SEPARATE ACCOUNT A OF EQUITABLE LIFE ASSU SOC OF THE US
497, 1998-07-16
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            THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES

   
                         SUPPLEMENT DATED JULY 20, 1998
    

                                       TO

                             EQUI-VEST(R) PROSPECTUS

                                DATED MAY 1, 1998

                               ROTH ADVANTAGE(SM)

   
This Supplement modifies certain  information  contained in the prospectus dated
May 1, 1998  ("Prospectus") as it relates to EQUI-VEST Roth Advantage  Contracts
(Series 500) offered by Equitable Life.  Capitalized terms have the same meaning
as in the Prospectus.
    

EQUI-VEST ROTH ADVANTAGE CONTRACT (ROTH ADVANTAGE)

EQUI-VEST Roth Advantage is designed to qualify as a Roth individual  retirement
annuity under  Sections  408A and 408(b) of the Code.  Your interest in the Roth
Advantage cannot be forfeited. You or your beneficiaries who survive you are the
only ones who can receive the benefits or payments.

   
EQUI-VEST  Roth  Advantage is offered on the same basis and under the same terms
and  conditions  described in the Prospectus as applicable to the EQUI-VEST Roth
IRA (Series 300 and 400),  except that for EQUI-VEST Roth  Advantage,  the daily
charge  applied to the  investment  funds,  the  circumstances  under  which the
Contingent Withdrawal Charge is waived or modified, and interest credited in the
Guaranteed Interest Account,  are different.  You may purchase an EQUI-VEST Roth
Advantage  Contract  or an  EQUI-VEST  Roth IRA  Contract,  as you  decide.  The
EQUI-VEST  Roth IRA has lower total Separate  Account  annual  expenses than the
EQUI-VEST Roth Advantage,  but the EQUI-VEST Roth Advantage has a greater number
of exemptions to the contingent  withdrawal charge. Also, except for the minimum
Contract  guaranteed rate, for Roth Advantage  Contracts,  the interest credited
under the Guaranteed Interest Account generally will be .10% lower than the rate
applicable  under other  EQUI-VEST IRA and Roth IRA  Contracts.  You may consult
with your Equitable Life Representative for assistance in considering which form
of IRA  Contract is most  suitable for you.  The charges and  exceptions  to the
contingent  withdrawal  charge  applicable  to EQUI-VEST  Roth  Advantage are as
follows:
    

THE FOLLOWING  TABLE AND EXAMPLES  APPLICABLE TO THE  EQUI-VEST  ROTH  ADVANTAGE
CONTRACT  ARE ADDED AFTER  "EQUI-VEST:  SERIES 300 AND 400 -  ACCUMULATION  UNIT
VALUES" ON PAGE 23 OF THE PROSPECTUS.

TABLE 4: EQUI-VEST SERIES 500

Description of Expenses

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
<S>                                                                                 <C>
    SALES LOAD ON PURCHASES ....................................................    NONE
    MAXIMUM CONTINGENT WITHDRAWAL CHARGE (1) ...................................    6%
    MAXIMUM/CURRENT ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE (2) ...........................    $65/30
    MAXIMUM/CURRENT THIRD PARTY TRANSFER OR EXCHANGE FEE (3) ...................    $65/25 PER OCCURRENCE

SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES

    Mortality and Expense Risk Fees (including Death Benefit Charges)...........     1.20%
    Other Expenses .............................................................      .25%
                                                                                     =====
       Total Separate Account Annual Expenses (4)...............................     1.45%
                                                                                     =====
</TABLE>
                                       1


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           ALLIANCE
                                              ALLIANCE   INTERMEDIATE    ALLIANCE                 ALLIANCE    ALLIANCE   ALLIANCE
                                               MONEY      GOVERNMENT     QUALITY      ALLIANCE     GROWTH      EQUITY     COMMON
                                               MARKET     SECURITIES       BOND      HIGH YIELD   & INCOME     INDEX      STOCK
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HRT ANNUAL EXPENSES
      <S>                                      <C>          <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>       <C>        <C> 
      Investment Advisory Fees                 .35%         .50%          .53%         .60%          .55%      .32%       .37%
      Other Expenses                           .04%         .06%          .05%         .04%          .04%      .04%       .03%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total HRT Annual Expenses (5)(6)      .39%         .56%          .58%         .64%          .59%      .36%       .40%

<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                       ALLIANCE     ALLIANCE    ALLIANCE                  ALLIANCE
                                             ALLIANCE    ALLIANCE     AGGRESSIVE   SMALL CAP  CONSERVATIVE   ALLIANCE      GROWTH
                                              GLOBAL   INTERNATIONAL    STOCK        GROWTH    INVESTORS     BALANCED    INVESTORS
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HRT ANNUAL EXPENSES
      <S>                                     <C>          <C>            <C>           <C>         <C>            <C>       <C> 
      Investment Advisory Fees                .65%          .90%          .54%          .90%        .48%           .42%      .52%
      Other Expenses                          .08%          .18%          .03%          .05%        .07%           .05%      .05%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total HRT Annual Expenses (5)(6)     .73%         1.08%          .57%          .95%        .55%           .47%      .57%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<CAPTION>

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    EQ/PUTNAM 
                                             T. ROWE PRICE       T. ROWE PRICE       GROWTH &      EQ/ PUTNAM 
                                          INTERNATIONAL STOCK    EQUITY INCOME     INCOME VALUE      BALANCED      MFS RESEARCH
                                               PORTFOLIO           PORTFOLIO        PORTFOLIO       PORTFOLIO        PORTFOLIO
                                        --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EQAT Annual Expenses
   <S>                                          <C>                  <C>               <C>            <C>             <C> 
   Investment Management and
      Advisory Fee                               .75%                .55%              .55%           .55%            .55%
      Rule 12b-1 Fee(7)                          .25%                .25%              .25%           .25%            .25%
      Other Expenses                             .20%                .05%              .05%           .10%            .05%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total EQAT Annual Expenses (8)         1.20%                .85%              .85%           .90%            .85%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               MORGAN STANLEY
                                           MFS EMERGING           EMERGING      WARBURG PINCUS    MERRILL LYNCH   MERRILL LYNCH 
                                            GROWTH COM-        MARKETS EQUITY    SMALL COMPANY   WORLD STRATEGY     BASIC VALUE 
                                          PANIES PORTFOLIO       PORTFOLIO      VALUE PORTFOLIO     PORTFOLIO     EQUITY PORTFOLIO  
                                        --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EQAT Annual Expenses
   <S>                                         <C>                 <C>              <C>              <C>               <C> 
   Investment Management and
      Advisory Fee                             .55%                1.15%             .65%             .70%             .55%
      Rule 12b-1 Fee(7)                        .25%                 .25%             .25%             .25%             .25%
      Other Expenses                           .05%                 .35%             .10%             .25%             .05%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Total EQAT Annual Expenses (8)        .85%                1.75%            1.00%            1.20%             .85%
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

- -------------------
Notes:

   
(1)  The   contingent   withdrawal   charge  is  a   percentage   of   specified
     contributions.  See "Contingent  Withdrawal Charge" in Part 7. As discussed
     in the Prospectus and as set forth elsewhere in this Supplement,  important
     exceptions  and   limitations   may  eliminate  or  reduce  the  contingent
     withdrawal charge.
    

(2)  The Annual  Administrative Charge is the lesser of $30 or 2% of the Annuity
     Account Value (adjusted to include any  withdrawals  made during that year)
     during  the  first  two  Contract  Years;  and $30 for each  Contract  Year
     thereafter.  See "Annual  Administrative  Charge" in Part 7. We reserve the
     right  to  increase  this fee in the  future  if our  administrative  costs
     increase,  but such fee may not exceed an annual maximum of $65, subject to
     applicable law.

(3)  There is a Third Party Transfer or Exchange Fee of $25 per  occurrence.  We
     reserve the right to increase this fee in the future,  but such fee may not
     exceed a maximum of $65 per occurrence, subject to applicable law.

(4)  The total charge for Separate Account annual expenses is subject to change,
     but may not exceed 2.00%. See "Charges to Investment Funds" in the addition
     to Part 7 of the Prospectus set forth below in this Supplement.

(5)  Effective May 1, 1997, a new Investment Advisory Agreement was entered into
     between HRT and Alliance Capital Management L.P., HRT's Investment Adviser,
     which effected changes in HRT's management fee and expense  structure.  See
     HRT's  prospectus for more  information.  

     The tables above reflecting HRT's expenses are based on average portfolio
     net assets for the year ended December 31, 1997 and have been restated to
     reflect (i) the fees that would have been paid to Alliance if the current
     advisory agreement had been in effect as of January 1, 1997 and (ii)
     estimated accounting expenses for the year ending December 31, 1997.

(6)  The  investment  advisory fee for each Portfolio may vary from year to year
     depending upon the average daily net assets of the respective  Portfolio of
     the HRT. The maximum investment advisory fee, however,  cannot be increased
     without a vote of that Portfolio's shareholders. The other direct operating
     expenses  will  also  fluctuate  from  year to  year  depending  on  actual
     ex-

                                       2
<PAGE>

     penses.  HRT's  expenses  are  shown as a  percentage  of each  Portfolio's
     average portfolio net assets. See "Charges to Portfolios" in Part 7.

(7)  The Class IB shares of EQAT are subject to fees imposed under  distribution
     plans  (herein,  the "Rule 12b-1 Plans" ) adopted by EQAT  pursuant to Rule
     12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  The Rule 12b-1
     Plans provide that EQAT, on behalf of each  Portfolio,  may charge annually
     up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of a Portfolio  attributable to
     its Class IB shares in respect of activities  primarily  intended to result
     in the sale of the Class IB shares. The 12b-1 fee will not be increased for
     the life of the Contracts.

(8)  All EQAT Portfolios  commenced  operations on May 1, 1997 except the Morgan
     Stanley Emerging Markets Equity  Portfolio,  which commenced  operations on
     August 20, 1997.  

     The maximum investment management and advisory fees for each EQAT Portfolio
     cannot be increased without a vote of that Portfolio's shareholders. The
     amounts shown as "Other Expenses" will fluctuate from year to year
     depending on actual expenses; however, EQ Financial Consultants, Inc. ("EQ
     Financial"), EQAT's manager, has entered into an expense limitation
     agreement with respect to each Portfolio ("Expense Limitation Agreement"),
     pursuant to which EQ Financial has agreed to waive or limit its fees and
     assume other expenses. Under the Expense Limitation Agreement, total annual
     operating expenses of each Portfolio (other than interest, taxes, brokerage
     commissions, capitalized expenditures, extraordinary expenses and 12b-1
     fees) are limited for the respective average daily net assets of each
     Portfolio as follows: 0.60% for Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity, MFS
     Research, MFS Emerging Growth Companies, EQ/Putnam Growth & Income Value
     and T. Rowe Price Equity Income; 0.65% for EQ/Putnam Balanced; 0.75% for
     Warburg Pincus Small Company Value; 0.95% for Merrill Lynch World Strategy
     and T. Rowe Price International Stock; and 1.50% for Morgan Stanley
     Emerging Markets Equity.

     Absent the expense limitation, "Other Expenses" for 1997 on an annualized
     basis for each of the Portfolios would have been as follows: 0.80% for
     Warburg Pincus Small Company Value; 0.94% for T. Rowe Price Equity Income;
     0.95% for EQ/Putnam Growth & Income Value; 0.98% for MFS Research; 1.02%
     for MFS Emerging Growth Companies; 1.09% for Merrill Lynch Basic Value
     Equity; 1.21% for Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Equity; 1.56% for T. Rowe
     Price International Stock; 1.75% for EQ/Putnam Balanced; and 2.10% for
     Merrill Lynch World Strategy.

     Each Portfolio may at a later date make a reimbursement to EQ Financial for
     any of the management fees waived or limited and other expenses assumed and
     paid by EQ Financial pursuant to the Expense Limitation Agreement provided,
     that among other things, such Portfolio has reached sufficient size to
     permit such reimbursement to be made and provided that the Portfolio's
     current annual operating expenses do not exceed the operating expense limit
     determined for such Portfolio. See the EQAT prospectus for more
     information.

   
EXAMPLES: EQUI-VEST SERIES 500

For the Series 500 Roth Advantage  Contract,  the examples which follow show the
expenses  that a  hypothetical  Contract  Owner would pay in the  surrender  and
nonsurrender situations noted below, assuming a single contribution of $1,000 on
the Contract Date invested in one of the  Investment  Funds listed,  a 5% annual
return on  assets  and no waiver of the  contingent  withdrawal  charge.(1)  For
purposes  of these  examples,  the annual  administrative  charge is computed by
reference to the actual aggregate annual administrative  charges as a percentage
of the total  average  net assets  held  under all  EQUI-VEST  Contracts. 
    

