NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
497J, 1997-09-10
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                    NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
                                     Home Office
                                   P.O. Box 182150
                                 One Nationwide Plaza
                              Columbus, Ohio  43218-2150
                          (800) 547-7548, TDD (800) 238-3035
              MODIFIED SINGLE PREMIUM VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES*
               ISSUED BY NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
                     THROUGH ITS NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
                                           
The Life Insurance Policies offered by this prospectus are variable life
insurance policies (collectively referred to as the "Policies").  The Policies
are designed to provide life insurance coverage on the Insured named in the
Policy.  The Policies may also provide a Cash Surrender Value if the Policy is
surrendered during the lifetime of the Insured.  The Death Benefit and Cash
Value of the Policies may vary to reflect the experience of the Nationwide VL
Separate Account-A (the "Variable Account") or the Fixed Account to which Cash
Values are allocated.

The Policies described in this prospectus may meet the definition of a "modified
endowment contract" under Section 7702A of the Internal Revenue Code (the
"Code").  The Code provides for taxation in the same manner as annuities for
surrenders, partial surrenders, loans, collateral assignments and other
pre-death distributions from modified endowment contracts.  Any distribution is
taxable to the extent the Cash Value of the Policy exceeds, at the time of the
distribution, the premiums paid into the Policy.  The Code also provides for a
10% tax penalty on the taxable portion of such distributions.  That penalty is
applicable unless the distribution is 1) paid after the Policy Owner is 591/2 or
disabled; or 2) the distribution is part of an annuity to the Policy Owner as
defined in the Code. (See "Tax Matters.")

It may not be advantageous to replace existing insurance with Policies described
in this prospectus.  It may also be disadvantageous to purchase a Policy to
obtain additional insurance protection if the purchaser already owns another
variable life insurance policy.  The Policies may not be advantageous for
persons who may wish to make policy loans or withdrawals prior to attaining age
591/2. (See "Tax Matters.")

*The Policy is titled a "Flexible Premium Variable Life Insurance Policy" in
Texas.

The Policy Owner may allocate premiums and Cash Value to one or more of the
sub-accounts of the Variable Account and the Fixed Account.  The assets of each
sub-account will be used to purchase, at net asset value, shares of a designated
Underlying Mutual Fund in the following series of the Underlying Mutual Fund
options:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S><C>

AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.:      NATIONWIDE SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST:
    -American Century VP Balanced                   -Capital Appreciation Fund
    -American Century VP Capital Appreciation       -Government Bond Fund
    -American Century VP International              -Money Market Fund
    -American Century VP Value                      -Small Company Fund
DREYFUS                                             -Total Return Fund
    -Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund    NEUBERGER & BERMAN ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST:
    -Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                       -Growth Portfolio
DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND                    -Limited Maturity Bond   
                                                     Portfolio
    -Growth & Income Portfolio**                    -Partners Portfolio
    -Capital Appreciation Portfolio              OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS:
FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND:          -Oppenheimer Bond Fund
    -Equity-Income Portfolio                        -Oppenheimer Global Securities Fund
    -Growth Portfolio                               -Oppenheimer Growth Fund
    -High Income Portfolio**                        -Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies Fund
    -Overseas Portfolio                         STRONG OPPORTUNITY FUND II, INC.: 
FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II:   STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.:
    -Asset Manager Portfolio                        -Discovery Fund II, Inc.
    -Contrafund Portfolio                           -International Stock Fund II
FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND III:  VAN ECK WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST:
    -Growth Opportunities Portfolio                 -Worldwide Bond Fund
MORGAN STANLEY UNIVERSAL FUNDS, INC.:               -Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund
    -Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio                -Worldwide Hard Assets Fund

</TABLE>

                                          1
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VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST
    -Morgan Stanley Real Estate Securities Portfolio
WARBURG PINCUS TRUST
    -International Equity Portfolio
    -Post-Venture Capital Portfolio
    -Small Company Growth Portfolio


**  The Growth & Income Portfolio and the High Income Portfolio may invest in
lower quality debt securities commonly referred to as junk bonds.

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 THE PROSPECTUS.  ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

THIS PROSPECTUS SHOULD BE READ AND RETAINED FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.  A PROSPECTUS
FOR THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND OPTION(S) BEING CONSIDERED MUST ACCOMPANY THIS
PROSPECTUS AND SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION HEREWITH.

INVESTMENTS IN THESE CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, AND ARE NOT
GUARANTEED OR ENDORSED BY, THE ADVISER OF ANY OF THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS
IDENTIFIED ABOVE, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, OR ANY BANK OR BANK AFFILIATE. 
INVESTMENTS ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE
CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD, OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY.  ANY
INVESTMENT IN THE CONTRACT INVOLVES CERTAIN INVESTMENT RISK WHICH MAY INCLUDE
THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.

THE COMPANY (NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY) GUARANTEES THAT THE
DEATH BENEFIT FOR A POLICY WILL NEVER BE LESS THAN THE SPECIFIED AMOUNT STATED
ON THE POLICY DATA PAGES AS LONG AS THE POLICY IS IN FORCE.  THERE IS NO
GUARANTEED CASH SURRENDER VALUE.  IF THE CASH SURRENDER VALUE IS INSUFFICIENT TO
COVER THE CHARGES UNDER THE POLICY, THE POLICY WILL LAPSE.

THIS PROSPECTUS GENERALLY DESCRIBES ONLY THAT PORTION OF THE CASH VALUE
ALLOCATED TO THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT.  FOR A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE FIXED ACCOUNT
OPTION, SEE "THE FIXED ACCOUNT OPTION."

                   THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS SEPTEMBER 5, 1997


                                          2
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                                  GLOSSARY OF TERMS

ATTAINED AGE- The Insured's age on the Policy Date, plus the number of full
years since the Policy Date.

ACCUMULATION UNIT- An accounting unit of measure used to calculate the Cash
Value of the Variable Account.

BENEFICIARY- The person to whom the proceeds due on the Insured's death are
paid.

CASH VALUE- The sum of the value of Policy assets in the Variable Account, Fixed
Account and any associated value in the Policy Loan Account. 

CASH SURRENDER VALUE- The Policy's Cash Value, less any indebtedness under the
Policy, less any Surrender Charge.

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

COMPANY- Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company.

DEATH PROCEEDS- Amount of money payable to the Beneficiary if the Insured dies
while the Policy is in force.

FIXED ACCOUNT- An investment option which is funded by the General Account of
the Company.

GENERAL ACCOUNT- All assets of the Company other than those of the Variable
Account or those of other separate accounts that have been or may be established
by the Company.

GUIDELINE SINGLE PREMIUM- The amount of single premium calculated in accordance
with the provisions of the Code.  It represents the single premium required to
mature the Policy under guaranteed mortality and expense charges, and an
interest rate of 6%.

HOME OFFICE- The main office of the Company located in Columbus, Ohio.

INSURED- The person whose life is covered by the Policy, and who is named on the
Policy Data Page.

MATURITY DATE- The Policy Anniversary on or following the Insured's 100th
birthday.

MONTHLY ANNIVERSARY DATE- The same day as the Policy Date for each succeeding
month.

NET ASSET VALUE- The worth of one share of a Mutual Fund as calculated at the
end of each business day.  Net Asset Value is computed by adding the value of
all portfolio holdings, plus other assets, deducting liabilities and then
dividing the result by the number of shares outstanding.

POLICY ANNIVERSARY- An anniversary of the Policy Date.

POLICY CHARGES- All deductions made from the value of the Variable Account, or
the Policy Cash Value.

POLICY DATE- The date the provisions of the Policy take effect, as shown on the
Policy Owner's Policy data page.

POLICY LOAN ACCOUNT- The Portion of the Cash Value which results from policy
loans.

POLICY OWNER- The person designated in the Policy application as the Owner.

POLICY YEAR- Each year commencing with the Policy Date and each Policy Date
anniversary thereafter.

SPECIFIED AMOUNT- A dollar amount used to determine the Death Benefit under a
Policy.  It is shown on the Policy Data Page.

SURRENDER CHARGE- An amount deducted from the Cash Value if the Policy is
surrendered.

UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS- The underlying mutual funds which correspond to the
sub-accounts of the Variable Account.

VALUATION DATE- Each day both the New York Stock Exchange and the Company's Home
Office is open for business or any other day during which there is a sufficient
degree of trading such that the current net asset value of the Accumulated Units
might be materially affected.

VALUATION PERIOD- A period commencing with the close of business on the New York
Stock Exchange and ending at the close of business for the next succeeding
Valuation Date.

VARIABLE ACCOUNT- Nationwide VL Separate Account-A, a separate investment
account of Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company.


                                          3

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                                  TABLE OF CONTENTS


GLOSSARY OF TERMS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

SUMMARY OF THE POLICIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

         Variable Life Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

         The Variable Account and its Sub-Accounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

         The Fixed Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

         Deductions and Charges. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

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

NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

         Investments of the Variable Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

         American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., member of American
Century-SM- Investments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

         Dreyfus9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

         Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

         Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

         Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II. . . . . . . . . . . . 11

         Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund III . . . . . . . . . . . 11

         Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

         Nationwide Separate Account Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

         Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . 13

         Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

         Strong Opportunity Fund II, Inc.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

         Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

         Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

         Van Kampen American Capital Life Investment Trust . . . . . . . . . 14

         Warburg Pincus Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

         Reinvestment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

         Transfers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

         Dollar Cost Averaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

         Substitution of Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

         Voting Rights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

INFORMATION ABOUT THE POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

         Underwriting and Issuance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

         -Minimum Requirements for Issuance of a Policy. . . . . . . . . . . 18

         -Premium Deposits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

         -Allocation of Cash Value . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

         -Short-Term Right to Cancel Policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

POLICY CHARGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

         Deductions from Premiums. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

         Monthly Deductions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

         -Cost of Insurance Charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

         -Administrative Expense Charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

         Tax Expense Charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

         -Mortality and Expense Risk Charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

         Surrender Charges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

         Expenses of the Underlying Mutual Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

HOW THE CASH VALUE VARIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

How the Investment Experience is Determined. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

         Net Investment Factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

         Valuation of Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

         Determining the Cash Value. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

         Valuation Periods and Valuation Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

SURRENDERING THE POLICY FOR CASH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

         Right to Surrender. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

         Cash Surrender Value. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

         Partial Surrenders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

         Maturity Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

         Income Tax Withholding. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25


                                          4

<PAGE>

POLICY LOANS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

         Taking a Policy Loan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

         Effect on Investment Performance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

         Interest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

         Effect on Death Benefit and Cash Value. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

         Repayment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

HOW THE DEATH BENEFIT VARIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

         -Calculation of the Death Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

         -Proceeds Payable on Death. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

RIGHT OF CONVERSION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

CHANGES OF INVESTMENT POLICY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

GRACE PERIOD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

REINSTATEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

THE FIXED ACCOUNT OPTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

OTHER POLICY PROVISIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

         Policy Owner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

         Beneficiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

         Assignment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

         Incontestability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

         Error in Age or Sex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

         Suicide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

         Nonparticipating Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

         Riders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

DISTRIBUTION OF THE POLICIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

TAX MATTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

         Policy Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

         -Federal Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes. . . . . . . 32

         -Non-Resident Aliens. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

         Taxation of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

         Tax Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

THE COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

COMPANY MANAGEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

         Directors of the Company. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

         Executive Officers of the Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

OTHER CONTRACTS ISSUED BY THE COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

STATE REGULATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

REPORTS TO POLICY OWNERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

ADVERTISING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

EXPERTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

REGISTRATION STATEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

LEGAL OPINIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

APPENDIX 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

APPENDIX 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFERING IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH
SUCH OFFERING MAY NOT LAWFULLY BE MADE.  NO PERSON IS AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN
THIS PROSPECTUS.

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE POLICIES IS TO PROVIDE LIFE INSURANCE PROTECTION  FOR
THE BENEFICIARY NAMED IN THE POLICY.  NO CLAIM IS MADE THAT THE POLICIES ARE IN
ANY WAY SIMILAR OR COMPARABLE TO A SYSTEMATIC INVESTMENT PLAN OF A MUTUAL FUND.


                                          5

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                               SUMMARY OF THE POLICIES

VARIABLE LIFE INSURANCE

The variable life insurance Policies offered by Nationwide Life and Annuity
Insurance Company (the "Company") are similar in many ways to fixed-benefit
whole life insurance.  As with fixed-benefit whole life insurance, the Owner of
the Policy pays a premium for life insurance coverage on the person insured. 
Also like fixed-benefit whole life insurance, the Policies may provide for a
Cash Surrender Value which is payable if the Policy is terminated during the
Insured's lifetime.  (As with fixed-benefit whole life insurance, the Cash
Surrender Value during the early Policy years may be substantially lower than
the premiums paid.)

However, the Policies differ from fixed-benefit whole life insurance in several
respects.  Unlike fixed-benefit whole life insurance, the Death Benefit and Cash
Value of the Policies may increase or decrease to reflect the investment
performance of the Variable Account sub-accounts or the Fixed Account to which
Cash Values are allocated.  (See "How the Death Benefit Varies.")  There is no
guaranteed Cash Surrender Value. (See "How the Cash Value Varies.")  If the Cash
Surrender Value is insufficient to pay Policy Charges, the Policy will lapse.

THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT AND ITS SUB-ACCOUNTS

The Company places the Policy's Cash Value in the Nationwide VL Separate
Account-A and/or the Fixed Account (the "Variable Account") at the time the
Policy is issued.  The Policy Owner selects the sub-accounts of the Variable
Account into which the Cash Value will be allocated.  (See "Allocation of Cash
Value.")  When the Policy is issued, the Cash Value will be allocated to the
Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund Sub-Account (for any Cash
Value allocated to a Sub-Account on the application) or the Fixed Account until
the expiration of the period in which the Policy Owner may exercise his or her
short-term right to cancel the Policy.  (See "Short-Term Right to Cancel
Policy.")  Assets of each sub-account are invested at net asset value in shares
of a corresponding Underlying Mutual Fund option.  For a description of the
Underlying Mutual Fund options and their investment objectives, see "Investments
of the Variable Account."  The Policy Owner also can have Cash Value allocated
to the Fixed Account.

THE FIXED ACCOUNT

The Fixed Account is funded by the assets of the Company's General Account. Cash
Values allocated to the Fixed Account are credited with interest daily at a rate
declared by the Company.  The interest rate declared is at the Company's sole
discretion, but may never be less than an effective annual rate of 3%.

DEDUCTIONS AND CHARGES

The Company deducts certain charges from the Cash Value of the Policy.  These
charges are made for administrative expenses, state premium taxes, federal
taxes, providing life insurance protection and assuming the mortality and
expense risks.

The Company deducts a monthly charge for the cost of insurance, administrative
charges, premium tax, and federal tax from the Policy's Cash Value attributable
to the Variable Account and Fixed Account.  The Company also deducts on a
monthly basis from the Cash Value attributable to the Variable Account, a charge
to provide for mortality and expense risks.  For Policies which are surrendered
in the first 9 Policy Years, the Company deducts a Surrender Charge not to
exceed 10% of the initial Premium Payment.  This includes a charge for deferred
sales expenses and premium tax recovery.  The sales surrender charge will never
exceed 7.5% of the initial premium payments.  For a complete discussion of all
charges, deductions and reductions of charges, see "Charges and Other
Deductions."

Underlying Mutual Fund shares are purchased at net asset value, which reflects
the deduction of investment management fees and certain other expenses.  The
management fees are charged by each Underlying Mutual Fund's investment adviser
for managing the Underlying Mutual Fund and selecting its portfolio of
securities.  Other Underlying Mutual Fund expenses can include such items as
interest expense on loans and contracts with transfer agents, custodians, and
other companies that provide services to the Underlying Mutual Fund.  (See
"Expenses of the Underlying Mutual Funds").

PREMIUMS

The minimum premium for which a Policy may be issued is $10,000 for issue ages
0-70 and $50,000 for issue ages 71-80.  A Policy may be issued to an insured up
to age 80.

For a limited time, the Policy Owner has a right to cancel the Policy and
receive a full refund of premiums paid.  (See "Short-Term Right to Cancel
Policy.")


                                          6
<PAGE>

                    NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY

The Nationwide Life and Annuity Company (the "Company"), is a stock life
insurance company organized under the laws of the State of Ohio and was
established in February, 1981.  The Company is a member of the Nationwide
Insurance Enterprise of companies which includes Nationwide Life Insurance
Company, Nationwide Indemnity Company, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company,
Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Nationwide Property and Casualty
Insurance Company, National Casualty Company, West Coast Life Insurance Company,
Scottsdale Indemnity Company and Nationwide General Insurance Company and their
affiliated companies.  The Company's Home Office is at One Nationwide Plaza,
Columbus, Ohio 43216.

The Company offers a multiple line of products, including annuities.  It is
admitted to do business in 46 states and the District of Columbia (for
additional information, see "The Company").
                                           
                                 THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT

     The Variable Account was established by the Company on August 8, 1984.  The
Company has caused the Variable Account to be registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as a unit investment trust pursuant to the provisions of the
Investment Company Act of 1940.  Such registration does not involve supervision
of the management of the Variable Account or the Company by the Securities and
Exchange Commission.

The Variable Account is a separate investment account of the Company and as
such, is not changeable with the liabilities arising out of any other business
the Company may conduct.  The Company does not guarantee the investment
performance of the Variable Account.  The Death Benefit and Cash Value under the
Policy may vary with the investment performance of the investments in the
Variable Account (see "How the Death Benefit Varies" and "How Cash Value
Varies").

Premium payments and Cash Value are allocated within the Variable Account among
one or more sub-accounts.  The assets of each sub-account are used to purchase
shares of the funds designated by the Policy Owner.  Thus, the investment
performance of a Policy depends upon the investment performance of the
Underlying Mutual Fund options designated by the Policy Owner.

INVESTMENTS OF THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT

At the time of application, the Policy Owner elects to have the Cash Value
allocated among one or more of the Variable Account sub-accounts and the Fixed
Account.  (See "Allocation of Cash Value.")  When the policy is issued, the
Policy's Cash Value not allocated to the Fixed Account is placed in the
Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money Market sub-account until expiration of
the period in which the Policy Owner may exercise his or her short-term right to
cancel the Policy.  (See "Short-Term Right to Cancel Policy.")  At the
expiration of this period, shares of the Underlying Mutual Funds specified by
the Policy Owner are purchased at net asset value for the respective
sub-account(s).  Such election is subject to any minimum premium limitations
which may be imposed by the Underlying Mutual Fund option(s).  In addition, no
less than 5% of premium may be allocated to any one sub-account or the Fixed
Account.  The Policy Owner may change the allocation of Cash Value or may
transfer Cash Value from one sub-account to another, subject to such terms and
conditions as may be imposed by each Underlying Mutual Fund option and as set
forth in this prospectus.  (See "Transfers", "Allocation of Cash Value" and
"Short-Term Right to Cancel Policy.")

Additional Premium Deposits, upon acceptance, will be allocated to the
Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund unless the Policy Owner
specifies otherwise.  (See "Premium Deposits.")  Premium Deposits will be held
only while the Company obtains information necessary to evaluate the risk. 
Following the underwriting process, the Company will either issue the policy or
refund deposits within 5 days from the date thereof.


                                          7
<PAGE>

Each of the Underlying Mutual Fund options is a series of registered investment
companies which receive investment advice from a registered investment adviser:

    1.   American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., managed by American
         Century Investment Management, Inc., an affiliate of American Century
         Companies, Inc.;

    2.   Dreyfus Stock Index Fund, managed by The Dreyfus Corporation;

    3.   Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc., managed by The Dreyfus
         Corporation;

    4.   Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund, managed by The Dreyfus Corporation;

    5.   Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund, managed by Fidelity
         Management & Research Company; 

    6.   Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund II, managed by Fidelity
         Management & Research Company;

    7.   Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund III, managed by Fidelity
         Management & Research    Company;

    8.   Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc., managed by Morgan Stanley Asset
         Management, Inc.;

    9.   The Nationwide Separate Account Trust, managed by Nationwide Advisory
         Services, Inc.;

    10.  Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust, managed by Neuberger &
         Berman Management Incorporated;

    11.  Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds, managed by Oppenheimer Management
         Corporation;

    12.  Strong Opportunity Fund II, Inc., managed by Strong Capital
         Management, Inc.;

    13.  Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc., managed by Strong Capital
         Management, Inc.;

    14.  Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust, managed by Van Eck Associates
         Corporation;

    15.  Van Kampen American Capital Life Investment Trust managed by Van
         Kampen American Capital Asset Management, Inc.; and

    16.  Warburg Pincus Trust, managed by Warburg Pincus Counsellors, Inc.


A summary of investment objectives is contained in the description of each
Underlying Mutual Fund below.  These Underlying Mutual Fund options are
available only to serve as the underlying investment for variable annuity and
variable life contracts issued through separate accounts of life insurance
companies which may or may not be affiliated, also known as "mixed and shared
funding."  There are certain risks associated with mixed and shared funding,
which is disclosed in the Underlying Mutual Funds' prospectuses.  A full
description of the Underlying Mutual Funds, their investment policies and
restrictions, risks and charges are contained in the prospectuses of the
respective Underlying Mutual Funds.  A prospectus for the Underlying Mutual Fund
option(s) being considered must accompany this prospectus and should be read in
conjunction herewith.

AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC., MEMBER OF AMERICAN CENTURYSM
INVESTMENTS

American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc. (formerly "TCI Portfolios, Inc.") was
organized as a Maryland corporation in 1987.  It is a diversified, open-end
management company, designed only to provide investment vehicles for variable
annuity and variable life insurance products of insurance companies.  A member
of American CenturySM Investments, American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc. is
managed by American Century Investment Management, Inc.

- -   AMERICAN CENTURY VP BALANCED

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  Capital growth and current income.  The fund will
    seek to achieve its objective by maintaining approximately 60% of the
    assets of the fund in common stocks (including securities convertible into
    common stocks and other equity equivalents) that are considered by
    management to have better-than-average prospects for appreciation and
    approximately 40% in fixed income securities.  There can be no assurance
    that the Fund will achieve its investment objective.


                                          8
<PAGE>

- -   AMERICAN CENTURY VP CAPITAL APPRECIATION

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  Capital growth.  The fund will seek to achieve its
    objective by investing in common stocks (including securities convertible
    into common stocks and other equity equivalents) that meet certain
    fundamental and technical standards of selection and have, in the opinion
    of the fund's investment manager, better than average potential for
    appreciation.  The fund tries to stay fully invested in such securities,
    regardless of the movement of stock prices generally.

    The fund may invest in cash and cash equivalents temporarily or when it is
    unable to find common stocks meeting its criteria of selection.  It may
    purchase securities only of companies that have a record of at least three
    years continuous operation.  There can be no assurance that the Fund will
    achieve its investment objective.

- -   AMERICAN CENTURY VP INTERNATIONAL

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek capital growth.  The fund will seek to
    achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in securities of
    foreign companies that meet certain fundamental and technical standards of
    selection and, in the opinion of the investment manager, have potential for
    appreciation.  Under normal conditions, the fund will invest at least 65%
    of its assets in common stocks or other equity securities of issuers from
    at least three countries outside the United States.  Securities of United
    States issuers may be included in the portfolio from time to time. 
    Although the primary investment of the fund will be common stocks (defined
    to include depository receipts for common stocks), the fund may also invest
    in other types of securities consistent with the fund's objective.  When
    the manager believes that the total return potential of other securities
    equals or exceeds the potential return of common stocks, the fund may
    invest up to 35% of its assets in such other securities.  There can be no
    assurance that the fund will achieve its objectives.

- -   AMERICAN CENTURY VP VALUE

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  The investment objective of the Fund is long-term
    capital growth; income is a secondary objective.  Under normal market
    conditions, the Fund expects to invest at least 80% of the value of its
    total asset in equity securities, including common and preferred stock,
    convertible preferred stock and convertible debt obligations.  The equity
    securities in which the Fund will invest will be primarily securities of
    well-established companies with intermediate-to-large market
    capitalizations that are believed by management to be undervalued at the
    time of purchase.

    (Although the Statement of Additional Information concerning American
    Century Variable Portfolios, Inc., refers to redemptions of securities in
    kind under certain conditions, all surrendering or redeeming Contract
    Owners will receive cash from the Company.)

DREYFUS

- -   THE DREYFUS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GROWTH FUND, INC.

    The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. is an open-end,
    diversified, management investment company.  It was incorporated under
    Maryland law on July 20, 1992, and commenced operations on October 7, 1993. 
    The Dreyfus Corporation serves as the Fund's investment advisor.  NCN
    Capital Management Group, Inc. serves as the Fund's sub-investment adviser
    and provides day-to-day management of the Fund's portfolio.
    
    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  The Fund's primary goal is to provide capital growth
    through equity investment in companies that, in the opinion of the Fund's
    management, not only meet traditional investment standards, but which also
    show evidence that they conduct their business in a manner that contributes
    to the enhancement of the quality of life in America.  Current income is
    secondary to the primary goal.

- -   DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND

    The Dreyfus Stock Index Fund,  Inc. is an open-end, non-diversified,
    management investment company.  It was incorporated under Maryland law on
    January 24, 1989, and commenced operations on September 29, 1989.  The
    Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") serves as the Fund's manager, while Mellon
    Equity Associates, an affiliate of Dreyfus, serves as the Fund's index
    manager.

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To provide investment results that correspond to the
    price and yield performance of publicly traded common stocks in the
    aggregate, as represented by the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock
    Price Index.  The Fund is neither sponsored by nor affiliated with Standard
    & Poor's Corporation.


                                          9
<PAGE>

DREYFUS VARIABLE INVESTMENT FUND

    Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund (the "Fund") is an open-end, management
investment company.  It was organized as an unincorporated business trust under
the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on October 29,1986 and commenced
operations August 31, 1990.  The Dreyfus Corporation ("Dreyfus") serves as the
Fund's manager.  Dreyfus is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank, N.A.,
which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mellon Bank Corporation.

- -   CAPITAL APPRECIATION PORTFOLIO 

         INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE: The Fund's primary investment objective is to  
         provide long-term capital growth consistent with the preservation of  
         apital; current income is a secondary investment objective.  This Fund
         invests primarily in the common stocks of domestic and foreign
         issuers.
    
- -   GROWTH AND INCOME PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To provide long-term capital growth, current income 
    and growth of income, consistent with reasonable investment risk.  The
    Portfolio invests in equity securities, debt securities and money market
    instruments of domestic and foreign issuers.  The proportion of the
    Portfolio's assets invested in each type of security will vary from time to
    time in accordance with Dreyfus' assessment of economic conditions and
    investment opportunities.  In purchasing equity securities, Dreyfus will
    invest in common stocks, preferred stocks and securities convertible into
    common stocks, particularly those which offer opportunities for capital
    appreciation and growth of earnings, while paying current dividends.  The
    Portfolio will generally invest in investment-grade debt obligations,
    except that it may invest up to 35% of the value of its net assets in
    convertible debt securities rated not lower than Caa by Moody's Investor
    Service, Inc.  or CCC by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, Fitch Investors
    Service, L.P. or Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Co., or if unrated, deemed to
    be of comparable quality by Dreyfus.  These securities are considered to
    have predominantly speculative characteristics with respect to capacity to
    pay interest and repay principal and are considered to be of poor standing. 
    See "Investment Considerations and Risks-Lower Rated Securities" in the
    Portfolio's prospectuses.

FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND

The Fund is an open-end, diversified, management investment company organized as
a Massachusetts business trust on November 13, 1981.  The Fund's shares are
purchased by insurance companies to fund benefits under variable insurance and
annuity policies.  Fidelity Management & Research Company ('FMR') is the Fund's
manager.

- -   EQUITY-INCOME PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek reasonable income by investing primarily in
    income-producing equity securities.  In choosing these securities FMR also
    will consider the potential for capital appreciation.  The Portfolio's goal
    is to achieve a yield which exceeds the composite yield on the securities
    comprising the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Price Index.

- -   GROWTH PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  Seeks to achieve capital appreciation.  This
    Portfolio will invest in the securities of both well-known and established
    companies, and smaller, less well-known companies which may have a narrow
    product line or whose securities are thinly traded.  These latter
    securities will often involve greater risk than may be found in the
    ordinary investment security.  FMR's analysis and expertise plays an
    integral role in the selection of securities and, therefore, the
    performance of the Portfolio.  Many securities which FMR believes would
    have the greatest potential may be regarded as speculative, and investment
    in the Portfolio may involve greater risk than is inherent in other
    underlying mutual funds.  It is also important to point out that the
    Portfolio makes most sense for you if you can afford to ride out changes in
    the stock market, because it invests primarily in common stocks.  FMR also
    can make temporary investments in securities such as investment-grade
    bonds, high-quality preferred stocks and short-term notes, for defensive
    purposes when it believes market conditions warrant.


                                          10
<PAGE>

- -   HIGH INCOME PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To obtain a high level of current income by
    investing primarily in high-risk, high-yielding, lower rated fixed-income
    securities, while also considering growth of capital.  The Fund's manager
    will seek high current income normally by investing the Fund's assets as
    follows:

    -    at least 65% in income-producing debt securities and preferred stocks,
         including convertible securities, zero coupon securities, and
         mortgage-backed and asset-based securities;

    -    up to 20% in common stocks and other equity securities when consistent
         with the Fund's primary objective or acquired as part of a unit
         combining fixed-income and equity securities.

    Higher yields are usually available on securities that are lower-rated or
that are unrated.  Lower-rated securities are usually defined as Ba or lower by
Moody's; BB or lower by Standard & Poor's and may be deemed to be of a
speculative nature.  The Fund may also purchase lower-quality bonds such as
those rated Ca3 by Moody's or C- by Standard & Poor's which provide poor
protection for payment of principal and interest (commonly referred to as "junk
bonds").  For a further discussion of lower-rated securities, please see the
"Risks of Lower-Rated Debt Securities" section of the Fund's prospectus.

