Distributor, Inc.


[inside front cover - blank page]


TABLE OF CONTENTS

An Overview of the Fund .....................................................  3
Information about the Fund ..................................................  4
Management ..................................................................  7
Share Price, Distributions and Taxes ........................................  9
Financial Highlights ........................................................ 11

[left margin]

Throughout  this  book  you'll  find  definitions  of key  investment  terms and
phrases.  When you see a word printed in GREEN ITALICS,  look for its definition
in the left margin.

[graphic of hand with index  finger  pointing]  This symbol  highlights  special
information and helpful tips.


                          American Century Investments


[page 2 - blank page]


2        American Century Investments                            1-800-345-3533


AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUND

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT GOAL?

The fund seeks long-term capital growth. Income is a secondary objective.

WHAT ARE THE FUND'S PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND PRINCIPAL RISKS?

In selecting stocks for VP Value, the fund managers look for stocks of medium to
large companies that it believes are undervalued at the time of purchase. A more
detailed description of the fund's value investment strategy begins on page 4.

The fund's principal risks include

*  Market  Risk--The  value of a fund's  shares will go up and down based on the
   performance  of the  companies  whose  securities  it owns and other  factors
   affecting the securities market generally.

*  Interest  Rate  Risk--When  interest  rates  change,  the value of the fund's
   fixed-income securities will be affected.

*  Principal  Loss--As with all mutual funds, if you sell your shares when their
   value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

WHO may WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND?

The fund may be a good investment if you are

*  seeking long-term capital growth from your investment

*  seeking an equity fund that utilizes a value style of investing

*  comfortable with the risks associated with the fund's investment strategy

WHO may not WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND?

The fund may not be a good investment if you are

*  investing for a short period of time

*  uncomfortable with volatility in the value of your investment

[left margin]

[graphic of hand with index finger  pointing] An investment in the fund is not a
bank  deposit,  and it is not  insured  or  guaranteed  by the  Federal  Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.


     www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   3


INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

VP VALUE FUND

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The fund seeks long-term capital growth by investing primarily in common stocks.
Income is a secondary objective.

HOW DOES THE FUND PURSUE ITS INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The fund managers look for stocks of medium to large companies that they believe
are  undervalued  at the time of purchase.  The managers use a value  investment
strategy  that  looks for  companies  that are  temporarily  out of favor in the
market.  The  managers  attempt  to  purchase  the  stock of  these  undervalued
companies  and hold them  until  they have  returned  to favor in the market and
their stock  prices have gone up.  Companies  may be  undervalued  due to market
declines, poor economic conditions, actual or anticipated bad news regarding the
issuer or its industry,  or because they have been overlooked by the market.  To
identify  these  companies,  the fund managers look for companies with earnings,
cash flows and/or assets that may not be reflected  accurately in the companies'
stock prices,  or companies whose dividend payments appear high when compared to
the stock prices.

The fund  managers  do not  attempt to time the market.  Instead,  under  normal
market  conditions,  they  intend  to keep at  least  80% of the  fund's  assets
invested in stocks  regardless of the movement of stock prices  generally.  When
the managers  believe  that it is prudent,  the fund may invest a portion of its
assets in convertible  securities,  foreign securities,  short-term instruments,
bonds,  notes and debt securities of companies,  debt obligations of governments
and their  agencies,  NON-LEVERAGED  stock  index  futures  contracts  and other
similar  securities.  Stock  index  futures  contracts,  a  type  of  derivative
security,  can help the fund's cash assets remain liquid while  performing  more
like stocks.  The fund has a policy  governing  stock index  futures and similar
derivative  securities  to help manage the risks of these types of  investments.
For example,  the managers  cannot  leverage the fund's assets by investing in a
derivative  security.  A  complete  description  of the  derivatives  policy  is
included in the Statement of Additional Information.

In the event of  exceptional  market or economic  conditions,  or if the fund is
unable to find securities meeting its criteria of selection,  the fund may, as a
temporary  defensive measure,  invest all or a substantial portion of its assets
in cash or high  quality  short-term  debt  securities.  To the  extent the fund
assumes a defensive  position,  it will not be pursuing its objective of capital
growth.

Additional  information about VP Value's  investments is available in its annual
and  semiannual  reports.  In these  reports you will find a  discussion  of the
market  conditions and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the
fund's  performance  during the most  recent  fiscal  period.  You may get these
reports at no cost by calling the insurance company from which you purchased the
fund or by calling us.

[left margin]

NON-LEVERAGED  means that the fund may not invest in futures  contracts where it
would be possible to lose more than the fund invested.

[graphic of hand with index finger pointing]  Fixed-income  securities are rated
by  nationally  recognized  securities  ratings  organizations  (SROs),  such as
Moody's  and  Standard & Poor's.  Each SRO has its own  system  for  classifying
securities,  but each tries to  indicate  a  company's  ability  to make  timely
payments  of interest  and  principal.  A detailed  description  of SROs,  their
ratings  system  and what we do if a security  isn't  rated is  included  in the
Statement of Additional Information.


4        American Century Investments                            1-800-345-3533


WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

The value of VP  Value's  shares  depends  on the value of the  stocks and other
securities it owns. The value of the individual securities the fund owns will go
up and down  depending on the  performance  of the  companies  that issued them,
general market and economic conditions, and investor confidence.

As with all funds, at any given time the value of your shares of VP Value may be
worth  more or less than the price you paid.  If you sell your  shares  when the
value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

If the market does not consider the individual  stocks  purchased by VP Value to
be  undervalued,  the value of the  fund's  shares may not rise as high as other
funds and may in fact decline, even if stock prices are generally increasing.

Market  performance  tends to be cyclical  and, in the various  cycles,  certain
investment  styles may fall in and out of favor.  If the market is not  favoring
the fund's  style,  the fund's  gains may not be as big as, or its losses may be
bigger than, other equity funds using different investment styles.

The fund is offered only to insurance  companies for the purpose of offering the
fund as an investment  option under variable  annuity or variable life insurance
contracts.  Although  the fund does not  foresee any  disadvantages  to contract
owners  due to the fact that it offers its  shares as an  investment  medium for
both  variable  annuity and variable  life  products,  the  interests of various
contract  owners  participating  in the fund might, at some time, be in conflict
due to  future  differences  in tax  treatment  of  variable  products  or other
considerations.  Consequently, the fund's Board of Directors will monitor events
in order to identify any  material  irreconcilable  conflicts  that may possibly
arise and to determine what action,  if any, should be taken in response to such
conflicts.  If a conflict were to occur, an insurance  company  separate account
might be required to withdraw its  investments in the fund and the fund might be
forced to sell securities at disadvantageous prices to redeem such investments.


    www.americancentury.com                    American Century Investments   5


FUND PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart shows the performance of the fund's shares for each full
calendar year in the life of the fund. It indicates the volatility of the fund's
historical returns from year to year.

[bar chart - data below]

         VP Value
1998      4.81%
1997     26.08%

Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns

The  highest  and lowest  returns of the  fund's  shares for a calendar  quarter
during the period  reflected by the  preceding  bar chart are provided  below to
indicate the fund's historical  short-term  volatility.  Shareholders  should be
aware,  however,  that the  fund is  intended  for  investors  with a  long-term
investment horizon and is not managed for short-term results.

[bar chart - data below]

                  Lowest                  Highest
VP Value     -10.88% 3Q 1998          13.07% 2Q 1997

Average Annual Returns

The following  table shows the average  annual  returns of the fund's shares for
the periods  indicated during the life of the fund. The benchmarks are unmanaged
indices  that  have  no  operating  costs  and are  included  in the  table  for
performance comparison. The S & P 500 is viewed as a broad measure of U.S. stock
performance, while  the S & P 500/BARRA Value  index is  an  index consisting of
S & P 500 stocks that have lower price/book ratios and, in general,  share other
characteristics associated with value stocks.

For the calendar year ended December 31, 1998  1 year          Life of fund(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Value                                        4.81%          15.94%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S & P 500/BARRA Value                          14.68%          21.80%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S & P 500                                      28.68%          29.01%

(1) The inception date for VP Value is May 1, 1996.

[left margin]

[graphic of hand with index finger pointing] The performance information on this
page is  designed to help you see how fund  returns can vary.  Keep in mind that
past performance does not predict how the fund will perform in the future.

[graphic  of  hand  with  index  finger   pointing]   For  current   performance
information,  please call us at 1-800-345-3533  or visit American  Century's Web
site at www.americancentury.com.


6        American Century Investments                            1-800-345-3533


MANAGEMENT

WHO MANAGES THE FUND?

The Board of Directors,  investment  advisor and fund  management  team play key
roles in the management of the fund.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors  oversees the  management  of the fund and meets at least
quarterly  to  review  reports  about  fund  operations.  Although  the Board of
Directors does not manage the fund, it has hired an investment advisor to do so.
More than  two-thirds of the directors are  independent  of the fund's  advisor;
that is, they are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor

THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR

The fund's investment  advisor is American Century Investment  Management,  Inc.
The advisor has been  managing  mutual  funds  since 1958.  American  Century is
headquartered at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.

The advisor is responsible for managing the investment portfolio of the fund and
directing the purchase and sale of its investment  securities.  The advisor also
arranges for transfer agency,  custody and all other services  necessary for the
fund to operate.

For the services it provided to the fund during the most recent fiscal year, the
advisor received a unified management fee of 1.00% the average net assets of the
fund.  In  November  1998,  the fund's  shareholders  approved a new  management
agreement with lower fees.  Under the new agreement,  the advisor will receive a
unified  management  fee of 1.00% of the first $500  million of the  average net
assets of the fund,  0.95% of the next $500  million and 0.90%  thereafter.  The
amount of the management fee is calculated daily and paid monthly.

Out of that fee, the advisor paid all  expenses of managing  and  operating  the
fund  except  brokerage  expenses,  taxes,  interest,  fees and  expenses of the
independent directors (including legal counsel fees) and extraordinary expenses.

THE FUND MANAGEMENT TEAM

The advisor uses teams of portfolio  managers,  assistant portfolio managers and
analysts to manage the fund. Teams meet regularly to review  portfolio  holdings
and to discuss purchase and sale activity.  Team members buy and sell securities
for a fund as they  see fit,  guided  by the  fund's  investment  objective  and
strategy.

The portfolio managers on the investment team are identified below:

PHILLIP N. DAVIDSON

Mr.  Davidson,  Vice President and Portfolio  Manager,  has been a member of the
team that  manages  VP Value  since May 1996.  He  joined  American  Century  in
September  1993. He has a bachelor's  degree in finance and an MBA from Illinois
State University.

SCOTT A. MOORE

Mr.  Moore,  Portfolio  Manager,  has been a member of the team that  manages VP
Value since October 1996 and Portfolio  Manager since  February  1999. He joined
American  Century in August 1993 as an Investment  Analyst.  He has a bachelor's
degree in finance from Southern  Illinois  University and an MBA in finance from
the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

[left margin]

[graphic of hand with index finger pointing] CODE OF ETHICS

American  Century has a Code of Ethics  designed to ensure that the interests of
fund  shareholders  come before the interests of the people who manage the fund.
Among other  provisions,  the Code of Ethics  prohibits  portfolio  managers and
other investment  personnel from buying securities in an initial public offering
or from  profiting  from the  purchase and sale of the same  security  within 60
calendar days. In addition,  the Code of Ethics requires  portfolio managers and
other  employees  with  access  to  information  about the  purchase  or sale of
securities by the funds to obtain approval before executing  permitted  personal
trades.


     www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   7


FUND PERFORMANCE

VP Value has the same management team and investment policies as another fund in
the  American  Century  family of funds.  The fees and expenses of the funds are
expected to be similar,  and they will be managed  with  substantially  the same
investment objective and strategies. Notwithstanding these general similarities,
this fund and the retail fund are separate mutual funds that will have different
investment  performance.  Differences in cash flows into the two funds, the size
of their portfolios,  specific investments held by the two funds, as well as the
additional expenses of the insurance product, will cause performance to differ

Please  consult  the  separate  account  prospectus  for a  description  of  the
insurance product through which the fund is offered and the associated fees.

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

Fundamental  investment  policies  contained  in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information and the investment objectives of the fund may not be changed without
a shareholder  vote.  The Board of Directors  may change any other  policies and
investment strategies.

YEAR 2000 ISSUES

Many of the world's  computer  systems  currently  cannot properly  recognize or
process date-sensitive information relating to the Year 2000 and beyond. Because
this may impact the computer systems of various American  Century-affiliated and
external service providers for the fund,  American Century formally  initiated a
Year 2000  readiness  project in July 1997.  It  involves a team of  information
technology  professionals  assisted  by  outside  consultants  and  guided  by a
senior-level steering committee.  The team's goal is to assess the impact of the
Year 2000 on  American  Century's  systems,  renovate  or  replace  noncompliant
critical systems and test those systems. In addition,  the team has been working
to gather  information  about the Year 2000  efforts of the fund's  other  major
service providers.

Although  American Century believes its critical systems will function  properly
in the Year 2000, this is not guaranteed.  If the efforts of American Century or
its  external  service  providers  are  not  successful,  the  fund's  business,
particularly the provision of shareholder services, may be hampered.

In  addition,  the  issuers  of  securities  the fund owns  could have Year 2000
computer  problems.  These problems could  negatively  affect the value of their
securities, which, in turn, could impact the fund's performance. The advisor has
established a process to gather publicly  available  information  about the Year
2000  readiness  of these  issuers.  However,  this  process may not uncover all
relevant  information,  and the  information  gathered  may not be complete  and
accurate.  Moreover, an issuer's Year 2000 readiness is only one of many factors
the fund  managers  may consider  when making  investment  decisions,  and other
factors may receive greater weight.


8        American Century Investments                            1-800-345-3533


SHARE PRICE, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

For  instructions  on how to purchase and redeem shares,  read the prospectus of
your  insurance  company  separate  account.  Shares  of the  fund  are sold and
redeemed by the fund at their net asset value next  determined  after receipt by
the  insurance  company  separate  account of the request in good order from the
variable annuity or variable life insurance  contract owner.  There are no sales
commissions  or redemption  charges.  However,  certain sales or deferred  sales
charges and other  charges may apply to the variable  annuity or life  insurance
contracts. Those charges are disclosed in the separate account prospectus.

ABUSIVE TRADING PRACTICES

We do not permit market-timing or other abusive trading practices in our funds.

Excessive,  short-term  (market-timing)  or other abusive trading  practices may
disrupt portfolio management  strategies and harm fund performance.  To minimize
harm to the fund and its  shareholders,  we  reserve  the  right to  reject  any
purchase order (including  exchanges) from any investor we believe has a history
of  abusive  trading  or  whose  trading,  in our  judgment,  has been or may be
disruptive to a fund. In making this judgment,  we may consider  trading done in
multiple  accounts under common ownership or control.  We also reserve the right
to delay delivery of redemption proceeds up to seven days.

SHARE PRICE

American  Century  determines  the NET ASSET  VALUE  (NAV) of the fund as of the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange  (usually 4 p.m. Eastern
time) on each day the  Exchange is open.  On days when the  Exchange is not open
(including certain U.S.  holidays),  we do not calculate the NAV. The NAV of the
fund share is the current  value of the fund's  assets,  minus any  liabilities,
divided by the number of fund shares outstanding.

If current prices of securities  owned by a fund are not readily  available from
an independent  pricing  service,  the advisor may determine their fair value in
accordance with procedures adopted by the fund's Board of Directors.  Trading of
securities  in foreign  markets may not take place on every day the  Exchange is
open.  Also,  trading in some  foreign  markets  may take place on  weekends  or
holidays  when the  fund's  NAV is not  calculated.  So, the value of the fund's
portfolio may be affected on days when you can't purchase or redeem its shares.

We will price your purchase,  exchange or redemption at the NAV next  determined
after we receive your transaction request in good order.

[left margin]

The NET ASSET VALUE of the fund is the price of its shares.


     www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   9


DISTRIBUTIONS

Federal tax laws require the fund to make  distributions  to its shareholders in
order  to  qualify  as a  "regulated  investment  company."  Qualification  as a
regulated investment company means that the fund will not be subject to state or
federal income tax on amounts distributed.  The distributions  generally consist
of  dividends  and  interest  received  by the fund,  as well as  CAPITAL  GAINS
realized  on  the  sale  of  investment  securities.  VP  Value  generally  pays
distributions  from  net  income  and  capital  gains,  if  any,  once a year in
December.  The fund may make more frequent  distributions if necessary to comply
with Internal Revenue Code provisions.

You will participate in fund distributions,  when they are declared, starting on
the day after your purchase is effective. For example, if you purchase shares on
a day that a distribution is declared,  you will not receive that  distribution.
If you redeem shares, you will receive any distribution  declared on the day you
redeem.  If you redeem all shares,  we will include any  distributions  received
with your redemption proceeds.  All distributions from the fund will be invested
in additional shares.

TAXES

Consult  the  prospectus  of  your  insurance  company  separate  account  for a
discussion of the tax status of your variable contract.

[left margin]

CAPITAL GAINS are increases in the values of capital assets, such as stock, from
the time the assets are  purchased.  Tax  becomes  due on capital  gains once an
asset is sold.


10        American Century Investments                           1-800-345-3533


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table on the next page  itemizes  what  contributed  to the changes in share
price  during  the  period.  It also shows the  changes in share  price for this
period in comparison to changes over the last three fiscal periods.

On a per-share basis, the table includes as appropriate

*  share price at the beginning of the period

*  investment income and capital gains or losses

*  distributions of income and capital gains paid to shareholders

*  share price at the end of the period

The table also includes some key statistics for the period as appropriate

*  Total Return--the overall percentage of return of the fund, assuming the
   reinvestment of all distributions

*  Expense Ratio--operating expenses as a percentage of average net assets

*  Net Income Ratio--net investment income as a percentage of average net asset

*  Portfolio Turnover--the percentage of the fund's buying and selling activity

The Financial Highlights have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors.  Their  Independent  Auditors' Report is included in the fund's annual
report for the year ended December 31, 1998,  which is incorporated by reference
into the Statement of Additional Information and is available upon request.


    www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   11


VP VALUE

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended December 31 (except as noted)

PER-SHARE DATA
                                         1998          1997          1996(1)

Net Asset Value, Beginning of ..... $    6.93     $    5.58     $    5.00

Income From Investment Operations
  Net Investment Income ...........      0.08(2)       0.07          0.05
  Net Realized and Unrealized
    Gain on Investment Transactions      0.27          1.37          0.56

  Total From Investment Operations       0.35          1.44          0.61

Distributions
  From Net Investment Income ......     (0.04)        (0.04)        (0.03)
  From Net Realized Gains on
     Investment Transactions ......     (0.51)        (0.05)         --

  Total Distributions .............     (0.55)        (0.09)        (0.03)

Net Asset Value, End of Period .... $    6.73     $    6.93     $    5.58

  Total Return(3) .................      4.81%        26.08%        12.28%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                         1998          1997          1996

Ratio of Operating Expenses
   to Average Net Assets ..........      1.00%         1.00%         1.00%(4)
Ratio of Net Investment Income
   to Average Net Assets ..........      1.21%         1.60%         1.98%(4)
Portfolio Turnover Rate ...........       158%          138%           49%
Net Assets, End of Period
(in thousands) .................... $ 316,624     $ 188,015     $  23,894

(1) May 1, 1996 (inception) through December 31, 1996.

(2) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions  if any.  Total returns for periods less than one year are not
    annualized.

(4) Annualized.


12              American Century Investments                     1-800-345-3533


NOTES


    www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   13


[back cover]

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS IS CONTAINED IN THESE DOCUMENTS

ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS

These reports  contain more  information  about the fund's  investments  and the
market  conditions and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the
fund's performance during the most recent fiscal period.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

The SAI contains a more detailed,  legal  description of the fund's  operations,
investment  restrictions,  policies and practices.  The SAI is  incorporated  by
reference  into this  Prospectus.  This means  that it is  legally  part of this
Prospectus, even if you don't request a copy.

You  also  can get  information  about  the fund  (including  the SAI)  from the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

* In person                SEC Public Reference Room
                           Washington, D.C.
                           Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for location
                           and hours.

* On the Internet          www.sec.gov

* By mail                  SEC Public Reference Section
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-6009
                           (The SEC will charge a fee for copying
                           the documents.)

AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS
P.O. Box 419385
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6385

INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

WWW.AMERICANCENTURY.COM

FAX: 816-340-4360

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF
1-800-345-1833 or 816-444-3038

Investment Company Act File No. 811-5188


                         [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                    American
                                     Century

                          AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS
                                 P.O. Box 419385
                        Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6385
                         1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

9903
SH-PRS-15708
<PAGE>
[front cover]

                               AMERICAN CENTURY

                               Prospectus

                                                          VP International Fund

                                                 [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                                                        American
                                                                         Century

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                                                                    MAY 1, 1999

  THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANYONE WHO
                   TELLS YOU OTHERWISE IS COMMITTING A CRIME.

                                        Distributed by  Funds Distributor, Inc.


[inside front cover - blank page]


TABLE OF CONTENTS

An Overview of the Fund .....................................................  3
Information about the Fund ..................................................  4
Management ..................................................................  7
Share Price, Distributions and Taxes ........................................  9
Financial Highlights ........................................................ 11

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Throughout  this  book  you'll  find  definitions  of key  investment  terms and
phrases.  When you see a word printed in GREEN ITALICS,  look for its definition
in the left margin.

[graphic of hand with index  finger  pointing]  This symbol  highlights  special
information and helpful tips.


                          American Century Investments


[page 2 - blank page]


2        American Century Investments                            1-800-345-3533


AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUND

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT GOAL?

The fund seeks capital growth.

WHAT ARE THE FUND'S PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND PRINCIPAL RISKS?

The fund managers look for stocks of growing foreign companies. The basis of the
strategy  used by the fund  managers  is that,  over the long  term,  stocks  of
companies with earnings and revenue growth have a greater than average chance to
increase in value over time. A more detailed  description of American  Century's
growth investment style and the fund's investment strategies and risks begins on
page 4.

The fund's principal risks include

*  Market  Risk--The  value of a fund's  shares will go up and down based on the
   performance  of the  companies  whose  securities  it owns and other  factors
   affecting the securities market generally.

*  Price Volatility--The value of the fund's shares may fluctuate  significantly
   in the short term.

*   Principal Loss--As with all mutual funds, if you sell your shares when their
    value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

*   Foreign Risk--The fund invests primarily in foreign securities, which are
    generally riskier than U.S. stocks.

WHO may WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND?

The fund may be a good investment if you are

*  seeking long-term capital growth from your investment

*  seeking diversification of your investment portfolio through investment in
   foreign securities

*  comfortable with the risks associated with investing in U.S. and foreign
   growth securities

*  comfortable with the fund's short-term price volatility

WHO may not WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND?

The fund may not be a good investment if you are

*  investing for a short period of time

*  uncomfortable with the risks associated with foreign investing

*  uncomfortable with volatility in the value of your investment

[left margin]

[graphic of hand with index finger  pointing] An investment in the fund is not a
bank  deposit,  and it is not  insured  or  guaranteed  by the  Federal  Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.


     www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   3


INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

VP INTERNATIONAL FUND

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The fund seeks capital growth.

HOW DOES THE FUND PURSUE ITS INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The fund managers use a growth investment strategy developed by American Century
to invest in stocks of companies  that they believe will  increase in value over
time.  This  strategy  looks for  companies  with  earnings and revenue  growth.
Ideally,  the fund managers look for companies  whose  earnings and revenues are
not only growing, but growing at a successively  faster, or accelerating,  pace.
This  strategy is based on the premise that,  over the long term,  the stocks of
companies  with  accelerating  earnings and revenues have a greater than average
chance to increase in value.

The managers use a bottom-up approach to select stocks to buy for the fund. That
means they first look for strong,  growing  companies to invest in,  rather than
allocating  investments  by country or region or simply  buying any company in a
growing  industry or sector.  The fund managers track financial  information for
thousands  of  companies  to  identify  trends in the  companies'  earnings  and
revenues. This information is used to help the fund managers select or decide to
continue to hold the stocks of  companies  they  believe will be able to sustain
their growth and to sell stocks of companies whose growth begins to slow down.

In addition to locating strong companies with earnings growth, the fund managers
believe that it is important to diversify the fund's holdings  across  different
countries  and  geographical  regions  to  attempt  to  manage  the  risks of an
international  portfolio.  For this reason,  the fund managers also consider the
prospects for relative economic growth among countries or regions,  economic and
political conditions,  expected inflation rates, currency exchange fluctuations,
and tax considerations when making investments.

The fund  managers  do not  attempt to time the market.  Instead,  under  normal
market  conditions,  they intend to keep the fund essentially  fully invested in
stocks regardless of the movement of stock prices  generally.  When the managers
believe  that it is  prudent,  the fund may  invest a portion  of its  assets in
convertible  securities,  short-term  instruments,   NON-LEVERAGED  stock  index
futures contracts and other similar securities. Stock index futures contracts, a
type of derivative security, can help the fund's cash assets remain liquid while
performing more like stocks. The fund has a policy governing stock index futures
and  similar  derivative  securities  to help manage the risks of these types of
investments.  For example,  the managers  cannot  leverage the fund's  assets by
investing  in  a  derivative  security.  A  more  complete  description  of  the
derivatives policy is included in the Statement of Additional Information.

Additional information about VP International's  investments is available in its
annual and  semiannual  reports.  In these reports you will find a discussion of
the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly  affected the
fund's  performance  during the most  recent  fiscal  period.  You may get these
reports at no cost by calling the insurance company from which you purchased the
fund or by calling us.

[left margin]

[graphic of hand with index finger pointing]  Accelerating  growth is shown, for
example,  by growth  that is faster this  quarter  than last or faster this year
than the year before.

NON-LEVERAGED  means that the fund may not invest in futures  contracts where it
would be possible to lose more than the fund invested.


4        American Century Investments                            1-800-345-3533


WHAT KINDS OF SECURITIES DOES THE FUND BUY?

The fund  generally will purchase  equity  securities of foreign  companies.  At
least  65% of the  fund's  assets  will  be  invested  at all  times  in  equity
securities  of  issuers  from at least  three  countries  outside  of the United
States.  The fund  can  purchase  other  types of  securities  as well,  such as
domestic and foreign preferred stocks, convertible securities, equity equivalent
securities, notes, bonds and other debt securities.

In the event of exceptional  market or economic  conditions,  the fund may, as a
temporary  defensive measure,  invest all or a substantial portion of its assets
in cash or high  quality  short-term  debt  securities.  To the  extent the fund
assumes a defensive  position,  it will not be pursuing its objective of capital
growth.

The fund considers  foreign companies to include companies (i) domiciled outside
the United  States,  (ii)  deriving at least half of their revenue from sales or
production  outside the United States,  or (iii) for which the principal trading
market of their securities is outside the United States.  The fund does not have
limits on the countries in which it can invest,  and the fund managers expect to
invest in companies in both developed  countries and emerging markets.  The fund
considers developed countries to include Australia,  Austria,  Belgium,  Canada,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,  Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands,  New
Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden,  Switzerland,  the United Kingdom and the United
States.  Emerging  market  countries are  considered  to be those  countries not
listed as developed countries above.

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

The value of VP  International's  shares  depends on the value of the stocks and
other  securities it owns. The value of the individual  securities the fund owns
will go up and down  depending on the  performance  of the companies that issued
them, general market and economic conditions, and investor confidence.

As  with  all  funds,  at  any  given  time  the  value  of  your  shares  of VP
International  may be worth  more or less than the  price you paid.  If you sell
your shares when the value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money

Investing in foreign  securities has certain unique risks that make it generally
riskier than investing in U.S. stocks. These risks include exposure to political
and  economic   events  in  world  markets,   limited   availability  of  public
information,  less  developed  trading  markets,  and lack of uniform  financial
reporting and  regulatory  practices  similar to those that apply in the U.S. In
addition,  foreign  securities are subject to currency risk,  meaning that since
the fund's  investments are generally held in foreign  currency,  the fund could
experience  a gain or loss  based  solely  upon a change  in the  exchange  rate
between the foreign currency and the U.S. dollar.

The fund is offered only to insurance  companies for the purpose of offering the
fund as an investment  option under variable  annuity or variable life insurance
contracts.  Although  the fund does not  foresee any  disadvantages  to contract
owners  due to the fact that it offers its  shares as an  investment  medium for
both  variable  annuity and variable  life  products,  the  interests of various
contract  owners  participating  in the fund might, at some time, be in conflict
due to  future  differences  in tax  treatment  of  variable  products  or other
considerations.  Consequently, the fund's Board of Directors will monitor events
in order to identify any  material  irreconcilable  conflicts  that may possibly
arise and to determine what action,  if any, should be taken in response to such
conflicts.  If a conflict were to occur, an insurance  company  separate account
might be required to withdraw its  investments in the fund and the fund might be
forced to sell securities at disadvantageous prices to redeem such investments.


    www.americancentury.com                    American Century Investments   5


FUND PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart shows the performance of the fund's shares for each full
calendar year in the life of the fund. It indicates the volatility of the fund's
historical returns from year to year.

[bar chart - data below]

         VP International
1998     18.76%
1997     18.63%
1996     14.41%
1995     12.21%

Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns

The  highest  and lowest  returns of the  fund's  shares for a calendar  quarter
during the period  reflected by the  preceding  bar chart are provided  below to
indicate the fund's historical  short-term  volatility.  Shareholders  should be
aware,  however,  that the  fund is  intended  for  investors  with a  long-term
investment horizon and is not managed for short-term results.

[bar chart - data below]

                          Lowest                  Highest
VP International     -18.28% 3Q 1998          17.82% 1Q 1998

Average Annual Returns

The following  table shows the average  annual  returns of the fund's shares for
the periods  indicated during the life of the fund. The benchmarks are unmanaged
indices  that  have  no  operating  costs  and are  included  in the  table  for
performance comparison. The S & P 500 is viewed as a broad measure of U.S. stock
performance,  while the Morgan  Stanley  Capital  International  EAFE Index is a
widely followed group of stocks from 20 countries.

For the calendar year ended December 31, 1998  1 year       Life of fund(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP International                               18.76%       12.30%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S & P 500                                      28.68%       26.65%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morgan Stanley Capital
   International EAFE Index                    20.00%       8.11%

(1) The inception date for VP International is May 1, 1994.

[left margin]

[graphic of hand with index finger pointing] The performance information on this
page is  designed to help you see how fund  returns can vary.  Keep in mind that
past performance does not predict how the fund will perform in the future.

[graphic  of  hand  with  index  finger   pointing]   For  current   performance
information,  please call us at 1-800-345-3533  or visit American  Century's Web
site at www.americancentury.com.


6        American Century Investments                            1-800-345-3533


MANAGEMENT

WHO MANAGES THE FUND?

The Board of Directors,  investment  advisor and fund  management  team play key
roles in the management of the fund.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors  oversees the  management  of the fund and meets at least
quarterly  to  review  reports  about  fund  operations.  Although  the Board of
Directors does not manage the fund, it has hired an investment advisor to do so.
More than  two-thirds of the directors are  independent  of the fund's  advisor;
that is, they are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor

THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR

The fund's investment  advisor is American Century Investment  Management,  Inc.
The advisor has been  managing  mutual  funds  since 1958.  American  Century is
headquartered at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.

The advisor is responsible for managing the investment portfolio of the fund and
directing the purchase and sale of its investment  securities.  The advisor also
arranges for transfer agency,  custody and all other services  necessary for the
fund to operate.

For the services it provided to the fund during the most recent fiscal year, the
advisor received a unified management fee of 1.47% the average net assets of the
fund.  In  November  1998,  the fund's  shareholders  approved a new  management
agreement with lower fees.  Under the new agreement,  the advisor will receive a
unified  management  fee of 1.50% of the first $250  million of the  average net
assets of the fund,  1.20% of the next $250  million and 1.10%  thereafter.  The
amount of the management fee is calculated daily and paid monthly.

Out of that fee, the advisor paid all  expenses of managing  and  operating  the
fund  except  brokerage  expenses,  taxes,  interest,  fees and  expenses of the
independent directors (including legal counsel fees) and extraordinary expenses

THE FUND MANAGEMENT TEAM

The advisor uses teams of portfolio  managers,  assistant portfolio managers and
analysts to manage the fund. Teams meet regularly to review  portfolio  holdings
and to discuss purchase and sale activity.  Team members buy and sell securities
for a fund as they  see fit,  guided  by the  fund's  investment  objective  and
strategy.

The portfolio managers on the investment team are identified below:

HENRIK STRABO

Mr. Strabo,  Senior Vice President and Chief Investment  Officer - International
Equities,  has been a member of the team that manages VP International since the
fund's  inception  on May 1,  1994.  He joined  American  Century  in 1993 as an
Investment Analyst and was promoted to Portfolio Manager in April 1994. He has a
bachelor's degree in business from the University of Washington.

MARK S. KOPINSKI

Mr. Kopinski,  Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, has been a member of
the team that manages VP International since rejoining American Century in April
1997.  Before  rejoining  American  Century,  he  served as Vice  President  and
Portfolio  Manager at Federated  Investors,  Inc.  from June 1995 to March 1997.
Prior to 1995, he served as Vice  President  and  Portfolio  Manager of American
Century.  He has a bachelor's  degree in business  administration  from Monmouth
College and an MBA in Asian Studies from the University of Illinois.