These examples should not be considered a representation of past or future
expenses for each Investment Fund or Portfolio. Actual expenses may be greater
or less than those shown. Similarly, the annual rate of return assumed in the
examples is not an estimate or guarantee of future investment performance.

IF YOU  SURRENDER  YOUR  CONTRACT AT THE END OF EACH PERIOD  SHOWN,  THE EXPENSE
WOULD BE:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            INVESTMENT FUND                                   1 YEAR                 3 YEARS
                            ---------------                    ----------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                           <C>                    <C>    
Alliance Money Market                                                         $75.63                 $120.87
Alliance Intermediate Government Securities                                    77.32                  125.96
Alliance Quality Bond                                                          77.52                  126.55
Alliance High Yield                                                            78.12                  128.34
Alliance Growth & Income                                                       77.62                  126.85
Alliance Equity Index                                                          75.34                  119.97
Alliance Common Stock                                                          75.73                  121.17
Alliance Global                                                                79.01                  131.03
Alliance International                                                         82.48                  141.41
Alliance Small Cap Growth                                                      81.19                  137.56
Alliance Aggressive Stock                                                      77.42                  126.25
Alliance Conservative Investors                                                77.22                  125.66
Alliance Balanced                                                              76.43                  123.26
Alliance Growth Investors                                                      77.42                  126.25
T. Rowe Price International Stock Portfolio                                    83.67                  144.95
T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio                                          80.20                  134.59
EQ/Putnam Growth & Income Value Portfolio                                      80.20                  134.59
EQ/Putnam Balanced Portfolio                                                   80.70                  136.08
                                                                                         This Table continues on next page.
</TABLE>

                                       3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                            <C>                    <C>    
MFS Research Portfolio                                                         80.20                  134.59
MFS Emerging Growth Companies Portfolio                                        80.20                  134.59
Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio                               89.13                  161.07
Warburg Pincus Small Company Value Portfolio                                   81.69                  139.04
Merrill Lynch World Strategy Portfolio                                         83.67                  144.95
Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity Portfolio                                     80.20                  134.59

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


IF YOU DO NOT  SURRENDER  YOUR  CONTRACT  AT THE END OF EACH PERIOD  SHOWN,  THE
EXPENSE WOULD BE:

<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            INVESTMENT FUND                                   1 YEAR                  3 YEARS
                            ---------------                    --------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                           <C>                    <C>     
Alliance Money Market                                                         $20.01                 $  61.86
Alliance Intermediate Government Securities                                    21.80                    67.26
Alliance Quality Bond                                                          22.01                    67.89
Alliance High Yield                                                            22.64                    69.79
Alliance Growth & Income                                                       22.11                    68.21
Alliance Equity Index                                                          19.70                    60.91
Alliance Common Stock                                                          20.12                    62.18
Alliance Global                                                                23.58                    72.63
Alliance International                                                         27.25                    83.64
Alliance Small Cap Growth                                                      25.89                    79.56
Alliance Aggressive Stock                                                      21.90                    67.57
Alliance Conservative Investors                                                21.69                    66.94
Alliance Balanced                                                              20.85                    64.40
Alliance Growth Investors                                                      21.90                    67.57
T. Rowe Price International Stock Portfolio                                    28.51                    87.39
T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio                                          24.84                    76.41
EQ/Putnam Growth & Income Value Portfolio                                      24.84                    76.41
EQ/Putnam Balanced Portfolio                                                   25.37                    77.99
MFS Research Portfolio                                                         24.84                    76.41
MFS Emerging Growth Companies Portfolio                                        24.84                    76.41
Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio                               34.29                   104.48
Warburg Pincus Small Company Value Portfolio                                   26.42                    81.13
Merrill Lynch World Strategy Portfolio                                         28.51                    87.39
Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity Portfolio                                     24.84                    76.41
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
   
(1) The amount accumulated,  based on the assumptions,  could not be paid in the
    form of an annuity at the end of any of the periods  shown in the  examples.
    If the amount  applied to  purchase an annuity is less than  $2,000,  or the
    initial annuity payment is less than $20, we may pay the amount to the payee
    in a  single  sum  instead  of  as  payments  under  an  annuity  form.  See
    "Distribution  Options" in Part 6. In some cases,  charges for state premium
    or other taxes will be deducted from the amount applied, if applicable.

Accumulation Unit Values

No  Accumulation  Unit Values for any of the Investment  Funds offered under the
Series 500 Roth Advantage  Contract are included  herein,  as the Contracts were
not offered prior to the date of this Supplement.

The  following  Investment  Fund  performance  information  relates  to the Roth
Advantage and is separate from the Investment Fund  performance data shown under
"Part 8. Investment Performance" beginning on page 80 of the Prospectus.
    

INVESTMENT FUND PERFORMANCE - ROTH ADVANTAGE

In order to help show how the  performance of Investment  Funds affects  Annuity
Account  Values,  the following  tables provide a historical  view of investment
performance  for each of the  Funds  included.  The  performance  shown has been
calculated  under two methods,  as  explained  under "How  Performance  Data Are
Presented" below. The information  presented includes  performance results along
with data representing unmanaged market indices and similarly managed funds.

Except as noted below, performance data for the Investment Funds reflect (i) the
actual historical  investment results of the corresponding  Portfolios of HRT or
EQAT from the date of  inception  of those  Portfolios  or  certain  predecessor
Portfolios or accounts,  and (ii) the actual investment advisory fee, Rule 12b-1
fee, if any,  and direct  operating  expenses  of the  relevant  Portfolios.  In
addition,  for all periods,  the performance  data reflects the Separate Account
asset charges  assessed  under the Roth  Advantage  Contract,  as if it had been
available during the periods shown.

Performance for the Alliance Money Market,  Alliance  Balanced,  Alliance Common
Stock and Alliance Aggressive Stock Funds for the period before those Funds were
operated as a unit investment  trust has been adjusted to reflect the investment
advisory fee and expense structure that became applicable to the unit investment
trust. See "The Reorganization" in the SAI for additional information.

Because amounts allocated to the Investment Funds are invested in a mutual fund,
investment  return and principal  will fluctuate and  Accumulation  Units may be
worth more or less than the original cost when  redeemed.  The results shown are
not an estimate or guarantee of future investment performance.

                                       4
<PAGE>


HOW PERFORMANCE DATA ARE PRESENTED

Tables 1 and 2 compare annualized rates of return for each Investment Fund along
with appropriate benchmarks.  Table 3 shows the year-by-year rates of return for
each Investment Fund. These  performance  results are based on the change in the
Accumulation Unit value for each Investment Fund for the periods shown.

Investment  results in Tables 1, 2, and 3 are net of all  charges  and  expenses
assessed  against  the  Investment  Funds  (including  fees and  expenses of the
Trusts) but exclude the annual  administrative charge and any withdrawal charges
which  would  also  reduce the actual  return.  Tables 4 and 5 show  performance
results  after giving  effect to all charges and expenses  including  the annual
administrative  charge and the contingent withdrawal charge. Since charges under
the Contracts may vary, we have assumed, for each charge, the highest that might
apply.

Certain of the Investment  Funds began  operations on a date after the inception
date of the  corresponding  Portfolio.  When we advertise the  performance of an
Investment  Fund we will separately set forth the performance of that Fund since
its inception date, to the extent required by regulatory authorities.

BENCHMARKS

Market  indices  are not subject to any charges  for  investment  advisory  fees
typically   associated  with  a  managed   portfolio.   Comparisons  with  these
benchmarks,  therefore,  are of limited  use. We include  them  because they are
widely  known and may help you to  understand  the universe of  securities  from
which each Portfolio manager is likely to make selections.

INCEPTION DATES AND COMPARATIVE BENCHMARKS

ALLIANCE MONEY MARKET: May 11, 1982;  Salomon Brothers  Three-Month T-Bill Index
(3-Month T-Bill).

ALLIANCE INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT SECURITIES:  April 1, 1991; Lehman Intermediate
Government Bond Index (Lehman Intermediate Government).

ALLIANCE  QUALITY BOND:  October 1, 1993;  Lehman  Aggregate  Bond Index (Lehman
Aggregate).

ALLIANCE  HIGH YIELD:  January 2, 1987;  Merrill  Lynch High Yield  Master Index
(Master High Yield).

ALLIANCE GROWTH & INCOME:  October 1, 1993; 75% Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P
500) and 25% Value Line Convertibles Index (75% S&P 500/25% Value Line Conv.).

ALLIANCE EQUITY INDEX: March 1, 1994; Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500).

ALLIANCE COMMON STOCK: August 1, 1968; Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500).

ALLIANCE GLOBAL:  August 27, 1987;  Morgan Stanley Capital  International  World
Index (MSCI World).

ALLIANCE  INTERNATIONAL:  April 3, 1995;  Morgan Stanley  Capital  International
Europe, Australia, Far East Index (MSCI EAFE).

ALLIANCE  AGGRESSIVE  STOCK: May 1, 1984; 50% Russell 2000 Small Stock Index and
50% S&P MidCap Total Return (50% Russell 2000/50% S&P MidCap).

ALLIANCE SMALL CAP GROWTH:  May 1, 1997; Russell 2000 Growth Index (Russell 2000
Gr).

ALLIANCE  CONSERVATIVE  INVESTORS:  October 2, 1989;  70% Lehman  Treasury  Bond
Composite Index and 30% S&P 500 Index (70% Lehman Treas./30% S&P 500).

ALLIANCE BALANCED: May 1, 1984; 50% S&P 500 and 50% Lehman  Government/Corporate
Bond Index (50% S&P 500/50% Lehman Corp.).

ALLIANCE GROWTH INVESTORS: October 2, 1989; 30% Lehman Government/Corporate Bond
Index and 70% S&P 500 Index (30% Lehman Treas./70% S&P 500).

T.  ROWE  PRICE  INTERNATIONAL  STOCK:  May  1,  1997;  Morgan  Stanley  Capital
International Europe, Australia, Far East Index (MSCI EAFE).

T. ROWE PRICE EQUITY INCOME: May 1, 1997; Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500).

EQ/PUTNAM GROWTH & INCOME VALUE:  May 1, 1997;  Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P
500).

EQ/PUTNAM BALANCED:  May 1, 1997; 60% Standard & Poor's 500 Index and 40% Lehman
Government/Corporate Bond Index (60% S&P500/40% Lehman Corp.)

MFS RESEARCH: May 1, 1997; Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500).

MFS EMERGING GROWTH COMPANIES: May 1, 1997; Russell 2000 Index (Russell 2000).

                                       5
<PAGE>

MORGAN STANLEY EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY:  August 20, 1997; Morgan Stanley Capital
International Emerging Markets Free Price Return Index (MSCI Emerging Markets).

WARBURG  PINCUS SMALL COMPANY  VALUE:  May 1, 1997;  Russell 2000 Index (Russell
2000).

MERRILL LYNCH WORLD STRATEGY: May 1, 1997; 36% S&P 500/24% MSCI EAFE/21% Salomon
Brothers US Treasury Bond 1 Year+/14%  Salomon Brothers World Government Bond Ex
US/5% 3-Month U.S. T-bill-(Market Composite).

MERRILL LYNCH BASIC VALUE EQUITY: May 1, 1997;  Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P
500).

The Lipper  Variable  Insurance  Products  Performance  Analysis Survey (Lipper)
records the  performance of a large group of variable  annuity and variable life
products, including managed separate accounts of insurance companies.  According
to Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc., the data are presented net of investment
management  fees,  direct  operating and asset-based  charges  applicable  under
variable insurance policies or variable annuity contracts. Lipper data provide a
more accurate picture than market indices of EQUI-VEST  performance  relative to
other annuity products.

All rates of return  presented are  time-weighted  and include  reinvestment  of
investment income, including interest and dividends.  Cumulative rates of return
reflect  performance  over a stated period of time.  Annualized  rates of return
represent the annual rate of growth that would have produced the same cumulative
return, if performance had been constant over the entire period.