- -   OVERSEAS PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek long term growth of capital primarily
    through investments in foreign securities.  The Overseas Portfolio provides
    a means for investors to diversify their own portfolios by participating in
    companies and economies outside of the United States.

FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND II
The Fund is an open-end, diversified, management investment company organized as
a Massachusetts business trust on March 21, 1988.  The fund's shares are
purchased by insurance companies to fund benefits under variable insurance and
annuity policies.  FMR is the Fund's manager.

- -   ASSET MANAGER PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek to obtain high total return with reduced
    risk over the long-term by allocating its assets among domestic and foreign
    stocks, bonds and short-term fixed income instruments.

- -   CONTRAFUND PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek capital appreciation by investing primarily
    in companies that the fund manager believes to be undervalued due to an
    overly pessimistic appraisal by the public.  This strategy can lead to
    investments in domestic or foreign companies, small and large, many of
    which may not be well known.  The fund primarily invests in common stock
    and securities convertible into common stock, but it has the flexibility to
    invest in any type of security that may produce capital appreciation.
    
FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUND III

The Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund III is an open-end, diversified,
management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust on
July 14, 1994.  The Fund's name was changed from Fidelity Advisor Annuity Fund
to Variable Insurance Products Fund III on December 30, 1996.  The Fund shares
are purchased by insurance companies to fund benefits under variable life
insurance and annuity contracts.  Fidelity Management & Research Company ("FMR")
is the Fund's manager.

- -   GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE: To provide capital growth by investing primarily in
    common stocks and securities convertible into common stocks.  The Fund,
    under normal conditions, will invest at least 65% of its total assets in
    securities of companies that FMR believes have long-term growth potential. 
    Although the Fund invests primarily in common stock and securities
    convertible into common stock, it has the ability to purchase other
    securities, such as preferred stock and bonds, that may produce capital
    growth.  The Fund may invest in foreign securities without limitation.


                                          11
<PAGE>

MORGAN STANLEY UNIVERSAL FUNDS, INC.

Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc. (the "Fund") is a mutual fund designed to
provide investment vehicles for variable annuity contracts and variable life
insurance policies and for certain tax-qualified investors.  The Fund is an
open-end management investment company, or mutual fund.  At present it offers 17
separate investment portfolios (each, a "Portfolio"), each with a distinct
investment objective.

- -   EMERGING MARKETS DEBT PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE: The Fund seeks high total return by investing
    primarily in dollar- and non-dollar denominated Fixed Income Securities of
    government and private-sector related issuers located in emerging market
    countries, which securities provide a high level of current income, while
    at the same time holding the potential for capital appreciation if the
    perceived creditworthiness of the issuer improves due to improving
    economic, financial, political, social or other conditions in the country
    in which the issuer is located.

NATIONWIDE SEPARATE ACCOUNT TRUST

Nationwide Separate Account Trust (the "Trust") is a diversified open-end
management investment company created under the laws of Massachusetts.  The
Trust offers shares in the five separate Mutual Funds listed below, each with
its own investment objectives.  Currently, shares of the Trust will be sold only
to life insurance company separate accounts to fund the benefits under variable
life insurance policies or variable annuity contracts issued by life insurance
companies. The assets of the Trust are managed by Nationwide Advisory Services,
Inc., of One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio 43216, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Nationwide Life Insurance Company.

- -   CAPITAL APPRECIATION FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  The Fund is designed for investors who are
    interested in long-term growth.  The Fund seeks to meet its objective
    primarily through a diversified portfolio of the common stock of companies
    which the investment manager determines have a better-than-average
    potential for sustained capital growth over the long term.

- -   GOVERNMENT BOND FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To provide as high a level of income as is
    consistent with capital preservation through investing primarily in bonds
    and securities issued or backed by the U.S. Government, its agencies or
    instrumentalities.

- -   MONEY MARKET FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek as high a level of current income as is
    considered consistent with the preservation of capital and liquidity by
    investing primarily in money market instruments.

- -   SMALL COMPANY FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  The Fund seeks long-term growth of capital by
    investing primarily in equity securities of domestic and foreign companies
    with market capitalizations of less than $1 billion at the time of
    purchase.  Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc. ("NAS"), the Fund's adviser,
    has employed a group of sub-advisers each of which will manage a portion of
    the Fund's portfolio.  These sub-advisers are the Dreyfus Corporation,
    Neuberger & Berman, L.P., Pictet International Management Limited, Van Eck
    Associates Corporation, Strong Capital Management, Inc. and Warburg, Pincus
    Counsellors, Inc.  These sub-advisers were chosen because they utilize a
    number of different investment styles when investing in small company
    stocks.  By utilizing a number of different investment styles, NAS hopes to
    increase prospects for investment return and to reduce market risk and
    volatility.

- -   TOTAL RETURN FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To obtain a reasonable long-term total return (i.e.,
    earnings growth plus potential dividend yield) on invested capital from a
    flexible combination of current return and capital gains through
    investments in common stocks, convertible issues, money market instruments
    and bonds, with a primary emphasis on common stocks.


                                          12
<PAGE>

NEUBERGER & BERMAN ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST

Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management Trust is an open-end diversified
management investment company established as a Massachusetts business trust on
December 14, 1983.  Shares of the Trust are offered in connection with certain
variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies issued through
life insurance company separate accounts and are also offered directly to
qualified pension and retirement plans outside of the separate account context. 
The investment adviser is Neuberger & Berman Management Incorporated.

- -   GROWTH PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  The Portfolio seeks capital growth through
    investments in common stocks of companies that the investment adviser
    believes will have above average earnings or otherwise provide investors
    with above average potential for capital appreciation.  To maximize this
    potential, the investment adviser may also utilize, from time to time,
    securities convertible into common stocks, warrants and options to purchase
    such stocks.

- -   LIMITED MATURITY BOND PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To provide the high level of current income,
    consistent with low risk to principal and liquidity, and secondarily, its
    total return.  It seeks to achieve its objectives through investments in a
    diversified portfolio of fixed and variable rate debt securities and seeks
    to increase income and preserve or enhance total return by actively
    managing average portfolio maturity in light of market conditions and
    trends.  The portfolio invests in securities which are at lease investment
    grade and does not invest in junk bonds.

- -   PARTNERS PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek capital growth.  This portfolio will seek to
    achieve its objective by investing primarily in the common stock of
    established companies.  Its investment program seeks securities believed to
    be undervalued based on fundamentals such as low price-to-earnings ratios,
    consistent cash flows, and support from asset values.  The objective of the
    Partners Portfolio is not fundamental and can be changed by the Trustees of
    the Trust without shareholder approval.  Shareholders will, however,
    receive at least 30 days prior notice thereof.  There is no assurance the
    investment objective will be met.

OPPENHEIMER VARIABLE ACCOUNT FUNDS

The Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds is an open-ended, diversified management
investment company organized as a Massachusetts business trust in 1984.  Shares
of the Funds are sold only to provide benefits under variable life insurance
policies and variable annuity contracts.  Oppenheimer Management Corporation is
the Funds' investment advisor.

- -   OPPENHEIMER BOND FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  Primarily to seek a high level of current income
    from investment in high yield fixed-income securities rated "Baa" or better
    by Moody's or "BBB" or better by Standard & Poor's.  Secondarily, the fund
    seeks capital growth when consistent with its primary objective.

- -   OPPENHEIMER GLOBAL SECURITIES FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek long-term capital appreciation by investing
    a substantial portion of assets in securities of foreign issuers,
    "growth-type" companies, cyclical industries and special situations which
    are considered to have appreciation possibilities.  Current income is not
    an objective.  These securities may be considered to be speculative.

- -   OPPENHEIMER GROWTH FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE: The Fund seeks to achieve capital appreciation by
    investing in securities of well-known established companies.  In seeking
    its objective of capital appreciation, the Fund will emphasize investments
    in securities of well-known and established companies.  Such securities
    generally have a history of earnings and dividends and are issued by
    seasoned companies (having an operating history of at least five years
    including predecessors).  Current income is a secondary consideration in
    the selection of the Fund's portfolio securities.

- -   OPPENHEIMER MULTIPLE STRATEGIES FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek a total investment return (which includes
    current income and capital appreciation in the value of its shares) from
    investments in common stocks and other equity securities, bonds and other
    debt securities, and "money market" securities.


                                          13
<PAGE>

STRONG OPPORTUNITY FUND II, INC.

The Strong Opportunity Fund II, Inc. (fka "Strong Special Fund II, Inc.") is a
diversified, open-end management company commonly called a Mutual Fund.  The
Special Fund II was incorporated in Wisconsin and may only be purchased by the
separate accounts of insurance companies for the purpose of funding variable
annuity contracts and variable life policies.  Strong Capital Management, Inc.
(the "Advisor") is the investment advisor for the fund.
    
    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek capital appreciation through investments in
    a diversified portfolio of equity securities.

STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.

The Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. is a diversified, open-end management
company commonly called a mutual fund.  The Strong Discovery Fund II, Inc.
("Discovery Fund II") and the Strong International Stock Fund II (the
"International Stock Fund II") were separately incorporated in Wisconsin and may
only be purchased by the separate accounts of insurance companies for the
purpose of funding variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance
policies.  Strong Capital Management, Inc. is the investment advisor for each of
the Funds.

- -   DISCOVERY FUND II, INC.

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek maximum capital appreciation through
    investments in a diversified portfolio of securities.  The fund normally
    emphasizes investment in equity securities and may invest up to 100% of its
    total assets in equity securities including common stocks, preferred stocks
    and securities convertible into common or preferred stocks.  Although the
    Fund normally emphasizes investment in equity securities, the fund has the
    flexibility to invest in any type of security that its advisor believes has
    the potential for capital appreciation including up to 100% of its total
    assets in debt obligations, including intermediate to long-term corporate
    or U.S. government debt securities.

- -   INTERNATIONAL STOCK FUND II

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek capital growth by investing primarily in the
    equity securities of issuers located outside the United States.

VAN ECK WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST

Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust is an open-end management investment company
organized as a "business trust" under the laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts on January 7, 1987.  Shares of the Trust are offered only to
separate accounts of various insurance companies to fund benefits of variable
insurance and annuity policies.  The assets of the Trust are managed by Van Eck
Associates Corporation.

- -   WORLDWIDE BOND FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek high total return through a flexible policy
    of investing globally, primarily in debt securities.  The debt securities
    in which the fund will invest will be primarily high grade; the fund will
    not invest in junk bonds.

- -   WORLDWIDE EMERGING MARKETS FUND

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  Seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing
    primarily in equity securities in emerging markets around the world.  The
    Fund specifically emphasizes investment in countries that, compared to the
    world's major economies, exhibit relatively low gross national product per
    capita, as well as the potential for rapid economic growth.  Peregrine
    Asset Management (Hong Kong) Limited serves as sub-investment adviser to
    this Fund.

- -   WORLDWIDE HARD ASSETS FUND (FORMERLY GOLD AND NATURAL RESOURCES FUND)

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek long-term capital appreciation by investing
    globally, primarily in "Hard Assets Securities."  Hard assets are tangible,
    finite assets, asuch as real estate, energy, timber, and industrial and
    precious metals.  Income is a secondary consideration.

VAN KAMPEN AMERICAN CAPITAL LIFE INVESTMENT TRUST

    The Van Kampen American Capital Life Investment Trust is an open-end
diversified management investment company organized as a Massachusetts business
trust on June 3, 1985.  The Trust offers shares in separate funds which are sold
only to insurance companies to provide funding for variable life insurance
policies and variable annuity contracts.  Van Kampen American Capital Asset
Management, Inc. serves as the Portfolio's investment adviser.


                                          14

<PAGE>

    -MORGAN STANLEY CAPITAL REAL ESTATE SECURITIES PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek long-term capital growth by investing in a
    portfolio of securities of companies operating in the real estate industry
    ("Real Estate Securities").  Current income is a secondary consideration. 
    Real Estate Securities include equity securities, including common stocks
    and convertible securities, as well as non-convertible preferred stocks and
    debt securities of real estate industry companies.  A "real estate industry
    company" is a company that derives at least 50% of its assets (marked to
    market), gross income or net profits from the ownership, construction,
    management or sale of residential, commercial or industrial real estate. 
    Under normal market conditions, at least 65% of the Portfolio's total
    assets will be invested in Real Estate Securities, primarily equity
    securities of real estate investment trusts.  The Portfolio may invest up
    to 25% of its total assets in securities issued by foreign issuers, some or
    all of which may also be Real Estate Securities.  There can be no assurance
    that the Portfolio will achieve its investment objective.

WARBURG PINCUS TRUST

The Warburg Pincus Trust ("Trust") is an open-end management investment company
organized in March 1995 as a business trust under the laws of The Commonwealth
of Massachusetts.  The Trust offers its shares to insurance companies for
allocation to separate accounts for the purpose of funding variable annuity and
variable life contracts.  Trust portfolios are managed by Warburg, Pincus
Counsellors, Inc. ("Counsellors.")

- -   INTERNATIONAL EQUITY PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek long-term capital appreciation by investing
    primarily in a broadly diversified portfolio of equity securities of
    companies, wherever organized, that in the judgment of "Counsellors" have
    their principal business activities and interests outside the United
    States.  The Portfolio will ordinarily invest substantially all of its
    assets, but no less than 65% of its total assets, in common stocks,
    warrants and securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stocks. 
    The Portfolio intends to invest principally in the securities of
    financially strong companies with opportunities for growth within growing
    international economies and markets through increased earning power and
    improved utilization or recognition of assets.

- -   POST-VENTURE CAPITAL PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  The Portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital by
    investing primarily in equity securities of issuers in their post-venture
    capital stage of development and pursues an aggressive investment strategy. 
    Under normal market conditions, the Portfolio will invest at least 65% of
    its total assets in equity securities of "post-venture capital companies." 
    A post-venture capital company is one that has received venture capital
    financing either (a) during the early stages of the company's existence or
    the early stages of the development of a new product or service or (b) as a
    part of a restructuring or recapitalization of the company.  The Portfolio
    may invest up to 10% of its assets in venture capital and other investment
    funds.

- -   SMALL COMPANY GROWTH PORTFOLIO

    INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE:  To seek capital growth by investing in a portfolio
    of equity securities of small-sized domestic companies.  The Portfolio
    ordinarily will invest at least 65% of its total assets in common stocks or
    warrants of small-sized companies (i.e., companies having stock market
    capitalizations of between $25 million and $1 billion at the time of
    purchase) that represent attractive opportunities for capital growth.  The
    Portfolio intends to invest primarily in companies whose securities are
    traded on domestic stock exchanges or in the over-the-counter market.  The
    Portfolio's investments will be made on the basis of their equity
    characteristics and securities ratings generally will not be a factor in
    the selection process.



REINVESTMENT

The Funds described above have as a policy the distribution of dividends in the
form of additional shares (or fractions thereof) of the mutual funds.  The
distribution of additional shares will not affect the number of Accumulation
Units attributable to a particular Policy.  (See "Allocation of Cash Value.")

TRANSFERS

The Policy Owner may transfer Cash Value among the sub-accounts of the Variable
Account and the Fixed Account.  A transfer will take effect on the date of
receipt of written notice at the Company's Home Office.  Transfer requests must
be in a written form acceptable to the Company.


                                          15
<PAGE>

After the First Policy Anniversary, the Policy Owner may annually request a
transfer of up to 100% of the Cash Value from the Variable Account to the Fixed
Account.  The Policy Owner's Cash Value in each Sub-Account will be determined
as of the date the transfer request is received in the Home Office in good
order.  The Company reserves the right to restrict transfers to the Fixed
Account to 25% of the Cash Value.

The Policy Owner may annually transfer a portion of the value of the Fixed
Account to the Variable Account without penalty or adjustment.  The Company
reserves the right to limit the amount of Cash Value transferred out of the
Fixed Account each Policy Year.  Transfers from the Fixed Account must be made
within 30 days after the termination date of the interest rate guarantee period.

Transfers among the sub-accounts may be made once per Valuation Date and may be
made either in writing or, in states allowing such transfers, by telephone.  The
Company will employ reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions
communicated by telephone are genuine.  Such procedures may include any or all
of the following, or such other procedures as the Company may, from time to
time, deem reasonable:  requesting identifying information, such as name,
contract number, Social Security number, and/or personal identification number;
tape recording all telephone transactions; and providing written confirmation
thereof to both the Policy Owner and any agent of record at the last address of
record.  Although failure to follow reasonable procedures may result in the
Company's liability for any losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent telephone
transfers, the Company will not be liable for following instructions
communicated by telephone which it reasonably believes to be genuine.  Any
losses incurred pursuant to actions taken by the Company in reliance on
telephone instructions reasonably believed to be genuine shall be borne by the
Contract Owner.  The Company may withdraw the telephone exchange privilege upon
30 days written notice to Policy Owners.

Policy Owners who have entered into a Dollar Cost Averaging Agreement with the
Company (see "Dollar Cost Averaging" below) may transfer from the Fixed Account
to the Variable Account under the terms of that agreement.

Policies described in this prospectus may in some cases be sold to individuals
who independently utilize the services of a firm or individual engaged in market
timing.  Generally, such firms or individuals obtain authorization from multiple
Policy Owners to make transfers and exchanges among the sub-accounts (the
Underlying Mutual Funds) on the basis of perceived market trends.  Because of
the unusually large transfers of funds associated with some of these
transactions, the ability of the Company or Underlying Mutual Funds to process
such transactions may be compromised, and the execution of such transactions may
possibly disadvantage or work to the detriment of other Policy Owners not
utilizing market timing services.
    
Accordingly, the right to exchange Cash Surrender Values among the sub-accounts
may be subject to modification if such rights are exercised by a market timing
firm or any other third party authorized to initiate transfer or exchange
transactions on behalf of multiple Policy Owners.  THE RIGHTS OF INDIVIDUAL
POLICY OWNERS TO EXCHANGE CASH SURRENDER VALUES, WHEN INSTRUCTIONS ARE SUBMITTED
DIRECTLY BY THE POLICY OWNER, OR BY THE POLICY OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE OF RECORD
AS AUTHORIZED BY THE EXECUTION OF A VALID NATIONWIDE LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
FORM, WILL NOT BE MODIFIED IN ANY WAY.  In modifying such rights, the Company
may, among other things, not accept (1) the transfer or exchange instructions of
any agent acting under a power of attorney on behalf of more than one Policy
Owner, or (2) the transfer or exchange instructions of individual policy owners
who have executed pre-authorized transfer or exchange forms which are submitted
by market timing firms or other third parties on behalf of more than one Policy
Owner at the same time.  The Company will not impose any such restrictions or
otherwise modify exchange rights unless such action is reasonably intended to
prevent the use of such rights in a manner that will disadvantage or potentially
impair the contract rights of other Policy Owners.

DOLLAR COST AVERAGING

The Policy Owner may direct the Company to automatically transfer from the Money
Market sub-account, Fixed Account, or the Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio
sub-account to any other sub-account within the Variable Account on a monthly
basis or as frequently as otherwise authorized by the Company.  This service is
intended to allow the Policy Owner to utilize dollar cost averaging, a long-term
investment program which provides for regular, level investments over time.  The
Company makes no guarantees that dollar cost averaging will result in a profit
or protect against loss in a declining market.  To qualify for dollar cost
averaging, there must be a minimum total Cash Value, less policy indebtedness,
of $15,000.  Transfers for purposes of dollar cost averaging can only be made
from the Money Market sub-account, Fixed Account, or the Limited Maturity Bond
Portfolio sub-account. The minimum monthly dollar cost averaging transfer is
$100.  In addition, dollar cost averaging monthly transfers from the Fixed
Account must be equal to or less than 1/30th of the Fixed Account value when the
dollar cost averaging program is requested.  Transfers out of the Fixed Account,
other than for dollar cost


                                          16

<PAGE>

averaging, may be subject to certain additional restrictions.  (See
"Transfers.")  A written election of this service, on a form provided by the
Company, must be completed by the Policy Owner in order to begin transfers. 
Once elected, transfers from the Money Market sub-account, Fixed Account, or the
Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio sub-account will be processed monthly until
either the value in the Money Market sub-account, Fixed Account, or the Limited
Maturity Bond Portfolio sub-account is completely depleted or the Policy Owner
instructs the Company in writing to cancel the monthly transfers.

The Company reserves the right to discontinue offering dollar cost averaging
upon 30 days written notice to Policy Owners however, any such discontinuation
would not affect dollar cost averaging programs already commenced.  The Company
also reserves the right to assess a processing fee for this service.

SUBSTITUTION OF SECURITIES

If shares of the Underlying Mutual Fund options described in this prospectus
should no longer be available for investment by the Variable Account or, if in
the judgment of the Company's management further investment in such Underlying
Mutual Funds should become inappropriate in view of the purposes of the Policy,
the Company may substitute shares of another Underlying Mutual Fund for shares
already purchased or to be purchased in the future by premium payments under the
Policy.  No substitution of securities in the Variable Account may take place
without prior approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission, and under such
requirements as it and any state insurance department may impose.

VOTING RIGHTS

Voting rights under the Policies apply with respect to Cash Value allocated to
the sub-accounts of the Variable Account.

In accordance with its view of present applicable law, the Company will vote the
shares of the Underlying Mutual Funds held in the Variable Account at regular
and special meetings of the shareholders of the Underlying Mutual Funds in
accordance with instructions received from Policy Owners.  However, if the
Investment Company Act of 1940 or any regulation thereunder should be amended or
if the present interpretation thereof should change, and as a result the Company
determines that it is permitted to vote the shares of the Underlying Mutual
Funds in its own right, the Company may elect to do so.

The Policy Owner shall have the voting interest under a Policy.  The number of
shares in each sub-account for which the Policy Owner may give voting
instructions is determined by dividing any portion of the Policy's Cash Value
derived from participation in that Underlying Mutual Fund by the net asset value
of one share of that Underlying Mutual Fund.

The number of shares which a person has a right to vote will be determined as of
a date chosen by the Company, but not more than 90 days prior to the meeting of
the Underlying Mutual Fund.  Voting instructions will be solicited by written
communication prior to such meeting.

Underlying Mutual Fund shares held in the Variable Account as to which no timely
instructions are received will be voted by the Company in the same proportion as
the voting instructions which are received.

Each person having a voting interest in the Variable Account will receive
periodic reports relating to investments of the Variable Account, the Underlying
Mutual Funds' proxy material and a form with which to give such voting
instructions.

Notwithstanding contrary Policy Owner voting instructions, the Company may vote
Underlying Mutual Fund shares in any manner necessary to enable the Underlying
Mutual Fund to (1) make or refrain from making any change in the investments or
investment policies for any of the Underlying Mutual Funds, if required by an
insurance regulatory authority; (2) refrain from making any change in the
investment policies or any investment adviser or principal underwriter of any
portfolio which may be initiated by Policy Owners or the Underlying Mutual
Fund's Board of Directors, provided the Company's disapproval of the change is
reasonable and, in the case of a change in the investment policies or investment
adviser, based on a good faith determination that such change would be contrary
to state law or otherwise inappropriate in light of the portfolio's objective
and purposes; or (3) enter into or refrain from entering into any advisory
agreement or underwriting contract, if required by any insurance regulatory
authority.


                                          17
<PAGE>
                                           
                            INFORMATION ABOUT THE POLICIES

UNDERWRITING AND ISSUANCE

- -Minimum Requirements for Issuance of a Policy

Underwriting for these Policies is designed to group applicants into
classifications which can be expected to produce mortality experience consistent
with the actuarial structure for that class.  The Company uses the following
methods of underwriting:  (a) simplified underwriting not routinely requiring a
physical examination, and (b) medical or paramedical underwriting which requires
such an examination.  (See "How the Death Benefit Varies.")

The Company reserves the right to request a medical examination on any applicant
where an affirmative response to one of the medical questions of the application
requires additional underwriting by the Company.

The minimum amount of initial premium that will be accepted by the Company is
$10,000 for issue ages 0-70 and $50,000 for issue ages 71-80.  Policies may be
issued to Insureds who are 80 or younger at the time of issue.  Before issuing
any Policy, the Company requires evidence of insurability satisfactory to it,
which may include a medical examination.

- -Premium Deposits

The initial premium for a Policy is payable in full at the Company's Home
Office.  The minimum amount of initial premium required is $10,000 for issue
ages 0-70 and $50,000 for issue ages 71-80.  The Specified Amount of Death
Benefit is determined by treating the initial premium as equal to 100% of the
Guideline Single Premium.  The effective date of permanent insurance coverage is
dependent upon completion of all underwriting requirements, payment of the
initial premium, and delivery of the Policy while the insured is still living.

The Policy is primarily intended to be a single premium policy with a limited
ability to make additional payments.  Subsequent premium payments under the
Policy are permitted under the following circumstances:

    1.   an additional premium payment is required to keep the Policy in force 
         (see "Grace Period"); or

    2.   except in Virginia, additional premium payments of at least $1,000 may
         be made at any time provided the premium limits prescribed by the
         Internal Revenue Service to qualify the Policy as a life insurance
         contract are not violated.

Deposits of additional premiums if accepted, may increase the Specified Amount
of Insurance.  However, the Company reserves the right to require satisfactory
evidence of insurability before accepting any additional premium payment which
results in an increase in the net amount at risk.  The Company may require that
any existing Policy indebtedness is repaid prior to accepting any additional
premium payments.

Additional Premium Deposits, upon acceptance, will be allocated to the
Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund unless the Policy Owner
specifies otherwise.

The Company will not accept a subsequent premium deposit which would result in
total premiums paid exceeding the premium limitations prescribed by the Internal
Revenue Service to qualify the Policy as a life insurance contract.

- -Allocation of Cash Value

At the time a Policy is issued, its Cash Value will be based on the Nationwide
Separate Account Trust Money Market Fund sub-account value or the Fixed Account
as if the Policy had been issued and the premium invested on the date the
premium was received in good order by the Company.  When the Policy is issued,
the Cash Value will be allocated to the Nationwide Separate Account Trust Money
Market Fund sub-account (for any Cash Value allocated to a Sub-Account on the
Application) or the Fixed Account until the expiration of the period in which
the Policy Owner may exercise his or her short-term right to cancel the Policy. 
At the expiration of the period in which the Policy Owner may exercise his or
her short term right to cancel the Policy, shares of the Underlying Mutual Funds
specified by the Policy Owner are purchased at net asset value for the
respective sub-account(s).  The Policy Owner may change the allocation of Cash
Value or may transfer Cash Value from one sub-account to another, subject to
such terms and conditions as may be imposed by each Underlying Mutual Fund and
as set forth in the prospectus.  Cash Value allocated to the Fixed Account at
the time of application may not be transferred prior to the first Policy
Anniversary.  (See "Transfers" and "Investments of the Variable Account.")


                                          18
<PAGE>

The designation of investment allocations will be made by the prospective Policy
Owner at the time of application for a Policy.  The Policy Owner may change the
way in which future premiums are allocated by giving written notice to the
Company.  All percentage allocations must be in whole numbers, and must be at
least 5%.  The sum of allocations must equal 100%.

- -Short-Term Right to Cancel Policy

A Policy may be returned for cancellation and a full refund of premium within 10
days after the Policy is received, within 45 days after the application for
insurance is signed, or within 10 days after the Company mails or delivers a
Notice of Right of Withdrawal, whichever is latest.  The Policy can be mailed or
delivered to the registered representative who sold it, or the Company. 
Immediately after such mailing or delivery, the Policy will be deemed void from
the beginning.  The Company will refund the total premiums paid within seven
days after it receives the Policy.  The scope of this right may vary by state. 
The exact policy provision approved or used in a particular state will be
disclosed in any policy issued.



                                    POLICY CHARGES

DEDUCTIONS FROM PREMIUMS

No deduction is made from any premium at the time of payment.  100% of each
premium payment is applied to the Cash Value.

MONTHLY DEDUCTIONS

On the Policy Date and on each Monthly Anniversary Date, the Company will deduct
an amount to cover charges and expenses incurred in connection with the Policy. 
Generally, this Monthly Deduction will be deducted on a pro-rata basis from the
Cash Value in each Sub-account and the Fixed Account.  The amount of the Monthly
Deductions will vary from month to month.  If the Cash Surrender Value is not
sufficient to cover the Monthly Deduction which is due, the Policy may lapse
(see "Grace Period").  The Monthly Deductions are comprised of the following
charges:

- -Cost of Insurance Charge

Immediately after the Policy is issued, the Death Benefit will be substantially
greater than the initial premium payment.  While the Policy is in force, prior
to the Maturity Date, the Death Benefit will always be greater than the Cash
Value.  To enable the Company to pay this excess of the Death Benefit over the
Cash Value, a monthly cost of insurance charge is deducted.

Currently, this charge is deducted monthly and is equal to an annual rate of
0.65% multiplied by the Cash Value.  On a current basis, for policy years 11 and
later, this monthly charge is anticipated to be reduced to the Cash Value
multiplied by an annual rate of 0.30% if the Cash Surrender Value is $100,000 or
more.

In no event will this current monthly deduction for the cost of insurance exceed
the guaranteed monthly cost of insurance charges.  Guaranteed cost of insurance
charges will not exceed the cost based on the guaranteed cost of insurance rate
multiplied by the Policy's net amount at risk.  The net amount at risk is equal
to the Death Benefit minus the Cash Value.  Guaranteed cost of insurance rates
for standard issues are based on the 1980 Commissioner's Standard Ordinary
Mortality Table, Age Last Birthday (1980 CSO).  Guaranteed cost of insurance
rates for substandard issues are based on appropriate percentage multiples of
the 1980 CSO.  These mortality tables are sex distinct.

