<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 12/31/95
000 C000000 0000827119
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT
001 B000000 811-5448
001 C000000 6179545000
002 A000000 ONE SUN LIFE EXECUTIVE PARK
002 B000000 WELLESLEY HILLS
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02181
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 MASSACHUSETTS FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-17352
008 D010001 BOSTON
008 D020001 MA
008 D030001 02116
011 A000001 CLARENDON INSURANCE AGENCY
011 B000001 8-21590
011 C010001 BOSTON
011 C020001 MA
011 C030001 02116
012 A000001 SUN LIFE ANNUITY SERVICE CENTER
012 B000001 84-
012 C010001 BOSTON
012 C020001 MA
012 C030001 02103
013 A000001 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B010001 BOSTON
013 B020001 MA
<PAGE> PAGE 2
013 B030001 02110
014 A000001 SUN INVESTMENT SERVICES COMPANY
014 B000001 8-16198
015 A000001 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02110
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
015 B000002 S
015 C010002 NEW YORK
015 C020002 NY
015 C030002 10081
015 E040002 X
015 A000003 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000003 S
015 C010003 NEW YORK
015 C020003 NY
015 C030003 10286
015 E010003 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 7
019 C000000 COMPASSFDS
020 A000001 PAINWEBBER INCORPORATED
020 B000001 13-2638166
020 C000001 20
020 A000002 MORGAN J.P. SECURITIES
020 B000002 13-3224016
020 C000002 13
020 A000003 BEAR STEARNS & CO.
020 B000003 13-4946705
020 C000003 11
020 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY
020 B000004 13-2655998
020 C000004 9
020 A000005 MERRILL LYNCH
020 B000005 13-5674085
020 C000005 8
020 A000006 WERTHEIM SCHRODER & CO.
020 B000006 13-2697272
020 C000006 6
020 A000007 PRIVATE LEDGER FINANCIAL SERVICES
020 B000007 95-2834236
020 C000007 5
020 A000008 SALOMON BROTHERS
020 B000008 13-3082694
020 C000008 5
020 A000009 PRUDENTIAL BACHE SECURITIES
020 B000009 22-2347336
<PAGE> PAGE 3
020 C000009 4
020 A000010 CS FIRST BOSTON CORP.
020 B000010 13-5659485
020 C000010 4
021 000000 183
022 A000001 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000001 13-2518466
022 C000001 380178
022 D000001 17136
022 A000002 CHEMICAL BANK
022 B000002 13-4994650
022 C000002 297042
022 D000002 956
022 A000003 FORD MOTOR CREDIT
022 B000003 38-1612444
022 C000003 207488
022 D000003 0
022 A000004 CS FIRST BOSTON
022 B000004 13-5659485
022 C000004 188165
022 D000004 10511
022 A000005 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
022 B000005 13-5108880
022 C000005 92785
022 D000005 34309
022 A000006 GE FINANCIAL
022 B000006 06-1109503
022 C000006 124070
022 D000006 0
022 A000007 PRUDENTIAL BACHE SECURITIES
022 B000007 22-2347336
022 C000007 103364
022 D000007 5130
022 A000008 HONG KONG-SHANGHAI BANK
022 B000008 00-0000000
022 C000008 100490
022 D000008 5400
022 A000009 NATIONSBANK
022 B000009 75-0520130
022 C000009 100738
022 D000009 204
022 A000010 BANK OF AMERICA
022 B000010 94-1687665
022 C000010 92391
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 1976707
023 D000000 209452
024 000000 Y
025 A000001 GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP
025 B000001 13-5108880
025 C000001 D
<PAGE> PAGE 4
025 D000001 355
025 A000002 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
025 B000002 13-2518466
025 C000002 D
025 D000002 1043
025 A000003 ALEX BROWN, INC.
025 B000003 52-1319768
025 C000003 D
025 D000003 531
025 A000004 TRAVELERS GROUP, INC.
025 B000004 00-0000000
025 C000004 D
025 D000004 672
025 A000005 TRAVELERS GROUP, INC.
025 B000005 00-0000000
025 C000005 E
025 D000005 1069
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 2019
028 A020000 0
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 4558
028 B010000 1135
028 B020000 0
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 2328
028 C010000 9518
028 C020000 0
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 9702
028 D010000 1502
028 D020000 0
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 3181
028 E010000 6089
028 E020000 0
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 7274
028 F010000 7137
<PAGE> PAGE 5
028 F020000 0
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 7544
028 G010000 27400
028 G020000 0
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 34587
028 H000000 0
029 000000 N
030 A000000 0
030 B000000 0.00
030 C000000 0.00
031 A000000 0
031 B000000 0
032 000000 0
033 000000 0
034 000000 Y
035 000000 250
036 A000000 N
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 Y
040 000000 N
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 0
042 D000000 0
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 0
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 300000
048 A020000 0.750
048 B010000 0
048 B020000 0.000
048 C010000 0
048 C020000 0.000
048 D010000 0
048 D020000 0.000
048 E010000 0
048 E020000 0.000
048 F010000 0
048 F020000 0.000
048 G010000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 6
048 G020000 0.000
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 300000
048 K020000 0.675
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 Y
053 B000000 N
053 C000000 Y
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 N
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 N
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 N
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 N
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 N
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056 000000 Y
057 000000 N
058 A000000 Y
058 B000000 Y
058 C000000 N
058 D000000 N
058 E000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 300
062 A000000 N
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 0.0
062 D000000 0.0
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 7
062 H000000 0.0
062 I000000 0.0
062 J000000 0.0
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 0.0
062 N000000 0.0
062 O000000 0.0
062 P000000 0.0
062 Q000000 0.0
062 R000000 0.0
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 0.0
066 A000000 Y
066 B000000 N
066 C000000 N
066 D000000 N
066 E000000 N
066 F000000 N
066 G000000 Y
067 000000 Y
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 N
070 B010000 N
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 N
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 N
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 N
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 Y
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 Y
070 N010000 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 8
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 N
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 245873
071 B000000 254600
071 C000000 233583
071 D000000 105
072 A000000 12
072 B000000 7470
072 C000000 5059
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 -39
072 F000000 1834
072 G000000 0
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 0
072 J000000 113
072 K000000 0
072 L000000 16
072 M000000 11
072 N000000 0
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 37
072 S000000 1
072 T000000 206
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 2995
072 X000000 5213
072 Y000000 17
072 Z000000 7294
072AA000000 26520
072BB000000 0
072CC010000 24712
072CC020000 0
072DD010000 0
072DD020000 0
072EE000000 0
073 A010000 0.0000
073 A020000 0.0000
073 B000000 0.0000
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 116
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 25119
074 D000000 90733
074 E000000 812
074 F000000 148219
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 3141
074 K000000 253
074 L000000 5284
074 M000000 3
074 N000000 273680
074 O000000 4597
074 P000000 16
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 3227
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 265840
074 U010000 4801