                                       6
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 1:
         ANNUALIZED RATES OF RETURN FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   PORTFOLIO
                                                                                                          SINCE    INCEPTION
                                               1 YEAR     3 YEARS     5 YEARS    10 YEARS    20 YEARS   INCEPTION     DATE
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIXED-INCOME SERIES:

Domestic Fixed Income

<S>                                           <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>            <C>       <C>       <C>  
ALLIANCE MONEY MARKET                          3.88%       3.96%       3.16%      4.26%         --        5.29%     5/11/82
   Lipper Money Market                         3.95        4.05        3.29       4.41          --        5.77
   3-Month T-Bill                              5.23        5.41        4.71       5.61          --        6.49
ALLIANCE INTERMEDIATE 
   GOVERNMENT SECURITIES                       5.74        6.49        4.40         --          --        5.45       4/1/91
   Lipper U.S. Government                      7.60        8.03        5.65         --          --        6.95
   Lehman Intermediate Government              7.72        8.65        6.39         --          --        7.47
ALLIANCE QUALITY BOND                          7.56        8.80          --         --          --        4.26      10/1/93
   Lipper Corporate Bond A-Rated               8.04        8.77          --         --          --        4.60
   Lehman Aggregate                            9.65       10.42          --         --          --        6.51

Aggressive Fixed Income

ALLIANCE HIGH YIELD                           16.75       18.66       14.20      11.16          --       10.41       1/2/87
   Lipper High Yield                          12.87       14.23       10.68      10.33          --        9.46
   Master High Yield                          12.83       14.54       11.72      12.09          --       11.39

EQUITY SERIES:

Domestic Equity

T. ROWE PRICE EQUITY INCOME                      --          --          --         --          --       20.92+      5/1/97
   Lipper Equity Income                          --          --          --         --          --       20.91+
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55+
EQ/PUTNAM
GROWTH & INCOME VALUE                            --          --          --         --          --       15.07+      5/1/97
   Lipper Growth & Income                        --          --          --         --          --       20.28+
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55+
ALLIANCE GROWTH & INCOME                      24.92       21.81          --         --          --       14.23      10/1/93
   Lipper Growth                              25.47       25.18          --         --          --       17.47
   25% Value Line Conv./75% S&P 500           29.54       28.62          --         --          --       20.14
ALLIANCE EQUITY INDEX                         30.65       28.45          --         --          --       21.59       3/1/94
   Lipper S&P 500 Index Funds                 31.06       29.07          --         --          --       21.96
   S&P 500                                    33.36       31.15          --         --          --       23.84
MERRILL LYNCH
BASIC VALUE EQUITY                               --          --          --         --          --       15.86+      5/1/97
   Lipper Growth & Income                        --          --          --         --          --       20.28+
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55+

ALLIANCE COMMON STOCK                         27.33       26.72       19.27      16.38       16.04       11.44       8/1/68
   Lipper Growth                              24.35       24.72       16.01      15.40       15.20        N/A
   S&P 500                                    33.36       31.15       20.27      18.05       16.66       12.25
MFS RESEARCH                                     --          --          --         --          --       14.91+      5/1/97
   Lipper Growth                                 --          --          --         --          --       21.89+
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55+

International Equity

ALLIANCE GLOBAL                                9.93       13.28       14.44      12.08          --       10.08      8/27/87
   Lipper  Global                             12.99       14.18       13.94       7.21          --        3.84
   MSCI World                                 15.76       16.62       15.34      10.57          --        8.22
ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL                        -4.46          --          --         --          --        4.62       4/3/95
   Lipper International                        5.47          --          --         --          --       11.42
   MSCI EAFE                                   1.78          --          --         --          --        6.15
T. ROWE PRICE
INTERNATIONAL STOCK                              --          --          --         --          --       -2.45+      5/1/97
   Lipper International                          --          --          --         --          --        3.41+
   MSCI EAFE                                     --          --          --         --          --        2.85+
MORGAN STANLEY EMERGING 
   MARKETS EQUITY                                --          --          --         --          --       -20.59*    8/20/97
   Lipper Emerging Markets                       --          --          --         --          --        N/A
   MSCI Emerging Markets                         --          --          --         --          --       -21.43*

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                          This table continues on next page
</TABLE>
                                               
+ Return for this Fund is unannualized and represents 8 months of performance.
* Return for this Fund is unannualized and represents 5 months of performance.

                                       7
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 1:
                     ANNUALIZED RATES OF RETURN (CONTINUED):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                   PORTFOLIO
                                                                                                          SINCE    INCEPTION
                                               1 YEAR     3 YEARS     5 YEARS    10 YEARS    20 YEARS   INCEPTION     DATE
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EQUITY SERIES (CONTINUED):

Aggressive Equity

<S>                                           <C>         <C>         <C>       <C>             <C>      <C>         <C> 
ALLIANCE AGGRESSIVE STOCK                      9.19%      19.48%      13.21%     17.24%         --       17.26%      5/1/84
   Lipper Mid-Cap Growth                      12.11       15.54        9.27      14.32          --       15.87
   50% Russell 2000/50% S&P Mid-Cap           27.31       24.88       17.11      17.74          --       16.11
WARBURG PINCUS
SMALL COMPANY VALUE                              --          --          --         --          --       17.95+      5/1/97
   Lipper Small-Cap                              --          --          --         --          --       26.66+
   Russell 2000 Growth                           --          --          --         --          --       28.68+
ALLIANCE SMALL CAP GROWTH                        --          --          --         --          --       25.46+      5/1/97
   Lipper Small-Cap                              --          --          --         --          --       26.66+
   Russell 2000 Growth                           --          --          --         --          --       27.66+
MFS EMERGING GROWTH
COMPANIES                                        --          --          --         --          --       21.22+      5/1/97
   Lipper Mid-Cap                                --          --          --         --          --       20.88+
   Russell 2000                                  --          --          --         --          --       28.68+

ASSET ALLOCATION SERIES:

ALLIANCE CONSERVATIVE INVESTORS               11.59       11.14        7.21         --          --        7.95      10/2/89
   Lipper Income                              15.51       15.54       11.61         --          --       10.57
   70% Lehman Treas./30% S&P 500              16.71       17.18       11.87         --          --       11.39
EQ/PUTNAM BALANCED                               --          --          --         --          --       13.35+      5/1/97
   Lipper Balanced                               --          --          --         --          --       14.79+
   40% Lehman Gov't./Corp./60% S&P 500           --          --          --         --          --       17.17+
ALLIANCE BALANCED                             13.31       13.74        8.10      10.65          --       10.29       5/1/84
   Lipper Flexible Portfolio                  18.23       17.09       11.52      11.93          --       10.94
   50% Lehman Gov't./Corp./70% S&P 500        21.56       21.68       14.63      21.19          --       14.84
ALLIANCE GROWTH INVESTORS                     15.08       16.73       11.51         --          --       14.05      10/2/89
   Lipper Flexible Portfolio                  18.23       17.09       11.52         --          --       11.10
   30% Lehman Gov't./Corp./70% S&P 500        26.28       25.64       17.02         --          --       14.48
MERRILL LYNCH WORLD STRATEGY                     --          --          --         --          --        3.69+      5/1/97
   Lipper Global Flexible Portfolio              --          --          --         --          --        8.52+
   Market Composite                              --          --          --         --          --       10.81+
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
+ Return for this Fund is unannualized and represents 8 months of performance.
* Return for this Fund is unannualized and represents 5 months of performance.

                                       8
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 2:
         CUMULATIVE RATES OF RETURN FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                   PORTFOLIO
                                                                                                          SINCE    INCEPTION
                                               1 YEAR     3 YEARS     5 YEARS    10 YEARS    20 YEARS   INCEPTION     DATE
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FIXED-INCOME SERIES:

Domestic Fixed Income

<S>                                           <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>            <C>     <C>      <C>  
ALLIANCE MONEY MARKET                          3.88%      12.34%      16.84%       51.81%         --      124.04    5/11/82
   Lipper Money Market                         3.95       12.64       17.61        54.00          --      151.25
   3-Month T-Bill                              5.23       17.13       25.87        72.64          --      199.34


ALLIANCE INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT SECURITIES    5.74       20.77       24.03          --           --       43.08     4/1/91
   Lipper U.S. Government                      7.60       26.12       31.70          --           --       57.40
   Lehman Intermediate Government              7.72       28.25       36.31          --           --       62.74

ALLIANCE QUALITY BOND                          7.56       28.79         --           --           --       19.41    10/1/93
   Lipper Corporate Bond A-Rated               8.04       28.70       34.61       108.54          --       21.09
   Lehman Aggregate                            9.65       34.63         --           --           --       30.78

Aggressive Fixed Income

ALLIANCE HIGH YIELD                           16.75       67.08       94.27       188.03          --      197.15    1/2/87
   Lipper High Yield                          12.87       49.17       66.26       169.15          --      173.12
   Master High Yield                          12.83       50.26       74.04       213.08          --      227.68

EQUITY SERIES:

Domestic Equity

T. ROWE PRICE EQUITY INCOME                     --          --          --           --           --       20.92    5/1/97
   Lipper Equity Income                         --          --          --           --           --       20.91
   S&P 500                                      --          --          --           --           --       22.55

EQ/PUTNAM
GROWTH & INCOME VALUE                           --          --          --           --           --       15.07    5/1/97
   Lipper Growth & Income                       --          --          --           --           --       28.28
   S&P 500                                      --          --          --           --           --       22.55

ALLIANCE GROWTH & INCOME                      24.92      80.76          --           --           --       76.03   10/1/93
   Lipper Growth & Income                     25.47      96.46          --           --           --       98.58
   25% Value Line Conv./75% S&P 500           29.54     112.80          --           --           --      118.17

ALLIANCE EQUITY INDEX                         30.65     111.93          --           --           --      111.64    3/1/94
   Lipper S&P 500 Index Funds                 31.06     115.03          --           --           --      114.07
   S&P 500                                    33.36     125.60          --           --           --      127.24

MERRILL LYNCH BASIC VALUE EQUITY                --          --          --           --           --       15.86    5/1/97
   Lipper Growth & Income                       --          --          --           --           --       20.28
   S&P 500                                      --          --          --           --           --       22.55

ALLIANCE COMMON STOCK                         27.33     103.51      141.40       355.99     1,858.66    2,319.51    8/1/68
   Lipper Growth                              24.35      94.70      111.15       321.71     1,602.96    1,659.17
   S&P 500                                    33.36     125.60      151.62       425.67     2,080.13    2,248.74

MFS RESEARCH                                    --          --          --           --           --       14.91    5/1/97
   Lipper Growth                                --          --          --           --           --       21.89
   S&P 500                                      --          --          --           --           --       22.55

International Equity

ALLIANCE GLOBAL                               9.93      45.37       96.31        212.88           --      169.98   8/27/87
   Lipper  Global                            12.99      49.53       93.26        100.58           --       47.66
   MSCI World                                15.76      58.59      104.13        173.03           --      126.45

ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL                       -4.46         --          --            --           --       13.22    4/3/95
   Lipper International                       5.47         --          --            --           --       35.07
   MSCI EAFE                                  1.78         --          --            --           --       17.83

T. ROWE PRICE                                                                   
INTERNATIONAL STOCK                            --          --          --            --           --      -2.45     5/1/97
   Lipper International                        --          --          --            --           --       3.41
   MSCI EAFE                                   --          --          --            --           --       2.85

MORGAN STANLEY EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY         --          --          --            --           --     -20.62*   8/20/97
   Lipper Emerging Markets                     --          --          --            --           --       N/A
   MSCI Emerging Market                        --          --          --            --           --     -21.43
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                       9
<PAGE>

                TABLE 2: CUMULATIVE RATES OF RETURN (CONTINUED):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                   PORTFOLIO
                                                                                                          SINCE    INCEPTION
                                               1 YEAR     3 YEARS     5 YEARS    10 YEARS    20 YEARS   INCEPTION     DATE
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EQUITY SERIES (CONTINUED):

Aggressive Equity

<S>                                             <C>       <C>          <C>        <C>           <C>       <C>       <C> 
ALLIANCE AGGRESSIVE STOCK                        9.19%    70.55%        85.98%    390.65%       --        781.75%    5/1/84
   Lipper Mid-Cap Growth                        12.11     56.12         59.26     311.80        --        478.26
   50% Russell 2000/50% S&P Mid-Cap             27.31     94.76        120.25     412.08        --        436.52

WARBURG PINCUS
SMALL COMPANY VALUE                                --        --            --         --        --         17.95     5/1/97
   Lipper Small-Cap                                --        --            --         --        --         26.66
   Russell 2000                                    --        --            --         --        --         28.68

ALLIANCE SMALL CAP GROWTH                          --        --            --         --        --         25.46     5/1/97
   Lipper Small-Cap                                --        --            --         --        --         26.66
   Russell 2000 Growth                             --        --            --         --        --         27.66

MFS EMERGING GROWTH COMPANIES                      --        --            --         --        --         21.22     5/1/97
   Lipper Mid-Cap                                  --        --            --         --        --         20.88
   Russell 2000                                    --        --            --         --        --         28.68
                                           
ASSET ALLOCATION SERIES:                   
                                           
ALLIANCE CONSERVATIVE INVESTORS                 11.59     37.28         41.63         --        --         87.85    10/2/89
   Lipper Income                                15.51     54.60         73.34         --        --        129.83
   70% Lehman Treas./30% S&P 500                16.71     60.91         75.18         --        --        143.55

EQ/PUTNAM BALANCED                                --         --            --         --        --         13.35     5/1/97
   Lipper Balanced                                --         --            --         --        --         14.79
   40% Lehman Gov't./Corp./60% S&P 500            --         --            --         --        --         17.17

