ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
497, 1997-05-05
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<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
 
                                       OF
 
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                               ONE ALLSTATE DRIVE
                                 P.O. BOX 9095
                          FARMINGVILLE, NEW YORK 11738
 
                     INDIVIDUAL VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
 
                                 DISTRIBUTED BY
 
                           DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
                             TWO WORLD TRADE CENTER
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048
 
                              -------------------
 
This  Prospectus  describes the  individual  Flexible Premium  Deferred Variable
Annuity Contract ("Contract") offered by Allstate Life Insurance Company of  New
York  ("Company"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Insurance Company. Dean
Witter  Reynolds  Inc.  ("Dean  Witter")   is  the  principal  underwriter   and
distributor of the Contracts.
 
The  Contract has the flexibility  to allow you to shape  an annuity to fit your
particular needs. It  is primarily designed  to aid you  in long-term  financial
planning  and can be used for retirement planning regardless of whether the plan
qualifies for special federal income tax treatment.
 
This Prospectus is  a concise statement  of the relevant  information about  the
Allstate Life of New York Variable Annuity Account II ("Variable Account") which
you  should  know  before  making  a decision  to  purchase  the  Contract. This
Prospectus generally describes only the variable portion of the Contract. For  a
brief  summary of the fixed portion of  the Contract, see "The Fixed Account" on
page 18.
 
The Variable Account invests exclusively in  shares of the Dean Witter  Variable
Investment   Series  (the  "Fund"),  a  mutual   fund  managed  by  Dean  Witter
InterCapital Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
 
The Company has prepared and filed  a Statement of Additional Information  dated
May  1, 1997 with  the U.S. Securities  and Exchange Commission.  If you wish to
receive the Statement of Additional Information,  you may obtain a free copy  by
calling  or writing the Company  at the address below.  For your convenience, an
order form for the Statement of Additional  Information may be found on page  24
of  this  Prospectus. Before  ordering,  you may  wish  to review  the  Table of
Contents of  the  Statement  of  Additional  Information  on  page  23  of  this
Prospectus.  The Statement  of Additional  Information has  been incorporated by
reference into this Prospectus.
 
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                               ONE ALLSTATE DRIVE
                                 P.O. BOX 9095
                          FARMINGVILLE, NEW YORK 11738
                                 (516) 451-5170
 
                 THIS PROSPECTUS IS VALID ONLY WHEN ACCOMPANIED
                  OR PRECEDED BY A CURRENT PROSPECTUS FOR THE
                     DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
      EXCHANGE COMMISSION, NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY
           OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
                        CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
    PLEASE READ THIS PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY AND RETAIN IT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
 
                  THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS MAY 1, 1997.
<PAGE>
                  THE CONTRACTS ARE AVAILABLE ONLY IN NEW YORK
 
THIS  PROSPECTUS DOES  NOT CONSTITUTE AN  OFFERING IN ANY  JURISDICTION IN WHICH
SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE. NO DEALER, SALESMAN, OR OTHER PERSON  IS
AUTHORIZED  TO GIVE  ANY INFORMATION OR  MAKE ANY  REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION
WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND, IF  GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON.
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Glossary....................................................          3
Introduction................................................          5
Summary of Separate Account Expenses........................          7
Condensed Financial Information.............................          9
Performance Data............................................         10
Financial Statements........................................         10
Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York and the Variable
 Account....................................................         10
  Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York...............         10
  Dean Witter Reynolds Inc..................................         10
  The Variable Account......................................         11
  The Dean Witter Variable Investment Series................         11
The Contracts...............................................         12
  Purchase of the Contracts.................................         12
  Crediting of Initial Purchase Payments....................         12
  Allocation of Purchase Payments...........................         13
  Value of Variable Account Accumulation Units..............         13
  Transfers.................................................         13
  Surrender and Withdrawals.................................         14
  Default...................................................         14
Charges and Other Deductions................................         14
  Deductions from Purchase Payments.........................         14
  Early Withdrawal Charge...................................         14
  Contract Maintenance Charge...............................         15
  Administrative Expense Charge.............................         15
  Mortality and Expense Risk Charge.........................         15
  Taxes.....................................................         16
  Dean Witter Variable Investment Series Expenses...........         16
Benefits Under the Contract.................................         16
  Death Benefits Prior to the Payout Start Date.............         16
  Death Benefits After the Payout Start Date................         17
Income Payments.............................................         17
  Payout Start Date.........................................         17
  Amount of Variable Annuity Income Payments................         17
  Income Plans..............................................         18
The Fixed Account...........................................         18
  General Description.......................................         18
  Transfers, Surrenders, and Withdrawals....................         19
General Matters.............................................         19
  Owner.....................................................         19
  Beneficiary...............................................         19
  Delay of Payments.........................................         20
  Assignments...............................................         20
  Modification..............................................         20
  Customer Inquiries........................................         20
Federal Tax Matters.........................................         20
  Introduction..............................................         20
  Taxation of Annuities in General..........................         20
    Tax Deferral............................................         20
    Non-Natural Owners......................................         20
    Diversification Requirements............................         20
    Ownership Treatment.....................................         20
    Delayed Maturity Date...................................         21
    Taxation of Partial and Full Withdrawals................         21
    Taxation of Annuity Payments............................         21
    Taxation of Annuity Death Benefits......................         21
    Penalty Tax on Premature Distributions..................         21
    Aggregation of Annuity Contracts........................         21
  Tax Qualified Contracts...................................         21
    Restrictions Under Section 403(b) Plans.................         21
  Income Tax Withholding....................................         22
Voting Rights...............................................         22
Sales Commission............................................         22
Statement of Additional Information: Table of Contents......         23
Order Form..................................................         24
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
GLOSSARY
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
    ACCUMULATION  UNIT--An accounting unit  used to calculate  the Cash Value in
the Variable Account  prior to the  Payout Start Date.  Each Sub-Account of  the
Variable Account has its own distinct Accumulation Unit value.
 
    AGE--Age on last birthday.
 
    ANNUITANT--Includes  Annuitant and any Joint  Annuitant. A natural person(s)
whose  life  determines  the  duration   of  annuity  payments  involving   life
contingencies.
 
    ANNUITY   UNIT--An  accounting  unit  used  to  calculate  Variable  Annuity
payments. Each Sub-Account has a distinct Annuity Unit value.
 
    AUTOMATIC ADDITIONS--Additional Purchase Payments of  $25 or more which  are
made  automatically  from  the  Owner's  bank  account  or  Dean  Witter  Active
Assets-TM- Account.
 
    BENEFICIARY--The person(s) designated in the  Contract who, after the  death
of any Owner, or last surviving Annuitant may elect to receive the Death Benefit
or  continue the Contract as described in  "Benefits Under the Contract" on page
16.
 
    CASH VALUE--The sum  of the value  of all Accumulation  Units for the  Fixed
Account.
 
    COMPANY--The  issuer of the Contract, Allstate Life Insurance Company of New
York, which  is  an  indirect  wholly owned  subsidiary  of  Allstate  Insurance
Company.
 
    CONTRACT--The  Flexible Premium Deferred Variable  Annuity Contract known as
the "Allstate Life of New York Variable Annuity Account II" that is described in
this prospectus.
 
    CONTRACT ANNIVERSARY--An  anniversary  of the  date  that the  Contract  was
issued to the Owner.
 
    CONTRACT  YEAR--The year commencing  on either the Issue  Date or a Contract
Anniversary.
 
    DATE OF DEATH--The Date that an Owner and/or Annuitant dies causing a  Death
Benefit to be due.
 
    DEATH  BENEFIT--Prior to  the Payout Start  Date, the amount  payable on the
death of the Owner or Annuitant.
 
    DEATH BENEFIT ANNIVERSARY--Every  sixth Contract  Anniversary. For  example,
the  6th, 12th and 18th Contract Anniversaries are the first three Death Benefit
Anniversaries.
 
    DOLLAR COST AVERAGING--A method to transfer  $100 or more of the Cash  Value
in  the Money  Market Sub-Account automatically  to the other  Sub-Accounts on a
monthly basis or other frequencies that may be offered by the Company.
 
    DUE PROOF OF DEATH--One of the following:
 
        (a) A copy of a certified death certificate.
 
        (b) A copy of a certified decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as
          to the finding of death.
 
        (c) Any other proof satisfactory to the Company.
 
    EARLY WITHDRAWAL CHARGE--The charge that may  be assessed by the Company  on
full or partial withdrawals of the Purchase Payments in excess of the Withdrawal
Amount Without Early Withdrawal Charge.
 
    FIXED  ACCOUNT--All of the  assets of the  Company that are  not in separate
accounts. Contributions made to  the Fixed Account are  invested in the  general
account of the Company.
 
    FIXED ANNUITY--An annuity with payments having a guaranteed amount.
 
    FUND--The Dean Witter Variable Investment Series.
 
    GUARANTEE  PERIOD--The  period  of time  for  which  a credited  rate  on an
allocation or transfer to the Fixed Account is guaranteed.
 
    INCOME PAYMENTS--A series of periodic  annuity payments made by the  Company
to the Owner or Beneficiary.
 
    INVESTMENT  ALTERNATIVE--The Fixed Account and  the thirteen Sub-Accounts of
the Variable Account constitute the fourteen Investment Alternatives.
 
    JOINT ANNUITANT--The person, along with the Annuitant, whose life determines
the duration of annuity payments under a joint and last survivor annuity.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
    NET INVESTMENT  FACTOR--The  factor for  a  particular Sub-Account  used  to
determine  the value of an  Accumulation Unit and Annuity  Unit in any Valuation
Period.
 
    NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS--Contracts that do  not qualify for special  federal
income tax treatment.
 
    OWNER--The person or persons designated as the Owner(s) in the Contract.
 
    PAYOUT START DATE--The date Income Payments are to begin under the Contract.
 
    PORTFOLIOS--The   mutual  fund  portfolios  of   The  Dean  Witter  Variable
Investment Series.  The  Dean Witter  Variable  Investment Series  has  thirteen
separate  portfolios:  the  Money  Market  Portfolio,  the  Quality  Income Plus
Portfolio, the High Yield Portfolio, the Utilities Portfolio, the Income Builder
Portfolio, the  Dividend Growth  Portfolio, the  Capital Growth  Portfolio,  the
Global  Dividend Growth  Portfolio, the  European Growth  Portfolio, the Pacific
Growth Portfolio, the Capital Appreciation  Portfolio, the Equity Portfolio  and
the Strategist Portfolio.
 
    PURCHASE PAYMENTS--The premiums paid by the Owner to the Company.
 
    QUALIFIED  CONTRACTS--Contracts issued under plans  that qualify for special
federal income tax treatment.
 
    REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTION--For Qualified Contracts, partial  withdrawals
equal  to the IRS Required Minimum Distribution may be taken from the Cash Value
and sent to the Owner  or deposited in the Owner's  bank account or Dean  Witter
Active Assets-TM- Account.
 
    SETTLEMENT  VALUE--The  Cash  Value  less  any  applicable  Early Withdrawal
Charges and premium tax. The Settlement Value  will be calculated at the end  of
the valuation period coinciding with a request for payment.
 
    SUB-ACCOUNT--A  sub-division  of  the  Variable  Account.  Each  Sub-Account
invests exclusively in shares of a specified Portfolio.
 
    SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWALS--Partial withdrawals  of $100  or more  may be  taken
from  the Cash  Value and  sent to the  Owner or  deposited in  the Owner's bank
account or Dean Witter Active Assets-TM- Account or sent directly to the Owner.
 
    VALUATION DATE--Each  day that  the  New York  Stock  Exchange is  open  for
business, except for days in which there is an insufficient degree of trading in
the  Variable Account's portfolio  securities that the  value of Accumulation or
Annuity Units might not be  materially affected by changes  in the value of  the
portfolio  securities.  The Valuation  Date does  not  include such  Federal and
non-Federal holidays as are observed by the New York Stock Exchange.
 
    VALUATION PERIOD--The period between successive Valuation Dates,  commencing
at  the close  of business  of each Valuation  Date and  ending at  the close of
business of the next succeeding Valuation Date.
 
    VARIABLE ACCOUNT--Allstate Life of New  York Variable Annuity Account II,  a
separate investment account established by the Company to receive and invest the
Purchase Payments paid under the Contracts.
 
    VARIABLE  ANNUITY--An annuity  with payments  that have  no predetermined or
guaranteed dollar amounts. The payments will vary in amounts depending upon  the
investment experience of one or more of the Portfolios.
 
    WITHDRAWAL  AMOUNT WITHOUT  EARLY WITHDRAWAL  CHARGE--A portion  of the Cash
Value which may  be withdrawn  during the course  of the  Contract year  without
incurring an Early Withdrawal Charge, i.e., 15% of all Purchase Payments made.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
INTRODUCTION
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
1.  WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE CONTRACT?
 
    The  Contracts described in this Prospectus  seek to allow you to accumulate
funds and  to receive  annuity payments  ("Income Payments"),  when desired,  at
rates which depend upon the return achieved from the types of investment chosen.
THERE  IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THIS GOAL WILL BE ACHIEVED. In attempting to achieve
this goal,  the Owner  can allocate  Purchase Payments  to one  or more  of  the
Variable Account Portfolios.
 
Because  Income Payments and Cash Values invested in the Variable Account depend
on the investment  experience of the  selected Portfolios, the  Owner bears  the
entire investment risk for amounts allocated to the Variable Account. See "Value
of Variable Account Accumulation Units," page 13 and "Amount of Variable Annuity
Income Payments," page 17.
 
2.  HOW DO I PURCHASE A CONTRACT?
 
    You  may purchase  the Contract from  Dean Witter,  the Company's authorized
sales representative. The first  Purchase Payment must be  at least $4,000  (for
Qualified  Contracts,  $1,000). Presently,  the Company  will accept  an initial
Purchase Payment of  at least  $1,000, but reserves  the right  to increase  the
minimum  initial  Purchase  Payment  amount  to  $4,000.  See  "Purchase  of the
Contracts," page 12.
 
On  your  application,  you  will  allocate  your  Purchase  Payment  among  the
Investment  Alternatives. All allocations  must be in whole  percents from 0% to
100% and must total 100%.  Purchase payments may be  allocated in amounts of  no
less  than $100. Allocations may be changed by notifying the Company in writing.
See "Allocation of Purchase Payments," page 13.
 
3.  WHAT TYPES OF INVESTMENTS UNDERLIE THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT?
 
    The Variable  Account  invests exclusively  in  shares of  the  Dean  Witter
Variable  Investment Series (the  "Fund"), a mutual fund  managed by Dean Witter
InterCapital Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary  of Dean Witter, Discover & Co.  The
Fund  has thirteen  Portfolios: the Money  Market Portfolio,  the Quality Income
Plus Portfolio, the High  Yield Portfolio, the  Utilities Portfolio, the  Income
Builder  Portfolio, the Dividend Growth Portfolio, the Capital Growth Portfolio,
the Global Dividend Growth Portfolio, the European Growth Portfolio, the Pacific
Growth Portfolio, the Capital Appreciation  Portfolio, the Equity Portfolio  and
the Strategists Portfolio. The assets of each Portfolio are held separately from
the  other Portfolios and  each has distinct  investment objectives and policies
which are described in the accompanying Prospectus for the Fund. In addition  to
the  Variable Account, Owners  can also allocate  all or part  of their Purchase
Payments to the Fixed Account. See "The Fixed Account," page 18.
 
4.  CAN I TRANSFER AMOUNTS AMONG THE INVESTMENT ALTERNATIVES?
 
    Transfers must  be at  least $100  or the  entire amount  in the  Investment
Alternative,  whichever is less. Transfers to  any Guarantee Period of the Fixed
Account must be at least $500.  Dollar Cost Averaging automatically moves  funds
on  a monthly basis  (or other frequencies  that may be  offered by the Company)
from the Money Market Sub-Account to other Sub-Accounts of your choice.  Certain
transfers may be restricted. See "Transfers," page 13.
 
5.  CAN I GET MY MONEY IF I NEED IT?
 
    All  or part of the  Cash Value can be withdrawn  before the earliest of the
Payout Start Date, the death  of any Owner, or the  death of the last  surviving
Annuitant.  No Early Withdrawal  Charges will be  deducted on amounts  up to the
annual Withdrawal  Amount Without  Early  Withdrawal Charge,  i.e., 15%  of  all
Purchase  Payments made.  Amounts withdrawn in  excess of  the Withdrawal Amount
Without Early Withdrawal Charge may be subject to an Early Withdrawal Charge  of
0%  to  6% depending  on  how long  the  withdrawn Purchase  Payments  have been
invested in  the  Contract. THE  COMPANY  GUARANTEES THAT  THE  AGGREGATE  EARLY
WITHDRAWAL  CHARGES WILL NEVER  EXCEED 6% OF  THE PURCHASE PAYMENTS. Withdrawals
and surrenders may be subject to income tax and a 10% tax penalty. In  addition,
federal  and  state income  tax may  be withheld  from withdrawal  and surrender
amounts.  Additional  restrictions  may   apply  to  Qualified  Contracts.   See
"Surrender  and Withdrawals," page  14, and "Taxation  of Annuities in General,"
page 20.
 
6.  WHAT ARE THE CHARGES AND DEDUCTIONS UNDER THE CONTRACT?
 
    To meet its Death Benefit obligations and to pay expenses not covered by the
Contract Maintenance Charge, the  Company deducts a  Mortality and Expense  Risk
Charge of 1.25% and an Administrative Expense Charge of .10%. See "Mortality and
Expense Risk Charge,"
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
page  15 and  "Administrative Expense  Charge," page  15. Annually,  the Company
deducts $30 for  maintaining the  Contract. See  "Contract Maintenance  Charge,"
page  15.  The Company  may  also deduct  Early  Withdrawal Charges.  See "Early
Withdrawal Charge,"  page 14.  Additional  deductions may  be made  for  certain
taxes. See "Taxes," page 16.
 
7.  DOES THE CONTRACT PAY ANY GUARANTEED DEATH BENEFITS?
 
    The  Contracts provide that if the  Owner(s) or the last surviving Annuitant
dies prior to  the Payout Start  Date, a Death  Benefit may be  paid to the  new
Owner or Beneficiary. If requested to be paid in a lump sum within 180 days from
the  Date of Death, the Death Benefit will be the greatest of (1) the sum of all
Purchase  Payments  less  any  amounts  deducted  in  connection  with   partial
withdrawals  including any Early Withdrawal Charges  and premium tax; or (2) the
Cash Value on the date we receive Due  Proof of Death; or (3) the Cash Value  on
the  most  recent  Death  Benefit  Anniversary  less  any  amounts  deducted  in
connection with partial withdrawals, including any Early Withdrawal Charges  and
premium  tax deducted  from the Cash  Value, since that  anniversary. See "Death
Benefits Prior to the  Payout Start Date,"  page 16, for  a full description  of
Death Benefit options.
 
Prior  to the Payout  Start Date the Beneficiary  has 180 days  from the Date of
Death of the Owner(s) or Annuitant(s) to either elect an income plan or to  take
a  lump sum payment.  Death Benefits after  the Payout Start  Date, if any, will
depend on the income plan chosen. See "Benefits Under the Contract," page 16.
 
8.  IS THERE A FREE-LOOK PROVISION?
 
    The Owner(s) may cancel the Contract anytime within 10 days after receipt of
the Contract and  receive a full  refund of Purchase  Payments allocated to  the
Fixed  Account. Unless  a refund  of Purchase Payments  is required  by State or
Federal law,  Purchase  Payments  allocated  to the  Variable  Account  will  be
returned  after  an adjustment  to  reflect investment  gain  or loss,  less any
applicable Contract expenses, that occurred from the date of allocation  through
the date of cancellation.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
SUMMARY OF SEPARATE ACCOUNT EXPENSES
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
The  following fee table illustrates  all expenses and fees  that the Owner will
incur. The expenses and fees set forth  in the table are based on charges  under
the  Contracts and on  the expenses of  the separate account  and the underlying
fund for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996.
 
OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES (ALL SUB-ACCOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                   <C>
Sales Load Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of Purchase Payments)..............................       None
Early Withdrawal Charge (as a percentage of Purchase Payments)*
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                APPLICABLE SALES
                                                                                                                     CHARGE
NUMBER OF COMPLETE CONTRACT YEARS SINCE PURCHASE PAYMENT BEING WITHDRAWN WAS MADE                                  PERCENTAGE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------------
<S>                                                                                                             <C>
0 years.......................................................................................................         6%
1 year........................................................................................................         5%
2 years.......................................................................................................         4%
3 years.......................................................................................................         3%
4 years.......................................................................................................         2%
5 years.......................................................................................................         1%
6 years or more...............................................................................................         0%
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                   <C>
Exchange Fee........................................................................................       None
Annual Contract Fee.................................................................................       $ 30
</TABLE>
 
SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES (AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE ACCOUNT VALUE)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                   <C>
Mortality and Expense Risk Charge...................................................................      1.25%
Administrative Expense Charge.......................................................................       .10%
Total Separate Account Annual Expenses..............................................................      1.35%
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
 *  There are no Early Withdrawal Charges on amounts up to the Withdrawal Amount
    Without Early Withdrawal Charge.
 