- -Administrative Expense Charge

The Company deducts a monthly Administrative Expense Charge to reimburse it for
expenses related to the issuance and maintenance of the Policies including
underwriting, establishing policy records, accounting and record keeping, and
periodic reporting to Policy Owners.  This charge is designed only to reimburse
the Company for its actual administrative expenses.  In the aggregate, the
Company expects that the charges for administrative costs will be approximately
equal to the related expenses.  This monthly charge is equal to an annual rate
of 0.30% multiplied by the Policy's Cash Value.  On a current basis, for Policy
Years 11 and later, this monthly charge is anticipated to be reduced to an
annual rate of 0.15% multiplied by the Cash Value, provided the Cash Surrender
Value is greater than or equal to $100,000.  This Administrative Expense Charge
is subject to a $10 per month minimum.


                                          19
<PAGE>

- -Tax Expense Charge

During the first ten policy years, the Company makes a Monthly Deduction to
compensate for certain taxes which are incurred by the Company including premium
taxes imposed by various states and local jurisdictions and for federal taxes
imposed under Section 848 of the Internal Revenue Code.  This monthly charge is
equal to an annual rate of 0.50% multiplied by the Policy's Cash Value.

This charge is deducted monthly and includes a premium tax component equal to an
annual rate of 0.30% and a federal tax component equal to an annual rate of
0.20%.  The Company expects to pay an average state premium tax of approximately
2.5% of premiums for all states, although such tax rates can generally range
from 0% to 4%.  The Company does not anticipate to make a profit from this
monthly Tax Expense Charge.

The Company does not currently assess any charge for income taxes incurred by
the Company as a result of the operations of the Sub-accounts of the Variable
Account.  (See "Taxation of the Company.")  The Company reserves the right to
assess a charge for such taxes against the Variable Account if the Company
determines that such taxes will be incurred.

- -Mortality and Expense Risk Charge

The Company assumes certain risks for guaranteeing the mortality and expense
charges.  The mortality risk assumed under the Policies is that the Insured may
not live as long as expected.  The expense risk assumed is that the actual
expenses incurred in issuing and administering the Policies may be greater than
expected.  In addition, the Company assumes risks associated with the
nonrecovery of policy issue, underwriting and other administrative expenses due
to Policies which lapse or are surrendered during the early policy years.

To compensate the Company for assuming these risks, a monthly charge for
mortality and expense risks is deducted on a pro-rata basis from the Cash Value
in each Variable Account Sub-account.  This monthly charge is equal to an annual
rate of 0.90% multiplied by the Cash Value attributable to the Variable Account.
To the extent that future levels of mortality and expenses are less than or
equal to those expected, the Company may realize a profit from these charges.

SURRENDER CHARGES

The Company will deduct a surrender charge from the Policy's Cash Value for any
Policy which is surrendered during the first nine policy years.  The surrender
charge is comprised of two components: a sales surrender charge and a premium
tax surrender charge.

The Company incurs certain sales and other distribution expenses at the time the
Policies are issued.  The majority of these expenses consist of commissions paid
for the sale or these policies.  Premium taxes are generally incurred by the
Company at the time the Policies are issued.  These surrender charges are
designed to recover a portion of these expenses.  The Company does not expect to
profit from these surrender charges.  Unrecovered expenses are borne by the
Company's general assets which may include profits, if any, from the monthly
mortality and expense risk charges (see "Monthly Deductions").  Certain
surrenders may result in adverse tax consequences (see "Tax Matters").  Maximum
surrender charges are shown in the following table:

                                                   Surrender Charge
                                                   as a Percent of
         Completed Policy Years                Initial Premium Payment

                   0                                   10.0%
                   1                                   10.0
                   2                                    9.0
                   3                                    8.0
                   4                                    7.0
                   5                                    6.0
                   6                                    5.0
                   7                                    4.0
                   8                                    3.0
                   9+                                   0.0


                                          20
<PAGE>


Approximately 75% of the total surrender charges are for the recovery of sales
expenses and 25% for the recovery of premium taxes.  In no event will the sales
surrender charge exceed 7.5% of the total premium payments.

The amount of the sales surrender charge may be eliminated when the Policies are
issued to an officer, director, former director, partner, employee, or retired
employee of the Company; an employee of the General Distributor of the Policies,
Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc., or an employee of an affiliate of the
Company or the General Distributor, or, a duly appointed representative of the
Company who receives no commission as a result of the purchase.  Elimination of
the sales surrender charge will be permitted by the Company only in those
situations where the Company does not incur sales expenses normally associated
with sales of a Policy.  In no event will the elimination of any sales surrender
charge be permitted where such elimination will be unfairly discriminatory to
any person.

EXPENSES OF THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS

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

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND ANNUAL EXPENSES
                                                    (AFTER EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT)

                                                                                     Management   Other     Total
                                                                                        Fees    Expenses  Expenses
<S>                                                                                  <C>        <C>       <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.-American Century VP Balanced                 1.00%     0.00%     1.00%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.-American Century VP Capital Appreciation     1.00%     0.00%     1.00%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.-American Century VP International            1.50%     0.00%     1.50%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.-American Century VP Value                    1.00%     0.00%     1.00%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund                                                0.72%     0.24%     0.96%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                                                                0.25%     0.05%     0.30%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund-Capital Appreciation Portfolio                         0.75%     0.09%     0.84%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund-Growth & Income Portfolio                              0.75%     0.08%     0.83%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund-Equity-Income Portfolio                                               0.51%     0.07%     0.58%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund-Growth Portfolio                                                      0.61%     0.08%     0.69%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund-High Income Portfolio                                                 0.59%     0.12%     0.71%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund-Overseas Portfolio                                                    0.76%     0.17%     0.93%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II-Asset Manager Portfolio                                            0.64%     0.10%     0.74%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II-Contrafund Portfolio                                               0.61%     0.13%     0.74%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund III-Growth Opportunities Portfolio                                    0.61%     0.16%     0.77%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc.-Emerging Markets Debt Portfolio                    0.80%     0.50%     1.30%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management
Trust-Growth Portfolio                                                                  0.83%     0.09%     0.92%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management
Trust-Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio                                                   0.65%     0.13%     0.78%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers Management
Trust-Partners Portfolio                                                                0.84%     0.11%     0.95%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Capital Appreciation Fund                                                          0.50%     0.02%     0.52%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Government Bond Fund                                                               0.50%     0.01%     0.51%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Money Market Fund                                                                  0.50%     0.03%     0.53%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Small Company Fund                                                                 1.00%     0.10%     1.10%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT-Total Return Fund                                                                  0.50%     0.02%     0.52%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Fund-Oppenheimer Bond Fund                                 0.74%     0.04%     0.78%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Fund-Oppenheimer Global Securities Fund                    0.73%     0.08%     0.81%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Fund-Oppenheimer Growth Fund                               0.75%     0.04%     0.79%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Fund-Oppenheimer Multiple Strategies                       0.73%     0.04%     0.77%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Opportunity Fund II, Inc.                                                        1.00%     0.17%     1.17%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. - Discovery Fund II, Inc.                         1.00%     0.22%     1.22%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance Funds, Inc. - International Stock Fund II                     1.00%     0.59%     1.59%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                        21
<PAGE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     Management   Other     Total
                                                                                        Fees    Expenses  Expenses
<S>                                                                                  <C>        <C>       <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust-Worldwide Bond Fund                                   1.00%     0.08%     1.08%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust-Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund                       1.00%     0.00%     1.00%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance Trust-Worldwide Hard Assets Fund                            1.00%     0.08%     1.08%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen American Capital Life Investment Trust -
Morgan Stanley Real Estate Securities Portfolio                                         0.83%     0.27%     1.10%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust-International Equity Portfolio                                     0.62%     0.78%     1.40%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust-Post-Venture Capital Portfolio                                     0.96%     0.40%     1.36%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust-Small Company Growth Portfolio                                     0.90%     0.26%     1.16%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

     The Mutual Fund expenses shown above are assessed at the Underlying Mutual
     Fund level and are not direct charges against the Variable Account or
     reductions in Cash Value.  These Underlying Mutual Fund expenses are taken
     into consideration in computing each Underlying Mutual Fund's Net Asset
     Value, which is the share price used to calculate the Variable Account's
     unit value.  None of the above Underlying Mutual Funds are subject to 12b-1
     fees.

The following funds are subject to fee waivers or expense reimbursement
arrangements:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         FUND                     EXPENSES WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT OR WAIVER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century Variable       Absent a waiver of fees by the Portfolio's
Portfolios, Inc. - American     investment adviser and co-administrator,
Century VP Value                Management Fees for the Portfolio would equal
                                1.25%; Other Expenses would equal .81%; Total
                                Portfolio Operating Expenses would have been
                                2.06%.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund        In the event that aggregate expenses of the Fund
                                exceed .40 of 1% of the value of the Fund's
                                average net assets for the fiscal year, the Fund
                                may deduct from the payment to be made to
                                Dreyfus, or Dreyfus will bear, such excess
                                expense.  In addition, the Fund may waive
                                receipt of its fees and/or voluntarily assume
                                certain expenses of the Fund, which would have
                                the effect of lowering the overall expense ratio
                                of the Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Socially Responsible    In the event that aggregate expenses of the Fund
Growth Fund                     exceed .40 of 1% of the value of the Fund's
                                average net assets for the fiscal year, the Fund
                                may deduct from the payment to be made to
                                Dreyfus, or Dreyfus will bear, such excess
                                expense.  In addition, the Fund may waive
                                receipt of its fees and/or voluntarily assume
                                certain expenses of the Fund, which would have
                                the effect of lowering the overall expense ratio
                                of the Fund.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Equity-     The Adviser has voluntarily agreed subject to
Income Portfolio                revision or termination to reimburse a fund if,
                                and to the extent that, its aggregate operating
                                expenses, including management fees, exceed a
                                specified annual rate for the fund.  The expense
                                cap is: 1.50% imposed on October 9, 1986.  Since
                                the expense ratio is significantly below the
                                expense cap there is no reimbursement and none
                                anticipated during the current year.  Since
                                there is no reimbursement the discontinuance of
                                the arrangement has no effect on total fund
                                operating expenses.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Growth      The Fund may, from time to time, agree to
Portfolio                       reimburse a fund for management fees and other
                                expenses above a specified limit.  The Fund
                                retains the ability to be repaid if expenses
                                fall below the specified limit prior to the end
                                of the fiscal year.  Reimbursement arrangements,
                                which may be terminated at any time, can
                                decrease the Fund's expense and boost its
                                performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - High-       The Fund may, from time to time, agree to
Income Portfolio                reimburse a fund for management fees and other
                                expenses above a specified limit.  The Fund
                                retains the ability to be repaid if expenses
                                fall below the specified limit prior to the end
                                of the fiscal year.  Reimbursement arrangements,
                                which may be terminated at any time, can
                                decrease the Fund's expense and boost its
                                performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity Variable Insurance     The Adviser has voluntarily agreed subject to
Products Fund - Overseas        revision or termination to reimburse a fund if,
Portfolio                       and to the extent that, its aggregate operating
                                expenses, including management fees, exceed a
                                specified annual rate for the fund.  The expense
                                cap is: 1.50% imposed on January 28, 1986.
                                Since the expense ratio is significantly below
                                the expense cap there is no reimbursement and
                                none anticipated during the current year.  Since
                                there is no reimbursement the discontinuance of
                                the arrangement has no effect on total fund
                                operating expenses.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II - Asset    The Fund may, from time to time, agree to
Manager Portfolio               reimburse a fund for management fees and other
                                expenses above a specified limit.  The Fund
                                retains the ability to be repaid if expenses
                                fall below the specified limit prior to the end
                                of the fiscal year.  Reimbursement arrangements,
                                which may be terminated at any time, can
                                decrease the Fund's expense and boost its
                                performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II -          The Fund may, from time to time, agree to
Contrafund Portfolio            reimburse a fund for management fees and other
                                expenses above a specified limit.  The Fund
                                retains the ability to be repaid if expenses
                                fall below the specified limit prior to the end
                                of the fiscal year.  Reimbursement arrangements,
                                which may be terminated at any time, can
                                decrease the Fund's expense and boost its
                                performance.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                       22
<PAGE>

 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         FUND                     EXPENSES WITHOUT REIMBURSEMENT OR WAIVER
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger&Berman  Advisers      The Fund manager will limit expenses by
Management Trust - Growth       reimbursing the Portfolio for its operating
Portfolio                       expenses and its pro rata share of operating
                                expenses, that exceed 1% of the Fund's average
                                daily net asset value.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger&Berman Advisers       The Fund manager will limit expenses by
Management Trust - Limited      reimbursing the Portfolio for its operating
Maturity Bond Portfolio         expenses and its pro rata share of operating
                                expenses, that exceed 1% of the Fund's average
                                daily net asset value.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger&Berman Advisers       The Fund manager will limit expenses by
Management Trust - Partners     reimbursing the Portfolio for its operating
Portfolio                       expenses and its pro rata share of operating
                                expenses, that exceed 1% of the Fund's average
                                daily net asset value.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account    Total operating expenses would have been 0.81%
Funds - Oppenheimer Growth      in the absence of a voluntary one-time fee
Fund                            reimbursement described in the Statement of
                                Additional Information.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen American Capital     The Trust reimburses the Adviser for the cost of
Life Investment Trust - Morgan  the Portfolio's accounting services.  Further,
Stanley Real Estate Securities  the Adviser and the Subadviser may, from time to
Portfolio                       time, agree to waive their respective investment
                                advisory fees or any portion thereof or elect to
                                reimburse the Portfolio for ordinary business
                                expenses in excess of an agreed upon amount.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust -          The Management Fees, Other Expenses and Total
International Equity            Portfolio Operating Expenses are net of any fee
Portfolio                       waivers or expense reimbursements.  Without such
                                waivers or reimbursements, Management Fees would
                                have equaled 1.00%, Other Expenses would have
                                equaled 1.21% and total Portfolio Operating
                                Expenses would have equaled 2.21%.  The Fund's
                                investment adviser had undertaken to reduce or
                                otherwise limit Total Portfolio Operating
                                Expenses; there is no assurance that these
                                undertakings will continue.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Small    The Management Fees, Other Expenses and Total
Company Growth Portfolio        Portfolio Operating Expenses are net of any fee
                                waivers or expense reimbursements.  Without such
                                waivers or reimbursements, Management Fees would
                                have equaled .90%, Other Expenses would have
                                equaled .60% and total Portfolio Operating
                                Expenses would have equaled 1.50%.  The Fund's
                                investment adviser had undertaken to reduce or
                                otherwise limit Total Portfolio Operating
                                Expenses; there is no assurance that these
                                undertakings will continue.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The information relating to the Underlying Mutual Fund expenses was provided by
the Underlying Mutual Fund and was not independently verified by the Company.

                            HOW THE CASH VALUE VARIES

On any date during the Policy Year, the Cash Value equals the Cash Value on the
preceding Valuation Date, plus any premium applied since the previous Valuation
Date, plus or minus any investment results, and less any Policy Charges.

There is no guaranteed Cash Value.  The Cash Value will vary with the investment
experience of the Variable Account and/or the daily crediting of interest in the
Fixed Account and Policy Loan Account depending on the allocation of Cash Value
by the Policy Owner.

HOW THE INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE IS DETERMINED

The Cash Value in each sub-account is converted to Accumulation Units of that
sub-account.  The conversion is accomplished by dividing the amount of Cash
Value allocated to a sub-account by the value of an Accumulation Unit for the
sub-account of the Valuation Period during which the allocation occurs.
The value of an Accumulation Unit for each sub-account was arbitrarily set
initially at $10 when the Underlying Mutual Fund shares in that sub-account were
available for purchase.  The value for any subsequent Valuation Period is
determined by multiplying the Accumulation Unit value for each sub-account for
the immediately preceding Valuation Period by the Net Investment Factor for the
sub-account during the subsequent Valuation Period.  The value of an
Accumulation Unit may increase or decrease from Valuation Period to Valuation
Period.  The number of Accumulation Units will not change as a result of
investment experience.

NET INVESTMENT FACTOR

The Net Investment Factor for any Valuation Period is determined by dividing (a)
by (b) where:

(a)  is the net of:

     (1)  the Net Asset Value per share of the Underlying Mutual Fund option
          held in the sub-account determined at the end of the current Valuation
          Period, plus


                                       23
<PAGE>


     (2)  the per share amount of any dividend or capital gain distributions
          made by the Underlying Mutual Fund option held in the sub-account if
          the "ex-dividend" date occurs during the current Valuation Period.

(b)  is the net of:

     (1)  The Net Asset Value per share of the Underlying Mutual Fund held in
          the Sub-Account determined at the end of the immediately preceding
          Valuation Period, plus or minus,

     (2)  the per share charge or credit, if any, for any taxes reserved for in
          the immediately preceding Valuation Period. (See "Charge for Tax
          Provisions.")

For Underlying Mutual Fund options that credit dividends on a daily basis and
pay such dividends once a month, the Net Investment Factor allows for the
monthly reinvestment of these daily dividends.

The Net Investment Factor may be greater or less than one; therefore, the value
of an Accumulation Unit may increase or decrease.  It should be noted that
changes in the Net Investment Factor may not be directly proportional to changes
in the net asset value of Underlying Mutual Fund shares because of any charge or
credit for tax reserves.

VALUATION OF ASSETS

Underlying Mutual Fund shares in the Variable Account will be valued at their
Net Asset Value.

DETERMINING THE CASH VALUE

The sum of the value of all Variable Account Accumulation Units attributable to
the Policy, amounts credited to the Fixed Account, and any associated value in
the Policy Loan Account is the Cash Value.  The number of Accumulation Units
credited per each sub-account are determined by dividing the net amount
allocated to the sub-account by the Accumulation Unit Value for the sub-account
for the Valuation Period during which the premium is received by the Company.
In the event part or all of the Cash Value is surrendered or charges or
deductions are made against the Cash Value, generally an appropriate number of
Accumulation Units from the Variable Account and an appropriate amount from the
Fixed Account will be deducted in the same proportion that the Policy Owner's
interest in the Variable Account and the Fixed Account bears to the total Cash
Value.

The Cash Value in the Fixed Account and the Policy Loan Account is credited with
interest daily at an effective annual rate which the Company periodically
declares.  The annual effective rate credited to the Fixed Account will never be
less than 3%.  The annual effective rate credited to the Policy Loan Account
will never be less than 4%.  Upon request, the Company will inform the Policy
Owner of the then applicable rates for each account.

VALUATION PERIODS AND VALUATION DATES

A Valuation Period is the period commencing at the close of business on the New
York Stock Exchange and ending at the close of business for the next succeeding
Valuation Date.  A Valuation Date is each day that the New York Stock Exchange
and the Company's home office is open for business or any other day during which
there is sufficient degree of trading that the current net asset value of the
Accumulation Units might be materially affected.

                        SURRENDERING THE POLICY FOR CASH

RIGHT TO SURRENDER

The Policy Owner may surrender the Policy in full at any time while the Insured
is living and receive its Cash Surrender Value.  The cancellation will be
effective as of the date the Company receives a proper written request for
cancellation and the Policy. Such written request must be signed and, where
permitted, the signature guaranteed by a member firm of the New York, American,
Boston, Midwest, Philadelphia or Pacific Stock Exchange, or by a Commercial Bank
or Savings and Loan, which is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation.  In some cases, the Company may require additional documentation of
a customary nature.

CASH SURRENDER VALUE

The Cash Surrender Value increases or decreases daily to reflect the investment
experience of the Variable Account and the daily crediting of interest in the
Fixed Account and the Policy Loan Account.  The Cash Surrender Value equals the
Policy's Cash Value, next computed after the date the Company receives a proper
written request for surrender of the Policy, minus any charges, indebtedness or
other deductions due on that date, which may also include a Surrender Charge.


                                       24
<PAGE>


PARTIAL SURRENDERS

Partial surrenders are permitted after the fifth policy year.  Partial
surrenders will be permitted only if they satisfy the following requirements:

       1.   The partial surrender request is in writing and the request is
            signed by the Policy Owner or an authorized party of the Policy
            Owner; and

       2.   The maximum partial surrender in any Policy Year, not subject to
            Surrender Charges, is limited to the maximum of:

           (i)      10% of the total premium payments; and

           (ii)     100% of cumulative earnings (Cash Value less total premium
                    payments less any existing policy indebtedness);

       3.  Such partial surrenders must not result in a reduction of the Cash
           Surrender Value below $10,000; and

       4.  After such partial surrender, the Policy continues to qualify as
           life insurance.

All partial surrenders will be next computed after the date the Company receives
a proper written request.  When a partial surrender is made, the Cash Value is
reduced by the amount of the partial surrender.  Also, the Specified Amount is
reduced by the amount of the partial surrender unless the Death Benefit is based
on the applicable percentage of the Cash Value.  In such a case, a Partial
Surrender will decrease the Specified Amount by the amount by which the Partial
Surrender exceeds the difference between the Death Benefit and the Specified
Amount.  Partial surrender amounts must be first deducted from the values in the
Variable sub-accounts.  Partial surrenders will be deducted from the Fixed
Account only to the extent that insufficient values are available in the
Variable sub-accounts.

No Surrender Charges will be assessed against any such eligible partial
surrenders.  Certain partial surrenders may result in currently taxable income
and tax penalties.

MATURITY PROCEEDS

The Maturity Date is the Policy Anniversary on or next following the Insured's
100th birthday.  The maturity proceeds will be payable to the Policy Owner on
the Maturity Date provided the Policy is still in force.  The Maturity Proceeds
will be equal to the amount of the Policy's Cash Value, less any indebtedness.

INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING

Federal law requires the Company to withhold income tax from any portion of
surrender proceeds that is subject to tax, unless the Policy Owner advises the
Company, in writing, of his or her request not to withhold.

If the Policy Owner requests that the Company not withhold taxes, or if the
taxes withheld are insufficient, the Policy Owner may be liable for payment of
an estimated tax.  The Policy Owner should consult his or her tax advisor.

In certain employer-sponsored life insurance arrangements, including equity
split dollar arrangements, Participants may be required to report for income tax
purposes, one or more of the following: (1)  the value each year of the life
insurance protection provided; (2)  an amount equal to any employer-paid
premiums; or (3)  some or all of the amount by which the current value of the
Contract exceeds the employer's interest in the contract.  Participants should
consult with the sponsor or the administrator of the Plan, and/or with their
personal tax or legal advisers, to determine the tax consequences, if any, of
their employer-sponsored life insurance arrangements.



                                       25
<PAGE>


                                  POLICY LOANS

TAKING A POLICY LOAN

The Policy Owner may take a loan using the Policy as security.  During the first
year, maximum Policy indebtedness is limited to 50% of the Cash Value less any
Surrender Charge.  Thereafter, maximum policy indebtedness is limited to 90% of
the Cash Value less any Surrender Charge.  The Company will not grant a loan for
an amount less than $1,000 ($200 in Connecticut; $250 in Oregon; $500 in New
Jersey).  Should the Death Benefit become payable, the Policy be surrendered, or
the Policy mature while a loan is outstanding, the amount of Policy indebtedness
will be deducted from the Death Benefit, Cash Surrender Value or the Maturity
Value, respectively.

Maximum Policy indebtedness, in Texas, is limited to 90% of the Cash Value less
any Surrender Charge in the sub-accounts and 100% of the Cash Value less any
Surrender Charge in the Fixed Account.

Any request for a Policy loan must be in written form satisfactory to the
Company.  The request must be signed and, where permitted, the signature
guaranteed by a member firm of the New York, American, Boston, Midwest,
Philadelphia or Pacific Stock Exchange; or by a Commercial Bank or a Savings and
Loan which is a member of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.  Certain
Policy loans may result in currently taxable income and tax penalties.  (See
"Tax Matters.")

EFFECT ON INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE

When a loan is made, an amount equal to the amount of the loan is transferred
from the Variable Account to the Policy Loan Account.  If the assets relating to
a Policy are held in more than one sub-account, withdrawals from sub-accounts
will be made in proportion to the assets in each Variable Sub-account at the
time of the loan.  Policy Loans will be transferred from the Fixed Account only
when insufficient amounts are available in the Variable Sub-accounts.  The
amount taken out of the Variable Account will not be affected by the Variable
Account's investment experience while the loan is outstanding.

INTEREST

Amounts transferred to the Policy Loan Account will earn interest daily from the
date of transfer.

Total policy indebtedness is comprised of two components:  (i) Preferred Loans
and (ii) Regular Loans.  The amount of the loan account will be treated as a
Preferred Loan to the extent such amount is less than or equal to the Cash Value
minus the result of:  the premiums paid less any withdrawals not taxed as
distributions plus any repaid loans previously taxed as distributions plus any
amounts reported to the Company as cost basis attributable to exchanges under
Section 1035 of the Code.  Any additional loaned amounts will be treated as
Regular Loans.  Preferred and Regular Loan amounts will be determined once a
year, as well as at any time a new loan is requested. On a current basis,
preferred indebtedness will be credited interest daily at an annual effective
rate of 6%, and Regular indebtedness will be credited interest daily at an
annual effective rate of 4%.  The credited rate for all policy indebtedness is
guaranteed never to be lower than 4%.  This earned interest is transferred from
the Policy Loan Account to a Variable Account or the Fixed Account on each
Policy Anniversary, at any time a new loan is requested, or at the time of loan
repayment.  It will be allocated according to the Fund Allocation Factors in
effect at the time of the transfer.

The loan interest rate is 6% per year for all policy indebtedness.  Interest is
charged daily and is payable at the end of each Policy Year as well as at any
time a new loan is requested.  Unpaid interest will be added to the existing
policy indebtedness as of the due date and will be charged interest at the same
rate as the rest of the indebtedness.

Whenever the total loan indebtedness plus accrued interest exceeds the Cash
Value less any Surrender Charges, the Company will send a notice to the Policy
Owner and the assignee, if any.  The Policy will terminate without value 61 days
after the mailing of the notice unless a sufficient repayment is made during
that period.  A repayment is sufficient if it is large enough to reduce the
total loan indebtedness plus accrued interest to an amount equal to the total
Cash Value less any Surrender Charges plus an amount sufficient to continue the
Policy in force for 3 months.


                                       26
<PAGE>


EFFECT ON DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE

A Policy loan, whether or not repaid, will have a permanent effect on the Death
Benefit and Cash Value because the investment results of the Variable Account or
the Fixed Account will apply only to the non-loaned portion of the Cash Value.
The longer the loan is outstanding, the greater the effect is likely to be.
Depending on the investment results of the Variable Account or the Fixed Account
while the loan is outstanding, the effect could be favorable or unfavorable.

REPAYMENT

All or part of a loan may be repaid at any time while the Policy is in force
during the insured's lifetime.  Any payment intended as a loan repayment, rather
than a premium payment, must be identified as such.  Loan repayments will be
credited to the Variable Sub-accounts and the Fixed Account in proportion to the
Policy Owner's Premium allocation in effect at the time of the repayment.  Each
repayment may not be less than $1,000.  The Company reserves the right to
require that any loan repayments resulting from Policy Loans transferred from
the Fixed Account must be first allocated to the Fixed Account.

                         HOW THE DEATH BENEFIT VARIES

- -Calculation of the Death Benefit

At issue, the Specified Amount is determined by treating the initial premium as
equal to 100% of the Guideline Single Premium.  Guideline Single Premiums vary
by attained age, sex, underwriting classification, and total premium payments.
The following table illustrates representative initial Specified Amounts.

       $10,000 Single Premium   $25,000 Single Premium   $50,000 Single Premium
Issue
 Age    Male        Female       Male         Female      Male         Female

 35    $62,031      $76,231     $155,077     $190,577    $310,154     $381,154
 40     49,883       61,337      124,707      153,343     249,413      306,685
 45     40,437       49,825      101,903      124,562     202,186      249,124
 50     33,079       40,742       82,698      101,854     165,397      203,708
 55     27,358       33,531       68,396       83,828     136,791      167,655
 60     22,964       27,734       57,410       69,335     114,821      138,671
 65     19,579       23,052       48,948       57,631      97,895      115,261

Generally, for a given premium payment, the initial Specified Amount is greater
for females than males.  The Specified Amount is shown in the Policy.  While the
Policy is in force, the Death Benefit will never be less than the Specified
Amount or the Applicable Percentage of Cash Value.  The Death Benefit may vary
with the Cash Value of the Policy, which depends on investment performance.  The
amount of Death Benefit will ordinarily not change for several years to reflect
investment performance and may not change at all.  If investment performance is
favorable, the amount of Death Benefit may increase.  The Applicable Percentage
of Cash Value varies by attained age.

                     Applicable Percentage of Cash Value Factors

    Attained   Percentage    Attained   Percentage    Attained    Percentage
      Age     of Cash Value     Age    of Cash Value     Age     of Cash Value


     0-40          250%          60         130%          80          105%
       41          243%          61         128%          81          105%
       42          236%          62         126%          82          105%
       43          229%          63         124%          83          105%
       44          222%          64         122%          84          105%

       45          215%          65         120%          85          105%
       46          209%          66         119%          86          105%
       47          203%          67         118%          87          105%
       48          197%          68         117%          88          105%


                                       27
<PAGE>

       49          191%          69         116%          89          105%

       50          185%          70         115%          90          105%
       51          178%          71         113%          91          104%
       52          171%          72         111%          92          103%
       53          164%          73         109%          93          102%
       54          157%          74         107%          94          101%

       55          150%          75         105%          95          101%
       56          146%          76         105%          96          101%
       57          142%          77         105%          97          101%
       58          138%          78         105%          98          101%
       59          134%          79         105%          99          101%
                                                         100          100%
- -Proceeds Payable on Death

The actual Death Proceeds payable on the Insured's death will be the Death
Benefit as described above, less any outstanding Policy loans and less any
unpaid Policy Charges.  Under certain circumstances, the Proceeds may be
adjusted.  (See "Incontestability", "Error in Age or Sex", and "Suicide.")

                               RIGHT OF CONVERSION

The Policy Owner may at any time, upon written request to the Company within 24
months of the Policy Date, make an irrevocable, one time election to transfer
all sub-account Cash Values to the Fixed Account.  The Right of Conversion
provision is subject to state availability.