074 U020000 6322
074 V010000 22.26
074 V020000 22.00
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 20041
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 243891
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A000000 NATIONAL UNION INSURANCE CO.
080 B000000 ICI MUTUAL
080 C000000 65000
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 102
082 A000000 Y
082 B000000 100
083 A000000 N
083 B000000 0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000 0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 10
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
SIGNATURE JAMES O. YOST
TITLE ASSISTANT TREASURER
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT COMPASS 2 AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FIANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<NAME> COMPASS 2 TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 221,937,118
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 264,883,088
<RECEIVABLES> 8,678,539
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,086
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 115,047
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 273,680,760
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,597,219
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,243,181
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,840,400
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 129,609,833
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 4,800,530
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5,409,930
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 52,365,312
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 40,919,113
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 42,946,102
<NET-ASSETS> 265,840,360
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 5,059,123
<INTEREST-INCOME> 7,469,511
<OTHER-INCOME> (38,895)
<EXPENSES-NET> 5,195,517
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7,294,222
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 26,520,304
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 24,711,044
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 58,525,570
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 279,239
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 888,639
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 42,091,664
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 42,045,094
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 14,398,807
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,834,114
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,991,881
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5,212,140
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 243,890,508
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.47
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.63
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.16
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.26
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.83
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT COMPASS 3 AND IS QUALIFIED
IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FIANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<NAME> COMPASS 3 TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 221,937,118
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 264,883,088
<RECEIVABLES> 8,678,539
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,086
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 115,047
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 273,680,760
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,597,219
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,243,181
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,840,400
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 129,609,833
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 6,321,821
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 7,348,922
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 52,365,312
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 40,919,113
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 42,946,102
<NET-ASSETS> 265,840,360
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 5,059,123
<INTEREST-INCOME> 7,469,511
<OTHER-INCOME> (38,895)
<EXPENSES-NET> 5,195,517
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7,294,222
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 26,520,304
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 24,711,044
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 58,525,570
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 690,605
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,717,706
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 42,091,664
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 42,045,094
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 14,398,807
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,834,114
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,991,881
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5,212,140
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 243,890,508
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 17.29
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.58
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.13
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 22.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.83
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT COMPASS 3 LEVEL 2 AND IS
QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FIANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<NAME> COMPASS 3 TOTAL RETURN VARIABLE ACCOUNT LEVEL 2
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 221,937,118
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 264,883,088
<RECEIVABLES> 8,678,539
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3,086
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 115,047
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 273,680,760
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 4,597,219
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 3,243,181
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 7,840,400
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 129,609,833
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,636,790
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 52,365,312
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 40,919,113
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 42,946,102
<NET-ASSETS> 265,840,360
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 5,059,123
<INTEREST-INCOME> 7,469,511
<OTHER-INCOME> (38,895)
<EXPENSES-NET> 5,195,517
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 7,294,222
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 26,520,304
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 24,711,044
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 58,525,570
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,714,479
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 77,689
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 42,091,664
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 42,045,094
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 14,398,807
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1,834,114
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 2,991,881
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 5,212,140
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 243,890,508
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.07
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.42
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.49
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.83
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