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[graphic of hand with index finger pointing] CODE OF ETHICS

American  Century has a Code of Ethics  designed to ensure that the interests of
fund  shareholders  come before the interests of the people who manage the fund.
Among other  provisions,  the Code of Ethics  prohibits  portfolio  managers and
other investment  personnel from buying securities in an initial public offering
or from  profiting  from the  purchase and sale of the same  security  within 60
calendar days. In addition,  the Code of Ethics requires  portfolio managers and
other  employees  with  access  to  information  about the  purchase  or sale of
securities by the funds to obtain approval before executing  permitted  personal
trades.


     www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   7


FUND PERFORMANCE

VP International has the same management team and investment policies as another
fund in the American Century family of funds. The fees and expenses of the funds
are expected to be similar, and they will be managed with substantially the same
investment objective and strategies. Notwithstanding these general similarities,
this fund and the retail fund are separate mutual funds that will have different
investment  performance.  Differences in cash flows into the two funds, the size
of their portfolios,  specific investments held by the two funds, as well as the
additional expenses of the insurance product, will cause performance to differ.

Please  consult  the  separate  account  prospectus  for a  description  of  the
insurance product through which the fund is offered and the associated fees.

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

Fundamental  investment  policies  contained  in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information and the investment  objective of the fund may not be changed without
a shareholder  vote.  The Board of Directors  may change any other  policies and
investment strategies.

YEAR 2000 ISSUES

Many of the world's  computer  systems  currently  cannot properly  recognize or
process date-sensitive information relating to the Year 2000 and beyond. Because
this may impact the computer systems of various American  Century-affiliated and
external service providers for the fund,  American Century formally  initiated a
Year 2000  readiness  project in July 1997.  It  involves a team of  information
technology  professionals  assisted  by  outside  consultants  and  guided  by a
senior-level steering committee.  The team's goal is to assess the impact of the
Year 2000 on  American  Century's  systems,  renovate  or  replace  noncompliant
critical systems and test those systems. In addition,  the team has been working
to gather  information  about the Year 2000  efforts of the fund's  other  major
service providers.

Although  American Century believes its critical systems will function  properly
in the Year 2000, this is not guaranteed.  If the efforts of American Century or
its  external  service  providers  are  not  successful,  the  fund's  business,
particularly the provision of shareholder services, may be hampered.

In  addition,  the  issuers  of  securities  the fund owns  could have Year 2000
computer  problems.  These problems could  negatively  affect the value of their
securities, which, in turn, could impact the fund's performance. The advisor has
established a process to gather publicly  available  information  about the Year
2000  readiness  of these  issuers.  However,  this  process may not uncover all
relevant  information,  and the  information  gathered  may not be complete  and
accurate.  Moreover, an issuer's Year 2000 readiness is only one of many factors
the fund  managers  may consider  when making  investment  decisions,  and other
factors may receive greater weight.


8        American Century Investments                            1-800-345-3533


SHARE PRICE, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

For  instructions  on how to purchase and redeem shares,  read the prospectus of
your  insurance  company  separate  account.  Shares  of the  fund  are sold and
redeemed by the fund at their net asset value next  determined  after receipt by
the  insurance  company  separate  account of the request in good order from the
variable annuity or variable life insurance  contract owner.  There are no sales
commissions  or redemption  charges.  However,  certain sales or deferred  sales
charges and other  charges may apply to the variable  annuity or life  insurance
contracts. Those charges are disclosed in the separate account prospectus.

ABUSIVE TRADING PRACTICES

We do not permit market-timing or other abusive trading practices in our funds.

Excessive,  short-term  (market-timing)  or other abusive trading  practices may
disrupt portfolio management  strategies and harm fund performance.  To minimize
harm to the fund and its  shareholders,  we  reserve  the  right to  reject  any
purchase order (including  exchanges) from any investor we believe has a history
of  abusive  trading  or  whose  trading,  in our  judgment,  has been or may be
disruptive to a fund. In making this judgment,  we may consider  trading done in
multiple  accounts under common ownership or control.  We also reserve the right
to delay delivery of redemption proceeds up to seven days.

SHARE PRICE

American  Century  determines  the NET ASSET  VALUE  (NAV) of the fund as of the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange  (usually 4 p.m. Eastern
time) on each day the  Exchange is open.  On days when the  Exchange is not open
(including certain U.S.  holidays),  we do not calculate the NAV. The NAV of the
fund share is the current  value of the fund's  assets,  minus any  liabilities,
divided by the number of fund shares outstanding.

If current prices of securities  owned by a fund are not readily  available from
an independent  pricing  service,  the advisor may determine their fair value in
accordance with procedures adopted by the fund's Board of Directors.  Trading of
securities  in foreign  markets may not take place on every day the  Exchange is
open.  Also,  trading in some  foreign  markets  may take place on  weekends  or
holidays  when the  fund's  NAV is not  calculated.  So, the value of the fund's
portfolio may be affected on days when you can't purchase or redeem its shares.

We will price your purchase,  exchange or redemption at the NAV next  determined
after we receive your transaction request in good order.

[left margin]

The NET ASSET VALUE of the fund is the price of its shares.


     www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   9


DISTRIBUTIONS

Federal tax laws require the fund to make  distributions  to its shareholders in
order  to  qualify  as a  "regulated  investment  company."  Qualification  as a
regulated investment company means that the fund will not be subject to state or
federal income tax on amounts distributed.  The distributions  generally consist
of  dividends  and  interest  received  by the fund,  as well as  CAPITAL  GAINS
realized on the sale of investment securities.  VP International  generally pays
distributions  from  net  income  and  capital  gains,  if  any,  once a year in
December.  The fund may make more frequent  distributions if necessary to comply
with Internal Revenue Code provisions.

You will participate in fund distributions,  when they are declared, starting on
the day after your purchase is effective. For example, if you purchase shares on
a day that a distribution is declared,  you will not receive that  distribution.
If you redeem shares, you will receive any distribution  declared on the day you
redeem.  If you redeem all shares,  we will include any  distributions  received
with your redemption proceeds.  All distributions from the fund will be invested
in additional shares.

TAXES

Consult  the  prospectus  of  your  insurance  company  separate  account  for a
discussion of the tax status of your variable contract.

[left margin]

CAPITAL GAINS are increases in the values of capital assets, such as stock, from
the time the assets are  purchased.  Tax  becomes  due on capital  gains once an
asset is sold.


10        American Century Investments                           1-800-345-3533


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table on the next page  itemizes  what  contributed  to the changes in share
price  during  the  period.  It also shows the  changes in share  price for this
period in comparison to changes over the last five fiscal periods.

On a per-share basis, the table includes as appropriate

*  share price at the beginning of the period

*  investment income and capital gains or losses

*  distributions of income and capital gains paid to shareholders

*  share price at the end of the period

The table also includes some key statistics for the period as appropriate

*  Total Return--the overall percentage of return of the fund, assuming the
   reinvestment of all distributions

*  Expense Ratio--operating expenses as a percentage of average net assets

*  Net Income Ratio--net investment income as a percentage of average net asset

*  Portfolio Turnover--the percentage of the fund's buying and selling activity

The Financial Highlights have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors.  Their  Independent  Auditors' Report is included in the fund's annual
report for the year ended December 31, 1998,  which is incorporated by reference
into the Statement of Additional Information and is available upon request.


     www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   11


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VP INTERNATIONAL

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended December 31 (except as noted

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                1998              1997           1996             1995            1994(1)

Net Asset Value, Beginning
<S>                                      <C>               <C>            <C>              <C>             <C>        
of Period .............................  $      6.84       $      5.96    $      5.33      $      4.75     $      5.00

Income From Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (Loss) ..........         0.02             (0.02)          0.02(2)          0.03(2)         --
Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
on Investment Transactions ............         1.24              1.11           0.74             0.55           (0.25)

Total From Investment Operations 1.26 .         1.09              0.76           0.58            (0.25)

Distributions
From Net Investment Income ............        (0.04)            (0.06)         (0.03)            --              --
In Excess of Net
Investment Income .....................         --               (0.01)         (0.07)            --              --
From Net Realized Gains
on Investment Transactions ............        (0.36)            (0.14)         (0.03)            --              --
In Excess of Net Realized Gains .......        (0.08)             --             --               --              --

Total Distributions ...................        (0.48)            (0.21)         (0.13)            --              --

Net Asset Value, End of Period ........  $      7.62       $      6.84    $      5.96      $      5.33     $      4.75

Total Return(3) .......................        18.76%            18.63%         14.41%
                                                                                                 12.21%          (5.00)%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                1998              1997           1996             1995            1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses
to Average Net Assets .................         1.47%(4)          1.50%          1.50%            1.50%           1.50%(5)

Ratio of Net Investment
Income (Loss) to Average
Net Assets ............................         0.25%(4)         (0.08)%         0.31%            0.70%     (0.11)%(5)
Portfolio Turnover Rate ...............          181%              173%           154%             214%            157%

Net Assets, End of Period
(in thousands) ........................  $   418,962       $   216,523    $   101,335      $    51,609     $    17,993
</TABLE>

(1) May 1, 1994 (inception) through December 31, 1994.

(2) Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

(3) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions,  if any. Total returns for periods less than one year are not
    annualized.

(4) ACIM has voluntarily  waived a portion of its management fee from October 1,
    1998 through  November 16, 1998.  In absence of the waiver,  the  annualized
    ratio of operating  expenses to average net assets and  annualized  ratio of
    net investment  income to average net assets would have been 1.48% and 0.24%
    for the year ended December 31, 1998.

(5) Annualized.


12              American Century Investments                      1-800-345-3533


NOTES


    www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments   13


[back cover]

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS IS CONTAINED IN THESE DOCUMENTS

ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS

These reports  contain more  information  about the fund's  investments  and the
market  conditions and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the
fund's performance during the most recent fiscal period.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

The SAI contains a more detailed,  legal  description of the fund's  operations,
investment  restrictions,  policies and practices.  The SAI is  incorporated  by
reference  into this  Prospectus.  This means  that it is  legally  part of this
Prospectus, even if you don't request a copy.

You  also  can get  information  about  the fund  (including  the SAI)  from the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

* In person                SEC Public Reference Room
                           Washington, D.C.
                           Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for location
                           and hours.

* On the Internet          www.sec.gov

* By mail                  SEC Public Reference Section
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-6009
                           (The SEC will charge a fee for copying
                           the documents.)

AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS
P.O. Box 419385
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6385

INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

WWW.AMERICANCENTURY.COM

FAX: 816-340-4360

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF
1-800-345-1833 or 816-444-3038

Investment Company Act File No. 811-5188

                         [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                    American
                                     Century

                          AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS
                                P.O. Box 419385
                       Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6385
                        1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

9903
SH-PRS-15707
<PAGE>
[front cover]

                               AMERICAN CENTURY

                               Prospectus

                                                   VP Capital Appreciation Fund

                                                 [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                                                        American
                                                                         Century


[left margin]

                                                                    MAY 1, 1999

  THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE
   SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANYONE
                 WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE IS COMMITTING A CRIME.

                                         Distributed by  Funds Distributor, Inc.


[inside front cover blank]


TABLE OF CONTENTS

An Overview of the Fund ....................................................   3
Information about the Fund .................................................   4
Management .................................................................   7
Share Price, Distributions and Taxes .......................................   9
Financial Highlights .......................................................  10

[left margin]

Throughout  this  book  you'll  find  definitions  of key  investment  terms and
phrases.  When you see a word printed in GREEN ITALICS,  look for its definition
in the left margin.

[graphic of index finger pointing] This symbol  highlights  special  information
and helpful tips.


                                                    American Century Investments


[blank page]


2       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUND

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT GOAL?

The fund seeks capital growth.

WHAT ARE THE FUND'S PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND PRINCIPAL RISKS?

The fund managers look for common stocks of growing companies.  The basis of the
strategy used by the fund is that, over the long term,  stocks of companies with
earnings and revenue  growth have a greater  than average  chance to increase in
value over time. A more  detailed  description  of American  Century's  "growth"
investment style begins on page 4.

The fund's principal risks include

*   Market  Risk--The  value of a fund's shares will go up and down based on the
    performance  of the  companies  whose  securities  it owns and other factors
    affecting the securities market generally.

*   Price Volatility--The value of the funds' shares may fluctuate significantly
    in the short term.

*   Principal Loss--As with all mutual funds, if you sell your shares when their
    value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND?

The fund may be a good investment if you are

*  seeking long-term capital growth from your investment

*  comfortable with the funds' short-term price volatility

*  comfortable with the risks associated with the funds' investment strategy

WHO MAY NOT WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND?

The fund may not be a good investment if you are

*  investing for a short period of time

*  uncomfortable with volatility in the value of your investment

[left margin]

[graphic of index finger pointing] An investment in the fund is not a bank
deposit, and it is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments      3


INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

VP CAPITAL APPRECIATION FUND

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The fund seeks capital growth.

HOW DOES THE FUND PURSUE ITS INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The fund managers use a growth investment strategy developed by American Century
to invest in stocks of companies  that they believe will  increase in value over
time.  This strategy looks for companies with earnings and revenues that are not
only growing, but growing at a successively faster, or accelerating,  pace. This
strategy  is based on the  premise  that,  over the long  term,  the  stocks  of
companies with  accelerating  earnings and revenues have a  greater-than-average
chance to increase in value.

The managers use a bottom-up approach to select stocks to buy for the fund. That
means they first look for strong,  growing  companies to invest in,  rather than
simply  buying any  company in a growing  industry  or  sector.  Using  American
Century's extensive computer database,  the managers track financial information
for  thousands of companies to identify  trends in the  companies'  earnings and
revenues. This information is used to help the fund managers select or decide to
continue to hold the stocks of  companies  they  believe will be able to sustain
accelerating growth, and to sell stocks of companies whose growth begins to slow
down.

Although most of the fund's assets will be invested in U.S. companies,  there is
no limit on the amount of assets the fund can invest in foreign companies.  Most
of the fund's foreign investments are in companies located and doing business in
developed countries. Investments in foreign securities present some unique risks
that are more fully described in the fund's Statement of Additional Information.

The fund  managers do not attempt to time the  market.  Instead,  they intend to
keep the fund essentially fully invested in stocks regardless of the movement of
stock prices generally.  When the managers believe that it is prudent,  the fund
may  invest  a  portion  of  its  assets  in  convertible  securities,   foreign
securities, short-term instruments,  NON-LEVERAGED stock index futures contracts
and  other  similar  securities.  Stock  index  futures  contracts,  a  type  of
derivative  security,  can help the  fund's  cash  assets  remain  liquid  while
performing more like stocks. The fund has a policy governing stock index futures
and  similar  derivative  securities  to help  manage the risk of these types of
investments.  For example,  the managers  cannot  leverage the fund's  assets by
investing in a derivative  security.  A complete  description of the derivatives
policy is included in the Statement of Additional Information.

Additional information about VP Capital Appreciation's  investments is available
in its  annual  and  semiannual  reports.  In  these  reports  you  will  find a
discussion of the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly
affected the fund's  performance  during the most recent fiscal period.  You may
get these reports at no cost by calling the insurance  company through which you
purchased the fund or by calling us.

WHAT KINDS OF SECURITIES DOES THE FUND BUY?

The fund will usually purchase common stocks of U.S. and foreign companies,  but
it can purchase other types of securities as well,  such as domestic and foreign
preferred stocks, convertible securities,  equity-equivalent  securities, notes,
bonds and other debt securities. The fund limits its purchase of debt securities
to investment-grade obligations.

[left margin]

[graphic of index finger pointing] Accelerating growth is shown, for example, by
growth that is faster this  quarter  than last or faster this year than the year
before.

NON-LEVERAGED  means that the fund may not invest in futures  contracts where it
would be possible to lose more than the fund invested.


4       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

The value of VP Capital Appreciation's shares depends on the value of the stocks
and other securities it owns. The value of the individual  securities VP Capital
Appreciation  owns  will go up and  down  depending  on the  performance  of the
companies that issued them, general market and economic conditions, and investor
confidence.

The fund managers may buy a large amount of a company's stock quickly, and often
will dispose of it quickly if the company's earnings or revenues decline.  While
the managers believe this strategy provides substantial  appreciation  potential
over the long  term,  in the short term it can  create a  significant  amount of
share price volatility.  This volatility can be greater than that of the average
stock fund.

As with all  funds,  at any given  time the value of your  shares of VP  Capital
Appreciation may be worth more or less than the price you paid. If you sell your
shares when the value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

Market  performance  tends to be cyclical,  and in the various  cycles,  certain
investment  styles may fall in and out of favor.  If the market is not  favoring
the fund's  style,  the fund's  gains may not be as big as, or its losses may be
bigger than, other equity funds using different investment styles.

Foreign  securities can have certain  unique risks,  including  fluctuations  in
currency exchange rates,  unstable  political and economic  structures,  reduced
availability of public  information and lack of uniform financial  reporting and
regulatory practices similar to those that apply to U.S. issuers.  These factors
make investing in foreign  securities  generally  riskier than investing in U.S.
stocks. To the extent the fund invests in foreign  securities,  the overall risk
of the fund could be affected.

The fund is offered only to insurance  companies for the purpose of offering the
fund as an investment  option under variable  annuity or variable life insurance
contracts.  Although  the fund does not  foresee any  disadvantages  to contract
owners  due to the fact that it offers its  shares as an  investment  medium for
both  variable  annuity and variable  life  products,  the  interests of various
contract  owners  participating  in the fund might, at some time, be in conflict
due to  future  differences  in tax  treatment  of  variable  products  or other
considerations.  Consequently, the fund's Board of Directors will monitor events
in order to identify any  material  irreconcilable  conflicts  that may possibly
arise and to determine what action,  if any, should be taken in response to such
conflicts.  If a conflict were to occur, an insurance  company  separate account
might be required to withdraw its  investments in the fund and the fund might be
forced to sell securities at disadvantageous prices to redeem such investments.


www.americancentury.com                    American Century Investments      5


FUND PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart shows the  performance  of the fund's shares for each of
the last 10 calendar years. It indicates the volatility of the fund's historical
returns from year to year.

[bar chart - data below]
<TABLE>
  1998       1997       1996       1995       1994       1993       1992       1991       1990        1989
<S>         <C>        <C>       <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>       <C>         <C>        <C>   
- -2.16%     -3.26%     -4.32%     31.10%     -1.17      10.31%     -1.34%     41.88%     -1.25%      28.72%
</TABLE>

Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns

The  highest  and lowest  returns of the  fund's  shares for a calendar  quarter
during the period  reflected by the  preceding  bar chart are provided  below to
indicate the fund's historical  short-term  volatility.  Shareholders  should be
aware,  however,  that the  fund is  intended  for  investors  with a  long-term
investment horizon and is not managed for short-term results.

[bar chart - data below]
                                 Highest        Lowest
VP Capital Appreciation          22.23%         -19.03%
                                 1Q 1991         3Q 1998

Average Annual Returns

The following  table shows the average  annual  returns of the fund's shares for
the periods  indicated  during the last 10 calendar  years.  The  benchmarks are
unmanaged indices that have no operating costs and are included in the table for
performance comparison. The S & P 500 is viewed as a broad measure of U.S. stock
performance,  while the S & P MidCap 400 Index is  considered  to represent  the
performance of  mid-capitalization  stocks generally and the S & P/BARRA Mid Cap
400 Growth  Index  represents  the half of the S & P 400 with higher  price/book
ratios.

For the calendar year
ended December 31, 1998      1 year     5 years    10 years     Life of fund(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Capital Appreciation      -2.16%     3.25%      8.70%        8.25%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S & P MidCap 400 Index       19.11%    18.84%     19.29%       20.08%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S & P 500                    28.68%    24.05%     19.17%       19.04%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S & P/Midcap 400/BARRA
Growth Index                 34.86%    19.77%       N/A          N/A

(1) The inception date for VP Capital Appreciation is November 20, 1987.

[left margin]

[graphic of index finger pointing] The performance information on this page
is designed to help you see how fund returns can vary. Keep in mind that
past performance does not predict how the fund will perform in the future.

For current performance information, please call us at 1-800-345-3533 or visit
American Century's Web site at www.americancentury.com.


6        American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


MANAGEMENT

WHO MANAGES THE FUND?

The Board of Directors,  investment  advisor and fund  management  team play key
roles in the management of the fund.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors  oversees the  management  of the fund and meets at least
quarterly  to  review  reports  about  fund  operations.  Although  the Board of
Directors does not manage the fund, it has hired an investment advisor to do so.
More than  two-thirds of the directors are  independent  of the fund's  advisor;
that is, they are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor.

THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR

The fund's investment  advisor is American Century Investment  Management,  Inc.
The advisor has been  managing  mutual  funds  since 1958.  American  Century is
headquartered at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.

The advisor is responsible for managing the investment portfolio of the fund and
directing the purchase and sale of its investment  securities.  The advisor also
arranges for transfer agency,  custody and all other services  necessary for the
fund to operate.

For the services it provided to the fund during the most recent fiscal year, the
advisor received a unified management fee of 1.00% the average net assets of the
fund.  In  November  1998,  the fund's  shareholders  approved a new  management
agreement with lower fees.  Under the new agreement,  the advisor will receive a
unified  management  fee of 1.00% of the first $500  million of the  average net
assets of the fund,  0.95% of the next $500  million and 0.90%  thereafter.  The
amount of the management fee is calculated daily and paid monthly.

Out of that fee, the advisor paid all  expenses of managing  and  operating  the
fund  except  brokerage  expenses,  taxes,  interest,  fees and  expenses of the
independent directors (including legal counsel fees) and extraordinary expenses.

THE FUND MANAGEMENT TEAM

The advisor uses teams of portfolio  managers,  assistant portfolio managers and
analysts to manage the fund. Teams meet regularly to review  portfolio  holdings
and to discuss purchase and sale activity.  Team members buy and sell securities
for a fund as they  see fit,  guided  by the  fund's  investment  objective  and
strategy.

The portfolio managers on the investment team are identified below:

HAROLD S. BRADLEY

Mr. Bradley,  Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager,  has been a member of
the team that  manages VP  Capital  Appreciation  since  March  1998.  He joined
American Century in 1988 and for 10 years managed the global equity, futures and
foreign exchange trading  activities for American Century.  He has a bachelor of
arts from Marquette University.

LINDA K. PETERSON

Ms. Peterson,  Portfolio Manager,  has been a member of the team that manages VP
Capital  Appreciation since March 1998. She joined American Century in 1986. She
served as an Investment  Analyst for American Century's  growth-oriented  equity
funds from  April  1994 until  February  1998.  She has a  bachelor's  degree in
finance from the  University of Northern Iowa and an MBA from the  University of
Missouri-Kansas City. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst.


[left margin]

[graphic of index finger pointing] CODE OF ETHICS

American  Century has a Code of Ethics  designed to ensure that the interests of
fund  shareholders  come before the interests of the people who manage the fund.
Among other  provisions,  the Code of Ethics  prohibits  portfolio  managers and
other investment  personnel from buying securities in an initial public offering
or from  profiting  from the  purchase and sale of the same  security  within 60
calendar days. In addition,  the Code of Ethics requires  portfolio managers and
other  employees  with  access  to  information  about the  purchase  or sale of
securities by the funds to obtain approval before executing  permitted  personal
trades.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments        7


FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

Fundamental  investment  policies  contained  in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information and the investment  objective of the fund may not be changed without
a shareholder  vote.  The Board of Directors  may change any other  policies and
investment strategies.

YEAR 2000 ISSUES

Many of the world's  computer  systems  currently  cannot properly  recognize or
process date-sensitive information relating to the Year 2000 and beyond. Because
this may impact the computer systems of various American  Century-affiliated and
external service providers for the fund,  American Century formally  initiated a
Year 2000  readiness  project in July 1997.  It  involves a team of  information
technology  professionals  assisted  by  outside  consultants  and  guided  by a
senior-level steering committee.  The team's goal is to assess the impact of the
Year 2000 on  American  Century's  systems,  renovate  or  replace  noncompliant
critical systems and test those systems. In addition,  the team has been working
to gather  information  about the Year 2000  efforts of the fund's  other  major
service providers.

Although  American Century believes its critical systems will function  properly
in the Year 2000, this is not guaranteed.  If the efforts of American Century or
its  external  service  providers  are  not  successful,  the  fund's  business,
particularly the provision of shareholder services, may be hampered.

In  addition,  the  issuers  of  securities  the fund owns  could have Year 2000
computer  problems.  These problems could  negatively  affect the value of their
securities, which, in turn, could impact the fund's performance. The advisor has
established a process to gather publicly  available  information  about the Year
2000  readiness  of these  issuers.  However,  this  process may not uncover all
relevant  information,  and the  information  gathered  may not be complete  and
accurate.  Moreover, an issuer's Year 2000 readiness is only one of many factors
the fund  managers  may consider  when making  investment  decisions,  and other
factors may receive greater weight.


8        American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


SHARE PRICE, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

For  instructions  on how to purchase and redeem shares,  read the prospectus of
your  insurance  company  separate  account.  Shares  of the  fund  are sold and
redeemed by the fund at their net asset value next  determined  after receipt by
the  insurance  company  separate  account of the request in good order from the
variable annuity or variable life insurance  contract owner.  There are no sales
commissions  or redemption  charges.  However,  certain sales or deferred  sales
charges and other  charges may apply to the variable  annuity or life  insurance
contracts. Those charges are disclosed in the separate account prospectus.

ABUSIVE TRADING PRACTICES

We do not permit market-timing or other abusive trading practices in our funds.

Excessive,  short-term  (market-timing)  or other abusive trading  practices may
disrupt portfolio management  strategies and harm fund performance.  To minimize
harm to the fund and its  shareholders,  we  reserve  the  right to  reject  any
purchase order (including  exchanges) from any investor we believe has a history
of  abusive  trading  or  whose  trading,  in our  judgment,  has been or may be
disruptive to a fund. In making this judgment,  we may consider  trading done in
multiple  accounts under common ownership or control.  We also reserve the right
to delay delivery of redemption proceeds up to seven days.

SHARE PRICE

American  Century  determines  the NET ASSET  VALUE  (NAV) of the fund as of the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange  (usually 4 p.m. Eastern
time) on each day the  Exchange is open.  On days when the  Exchange is not open
(including certain U.S.  holidays),  we do not calculate the NAV. The NAV of the
fund share is the current  value of the fund's  assets,  minus any  liabilities,
divided by the number of fund shares outstanding.

If current prices of securities  owned by a fund are not readily  available from
an independent  pricing  service,  the advisor may determine their fair value in
accordance with procedures adopted by the fund's Board of Directors.  Trading of
securities  in foreign  markets may not take place on every day the  Exchange is
open.  Also,  trading in some  foreign  markets  may take place on  weekends  or
holidays  when the  fund's  NAV is not  calculated.  So, the value of the fund's
portfolio may be affected on days when you can't purchase or redeem its shares.

We will price your purchase,  exchange or redemption at the NAV next  determined
after we receive your transaction request in good order.

DISTRIBUTIONS

Federal tax laws require the fund to make  distributions  to its shareholders in
order  to  qualify  as a  "regulated  investment  company."  Qualification  as a
regulated investment company means that the fund will not be subject to state or
federal income tax on amounts distributed.  The distributions  generally consist
of  dividends  and  interest  received  by the fund,  as well as  CAPITAL  GAINS
realized on the sale of investment securities. VP Capital Appreciation generally
pays  distributions  from net income and capital  gains,  if any, once a year in
December.  The fund may make more frequent  distributions if necessary to comply
with Internal Revenue Code provisions.

You will participate in fund distributions,  when they are declared, starting on
the day after your purchase is effective. For example, if you purchase shares on
a day that a distribution is declared,  you will not receive that  distribution.
If you redeem shares, you will receive any distribution  declared on the day you
redeem.  If you redeem all shares,  we will include any  distributions  received
with your redemption proceeds.  All distributions from the fund will be invested
in additional shares.

TAXES

Consult  the  prospectus  of  your  insurance  company  separate  account  for a
discussion of the tax status of your variable contract.

[left margin]

[graphic of index finger pointing] The NET ASSET VALUE of the fund is the price
of its shares.

CAPITAL GAINS are increases in the values of capital assets, such as stock, from
the time the assets are purchased. Tax becomes due on capital gains once an
asset is sold.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments       9


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table on the next page  itemizes  what  contributed  to the changes in share
price  during  the  period.  It also shows the  changes in share  price for this
period in comparison to changes over the last five fiscal years.

On a per-share basis, the table includes as appropriate

*  share price at the beginning of the period

*  investment income and capital gains or losses

*  distributions of income and capital gains paid to shareholders

*  share price at the end of the period

The table also includes some key statistics for the period as appropriate

*  Total Return--the overall percentage of return of the fund, assuming the
   reinvestment of all distributions

*  Expense Ratio--operating expenses as a percentage of average net assets

*  Net Income Ratio--net investment income as a percentage of average net asset

*  Portfolio Turnover--the percentage of the fund's buying and selling activity

The Financial Highlights have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors.  Their  Independent  Auditor's Report is included in the fund's annual
report for the year ended December 31, 1998,  which is incorporated by reference
into the Statement of Additional Information and is available upon request.


10      American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VP CAPITAL APPRECIATION

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended December 31

PER-SHARE DATA
                                                 1998             1997               1996               1995             1994

<S>                                     <C>              <C>                <C>                <C>              <C>          
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ...  $        9.68    $       10.24      $       12.06      $        9.21    $        9.32

Income From Investment Operations
Net Investment Income (Loss) .........          (0.01)           (0.05)(1)          (0.06)(1)          (0.02)            0.01

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain
(Loss) on Investment Transactions ....          (0.17)           (0.30)             (0.40)              2.88            (0.12)

Total From Investment Operations .....          (0.18)           (0.35)             (0.46)              2.86            (0.11)

Distributions
From Net Investment Income ...........           --               --                 --                (0.01)            --

From Net Realized Gains on
Investment Transactions ..............          (0.48)           (0.21)             (1.36)              --               --

Total Distributions ..................          (0.48)           (0.21)             (1.36)             (0.01)            --

Net Asset Value, End of Year .........  $        9.02    $        9.68      $       10.24      $       12.06    $        9.21

Total Return(2) ......................          (2.16)%          (3.26)%            (4.32)%            31.10%           (1.17)%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
                                                 1998             1997               1996               1995             1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses
to Average Net Assets ................           1.00%            1.00%              1.00%              0.99%            1.00%

Ratio of Net Investment Income
(Loss) to Average Net Assets .........          (0.07)%          (0.53)%            (0.59)%            (0.23)%           0.11%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ..............            206%             107%               182%               147%             115%

Net Assets, End of Year
(in thousands) .......................  $     448,701    $     593,698      $   1,313,865      $   1,461,124    $   1,002,577
</TABLE>

(1)  Computed using average shares outstanding throughout the period.

(2)  Total return assumes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains
     distributions, if any.


www.americancentury.com                    American Century Investments      11


NOTES


12       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


NOTES


www.americancentury.com                  American Century Investments        13


MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS IS CONTAINED IN THESE DOCUMENTS

ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS

These reports contain more information about the funds' investments and the
market conditions and investment strategies that significantly affected the
funds' performance during the most recent fiscal period.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

The SAI contains a more detailed, legal description of the funds' operations,
investment restrictions, policies and practices. The SAI is incorporated by
reference into this Prospectus. This means that it is legally part of this
Prospectus, even if you don't request a copy.


You may obtain a copy of the SAI or annual or semiannual reports at no charge by
contacting us at the telephone  number or address below.

You also can get information about the funds  (including the SAI) from the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

* In person                SEC Public Reference Room
                           Washington, D.C.
                           Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for location and hours.

* On the Internet          www.sec.gov

* By mail                  SEC Public Reference Section
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-6009
                          (The SEC will charge a fee for copying the documents.)


American Century Investments
P.O. Box 419200
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6200

INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

WWW.AMERICANCENTURY.COM

FAX: 816-340-4655

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF
1-800-345-1833 or 816-444-3038

BUSINESS, NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND  EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANS
1-800-345-3533

Investment Company Act File No. 811-0816

                         [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                    American
                                     Century


9905
SH-PRS-15705
<PAGE>
                               AMERICAN CENTURY

                                  Prospectus

                              VP Balanced Fund

                                                 [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                                                        American
                                                                         Century


                     MAY 1, 1999

     THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
  COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR
 DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR
DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS
    ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANYONE
      WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE IS
             COMMITTING A CRIME.

                  Distributed by
         Funds Distributor, Inc.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

An Overview of the Fund ....................................................   3

Information about the Fund .................................................   4

Management .................................................................   7

Share Price, Distributions and Taxes .......................................  10

Financial Highlights .......................................................  11


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Throughout  this  book  you'll  find  definitions  of key  investment  terms and
phrases.  When you see a word printed in GREEN ITALICS,  look for its definition
in the left margin.

+ This symbol highlights special  information and helpful tips.

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                                                   American Century Investments


2       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUND

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT GOAL?

The fund  seeks  long-term  capital  growth  and  current  income  by  investing
approximately 60% of the fund's assets in equity securities, while the remainder
is invested in bonds and other fixed-income securities.

WHAT ARE THE FUND'S PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND PRINCIPAL RISKS?

In selecting  stocks for the equity  portion of VP Balanced,  the fund  managers
select  primarily  from the largest 1500  publicly  traded U.S.  companies.  The
fixed-income  portion of the fund is  invested  in a  diversified  portfolio  of
high-grade  securities.  A more detailed  description  of the fund's  investment
strategies begins on page 4.

The fund's principal risks include

*  Market  Risk--The  value of a fund's  shares will go up and down based on the
   performance  of the  companies  whose  securities  it owns and other  factors
   affecting the securities market generally.

*  Interest  Rate  Risk--When  interest  rates  change,  the value of the fund's
   fixed-income securities will be affected.

*  Principal  Loss--As with all mutual funds, if you sell your shares when their
   value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND?