                          CHANGES OF INVESTMENT POLICY

The Company may materially change the Investment Policy of the Variable Account.
The Company must inform the Policy Owner and obtain all necessary regulatory
approvals.  Any change must be submitted to the various state insurance
departments which may disapprove it if deemed detrimental to the interests of
the policy holders or if it renders the Company's operations hazardous to the
public.  If a Policy Owner objects, there is an unconditional right to transfer
all of the Cash Value in the Variable Account to the Fixed Account.  The Policy
Owner has the later of 60 days (6 months in Pennsylvania) from the date of the
Investment Policy change or 60 days (6 months in Pennsylvania) from being
informed of such change to make this transfer.

                                  GRACE PERIOD

If the Cash Surrender Value in the Policy is insufficient to pay the monthly
deductions, Policy loan interest, or other charges which become due but are
unpaid, a grace period of 61 days will be allowed for payment of sufficient
premium to continue the Policy in force.  The Company will notify the Policy
Owner of the amount required to continue the Policy in force. If the required
amount is not received within 61 days of the notice, the Policy will terminate
without value.  If the Insured dies during the Grace Period, the Company will
pay the Death Proceeds.

                                  REINSTATEMENT

If the Grace Period ends and the Policy Owner has neither paid the required
premium nor surrendered the Policy for its Cash Surrender Value, the Policy
Owner may reinstate the Policy by:

1.   submitting a written request at any time within 3 years after the end of
     the Grace Period and prior to the Maturity Date:

2.   providing evidence of insurability satisfactory to the Company;

3.   paying sufficient premium to cover all policy charges that were due and
     unpaid during the Grace Period;


                                       28
<PAGE>


4.   paying additional premiums at least equal to 3 times the guaranteed cost of
     insurance charges; and

5.   repaying any indebtedness against the Policy which existed at the end of
     the Grace Period.

The effective date of a reinstated Policy will be the Monthly Anniversary Day on
or next following the date the application for reinstatement is approved by us.
If your Policy is reinstated, the Cash Value on the date of reinstatement, but
prior to applying any premiums or loan repayments received, will be set equal to
the appropriate Surrender Charge.  Such Surrender Charge will be based on the
length of time from the date of premium payments to the effective date of the
reinstatement.  Unless the Policy Owner has provided otherwise, the allocation
of the amount of the Surrender Charge, additional premium payments, and any loan
repayments will be based on the Underlying Mutual Fund Allocation factors in
effect at the start of the Grace Period.

                            THE FIXED ACCOUNT OPTION

Under of exemptive and exclusionary provisions, interests in Nationwide's
General Account have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and
the General Account has not been registered as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940.  Accordingly, neither the General Account nor
any interests therein is subject to the provisions of these Acts, and Nationwide
has been advised that the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission has
not reviewed the disclosures in this prospectus relating to the Fixed Account
option.  Disclosures regarding the General Account may, however, be subject to
certain generally applicable provisions of the federal securities laws
concerning the accuracy and completeness of statements made in prospectuses.

As explained earlier, a Policy Owner may elect to allocate or transfer all or
part of the Cash Value to the Fixed Account and the amount allocated or
transferred becomes part of Nationwide's general assets (General Account).
Nationwide's General Account consists of all assets of the Company other than
those in the Variable Account and in other separate accounts that have been or
may be established by the Company.  Subject to applicable law, the Company has
sole discretion over the investment of the assets of the General Account, and
Policy Owners do not share in the investment experience of those assets.  The
Company guarantees that the part of the Cash Value invested under the Fixed
Account option will accrue interest daily at an effective annual rate that the
Company declares periodically.  The Fixed Account crediting rate will not be
less than an effective annual rate of 3%.  Upon request and in the annual
statement the Company will inform a Policy Owner of the then applicable rate.
The Company is not obligated to credit interest at a higher rate.

                             OTHER POLICY PROVISIONS

POLICY OWNER

While the Insured is living, all rights in this Policy are vested in the Policy
Owner named in the application or as subsequently changed, subject to
assignment, if any.

The Policy Owner may name a Contingent Policy Owner or a new Policy Owner while
the Insured is living.  Any change must be in a written form satisfactory to the
Company and recorded at the Company's Home Office.  Once recorded, the change
will be effective when signed. The change will not affect any payment made or
action taken by the Company before it was recorded.  The Company may require
that the Policy be submitted for endorsement before making a change.

If the Policy Owner is other than the Insured and names no contingent owner, and
dies before the Insured, the Policy Owner's rights in this Policy belong to the
Policy Owner's estate.

BENEFICIARY

The Beneficiary(ies) shall be as named in the application or as subsequently
changed, subject to assignment, if any.

The Policy Owner may name a new Beneficiary while the Insured is living.  Any
change must be in a written form satisfactory to the Company and recorded at the
Company's Home Office.  Once recorded, the change will be effective when signed.
The change will not affect any payment made or action taken by the Company
before it was recorded.


                                       29
<PAGE>


If any Beneficiary predeceases the Insured, that Beneficiary's interest passes
to any surviving beneficiary, unless otherwise provided.  Multiple beneficiaries
will be paid in equal shares, unless otherwise provided.  If no named
Beneficiary survives the Insureds, the proceeds shall be paid to the Policy
Owner or the Policy Owner's estate.

ASSIGNMENT

While the Insured is living, the Policy Owner may assign his or her rights in
the Policy.  The assignment must be in writing, signed by the Policy Owner and
recorded by the Company at its Home Office.  The Company is not responsible for
any assignment not submitted for recording, nor is the Company responsible for
the sufficiency or validity of any assignment.

The assignment will be subject to any Indebtedness owed to the Company before it
was recorded.

INCONTESTABILITY

The Company will not contest a Death Benefit based on representations in any
written application when such benefit has been in force, during the lifetime of
the Insured, for two years.

ERROR IN AGE OR SEX

If the Insured's age, sex or both, as stated in the application, are incorrect,
the affected benefits will be adjusted to reflect the correct age, sex, or both.

SUICIDE

If the Insured dies by suicide within two years from the Policy Date, the
Company will pay no more than the sum of the premiums, less any unpaid loan.  If
the Insured dies by suicide within two years from the date an application is
accepted for an increase in the Specified Amount, the Company will pay no more
than the amount paid for such additional benefit.

NONPARTICIPATING POLICIES

The Policies are nonparticipating.  This means that they do not participate in
any dividend distribution of the Company's surplus.

RIDERS

A rider may be added as an addition to the Policy.  Riders currently include:

     1.   Maturity Extension Endorsement; and

     2.   Accelerated Death Benefit Rider.

Rider availability varies by state.

                              LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS

On July 6, 1983, the U.S. Supreme Court held in ARIZONA GOVERNING COMMITTEE V.
NORRIS that certain annuity benefits provided by employers' retirement and
fringe benefit programs may not vary between men and women on the basis of sex.
This decision applies only to benefits derived from premiums made on or after
August 1, 1983.  The Policies offered by this prospectus are based upon
actuarial tables which distinguish between men and women and thus the Policies
provide different benefits to men and women of the same age.  Accordingly,
employers and employee organizations should consider, in consultation with legal
counsel, the impact of Norris on any employment related insurance or benefit
program before purchasing this Policy.

                          DISTRIBUTION OF THE POLICIES

The Policies will be sold by licensed insurance agents in those states where the
Policies may lawfully be sold.  Such agents will be registered representatives
of broker dealers registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 who are
members of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (NASD).  The
Policies will be distributed by the General Distributor, Nationwide Advisory
Services, Inc. ("NAS"), One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus, Ohio  43216.

NAS is a corporation which was organized under the laws of the State of Ohio on
April 8, 1965. NAS is both a broker-dealer and registered investment adviser.
As such, it is the principal underwriter for several open-end investment
companies and for a number of separate accounts issued by the Company and
Nationwide Life and


                                       30
<PAGE>


Annuity Insurance Company ("NLAIC") to fund the benefits of variable insurance
and annuity polices.  NAS also currently acts as the investment adviser and/or
administrator for the mutual fund portfolios sold through NAS' registered
representatives and for some of the mutual fund portfolios which act as
underlying investment options for the variable insurance and annuity policies
issued by the Company or NLAIC.

NAS acts as general distributor for the Nationwide Multi-Flex Variable Account,
Nationwide DC Variable Account, Nationwide Variable Account-II, Nationwide
Variable Account-5, Nationwide Variable Account-6, Nationwide Variable Account-
8, Nationwide Variable Account-9, Nationwide VA Separate Account-A, Nationwide
VA Separate Account-B, Nationwide VA Separate Account-C, Nationwide VL Separate
Account-A, Nationwide VL Separate Account-B, Nationwide VLI Separate Account-2,
Nationwide VLI Separate Account-3, NACo Variable Account and the Nationwide
Variable Account, all of which are separate investment accounts of the Company
or its affiliates.

NAS also acts as principal underwriter for the Nationwide Investing Foundation,
Nationwide Separate Account Trust, Financial Horizons Investment Trust,
Nationwide Investing Foundation II, and Nationwide Asset Allocation Trust, which
are open-end management investment companies.

Gross commissions paid by the Company on the sale of these Policies plus fees
for marketing services are not more than 6.75% of the premiums paid.

                               CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS

The Company serves as the Custodian of the assets of the Variable Account.

                                   TAX MATTERS

POLICY PROCEEDS

Section 7702 of the Code provides that if certain tests are met, a Policy will
be treated as a life insurance policy for federal tax purposes.  The Company
will monitor compliance with these tests.  The Policy should thus receive the
same Federal income tax treatment as fixed benefit life insurance.  As a result,
the life insurance proceeds payable under a Policy are excludable from gross
income of the beneficiary under Section 101 of the Code.

The Policies described in this prospectus, meet the definition of "modified
endowment contracts" under Section 7702A of the Code.  The Code defines modified
endowment contracts as those policies issued or materially changed after June
21, 1988 on which the total premiums paid during the first seven years exceed
the amount that would have been paid if the policy provided for paid up benefits
after seven level annual premiums.  The policies offered in this prospectus
typically fall within this definition.  The Code provides for taxation of
surrenders, partial surrenders, loans, collateral assignments and other pre-
death distributions from modified endowment contracts (other than certain
Distributions made under a Policy on the life of a "terminally ill individual"
or "chronically ill individual") are subject to federal income taxes in a manner
similar to the way annuities are taxed.  Any distribution is taxable to the
extent the Cash Value of the Policy exceeds, at the time of the distribution,
the premiums paid into the Policy.  The Code generally provides for a 10% tax
penalty on the taxable portion of such distributions.  That penalty is
applicable unless the distribution is 1) paid after the Policy Owner is 59 1/2
or disabled; or 2) the distribution is part of an annuity to the Policy Owner as
defined in the Code.   Under certain circumstances, certain distributions made
under a Policy on the life of a "terminally ill individual" or a "chronically
ill individual," as those terms are defined in the Code, are excludible from
gross income.

Even though exchanges under Section 1035 of the Code qualify as material
changes, certain exchanges of pre-June 22, 1988 policies may retain their non-
modified endowment status.  Therefore, the policies offered by this prospectus
may or may not be issued as modified endowment contracts.  The Company will
monitor premiums paid and will notify the Policy Owner when the policy's non-
modified endowment status is in jeopardy.  If a policy is not a modified
endowment contract, a cash distribution during the first fifteen years after a
policy is issued which causes a reduction in death benefits may still become
fully or partially taxable to the Owner pursuant to Section 7702(f)(7) of the
Code.  The Policy Owner should carefully consider this potential effect and seek
further information before initiating any changes in the terms of the policy.
Under certain conditions, a policy may become a modified endowment as a result
of certain material changes or a reduction in benefits as defined by Section
7702A(c) of the Code.

In addition to meeting the tests required under Sections 7702, Section 817(h) of
the Code requires that the investments of separate accounts such as the Variable
Account be adequately diversified.  Regulations issued by the Secretary of the
Treasury, set the standards for measuring the adequacy of this diversification.
To be adequately diversified, each sub-account of the Variable Account must meet
certain tests.  The Company


                                       31
<PAGE>


believes that the investments of the Variable Account meet the applicable
diversification standards. The regulations provide that a variable life policy
which does not satisfy the diversification standards will not be treated as life
insurance under Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code, unless the failure to
satisfy regulations was inadvertent, the failure is corrected, and the Policy
Owner or the Company pays an amount to the Internal Revenue Service.  The amount
will be based on the tax that would have been paid by the Policy Owner if the
income, for the period the policy was not diversified, had been received by the
Policy Owner.  If the failure to diversify is not corrected in this manner, the
Policy Owner of the life policy will be deemed the owner of the underlying
securities and will be taxed on the earnings of his or her account. The Company
will monitor compliance with these regulations and, to the extent necessary,
will change the objectives or assets of the sub-account investments to remain in
compliance.

Representatives of the Internal Revenue Service have suggested, from time to
time, that the number of Underlying Mutual Funds available or the number of
transfer opportunities available under a variable product may be relevant in
determining whether the product qualifies for the desired tax treatment.  No
formal guidance has been issued in this area.  Should the Secretary of the
Treasury issue additional rules or regulations limiting the number of Underlying
Mutual Funds, transfers between Underlying Mutual Funds, exchanges of Underlying
Mutual Funds or changes in investment objectives of Underlying Mutual Funds such
that the Policy would no longer qualify as life insurance under Section 7702 of
the Code, the Company will take whatever steps are available to remain in
compliance.

A total surrender or cancellation of the Policy by lapse may have adverse tax
consequences depending on the circumstances. If the amount received by the
Policy Owner plus total Policy Indebtedness exceeds the premiums paid into the
Policy, the excess generally will be treated as taxable income, regardless of
whether or not the Policy is a modified endowment contract.

- - Federal Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes

The federal estate tax is integrated with the federal gift tax under a unified
tax rate schedule.  In general, an estate of less than $600,000 (inclusive of
certain pre-death gifts) will not incur a federal estate tax liability.  In
addition, an unlimited marital deduction may be available for federal estate tax
purposes, for certain amounts that pass to the surviving spouse.

When the Insured dies, the death benefit will generally be included in the
Insured's federal gross estate if:  (1) the proceeds were payable to or for the
benefit of the Insured's estate, or (2) the Insured held any "incident of
ownership" in the Policy at death or at any time within three years of death.
An incident of ownership is, in general, any right that may be exercised by the
owner of a Policy, such as the right to borrow on the Policy, or the right to
name a new beneficiary.

If the Policy Owner (whether or not he or she is the Insured) transfers
ownership of the Policy to another person, such transfer may be subject to a
federal gift tax.  In addition, if such Policy Owner transfers the Policy to
someone two or more generations younger than the Policy Owner, the transfer may
be subject to the federal generation-skipping transfer tax ("GSTT"), the taxable
amount being the value of the Policy.

Similarly, if the Beneficiary is two or more generations younger than the
Insured, the payment of the Death Proceeds at the death of the Insured may be
subject to the GSTT.  Pursuant to regulations recently promulgated by the U.S.
Treasury Department, the Company may be required to withhold a portion of the
Death Proceeds and pay them directly to the Internal Revenue Service as the GSTT
liability.

The GSTT provisions generally apply to the same transfers that are subject to
estate or gift taxes.

The tax rate is a flat rate equal to the maximum estate tax rate (currently
55%), and there is a provision for an aggregate $1 million exemption.  Due to
the complexity of these rules, the Policy Owner should consult with counsel and
other competent advisors regarding these taxes.

- - Non-Resident Aliens

Distributions to nonresident aliens ("NRAs") are generally subject to federal
income tax and tax withholding, at a statutory rate of 30% of the amount of
income that is distributed.  The Company is required to withhold such amount
from the Distribution and remit it to the Internal Revenue Service.
Distributions to certain NRAs may be subject to lower, or in certain instances
zero, tax and withholding rates, if the United States has entered into an
applicable treaty.  However, in order to obtain the benefits of such treaty
provisions, the NRA must give to the Company sufficient proof of his or her
residency and citizenship in the form and manner prescribed by the Internal
Revenue Service.  In addition, for any Distribution made after December 31,
1997, the NRA must obtain


                                       32
<PAGE>


an individual Taxpayer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service,
and furnish that number to the Company prior to the Distribution.  If the
Company does not have the proper proof of citizenship or residency and (for
Distribution after December 31, 1997) a proper individual Taxpayer
Identification Number prior to any Distribution, the Company will be required to
withhold 30% of the income, regardless of any treaty provision.

A payment may not be subject to withholding where the recipient sufficiently
establishes to the Company that such payment is effectively connected to the
recipient's conduct of a trade or business in the United States and that such
payment is includable in the recipient's gross income for United States federal
income tax purposes.  Any such distributions may be subject to back-up
withholding at the statutory rate (currently 31%) if no taxpayer identification
number, or an incorrect taxpayer identification number, is provided.

State and local estate, inheritance, income and other tax consequences of
ownership or receipt of Policy proceeds depend on the circumstances of each
Policy Owner or Beneficiary.

TAXATION OF THE COMPANY

The Company is taxed as a life insurance company under the Code.  Since the
Variable Account is not a separate entity from the Company and its operations
form a part of the Company, it will not be taxed separately as a "regulated
investment company" under Sub-chapter M of the Code.  Investment income and
realized capital gains on the assets of the Variable Account are reinvested and
taken into account in determining the value of Accumulation Units.  As a result,
such investment income and realized capital gains are automatically applied to
increase reserves under the Policies.

The Company does not initially expect to incur any Federal income tax liability
that would be chargeable to the Variable Account.  Based upon these
expectations, no charge is currently being made against the Variable Account for
federal income taxes.  If, however, the Company determines that on a separate
company basis such taxes may be incurred, it reserves the right to assess a
charge for such taxes against the Variable Account.

The Company may also incur state and local taxes (in addition to premium taxes)
in several states.  At present, these taxes are not significant.  If they
increase, however, charges for such taxes may be made.

TAX CHANGES

The foregoing discussion, which is based on the Company's understanding of
federal tax laws as they are currently interpreted by the Internal Revenue
Service, is general and is not intended as tax advice.

In the recent past, the Code has been subjected to numerous amendments and
changes, and it is reasonable to believe that it will continue to be revised.
The United States Congress has, in the past, considered numerous legislative
proposals that, if enacted, could change the tax treatment of the Policies.  It
is reasonable to believe that such proposals, and other proposals will be
considered in the future, and some may be enacted into law.  In addition, the
U.S. Treasury Department may amend existing regulations, issue new regulations,
or adopt new interpretations of existing law that may be at variance with its
current positions on these matters.  In addition, current state law (which is
not discussed herein), and future amendments to state law, may affect the tax
consequences of the Policy.

If the Policy Owner, Insured, or Beneficiary or other person receiving any
benefit or interest in or from the Policy is not both a resident and citizen of
the United States, there may be a tax imposed by a foreign country, in addition
to any tax imposed by the United States.  The foreign law (including
regulations, rulings, and case law) may change and impose additional taxes on
the Policy, the Death Benefit, or other Distributions and/or ownership of the
Policy, or a treaty may be amended and all or part of the favorable treatment
may be eliminated.

Any or all of the foregoing may change from time to time without any notice, and
the tax consequences arising out of a Policy may be changed retroactively.
There is no way of predicting if  when, and to what extent any such change may
take place.  No representation is made as to the likelihood of the continuation
of these current laws, interpretations, and policies.

THE FOREGOING IS A GENERAL EXPLANATION AS TO CERTAIN TAX MATTERS PERTAINING TO
INSURANCE POLICIES.  IT IS NOT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL OR TAX ADVICE, AND SHOULD
NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF YOUR INDEPENDENT LEGAL, TAX AND/OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR.


                                       33
<PAGE>


                                   THE COMPANY

The Company is a life insurance company writing life, accident and health
insurance, and annuities in all states and the District of Columbia.  The
Company issues variable annuity contracts through other segregated investment
accounts.  This is the only business in which the Company is engaged.

The Company markets its Policies through independent insurance brokers, general
agents, and registered representatives of registered NASD broker/dealer firms.

The Company, in common with other insurance companies, is subject to regulation
and supervision by the regulatory authorities of the states in which it is
licensed to do business.  A license from the state insurance department is a
prerequisite to the transaction of insurance business in that state.  In
general, all states have statutory administrative powers.  Such regulation
relates, among other things, to licensing of insurers and their agents, the
approval of policy forms, the methods of computing reserves, the form and
content of statutory financial statements, the amount of policyholders' and
stockholders' dividends, and the type of distribution of investments permitted.

The Company operates in the highly competitive field of life insurance. There
are approximately 2,300 stock, mutual and other types of insurers in the life
insurance business in the United States, and a large number of them compete with
the registrant in the sale of insurance policies.

As is customary in insurance company groups, employees are shared with the other
insurance companies in the group.  In addition to its direct salaried employees,
the Company shares employees with Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and
Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company.

The Company serves as depositor for the Nationwide VL Separate Account-B,
Nationwide VA Separate Account-C, Nationwide VA Separate Account-B, Nationwide
VA Separate Account-A, and the Nationwide VL Separate Account-A, each of which
is a registered investment company.

The Company does not presently own or lease any materially important physical
properties when its property holdings are viewed in relation to its total
assets.  The Company shares home office, other facilities and equipment with
Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

                               COMPANY MANAGEMENT

Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, together with Nationwide Mutual
Insurance Company, Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Nationwide
Indemnity Company, Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company, Nationwide
Property and Casualty Insurance Company, National Casualty Company, West Coast
Life Insurance Company, Scottsdale Indemnity Company and Nationwide General
Insurance Company and their affiliated companies comprise the Nationwide
Insurance Enterprise.

The companies comprising the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise have substantially
common boards of directors and officers.  Nationwide Financial Services, Inc. is
the sole shareholder of the Company.

DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             Director
     Name                      Since    Principal Occupation
<S>                          <C>        <C>
Lewis J. Alphin                1993     Farm Owner and Operator (1)
Keith W. Eckel                 1996     Partner, Fred W. Eckel Sons; President, Eckel Farms, Inc. (1)
Willard J. Engel               1994     General Manager Lyon County Co-Operative Oil Company (1)
Fred C. Finney                 1992     Owner and Operator, Moreland Fruit Farm; Operator, Melrose Orchard (1)
Charles L. Fuellgraf, Jr. * +  1969     Chief Executive Officer, Fuellgraf Electric Company. (1)
Joseph J. Gasper*+             1996     President and Chief Operating Officer, Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company and
                                        Nationwide Life Insurance Company. (2)
Henry S. Holloway *+           1986     Farm Owner and Operator (1)
Dimon Richard McFerson *+      1988     Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nationwide Insurance Enterprise (2)
David O. Miller *+             1985     President, Owen Potato Farm, Inc.; Partner, M&M Enterprises (1)


                                                                 34
<PAGE>


C. Ray Noecker                 1994     Owner and Operator, Noecker Farms (1)
James F. Patterson +           1989     Vice President, Pattersons, Inc. ;  President, Patterson Farms, Inc. (1)
Arden L. Shisler *+            1984     President and Chief Executive Officer, K&B Transport, Inc. (1)
Robert L. Stewart              1989     Owner and Operator, Sunnydale Farms and Mining (1)
Nancy C. Thomas *              1986     Farm Owner and Operator. (1)
Harold W. Weihl                1990     Farm Owner and Operator, Weihl Farms (1)
</TABLE>

*Member, Executive Committee       +Member, Investment Committee

1) Principal occupation for last five years.

2) Prior to assuming this current position, Messrs. McFerson and Gasper held
   other executive management positions with the companies.

Each of the directors is a director of the other major insurance affiliates of
the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise, except Mr. Gasper who is a director only of
the Company and Nationwide Life Insurance Company.  Messrs. McFerson and Gasper
are directors of Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc., a registered broker-dealer.

Messrs. Holloway, McFerson, Miller, Patterson, Shisler and Fuellgraf are
directors of Nationwide Financial Services, Inc.  Messrs. Fuellgraf,  McFerson,
Ms. Thomas and Mr. Weihl are trustees of Nationwide Investing Foundation, a
registered investment company.  Mr. McFerson is trustee of Nationwide Separate
Account Trust, Financial Horizons Investment Trust, Nationwide Investing
Foundation II and Nationwide Asset Allocation Trust, registered investment
companies.  Mr. Engel is a director of Western Cooperative Transport.

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY

NAME                             OFFICE HELD
Dimon Richard McFerson           Chairman and Chief Executive Officer-Nationwide
                                 Insurance Enterprise

Joseph J. Gasper                 President and Chief Operating Officer

Gordon E. McCutchan              Executive Vice President, Law and Corporate
                                 Services and Secretary

Robert A. Oakley                 Executive Vice President-Chief Financial
                                 Officer

Robert J. Woodward, Jr.          Executive Vice President-Chief Investment
                                 Officer

James E. Brock                   Senior Vice President - Life Company Operations

W. Sidney Druen                  Senior Vice President and General Counsel and
                                 Assistant Secretary

Harvey S. Galloway, Jr.          Senior Vice President and Chief Actuary

Richard A. Karas                 Senior Vice President - Sales and Financial
                                 Services

Mark R. Thresher                 Vice President - Controller

Duane M. Campbell                Vice President - Treasurer

Mr. Gasper is also President and Chief Operating Officer of Nationwide Life
Insurance Company.  Mr. Galloway is also an officer of Nationwide Mutual
Insurance Company and Nationwide Life Insurance Company.  Each of the other
officers listed above is also an officer of each of the companies comprising the
Nationwide Insurance Enterprise.  Each of the executive officers listed above
has been associated with the registrant in an executive capacity for more than
the past five years, except Mr. Thresher, who joined the Registrant in 1996.
From 1988-1996, Mr. Thresher served as a partner in the accounting firm KPMG
Peat Marwick LLP and lead partner for Nationwide Insurance Enterprise from 1993-
1996.


                                       35
<PAGE>


                      OTHER CONTRACTS ISSUED BY THE COMPANY

The Company does presently and will, from time to time, offer variable contracts
and policies with benefits which vary in accordance with the investment
experience of a separate account of the Company.

                                STATE REGULATION

The Company is subject to the laws of Ohio governing insurance companies and to
regulation by the Ohio Insurance Department.  An annual statement in a
prescribed form is filed with the Insurance Department each year covering the
operation of the Company for the preceding year and its financial condition as
of the end of such year.  Regulation by the Insurance Department includes
periodic examination to determine the Company's contract liabilities and
reserves so that the Insurance Department may certify the items are correct.
The Company's books and accounts are subject to review by the Insurance
Department at all times and a full examination of its operations is conducted
periodically by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.  Such
regulation does not, however, involve any supervision of management or
investment practices or policies.  In addition, the Company is subject to
regulation under the insurance laws of other jurisdictions in which it may
operate.

                            REPORTS TO POLICY OWNERS

The Company will mail to the Policy Owner, at the last known address of record,
an annual statement showing current policy values, transactions since the last
statement, policy loan information, and any other information required by
federal or state laws or regulations.

Policy Owners will also be sent annual and semi-annual reports containing
financial statements for the Variable Account as required by the 1940 Act.

In addition, Policy Owners will receive statements of significant transactions,
such as change in Specified Amount, changes in future premium allocation,
transfers among sub-accounts, premium payments, loans, increase in loan
principal, loan repayments, unpaid loan interest added to principal,
reinstatement and termination.

                                   ADVERTISING

The Company is ranked and rated by independent financial rating services, among
which are Moody's, Standard & Poor's and A.M. Best Company.  The purpose of
these ratings is to reflect the financial strength or claims-paying ability of
the Company.  The ratings are not intended to reflect the investment experience
or financial strength of the Variable Account.  The Company may advertise these
ratings from time to time.  In addition, the Company may include in certain
advertisements endorsements in the form of a list of organizations, individuals
or other parties which recommend the Company or the Contracts.  Furthermore, the
Company may occasionally include in advertisements comparisons of currently
taxable and tax deferred investment programs based on selected tax brackets or
discussions of alternative investment vehicles and general economic conditions.

                                LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

There are no material legal proceedings, other than ordinary routine litigation
incidental to the business to which the Company and the Variable Account are
parties or to which any of their property is the subject.

The General Distributor, Nationwide Advisory Services, Inc., is not engaged in
any material litigation of any nature.

                                     EXPERTS

The financial statements and schedules have been included herein in reliance
upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.


                                       36


<PAGE>

                               REGISTRATION STATEMENT

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

                                    LEGAL OPINIONS

Legal matters in connection with the Policies described herein are being passed
upon by Druen, Dietrich, Reynolds & Koogler, One Nationwide Plaza, Columbus,
Ohio 43216.  All the members of such firm are employed by the Nationwide Mutual
Insurance Company.


                                          37

<PAGE>

                                      APPENDIX 1

       ILLUSTRATIONS OF CASH VALUES, CASH SURRENDER VALUES, AND DEATH BENEFITS

The illustrations in this prospectus have been prepared to help show how values
under the Policies change with investment performance.  The illustrations
illustrate how Cash Values, Cash Surrender Values and Death Benefits under a
Policy would vary over time if the hypothetical gross investment rates of return
were a uniform annual effective rate of either 0%, 6% or 12%.  If the
hypothetical gross investment rate of return averages 0%, 6%, or 12% over a
period of years, but fluctuates above or below those averages for individual
years, the Cash Values, Cash Surrender Values and Death Benefits may be
different.  For hypothetical returns of 0% and 6%, the illustrations also
illustrate when the Cash Surrender Values falls to zero, at which time
additional Premium Payments would be required to continue the Policy in force. 
The illustrations also assume there is no Policy Indebtedness, no additional
Premium Payments are made and no Cash Values are allocated to the Fixed Account.

The amounts shown for the Cash Value, Cash Surrender Value and Death Benefit as
of each Policy Anniversary reflect the fact that the net investment return on
the assets held in the sub-accounts is lower than the gross return.  This is due
to the deduction of Underlying Mutual Fund investment advisory fees and other
expenses which are equivalent to an annual effective rate of  0.90%.  This
effective rate is based on the average of the fund expenses for the preceding
year for all underlying mutual fund options available under the policy as of
March 31, 1997.