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES ("FUND") EXPENSES
(AS A PERCENTAGE OF FUND AVERAGE ASSETS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             MANAGEMENT        OTHER
PORTFOLIO                                                                                       FEES         EXPENSES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  --------------  -------------
<S>                                                                                        <C>             <C>
Money Market.............................................................................        .50%            .02%
Quality Income Plus......................................................................        .50%(1)         .03%
High Yield...............................................................................        .50%            .01%
Utilities................................................................................        .65%(2)         .02%
Income Builder...........................................................................        .75%(3)         .07%
Dividend Growth..........................................................................        .56%(4)         .01%
Capital Growth...........................................................................        .65%            .08%
Global Dividend Growth...................................................................        .75%            .10%
European Growth..........................................................................       1.00%            .11%
Pacific Growth...........................................................................       1.00%            .37%
Capital Appreciation.....................................................................        .75%(3)         .07%
Equity...................................................................................        .50%(5)         .04%
Strategist...............................................................................        .50%            .02%
 
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             TOTAL FUND
PORTFOLIO                                                                                  ANNUAL EXPENSES
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ---------------
<S>                                                                                        <C>
Money Market.............................................................................         .52%
Quality Income Plus......................................................................         .53%
High Yield...............................................................................         .51%
Utilities................................................................................         .67%
Income Builder...........................................................................         .82%
Dividend Growth..........................................................................         .57%
Capital Growth...........................................................................         .73%
Global Dividend Growth...................................................................         .85%
European Growth..........................................................................        1.11%
Pacific Growth...........................................................................        1.37%
Capital Appreciation.....................................................................         .82%
Equity...................................................................................         .54%
Strategist...............................................................................         .52%
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
(1) This percentage is applicable to Portfolio net assets of up to $500 million.
    For net assets which exceed $500 million, the management fee will be 0.45%.
(2) This percentage is applicable to Portfolio net asets of up to $500  million.
    For net assets which exceed $500 million, the management fee will be 0.55%.
(3) Dean Witter InterCapital Inc. has undertaken to assume all expenses for both
    the  Income Builder Portfolio  and the Capital  Appreciation Portfolio until
    such time as the pertinent Portfolio has $50 million of net assets or  until
    six  months from  the date  of the  Portfolio's commencement  of operations,
    whichever occurs first.
(4) The management fee will be 0.625% for net assets of up to $500 million.  For
    net  assets which  exceed $500  million, but do  not exceed  $1 billion, the
    management fee will be 0.50% and for net assets that exceed $1 billion,  the
    management fee will be 0.475%.
(5) This  percentage is applicable to Portfolio net  assets of up to $1 billion.
    For net assets which exceed $1 billion, the management fee will be 0.475%.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
EXAMPLE
 
You (the  Owner)  would pay  the  following  expenses on  a  $1,000  investment,
assuming a 5% annual return under the following circumstances:
 
If  you surrender your Contract at the end  of the applicable time period (or if
you annuitize for a specified period of less than 120 months):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1 YEAR       3 YEARS      5 YEARS     10 YEARS
                                                                         -----     -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                   <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Money Market Sub-Account............................................   $      62    $      87    $     113    $     226
Quality Income Plus Sub-Account.....................................   $      62    $      87    $     114    $     227
High Yield Sub-Account..............................................   $      62    $      86    $     113    $     225
Utilities Sub-Account...............................................   $      64    $      91    $     121    $     242
Income Builder Sub-Account..........................................   $      65    $      96    $     130    $     259
Dividend Growth Sub-Account.........................................   $      63    $      88    $     116    $     232
Capital Growth Sub-Account..........................................   $      64    $      93    $     124    $     249
Global Dividend Growth Sub-Account..................................   $      66    $      97    $     131    $     261
European Growth Sub-Account.........................................   $      68    $     105    $     144    $     288
Pacific Growth Sub-Account..........................................   $      71    $     113    $     157    $     314
Capital Appreciation Sub-Account....................................   $      65    $      96    $     130    $     259
Equity Sub-Account..................................................   $      63    $      88    $     115    $     229
Strategist Sub-Account..............................................   $      62    $      87    $     114    $     227
</TABLE>
 
If you do  not surrender  your Contract  or if  you annuitize*  for a  specified
period of 120 months or more, at the end of the applicable time period:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1 YEAR       3 YEARS      5 YEARS     10 YEARS
                                                                         -----     -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                                                   <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Money Market Sub-Account............................................   $      20    $      61    $     105    $     226
Quality Income Plus Sub-Account.....................................   $      20    $      61    $     105    $     227
High Yield Sub-Account..............................................   $      20    $      61    $     104    $     225
Utilities Sub-Account...............................................   $      21    $      66    $     113    $     242
Income Builder Sub-Account..........................................   $      23    $      71    $     121    $     259
Dividend Growth Sub-Account.........................................   $      20    $      63    $     108    $     232
Capital Growth Sub-Account..........................................   $      22    $      68    $     116    $     249
Global Dividend Growth Sub-Account..................................   $      23    $      71    $     122    $     261
European Growth Sub-Account.........................................   $      26    $      79    $     135    $     288
Pacific Growth Sub-Account..........................................   $      29    $      87    $     149    $     314
Capital Appreciation Sub-Account....................................   $      23    $      71    $     121    $     259
Equity Sub-Account..................................................   $      20    $      62    $     106    $     229
Strategist Sub-Account..............................................   $      20    $      61    $     105    $     227
</TABLE>
 
The  above example should not  be considered a representation  of past or future
expense or  performance. Actual  expenses of  a Sub-Account  may be  greater  or
lesser  than those shown. The purpose of this  summary is to assist the Owner in
understanding the various costs and expenses  that Owners will bear directly  or
indirectly.
- ------------------------
 * Early  Withdrawal Charges may  be deducted from  the Cash Value  before it is
   applied to an income plan with a specified period of less than 120 months.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES AND NUMBER
                                                                                OF ACCUMULATION UNITS OUTSTANDING FOR
                                                                                  EACH SUB-ACCOUNT SINCE INCEPTION*
                                                                                       FOR THE YEARS BEGINNING
                                                                                  JANUARY 1 AND ENDING DECEMBER 31,
                                                                   ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     1991       1992       1993       1994       1995       1996
                                                                   ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
MONEY MARKET SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................    $10.452    $10.549    $10.765    $10.913    $11.178    $11.653
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................    $10.549    $10.765    $10.913    $11.178    $11.653    $12.084
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................     70,118    402,184    396,727  1,084,005    975,338  1,246,476
QUALITY INCOME PLUS SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................    $11.509    $12.163    $12.993    $14.487    $13.344    $16.373
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................    $12.163    $12.993    $14.487    $13.344    $16.373    $16.404
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................     64,174    524,450  2,173,013  2,144,417  2,100,915  1,859,637
HIGH YIELD SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................    $13.028    $13.982    $16.336    $20.022    $19.264    $21.859
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................    $13.982    $16.336    $20.022    $19.264    $21.859    $24.148
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................      1,622     15,225    159,150    239,258    323,251    404,887
UTILITIES SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................    $11.382    $12.454    $13.840    $15.798    $14.180    $17.999
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................    $12.454    $13.840    $15.798    $14.180    $17.999    $19.298
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................     36,552    404,297  1,563,593  1,409,729  1,361,709  1,230,293
INCOME BUILDER SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................     --         --         --         --         --         --
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................     --         --         --         --         --         --
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................     --         --         --         --         --         --
DIVIDEND GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................    $13.135    $13.911    $14.844    $16.746    $15.981    $21.505
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................    $13.911    $14.844    $16.746    $15.981    $21.505    $26.298
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................     78,758    512,298  1,676,673  2,186,642  2,355,001  2,615,339
CAPITAL GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................    $10.930    $12.697    $12.731    $11.682    $11.379    $14.923
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................    $12.697    $12.731    $11.682    $11.379    $14.923    $16.421
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................     26,084    143,626    231,320    227,347    218,192    251,179
GLOBAL DIVIDEND GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT                                    --         --         --
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................     --         --         --        $10.000     $9.912    $11.935
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................     --         --         --         $9.912    $11.935    $13.845
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................     --         --         --        676,049    839,928  1,174,153
EUROPEAN GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................     $9.805    $10.020    $10.280    $14.290    $15.278    $18.976
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................    $10.020    $10.280    $14.290    $15.278    $18.976    $24.335
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................      3,234     54,287    291,085    549,696    576,522    693,859
PACIFIC GROWTH SUB-ACCOUNT                                            --         --         --
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................     --         --         --        $10.000     $9.221     $9.619
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................     --         --         --         $9.221     $9.619     $9.858
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................     --         --         --        426,544    578,970    830,820
CAPITAL APPRECIATION SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................     --         --         --         --         --         --
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................     --         --         --         --         --         --
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................     --         --         --         --         --         --
EQUITY SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................    $14.658    $16.799    $16.599    $19.604    $18.392    $25.864
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................    $16.799    $16.599    $19.604    $18.392    $25.864    $28.669
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................      9,016     63,933    346,339    515,289    593,398    766,587
STRATEGIST SUB-ACCOUNT
  Accumulation Unit Value, Beginning of Period...................    $12.437    $13.266    $14.035    $15.286    $15.675    $16.919
  Accumulation Unit Value, End of Period.........................    $13.266    $14.035    $15.286    $15.675    $16.919    $19.199
  Number of Units Outstanding, End of Period.....................     14,159    547,208  1,529,877  1,862,227  1,739,991  1,559,143
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------------
 * All Sub-Accounts commenced operations on  September 24, 1991, except for  the
   Global   Dividend  Growth,   Pacific  Growth,  Income   Builder  and  Capital
   Appreciation Sub-Accounts.  The Global  Dividend  Growth and  Pacific  Growth
   Sub-Accounts  commenced operations on  February 23, 1994.  The Income Builder
   and the Capital Appreciation Sub-Accounts commenced operations on January 21,
   1997. The  Accumulation  Unit  Value  for  each  of  these  Sub-Accounts  was
   initially  set at  $10.000. The  Accumulation Unit  Values in  the this table
   reflect a Mortality and  Expense Risk Charge of  1.25% and an  Administrative
   Expense Charge of .10%.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
PERFORMANCE DATA
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
From  time to  time the Variable  Account may  publish advertisements containing
performance data  relating to  its Sub-Accounts.  The performance  data for  the
Sub-Accounts  (other  than  for the  Money  Market Sub-Account)  will  always be
accompanied by total  return quotations for  the most recent  one, five and  ten
year  periods, or for a period from inception to date if the Sub-Account has not
been available for one  of the prescribed periods.  The total return  quotations
for  each period  will be  the average  annual rates  of return  required for an
initial Purchase Payment of $1,000 to equal the amount Owners would receive on a
withdrawal of  the  Purchase Payment,  after  reflection of  all  recurring  and
nonrecurring charges.
 
In  addition, the Variable Account may advertise the total return over different
periods of time by means of  aggregate, average, year-by-year or other types  of
total  return figures. Such calculations may or may not reflect the deduction of
some or all of the charges which may be imposed on the Contracts by the Variable
Account which, if reflected, would  reduce the performance quoted. The  Variable
Account  from  time to  time  may also  advertise  Accounts relative  to indexes
compiled by independent organizations.
 
Performance figures used by the Variable Account are based on actual  historical
performance  of its Sub-Accounts for specified  periods, and the figures are not
intended to  indicate  future  performance. More  detailed  information  on  the
computation is set forth in the Statement of Additional Information.
 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
The  financial statements of Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York and the
Allstate Life  of New  York Variable  Annuity Account  II may  be found  in  the
Statement  of Additional  Information, which  is incorporated  by reference into
this Prospectus and  which is available  upon request. (See  Order Form on  page
24.)
 
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
AND THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
 
The  Company is the issuer of the Contract. Incorporated in 1967 as a stock life
insurance company  under the  laws  of New  York,  the Allstate  Life  Insurance
Company  of New York ("Company") has done  business since 1984 as "Allstate Life
Insurance Company of  New York."  From 1967  to 1978  the Company  was known  as
"Financial Insurance Company" and from 1978 to 1984 the Company was known as "PM
Life  Insurance  Company."  The  Company  sells  annuities  and  individual life
insurance. The  Company  is currently  licensed  to  operate in  New  York.  The
Company's home office is located in Farmingville, New York.
 
The Company is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Insurance Company
("Allstate")  which is a stock insurance  company incorporated under the laws of
Illinois. With  the  exception  of  directors' qualifying  shares,  all  of  the
outstanding  capital  stock of  Allstate is  owned  by The  Allstate Corporation
("Corporation"). On June 30, 1996, Sears, Roebuck and Co. ("Sears")  distributed
its  80.3% ownership in  the Corporation to Sears  common shareholders through a
tax-free dividend.
 
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
 
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.  ("Dean Witter") is the  principal underwriter of  the
Contract.  Dean Witter is a  wholly owned subsidiary of  Dean Witter, Discover &
Co. ("Dean Witter Discover"). Dean Witter is located at Two World Trade  Center,
New  York,  New York,  10048. Dean  Witter is  a  member of  the New  York Stock
Exchange and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
 
Dean   Witter   Discover's   subsidiary,    Dean   Witter   InterCapital    Inc.
("InterCapital"),    is   the   investment   manager    of   the   Dean   Witter
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
Variable Investment Series. InterCapital is  registered with the Securities  and
Exchange  Commission as  an investment  adviser. As  compensation for investment
management, the Fund pays  InterCapital a monthly  advisory fee. These  expenses
are more fully described in the Fund's Prospectus attached to this Prospectus.
 
On  February  5,  1997,  Dean  Witter Discover  and  Morgan  Stanley  Group Inc.
announced that they had entered into an  Agreement and Plan of Merger, with  the
combined  company to be  named Morgan Stanley,  Dean Witter, Discover  & Co. The
business of Morgan Stanley Group Inc. and its affiliated companies is  providing
a  wide  range of  financial services  for sovereign  governments, corporations,
institutions and individuals throughout the  world. Dean Witter Discover is  the
direct  parent of  InterCapital and  Dean Witter  Distributors Inc.,  the Fund's
distributor. It  is currently  anticipated that  the transaction  will close  in
mid-1997.  Thereafter, InterCapital  and Dean  Witter Distributors  Inc. will be
direct subsidiaries of Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter, Discover & Co.
 
THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT
 
Established on May  18, 1990, the  Variable Account is  a unit investment  trust
registered  with  the Securities  and Exchange  Commission under  the Investment
Company Act of 1940, but such registration does not signify that the  Commission
supervises  the management or  investment practices or  policies of the Variable
Account.  The  investment  performance  of  the  Variable  Account  is  entirely
independent  of both the investment performance of the Company's general account
and the performance of any other separate account.
 
The assets of the Variable Account are held separately from the other assets  of
the  Company. They are not chargeable with liabilities incurred in the Company's
other business operations.  Accordingly, the income,  capital gains and  capital
losses,  realized or unrealized, incurred on  the assets of the Variable Account
are credited to or charged against  the assets of the Variable Account,  without
regard  to the income, capital gains or  capital losses arising out of any other
business the Company may conduct.
 
The Variable Account has been divided into thirteen Sub-Accounts, each of  which
invests  solely  in  its corresponding  Portfolio  of the  Dean  Witter Variable
Investment Series. Additional Sub-Accounts may be added at the discretion of the
Company.
 
THE DEAN WITTER VARIABLE INVESTMENT SERIES
 
The Variable  Account  will  invest  exclusively in  the  Dean  Witter  Variable
Investment  Series (the "Fund"). Shares of the Fund are also offered to separate
accounts of the  Company which  fund other  variable annuity  and variable  life
contracts.  Shares of the Fund  are also offered to  separate accounts of a life
insurance company affiliated with  the Company which  fund variable annuity  and
variable  life contracts.  Shares of  the Fund may  also be  offered to separate
accounts of certain non-affiliated life insurance companies which fund  variable
life  insurance contracts. It  is conceivable that  in the future  it may become
disadvantageous for both  variable life and  variable annuity contract  separate
accounts to invest in the same underlying Fund. Although neither the Company nor
the  Fund currently foresees any such disadvantage, the Fund's Board of Trustees
intends to  monitor events  in  order to  identify any  material  irreconcilable
conflict  between the interests of variable annuity contract owners and variable
life contract owners and to  determine what action, if  any, should be taken  in
response thereto.
 
Investors  in the  High Yield Portfolio  should carefully  consider the relative
risks of investing in  high yield securities, which  are commonly known as  junk
bonds.  Bonds of this type  are considered to be  speculative with regard to the
payment of  interest  and return  of  principal.  Investors in  the  High  Yield
Portfolio  should also  be cognizant  of the fact  that such  securities are not
generally meant for short-term investing and should assess the risks  associated
with an investment in the High Yield Portfolio.
 
Shares  of the Portfolios  of the Fund  are not deposits,  or obligations of, or
guaranteed or endorsed by any bank and  the shares are not federally insured  by
the  Federal Deposit  Insurance Corporation,  the Federal  Reserve Board  or any
other agency.
 
The Fund has thirteen portfolios: the Money Market Portfolio, the Quality Income
Plus Portfolio, the High  Yield Portfolio, the  Utilities Portfolio, the  Income
Builder  Portfolio, the Dividend Growth Portfolio, the Capital Growth Portfolio,
the Global Dividend Growth Portfolio, the European Growth Portfolio, the Pacific
Growth Portfolio, the Capital Appreciation  Portfolio, the Equity Portfolio  and
the Strategist Portfolio. Each Portfolio has different investment objectives and
policies and operates as a separate investment fund.
 
The  Money Market Portfolio seeks high  current income, preservation of capital,
and liquidity by investing in certain money market instruments, principally U.S.
government securities, bank obligations, and high grade commercial paper.
 
The Quality Income  Plus Portfolio seeks,  as its primary  objective, to earn  a
high   level  of  current   income  and,  as   a  secondary  objective,  capital
appreciation, but only when consistent with its primary objective, by  investing
primarily  in debt  securities issued by  the U.S. Government,  its agencies and
instrumentalities,  including  zero  coupon   securities  and  in   fixed-income
securities  rated A or higher by  Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's") or
Standard & Poor's Corporation ("Standard  & Poor's") or non-rated securities  of
comparable  quality, and  by writing covered  call and put  options against such
securities.
 
The High Yield Portfolio seeks as its objective, to earn a high level of current
income by investing in a professionally managed diversified portfolio consisting
principally of fixed-income securities rated Baa  or lower by Moody's or BBB  or
lower by Standard & Poor's or
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
non-rated  securities of  comparable quality, which  are commonly  known as junk
bonds, and, as a secondary objective, capital appreciation when consistent  with
its primary objective.
 
The  Utilities Portfolio seeks to provide current income and long-term growth of
income and capital by investing primarily in equity and fixed-income  securities
of companies engaged in the public utilities industry.
 
The  Income Builder Portfolio seeks, as its primary objective, reasonable income
by investing  primarily in  common stock  of large-cap  companies which  have  a
record  of  paying dividends  and the  potential  for maintaining  dividends, in
preferred stock and in  securities convertible into common  stocks of small  and
mid-cap companies and, as its secondary objective, growth of capital.
 
The  Dividend Growth  Portfolio seeks to  provide reasonable  current income and
long-term growth of income and capital by investing primarily in common stock of
companies with a  record of paying  dividends and the  potential for  increasing
dividends.
 
The  Capital  Growth  Portfolio seeks  to  provide long-term  capital  growth by
investing principally in common stocks.
 
The Global Dividend Growth Portfolio seeks to provide reasonable current  income
and  long-term growth  of income  and capital  by investing  primarily in common
stock of  companies,  issued by  issuers  worldwide,  with a  record  of  paying
dividends and the potential for increasing dividends.
 
The  European Growth Portfolio seeks to maximize the capital appreciation on its
investments by investing primarily  in securities issued  by issuers located  in
Europe.
 
The  Pacific Growth Portfolio seeks to  maximize the capital appreciation of its
investments by investing primarily  in securities issued  by issuers located  in
Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
 
The  Capital  Appreciation  Portfolio seeks  long-term  capital  appreciation by
investing primarily in common stocks of U.S. companies that offer the  potential
for either superior earnings growth and/or appear to be undervalued.
 
The  Equity Portfolio seeks, as its primary objective, growth of capital through
investments in common stock of companies  believed by the Investment Manager  to
have  potential for superior  growth and, as a  secondary objective, income when
consistent with its primary objective.
 
The Strategist Portfolio seeks  a high total investment  return through a  fully
managed  investment policy utilizing  equity securities, fixed-income securities
rated Baa  or higher  by Moody's  or  BBB or  higher by  Standard &  Poor's  (or
non-rated  securities of comparable  quality), and money  market securities, and
the writing of covered options on such securities and the collateralized sale of
stock index options.
 
All  dividends  and  capital  gains   distributions  from  the  Portfolios   are
automatically  reinvested in shares  of the distributing  Portfolio at their net
asset value.
 
THERE IS NO ASSURANCE  THAT ANY OF THE  PORTFOLIOS WILL ATTAIN THEIR  RESPECTIVE
STATED  OBJECTIVES. Additional information  concerning the investment objectives
and policies of the Portfolios  can be found in  the current prospectus for  the
Fund accompanying this Prospectus.
 
THE  PROSPECTUS OF THE FUND SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE
CONCERNING THE ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS TO A PARTICULAR PORTFOLIO.
 
THE CONTRACTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
PURCHASE OF THE CONTRACTS
 
The Contracts may be purchased through sales representatives of Dean Witter. The
first Purchase  Payment  must  be at  least  $4,000  unless the  Contract  is  a
Qualified  Contract, in which case  the first Purchase Payment  must be at least
$1,000. Presently, the  Company will accept  an initial Purchase  Payment of  at
least  $1,000, but reserves  the right to increase  the minimum initial Purchase
Payment amount to $4,000. All subsequent  Purchase Payments must be $25 or  more
and  may be made at any time prior to the Payout Start Date. Additional Purchase
Payments may also  be made from  your bank  account or your  Dean Witter  Active
Assets-TM-  Account through Automatic  Additions. Please consult  with your Dean
Witter Account Executive for detailed information about Automatic Additions. The
Automatic Additions  program is  not available  for Qualified  Contracts  issued
pursuant to a Dean Witter Custodial Account.
 
The Company reserves the right to underwrite or reject future additions.
 
CREDITING OF INITIAL PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
A  Purchase Payment accompanied by complete  information will be credited to the
Contract within two business days of receipt by the Company at its home  office.
If  the  information  is not  complete,  the  Company will  credit  the Purchase
Payments to the Contract  within five business  days or return  it at that  time
unless
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
the  applicant specifically consents to the Company holding the Purchase Payment
until the information is complete. The Company reserves the right to reject  any
proposed purchase of the Contract. Subsequent Purchase Payments will be credited
to  the Contract  at the  close of  the Valuation  Period in  which the Purchase
Payment is received.
 
ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
On the application the Owner instructs the Company how to allocate the  Purchase
Payment  among the  fourteen Investment  Alternatives. Purchase  Payments may be
allocated in whole percents, from 0%  to 100%, to any Investment Alternative  so
long  as  the  total  allocation  equals 100%.  Purchase  Payments  may  also be
allocated in amounts of no less than $100. Unless the Owner notifies the Company
otherwise, subsequent Purchase Payments are allocated according to the  original
instructions.
 
Each  Purchase  Payment will  be credited  to the  Contract as  Variable Account
Accumulation Units equal to the amount of the Purchase Payment allocated to each
Sub-Account divided by  the Accumulation  Unit value for  that Sub-Account  next
computed after the Purchase Payment is credited to the Contract. For example, if
a  $10,000 Purchase  Payment is credited  to the Contract  when the Accumulation
Unit value equals $10,  then 1,000 Accumulation Units  would be credited to  the
Contract.  The Variable Account, in turn,  purchases shares of the corresponding
Portfolio (see "Value of Variable Account Accumulation Units," page 13).
 
For a brief summary of how Purchase Payments allocated to the Fixed Account  are
credited to the Contract, see "The Fixed Account" on page 18.
 
VALUE OF VARIABLE ACCOUNT ACCUMULATION UNITS
 
The  Accumulation Units in  each Sub-Account of the  Variable Account are valued
separately. The value  of Accumulation  Units may change  each Valuation  Period
according  to  the  investment  performance  of  the  shares  purchased  by each
Sub-Account and the deduction of certain expenses and charges.
 