ALLIANCE BALANCED                               13.31     47.14         47.61     175.07        --        281.42     5/1/84
   Lipper Flexible Portfolio                    18.23     61.05         73.02     209.82        --        246.50
   50% Lehman Gov't./Corp./70% S&P 500          21.56     80.14         97.96     583.14        --        376.27

ALLIANCE GROWTH INVESTORS                       15.08     59.04         72.45         --        --        195.62    10/2/89
   Lipper Flexible Portfolio                    18.23     61.05         73.02         --        --        140.59
   30% Lehman Gov't./Corp./70% S&P 500          26.28     98.32        119.42         --        --        205.24

MERRILL LYNCH WORLD STRATEGY                       --        --            --         --        --          3.69     5/1/97
   Lipper Global Flexible Portfolio                --        --            --         --        --          8.52
   Market Composite                                --        --            --         --        --         10.81
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

                                       10
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 3:
                          YEAR-BY-YEAR RATES OF RETURN
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1988     1989     1990     1991     1992     1993     1994     1995     1996      1997
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>       <C>  
ALLIANCE MONEY MARKET                 5.83%    7.66%    6.77%    4.66%    2.05%    1.46%    2.51%    4.20%    3.78%     3.88%

ALLIANCE INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT
   SECURITIES                           --       --       --    10.85*    4.06     8.98    -5.76    11.69     2.26      5.74

ALLIANCE QUALITY BOND                   --       --       --       --       --    -0.87*   -6.47    15.33     3.82      7.56

ALLIANCE HIGH YIELD                   8.14     3.61    -2.53    22.66    10.68    21.36    -4.19    18.18    21.09     16.75

ALLIANCE GROWTH & INCOME                --       --       --       --       --    -0.62*   -2.01    22.28    18.34     24.92

ALLIANCE EQUITY INDEX                   --       --       --       --       --       --    -0.14*   34.51    20.60     30.65

ALLIANCE COMMON STOCK                21.50    24.06    -9.28    35.80     1.71    23.00    -3.56    30.52    22.45     27.33

ALLIANCE GLOBAL                       9.27    24.90    -7.42    28.66    -1.96    30.21     3.71    17.10    12.93      9.93

ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL                  --       --       --       --       --       --       --     9.51*    8.21     -4.46

ALLIANCE AGGRESSIVE STOCK            -0.50    42.71     5.61    84.36    -4.58    15.05    -5.21    29.72    20.40      9.19

ALLIANCE SMALL CAP                
  GROWTH                                --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     25.46*

ALLIANCE CONSERVATIVE 
  INVESTORS                             --     2.72*    4.86    18.11     4.26     9.16    -5.49    18.66     3.67     11.59

ALLIANCE BALANCED                    13.22    24.58    -1.44    40.01    -4.26    10.67    -9.36    18.01    10.04     13.31

ALLIANCE GROWTH 
  INVESTORS                             --     3.62*    9.01    46.75     3.41    13.59    -4.55    24.54    10.96     15.08

T. ROWE PRICE
  INTERNATIONAL STOCK
  PORTFOLIO                             --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     -2.45*

T. ROWE PRICE EQUITY 
  INCOME PORTFOLIO                      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     20.92*

EQ/PUTNAM GROWTH & 
  INCOME VALUE PORTFOLIO                --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     15.07*

EQ/PUTNAM BALANCED 
  PORTFOLIO                             --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     13.35*

MFS RESEARCH PORTFOLIO                  --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     14.91*

MFS EMERGING GROWTH COMPANIES
   PORTFOLIO                            --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     21.22*

MORGAN STANLEY EMERGING MARKETS
   EQUITY PORTFOLIO                     --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --    -20.62*

WARBURG PINCUS SMALL COMPANY VALUE
  PORTFOLIO                             --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     17.95*

MERRILL LYNCH WORLD STRATEGY
  PORTFOLIO                             --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --      3.69*

MERRILL LYNCH BASIC VALUE 
  EQUITY PORTFOLIO                      --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     15.86*
</TABLE>

- -------------------
* Unannualized

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

                                       11
<PAGE>

The  performance  data in Tables 4 and 5 illustrate the growth of an investment,
and the average annual total return of the Investment Funds, respectively,  over
the  periods  shown  assuming  a  single  initial  contribution  of  $1,000  and
termination of the Roth Advantage Contract at the end of each period on December
31, 1997, under circumstances in which the contingent withdrawal charge applies.
The values shown are also net of all other charges and expenses assessed against
the Investment  Funds.  An Investment  Fund's average annual total return is the
annual rate of growth of the Investment  Fund that would be necessary to achieve
the ending value of a contribution  kept in the  Investment  Fund for the period
specified.

Each calculation  further assumes that the $1,000  contribution was allocated to
only one Investment Fund, no transfers or additional contributions were made, no
loans,  and no amounts  were  allocated to any other  Investment  Fund under the
Contract.

In order to calculate the  performance  information,  we divide the  termination
value (defined  below) of a Contract which is terminated on December 31, 1997 by
the $1,000  investment  made at the  beginning of each period  illustrated.  The
result of that  calculation  is the total  growth rate for the  period.  Then we
annualize  that  growth rate to obtain the average  annual  percentage  increase
(decrease) during the period shown. When we "annualize," we assume that a single
rate of return  applied  each year  during the period  will  produce  the ending
value, taking into account the effect of compounding.  "Termination value" means
the Annuity  Account Value less the  contingent  withdrawal  charge,  the annual
administrative  charge and all other  charges  and  expenses  which are  applied
against  an  Investment  Fund.  See  "Part 7:  Deductions  and  Charges"  in the
Prospectus.

                                       12
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 4:
         GROWTH OF $1,000 FOR CONTRACTS TERMINATED ON DECEMBER 31, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      LENGTH OF INVESTMENT PERIOD
                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                ONE             THREE            FIVE              TEN        SINCE PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT FUND                                YEAR             YEARS            YEARS            YEARS         INCEPTION*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>                 <C>        
Alliance Money Market                          963.04           992.30           973.10         1,187.95                  --

Alliance Intermediate Government
   Securities                                  980.26         1,069.88         1,037.72               --            1,216.25

Alliance Quality Bond                          997.16         1,146.98               --               --            1,017.41
Alliance High Yield                          1,084.16         1,514.74         1,698.31         2,357.62            --
Alliance Growth & Income                     1,164.22         1,646.11               --               --            1,552.72
Alliance Equity Index                        1,220.38         1,947.89               --               --            1,911.03
Alliance Common Stock                        1,187.85         1,866.17         2,143.45         3,898.31                  --
Alliance Global                              1,019.13         1,306.18         1,725.08         2,623.61                  --
Alliance International                         885.73            --               --               --               1,007.38
Alliance Aggressive Stock                    1,012.29         1,548.59         1,623.95         4,303.12                  --
Alliance Small Cap Growth                          --               --               --               --            1,115.61
Alliance Conservative Investors              1,034.51         1,228.45         1,201.97               --            1,572.62
Alliance Balanced                            1,050.51         1,323.12         1,256.23         2,310.16                  --
Alliance Growth Investors                    1,067.81         1,437.53         1,493.30               --            2,579.05
T. Rowe Price International Stock
   Portfolio                                       --               --               --               --              939.33

T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio              --               --               --               --            1,087.01

E/Q Putnam Growth &                            
   Income Value Portfolio                          --               --               --               --            1,049.71
E/Q Putnam Balanced Portfolio                      --               --               --               --            1,038.65

MFS Research Portfolio                             --               --               --               --            1,048.68

MFS Emerging Growth Companies Portfolio            --               --               --               --            1,088.92

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Equity         
   Portfolio                                       --               --               --               --              897.83
Warburg Pincus Small Company Value             
   Portfolio                                       --               --               --               --            1,068.15

Merrill Lynch World Strategy Portfolio             --               --               --               --              978.48
Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity               
   Portfolio                                       --               --               --               --            1,054.83
</TABLE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Portfolio inception dates are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

                                       13
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 5:
  AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN UNDER CONTRACTS TERMINATED ON DECEMBER 31, 1997:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      LENGTH OF INVESTMENT PERIOD
                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                    SINCE
                                               ONE          THREE          FIVE          TEN        SINCE FUND    PORTFOLIO
INVESTMENT FUND                               YEAR          YEARS         YEARS         YEARS       INCEPTION*   INCEPTION**
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>            <C>          <C>        
Alliance Money Market                        -3.70%         -0.26%        -0.54%         1.74%            --           --

Alliance Intermediate Government
   Securities                                -1.97%          2.28%         0.74%           --           0.86%        2.94%

Alliance Quality Bond                        -0.28%          4.68%           --            --           0.74%        0.41%
Alliance High Yield                           8.42%         14.85%        11.17%         8.96%          8.81%          --
Alliance Growth & Income                     16.42%         18.07%           --            --          12.05%       10.91%
Alliance Equity Index                        22.04%         24.89%           --            --          20.36%       18.39%
Alliance Common Stock                        18.79%         23.12%        16.47%           --             --           --
Alliance Global                               1.91%          9.31%        11.52%        10.13%            --           --
Alliance International                      -11.43%         --            --            --             -1.58%        0.27%
Alliance Aggressive Stock                     1.23%         15.69%        10.18%        15.71%            --           --
Alliance Small Cap Growth                       --             --            --            --           5.94%       17.79%
Alliance Conservative Investors               3.45%          7.10%         3.75%           --             --         5.64%
Alliance Balanced                             5.05%          9.78%         4.67%         8.73%            --           --
Alliance Growth Investors                     6.78%         12.86%         8.35%        --              7.57%       12.17%
T. Rowe Price International Stock
   Portfolio                                 --             --            --            --            -12.04%       -8.94%
T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio        --             --            --            --              8.07%       13.30%
E/Q Putnam Growth &
   Income Value Portfolio                    --             --            --            --              1.04%        8.32%
E/Q Putnam Balanced Portfolio                --             --            --            --              2.23%        5.84%
MFS Research Portfolio                       --             --            --            --              0.96%        7.37%
MFS Emerging Growth Companies Portfolio      --             --            --            --              4.34%       13.60%
Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Equity
   Portfolio                                 --             --            --            --            -25.46%      -25.45%
Warburg Pincus Small Company Value
   Portfolio                                 --             --            --            --              3.45%       10.37%
Merrill Lynch World Strategy Portfolio       --             --            --            --             -7.73%       -3.20%

Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity
   Portfolio                                 --             --            --            --              1.04%        8.32%
</TABLE>

- -------------------
 * Fund  inception  dates  are:  Alliance  Money  Market   (5/11/82),   Alliance
   Intermediate Government Securities (6/1/94),  Alliance Quality Bond (1/4/94),
   Alliance High Yield  (1/4/94),  Alliance Growth & Income  (1/4/94),  Alliance
   Equity Index  (6/1/94),  Alliance  Common Stock  (8/27/81),  Alliance  Global
   (1/4/94),   Alliance  International   (9/1/95),   Alliance  Growth  Investors
   (1/4/94),  Alliance  Aggressive  Stock  (5/1/84),  Alliance  Small Cap Growth
   (6/2/97),   Alliance  Conservative  Investors  (1/4/94),   Alliance  Balanced
   (5/1/84),  T. Rowe Price International  Stock (6/2/97),  T. Rowe Price Equity
   Income (6/2/97), EQ/Putnam Growth & Income Value (6/2/97), EQ/Putnam Balanced
   (6/2/97),  MFS Research  (6/2/97),  MFS Emerging Growth  Companies  (6/2/97),
   Morgan  Stanley  Emerging  Markets  Equity  (8/20/97),  Warburg  Pincus Small
   Company Value (6/2/97),  Merrill Lynch World Strategy (6/2/97), Merrill Lynch
   Basic Value Equity (6/2/97).

** Portfolio inception dates are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

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

                                       14
<PAGE>


COMMUNICATING PERFORMANCE DATA

In reports or other communications or in advertising  material,  we may describe
general economic and market conditions affecting the Separate Account and HRT or
EQAT and may present the performance of the Investment  Funds or compare it with
(1) that of other insurance  company separate  accounts or mutual funds included
in the rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical Services,  Inc., Morningstar Inc.,
VARDS or similar  investment  services that monitor the performance of insurance
company  separate  accounts or mutual funds,  (2) other  appropriate  indices of
investment  securities  and  averages  for peer  universes  of funds  which  are
described elsewhere in this prospectus, or (3) data developed by us derived from
such indices or averages.  The Morningstar Variable Annuity/Life Report consists
of over 700 variable life and annuity funds,  all of which report their data net
of investment  management fees,  direct operating  expenses and separate account
charges.  VARDS is a monthly reporting service that monitors over 2,500 variable
life  and  variable  annuity  funds  on  performance  and  account  information.
Advertisements  or other  communications  furnished  to present  or  prospective
Contract Owners may also include  evaluations of an Investment Fund or Portfolio
by  financial  publications  that are  nationally  recognized  such as Barron's,
Morningstar's  Variable  Annuity  Sourcebook,  Business Week,  Chicago  Tribune,
Forbes, Fortune, Institutional Investor, Investment Adviser, Investment Dealer's
Digest, Investment Management Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Money, Money Management
Letter, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Financial Planning,  National Underwriter,
Pension & Investments,  USA Today,  Investor's Daily, The New York Times and The
Wall Street Journal.