Taking account of the Underlying Mutual Fund expenses, gross annual rates of
return of 0%, 6% and 12% correspond to net investment experience at constant
annual rates of -0.90%, 5.1%, and 11.1% respectively.

The illustrations also reflect the fact that the Company makes monthly charges
for providing insurance protection, recovering taxes, providing for
administrative expenses, and assuming mortality and expense risks.  Current
values reflect current charges and guaranteed values reflect the maximum charges
guaranteed in the Policy.  The values shown are for policies which are issued as
standard.  Policies issued on a substandard basis would result in lower Cash
Values and Death Benefits than those illustrated.

In addition, the illustrations reflect the fact that no charges for federal or
state income taxes are currently made against the Variable Account.  If such a
charge is made in the future, it will require a higher gross investment return
than illustrated in order to produce the net after-tax returns shown in the
illustrations.

Upon request, the Company will furnish a comparable illustration based on the
proposed Insured's age, sex, rating classification and Premium Payment
requested.


                                          38

<PAGE>

                  $10,000 INITIAL PREMIUM:  $19,579 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: SIMPLIFIED ISSUE: AGE 65

                                    CURRENT VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                   0% HYPOTHETICAL               6% HYPOTHETICAL                    12% HYPOTHETICAL
              GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN             GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN

        PREMIUMS
       PAID PLUS               CASH                           CASH                           CASH
POLICY  INTEREST     CASH      SURR      DEATH      CASH      SURR      DEATH      CASH      SURR     DEATH
  YEAR     AT 5%    VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT     VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT     VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT

<S>     <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>      <C>
    1     10,500    9,582     8,582     19,579    10,160     9,160     19,579    10,738     9,738    19,579
    2     11,025    9,176     8,176     19,579    10,324     9,324     19,579    11,540    10,540    19,579
    3     11,576    8,782     7,882     19,579    10,493     9,593     19,579    12,411    11,511    19,579
    4     12,155    8,401     7,601     19,579    10,667     9,867     19,579    13,358    12,558    19,579
    5     12,763    8,030     7,330     19,579    10,846    10,146     19,579    14,386    13,686    19,579
    6     13,401    7,671     7,071     19,579    11,030    10,430     19,579    15,503    14,903    19,579
    7     14,071    7,323     6,823     19,579    11,218    10,718     19,579    16,717    16,217    19,579
    8     14,775    6,985     6,585     19,579    11,413    11,013     19,579    18,041    17,641    20,025
    9     15,513    6,657     6,357     19,579    11,612    11,312     19,579    19,501    19,201    21,256
    10    16,289    6,339     6,339     19,579    11,818    11,818     19,579    21,104    21,104    22,582
    15    20,789    5,018     5,018     19,579    13,271    13,271     19,579    32,367    32,367    33,986
    20    26,533    3,854     3,854     19,579    14,983    14,983     19,579    49,517    49,517    51,993
    25    33,864    2,830     2,830     19,579    17,000    17,000     19,579    75,690    75,690    79,475
    30    43,219    1,928     1,928     19,579    19,380    19,380     19,579   116,668   116,668   117,834

</TABLE>

ASSUMPTIONS:

(1) NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2) CURRENT VALUES REFLECT THE CURRENT CHARGES DESCRIBED IN THE "MONTHLY
    DEDUCTIONS" AND "SURRENDER CHARGES" SECTIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS.

(3) NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
    RETURN LESS THE AVERAGE FUND EXPENSE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*) UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN.  ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE
OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION.  THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6% AND 12% OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL
POLICY YEARS.  NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST
THAT THESE HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR
SUSTAINED OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.


                                          39

<PAGE>

                  $10,000 INITIAL PREMIUM:  $19,579 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: SIMPLIFIED ISSUE: AGE 65

                                  GUARANTEED VALUES


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                   0% HYPOTHETICAL                    6% HYPOTHETICAL             12% HYPOTHETICAL
              GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN            GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN

        PREMIUMS
       PAID PLUS               CASH        CASH              CASH                           CASH
POLICY  INTEREST     CASH      SURR       DEATH    CASH       SURR      DEATH     CASH      SURR      DEATH
 YEAR       AT 5%    VALUE     VALUE     BENEFIT   VALUE    VALUE     BENEFIT    VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT

<S>     <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>
    1     10,500    9,381     8,381     19,579    9,962     8,962     19,579    10,544     9,544     19,579
    2     11,025    8,734     7,734     19,579    9,896     8,896     19,579    11,130    10,130     19,579
    3     11,576    8,052     7,152     19,579    9,799     8,899     19,579    11,767    10,867     19,579
    4     12,155    7,329     6,529     19,579    9,664     8,864     19,579    12,462    11,662     19,579
    5     12,763    6,557     5,857     19,579    9,486     8,786     19,579    13,225    12,525     19,579
    6     13,401    5,724     5,124     19,579    9,255     8,655     19,579    14,069    13,469     19,579
    7     14,071    4,815     4,315     19,579    8,960     8,460     19,579    15,008    14,508     19,579
    8     14,775    3,810     3,410     19,579    8,585     8,185     19,579    16,063    15,663     19,579
    9     15,513    2,686     2,386     19,579    8,112     7,812     19,579    17,258    16,958     19,579
    10    16,289    1,418     1,418     19,579    7,519     7,519     19,579    18,628    18,628     19,932
    15    20,789       (*)       (*)        (*)   1,805     1,805     19,579    28,480    28,480     29,904
    20    26,533       (*)       (*)        (*)      (*)       (*)        (*)   43,419    43,419     45,590
    25    33,864       (*)       (*)        (*)      (*)       (*)        (*)   65,149    65,149     68,407
    30    43,219       (*)       (*)        (*)      (*)       (*)        (*)   98,541    98,541     99,527

</TABLE>

ASSUMPTIONS:

(1) NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2) GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT THE GUARANTEED CHARGES DESCRIBED IN THE "MONTHLY
    DEDUCTIONS" AND "SURRENDER CHARGES" SECTIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS.

(3) NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
    RETURN LESS THE AVERAGE FUND EXPENSE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*) UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN.  ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE
OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION.  THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6% AND 12% OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL
POLICY YEARS.  NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST
THAT THESE HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR
SUSTAINED OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.


                                          40

<PAGE>

                  $10,000 INITIAL PREMIUM:  $40,437 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: SIMPLIFIED ISSUE: AGE 45

                                    CURRENT VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                     0% HYPOTHETICAL                 6% HYPOTHETICAL              12% HYPOTHETICAL
                   GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN

        PREMIUMS
       PAID PLUS               CASH                           CASH                           CASH
POLICY  INTEREST     CASH      SURR       DEATH     CASH      SURR      DEATH      CASH      SURR     DEATH
  YEAR     AT 5%    VALUE     VALUE     BENEFIT    VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT     VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT

<S>     <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>
    1     10,500    9,582     8,582     40,437    10,160     9,160    40,437     10,738     9,738    40,437
    2     11,025    9,176     8,176     40,437    10,324     9,324    40,437     11,540    10,540    40,437
    3     11,576    8,782     7,882     40,437    10,493     9,593    40,437     12,411    11,511    40,437
    4     12,155    8,401     7,601     40,437    10,667     9,867    40,437     13,358    12,558    40,437
    5     12,763    8,030     7,330     40,437    10,846    10,146    40,437     14,386    13,686    40,437
    6     13,401    7,671     7,071     40,437    11,030    10,430    40,437     15,503    14,903    40,437
    7     14,071    7,323     6,823     40,437    11,218    10,718    40,437     16,717    16,217    40,437
    8     14,775    6,985     6,585     40,437    11,413    11,013    40,437     18,035    17,635    40,437
    9     15,513    6,657     6,357     40,437    11,612    11,312    40,437     19,468    19,168    40,437
    10    16,289    6,339     6,339     40,437    11,818    11,818    40,437     21,024    21,024    40,437
    15    20,789    5,018     5,018     40,437    13,271    13,271    40,437     31,910    31,910    42,759
    20    26,533    3,854     3,854     40,437    14,983    14,983    40,437     49,033    49,033    59,820
    25    33,864    2,830     2,830     40,437    17,000    17,000    40,437     75,219    75,219    87,254
    30    43,219    1,928     1,928     40,437    19,377    19,377    40,437    116,172   116,172   124,304

</TABLE>

ASSUMPTIONS:

(1) NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2) CURRENT VALUES REFLECT THE CURRENT CHARGES DESCRIBED IN THE "MONTHLY
    DEDUCTIONS" AND "SURRENDER CHARGES" SECTIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS.

(3) NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
    RETURN LESS THE AVERAGE FUND EXPENSE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*) UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN.  ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE
OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION.  THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6% AND 12% OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL
POLICY YEARS.  NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST
THAT THESE HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR
SUSTAINED OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.


                                          41

<PAGE>

                  $10,000 INITIAL PREMIUM:  $40,437 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: SIMPLIFIED ISSUE: AGE 45

                                  GUARANTEED VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        0% HYPOTHETICAL                  6% HYPOTHETICAL              12% HYPOTHETICAL
                      GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN        GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN      GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN

          PREMIUMS
         PAID PLUS            CASH                           CASH                           CASH
 POLICY   INTEREST   CASH     SURR       DEATH    CASH       SURR      DEATH      CASH      SURR     DEATH
  YEAR       AT 5%   VALUE    VALUE     BENEFIT   VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT     VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT

<S>       <C>        <C>      <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>     <C>
    1       10,500   9,501    8,501      40,437   10,080     9,080     40,437    10,658     9,658    40,437
    2       11,025   8,999    7,999      40,437   10,150     9,150     40,437    11,370    10,370    40,437
    3       11,576   8,494    7,594      40,437   10,211     9,311     40,437    12,139    11,239    40,437
    4       12,155   7,984    7,184      40,437   10,260     9,460     40,437    12,972    12,172    40,437
    5       12,763   7,467    6,767      40,437   10,297     9,597     40,437    13,874    13,174    40,437
    6       13,401   6,941    6,341      40,437   10,318     9,718     40,437    14,852    14,252    40,437
    7       14,071   6,402    5,902      40,437   10,320     9,820     40,437    15,911    15,411    40,437
    8       14,775   5,849    5,449      40,437   10,301     9,901     40,437    17,062    16,662    40,437
    9       15,513   5,276    4,976      40,437   10,256     9,956     40,437    18,310    18,010    40,437
    10      16,289   4,680    4,680      40,437   10,181    10,181     40,437    19,668    19,668    40,437
    15      20,789   1,317    1,317      40,437    9,512     9,512     40,437    29,386    29,386    40,437
    20      26,533      (*)      (*)         (*)   7,315     7,315     40,437    45,090    45,090    55,010
    25      33,864      (*)      (*)         (*)   1,889     1,889     40,437    69,171    69,171    80,238
    30      43,219      (*)      (*)         (*)      (*)       (*)        (*)  106,265   106,265   113,704

</TABLE>

ASSUMPTIONS:

(1) NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2) GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT THE GUARANTEED CHARGES DESCRIBED IN THE "MONTHLY
    DEDUCTIONS" AND "SURRENDER CHARGES" SECTIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS.

(3) NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
    RETURN LESS THE AVERAGE FUND EXPENSE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*) UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN.  ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE
OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION.  THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6% AND 12% OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL
POLICY YEARS.  NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST
THAT THESE HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR
SUSTAINED OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.


                                          42

<PAGE>

                 $25,000 INITIAL PREMIUM:  $101,093 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: SIMPLIFIED ISSUE: AGE 45

                                    CURRENT VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                 0% HYPOTHETICAL                      6% HYPOTHETICAL             12% HYPOTHETICAL
              GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN            GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN

         PREMIUMS
        PAID PLUS              CASH                          CASH                           CASH
POLICY   INTEREST    CASH      SURR      DEATH     CASH      SURR      DEATH      CASH      SURR     DEATH
  YEAR     AT 5%    VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT    VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT     VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT

<S>    <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
    1     26,250   24,132    21,632    101,093   25,583    23,083    101,093    27,034    24,534   101,093
    2     27,562   23,289    20,789    101,093   26,182    23,682    101,093    29,244    26,744   101,093
    3     28,941   22,472    20,222    101,093   26,798    24,548    101,093    31,645    29,395   101,093
    4     30,388   21,679    19,679    101,093   27,432    25,432    101,093    34,253    32,253   101,093
    5     31,907   20,911    19,161    101,093   28,083    26,333    101,093    37,086    35,336   101,093
    6     33,502   20,165    18,665    101,093   28,753    27,253    101,093    40,164    38,664   101,093
    7     35,178   19,442    18,192    101,093   29,441    28,191    101,093    43,503    42,253   101,093
    8     36,936   18,740    17,740    101,093   30,149    29,149    101,093    47,120    46,120   101,093
    9     38,783   18,059    17,309    101,093   30,877    30,127    101,093    51,037    50,287   101,093
    10    40,722   17,399    17,399    101,093   31,626    31,626    101,093    55,280    55,280   101,093
    15    51,973   14,756    14,756    101,093   36,610    36,610    101,093    84,709    84,709   113,510
    20    66,332   12,428    12,428    101,093   42,475    42,475    101,093   131,806   131,806   160,803
    25    84,659   10,379    10,379    101,093   49,301    49,301    101,093   206,582   206,582   239,635
    30   108,049    8,575     8,575    101,093   57,224    57,224    101,093   323,780   323,780   346,445

</TABLE>

ASSUMPTIONS:

(1) NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2) CURRENT VALUES REFLECT THE CURRENT CHARGES DESCRIBED IN THE "MONTHLY
    DEDUCTIONS" AND "SURRENDER CHARGES" SECTIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS.

(3) NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
    RETURN LESS THE AVERAGE FUND EXPENSE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*) UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN.  ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE
OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION.  THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6% AND 12% OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL
POLICY YEARS.  NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST
THAT THESE HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR
SUSTAINED OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.


                                          43

<PAGE>

                 $25,000 INITIAL PREMIUM:  $101,093 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: SIMPLIFIED ISSUE: AGE 45

                                  GUARANTEED VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        0% HYPOTHETICAL               6% HYPOTHETICAL             12% HYPOTHETICAL
                   GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN

         PREMIUMS
        PAID PLUS              CASH                          CASH                           CASH
POLICY   INTEREST    CASH      SURR      DEATH     CASH      SURR      DEATH      CASH      SURR     DEATH
  YEAR      AT 5%   VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT    VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT     VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT

<S>    <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>      <C>
    1      26,250  23,931    21,431    101,093   25,383    22,883    101,093    26,836    24,336   101,093
    2      27,562  22,851    20,351    101,093   25,751    23,251    101,093    28,822    26,322   101,093
    3      28,941  21,760    19,510    101,093   26,102    23,852    101,093    30,975    28,725   101,093
    4      30,388  20,654    18,654    101,093   26,434    24,434    101,093    33,310    31,310   101,093
    5      31,907  19,528    17,778    101,093   26,741    24,991    101,093    35,843    34,093   101,093
    6      33,502  18,377    16,877    101,093   27,020    25,520    101,093    38,595    37,095   101,093
    7      35,178  17,193    15,943    101,093   27,263    26,013    101,093    41,583    40,333   101,093
    8      36,936  15,969    14,969    101,093   27,463    26,463    101,093    44,824    43,824   101,093
    9      38,783  14,695    13,945    101,093   27,611    26,861    101,093    48,340    47,590   101,093
    10     40,722  13,364    13,364    101,093   27,699    27,699    101,093    52,161    52,161   101,093
    15     51,973   5,799     5,799    101,093   27,735    27,735    101,093    79,302    79,302   106,265
    20     66,332      (*)       (*)        (*)  24,678    24,678    101,093   121,978   121,978   148,813
    25     84,659      (*)       (*)        (*)  14,964    14,964    101,093   187,121   187,121   217,061
    30    108,049      (*)       (*)        (*)      (*)       (*)        (*)  287,469   287,469   307,592

</TABLE>

ASSUMPTIONS:

(1) NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2) GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT THE GUARANTEED CHARGES DESCRIBED IN THE "MONTHLY
    DEDUCTION" AND "SURRENDER CHARGES"  SECTION OF THE PROSPECTUS.

(3) NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
    RETURN LESS THE AVERAGE FUND MANAGEMENT EXPENSE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS
    APPENDIX

(*) UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUMS ARE PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.


THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN.  ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE
OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION.  THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6% AND 12% OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL
POLICY YEARS.  NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST
THAT THESE HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR
SUSTAINED OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.


                                          44

<PAGE>

                 $100,000 INITIAL PREMIUM:  $195,791 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: SIMPLIFIED ISSUE: AGE 65

                                    CURRENT VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        0% HYPOTHETICAL               6% HYPOTHETICAL             12% HYPOTHETICAL
                   GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN

        PREMIUMS
       PAID PLUS              CASH                            CASH                           CASH
POLICY  INTEREST     CASH     SURR       DEATH      CASH      SURR     DEATH       CASH      SURR     DEATH
  YEAR     AT 5%    VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT     VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT      VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT

<S>    <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>
    1    105,000   96,708    86,708    195,791   102,511    92,511   195,791    108,313    98,313   195,791
    2    110,250   93,524    83,524    195,791   105,084    95,084   195,791    117,318   107,318   195,791
    3    115,762   90,446    81,446    195,791   107,723    98,723   195,791    127,071   118,071   195,791
    4    121,551   87,468    79,468    195,791   110,427   102,427   195,791    137,635   129,635   195,791
    5    127,628   84,589    77,589    195,791   113,200   106,200   195,791    149,077   142,077   195,791
    6    134,010   81,804    75,804    195,791   116,042   110,042   195,791    161,470   155,470   195,791
    7    140,710   79,111    74,111    195,791   118,955   113,955   195,791    174,903   169,903   197,641
    8    147,746   76,507    72,507    195,791   121,942   117,942   195,791    189,597   185,597   210,452
    9    155,133   73,988    70,988    195,791   125,004   122,004   195,791    205,646   202,646   224,154
    10   162,889   71,553    71,553    195,791   128,142   128,142   195,791    223,212   223,212   238,837
    15   207,893   62,060    62,060    195,791   152,505   152,505   195,791    349,845   349,845   367,337
    20   265,330   53,828    53,828    195,791   181,501   181,501   195,791    548,319   548,319   575,735
    25   338,635   46,687    46,687    195,791   216,010   216,010   226,810    859,393   859,393   902,362
    30   432,194   40,493    40,493    195,791   257,079   257,079   259,650  1,346,944 1,346,944 1,360,414

</TABLE>

ASSUMPTIONS:

(1) NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2) CURRENT VALUES REFLECT THE CURRENT CHARGES DESCRIBED IN THE "MONTHLY
    DEDUCTIONS" AND "SURRENDER CHARGES" SECTIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS.

(3) NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
    RETURN LESS THE AVERAGE FUND EXPENSE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*) UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN.  ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE
OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION.  THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6% AND 12% OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL
POLICY YEARS.  NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST
THAT THESE HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR
SUSTAINED OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.


                                          45

<PAGE>

                 $100,000 INITIAL PREMIUM:  $195,791 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                            MALE: SIMPLIFIED ISSUE: AGE 65

                                  GUARANTEED VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        0% HYPOTHETICAL               6% HYPOTHETICAL                  12% HYPOTHETICAL
                   GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN            GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN

        PREMIUMS
       PAID PLUS               CASH                           CASH                            CASH
POLICY  INTEREST     CASH      SURR      DEATH      CASH      SURR     DEATH        CASH      SURR     DEATH
  YEAR     AT 5%    VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT     VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT       VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT

<S>    <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>
    1    105,000   94,724    84,724    195,791   100,554    90,554   195,791     106,387    96,387   195,791
    2    110,250   89,180    79,180    195,791   100,888    90,888   195,791     113,303   103,303   195,791
    3    115,762   83,324    74,324    195,791   100,974    91,974   195,791     120,837   111,837   195,791
    4    121,551   77,095    69,095    195,791   100,776    92,776   195,791     129,095   121,095   195,791
    5    127,628   70,416    63,416    195,791   100,242    93,242   195,791     138,201   131,201   195,791
    6    134,010   63,182    57,182    195,791    99,301    93,301   195,791     148,306   142,306   195,791
    7    140,710   55,257    50,257    195,791    97,861    92,861   195,791     159,604   154,604   195,791
    8    147,746   46,469    42,469    195,791    95,804    91,804   195,791     172,343   168,343   195,791
    9    155,133   36,605    33,605    195,791    92,985    89,985   195,791     186,774   183,774   203,583
   10    162,889   25,406    25,406    195,791    89,242    89,242   195,791     202,728   202,728   216,919
   15    207,893       (*)       (*)        (*)   50,882    50,882   195,791     313,490   313,490   329,165
   20    265,330       (*)       (*)        (*)       (*)       (*)       (*)    479,062   479,062   503,016
   25    338,635       (*)       (*)        (*)       (*)       (*)       (*)    718,814   718,814   754,755
   30    432,194       (*)       (*)        (*)       (*)       (*)       (*)  1,087,242 1,087,242 1,098,114

</TABLE>

ASSUMPTIONS:

(1) NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2) GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT THE GUARANTEED CHARGES DESCRIBED IN THE "MONTHLY
    DEDUCTIONS" AND "SURRENDER CHARGES" SECTIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS.

(3) NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
    RETURN LESS THE AVERAGE FUND EXPENSE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*) UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN.  ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE
OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION.  THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6% AND 12% OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL
POLICY YEARS.  NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST
THAT THESE HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR
SUSTAINED OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.


                                          46

<PAGE>

                 $100,000 INITIAL PREMIUM:  $273,583 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                             MALE: REGULAR ISSUE: AGE 55

                                    CURRENT VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        0% HYPOTHETICAL               6% HYPOTHETICAL                  12% HYPOTHETICAL
                   GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN       GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN            GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN

        PREMIUMS
       PAID PLUS               CASH                           CASH                            CASH
POLICY  INTEREST    CASH       SURR      DEATH      CASH      SURR     DEATH        CASH      SURR     DEATH
  YEAR     AT 5%    VALUE     VALUE    BENEFIT     VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT       VALUE     VALUE   BENEFIT

<S>    <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>         <C>       <C>       <C>
    1    105,000   96,708    86,708    273,583   102,511    92,511   273,583     108,313    98,313   273,583
    2    110,250   93,524    83,524    273,583   105,084    95,084   273,583     117,318   107,318   273,583
    3    115,762   90,446    81,446    273,583   107,723    98,723   273,583     127,071   118,071   273,583
    4    121,551   87,468    79,468    273,583   110,427   102,427   273,583     137,635   129,635   273,583
    5    127,628   84,589    77,589    273,583   113,200   106,200   273,583     149,077   142,077   273,583
    6    134,010   81,804    75,804    273,583   116,042   110,042   273,583     161,470   155,470   273,583
    7    140,710   79,111    74,111    273,583   118,955   113,955   273,583     174,893   169,893   273,583
    8    147,746   76,507    72,507    273,583   121,942   117,942   273,583     189,433   185,433   273,583
    9    155,133   73,988    70,988    273,583   125,004   122,004   273,583     205,181   202,181   273,583
   10    162,889   71,553    71,553    273,583   128,142   128,142   273,583     222,260   222,260   273,583
   15    207,893   62,060    62,060    273,583   152,505   152,505   273,583     348,353   348,353   404,090
   20    265,330   53,828    53,828    273,583   181,501   181,501   273,583     545,981   545,981   584,200
   25    338,635   46,687    46,687    273,583   216,010   216,010   273,583     855,728   855,728   898,515
   30    432,194   40,493    40,493    273,583 s 257,079   257,079   273,583   1,341,201 1,341,201 1,408,261

</TABLE>

ASSUMPTIONS:

(1) NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2) CURRENT VALUES REFLECT THE CURRENT CHARGES DESCRIBED IN THE "MONTHLY
    DEDUCTIONS" AND "SURRENDER CHARGES" SECTIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS.

(3) NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
    RETURN LESS THE AVERAGE FUND EXPENSE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*) UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN.  ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE
OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION.  THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6% AND 12% OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL
POLICY YEARS.  NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST
THAT THESE HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR
SUSTAINED OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.


                                          47
<PAGE>

              $100,000 INITIAL PREMIUM:  $273,583 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                           MALE: REGULAR ISSUE: AGE 55

                                GUARANTEED VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        0% HYPOTHETICAL                   6% HYPOTHETICAL                            12% HYPOTHETICAL
                    GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN           GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN                     GROSS INVESTMENT RETURN

        PREMIUMS
        PAID PLUS             CASH                                CASH                                       CASH
POLICY  INTEREST    CASH      SURR       DEATH       CASH         SURR          DEATH         CASH           SURR           DEATH
 YEAR    AT 5%      VALUE    VALUE     BENEFIT       VALUE        VALUE        BENEFIT        VALUE          VALUE         BENEFIT
<S>     <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>
  1     105,000    95,428    85,428     273,583     101,237       91,237       273,583       107,048         97,048        273,583
  2     110,250    90,746    80,746     273,583     102,348       92,348       273,583       114,641        104,641        273,583
  3     115,762    85,934    76,934     273,583     103,319       94,319       273,583       122,842        113,842        273,583
  4     121,551    80,971    72,971     273,583     104,133       96,133       273,583       131,721        123,721        273,583
  5     127,628    75,827    68,827     273,583     104,766       97,766       273,583       141,357        134,357        273,583
  6     134,010    70,462    64,462     273,583     105,188       99,188       273,583       151,838        145,838        273,583
  7     140,710    64,827    59,827     273,583     105,356      100,356       273,583       163,262        158,262        273,583
  8     147,746    58,861    54,861     273,583     105,222      101,222       273,583       175,751        171,751        273,583
  9     155,133    52,500    49,500     273,583     104,733      101,733       273,583       189,449        186,449        273,583
 10     162,889    45,670    45,670     273,583     103,829      103,829       273,583       204,536        204,536        273,583
 15     207,893     2,162     2,162     273,583      93,673       93,673       273,583       312,923        312,923        362,991
 20     265,330       (*)       (*)         (*)      56,926       56,926       273,583       480,735        480,735        514,386
 25     338,635       (*)       (*)         (*)         (*)          (*)           (*)       743,388        743,388        780,557
 30     432,194       (*)       (*)         (*)         (*)          (*)           (*)     1,136,014      1,136,014      1,192,815

</TABLE>

ASSUMPTIONS:

(1)  NO POLICY LOANS AND NO PARTIAL WITHDRAWALS HAVE BEEN MADE.

(2)  GUARANTEED VALUES REFLECT THE GUARANTEED CHARGES DESCRIBED IN THE "MONTHLY
     DEDUCTIONS" AND "SURRENDER CHARGES" SECTIONS OF THE PROSPECTUS.

(3)  NET INVESTMENT RETURNS ARE CALCULATED AS THE HYPOTHETICAL GROSS INVESTMENT
     RETURN LESS THE AVERAGE FUND EXPENSE DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS APPENDIX.

(*)  UNLESS ADDITIONAL PREMIUM IS PAID, THE POLICY WILL NOT STAY IN FORCE.

THE HYPOTHETICAL INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN SHOWN ABOVE AND ELSEWHERE IN THIS
PROSPECTUS ARE ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE DEEMED A REPRESENTATION OF
PAST OR FUTURE INVESTMENT RATES OF RETURN.  ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN MAY BE MORE
OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN AND WILL DEPEND ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS, INCLUDING THE
INVESTMENT ALLOCATIONS MADE BY AN OWNER, PREVAILING RATES AND RATES OF
INFLATION.  THE DEATH BENEFIT AND CASH VALUE FOR A POLICY WOULD BE DIFFERENT
FROM THOSE SHOWN IF THE ACTUAL RATES OF RETURN AVERAGED 0%, 6% AND 12% OVER A
PERIOD OF YEARS BUT ALSO FLUCTUATED ABOVE OR BELOW THOSE AVERAGES FOR INDIVIDUAL
POLICY YEARS.  NO REPRESENTATIONS CAN BE MADE BY NATIONWIDE LIFE OR THE TRUST
THAT THESE HYPOTHETICAL RATES OF RETURN CAN BE ACHIEVED FOR ANY ONE YEAR OR
SUSTAINED OVER ANY PERIOD OF TIME.


                                       48
<PAGE>

                              APPENDIX 2

The following performance tables display historical investment results of the
Underlying Mutual Fund sub-accounts of the Variable Account.  This information
may be useful in helping potential investors in deciding which Underlying Mutual
Fund sub-accounts to choose and in assessing the competence of the Underlying
Mutual Funds' investment advisers.  The performance figures shown should be
considered in light of the investment objectives and policies, characteristics
and quality of the underlying portfolios of the Underlying Mutual Funds, and the
market conditions during the periods of time quoted.  The performance figures
should not be considered as estimates or predictions of future performance.
Investment return and the principal value of the Underlying Mutual Fund sub-
accounts are not guaranteed and will fluctuate so that a Policy Owner's units,
when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.