A Valuation Period is the period  between successive Valuation Dates. It  begins
at  the  close of  business of  each Valuation  Date  and ends  at the  close of
business of the  next succeeding Valuation  Date. A Valuation  Date is each  day
that  the New  York Stock Exchange  is open for  business except for  any day in
which there  is an  insufficient degree  of trading  in the  Variable  Account's
portfolio  securities that the value of  Accumulation or Annuity Units might not
be materially affected  by changes  in the  value of  the portfolio  securities.
Valuation  Dates do  not include  such Federal  and non-Federal  holidays as are
observed by the New York Stock  Exchange. The New York Stock Exchange  currently
observes  the following  holidays: New Year's  Day (January  1); President's Day
(the third Monday in February); Good Friday (the Friday before Easter); Memorial
Day (the last Monday in  May); Independence Day (July  4); Labor Day (the  first
Monday  in September); Thanksgiving  Day (the fourth  Thursday in November); and
Christmas Day (December 25).
 
The value of  an Accumulation  Unit in a  Sub-Account for  any Valuation  Period
equals  the  value of  the  Accumulation Unit  as  of the  immediately preceding
Valuation Period, multiplied by the  Net Investment Factor for that  Sub-Account
for  the  current  Valuation  Period.  The Net  Investment  Factor  is  a number
representing the change on  successive Valuation Dates  in value of  Sub-Account
assets  due to investment income, realized  or unrealized capital gains or loss,
deductions for taxes, if any, and deductions for the Mortality and Expense  Risk
Charge and Administrative Expense Charge.
 
TRANSFERS
 
Transfers  must  be  at  least  $100  or  the  total  amount  in  the Investment
Alternative, whichever is less. Transfers to  any Guarantee Period of the  Fixed
Account must be at least $500. Currently, there is no charge for transfers among
the  fourteen Investment Alternatives. The  Company, however, reserves the right
to assess a $25 charge on all transfers  in excess of 12 per Contract Year.  The
Company  will notify  Owners at  least 30  days prior  to imposing  the transfer
charge.
 
Transfers out of any Sub-Account before the Payout Start Date may be made at any
time.
 
After the  Payout  Start Date,  transfers  among Sub-Accounts  of  the  Variable
Account, or from the Variable Account to the Fixed Account may be made only once
every  six months and may not be made  during the first six months following the
Payout Start Date.
 
Transfers may be made pursuant to telephone instructions if the Owner authorizes
telephone transfers at the time of purchase, or subsequently on a form  provided
by  the Company. Telephone transfer requests will  be accepted by the Company if
received at 516/451-5170 by 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Telephone transfer requests
received at any other telephone number or after 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time will not
be accepted by  the Company.  Telephone transfer requests  received before  4:00
p.m.,  Eastern Time are effected at the next computed value. Otherwise, transfer
requests must be in writing, on a form provided by the Company.
 
Transfers may also be made automatically through Dollar Cost Averaging prior  to
the  Payout Start Date.  Dollar Cost Averaging  permits the Owner  to transfer a
specified amount every month  (or other frequencies that  may be offered by  the
Company)  from the Money Market Sub-Account  to any other Sub-Account. Transfers
made through Dollar Cost Averaging must  be $100 or more. Dollar Cost  Averaging
cannot  be used to  transfer amounts to  the Fixed Account.  Please consult with
your Dean Witter Account  Executive for detailed  information about Dollar  Cost
Averaging.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
Transfers  from Sub-Accounts of the  Variable Account will be  made based on the
Accumulation Unit values next computed  after the Company receives the  transfer
request at its home office.
 
For transfers involving the Fixed Account, see page 18.
 
SURRENDER AND WITHDRAWALS
 
The  Owner may withdraw  all or part of  the Cash Value at  anytime prior to the
earlier of the death of the last surviving Annuitant, death of any Owner or  the
Payout  Start Date. The amount  available for withdrawal is  the Cash Value next
computed after the  Company receives the  request for a  withdrawal at its  home
office,  less any Early Withdrawal Charges,  Contract Maintenance Charges or any
remaining charge for premium taxes.  Withdrawals from the Variable Account  will
be  paid within seven days of receipt of the request, subject to postponement in
certain circumstances. See "Delay  of Payments," page  20. For withdrawals  from
the Fixed Account, see page 18.
 
The  minimum  partial withdrawal  is $100.  If  the Cash  Value after  a partial
withdrawal would be less than $500, then  the Company will treat the request  as
one  for a total surrender  of the Contract and the  entire Cash Value, less any
charges and premium taxes, will be paid out.
 
Partial withdrawals may also be  taken automatically through monthly  Systematic
Withdrawals. Systematic Withdrawals of $100 or more may be requested at any time
prior  to the Payout  Start Date. Please  consult with your  Dean Witter Account
Executive for detailed information about Systematic Withdrawals.
 
For Qualified  Contracts,  the  Company  will, at  the  request  of  the  Owner,
automatically  calculate  and withdraw  the  IRS Required  Minimum Distribution.
Withdrawals taken to satisfy IRS  Required Minimum Distribution rules will  have
any  applicable withdrawal  charges waived.  This waiver  is permitted  only for
withdrawals which  satisfy distributions  resulting from  this Contract.  Please
consult  with your Dean Witter Account  Executive for detailed information about
the Required Minimum Distribution program.
 
Withdrawals and surrenders may be subject to  income tax and a 10% tax  penalty.
This tax and penalty is explained in "Federal Tax Matters" on page 20.
 
The  full Contract  Maintenance Charge  will be  deducted at  the time  of total
surrender. The total amount paid at surrender may be more or less than the total
Purchase Payments  due  to prior  withdrawals,  any deductions,  and  investment
performance.
 
To  complete the partial withdrawals, the Company will cancel Accumulation Units
in an amount equal to the withdrawal and any applicable Early Withdrawal  Charge
and premium taxes. The Owner must name the Investment Alternative from which the
withdrawal  is to  be made.  If none  is named,  then the  withdrawal request is
incomplete and cannot be honored.
 
DEFAULT
 
So long as the Cash Value is not reduced to zero or a withdrawal does not reduce
it to less than  $500, the Contract  will stay in force  until the Payout  Start
Date even if no Purchase Payments are made after the first Purchase Payment.
 
CHARGES AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
DEDUCTIONS FROM PURCHASE PAYMENTS
 
No  deductions are  currently made  from Purchase  Payments. Therefore  the full
amount of every Purchase Payment is invested in the Investment Alternative(s) to
increase the potential for investment gain.
 
EARLY WITHDRAWAL CHARGE (CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE)
 
The Owner may withdraw  the Cash Value  at any time before  the earliest of  the
Payout  Start Date,  the death  of any Owner  or the  last surviving Annuitant's
death.
 
There are no  Early Withdrawal Charges  on amounts up  to the Withdrawal  Amount
Without  Early Withdrawal Charge.  A Withdrawal Amount  Without Early Withdrawal
Charge will be  available in each  Contract Year. The  annual Withdrawal  Amount
Without  Early  Withdrawal  Charge  is 15%  of  all  Purchase  Payments. Amounts
withdrawn in excess of  the Withdrawal Amount  Without Early Withdrawal  Charge,
may  be subject  to an  Early Withdrawal  Charge. Any  Withdrawal Amount Without
Early
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
Withdrawal Charge  not  withdrawn in  a  Contract  Year does  not  increase  the
Withdrawal Amount Without Early Withdrawal Charge in later Contract Years. Early
Withdrawal Charges, if applicable, will be deducted from the amount paid.
 
In  certain cases, distributions required by  federal tax law (see the Statement
of Additional Information for "IRS Required Distribution at Death Rules") may be
subject to an Early Withdrawal Charge. Early Withdrawal Charges may be  deducted
from  the Cash  Value before it  is applied to  an Income Plan  with a specified
period of less than 120 months.
 
Withdrawal Amounts Without Early Withdrawal Charge and other partial withdrawals
will be allocated  on a  first in,  first out  basis to  Purchase Payments.  For
purposes  of calculating the amount of  the Early Withdrawal Charge, withdrawals
are assumed to  come from  Purchase Payments  first, beginning  with the  oldest
payment.  Unless the Company  is instructed otherwise,  for partial withdrawals,
the Early Withdrawal Charge will be  deducted from the amount paid, rather  than
from  the remaining Cash Value. Once  all Purchase Payments have been withdrawn,
additional withdrawals will not be assessed an Early Withdrawal Charge.
 
Early Withdrawal Charges  will be applied  to amounts withdrawn  in excess of  a
Withdrawal Amount Without Early Withdrawal Charge as set forth below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 COMPLETE CONTRACT                    APPLICABLE
               YEARS SINCE PURCHASE                   WITHDRAWAL
                   PAYMENT BEING                        CHARGE
                WITHDRAWN WAS MADE                    PERCENTAGE
- ---------------------------------------------------  ------------
<S>                                                  <C>
0 years............................................       6%
1 year.............................................       5%
2 years............................................       4%
3 years............................................       3%
4 years............................................       2%
5 years............................................       1%
6 years or more....................................       0%
</TABLE>
 
THE  CUMULATIVE TOTAL  OF ALL  EARLY WITHDRAWAL  CHARGES IS  GUARANTEED NEVER TO
EXCEED 6% OF AN OWNER'S PURCHASE PAYMENTS.
 
Early Withdrawal  Charges  will be  used  to  pay sales  commissions  and  other
promotional  or  distribution  expenses  associated with  the  marketing  of the
Contracts. The Company  does not  anticipate that the  Early Withdrawal  Charges
will cover all distribution expenses in connection with the Contract.
 
In  addition, federal and state  income tax may be  withheld from withdrawal and
surrender amounts.  Certain surrenders  may also  be subject  to a  federal  tax
penalty. See "Federal Tax Matters," page 20.
 
CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE
 
A  Contract  Maintenance Charge  is  deducted annually  from  the Cash  Value to
reimburse the Company for its actual costs in maintaining each Contract and  the
Variable Account. THE COMPANY GUARANTEES THAT THE AMOUNT OF THIS CHARGE WILL NOT
EXCEED  $30 PER CONTRACT YEAR  OVER THE LIFE OF  THE CONTRACT. Maintenance costs
include but  are not  limited to  expenses incurred  in billing  and  collecting
Purchase Payments; keeping records; processing death claims and cash surrenders;
policy  changes and proxy statements;  calculating Accumulation Unit and Annuity
Unit values; and issuing reports to Owners and regulatory agencies. The  Company
does not expect to realize a profit from this charge.
 
On  each Contract Anniversary, the Contract  Maintenance Charge will be deducted
from the  Investment  Alternatives  in  the same  proportion  that  the  Owner's
interest  in each bears to the total Cash  Value. After the Payout Start Date, a
pro rata share of the annual  Contract Maintenance Charge will be deducted  from
each  Income Payment. For example, 1/12 of the  $30 or $2.50 will be deducted if
there are  twelve  Income  Payments  during  the  Contract  Year.  The  Contract
Maintenance Charge will be deducted from the amount paid on a total surrender.
 
Prior to October 4, 1993, Vantage Computer Systems, Inc. was under contract with
the  Company to provide Contract recordkeeping  services. As of October 4, 1993,
the Company provides all Contract recordkeeping services.
 
ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE CHARGE
 
The Company will deduct an Administrative  Expense Charge which is equal, on  an
annual  basis to  .10% of  the daily  net assets  in the  Variable Account. This
charge is  designed to  cover actual  administrative expenses  which exceed  the
revenues  from the Contract  Maintenance Charge. The Company  does not intend to
profit from this charge. The Company reserves the right to increase this  charge
in  the future. The Company believes  that the Administrative Expense Charge and
Contract Maintenance Charge have been set at  a level that will recover no  more
than  the actual costs  associated with administering the  Contract. There is no
necessary relationship between the amount of administrative charge imposed on  a
given  Contract and  the amount  of expenses  that may  be attributable  to that
Contract.
 
MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE
 
A Mortality and Expense Risk Charge will be deducted daily at a rate equal on an
annual basis of  1.25% of  the daily  net assets  in the  Variable Account.  The
Company  estimates that .85% is attributed  to the assumption of mortality risks
and .40%  is  attributed  to  the  assumption  of  expense  risks.  THE  COMPANY
GUARANTEES THAT THE AMOUNT OF THIS CHARGE WILL NOT INCREASE OVER THE LIFE OF THE
CONTRACT.
 
If  the Mortality and Expense Risk Charge is insufficient to cover the Company's
mortality costs and  excess expenses,  the Company will  bear the  loss. If  the
Charge is more than sufficient, the
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
Company  will  retain the  balance as  profit. The  Company currently  expects a
profit from this charge. Any such profit,  as well as any other profit  realized
by  the Company and held  in its general account,  (which supports insurance and
annuity obligations),  would  be available  for  any proper  corporate  purpose,
including, but not limited to, payment of distribution expenses.
 
The  mortality  risk arises  from  the Company's  guarantee  to cover  all death
benefits and  to make  Income Payments  in accordance  with the  Income  Payment
Tables,   thus,  relieving  the  Annuitants  of  the  risk  of  outliving  funds
accumulated for retirement.
 
The expense risk arises from the  possibility that the Contract Maintenance  and
Early  Withdrawal Charges, both of which are guaranteed not to increase, will be
insufficient to cover actual administrative expenses.
 
TAXES
 
The Company  will deduct  state premium  taxes or  other taxes  relative to  the
Contract  (collectively referred  to as  "premium taxes")  either at  the Payout
Start Date, or when a total withdrawal occurs. The Company reserves the right to
deduct premium taxes from  the Purchase Payments.  Currently, no deductions  are
made because New York does not charge premium taxes on annuities.
 
At  the Payout Start  Date, the charge  for premium taxes  will be deducted from
each Investment Alternative in the proportion  that the Owner's interest in  the
Investment Alternative bears to the total Cash Value.
 
DEAN WITTER VARIABLE
INVESTMENT SERIES ("FUND")
EXPENSES
 
A  complete description  of the expenses  and deductions from  the Portfolios is
found in the Fund's prospectus which is attached to this prospectus.
 
BENEFITS UNDER THE CONTRACT
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
DEATH BENEFITS PRIOR TO THE PAYOUT START DATE
 
If any Owner  or the last  surviving Annuitant  dies prior to  the Payout  Start
Date,  and a  Death Benefit  is elected,  it will  be paid  to the  new Owner or
Beneficiary. If requested to be paid in a lump sum within 180 days from the Date
of Death, the Death Benefit will be the greatest of: (a) the sum of all Purchase
Payments less  any  amounts  deducted in  connection  with  partial  withdrawals
including  any applicable Early Withdrawal Charges  or premium taxes; or (b) the
Cash Value on the date we receive Due  Proof of Death, or (c) the Cash Value  on
the  most  recent  Death  Benefit  Anniversary  less  any  amounts  deducted  in
connection with partial withdrawals,  including any applicable Early  Withdrawal
Charges  and premium taxes deducted from the Cash Value, since that anniversary.
The Death Benefit Anniversary is every sixth Contract Anniversary. For  example,
the  6th, 12th and 18th Contract Anniversaries are the first three Death Benefit
Anniversaries.
 
The Company will  not settle  any death  claim until  it receives  Due Proof  of
Death. If an Owner dies prior to the Payout Start Date the new Owner will be the
surviving  Owner,  if any,  otherwise  the new  Owner  will be  the Beneficiary.
Generally, this new Owner has the following options:
 
    1.  The  new Owner  may elect,  within 180  days of  the date  of death,  to
receive the Death Benefit in a lump sum;
 
    2.   The  new Owner  may elect,  within 180  days of  the date  of death, to
receive the Settlement Value  (the Settlement Value is  the Cash Value less  any
applicable  Early  Withdrawal Charges  and premium  tax on  the date  payment is
requested) payable within five years of the date of death.
 
    3.  The new Owner may elect to apply an amount equal to the Death Benefit to
one of the  income plans. Payments  must begin within  one year of  the date  of
death  and must be over the life of the new Owner, or a period not to exceed the
life expectancy of the new Owner.
 
    4.  If the new Owner is the spouse of the deceased Owner, the new Owner  may
elect one of the above options or may continue the Contract.
 
If  the new Owner who is not the spouse  of the deceased Owner does not make one
of these elections, the Settlement Value will be  paid in a lump sum to the  new
Owner five years after the date of death.
 
If  the new Owner is  a non-natural person, then the  new Owner must receive the
Death Benefit in a lump sum, and the options listed above are not available.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
If any  Annuitant dies  who  is not  also  an Owner,  the  Owner must  elect  an
applicable  option  listed below.  If the  option selected  is 1(a)  or 1(b)(ii)
below, the new Annuitant will  be the youngest Owner,  unless the Owner names  a
different Annuitant.
 
    1.  If the Owner is a natural person:
 
        a.   The Owner may  choose to continue the Contract  as if the death had
    not occurred; or
 
        b.  If the Company  receives due proof of death  within 180 days of  the
    date of the Annuitant's death, then the Owner may alternatively choose to:
 
             i.  Receive the Death Benefit in a lump sum; or
 
            ii.   Apply  the Death  Benefit to an  income plan  which must begin
        within one year of the date of death  and must be for a period equal  to
        or less than the life expectancy of the Owner.
 
    2.   If the Owner is a non-natural  person: The Owner must receive the Death
Benefit in a lump sum.
 
The value of the Death  Benefit will be determined at  the end of the  Valuation
Period  during which the Company receives a  complete request for payment of the
Death Benefit, which includes Due Proof of Death.
 
DEATH BENEFITS AFTER THE PAYOUT START DATE
 
If the Annuitant and Joint Annuitant, if applicable, die after the Payout  Start
Date,  the  Company  will  pay  the Death  Benefit,  if  any,  contained  in the
particular income plan.
 
If an  Owner, who  is  not the  Annuitant, dies  after  the Payout  Start  Date,
payments  will  continue  to  be  made under  the  particular  income  plan. The
Beneficiary will be the recipient of such payments.
 
INCOME PAYMENTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
PAYOUT START DATE
 
The Payout Start  Date is  the day  that Income  Payments will  start under  the
Contract.  The Owner may change  the Payout Start Date  at any time by notifying
the Company in writing of the change at least 30 days before the current  Payout
Start  Date. The Payout Start Date must be  (a) at least a month after the Issue
Date; (b) the first day of a calendar month; and (c) no later than the first day
of the  calendar  month  after  the  Annuitant  reaches  age  85,  or  the  10th
anniversary date, if later.
 
Unless  the Owner  notifies the Company  in writing otherwise,  the Payout Start
Date will  be the  later  of the  first  day of  the  calendar month  after  the
Annuitant reaches age 85 or the 10th anniversary date.
 
AMOUNT OF VARIABLE ANNUITY INCOME PAYMENTS
 
The  amount  of Variable  Annuity Income  Payments  depends upon  the investment
experience of the Portfolios selected by  the Owner, any premium taxes, the  age
and  sex of the Annuitant(s), and the income plan chosen. The Company guarantees
that the Income Payments will not be affected by (1) actual mortality experience
and (2) the amount of the Company's administration expenses.
 
The Contracts  offered  by this  Prospectus  contain life  annuity  tables  that
provide  for  different benefit  payments  to men  and  women of  the  same age.
Nevertheless, in accordance with  the U.S. Supreme  Court's decision in  ARIZONA
GOVERNING COMMITTEE V. NORRIS, in certain employment-related situations, annuity
tables  that do not  vary on the basis  of sex may be  used. Accordingly, if the
Contract is to be  used in connection with  an employment-related retirement  or
benefit plan, consideration should be given, in consultation with legal counsel,
to  the impact of NORRIS on any  such plan before making any contributions under
these Contracts.  For  qualified  plans,  where  it  is  appropriate,  a  unisex
endorsement is available.
 
The  sum of  Income Payments made  may be more  or less than  the total Purchase
Payments made  because  (a)  Variable  Annuity Income  Payments  vary  with  the
investment  results  of  the  underlying Portfolios;  (b)  the  Owner  bears the
investment risk with respect to all  amounts allocated to the Variable  Account;
(c)  Annuitants may die before  the actuarially expected Date  of Death, and (d)
Early Withdrawal Charges may be applicable. As such, the total amount of  Income
Payments cannot be predicted.
 
The  duration of the  income plan may  affect the dollar  amounts of each Income
Payment. For  example, if  an income  plan guaranteed  for life  is chosen,  the
Income  Payments may be greater  or lesser than Income  Payments under an income
plan for a specified period depending on the life expectancy of the Annuitant.
 
If the actual  net investment  experience is  less than  the assumed  investment
rate,  then the dollar amount  of the Income Payments  will decrease. The dollar
amount of the Income Payments will  stay level if the net investment  experience
equals  the assumed investment rate and the dollar amount of the Income Payments
will
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
increase if the net investment  experience exceeds the assumed investment  rate.
For  purposes of  the Variable Annuity  Income Payments,  the assumed investment
rate is found in the Contract.
 
If no payments have been received for three full years and if the Cash Value  to
be  applied to an  income plan is less  than $2,000, or  if the monthly payments
determined under the Income Plan are less than $20, the Company may pay the Cash
Value in a lump sum or change the payment frequency to an interval which results
in Income Payments of at least $20.
 
INCOME PLANS
 
The Owner may elect a completely Fixed Annuity, a completely Variable Annuity or
a combination Fixed and Variable Annuity. Up to 30 days before the Payout  Start
Date,  the Owner may change the income plan  or request any other form of income
plan agreeable to both the Company and the Owner. Subsequent changes will not be
permitted. If an income plan is chosen  which depends on the Annuitant or  Joint
Annuitant's  life, proof of  age will be required  before Income Payments begin.
Premium taxes may be assessed. The income plans include:
 
INCOME PLAN 1--LIFE WITH PAYMENTS GUARANTEED FOR 120 MONTHS
Monthly payments  will be  made  for as  long as  the  Annuitant lives.  If  the
Annuitant  dies before 120 monthly payments have been made, the remainder of the
120 guaranteed monthly payments will  be paid to the  Owner, or if deceased,  to
the surviving Beneficiary.
 
INCOME PLAN 2--JOINT AND LAST SURVIVOR
Monthly  payments beginning on the Payout Start Date will be made for as long as
either the Annuitant  or Joint Annuitant  is living. It  is possible under  this
option  that only one  monthly payment will  be made if  the Annuitant and Joint
Annuitant both  die before  the second  payment  is made,  or only  two  monthly
payments will be made if they both die before the third payment, and so forth.
 