WITH RESPECT TO EQUI-VEST ROTH ADVANTAGE,  THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION REPLACES THE
DISCUSSION UNDER "CHARGES TO INVESTMENT FUNDS" ON PAGE 56 OF THE PROSPECTUS:

            We make a daily charge at the effective annual rate of 1.45% against
            the assets  held in each of the  Investment  Funds.  This  charge is
            reflected  in  the  Accumulation  Unit  Values  for  the  particular
            Investment  Fund and covers  mortality  and expense  risk charges of
            1.20% and expenses of 0.25%.

            The mortality and expense risk and death benefit charge is comprised
            of 0.65% for mortality risk,  including  guaranteed  death benefits,
            and 0.55% for expense risk, although the allocation of these charges
            may vary. We assume a mortality  risk by (a) our obligation to pay a
            death  benefit  that will not be less  than the  total  value of all
            contributions  made (less any applicable  taxes)  adjusted for total
            withdrawals,  (b) our  obligation  to make annuity  payments for the
            life  of the  Annuitant  under  guaranteed  fixed  annuity  options,
            regardless of the Annuitant's longevity, (c) our guarantees relating
            to annuity  purchase  rates,  the  actuarial  basis for which can be
            changed only for new contributions and only on the fifth anniversary
            of the Contract  Date and every five years  thereafter,  and (d) our
            obligation  to  waive  the  contingent  withdrawal  charge  upon the
            payment of a death benefit.

            The expense risk we assume is the risk that,  over time,  our actual
            expense  of  administering   the  Contracts,   including   financial
            accounting,  may exceed the amounts realized from the expense charge
            and the annual administrative  expense charge. Part of the mortality
            and  expense  risk  charge  may  be  considered  to be  an  indirect
            reimbursement for certain sales and promotional expenses relating to
            the  Contracts  to the extent  that the charge is not needed to meet
            the actual expenses incurred.

            The charge for  expenses,  together  with the annual  administrative
            charge described below, is designed to reimburse us for our costs in
            providing administrative services in connection with the Contracts.

            Maximum Total Separate Account Charges

   
            We may change the annual rate of the daily asset  charge  imposed on
            the amounts held in the  Investment  Funds  comprising  the Separate
            Account.  We may  increase  or  decrease  the 1.45%  total  Separate
            Account charge currently applicable,  but may not increase the total
            charge above a maximum annual rate of 2.00%. Any increase would only
            be  made  upon  advance  notice  to you  and  would  apply  only  to
            contributions  made after the date of the change.  Changes,  if any,
            would reflect  differences  in costs and  anticipated  expenses, and
            would not be unfairly discriminatory.
    

                                       15
<PAGE>


THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE REPLACES THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE THIRD PARAGRAPH OF THE
DISCUSSION UNDER "CONTINGENT WITHDRAWAL CHARGE" ON PAGE 57 OF THE PROSPECTUS:

   
            We  reserve  the  right  to  change  the  amount  of the  contingent
            withdrawal charge for future contributions, but it will never exceed
            8% of the amount withdrawn attributable to contributions made during
            the current and eleven Contract Years prior to the withdrawal.
    

THE FOLLOWING IS ADDED AT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION UNDER "CONTINGENT WITHDRAWAL
CHARGE" ON PAGE 57 OF THE PROSPECTUS:

   
            Subject to  regulatory  approval,  Equitable  Life may allow certain
            owners of EQUI-VEST Roth IRA Contracts  purchased  prior to July 20,
            1998 to exchange their Contracts for a Roth Advantage Contract.  Any
            contingent  withdrawal charge otherwise  applicable to the EQUI-VEST
            Roth IRA  Contract  surrendered  in  exchange  for a Roth  Advantage
            Contract  would be waived.  The  proposed  exchange  offer  would be
            limited to persons  holding  EQUI-VEST Roth IRA Contracts  purchased
            prior to July 20, 1998 with either (1) non-rollover contributions or
            (2) rollover  contributions  from any source other than an Equitable
            Life variable  annuity  contract.  If you purchase an EQUI-VEST Roth
            IRA Contract,  rather than a Roth Advantage Contract, after July 20,
            1998,  you will  not be  eligible  to  participate  in the  proposed
            exchange offer.

THE FOLLOWING  REPLACES THE LAST TWO  "BULLETS" AND THE LEAD-IN  SENTENCE AT THE
END  OF  PAGE  57 OF  THE  PROSPECTUS  UNDER  "CONTINGENT  WITHDRAWAL  CHARGE  -
EXCEPTIONS TO THE CONTINGENT WITHDRAWAL CHARGE":
    

            Additionally, a withdrawal charge will not apply to a Roth Advantage
            Contract upon any of the following events:

            o   the Annuitant has completed at least five Contract Years and has
                attained age 59 1/2;

            o   during any Contract  Year in which the amount  withdrawn is less
                than or equal to 25% of the  Annuity  Account  Value at the time
                the  withdrawal  is  requested   minus  any  amount   previously
                withdrawn   during  that  Contract   Year,   provided  that  the
                withdrawal is used to pay specified higher education expenses as
                defined  in  the  Code  and   subject  to  receipt  of  evidence
                satisfactory  to us that  such  withdrawal  is in fact  for such
                purpose;

            o   the Annuitant has  completed at least five Contract  Years,  and
                the  withdrawal,  up  to a  $10,000  maximum,  is  a  "qualified
                first-time  homebuyer  distribution"  (as  defined in the Code),
                subject  to  receipt of  evidence  satisfactory  to us that such
                withdrawal is in fact for such purpose; or

            o   a request  is made for a refund of a  contribution  in excess of
                amounts  allowed  to be  contributed  under the Code  within one
                month of the date on which the contribution is made.

                                       16

<PAGE>
            THE EQUITABLE LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES


   
                         SUPPLEMENT DATED JULY 20, 1998
                                       TO
                             EQUI-VEST(R) PROSPECTUS
    


                                DATED MAY 1, 1998


                                 TSA ADVANTAGE(SM)


   
This  Supplement  adds to and  modifies  certain  information  contained  in the
prospectus dated May 1, 1998  ("Prospectus")  for EQUI-VEST group and individual
deferred variable annuity  contracts  offered by Equitable Life.  Equitable Life
will offer its EQUI-VEST Series 600 TSA Advantage(SM) contracts ("Series 600" or
"TSA  Advantage   Contract")  to  all   participants  in  plans  that  meet  the
requirements of Internal  Revenue Service Code ("Code") Section 403(b) (referred
to as "Section 403(b) Plans"),  except that the TSA Advantage  Contract will not
be offered to  participants  in a Section  403(b) Plan sponsored by a primary or
secondary school, regardless of whether the employer is a tax exempt entity or a
public education institution described in Section 403(b)(1)(A)(i) or (ii) of the
Code,  respectively,  or to participants in a Section 403(b) Plan sponsored by a
post-secondary    public    education    institution    described   in   Section
403(b)(1)(A)(ii)  of  the  Code.  For  participants  in a  Section  403(b)  Plan
sponsored by an employer  which is a hospital or other health care  organization
qualified under Section  501(c)(3) of the Code, the TSA Advantage  Contract will
be available only when the employer makes  contributions to the plan (whether in
addition  to, or instead of,  employee  salary-reduction  or  elective  deferral
contributions).  Under  the TSA  Advantage  Contract,  contributions,  including
rollover  contributions and direct transfer  contributions from existing Section
403(b)  Plans  (programs  or   arrangements)   will  be  accepted  only  if  the
contributions  are fully vested under the existing TSA plan.  The TSA  Advantage
Contract  may not  currently be available  in your state.  Your  Equitable  Life
Representative can provide information about state availability.
    

The EQUI-VEST TSA Advantage  Contract is offered to purchasers on the same basis
and  under  the  same  terms  and  conditions  described  in the  Prospectus  as
applicable to the EQUI-VEST TSA Series 100 and 200 contracts, except for certain
material  differences  described in this Supplement.  Capitalized  terms in this
Supplement not otherwise defined have the same meaning as in the Prospectus.

Material  differences  between the TSA Advantage  Contract and the provisions of
the  EQUI-VEST  TSA  Series 100 and 200  contracts  described  in the  EQUI-VEST
Prospectus include the following:

THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH IS ADDED AFTER "EQUI-VEST  EMPLOYER-SPONSORED RETIREMENT
PROGRAMS - UNIVERSITY TSA" ON PAGE 8 OF THE PROSPECTUS:

o   TSA ADVANTAGE

   
A TSA for  certain  educational  organizations,  churches,  hospitals  and other
non-profit entities described in Code Section 501(c)(3).  Contributions are made
by the employer either directly or through a salary reduction  agreement entered
into with the employee. For Section 403(b) Plans offered for hospital and health
care facility employees,  non-salary reduction (employer  contributions) must be
made.  Each employee is the Contract Owner and must also be the  Annuitant.  TSA
Advantage  is  available  only  to  employees  of  employers   described   above
maintaining  Section  403(b)  Plans  that  currently  have,  or within the first
Contract  Year are  expected to have,  at least 50  participants.  Employees  in
Section  403(b)  Plans that do not meet  these  underwriting  criteria  are only
eligible for EQUI-VEST TSA Series 100 and 200 Contracts. Unless otherwise noted,
references to TSA Contracts include TSA Advantage Contracts.
    

THE FOLLOWING TWO SENTENCES  REPLACE THE SECOND  SENTENCE OF THE FIRST PARAGRAPH
UNDER "INVESTMENT OPTIONS" ON PAGE 9 OF THE PROSPECTUS:

Each Investment  Fund invests in shares of a  corresponding  Portfolio of either
HRT (Class IA or Class IB) or EQAT (Class IB), respectively. The Class IA shares
and Class IB shares of HRT are identical, except for the 12b-1 distribution plan
and related  fees  applicable  to the Class IB shares.  Under the TSA  Advantage
contracts, the Investment Funds purchase Class IB shares of HRT and EQAT.


                                       1
<PAGE>


   
THE FOLLOWING TABLE AND EXAMPLES ARE ADDED AFTER "TABLE 3: EQUI-VEST: SERIES 300
AND 400 --  ACCUMULATION  UNIT  VALUES"  ON PAGE 23 OF THE  PROSPECTUS  (TABLE 4
APPEARS IN ANOTHER SUPPLEMENT TO THE PROSPECTUS):

TABLE 5: EQUI-VEST SERIES 600

The  following  Tables apply to the Series 600 TSA  Advantage  Contracts.  These
Tables,  and the related Examples,  will assist you in understanding the various
costs and  expenses  under the Series 600  Contract so that you may compare them
with other  products.  Except as  described  in Notes 5 and 7 below,  the Tables
reflect expenses of the applicable Trust for the year ended December 31, 1997.
    

A charge for applicable state or local taxes may be deducted from  contributions
in some states.  See "Charges for State Premium and Other  Applicable  Taxes" in
Part 7.

   
As explained in Parts 4 and 5, the Guaranteed  Interest Account is not a part of
the Separate  Account and is not covered by the  following  Tables and Examples.
The only  expenses  shown in the Tables which apply to the  Guaranteed  Interest
Account are the contingent  withdrawal charge, the annual  administrative charge
and, if imposed at a later date,  the Third Party Transfer or Exchange Fee. Also
see "Income  Annuity  Distribution  Options" in Part 6 for the description of an
administrative charge which may apply when you annuitize.
    