The fund may be a good investment if you are

*  seeking a fund that combines the potential for long-term capital growth with
   income

*  seeking the convenience of a fund that invests in both equity and
   fixed-income securities

*  comfortable with the risks associated with the fund's investment strategy

WHO MAY NOT WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND?

The fund may not be a good investment if you are

*  investing for a short period of time

*  uncomfortable with volatility in the value of your investment


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+ An  investment  in the fund is not a bank  deposit,  and it is not  insured or
  guaranteed by the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  (FDIC) or any other
  government agency.

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www.americancentury.com                     American Century Investments       3


INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

VP BALANCED FUND

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The fund  seeks  long-term  capital  growth  and  current  income  by  investing
approximately 60% of the fund's assets in equity securities, while the remainder
is invested in bonds and other fixed-income securities.

HOW DOES THE FUND PURSUE ITS INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

With the equity portion of the VP Balanced portfolio,  the fund managers utilize
quantitative  management  techniques in a two-step process that draws heavily on
computer technology. In the first step, the fund managers rank stocks, primarily
the 1,500 largest  publicly traded  companies in the United States  (measured by
the value of their  stock) from most  attractive  to least  attractive.  This is
determined by using a computer model that combines  measures of a stock's value,
as well as measures of its growth potential.  To measure value, the managers use
ratios of stock price to book value and stock price to cash flow,  among others.
To measure  growth,  the managers  use,  among  others,  the rate of growth of a
company's earnings and changes in its earnings estimates.

In the second step, the managers use a technique called portfolio  optimization.
In portfolio  optimization,  the managers use a computer to build a portfolio of
stocks from the ranking  described  earlier  that they  believe will provide the
optimal  balance  between  risk and  expected  return.  The goal is to create an
equity portfolio that provides better returns than the S&P 500 without taking on
significant additional risk.

The  fixed-income  portion of the fund's  portfolio  is invested  primarily in a
diversified  portfolio of high-grade  government,  corporate,  asset-backed  and
similar securities payable in U.S. currency, with a minimum of 25% of the fund's
assets in  fixed-income  SENIOR  SECURITIES.  At least  80% of the  fixed-income
assets will be invested in securities  that, at the time of purchase,  are rated
within the three  highest  categories  by a  nationally  recognized  statistical
rating  organization.  Up to 20% of the fixed-income  portion may be invested in
the fourth category rated securities, and up to 15% may be invested in the fifth
category.  Under normal market  conditions the WEIGHTED AVERAGE MATURITY for the
fixed-income portfolio will be in the three- to 10-year range.

The fund  managers do not attempt to time the  market.  Instead,  they intend to
keep the  equity  portion  of the fund  essentially  fully  invested  in  stocks
regardless of the movement of stock prices generally.  When the managers believe
that it is prudent,  the fund may invest a portion of its assets in  convertible
securities, foreign securities, short-term securities, NON-LEVERAGED stock index
futures contracts and other similar securities. Stock index futures contracts, a
type of derivative security, can help the fund's cash assets remain liquid while
performing more like stocks. The fund has a policy governing stock index futures
and  similar  derivative  securities  to help  manage the risk of these types of
investments.  For example,  the managers  cannot  leverage the fund's  assets by
investing in a derivative  security.  A complete  description of the derivatives
policy is included in the Statement of Additional Information.

Additional  information  about VP  Balanced's  investments  is  available in its
annual and  semiannual  reports.  In these reports you will find a discussion of
the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly  affected the
fund's  performance  during the most  recent  fiscal  period.  You may get these
reports at no cost by calling the insurance company from which you purchased the
fund or by calling us.


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SENIOR SECURITIES is a term that refers to the bonds of a company that are first
in line for payment if it has difficulties meeting its payment  obligations.  As
long as a series of a company's  bonds is not  subordinated to another series of
the company's bonds, it is considered "senior" debt.

WEIGHTED  AVERAGE  MATURITY is a tool that the advisor uses to  approximate  the
remaining  maturity of a fund's investment  portfolio.  Generally,  the longer a
fund's  weighted  average  maturity,  the more  sensitive  it is to  changes  in
interest rates.

NON-LEVERAGED  means that the fund may not invest in futures  contracts where it
would be possible to lose more than the fund invested.

+ Fixed-income  securities are rated by nationally recognized securities ratings
  organizations  (SROs), such as Moody's and Standard & Poor's. Each SRO has its
  own system for classifying securities,  but each tries to indicate a company's
  ability  to make  timely  payments  of  interest  and  principal.  A  detailed
  description  of SROs,  their ratings system and what we do if a security isn't
  rated is included in the Statement of Additional Information.

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4        American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

The value of VP Balanced's shares depends on the value of the stocks,  bonds and
other  securities  it owns.  The value of the  individual  equity  securities VP
Balanced owns will go up and down depending on the  performance of the companies
that  issued  them,  general  market  and  economic  conditions,   and  investor
confidence.  The value of the fund's  fixed-income  securities  will be affected
primarily by rising or falling  interest rates and the continued  ability of the
issuers of these  securities  to make payments of interest and principal as they
become due.

Generally,  when  interest  rates  rise,  the value of the  fund's  fixed-income
securities will decline.  The opposite is true when interest rates decline.  The
interest  rate risk for VP Balanced is higher than for funds that have a shorter
weighted average maturity, such as money market and short-term bond funds.

The lowest rated bonds in which the fund may invest,  BBB- and  BB-rated  bonds,
contain  some  speculative  characteristics.  Having  these  bonds in the fund's
portfolio  means the fund's value may go down more,  if interest  rates or other
economic conditions change, than if the fund contained only higher rated bonds.

As with all funds, at any given time the value of your shares of VP Balanced may
be worth more or less than the price you paid.  If you sell your shares when the
value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

The fund is offered only to insurance  companies for the purpose of offering the
fund as an investment  option under variable  annuity or variable life insurance
contracts.  Although  the fund does not  foresee any  disadvantages  to contract
owners  due to the fact that it offers its  shares as an  investment  medium for
both  variable  annuity and variable  life  products,  the  interests of various
contract  owners  participating  in the fund might, at some time, be in conflict
due to  future  differences  in tax  treatment  of  variable  products  or other
considerations.  Consequently, the fund's Board of Directors will monitor events
in order to identify any  material  irreconcilable  conflicts  that may possibly
arise and to determine what action,  if any, should be taken in response to such
conflicts.  If a conflict were to occur, an insurance  company  separate account
might be required to withdraw its  investments in the fund and the fund might be
forced to sell securities at disadvantageous prices to redeem such investments.


www.americancentury.com                    American Century Investments       5


FUND PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart shows the performance of the fund's shares for each full
calendar year in the life of the fund. It indicates the volatility of the fund's
historical returns from year to year.

[BAR CHART DATA]

1998       1997       1996       1995       1994       1993       1992
15.77%     15.81%     12.21%     21.12%     0.61%      7.69%      -6.04%

Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns

The  highest  and lowest  returns of the  fund's  shares for a calendar  quarter
during the period  reflected by the  preceding  bar chart are provided  below to
indicate the fund's historical  short-term  volatility.  Shareholders  should be
aware,  however,  that the  fund is  intended  for  investors  with a  long-term
investment horizon and is not managed for short-term results.

[BAR CHART DATA]

                    VP Balanced
2Q 1997             12.16%
3Q 1998             -7.28%

Average Annual Returns

The following  table shows the average  annual  returns of the fund's shares for
the periods  indicated during the life of the fund. The benchmarks are unmanaged
indices  that  have  no  operating  costs  and are  included  in the  table  for
performance comparison. The fund's benchmark was changed to the Lehman Aggregate
Bond Index  beginning  January 1, 1999. The fund's  advisor  believes this index
better represents the broad U.S. taxable bond market.  The Lehman Aggregate Bond
Index includes mortgage-backed  securities,  while the fund's previous index did
not.

<TABLE>
For the calendar year ended December 31, 1998     1 year     5 years     Life of fund(1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                               <C>        <C>         <C>   
VP Balanced                                       15.77%     12.89%      11.65%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P 500                                           28.68%     24.05%      19.45%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehman Intermediate Government/Corporate Index     8.44%      6.60%       7.77%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blended Index(2)                                  20.54%     17.07%      14.89%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehman Aggregate Bond Index                        8.69%      7.27%       8.50%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blended Index(3)                                  20.71%     17.36%      15.20%
</TABLE>

(1) The inception date for VP Balanced is May 1, 1991.

(2) The Blended Index is a combination of two widely known indices in proportion
    to the approximate  asset mix of the fund.  Accordingly,  60% of the Blended
    Index  consists of the  performance  of the S&P 500,  which  represents  the
    equity  portion of the fund,  and 40% of the Blended  Index  consists of the
    Lehman Intermediate  Government/Corporate  Index, which represents the fixed
    income portion.

(3) The Blended Index is a combination of two widely known indices in proportion
    to the approximate  asset mix of the fund.  Accordingly,  60% of the Blended
    Index  consists of the  performance  of the S&P 500,  which  represents  the
    equity  portion of the fund,  and 40% of the Blended  Index  consists of the
    Lehman Aggregate Bond Index, which represents the fixed income portion.


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+ The performance  information on this page is designed to help you see how fund
  returns can vary. Keep in mind that past  performance does not predict how the
  fund will perform in the future.

+ For current performance information, please call us at 1-800-345-3533 or visit
  American Century's Web site at www.americancentury.com.

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6       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


MANAGEMENT

WHO MANAGES THE FUND?

The Board of Directors,  investment  advisor and fund  management  team play key
roles in the management of the fund.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors  oversees the  management  of the fund and meets at least
quarterly  to  review  reports  about  fund  operations.  Although  the Board of
Directors does not manage the fund, it has hired an investment advisor to do so.
More than  two-thirds of the Directors are  independent  of the fund's  advisor;
that is, they are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor.

THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR

The fund's investment  advisor is American Century Investment  Management,  Inc.
The advisor has been  managing  mutual  funds  since 1958.  American  Century is
headquartered at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.

The advisor is responsible for managing the investment portfolio of the fund and
directing the purchase and sale of its investment  securities.  The advisor also
arranges for transfer agency,  custody and all other services  necessary for the
fund to operate.

For the services it provided to the fund during the most recent fiscal year, the
advisor received a unified management fee of 0.97% the average net assets of the
fund.  In  November  1998,  the fund's  shareholders  approved a new  management
agreement with lower fees.  Under the new agreement,  the advisor will receive a
unified  management  fee of 0.90% of the first $250  million of the  average net
assets of the fund,  0.85% of the next $250  million and 0.80%  thereafter.  The
amount of the management fee is calculated daily and paid monthly.

Out of that fee, the advisor paid all  expenses of managing  and  operating  the
fund  except  brokerage  expenses,  taxes,  interest,  fees and  expenses of the
independent directors (including legal counsel fees) and extraordinary expenses.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments        7


THE FUND MANAGEMENT TEAM

The advisor uses teams of portfolio  managers,  assistant portfolio managers and
analysts to manage the fund. Teams meet regularly to review  portfolio  holdings
and to discuss purchase and sale activity.  Team members buy and sell securities
for a fund as they  see fit,  guided  by the  fund's  investment  objective  and
strategy.

The portfolio managers on the investment team are identified below:

JOHN SCHNIEDWIND

Mr. Schniedwind, Senior Vice President and Group Leader-Quantitative Equity, has
been a member of the team that manages the equity  portion of VP Balanced  since
November  1998. He joined  American  Century in 1982 and also  supervises  other
portfolio  management teams. He has a bachelor of science from Purdue University
and an MBA in finance from University of California. He is a Chartered Financial
Analyst.

JEFFREY R. TYLER

Mr. Tyler, Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, has been a member of the
team that manages the equity  portion of VP Balanced  since  November  1998.  He
joined  American  Century  as a  Portfolio  Manager in  January  1988.  He has a
bachelor's degree in business economics from the University of California and an
MBA in finance and economics  from  Northwestern  University.  He is a Chartered
Financial Analyst.

JEFFREY L. HOUSTON

Mr. Houston, Vice President and Portfolio Manager, has been a member of the team
that manages the  fixed-income  portion of the VP Balanced  since June 1995.  He
joined  American  Century  as an  Investment  Analyst in  November  1990 and was
promoted  to  Portfolio  Manager  in 1994.  He has a  bachelor  of arts from the
University  of Delaware and an MPA from Syracuse  University.  He is a Chartered
Financial Analyst.

JOHN F. WALSH

Mr.  Walsh,  Portfolio  Manager,  has been a member of the team that manages the
fixed-income  portion of VP Balanced  since  January  1999.  He joined  American
Century in February 1996 as an  Investment  Analyst.  Prior to joining  American
Century,  he  served  as an  Assistant  Vice  President  and  Analyst  at  First
Interstate Bank, Los Angeles, California, from July 1993 to January 1996. He has
a bachelor's degree in marketing from Loyola Marymount  University and an MBA in
finance from Creighton University.


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+ CODE OF ETHICS

American  Century has a Code of Ethics  designed to ensure that the interests of
fund  shareholders  come before the interests of the people who manage the fund.
Among other  provisions,  the Code of Ethics  prohibits  portfolio  managers and
other investment  personnel from buying securities in an initial public offering
or from  profiting  from the  purchase and sale of the same  security  within 60
calendar days. In addition,  the Code of Ethics requires  portfolio managers and
other  employees  with  access  to  information  about the  purchase  or sale of
securities by the funds to obtain approval before executing  permitted  personal
trades.

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8       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


FUND PERFORMANCE

VP Balanced has the same management team and investment policies as another fund
in the American  Century family of funds. The fees and expenses of the funds are
expected to be similar,  and they will be managed  with  substantially  the same
investment objective and strategies. Notwithstanding these general similarities,
this fund and the retail fund are separate mutual funds that will have different
investment  performance.  Differences in cash flows into the two funds, the size
of their portfolios,  specific investments held by the two funds, as well as the
additional expenses of the insurance product, will cause performance to differ.

Please  consult  the  separate  account  prospectus  for a  description  of  the
insurance product through which the fund is offered and the associated fees.

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

Fundamental  investment  policies  contained  in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information and the investment objectives of the fund may not be changed without
a shareholder  vote.  The Board of Directors  may change any other  policies and
investment strategies.

YEAR 2000 ISSUES

Many of the world's  computer  systems  currently  cannot properly  recognize or
process date-sensitive information relating to the Year 2000 and beyond. Because
this may impact the computer systems of various American  Century-affiliated and
external service providers for the fund,  American Century formally  initiated a
Year 2000  readiness  project in July 1997.  It  involves a team of  information
technology  professionals  assisted  by  outside  consultants  and  guided  by a
senior-level steering committee.  The team's goal is to assess the impact of the
Year 2000 on  American  Century's  systems,  renovate  or  replace  noncompliant
critical systems and test those systems. In addition,  the team has been working
to gather  information  about the Year 2000  efforts of the fund's  other  major
service providers.

Although  American Century believes its critical systems will function  properly
in the Year 2000, this is not guaranteed.  If the efforts of American Century or
its  external  service  providers  are  not  successful,  the  fund's  business,
particularly the provision of shareholder services, may be hampered.

In  addition,  the  issuers  of  securities  the fund owns  could have Year 2000
computer  problems.  These problems could  negatively  affect the value of their
securities, which, in turn, could impact the fund's performance. The advisor has
established a process to gather publicly  available  information  about the Year
2000  readiness  of these  issuers.  However,  this  process may not uncover all
relevant  information,  and the  information  gathered  may not be complete  and
accurate.  Moreover, an issuer's Year 2000 readiness is only one of many factors
the fund  managers  may consider  when making  investment  decisions,  and other
factors may receive greater weight.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments        9


SHARE PRICE, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

For  instructions  on how to purchase and redeem shares,  read the prospectus of
your  insurance  company  separate  account.  Shares  of the  fund  are sold and
redeemed by the fund at their net asset value next  determined  after receipt by
the  insurance  company  separate  account of the request in good order from the
variable annuity or variable life insurance  contract owner.  There are no sales
commissions  or redemption  charges.  However,  certain sales or deferred  sales
charges and other  charges may apply to the variable  annuity or life  insurance
contracts. Those charges are disclosed in the separate account prospectus.

ABUSIVE TRADING PRACTICES

We do not permit market-timing or other abusive trading practices in our funds.

Excessive,  short-term  (market-timing)  or other abusive trading  practices may
disrupt portfolio management  strategies and harm fund performance.  To minimize
harm to the fund and its  shareholders,  we  reserve  the  right to  reject  any
purchase order (including  exchanges) from any investor we believe has a history
of  abusive  trading  or  whose  trading,  in our  judgment,  has been or may be
disruptive to a fund. In making this judgment,  we may consider  trading done in
multiple  accounts under common ownership or control.  We also reserve the right
to delay delivery of redemption proceeds up to seven days.

SHARE PRICE

American  Century  determines  the NET ASSET  VALUE  (NAV) of the fund as of the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange  (usually 4 p.m. Eastern
time) on each day the  Exchange is open.  On days when the  Exchange is not open
(including certain U.S.  holidays),  we do not calculate the NAV. The NAV of the
fund share is the current  value of the fund's  assets,  minus any  liabilities,
divided by the number of fund shares outstanding.

If current prices of securities  owned by a fund are not readily  available from
an independent  pricing  service,  the advisor may determine their fair value in
accordance with procedures adopted by the fund's Board of Directors.  Trading of
securities  in foreign  markets may not take place on every day the  Exchange is
open.  Also,  trading in some  foreign  markets  may take place on  weekends  or
holidays  when the  fund's  NAV is not  calculated.  So, the value of the fund's
portfolio may be affected on days when you can't purchase or redeem its shares.

We will price your purchase,  exchange or redemption at the NAV next  determined
after we receive your transaction request in good order.

DISTRIBUTIONS

Federal tax laws require the fund to make  distributions  to its shareholders in
order  to  qualify  as a  "regulated  investment  company."  Qualification  as a
regulated investment company means that the fund will not be subject to state or
federal income tax on amounts distributed.  The distributions  generally consist
of  dividends  and  interest  received  by the fund,  as well as  CAPITAL  GAINS
realized  on the sale of  investment  securities.  VP  Balanced  generally  pays
distributions  from  net  income  and  capital  gains,  if  any,  once a year in
December.  The fund may make more frequent  distributions if necessary to comply
with Internal Revenue Code provisions.

You will participate in fund distributions,  when they are declared, starting on
the day after your purchase is effective. For example, if you purchase shares on
a day that a distribution is declared,  you will not receive that  distribution.
If you redeem shares, you will receive any distribution  declared on the day you
redeem.  If you redeem all shares,  we will include any  distributions  received
with your redemption proceeds.  All distributions from the fund will be invested
in additional shares.

TAXES

Consult  the  prospectus  of  your  insurance  company  separate  account  for a
discussion of the tax status of your variable contract.


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The NET ASSET VALUE of the fund is the price of its shares.

CAPITAL GAINS are increases in the values of capital assets, such as stock, from
the time the assets are  purchased.  Tax  becomes  due on capital  gains once an
asset is sold.

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10      American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table on the next page  itemizes  what  contributed  to the changes in share
price  during  the  period.  It also shows the  changes in share  price for this
period in comparison to changes over the last five fiscal years.

On a per-share basis, the table includes as appropriate

*  share price at the beginning of the period

*  investment income and capital gains or losses

*  distributions of income and capital gains paid to shareholders

*  share price at the end of the period

The table also includes some key statistics for the period as appropriate

*  Total Return--the overall percentage of return of the fund, assuming the
   reinvestment of all distributions

*  Expense Ratio--operating expenses as a percentage of average net assets

*  Net Income Ratio--net investment income as a percentage of average net asset

*  Portfolio Turnover--the percentage of the fund's buying and selling activity

The Financial Highlights have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors.  Their  Independent  Auditors' Report is included in the fund's annual
report for the year ended December 31, 1998,  which is incorporated by reference
into the Statement of Additional Information and is available upon request.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments      11


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VP BALANCED

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended December 31

PER-SHARE DATA

                                                                1998              1997           1996           1995           1994


<S>                                                      <C>               <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>        
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ....................  $      8.24       $      7.54    $      7.04    $      5.96    $      6.07

Income From Investment Operations

Net Investment Income .................................         0.16              0.19           0.18           0.17           0.15

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
on Investment Transactions ............................         1.04              0.94           0.65           1.08          (0.11)

Total From Investment Operations ......................         1.20              1.13           0.83           1.25           0.04


Distributions

From Net Investment Income ............................        (0.15)            (0.09)         (0.13)         (0.17)         (0.15)

From Net Realized Gains on Investment Transactions ....        (0.95)            (0.34)         (0.20)          --             --

Total Distributions ...................................        (1.10)            (0.43)         (0.33)         (0.17)         (0.15)


Net Asset Value, End of Year ..........................  $      8.34       $      8.24    $      7.54    $      7.04    $      5.96


Total Return(1) .......................................        15.77%            15.81%         12.21%         21.12%          0.61%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

                                                                1998              1997           1996           1995           1994


Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets .....         0.97%(2)          1.00%          0.99%          0.97%          1.00%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets ..         2.16%(2)          2.19%          2.43%          2.69%          2.49%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ...............................          158%              125%           130%            87%            63%

Net Assets, End of Year (in thousands) ................  $   280,437       $   219,087    $   215,393    $   153,823    $   105,100
</TABLE>

(1) Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends   and  capital  gains
    distributions, if any.

(2) The fund's advisor  voluntarily  waived a portion of its management fee from
    October 1 through  November  16. In absence of the  waiver,  the  annualized
    ratio of operating  expenses to average net assets and  annualized  ratio of
    net investment income to average net assets would have been 0.99% and 2.15%,
    respectively, for the year ended December 31, 1998.


12      American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


NOTES


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments       13


[BACK COVER]

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND IS CONTAINED IN THESE DOCUMENTS

ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS

These reports  contain more  information  about the fund's  investments  and the
market  conditions and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the
fund's performance during the most recent fiscal period.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

The SAI contains a more detailed,  legal  description of the fund's  operations,
investment  restrictions,  policies and practices.  The SAI is  incorporated  by
reference  into this  Prospectus.  This means  that it is  legally  part of this
Prospectus, even if you don't request a copy.

You  also  can get  information  about  the fund  (including  the SAI)  from the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

* In person                SEC Public Reference Room
                           Washington, D.C.
                           Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for location and hours.

* On the Internet          www.sec.gov

* By mail                  SEC Public Reference Section
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-6009
                           (The SEC will charge a fee for copying the
                           documents.)

AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS
P.O. Box 419385
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6385

INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

WWW.AMERICANCENTURY.COM

FAX: 816-340-4655

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF
1-800-345-1833 or 816-444-3038

BUSINESS, NOT-FOR-PROFIT, EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANS:
1-800-345-3533

Investment Company Act File No. 811-5188

                         [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                    American
                                     Century

9905
SH-PRS-15704
<PAGE>
                                AMERICAN CENTURY

                                   Prospectus

                                VP Advantage Fund

                                                 [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                                                        American
                                                                         Century


                     MAY 1, 1999

     THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE
  COMMISSION HAS NOT APPROVED OR
 DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES OR
DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS
    ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANYONE
      WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE IS
             COMMITTING A CRIME.

                  Distributed by
         Funds Distributor, Inc.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

An Overview of the Fund ....................................................   3

Information about the Fund .................................................   4

Management .................................................................   7

Share Price, Distributions and Taxes .......................................  10

Financial Highlights .......................................................  11


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]

Throughout  this  book  you'll  find  definitions  of key  investment  terms and
phrases.  When you see a word printed in GREEN ITALICS,  look for its definition
in the left margin.

+ This symbol highlights special  information and helpful tips.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]


                                                  American Century Investments


[blank page]

2       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


AN OVERVIEW OF THE FUND

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT GOAL?

The fund  seeks  long-term  capital  growth  and  current  income  by  investing
approximately 40% of the fund's assets in equity securities, 40% in fixed-income
securities and the remaining 20% in cash and cash equivalents.

WHAT ARE THE FUND'S PRIMARY INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND PRINCIPAL RISKS?

In selecting  stocks for the equity  portion of VP Advantage,  the fund managers
look for common stocks of growing companies. The basis of the equity strategy is
that,  over the long term,  stocks of companies with earnings and revenue growth
have a greater  than  average  chance to increase in value over time.  The fixed
income and cash portions of the fund are invested in fixed-income  securities of
the United  States  government  and its agencies and  instrumentalities.  A more
detailed description of the fund's investment strategies begins on page 4.

The fund's principal risks include

*  Market  Risk--The  value of a fund's  shares will go up and down based on the
   performance  of the  companies  whose  securities  it owns and other  factors
   affecting the securities market generally.

*  Interest  Rate  Risk--When  interest  rates  change,  the value of the fund's
   fixed-income securities will be affected.

*  Principal  Loss--As with all mutual funds, if you sell your shares when their
   value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

WHO MAY WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND?

The fund may be a good investment if you are

*  seeking a fund that combines the potential for long-term capital growth with
   income

*  seeking the convenience of a fund that invests in both equity and
   fixed-income securities

*  comfortable with the risks associated with the fund's investment strategy

WHO MAY NOT WANT TO INVEST IN THE FUND?

The fund may not be a good investment if you are

*  investing for a short period of time

*  uncomfortable with volatility in the value of your investment


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

+ An  investment  in the fund is not a bank  deposit,  and it is not  insured or
  guaranteed by the Federal Deposit  Insurance  Corporation  (FDIC) or any other
  government agency.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]


www.americancentury.com                     American Century Investments       3


INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND

VP ADVANTAGE FUND

WHAT IS THE FUND'S INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

The fund  seeks  long-term  capital  growth  and  current  income  by  investing
approximately 40% of the fund's assets in equity securities, 40% in fixed-income
securities and the remaining 20% in cash and cash equivalents.

HOW DOES THE FUND PURSUE ITS INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE?

For the equity  portion of the fund,  the fund managers use a growth  investment
strategy  developed by American  Century to invest in stocks of  companies  that
they believe will increase in value over time. This strategy looks for companies
with  earnings  and  revenues  that  are not  only  growing,  but  growing  at a
successively  faster,  or  accelerating,  pace.  This  strategy  is based on the
premise  that,  over the long term,  the stocks of companies  with  accelerating
earnings and revenues have a greater-than-average chance to increase in value.

The managers use a bottom-up approach to select stocks to buy for the fund. That
means they first look for strong,  growing  companies to invest in,  rather than
simply  buying any  company in a growing  industry  or  sector.  Using  American
Century's extensive computer database,  the managers track financial information
for  thousands of companies to identify  trends in the  companies'  earnings and
revenues. This information is used to help the fund managers select or decide to
continue to hold the stocks of  companies  they  believe will be able to sustain
accelerating growth, and to sell stocks of companies whose growth begins to slow
down.

Although  most of the  equity  portion  of the  fund  will be  invested  in U.S.
companies,  there is no limit on the  amount  of assets  the fund can  invest in
foreign  companies.  Most of the fund's  foreign  investments  are in  companies
located  and doing  business  in  developed  countries.  Investments  in foreign
securities present some unique risks that are more fully described in the fund's
Statement of Additional Information.

The  fixed  income  and cash  portions  of the  fund  will be  invested  only in
obligations  of the U.S.  government,  its agencies and  instrumentalities.  The
fixed-income  securities  in which  the  fund  may  invest  include  (1)  direct
obligations of the United States,  such as Treasury bonds,  notes and bonds, and
(2) obligations  (including  mortgage-backed and other asset-backed  securities)
issued or guaranteed by agencies and  instrumentalities  of the U.S.  government
that are established under an act of Congress.  Under normal market  conditions,
the  fixed-income  portion is  expected to have a WEIGHTED  AVERAGE  MATURITY of
three to 10 years,  and the cash portion is expected to have a weighted  average
maturity of six months or less.  Securities will be chosen based on their income
level and price stability.

The fund  managers do not attempt to time the  market.  Instead,  they intend to
keep the fund essentially fully invested in stocks regardless of the movement of
stock prices generally.  When the managers believe that it is prudent,  the fund
may  invest  a  portion  of  its  assets  in  convertible  securities,   foreign
securities,  short-term securities,  NON-LEVERAGED stock index futures contracts
and  other  similar  securities.  Stock  index  futures  contracts,  a  type  of
derivative  security,  can help the  fund's  cash  assets  remain  liquid  while
performing more like stocks. The fund has a policy governing stock index futures
and  similar  derivative  securities  to help  manage the risk of these types of
investments.  For example,  the managers  cannot  leverage the fund's  assets by
investing in a derivative  security.  A complete  description of the derivatives
policy is included in the Statement of Additional Information.

In the event of  exceptional  market or economic  conditions,  or if the fund is
unable to find securities meeting its criteria of selection,  the fund may, as a
temporary  defensive measure,  invest all or a substantial portion of its assets
in cash or  cash  equivalents.  To the  extent  the  fund  assumes  a  defensive
position, it will not be pursuing its objective of capital growth.


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]

+ Accelerating  growth is shown,  for  example,  by growth  that is faster  this
  quarter than last or faster this year than the year before.

WEIGHTED  AVERAGE  MATURITY is a tool that the advisor uses to  approximate  the
remaining  maturity of a fund's investment  portfolio.  Generally,  the longer a
fund's  weighted  average  maturity,  the more  sensitive  it is to  changes  in
interest rates.

NON-LEVERAGED  means that the fund may not invest in futures  contracts where it
would be possible to lose more than the fund invested.

+ Fixed-income  securities are rated by nationally recognized securities ratings
  (SROs), such as Moody's and Standard & Poor's. Each SRO has its own system for
  classifying securities, but each tries to indicate a company's ability to make
  timely  payments of interest and  principal.  A detailed  description of SROs,
  their ratings  system and what we do if a security  isn't rated is included in
  the Statement of Additional Information.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]


4       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


Additional  information  about VP  Advantage's  investments  is available in its
annual and  semiannual  reports.  In these reports you will find a discussion of
the market conditions and investment strategies that significantly  affected the
fund's  performance  during the most  recent  fiscal  period.  You may get these
reports at no cost by calling the insurance company from which you purchased the
fund or by calling us.

WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY RISKS OF INVESTING IN THE FUND?

The value of VP Advantage's shares depends on the value of the stocks, bonds and
other  securities  it owns.  The value of the  individual  equity  securities VP
Advantage owns will go up and down depending on the performance of the companies
that  issued  them,  general  market  and  economic  conditions,   and  investor
confidence.  The value of the fund's  fixed-income  securities  will be affected
primarily by rising or falling  interest rates and the continued  ability of the
issuers of these  securities  to make payments of interest and principal as they
become due.

Generally,  when  interest  rates  rise,  the value of the  fund's  fixed-income
securities will decline.  The opposite is true when interest rates decline.  The
interest rate risk for VP Advantage is higher than for funds that have a shorter
weighted average maturity, such as money market and short-term bond funds.

As with all funds,  at any given time the value of your  shares of VP  Advantage
may be worth more or less than the price you paid.  If you sell your shares when
the value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

The fund  managers may buy a large amount of a company's  stock  quickly for the
equity  portion  of the fund,  and  often  will  dispose  of it  quickly  if the
company's earnings or revenues decline. While the managers believe this strategy
provides  substantial  appreciation  potential  over the long term, in the short
term it can create a significant amount of share price volatility.

Market  performance  tends to be cyclical,  and in the various  cycles,  certain
investment  styles may fall in and out of favor.  If the market is not  favoring
the fund's style,  the fund's gains may not be as big as, or their losses may be
bigger than, other equity funds using different investment styles.

The fund is offered only to insurance  companies for the purpose of offering the
fund as an investment  option under variable  annuity or variable life insurance
contracts.  Although  the fund does not  foresee any  disadvantages  to contract
owners  due to the fact that it offers its  shares as an  investment  medium for
both  variable  annuity and variable  life  products,  the  interests of various
contract  owners  participating  in the fund might, at some time, be in conflict
due to  future  differences  in tax  treatment  of  variable  products  or other
considerations.  Consequently, the fund's Board of Directors will monitor events
in order to identify any  material  irreconcilable  conflicts  that may possibly
arise and to determine what action,  if any, should be taken in response to such
conflicts.  If a conflict were to occur, an insurance  company  separate account
might be required to withdraw its  investments in the fund and the fund might be
forced to sell securities at disadvantageous prices to fund such withdrawal.


www.americancentury.com                    American Century Investments       5


FUND PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart shows the performance of the fund's shares for each full
calendar year in the life of the fund. It indicates the volatility of the fund's
historical returns from year to year.

[BAR CHART DATA]

1998       1997       1996       1995       1994       1993       1992
17.19%     12.83%     9.25%      16.75%     1.03%      6.84%      -3.76%

Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns

The  highest  and lowest  returns of the  fund's  shares for a calendar  quarter
during the period  reflected by the  preceding  bar chart are provided  below to
indicate the fund's historical  short-term  volatility.  Shareholders  should be
aware,  however,  that the  fund is  intended  for  investors  with a  long-term
investment horizon and is not managed for short-term results.

[BAR CHART DATA]

                      VP Advantage
4Q 1998                9.98%
1Q 1992               -5.07%

Average Annual Returns

The following  table shows the average  annual  returns of the fund's shares for
the periods  indicated during the life of the fund. The benchmarks are unmanaged
indices  that  have  no  operating  costs  and are  included  in the  table  for
performance comparison.

<TABLE>
For the calendar year ended December 31, 1998     1 year     5 years    Life of fund(1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                               <C>        <C>         <C>  
VP Advantage                                      17.19%     11.25%      9.75%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lehman Intermediate-Government Bond Index          8.49%      6.45%      7.57%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S&P 500 Index                                     28.68%     24.05%      9.74%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
90-Day Treasury Bill Index                         4.88%      5.02%      4.54%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blended Index(2)                                  15.80%     13.21%     11.82%
</TABLE>

(1) The inception date for VP Advantage is August 1, 1991.