                                       49
<PAGE>

                            FUND PERFORMANCE TABLE *

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Annual Percentage Change
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Fund                    Unit
     UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS                       Inception                 Values             1994         1995           1996
                                                      Date                  12/31/96
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                <C>                      <C>                <C>           <C>            <C>
American Century VP Balanced                        05/01/91                  10.93             0.61         21.12           12.21
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Capital Appreciation            11/20/87                   9.12            -1.17         31.1            -4.32
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP International                   05/01/94                  10.77              N/A         11.33           14.1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Value                           05/01/96                  10.15              N/A           N/A             N/A
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Growth & Income Fund                                05/02/94                   9.99              N/A         61.89           19.63
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund            10/06/93                  11.18             1.49         34.56           21.23
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                            09/29/89                  11.46             0.19         33.28           22.54
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II -Asset Manager Portfolio       09/06/89                  11.02            -6.09         16.96           14.6
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II -Contrafund Portfolio          01/03/95                  11.25              N/A           N/A           21.31
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Equity-Income Portfolio         10/09/86                  10.79             7.07         35.09           14.28
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Growth Portfolio                10/09/86                  10.45            -0.02         35.36           14.71
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - High Income Portfolio           09/19/85                  10.83            -1.55         20.6            14.03
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Overseas Portfolio              01/28/87                  10.67             1.72          9.68           13.22
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Capital Appreciation Fund                      04/15/92                  11.61            -0.9          29.35           26.14
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Government Bond Fund                           11/08/82                  10.68            -3.23         18.74            3.49
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund                              11/10/81                  10.34             3.88          5.64            5.13
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Small Company Fund                             10/23/95                  10.52              N/A           N/A           22.83
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund                              11/08/82                  11.44             1.07         29.09           21.84
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Growth Portfolio                 09/10/84                   9.87            -4.99         31.73            9.14
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Bond Portfolio                   09/10/84                  10.48            -0.15         10.93            4.31
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Partners Portfolio               03/22/94                  11.48              N/A         36.47           29.57
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account
Fund - Bond Fund                                    04/30/85                  10.64            -1.94         17               4.8
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account
Fund - Global Securities                            11/12/90                  10.83            -5.72          2.24           17.8
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account
Fund - Multiple  Strategies                         02/09/87                  10.94            -1.95         21.36           15.5
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance
Funds, Inc. - Discovery Fund II, Inc.               05/08/92                   9.88            -5.39         35.26            0.81
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance
Funds, Inc. - International Stock Fund II           10/20/95                  10.05              N/A           N/A           10.38
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Opportunity Fund II, Inc.                    05/08/92                  10.77             3.6          25.82           18.15
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide  Emerging Markets Fund            09/01/87                  10.06            -4.79         12.08           20.57
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide Bond Fund                         09/01/89                  10.52            -1.32         17.3             2.52
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide Hard Assets Fund                  12/27/95                  10.07              N/A           N/A           26.72
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen American Capital
Life Investment Trust - Morgan Stanley
Real Estate Securities Portfolio                    07/03/95                  13.67              N/A           N/A           40.53
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - International
Equity Portfolio                                    06/30/95                   9.94              N/A           N/A            9.98
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Post Venture
Capital Portfolio                                   11/18/96                  10.17              N/A           N/A             N/A
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Small Company
Growth Portfolio                                    06/30/95                   9.83              N/A           N/A           13.91
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<CAPTION>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cumulative Non-Anualized
                                                                                        Percentage Change
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS                    1 mo            1 Yr          2 Yrs         3 Yrs.          5 yrs.       Inception
                                                 to              to            to             to              to             to   
                                              12/31/96       12/31/96       12/31/96        12/31/96        12/31/96      12/31/96
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>          <C>
American Century VP Balanced                    -2.46          12.21          35.91          36.74          38.36          73.69  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Capital Appreciation        -3.12          -4.32          25.43          23.97          34.92         154.91  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP International                2.05          14.1           27.02            N/A            N/A          20.03  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Value                        0.72            N/A            N/A            N/A            N/A          12.28  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund                                                                                                  
Growth & Income Fund                            -2.09          19.63          93.67            N/A            N/A          89.63  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund        -3.44          21.23          63.13          65.56            N/A          77.74  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                        -2.04          22.54          63.31          63.63         101.79         153.5   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II - Asset                                                                                                       
Manager Portfolio                               -1.46          14.6           34.04          25.87          70.47         124.77  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II - Contrafund Portfolio     -0.6           21.31            N/A            N/A            N/A          67.16  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Equity-Income Portfolio     -1.64          14.28          54.39          65.3          128.56         263.05  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Growth Portfolio            -3.08          14.71          55.27          55.24         102.58         311.23  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - High Income Portfolio        1.38          14.03          37.53          35.4          100.79         258.69  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Overseas Portfolio           0.53          13.22          24.17          26.31          54.78         112.54  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Capital Appreciation Fund                   0.24          26.14          63.17          61.7             N/A          87.48  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Government Bond Fund                       -1.13           3.49          22.89          18.92          40.48         264.17  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund                           0.42           5.13          11.06          15.37          22.58         184.92  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Small Company Fund                          1.17          22.83            N/A            N/A            N/A          40.49  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund                           0.15          21.84          57.29          58.98          90.76         654.17  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers                                                                                                       
Management Trust - Growth Portfolio             -0.58           9.14          43.77          36.6           59.79         341.7   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust -Bond Portfolio                -0.07           4.31          15.71          15.53          29.57         167     
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust -Partners Portfolio             0.18          29.57          76.82            N/A            N/A          72.76  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account
Fund - Bond Fund                                -0.92           4.8           22.61          20.23          44.75         197.83  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account
Fund - Global Securities                         0.8           17.8           20.43          13.54          79.64          86.47  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account
Fund - Multiple  Strategies                     -0.5           15.5           40.16          37.44          73.69         194.24  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance                                                                                                         
Funds, Inc. -  Discovery Fund II, Inc.          -0.37           0.81          36.35          29.01            N/A          71.41  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance
Funds, Inc. - International Stock Fund II       -0.8           10.38            N/A            N/A            N/A          13.27  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Opportunity Fund II, Inc.                -0.25          18.15          48.65          54               N/A         123.93  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance                                                                                                       
Trust - Worldwide  Emerging Markets Fund         0.97          20.57          35.14          28.67         103.41          84.44  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide Bond Fund                     -0.89           2.52          20.26          18.68          21.13          60.74  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide Hard Assets Fund               1.05          26.72            N/A            N/A            N/A          25.45  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen American Capital                                                                                                       
Life Investment Trust - Morgan Stanley                                                                                           
Real Estate Securities Portfolio                11.06          40.53            N/A            N/A            N/A          50.93  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - International                                                                                                
Equity Portfolio                                 0.2            9.98            N/A            N/A            N/A          18.01  
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Post Venture                
Capital Portfolio                                0               N/A            N/A            N/A            N/A          -2.22
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust-Small
Company Growth Portfolio                         2.3           13.91            N/A            N/A            N/A          42.5   
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<CAPTION>

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Average Annualized
                                                       Percentage Change
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS                     3 Yrs.         5 yrs.     Inception
                                                 to             to             to
                                              12/31/96       12/31/96     12/31/96
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>            <C>         <C>
American Century VP Balanced                    10.99           6.71          10.24
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Capital Appreciation         7.42           6.17          10.81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP International                 N/A            N/A           7.09
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Value                         N/A            N/A            N/A
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund                                                   
Growth & Income Fund                              N/A            N/A          27.18
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund        18.3             N/A          19.46
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                        17.84          15.08          13.68
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II - Asset                                                        
Manager Portfolio                                7.97          11.26          11.71
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II - Contrafund Portfolio       N/A            N/A          29.43
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Equity-Income Portfolio     18.24          17.98          13.44
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Growth Portfolio            15.79          15.16          14.83
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - High Income Portfolio       10.63          14.96          11.99
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Overseas Portfolio           8.1            9.13           7.89
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Capital Appreciation Fund                  17.37            N/A          14.28
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Government Bond Fund                        5.94           7.03           9.57
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund                           4.88           4.16           7.16
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Small Company Fund                           N/A            N/A          33.12
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund                          16.71          13.79          15.35
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers                                                        
Management Trust - Growth Portfolio             10.96           9.83          12.83
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Bond Portfolio                4.93           5.32           8.31
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Partners Portfolio             N/A            N/A          21.78
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account                                                       
Fund - Bond Fund                                 6.33           7.68           9.81
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account
Fund - Global Securities                         4.32          12.43          10.69
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account
Fund - Multiple  Strategies                     11.18          11.67          11.53
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance                                                          
Funds, Inc. - Discovery Fund II, Inc.            8.86            N/A          12.3 
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Funds, Inc. - International Stock Fund II         N/A            N/A          10.98
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Opportunity Fund II, Inc.                15.48            N/A          18.95
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance                                                        
Trust - Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund          8.77          15.26           8.71
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide Bond Fund                      5.87           3.91           6.69
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide Hard Assets Fund                N/A            N/A          25.15
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen American Capital                                                        
Life Investment Trust - Morgan Stanley                                            
Real Estate Securities Portfolio                  N/A            N/A          31.77
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - International                                                 
Equity Portfolio                                  N/A            N/A          11.74
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Post
Venture Capital Portfolio                         N/A            N/A            N/A
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Small
Company Growth Portfolio                          N/A            N/A          26.79
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

</TABLE>


                              (See accompanying Notes to Fund Performance Table)

*TOTAL RETURN SHOWS THE PERCENT CHANGE IN UNIT VALUES, WITH DIVIDENDS AND
CAPITAL GAINS REINVESTED AFTER THE DEDUCTIONS OF APPLICABLE INVESTMENT ADVISORY
FEES AND OTHER EXPENSES OF THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS.  THE TOTAL RETURN
FIGURES DO NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE SEVERAL OTHER POLICY CHARGES WHICH ARE
DESCRIBED IN THE "POLICY CHARGES" SECTION.


Performance information is not yet available for the Dreyfus Variable Investment
Fund-Capital Appreciation Portfolio, Fidelity Variable Insurance Products III-
Growth Opportunities Portfolio, Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc.-Emerging
Markets Debt Portfolio and the Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds-Oppenheimer
Growth Fund.


                                       50
<PAGE>

                         NOTES TO FUND PERFORMANCE TABLE

The preceding table displays three types of total return: (1) Annual Percentage
Change; (2) Cumulative Non-Annualized Percentage Change; and (3) Average
Annualized Percentage Change.  Total return shows the percent change in unit
values, with dividends and capital gains reinvested, after the deduction of
applicable investment advisory fees and other expenses of the Underlying Mutual
Funds, and includes no contract-level charges.  The total return figures shown
in the Annual Percentage Change and Average Annualized Percentage Change columns
represent annualized figures, i.e., that is the rate of growth that would have
produced the corresponding cumulative return had performance been constant over
the entire period quoted. The Annual Percentage Change reflects the rate of
return on an annual percentage basis during the 1994, 1995 and 1996 calendar
years.  The Average Annualized Percentage Change reflects the annual percentage
rate of return  over 3 and 5 year periods, or from Underlying Mutual Fund
inception.   The Cumulative Non-Annualized  Percentage Change total return
figures are not annual return figures but instead represent the total percentage
change in unit value over the stated periods without annualization.  Total
Return Shows The Percent Change In Unit Values, With Dividends And Capital Gains
Reinvested After The Deductions Of Applicable Investment Advisory Fees And Other
Expenses Of The Underlying Mutual Funds.  THE TOTAL RETURN FIGURES DO NOT TAKE
INTO ACCOUNT THE SEVERAL OTHER POLICY CHARGES WHICH ARE DESCRIBED IN THE "POLICY
CHARGES" SECTION.

The Underlying Mutual Fund Inception Date is the date the Underlying Mutual Fund
first became effective, which is not necessarily the same date the Underlying
Mutual Fund was first made available through the Variable Account.  For those
Underlying Mutual Funds which have not been offered as Sub-Accounts through the
Variable Account for one of the quoted periods, the total return figures will
show the investment performance such Underlying Mutual Funds would have achieved
Underlying Mutual Fund investment advisory fees and expenses had they been
offered as sub-accounts through the Variable Account for the period quoted.
Certain Underlying Mutual Funds are not as old as some of the periods quoted,
therefore, total return figures may not be available for all of the periods
shown.

THE PRECEDING FUND PERFORMANCE TABLE DISPLAYS HISTORICAL INVESTMENT RESULTS OF
THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS OF THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT.  THIS INFORMATION MAY BE
USEFUL IN HELPING POTENTIAL INVESTORS IN DECIDING WHICH UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS
TO CHOOSE AND IN ASSESSING THE COMPETENCE OF THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS'
INVESTMENT ADVISERS.  THE PERFORMANCE FIGURES SHOWN SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN
LIGHT OF THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES, CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITY OF
THE UNDERLYING PORTFOLIOS OF THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS, AND THE MARKET
CONDITIONS DURING THE PERIODS OF TIME QUOTED.  THE PERFORMANCE FIGURES SHOULD
NOT BE CONSIDERED AS ESTIMATES OR PREDICTIONS OF FUTURE PERFORMANCE.  INVESTMENT
RETURN AND THE PRINCIPAL VALUE OF THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS ARE NOT GUARANTEED
AND WILL FLUCTUATE SO THAT A POLICY OWNER'S UNITS, WHEN REDEEMED, MAY BE WORTH
MORE OR LESS THAN THEIR ORIGINAL COST.


                                       51
<PAGE>

                         CASH VALUE PERFORMANCE TABLE *
                      HYPOTHETICAL ANNUAL PREMIUM:  $50,000
                            $165,397 SPECIFIED AMOUNT
                         MALE AGE 50 / SIMPLIFIED ISSUE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              1 YEAR TO 12/31/96            3 YEARS TO 12/31/96
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          FUND                         CASH                          CASH
UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND                                    INCEPTION      ACCUM         SURR.           ACCUM         SURR.
                                                          DATE           VALUE         VALUE           VALUE         VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                       <C>            <C>           <C>             <C>            <C>
American Century VP Balanced                                  05/01/91       $ 55,052       $ 50,052       $ 64,635       $ 60,135
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Capital Appreciation                      11/20/87       $ 46,936       $ 41,936       $ 58,602       $ 54,102
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP International                             05/01/94       $ 55,980       $ 50,980             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Value                                     05/01/94             NA             NA             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund  Growth & Income Fund        05/02/94       $ 58,702       $ 53,702             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund                      10/06/93       $ 59,485       $ 54,485       $ 78,297       $ 73,797
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                                      09/29/89       $ 60,124       $ 55,124       $ 77,366       $ 72,866
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II - Asset
Manager Portfolio                                             09/06/89       $ 56,228       $ 51,228       $ 59,465       $ 54,965
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II - Contrafund Portfolio                   01/03/95       $ 59,520       $ 54,520             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Equity-Income Portfolio                   10/09/86       $ 56,070       $ 51,070       $ 78,190       $ 73,690
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Growth Portfolio                          10/09/86       $ 56,281       $ 51,281       $ 73,408       $ 68,908
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - High Income Portfolio                     09/19/85       $ 55,949       $ 50,949       $ 63,999       $ 59,499
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Overseas Portfolio                        01/28/87       $ 55,548       $ 50,548       $ 59,696       $ 55,196
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Capital Appreciation Fund                                04/15/92       $ 61,895       $ 56,895       $ 76,446       $ 71,946
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Government Bond Fund                                     11/08/82       $ 50,765       $ 45,765       $ 56,185       $ 51,685
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund                                        11/10/81       $ 51,576       $ 46,576       $ 54,517       $ 50,017
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Small Company Fund                                       10/23/95       $ 60,273       $ 55,273             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund                                        11/08/82       $ 59,782       $ 54,782       $ 75,172       $ 70,672
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Growth Portfolio                           09/10/84       $ 53,545       $ 48,545       $ 64,567       $ 60,067
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Bond Portfolio                             09/10/84       $ 51,169       $ 46,169       $ 54,587       $ 50,087
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Partners Portfolio                         03/22/94       $ 63,580       $ 58,580             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Fund - Bond Fund                 04/30/85       $ 51,409       $ 46,409       $ 56,812       $ 52,312
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Fund - Global Securities         11/12/90       $ 57,797       $ 52,797       $ 53,621       $ 49,121
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Fund - Multiple  Strategies      02/09/87       $ 56,667       $ 51,667       $ 64,959       $ 60,459
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance
Funds, Inc. - Discovery Fund II, Inc.                         05/08/92       $ 49,448       $ 44,448       $ 60,965       $ 56,465
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance
Funds, Inc. - International Stock Fund II                     10/20/95       $ 54,160       $ 49,160             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Opportunity  Fund II, Inc.                             05/08/92       $ 57,969       $ 52,969       $ 72,821       $ 68,321
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide
Insurance Trust - Worldwide  Emerging Markets Fund            09/01/89       $ 59,170       $ 54,170       $ 60,793       $ 56,293
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide Bond Fund                                   09/01/89       $ 50,293       $ 45,293       $ 56,078       $ 51,578
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide Hard Assets Fund                            12/27/95       $ 62,184       $ 57,184             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen American Capital
Life Investment Trust - Morgan Stanley
Real Estate Securities Portfolio                              07/03/95       $ 68,955       $ 63,955             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - International Equity Portfolio         06/30/95       $ 53,963       $ 48,963             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Post Venture Capital Portfolio         11/18/96             NA             NA             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Small Company Growth Portfolio         06/30/95       $ 55,891       $ 50,891             NA             NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<CAPTION>

- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 5 YEARS TO 12/31/96           10 YEARS TO 12/31/96       INCEPTION TO 12/31/96
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            CASH                             CASH                      CASH
     UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND                   ACCUM         SURR.             ACCUM          SURR.      ACCUM          SURR.
                                              VALUE         VALUE             VALUE          VALUE      VALUE          VALUE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Balanced                     $ 62,957       $ 59,457            NA             NA       $ 78,255       $ 75,255
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Capital Appreciation         $ 61,439       $ 57,939            NA             NA       $108,046       $108,046
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP International                      NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 57,056       $ 52,556
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
American Century VP Value                              NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 55,435       $ 50,435
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Variable Investment Fund
Growth & Income Fund                                   NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 90,290       $ 85,790
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund               NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 83,699       $ 79,699
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreyfus Stock Index Fund                         $ 92,029       $ 88,529            NA             NA       $110,855       $108,855
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II - Asset Manager Portfolio   $ 77,750       $ 74,250            NA             NA       $ 98,359       $ 96,359
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund II - Contrafund Portfolio            NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 80,570       $ 75,570
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Equity-Income Portfolio      $104,366       $100,866      $151,280       $151,280       $151,098       $151,098
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Growth Portfolio             $ 92,421       $ 88,921     $ 171,428      $ 171,428      $ 171,592      $ 171,592
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - High Income Portfolio        $ 91,695       $ 88,195     $ 119,647      $ 119,647      $ 147,689      $ 147,689
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fidelity VIP Fund - Overseas Portfolio           $ 70,529       $ 67,029            NA             NA       $ 88,500       $ 88,500
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Capital Appreciation Fund                         NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 85,849       $ 82,349
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Government Bond Fund                        $ 64,009       $ 60,509      $ 93,383       $ 93,383       $145,092       $145,092
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Money Market Fund                           $ 55,807       $ 52,307      $ 72,595       $ 72,595       $111,589       $111,589
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Small Company Fund                                NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 68,634       $ 63,634
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NSAT Total Return Fund                           $ 86,982       $ 83,482      $136,813       $136,813       $302,010       $302,010
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Growth Portfolio              $ 72,820       $ 69,320      $123,303       $123,303       $180,222       $180,222
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Bond Portfolio                $ 59,009       $ 55,509      $ 79,390       $ 79,390       $108,381       $108,381
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Neuberger & Berman Advisers
Management Trust - Partners Portfolio                  NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 81,946       $ 77,446
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account Fund - Bond Fund    $ 65,967       $ 62,467      $ 96,920       $ 96,920       $122,105       $122,105
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account
Fund - Global Securities                         $ 81,958       $ 78,458            NA             NA       $ 83,236       $ 80,736
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Variable Account
Fund - Multiple  Strategies                      $ 79,203       $ 75,703            NA             NA       $123,021       $123,021
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance
Funds, Inc. - Discovery Fund II, Inc.                  NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 78,661       $ 75,161
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Variable Insurance
Funds, Inc. - International Stock Fund II              NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 55,316       $ 50,316
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Strong Opportunity  Fund II, Inc.                      NA             NA            NA             NA       $102,891       $ 99,391
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide  Emerging Markets Fund         $ 92,845       $ 89,345            NA             NA       $ 80,548       $ 78,548
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide Bond Fund                      $ 55,112       $ 51,612            NA             NA       $ 70,323       $ 68,323
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Eck Worldwide Insurance
Trust - Worldwide Hard Assets Fund                     NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 61,463       $ 56,463
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen American Capital Life
Investment Trust - Morgan Stanley
Real Estate Securities Portfolio                       NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 73,373       $ 68,373
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - International
Equity Portfolio                                       NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 57,366       $ 52,366
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Post Venture
Capital Portfolio                                      NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 48,656       $ 43,656
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Warburg Pincus Trust - Small Company
Growth Portfolio                                       NA             NA            NA             NA       $ 69,305       $ 64,305
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

</TABLE>

                    (See accompanying Notes to Cash Value Performance Table)

*THE CASH SURRENDER VALUE FIGURES REFLECT THE DEDUCTION OF THE APPLICABLE FUND-
LEVEL INVESTMENT ADVISORY FEES, A SURRENDER CHARGE AND AN ASSET FEE COMPRISED OF
A MORTALITY AND EXPENSE RISK CHARGE, THE APPLICABLE COST OF INSURANCE CHARGES,
TAX EXPENSE CHARGES AND AN ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE.

Performance information is not yet available for the Dreyfus Variable Investment
Fund-Capital Appreciation Portfolio, Fidelity Variable Insurance Products III-
Growth Opportunities Portfolio, Morgan Stanley Universal Funds, Inc.-Emerging
Markets Debt Portfolio and the Oppenheimer Variable Account Funds-Oppenheimer
Growth Fund.


                                       52
<PAGE>

                      NOTES TO CASH VALUE PERFORMANCE TABLE

The preceding cash value performance  table shows the effect of the performance
quoted on accumulated values and cash surrender values, based on a hypothetical
annual premium of $50,000 for a 50 year-old male, simplified, with a level death
benefit and an initial specified amount of $165,397.  The cash surrender value
figures reflect the deduction of the applicable fund-level investment advisory
fees, a Surrender Charge and an asset fee comprised of a mortality and expense
risk charge, the applicable cost of insurance charges, tax expense charges and
an annual administrative charge.  Performance for the cash surrender value
columns reflect the deduction of the applicable Surrender Charge at the end of
each period.  See the "Policy Charges" section for more information about these
charges.  The cost of insurance charges may be higher or lower for purchasers
who do not meet the profile of the hypothetical purchaser.  Illustrations
reflecting a potential purchaser's specific characteristics are available from
the Company upon request.

The Underlying Mutual Fund Inception Date is the date the Underlying Mutual Fund
first became effective, which is not necessarily the same date the Underlying
Mutual Fund was first made available through the Variable Account.  For those
Underlying Mutual Funds which have not been offered as Sub-Accounts through the
Variable Account for one of the quoted periods, the cash values will show the
investment performance such Underlying Mutual Funds would have achieved (reduced
by any applicable Variable Account and Policy Charges, and Underlying Mutual
Fund investment advisory fees and expenses) had they been offered as sub-
accounts through the Variable Account for the period quoted.  Certain Underlying
Mutual Funds are not as old as some of the periods quoted, therefore, the cash
values may not be available for all of the periods shown.

THE PRECEDING FUND PERFORMANCE TABLE DISPLAYS HISTORICAL INVESTMENT RESULTS OF
THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND SUB-ACCOUNTS OF THE VARIABLE ACCOUNT.  THIS
INFORMATION MAY BE USEFUL IN HELPING POTENTIAL INVESTORS IN DECIDING WHICH
UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUND SUB-ACCOUNTS TO CHOOSE AND IN ASSESSING THE COMPETENCE OF
THE UNDERLYING MUTUAL FUNDS' INVESTMENT ADVISERS.  THE PERFORMANCE FIGURES SHOWN
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN LIGHT OF THE INVESTMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES,
CHARACTERISTICS AND QUALITY OF THE UNDERLYING PORTFOLIOS OF THE UNDERLYING
MUTUAL FUNDS, AND THE MARKET CONDITIONS DURING THE PERIODS OF TIME QUOTED.  THE
PERFORMANCE FIGURES SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED AS ESTIMATES OR PREDICTIONS OF
FUTURE PERFORMANCE.  INVESTMENT RETURN AND THE PRINCIPAL VALUE OF THE UNDERLYING
MUTUAL FUND SUB-ACCOUNTS ARE NOT GUARANTEED AND WILL FLUCTUATE SO THAT A POLICY
OWNER'S UNITS, WHEN REDEEMED, MAY BE WORTH MORE OR LESS THAN THEIR ORIGINAL
COST.


                                       53
<PAGE>

                          Independent Auditors' Report


The Board of Directors of Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company
   (formerly Financial Horizons Life Insurance Company) and 
   Contract Owners of Nationwide VL Separate Account-A 
   (formerly Financial Horizons VL Separate Account-1):

      We have audited the accompanying statement of assets, liabilities and
contract owners' equity of Nationwide VL Separate Account-A (formerly Financial
Horizons VL Separate Account-1) as of December 31, 1996, and the related
statements of operations and changes in contract owners' equity and schedules
of changes in unit value for each of the years in the three year period then
ended.  These financial statements and schedules of changes in unit value are
the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements and schedules of changes in
unit value 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 and schedules of
changes in unit value are free of material misstatement. An audit includes
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. Our procedures included confirmation of securities
owned as of December 31, 1996, by correspondence with the transfer agents of
the underlying mutual funds. An audit also includes assessing the accounting
principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as
evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

      In our opinion, the financial statements and schedules of changes in unit
value referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial
position of Nationwide VL Separate Account-A (formerly Financial Horizons VL
Separate Account-1) as of December 31, 1996, and the results of its operations
and its changes in contract owners' equity and the schedules of changes in unit
value for each of the years in the three year period then ended in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.

                                                           KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Columbus, Ohio
February 7, 1997

<PAGE>

                        NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
              (Formerly Financial Horizons VL Separate Account-1)
          STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY

                               December 31, 1996

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
ASSETS:

   Investments at market value:

      Fidelity VIP - Growth Portfolio (FidVIPGr)
         1,295 shares (cost $30,834) .............................   $ 40,328

      Nationwide SAT - Capital Appreciation Fund (NSATCapAp)
         96 shares (cost $1,141) .................................      1,561

      Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund (NSATGvtBd)
         1,578 shares (cost $16,876) .............................     17,425

      Nationwide SAT - Money Market Fund (NSATMyMkt)
         10,224 shares (cost $10,224) ............................     10,224

      Nationwide SAT - Total Return Fund (NSATTotRe)
         863 shares (cost $9,232) ................................     11,458

      Neuberger & Berman - Balanced Portfolio (NBAMTBal)
         724 shares (cost $11,022) ...............................     11,523

      TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage (TCIAdv)
         60,866 shares (cost $312,528) ...........................    382,850
                                                                     --------
            Total assets                                              475,369
Accounts Payable                                                           34
                                                                     --------
Contract Owners' Equity                                              $475,335
                                                                     ========


Contract owners' equity represented by:                       UNITS       UNIT VALUE
                                                              -----       ----------
Multiple Payment Contracts and Flexible Premium Contracts:

    Fidelity VIP - Growth Portfolio .......................   2,016       $20.008196    $ 40,337

    Nationwide SAT - Capital Appreciation Fund ............      83        18.410667       1,528

    Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund .................   1,132        15.383251      17,414

    Nationwide SAT - Money Market Fund ....................     835        12.214743      10,199

    Nationwide SAT - Total Return Fund ....................     523        21.988773      11,500

    Neuberger & Berman - Balanced Portfolio ...............     729        15.775523      11,500

    TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage ........................     413        14.210999       5,869

    TCI Portfolios - TCI Advantage Initial Funding by
     Depositor (note 1a) ..................................  25,000        15.079515     376,988
                                                             ======        =========    ========
                                                                                        $475,335
                                                                                        ========
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

<PAGE>

                        NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
              (Formerly Financial Horizons VL Separate Account-1)
        STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND CHANGES IN CONTRACT OWNERS' EQUITY

                  Years Ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              1996          1995        1994
                                              ----          ----        ----
<S>                                        <C>           <C>         <C>
Investment Activity:
   Reinvested capital gains and
    dividends............................   $ 31,785     $ 13,451    $ 12,249
   Mortality and expense charges    
    (note 3).............................       (722)        (621)     (1,049)
                                            --------       ------    --------  
      Net investment activity............     31,063       12,830      11,200
                                            --------       ------    --------

   Proceeds from mutual fund shares
    sold.................................     16,003       36,212     134,821
   Cost of mutual fund shares sold.......    (14,209)     (35,326)   (138,965)
                                            --------       ------    --------  
      Realized gain (loss) on
       investments.......................      1,794          886      (4,144)
   Change in unrealized gain (loss)
    on investments.......................      8,266       53,488      (7,482)
                                            --------      -------    --------  
      Net gain (loss) on investments.....     10,060       54,374     (11,626)
                                            --------      -------    --------  
         Net increase (decrease) in
           contract owners' equity
             resulting from operations...     41,123       67,204        (426)
                                            --------      -------    --------  

Equity Transactions:
   Purchase payments received from
     contract owners.....................     24,097       36,589         --
   Surrenders (note 2d)..................     (6,042)        (164)     (9,107)
   Policy loans (net of repayments)
     (note 4)............................      3,498      (23,321)        --
   Deductions for surrender charges
     (note 2d)...........................         --            --        --
   Redemptions to pay cost of insurance
     charges and administrative charges
     (notes 2b and 2c)...................    (12,114)     (12,670)    (20,999)
                                            --------       ------    --------  
         Net equity transactions.........      9,439          434     (30,106)
                                            --------       ------    --------  

Net change in contract owners' equity         50,562       67,638     (30,532)
Contract owners' equity beginning
   of period.............................    424,773      357,135      387,667
                                            --------       ------    --------  
Contract owners' equity end of
   period................................  $ 475,335     $424,773     $357,135
                                           =========      =======      =======
</TABLE>


See accompanying notes to financial statements.