Description of Expenses
- -----------------------

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                           <C>
CONTRACT OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
   SALES LOAD ON PURCHASES ................................................................   NONE
   MAXIMUM CONTINGENT WITHDRAWAL CHARGE (1) ...............................................   6%
   MAXIMUM/CURRENT ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE (2) .......................................   $65/30
   THIRD PARTY TRANSFER OR EXCHANGE FEE (3) ...............................................   NONE

SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES (4)
   Mortality and Expense Risk Fees (including Death Benefit Charges).......................     .95%
   Other Expenses .........................................................................     .25%
                                                                                              ========
     Total Separate Account Annual Expenses ...............................................    1.20%
                                                                                              ========
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       ALLIANCE
                                           ALLIANCE  INTERMEDIATE   ALLIANCE                ALLIANCE     ALLIANCE   ALLIANCE
                                            MONEY     GOVERNMENT    QUALITY     ALLIANCE     GROWTH       EQUITY     COMMON
                                            MARKET    SECURITIES      BOND     HIGH YIELD   & INCOME      INDEX       STOCK
                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>         <C> 
HRT ANNUAL EXPENSES
     Investment Advisory Fees                  .35%        .50%         .53%        .60%        .55%         .32%        .37%
     Rule 12b-1 fee (7)                        .25%        .25%         .25%        .25%        .25%         .25%        .25%
     Other Expenses                            .04%        .06%         .05%        .04%        .04%         .04%        .03%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total HRT Annual Expenses (5)(6)        .64%        .81%         .83%        .89%        .84%         .61%        .65%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                                                    ALLIANCE    ALLIANCE    ALLIANCE                ALLIANCE
                                           ALLIANCE    ALLIANCE    AGGRESSIVE  SMALL CAP  CONSERVATIVE   ALLIANCE    GROWTH
                                            GLOBAL   INTERNATIONAL   STOCK       GROWTH     INVESTORS    BALANCED   INVESTORS
                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>        <C>           <C>        <C>          <C>          <C>         <C> 
HRT ANNUAL EXPENSES
     Investment Advisory Fees                  .65%        .90%         .54%        .90%        .48%         .42%        .52%
     Rule 12b-1 fee (7)                        .25%        .25%         .25%        .25%        .25%         .25%        .25%
     Other Expenses                            .08%        .18%         .03%        .05%        .07%         .05%        .05%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total HRT Annual Expenses (5)(6)        .98%       1.33%         .82%       1.20%        .80%         .72%        .82%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<CAPTION>
                                                                          EQ/PUTNAM GROWTH
                                           T. ROWE PRICE    T. ROWE PRICE          &           EQ/ PUTNAM
                                           INTERNATIONAL    EQUITY INCOME    INCOME VALUE       BALANCED       MFS RESEARCH
                                          STOCK PORTFOLIO     PORTFOLIO        PORTFOLIO        PORTFOLIO        PORTFOLIO
                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                            <C>               <C>              <C>              <C>              <C> 
EQAT Annual Expenses
   Investment Management and
     Advisory Fee                               .75%             .55%             .55%             .55%             .55%
     Rule 12b-1 fee (7)                         .25%             .25%             .25%             .25%             .25%
     Other Expenses                             .20%             .05%             .05%             .10%             .05%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total EQAT Annual Expenses (8)          1.20%             .85%             .85%             .90%             .85%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                       2

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          MORGAN STANLEY
                                           MFS EMERGING      EMERGING      WARBURG PINCUS    MERRILL LYNCH     MERRILL LYNCH
                                           GROWTH COM-     MARKETS EQUITY  SMALL COMPANY     WORLD STRATEGY     BASIC VALUE
                                         PANIES PORTFOLIO    PORTFOLIO     VALUE PORTFOLIO      PORTFOLIO    EQUITY PORTFOLIO
                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>             <C>              <C>              <C>               <C> 
EQAT Annual Expenses
   Investment Management and
     Advisory Fee                               .55%            1.15%             .65%             .70%             .55%
     Rule 12b-1 Fee (7)                         .25%             .25%             .25%             .25%             .25%
     Other Expenses                             .05%             .35%             .10%             .25%             .05%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Total EQAT Annual Expenses (8)           .85%            1.75%            1.00%            1.20%             .85%
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

- -------------------
Notes:

(1) The contingent  withdrawal  charge is a percentage of amounts withdrawn from
    the Contract or defaulted loan amounts.  See "Contingent  Withdrawal Charge"
    in the  addition  to  Part 7 of the  Prospectus  set  forth  below  in  this
    Supplement. Important exceptions and limitations may eliminate or reduce the
    contingent withdrawal charge.

(2) The annual  administrative  charge is the lesser of $30 or 2% of the Annuity
    Account Value (adjusted to include any  withdrawals  made during that year).
    See  "Annual  Administrative  Charge"  in  the  addition  to  Part  7 of the
    Prospectus  set forth  below in this  Supplement.  We  reserve  the right to
    increase this fee in the future if our  administrative  costs increase,  but
    such fee may not exceed an annual maximum of $65, subject to applicable law.

(3) There  currently is no Third Party  Transfer or Exchange  Fee.  However,  we
    reserve  the right to  impose  this fee in the  future,  but the fee may not
    exceed a maximum of $65 per occurrence, subject to applicable law.

(4) The total charge for Separate  Account annual expenses is subject to change,
    but may not exceed the  effective  annual  rate of 2.00%.  See  "Charges  to
    Investment  Funds" in the  addition  to Part 7 of the  Prospectus  set forth
    below in this Supplement.

(5) Effective May 1, 1997, a new Investment  Advisory Agreement was entered into
    between HRT and Alliance Capital Management L.P., HRT's Investment  Adviser,
    which effected  changes in HRT's management fee and expense  structure.  See
    HRT's prospectus for more information.

    The tables above  reflecting  HRT's expenses are based on average  portfolio
    net assets for the year ended  December  31, 1997 and have been  restated to
    reflect  (i) the fees that would have been paid to  Alliance  if the current
    advisory  agreement  had  been in  effect  as of  January  1,  1997 and (ii)
    estimated accounting expenses for the year ending December 31, 1997.

(6) The  investment  advisory fee for each  Portfolio may vary from year to year
    depending upon the average daily net assets of the  respective  Portfolio of
    HRT. The maximum  investment  advisory  fees,  however,  cannot be increased
    without a vote of that Portfolio's shareholders.  The other direct operating
    expenses will also fluctuate from year to year depending on actual expenses.
    HRT's  expenses  are  shown  as a  percentage  of each  Portfolio's  average
    portfolio net assets. See "Charges to Portfolios" in Part 7.

(7) The  Class IB  shares  of HRT and EQAT are  subject  to fees  imposed  under
    distribution plans (herein, the "Rule 12b-1 Plans" ) adopted by HRT and EQAT
    pursuant to Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
    The Rule 12b-1 Plans provide that HRT and EQAT, on behalf of each Portfolio,
    may  charge  annually  up to 0.25% of the  average  daily  net  assets  of a
    Portfolio  attributable  to its  Class IB shares in  respect  of  activities
    primarily  intended to result in the sale of the Class IB shares.  The 12b-1
    fee will not be increased for the life of the Contracts.

(8) All EQAT  Portfolios  commenced  operations on May 1, 1997 except the Morgan
    Stanley Emerging  Markets Equity  Portfolio,  which commenced  operations on
    August 20, 1997.

    The maximum investment  management and advisory fees for each EQAT Portfolio
    cannot be increased  without a vote of that  Portfolio's  shareholders.  The
    amounts shown as "Other Expenses" will fluctuate from year to year depending
    on  actual  expenses;   however,   EQ  Financial   Consultants,   Inc.  ("EQ
    Financial"),   EQAT's  manager,  has  entered  into  an  expense  limitation
    agreement with respect to each Portfolio ("Expense  Limitation  Agreement"),
    pursuant  to which EQ  Financial  has  agreed to waive or limit its fees and
    assume other expenses. Under the Expense Limitation Agreement,  total annual
    operating expenses of each Portfolio (other than interest,  taxes, brokerage
    commissions,  capitalized  expenditures,  extraordinary  expenses  and 12b-1
    fees) are  limited  for the  respective  average  daily  net  assets of each
    Portfolio  as follows:  0.60% for Merrill  Lynch  Basic  Value  Equity,  MFS
    Research, MFS Emerging Growth Companies, EQ/Putnam Growth & Income Value and
    T. Rowe Price Equity Income; 0.65% for EQ/Putnam Balanced; 0.75% for Warburg
    Pincus Small Company  Value;  0.95% for Merrill Lynch World  Strategy and T.
    Rowe  Price  International  Stock;  and 1.50% for  Morgan  Stanley  Emerging
    Markets Equity.

    Absent the expense  limitation,  "Other  Expenses" for 1997 on an annualized
    basis  for each of the  Portfolios  would  have been as  follows:  0.80% for
    Warburg Pincus Small Company  Value;  0.94% for T. Rowe Price Equity Income;
    0.95% for EQ/Putnam Growth & Income Value; 0.98% for MFS Research; 1.02% for
    MFS Emerging Growth  Companies;  1.09% for Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity;
    1.21% for Morgan Stanley  Emerging  Markets Equity;  1.56% for T. Rowe Price
    International  Stock;  1.75% for EQ/Putnam  Balanced;  and 2.10% for Merrill
    Lynch World Strategy.

    Each Portfolio may at a later date make a reimbursement  to EQ Financial for
    any of the management fees waived or limited and other expenses  assumed and
    paid by EQ Financial pursuant to the Expense Limitation  Agreement provided,
    that among other  things,  such  Portfolio  has reached  sufficient  size to
    permit  such  reimbursement  to be made and  provided  that the  Portfolio's
    current annual operating  expenses do not exceed the operating expense limit
    determined for such Portfolio. See the EQAT prospectus for more information.


                                       3
<PAGE>

EXAMPLES: EQUI-VEST SERIES 600

   
The examples which follow show the expenses that a  hypothetical  Contract Owner
of a  Series  600  TSA  Advantage  Contract  would  pay  in  the  surrender  and
nonsurrender situations noted below, assuming a single contribution of $1,000 on
the Contract Date invested in one of the Investment Funds listed and a 5% annual
return on  assets  and no waiver of the  contingent  withdrawal  charge.(1)  For
purposes  of these  examples,  the annual  administrative  charge is computed by
reference to the actual aggregate annual administrative  charges as a percentage
of the total average net assets held under all EQUI-VEST Contracts.
    

These  examples  should not be  considered  a  representation  of past or future
expenses for each Investment  Fund or Portfolio.  Actual expenses may be greater
or less than those shown.  Similarly,  the annual rate of return  assumed in the
examples is not an estimate or guarantee of future investment performance.

IF YOU  SURRENDER  YOUR  CONTRACT AT THE END OF EACH PERIOD  SHOWN,  THE EXPENSE
WOULD BE:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       INVESTMENT FUND                                             1 YEAR                         3 YEARS
                       ---------------                                        -------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>                             <C>    
Alliance Money Market                                                              $75.63                          $120.87
Alliance Intermediate Government Securities                                         77.32                           125.96
Alliance Quality Bond                                                               77.52                           125.55
Alliance High Yield                                                                 78.12                           128.34
Alliance Growth & Income                                                            77.62                           126.85
Alliance Equity Index                                                               75.34                           119.97
Alliance Common Stock                                                               75.73                           121.17
Alliance Global                                                                     79.01                           131.03
Alliance International                                                              82.48                           141.41
Alliance Aggressive Stock                                                           77.42                           126.25
Alliance Small Cap Growth                                                           81.19                           137.56
Alliance Conservative Investors                                                     77.22                           125.66
Alliance Balanced                                                                   78.43                           123.26
Alliance Growth Investors                                                           77.42                           126.25
T. Rowe Price International Stock Portfolio                                         81.19                           137.56
T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio                                               77.72                           127.15
EQ/Putnam Growth & Income Value Portfolio                                           77.72                           127.15
EQ/Putnam Balanced Portfolio                                                        78.21                           128.64
MFS Research Portfolio                                                              77.72                           127.15
MFS Emerging Growth Companies Portfolio                                             77.72                           127.15
Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio                                    86.65                           153.76
Warburg Pincus Small Company Value Portfolio                                        79.21                           131.62
Merrill Lynch World Strategy Portfolio                                              81.19                           137.56
Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity Portfolio                                          77.72                           127.15
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

IF YOU DO NOT  SURRENDER  YOUR  CONTRACT  AT THE END OF EACH PERIOD  SHOWN,  THE
EXPENSE WOULD BE:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       INVESTMENT FUND                                             1 YEAR                         3 YEARS
                       ---------------                                        -------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>                             <C>   
Alliance Money Market                                                              $20.01                          $61.86
Alliance Intermediate Government Securities                                         21.80                           67.26
Alliance Quality Bond                                                               22.01                           67.89
Alliance High Yield                                                                 22.64                           69.79
Alliance Growth & Income                                                            22.11                           58.21
Alliance Equity Index                                                               19.70                           60.91
Alliance Common Stock                                                               20.12                           62.18
Alliance Global                                                                     23.68                           72.63
Alliance International                                                              27.25                           83.64
Alliance Aggressive Stock                                                           21.90                           67.57
Alliance Small Cap Growth                                                           25.89                           79.58
Alliance Conservative Investors                                                     21.69                           66.94
Alliance Balanced                                                                   20.85                           64.40
Alliance Growth Investors                                                           21.90                           67.57
T. Rowe Price International Stock Portfolio                                         25.89                           79.56
T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio                                               22.22                           68.52
EQ/Putnam Growth & Income Value Portfolio                                           22.22                           68.52
EQ/Putnam Balanced Portfolio                                                        22.74                           70.11
MFS Research Portfolio                                                              22.22                           68.52
MFS Emerging Growth Companies Portfolio                                             22.22                           68.52
Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Equity Portfolio                                    31.66                           96.74
Warburg Pincus Small Company Value Portfolio                                        23.79                           73.26
Merrill Lynch World Strategy Portfolio                                              25.89                           79.56
Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity Portfolio                                          22.22                           68.52
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

   
(1)The amount  accumulated,  based on the assumptions,  could not be paid in the
   form of an annuity at the end of any of the periods shown in the examples. If
   the amount applied to purchase an annuity is less than $2,000, or the initial
   annuity  payment  is less than $20,  we may pay the  amount to the payee in a
   single sum instead of as payments  under an annuity form.  See  "Distribution
   Options" in Part 6. In some cases,  charges for state  premium or other taxes
   will be deducted from the amount applied, if applicable.
    