(2) The  Blended  Index  is a  combination  of three  widely  known  indices  in
    proportion to the approximate asset mix of the fund. Accordingly, 40% of the
    Blended    Index    consists    of   the    performance    of   the   Lehman
    Intermediate-Government  Bond  Index,  another  40%  of  the  Blended  Index
    consists of the S&P 500 Index, and the remaining 20% consists of the
    90-Day Treasury Bill Index.


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]

+ The performance  information on this page is designed to help you see how fund
  returns can vary. Keep in mind that past  performance does not predict how the
  fund will perform in the future.

+ For current performance information, please call us at 1-800-345-3533 or visit
  American Century's Web site at www.americancentury.com.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]


6       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


MANAGEMENT

WHO MANAGES THE FUND?

The Board of Directors,  investment  advisor and fund  management  team play key
roles in the management of the fund.

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors  oversees the  management  of the fund and meets at least
quarterly  to  review  reports  about  fund  operations.  Although  the Board of
Directors does not manage the fund, it has hired an investment advisor to do so.
More than  two-thirds of the directors are  independent  of the fund's  advisor;
that is, they are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor.

THE INVESTMENT ADVISOR

The fund's investment  advisor is American Century Investment  Management,  Inc.
The advisor has been  managing  mutual  funds  since 1958.  American  Century is
headquartered at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.

The advisor is responsible for managing the investment portfolio of the fund and
directing the purchase and sale of its investment  securities.  The advisor also
arranges for transfer agency,  custody and all other services  necessary for the
fund to operate.

For the services it provided to the fund during the most recent fiscal year, the
advisor received a unified management fee of 1.00% the average net assets of the
fund. The amount of the management fee is calculated daily and paid monthly.

Out of that fee, the advisor paid all  expenses of managing  and  operating  the
fund  except  brokerage  expenses,  taxes,  interest,  fees and  expenses of the
independent directors (including legal counsel fees) and extraordinary expenses.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments       7


THE FUND MANAGEMENT TEAM

The advisor uses teams of portfolio  managers,  assistant portfolio managers and
analysts to manage the fund. Teams meet regularly to review  portfolio  holdings
and to discuss purchase and sale activity.  Team members buy and sell securities
for a fund as they  see fit,  guided  by the  fund's  investment  objective  and
strategy.

The portfolio managers on the investment team are identified below:

JAMES E. STOWERS III

Mr. Stowers,  Chief  Executive  Officer and Portfolio  Manager,  joined American
Century as a  Portfolio  Manager in 1981.  He has been a member of the team that
manages the equity portion of VP Advantage since the fund's inception.  He has a
bachelor's degree in finance from Arizona State University.

JEFFREY L. HOUSTON

Mr. Houston, Vice President and Portfolio Manager, has been a member of the team
that manages the fixed-income portion of VP Advantage since June 1995. He joined
American  Century as an Investment  Analyst in November 1990 and was promoted to
Portfolio  Manager in 1994.  He has a bachelor  of arts from the  University  of
Delaware  and an MPA  from  Syracuse  University.  He is a  Chartered  Financial
Analyst.

JOHN R. SYKORA

Mr. Sykora, Vice President and Portfolio Manager,  has been a member of the team
that manages the equity  portion of VP Advantage  since November 1997. He joined
American Century in May 1994 as an Investment  Analyst.  Before joining American
Century,  he served as a Financial  Analyst for Business Men's Assurance Company
of America,  Kansas  City,  Missouri  from  August 1993 to April 1994.  He has a
bachelor's  degree in  accounting  finance and an MBA in finance  from  Michigan
State University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

BRUCE A. WIMBERLY

Mr.  Wimberly,  Vice President and Portfolio  Manager,  has been a member of the
team that manages the equity portion of VP Advantage  since July 1996. He joined
American  Century in September  1994 as an Investment  Analyst.  Before  joining
American   Century,   he  attended   Kellogg   Graduate  School  of  Management,
Northwestern University,  from August 1992 to August 1994, where he obtained his
MBA. He also has a bachelor of arts from Middlebury College.

JOHN F. WALSH

Mr.  Walsh,  Portfolio  Manager,  has been a member of the team that manages the
fixed-income  portion of VP Advantage  since January  1999.  He joined  American
Century in February 1996 as an  Investment  Analyst.  Prior to joining  American
Century,  he  served  as an  Assistant  Vice  President  and  Analyst  at  First
Interstate Bank, Los Angeles, California, from July 1993 to January 1996. He has
a bachelor's degree in marketing from Loyola Marymount  University and an MBA in
finance from Creighton University.


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]

+ CODE OF ETHICS

American  Century has a Code of Ethics  designed to ensure that the interests of
fund  shareholders  come before the interests of the people who manage the fund.
Among other  provisions,  the Code of Ethics  prohibits  portfolio  managers and
other investment  personnel from buying securities in an initial public offering
or from  profiting  from the  purchase and sale of the same  security  within 60
calendar days. In addition,  the Code of Ethics requires  portfolio managers and
other  employees  with  access  to  information  about the  purchase  or sale of
securities by the funds to obtain approval before executing  permitted  personal
trades.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUT]


8       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

Fundamental  investment  policies  contained  in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information and the investment objectives of the fund may not be changed without
a shareholder  vote.  The Board of Directors  may change any other  policies and
investment strategies.

YEAR 2000 ISSUES

Many of the world's  computer  systems  currently  cannot properly  recognize or
process date-sensitive information relating to the Year 2000 and beyond. Because
this may impact the computer systems of various American  Century-affiliated and
external service providers for the fund,  American Century formally  initiated a
Year 2000  readiness  project in July 1997.  It  involves a team of  information
technology  professionals  assisted  by  outside  consultants  and  guided  by a
senior-level steering committee.  The team's goal is to assess the impact of the
Year 2000 on  American  Century's  systems,  renovate  or  replace  noncompliant
critical systems and test those systems. In addition,  the team has been working
to gather  information  about the Year 2000  efforts of the fund's  other  major
service providers.

Although  American Century believes its critical systems will function  properly
in the Year 2000, this is not guaranteed.  If the efforts of American Century or
its  external  service  providers  are  not  successful,  the  fund's  business,
particularly the provision of shareholder services, may be hampered.

In  addition,  the  issuers  of  securities  the fund owns  could have Year 2000
computer  problems.  These problems could  negatively  affect the value of their
securities, which, in turn, could impact the fund's performance. The advisor has
established a process to gather publicly  available  information  about the Year
2000  readiness  of these  issuers.  However,  this  process may not uncover all
relevant  information,  and the  information  gathered  may not be complete  and
accurate.  Moreover, an issuer's Year 2000 readiness is only one of many factors
the fund  managers  may consider  when making  investment  decisions,  and other
factors may receive greater weight.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments        9


SHARE PRICE, DISTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

For  instructions  on how to purchase and redeem shares,  read the prospectus of
your  insurance  company  separate  account.  Shares  of the  fund  are sold and
redeemed by the fund at their net asset value next  determined  after receipt by
the  insurance  company  separate  account of the request in good order from the
variable annuity or variable life insurance  contract owner.  There are no sales
commissions  or redemption  charges.  However,  certain sales or deferred  sales
charges and other  charges may apply to the variable  annuity or life  insurance
contracts. Those charges are disclosed in the separate account prospectus.

ABUSIVE TRADING PRACTICES

We do not permit market-timing or other abusive trading practices in our funds.

Excessive,  short-term  (market-timing)  or other abusive trading  practices may
disrupt portfolio management  strategies and harm fund performance.  To minimize
harm to the fund and its  shareholders,  we  reserve  the  right to  reject  any
purchase order (including  exchanges) from any investor we believe has a history
of  abusive  trading  or  whose  trading,  in our  judgment,  has been or may be
disruptive to a fund. In making this judgment,  we may consider  trading done in
multiple  accounts under common ownership or control.  We also reserve the right
to delay delivery of redemption proceeds up to seven days.

SHARE PRICE

American  Century  determines  the NET ASSET  VALUE  (NAV) of the fund as of the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange  (usually 4 p.m. Eastern
time) on each day the  Exchange is open.  On days when the  Exchange is not open
(including certain U.S.  holidays),  we do not calculate the NAV. The NAV of the
fund share is the current  value of the fund's  assets,  minus any  liabilities,
divided by the number of fund shares outstanding.

If current prices of securities  owned by a fund are not readily  available from
an independent  pricing  service,  the advisor may determine their fair value in
accordance with procedures adopted by the fund's Board of Directors.  Trading of
securities  in foreign  markets may not take place on every day the  Exchange is
open.  Also,  trading in some  foreign  markets  may take place on  weekends  or
holidays  when the  fund's  NAV is not  calculated.  So, the value of the fund's
portfolio may be affected on days when you can't purchase or redeem its shares.

We will price your purchase,  exchange or redemption at the NAV next  determined
after we receive your transaction request in good order.

DISTRIBUTIONS

Federal tax laws require the fund to make  distributions  to its shareholders in
order  to  qualify  as a  "regulated  investment  company."  Qualification  as a
regulated investment company means that the fund will not be subject to state or
federal income tax on amounts distributed.  The distributions  generally consist
of  dividends  and  interest  received  by the fund,  as well as  CAPITAL  GAINS
realized on the sale of  investment  securities.  VP  Advantage  generally  pays
distributions  from  net  income  and  capital  gains,  if  any,  once a year in
December.  The fund may make more frequent  distributions if necessary to comply
with Internal Revenue Code provisions.

You will participate in fund distributions,  when they are declared, starting on
the day after your purchase is effective. For example, if you purchase shares on
a day that a distribution is declared,  you will not receive that  distribution.
If you redeem shares, you will receive any distribution  declared on the day you
redeem.  If you redeem all shares,  we will include any  distributions  received
with your redemption proceeds.  All distributions from the fund will be invested
in additional shares.

TAXES

Consult  the  prospectus  of  your  insurance  company  separate  account  for a
discussion of the tax status of your variable contract.


[LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]

The NET ASSET VALUE of the fund is the price of its shares.

CAPITAL GAINS are increases in the values of capital assets, such as stock, from
the time the assets are  purchased.  Tax  becomes  due on capital  gains once an
asset is sold.

[END LEFT MARGIN CALLOUTS]


10      American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

The table on the next page  itemizes  what  contributed  to the changes in share
price  during  the  period.  It also shows the  changes in share  price for this
period in comparison to changes over the last five fiscal years.

On a per-share basis, the table includes as appropriate

*  share price at the beginning of the period

*  investment income and capital gains or losses

*  distributions of income and capital gains paid to shareholders

*  share price at the end of the period

The table also includes some key statistics for the period as appropriate

*  Total Return--the overall percentage of return of the fund, assuming the
   reinvestment of all distributions

*  Expense Ratio--operating expenses as a percentage of average net assets

*  Net Income Ratio--net investment income as a percentage of average net asset

*  Portfolio Turnover--the percentage of the fund's buying and selling activity

The Financial Highlights have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors.  Their  Independent  Auditors' Report is included in the fund's annual
report for the year ended December 31, 1998,  which is incorporated by reference
into the Statement of Additional Information and is available upon request.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments        11


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
VP ADVANTAGE

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended December 31

PER-SHARE DATA

                                                               1998          1997          1996          1995          1994

<S>                                                      <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>       
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Year ....................  $     6.60    $     6.29    $     6.19    $     5.48    $     5.57

Income From Investment Operations

Net Investment Income .................................        0.19          0.19          0.20          0.20          0.15

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
on Investment Transactions ............................        0.86          0.56          0.34          0.71         (0.09)

Total From Investment Operations ......................        1.05          0.75          0.54          0.91          0.06

Distributions

From Net Investment Income ............................       (0.15)        (0.10)        (0.15)        (0.20)        (0.15)

From Net Realized Gains on Investment Transactions ....       (0.56)        (0.34)        (0.29)         --            --

Total Distributions ...................................       (0.71)        (0.44)        (0.44)        (0.20)        (0.15)

Net Asset Value, End of Year ..........................  $     6.94    $     6.60    $     6.29    $     6.19    $     5.48

Total Return(1) .......................................       17.19%        12.83%         9.25%        16.75%         1.03%

RATIOS/SUPPLEMENTAL DATA

                                                               1998          1997          1996          1995          1994

Ratio of Operating Expenses to Average Net Assets .....        1.00%         0.99%         0.98%         0.95%         1.00%

Ratio of Net Investment Income to Average Net Assets ..        2.74%         2.85%         3.10%         3.32%         2.65%

Portfolio Turnover Rate ...............................          82%           69%           80%           99%           57%

Net Assets, End of Year (in thousands) ................  $   26,308    $   25,244    $   25,230    $   24,037    $   22,413
</TABLE>

(1)  Total  return   assumes   reinvestment   of  dividends  and  capital  gains
     distributions, if any.


12      American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


NOTES


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments        13


[BACK COVER]

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUND IS CONTAINED IN THESE DOCUMENTS

ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS

These reports  contain more  information  about the fund's  investments  and the
market  conditions and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the
fund's performance during the most recent fiscal period.

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION (SAI)

The SAI contains a more detailed,  legal  description of the fund's  operations,
investment  restrictions,  policies and practices.  The SAI is  incorporated  by
reference  into this  Prospectus.  This means  that it is  legally  part of this
Prospectus, even if you don't request a copy.

You may obtain a copy of the SAI or annual and  semiannual  reports at no charge
by contacting us at the telephone number or address below.

You  also  can get  information  about  the fund  (including  the SAI)  from the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

* In person                SEC Public Reference Room
                           Washington, D.C.
                           Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for location and hours.

* On the Internet          www.sec.gov

* By mail                  SEC Public Reference Section
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-6009
                           (The SEC will charge a fee for copying the
                           documents.)

AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS
P.O. Box 419385
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6385

INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

WWW.AMERICANCENTURY.COM

FAX: 816-340-4655

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF
1-800-345-1833 or 816-444-3038

BUSINESS, NOT-FOR-PROFIT, EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT PLANS:
1-800-345-3533

Investment Company Act File No. 811-5188

                         [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                    American
                                     Century

9905
SH-PRS-15703
<PAGE>
(front cover)
                                AMERICAN CENTURY

                                   Prospectus

                                                        VP Income & Growth Fund

                                                 [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                                                        American
                                                                         Century

(left margin)
                                                                     MAY 1, 1999

  The Securities and Exchange Commission has not approved or disapproved these
securities or determined if this Prospectus is accurate or complete. Anyone who
                   tells you otherwise is committing a crime.

                                         Distributed by  Funds Distributor, Inc.



Table of Contents

An Overview of the Fund ....................................................   3
Information about the Fund .................................................   4
Management .................................................................   7
Share Price, Distributions and Taxes .......................................   9
Financial Highlights .......................................................  11

(left margin)

Throughout  this  book  you'll  find  definitions  of key  investment  terms and
phrases.  When you see a word printed in green italics,  look for its definition
in the left margin.

(graphic  of hand with index  finger  pointing)This  symbol  highlights  special
information and helpful tips.

                                                   American Century Investments


(blank page)


2       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


An Overview of the Fund

What is the fund's investment goal?

The fund seeks  dividend  growth,  current  income and capital  appreciation  by
investing in common stocks.

What are the fund's primary investment strategies and principal risks?

In selecting  stocks for VP Income & Growth,  the fund managers select primarily
from  the  largest  1500  publicly  traded  U.S.  companies.  The  managers  use
quantitative,  computer-  driven models to construct the portfolios of stocks. A
more detailed description of the fund's investment strategies begins on page 4.

The fund's principal risks include

o Market  Risk--The  value of a fund's  shares  will go up and down based on the
  performance  of the  companies  whose  securities  it owns and  other  factors
  affecting the securities market generally.

o Price Volatility--The  value of the fund's shares may fluctuate  significantly
  in the short term.

o Principal  Loss--As with all mutual funds,  if you sell your shares when their
  value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

Who may want to invest in the fund?

The fund may be a good investment if you are

o seeking long-term capital growth from your investment

o comfortable with the fund's short-term price volatility

o comfortable with the risks associated with the fund's investment strategy

Who may not want to invest in the fund?

The fund may not be a good investment if you are

o investing for a short period of time

o uncomfortable with volatility in the value of your investment

(left Margin)

(graphic of hand with index finger  pointing)An  investment in the fund is not a
bank  deposit,  and it is not  insured  or  guaranteed  by the  Federal  Deposit
Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments        3


Information about the Fund

VP Income & Growth Fund

What is the fund's investment objective?

The fund seeks  dividend  growth,  current  income and capital  appreciation  by
investing in common stocks.

How does the fund pursue its investment objective?

The fund's investment strategy utilizes quantitative  management techniques in a
two-step process that draws heavily on computer  technology.  In the first step,
the fund managers  rank stocks,  primarily  the 1,500  largest  publicly  traded
companies in the United States  (measured by the value of their stock) from most
attractive to least  attractive.  This is  determined by using a computer  model
that  combines  measures of a stock's  value,  as well as measures of its growth
potential.  To measure  value,  the  managers  use ratios of stock price to book
value and stock  price to cash  flow,  among  others.  To  measure  growth,  the
managers  use,  among  others,  the rate of growth of a company's  earnings  and
changes in its earnings estimates.

In the second step, the managers use a technique called portfolio  optimization.
In portfolio  optimization,  the managers use a computer to build a portfolio of
stocks from the ranking  described  earlier  that they  believe will provide the
optimal balance between risk and expected  return.  The goal is to create a fund
that  provides  better  returns than the S&P 500 without  taking on  significant
additional  risk.  The managers also attempt to create a dividend  yield for the
fund that will be greater than that of the S&P 500.

The fund  managers do not attempt to time the  market.  Instead,  they intend to
keep the fund essentially fully invested in stocks regardless of the movement of
stock prices generally.  When the managers believe that it is prudent,  the fund
may  invest  a  portion  of  its  assets  in  convertible  securities,   foreign
securities,   short-term  instruments  and  non-leveraged  stock  index  futures
contracts and other similar securities. Stock index futures contracts, a type of
derivative  security,  can help the  fund's  cash  assets  remain  liquid  while
performing more like stocks. The fund has a policy governing stock index futures
and  similar  derivative  securities  to help  manage the risk of these types of
investments.  For example,  the managers  cannot  leverage the fund's  assets by
investing in a derivative  security.  A complete  description of the derivatives
policy is included in the Statement of Additional Information.

Additional  information  about VP Income & Growth's  investments is available in
its annual and semiannual  reports.  In these reports you will find a discussion
of the market conditions and investment  strategies that significantly  affected
the fund's  performance  during the most recent fiscal period. You may get these
reports at no cost by calling the insurance company from which you purchased the
fund or by calling us.

(left margin)

Non-leveraged  means that the fund may not invest in futures  contracts where it
would be possible to lose more than the fund invested.


4        American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


What are the primary risks of investing in the fund?

The value of VP Income & Growth's  shares  depends on the value of the stock and
other  securities it owns.  The value of the  individual  securities VP Income &
Growth owns will go up and down  depending on the  performance  of the companies
that  issued  them,  general  market  and  economic  conditions,   and  investor
confidence.

As with all  funds,  at any given  time the value of your  shares of VP Income &
Growth  may be worth  more or less than the  price  you  paid.  If you sell your
shares when the value is less than the price you paid, you will lose money.

The fund is offered only to insurance  companies for the purpose of offering the
fund as an investment  option under variable  annuity or variable life insurance
contracts.  Although  the fund does not  foresee any  disadvantages  to contract
owners  due to the fact that it offers its  shares as an  investment  medium for
both  variable  annuity and variable  life  products,  the  interests of various
contract  owners  participating  in the fund might, at some time, be in conflict
due to  future  differences  in tax  treatment  of  variable  products  or other
considerations.  Consequently, the fund's Board of Directors will monitor events
in order to identify any  material  irreconcilable  conflicts  that may possibly
arise and to determine what action,  if any, should be taken in response to such
conflicts.  If a conflict were to occur, an insurance  company  separate account
might be required to withdraw its  investments in the fund and the fund might be
forced to sell securities at disadvantageous prices to redeem such investments.


www.americancentury.com                    American Century Investments       5


Fund Performance History

Annual Total Returns

The following bar chart shows the performance of the fund's shares for each full
calendar year in the life of the fund. It indicates the volatility of the fund's
historical returns from year to year.

[bar chart - data below]
1998                 26.87%


Highest and Lowest Quarterly Returns

The  highest  and lowest  returns of the  fund's  shares for a calendar  quarter
during the period  reflected by the  preceding  bar chart are provided  below to
indicate the fund's historical  short-term  volatility.  Shareholders  should be
aware,  however,  that the  fund is  intended  for  investors  with a  long-term
investment horizon and is not managed for short-term results.

[bar chart - data below]
Highest        21.69%       1Q1998
Lowest        -11.25%       3Q1998

Average Annual Returns

The following  table shows the average  annual  returns of the fund's shares for
the periods indicated during the life of the fund. The benchmark is an unmanaged
index that has no operating  costs and is included in the table for  performance
comparison.

For the calendar year ended December 31, 1998       1 year       Life of fund(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Income & Growth                                  26.87%           30.68%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S & P 500                                           28.68%           32.30%

(1) The inception date for VP Income & Growth is October 30, 1997.

(left margin)

(graphic of hand with index finger pointing)
The  performance  information  on this page is designed to help you see how fund
returns can vary.  Keep in mind that past  performance  does not predict how the
fund will perform in the future.

For current performance  information,  please call us at 1-800-345-3533 or visit
American Century's Web site at www.americancentury.com.


6        American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


Management

Who manages the fund?

The Board of Directors,  investment  advisor and fund  management  team play key
roles in the management of the fund.

The Board of Directors

The Board of Directors  oversees the  management  of the fund and meets at least
quarterly  to  review  reports  about  fund  operations.  Although  the Board of
Directors does not manage the fund, it has hired an investment advisor to do so.
More than  two-thirds of the directors are  independent  of the fund's  advisor;
that is, they are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor.

The Investment Advisor

The fund's investment  advisor is American Century Investment  Management,  Inc.
The advisor has been  managing  mutual  funds  since 1958.  American  Century is
headquartered at 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.

The advisor is responsible for managing the investment portfolio of the fund and
directing the purchase and sale of its investment  securities.  The advisor also
arranges for transfer agency,  custody and all other services  necessary for the
fund to operate.

For the services it provided to the fund during the most recent fiscal year, the
advisor received a unified management fee of 0.70% the average net assets of the
fund. The amount of the management fee is calculated daily and paid monthly.

Out of that fee, the advisor paid all  expenses of managing  and  operating  the
fund  except  brokerage  expenses,  taxes,  interest,  fees and  expenses of the
independent directors (including legal counsel fees) and extraordinary expenses.

The Fund Management Team

The advisor uses teams of portfolio  managers,  assistant portfolio managers and
analysts to manage the fund. Teams meet regularly to review  portfolio  holdings
and to discuss purchase and sale activity.  Team members buy and sell securities
for a fund as they  see fit,  guided  by the  fund's  investment  objective  and
strategy.

The  portfolio  manager  members  of the  investment  team  for  the  funds  are
identified below:

John Schniedwind

Mr. Schniedwind,  Senior Vice President and Group  Leader--Quantitative  Equity,
has been a member of the team since the  fund's  inception.  He joined  American
Century in 1982 and also supervises other portfolio  management  teams. He has a
bachelor of science from Purdue University and an MBA in finance from University
of California. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Kurt Borgwardt

Mr.  Borgwardt,  Vice President,  Portfolio Manager and Director of Quantitative
Equity  Research,   joined  American  Century  in  1990,  and  has  managed  the
quantitative equity research effort since then. He has been a member of the team
since the fund's inception.  He has a bachelor of arts from Stanford  University
and an MBA with a specialization  in finance from the University of Chicago.  He
is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

(left margin)

(graphic of hand with index finger pointing)

Code of Ethics
American  Century has a Code of Ethics  designed to ensure that the interests of
fund  shareholders come before the interests of the people who manage the funds.
Among other  provisions,  the Code of Ethics  prohibits  portfolio  managers and
other investment  personnel from buying securities in an initial public offering
or from  profiting  from the  purchase and sale of the same  security  within 60
calendar days. In addition,  the Code of Ethics requires  portfolio managers and
other  employees  with  access  to  information  about the  purchase  or sale of
securities by the funds to obtain approval before executing  permitted  personal
trades.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments        7


Fund Performance

VP Income & Growth  has the same  management  team and  investment  policies  as
another fund in the American  Century family of funds.  The fees and expenses of
the  funds  are  expected  to  be  similar,   and  they  will  be  managed  with
substantially  the same  investment  objective and  strategies.  Notwithstanding
these general  similarities,  this fund and the retail fund are separate  mutual
funds that will have different investment performance. Differences in cash flows
into the two funds, the size of their portfolios,  specific  investments held by
the two funds, as well as the additional expenses of the insurance product, will
cause performance to differ.

Please  consult  the  separate  account  prospectus  for a  description  of  the
insurance product through which the fund is offered and the associated fees.

Fundamental Investment Policies

Fundamental  investment  policies  contained  in  the  Statement  of  Additional
Information and the investment objectives of the fund may not be changed without
a shareholder  vote.  The Board of Directors  may change any other  policies and
investment strategies.

Year 2000 Issues

Many of the world's  computer  systems  currently  cannot properly  recognize or
process date-sensitive information relating to the Year 2000 and beyond. Because
this may impact the computer systems of various American  Century-affiliated and
external service providers for the fund,  American Century formally  initiated a
Year 2000  readiness  project in July 1997.  It  involves a team of  information
technology  professionals  assisted  by  outside  consultants  and  guided  by a
senior-level steering committee.  The team's goal is to assess the impact of the
Year 2000 on  American  Century's  systems,  renovate  or  replace  noncompliant
critical systems and test those systems. In addition,  the team has been working
to gather  information  about the Year 2000  efforts of the fund's  other  major
service providers.

Although  American Century believes its critical systems will function  properly
in the Year 2000, this is not guaranteed.  If the efforts of American Century or
its  external  service  providers  are  not  successful,  the  fund's  business,
particularly the provision of shareholder services, may be hampered.

In  addition,  the  issuers  of  securities  the fund owns  could have Year 2000
computer  problems.  These problems could  negatively  affect the value of their
securities, which, in turn, could impact the fund's performance. The advisor has
established a process to gather publicly  available  information  about the Year
2000  readiness  of these  issuers.  However,  this  process may not uncover all
relevant  information,  and the  information  gathered  may not be complete  and
accurate.  Moreover, an issuer's Year 2000 readiness is only one of many factors
the fund  managers  may consider  when making  investment  decisions,  and other
factors may receive greater weight.


 8       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


Share Price, Distributions and Taxes

Purchase and Redemption of Shares

For  instructions  on how to purchase and redeem shares,  read the prospectus of
your  insurance  company  separate  account.  Shares  of the  fund  are sold and
redeemed by the fund at their net asset value next  determined  after receipt by
the  insurance  company  separate  account of the request in good order from the
variable annuity or variable life insurance  contract owner.  There are no sales
commissions  or redemption  charges.  However,  certain sales or deferred  sales
charges and other  charges may apply to the variable  annuity or life  insurance
contracts. Those charges are disclosed in the separate account prospectus.

Abusive Trading Practices

We do not permit market-timing or other abusive trading practices in our funds.

Excessive,  short-term  (market-timing)  or other abusive trading  practices may
disrupt portfolio management  strategies and harm fund performance.  To minimize
harm to the fund and its  shareholders,  we  reserve  the  right to  reject  any
purchase order (including  exchanges) from any investor we believe has a history
of  abusive  trading  or  whose  trading,  in our  judgment,  has been or may be
disruptive to a fund. In making this judgment,  we may consider  trading done in
multiple  accounts under common ownership or control.  We also reserve the right
to delay delivery of redemption proceeds up to seven days.

Share Price

American  Century  determines  the net asset  value  (NAV) of the fund as of the
close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange  (usually 4 p.m. Eastern
time) on each day the  Exchange is open.  On days when the  Exchange is not open
(including certain U.S.  holidays),  we do not calculate the NAV. The NAV of the
fund share is the current  value of the fund's  assets,  minus any  liabilities,
divided by the number of fund shares outstanding.

If current prices of securities  owned by a fund are not readily  available from
an independent  pricing  service,  the advisor may determine their fair value in
accordance with procedures adopted by the fund's Board of Directors.  Trading of
securities  in foreign  markets may not take place on every day the  Exchange is
open.  Also,  trading in some  foreign  markets  may take place on  weekends  or
holidays  when the  fund's  NAV is not  calculated.  So, the value of the fund's
portfolio may be affected on days when you can't purchase or redeem its shares.

We will price your purchase,  exchange or redemption at the NAV next  determined
after we receive your transaction request in good order.


(left margin)
The net asset value of the fund is the price of its shares.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments        9


Distributions

Federal tax laws require the fund to make  distributions  to its shareholders in
order  to  qualify  as a  "regulated  investment  company."  Qualification  as a
regulated investment company means that the fund will not be subject to state or
federal income tax on amounts distributed.  The distributions  generally consist
of  dividends  and  interest  received  by the fund,  as well as  capital  gains
realized on the sale of investment securities. VP Income & Growth generally pays
distributions  from  net  income  and  capital  gains,  if  any,  once a year in
December.  The fund may make more frequent  distributions if necessary to comply
with Internal Revenue Code provisions.

You will participate in fund distributions,  when they are declared, starting on
the day after your purchase is effective. For example, if you purchase shares on
a day that a distribution is declared,  you will not receive that  distribution.
If you redeem shares, you will receive any distribution  declared on the day you
redeem.  If you redeem all shares,  we will include any  distributions  received
with your redemption proceeds.  All distributions from the fund will be invested
in additional shares.

Taxes

Consult  the  prospectus  of  your  insurance  company  separate  account  for a
discussion of the tax status of your variable contract.

(left margin)
Capital gains are increases in the values of capital assets, such as stock, from
the time the assets are  purchased.  Tax  becomes  due on capital  gains once an
asset is sold.


10        American Century Investments                           1-800-345-3533


Financial Highlights

Understanding the Financial Highlights

The table on the next page  itemizes  what  contributed  to the changes in share
price  during  the  period.  It also shows the  changes in share  price for this
period in comparison to changes over the last two fiscal periods.

On a per-share basis, the table includes as appropriate

o share price at the beginning of the period

o investment income and capital gains or losses

o distributions of income and capital gains paid to shareholders

o share price at the end of the period

The table also includes some key statistics for the period as appropriate

o Total Return--the overall percentage of return of the fund, assuming the
  reinvestment of all distributions

o Expense Ratio--operating expenses as a percentage of average net assets

o Net Income Ratio--net investment income as a percentage of average net assets

o Portfolio Turnover--the percentage of the fund's buying and selling activity

The Financial Highlights have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent
auditors.  Their  Independent  Auditors' Report is included in the fund's annual
report for the year ended December 31, 1998,  which is incorporated by reference
into the Statement of Additional Information and is available upon request.


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments       11


VP Income & Growth

For a Share Outstanding Throughout the Years Ended December 31 (except as noted)

Per-Share Data
                                                        1998            1997 (1)

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period .........   $      5.39     $      5.00

Income From Investment Operations
Net Investment Income ........................          0.03            0.02

Net Realized and Unrealized Gain
on Investment Transactions ...................          1.41            0.37

Total From Investment Operations .............          1.44            0.39

Distributions
From Net Investment Income ...................         (0.04)           --
From Net Realized Gains
on Investment Transactions ...................         (0.01)           --

Total Distributions ..........................         (0.05)           --

Net Asset Value, End of Period ...............   $      6.78     $      5.39

Total Return(2) ..............................         26.87%           7.80%
Ratios/Supplemental Data
                                                        1998            1997

Ratio of Operating Expenses to
Average Net Assets ...........................          0.70%           0.70%
Ratio of Net Investment Income to
Average Net Assets ...........................          1.43%           1.94%
Portfolio Turnover Rate ......................            55%             10%
Net Assets, End of Period (in thousands) .....   $   109,626     $     1,230

(1) October 30, 1997 (inception) through December 31, 1997.

(2) Total return assumes  reinvestment  of dividends and capital gains,  if any.
    Total return for periods less than one year are not annualized.

(3) Annualized


12       American Century Investments                             1-800-345-3533


Notes


www.americancentury.com                   American Century Investments        13


More information about the funds is contained in these documents

Annual and Semiannual Reports

These reports  contain more  information  about the funds'  investments  and the
market  conditions and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the
funds' performance during the most recent fiscal period.

Statement of Additional Information (SAI)

The SAI contains a more detailed,  legal  description of the funds'  operations,
investment  restrictions,  policies and practices.  The SAI is  incorporated  by
reference  into this  Prospectus.  This means  that it is  legally  part of this
Prospectus, even if you don't request a copy.


You also can get  information  about  the  funds  (including  the SAI)  from the
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

o In person                SEC Public Reference Room
                           Washington, D.C.
                           Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for location and hours.

o On the Internet          www.sec.gov

o By mail                  SEC Public Reference Section
                           Washington, D.C. 20549-6009
                           (The SEC will charge a fee for copying
                            the documents.)