INCOME PLAN 3--PAYMENTS FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD
Monthly payments beginning on the Payout Start Date will be made for a specified
period.  An Early Withdrawal  Charge may apply  if the specified  period is less
than 120 months. Payments under this option do not depend on the continuation of
the Annuitant's life. If the Owner dies before the end of the specified  period,
the  remaining payments will be paid to the surviving Beneficiary. The Mortality
and Expense Risk Charge  is deducted from the  Variable Account even though  the
Company  does not bear  any mortality risk. If  Income Plan 3  is chosen and the
proceeds are derived  from the Variable  Account, the Owner  or Beneficiary  may
surrender the Contract at any time by notifying the Company in writing.
 
In  the event that an income plan is  not selected, the Company will make Income
Payments in accordance with  Income Plan 1. At  the Company's discretion,  other
income  plans  may  be available  upon  request. The  Company  uses sex-distinct
annuity tables. However, the  Company reserves the right  to use Income  Payment
tables which do not distinguish on the basis of sex.
 
THE FIXED ACCOUNT
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
CONTRIBUTIONS  UNDER THE FIXED PORTION OF  THE ANNUITY CONTRACT AND TRANSFERS TO
THE FIXED  PORTION BECOME  PART OF  THE GENERAL  ACCOUNT OF  THE COMPANY,  WHICH
SUPPORTS   INSURANCE  AND   ANNUITY  OBLIGATIONS.   BECAUSE  OF   EXEMPTIVE  AND
EXCLUSIONARY  PROVISIONS,  INTERESTS  IN  THE  GENERAL  ACCOUNT  HAVE  NOT  BEEN
REGISTERED  UNDER THE SECURITIES  ACT OF 1933  ("1933 ACT"), NOR  IS THE GENERAL
ACCOUNT REGISTERED AS AN INVESTMENT COMPANY UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT  OF
1940  ("1940 ACT"). ACCORDINGLY,  NEITHER THE GENERAL  ACCOUNT NOR ANY INTERESTS
THEREIN ARE GENERALLY SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1933 OR 1940 ACTS AND THE
COMPANY HAS  BEEN  ADVISED  THAT  THE  STAFF  OF  THE  SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE
COMMISSION  HAS NOT REVIEWED THE DISCLOSURES  IN THIS PROSPECTUS WHICH RELATE TO
THE FIXED  PORTION.  DISCLOSURES REGARDING  THE  FIXED PORTION  OF  THE  ANNUITY
CONTRACT  AND THE GENERAL ACCOUNT, HOWEVER,  MAY BE SUBJECT TO CERTAIN GENERALLY
APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE  FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS  RELATING TO THE  ACCURACY
AND COMPLETENESS OF STATEMENTS MADE IN PROSPECTUSES.
 
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
 
Contributions  made to the Fixed Account are  invested in the general account of
the Company. The general account is made up of all of the general assets of  the
Company, other than those in the Variable Account and any other segregated asset
account.  Instead of the  Owner bearing the  investment risk as  is the case for
amounts in the Variable Account, the Company bears the full investment risk  for
all  amounts contributed to the general account. The Company has sole discretion
to invest the  assets of  the general account,  subject to  applicable law.  The
Company  guarantees  that the  amounts allocated  to the  Fixed Account  will be
credited interest  at a  net effective  interest rate  of at  least the  minimum
guaranteed  rate found in the  Contract. (This interest rate  is net of separate
account asset based charges of 1.35%). Currently the amount of interest credited
in excess of the guaranteed rate  will vary periodically in the sole  discretion
of  the Company. Any  interest held in  the general account  does not entitle an
Owner to share in the investment experience of the general account.
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
Money deposited  in the  Fixed Account  earns interest  at the  current rate  in
effect at the time of allocation or transfer for the Guarantee Period. After the
Guarantee Period, a renewal rate will be declared. Subsequent renewal dates will
be  on anniversaries of the  first renewal date. On  or about each renewal date,
the Company will notify the Owner of the interest rate(s) for the Contract  Year
then  starting. This interest rate will be  guaranteed by the Company for a full
year and will not be  less than the guaranteed rate  found in the Contract.  The
Company  may declare more than one interest rate for different monies based upon
the date of  allocation or  transfer to  the Fixed  Account and  based upon  the
Guarantee Period.
 
The Company will offer a one year Guarantee Period. Additional Guarantee Periods
are  offered at the sole discretion of the Company. The Company currently offers
a 1 year and a 6 year Guarantee Period.
 
ANY INTEREST CREDITED TO AMOUNTS ALLOCATED TO THE FIXED ACCOUNT IN EXCESS OF THE
GUARANTEED RATE FOUND IN THE CONTRACT WILL BE DETERMINED IN THE SOLE  DISCRETION
OF THE COMPANY.
 
TRANSFERS, SURRENDERS, AND WITHDRAWALS
 
Amounts  may be transferred from the Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account to the
Fixed Account,  and  prior  to  the  Payout  Start  Date  amounts  may  also  be
transferred from the Fixed Account to Sub-Accounts of the Variable Account.
 
The  maximum amount in any Contract Year which may be transferred from the Fixed
Account to  the Variable  Account  or between  Guarantee  Periods of  the  Fixed
Account  is limited to the greater of (1)  25% of the value in the Fixed Account
as of the most recent Contract Anniversary; if  25% of the value as of the  most
recent  Contract Anniversary is greater than zero  but less than $1,000, then up
to $1,000 may be transferred; or (2) 25% of the sum of all Purchase Payments and
transfers to the Fixed Account as of the most recent Contract Anniversary.
 
If the first renewal  interest rate is  less than the current  rate that was  in
effect  at the time money was allocated or transferred to the Fixed Account, the
transfer restriction for that money and the accumulated interest thereon will be
waived during the 60-day period following the first renewal date.
 
After the Payout Start  Date no transfers  may be made  from the Fixed  Account.
Transfers from the Variable Account to the Fixed Account may not be made for six
months  after the Payout Start  Date and may be  made thereafter only once every
six months.
 
Surrenders and withdrawals from the Fixed Account  may be delayed for up to  six
months.  After the Payout  Start Date no  surrenders or withdrawals  may be made
from the Fixed Account.
 
GENERAL MATTERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
OWNER
 
The Owner has the  sole right to  exercise all rights  and privileges under  the
Contract, except as otherwise provided in the Contract. These rights include the
right to name and change the Owner, Beneficiary and Annuitant. The Annuitant can
be  changed only if the  Owner is a natural person.  At time of designation, the
age of the Annuitant may not exceed 80 years of age.
 
Generally, an Owner who is not a natural person is required to include in income
each year  any  increase  in the  Cash  Value  to the  extent  the  increase  is
attributable to contributions made after February 28, 1986.
 
BENEFICIARY
 
Subject  to the terms of  any irrevocable Beneficiary, the  Owner may change the
Beneficiary while the Annuitant is living  by notifying the Company in  writing.
Any  change will be effective at the time  it is signed by the Owner, whether or
not the Annuitant  is living when  the change  is received by  the Company.  The
Company will not, however, be liable as to any payment or settlements made prior
to receiving the written notice.
 
Unless  otherwise provided  in the  Beneficiary designation,  the rights  of any
Beneficiary predeceasing the Annuitant will revert  to the Owner or the  Owner's
estate.  Multiple Beneficiaries may  be named. Unless  otherwise provided in the
Beneficiary designation, if  more than one  Beneficiary survives the  Annuitant,
the surviving Beneficiaries will share equally in any amounts due.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
DELAY OF PAYMENTS
 
Payment  of any amounts  due from the  Variable Account under  the Contract will
occur within seven days, unless:
 
    1.  The New York Stock Exchange  is closed for other than usual weekends  or
holidays, or trading on the Exchange is otherwise restricted;
 
    2.    An  emergency  exists  as  defined  by  the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission; or
 
    3.  The Securities and Exchange Commission permits delay for the  protection
of the Owners.
 
For payment or transfers from the Fixed Account, see page 18.
 
ASSIGNMENTS
 
The Owner may not assign an interest in a Contract as collateral or security for
a loan. Otherwise, the Owner may assign benefits under the Contract prior to the
Payout  Start Date. No Beneficiary may  assign benefits under the Contract until
they are due. No  assignment will bind  the Company unless it  is signed by  the
Owner  and  filed with  the  Company. The  Company  is not  responsible  for the
validity of an assignment.
 
MODIFICATION
 
The Company may not modify the Contract without the consent of the Owner  except
to  make the  Contract meet  the requirements of  the Investment  Company Act of
1940, or to make the  Contract comply with any  changes in the Internal  Revenue
Code or required by the Code or by any other applicable law.
 
CUSTOMER INQUIRIES
 
The  Owners  or  any  persons  interested in  the  Contract  may  make inquiries
regarding  the  Contract  by  calling  or  writing  their  Dean  Witter  Account
Executive.
 
FEDERAL TAX MATTERS
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
INTRODUCTION
 
THE  FOLLOWING DISCUSSION  IS GENERAL  AND IS  NOT INTENDED  AS TAX  ADVICE. THE
COMPANY MAKES  NO GUARANTEE  REGARDING  THE TAX  TREATMENT  OF ANY  CONTRACT  OR
TRANSACTION   INVOLVING  A  CONTRACT.  Federal,   state,  local  and  other  tax
consequences of ownership or receipt of distributions under an annuity  contract
depend  on the  individual circumstances  of each  person. If  you are concerned
about any tax  consequences with  regard to your  individual circumstances,  you
should consult a competent tax adviser.
 
TAXATION OF ANNUITIES IN GENERAL
 
TAX  DEFERRAL. Generally, an annuity contract owner is not taxed on increases in
the Contract Value until a distribution occurs. This rule applies only where (1)
the Owner is a natural person, (2)  the investments of the Variable Account  are
"adequately  diversified"  in accordance  with Treasury  Department ("Treasury")
regulations and (3) the Company, instead of the annuity owner, is considered the
owner of the Variable Account assets for federal income tax purposes.
 
NON-NATURAL OWNERS. As a  general rule, annuity  contracts owned by  non-natural
persons are not treated as annuity contracts for federal income tax purposes and
the  income on such contracts is taxed as ordinary income received or accrued by
the Owner during the taxable year.  There are several exceptions to the  general
rule  for  Contracts owned  by non-natural  persons which  are discussed  in the
Statement of Additional Information.
 
DIVERSIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. For  a contract to  be treated as  an annuity  for
federal  income tax  purposes, the investments  in the Variable  Account must be
"adequately diversified"  in  accordance  with the  standards  provided  in  the
Treasury  regulations.  If  the  investments in  the  Variable  Account  are not
adequately diversified, then  the Contract  will not  be treated  as an  annuity
contract for federal income tax purposes and the Contract Owner will be taxed on
the  excess of the Contract Value over  the investment in the Contract. Although
the Company does not have control over the Fund or its investments, the  Company
expects the Fund to meet the diversification requirements.
 
OWNERSHIP  TREATMENT. In connection with the  issuance of the regulations on the
adequate diversification  standards, the  Department of  the Treasury  announced
that  the regulations  do not  provide guidance  concerning the  extent to which
contract owners may direct  their investments among  sub-accounts of a  Variable
Account. The Internal Revenue Service has previously stated in published rulings
that  a variable contract owner possesses incidents of ownership in those assets
such as the ability to exercise investment control over the assets. At the  time
the  diversification regulations were issued,  the Treasury Department announced
that guidance would be issued in the future regarding
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
the extent that owners could direct their investments among sub-accounts without
being treated as owners of the underlying assets of the Variable Account. As  of
the date of this prospectus, no such guidance has been issued.
 
The  ownership  rights under  this  contract are  similar  to, but  different in
certain respects from, those described by the Service in rulings in which it was
determined that contract owners were not owners of separate account assets.  For
example, the owner of this contract has the choice of more investment options to
which  to allocate  premiums and  contract values, and  may be  able to transfer
among investment options more frequently than in such rulings. These differences
could result in the contract  owner being treated as  the owner of the  Variable
Account.  In  those circumstances,  income and  gain  from the  Variable Account
assets would be includible  in the Contract Owner's  gross income. In  addition,
the Company does not know what standards will be set forth in the regulations or
rulings  which the  Treasury Department  has stated it  expects to  issue. It is
possible that  Treasury Department's  position,  when announced,  may  adversely
affect the tax treatment of existing contracts. The Company, therefore, reserves
the right to modify the contract as necessary to attempt to prevent the contract
owner  from being considered the federal tax owner of the assets of the Variable
Account. However, the Company makes no  guarantee that such modification to  the
contract will be successful.
 
DELAYED  MATURITY DATE. If the  contract's scheduled maturity date  is at a time
when the  annuitant has  reached  an advanced  age, e.g.,  past  age 85,  it  is
possible  that the contract would  not be treated as  an annuity. In that event,
the income and  gains under the  contract would be  currently includible in  the
owner's income.
 
TAXATION  OF PARTIAL AND FULL  WITHDRAWALS. In the case  of a partial withdrawal
under a Non-Qualified Contract, amounts received  are taxable to the extent  the
Contract  Value, without regard to surrender  charges, exceeds the investment in
the Contract. In the  case of a partial  withdrawal under a Qualified  Contract,
the  portion of the payment that bears the  same ratio to the total payment that
the investment in the Contract bears to the Contract Value, can be excluded from
income. In the case  of a full  withdrawal under a  Non-Qualified Contract or  a
Qualified  Contract, the amount received  will be taxable only  to the extent it
exceeds the investment in  the Contract. If an  individual transfers an  annuity
contract  without full  and adequate  consideration to  a person  other than the
individual's spouse (or  to a former  spouse incident to  a divorce), the  Owner
will be taxed on the difference between the Contract Value and the investment in
the  Contract  at  the time  of  transfer. Other  than  in the  case  of certain
Qualified Contracts, any  amount received as  a loan under  a Contract, and  any
assignment or pledge (or agreement to assign or pledge) of the Contract Value is
treated as a withdrawal of such amount or portion.
 
TAXATION  OF  ANNUITY  PAYMENTS.  Generally, the  rule  for  income  taxation of
payments received  from an  annuity  contract provides  for  the return  of  the
Owner's  investment in the  Contract in equal tax-free  amounts over the payment
period. The balance of each payment received is taxable. In the case of variable
annuity payments,  the amount  excluded  from taxable  income is  determined  by
dividing  the  investment  in  the  Contract by  the  total  number  of expected
payments. In the case of fixed annuity payments, the amount excluded from income
is determined by multiplying the payment by  the ratio of the investment in  the
Contract  (adjusted  for any  refund  feature or  period  certain) to  the total
expected value of annuity payments for the term of the Contract.
 
TAXATION OF ANNUITY DEATH BENEFITS. Amounts  may be distributed from an  annuity
contract  because of the death of an Owner or Annuitant. Generally, such amounts
are includible in  income as  follows: (1)  if distributed  in a  lump sum,  the
amounts  are taxed in the same manner as a full withdrawal or (2) if distributed
under an annuity option, the amounts are taxed in the same manner as an  annuity
payment.
 
PENALTY  TAX  ON PREMATURE  DISTRIBUTIONS. There  is  a 10%  penalty tax  on the
taxable amount  of  any  premature distribution  from  a  non-qualified  annuity
contract.  The penalty tax  generally applies to any  distribution made prior to
the Owner attaining  age 59  1/2. However,  there should  be no  penalty tax  on
distributions  to Owners (1) made on or after  the Owner attains age 59 1/2; (2)
made as a result of the Owner's  death or disability; (3) made in  substantially
equal  periodic payments  over life  or life  expectancy; or  (4) made  under an
immediate annuity. Similar rules apply for distributions under certain Qualified
Contracts. Please see the Statement  of Additional Information for a  discussion
of other situations in which the penalty tax may not apply.
 
AGGREGATION  OF ANNUITY CONTRACTS. All non-qualified annuity contracts issued by
the Company (or its affiliates) to the same Owner during any calendar year  will
be  aggregated and treated  as one annuity Contract  for purposes of determining
the taxable amount of a distribution.
 
TAX QUALIFIED CONTRACTS
 
Annuity contracts may be  used as investments with  certain tax qualified  plans
such  as: (1) Individual Retirement Annuities  under Section 408(b) of the Code;
(2) Simplified Employee  Pension Plans  under Section  408(k) of  the Code;  (3)
Savings  Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE) Plans under Section 408(p)
of the Code; (4) Tax Sheltered Annuities  under Section 403(b) of the Code;  (5)
Corporate  and Self Employed Pension and Profit Sharing Plans; and (6) State and
Local Government and Tax-Exempt Organization Deferred Compensation Plans. In the
case of certain tax qualified plans, the terms of the plans may govern the right
to benefits, regardless of the terms of the contract.
 
RESTRICTIONS UNDER SECTION 403(b) PLANS. Section 403(b) of the Code provides for
tax-deferred retirement savings  plans for employees  of certain non-profit  and
educational  organizations.  In  accordance  with  the  requirements  of Section
403(b),  any  annuity  contract  used  for  a  403(b)  plan  must  provide  that
distributions
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
attributable  to  salary reduction  contributions made  after 12/31/88,  and all
earnings on salary reduction contributions, may be made only after the  employee
attains  age 59 1/2,  separates from service,  dies, becomes disabled  or on the
account of  hardship (earnings  on  salary reduction  contributions may  not  be
distributed on the account of hardship).
 
INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING
 
The  Company is required to withhold federal income  tax at a rate of 20% on all
"eligible rollover distributions" unless an individual elects to make a  "direct
rollover"  of such  amounts to another  qualified plan  or Individual Retirement
Account or Annuity  ("IRA"). Eligible rollover  distributions generally  include
all  distributions from Qualified Contracts,  excluding IRAs, with the exception
of (1) required minimum  distributions, or (2) a  series of substantially  equal
periodic  payments made over a  period of at least 10  years, or the life (joint
lives)  of  the  participant  (and  beneficiary).  For  any  distributions  from
non-qualified annuity contracts, or distributions from Qualified Contracts which
are  not considered eligible rollover distributions, the Company may be required
to withhold federal and  state income taxes unless  the recipient elects not  to
have taxes withheld and properly notifies the Company of such election.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
The  Owner or anyone with  a voting interest in  the Sub-Account of the Variable
Account may instruct the Company on how  to vote at shareholder meetings of  the
Fund.  The Company will solicit  and cast each vote  according to the procedures
set up by the Fund and to the  extent required by law. The Company reserves  the
right to vote the eligible shares in its own right, if subsequently permitted by
the Investment Company Act of 1940, its regulations or interpretations thereof.
 
Before  the  Payout Start  Date,  the Owner  holds  the voting  interest  in the
Sub-Account. (The number of votes for  the Owner will be determined by  dividing
the Cash Value attributable to a Sub-Account by the net asset value per share of
the applicable eligible Portfolio.)
 
After the Payout Start Date, the person receiving Income Payments has the voting
interest. After the Payout Start Date, the votes decrease as Income Payments are
made  and as  the reserves  for the Contract  decrease. That  person's number of
votes will be determined by dividing the reserve for such Contract allocated  to
the applicable Sub-Account by the net asset value per share of the corresponding
eligible Portfolio.
 
SALES COMMISSION
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
From  its profits  the Company  may pay  a maximum  sales commission  of 6.0% of
Purchase Payments and an annual sales administration expense allowance of up  to
0.125%  of the average net  assets of the Fixed  Account to Dean Witter Reynolds
Inc., the principal underwriter of the Contracts.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
The Contract................................................       3
  Purchase of Contracts.....................................       3
  Value of Variable Account Accumulation Units..............       3
  Performance Data..........................................       3
Standardized Total Return...................................       4
  Other Total Returns.......................................       5
  Transfers.................................................       6
  Tax-free Exchanges (1035 Exchanges, Rollovers and
   Transfers)...............................................       7
Income Payments.............................................       7
  Amount of Variable Annuity Income Payments................       7
General Matters.............................................       7
    Recordkeeping Services..................................       7
    Additions, Deletions or Substitutions of Investments....       8
    Reinvestment............................................       8
  Incontestability..........................................       8
  Settlements...............................................       8
  Safekeeping of the Variable Account's Assets..............       8
  Experts...................................................       9
  Legal Matters.............................................       9
Federal Tax Matters.........................................       9
  Introduction..............................................       9
  Taxation of Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York...       9
  Exceptions to the Non-Natural Owner Rule..................       9
  Penalty Tax on Premature Distributions....................      10
  IRS Requried Distribution at Death Rules..................      10
  Qualified Plans...........................................      10
Types of Qualified Plans....................................      11
  Individual Retirement Annuities...........................      11
  Simplified Employee Pension Plans.........................      11
  Tax Sheltered Annuities...................................      11
  Corporate and Self-Employed Pension and Profit Sharing
   Plans....................................................      11
  State and Local Government and Tax-Exempt Organization
   Deferred Compensation Plans..............................      11
Voting Rights...............................................      12
Sales Commissions...........................................      12
Financial Statements........................................     F-1
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
ORDER FORM
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
/ / Please send me a copy of the most recent Statement of Additional Information
    for the Allstate Life of New York Variable Annuity II.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                       <C>
- ------------------------  ---------------------------------------------
         (Date)                               (Name)
 
                          ---------------------------------------------
                                         (Street Address)
 
                          ---------------------------------------------
                              (City)        (State)       (Zip Code)
</TABLE>
 
Send to:  Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York
          Post Office Box 9095
          Farmingville, New York 11738
 
          Attention:  Annuity Services
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
                      STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
 
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
 
                                       of
 
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                                 P.O. Box 9095
                          Farmingville, New York 11738
 
                     INDIVIDUAL VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACTS
 
                                 Distributed By
 
                           Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.
                             Two World Trade Center
                            New York, New York 10048
 
                              -------------------
 
This Statement of Additional Information supplements the information in the
Prospectus for the individual Flexible Premium Deferred Variable Annuity
Contract ("Contract") offered by Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York
("Company"), an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Allstate Insurance Company.
The Contract is primarily designed to aid individuals in long-term financial
planning and it can be used for retirement planning regardless of whether the
plan qualifies for special federal income tax treatment.
 
THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS NOT A PROSPECTUS AND SHOULD BE READ
                 ONLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PROSPECTUS FOR THE CONTRACT.
 
YOU MAY OBTAIN A COPY OF THE PROSPECTUS FROM DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC. ("DEAN
   WITTER"), THE PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER AND DISTRIBUTOR OF THE CONTRACT, BY
             CALLING OR WRITING DEAN WITTER AT THE ADDRESS LISTED ABOVE.
 