                                       4

<PAGE>

Accumulation Unit Values

   
No  Accumulation  Unit Values for any of the Investment  Funds offered under the
Series 600 TSA Advantage Contract are included herein, as the Contracts were not
offered prior to the date of this Supplement.
    

THE  FOLLOWING  INVESTMENT  FUND  PERFORMANCE  INFORMATION  RELATES  TO THE  TSA
ADVANTAGE AND IS SEPARATE FROM THE INVESTMENT FUND  PERFORMANCE DATA SHOWN UNDER
"PART 3. INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE" BEGINNING ON PAGE 30 OF THE PROSPECTUS.

INVESTMENT FUND PERFORMANCE - TSA ADVANTAGE

In order to help show how the  performance of Investment  Funds affects  Annuity
Account  Values,  the following  tables provide a historical  view of investment
performance  for each of the  Funds  included.  The  performance  shown has been
calculated  under two methods,  as  explained  under "How  Performance  Data Are
Presented" below. The information  presented includes  performance results along
with data representing unmanaged market indices and similarly managed funds.

   
Except as noted below, performance data for the Investment Funds reflect (i) the
actual historical  investment results of the corresponding  Portfolios of HRT or
EQAT from the date of  inception  of those  Portfolios  or  certain  predecessor
Portfolios or accounts,  and (ii) the actual investment advisory fee, Rule 12b-1
fee and direct operating expenses of the relevant Portfolios. Investment results
for periods prior to October 1996,  when HRT Class IB shares were not available,
have been  adjusted to reflect  12b-1 fees.  In addition,  for all periods,  the
performance  data reflects the Separate Account asset charges assessed under the
TSA Advantage Contract, as if it had been available during the periods shown.
    

Performance for the Alliance Money Market,  Alliance  Balanced,  Alliance Common
Stock and Alliance Aggressive Stock Funds for the period before those Funds were
operated as a unit investment  trust has been adjusted to reflect the investment
advisory fee and expense structure that became applicable to the unit investment
trust. See "The Reorganization" in the SAI for additional information.

Because amounts allocated to the Investment Funds are invested in a mutual fund,
investment  return and principal  will fluctuate and  Accumulation  Units may be
worth more or less than the original cost when  redeemed.  The results shown are
not an estimate or guarantee of future investment performance.

HOW PERFORMANCE DATA ARE PRESENTED

Tables 1 and 2  compare  annualized  and  cumulative  rates of  return  for each
Investment  Fund  along  with   appropriate   benchmarks.   Table  3  shows  the
year-by-year rates of return for each Investment Fund. These performance results
are based on the change in the Accumulation  Unit value for each Investment Fund
for the periods shown.

Investment  results in Tables 1, 2, and 3 are net of all  charges  and  expenses
assessed  against  the  Investment  Funds  (including  fees and  expenses of the
Trusts) but exclude the annual  administrative charge and any withdrawal charges
which  would  also  reduce the actual  return.  Tables 4 and 5 show  performance
results  after giving  effect to all charges and expenses  including  the annual
administrative  charge and the contingent withdrawal charge. Since charges under
the Contracts may vary, we have assumed, for each charge, the highest that might
apply.

Certain of the Investment  Funds began  operations on a date after the inception
date of the  corresponding  Portfolio.  When we advertise the  performance of an
Investment  Fund we will separately set forth the performance of that Fund since
its inception date, to the extent required by regulatory authorities.

BENCHMARKS

Market  indices  are not subject to any charges  for  investment  advisory  fees
typically   associated  with  a  managed   portfolio.   Comparisons  with  these
benchmarks,  therefore,  are of limited  use. We include  them  because they are
widely  known and may help you to  understand  the universe of  securities  from
which each Portfolio manager is likely to make selections.

INCEPTION DATES AND COMPARATIVE BENCHMARKS

ALLIANCE MONEY MARKET: May 11, 1982;  Salomon Brothers  Three-Month T-Bill Index
(3-Month T-Bill).

ALLIANCE INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT SECURITIES:  April 1, 1991; Lehman Intermediate
Government Bond Index (Lehman Intermediate Government).

ALLIANCE  QUALITY BOND:  October 1, 1993;  Lehman  Aggregate  Bond Index (Lehman
Aggregate).

ALLIANCE  HIGH YIELD:  January 2, 1987;  Merrill  Lynch High Yield  Master Index
(Master High Yield).


                                       5

<PAGE>

ALLIANCE GROWTH & INCOME:  October 1, 1993; 75% Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P
500) and 25% Value Line Convertibles Index (75% S&P 500/25% Value Line Conv.).

ALLIANCE EQUITY INDEX: March 1, 1994; Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500).

ALLIANCE COMMON STOCK: August 1, 1968; Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500).

ALLIANCE GLOBAL:  August 27, 1987;  Morgan Stanley Capital  International  World
Index (MSCI World).

ALLIANCE  INTERNATIONAL:  April 3, 1995;  Morgan Stanley  Capital  International
Europe, Australia, Far East Index (MSCI EAFE).

ALLIANCE  AGGRESSIVE  STOCK: May 1, 1984; 50% Russell 2000 Small Stock Index and
50% S&P MidCap Total Return (50% Russell 2000/50% S&P MidCap).

ALLIANCE SMALL CAP GROWTH:  May 1, 1997; Russell 2000 Growth Index (Russell 2000
Gr).

ALLIANCE  CONSERVATIVE  INVESTORS:  October 2, 1989;  70% Lehman  Treasury  Bond
Composite Index and 30% S&P 500 Index (70% Lehman Treas./30% S&P 500).

ALLIANCE BALANCED: May 1, 1984; 50% S&P 500 and 50% Lehman  Government/Corporate
Bond Index (50% S&P 500/50% Lehman Corp.).

ALLIANCE GROWTH INVESTORS: October 2, 1989; 30% Lehman Government/Corporate Bond
Index and 70% S&P 500 Index (30% Lehman Treas./70% S&P 500).

T.  ROWE  PRICE  INTERNATIONAL  STOCK:  May  1,  1997;  Morgan  Stanley  Capital
International Europe, Australia, Far East Index (MSCI EAFE).

T. ROWE PRICE EQUITY INCOME: May 1, 1997; Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500).

EQ/PUTNAM GROWTH & INCOME VALUE:  May 1, 1997;  Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P
500).

EQ/PUTNAM BALANCED:  May 1, 1997; 60% Standard & Poor's 500 Index and 40% Lehman
Government/Corporate Bond Index (60% S&P500/40% Lehman Corp.)

MFS RESEARCH: May 1, 1997; Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500).

MFS EMERGING GROWTH COMPANIES: May 1, 1997; Russell 2000 Index (Russell 2000).

MORGAN STANLEY EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY:  August 20, 1997; Morgan Stanley Capital
International Emerging Markets Free Price Return Index (MSCI Emerging Markets).

WARBURG  PINCUS SMALL COMPANY  VALUE:  May 1, 1997;  Russell 2000 Index (Russell
2000).

MERRILL LYNCH WORLD STRATEGY: May 1, 1997; 36% S&P 500/24% MSCI EAFE/21% Salomon
Brothers US Treasury Bond 1 Year+/14%  Salomon Brothers World Government Bond Ex
US/5% 3-Month U.S. T-bill-(Market Composite).

MERRILL LYNCH BASIC VALUE EQUITY: May 1, 1997;  Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P
500).

The Lipper  Variable  Insurance  Products  Performance  Analysis Survey (Lipper)
records the  performance of a large group of variable  annuity and variable life
products, including managed separate accounts of insurance companies.  According
to Lipper  Analytical  Services,  Inc., the data are presented net of investment
management  fees,  direct  operating and asset-based  charges  applicable  under
variable insurance policies or variable annuity contracts. Lipper data provide a
more accurate picture than market indices of EQUI-VEST  performance  relative to
other annuity products.

All rates of return  presented are  time-weighted  and include  reinvestment  of
investment income, including interest and dividends.  Cumulative rates of return
reflect  performance  over a stated period of time.  Annualized  rates of return
represent the annual rate of growth that would have produced the same cumulative
return, if performance had been constant over the entire period.


                                       6
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 1:
         ANNUALIZED RATES OF RETURN FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                   PORTFOLIO
                                                                                                          SINCE    INCEPTION
                                               1 YEAR     3 YEARS     5 YEARS    10 YEARS    20 YEARS   INCEPTION     DATE
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>
FIXED-INCOME SERIES:
Domestic Fixed Income

ALLIANCE MONEY MARKET                          3.88%       3.96%       3.16%      4.26%         --        5.29%     5/11/82
   Lipper Money Market                         3.95        4.05        3.29       4.41          --        5.77
   3-Month T-Bill                              5.23        5.41        4.71       5.61          --        6.49

ALLIANCE INTERMEDIATE 
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES                          5.74        6.49        4.40         --          --        5.45       4/1/91
   Lipper U.S. Government                      7.60        8.03        5.65         --          --        6.95
   Lehman Intermediate Government              7.72        8.65        6.39         --          --        7.47

ALLIANCE QUALITY BOND                          7.56        8.80          --         --          --        4.26      10/1/93
   Lipper Corporate Bond A-Rated               8.04        8.77          --         --          --        4.60
   Lehman Aggregate                            9.65       10.42          --         --          --        6.51

Aggressive Fixed Income

ALLIANCE HIGH YIELD                           16.75       18.66       14.20      11.16          --        10.41      1/2/87
   Lipper High Yield                          12.87       14.23       10.68      10.33          --        9.46
   Master High Yield                          12.83       14.54       11.72      12.09          --       11.39

EQUITY SERIES:
Domestic Equity

T. ROWE PRICE EQUITY INCOME                      --          --          --         --          --       21.11+      5/1/97
   Lipper Equity Income                          --          --          --         --          --       20.91+
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55+

EQ/PUTNAM
GROWTH & INCOME VALUE                            --          --          --         --          --       15.25+      5/1/97
   Lipper Growth & Income                        --          --          --         --          --       20.28+
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55+

ALLIANCE GROWTH & INCOME                      24.92       21.81          --         --          --       14.23      10/1/93
   Lipper Growth                              25.47       25.18          --         --          --       17.47
   25% Value Line Conv./75% S&P 500           29.54       28.62          --         --          --       20.14

ALLIANCE EQUITY INDEX                         30.65       28.45          --         --          --       21.59       3/1/94
   Lipper S&P 500 Index Funds                 31.06       29.07          --         --          --       21.96
   S&P 500                                    33.36       31.15          --         --          --       23.84

MERRILL LYNCH
BASIC VALUE EQUITY                               --          --          --         --          --       16.05+      5/1/97
   Lipper Growth & Income                        --          --          --         --          --       20.28+
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55+

ALLIANCE COMMON STOCK                         27.33       26.72       19.27      16.38       16.04       11.44       8/1/68
   Lipper Growth                              24.35       24.72       16.01      15.40       15.20         N/A
   S&P 500                                    33.36       31.15       20.27      18.05       16.66       12.25

MFS RESEARCH                                     --          --          --         --          --       15.09+      5/1/97
   Lipper Growth                                 --          --          --         --          --       21.89+
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55+

International Equity

ALLIANCE GLOBAL                                9.93       13.28       14.44      12.08          --       10.08      8/27/87
   Lipper  Global                             12.99       14.18       13.94       7.21          --        3.84
   MSCI World                                 15.76       16.62       15.34      10.57          --        8.22

ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL                        -4.46          --          --         --          --        4.62       4/3/95
   Lipper International                        5.47          --          --         --          --       11.42
   MSCI EAFE                                   1.78          --          --         --          --        6.15

T. ROWE PRICE
INTERNATIONAL STOCK                              --          --          --         --          --       -2.29+      5/1/97
   Lipper International                          --          --          --         --          --        3.41+
   MSCI EAFE                                     --          --          --         --          --        2.85+

MORGAN STANLEY EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY           --          --          --         --          --      -20.55*     8/20/97
   Lipper Emerging Markets                       --          --          --         --          --         N/A
   MSCI Emerging Markets                         --          --          --         --          --      -21.43*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
+ Return for this Fund is unannualized and represents 8 months of performance.               This table continues on next page
* Return for this Fund is unannualized and represents 5 months of performance.
</FN>
</TABLE>