American Century Investments
P.O. Box 419385
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6385

1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

Automated Information Line: 1-800-345-8765

www.americancentury.com


Fax: 816-340-4360

Telecommunications Device for the Deaf
1-800-345-1833 or 816-444-3038

Investment Company Act File No. 811-5188

                         [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                    American
                                     Century

                          American Century Investments
                                 P.O. Box 419385
                        Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6285

                         1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

9903
SH-PRS-15706
<PAGE>
AMERICAN CENTURY
Statement of  Additional Information

                                                               VP Advantage Fund
                                                                VP Balanced Fund
                                                    VP Capital Appreciation Fund
                                                         VP Income & Growth Fund
                                                           VP International Fund
                                                                   VP Value Fund

                                                 [american century logo(reg.sm)]
                                                                        American
                                                                         Century

MAY 1, 1999

 THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ADDS TO THE DISCUSSION IN THE FUNDS'
 PROSPECTUSES, DATED MAY 1, 1999, BUT IS NOT A PROSPECTUS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A
  COPY OF A PROSPECTUS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT ONE OF THE ADDRESSES OR TELEPHONE
    NUMBERS LISTED ON THE BACK COVER OR VISIT AMERICAN CENTURY'S WEB SITE AT
                            WWW.AMERICANCENTURY.COM.

   THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCORPORATES BY REFERENCE CERTAIN
INFORMATION THAT APPEARS IN THE FUNDS' ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS, WHICH ARE
 DELIVERED TO ALL SHAREHOLDERS. YOU MAY OBTAIN A FREE COPY OF THE FUNDS' ANNUAL
                OR SEMIANNUAL REPORTS BY CALLING 1-800-345-3533.

                                                                  Distributed by
                                                         Funds Distributor, Inc.



STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
MAY 1, 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Funds' History .........................................................   2

Fund Investment Guidelines .................................................   2

VP Capital Appreciation, VP Income &
Growth, VP International and the Equity
Portion of VP Advantage ....................................................   2
VP Balanced ................................................................   3
VP Value ...................................................................   3
The Fixed-Income Portion of VP Advantage ...................................   3

Detailed Information About the Funds .......................................   4
Investment Strategies and Risks ............................................   4
Investment Policies ........................................................  13
Portfolio Turnover .........................................................  15

Management .................................................................  16
The Board of Directors .....................................................  16
Officers ...................................................................  18

The Funds' Principal Shareholders ..........................................  20

Service Providers ..........................................................  20
Investment Advisor .........................................................  20
Transfer Agent and Administrator ...........................................  22
Distributor ................................................................  22

Other Service Providers ....................................................  22

Brokerage Allocation .......................................................  22

Information About Fund Shares ..............................................  23
Valuation of a Fund's Securities ...........................................  24

Taxes ......................................................................  25
Federal Income Taxes .......................................................  25

How Fund Performance
Information is Calculated ..................................................  25

Financial Statements .......................................................  27

Explanation of Fixed-Income
Securities Ratings .........................................................  27


Statement of Additional Information                                            1


 THE FUNDS' HISTORY

    American  Century  Variable  Portfolios,   Inc.  is  a  registered  open-end
management  investment  company that was organized as a Maryland  corporation on
June 4, 1987. The corporation was known as TCI Portfolios,  Inc. until May 1997.
Throughout this Statement of Additional Information we refer to American Century
Variable Portfolios, Inc. as the corporation.

    Each  fund  described  in this  Statement  of  Additional  Information  is a
separate  series of the corporation and operates for many purposes as if it were
an independent company.  Each fund has its own investment  objective,  strategy,
management team, assets,  tax  identification  and stock registration  number. A
fund's inception date is the first date its shares were offered to the public.

FUND                                INCEPTION DATE
- ----------------------------------------------------
VP Advantage                        08/01/1991
- ----------------------------------------------------
VP Balanced                         05/01/1991
- ----------------------------------------------------
VP Capital Appreciation             11/20/1987
- ----------------------------------------------------
VP Income & Growth                  10/30/1997
- ----------------------------------------------------
VP International                    05/01/1994
- ----------------------------------------------------
VP Value                            05/01/1996

FUND INVESTMENT GUIDELINES

    This  section  explains  the  extent to which the funds'  advisor,  American
Century Investment  Management,  Inc., can use various  investment  vehicles and
strategies  in  managing  a  fund's  assets.   Descriptions  of  the  investment
techniques  and risks  associated  with each appear in the section,  "Investment
Strategies  and  Risks,"  which  begins  on page 4.  In the  case of the  funds'
principal investment  strategies,  these descriptions elaborate upon discussions
contained in the Prospectuses.

    Each fund is a  diversified  open-end  investment  company as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940 (the Investment  Company Act).  Diversified means
that,  with respect to 75% of its total  assets,  each fund will not invest more
than 5% of its total assets in the securities of a single issuer.

    To meet federal tax requirements for qualification as a regulated investment
company,  each fund  must  limit  its  investments  so that at the close of each
quarter  of its  taxable  year (1) no more  than  25% of its  total  assets  are
invested in the securities of a single issuer (other than the U.S. government or
a regulated  investment  company),  and (2) with  respect to at least 50% of its
total assets, no more than 5% of its total assets are invested in the securities
of a single issuer.

    In  general,  within  the  restrictions  outlined  here  and in  the  funds'
Prospectuses,  the fund  managers have broad powers to decide how to invest fund
assets, including the power to hold them uninvested.

VP CAPITAL APPRECIATION, VP INCOME & GROWTH,  
VP INTERNATIONAL AND THE EQUITY
PORTION OF  
VP ADVANTAGE

    Investments  are  varied  according  to what is  judged  advantageous  under
changing  economic  conditions.  It is the  advisor's  policy to retain  maximum
flexibility in management without restrictive provisions as to the proportion of
one or another class of securities  that may be held,  subject to the investment
restrictions  described below. It is the advisor's intention that each fund will
generally  consist of domestic and foreign  common stocks and equity  equivalent
securities.  However,  subject to the specific limitations applicable to a fund,
the  funds'  management  teams may  invest  the  assets of each fund in  varying
amounts  in  other  instruments,  such  as  those  discussed  under  "Investment
Strateges  and  Risks,"  which  begins  on page 4,  when such a course is deemed
appropriate in order to attempt to attain a fund's investment objective.  Senior
securities that, in the opinion of the managers,  are high-grade issues also may
be purchased for defensive purposes.

    So  long as a  sufficient  number  of such  securities  are  available,  the
managers  intend to keep the funds fully  invested  in stocks  that  demonstrate
accelerating growth,  regardless of the movement of stock prices,  generally. In
most circumstances, the funds' actual level of cash and cash equivalents will be
less than 10%.  The fund  managers  may use S&P 500  Index  futures  as a way to
expose the funds' cash assets to the market,  while  maintaining  liquidity.  As
mentioned  in the  Prospectuses,  the  managers  may  not  leverage  the  funds'
portfolios,  so  there  is no  greater  market  risk to the  funds  than if they
purchase stocks. See "Derivative  Securities," page 6, "Short-Term  securities,"
page 11 and "Futures and Options," page 11.


2                                                  American Century Investments


VP BALANCED

    As a matter of fundamental  policy,  the managers will invest  approximately
60% of the Balanced  portfolio in equity  securities  and the remainder in bonds
and other fixed-income securities. The equity portion of the fund generally will
be invested in equity  securities  of  companies  comprising  the 1,500  largest
publicly traded companies in the United States.  The fund's investment  approach
may cause its equity portion to be more heavily invested in some industries than
in  others.  However,  it may not  invest  more than 25% of its total  assets in
companies  whose  principal  business  activities are in the same  industry.  In
addition, as a diversified investment company, its investments in a single issue
are limited, as described  previously in "Fund Investment  Guidelines." The fund
managers also may purchase foreign  securities,  convertible  securities,  stock
index futures contracts and similar securities, and short-term securities.

    The  fixed-income  portion  of the  fund  generally  will be  invested  in a
diversified  portfolio of  high-grade  government,  corporate,  asset backed and
similar  securities.  There are no  maturity  restrictions  on the  fixed-income
securities in which the fund invests,  but under normal  conditions the weighted
average  maturity  for  the  fixed-income  portion  of the  fund  will be in the
three-10 year range. The managers will actively manage the portfolio,  adjusting
the  weighted  average  portfolio  maturity in  response to expected  changes in
interest  rates.  During periods of rising  interest  rates, a shorter  weighted
average  maturity  may be  adopted  in order to reduce  the effect of bond price
declines on the fund's net asset value. When interest rates are falling and bond
prices rising, a longer weighted average portfolio maturity may be adopted.  The
restrictions on the quality of the fixed-income securities the fund may purchase
are  described  in  the  Prospectus.  For  a  description  of  the  fixed-income
securities rating system, see "Explanation of Fixed-Income  Securities Ratings,"
page 27.

VP VALUE

    The fund  managers of VP Value will invest  primarily in stocks of medium to
large  companies  that  the  managers  believe  are  undervalued  at the time of
purchase.  The fund  managers  will usually  purchase  common stocks of U.S. and
foreign  companies,  but they can purchase other types of  securities,  as well,
such as domestic and foreign preferred stocks,  convertible  securities,  equity
equivalent securities, notes, bonds and other debt securities.

THE FIXED-INCOME PORTION OF VP ADVANTAGE

    The  government  securities  in which VP Advantage may invest  include:  (1)
direct  obligations  of the United  States,  such as Treasury  bills,  notes and
bonds,  which are  supported by the full faith and credit of the United  States,
and (2) obligations (including mortgage-related securities) issued or guaranteed
by agencies and  instrumentalities  of the U.S.  government that are established
under  an act of  Congress.  The  securities  of  some  of  these  agencies  and
instrumentalities,  such as the Government  National Mortgage  Association,  are
guaranteed  as to  principal  and  interest  by the  U.S.  Treasury,  and  other
securities  are  supported by the right of the issuer,  such as the Federal Home
Loan Banks,  to borrow from the Treasury.  Other  obligations,  including  those
issued by the Federal  National  Mortgage  Association and the Federal Home Loan
Mortgage Corporation, are supported only by the credit of the instrumentality.

    Mortgage-related   securities   in  which  the  fund  may   invest   include
collateralized   mortgage   obligations  (CMOs)  issued  by  a  U.S.  agency  or
instrumentality.  A CMO is a debt security that is collateralized by a portfolio
or pool of mortgages or mortgage-backed  securities.  The issuer's obligation to
make  interest  and  principal  payments  is secured by the  underlying  pool or
portfolio of mortgages or securities.

    The market  value of  mortgage-related  securities,  even those in which the
underlying  pool of mortgage  loans is guaranteed as to the payment of principal
and interest by the U.S. government,  is not insured.  When interest rates rise,
the market  value of those  securities  may decrease in the same manner as other
debt, but when interest  rates  decline,  their market value may not increase as
much as other debt instruments because of the prepayment feature inherent in the
underlying  mortgages.  If such securities are purchased at a premium,  the fund
will suffer a loss if the obligation is prepaid.  Prepayments will be reinvested
at  prevailing  rates,  which  may be less  than  the rate  paid by the  prepaid
obligation.


Statement of Additional Information                                            3


    For the purpose of determining the weighted  average  portfolio  maturity of
the fund,  the  managers  shall  consider  the  maturity  of a  mortgage-related
security to be the remaining expected average life of the security.  The average
life of such  securities  is likely to be  substantially  less than the original
maturity as a result of prepayments  of principal on the  underlying  mortgages,
especially  in  a  declining  interest  rate  environment.  In  determining  the
remaining  expected  average  life,  the  managers  make  assumptions  regarding
repayments on underlying mortgages. In a rising interest rate environment, those
prepayments  generally  decrease,  and may decrease below the rate of prepayment
assumed by the managers  when  purchasing  those  securities.  Such slowdown may
cause the  remaining  maturity  of those  securities  to  lengthen,  which  will
increase  the relative  volatility  of those  securities  and,  hence,  the fund
holding the securities.

DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND RISKS

    This section describes various  investment  vehicles and techniques that the
fund  managers  can use in managing a fund's  assets.  It also details the risks
associated  with each,  because each  technique  contributes to a fund's overall
risk profile.

FOREIGN SECURITIES

    Each fund may invest in the securities of foreign issuers, including foreign
governments,  when these securities meet its standards of selection.  Securities
of foreign issuers may trade in the U.S. or foreign securities markets.

    An  unlimited  portion of each  fund's  total  assets may be invested in the
securities of foreign  issuers,  except for VP Value.  VP Value may invest up to
25% of its assets in foreign securities.

    Investments in foreign securities may present certain risks, including those
resulting from  fluctuations in currency  exchange rates,  future  political and
economic  developments,  clearance and settlement risk, reduced  availability of
public information concerning issuers, and the fact that foreign issuers are not
generally  subject to  uniform  accounting,  auditing  and  financial  reporting
standards or to other regulatory practices and requirements  comparable to those
applicable to domestic issuers.

    Because most foreign securities are denominated in non-U.S.  currencies, the
investment  performance  of a fund  could be  affected  by  changes  in  foreign
currency  exchange  rates.  The value of a fund's assets  denominated in foreign
currencies will increase or decrease in response to fluctuations in the value of
those foreign  currencies  relative to the U.S. dollar.  Currency exchange rates
can be  volatile  at times in  response  to supply  and  demand in the  currency
exchange markets, international balances of payments, governmental intervention,
speculation, and other political and economic conditions.

    Each fund may  purchase  and sell  foreign  currency on a spot basis and may
engage in forward currency contracts,  currency options and futures transactions
for hedging or any other lawful purpose. See "Derivative Securities," page 6.

FORWARD CURRENCY EXCHANGE CONTRACTS

    The funds conduct their foreign currency exchange  transactions  either on a
spot (i.e.,  cash)  basis at the spot rate  prevailing  in the foreign  currency
exchange  market,  or through  entering into forward foreign  currency  exchange
contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies.

    The funds expect to use forward contracts under two circumstances:

    (1) When  the  fund  managers  wish to lock in the  U.S.  dollar  price of a
        security when a fund is purchasing or selling a security  denominated in
        a  foreign  currency,  the fund  would be able to enter  into a  forward
        contract to do so; or

    (2) When the fund managers believe that the currency of a particular foreign
        country may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, a fund
        would be able to enter into a forward  contract to sell foreign currency
        for a fixed U.S. dollar amount approximating the value of some or all of
        its portfolio  securities either  denominated in, or whose value is tied
        to, such foreign currency.

    In the first circumstance,  when a fund enters into a trade for the purchase
or sale of a security denominated in a foreign currency,  it may be desirable to
establish (lock in) the U.S.  dollar cost or proceeds.  By entering into forward
contracts  in U.S.  dollars  for the  purchase  or  sale of a  foreign  currency
involved in an underlying security transaction, the fund will be able


4                                                   American Century Investments


to protect  itself  against a possible loss between trade and  settlement  dates
resulting from the adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar at
the subject foreign currency.

    Under the  second  circumstance,  when the fund  managers  believe  that the
currency of a particular  country may suffer a substantial  decline  relative to
the U.S.  dollar, a fund could enter into a foreign contract to sell for a fixed
dollar amount the amount in foreign  currencies  approximating the value of some
or all of its portfolio securities either denominated in, or whose value is tied
to, such  foreign  currency.  The fund will  segregate  on its  records  cash or
securities in an amount sufficient to cover its obligations under the contract.

    The  precise  matching  of forward  contracts  in the  amounts and values of
securities involved generally would not be possible because the future values of
such foreign  currencies will change as a consequence of market movements in the
values of those securities between the date the forward contract is entered into
and the date it matures.  Predicting  short-term  currency  market  movements is
extremely difficult, and the successful execution of short-term hedging strategy
is  highly  uncertain.  The fund  managers  do not  intend  to enter  into  such
contracts  on a regular  basis.  Normally,  consideration  of the  prospect  for
currency parties will be incorporated  into the long-term  investment  decisions
made with  respect  to overall  diversification  strategies.  However,  the fund
managers  beleive that it is important  to have  flexibility  to enter into such
forward  contracts  when they  determine  that a fund's  best  interests  may be
served.

    At the  maturity  of the  forward  contract,  the fund may  either  sell the
portfolio  security and make delivery of the foreign currency,  or it may retain
the security and  terminate the  obligation  to deliver the foreign  currency by
purchasing  an  offsetting  forward  contract  with  the  same  currency  trader
obligating  the fund to purchase,  on the same maturity date, the same amount of
the foreign currency.

    It is impossible  to forecast  with  absolute  precision the market value of
portfolio securities at the expiration of the forward contract.  Accordingly, it
may be necessary for a fund to purchase  additional foreign currency on the spot
market  (and bear the  expense  of such  purchase)  if the  market  value of the
security is less than the amount of foreign  currency  the fund is  obligated to
deliver and if a decision is made to sell the security and make  delivery of the
foreign currency the fund is obligated to deliver.

CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES

    A convertible security is a fixed-income  security that offers the potential
for capital appreciation through a conversion feature that enables the holder to
convert  the  fixed-income  security  into a stated  number  of shares of common
stock.  As  fixed-income  securities,  convertible  securities  provide a stable
stream of income,  with  generally  higher  yields than common  stocks.  Because
convertible  securities  offer the  potential to benefit  from  increases in the
market price of the underlying common stock, however, they generally offer lower
yields than  non-convertible  securities of similar quality. Of course, like all
fixed-income securities, there can be no assurance of current income because the
issuers of the  convertible  securities  may  default on their  obligations.  In
addition, there can be no assurance of capital appreciation because the value of
the underlying common stock will fluctuate.

    Convertible  securities  generally  are  subordinated  to other  similar but
non-convertible  securities of the same issuer,  although  convertible bonds, as
corporate debt  obligations,  enjoy  seniority in right of payment to all equity
securities,  and  convertible  preferred  stock is senior to common stock of the
same  issuer.  Because  of  the  subordination  feature,  however,   convertible
securities typically have lower ratings than similar non-convertible securities.

    Unlike  a  convertible  security  that is a  single  security,  a  synthetic
convertible  security is  comprised  of two distinct  securities  that  together
resemble  convertible  securities  in certain  respects.  Synthetic  convertible
securities are created by combining  non-convertible  bonds or preferred  stocks
with  warrants or stock call  options.  The options  that will form  elements of
synthetic  convertible  securities will be listed on a securities exchange or on
the National  Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation Systems. The
two components of a synthetic  convertible  security,  which will be issued with
respect to the


Statement of Additional Information                                            5


same entity,  generally are not offered as a unit, and may be purchased and sold
by the fund at different times.  Synthetic  convertible  securities  differ from
convertible  securities in certain respects,  including that each component of a
synthetic  convertible  security  has  a  separate  market  value  and  responds
differently  to  market   fluctuations.   Investing  in  synthetic   convertible
securities involves the risk normally found in holding the securities comprising
the synthetic convertible security.

SHORT SALES

    A fund may engage in short sales if, at the time of the short sale, the fund
owns or has the right to acquire securities equivalent in kind and amount to the
securities being sold short.

    In a short sale, the seller does not immediately deliver the securities sold
and is said to have a short position in those  securities until delivery occurs.
To make delivery to the purchaser,  the executing  broker borrows the securities
being  sold  short  on  behalf  of the  seller.  While  the  short  position  is
maintained,  the seller  collateralizes its obligation to deliver the securities
sold  short in an  amount  equal  to the  proceeds  of the  short  sale  plus an
additional  margin amount  established  by the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve.  If a fund  engages in a short sale,  the  collateral  account  will be
maintained by the fund's custodian.  While the short sale is open, the fund will
maintain in a segregated  custodial account an amount of securities  convertible
into, or  exchangeable  for, such equivalent  securities at no additional  cost.
These securities would constitute the fund's long position.

    A fund may make a short sale, as described above,  when it wants to sell the
security  it owns at a  current  attractive  price,  but  also  wishes  to defer
recognition  of gain or loss for  federal  income  tax  purposes.  There will be
certain  additional  transaction costs associated with short sales, but the fund
will endeavor to offset these costs with income from the  investment of the cash
proceeds of short sales.

PORTFOLIO LENDING

    In order  to  realize  additional  income,  a fund  may  lend its  portfolio
securities.  Such loans may not exceed one-third of the fund's net assets valued
at market except (i) through the purchase of debt  securities in accordance with
its  investment  objective,  policies  and  limitations,  or (ii) by engaging in
repurchase agreements with respect to portfolio securities.

DERIVATIVE SECURITIES

    To the extent permitted by its investment  objectives and policies,  each of
the funds may invest in securities  that are commonly  referred to as derivative
securities.  Generally,  a derivative  is a financial  arrangement  the value of
which is based on, or derived from, a  traditional  security,  asset,  or market
index.   Certain  derivative   securities  are  more  accurately   described  as
index/structured   securities.   Index/structured   securities   are  derivative
securities whose value or performance is linked to other equity securities (such
as depositary receipts),  currencies, interest rates, indices or other financial
indicators (reference indices).

    Some derivatives such as mortgage-related and other asset-backed  securities
are in many  respects  like  any  other  investment,  although  they may be more
volatile or less liquid than more traditional debt securities.

    There are many different types of derivatives and many different ways to use
them. Futures and options are commonly used for traditional  hedging purposes to
attempt to protect a fund from exposure to changing  interest rates,  securities
prices,  or  currency  exchange  rates  and for cash  management  purposes  as a
low-cost method of gaining  exposure to a particular  securities  market without
investing directly in those securities.

    No fund may invest in a derivative  security  unless the reference  index or
the  instrument to which it relates is an eligible  investment for the fund. For
example,  a security whose  underlying value is linked to the price of oil would
not be a permissible  investment because the funds may not invest in oil and gas
leases or futures.

    The return on a derivative security may increase or decrease, depending upon
changes in the reference index or instrument to which it relates.

    There  are  a  range  of  risks  associated  with  derivative   investments,
including:

    * the risk that the  underlying  security,  interest  rate,  market index or
      other  financial  asset will not move in the  direction  the fund managers
      anticipate;


6                                                   American Century Investments


    * the  possibility  that  there may be no liquid  secondary  market,  or the
      possibility that price fluctuation  limits may be imposed by the exchange,
      either  of which  may  make it  difficult  or  impossible  to close  out a
      position when desired;

    * the risk that adverse  price  movements in an  instrument  can result in a
      loss substantially greater than a fund's initial investment; and

    * the risk that the counterparty will fail to  perform its obligations.

    The  Board  of  Directors  has  approved  the  managers'   policy  regarding
investments in derivative securities. That policy specifies factors that must be
considered in connection  with a purchase of derivative  securities.  The policy
also establishes a committee that must review certain proposed  purchases before
the  purchases  can be made.  The  managers  will  report  on fund  activity  in
derivative securities to the Board of Directors as necessary.  In addition,  the
Board  will  review  the  managers'  policy for  investments  in the  derivative
securities annually.

INVESTMENTS IN COMPANIES WITH LIMITED OPERATING HISTORIES

    The funds may invest a portion of their assets in the  securities of issuers
with  limited  operating  history.  The  managers  consider  an issuer to have a
limited  operating  history if that issuer has a record of less than three years
of  continuous  operation.   The  managers  will  consider  periods  of  capital
formation,   incubation,   consolidations,   and  research  and  development  in
determining  whether  a  particular  issuer  has a  record  of  three  years  of
continuous operation.

    Investments  in  securities  of issuers with limited  operating  history may
involve greater risks than investments in securities of more mature issuers.  By
their  nature,  such issuers  present  limited  operating  history and financial
information upon which the managers may base their investment decision on behalf
of the  funds.  In  additon,  financial  and other  information  regarding  such
issuers, when available, may be incomplete or inaccurate.

REPURCHASE AGREEMENTS

    Each fund may invest in repurchase agreements when such transactions present
an attractive  short-term return on cash that is not otherwise  committed to the
purchase of securities pursuant to the investment policies of that fund.

    A  repurchase  agreement  occurs  when,  at the time the fund  purchases  an
interest-bearing  obligation,  the seller (a bank or a broker-dealer  registered
under the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934) agrees to purchase it on a specified
date in the future at an agreed-upon  price.  The  repurchase  price reflects an
agreed-upon  interest  rate during the time the fund's  money is invested in the
security.

    Because the  security  purchased  constitutes  security  for the  repurchase
obligation,  a repurchase  agreement can be considered a loan  collateralized by
the security purchased.  The fund's risk is the ability of the seller to pay the
agreed-upon repurchase price on the repurchase date. If the seller defaults, the
fund may incur costs in  disposing  of the  collateral,  which would  reduce the
amount realized  thereon.  If the seller seeks relief under the bankruptcy laws,
the  disposition of the collateral may be delayed or limited.  To the extent the
value of the security decreases, the fund could experience a loss.

    The funds will limit repurchase agreement  transactions to securities issued
by the U.S. government, its agencies and instrumentalities,  and will enter into
such  transactions  with  those  banks and  securities  dealers  who are  deemed
creditworthy pursuant to criteria adopted by the funds' Board of Directors.

    No fund will  invest  more than 15% of its assets in  repurchase  agreements
maturing in more than seven days.

MUNICIPAL NOTES

    Municipal  notes are  issued by state and local  governments  or  government
entities to provide short-term capital or to meet cash flow needs.

    Tax  Anticipation  Notes (TANs) are issued in  anticipation  of seasonal tax
revenues,  such as ad valorem property,  income,  sales, use and business taxes,
and are payable from these future  taxes.  Tax  anticipation  notes  usually are
general  obligations  of the  issuer.  General  obligations  are  secured by the
issuer's  pledge of its full  faith and  credit  (i.e.,  taxing  power)  for the
payment of principal and interest.

    Revenue  Anticipation  Notes  (RANs) are issued  with the  expectation  that
receipt  of  future  revenues,  such as  federal  revenue  sharing  or state aid
payments, will be used to repay the notes. Typically, these notes


Statement of Additional Information                                            7


also constitute general obligations of the issuer.

    Bond Anticipation Notes (BANs) are issued to provide interim financing until
long-term financing can be arranged.  In most cases, the long-term bonds provide
the money for repayment of the notes.

MUNICIPAL BONDS

    Municipal bonds,  which generally have maturities of more than one year when
issued,  are designed to meet longer-term  capital needs.  These securities have
two principal classifications: general obligation bonds and revenue bonds.

    General Obligation (GO) Bonds are issued by states, counties,  cities, towns
and  regional  districts  to  fund  a  variety  of  public  projects,  including
construction  of and  improvements  to  schools,  highways,  and water and sewer
systems.  General  obligation  bonds are backed by the  issuer's  full faith and
credit based on its ability to levy taxes for the timely payment of interest and
repayment  of  principal,  although  such  levies  may  be  constitutionally  or
statutorily limited as to rate or amount.

    Revenue  Bonds  are not  backed by an  issuer's  taxing  authority;  rather,
interest  and  principal  are  secured  by the net  revenues  from a project  or
facility.  Revenue  bonds are issued to  finance a variety of capital  projects,
including  construction or refurbishment of utility and waste disposal  systems,
highways, bridges, tunnels, air and sea port facilities,  schools and hospitals.
Many  revenue  bond  issuers  provide  additional  security  in  the  form  of a
debt-service  reserve  fund that may be used to make  payments of  interest  and
repayments  of  principal  on  the  issuer's  obligations.   Some  revenue  bond
financings are further  protected by a state's  assurance  (without  obligation)
that it will make up deficiencies in the debt-service reserve fund.

    Industrial  Development  Bonds (IDBs), a type of revenue bond, are issued by
or on behalf of public  authorities to finance  privately  operated  facilities.
These bonds are used to finance business,  manufacturing,  housing, athletic and
pollution  control  projects,  as well as public facilities such as mass transit
systems,  air and sea port facilities and parking  garages.  Payment of interest
and  repayment  of  principal  on an IDB  depend  solely on the  ability  of the
facility's user to meet financial obligations, and on the pledge, if any, of the
real or personal property  financed.  The interest earned on IDBs may be subject
to the federal alternative minimum tax.

VARIABLE- AND FLOATING-RATE OBLIGATIONS

    The funds may buy variable- and floating-rate  demand obligations (VRDOs and
FRDOs).  These obligations carry rights that permit holders to demand payment of
the unpaid principal plus accrued  interest,  from the issuers or from financial
intermediaries.  Floating-rate securities, or floaters, have interest rates that
change  whenever  there is a change in a  designated  base  rate;  variable-rate
instruments  provide for a specified,  periodic adjustment in the interest rate,
which typically is based on an index. These rate formulas are designed to result
in a market value for the VRDO or FRDO that approximates par value.

OBLIGATIONS WITH TERM PUTS ATTACHED

    Each fund may invest in fixed-rate  bonds subject to third-party puts and in
participation  interests  in such  bonds  held by a bank in trust or  otherwise.
These bonds and  participation  interests have tender options or demand features
that  permit  the funds to tender  (or put)  their  bonds to an  institution  at
periodic intervals and to receive the principal amount thereof.

    The fund managers  expect that the funds will pay more for  securities  with
puts attached than for securities  without these  liquidity  features.  The fund
managers may buy securities  with puts attached to keep a fund fully invested in
municipal  securities while maintaining  sufficient  portfolio liquidity to meet
redemption requests or to facilitate management of the fund's investments.

    To ensure  that the  interest  on  municipal  securities  subject to puts is
tax-exempt  to the  funds,  the fund  managers  limit the  funds' use of puts in
accordance with applicable  interpretations  and rulings of the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS).

    Because it is  difficult  to  evaluate  the  likelihood  of  exercise or the
potential  benefit of a put, puts normally will be determined to have a value of
zero,  regardless  of whether  any  direct or  indirect  consideration  is paid.
Accordingly,  puts as separate  securities are not expected to affect the funds'
weighted  average  maturities.  When a fund has paid for a put, the cost will be
reflected as unrealized  depreciation on the underlying  security for the period
the put is held.


8                                                   American Century Investments


Any gain on the sale of the  underlying  security will be reduced by the cost of
the put.

    There is a risk that the seller of a put will not be able to repurchase  the
underlying  obligation  when (or if) a fund  attempts  to  exercise  the put. To
minimize such risks, the funds will purchase obligations with puts attached only
from sellers deemed creditworthy by the fund managers under the direction of the
Board of Directors.

TENDER OPTION BONDS

    Tender   option  bonds  (TOBs)  were  created  to  increase  the  supply  of
high-quality, short-term tax-exempt obligations, and thus they are of particular
interest to money market  funds.  However,  any of the funds may purchase  these
instruments.

    TOBs are created by municipal bond dealers who purchase long-term tax-exempt
bonds in the  secondary  market,  place the  certificates  in  trusts,  and sell
interests in the trusts with puts or other liquidity  guarantees  attached.  The
credit quality of the resulting synthetic short-term  instrument is based on the
guarantor's short-term rating and the underlying bond's long-term rating.

    There is some risk that a  remarketing  agent will renege on a tender option
agreement if the underlying bond is downgraded or defaults. Because of this, the
fund  managers  monitor the credit  quality of bonds  underlying  the funds' TOB
holdings and intend to sell or put back any TOB if the rating on its  underlying
bond falls  below the  second-highest  rating  category  designated  by a rating
agency.

    The fund  managers  also take steps to  minimize  the risk that the fund may
realize  taxable  income as a result of holding  TOBs.  These  steps may include
consideration  of (a) legal opinions  relating to the  tax-exempt  status of the
underlying  municipal bonds, (b) legal opinions relating to the tax ownership of
the underlying  bonds, and (c) other elements of the structure that could result
in taxable income or other adverse tax  consequences.  After purchase,  the fund
managers  monitor  factors  related to the  tax-exempt  status of the fund's TOB
holdings in order to minimize the risk of generating taxable income.

WHEN-ISSUED AND FORWARD COMMITMENT AGREEMENTS

    The funds may  sometimes  purchase new issues of securities on a when-issued
or forward  commitment  basis in which the transaction  price and yield are each
fixed at the time the  commitment is made,  but payment and delivery  occur at a
future date (typically 15 to 45 days later).

    When purchasing  securities on a when-issued or forward  commitment basis, a
fund assumes the rights and risks of ownership, including the risks of price and
yield  fluctuations.  Market rates of interest on debt securities at the time of
delivery  may be higher or lower than those  contracted  for on the  when-issued
security. Accordingly, the value of such security may decline prior to delivery,
which could result in a loss to the fund.  While the fund will make  commitments
to purchase or sell  securities  with the  intention  of actually  receiving  or
delivering them, it may sell the securities  before the settlement date if doing
so is deemed advisable as a matter of investment strategy.

    In purchasing  securities on a when-issued  or forward  commitment  basis, a
fund will establish and maintain until the settlement date a segregated  account
consisting of cash, cash equivalents or other  appropriate  liquid securities in
an amount  sufficient to meet the purchase price. When the time comes to pay for
the when-issued  securities,  the fund will meet its obligations  with available
cash, through the sale of securities,  or, although it would not normally expect
to do so, by selling the  when-issued  securities  themselves  (which may have a
market  value  greater  or less than the  fund's  payment  obligation).  Selling
securities to meet  when-issued or forward  commitment  obligations may generate
taxable capital gains or losses.

INVERSE FLOATERS

    An inverse  floater is a type of derivative  security that bears an interest
rate that moves  inversely to market  interest  rates.  As market interest rates
rise,  the  interest  rate on  inverse  floaters  goes  down,  and  vice  versa.
Generally,  this is  accomplished by expressing the interest rate on the inverse
floater  as an  above-market  fixed  rate  of  interest,  reduced  by an  amount
determined by reference to a market-based  or  bond-specific  floating  interest
rate (as well as by any fees associated with  administering  the inverse floater
program).

    Inverse floaters may be issued in conjunction


Statement of Additional Information                                            9


with an equal  amount of Dutch  Auction  floating-rate  bonds  (floaters),  or a
market-based  index may be used to set the interest rate on these securities.  A
Dutch  Auction  is an  auction  system  in which the  price of the  security  is
gradually  lowered  until it meets a  responsive  bid and is sold.  Floaters and
inverse  floaters  may be brought  to market by a  broker-dealer  who  purchases
fixed-rate  bonds and places  them in a trust or by an issuer  seeking to reduce
interest  expenses  by  using a  floater/inverse  floater  structure  in lieu of
fixed-rate bonds.