    The Prospectus, dated May 1, 1997, has been filed with the United States
                      Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
                               Dated May 1, 1997
<PAGE>
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                       Page
                                                                                                                        ---
<S>                                                                                                                 <C>
The Contract......................................................................................................           3
  Purchase of Contracts...........................................................................................           3
  Value of Variable Account Accumulation Units....................................................................           3
  Performance Data................................................................................................           3
Standardized Total Return.........................................................................................           4
  Other Total Returns.............................................................................................           5
  Transfers.......................................................................................................           6
  Tax-free Exchanges (1035 Exchanges, Rollovers and Transfers)....................................................           7
Income Payments...................................................................................................           7
  Amount of Variable Annuity Income Payments......................................................................           7
General Matters...................................................................................................           7
    Recordkeeping Services........................................................................................           7
    Additions, Deletions or Substitutions of Investments..........................................................           8
    Reinvestment..................................................................................................           8
  Incontestability................................................................................................           8
  Settlements.....................................................................................................           8
  Safekeeping of the Variable Account's Assets....................................................................           8
  Experts.........................................................................................................           9
  Legal Matters...................................................................................................           9
Federal Tax Matters...............................................................................................           9
  Introduction....................................................................................................           9
  Taxation of Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York.........................................................           9
  Exceptions to the Non-Natural Owner Rule........................................................................           9
  Penalty Tax on Premature Distributions..........................................................................          10
  IRS Required Distribution at Death Rules........................................................................          10
  Qualified Plans.................................................................................................          10
Types of Qualified Plans..........................................................................................          11
  Individual Retirement Annuities.................................................................................          11
  Simplified Employee Pension Plans...............................................................................          11
  Tax Sheltered Annuities.........................................................................................          11
  Corporate and Self-Employed Pension and Profit Sharing Plans....................................................          11
  State and Local Government and Tax-Exempt Organization Deferred Compensation Plans..............................          11
Voting Rights.....................................................................................................          11
Sales Commissions.................................................................................................          12
Financial Statements..............................................................................................         F-1
</TABLE>
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
                                  THE CONTRACT
 
Purchase of Contracts
 
    The Contracts are offered to the public through brokers licensed under the
federal securities laws and state insurance laws. The offering of the Contracts
is continuous and the Company does not anticipate discontinuing the offering of
the Contracts. However, the Company reserves the right to discontinue the
offering of the Contracts.
 
Value of Variable Account Accumulation Units
 
    The value of Variable Account Accumulation Units will vary in accordance
with investment experience of the Portfolio in which the Sub-Account invests.
The number of such Accumulation Units credited to a Contract will not, however,
change as a result of any fluctuations in the Accumulation Unit value.
 
    The Accumulation Units in each Sub-Account of the Variable Account are
valued separately. The value of Accumulation Units in any Valuation Period will
depend upon the investment performance of the shares purchased by each Sub-
Account in a particular Portfolio.
 
    The value of an Accumulation Unit in a Sub-Account for any Valuation Period
equals the value of such unit as of the immediately preceding Valuation Period,
multiplied by the "Net Investment Factor" for that Sub-Account for the current
Valuation Period. The Net Investment Factor for each Sub-Account for any
Valuation Period is determined by dividing (A) by (B) and subtracting (C),
where:
 
        (A) is the sum of:
 
           (1) the net asset value per share of the Portfolio(s) underlying the
       Sub-Account determined at the end of the current valuation period; plus,
 
           (2) the per share amount of any dividend or capital gain
       distributions made by the Portfolio(s) underlying the Sub-Account during
       the current Valuation Period.
 
        (B) is the net asset value per share of the Portfolio(s) underlying the
    Sub-Account determined as of the end of the immediately preceding valuation
    period.
 
        (C) is the annualized Mortality and Expense Risk and Administrative
    Expense Charges divided by 365 and then multiplied by the number of calendar
    days in the current valuation period.
 
Performance Data
 
    From time to time the Variable Account may publish advertisements containing
performance data relating to its Sub-Accounts. The performance data for the
Sub-Accounts (other than for the Money Market Sub-Account) will always be
accompanied by total return quotations.
 
    A Sub-Account's "average annual total return" represents an annualization of
the Sub-Account's total return over a particular period and is computed by
finding the annual percentage rate which will result in the ending redeemable
value of a hypothetical $1,000 Purchase Payment made at the beginning of a one,
five or ten year period, or for a period from the date of commencement of the
Sub-Account's operations, if shorter than any of the foregoing. The formula for
computing the average annual total return involves a percentage obtained by
dividing the ending redeemable value, including deductions for any Early
Withdrawal Charges or Contract Maintenance Charges imposed on the Contracts by
the Variable Account, by the initial hypothetical $1,000 Purchase Payment,
taking the "n"th root of the quotient (where "n" is the number of years in the
period) and subtracting 1 from the result.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
    The Early Withdrawal Charges assessed upon redemption are computed as
follows: The Withdrawal Amount Without Early Withdrawal Charge is not assessed
an Early Withdrawal Charge. Early Withdrawal Charges are charged on the amount
of redemption equal to the Purchase Payment, reduced by the Withdrawal Amount
Without Early Withdrawal Charge, if any. The remaining amount of the redemption,
if any, is not assessed an Early Withdrawal Charge. The Early Withdrawal Charge
Schedule specifies rates based on the Contract Year in which the Purchase
Payment was made. One rate is specified for Purchase Payments made in the
current Contract Year, another rate for Purchase Payments made in the prior
Contract Year, another rate for Purchase Payments made in the second prior
Contract Year, and so on until a rate for Purchase Payments made in the sixth
prior Contract Year or prior to it is reached. For a one year total return
calculation the second rate, (i.e., the rate for Purchase Payments made in the
prior Contract Year), is assessed. The Contract Maintenance Charge ($30 per
contract) used in the total return calculation is prorated using the following
method: The total amount of annual Contract fees collected during the year is
divided by the total average net assets of all the Sub-Accounts. The resulting
percentage is then multiplied by the ending Cash Value.
 
    In addition, the Variable Account may advertise the total return over
different periods of time by means of aggregate, average, year-by-year or other
types of total return figures. Such calculations would not reflect deductions
for Early Withdrawal Charges or Contract Maintenance charges which may be
imposed on the Contracts by the Variable Account which, if reflected, would
reduce the performance quoted. The formula for computing such total return
quotations involves a percent unit change calculation. This calculation is the
Accumulation Unit value at the end of the defined period divided by the
Accumulation Unit value at the beginning of such period minus 1. The periods
included in such advertisements are "year-to-date" (prior calendar year end to
the day of the advertisement); "year to most recent quarter" (prior calendar
year end to the end of the most recent quarter); "the prior calendar year"; and
inception (commencement of the Sub-Account's operation) to date (day of the
advertisement).
 
                           STANDARDIZED TOTAL RETURN
 
    The standardized average annual total returns for the Sub-Accounts for the
one-year and since inception periods ending December 31, 1996 are presented
below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                             Since
Sub-Account                                                                       One-Year   Five-Year     Inception
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  --------------
<S>                                                                              <C>         <C>         <C>
Capital Growth.................................................................       5.72%       5.06%         7.84%
Dividend Growth................................................................      17.97%      13.42%        13.92%
Equity.........................................................................       6.52%      11.10%        13.41%
European Growth................................................................      23.92%      19.27%        18.68%
Global Dividend Growth.........................................................      11.68%        N/A         11.02%
High Yield.....................................................................       6.15%      11.38%        12.26%
Money Market...................................................................        N/A         N/A           N/A
Pacific Growth.................................................................      -1.84%        N/A         -1.80%
Quality Income Plus............................................................      -4.14%       5.96%         6.76%
Strategist.....................................................................       9.15%       7.48%         8.40%
Utilities......................................................................       2.89%       8.97%        10.36%
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
* All Sub-Accounts commenced operation on September 24, 1991 except for the
  Global Dividend Growth, Pacific Growth, Income Builder and Capital
  Appreciation Sub-Accounts. The Global Dividend Growth and Pacific Growth
  Sub-Accounts commenced operation on February 23, 1994. The Income Builder and
  Capital Appreciation Sub-Accounts commenced operation on January 21, 1997.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
    From time to time, sales literature or advertisements may also quote average
annual total returns for periods prior to the date the Variable Account
commenced operations. Such performance information for the Sub-Accounts will be
calculated based on the performance of the Portfolios and the assumption that
the Sub-Accounts were in existence for the same periods as those indicated for
the Portfolios, with the level of Contract charges currently in effect.
 
    Such average annual total return information for the Sub-Accounts (including
deduction of the Surrender Charge) is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                            Ten-Years or
                                                                                                           Since Inception
Sub-Account and Date of Inception of Corresponding Portfolio                       One-Year   Five- Years     (if less)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ----------  -----------  ---------------
<S>                                                                               <C>         <C>          <C>
Capital Growth****..............................................................       5.72%        5.06%         8.71%
Dividend Growth***..............................................................      17.97%       13.42%        11.83%
Equity*.........................................................................       6.52%       11.10%        11.39%
European Growth****.............................................................      23.92%       19.27%        16.32%
Global Dividend Growth*****.....................................................      11.68%         N/A         11.03%
High Yield*.....................................................................       6.15%       11.38%         5.64%
Money Market*...................................................................        N/A          N/A           N/A
Pacific Growth*****.............................................................      -1.84%         N/A         -1.80%
Quality Income Plus**...........................................................      -4.14%        5.96%         7.07%
Strategist**....................................................................       9.15%        7.48%         8.32%
Utilities***....................................................................       2.89%        8.97%         9.71%
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
    * Portfolio inception date of March 9, 1984
 
   ** Portfolio inception date of March 1, 1987
 
  *** Portfolio inception date of March 1, 1990
 
 **** Portfolio inception date of March 1, 1991
 
***** Portfolio inception date of February 23, 1994
 
Other Total Returns
 
    From time to time, sales literature or advertisements may also quote average
annual total returns that do not reflect the Surrender Charge. These are
calculated in exactly the same way as the average annual total returns described
above, except that the ending redeemable value of the hypothetical account for
the period is replaced with an ending value for the period that does not take
into account any charges on amounts surrendered. Sales literature or
advertisements may also quote such average annual total returns for periods
prior to the date the Variable Account commenced operations, calculated based on
the performance of the Portfolios and the assumption that the Sub-Accounts were
in existence for the same periods as those indicated for the Portfolios, with
the level of Contract charges currently in effect except for the Surrender
Charge.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
    Such average annual total return information for the Sub-Accounts (not
including deduction of the Surrender Charge) is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                Ten-Years or
                                                                                                               Since Inception
Sub-Account and Date of Inception of Corresponding Portfolio                          One-Year    Five- Years     (if less)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------  -----------  ---------------
<S>                                                                                 <C>           <C>          <C>
Capital Growth****................................................................       10.04%         5.28%         8.86%
Dividend Growth***................................................................       22.29%        13.58%        11.89%
Equity*...........................................................................       10.85%        11.28%        11.44%
European Growth****...............................................................       28.24%        19.42%        16.45%
Global Dividend Growth*****.......................................................       16.00%          N/A         12.07%
High Yield*.......................................................................       10.47%        11.55%         5.71%
Money Market*.....................................................................         N/A           N/A           N/A
Pacific Growth*****...............................................................        2.49%          N/A         -0.50%
Quality Income Plus**.............................................................        0.19%         6.16%         7.12%
Strategist**......................................................................       13.47%         7.67%         8.37%
Utilities***......................................................................        7.22%         9.15%         9.76%
</TABLE>
 
- ------------------------
    * Portfolio inception date of March 9, 1984
 
   ** Portfolio inception date of March 1, 1987
 
  *** Portfolio inception date of March 1, 1990
 
 **** Portfolio inception date of March 1, 1991
 
***** Portfolio inception date of February 23, 1994
 
    The Variable Account may also advertise the performance of the Sub-Accounts
relative to certain performance rankings and indexes compiled by independent
organizations, such as: (a) Lipper Analytical Services, Inc.; (b) the Standard &
Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index ("S & P 500"); and, (c) A.M. Best
Company.
 
Transfers
 
    The Owner may transfer amounts from one investment alternative to another
prior to the Payout Start Date. Transfers are subject to the following
restrictions:
 
    1.  The minimum amount that may be transferred from an investment
       alternative is $100; if the total amount in an investment alternative is
       less than $100, the entire amount may be transferred.
 
    2.  The minimum transfer to any Guarantee Period of the Fixed Account is
       $500.
 
    3.  The maximum amount in any Contract Year which may be transferred from
       the Fixed Account to the Variable Account or between Guarantee Periods is
       limited to the greater of (1) 25% of the value in the Fixed Account as of
       the most recent Contract Anniversary; if 25% of the value as of the most
       recent Contract Anniversary is greater than zero but less than $1,000,
       then up to $1,000 may be transferred; or (2) 25% of the sum of all
       Purchase Payments and transfers to the Fixed Account as of the most
       recent Contract Anniversary.
 
    4.  If the first renewal interest rate is less than the current rate that
       was in effect at the time money was allocated or transferred to the Fixed
       Account, the 25% transfer restriction for that money will be waived
       during the 60 day period following the first renewal date.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
Tax-Free Exchanges (1035 Exchanges, Rollovers and Transfers)
 
    The Company accepts Purchase Payments which are the proceeds of a Contract
in a transaction qualifying for a tax-free exchange under Section 1035 of the
Internal Revenue Code. Except as required by federal law in calculating the
basis of the Contract, the Company does not differentiate between Section 1035
Purchase Payments and non-Section 1035 Purchase Payments.
 
    The Company also accepts "rollovers" from Contracts qualifying as
tax-sheltered annuities (TSAs), individual retirement annuities or accounts,
(IRAs), or any other Qualified Contract which is eligible to "rollover" into an
IRA. The Company differentiates between Non-Qualified Contracts and TSAs and
IRAs to the extent necessary to comply with federal tax laws. For example, the
Company restricts the assignment, transfer or pledge of TSAs and IRAs so the
Contracts will continue to qualify for special tax treatment. An Owner
contemplating any such exchange, rollover or transfer of a Contract should
contact a competent tax adviser with respect to the potential effects of such a
transaction.
 
                                INCOME PAYMENTS
 
Amount of Variable Annuity Income Payments
 
    The amount of the first Income Payment is calculated by applying the
Contract Value allocated to each Sub-Account less any applicable premium tax
charge deducted at this time, to the income payment tables in the Contract. The
first Variable Annuity Income Payment is divided by the Sub-Account's then
current Annuity Unit Value to determine the number of Annuity Units upon which
later Income Payments will be based. Variable Annuity Income Payments after the
first will be equal to the sum of the number of Annuity Units determined in this
manner for each Sub-Account times the then current Annuity Unit Value for each
respective Sub-Account.
 
    The value of an Annuity Unit in each Sub-Account of the Variable Account is
set at $10. Annuity Units in each Sub-Account are valued separately and Annuity
Unit Values will depend upon the investment experience of the particular
Portfolios in which the Sub-Account invests. The value of the Annuity Unit for
each Sub-Account at the end of any Valuation Period is calculated by: (a)
multiplying the prior value by the Sub-Account's Net Investment Factor during
the period; and then (b) dividing the product by the sum of 1.0 plus the assumed
investment rate for the period. The assumed investment rate adjusts for the
interest rate assumed in the annuity tables used to determine the dollar amount
of the first Variable Annuity Income Payment, and is an effective annual rate of
4.0%.
 
    Currently, the amount of the first Income Payment paid under an Annuity
Option is determined using 4% interest and the 1971 Individual Annuity Mortality
Table with the following age adjustment (The revised Contract is based on the
1983A Individual Annuity Mortality Table.) An annuitant's age at his or her last
birthday on or prior to the Income Starting Date will be set back one year each
six full years between January 1, 1971 and the Income Starting Date (except in
the case of Contracts based on the 1983A Table). Due to judicial or legislative
developments regarding the use of tables which do not differentiate on the basis
of sex, in some cases different annuity tables may be used.
 
                                GENERAL MATTERS
 
Recordkeeping Services
 
    In 1993, the Company paid $29,213.58 to Vantage for its services. The basis
for the fee was an annual fee of $16 per policy, plus out of pocket expenses and
fees for enhancements.
 
    As of October 4, 1993, the Company performs all Contract recordkeeping
services.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
Additions, Deletions or Substitutions of Investments
 
    The Company retains the right, subject to any applicable law, to make
additions to, deletions the from or substitutions for the Portfolio shares held
by any Sub-Account of the Variable Account. The Company reserves the right to
eliminate the shares of any of the Portfolios and to substitute shares of
another Portfolio of the Fund, or of another open-end, registered investment
company, if the shares of the Portfolio are no longer available for investment,
or if, in the Company's judgment, investment in any Portfolio would become
inappropriate in view of the purposes of the Variable Account. Substitutions of
shares attributable to an Owner's interest in a Sub-Account will not be made
until the Owner has been notified of the change, and until the Securities and
Exchange Commission has approved the change, to the extent such notification and
approval is required by the Investment Company Act of 1940. Nothing contained in
this Statement of Additional Information shall prevent the Variable Account from
purchasing other securities for other series or classes of contracts, or from
effecting a conversion between series or classes of contracts on the basis of
requests made by Owners.
 
    The Company may also establish additional Sub-Accounts of the Variable
Account. Each additional Sub-Account would purchase shares in a new Portfolio of
the Fund or in another mutual fund. New Sub-Accounts may be established when, in
the sole discretion of the Company, marketing needs or investment conditions
warrant. Any new Sub-Accounts will be made available to existing Owners on a
basis to be determined by the Company. The Company may also eliminate one or
more Sub-Accounts if, in its sole discretion, marketing, tax or investment
conditions so warrant.
 
    In the event of any such substitution or change, the Company may, by
appropriate endorsement, make such changes in the Contract as may be necessary
or appropriate to reflect such substitution or change. If deemed to be in the
best interests of persons having voting rights under the policies, the Variable
Account may be operated as a management company under the Investment Company Act
of 1940 or it may be deregistered under such Act in the event such registration
is no longer required.
 
Reinvestment
 
    All dividends and capital gains distributions from the Portfolios are
automatically reinvested in shares of the distributing Portfolio at their net
asset value.
 
Incontestability
 
    The Contract will not be contested after it is issued.
 
Settlements
 
    The Contract must be returned to the Company prior to any settlement. Due
proof of the Owner(s) or the Annuitant's (and any Joint Annuitant's) death must
be received prior to settlement of a death claim.
 
Safekeeping of the Variable Account's Assets
 
    The Company holds title to the assets of the Variable Account. The assets
are kept physically segregated and held separate and apart from the Company's
general corporate assets. Records are maintained of all purchases and
redemptions of the Portfolio shares held by each of the Sub-Accounts.
 
    The Dean Witter Variable Investment Series ("Fund") does not issue
certificates and, therefore, the Company holds the Account's assets in open
account in lieu of stock certificates. See the Fund's Prospectus for a more
complete description of the Fund's custodian.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
Experts
 
    The financial statements of the Variable Account and the financial
statements and financial statement schedules of the Company appearing in this
Statement of Additional Information (which is incorporated by reference in the
prospectus of Allstate Life of New York Variable Annuity Account II of Allstate
Life Insurance Company of New York) have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
Two Prudential Plaza, 180 N. Stetson Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, independent
auditors, as stated in their reports appearing herein and are included in
reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in
accounting and auditing.
 
Legal Matters
 
    Legal advice regarding certain matters relating to the federal securities
laws applicable to the issue and sale of the Contracts has been provided by
Routier and Johnson, P.C., of Washington, D.C.. All matters of New York law
pertaining to the Contracts, including the validity of the Contracts and the
Company's right to issue such Contracts under New York insurance law, have been
passed upon by Michael J. Velotta, General Counsel of Allstate Life Insurance
Company of New York.
 
                              FEDERAL TAX MATTERS
 
Introduction
 
    THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS GENERAL AND IS NOT INTENDED AS TAX ADVICE. THE
COMPANY MAKES NO GUARANTEE REGARDING THE TAX TREATMENT OF ANY CONTRACT OR
TRANSACTION INVOLVING A CONTRACT. Federal, state, local and other tax
consequences of ownership or receipt of distributions under an annuity contract
depend on the individual circumstances of each person. If you are concerned
about any tax consequences with regard to your individual circumstances, you
should consult a competent tax adviser.
 
Taxation of Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York
 
    The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under Part I of Subchapter
L of the Internal Revenue Code. The following discussion assumes that the
Company is taxed as a life insurance company under Part I of Subchapter L. Since
the Variable Account is not an entity separate from the Company, and its
operations form a part of the Company, it will not be taxed separately as a
"regulated Investment Company" under Subchapter M of the Code. Investment income
and realized capital gains are automatically applied to increase reserves under
the contract. Under existing federal income tax law, the Company believes that
the Variable Account investment income and realized net capital gains will not
be taxed to the extent that such income and gains are applied to increase the
reserves under the contract.
 
    Accordingly, the Company does not anticipate that it will incur any federal
income tax liability attributable to the Variable Account, and therefore the
Company does not intend to make provisions for any such taxes. However, if
changes in the federal tax laws or interpretations thereof result in the Company
being taxed on income or gains attributable to the Variable Account, then the
Company may impose a charge against the Variable Account (with respect to some
or all contracts) in order to set aside provisions to pay such taxes.
 
Exceptions to the Non-Natural Owner Rule
 
    There are several exceptions to the general rule that contracts held by a
non-natural owner are not treated as annuity contracts for federal income tax
purposes. Contracts will generally be treated as held by a natural person if the
nominal owner is a trust or other entity which holds the contract as agent for a
natural person. However, this special exception will not apply
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
in the case of an employer who is the nominal owner of an annuity contract under
a non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement for its employees. Other
exceptions to the non-natural owner rule are: (1) contracts acquired by an
estate of a decedent by reason of the death of the decedent; (2) certain
qualified contracts; (3) contracts purchased by employers upon the termination
of certain qualified plans; (4) certain contracts used in connection with
structured settlement agreements, and (5) contracts purchased with a single
premium when the annuity starting date is no later than a year from purchase of
the annuity and substantially equal periodic payments are made, not less
frequently than annually, during the annuity period.
 
Penalty Tax on Premature Distributions
 
    There is a 10% penalty tax on the taxable amount of any payment received
from a non-qualified annuity contract unless: (1) made after the owner reaches
59 1/2; (2) attributable to the owner's disability; (3) attributable to
investment before August 14, 1982, including earnings on pre-August 14, 1982
investment; (4) made from certain qualified contracts; (5) made after the death
of the owner; (6) made under an immediate annuity contract; (7) made from an
annuity purchased and held by an employer upon the termination of a qualified
retirement plan; (8) made under a qualified funding asset; (9) made as part of a
series of substantially equal periodic payments (not less frequently than
annually) for the life of or life expectancy of the owner or the joint lives of
joint life expectancies of the owner and designated beneficiary. Similar rules
apply in the case of qualified contracts.
 