<PAGE>

                        NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
              (Formerly Financial Horizons VL Separate Account-1)
                         NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994

(1)  SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     (a) Organization and Nature of Operations

         Nationwide VL Separate Account-A (formerly Financial Horizons VL
         Separate Account-1) (the Account) was established pursuant to a
         resolution of the Board of Directors of Nationwide Life and Annuity
         Insurance Company (formerly Financial Horizons Life Insurance Company)
         (the Company) on August 8, 1984. The Account has been registered as a
         unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act of 1940. On
         August 21, 1991, the Company (Depositor) transferred to the Account,
         50,000 shares of the TCI Portfolios, Inc. - TCI Advantage fund for
         which the Account was credited with 25,000 accumulation units. The
         value of the accumulation units purchased by the Company on August 21,
         1991 was $250,000.

         The Company offers Modified Single Premium, Multiple Payment and
         Flexible Premium Variable Life Insurance Policies through the Account.
         The primary distribution for the contracts is through banks and other
         financial institutions; however, other distributors may be utilized.

     (b) The Contracts

         Only contracts with a front-end sales charge, a contingent deferred
         sales charge and certain other fees, have been purchased.
         Additionally, contracts without a front-end sales charge, but with a
         contingent deferred sales charge and certain other fees, have been
         purchased. See note 2 for a discussion of policy charges and note 3
         for asset charges.

         Contract owners may invest in the following:

              Portfolio of the Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Fund
              (Fidelity VIP);
                Fidelity VIP - Growth Portfolio (FidVIPGr)

              Funds of the Nationwide Separate Account Trust (Nationwide SAT)
              (managed for a fee by an affiliated investment advisor);
                Nationwide SAT - Capital Appreciation Fund (NSATCapAp)
                Nationwide SAT - Government Bond Fund (NSATGvtBd) Nationwide
                SAT - Money Market Fund (NSATMyMkt) Nationwide SAT - Total
                Return Fund (NSATTotRe)

              Portfolio of the Neuberger &Berman Advisers Management Trust
              (Neuberger & Berman);
                Neuberger & Berman - Balanced Portfolio (NBAMTBal)

              Portfolio of the TCI Portfolios, Inc. (TCIPortfolios); TCI
                Portfolios - TCI Advantage (TCIAdv)

         At December 31, 1996, contract owners have invested in all of the
         above funds. The contract owners' equity is affected by the investment
         results of each fund, equity transactions by contract owners and
         certain policy charges (see notes 2 and 3). The accompanying financial
         statements include only contract owners' purchase payments pertaining
         to the variable portions of their contracts and exclude any purchase
         payments for fixed dollar investment options, the latter being
         included in the accounts of the Company.

     (c) Security Valuation, Transactions and Related Investment Income

         The market value of the underlying mutual funds is based on the
         closing net asset value per share at December 31, 1996. The cost of
         investments sold is determined on the specific identification basis.
         Investment transactions are accounted for on the trade date (date the
         order to buy or sell is executed) and dividend income is recorded on
         the ex-dividend date.

<PAGE>

     (d) Federal Income Taxes

         Operations of the Account form a part of, and are taxed with,
         operations of the Company, which is taxed as a life insurance company
         under the Internal Revenue Code.

         The Company does not provide for income taxes within the Account.
         Taxes are the responsibility of the contract owner upon termination or
         withdrawal.

     (e) Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

         The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
         accepted accounting principles may require management to make
         estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets
         and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities,
         if any, at the date of the financial statements and the reported
         amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual
         results could differ from those estimates.

     (f) Reclassifications

         Certain 1995 and 1994 amounts have been reclassified to conform with
         the current year presentation.

(2)  POLICY CHARGES

     (a) Deductions from Premiums

         On multiple payment contracts and flexible premium contracts, the
         Company deducts a charge for state premium taxes equal to 2.5% of all
         premiums received to cover the payment of these premium taxes. The
         Company also deducts a sales load from each premium payment received
         not to exceed 3.5% of each premium payment. The Company may at its
         sole discretion reduce this sales loading.

     (b) Cost of Insurance

         A cost of insurance charge is assessed monthly against each contract
         by liquidating units. The amount of the charge is based upon age, sex,
         rate class and net amount at risk (death benefit less total contract
         value).

     (c) Administrative Charges

         For multiple payment contracts, the Company currently deducts a
         monthly administrative charge of $5 (may deduct up to $7.50, maximum)
         to recover policy maintenance, accounting, record keeping and other
         administrative expenses.

         For flexible premium contracts, the Company currently deducts a
         monthly administrative charge of $25 during the first policy year and
         $5 per month thereafter (may deduct up to $7.50, maximum) to recover
         policy maintenance, accounting, record keeping and other
         administrative expenses. Additionally, the Company deducts an increase
         charge of $2.04 per year per $1,000 applied to any increase in the
         specified amount during the first 12 months after the increase becomes
         effective.

         For single premium contracts, the Company deducts an annual
         administrative charge which is determined as follows:
           Purchase payments totaling less than $25,000 - $90/year 

         Purchase payments totaling $25,000 or more - $50/year 

         The above charges are assessed against each contract by liquidating
         units.  

         No charges were deducted from the initial funding, or from the earnings
         thereon.

     (d) Surrender Charges

         Policy surrenders result in a redemption of the contract value from
         the Account and payment of the surrender proceeds to the contract
         owner or designee. The surrender proceeds consist of the contract
         value, less any outstanding policy loans, and less a surrender charge,
         if applicable. The charge is determined according to contract type.

         For multiple payment contracts and flexible premium contracts, the
         amount charged is determined based upon a specified percentage of the
         initial surrender charge, which varies by issue age, sex and rate
         class. The charge is 100% of the initial surrender charge in the first
         year, declining to 0% after the ninth year.

         For single premium contracts, the charge is determined based upon a
         specified percentage of the original purchase payment. The charge is
         8.5% in the first year, and declines to 0% after the ninth year.

<PAGE>

(3) ASSET CHARGES

     For multiple payment contracts and flexible premium contracts, the Company
     deducts charges from the contract to cover mortality and expense risk
     charges related to operations, and to recover policy maintenance charges.
     The charge is equal to an annual rate of .80%, with certain exceptions.

     For single premium contracts, the Company deducts a charge from the
     contract to cover mortality and expense risk charges related to
     operations, and to recover policy maintenance and premium tax charges. The
     charge is equal to an annual rate of 1.30% during the first ten policy
     years, and 1.00% thereafter.

     The above charges are assessed through the daily unit value calculation.
     No charges are deducted from the initial funding, or from earnings
     thereon.

(4)  POLICY LOANS (NET OF REPAYMENTS)

     Contract provisions allow contract owners to borrow up to 90% of a
     policy's cash surrender value. On each policy anniversary following the
     initial loan, 6% interest is due and payable to the Company.

     At the time the loan is granted, the amount of the loan is transferred
     from the Account to the Company's general account as collateral for the
     outstanding loan. Collateral amounts in the general account are credited
     with the stated rate of interest in effect at the time the loan is made,
     subject to a guaranteed minimum rate. Loan repayments result in a transfer
     of collateral, including interest, back to the Account.

(5)  SCHEDULE I

     Schedule I presents the components of the change in the unit values, which
     are the basis for contract owners' equity. This schedule is presented in
     the following format:

         o    Beginning unit value - Jan. 1

         o    Reinvested capital gains and dividends
              (This amount reflects the increase in the unit value due to
              capital gains and dividend distributions from the underlying
              mutual funds.)

         o    Unrealized gain (loss)
              (This amount reflects the increase (decrease) in the unit value
              resulting from the market appreciation (depreciation) of the
              underlying mutual funds.)

         o    Asset charges
              (This amount reflects the decrease in the unit value due to the
              charges discussed in note 3.)

         o    Ending unit value - Dec. 31

         o    Percentage increase (decrease) in unit value.

<PAGE>

                                                                      SCHEDULE I

                        NATIONWIDE VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-A
              (FORMERLY FINANCIAL HORIZONS VL SEPARATE ACCOUNT-1)
           MULTIPLE PAYMENT CONTRACTS AND FLEXIBLE PREMIUM CONTRACTS
                       SCHEDULES OF CHANGES IN UNIT VALUE
                  YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996, 1995 AND 1994

<TABLE>
                           <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>        <C> 
                           FIDVIPGR      NSATCAPAP      NSATGVTBD      NSATMYMKT     NSATTOTRE     NBAMTBAL      TCIADV     TCIADV+
                           --------      ---------      ---------      ---------     ---------     --------      ------     -------
1996
 Beginning unit value - 
  Jan. 1                 $17.583952      14.713230      14.984933      11.714295     18.192762     14.878481  13.112917   13.802855
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital gains
  and dividends            1.263661        .766553        .930103        .596995      1.217547      2.281380    .945920     .998314
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain (loss)    1.312893       3.061949       (.412550)       .000000      2.737018     (1.262381)   .260998     .278346
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges             (.152310)      (.131065)      (.119235)      (.096547)     (.158554)     (.121957)  (.108836)    .000000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit value - 
  Dec. 31                $20.008196      18.410667      15.383251      12.214743     21.988773     15.775523  14.210999   15.079515
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase (decrease)
  in unit value*                 14%            25%             3%             4%           21%            6%         8%          9%
===================================================================================================================================

1995
 Beginning unit value - 
  Jan. 1                 $13.094007       11.465403      12.720514      11.176411    14.205723     12.118394  11.321934   11.822996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital gains
  and dividends             .072389         .653781        .903001        .629782     1.413734       .308616    .411556     .431938
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain (loss)    4.544905        2.696528       1.472503        .000000     2.703396      2.562255   1.477165    1.547921
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges             (.127349)       (.102482)      (.111085)      (.091898)    (.130091)     (.110784)  (.097738)    .000000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit value - 
  Dec. 31                $17.583952       14.713230      14.984933      11.714295    18.192762     14.878481  13.112917   13.802855
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase (decrease)
  in unit value*                 34%             28%            18%             5%          28%           23%        16%         17%
===================================================================================================================================

1994
 Beginning unit value - 
  Jan. 1                 $13.201441       11.662121      13.250482      10.845265    14.167308     12.640011  11.295721   11.701906
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Reinvested capital gains
  and dividends             .794469         .184927        .833925        .419275      .717782       .493181    .297670     .309969
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Unrealized gain (loss)    (.799798)       (.289863)     (1.261429)       .000000     (.565055)     (.916591)  (.181209)   (.188879)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Asset charges             (.102105)       (.091782)      (.102464)      (.088129)    (.114312)     (.098207)  (.090248)    .000000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Ending unit value - 
  Dec. 31                $13.094007       11.465403      12.720514      11.176411    14.205723     12.118394  11.321934   11.822996
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Percentage increase (decrease)
  in unit value*                 (1)%            (2)%           (4)%            3%           0%           (4)%        0%          1%
===================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>

  *An annualized rate of return cannot be determined as asset charges do not
   include the policy charges discussed in note 2.

  +For Depositor, see note 1a.

See note 5.
<PAGE>

                          INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

The Board of Directors
Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company:

We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Nationwide Life and Annuity
Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance
Company, as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the related statements of income,
shareholder's equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 1996. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Nationwide Life and Annuity
Insurance Company as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and the results of its
operations and its cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period
ended December 31, 1996, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles.

In 1994, the Company adopted the provisions of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board's Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115,
Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities.

                                                KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Columbus, Ohio
January 31, 1997


<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                                 Balance Sheets

                           December 31, 1996 and 1995
                                ($000's omitted)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           Assets                                                         1996         1995
                           ------                                                      ----------    -------
<S>                                                                                    <C>           <C>
Investments (notes 4, 7 and 8):
   Securities available-for-sale, at fair value:
      Fixed maturity securities (cost $640,303 in 1996; $539,214 in 1995)              $  648,076    555,751
      Equity securities (cost $10,854 in 1996; $10,256 in 1995)                            12,254     11,407
   Mortgage loans on real estate, net                                                     150,997    104,736
   Real estate, net                                                                         1,090      1,117
   Policy loans                                                                               126         94
   Short-term investments (note 12)                                                           492      4,844
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                          813,035    677,949
                                                                                       ----------    -------
Cash                                                                                        4,296         --
Accrued investment income                                                                   9,189      8,464
Deferred policy acquisition costs                                                          16,168     23,405
Deferred federal income tax (note 6)                                                        4,735         --
Other assets                                                                               32,747        208
Assets held in Separate Accounts (note 7)                                                 486,251    257,556
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                       $1,366,421    967,582
                                                                                       ==========    =======
            Liabilities and Shareholder's Equity
            ------------------------------------
Future policy benefits and claims (notes 5 and 7)                                      $   80,720    621,280
Funds withheld under coinsurance agreement with affiliate (note 12)                       679,571         --
Accrued federal income tax (note 6):
   Current                                                                                  7,914        708
   Deferred                                                                                    --      2,830
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                            7,914      3,538
                                                                                       ----------    -------
Other liabilities                                                                          27,928      5,031
Liabilities related to Separate Accounts (note 7)                                         486,251    257,556
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                        1,282,384    887,405
                                                                                       ----------    -------
Commitments (notes 7 and 8)

Shareholder's equity (notes 3, 4 and 11):
   Capital shares, $40 par value.  Authorized, issued and outstanding 66,000 shares         2,640      2,640
   Additional paid-in capital                                                              52,960     52,960
   Retained earnings                                                                       25,209     20,123
   Unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale, net                                   3,228      4,454
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                           84,037     80,177
                                                                                       ----------    -------
                                                                                       $1,366,421    967,582
                                                                                       ==========    =======
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                              Statements of Income

                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               1996        1995        1994
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
<S>                                                                          <C>            <C>         <C>  
Revenues (note 13):
   Investment product and universal life insurance product policy charges    $  6,656       4,322       3,601
   Traditional life insurance premiums                                            246         674         311
   Net investment income (note 4)                                              51,045      49,108      45,030
   Realized losses on investments (note 4)                                         (3)       (702)       (625)
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
                                                                               57,944      53,402      48,317
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
Benefits and expenses:
   Benefits and claims                                                         35,524      34,180      29,870
   Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                            7,380       5,508       6,940
   Other operating expenses (note 12)                                           7,247       6,567       6,320
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
                                                                               50,151      46,255      43,130
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
      Income before federal income tax expense                                  7,793       7,147       5,187
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
Federal income tax expense (benefit) (note 6):
   Current                                                                      9,612       2,012       2,103
   Deferred                                                                    (6,905)        361        (244)
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
                                                                                2,707       2,373       1,859
                                                                             --------     -------     -------
      Net income                                                             $  5,086       4,774       3,328
                                                                             ========     =======     =======
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                       Statements of Shareholder's Equity

                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                    Unrealized
                                                                                                   gains (losses)
                                                                     Additional                    on securities        Total
                                                       Capital        paid-in         Retained     available-for-    shareholder's
                                                       shares         capital         earnings       sale, net          equity
                                                       -------       ----------       --------     --------------    -------------
<S>                                                    <C>           <C>              <C>          <C>               <C>   
1994:
   Balance, beginning of year                          $2,640          43,960          12,021              38            58,659
   Capital contribution                                    --           9,000              --              --             9,000
   Net income                                              --              --           3,328              --             3,328
   Adjustment for change in accounting for
      certain investments in debt and equity
      securities, net (note 3)                             --              --              --           4,698             4,698
   Unrealized losses on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                        --              --              --          (8,439)           (8,439)
                                                       ------          ------          ------          ------           -------
   Balance, end of year                                $2,640          52,960          15,349          (3,703)           67,246
                                                       ======          ======          ======          ======           =======
1995:
   Balance, beginning of year                           2,640          52,960          15,349          (3,703)           67,246
   Net income                                              --              --           4,774              --             4,774
   Unrealized gains on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                        --              --              --           8,157             8,157
                                                       ------          ------          ------          ------           -------
   Balance, end of year                                $2,640          52,960          20,123           4,454            80,177
                                                       ======          ======          ======          ======           =======
1996:
   Balance, beginning of year                           2,640          52,960          20,123           4,454            80,177
   Net income                                              --              --           5,086              --             5,086
   Unrealized losses on securities available-
      for-sale, net                                        --              --              --          (1,226)           (1,226)
                                                       ------          ------          ------          ------           -------
   Balance, end of year                                $2,640          52,960          25,209           3,228            84,037
                                                       ======          ======          ======          ======           =======
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                            Statements of Cash Flows

                  Years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               1996         1995        1994
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
<S>                                                                         <C>           <C>         <C>  
 Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net income                                                              $   5,086       4,774       3,328
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
       operating activities:
          Capitalization of deferred policy acquisition costs                 (19,987)     (6,754)     (7,283)
          Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs                     7,380       5,508       6,940
          Commission and expense allowances under coinsurance
              agreement with affiliate (note 12)                               26,473          --          --
          Amortization and depreciation                                         1,721         878         473
          Realized losses on invested assets, net                                   3         702         625
          Deferred federal income tax (benefit) expense                        (6,905)        361        (244)
          Increase in accrued investment income                                  (725)       (423)       (750)
          (Increase) decrease in other assets                                 (32,539)         62        (126)
          (Decrease) increase in policy liabilities and funds withheld
              on coinsurance agreement with affiliate                          (7,101)        627         926
          Increase (decrease) in accrued federal income tax payable             7,206         698        (254)
          Increase (decrease) in other liabilities                             22,897         368        (505)
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
             Net cash provided by operating activities                          3,509       6,801       3,130
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
 Cash flows from investing activities:
    Proceeds from maturity of securities available-for-sale                    73,966      41,729      24,850
    Proceeds from sale of securities available-for-sale                         2,480       3,070      13,170
    Proceeds from maturity of fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity           --      11,251       8,483
    Proceeds from repayments of mortgage loans on real estate                  10,975       8,673       5,733
    Proceeds from sale of real estate                                              --         655          --
    Proceeds from repayments of policy loans                                       23          50           2
    Cost of securities available-for-sale acquired                           (179,671)    (79,140)    (94,130)
    Cost of fixed maturity securities held-to maturity acquired                    --      (8,000)    (15,544)
    Cost of mortgage loans on real estate acquired                            (57,395)    (18,000)    (11,000)
    Cost of real estate acquired                                                   --         (10)        (52)
    Policy loans issued                                                           (55)        (66)        (80)
    Short-term investments, net                                                 4,352      (4,479)      1,407
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
             Net cash used in investing activities                           (145,325)    (44,267)    (67,161)
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
 Cash flows from financing activities:
    Proceeds from capital contribution                                             --          --       9,000
    Increase in investment product and universal life insurance
       product account balances                                               235,286      79,523      95,254
    Decrease in investment product and universal life insurance
       product account balances                                               (89,174)    (42,057)    (40,223)
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
             Net cash provided by financing activities                        146,112      37,466      64,031
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
 Net increase in cash                                                           4,296          --          --

 Cash, beginning of year                                                           --          --          --
                                                                            ---------     -------     -------
 Cash, end of year                                                          $   4,296          --          --
                                                                            =========     =======     =======
</TABLE>

See accompanying notes to financial statements.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                          Notes to Financial Statements

                        December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
                                ($000's omitted)

(1)   Organization and Description of Business

      Nationwide Life and Annuity Insurance Company (the Company) is a wholly
      owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company (NLIC).

      The Company sells primarily fixed and variable rate annuities through
      banks and other financial institutions. In addition, the Company sells
      universal life and other interest-sensitive life insurance products and is
      subject to competition from other financial services providers throughout
      the United States. The Company is subject to regulation by the Insurance
      Departments of states in which it is licensed, and undergoes periodic
      examinations by those departments.

      The following is a description of the most significant risks facing life
      insurers and how the Company mitigates those risks:

         Legal/Regulatory Risk is the risk that changes in the legal or
         regulatory environment in which an insurer operates will create
         additional expenses not anticipated by the insurer in pricing its
         products. That is, regulatory initiatives, new legal theories or
         insurance company insolvencies through guaranty fund assessments may
         create costs for the insurer beyond those currently recorded in the
         financial statements. The Company mitigates this risk by operating
         throughout the United States, thus reducing its exposure to any single
         jurisdiction, and also by employing underwriting practices which
         identify and minimize the adverse impact of this risk.

         Credit Risk is the risk that issuers of securities owned by the Company
         or mortgagors on mortgage loans on real estate owned by the Company
         will default. The Company minimizes this risk by adhering to a
         conservative investment strategy, by maintaining credit and collection
         policies and by providing for any amounts deemed uncollectible.

         Interest Rate Risk is the risk that interest rates will change and
         cause a decrease in the value of an insurer's investments. This change
         in rates may cause certain interest-sensitive products to become
         uncompetitive or may cause disintermediation. The Company mitigates
         this risk by charging fees for non-conformance with certain policy
         provisions, by offering products that transfer this risk to the
         purchaser, and/or by attempting to match the maturity schedule of its
         assets with the expected payouts of its liabilities. To the extent that
         liabilities come due more quickly than assets mature, an insurer would
         have to borrow funds or sell assets prior to maturity and potentially
         recognize a gain or loss.

(2)   Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

      The significant accounting policies followed by the Company that
      materially affect financial reporting are summarized below. The
      accompanying financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
      generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) which differ from
      statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by regulatory
      authorities. An Annual Statement, filed with the Department of Insurance
      of the State of Ohio (the Department), is prepared on the basis of
      accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Department. Prescribed
      statutory accounting practices include a variety of publications of the
      National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), as well as state
      laws, regulations and general administrative rules. Permitted statutory
      accounting practices encompass all accounting practices not so prescribed.
      The Company has no material permitted statutory accounting practices.

      In preparing the financial statements, management is required to make
      estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and
      liabilities and the disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities as of
      the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues
      and expenses for the reporting period. Actual results could differ
      significantly from those estimates.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued



      The most significant estimates include those used in determining deferred
      policy acquisition costs, valuation allowances for mortgage loans on real
      estate and real estate investments and the liability for future policy
      benefits and claims. Although some variability is inherent in these
      estimates, management believes the amounts provided are adequate.

      (a)   Valuation of Investments and Related Gains and Losses

         The Company is required to classify its fixed maturity securities and
         equity securities as either held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or
         trading. Fixed maturity securities are classified as held-to-maturity
         when the Company has the positive intent and ability to hold the
         securities to maturity and are stated at amortized cost. Fixed maturity
         securities not classified as held-to-maturity and all equity securities
         are classified as available-for-sale and are stated at fair value, with
         the unrealized gains and losses, net of adjustments to deferred policy
         acquisition costs and deferred federal income tax, reported as a
         separate component of shareholder's equity. The adjustment to deferred
         policy acquisition costs represents the change in amortization of
         deferred policy acquisition costs that would have been required as a
         charge or credit to operations had such unrealized amounts been
         realized. The Company has no fixed maturity securities classified as
         held-to-maturity or trading as of December 31, 1996 or 1995.

         Mortgage loans on real estate are carried at the unpaid principal
         balance less valuation allowances. The Company provides valuation
         allowances for impairments of mortgage loans on real estate based on a
         review by portfolio managers. The measurement of impaired loans is
         based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at
         the loan's effective interest rate or, as a practical expedient, at the
         fair value of the collateral, if the loan is collateral dependent.
         Loans in foreclosure and loans considered to be impaired are placed on
         non-accrual status. Interest received on non-accrual status mortgage
         loans on real estate are included in interest income in the period
         received.

         Real estate is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and
         valuation allowances. Other long-term investments are carried on the
         equity basis, adjusted for valuation allowances. Impairment losses are
         recorded on long-lived assets used in operations when indicators of
         impairment are present and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be
         generated by those assets are less than the assets' carrying amount.

         Realized gains and losses on the sale of investments are determined on
         the basis of specific security identification. Estimates for valuation
         allowances and other than temporary declines are included in realized
         gains and losses on investments.

      (b)   Revenues and Benefits

         Investment Products and Universal Life Insurance Products: Investment
         products consist primarily of individual variable and fixed annuities
         and annuities without life contingencies. Universal life insurance
         products include universal life insurance, variable universal life
         insurance and other interest-sensitive life insurance policies.
         Revenues for investment products and universal life insurance products
         consist of net investment income, asset fees, cost of insurance, policy
         administration and surrender charges that have been earned and assessed
         against policy account balances during the period. Policy benefits and
         claims that are charged to expense include interest credited to policy
         account balances and benefits and claims incurred in the period in
         excess of related policy account balances.

         Traditional Life Insurance Products: Traditional life insurance
         products include those products with fixed and guaranteed premiums and
         benefits and consist primarily of certain annuities with life
         contingencies. Premiums for traditional life insurance products are
         recognized as revenue when due. Benefits and expenses are associated
         with earned premiums so as to result in recognition of profits over the
         life of the contract. This association is accomplished by the provision
         for future policy benefits and the deferral and amortization of policy
         acquisition costs.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      (c)   Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs

         The costs of acquiring new business, principally commissions, certain
         expenses of the policy issue and underwriting department and certain
         variable agency expenses have been deferred. For investment products
         and universal life insurance products, deferred policy acquisition
         costs are being amortized with interest over the lives of the policies
         in relation to the present value of estimated future gross profits from
         projected interest margins, asset fees, cost of insurance, policy
         administration and surrender charges. For years in which gross profits
         are negative, deferred policy acquisition costs are amortized based on
         the present value of gross revenues. Deferred policy acquisition costs
         are adjusted to reflect the impact of unrealized gains and losses on
         fixed maturity securities available-for-sale as described in note 2(a).

      (d)   Separate Accounts

         Separate Account assets and liabilities represent contractholders'
         funds which have been segregated into accounts with specific investment
         objectives. The investment income and gains or losses of these accounts
         accrue directly to the contractholders. The activity of the Separate
         Accounts is not reflected in the statements of income and cash flows
         except for the fees the Company receives.

      (e)   Future Policy Benefits

         Future policy benefits for investment products in the accumulation
         phase, universal life insurance and variable universal life insurance
         policies have been calculated based on participants' contributions plus
         interest credited less applicable contract charges.

      (f)   Federal Income Tax

         The Company files a consolidated federal income tax return with
         Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company (NMIC). The members of the
         consolidated tax return group have a tax sharing agreement which
         provides, in effect, for each member to bear essentially the same
         federal income tax liability as if separate tax returns were filed.

         The Company utilizes the asset and liability method of accounting for
         income tax. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are
         recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences
         between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and
         liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax
         credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured
         using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the
         years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered
         or settled. Under this method, the effect on deferred tax assets and
         liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the
         period that includes the enactment date. Valuation allowances are
         established when necessary to reduce the deferred tax assets to the
         amounts expected to be realized.

      (g)   Reinsurance Ceded

         Reinsurance premiums ceded and reinsurance recoveries on benefits and
         claims incurred are deducted from the respective income and expense
         accounts. Assets and liabilities related to reinsurance ceded are
         reported on a gross basis.

      (h)   Statements of Cash Flows

         The Company routinely invests its available cash balances in highly
         liquid, short-term investments with affiliated companies. See note 12.
         As such, the Company had no cash balance as of December 31, 1995 and
         1994.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      (i)   Reclassification

         Certain items in the 1995 and 1994 financial statements have been
         reclassified to conform to the 1996 presentation.


(3)   Change in Accounting Principle

      Effective January 1, 1994, the Company changed its method of accounting
      for certain investments in debt and equity securities in connection with
      the issuance of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 115
      Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities. As of
      January 1, 1994, the Company classified fixed maturity securities with
      amortized cost and fair value of $380,974 and $399,556, respectively, as
      available-for-sale and recorded the securities at fair value. Previously,
      these securities were recorded at amortized cost. The effect as of January
      1, 1994, has been recorded as a direct credit to shareholder's equity as
      follows:

<TABLE>
         <S>                                                                      <C>     
         Excess of fair value over amortized cost of fixed maturity 
            securities available-for-sale                                         $ 18,582
         Adjustment to deferred policy acquisition costs                           (11,355)
         Deferred federal income tax                                                (2,529)
                                                                                  --------
                                                                                  $  4,698
                                                                                  ========
</TABLE>

(4)   Investments

      The amortized cost and estimated fair value of securities
      available-for-sale were as follows as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      Gross         Gross
                                                                       Amortized    unrealized    unrealized     Estimated
         1996:                                                           cost         gains         losses      fair value
                                                                       ---------    ----------    ----------    ----------
         <S>                                                           <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>  
           Fixed maturity securities:
             U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. 
               government corporations and agencies                    $  3,695            7            (78)        3,624
             Obligations of states and political subdivisions               269           --             (2)          267
             Debt securities issued by foreign governments                6,129          133             (8)        6,254
             Corporate securities                                       393,371        5,916         (1,824)      397,463
             Mortgage-backed securities                                 236,839        4,621           (992)      240,468
                                                                       --------      -------       --------       -------
                 Total fixed maturity securities                        640,303       10,677         (2,904)      648,076
           Equity securities                                             10,854        1,540           (140)       12,254
                                                                       --------      -------       --------       -------
                                                                       $651,157       12,217         (3,044)      660,330
                                                                       ========      =======       ========       =======
         1995:
           Fixed maturity securities:
             U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. 
               government corporations and agencies                    $  3,492           18             --         3,510
             Obligations of states and political subdivisions               271           --             (1)          270
             Debt securities issued by foreign governments                6,177          301             --         6,478
             Corporate securities                                       332,425       10,116           (925)      341,616
             Mortgage-backed securities                                 196,849        7,649           (621)      203,877
                                                                       --------      -------       --------       -------
                 Total fixed maturity securities                        539,214       18,084         (1,547)      555,751
           Equity securities                                             10,256        1,151             --        11,407
                                                                       --------      -------       --------       -------
                                                                       $549,470       19,235         (1,547)      567,158
                                                                       ========      =======       ========       =======
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      The amortized cost and estimated fair value of fixed maturity securities
      available-for-sale as of December 31, 1996, by contractual maturity, are
      shown below. Expected maturities will differ from contractual maturities
      because borrowers may have the right to call or prepay obligations with or
      without call or prepayment penalties.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               Amortized        Estimated
                                                                  cost          fair value
                                                               ---------        ----------
         <S>                                                   <C>              <C>   
         Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale:
            Due in one year or less                             $ 43,219           43,441
            Due after one year through five years                198,045          200,453
            Due after five years through ten years               121,820          122,595
            Due after ten years                                   40,380           41,119
                                                                --------          -------
                                                                 403,464          407,608
         Mortgage-backed securities                              236,839          240,468
                                                                --------          -------
                                                                $640,303          648,076
                                                                ========          =======
</TABLE>

      The components of unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale, net,
      were as follows as of December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              1996              1995
                                                            -------           -------
         <S>                                                <C>               <C>   
         Gross unrealized gains                             $ 9,173            17,688
         Adjustment to deferred policy acquisition                                    
            costs                                            (4,207)          (10,836)
         Deferred federal income tax                         (1,738)           (2,398)
                                                            -------           -------
                                                            $ 3,228             4,454
                                                            =======           =======
</TABLE>

      An analysis of the change in gross unrealized gains (losses) on securities
      available-for-sale and fixed maturity securities held-to-maturity follows
      for the years ended December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              1996        1995       1994
                                            --------     ------    -------
         <S>                                <C>          <C>       <C>     
         Securities available-for-sale:
            Fixed maturity securities       $ (8,764)    30,647    (32,692)
            Equity securities                    249      1,283       (190)
         Fixed maturity securities                                         
            held-to-maturity                      --      3,941     (8,407)
                                            --------     ------    -------
                                            $ (8,515)    35,871    (41,289)
                                            ========     ======    =======
</TABLE>

      Proceeds from the sale of securities available-for-sale during 1996, 1995
      and 1994 were $2,480, $3,070 and $13,170, respectively. During 1996, gross
      gains of $181 ($64 and $373 in 1995 and 1994, respectively) and no gross
      losses ($6 and $73 in 1995 and 1994, respectively) were realized on those
      sales.