    In  the  case  of a  broker-dealer  structured  offering  (where  underlying
fixed-rate bonds have been placed in a trust), distributions from the underlying
bonds are  allocated  to floater and inverse  floater  holders in the  following
manner:

    (i)  Floater  holders  receive  interest  based on rates  set at a six month
         interval or at a Dutch Auction,  which is typically held every 28 to 35
         days. Current and prospective  floater holders bid the minimum interest
         rate that they are willing to accept on the floaters,  and the interest
         rate is set just high  enough to ensure  that all of the  floaters  are
         sold.

    (ii) Inverse floater holders receive all of the interest that remains on the
         underlying bonds after floater interest and auction fees are paid.

    Procedures  for  determining  the  interest  payment on floaters and inverse
floaters  brought to market directly by the issuer are comparable,  although the
interest  paid on the inverse  floaters is based on a presumed  coupon rate that
would have been  required  to bring  fixed-rate  bonds to market at the time the
floaters and inverse floaters were issued.

    Where inverse  floaters are issued in  conjunction  with  floaters,  inverse
floater holders may be given the right to acquire the underlying security (or to
create a fixed-rate bond) by calling an equal amount of corresponding  floaters.
The underlying security may then be held or sold. However,  typically, there are
time  constraints  and other  limitations  associated  with any right to combine
interests and claim the underlying security.

    Floater holders subject to a Dutch Auction  procedure  generally do not have
the right to put back their  interests to the issuer or to a third  party.  If a
Dutch  Auction  fails,  the floater  holder may be required to hold its position
until the underlying bond matures,  during which time interest on the floater is
capped at a predetermined rate.

    The secondary market for floaters and inverse  floaters may be limited.  The
market value of inverse  floaters tends to be  significantly  more volatile than
fixed-rate  bonds.  The interest rates on inverse  floaters may be significantly
reduced, even to zero, if interest rates rise.

SHORT-TERM SECURITIES

    In order to meet  anticipated  redemptions,  to hold pending the purchase of
additional  securities for a fund's portfolio,  or, in some cases, for temporary
defensive  purposes,  the funds may  invest a portion  of their  assets in money
market and other short-term securities.

    Examples of those securities include:

    * Securities issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government and its agencies
      and instrumentalities;

    * Commercial Paper;

    * Certificates of Deposit and Euro Dollar Certificates of Deposit;

    * Bankers' Acceptances;

    * Short-term notes, bonds, debentures, or other debt instruments; and

    * Repurchase agreements.

OTHER INVESTMENT COMPANIES

    Each of the  funds  may  invest  up to 5% of its  total  assets in any other
mutual fund,  including  those of the advisor,  provided that the  investment is
consistent  with the fund's  investment  policies  and  restrictions.  Under the
Investment  Company  Act, a fund's  investment  in such  securities,  subject to
certain exceptions,  currently is limited to (a) 3% of the total voting stock of
any one  investment  company,  (b) 5% of the fund's total assets with respect to
any one  investment  company  and  (c) 10% of the  fund's  total  assets  in the
aggregate. Such purchases will be made in the open market where no commission or
profit to a sponsor or dealer results from the purchase other than the customary
brokers'  commissions.  As a shareholder of another  investment  company, a fund
would bear,  along with other  shareholders,  its pro rata  portion of the other
investment company's expenses,  including advisory fees. These expenses would be
in addition to the  management  fee that each fund bears  directly in connection
with its own operations.


10                                                 American Century Investments


FUTURES AND OPTIONS

    Each fund may enter into  futures  contracts,  options or options on futures
contracts.  Funds  may  not,  however,  enter  into a  futures  transaction  for
speculative purposes. Generally, futures transactions will be used to:

    * protect against a decline in market value of  the funds' securities
      (taking a short futures position), or

    * protect  against the risk of an increase in market value for securities in
      which  the  fund  generally  invests  at a  time  when  the  fund  is  not
      fully-invested (taking a long futures position), or

    * provide a temporary  substitute for the purchase of an individual security
      that may be purchased in an orderly fashion.

    Some futures and options  strategies,  such as selling futures,  buying puts
and writing calls, hedge a fund's investments against price fluctuations.  Other
strategies,  such as buying  futures,  writing  puts and buying  calls,  tend to
increase market exposure.

    Although other techniques may be used to control a fund's exposure to market
fluctuations,  the use of futures  contracts  may be a more  effective  means of
hedging this  exposure.  While a fund pays  brokerage  commissions in connection
with opening and closing out futures  positions,  these costs are lower than the
transaction   costs  incurred  in  the  purchase  and  sale  of  the  underlying
securities.

    For example, the sale of a future by a fund means the fund becomes obligated
to deliver the security  (or  securities,  in the case of an index  future) at a
specified  price on a specified  date.  The  purchase of a future means the fund
becomes  obligated to buy the security (or securities) at a specified price on a
specified date. Futures contracts provide for the sale by one party and purchase
by another  party of a specific  security at a specified  future time and price.
The fund may engage in futures  and  options  transactions  based on  securities
indices that are consistent with the fund's investment  objectives.  Examples of
indices that may be used include the Bond Buyer Index of  Municipal  Bonds,  for
fixed income funds,  or the S&P 500 Index,  for equity funds.  The fund also may
engage in futures and options transactions based on specific securities, such as
U.S.  Treasury bonds or notes.  Futures contracts are traded on national futures
exchanges.  Futures  exchanges  and trading are  regulated  under the  Commodity
Exchange Act by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a U.S.
government agency.

    Index futures  contracts differ from traditional  futures  contracts in that
when  delivery  takes place,  no stocks or bonds change  hands.  Instead,  these
contracts  settle in cash at the spot market value of the index.  Although other
types of futures contracts by their terms call for actual delivery or acceptance
of the underlying securities,  in most cases the contracts are closed out before
the  settlement  date.  A futures  position  may be closed by taking an opposite
position in an identical  contract (i.e.,  buying a contract that has previously
been sold or selling a contract that has previously been bought).

    Unlike when the fund purchases or sells a bond, no price is paid or received
by the fund upon the purchase or sale of the future. Initially, the fund will be
required to deposit an amount of cash or securities equal to a varying specified
percentage of the contract amount.  This amount is known as initial margin.  The
margin  deposit is intended to assure  completion  of the contract  (delivery or
acceptance  of the  underlying  security) if it is not  terminated  prior to the
specified delivery date. They do not constitute margin transactions for purposes
of the fund's investment  restrictions.  Minimum initial margin requirements are
established by the futures  exchanges and may be revised.  In addition,  brokers
may  establish  margin  deposit  requirements  that are higher than the exchange
minimums.  Cash held in the margin account is not income  producing.  Subsequent
payments,  called variation  margin,  to and from the broker,  will be made on a
daily basis as the price of the underlying debt securities or index  fluctuates,
making  the  future  more or less  valuable  , a process  known as  marking  the
contract  to market.  Changes in  variation  margin are  recorded by the fund as
unrealized gains or losses.  At any time prior to expiration of the future,  the
fund may elect to close the  position by taking an opposite  position  that will
operate to  terminate  its  position in the  future.  A final  determination  of
variation  margin is then made;  additional  cash is  required  to be paid by or
released to the fund and the fund realizes a loss or gain.


Statement of Additional Information                                           11


Risks Related to Futures and Options Transactions

    Futures and options  prices can be  volatile,  and trading in these  markets
involves  certain risks. If the fund managers apply a hedge at an  inappropriate
time or judge  interest rate or equity market  trends  incorrectly,  futures and
options strategies may lower a fund's return.

    A fund  could  suffer  losses if it were  unable  to close out its  position
because of an illiquid  secondary  market.  Futures  contracts may be closed out
only on an exchange that provides a secondary  market for these  contracts,  and
there  is no  assurance  that a  liquid  secondary  market  will  exist  for any
particular futures contract at any particular time. Consequently,  it may not be
possible  to  close a  futures  position  when  the fund  managers  consider  it
appropriate  or desirable to do so. In the event of adverse price  movements,  a
fund would be required to continue  making  daily cash  payments to maintain its
required  margin.  If the  fund had  insufficient  cash,  it might  have to sell
portfolio  securities to meet daily margin  requirements at a time when the fund
managers would not otherwise elect to do so. In addition, a fund may be required
to deliver or take  delivery of  instruments  underlying  futures  contracts  it
holds.  The fund  managers  will seek to minimize  these  risks by limiting  the
contracts  entered  into on  behalf of the  funds to those  traded  on  national
futures exchanges and for which there appears to be a liquid secondary market.

    A fund  could  suffer  losses  if the  prices  of its  futures  and  options
positions were poorly  correlated with its other  investments,  or if securities
underlying futures contracts  purchased by a fund had different  maturities than
those of the portfolio  securities being hedged. Such imperfect  correlation may
give rise to  circumstances in which a fund loses money on a futures contract at
the same time that it experiences a decline in the value of its hedged portfolio
securities.  A fund also could lose  margin  payments  it has  deposited  with a
margin broker, if, for example, the broker became bankrupt.

    Most futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation  permitted in futures
contract  prices during a single  trading day. The daily limit  establishes  the
maximum  amount that the price of a futures  contract may vary either up or down
from the previous day's settlement price at the end of the trading session. Once
the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may
be made on that day at a price  beyond  the  limit.  However,  the  daily  limit
governs only price movement during a particular trading day and, therefore, does
not limit potential losses. In addition, the daily limit may prevent liquidation
of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the
daily  limit for  several  consecutive  trading  days with little or no trading,
thereby  preventing prompt  liquidation of futures positions and subjecting some
futures traders to substantial losses.

Options on Futures

    By purchasing an option on a futures contract, a fund obtains the right, but
not the  obligation,  to sell the futures  contract (a put option) or to buy the
contract (a call  option) at a fixed  strike  price.  A fund can  terminate  its
position in a put option by allowing it to expire or by  exercising  the option.
If the  option  is  exercised,  the fund  completes  the sale of the  underlying
security at the strike price.  Purchasing  an option on a futures  contract does
not require a fund to make margin payments unless the option is exercised.

    Although  they do not  currently  intend  to do so,  the funds may write (or
sell) call options that obligate it to sell (or deliver) the option's underlying
instrument  upon  exercise of the option.  While the receipt of option  premiums
would  mitigate  the  effects of price  declines,  the funds  would give up some
ability to participate in a price increase on the underlying security. If a fund
were to engage in options transactions, it would own the futures contract at the
time a call were written and would keep the contract  open until the  obligation
to deliver it pursuant to the call expired.

Restrictions on the Use of Futures Contracts and Options

    Each fund may enter into  futures  contracts,  options or options on futures
contracts.

    Under the Commodity  Exchange Act, a fund may enter into futures and options
transactions (a) for hedging purposes without regard to the percentage of assets
committed  to initial  margin and option  premiums or (b) for other than hedging
purposes, provided that assets committed to initial margin


12                                                 American Century Investments


and option  premiums do not exceed 5% of the fund's total assets.  To the extent
required by law, each fund will  segregate  cash or securities on its records in
an amount  sufficient to cover its obligations  under the futures  contracts and
options.

RESTRICTED AND ILLIQUID SECURITIES

    The  funds  may,  from  time  to  time,   purchase  restricted  or  illiquid
securities,  including  Rule  144A  securities,  when  they  present  attractive
investment  opportunities that otherwise meet the funds' criteria for selection.
Rule 144A  securities are securities  that are privately  placed with and traded
among qualified institutional investors rather than the general public. Although
Rule  144A  securities  are  considered  restricted  securities,  they  are  not
necessarily illiquid.

    With respect to securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A, the staff of
the SEC has taken the  position  that the  liquidity of such  securities  in the
portfolio of a fund offering redeemable securities is a question of fact for the
Board  of  Directors  to  determine,  such  determination  to be  based  upon  a
consideration  of the readily  available  trading  markets and the review of any
contractual restrictions. Accordingly, the Board of Directors is responsible for
developing and  establishing  the guidelines and procedures for  determining the
liquidity  of Rule  144A  securities.  As  allowed  by Rule  144A,  the Board of
Directors of the funds has delegated the day-to-day  function of determining the
liquidity of Rule 144A  securities to the fund  managers.  The board retains the
responsibility to monitor the implementation of the guidelines and procedures it
has adopted.

    Since the  secondary  market  for such  securities  is  limited  to  certain
qualified  institutional  investors,  the  liquidity of such  securities  may be
limited accordingly and a fund may, from time to time, hold a Rule 144A or other
security  that is illiquid.  In such an event,  the fund  managers will consider
appropriate remedies to minimize the effect on such fund's liquidity.

INVESTMENT POLICIES

    Unless otherwise indicated, with the exception of the percentage limitations
on borrowing,  the restrictions apply at the time transactions are entered into.
Accordingly,  any later  increase or decrease  beyond the  specified  limitation
resulting  from a change  in a fund's  net  assets  will  not be  considered  in
determining whether it has complied with its investment restrictions.

FUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

    The funds'  investment  restrictions  are set forth below.  These investment
restrictions  are  fundamental  and may not be  changed  without  approval  of a
majority of the  outstanding  votes of  shareholders of a fund, as determined in
accordance with the Investment Company Act.

    For purposes of the investment restriction relating to concentration, a fund
shall not purchase any  securities  that would cause 25% or more of the value of
the fund's total assets at the time of purchase to be invested in the securities
of one or more issuers  conducting  their principal  business  activities in the
same  industry,  provided  that  (a)  there is no  limitation  with  respect  to
obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, any state, territory or
possession  of the United  States,  the  District  of  Columbia  or any of their
authorities,   agencies,   instrumentalities   or  political   subdivisions  and
repurchase  agreements  secured by such  instruments,  (b) wholly owned  finance
companies  will be considered to be in the  industries of their parents if their
activities are primarily related to financing the activities of the parents, (c)
utilities will be divided  according to their  services,  for example,  gas, gas
transmission, electric and gas, electric and telephone will each be considered a
separate  industry,  and (d) personal credit and business credit businesses will
be considered separate industries.


Statement of Additional Information                                           13


Subject            Policy
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senior Securities  A fund may not issue senior securities,  except as
                   permitted under the Investment Company Act.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Borrowing          A fund may not borrow money, except for temporary or
                   emergency purposes (not for leveraging or investment) in an
                   amount not exceeding 33-1/3% of the fund's total assets
                   (including the amount  borrowed) less liabilities (other
                   than borrowings).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lending            A fund may not lend any  security  or make any other loan if,
                   as a result,  more than  33-1/3% of the fund's  total  assets
                   would be lent to  other  parties,  except,  (i)  through  the
                   purchase of debt securities in accordance with its investment
                   objective,  policies and  limitations  or (ii) by engaging in
                   repurchase agreements with respect to portfolio securities.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Real Estate        A fund may not purchase or sell real estate unless acquired
                   as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments.
                   This  policy  shall  not  prevent a fund  from  investing  in
                   securities  or other  instruments  backed  by real  estate or
                   securities  of  companies  that  deal in real  estate  or are
                   engaged in the real estate business.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Concentration      A fund may not concentrate its investments in securities of
                   issuers in a particular industry (other than securities
                   issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or any of its
                   agencies or instrumentalities).
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Underwriting       A fund may not act as an underwriter of securities  issued by
                   others,  except to the extent that the fund may be considered
                   an  underwriter  within the meaning of the  Securities Act of
                   1933 in the disposition of restricted securities.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commodities        A fund may not purchase or sell physical  commodities  unless
                   acquired  as a result of  ownership  of  securities  or other
                   instruments; provided that this limitation shall not prohibit
                   the fund from  purchasing  or  selling  options  and  futures
                   contracts   or  from   investing  in   securities   or  other
                   instruments backed by physical commodities.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Control            A fund may not invest for purposes of exercising control over
                   management.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NONFUNDAMENTAL INVESTMENT POLICIES

  In  addition,  the funds are subject to the  following  additional  investment
restrictions  that  are not  fundamental  and may be  changed  by the  Board  of
Directors.

Subject            Policy
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diversification    A fund may not purchase additional investment securities at
                   any time during which outstanding borrowings exceed 5% of the
                   total assets of the fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Liquidity          A fund may not purchase any security or enter into a
                   repurchase agreement if, as a result, more than 15% of its
                   net assets would be invested in repurchase agreements not
                   entitling the holder to payment of  principal and interest
                   within seven days and in securities that are illiquid by
                   virtue of legal or contractual restrictions on resale or the
                   absence of a readily available market.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short Sales        A fund may not sell securities short, unless it owns or has
                   the right to obtain securities equivalent in kind and amount
                   to the securities sold short, and provided that transactions
                   in futures contracts and options are not deemed to constitute
                   selling securities short.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Margin             A fund may not purchase securities on margin, except to
                   obtain such short-term credits as are necessary for the
                   clearance of transactions, and provided that margin payments
                   in connection with futures contracts and options on futures
                   contracts shall not constitute purchasing securities on
                   margin.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


14                                                  American Century Investments


    The Investment  Company Act imposes  certain  additional  restrictions  upon
acquisition  by  the  funds  of  securities   issued  by  insurance   companies,
broker-dealers,  underwriters or investment advisors, and upon transactions with
affiliated persons as therein defined.  It also defines and forbids the creation
of cross and circular ownership.  Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission
nor  any  other  agency  of the  federal  or  state  agency  participates  in or
supervises  the  management  of the  funds  or  their  investment  practices  or
policies.

    The Investment  Company Act also provides that the funds may not invest more
than 25% of their  assets  in the  securities  of  issuers  engaged  in a single
industry.  In determining industry groups for purposes of this restriction,  the
SEC ordinarily uses the Standard Industry  Classification codes developed by the
United  States  Office of  Management  and Budget.  In the  interest of ensuring
adequate diversification,  the funds monitor industry concentration using a more
restrictive  list of industry groups than that recommended by the SEC. The funds
believe that these  classifications are reasonable and are not so broad that the
primary  economic  characteristics  of  the  companies  in a  single  class  are
materially different. The use of these restrictive industry classifications may,
however,  cause the funds to forego investment  possibilities that may otherwise
be available to them under the Investment Company Act.

PORTFOLIO TURNOVER

    The  portfolio  turnover  rates of the  funds  are  shown  in the  Financial
Highlights tables in the Prospectuses.

    The managers will purchase and sell securities  without regard to the length
of time the  security has been held.  Accordingly,  the fund's rate of portfolio
turnover may be substantial.

    The fund managers intend to purchase a given security  whenever the managers
believe it will  contribute  to the stated  objective  of the fund.  In order to
achieve  each  fund's  investment  objective,  the  managers  may  sell a  given
security,  no matter  for how long or for how short a period it has been held in
the portfolio,  and no matter whether the sale is at a gain or at a loss, if the
managers  believe  that the  security  is not  fulfilling  its  purpose,  either
because,  among other things, it did not live up to the managers'  expectations,
or because it may be replaced with another security holding greater promise,  or
because it has  reached  its  optimum  potential,  or because of a change in the
circumstances  of a  particular  company  or  industry  or in  general  economic
conditions, or because of some combination of such reasons.

    When a general decline in security  prices is anticipated,  the equity funds
may decrease or eliminate  entirely  their equity  positions and increase  their
cash positions, and when a rise in price levels is anticipated, the equity funds
may increase their equity positions and decrease their cash positions.  However,
it should be expected that VP Capital Appreciation,  VP International,  VP Value
and the  equity  portions  of VP  Advantage  and VP  Balanced  will,  under most
circumstances, be essentially fully invested in equity securities.

    Because  investment  decisions are based on the anticipated  contribution of
the security in question to the fund's objectives, the managers believe that the
rate of portfolio  turnover is irrelevant when they believe a change is in order
to achieve those objectives.  As a result,  the fund's annual portfolio turnover
rate  cannot be  anticipated  and may be higher  than  other  mutual  funds with
similar investment  objectives.  Higher turnover would generate  correspondingly
greater brokerage commissions, which is a cost the funds pay directly. Portfolio
turnover also may affect the character of capital gains realized and distributed
by the fund,  if any,  since  short-term  capital  gains are taxable as ordinary
income.  This  disclosure   regarding  portfolio  turnover  is  a  statement  of
fundamental policy and may be changed only by a vote of the shareholders.

    Because the  managers do not take  portfolio  turnover  rate into account in
making investment decisions, (1) the managers have no intention of accomplishing
any  particular  rate of  portfolio  turnover,  whether high or low, and (2) the
portfolio   turnover   rates  in  the  past  should  not  be   considered  as  a
representation of the rates that will be attained in the future.


Statement of Additional Information                                           15


MANAGEMENT

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

    The Board of  Directors  oversees the  management  of the funds and meets at
least quarterly to review reports about fund  operations.  Although the Board of
Directors  does not  manage  the  funds,  it has  hired  the  advisor  to do so.
Two-thirds of the directors are independent of the funds' advisor, that is, they
are not employed by and have no financial interest in the advisor.

    The  individuals  listed in the table  below  whose  names are  marked by an
asterisk (*) are  interested  persons of the funds (as defined in the Investment
Company Act) by virtue of, among other  considerations,  their  affiliation with
either the funds; the advisor,  American  Century  Investment  Management,  Inc.
(ACIM);  the funds'  agent for transfer and  administrative  services,  American
Century Services  Corporation (ACSC); the parent  corporation,  American Century
Companies,  Inc. (ACC) or ACC's subsidiaries;  the funds' distribution agent and
co-administrator,  Funds Distributor,  Inc. (FDI); or other funds advised by the
advisor.  Each  director  listed  below  serves as a director of six  registered
investment  companies in the American  Century  family of funds,  which are also
advised by the advisor.  The address at which each director  listed below may be
contacted is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.

Name (Age)                   Position(s)      Principal Occupation(s) During
                             Held With Fund   Past  Five Years
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James E. Stowers, Jr.* (74)  Director,        Chairman, Director and controlling
                             Chairman of      shareholder, ACC, Chairman and
                             the Board        Director, ACIM, ACSC and ACIS
                                              Father of James E. Stowers III
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James E. Stowers III* (40)   Director         Director and Chief Executive
                                              Officer, ACC ACIM, ACSC and ACIS
                                              Son of James E. Stowers, Jr.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas A. Brown (58)         Director         Director of Plains States
                                              Development, Applied Industrial
                                              Technologies, Inc., a corporation
                                              engaged in the sale of bearings
                                              and power  transmission products
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert W. Doering, M.D. (65) Director         Retired, formerly a general
                                              surgeon
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Andrea C. Hall, Ph.D. (54)   Director         Senior Vice President and
                                              Associate Director, Midwest
                                              Research Institute
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D.D. (Del) Hock (63)         Director         Retired, formerly Chairman,
                                              Public Service Company of
                                              Colorado; Director, Service Tech,
                                              Inc., Hathaway Corporation, and
                                              J.D. Edwards  & Company
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Donald H. Pratt (60)         Director,        President and Director, Butler
                             Vice Chairman    Manufacturing Company
                             of the Board
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lloyd T. Silver, Jr. (70)    Director         President, LSC, Inc.,
                                              manufacturer's representative
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M. Jeannine Strandjord (52)  Director         Senior Vice President, Finance,
                                              Sprint Corporation; Director,
                                              DST Systems, Inc.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


16                                                  American Century Investments


COMMITTEES

  The Board has four standing  committees to oversee  specific  functions of the
funds'  operations.  Information  about  these  committees  appears in the table
below. The director first named acts as chairman of the committee.

Committee    Members                 Function of Committee
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Executive    James E. Stowers, Jr.   The Executive Committee performs the
             James E. Stowers III    functions of the Board of Directors between
             Donald H. Pratt         Board meetings, subject to the limitations
                                     on it power set out in the Maryland General
                                     Corporation  Law,  and except  for  matters
                                     required by the  Investment  Company Act to
                                     be acted upon by the whole Board.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compliance   Thomas A. Brown         The Compliance Committee reviews the
             Donald H. Pratt         results of the funds' compliance testing
             Lloyd T. Silver, Jr.    program, reviews quarterly reports from the
             Andrea C. Hall, Ph.D.   advisor to the Board regarding various
                                     compliance   matters   and   monitors   the
                                     implementation   of  the  funds'   Code  of
                                     Ethics, including any violations thereof.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Audit        M. Jeannine Strandjord  The Audit Committee recommends the
             Robert W. Doering, M.D. engagement of the funds' independent
             D.D. (Del) Hock         auditors and oversees its activities. The
                                     Committee   receives   reports   from   the
                                     advisor's Internal Audit Department,  which
                                     is  accountable   to  the  Committee.   The
                                     Committee  also  receives  reporting  about
                                     compliance matters affecting the funds.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nominating   Donald H. Pratt         The Nominating Committee primarily
             D.D. (Del) Hock         considers and recommends individuals for
             James E. Stowers III    nomination as directors. The names of
                                     potential director candidates are drawn
                                     from a number of sources, including
                                     recommendations from members of the Board,
                                     management and shareholders. This committee
                                     also reviews and makes recommendations
                                     to the Board with respect to the
                                     composition of Board committees and other
                                     Board-related matters, including its
                                     organization, size, composition,
                                     responsibilities, functions and
                                     compensation.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

    The directors also serve as directors for five American  Century  investment
companies other than American CenturyVariable Portfolios, Inc. Each director who
is not an interested  person as defined in the  Investment  Company Act receives
compensation  for  service  as a member of the  Board of all six such  companies
based on a schedule that takes into account the number of meetings  attended and
the assets of the funds for which the meetings are held. These fees and expenses
are  divided  among the six  investment  companies  based,  in part,  upon their
relative  net  assets.  Under the  terms of the  management  agreement  with the
advisor, the funds are responsible for paying such fees and expenses.

    The table presented shows the aggregate compensation paid by the corporation
for the periods  indicated and by the American  Century  family of funds to each
director who is not an interested  person as defined in the  Investment  Company
Act.

Aggregate Director Compensation for Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                Total             Total Compensation
                            Compensation               from the
                               from the            American Century
Name of Director               Funds(1)            Family of Funds(2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thomas A. Brown                $1,409                  $52,167
Robert W. Doering, M.D.         1,312                   50,167
Andrea C. Hall, Ph.D.           1,356                   50,167
D.D. (Del) Hock                 1,356                   50,167
Donald H. Pratt                 1,409                   52,167
Lloyd T. Silver, Jr.            1,356                   50,167
M. Jeannine Strandjord          1,410                   52,167

(1) Includes  compensation  paid to the  directors  during the fiscal year ended
    December 31, 1998, and also includes amounts deferred at the election of the
    directors under the American Century Mutual Funds Deferred Compensation Plan
    for  Non-Interested  Directors  and  Trustees.  The total amount of deferred
    compensation included in the preceding table is as follows: Mr. Brown, $190;
    Dr. Hall, $610; Mr. Hock, $1,220; Mr. Pratt, $420; Mr. Silver,  $959 and Ms.
    Strandjord, $1,206.

(2) Includes  compensation  paid by the 13  investment  company  members  of the
    American Century family of funds.


Statement of Additional Information                                           17


    The funds have adopted the American Century Deferred  Compensation  Plan for
Non-Interested Directors and Trustees. Under the plan, the independent directors
may defer  receipt of all or any part of the fees to be paid to them for serving
as directors of the funds.

    All deferred fees are credited to an account  established in the name of the
directors. The amounts credited to the account then increase or decrease, as the
case may be, in accordance  with the  performance of one or more of the American
Century funds that are selected by the director.  The account balance  continues
to fluctuate in accordance  with the  performance  of the selected fund or funds
until  final  payment of all  amounts  credited to the  account.  Directors  are
allowed to change their designation of mutual funds from time to time.

    No deferred fees are payable until such time as a director resigns,  retires
or  otherwise  ceases to be a member of the Board of  Directors.  Directors  may
receive  deferred  fee  account  balances  either  in a lump sum  payment  or in
substantially equal installment  payments to be made over a period not to exceed
10 years.  Upon the death of a  director,  all  remaining  deferred  fee account
balances are paid to the director's  beneficiary  or, if none, to the director's
estate.

    The plan is an unfunded plan and, accordingly,  the funds have no obligation
to segregate assets to secure or fund the deferred fees. The rights of directors
to receive their  deferred fee account  balances are the same as the rights of a
general unsecured  creditor of the funds. The plan may be terminated at any time
by the  administrative  committee of the plan. If  terminated,  all deferred fee
account balances will be paid in a lump sum.

    No deferred fees were paid to any director  under the plan during the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1998.

OFFICERS

    Background information for the officers of the funds is provided on page 19.
All persons named as officers of the funds also serve in similar  capacities for
the 12 other investment  companies advised by American Century. Not all officers
of the funds are listed;  only those officers with  policy-making  functions for
the funds are  listed.  No officer is  compensated  for his or her service as an
officer of the funds. The individuals listed in the table are interested persons
of the funds (as  defined in the  Investment  Company  Act) by virtue of,  among
other  considerations,  their  affiliation  with  either the funds,  the holding
company of the  funds'  investment  advisor  and  transfer  agent  (ACC),  ACC's
subsidiaries  (including  ACIM and ACSC),  or the funds'  distributor  (FDI), as
specified  in the  following  table.  The  address at which each  officer may be
contacted is 4500 Main Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64111.


18                                                  American Century Investments


Name (Age)                  Position(s) Held   Principal Occupation(s) During
                            With Fund          Past Five Years
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
George A. Rio (44)          President          Executive Vice President and
                                               Director of Client Services, FDI
                                               (March 1998 to present)
                                               Senior Vice President and Senior
                                               Key Account Manager, Putnam
                                               Mutual Funds (June 1995 to March
                                               1998)
                                               Director  Business   Development,
                                               First Data  Corporation (May 1994
                                               to   June   1995)   Senior   Vice
                                               President  and  Manager of Client
                                               Services and Director of Internal
                                               Audit,  The Boston Company,  Inc.
                                               (September 1983 to May 1994)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christopher J. Kelley (34)  Vice President     Vice President and Associate
                                               General Counsel, FDI (since July
                                               1996)
                                               Assistant Counsel, Forum
                                               Financial Group (April 1994 to
                                               July 1996)
                                               Compliance Officer, Putnam
                                               Investments (1992 to April 1994)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mary A. Nelson (34)         Vice President     Vice President and Manager of
                                               Treasury Services and
                                               Administration, FDI (1994 to
                                               present)
                                               Assistant Vice President and
                                               Client Manager, The Boston
                                               Company, Inc. (1989 to 1994)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maryanne Roepke, CPA (43)   Vice President     Senior Vice President, Treasurer
                                               and Principal Accounting Officer,
                                               ACSC and Treasurer
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
David C. Tucker (40)        Vice President     Senior Vice President and General
                                               Counsel, ACSC and ACIM (June 1998
                                               to present)
                                               General Counsel, ACC (June 1998
                                               to Present)  Consultant to mutual
                                               fund  industry (May 1997 to April
                                               1998) Vice  President and General
                                               Counsel, Janus Companies (1990 to
                                               1997)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul J. Carrigan, Jr. (49)  Secretary          Secretary, ACC (December 1998 to
                                               present)
                                               Director of Legal Operations,
                                               ACSC (February 1996 to present)
                                               Board Communications Manager,
                                               The Benham Company (April 1994 to
                                               January 1996)
                                               Legal Coordinator, State of
                                               California Health & Welfare
                                               Agency (February 1992 to March
                                               1994)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merele A. May (36)          Controller         Vice President and ACSC
                                               Controller-Fund Accounting,
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Robert J. Leach (32)        Controller         Controller-Fund Accounting, ACSC
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C. Jean Wade (35)           Controller         Controller-Fund Accounting, ACSC
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jon Zindel (32)             Tax Officer        Director of Taxation, ACSC
                                               (since 1996)
                                               Tax Manager, Price Waterhouse
                                               LLP (1989)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Statement of Additional Information                                           19


THE FUNDS' PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS

    As of April 1, 1999, the following  companies were the record owners of more
than 5% of a fund's outstanding shares:

                                  Shareholder and Percentage
Fund                              of Shares Outstanding
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

VP Capital Appreciation           Nationwide Life Insurance Company
                                  Columbus, Ohio -- ____%

                                  Penn Mutual Life Insurance
                                  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania -- ____%

                                  Mutual of America
                                  New York, New York -- ____%

                                  Great-West Life and Annuity Company Englewood,
                                  Colorado -- ____%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Advantage                      Nationwide Life Insurance Company
                                  Columbus, Ohio -- ____%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Balanced                       Nationwide Life Insurance Company
                                  Columbus, Ohio -- ____%

                                  Lincoln National Life Insurance Company Ft.
                                  Wayne, Indiana -- ____%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP International                  Nationwide Life Insurance Company
                                  Columbus, Ohio -- ____%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Value                          IDS Life Insurance company
                                  Minneapolis, Minnesota -- ____%

                                  Nationwide Life Insurance Company
                                  Columbus, Ohio -- ____%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Income & Growth                Nationwide Life Insurance Company
                                  Columbus, Ohio -- ____%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The funds are unaware of any other  shareholders,  beneficial  or of record,
who own more than 5% of a fund's  outstanding  shares.  As of April 1, 1999, the
officers and directors of the funds, as a group,  own less than 1% of any fund's
outstanding shares.

SERVICE PROVIDERS

    The funds have no employees.  To conduct the funds'  day-to-day  activities,
the funds have hired a number of service providers.  Each service provider has a
specific function to fill on behalf of the funds and is described below.

    The advisor and the  transfer  agent,  ACSC,  are both wholly  owned by ACC.
James E. Stowers Jr.,  Chairman of ACC,  controls ACC by virtue of his ownership
of a majority of its common stock.