IRS Required Distribution at Death Rules
 
    In order to be considered an annuity contract for federal income tax
purposes, an annuity contract must provide: (1) if any owner dies on or after
the annuity start date but before the entire interest in the contract has been
distributed, the remaining portion of such interest must be distributed at least
as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used as of the date of the
owner's death; (2) if any owner dies prior to the annuity start date, the entire
interest in the contract will be distributed within five years after the date of
the owner's death. These requirements are satisfied if any portion of the
owner's interest which is payable to (or for the benefit of) a designated
beneficiary is distributed over the life of such beneficiary (or over a period
not extending beyond the life expectancy of the beneficiary) and the
distributions begin within one year of the owner's death. If the owner's
designated beneficiary is the surviving spouse of the owner, the contract may be
continued with the surviving spouse as the new owner. If the owner of the
contract is a non-natural person, then the annuitant will be treated as the
owner for purposes of applying the distribution at death rules. In addition, a
change in the annuitant on a contract owned by a non-natural person will be
treated as the death of the owner.
 
Qualified Plans
 
    This annuity contract may be used with several types of qualified plans. The
tax rules applicable to participants in such qualified plans vary according to
the type of plan and the terms and conditions of the plan itself. Adverse tax
consequences may result from excess contributions, premature distributions,
distributions that do not conform to specified commencement and minimum
distribution rules, excess distributions and in other circumstances. Owners and
participants under the plan and annuitants and beneficiaries under the contract
may be subject to the terms and conditions of the plan regardless of the terms
of the contract.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
                            TYPES OF QUALIFIED PLANS
 
Individual Retirement Annuities
 
    Section 408 of the Code permits eligible individuals to contribute to an
individual retirement program known as an Individual Retirement Annuity.
Individual Retirement Annuities are subject to limitations on the amount that
can be contributed and on the time when distributions may commence. Certain
distributions from other types of qualified plans may be "rolled over" on a
tax-deferred basis into an Individual Retirement Annuity.
 
Simplified Employee Pension Plans
 
    Section 408(k) of the Code allows employers to establish simplified employee
pension plans for their employees using the employees' individual retirement
annuities if certain criteria are met. Under these plans the employer may,
within specified limits, make deductible contributions on behalf of the
employees to their individual retirement annuities.
 
Tax Sheltered Annuities
 
    Section 403(b) of the Code permits public school employees and employees of
certain types of tax-exempt organizations (specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the
Code) to have their employers purchase annuity contracts for them, and subject
to certain limitations, to exclude the purchase payments from the employees'
gross income. An annuity contract used for a Section 403(b) plan must provide
that distributions attributable to salary reduction contributions made after
12/31/88, and all earnings on salary reduction contributions, may be made only
after the employee attains age 59 1/2, separates from service, dies, becomes
disabled or in the case of hardship (earnings on salary reduction contributions
may not be distributed for hardship).
 
Corporate and Self-Employed Pension and Profit Sharing Plans
 
    Sections 401(a) and 403(a) of the Code permit corporate employers to
establish various types of tax favored retirement plans for employees. The
Self-Employed Individuals Retirement Act of 1962, as amended, (commonly referred
to as "H.R. 10" or "Keogh") permits self-employed individuals to establish tax
favored retirement plans for themselves and their employees. Such retirement
plans may permit the purchase of annuity contracts in order to provide benefits
under the plans.
 
State and Local Government and Tax-Exempt Organization Deferred Compensation
  Plans
 
    Section 457 of the Code permits employees of state and local governments and
tax-exempt organizations to defer a portion of their compensation without paying
current taxes. The employees must be participants in an eligible deferred
compensation plan. Generally, under the non-natural owner rules, such contracts
are not treated as annuity contracts for federal income tax purposes.
 
                                 VOTING RIGHTS
 
    The number of votes which a person has the right to instruct will be
calculated separately for each Sub-Account. That number will be determined by
applying his/her percentage interest, if any, in a particular Sub-Account to the
total number of votes attributable to the Sub-Account.
 
    The number of votes of the Portfolio which an Owner has a right to instruct
will be determined as of the date coincident with the date established by that
Portfolio for determining shareholders eligible to vote at the meeting of the
Fund. Voting instructions will be solicited by written communication prior to
such meeting in accordance with procedures established by the Fund.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
    Fund shares as to which no timely instructions are received will be voted in
proportion to the voting instructions which are received with respect to all
Contracts participating in that Sub-Account. Voting instructions to abstain on
any item to be voted upon will be applied on a pro rata basis to reduce the
votes eligible to be cast.
 
    Each person having a voting interest in a Sub-Account will receive proxy
material, reports and other materials relating to the appropriate Portfolio.
 
                               SALES COMMISSIONS
 
    The Company pays Dean Witter for its underwriting and general agent's
services a sales commission of up to 6.0% of the Purchase Payments and sales
administration expense allowance of up to 0.125% of the average net assets of
the Fixed Account. These commissions are intended to cover Dean Witter's
expenses in distributing and selling the Contracts.
 
    Under the Underwriting Agreement and Managing General Agent's Agreement
between Dean Witter and the Company, Dean Witter is responsible for paying costs
and expenses associated with licensing its agents, paying agent's commissions,
printing, mailing and distributing the Prospectus to prospective purchasers; and
preparing, printing and distributing sales literature. In the event the
commissions fail to adequately compensate Dean Witter for these expenses, Dean
Witter will pay these expenses from its own funds.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDER OF
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK:
 
We have audited the accompanying Statements of Financial Position of Allstate
Life Insurance Company of New York (the "Company") as of December 31, 1996 and
1995, and the related Statements of Operations, Shareholder's Equity and Cash
Flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996. Our
audits also included Schedule IV -- Reinsurance and Schedule V -- Valuation and
Qualifying Accounts. These financial statements and financial statement
schedules are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility
is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement
schedules based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York
as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of its operations and its cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996 in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion,
Schedule IV -- Reinsurance and Schedule V -- Valuation and Qualifying Accounts,
when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole,
present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
 
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
February 21, 1997
 
                                      F-1
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                        STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    December 31
                                                              ------------------------
                                                                 1996         1995
                                                              -----------  -----------
                                                                  ($ in thousands)
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Assets
  Investments
    Fixed income securities, at fair value (amortized cost
     $1,378,155 and $1,219,418).............................  $ 1,500,783  $ 1,424,893
    Mortgage loans..........................................       84,657       86,394
    Policy loans............................................       25,359       22,785
    Short-term..............................................       25,855        7,257
                                                              -----------  -----------
        Total investments...................................    1,636,654    1,541,329
  Deferred acquisition costs................................       61,559       53,944
  Accrued investment income.................................       20,321       18,828
  Reinsurance recoverables..................................        2,566        3,331
  Cash......................................................        1,027        1,472
  Other assets..............................................        7,489        3,924
  Separate Accounts.........................................      260,668      220,141
                                                              -----------  -----------
        Total assets........................................  $ 1,990,284  $ 1,842,969
                                                              -----------  -----------
                                                              -----------  -----------
Liabilities
  Reserve for life-contingent contract benefits.............  $   911,457  $   838,739
  Contractholder funds......................................      572,480      499,548
  Deferred income taxes.....................................        3,692       23,659
  Other liabilities and accrued expenses....................        6,405        8,950
  Net payable to affiliates.................................        2,515        1,865
  Separate Accounts.........................................      260,668      220,141
                                                              -----------  -----------
        Total liabilities...................................    1,757,217    1,592,902
                                                              -----------  -----------
Shareholder's Equity
  Common stock, $25 par value, 80,000 shares authorized,
   issued and outstanding...................................        2,000        2,000
  Additional capital paid-in................................       45,787       45,787
  Unrealized net capital gains..............................       36,852       74,413
  Retained income...........................................      148,428      127,867
                                                              -----------  -----------
        Total shareholder's equity..........................      233,067      250,067
                                                              -----------  -----------
        Total liabilities and shareholder's equity..........  $ 1,990,284  $ 1,842,969
                                                              -----------  -----------
                                                              -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-2
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                            STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Year Ended December 31,
                                                              -------------------------------
                                                                1996       1995       1994
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                     ($ in thousands)
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
Revenues
  Life and annuity premiums (net of reinsurance ceded of
   $2,273, $2,147 and $2,198)...............................  $  91,825  $ 126,713  $  70,070
  Contract charges..........................................     25,281     21,603     18,490
  Net investment income.....................................    112,862    104,384     96,911
  Realized capital gains and losses.........................     (1,581)    (1,846)       778
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                228,387    250,854    186,249
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
Costs and expenses
  Life and annuity contract benefits (net of reinsurance
   recoveries of $2,827, $1,581 and $1,860).................    172,772    198,055    137,434
  Amortization of deferred acquisition costs................      6,512      5,502      3,875
  Operating costs and expenses..............................     16,874     17,864     16,330
  Early retirement program..................................     --         --          1,210
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                196,158    221,421    158,849
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
Income from operations before income tax expense............     32,229     29,433     27,400
Income tax expense..........................................     11,668      9,911      9,179
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
Net income..................................................  $  20,561  $  19,522  $  18,221
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-3
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                       STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Year ended December 31,
                                                              -------------------------------
                                                                1996       1995       1994
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                     ($ in thousands)
<S>                                                           <C>        <C>        <C>
Common stock................................................  $   2,000  $   2,000  $   2,000
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
Additional capital paid-in..................................     45,787     45,787     45,787
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
Unrealized net capital gains and losses
Balance, beginning of year..................................     74,413     (6,891)    25,391
Net (decrease) increase.....................................    (37,561)    81,304    (32,282)
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
  Balance, end of year......................................     36,852     74,413     (6,891)
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
Retained income
Balance, beginning of year..................................    127,867    108,345     90,124
Net income..................................................     20,561     19,522     18,221
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
  Balance, end of year......................................    148,428    127,867    108,345
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
Total shareholder's equity..................................  $ 233,067  $ 250,067  $ 149,241
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                              ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-4
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Year Ended December 31,
                                                              ----------------------------------
                                                                 1996        1995        1994
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                       ($ in thousands)
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>         <C>
Cash flows from operating activities
  Net income................................................  $   20,561  $   19,522  $   18,221
  Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided
   by operating activities
    Depreciation, amortization and other non-cash items.....     (26,172)    (22,348)    (18,969)
    Realized capital gains and losses.......................       1,581       1,846        (778)
    Interest credited to contractholder funds...............      25,817      26,924      27,233
    Increase in life-contingent contract benefits and
     contractholder funds...................................      75,217     103,513      55,233
    Increase in deferred acquisition costs..................      (6,859)     (5,537)     (6,850)
    Increase in accrued investment income...................      (1,493)     (2,497)       (102)
    Change in deferred income taxes.........................         257      (2,677)     (5,993)
  Changes in other operating assets and liabilities.........      (4,234)      3,897     (18,082)
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
      Net cash provided by operating activities.............      84,675     122,643      49,913
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
Cash flows from investing activities
  Proceeds from sales of fixed income securities............      28,454      13,526      49,903
  Investment collections
    Fixed income securities available for sale..............      72,751      30,871      54,796
    Fixed income securities held to maturity................      --           3,067      17,186
    Mortgage loans..........................................      12,508       6,499       9,744
  Investment purchases
    Fixed income securities available for sale..............    (236,252)   (142,205)   (137,684)
    Fixed income securities held to maturity................      --         (32,046)    (38,709)
    Mortgage loans..........................................     (10,325)     (9,864)    (10,132)
  Change in short-term investments, net.....................     (18,598)        (45)     41,528
  Change in policy loans, net...............................      (2,574)       (859)     (2,133)
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
      Net cash used in investing activities.................    (154,036)   (131,056)    (15,501)
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
Cash flows from financing activities
  Contractholder fund deposits..............................     115,420      76,534      57,468
  Contractholder fund withdrawals...........................     (46,504)    (68,412)    (92,574)
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
      Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities...      68,916       8,122     (35,106)
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
Net decrease in cash........................................        (445)       (291)       (694)
Cash at beginning of year...................................       1,472       1,763       2,457
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
Cash at end of year.........................................  $    1,027  $    1,472  $    1,763
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                              ----------  ----------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
                       See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-5
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                                ($ in thousands)
 
1.  General
 
    BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
    The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of Allstate Life
Insurance Company of New York (the "Company"). The Company is wholly owned by a
wholly owned subsidiary ("Parent") of Allstate Insurance Company ("AIC"), a
wholly owned subsidiary of The Allstate Corporation (the "Corporation"). On June
30, 1995, Sears, Roebuck and Co. ("Sears") distributed its 80.3% ownership in
the Corporation to Sears common shareholders through a tax-free dividend (the
"Distribution"). These financial statements have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
    To conform with the 1996 presentation, certain items in the prior years'
financial statements and notes have been reclassified.
 
    NATURE OF OPERATIONS
 
    The Company markets a broad line of life insurance and annuity products in
the State of New York. Life insurance includes traditional products such as
whole life and term life insurance, as well as universal life and other
interest-sensitive life products. Annuities include deferred annuities, such as
variable annuities and fixed rate single and flexible premium annuities, and
immediate annuities such as structured settlement annuities. The Company
distributes its products using a combination of Allstate agents, banks and other
financial institutions, brokers and direct response marketing.
 
    Structured settlement annuity contracts issued by the Company are long-term
in nature and involve fixed guarantees relating to the amount and timing of
benefit payments. In addition, single and flexible premium deferred annuity
contracts issued by the Company are subject to discretionary withdrawal or
surrender by the contractholder, subject to applicable surrender charges. In a
low interest rate environment, funds from maturing investments, particularly
those supporting long-term structured settlement annuity obligations, may be
reinvested at substantially lower interest rates than those which prevailed when
the funds were previously invested.
 
    The Company utilizes various modeling techniques in managing the
relationship between assets and liabilities. The fixed income securities
supporting the Company's obligations have been selected to meet, to the extent
possible, the anticipated cash flow requirements of the related liabilities. The
Company employs strategies to minimize its exposure to interest rate risk and to
maintain investments which are sufficiently liquid to meet obligations to
contractholders in various interest rate scenarios.
 
    The Company monitors economic and regulatory developments which have the
potential to impact its business. There continues to be proposed federal
legislation and regulation that would allow banks greater participation in
securities and insurance businesses, which could present an increased level of
competition for sales of the Company's annuity contracts. Furthermore, the
market for deferred annuities and interest-sensitive life insurance is enhanced
by the tax incentives available under current law. Any legislative changes which
lessen these incentives are likely to negatively impact the market for these
products.
 
                                      F-6
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
2.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
    INVESTMENTS
 
    Fixed income securities include bonds and mortgage-backed and asset-backed
securities. All fixed income securities are carried at fair value and may be
sold prior to their contractual maturity ("available for sale"). The difference
between amortized cost and fair value, net of deferred income taxes, certain
deferred acquisition costs and reserves for life-contingent contract benefits,
is reflected as a component of shareholder's equity. Provisions are recognized
for declines in the value of fixed income securities that are other than
temporary. Such writedowns are included in realized capital gains and losses.
 
    Mortgage loans are carried at outstanding principal balance, net of
unamortized premium or discount and valuation allowances. Valuation allowances
are established for impaired loans when it is probable that contractual
principal and interest will not be collected. Valuation allowances for impaired
loans reduce the carrying value to the fair value of the collateral or the
present value of the loan's expected future repayment cash flows discounted at
the loan's original effective interest rate. Valuation allowances on loans not
considered to be impaired are established based on consideration of the
underlying collateral, borrower financial strength, current and expected future
market conditions and other factors.
 
    Short-term investments are carried at cost which approximates fair value.
Policy loans are carried at the unpaid principal balances.
 
    Investment income consists primarily of interest, which is recognized on an
accrual basis. Interest income on mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities is
determined on the effective yield method, based on estimated principal
repayments. Accrual of income is suspended for fixed income securities and
mortgage loans that are in default or when the receipt of interest payments is
in doubt. Realized capital gains and losses are determined on a specific
identification basis.
 
    DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
    The Company utilizes futures contracts which are derivative financial
instruments. When futures meet specific criteria they may be designated as
accounting hedges and accounted for on a deferral basis, depending upon the
nature of the hedge strategy, and the method used to account for the hedged
item.
 
    If, subsequent to entering into a hedge transaction, the future becomes
ineffective (including if the hedged item is sold or otherwise extinguished or
the occurrence of a hedged anticipatory transaction is no longer probable), the
Company terminates the derivative position. Gains and losses on these
terminations are reported in realized capital gains and losses in the period
they occur. The Company may also terminate the derivatives as a result of other
events or circumstances. Gains and losses on these terminations are either
deferred and amortized over the remaining life of the hedged item or are
reported in shareholder's equity, consistent with the accounting for the hedged
item.
 
    When the Company uses futures as hedging instruments, the derivative must
reduce the primary market risk exposure on an enterprise basis in conjunction
with the hedge strategy; be designated as a hedge at the inception of the
transaction; and be highly correlated with the fair value of, or interest income
or expense associated with, the hedged item at inception and throughout the
hedge period.
 
                                      F-7
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
2.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
    Under deferral accounting, gains and losses on derivatives are deferred on
the statement of financial position and recognized in earnings in conjunction
with earnings on the hedged item. The Company accounts for interest rate futures
as hedges using deferral accounting for anticipatory investment purchases and
sales when the criteria discussed above are met. In addition, anticipated
transactions must be probable of occurrence and their significant terms and
characteristics identified.
 
    Changes in fair values of these derivatives are initially deferred as other
liabilities and accrued expenses. Once the anticipated transaction occurs, the
deferred gains or losses are considered part of the cost basis of the asset and
reported net of tax in shareholder's equity or recognized as a gain or loss from
disposition of the asset, as appropriate. The Company reports initial margin
deposits on futures in short-term investments. Fees and commissions paid on
these derivatives are also deferred as an adjustment to the carrying value of
the hedged item.
 
    RECOGNITION OF PREMIUM REVENUES AND CONTRACT CHARGES
 
    Premiums for traditional life insurance are recognized as revenue when due.
Accident and disability premiums are earned on a pro rata basis over the policy
period. Revenues on interest-sensitive life insurance contracts are comprised of
contract charges and fees, and are recognized when assessed against the
policyholder account balance. Revenues on investment contracts include contract
charges and fees for contract administration and surrenders. These revenues are
recognized when levied against the contract balances. Gross premium in excess of
the net premium on limited payment contracts, primarily structured settlement
annuities when sold with life contingencies, are deferred and recognized over
the contract period.
 
    REINSURANCE
 
    Certain premiums and contract benefits are ceded and reflected net of such
cessions in the statements of operations. Reinsurance recoverable and the
related reserves for life-contingent contract benefits are reported separately
in the statements of financial position. The Company continues to have primary
liability as the direct insurer for risks reinsured.
 
    DEFERRED ACQUISITION COSTS
 
    Certain costs of acquiring life and annuity business, principally agents'
remuneration, premium taxes, certain underwriting costs and direct mail
solicitation expenses are deferred and amortized to income. For traditional
life, limited payment contracts and accident and disability, these costs are
amortized in proportion to the estimated revenues on such business. For
interest-sensitive life insurance and investment contracts, the costs are
amortized in relation to the present value of estimated gross profits on such
business. Changes in the amount or timing of estimated gross profits will result
in adjustments in the cumulative amortization of these costs. To the extent that
unrealized gains or losses on fixed income securities carried at fair value
would result in an adjustment of deferred acquisition costs had those gains or
losses actually been realized, the related unamortized deferred acquisition
costs are recorded as a reduction of the unrealized gains or losses included in
shareholder's equity.
 
    INCOME TAXES
 
    The income tax provision is calculated under the liability method. Deferred
tax assets and liabilities are recorded based on the difference between the
financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities and the enacted tax
regulations. The principal assets and liabilities giving rise to such
differences are insurance reserves and deferred acquisition costs. Deferred
income taxes also arise from unrealized capital gains or losses on fixed income
securities carried at fair value.
 
                                      F-8
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
2.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
    SEPARATE ACCOUNTS
 
    The Company issues flexible premium deferred variable annuity contracts, the
assets and liabilities of which are legally segregated and reflected in the
accompanying statements of financial position as assets and liabilities of the
Separate Accounts. Assets and liabilities of the Separate Accounts represent
funds of Allstate Life of New York Variable Annuity Account, Allstate Life of
New York Variable Annuity Account II and Allstate Life of New York Separate
Account A ("Separate Accounts"), unit investment trusts registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
    Assets of the Separate Accounts are invested in funds of management
investment companies, and are carried at fair value. Investment income and
realized capital gains and losses of the Separate Accounts accrue directly to
the contractholders and, therefore, are not included in the Company's statements
of operations. Revenues to the Company from the Separate Accounts consist of
contract maintenance fees, administration fees and mortality and expense risk
charges.
 
    RESERVES FOR LIFE-CONTINGENT CONTRACT BENEFITS
 
    The reserve for life-contingent contract benefits, which relates to
traditional life insurance, group annuities and structured settlement annuities
with life contingencies, disability insurance and accident insurance, is
computed on the basis of assumptions as to future investment yields, mortality,
morbidity, terminations and expenses. These assumptions, which for traditional
life insurance are applied using the net level premium method, include
provisions for adverse deviation and generally vary by such characteristics as
type of coverage, year of issue and policy duration. Reserve interest rates
ranged from 4.0% to 9.51% during 1996. To the extent that unrealized gains on
available for sale securities would result in a premium deficiency had those
gains actually been realized, the related increase in reserves is recorded as a
reduction of the unrealized gains included in shareholder's equity.
 
    CONTRACTHOLDER FUNDS
 
    Contractholder funds arise from the issuance of individual or group
contracts that include an investment component, including most annuities and
interest-sensitive life insurance contracts. Payments received are recorded as
interest-bearing liabilities. Contractholder funds are equal to deposits
received and interest credited to the benefit of the contractholder less
withdrawals, mortality charges and administrative expenses. Credited interest
rates on contractholder funds ranged from 3.1% to 9.75% for those contracts with
fixed interest rates and from 3.55% to 8.42% for those with flexible rates
during 1996.
 
    OFF-BALANCE-SHEET FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
    Commitments to extend mortgage loans have only off-balance-sheet risk
because their contractual amounts are not recorded in the Company's statements
of financial position.
 
    USE OF ESTIMATES
 
    The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
                                      F-9
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
3.  Related Party Transactions
 
    REINSURANCE
 
    The Company cedes business to the Parent under reinsurance treaties to limit
aggregate and single exposures on large risks. Premiums and policy benefits
ceded totaled $1,383 and $1,662 in 1996, $1,259 and $278 in 1995, and $1,181 and
$1,877 in 1994, respectively. Included in the reinsurance recoverable at
December 31, 1996 and 1995 are amounts due from the Parent of $965 and $1,212.
 