      During 1995, the Company transferred fixed maturity securities classified
      as held-to-maturity with amortized cost of $2,000 to available-for-sale
      securities due to evidence of a significant deterioration in the issuer's
      creditworthiness. The transfer of those fixed maturity securities resulted
      in a gross unrealized loss of $600.

      As permitted by the Financial Accounting Standards Board's Special Report,
      A Guide to Implementation of Statement 115 on Accounting for Certain
      Investments in Debt and Equity Securities, issued in November 1995, the
      Company transferred all of its fixed maturity securities previously
      classified as held-to-maturity to available-for-sale. As of December 14,
      1995, the date of transfer, the fixed maturity securities had amortized
      cost of $77,405, resulting in a gross unrealized gain of $1,709.

      The Company has no investments which were non-income producing for the
      twelve month period preceding December 31, 1996 ($996 of fixed maturity
      securities in 1995).
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      Real estate is presented at cost less accumulated depreciation of $108 as
      of December 31, 1996 ($81 as of December 31, 1995) and valuation
      allowances of $229 as of December 31, 1996 ($229 as of December 31, 1995).

      The recorded investment of mortgage loans on real estate considered to be
      impaired (under SFAS No. 114 - Accounting by Creditors for Impairment of a
      Loan as amended by SFAS No. 118 - Accounting by Creditors for Impairment
      of a Loan Income Recognition and Disclosure) as of December 31, 1996 was
      $955 ($966 as of December 31, 1995), which includes $955 (none as of
      December 31, 1995) of impaired mortgage loans on real estate for which the
      related valuation allowance was $184 (none as of December 31, 1995) and
      none ($966 as of December 31, 1995) of impaired mortgage loans on real
      estate for which there was no valuation allowance. During 1996, the
      average recorded investment in impaired mortgage loans on real estate was
      approximately $964 ($242 in 1995) and interest income recognized on those
      loans was $16 (none in 1995), which is equal to interest income recognized
      using a cash-basis method of income recognition.

      Activity in the valuation allowance account for mortgage loans on real
      estate is summarized for the year ended December 31, 1996:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     1996    1995
                                                     ----    ----
         <S>                                         <C>     <C>
         Allowance, beginning of year                $750     860
              Additional charged to operations        184      --
              Reduction of the allowance credited                 
                to operations                          --    (110)
                                                     ----    ----
         Allowance, end of year                      $934     750
                                                     ====    ====
</TABLE>

      An analysis of investment income by investment type follows for the years
      ended December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                1996      1995      1994
                                              -------    ------    ------
         <S>                                  <C>        <C>       <C>   
         Gross investment income:
            Securities available-for-sale:
               Fixed maturity securities      $40,552    35,093    36,720
               Equity securities                  598       713        16
            Fixed maturity securities                                    
               held-to-maturity                    --     4,530       540
            Mortgage loans on real estate       9,991     9,106     8,437
            Real estate                           214       273       175
            Short-term investments                507       348       207
            Other                                  57        41        19
                                              -------    ------    ------
                   Total investment income     51,919    50,104    46,114
         Less: investment expenses                874       996     1,084
                                              -------    ------    ------
                   Net investment income      $51,045    49,108    45,030
                                              =======    ======    ======
</TABLE>

      An analysis of realized gains (losses) on investments, net of valuation
      allowances, by investment type follows for the years ended December 31:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1996     1995     1994
                                                           -----     ----     ----
           <S>                                             <C>       <C>       <C>
           Fixed maturity securities available-for-sale    $ 181     (822)     260
           Mortgage loans on real estate                    (184)     110     (832)
           Real estate and other                              --       10      (53)
                                                           -----     ----     ----
                                                           $  (3)    (702)    (625)
                                                           =====     ====     ====
</TABLE>

      Fixed maturity securities with an amortized cost of $3,403 and $2,806 as
      of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, were on deposit with various
      regulatory agencies as required by law.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


(5)   Future Policy Benefits

      The liability for future policy benefits for investment contracts has been
      established based on policy terms, interest rates and various contract
      provisions. The average interest rate credited on investment product
      policies was approximately 5.6%, 5.6% and 5.3% for the years ended
      December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.


(6)   Federal Income Tax

      The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant
      components of the net deferred tax asset (liability) as of December 31,
      1996 and 1995 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               1996         1995
                                                             --------     -------
         <S>                                                 <C>          <C>  
         Deferred tax assets:
            Liabilities in Separate Accounts                 $  5,311       3,445
            Future policy benefits                              1,070       5,249
            Mortgage loans on real estate and real estate         407         338
            Other assets and other liabilities                  3,836         708
                                                             --------     -------
              Total gross deferred tax assets                  10,624       9,740
                                                             --------     -------
         Deferred tax liabilities:
            Fixed maturity securities                           3,268       6,308
            Deferred policy acquisition costs                   2,131       6,262
            Equity securities                                     490          --
                                                             --------     -------
              Total gross deferred tax liabilities              5,889      12,570
                                                             --------     -------
                                                             $  4,735      (2,830)
                                                             ========     =======
</TABLE>

      In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management
      considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion of the
      total gross deferred tax assets will not be realized. All future
      deductible amounts can be offset by future taxable amounts or recovery of
      federal income tax paid within the statutory carryback period. The Company
      has determined that valuation allowances are not necessary as of December
      31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 based on its analysis of future deductible
      amounts.

      Total federal income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 1996,
      1995 and 1994 differs from the amount computed by applying the U.S.
      federal income tax rate to income before tax as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            1996                 1995                 1994
                                                      ----------------     ----------------     ----------------
                                                       Amount       %       Amount       %       Amount       %
                                                      -------     ----     -------     ----     -------     ----
         <S>                                          <C>         <C>      <C>         <C>      <C>         <C> 
         Computed (expected) tax expense              $ 2,728     35.0     $ 2,501     35.0     $ 1,815     35.0
         Tax exempt interest and dividends
            received deduction                           (175)    (2.3)       (150)    (2.1)        (50)    (1.0)
         Other, net                                       154      2.0          22      0.3          94      1.8
                                                      -------     ----     -------     ----     -------     ----
               Total (effective rate of each year)    $ 2,707     34.7     $ 2,373     33.2     $ 1,859     35.8
                                                      =======     ====     =======     ====     =======     ====
</TABLE>

      Total federal income tax paid was $2,335, $1,314 and $2,357 during the
      years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


(7)   Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments

      SFAS No. 107 - Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments (SFAS
      107) requires disclosure of fair value information about existing on and
      off-balance sheet financial instruments. SFAS 107 defines the fair value
      of a financial instrument as the amount at which the financial instrument
      could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties. In
      cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair value is based on
      estimates using present value or other valuation techniques.

      These techniques are significantly affected by the assumptions used,
      including the discount rate and estimates of future cash flows. Although
      fair value estimates are calculated using assumptions that management
      believes are appropriate, changes in assumptions could cause these
      estimates to vary materially. In that regard, the derived fair value
      estimates cannot be substantiated by comparison to independent markets
      and, in many cases, could not be realized in the immediate settlement of
      the instruments. SFAS 107 excludes certain assets and liabilities from its
      disclosure requirements. Accordingly, the aggregate fair value amounts
      presented do not represent the underlying value of the Company.

      Although insurance contracts, other than policies such as annuities that
      are classified as investment contracts, are specifically exempted from
      SFAS 107 disclosures, estimated fair value of policy reserves on life
      insurance contracts is provided to make the fair value disclosures more
      meaningful.

      The tax ramifications of the related unrealized gains and losses can have
      a significant effect on fair value estimates and have not been considered
      in the estimates.

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

         Cash, short-term investments and policy loans: The carrying amount
         reported in the balance sheets for these instruments approximates their
         fair value.

         Fixed maturity and equity securities: Fair value for fixed maturity
         securities is based on quoted market prices, where available. For fixed
         maturity securities not actively traded, fair value is estimated using
         values obtained from independent pricing services or, in the case of
         private placements, is estimated by discounting expected future cash
         flows using a current market rate applicable to the yield, credit
         quality and maturity of the investments. The fair value for equity
         securities is based on quoted market prices.

         Separate Account assets and liabilities: The fair value of assets held
         in Separate Accounts is based on quoted market prices. The fair value
         of liabilities related to Separate Accounts is the amount payable on
         demand, which includes certain surrender charges.

         Mortgage loans on real estate: The fair value for mortgage loans on
         real estate is estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, using
         interest rates currently being offered for similar loans to borrowers
         with similar credit ratings. Loans with similar characteristics are
         aggregated for purposes of the calculations. Fair value for mortgages
         in default is the estimated fair value of the underlying collateral.

         Investment contracts: Fair value for the Company's liabilities under
         investment type contracts is disclosed using two methods. For
         investment contracts without defined maturities, fair value is the
         amount payable on demand. For investment contracts with known or
         determined maturities, fair value is estimated using discounted cash
         flow analysis. Interest rates used are similar to currently offered
         contracts with maturities consistent with those remaining for the
         contracts being valued.

         Policy reserves on life insurance contracts: The estimated fair value
         is the amount payable on demand. Also included are disclosures for the
         Company's limited payment policies, which the Company has used
         discounted cash flow analyses similar to those used for investment
         contracts with known maturities to estimate fair value.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


         Commitments to extend credit: Commitments to extend credit have nominal
         value because of the short-term nature of such commitments. See note 8.

      Carrying amount and estimated fair value of financial instruments subject
      to SFAS 107 and policy reserves on life insurance contracts were as
      follows as of December 31, 1996 and 1995:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     1996                       1995
                                                           -----------------------    -----------------------
                                                           Carrying     Estimated     Carrying     Estimated
                                                            amount      fair value     amount      fair value
                                                           --------     ----------    --------     ----------
         <S>                                               <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>    
         Assets
         Investments:
            Securities available-for-sale:
               Fixed maturity securities                   $648,076       648,076       555,751       555,751
               Equity securities                             12,254        12,254        11,407        11,407
            Mortgage loans on real estate, net              150,997       152,496       104,736       111,501
            Policy loans                                        126           126            94            94
            Short-term investments                              492           492         4,844         4,844
            Cash                                              4,296         4,296            --            --
         Assets held in Separate Accounts                   486,251       486,251       257,556       257,556

         Liabilities
         Investment contracts                                75,417        72,262       616,984       601,582
         Policy reserves on life insurance contracts          5,303         5,390         4,296         4,520
         Liabilities related to Separate Accounts           486,251       471,125       257,556       246,996
</TABLE>

(8)   Additional Financial Instruments Disclosures

      Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk: The Company is a party
      to financial instruments with off-balance-sheet risk in the normal course
      of business through management of its investment portfolio. These
      financial instruments include commitments to extend credit in the form of
      loans. These instruments involve, to varying degrees, elements of credit
      risk in excess of amounts recognized on the balance sheets.

      Commitments to fund fixed rate mortgage loans on real estate are
      agreements to lend to a borrower, and are subject to conditions
      established in the contract. Commitments generally have fixed expiration
      dates or other termination clauses and may require payment of a deposit.
      Commitments extended by the Company are based on management's case-by-case
      credit evaluation of the borrower and the borrower's loan collateral. The
      underlying mortgage property represents the collateral if the commitment
      is funded. The Company's policy for new mortgage loans on real estate is
      to lend no more than 75% of collateral value. Should the commitment be
      funded, the Company's exposure to credit loss in the event of
      nonperformance by the borrower is represented by the contractual amounts
      of these commitments less the net realizable value of the collateral. The
      contractual amounts also represent the cash requirements for all unfunded
      commitments. Commitments on mortgage loans on real estate of $19,500
      extending into 1997 were outstanding as of December 31, 1996.

      Significant Concentrations of Credit Risk: The Company grants mainly
      commercial mortgage loans on real estate to customers throughout the
      United States. The Company has a diversified portfolio with no more than
      31% (28% in 1995) in any geographic area and no more than 5% (15% in 1995)
      with any one borrower.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      The summary below depicts loans by remaining principal balance as of
      December 31, 1996 and 1995:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Apartment
                                   Office      Warehouse      Retail       & other        Total
                                  --------     ---------      ------      ---------     --------
          <S>                     <C>          <C>            <C>         <C>           <C>   
          1996:
            East North Central    $  1,968        2,324        8,203         7,867        20,362
            East South Central          --           --        1,828        11,591        13,419
            Mountain                    --        1,394           --         1,986         3,380
            Middle Atlantic          2,817           --          883         1,990         5,690
            New England              1,993          868        1,944            --         4,805
            Pacific                  3,883       15,779       10,093         9,273        39,028
            South Atlantic           9,926           --       16,209        20,520        46,655
            West North Central       2,000           --           --            --         2,000
            West South Central       3,824           --        1,995        10,847        16,666
                                  --------       ------       ------       -------      --------
                                  $ 26,411       20,365       41,155        64,074       152,005
                                  ========       ======       ======       =======
               Less valuation allowances and unamortized discount                          1,008
                                                                                        --------
                    Total mortgage loans on real estate, net                            $150,997
                                                                                        ========
          1995:
            East North Central    $  1,854          878        8,263         3,940        14,935
            East South Central          --           --        1,877        11,753        13,630
            Mountain                    --           --           --         1,964         1,964
            Middle Atlantic            882        1,820          901            --         3,603
            New England                 --          895        1,963            --         2,858
            Pacific                  1,923        8,600        8,211         8,838        27,572
            South Atlantic           3,953           --        9,928        15,797        29,678
            West North Central          --        1,500           --            --         1,500
            West South Central       3,881          969           --         4,932         9,782
                                  --------       ------       ------       -------      --------
                                  $ 12,493       14,662       31,143        47,224       105,522
                                  ========       ======       ======       =======
               Less valuation allowances and unamortized discount                            786
                                                                                        --------
                    Total mortgage loans on real estate, net                            $104,736
                                                                                        ========
</TABLE>

(9)   Pension Plan

      The Company is a participant, together with other affiliated companies, in
      a pension plan covering all employees who have completed at least one
      thousand hours of service within a twelve-month period and who have met
      certain age requirements. Benefits are based upon the highest average
      annual salary of a specified number of consecutive years of the last ten
      years of service. The Company funds an allocation of pension costs accrued
      for employees of affiliates whose work efforts benefit the Company.

      Effective January 1, 1995, the plan was amended to provide enhanced
      benefits for participants who met certain eligibility requirements and
      elected early retirement no later than March 15, 1995. The entire cost of
      the enhanced benefit was borne by NMIC and certain of its property and
      casualty insurance company affiliates.

      Effective December 31, 1995, the Nationwide Insurance Companies and
      Affiliates Retirement Plan was merged with the Farmland Mutual Insurance
      Company Employees' Retirement Plan and the Wausau Insurance Companies
      Pension Plan to form the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise Retirement Plan.
      Immediately prior to the merger, the plans were amended to provide
      consistent benefits for service after January 1, 1996. These amendments
      had no significant impact on the accumulated benefit obligation or
      projected benefit obligation as of December 31, 1995.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      Pension costs charged to operations by the Company during the years ended
      December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 were $189, $214 and $265, respectively.

      The net periodic pension cost for the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise
      Retirement Plan as a whole for the year ended December 31, 1996 and for
      the Nationwide Insurance Companies and Affiliates Retirement Plan as a
      whole for the years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994 follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    1996            1995           1994
                                                                 ---------        --------        -------
          <S>                                                    <C>              <C>             <C>   
          Service cost (benefits earned during the period)       $  75,466          64,524         64,740
          Interest cost on projected benefit obligation            105,511          95,283         73,951
          Actual return on plan assets                            (210,583)       (249,294)       (21,495)
          Net amortization and deferral                            101,795         143,353        (62,150)
                                                                 ---------        --------        -------
                                                                 $  72,189          53,866         55,046
                                                                 =========        ========        =======
</TABLE>

      Basis for measurements, net periodic pension cost:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                1996        1995        1994
                                                              -------     -------     -------
          <S>                                                 <C>         <C>         <C>  
          Weighted average discount rate                         6.00%       7.50%       5.75%
          Rate of increase in future compensation levels         4.25%       6.25%       4.50%
          Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets       6.75%       8.75%       7.00%
</TABLE>

      Information regarding the funded status of the Nationwide Insurance
      Enterprise Retirement Plan as a whole as of December 31, 1996 and 1995
      follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               1996           1995
                                                                           -----------     ----------
          <S>                                                              <C>             <C>      
          Accumulated benefit obligation:
             Vested                                                        $ 1,338,554      1,236,730
             Nonvested                                                          11,149         26,503
                                                                           -----------     ----------
                                                                           $ 1,349,703      1,263,233
                                                                           ===========     ==========
          Net accrued pension expense:
             Projected benefit obligation for services rendered to date    $ 1,847,828      1,780,616
             Plan assets at fair value                                       1,947,933      1,738,004
                                                                           -----------     ----------
                Plan assets in excess of (less than) projected benefit
                   obligation                                                  100,105        (42,612)
             Unrecognized prior service cost                                    37,870         42,845
             Unrecognized net gains                                           (201,952)       (63,130)
             Unrecognized net asset at transition                               37,158         41,305
                                                                           -----------     ----------
                                                                           $   (26,819)       (21,592)
                                                                           ===========     ==========
</TABLE>

      Basis for measurements, funded status of plan:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               1996           1995
                                                                           -----------     ---------- 
          <S>                                                                 <C>            <C>  
          Weighted average discount rate                                       6.50%          6.00%
          Rate of increase in future compensation levels                       4.75%          4.25%
</TABLE>

      Assets of the Nationwide Insurance Enterprise Retirement Plan are invested
      in group annuity contracts of NLIC and Employers Life Insurance Company of
      Wausau, a wholly owned subsidiary of NLIC.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


(10)  Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions

      In addition to the defined benefit pension plan, the Company, together
      with other affiliated companies, participates in life and health care
      defined benefit plans for qualifying retirees. Postretirement life and
      health care benefits are contributory and generally available to full time
      employees who have attained age 55 and have accumulated 15 years of
      service with the Company after reaching age 40. Postretirement health care
      benefit contributions are adjusted annually and contain cost-sharing
      features such as deductibles and coinsurance. In addition, there are caps
      on the Company's portion of the per-participant cost of the postretirement
      health care benefits. These caps can increase annually, but not more than
      three percent. The Company's policy is to fund the cost of health care
      benefits in amounts determined at the discretion of management. Plan
      assets are invested primarily in group annuity contracts of NLIC.

      The Company elected to immediately recognize its estimated accumulated
      postretirement benefit obligation, however, certain affiliated companies
      elected to amortize their initial transition obligation over periods
      ranging from 10 to 20 years.

      The Company's accrued postretirement benefit expense as of December 31,
      1996 and 1995 was $840 and $808, respectively, and the net periodic
      postretirement benefit cost (NPPBC) for 1996, 1995 and 1994 was $78, $66
      and $119, respectively.

      The amount of NPPBC for the plan as a whole for the years ended December
      31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     1996         1995        1994
                                                                                   --------     -------     -------
         <S>                                                                       <C>          <C>         <C>  
         Service cost (benefits attributed to employee service during the year)    $  6,541       6,235       8,586
         Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation              13,679      14,151      14,011
         Actual return on plan assets                                                (4,348)     (2,657)     (1,622)
         Amortization of unrecognized transition obligation of affiliates               173       2,966         568
         Net amortization and deferral                                                1,830      (1,619)      1,622
                                                                                   --------     -------     -------
                                                                                   $ 17,875      19,076      23,165
                                                                                   ========     =======     =======
</TABLE>

      Information regarding the funded status of the plan as a whole as of
      December 31, 1996 and 1995 follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         1996         1995
                                                                                      ---------     --------
         <S>                                                                          <C>           <C>   
         Accrued postretirement benefit expense:
            Retirees                                                                  $  92,954       88,680
            Fully eligible, active plan participants                                     23,749       28,793
            Other active plan participants                                               83,986       90,375
                                                                                      ---------     --------
               Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation (APBO)                     200,689      207,848
            Plan assets at fair value                                                    63,044       54,325
                                                                                      ---------     --------
               Plan assets less than accumulated postretirement benefit obligation     (137,645)    (153,523)
            Unrecognized transition obligation of affiliates                              1,654        1,827
            Unrecognized net gains                                                      (23,225)      (1,038)
                                                                                      ---------     --------
                                                                                      $(159,216)    (152,734)
                                                                                      =========     ========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      Actuarial assumptions used for the measurement of the APBO as of December
      31, 1996 and 1995 and the NPPBC for 1996, 1995 and 1994 were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   1996        1996        1995       1995         1994
                                                   APBO        NPPBC       APBO       NPPBC        NPPBC
                                                 --------    --------    --------    --------    --------
         <S>                                     <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>     
         Discount rate                               7.25%       6.65%       6.75%       8.00%       7.00%
         Long-term rate of return on plan
             assets, net of tax                        --        4.80%         --        8.00%        N/A
         Assumed health care cost trend rate:
             Initial rate                           11.00%      11.00%      11.00%      10.00%      12.00%
             Ultimate rate                           6.00%       6.00%       6.00%       6.00%       6.00%
             Uniform declining period            12 Years    12 Years    12 Years    12 Years    12 Years
</TABLE>

      The health care cost trend rate assumption has an effect on the amounts
      reported. For the plan as a whole, a one percentage point increase in the
      assumed health care cost trend rate would increase the APBO as of December
      31, 1996 by $701 and the NPPBC for the year ended December 31, 1996 by
      $83.

(11)  Regulatory Risk-Based Capital and Dividend Restriction

      Ohio, the Company's state of domicile, imposes minimum risk-based capital
      requirements that were developed by the NAIC. The formulas for determining
      the amount of risk-based capital specify various weighting factors that
      are applied to financial balances or various levels of activity based on
      the perceived degree of risk. Regulatory compliance is determined by a
      ratio of the company's regulatory total adjusted capital, as defined by
      the NAIC, to its authorized control level risk-based capital, as defined
      by the NAIC. Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are
      classified within certain levels, each of which requires specified
      corrective action. The Company exceeds the minimum risk-based capital
      requirements.

      The statutory capital shares and surplus of the Company as reported to
      regulatory authorities as of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 was $71,390,
      $54,978 and $48,947, respectively. The statutory net income of the Company
      as reported to regulatory authorities for the years ended December 31,
      1996, 1995 and 1994 was $670, $8,023 and $6,173, respectively.

      The Company is limited in the amount of shareholder dividends it may pay
      without prior approval by the Department. As of December 31, 1996, the
      maximum amount available for dividend payment from the Company to its
      shareholder without prior approval of the Department is $7,139.

      The Company currently does not expect such regulatory requirements to
      impair its ability to pay operating expenses and stockholder dividends in
      the future.


(12)  Transactions With Affiliates

      The Company leases office space from NMIC and certain of its subsidiaries.
      For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, the Company made
      lease payments to NMIC and its subsidiaries of $410, $287 and $341,
      respectively.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      Pursuant to a cost sharing agreement among NMIC and certain of its direct
      and indirect subsidiaries, including the Company, NMIC provides certain
      operational and administrative services, such as sales support,
      advertising, personnel and general management services, to those
      subsidiaries. Expenses covered by this agreement are subject to allocation
      among NMIC, the Company and other affiliates. Amounts allocated to the
      Company were $2,682, $2,596 and $2,503 in 1996, 1995 and 1994,
      respectively. The allocations are based on techniques and procedures in
      accordance with insurance regulatory guidelines. Measures used to allocate
      expenses among companies include individual employee estimates of time
      spent, special cost studies, salary expense, commissions expense and other
      methods agreed to by the participating companies that are within industry
      guidelines and practices. The Company believes these allocation methods
      are reasonable. In addition, the Company does not believe that expenses
      recognized under the inter-company agreements are materially different
      than expenses that would have been recognized had the Company operated on
      a stand alone basis. Amounts payable to NMIC from the Company under the
      cost sharing agreement were $2,275 and $1,186 as of December 31, 1996 and
      1995, respectively.

      Effective December 31, 1996, the Company entered into an intercompany
      reinsurance agreement with NLIC whereby certain inforce and subsequently
      issued fixed individual deferred annuity contracts are ceded on a 100%
      coinsurance with funds withheld basis. Under 100% coinsurance with funds
      withheld agreements, invested assets are retained by the ceding company
      and liabilities for future policy benefits are transferred to the assuming
      company. In addition, net investment earnings on the invested assets
      retained by the ceding company are to be paid to the assuming company.
      Under terms of the Company's agreement, the investment risk associated
      with changes in interest rates is borne by NLIC. Risk of asset default is
      retained by the Company, although a fee is paid by NLIC to the Company for
      the Company's retention of such risk. The agreement will remain inforce
      until all contract obligations are settled. The ceding of risk does not
      discharge the original insurer from its primary obligation to the
      contractholder. The Company believes that the terms of the 100%
      coinsurance with funds withheld agreement are consistent in all material
      respects with what the Company could have obtained with unaffiliated
      parties.

      The Company has recorded a liability equal to the amount due to NLIC as of
      December 31, 1996 for $679,571, which represents the future policy
      benefits of the fixed individual deferred annuity contracts ceded. In
      consideration for the initial inforce business reinsured, NLIC agreed to
      pay the Company $26,473 in commission and expense allowances which were
      applied to the Company's deferred policy acquisition costs as of December
      31, 1996. No significant gain or loss was recognized as a result of the
      agreement.

      The Company and various affiliates entered into agreements with Nationwide
      Cash Management Company (NCMC) and California Cash Management Company
      (CCMC), both affiliates, under which NCMC and CCMC act as common agents in
      handling the purchase and sale of short-term securities for the respective
      accounts of the participants. Amounts on deposit with NCMC and CCMC were
      $492 and $4,844 as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively, and are
      included in short-term investments on the accompanying balance sheets.

      Certain annuity products are sold through an affiliated company, which is
      a subsidiary of Nationwide Corporation. Total commissions paid to the
      affiliate for the three years ended December 31, 1996 were $14,644, $5,949
      and $6,633, respectively.

(13)  Segment Information

      The Company has three primary segments: Variable Annuities, Fixed
      Annuities and Life Insurance. The Variable Annuities segment consists of
      annuity contracts that provide the customer with the opportunity to invest
      in mutual funds managed by an affiliated company and independent
      investment managers, with the investment returns accumulating on a
      tax-deferred basis. The Fixed Annuities segment consists of annuity
      contracts that generate a return for the customer at a specified interest
      rate, fixed for a prescribed period, with returns accumulating on a
      tax-deferred basis. The Life Insurance segment consists of insurance
      products that provide a death benefit and may also allow the customer to
      build cash value on a tax-deferred basis. In addition, the Company reports
      corporate expenses and investments, and the related investment income
      supporting capital not specifically allocated to its product segments in a
      Corporate and Other segment. In addition, all realized gains and losses
      are reported in the Corporate and Other segment.
<PAGE>
                  NATIONWIDE LIFE AND ANNUITY INSURANCE COMPANY
        (a wholly owned subsidiary of Nationwide Life Insurance Company)

                    Notes to Financial Statements, Continued


      During 1996, the Company changed its reporting segments to better reflect
      the way the businesses are managed. Prior periods have been restated to
      reflect these changes.

      The following table summarizes the revenues and income (loss) before
      federal income tax expense for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and
      1994 and assets as of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994, by business
      segment.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  1996          1995         1994
                                                              -----------     --------     --------
          <S>                                                 <C>             <C>          <C>  
          Revenues:
             Variable Annuities                               $     4,591        2,927        2,435
             Fixed Annuities                                       51,643       50,056       44,812
             Life Insurance                                           165          185          179
             Corporate and Other                                    1,545          234          891
                                                              -----------     --------     --------
                                                              $    57,944       53,402       48,317
                                                              ===========     ========     ========
          Income (loss) before federal income tax expense:
             Variable Annuities                                     1,094        1,196          658
             Fixed Annuities                                        5,156        5,633        5,093
             Life Insurance                                            (1)        (381)        (990)
             Corporate and Other                                    1,544          699          426
                                                              -----------     --------     --------
                                                              $     7,793        7,147        5,187
                                                              ===========     ========     ========
          Assets:
             Variable Annuities                                   503,111      267,097      185,332
             Fixed Annuities                                      787,682      643,313      606,696
             Life Insurance                                         2,597        2,665        2,677
             Corporate and Other                                   73,031       54,507       38,335
                                                              -----------     --------     --------
                                                              $ 1,366,421      967,582      833,040
                                                              ===========     ========     ========
</TABLE>




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