INVESTMENT ADVISOR

    Each fund has an investment management agreement with the advisor,  American
Century Investment Management, Inc., dated November 16, 1998. This agreement was
approved by the shareholders of each of the funds on November 16, 1998.

    A  description  of  the  responsibilities  of  the  advisor  appears  in the
Prospectus under the heading "Management."

    For the services  provided to the funds,  the advisor receives a monthly fee
based on a percentage of the average net assets of the fund as follows:

Fund                                Percentage of Average Net Assets
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Capital Appreciation             1.00% of first $500 million
                                    0.95% of the next $500 million
                                    0.90% over $1 billion
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP International                    1.50% of first $250 million
                                    1.20% of the next $250 million
                                    1.10% over $500 million
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Value                            1.00% of first $500 million
                                    0.95% of the next $500 million
                                    0.90% over $1 billion
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Balanced                         0.90% of first $250 million
                                    0.85% of the next $250 million
                                    0.80% over $500 million
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Income & Growth                  0.70%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Advantage                        1.00%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On the first  business day of each month,  the funds pay a management fee to
the  advisor  for the  previous  month at the  specified  rate.  The fee for the
previous month is calculated by  multiplying  the applicable fee for the fund by
the  aggregate  average  daily  closing  value of a fund's net assets during the
previous month,  by a fraction,  the numerator of which is the number of days in
the previous month and the denominator of which is 365 (366 in leap years).

    The management agreement shall continue in effect until the earlier of the
expiration of two years


20                                                  American Century Investments


from the date of its  execution  or until  the  first  meeting  of  shareholders
following  such  execution  and for as long  thereafter  as its  continuance  is
specifically approved at least annually by (1) the funds' Board of Directors, or
by the vote of a majority of  outstanding  votes (as  defined in the  Investment
Company Act) and (2) by the vote of a majority of the directors of the funds who
are not parties to the agreement or interested  persons of the advisor,  cast in
person at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on such approval.

    The  management  agreement  provides  that it may be  terminated at any time
without payment of any penalty by the funds' Board of Directors, or by a vote of
a majority of outstanding votes, on 60 days' written notice to the advisor,  and
that it shall be automatically terminated if it is assigned.

    The  management  agreement  provides that the advisor shall not be liable to
the funds or their shareholders for anything other than willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of its obligations and duties.

    The  management  agreement  also provides that the advisor and its officers,
directors and employees may engage in other business,  devote time and attention
to any other  business  whether of a similar or  dissimilar  nature,  and render
services to others.

    Certain  investments  may be  appropriate  for the  funds and also for other
clients  advised by the advisor.  Investment  decisions  for the funds and other
clients are made with a view to achieving their respective investment objectives
after  consideration of such factors as their current holdings,  availability of
cash for investment  and the size of their  investment  generally.  A particular
security  may be bought or sold for only one  client  or fund,  or in  different
amounts  and at  different  times for more than one but less than all clients or
funds. In addition,  purchases or sales of the same security may be made for two
or more clients or funds on the same date. Such  transactions  will be allocated
among  clients in a manner  believed by the advisor to be equitable to each.  In
some cases this procedure could have an adverse effect on the price or amount of
the securities purchased or sold by a fund.

    The  advisor  may  aggregate  purchase  and sale  orders of the  funds  with
purchase  and sale orders of its other  clients when the advisor  believes  that
such aggregation  provides the best execution for the funds. The funds' Board of
Directors has approved the policy of the advisor with respect to the aggregation
of portfolio  transactions.  Where portfolio  transactions have been aggregated,
the funds  participate at the average share price for all  transactions  in that
security on a given day and share  transaction  costs on a pro rata  basis.  The
advisor  will not  aggregate  portfolio  transactions  of the  funds  unless  it
believes such  aggregation is consistent with its duty to seek best execution on
behalf  of the  funds and the terms of the  management  agreement.  The  advisor
receives  no  additional  compensation  or  remuneration  as a  result  of  such
aggregation.

    Investment  management  fees  incurred  by each fund for the fiscal  periods
ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, are indicated in the following table.

UNIFIED MANAGEMENT FEES

Fund             1998        1997        1996
- ------------------------------------------------

VP Advantage   $253,470    $249,359    $238,392

VP Balanced   2,453,205   2,346,313   1,832,133

VP Capital
Appreciation  4,894,589  10,378,643  14,401,981

VP Income &
Growth          260,827       1,290      --

VP
International 5,241,848   2,659,954   1,170,843

VP Value      2,623,453     985,657      62,187
- ------------------------------------------------

OTHER ADVISORY RELATIONSHIPS

    In addition to managing the funds,  the advisor  also acts as an  investment
advisor  to  nine  institutional   accounts  and  to  the  following  registered
investment companies:

    American Century World Mutual Funds, Inc.
    American Century Premium Reserves, Inc.
    American Century Mutual Funds, Inc.
    American Century Capital Portfolios, Inc.
    American Century Strategic Asset Allocations, Inc.
    American Century Municipal Trust
    American Century Government Income Trust
    American Century Investment Trust
    American Century Target Maturities Trust
    American Century Quantitative Equity Funds
    American Century International Bond Funds.
    American Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds


Statement of Additional Information                                          21


TRANSFER AGENT AND ADMINISTRATOR

    American  Century  Services  Corporation,  4500 Main  Street,  Kansas  City,
Missouri 64111, acts as transfer agent and dividend-paying  agent for the funds.
It provides physical  facilities,  computer hardware and software and personnel,
for the day-to-day  administration of the funds and of the advisor.  The advisor
pays American Century Services Corporation for such services.

    From time to time,  special  services  may be  offered to  shareholders  who
maintain  higher  share  balances  in our family of funds.  These  services  may
include the waiver of minimum investment requirements, expedited confirmation of
shareholder  transactions,  newsletters and a team of personal  representatives.
Any expenses associated with these special services will be paid by the advisor.

    Pursuant  to  a  Sub-Administration   Agreement  with  the  advisor,   Funds
Distributor,  Inc. (FDI) serves as the  Co-Administrator  for the funds.  FDI is
responsible for (i) providing  certain  officers of the funds and (ii) reviewing
and filing  marketing and sales  literature on behalf of the funds. The fees and
expenses of FDI are paid by the advisor out of its unified fee.

DISTRIBUTOR

    The funds' shares are distributed by Funds  Distributor,  Inc., a registered
broker-dealer.  The distributor is a wholly owned indirect  subsidiary of Boston
Institutional  Group,  Inc. The distributor's  principal  business address is 60
State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109.

    The  distributor  is the principal  underwriter  of the funds'  shares.  The
distributor makes a continuous,  best efforts underwriting of the funds' shares.
This means that the distributor has no liability for unsold shares.

OTHER SERVICE PROVIDERS

CUSTODIAN BANKS

    Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  770  Broadway,  10th  Floor,  New  York,  New  York
10003-9598,  and Commerce Bank, N.A., 1000 Walnut,  Kansas City, Missouri 64105,
each  serves  as  custodian   of  the  assets  of  the  funds,   except  for  VP
International,  for which UMB Bank, N.A., 10th and Grand,  Kansas City, Missouri
64105,  serves as custodian.  The  custodians  take no part in  determining  the
investment  policies of the funds or in deciding which  securities are purchased
or sold by the funds. The funds,  however,  may invest in certain obligations of
the  custodians  and may  purchase  or sell  certain  securities  from or to the
custodians.

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

    Deloitte & Touche LLP is the independent  auditor of the funds.  The address
of Deloitte & Touche LLP is 1010 Grand Boulevard,  Kansas City,  Missouri 64106.
As the independent  auditor of the funds,  Deloitte & Touche  provides  services
including  (1) audit of the annual  financial  statements,  (2)  assistance  and
consultation in connection with SEC filings and (3) review of the annual federal
income tax return filed for each fund.

BROKERAGE ALLOCATION

VP CAPITAL APPRECIATION, VP INCOME & GROWTH,  
VP INTERNATIONAL, VP VALUE AND THE
EQUITY PORTIONS OF VP ADVANTAGE AND VP BALANCED

    Under the  management  agreement  between  the funds  and the  advisor,  the
advisor  has the  responsibility  of  selecting  brokers  and dealers to execute
portfolio transactions. The funds' policy is to secure the most favorable prices
and execution of orders on its portfolio transactions. So long as that policy is
met, the advisor may take into  consideration  the factors  discussed below when
selecting brokers.

    The  advisor  receives  statistical  and  other  information  and  services,
including research, without cost from brokers and dealers. The advisor evaluates
such information and services,  together with all other  information that it may
have, in supervising  and managing the  investments  of the funds.  Because such
information  and services  may vary in amount,  quality and  reliability,  their
influence in selecting brokers varies from none to very substantial. The advisor
proposes to continue to place some of the funds' brokerage  business with one or
more brokers who provide information and services. Such information and services
will be in addition to and not in lieu of services  required to be  performed by
the advisor.  The advisor does not utilize brokers that provide such information
and  services  for the purpose of reducing  the  expense of  providing  required
services to the funds.


22                                                 American Century Investments


    In the  years  ended  December  31,  1998,  1997  and  1996,  the  brokerage
commissions of each fund were as follows:

Fund                 1998         1997        1996
- ----------------------------------------------------
VP Advantage        $17,642     $20,302     $19,734

VP Balanced         434,556     294,313     235,149

VP Capital
Appreciation      1,644,572   1,573,432   3,879,230

VP Income &
Growth               65,385       N/A          N/A

VP International  2,408,681   1,329,778     630,547

VP Value          1,067,939     466,557      25,821
- ----------------------------------------------------

    The brokerage  commissions  paid by the funds may exceed those which another
broker might have charged for  effecting the same  transactions,  because of the
value of the brokerage and research  services  provided by the broker.  Research
services   furnished  by  brokers  through  whom  the  funds  effect  securities
transactions  may be used by the advisor in servicing all of its  accounts,  and
not all such  services may be used by the advisor in managing the  portfolios of
the funds.

    The  staff of the SEC has  expressed  the  view  that  the  best  price  and
execution  of  over-the-counter  transactions  in  portfolio  securities  may be
secured by dealing directly with principal  market makers,  thereby avoiding the
payment of compensation to another broker. In certain  situations,  the officers
of the funds and the advisor believe that the facilities,  expert  personnel and
technological systems of a broker often enable the funds to secure as good a net
price by dealing with a broker instead of a principal  market maker,  even after
payment  of the  compensation  to the  broker.  The  funds  regularly  place its
over-the-counter transactions with principal market makers, but may also deal on
a brokerage basis when utilizing electronic trading networks or as circumstances
warrant.

THE FIXED-INCOME PORTIONS OF VP ADVANTAGE  AND VP BALANCED

    Under the  management  agreement  between  the funds  and the  advisor,  the
advisor  has the  responsibility  of  selecting  brokers  and dealers to execute
portfolio  transactions.  In many  transactions,  the selection of the broker or
dealer  is  determined  by the  availability  of the  desired  security  and its
offering  price. In other  transactions,  the selection of broker or dealer is a
function of the selection of market and the negotiation of price, as well as the
broker's  general  execution and operational  and financial  capabilities in the
type of transaction  involved.  The advisor will seek to obtain prompt execution
of orders at the most  favorable  prices or yields.  The  advisor  may choose to
purchase and sell portfolio  securities to and from dealers who provide services
or research,  statistical and other information to the funds and to the advisor.
Such  information  or  services  will be in  addition  to and not in lieu of the
services  required  to be  performed  by the  advisor,  and the  expenses of the
advisor  will not  necessarily  be  reduced  as a result of the  receipt of such
supplemental information.

INFORMATION ABOUT FUND SHARES

    Shares of each fund have equal voting rights, although each of the six funds
named on the front of this  Statement of Additional  Information  is a series of
shares  issued  by the  corporation.  Additional  funds  may be added  without a
shareholder vote.

    Each fund votes  separately  on  matters  affecting  that fund  exclusively.
Voting rights are not cumulative, so that investors holding more than 50% of the
corporation's (i.e., all funds') outstanding shares may be able to elect a Board
of Directors.  The corporation instituted  dollar-based voting, meaning that the
number of votes you are  entitled  to is based  upon the  dollar  amount of your
investment.  The election of directors is determined by the votes  received from
all the corporation  shareholders without regard to whether a majority of shares
of any one fund  voted in favor of a  particular  nominee or all  nominees  as a
group.

    The assets  belonging  to each series of shares are held  separately  by the
custodian and the shares of each series  represent a beneficial  interest in the
principal,  earnings and profit (or losses) of investment  and other assets held
for each  series.  Your rights as a  shareholder  are the same for all series of
securities unless otherwise stated.  Within their respective  series, all shares
have  equal  redemption  rights.  Each  share,  when  issued,  is fully paid and
non-assessable.


Statement of Additional Information                                           23


    In  the  event  of  complete   liquidation  or  dissolution  of  the  funds,
shareholders  of each series of shares  shall be entitled to receive,  pro rata,
all of the assets less the liabilities of that series.

    Each shareholder has rights to dividends and  distributions  declared by the
fund he or she owns and to the net assets of such fund upon its  liquidation  or
dissolution proportionate to his or her share ownership interest in the fund.

VALUATION OF A FUND'S SECURITIES

    Each fund's net asset value per share (NAV) is calculated as of the close of
business  of the New York  Stock  Exchange  (the  Exchange),  usually  at 4 p.m.
Eastern  time each day the  Exchange  is open for  business.  The  Exchange  has
designated  the  following  holiday  closings for 1999:  New Year's Day,  Martin
Luther King Jr. Day,  Presidents' Day, Good Friday,  Memorial Day,  Independence
Day, Labor Day,  Thanksgiving  Day and Christmas Day.  Although the funds expect
the same holiday schedule to be observed in the future,  the Exchange may modify
its holiday schedule at any time.

    The  advisor  typically  completes  its  trading  on  behalf of each fund in
various  markets  before the  Exchange  closes for the day.  Each  fund's NAV is
calculated  by adding the value of all  portfolio  securities  and other assets,
deducting   liabilities  and  dividing  the  result  by  the  number  of  shares
outstanding.  Expenses and interest  earned on portfolio  securities are accrued
daily.

    The portfolio  securities of the fund, except as otherwise noted,  listed or
traded on a domestic  securities  exchange  are valued at the last sale price on
that  exchange.  Portfolio  securities  primarily  traded on foreign  securities
exchanges  are  generally  valued  at  the  preceding  closing  values  of  such
securities on the exchange where primarily traded. If no sale is reported, or if
local convention or regulation so provides, the mean of the latest bid and asked
prices is used.  Depending on local convention or regulation,  securities traded
over-the-counter  are priced at the mean of the latest bid and asked prices,  or
at the last sale  price.  When  market  quotations  are not  readily  available,
securities and other assets are valued at fair value as determined in accordance
with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors.

    Debt  securities  not traded on a principal  securities  exchange are valued
through  valuations  obtained from a commercial  pricing  service or at the most
recent  mean of the bid and asked  prices  provided  by  investment  dealers  in
accordance with procedures established by the Board of Directors.

    Because there are hundreds of thousands of municipal issues outstanding, and
the majority of them do not trade daily, the prices provided by pricing services
for these types of securities are generally  determined without regard to bid or
last sale prices.  In valuing  securities,  the pricing services  generally take
into  account  institutional  trading  activity,  trading in  similar  groups of
securities,  and any developments  related to specific  securities.  The methods
used by the pricing  service and the valuations so  established  are reviewed by
the advisor under the general supervision of the Board of Directors. There are a
number of pricing services  available,  and the advisor, on the basis of ongoing
evaluation of these services,  may use other pricing services or discontinue the
use of any pricing service in whole or in part.

    Securities  maturing  within 60 days of the valuation  date may be valued at
cost,  plus or minus any  amortized  discount  or premium,  unless the  trustees
determine  that this would not  result in fair  valuation  of a given  security.
Other assets and securities for which  quotations are not readily  available are
valued in good faith at their fair value using methods  approved by the Board of
Directors.

    The  value of an  exchange-traded  foreign  security  is  determined  in its
national currency as of the close of trading on the foreign exchange on which it
is traded or as of the close of business on the New York Stock Exchange, if that
is earlier.  That value is then translated to dollars at the prevailing  foreign
exchange rate.

    Trading in securities on European and Far Eastern  securities  exchanges and
over-the-counter markets is normally completed at various times before the close
of  business on each day that the New York Stock  Exchange is open.  If an event
were to occur after the value of a security was  established  but before the net
asset value per share was  determined  that was likely to materially  change the
net asset value,  then that security would be valued at fair value as determined
in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Directors.


24                                                 American Century Investments


    Trading of these  securities in foreign  markets may not take place on every
New York Stock  Exchange  business  day. In addition,  trading may take place in
various  foreign  markets on  Saturdays or on other days when the New York Stock
Exchange is not open and on which the fund's net asset value is not  calculated.
Therefore,  such  calculation  does not take  place  contemporaneously  with the
determination  of the prices of many of the  portfolio  securities  used in such
calculation  and the value of the fund's  portfolio may be affected on days when
shares of the fund may not be purchased or redeemed.

TAXES

FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

    Each fund  intends to qualify  annually  as a regulated  investment  company
under  Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code).
By so qualifying,  a fund will be exempt from federal income taxes to the extent
that it  distributes  substantially  all of its net  investment  income  and net
realized capital gains (if any) to shareholders. If a fund fails to qualify as a
regulated  investment  company,  it  will be  liable  for  taxes,  significantly
reducing its distributions to shareholders and eliminating shareholders' ability
to treat  distributions  of the funds in the manner  they were  realized  by the
funds.

    Dividends  and interest  received by a fund on foreign  securities  may give
rise  to  withholding  and  other  taxes  imposed  by  foreign  countries.   Tax
conventions  between  certain  countries  and the  United  States  may reduce or
eliminate such taxes. Foreign countries generally do not impose taxes on capital
gains in respect of investments  by  non-resident  investors.  The foreign taxes
paid by a fund will reduce its dividends.

    If more  than 50% of the value of a fund's  total  assets at the end of each
quarter of its fiscal year consists of securities of foreign  corporations,  the
fund may qualify for and make an election with the Internal Revenue Service with
respect to such  fiscal  year so that fund  shareholders  may be able to claim a
foreign tax credit in lieu of a deduction  for foreign  income taxes paid by the
fund.  If such an election is made,  the foreign  taxes paid by the fund will be
treated as income  received by you. In order for the  shareholder to utilize the
foreign  tax  credit,  the mutual fund shares must have been held for 16 days or
more during the 30-day period,  beginning 15 days prior to the ex-dividend  date
for the mutual fund shares.  The mutual fund must meet a similar  holding period
requirement  with  respect  to  foreign   securities  to  which  a  dividend  is
attributable.  Any portion of the foreign  tax credit  that is  ineligible  as a
result of the fund not meeting the holding period requirement will be separately
disclosed and may be eligible as an itemized deduction.

    If a fund purchases the securities of certain  foreign  investment  funds or
trusts called passive foreign investment companies (PFIC),  capital gains on the
sale of such  holdings  will be deemed to be ordinary  income  regardless of how
long the fund holds its  investment.  The fund also may be subject to  corporate
income tax and an interest charge on certain  dividends and capital gains earned
from  these  investments,  regardless  of  whether  such  income  and  gains are
distributed to shareholders. In the alternative, the fund may elect to recognize
cumulative  gains on such  investments as of the last day of its fiscal year and
distribute  it to  shareholders.  Any  distribution  attributable  to a PFIC  is
characterized as ordinary income.

HOW FUND PERFORMANCE INFORMATION IS CALCULATED

    The funds may quote  performance in various ways.  Fund  performance  may be
shown by presenting one or more performance  measurements,  including cumulative
total return, average annual total return or yield.

    All performance  information advertised by the funds is historical in nature
and is not intended to represent or guarantee future results.  The value of fund
shares when redeemed may be more or less than their original cost.

    Total returns quoted in advertising and sales literature reflect all aspects
of a fund's return,  including the effect of  reinvesting  dividends and capital
gain distributions (if any) and any change in the fund's NAV during the period.

    Average  annual total returns are  calculated by  determining  the growth or
decline in value of a  hypothetical  historical  investment  in a fund  during a
stated period and then calculating the annually compounded  percentage rate that
would have produced the same result if the rate of growth or


Statement of Additional Information                                           25


decline  in value had been  constant  throughout  the  period.  For  example,  a
cumulative  total return of 100% over 10 years would  produce an average  annual
return of 7.18%, which is the steady annual rate that would equal 100% growth on
a  compounded  basis in 10 years.  While  average  annual  total  returns  are a
convenient means of comparing investment alternatives,  investors should realize
that the  funds'  performance  is not  constant  over  time,  but  changes  from
year-to-year,  and that average annual total returns represent  averaged figures
as opposed to actual year-to-year performance.

    The following  table sets forth the average annual total return of the funds
for the periods indicated as of December 31, 1998.


AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS

                                                         From
Fund                      1 year   5 years  10 years   inception(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
VP Advantage              17.19%    11.25%      N/A       9.75%
VP Balanced               15.77%    12.89%      N/A     11.65%
VP Capital Appreciation   -2.16%     3.25%      8.70%    8.25%
VP Income & Growth        26.87%      N/A       N/A     30.68%
VP International          18.76%      N/A       N/A     12.30%
VP Value                   4.81%      N/A       N/A     15.94%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------

(1) The inception dates are: VP Advantage:  August 1, 1991; VP Balanced:  May 1,
1991; VP Capital  Appreciation:  November 20, 1987; VP Income & Growth:  October
30, 1997; VP International: May 1, 1994; VP Value: May 1, 1996

    In addition to average annual total returns,  each fund may quote unaveraged
or  cumulative  total  returns  reflecting  the  simple  change  in  value of an
investment over a stated period,  including  periods other than one, five and 10
years.  Average annual and cumulative total returns may be quoted as percentages
or as dollar amounts and may be calculated for a single investment,  a series of
investments,  or a series of redemptions over any time period. Total returns may
be broken down into their  components of income and capital  (including  capital
gains and  changes  in share  price) to  illustrate  the  relationship  of these
factors and their contributions to total return.

    Yield is  calculated  by adding  over a 30-day  (or  one-month)  period  all
interest and dividend  income (net of fund  expenses)  calculated  on each day's
market  values,  dividing  this  sum  by  the  average  number  of  fund  shares
outstanding  during the period, and expressing the result as a percentage of the
fund's  share  price on the last day of the 30-day (or  one-month)  period.  The
percentage is then annualized.  Capital gains and losses are not included in the
calculation.

    The  following  table  sets  forth  yield  quotations  for the  fixed-income
portions  of VP  Advantage  and VP  Balanced,  and for VP Income & Growth and VP
Value, for the 30-day period ended December 31, 1998, the last day of the fiscal
year pursuant to computation methods prescribed by the SEC.

Fund                              30-Day Yield
- -------------------------------------------------
VP Advantage                         2.15%
VP Balanced                          2.25%
VP Income & Growth                   1.22%
VP Value                             1.15%
- -------------------------------------------------

    The funds may also elect to advertise cumulative total return. The following
table shows the  cumulative  total  return for the funds since their  respective
dates of inception (as noted) through December 31, 1998.

                              Cumulative
                             Total Return         Date of
Fund                        Since Inception      Inception
- -------------------------------------------------------------
VP Advantage                    99.38%             8/1/91
VP Balanced                    132.86%             5/1/91
VP Capital Appreciation        141.29%             11/20/87
VP Income & Growth              36.76%             10/30/97
VP International                71.82%             5/1/94
VP Value                        48.38%             5/1/96
- -------------------------------------------------------------

ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCE COMPARISONS

    The funds'  performance may be compared with the performance of other mutual
funds  tracked by mutual  fund rating  services or with other  indexes of market
performance.  This may include  comparisons with funds that, unlike the American
Century funds, are sold with a sales charge or deferred sales charge. Sources of
economic data that may be used for such


26                                                  American Century Investments


comparisons  may include,  but are not limited to, U.S.  Treasury bill, note and
bond yields,  money market fund yields, U.S. government debt and percentage held
by  foreigners,  the  U.S.  money  supply,  net free  reserves,  and  yields  on
current-coupon GNMAs (source: Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System);
the federal funds and discount rates (source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York);
yield curves for U.S. Treasury securities and AA/AAA-rated  corporate securities
(source:  Bloomberg  Financial  Markets);  yield curves for  AAA-rated  tax-free
municipal  securities  (source:  Telerate);  yield curves for foreign government
securities  (sources:  Bloomberg  Financial  Markets and Data Resources,  Inc.);
total returns on foreign bonds (source:  J.P. Morgan Securities  Inc.);  various
U.S.  and  foreign  government  reports;  the junk  bond  market  (source:  Data
Resources,  Inc.); the CRB Futures Index (source:  Commodity Index Report);  the
price of gold (sources:  London a.m./p.m. fixing and New York Comex Spot Price);
rankings of any mutual fund or mutual fund category  tracked by Lipper,  Inc. or
Morningstar,   Inc.;  mutual  fund  rankings  published  in  major,   nationally
distributed  periodicals;  data provided by the  Investment  Company  Institute;
Ibbotson Associates, Stocks, Bonds, Bills, and Inflation; major indexes of stock
market performance; and indexes and historical data supplied by major securities
brokerage or investment advisory firms. The funds also may utilize reprints from
newspapers  and magazines  furnished by third  parties to illustrate  historical
performance or to provide general information about the funds.

PERMISSIBLE ADVERTISING INFORMATION

    From time to time,  the funds  may,  in  addition  to any other  permissible
information,  include the  following  types of  information  in  advertisements,
supplemental  sales literature and reports to  shareholders:  (1) discussions of
general economic or financial principles (such as the effects of compounding and
the benefits of dollar-cost  averaging);  (2)  discussions  of general  economic
trends;  (3)  presentations of statistical data to supplement such  discussions;
(4)  descriptions of past or anticipated  portfolio  holdings for one or more of
the funds;  (5)  descriptions  of investment  strategies  for one or more of the
funds;  (6)  descriptions  or  comparisons  of various  savings  and  investment
products  (including,  but  not  limited  to,  qualified  retirement  plans  and
individual  stocks and  bonds),  which may or may not  include  the  funds;  (7)
comparisons of investment products (including the funds) with relevant market or
industry  indices  or other  appropriate  benchmarks;  (8)  discussions  of fund
rankings or ratings by recognized  rating  organizations;  and (9)  testimonials
describing  the  experience  of persons that have invested in one or more of the
funds. The funds may also include calculations, such as hypothetical compounding
examples, which describe hypothetical investment results in such communications.
Such performance examples will be based on an express set of assumptions and are
not indicative of the performance of any of the funds.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

    The financial  statements of the funds are included in the Annual Reports to
shareholders  for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998. Each Annual Report is
incorporated herein by reference.  You may receive copies of the reports without
charge upon  request to American  Century at the  address and  telephone  number
shown on the back cover of this Statement of Additional Information.

EXPLANATION OF FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES RATINGS

    As  described  in the  Prospectuses,  the funds may  invest in  fixed-income
securities.  Those investments,  however,  are subject to certain credit quality
restrictions,  as noted in the  Prospectuses.  The following is a summary of the
rating categories referenced in the prospectus disclosure.


Statement of Additional Information                                           27


BOND RATINGS

S&P   Moody's  Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AAA   Aaa      These are the highest ratings assigned by S&P and Moody's to a
               debt obligation and indicates an extremely strong capacity to
               pay interest and repay principal.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AA    Aa       Debt rated in this category is considered to have a very strong
               capacity to pay  interest  and repay  principal  and differs from
               AAA/Aaa issues only in a small degree.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A    A         Debt rated A has a strong  capacity to pay  interest  and repay
               principal although it is somewhat more susceptible to the adverse
               effects of changes in circumstances and economic  conditions than
               debt in higher-rated categories.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BBB  Baa       Debt rated BBB/Baa is regarded as having an adequate capacity
               to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas it normally exhibits
               adequate  protection  parameters,  adverse economic conditions or
               changing  circumstances  are more  likely  to lead to a  weakened
               capacity to pay  interest  and repay  principal  for debt in this
               category than in higher-rated categories.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BB   Ba        Debt rated BB/Ba has less near-term  vulnerability  to default
               than other speculative  issues.  However,  it faces major ongoing
               uncertainties  or  exposure  to adverse  business,  financial  or
               economic  conditions  that could lead to  inadequate  capacity to
               meet  timely  interest  and  principal  payments.  The BB  rating
               category also is used for debt  subordinated  to senior debt that
               is assigned an actual or implied BBB-rating.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B     B        Debt rated B has a greater vulnerability to default but currently
               has the capacity to meet interest payments and principal
               repayments. Adverse business, financial or economic conditions
               will likely impair capacity or willingness  to pay interest and
               repay principal. The B rating category is also used for debt
               subordinated to senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied
               BB/Ba or BB-/Ba3 rating.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CCC   Caa      Debt rated CCC/Caa has a currently identifiable vulnerability to
               default and is dependent upon favorable business, financial and
               economic conditions to meet timely payment of interest and
               repayment of principal. In the event of adverse business,
               financial or economic conditions, it is not likely to have the
               capacity to pay interest and repay principal. The CCC/Caa rating
               category is also used for debt subordinated to senior debt that
               is assigned an actual or implied B or B-/B3 rating.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CC   Ca        The rating CC/Ca typically is applied to debt  subordinated to
               senior debt that is assigned an actual or implied CCC/Caa rating.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C    C         The rating C typically is applied to debt subordinated to senior
               debt, which is assigned an actual or implied CCC-/Caa3 debt
               rating. The C rating may be used to cover a situation where a
               bankruptcy petition has been  filed, but debt service payments
               are continued.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CI   --        The  rating  CI is  reserved  for  income  bonds  on  which no
               interest is being paid.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D    D         Debt rated D is in payment  default.  The D rating  category is
               use when interest payments or principal  payments are not made on
               the date due even if the applicable grace period has not expired,
               unless S&P believes  that such  payments will be made during such
               grace period. The D rating also will be used upon the filing of a
               bankruptcy petition if debt service payments are jeopardized.


28                                                  American Century Investments


    To provide  more  detailed  indications  of credit  quality,  the Standard &
Poor's ratings from AA to CCC may be modified by the addition of a plus or minus
sign to show relative standing within these major rating categories.  Similarly,
Moody's adds numerical  modifiers (1,2,3) to designate  relative standing within
its major bond rating categories. Fitch Investors Service, Inc. also rates bonds
and uses a ratings system that is substantially similar to that used by Standard
& Poor's.

COMMERCIAL PAPER RATINGS
S&P   Moody's  Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-1   Prime-1  This indicates that the degree of safety regarding timely payment
      (P-1)    is strong. Standard & Poor's rates those issues determined to
               possess extremely strong safety characteristics as A-1+.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-2   Prime-2  Capacity for timely payment on commercial  paper is satisfactory,
      (P-2)    but the relative degree of safety is not as high as for issues
               designated A-1. Earnings trends and coverage ratios, while sound,
               will   be   more    subject    to    variation.    Capitalization
               characteristics,  while still appropriated,  may be more affected
               by external conditions. Ample alternate liquidity is maintained.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A-3   Prime-3  Satisfactory  capacity  for timely  repayment.  Issues that carry
      (P-3)    this rating are somewhat more vulnerable to the adverse changes
               in circumstances than obligations carrying the higher
               designations.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE RATINGS
S&P   Moody's         Description
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP-1  MIG-1; VMIG-1   Notes are of the highest  quality  enjoying
                      strong protection from established cash flows of funds for
                      their servicing or from established and broad-based access
                      to the market for refinancing, or both.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP-2  MIG-2; VMIG-2   Notes are of high quality,  with margins of
                      protection ample, although not so large as in the
                      preceding group.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP-3  MIG-3; VMIG-3   Notes are of favorable quality, with all security
                      elements accounted for, but lacking the undeniable
                      strength of the preceding grades. Market access for
                      refinancing, in particular, is likely to be less well
                      established.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SP-4  MIG-4; VMIG-4   Notes are of adequate quality, carrying specific risk
                      but having protection and not distinctly or predominantly
                      speculative.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Statement of Additional Information                                           29


MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FUNDS IS CONTAINED IN THESE DOCUMENTS

ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL REPORTS

    These contain more information  about the funds'  investments and the market
conditions  and investment  strategies  that  significantly  affected the funds'
performance  during the most recent  fiscal  period.  The annual and  semiannual
reports are  incorporated  by reference into this SAI. This means that these are
legally part of this SAI.

    You can receive a free copy of the annual and  semiannual  reports,  and ask
any  questions  about the funds,  by  contacting  us at one of the  addresses or
telephone numbers listed below.

If you own or are considering purchasing fund shares through

* an employer-sponsored retirement plan
* a bank
* a broker-dealer
* an insurance company * another financial intermediary

you can receive the annual and semiannual reports directly from them.

You also can get  information  about the funds from the  Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC).

* In person            SEC Public Reference Room
                       Washington, D.C.
                       Call 1-800-SEC-0330 for location and hours.

* On the Internet      www.sec.gov

* By mail              SEC Public Reference Section
                       Washington, D.C.
                       20549-6009
                       (The SEC will charge a fee for copying the documents.)

Investment Company Act File No. 811-5188

[american century logo(reg.sm)]
American
Century

AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENTS
P.O. Box 419385
Kansas City, Missouri 64141-6385

INVESTMENT PROFESSIONAL
SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
1-800-345-3533 or 816-531-5575

WWW.AMERICANCENTURY.COM

TELECOMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR THE DEAF
1-800-345-1833 or 816-444-3038

FAX  816-340-4360

SH-SAI-15710   9902
<PAGE>
AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.

PART C    OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 23   EXHIBITS  (all  exhibits  not filed  herewith  are being  incorporated
          herein by reference).