    STRUCTURED SETTLEMENT ANNUITIES
 
    AIC, through an affiliate, purchased $15,610, $11,243, and $7,568 of
structured settlement annuities from the Company in 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively. Of these amounts, $8,517, $4,164 and $1,221 relate to structured
settlement annuities with life contingencies and are included in premium income
in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Additionally, the reserve for
life-contingent contract benefits was increased by approximately 94% of such
premium received in each of these years.
 
    BUSINESS OPERATIONS
 
    The Company utilizes services and business facilities owned or leased, and
operated by AIC in conducting its business activities. The Company reimburses
AIC for the operating expenses incurred by AIC on its behalf. The cost to the
Company is determined by various allocation methods and is primarily related to
the level of the services provided. Expenses allocated to the Company were
$23,134, $21,288 and $17,320 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. A portion of
these expenses related to the acquisition of life and annuity business is
deferred and amortized over the contract period.
 
                                      F-10
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
4.  Investments
 
    FAIR VALUES
 
    The amortized cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value for
fixed income securities are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Gross Unrealized
                                                Amortized   --------------------     Fair
At December 31, 1996                              Cost        Gains     Losses       Value
- ---------------------------------------------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                            <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
U.S. government and agencies.................  $   387,806  $  54,349  $  (2,642) $   439,513
Municipal....................................       36,158      1,883       (406)      37,635
Corporate....................................      734,500     68,022     (4,592)     797,930
Mortgage-backed securities...................      188,480      6,793     (1,106)     194,167
Asset-backed securities......................       31,211        394        (67)      31,538
                                               -----------  ---------  ---------  -----------
    Total fixed income securities............  $ 1,378,155  $ 131,441  $  (8,813) $ 1,500,783
                                               -----------  ---------  ---------  -----------
                                               -----------  ---------  ---------  -----------
 
<CAPTION>
 
At December 31, 1995
- ---------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>
U.S. government and agencies.................  $   336,331  $  99,750  $    (526) $   435,555
Municipal....................................       36,002      2,831        (92)      38,741
Corporate....................................      633,731     92,073       (767)     725,037
Mortgage-backed securities...................      189,436     11,600       (164)     200,872
Asset-backed securities......................       23,918        770     --           24,688
                                               -----------  ---------  ---------  -----------
    Total fixed income securities............  $ 1,219,418  $ 207,024  $  (1,549) $ 1,424,893
                                               -----------  ---------  ---------  -----------
                                               -----------  ---------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
    SCHEDULED MATURITIES
 
    The scheduled maturities for fixed income securities are as follows at
December 31, 1996:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Amortized      Fair
                                                                            Cost         Value
                                                                         -----------  -----------
 
<S>                                                                      <C>          <C>
Due in one year or less................................................  $    16,350  $    16,842
Due after one year through five years..................................       85,776       89,809
Due after five years through ten years.................................      228,717      240,079
Due after ten years....................................................      827,621      928,348
                                                                         -----------  -----------
                                                                           1,158,464    1,275,078
  Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities..........................      219,691      225,705
                                                                         -----------  -----------
    Total..............................................................  $ 1,378,155  $ 1,500,783
                                                                         -----------  -----------
                                                                         -----------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
    Actual maturities may differ from those scheduled as a result of prepayments
by the issuers.
 
                                      F-11
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
4.  Investments (Continued)
    NET INVESTMENT INCOME
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Year Ended December 31,
                                                               -------------------------------
                                                                 1996       1995       1994
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                            <C>        <C>        <C>
Fixed income securities......................................  $ 104,583  $  95,212  $  88,149
Mortgage loans...............................................      7,113      7,999      8,092
Other........................................................      2,942      2,744      2,246
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
    Investment income, before expense........................    114,638    105,955     98,487
    Investment expense.......................................      1,776      1,571      1,576
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
    Net investment income....................................  $ 112,862  $ 104,384  $  96,911
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    REALIZED CAPITAL GAINS AND LOSSES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Year Ended December 31,
                                                               -------------------------------
                                                                 1996       1995       1994
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                            <C>        <C>        <C>
Fixed income securities......................................  $  (1,522) $     422  $   1,570
Mortgage loans...............................................        (59)    (2,268)      (792)
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
  Realized capital losses and gains..........................     (1,581)    (1,846)       778
  Income taxes...............................................       (553)      (646)       272
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
  Realized capital losses and gains, after tax...............  $  (1,028) $  (1,200) $     506
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                               ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    PROCEEDS FROM SALES OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
 
    Proceeds from sales of investments in fixed income securities were $28,454,
$13,526 and $49,903 in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively. Gross gains of $480,
$172 and $1,743 and gross losses of $2,308, $105 and $973 were realized on sales
of fixed income securities during 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
    UNREALIZED NET CAPITAL GAINS
 
    Unrealized net capital gains on fixed income securities included in
shareholder's equity at December 31, 1996 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Cost/                  Unrealized
                                                           Amortized      Fair          Net
                                                             Cost         Value        Gains
                                                          -----------  -----------  -----------
 
<S>                                                       <C>          <C>          <C>
Fixed income securities.................................  $ 1,378,155  $ 1,500,783   $ 122,628
                                                          -----------  -----------
                                                          -----------  -----------
Reserves for life insurance policy benefits.............                               (65,300)
Deferred income taxes...................................                               (19,844)
Deferred acquisition costs and other....................                                  (632)
                                                                                    -----------
    Unrealized net capital gains........................                             $  36,852
                                                                                    -----------
                                                                                    -----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-12
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
4.  Investments (Continued)
    CHANGE IN UNREALIZED NET CAPITAL GAINS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 Year Ended December 31,
                                                             -------------------------------
                                                               1996       1995       1994
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------
 
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>        <C>
Fixed income securities....................................  $ (82,847) $ 216,975  $ (52,740)
Reserves for life insurance policy benefits................     24,300    (89,600)    --
Deferred income taxes......................................     20,224    (43,779)    17,382
Deferred acquisition costs and other.......................        762     (2,292)     3,076
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------
    Change in unrealized net capital gains.................  $ (37,561) $  81,304  $ (32,282)
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                             ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    INVESTMENT LOSS PROVISIONS AND VALUATION ALLOWANCES
 
    Pretax provisions for investment losses, principally relating to other than
temporary declines in value on fixed income securities and valuation allowances
on mortgage loans were $208, $2,448 and $627 in 1996, 1995 and 1994,
respectively.
 
    MORTGAGE LOAN IMPAIRMENT
 
    A mortgage loan is impaired when it is probable that the Company will be
unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan
agreement.
 
    The Company had no impaired loans at December 31, 1996. The net carrying
value of impaired loans at December 31, 1995 was $9,647, measured at the fair
value of the collateral. The total investment in impaired mortgage loans before
valuation allowance at December 31, 1995 was $11,581 and the related allowance
on these impaired loans was $1,934.
 
    Activity in the valuation allowance for all mortgage loans for the years
ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 is summarized as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             1996       1995
                                                                           ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                        <C>        <C>
Balance at January 1.....................................................  $   1,952  $   1,179
  Additions..............................................................        207      1,930
  Direct write-downs.....................................................     (1,934)    (1,157)
                                                                           ---------  ---------
Balance at December 31...................................................  $     225  $   1,952
                                                                           ---------  ---------
                                                                           ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    Interest income is recognized on a cash basis for impaired loans carried at
the fair value of the collateral, beginning at the time of impairment. For other
impaired loans, interest is accrued based on the net carrying value. The Company
recognized interest income of $281 and $1,398 on impaired loans during 1996 and
1995, respectively, of which $281 and $1,194 was received in cash during 1996
and 1995, respectively. The average recorded investment in impaired loans was
$5,154 and $8,900 during 1996 and 1995, respectively.
 
                                      F-13
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
4.  Investments (Continued)
    INVESTMENT CONCENTRATION FOR MUNICIPAL BOND AND COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE
PORTFOLIOS AND OTHER INVESTMENT INFORMATION
 
    The Company maintains a diversified portfolio of municipal bonds. The
largest concentrations in the portfolio are presented below. Except for the
following, holdings in no other state exceeded 2.7% of the carrying value of the
portfolio at December 31, 1996:
 
    (% of municipal bond portfolio carrying value)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             At December 31,
                                                                           --------------------
                                                                             1996       1995
                                                                              ---        ---
<S>                                                                        <C>        <C>
Ohio.....................................................................       25.9%      26.8%
California...............................................................       24.3       23.1
Illinois.................................................................       19.0       19.7
Maryland.................................................................        7.8        7.6
Maine....................................................................        5.7        5.7
New York.................................................................        5.3        5.3
Minnesota................................................................        5.3        5.2
</TABLE>
 
    The Company's mortgage loans are collateralized by a variety of commercial
real estate property types located throughout the United States. Substantially
all of the commercial mortgage loans are non-recourse to the borrower. The
states with the largest portion of the commercial mortgage loan portfolio are as
listed below. Except for the following, holdings in no other state exceed 2.3%
of the portfolio at December 31, 1996:
 
    (% of commercial mortgage portfolio carrying value)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             At December 31,
                                                                           --------------------
                                                                             1996       1995
                                                                              ---        ---
<S>                                                                        <C>        <C>
California...............................................................       49.1%      56.7%
Illinois.................................................................       21.3       22.9
New York.................................................................       21.1       11.1
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-14
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
4.  Investments (Continued)
    The types of properties collateralizing the commercial mortgage loans are as
follows:
 
    (% of commercial mortgage portfolio carrying value)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             At December 31,
                                                                           --------------------
                                                                             1996       1995
                                                                           ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                        <C>        <C>
Retail...................................................................       39.1%      39.5%
Warehouse................................................................       24.2       32.1
Apartment complex........................................................       14.6        4.5
Office buildings.........................................................       14.3       16.0
Industrial...............................................................        6.8        6.9
Other....................................................................        1.0        1.0
                                                                           ---------  ---------
                                                                               100.0%     100.0%
                                                                           ---------  ---------
                                                                           ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    SECURITIES ON DEPOSIT
 
    At December 31, 1996, fixed income securities with a carrying value of
$1,829 were on deposit with regulatory authorities as required by law.
 
5.  Financial Instruments
    In the normal course of business, the Company invests in various financial
assets, incurs various financial liabilities and enters into agreements
involving derivative financial instruments and other off-balance-sheet financial
instruments. The fair value estimates of financial instruments presented below
are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company might pay or receive
in actual market transactions. Potential taxes and other transaction costs have
not been considered in estimating fair value. The disclosures that follow do not
reflect the fair value of the Company as a whole since a number of the Company's
significant assets (including deferred acquisition costs and reinsurance
recoverables) and liabilities (including reserve for life-contingent contract
benefits and deferred income taxes) are not considered financial instruments and
are not carried at fair value. Other assets and liabilities considered financial
instruments, including accrued investment income and cash, are generally of a
short-term nature. It is assumed that their carrying value approximates fair
value.
 
    FINANCIAL ASSETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Carrying
At December 31, 1996                                                   Value      Fair Value
- -----------------------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                                                <C>            <C>
Fixed income securities..........................................   $ 1,500,783   $ 1,500,783
Mortgage loans...................................................        84,657        83,789
Short-term investments...........................................        25,855        25,855
Policy loans.....................................................        25,359        25,359
Separate Accounts................................................       260,668       260,668
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-15
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
5.  Financial Instruments (Continued)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Carrying
At December 31, 1995                                                   Value      Fair Value
- -----------------------------------------------------------------  -------------  -----------
<S>                                                                <C>            <C>
Fixed income securities..........................................   $ 1,424,893   $ 1,424,893
Mortgage loans...................................................        86,394        89,517
Short-term investments...........................................         7,257         7,257
Policy loans.....................................................        22,785        22,785
Separate Accounts................................................       220,141       220,141
</TABLE>
 
    Carrying value and fair value include the effects of derivative financial
instruments where applicable.
 
    Fair values for fixed income securities are based on quoted market prices
where available. Non-quoted securities are valued based on discounted cash flows
using current interest rates for similar securities. Mortgage loans are valued
based on discounted contractual cash flows. Discount rates are selected using
current rates at which similar loans would be made to borrowers with similar
characteristics, using similar properties as collateral. Loans that exceed 100%
loan-to-value are valued at the estimated fair value of the underlying
collateral. Short-term investments are highly liquid investments with maturities
of less than one year whose carrying value approximates fair value. The carrying
value of policy loans approximates its fair value. Assets of the Separate
Accounts are carried in the statements of financial position at fair value.
 
    FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       Carrying       Fair
At December 31, 1996                                                     Value        Value
- -------------------------------------------------------------------  -------------  ---------
<S>                                                                  <C>            <C>
Contractholder funds on investment contracts.......................   $   421,642   $ 430,696
Separate Accounts..................................................       260,668     260,668
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31, 1995
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                  <C>            <C>
Contractholder funds on investment contracts.......................   $   366,481   $ 392,111
Separate Accounts..................................................       220,141     220,141
</TABLE>
 
    The fair value of contractholder funds on investment contracts is based on
the terms of the underlying contracts. Reserves on investment contracts with no
stated maturities (single premium and flexible premium deferred annuities) are
valued at the account balance less surrender charges. The fair value of
immediate annuities and annuities without life contingencies with fixed terms is
estimated using discounted cash flow calculations based on interest rates
currently offered for contracts with similar terms and durations. Separate
Accounts liabilities are carried at the fair value of the underlying assets.
 
                                      F-16
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
5.  Financial Instruments (Continued)
Derivative Financial Instruments
 
    The Company primarily uses derivative financial instruments to reduce its
exposure to interest rate risk in conjunction with asset/liability management.
The Company does not hold or issue these instruments for trading purposes. The
following table summarizes the contract or notional amount, credit exposure,
fair value and carrying value of the Company's derivative financial instruments:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Contract/
                                                Notional      Credit      Carrying      Fair
At December 31, 1996                             Amount      Exposure       Value       Value
- ---------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
<S>                                            <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Financial futures contracts..................   $   6,700    $  --        $     266   $      56
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
At December 31, 1995
- ---------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Financial futures contracts..................   $  22,900    $  --        $     576   $  --
</TABLE>
 
    The contract or notional amounts are used to calculate the exchange of
contractual payments under the agreements and are not representative of the
potential for gain or loss on these agreements.
 
    Credit exposure represents the Company's potential loss if all of the
counterparties failed to perform under the contractual terms of the contracts
and all collateral, if any, became worthless. This exposure is represented by
the fair value of contracts with a positive fair value at the reporting date
reduced by the effect, if any, of master netting agreements.
 
    The Company manages its exposure to credit risk by utilizing highly rated
counterparties, establishing risk control limits, executing legally enforceable
master netting agreements and obtaining collateral where appropriate. To date,
the Company has not incurred any losses on derivative financial instruments due
to counterparty nonperformance.
 
    Fair value is the estimated amount that the Company would receive (pay) to
terminate or assign the contracts at the reporting date, thereby taking into
account the current unrealized gains or losses of open contracts. Deal and
exchange quotes are available for the Company's derivatives.
 
    Financial futures are commitments to either purchase or sell designated
financial instruments at a future date for a specified price or yield. They may
be settled in cash or through delivery. As part of its asset/liability
management, the Company generally utilizes futures contracts to manage its
market risk related to fixed income securities and anticipatory investment
purchases and sales. Futures used as hedges of anticipatory transactions pertain
to identified transactions which are probable to occur and are generally
completed within ninety days. Futures contracts have limited off-balance-sheet
credit risk as they are executed on organized exchanges and require security
deposits, as well as the daily cash settlement of margins.
 
    Market risk is the risk that the Company will incur losses due to adverse
changes in market rates and prices. Market risk exists for all of the derivative
financial instruments that the Company currently holds, as these instruments may
become less valuable due to adverse changes in market conditions. The Company
mitigates this risk through established risk limits set by senior management. In
addition, the change in the value of the Company's derivative financial
instruments designated as hedges are generally offset by the change in the value
of the related assets.
 
                                      F-17
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
    OFF-BALANCE-SHEET FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
    Commitments to extend mortgage loans are agreements to lend to a customer
provided there is no violation of any condition established in the contract. The
Company enters these agreements to commit to future loan fundings at a
predetermined interest rate. Commitments generally have fixed expiration dates
or other termination clauses. Commitments to extend mortgage loans, which are
secured by the underlying properties, are valued based on estimates of fees
charged by other institutions to make similar commitments to similar borrowers.
At December 31, 1996, the Company had $6,190 in mortgage loan commitments which
had a fair value of $62. No such commitments existed at December 31, 1995.
 
6.  Income Taxes
    Consolidated federal income tax returns are filed by the Corporation and its
eligible subsidiaries, including the Company. Tax liabilities and benefits
realized by the consolidated group are allocated as generated by the respective
entities.
 
    Prior to the Distribution, the Corporation and all of its domestic
subsidiaries, including the Company, (the "Allstate Group") joined with Sears
and its domestic business units (the "Sears Group") in the filing of a
consolidated federal income tax return (the "Sears Tax Group") and were parties
to a federal income tax allocation agreement (the "Tax Sharing Agreement").
Under the Tax Sharing Agreement, the Company, through the Corporation, paid to
or received from the Sears Group the amount, if any, by which the Sears Tax
Group's federal income tax liability was affected by virtue of inclusion of the
Company in the consolidated federal income tax return. Effectively, this
resulted in the Company's annual income tax provision being computed as if the
Company filed a separate return, except that items such as net operating losses,
capital losses or similar items, which might not be recognized in a separate
return, were allocated according to the Tax Sharing Agreement.
 
    The Allstate Group and Sears Group have entered into an agreement which
governs their respective rights and obligations with respect to federal income
taxes for all periods prior to the Distribution ("Consolidated Tax Years"). The
agreement provides that all Consolidated Tax Years will continue to be governed
by the Tax Sharing Agreement with respect to the Company's federal income tax
liability.
 
                                      F-18
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
6.  Income Taxes (Continued)
    The components of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities at December
31, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            At December 31,
                                                                          --------------------
                                                                            1996       1995
                                                                          ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                       <C>        <C>
Deferred assets
Life-contingent contract reserves.......................................  $  27,951  $  25,562
Difference in tax bases of investments..................................        270      1,536
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations.............................        375        376
Other postretirement benefits...........................................        524        496
Other assets............................................................      1,789      1,701
                                                                          ---------  ---------
  Total deferred assets.................................................     30,909     29,671
                                                                          ---------  ---------
Deferred liabilities
Unrealized net capital gains............................................    (19,844)   (40,069)
Deferred acquisition costs..............................................    (14,020)   (12,655)
Prepaid commission expense..............................................       (717)      (578)
Other liabilities.......................................................        (20)       (28)
                                                                          ---------  ---------
  Total deferred liabilities............................................    (34,601)   (53,330)
                                                                          ---------  ---------
  Net deferred liability................................................  $  (3,692) $ (23,659)
                                                                          ---------  ---------
                                                                          ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The components of income tax expense are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Year Ended December 31,
                                                                 -------------------------------
                                                                   1996       1995       1994
                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                              <C>        <C>        <C>
Current........................................................  $  11,411  $  12,588  $  15,172
Deferred.......................................................        257     (2,677)    (5,993)
                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
  Total income tax expense.....................................  $  11,668  $   9,911  $   9,179
                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                 ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
    The Company paid income taxes of $11,968, $11,000 and $27,682 in 1996, 1995
and 1994, respectively, to the Parent. The Company had an income tax recoverable
from the Parent of $105 at December 31, 1996, and an income tax payable of
$1,729 at December 31, 1995.
 
    Prior to January 1, 1984, the Company was entitled to exclude certain
amounts from taxable income and accumulate such amounts in a "policyholder
surplus" account. The balance in this account at December 31, 1996,
approximately $389, will result in taxes payable of $136 if distributed by the
Company to the Parent. No provision for taxes has been made as the Company has
no plan to distribute amounts from this account. No further additions to the
account are allowed under the Tax Reform Act of 1984.
 
                                      F-19
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
7.  Statutory Financial Information
    The following tables reconcile net income and shareholder's equity as
reported herein in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles with
statutory net income and capital and surplus, determined in accordance with
statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by insurance regulatory
authorities:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Net Income
                                                                -------------------------------
                                                                    Year Ended December 31,
                                                                -------------------------------
                                                                  1996       1995       1994
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                             <C>        <C>        <C>
Balance per generally accepted accounting principles..........  $  20,561  $  19,522  $  18,221
  Deferred acquisition costs..................................     (6,859)    (5,537)    (6,850)
  Deferred income taxes.......................................        257     (2,677)    (5,993)
  Non-admitted assets and statutory reserves..................      6,224     12,786      6,900
  Other postretirement and postemployment benefits............        (34)        71        105
  Other.......................................................     (2,004)      (965)    (1,442)
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
Balance per statutory accounting practices....................  $  18,145  $  23,200  $  10,941
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
                                                                ---------  ---------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                Shareholder's Equity
                                                                ---------------------
                                                                   At December 31,
                                                                ---------------------
                                                                  1996        1995
                                                                ---------  ----------
<S>                                                             <C>        <C>
Balance per generally accepted accounting principles..........  $ 233,067  $  250,067
  Deferred acquisition costs..................................    (61,559)    (53,944)
  Deferred income taxes.......................................      3,692      23,659
  Unrealized net capital gains................................    (57,102)   (114,500)
  Non-admitted assets and statutory reserves..................     48,426      43,624
  Other postretirement and postemployment benefits............        968       1,058
  Other.......................................................     (2,473)     (1,667)
                                                                ---------  ----------
Balance per statutory accounting practices....................  $ 165,019  $  148,297
                                                                ---------  ----------
                                                                ---------  ----------
</TABLE>
 
    PERMITTED STATUTORY ACCOUNTING PRACTICES
 
    The Company prepares its statutory financial statements in accordance with
accounting principles and practices prescribed or permitted by the New York
Department of Insurance. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include a
variety of publications of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners,
as well as state laws, regulations and general administrative rules. Permitted
statutory accounting practices encompass all accounting practices not so
prescribed.The Company does not follow any permitted statutory accounting
practices that have a material effect on statutory surplus or risk-based
capital.
 
                                      F-20
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
                                ($ in thousands)
 
7.  Statutory Financial Information (Continued)
    DIVIDENDS
 
    The ability of the Company to pay dividends is dependent on business
conditions, income, cash requirements of the Company and other relevant factors.
Under New York Insurance Law, a notice of intention to distribute any dividend
must be filed with the New York Superintendent of Insurance not less than 30
days prior to the distribution. Such proposed declaration is subject to the
Superintendent's disapproval.
 