     (a)  (1)Articles of  Incorporation  of TCI  Portfolios,  Inc. dated June 3,
          1987 (filed electronically as Exhibit 1.1 to Post-Effective  Amendment
          No. 17 to the  Registration  Statement on January 16,  1996,  File No.
          33-14567).

          (2) Articles of Amendment of TCI Portfolios,  Inc. dated July 22, 1988
          (filed  electronically as Exhibit 1.2 to Post-Effective  Amendment No.
          17 to the  Registration  Statement  on  January  16,  1996,  File  No.
          33-14567).

          (3)  Articles of Amendment of TCI  Portfolios,  Inc.  dated August 11,
          1993 (filed electronically as Exhibit 1.3 to Post-Effective  Amendment
          No. 17 to the  Registration  Statement on January 16,  1996,  File No.
          33-14567).

          (4) Articles Supplementary of TCI Portfolios, Inc., dated November 30,
          1992 (filed electronically as Exhibit 1.4 to Post-Effective  Amendment
          No.  18 to the  Registration  Statement  on March 20,  1996,  File No.
          33-14567).

          (5) Articles  Supplementary  of TCI Portfolios,  Inc., dated April 24,
          1995 (filed electronically as Exhibit 1.5 to Post-Effective  Amendment
          No.  18 to the  Registration  Statement  on March 20,  1996,  File No.
          33-14567).

          (6) Articles  Supplementary  of TCI Portfolios,  Inc., dated March 11,
          1996 (filed electronically as Exhibit 1.6 to Post-Effective  Amendment
          No. 17 to the  Registration  Statement on January 16,  1996,  File No.
          33-14567).

          (7) Articles of Amendment of TCI Portfolios, Inc., dated April 1, 1997
          (filed  electronically as Exhibit 1.7 to Post-Effective  Amendment No.
          20  to  the  Registration  Statement  on  April  28,  1997,  File  No.
          33-14567).

          (8) Articles  Supplementary of American  Century Variable  Portfolios,
          Inc.,  dated May 1,  1997  (filed  electronically  as  Exhibit  1.8 to
          Post-Effective Amendment No. 20 to the Registration Statement on April
          28, 1997, File No. 33-14567).

          (9) Articles  Supplementary of American  Century Variable  Portfolios,
          Inc.  dated July 28,  1997  (filed  electronically  as Exhibit  1.9 to
          Post-Effective Amendment No. 23 to the Registration Statement on April
          27, 1998, File No. 33-14567).

          (10) Articles  Supplementary of American Century Variable  Portfolios,
          Inc. dated February 16, 1999 is included herein.

     (b)  (1) Amended and  Restated  By-Laws  of  TCI  Portfolios,  Inc.  (filed
          electronically as Exhibit 2 to Post-Effective  Amendment No. 17 to the
          Registration Statement on January 16, 1996, File No. 33-14567).

          (2) Amendment to Amended  and  Restated  By-Laws of  American  Century
          Variable  Portfolios,  Inc.  (filed  electronically  as  Exhibit b2 to
          Post-Effective  Amendment  No.  24 to the  Registration  Statement  on
          January 15, 1999, File No. 33-14567).

     (c)  Registrant hereby incorporates by reference, as though set forth fully
          herein,   Article  Fifth,   Article  Seventh  and  Article  Eighth  of
          Registrants  Articles of  Incorporation,  appearing  as Exhibit 1.1 to
          Post-Effective  Amendment No. 17 on Form N-1A of the  Registrant,  and
          Article  Fifth of  Registrants  Articles  of  Amendment,  apearing  as
          Exhibit  1.3 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 17 on Form N-1A of the
          Registrant;  and Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 25, 30, 31,
          33, 39, ,40, 45 and 46 of Registrants  Amendment to By-Laws  appearing
          as Exhibit 2 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 17 on Form N-1A of the
          Registrant,  and Sections 25, 32 & 32 of Registrants By-Laws appearing
          as Exhibit 2.2 to Post-Effective  Amendment No. 23 on Form N-1A of the
          Registrant.

     (d)  Management  Agreement  between American  Century Variable  Portfolios,
          Inc. and American Century Investment  Management,  Inc. dated November
          16,  1998  (filed   electronically  as  Exhibit  d  to  Post-Effective
          Amendment  No. 24 to the  Registration  Statement on January 15, 1999,
          File No. 33-14567).

     (e)  (1)   Distribution   Agreement   between   American  Century  Variable
          Portfolios,  Inc. and Funds  Distributor,  Inc. dated January 15, 1998
          (filed electronically as Exhibit 6 to Post-Effective  Amendment No. 28
          to the Registration  Statement of American  Century Target  Maturities
          Trust on January 30, 1998, File No. 2-94608).

          (2) Amendment No. 1 to the  Distribution  Agreement  between  American
          Century Variable  Portfolios,  Inc. and Funds Distributor,  Inc. dated
          June 1, 1998  (filed  electronically  as Exhibit 6b to  Post-Effective
          Amendment  No. 11 to the  Registration  Statment of  American  Century
          Capital Portfolios, Inc. on June 26, 1998, File No. 33-64872).

          (3) Amendment No. 2 to the  Distribution  Agreement  between  American
          Century Variable  Portfolios,  Inc. and Funds Distributor,  Inc. dated
          December 1, 1998 (filed electronically as Exhibit 6c to Post-Effective
          Amendment  No. 12 to the  Registration  Statement of American  Century
          World Mutual Funds, Inc. on November 13, 1998, File No. 33-39242).

          (4) Amendment No. 3 to the  Distribution  Agreement  between  American
          Century World Mutual Funds,  Inc. and Funds  Distributor,  Inc.  dated
          January 29, 1999 (filed electronically as Exhibit e4 to Post-Effective
          Amendment  No. 24 to the  Registration  Statement on January 15, 1999,
          File No. 33-14567).

     (f)  Not applicable.

     (g)  (1) Global Custody  Agreement between The Chase Manhattan Bank and the
          Twentieth  Century  and  Benham  Funds,  dated  August 9, 1996  (filed
          electronically as Exhibit 8 to Post-Effective  Amendment No. 31 to the
          Registration Statement of American Century Government Income Trust, on
          February 7, 1997, File No. 2-99222).

          (2) Master Agreement by and between Twentieth  Century Services,  Inc.
          and Commerce Bank,  N.A. dated January 22, 1997 (filed  electronically
          as Exhibit 8e to  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 76 to the Registration
          Statement of American Century Mutual Funds, on February 28, 1997, File
          No. 33-14213).

     (h)  Transfer  Agency  Agreement  with  Twentieth  Century  Services,  Inc.
          (formerly  J.E.  Stowers & Company)  dated  October  15,  1987  (filed
          electronically as Exhibit 9 to Post-Effective  Amendment No. 19 to the
          Registration Statement on September 27, 1996, File No. 33-14567).

     (i)  Opinion and Consent of Counsel is included herein.

     (j)  (1) Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP to be filed by amendment.

          (2) Consent of Baird, Kurtz & Dobson to be filed by amendment.

          (3) Power of Attorney  dated July 25, 1998  (filed  electronically  as
          Exhibit  j3 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 24 to the  Registration
          Statement on January 15, 1999, File No. 33-14567).

     (k)  Not applicable.

     (l)  Not applicable.

     (m)  Not applicable.

     (n)  (1) Financial  Data Schedule for VP Capital  Appreciation  is included
          herein.

          (2) Financial Data Schedule for VP Balanced is included herein.

          (3) Financial Data Schedule for VP Advantage is included herein.

          (4) Financial Data Schedule for VP International is included herein.

          (5) Financial Data Schedule for VP Value is included herein.

          (6) Financial Data Schedule for VP Income & Growth is included herein.

     (o)  Not applicable.

ITEM 24.   Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control with Registrant - Not
           applicable.

ITEM 25.  Indemnification.

           The  Registrant  is a  Maryland  corporation.  Section  2- 418 of the
           Maryland  General  Corporation  Law allows a Maryland  corporation to
           indemnify its officers, directors, employees and agents to the extent
           provided in such statute.

           Article XIII of the Registrant's  Amended Articles of  Incorporation,
           Exhibits  1(a)  and  1(b),   requires  the   indemnification  of  the
           Registrant's  directors  and  officers  to the  extent  permitted  by
           Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Investment
           Company Act of 1940 and all other applicable laws.

           The  Registrant  has  purchased  an  insurance  policy  insuring  its
           officers  and  directors  against  certain   liabilities  which  such
           officers and directors may incur while acting in such  capacities and
           providing  reimbursement  to the  Registrant for sums which it may be
           permitted or required to pay to its officers and  directors by way of
           indemnification  against such liabilities,  subject in either case to
           clauses respecting deductibility and participation.

ITEM 26.   Business and Other Connections of Investment Advisor.

           American Century Investment Management, Inc., the investment advisor,
           is engaged in the  business of managing  investments  for  registered
           investment   companies,   deferred   compensation   plans  and  other
           institutional investors.

ITEM 27.   Principal Underwriters.

            (a)   Funds Distributor,  Inc. (the "Distributor") acts as principal
                  underwriter for the following investment companies.

               American Century California Tax-Free and Municipal Funds
               American Century Capital Portfolios, Inc.
               American Century Government Income Trust
               American Century International Bond Funds
               American Century Investment Trust
               American Century Municipal Trust
               American Century Mutual Funds, Inc.
               American Century Premium Reserves, Inc.
               American Century Quantitative Equity Funds
               American Century Strategic Asset Allocations, Inc.
               American Century Target Maturities Trust
               American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.
               American Century World Mutual Funds, Inc.
               The Brinson Funds
               Dresdner RCM Capital Funds, Inc.
               Dresdner RCM Equity Funds, Inc.
               Harris Insight Funds Trust
               HT Insight Funds, Inc. d/b/a Harris Insight Funds
               J.P. Morgan Institutional Funds
               J.P. Morgan Funds
               JPM Series Trust
               JPM Series Trust II
               LaSalle Partners Funds, Inc.
               Kobrick-Cendant Investment Trust
               Merrimac Series
               Monetta Fund, Inc.
               Monetta Trust
               The Montgomery Funds I
               The Montgomery Funds II
               The Munder Framlington Funds Trust
               The Munder Funds Trust
               The Munder Funds, Inc.
               National Investors Cash Management Fund, Inc.
               Orbitex Group of Funds
               SG Cowen Funds, Inc.
               SG Cowen Income + Growth Fund, Inc.
               SG Cowen Standby Reserve Fund, Inc.
               SG Cowen Standby Tax-Exempt Reserve Fund, Inc.
               SG Cowen Series Funds, Inc.
               St. Clair Funds, Inc.
               The Skyline Funds
               Waterhouse Investors Family of Funds, Inc.
               WEBS Index Fund, Inc.

               The  Distributor  is registered  with the Securities and Exchange
               Commission  as a  broker-dealer  and is a member of the  National
               Association of Securities Dealers.  The Distributor is located at
               60 State Street,  Suite 1300,  Boston,  Massachusetts  02109. The
               Distributor  is an  indirect  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of Boston
               Institutional  Group,  Inc.,  a  holding  company  all  of  whose
               outstanding shares are owned by key employees.

            (b)   The following is a list of the executive  officers,  directors
                  and partners of the Distributor:

<TABLE>
Name and Principal Business          Positions and Offices with          Positions and Offices with
Address*                             Underwriter                         Registrant

<S>                                 <C>                                 <C>
Marie E. Connolly                    Director, President and Chief       none
                                     Executive Officer

George A. Rio                        Executive Vice President            President, Principal Executive
                                                                         and Principal Financial Officer

Donald R. Roberson                   Executive Vice President            none

William S. Nichols                   Executive Vice President            none

Margaret W. Chambers                 Senior Vice President, General      none
                                     Counsel, Chief Compliance
                                     Officer, Secretary and Clerk

Michael S. Petrucelli                Senior Vice President               none

Joseph F. Tower, III                 Director, Senior Vice President,    none
                                     Treasurer and Chief Financial
                                     Officer

Paula R. David                       Senior Vice President               none

Gary S. MacDonald                    Senior Vice President               none

Judith K. Benson                     Senior Vice President               none

William J. Nutt                      Chairman and Director               none
- --------------------
* All addresses are 60 State Street, Suite 1300, Boston, Massachusetts 02109
</TABLE>

            (c)   Not applicable.

ITEM 28.   Location of Accounts and Records.

           All accounts,  books and other documents required to be maintained by
           Section 31(a) of the 1940 Act, and the rules promulgated  thereunder,
           are  in the  possession  of  Registrant,  American  Century  Services
           Corporation and American  Century  Investment  Management,  Inc., all
           located at American  Century  Tower,  4500 Main Street,  Kansas City,
           Missouri 64111.

ITEM 29.   Management Services - Not applicable.

ITEM 30.   Undertakings.

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

     Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act of  1933  and  the
Investment Company Act of 1940, American Century Variable Portfolios,  Inc., the
Registrant,  certifies that it has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment No.
25 to its Registration  Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized,  in the City of Kansas City, State of Missouri on the
17th day of March, 1999.

                           American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.
                           (Registrant)

                           By:/*/George A. Rio
                              George A. Rio, President, Principal Executive
                              and Principal Financial Officer

     Pursuant  to  the   requirements  of  the  Securities  Act  of  1933,  this
Post-Effective  Amendment No. 25 has been signed below by the following  persons
in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                                 Title                           Date
<S>                                <C>                               <C>
*George A. Rio                     President, Principal Executive    March 17, 1999
- -------------------------          and Principal Financial Officer
George A. Rio

*Maryanne Roepke                   Vice President and Treasurer      March 17, 1999
- -------------------------
Maryanne Roepke

*James E. Stowers, Jr.             Director                          March 17, 1999
- -------------------------
James E. Stowers, Jr.

*James E. Stowers III              Director                          March 17, 1999
- -------------------------
James E. Stowers, III

*Thomas A. Brown                   Director                          March 17, 1999
- -------------------------
Thomas A. Brown

*Robert W. Doering, M.D.           Director                          March 17, 1999
- -------------------------
Robert W. Doering, M.D.

*Andrea C. Hall, Ph.D.             Director                          March 17, 1999
- -------------------------
Andrea C. Hall, Ph.D.

*D. D. (Del) Hock                  Director                          March 17, 1999
- -------------------------
D. D. (Del) Hock

*Donald H. Pratt                   Director                          March 17, 1999
- -------------------------
Donald H. Pratt

*Lloyd T. Silver, Jr.              Director                          March 17, 1999
- -------------------------
Lloyd T. Silver, Jr.

*M. Jeannine Strandjord            Director                          March 17, 1999
- -------------------------
M. Jeannine Strandjord


*By /s/Charles A. Etherington
    Charles A. Etherington
    Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit     Description of Document
Number

EX-99.a1    Articles of Incorporation of TCI Portfolios, Inc. dated June 3, 1987
            (filed as  Exhibit  1.1 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 17 to the
            Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of the  Registrant,  File No.
            33-14567,  filed on January 16,  1996,  and  incorporated  herein by
            reference).

EX-99.a2    Articles of Amendment of TCI  Portfolios,  Inc.  dated July 22, 1988
            (filed as  Exhibit  1.2 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 17 to the
            Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of the  Registrant,  File No.
            33-14567,  filed on January 16,  1996,  and  incorporated  herein by
            reference).

EX-99.a3    Articles of Amendment of TCI Portfolios,  Inc. dated August 11, 1993
            (filed as  Exhibit  1.3 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 17 to the
            Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of the  Registrant,  File No.
            33-14567,  filed on January 16,  1996,  and  incorporated  herein by
            reference).

EX-99.a4    Articles  Supplementary of TCI Portfolios,  Inc., dated November 30,
            1992 (filed as Exhibit 1.4 to Post-Effective Amendment No. 18 to the
            Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of the  Registrant,  File No.
            33-14567,  filed on March  20,  1996,  and  incorporated  herein  by
            reference).

EX-99.a5    Articles Supplementary of TCI Portfolios, Inc., dated April 24, 1995
            (filed as  Exhibit  1.5 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 18 to the
            Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of the  Registrant,  File No.
            33-14567,  filed on March  20,  1996,  and  incorporated  herein  by
            reference).

EX-99.a6    Articles Supplementary of TCI Portfolios, Inc., dated March 11, 1996
            (filed as  Exhibit  1.6 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 19 to the
            Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of the  Registrant,  File No.
            33-14567,  filed on September 27, 1996, and  incorporated  herein by
            reference).

EX-99.a7    Articles of Amendment of TCI Portfolios,  Inc.,  dated April 1, 1997
            (filed as  Exhibit  1.7 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 20 to the
            Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of the  Registrant,  File No.
            33-14567,  filed on April  28,  1997,  and  incorporated  herein  by
            reference).

EX-99.a8    Articles Supplementary of American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.
            dated May 1, 1997 (filed as Exhibit 1.8 to Post-Effective  Amendment
            No. 20 to the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant,
            File No. 33-14567,  filed on April 28, 1997, and incorporated herein
            by reference).

EX-99.a9    Articles Supplementary of American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.
            dated  July  28,  1997  (filed  as  Exhibit  1.9  to  Post-Effective
            Amendment No. 23 to the  Registration  Statement on Form N-1A of the
            Registrant,  File  No.  33-14567,  filed  on  April  27,  1998,  and
            incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.a10   Articles Supplementary of American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.
            dated February 16, 1999, is included herein.

EX-99.b1    Amended  and  Restated  By-Laws  of TCI  Portfolios,  Inc.(filed  as
            Exhibit 2 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 17 to the  Registration
            Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant,  File No. 33-14567,  filed
            on January 16, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.b2    Amendment  to  Amended  and  Restated  By-Laws of  American  Century
            Variable  Portfolios,  Inc.  (filed as Exhibit b2 to  Post-Effective
            Amendment No. 24 to the  Registration  Statement on Form N-1A of the
            Registrant,  File No.  33-14567,  filed on  January  15,  1999,  and
            incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.d     Management  Agreement between American Century Variable  Portfolios,
            Inc. and American Century Investment Management, Inc. dated November
            16, 1998 (filed as Exhibit d to  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 24 to
            the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant,  File No.
            33-14567,  filed on January 15,  1999,  and  incorporated  herein by
            reference).

EX-99.e1    Distribution Agreement between American Century Variable Portfolios,
            Inc. and Funds  Distributor,  Inc., dated January 15, 1998 (filed as
            Exhibit 6.1 to  Post-Effective  Amendment No. 28 to the Registration
            Statement on Form N-1A of the  American  Century  Target  Maturities
            Trust, File No. 2-94608, filed on January 30, 1998, and incorporated
            herein by reference).

EX-99.e2    Amendment  No.  1 to the  Distribution  Agreement  between  American
            Century Variable Portfolios, Inc. and Funds Distributor,  Inc. dated
            June 1, 1998 (filed as Exhibit 6b to Post-Effective Amendment No. 11
            to the  Registration  Statement  on Form  N-1A of  American  Century
            Capital Portfolios, Inc., File No. 33-64872, filed on June 26, 1998,
            and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.e3    Amendment  No.  2 to the  Distribution  Agreement  between  American
            Century Variable Portfolios, Inc. and Funds Distributor,  Inc. dated
            December  1, 1998 (filed as Exhibit 6c to  Post-Effective  Amendment
            No. 12 to the  Registration  Statement  of  American  Century  World
            Mutual Funds,  Inc. , File No. 33-39242,  filed on November 13, 1998
            and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.e4    Amendment No. 3 to Distribution  Agreement  between American Century
            Variable Portfolios, Inc. and Funds Distributor,  Inc. dated January
            29, 1999 (filed as Exhibit e4 to Post-Effective  Amendment No. 24 to
            the Registration Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant,  File No.
            33-14567,  filed on January 15,  1999,  and  incorporated  herein by
            reference).

EX-99.g1    Global Custody  Agreement  between The Chase  Manhattan Bank and the
            Twentieth  Century and Benham Funds,  dated August 9, 1996 (filed as
            Exhibit 8 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 31 to the  Registration
            Statement on Form N-1A of American Century  Government Income Trust,
            File No. 2-99222, filed on February 7, 1997, and incorporated herein
            by reference).

EX-99.g2    Master Agreement by and between Twentieth Century Services, Inc. and
            Commerce  Bank,  N.A. dated January 22, 1997 (filed as Exhibit 8e to
            Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 76 to the  Registration  Statement on
            Form N-1A of American Century Mutual Funds,  Inc., File No. 2-14213,
            filed on February 28, 1997, and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.h     Transfer  Agency  Agreement with Twentieth  Century  Services,  Inc.
            (formerly J. E. Stowers & Company)  dated October 15, 1987 (filed as
            Exhibit 9 to  Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 19 to the  Registration
            Statement on Form N-1A of the Registrant,  File No. 33-14567,  filed
            on September 27, 1996, and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-99.i     Opinion and Consent of Counsel is included herein.

EX-99.j1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP to be filed by amendment.

EX-99.j2    Consent of Baird, Kurtz & Dobson to be filed by amendment.

EX-99.j3    Power of  Attorney  dated  July 25,  1998  (filed as  Exhibit  j3 to
            Post-Effective  Amendment  No. 24 to the  Registration  Statement on
            Form N-1A of the Registrant, File No. 33-14567, filed on January 15,
            1999, and incorporated herein by reference).

EX-27.1.1   Financial Data Schedule for American Century VP Capital Appreciation
            is included herein.

EX-27.7.2   Financial Data Schedule for American Century VP Balanced is included
            herein.

EX-27.7.3   Financial  Data  Schedule  for  American  Century  VP  Advantage  is
            included herein.

EX-27.1.4   Financial  Data Schedule for American  Century VP  International  is
            included herein.

EX-27.1.5   Financial  Data  Schedule for American  Century VP Value is included
            herein.

EX-27.1.6   Financial  Data Schedule for American  Century VP Income & Growth is
            included herein.

                   AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.

                             ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY

         AMERICAN  CENTURY  VARIABLE  PORTFOLIOS,  INC., a Maryland  corporation
whose  principal  Maryland  office  is  located  in  Baltimore,   Maryland  (the
"Corporation"),  hereby  certifies to the State  Department of  Assessments  and
Taxation of Maryland that:

         FIRST:  The Corporation is registered as an open-end  company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940.

         SECOND:  Pursuant  to  authority  expressly  vested  in  the  Board  of
Directors of the  Corporation  by Section  2-605(a)(4)  of the Maryland  General
Corporation  Law, the Board of Directors of the Corporation has renamed the duly
established and allocated series of the Corporation's stock as follows:

Prior Series Name                                 New Series Name
- -----------------                                 ---------------
American Century VP Value                         VP Value Fund
American Century VP International                 VP International Fund
American Century VP Capital Appreciation          VP Capital Appreciation Fund
American Century VP Balanced                      VP Balanced Fund
American Century VP Advantage                     VP Advantage Fund
American Century VP Income & Growth               VP Income & Growth Fund

The name changes shall be effective on March 1, 1999.

         THIRD:  Except as otherwise provided by the express provisions of these
Articles  Supplementary,  nothing herein shall limit, by inference or otherwise,
the  discretionary  right of the Board of  Directors to  serialize,  classify or
reclassify and issue any unissued  shares of any Series or Class or any unissued
shares that have not been  allocated  to a Series or Class,  and to fix or alter
all terms thereof,  to the full extent provided by the Articles of Incorporation
of the Corporation.

         FOURTH:  A description  of the series and classes of shares,  including
the  preferences,  conversion  and other rights,  voting  powers,  restrictions,
limitations  as to  dividends,  qualifications,  and  terms and  conditions  for
redemption is set forth in the Articles of  Incorporation of the Corporation and
is not  changed by these  Articles  Supplementary,  except  with  respect to the
creation and/or designation of the various Series.

         FIFTH:   The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Corporation  duly  adopted
resolutions renaming the Series, as set forth in Article SECOND.

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  AMERICAN CENTURY  VARIABLE  PORTFOLIOS,  INC. has
caused these Articles  Supplementary  to be signed and  acknowledged in its name
and on its behalf by its Vice  President and its  corporate  seal to be hereunto
affixed and attested to by its Assistant Secretary on this 16th day of February,
1999.

                                            AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE
ATTEST:                                     PORTFOLIOS, INC.


/s/ Janet A. Nash                           By: /s/ David C. Tucker
Name: Janet A. Nash                         Name: David C. Tucker
Title:  Assistant Secretary                 Title:  Vice President


         THE UNDERSIGNED  Executive Vice President of AMERICAN  CENTURY VARIABLE
PORTFOLIOS,  INC.,  who  executed on behalf of said  Corporation  the  foregoing
Articles Supplementary to the Charter, of which this certificate is made a part,
hereby  acknowledges,  in the name of and on  behalf  of said  Corporation,  the
foregoing Articles  Supplementary to the Charter to be the corporate act of said
Corporation,  and  further  certifies  that,  to  the  best  of  his  knowledge,
information and belief,  the matters and facts set forth therein with respect to
the approval  thereof are true in all material  respects  under the penalties of
perjury.



Dated:  February 16, 1999                      /s/ David C. Tucker
                                               David C. Tucker, Vice President

                             Charles A. Etherington
                                Attorney at Law
                       4500 Main Street * P.O. Box 418210
                        Kansas City, Missouri 64141-9210

                                                                  March 17, 1999

American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.
American Century Tower
4500 Main Street
Kansas City, Missouri  64111

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         As  counsel  to  American  Century  Variable   Portfolios,   Inc.  (the
"Corporation"),  I am  generally  familiar  with its  affairs.  Based  upon this
familiarity, and upon the examination of such documents as I deemed relevant, it
is my opinion that the shares of the  Corporation  described  in  Post-Effective
Amendment  No. 25 to its  Registration  Statement on Form N-1A, to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission on March 17, 1999, will, when issued, be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         For the  record,  it should be stated  that I am an officer of American
Century  Services  Corporation,  an affiliated  corporation of American  Century
Investment Management, Inc., the investment advisor of the Corporation.

         I hereby  consent  to the use of this  opinion  as an  exhibit to Post-
Effective Amendment No. 25.

                                Very truly yours,


                                /s/Charles A. Etherington
                                Charles A. Etherington

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  VARIABLE  PORTFOLIOS,  INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000814680
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 1
   <NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VP CAPITAL APPRECIATION
       
<S>                                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     DEC-31-1998                
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                          356,605,334
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                         448,840,201
<RECEIVABLES>                                                    2,332,732
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                     385,300
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                     0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                 451,558,233
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                         1,266,758
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                  0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                        1,590,405
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                              2,857,163
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                    497,567
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                       397,007,185
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                           49,756,671
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                           55,488,933
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                           15,357
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                        (41,039,082)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                        92,220,043
<NET-ASSETS>                                                   448,701,070
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                3,146,953
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                1,417,644
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                           0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                   4,899,197
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                           (334,600)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                       (41,109,709)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                       29,971,452
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                          (11,472,857)
<EQUALIZATION>                                                           0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                                0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                        27,508,013  
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                    0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                          9,910,966
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                     24,365,539
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                              2,859,461  
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                        (144,996,986)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                                  0  
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                          119,722  
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                  0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                               0  
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                           23,548,552
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                441,551,286
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                           489,458,907  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 9.68  
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                       0.01
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                               0.17  
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                  0.00  
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                             0.48  
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                  0.00  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                   9.02  
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                       1.00  
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                   0  
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                  0.00  
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  VARIABLE  PORTFOLIOS,  INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000814680
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 2
   <NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VP BALANCED
       
<S>                                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     DEC-31-1998                
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                          261,971,782
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                         287,558,010
<RECEIVABLES>                                                    1,447,927
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                     291,126
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                     0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                 289,297,063
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                         1,098,684
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                  0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                        7,761,559
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                              8,860,243
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                    336,063
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                       212,674,300
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                           33,606,285
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                           34,179,963
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                        5,367,392
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                         36,472,837
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                        25,586,228
<NET-ASSETS>                                                   280,436,820
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                1,193,995
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                6,613,052
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                           0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                   2,422,986
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                          5,384,061
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                        37,379,163
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                       (5,946,383)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                           36,816,841
<EQUALIZATION>                                                           0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                        4,070,492
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                        25,240,781  
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                    0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                         10,866,022
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                      7,676,450
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                              3,831,539  
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                          61,349,585
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                          2,365,709  
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                       12,335,017  
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                  0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                               0  
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                            2,453,205
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                  2,422,986
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                           248,787,629  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 8.24  
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                       0.16
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                               1.04  
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                  0.15  
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                             0.95  
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                  0.00  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                   8.34  
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                       1.00  
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                   0  
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                  0.00  
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  VARIABLE  PORTFOLIOS,  INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000814680
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 3
   <NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VP ADVANTAGE
       
<S>                                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                     DEC-31-1998                
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                           21,983,326
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                          26,165,755
<RECEIVABLES>                                                      149,203
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                           0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                40,787
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  26,355,745
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                                 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                  0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                           47,275
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                                 47,275
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                     37,920
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                        19,791,670
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                            3,792,029
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                            3,996,764
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                          691,174
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                   0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                          1,605,277
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                         4,182,429
<NET-ASSETS>                                                    26,308,470
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                   69,101
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                  878,688
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                           0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                     253,697
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                            694,092
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                         1,680,064
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                        1,644,573
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                            4,018,729
<EQUALIZATION>                                                           0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                          550,641
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                         2,071,935  
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                    0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                            203,590
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                        657,844
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                423,680  
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                           1,064,677
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                            344,178  
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                        1,143,978  
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                  0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                               0  
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                              253,470
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                       0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                    253,697
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                            25,347,044  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                 6.60  
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                       0.19
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                               0.86  
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                  0.15  
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                             0.56  
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                  0.00  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                   6.94  
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                       1.00  
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                   0  
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                  0.00  
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  VARIABLE  PORTFOLIOS,  INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000814680
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 4
   <NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VP INTERNATIONAL
       
<S>                                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                    DEC-31-1998                
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                         343,338,902
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                        433,334,578
<RECEIVABLES>                                                   3,201,653
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                  1,851,318
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                438,387,549
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                        9,188,460
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                      10,236,965
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                            19,425,425
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                   549,590
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                      356,187,888
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                          54,959,040
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                          51,243,729
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                         156,660
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                  0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                       (27,769,036)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                       89,837,022
<NET-ASSETS>                                                  418,962,124
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                               4,716,243
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                               1,369,505
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                          0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                  5,200,923
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                           884,825
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                      (26,673,060)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                      66,336,554
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                          40,548,319
<EQUALIZATION>                                                          0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                       1,512,683
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                       15,528,803  
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                        91,449,353
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                    70,474,226
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                             2,328,072  
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                        202,439,402
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                         1,303,985  
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                       1,168,538  
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                              0  
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                           5,241,848
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                      0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                 5,200,923
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                          353,285,396  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                6.84  
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                      0.02
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                              1.24  
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                 0.04  
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                            0.44  
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                 0.00  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                  7.62  
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                      1.47  
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                  0  
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                 0.00  
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  VARIABLE  PORTFOLIOS,  INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000814680
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 5
   <NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VP VALUE
       
<S>                                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                    DEC-31-1998                
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                         325,697,107
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                        314,386,478
<RECEIVABLES>                                                   6,209,297
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                    201,132
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                320,796,907
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                        3,310,764
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                         861,836
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                             4,172,600
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                   470,689
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                      302,478,743
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                          47,068,888
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                          40,862,872
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                       3,177,765
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                  0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                        21,807,739
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                      (11,310,629)
<NET-ASSETS>                                                  316,624,307
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                               5,324,273
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                 488,245
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                          0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                  2,625,978
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                         3,186,540
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                       23,459,587
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                     (17,029,740)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                           9,616,387
<EQUALIZATION>                                                          0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                       1,377,964
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                       16,451,672  
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                        26,235,037
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                     8,855,524
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                             2,558,054  
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                        128,609,149
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                         1,305,024  
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                      17,903,141  
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                              0  
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                           2,623,453
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                      0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                 2,625,978
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                          262,345,282  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                6.93  
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                      0.08
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                              0.27  
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                 0.04  
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                            0.51  
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                 0.00  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                  6.73  
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                      1.00  
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                  0  
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                 0.00  
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION  EXTRACTED FROM THE ANNUAL
REPORT OF AMERICAN  CENTURY  VARIABLE  PORTFOLIOS,  INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS
ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH REPORT.
</LEGEND>
<CIK> 0000814680
<NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 6
   <NAME> AMERICAN CENTURY VP INCOME & GROWTH
       
<S>                                           <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                    DEC-31-1998                
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                                         100,358,582
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                                        111,097,494
<RECEIVABLES>                                                     135,100
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                                    768,660
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                112,001,254
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                                        2,153,160
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                                                 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                                         222,222
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                                             2,375,382
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                                   161,585
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                                       99,639,012
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                                          16,158,457
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                                           4,880,979
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                                          24,915
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                                                  0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                                        (1,400,406)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                                                0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                                       11,200,766
<NET-ASSETS>                                                  109,625,872
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                                 650,048
<INTEREST-INCOME>                                                 143,244
<OTHER-INCOME>                                                          0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                                    261,245
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                                           532,047
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                                       (1,398,202)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                                      11,135,350
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                                          10,269,195
<EQUALIZATION>                                                          0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                                         510,742
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                                           11,379  
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                                   0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                                        20,962,716
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                                     5,112,938
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                                80,307  
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                                        108,395,746
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                                            85,712  
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                                        (111,781) 
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                                                 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                                              0  
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                                             260,827
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                      0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                                   261,245
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                                           37,260,916  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                                                5.39  
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                                      0.03
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                                              1.41  
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                                 0.04  
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                                            0.01  
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                                 0.00  
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                                                  6.78  
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                                      0.70  
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                                                  0  
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                                 0.00  
        

</TABLE>


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