8.  Benefit Plans
 
    PENSION PLANS
 
    Defined benefit pension plans, sponsored by the Corporation, cover domestic
full-time employees and certain part-time employees. Benefits under the pension
plans are based upon the employee's length of service, average annual
compensation and estimated social security retirement benefits. The
Corporation's funding policy for the pension plans is to make annual
contributions in accordance with accepted actuarial cost methods. The costs to
the Company included in net income were $490, $446, and $344 for the pension
plans in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
 
    POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS OTHER THAN PENSIONS
 
    The Corporation provides certain health care and life insurance benefits for
retired employees. Qualified employees may become eligible for these benefits if
they retire in accordance with the Corporation's established retirement policy
and are continuously insured under the Corporation's group plans or other
approved plans for 10 or more years prior to retirement. The Corporation shares
the cost of the retiree medical benefits with retirees based on years of service
with the Corporation's share being subject to a 5% limit on annual medical cost
inflation after retirement. The Corporation's postretirement benefit plans
currently are not funded. The Corporation has the right to modify or terminate
these plans.
 
    PROFIT SHARING FUND
 
    Employees of the Corporation and its domestic subsidiaries are also eligible
to become members of The Savings and Profit Sharing Fund of Allstate Employees
("Allstate Plan"). The Corporation contributions are based on the Corporation's
matching obligation and performance. The Allstate Plan includes an Employee
Stock Ownership Plan ("Allstate ESOP") to pre-fund a portion of the
Corporation's anticipated contribution. The Allstate Plan and the Allstate ESOP
split from The Savings and Profit Sharing Fund of Sears Employees ("Sears Plan")
on the date of the Distribution. In connection with this, the Corporation paid
Sears $327 million, and in return received a note from the Allstate ESOP for a
like principal amount and 50% of the unallocated shares. The Corporation will
make contributions to the Allstate ESOP annually in the amount necessary to
allow the Allstate ESOP to fund interest and principal payments on the note
after considering the dividends paid on ESOP shares, which are available for
debt service. The Company's defined contribution to the Allstate Plan was $111
and $141 in 1996 and 1995, respectively. The cost to the Company prior to the
Distribution and the split from the Sears Plan was $123 in 1994.
 
                                      F-21
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                            SCHEDULE IV--REINSURANCE
                                ($ in thousands)
 
                          Year Ended December 31, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Gross
                                                            amount       Ceded    Net amount
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                                       <C>          <C>        <C>
Life insurance in force.................................  $ 9,962,300  $ 553,628  $ 9,408,672
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
Premiums and contract charges:
  Life and annuities....................................  $   114,296  $   1,398  $   112,898
  Accident and health...................................        5,044        834        4,210
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
                                                          $   119,340  $   2,232  $   117,108
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                          Year Ended December 31, 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Gross
                                                            amount       Ceded    Net amount
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                                       <C>          <C>        <C>
Life insurance in force.................................  $ 8,513,295  $ 398,025  $ 8,115,270
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
Premiums and contract charges:
  Life and annuities....................................  $   146,732  $   1,246  $   145,486
  Accident and health...................................        3,731        901        2,830
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
                                                          $   150,463  $   2,147  $   148,316
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                          Year Ended December 31, 1994
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Gross
                                                            amount       Ceded    Net amount
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
<S>                                                       <C>          <C>        <C>
Life insurance in force.................................  $ 7,598,374  $ 321,623  $ 7,276,751
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
Premiums and contract charges:
  Life and annuities....................................  $    87,562  $   1,193  $    86,369
  Accident and health...................................        3,276      1,005        2,271
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
                                                          $    90,838  $   2,198  $    88,640
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
                                                          -----------  ---------  -----------
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-22
<PAGE>
                  ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK
                 SCHEDULE V--VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
                                ($ in thousands)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               Balance at   Charged to                Balance at
                                                Beginning    Costs and                  End of
Description                                     of Period    Expenses    Deductions     Period
- ---------------------------------------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------
<S>                                            <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Year Ended December 31, 1996
  Allowance for estimated losses on mortgage
   loans.....................................   $   1,952    $     207    $   1,934    $     225
 
Year Ended December 31, 1995
  Allowance for estimated losses on mortgage
   loans.....................................   $   1,179    $   2,170    $   1,397    $   1,952
 
Year Ended December 31, 1994
  Allowance for estimated losses on mortgage
   loans.....................................   $   2,297    $     667    $   1,785    $   1,179
</TABLE>
 
                                      F-23
<PAGE>
                 (This page has been left blank intentionally.)
 
                                      F-24
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
 
TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDER OF
ALLSTATE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW YORK:
 
    We have audited the accompanying Statement of Net Assets of Allstate Life of
New York Variable Annuity Account II (the "Account") as of December 31, 1996,
and the related Statement of Operations for the year then ended and the
Statement of Changes in Net Assets for each of the two years in the period ended
December 31, 1996 of the Money Market, High Yield, Equity, Quality Income Plus,
Strategist, Dividend Growth, Utilities, European Growth, Capital Growth, Global
Dividend Growth and Pacific Growth portfolios that comprise the Account. These
financial statements are the responsibility of the Account's management. Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on
our audits.
 
    We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities owned at December 31, 1996. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
    In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the Account as of December 31, 1996, the
results of its operations for the year then ended, and the changes in its net
assets for each of the two years in the period then ended, of each of the
portfolios comprising the Account, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
 
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
Chicago, Illinois
February 21, 1997
 
                                      F-25
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                            STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS
                               DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
(Dollars and shares in thousands)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Assets
<S>                                                                                      <C>
  Investments in the Dean Witter Variable Investment Series:
    Money Market Portfolio
      15,081 shares (cost: $15,081)....................................................  $  15,081
    High Yield Portfolio
      1,582 shares (cost: $10,247).....................................................      9,778
    Equity Portfolio
      833 shares (cost: $19,148).......................................................     21,984
    Quality Income Plus Portfolio
      2,943 shares (cost: $31,227).....................................................     30,516
    Strategist Portfolio
      2,182 shares (cost: $27,299).....................................................     29,943
    Dividend Growth Portfolio
      3,739 shares (cost: $49,201).....................................................     68,800
    Utilities Portfolio
      1,548 shares (cost: $20,311).....................................................     23,750
    European Growth Portfolio
      783 shares (cost: $11,952).......................................................     16,890
    Capital Growth Portfolio
      248 shares (cost: $3,208)........................................................      4,126
    Global Dividend Growth Portfolio
      1,238 shares (cost: $13,490).....................................................     16,255
    Pacific Growth Portfolio
      823 shares (cost: $8,083)........................................................      8,192
                                                                                         ---------
        Total assets...................................................................    245,315
 
Liabilities
  Payable to Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York:
    Accrued contract maintenance charges                                                        78
                                                                                         ---------
        Net assets.....................................................................  $ 245,237
                                                                                         ---------
                                                                                         ---------
</TABLE>
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-26
<PAGE>
                 (This page has been left blank intentionally.)
 
                                      F-27
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                            STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
                                                             ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Quality
                                                               Money                               Income                 Dividend
                                                              Market    High Yield     Equity       Plus     Strategist    Growth
(Dollars in thousands)                                       Portfolio   Portfolio    Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio
                                                             ---------  -----------  -----------  ---------  -----------  ---------
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>        <C>          <C>
Investment income:
  Dividends................................................  $     656   $     989    $   2,402   $   2,153   $   1,398   $   2,813
  Charges from Allstate Life Insurance Company of New York:
    Mortality and expense risk.............................       (162)       (103)        (234)       (395)       (369)       (738)
    Administrative expense.................................        (13)         (8)         (18)        (31)        (29)        (59)
                                                             ---------       -----        -----   ---------  -----------  ---------
  Net investment income (loss).............................        481         878        2,150       1,727       1,000       2,016
                                                             ---------       -----        -----   ---------  -----------  ---------
Realized and unrealized (losses)
 gains on investments:
  Realized gains (losses) from sales of investments:
    Proceeds from sales....................................      4,896         932          630       5,094       4,271       3,101
    Cost of investments sold...............................     (4,896)       (973)        (511)     (5,251)     (4,093)     (2,254)
                                                             ---------       -----        -----   ---------  -----------  ---------
Net realized (losses) gains................................         --         (41)         119        (157)        178         847
                                                             ---------       -----        -----   ---------  -----------  ---------
Change in unrealized gains (losses)........................         --         (32)        (378)     (1,699)      2,509       9,042
                                                             ---------       -----        -----   ---------  -----------  ---------
Net (losses) gains on investments..........................         --         (73)        (259)     (1,856)      2,687       9,889
                                                             ---------       -----        -----   ---------  -----------  ---------
Change in net assets resulting from operations.............  $     481   $     805    $   1,891   $    (129)  $   3,687   $  11,905
                                                             ---------       -----        -----   ---------  -----------  ---------
                                                             ---------       -----        -----   ---------  -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-28
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                            STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                           Global
                                                                European      Capital     Dividend      Pacific
                                                    Utilities    Growth       Growth       Growth       Growth
(Dollars In Thousands)                              Portfolio   Portfolio    Portfolio    Portfolio    Portfolio     Total
                                                    ---------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ---------
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Investment income:
Dividends.........................................  $     948   $     712    $      68    $     605    $      95   $  12,839
  Charges from Allstate Life Insurance Company of
 New York:
Mortality and expense risk........................       (302)       (169)         (45)        (165)         (96)     (2,778)
Administrative expense............................        (24)        (13)          (4)         (13)          (8)       (220)
                                                    ---------       -----        -----        -----        -----   ---------
    Net investment income (loss)..................        622         530           19          427           (9)      9,841
                                                    ---------       -----        -----        -----        -----   ---------
Realized and unrealized (losses) gains on
 investments
Realized gains (losses) from sales of investments:
Proceeds from sales...............................      3,235         615          355          541          649      24,319
Cost of investments sold..........................     (2,847)       (462)        (265)        (466)        (637)    (22,655)
                                                    ---------       -----        -----        -----        -----   ---------
Net realized (losses) gains.......................        388         153           90           75           12       1,664
                                                    ---------       -----        -----        -----        -----   ---------
Change in unrealized gains (losses)...............        651       2,748          223        1,476           55      14,595
                                                    ---------       -----        -----        -----        -----   ---------
Net (losses) gains on investments.................      1,039       2,901          313        1,551           67      16,259
                                                    ---------       -----        -----        -----        -----   ---------
Change in net assets resulting from operations....  $   1,661   $   3,431    $     332    $   1,978    $      58   $  26,100
                                                    ---------       -----        -----        -----        -----   ---------
                                                    ---------       -----        -----        -----        -----   ---------
</TABLE>
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-29
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                       STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
                                                    ---------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Quality
                                                      Money       High                   Income                 Dividend
(Dollars and Units in Thousands,                     Market       Yield      Equity       Plus      Strategist   Growth
Except Value per Unit)                              Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
From operations:
  Net investment income (loss)....................   $    481     $  878     $  2,150    $  1,727    $ 1,000     $  2,016
  Net realized (losses) gains.....................         --        (41)         119        (157)       178          847
  Net change in unrealized (losses) gains.........         --        (32)        (378)     (1,699)     2,509        9,042
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
  Change in net assets resulting from
   operations.....................................        481        805        1,891        (129)     3,687       11,905
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
From capital transactions:
  Deposits........................................      5,196      2,216        4,073       1,274      1,305        8,044
  Benefit payments................................        (55)       (10)        (105)       (275)      (100)        (447)
  Payments on termination.........................     (1,541)      (347)        (511)     (1,880)    (2,978)      (3,461)
  Contract maintenance charges....................         (7)        (5)         (12)        (18)       (21)         (40)
  Transfers among the portfolios and with the
   Fixed Account -- net...........................       (366)        49        1,300      (2,867)    (1,400)       2,142
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
  Change in net assets resulting from capital
   transactions...................................      3,227      1,903        4,745      (3,766)    (3,194)       6,238
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Increase (decrease) in net assets.................      3,708      2,708        6,636      (3,895)       493       18,143
Net assets at beginning of period.................     11,368      7,067       15,341      34,401     29,440       50,635
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Net assets at end of period.......................   $ 15,076     $9,775     $ 21,977    $ 30,506    $29,933     $ 68,778
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Net asset value per unit at end of period.........   $  12.08     $24.14     $  28.67    $  16.40    $ 19.20     $  26.30
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
Units outstanding at end of period................      1,246        405          767       1,860      1,559        2,615
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
</TABLE>
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-30
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                       STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
                                                    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Global
                                                                European     Capital    Dividend     Pacific
                                                    Utilities    Growth      Growth      Growth      Growth
                                                    Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio     Total
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
From operations:
  Net investment income (loss)....................   $    622    $   530     $     19    $    427    $     (9)   $   9,841
  Net realized (losses) gains.....................        388        153           90          75          12        1,664
  Net change in unrealized (losses) gains.........        651      2,748          223       1,476          55       14,595
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
  Change in net assets resulting from
 operations.......................................      1,661      3,431          332       1,978          58       26,100
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
From capital transactions:
  Deposits........................................      1,052      1,959          590       3,269       1,620       30,598
  Benefit payments................................        (49)      (108)          (2)       (111)        (57)      (1,319)
  Payments on termination.........................     (1,153)      (304)        (216)       (485)       (175)     (13,051)
  Contract maintenance charges....................        (15)       (10)          (2)        (10)         (5)        (145)
  Transfers among the portfolios and with the
 Fixed Account -- net.............................     (2,252)       997          166       1,579       1,175          523
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
  Change in net assets resulting from capital
 transactions.....................................     (2,417)     2,534          536       4,242       2,558       16,606
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
  Increase (decrease) in net assets...............       (756)     5,965          868       6,220       2,616       42,706
  Net assets at beginning of period...............     24,498     10,920        3,257      10,030       5,574      202,531
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
  Net assets at end of period.....................   $ 23,742    $16,885     $  4,125    $ 16,250    $  8,190    $ 245,237
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
Net asset value per unit at end of period.........   $  19.30    $ 24.33     $  16.42    $  13.84    $   9.86
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
  Units outstanding at end of period..............      1,230        694          251       1,174         831
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------
</TABLE>
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-31
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                       STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
                                                             --------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 Quality
                                                               Money                             Income                 Dividend
(Dollars and Units in Thousands,                              Market    High Yield    Equity      Plus     Strategist    Growth
Except Value per Unit)                                       Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio  Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio
                                                             ---------  -----------  ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
<S>                                                          <C>        <C>          <C>        <C>        <C>          <C>
From operations:
  Net investment income (loss).............................  $     458   $     649   $     (30) $   1,771   $   2,209   $   1,450
  Net realized (losses) gains..............................         --         (28)         64       (200)        (40)        355
  Net change in unrealized gains...........................         --          96       3,993      4,812          94      10,707
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
  Change in net assets resulting from operations...........        458         717       4,027      6,383       2,263      12,512
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
From capital transactions:
  Deposits.................................................      2,335         893       2,125      1,790       1,074       4,864
  Benefit payments.........................................        (91)        (15)        (31)      (325)        (43)       (690)
  Payments on termination..................................       (916)       (160)       (675)    (1,603)     (1,213)     (1,952)
  Contract maintenance charges.............................         (5)         (4)        (10)       (21)        (22)        (34)
  Transfers among the portfolios and with the Fixed Account
   -- net..................................................     (2,530)      1,027         428       (439)     (1,810)        990
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
  Change in net assets resulting from capital
   transactions............................................     (1,207)      1,741       1,837       (598)     (2,014)      3,178
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
Increase (decrease) in net assets..........................       (749)      2,458       5,864      5,785         249      15,690
Net assets at beginning of period..........................     12,117       4,609       9,477     28,616      29,191      34,945
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
Net assets at end of period................................  $  11,368   $   7,067   $  15,341  $  34,401   $  29,440   $  50,635
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
Net asset value per unit at end of period..................  $   11.65   $   21.86   $   25.86  $   16.37   $   16.92   $   21.51
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
Units outstanding at end of period.........................        975         323         593      2,101       1,740       2,355
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
                                                             ---------       -----   ---------  ---------  -----------  ---------
</TABLE>
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-32
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                       STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                European    Capital     Global     Pacific
                                                    Utilities    Growth     Growth     Dividend    Growth
($ and units in thousands, except value per unit)   Portfolio   Portfolio  Portfolio   Portfolio  Portfolio    Total
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>
From operations:
  Net investment income (loss)....................   $    668   $   289     $  (22)    $     99    $  (22)    $  7,519
  Net realized (losses) gains.....................         (7)      170         93           21       (15)         413
  Net change in unrealized gains..................      4,653     1,574        715        1,399       222       28,265
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
  Change in net assets resulting from operations..      5,314     2,033        786        1,519       185       36,197
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
From capital transactions:
    Deposits......................................        898       990        345        1,437       927       17,678
    Benefit payments..............................       (194)      (67)        (7)         (80)      (25)      (1,568)
    Payments on termination.......................     (1,386)     (631)      (326)        (250)     (121)      (9,233)
    Contract maintenance charges..................        (17)       (7)        (2)          (7)       (3)        (132)
  Transfers among the portfolios and with the
   Fixed Account - net............................       (107)      204       (126)         710       678         (975)
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
  Change in net assets resulting from capital
   transactions...................................       (806)      489       (116)       1,810     1,456        5,770
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
  Increase (decrease) in net assets...............      4,508     2,522        670        3,329     1,641       41,967
  Net assets at beginning of period...............     19,990     8,398      2,587        6,701     3,933      160,564
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
  Net assets at end of period.....................   $ 24,498   $10,920     $3,257     $ 10,030    $5,574     $202,531
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------
  Net asset value per unit at end of period.......   $  18.00   $ 18.98     $14.92     $  11.94    $ 9.62
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
Units outstanding at end of period................      1,362       577        218          840       579
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
                                                    ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
</TABLE>
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
                                      F-33
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
1.  Organization
    Allstate Life of New York Variable Annuity Account II (the "Account"), a
unit investment trust registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, is a Separate Account of Allstate Life
Insurance Company of New York ("ALNY"). The assets of the Account are legally
segregated from those of ALNY. ALNY is wholly owned by a wholly owned subsidiary
("Parent") of Allstate Insurance Company ("Allstate"), a wholly-owned subsidiary
of The Allstate Corporation (the "Corporation").
 
    ALNY writes certain annuity contracts, the proceeds of which are invested at
the direction of the contractholder. Contractholders primarily invest in units
of the portfolios comprising the Account, for which they bear all of the
investment risk, but may also invest in the general account of ALNY ("Fixed
Account"). The Account, in turn, invests solely in shares of the portfolios of
the Dean Witter Variable Investment Series ("Fund"). ALNY provides
administrative and insurance services to the Account for a fee.
 
    Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dean Witter,
Discover and Co., is a distributor of ALNY's flexible premium deferred variable
annuity contracts and certain single and flexible premium annuities. Dean Witter
InterCapital, Inc. ("InterCapital"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Dean Witter,
Discover and Co., is the investment manager for the Fund. InterCapital receives
investment management fees from the Fund.
 
    Effective September 1, 1995, the name of the Managed Assets Portfolio of the
Fund changed to the Strategist Portfolio. While certain of the investment
policies of the portfolio have changed, the overall investment strategy has
remained the same.
 
2.  Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
    Valuation of Investments
 
    Investments consist of shares in the portfolios of the Fund, and are stated
at fair value based on quoted market prices.
 
    Recognition of Investment Income
 
    Investment income consists of dividends declared by the portfolios of the
Fund, and is recognized on the date of record.
 
    Realized Gains and Losses
 
    Realized gains and losses represent the difference between the proceeds from
sales of shares by the Account and the cost of such shares, which is determined
on a weighted average basis.
 
    Contractholder Account Activity
 
    Account activity is reflected in individual contractholder accounts on a
daily basis.
 
    Federal Income Taxes
 
    Net investment income and realized gains and losses on investments of the
Account are taxable to contractholders generally upon distribution. Accordingly,
no provision for income taxes has been recorded.
 
    Account Value
 
    Certain calculations that could be made in the financial statements may
differ from published amounts due to truncation of actual Account values.
 
                                      F-34
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
3.  Contract Maintenance, Mortality and Expense Risk, and Administrative Expense
Charges
    For each year or portion of a year a contract is in effect, ALNY deducts a
fixed annual contract maintenance charge of $30 as reimbursement for expenses
related to the maintenance of each contract and the Account. The amount of this
charge is guaranteed not to increase over the life of the contract.
 
    ALNY assumes mortality and expense risks related to the operations of the
Account and deducts charges daily at a rate, on an annual basis, equal to 1.25%
of the daily net assets of the Account. ALNY guarantees that the amount of this
charge will not increase over the life of the contract.
 
    ALNY deducts administrative expense charges daily at a rate, on an annual
basis, equal to 0.1% of the daily net assets of the Account. This charge is
designed to cover administrative expense.
 
4.  Financial Instruments
    The investments of the Separate Accounts are carried at fair value, based
upon quoted market prices. Accrued contract maintenance charges are of a short
term nature. It is assumed that their carrying value approximates fair value.
 
                                      F-35
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
5.  Units Issued and Redeemed
 
    Units issued and redeemed by the Account during 1996 were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
                                                    ----------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Quality
                                                      Money       High                   Income
                                                     Market       Yield      Equity       Plus      Strategist
(units in thousands)                                Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio   Portfolio
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ----------
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
Units outstanding at beginning of period..........      975         323         593       2,101        1,740
Unit activity during 1996:
  Issued..........................................      874         129         216          98          107
  Redeemed........................................     (603)        (47)        (42)       (339)        (288)
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------      -----
Units outstanding at end of period................    1,246         405         767       1,860        1,559
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------      -----
                                                    ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------      -----
</TABLE>
 
Units redeemed includes units deducted for accrued contract maintenance charges.
 
                                      F-36
<PAGE>
             ALLSTATE LIFE OF NEW YORK VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT II
                   NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)
                          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
 
5.  Units Issued and Redeemed (Continued)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Dean Witter Variable Investment Series
                                                    ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                   Global
                                                    Dividend               European    Capital    Dividend    Pacific
                                                     Growth    Utilities    Growth     Growth      Growth     Growth
                                                    Portfolio  Portfolio   Portfolio  Portfolio   Portfolio  Portfolio
                                                    --------   ---------   --------   ---------   --------   ---------
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>
Units outstanding at beginning of period..........    2,355      1,362        577        218          840       579
Unit activity during 1996:
  Issued..........................................      504         68        160         59          415       340
  Redeemed........................................     (244)      (200)       (43)       (26)         (81)      (88)
                                                    --------   ---------      ---        ---      --------      ---
Units outstanding at end of period................    2,615      1,230        694        251        1,174       831
                                                    --------   ---------      ---        ---      --------      ---
                                                    --------   ---------      ---        ---      --------      ---
</TABLE>
 
Units redeemed includes units deducted for accrued contract maintenance charges.
 
                                      F-37


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