                                       7
<PAGE>

                                    TABLE 1:
                     ANNUALIZED RATES OF RETURN (CONTINUED):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                   PORTFOLIO
                                                                                                          SINCE    INCEPTION
                                               1 YEAR     3 YEARS     5 YEARS    10 YEARS    20 YEARS   INCEPTION     DATE
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>            <C>      <C>        <C>
EQUITY SERIES (CONTINUED):
Aggressive Equity

ALLIANCE AGGRESSIVE STOCK                      9.19%      19.48%      13.21%     17.24%         --       17.26%      5/1/84
   Lipper Mid-Cap Growth                      12.11       15.54        9.27      14.32          --       15.87
   50% Russell 2000/50% S&P Mid-Cap           27.31       24.88       17.11      17.74          --       16.11

WARBURG PINCUS
SMALL COMPANY VALUE                              --          --          --         --          --       18.14+      5/1/97
   Lipper Small-Cap                              --          --          --         --          --       26.66+
   Russell 2000 Growth                           --          --          --         --          --       28.68+

ALLIANCE SMALL CAP GROWTH                        --          --          --         --          --       25.46+      5/1/97
   Lipper Small-Cap                              --          --          --         --          --       26.66+
   Russell 2000 Growth                           --          --          --         --          --       27.66+

MFS EMERGING GROWTH
COMPANIES                                        --          --          --         --          --       21.42+      5/1/97
   Lipper Mid-Cap                                --          --          --         --          --       20.88+
   Russell 2000                                  --          --          --         --          --       28.68+

ASSET ALLOCATION SERIES:

ALLIANCE CONSERVATIVE INVESTORS               11.59       11.14        7.21         --          --        7.95      10/2/89
   Lipper Income                              15.51       15.54       11.61         --          --       10.57
   70% Lehman Treas./30% S&P 500              16.71       17.18       11.87         --          --       11.39

EQ/PUTNAM BALANCED                               --          --          --         --          --       13.54+      5/1/97
   Lipper Balanced                               --          --          --         --          --       14.79+
   40% Lehman Gov't./Corp./60% S&P 500           --          --          --         --          --       17.17+

ALLIANCE BALANCED                             13.31       13.74        8.10      10.65          --       10.29       5/1/84
   Lipper Flexible Portfolio                  18.23       17.09       11.52      11.93          --       10.94
   50% Lehman Gov't./Corp./70% S&P 500        21.56       21.68       14.63      21.19          --       14.84

ALLIANCE GROWTH INVESTORS                     15.08       16.73       11.51         --          --       14.05      10/2/89
   Lipper Flexible Portfolio                  18.23       17.09       11.52         --          --       11.10
   30% Lehman Gov't./Corp./70% S&P 500        26.28       25.64       17.02         --          --       14.48

MERRILL LYNCH WORLD STRATEGY                     --          --          --         --          --        3.86+      5/1/97
   Lipper Global Flexible Portfolio              --          --          --         --          --        8.52+
   Market Composite                              --          --          --         --          --       10.81+
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
+ Return for this Fund is unannualized and represents 8 months of performance.
* Return for this Fund is unannualized and represents 5 months of performance.
</FN>
</TABLE>


                                       8
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 2:

         CUMULATIVE RATES OF RETURN FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                   PORTFOLIO
                                                                                                          SINCE    INCEPTION
                                               1 YEAR     3 YEARS     5 YEARS    10 YEARS    20 YEARS   INCEPTION     DATE
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>         <C>         <C>        <C>      <C>           <C>        <C>
FIXED-INCOME SERIES:
Domestic Fixed Income

ALLIANCE MONEY MARKET                          3.88%      12.34%      16.84%     51.81%         --      124.04%     5/11/82
   Lipper Money Market                         3.95       12.64       17.61      54.00          --      151.25
   3-Month T-Bill                              5.23       17.13       25.87      72.64          --      199.34

ALLIANCE INTERMEDIATE 
GOVERNMENT SECURITIES                          5.74       20.77       24.03         --          --       43.08       4/1/91
   Lipper U.S. Government                      7.60       26.12       31.70         --          --       57.40
   Lehman Intermediate Government              7.72       28.25       36.31         --          --       62.74

ALLIANCE QUALITY BOND                          7.56       28.79          --         --          --       19.41      10/1/93
   Lipper Corporate Bond A-Rated               8.04       28.70       34.61     108.54          --       21.09
   Lehman Aggregate                            9.65       34.63          --         --          --       30.78

Aggressive Fixed Income

ALLIANCE HIGH YIELD                           16.75       67.08       94.27     188.03          --      197.15       1/2/87
   Lipper High Yield                          12.87       49.17       66.26     169.15          --      173.12
   Master High Yield                          12.83       50.26       74.04     213.08          --      227.68

EQUITY SERIES:
Domestic Equity

T. ROWE PRICE EQUITY INCOME                      --          --          --         --          --       21.11       5/1/97
   Lipper Equity Income                          --          --          --         --          --       20.91
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55

EQ/PUTNAM
GROWTH & INCOME VALUE                            --          --          --         --          --       15.25       5/1/97
   Lipper Growth & Income                        --          --          --         --          --       28.28
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55

ALLIANCE GROWTH & INCOME                      24.92       80.76          --         --          --       76.03      10/1/93
   Lipper Growth & Income                     25.47       96.46          --         --          --       98.58
   25% Value Line Conv./75% S&P 500           29.54      112.80          --         --          --      118.17

ALLIANCE EQUITY INDEX                         30.65      111.93          --         --          --      111.64       3/1/94
   Lipper S&P 500 Index Funds                 31.06      115.03          --         --          --      114.07
   S&P 500                                    33.36      125.60          --         --          --      127.24

MERRILL LYNCH BASIC VALUE EQUITY                 --          --          --         --          --       16.05       5/1/97
   Lipper Growth & Income                        --          --          --         --          --       20.28
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55

ALLIANCE COMMON STOCK                         27.33      103.51      141.40     355.99    1,858.66    2,319.51       8/1/68
   Lipper Growth                              24.35       94.70      111.15     321.71    1,602.96    1,659.17
   S&P 500                                    33.36      125.60      151.62     425.67    2,080.13    2,248.74

MFS RESEARCH                                     --          --          --         --          --       15.09       5/1/97
   Lipper Growth                                 --          --          --         --          --       21.89
   S&P 500                                       --          --          --         --          --       22.55

International Equity

ALLIANCE GLOBAL                                9.93       45.37       96.31     212.88          --      169.98      8/27/87
   Lipper  Global                             12.99       49.53       93.26     100.58          --       47.66
   MSCI World                                 15.76       58.59      104.13     173.03          --      126.45

ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL                        -4.46          --          --         --          --       13.22       4/3/95
   Lipper International                        5.47          --          --         --          --       35.07
   MSCI EAFE                                   1.78          --          --         --          --       17.83

T. ROWE PRICE                                    --          --          --         --          --       -2.29       5/1/97
INTERNATIONAL STOCK                                                                                
   Lipper International                          --          --          --         --          --        3.41
   MSCI EAFE                                     --          --          --         --          --        2.85

MORGAN STANLEY EMERGING MARKETS EQUITY           --          --          --         --          --      -20.55*     8/20/97
   Lipper Emerging Markets                       --          --          --         --          --         N/A
   MSCI Emerging Market                          --          --          --         --          --      -21.43
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<FN>
                                                                                             This table continues on next page
</FN>
</TABLE>


                                       9
<PAGE>


                TABLE 2: CUMULATIVE RATES OF RETURN (CONTINUED):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                   PORTFOLIO
                                                                                                          SINCE    INCEPTION
                                               1 YEAR     3 YEARS     5 YEARS    10 YEARS    20 YEARS   INCEPTION     DATE
                                            -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>             <C>     <C>         <C>
EQUITY SERIES (CONTINUED):
Aggressive Equity

ALLIANCE AGGRESSIVE STOCK                      9.19%      70.55%      85.98%    390.65%         --      781.75%      5/1/84
   Lipper Mid-Cap Growth                      12.11       56.12       59.26     311.80          --      478.26
   50% Russell 2000/50% S&P Mid-Cap           27.31       94.76      120.25     412.08          --      436.52

WARBURG PINCUS
SMALL COMPANY VALUE                              --          --          --         --          --       18.14       5/1/97
   Lipper Small-Cap                              --          --          --         --          --       26.66
   Russell 2000                                  --          --          --         --          --       28.68

ALLIANCE SMALL CAP GROWTH                        --          --          --         --          --       25.46       5/1/97
   Lipper Small-Cap                              --          --          --         --          --       26.66
   Russell 2000 Growth                           --          --          --         --          --       27.66

MFS EMERGING GROWTH COMPANIES                    --          --          --         --          --       21.42       5/1/97
   Lipper Mid-Cap                                --          --          --         --          --       20.88
   Russell 2000                                  --          --          --         --          --       28.68

ASSET ALLOCATION SERIES:

ALLIANCE CONSERVATIVE INVESTORS               11.59       37.28       41.63         --          --       87.85      10/2/89
   Lipper Income                              15.51       54.60       73.34         --          --      129.83
   70% Lehman Treas./30% S&P 500              16.71       60.91       75.18         --          --      143.55

EQ/PUTNAM BALANCED                               --          --          --         --          --       13.54       5/1/97
   Lipper Balanced                               --          --          --         --          --       14.79
   40% Lehman Gov't./Corp./60% S&P 500           --          --          --         --          --       17.17

ALLIANCE BALANCED                             13.31       47.14       47.61     175.07          --      281.42       5/1/84
   Lipper Flexible Portfolio                  18.23       61.05       73.02     209.82          --      246.50
   50% Lehman Gov't./Corp./70% S&P 500        21.56       80.14       97.96     583.14          --      376.27

ALLIANCE GROWTH INVESTORS                     15.08       59.04       72.45         --          --      195.62      10/2/89
   Lipper Flexible Portfolio                  18.23       61.05       73.02         --          --      140.59
   30% Lehman Gov't./Corp./70% S&P 500        26.28       98.32      119.42         --          --      205.24

MERRILL LYNCH WORLD STRATEGY                     --          --          --         --          --        3.86       5/1/97
   Lipper Global Flexible Portfolio              --          --          --         --          --        8.52
   Market Composite                              --          --          --         --          --       10.81
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>


                                       10
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 3:
                          YEAR-BY-YEAR RATES OF RETURN

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      1988     1989     1990     1991     1992     1993     1994     1995     1996      1997
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>  
ALLIANCE MONEY MARKET                 5.83%    7.66%    6.77%    4.66%    2.05%    1.46%    2.51%    4.20%    3.78%     3.88%

ALLIANCE INTERMEDIATE GOVERNMENT
   SECURITIES                           --       --       --    10.85*    4.06     8.98    -5.76    11.69     2.26      5.74

ALLIANCE QUALITY BOND                   --       --       --       --       --    -0.87*   -6.47    15.33     3.82      7.56

ALLIANCE HIGH YIELD                   8.14     3.61    -2.53    22.66    10.68    21.36    -4.19    18.18    21.09     16.75

ALLIANCE GROWTH & INCOME                --       --       --       --       --    -0.62*   -2.01    22.28    18.34     24.92

ALLIANCE EQUITY INDEX                   --       --       --       --       --       --    -0.14*   34.51    20.60     30.65

ALLIANCE COMMON STOCK                21.50    24.06    -9.28    35.80     1.71    23.00    -3.56    30.52    22.45     27.33

ALLIANCE GLOBAL                       9.27    24.90    -7.42    28.66    -1.96    30.21     3.71    17.10    12.93      9.93

ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL                  --       --       --       --       --       --       --     9.51*    8.21     -4.46

ALLIANCE AGGRESSIVE STOCK            -0.50    42.71     5.61    84.36    -4.58    15.05    -5.21    29.72    20.40      9.19

ALLIANCE SMALL CAP GROWTH
                                        --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     25.46*

ALLIANCE CONSERVATIVE 
   INVESTORS                            --     2.72*    4.86    18.11     4.26     9.16    -5.49    18.66     3.67     11.59

ALLIANCE BALANCED                    13.22    24.58    -1.44    40.01    -4.26    10.67    -9.36    18.01    10.04     13.31

ALLIANCE GROWTH INVESTORS               --     3.62*    9.01    46.75     3.41    13.59    -4.55    24.54    10.96     15.08

T. ROWE PRICE INTERNATIONAL STOCK
   PORTFOLIO                            --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     -2.29*

T. ROWE PRICE EQUITY 
   INCOME PORTFOLIO                     --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     21.11*

EQ/PUTNAM GROWTH & INCOME VALUE
   PORTFOLIO                            --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     15.25*

EQ/PUTNAM BALANCED 
   PORTFOLIO                            --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     13.54*

MFS RESEARCH PORTFOLIO                  --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     15.09*

MFS EMERGING GROWTH 
   COMPANIES PORTFOLIO                  --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     21.42*

MORGAN STANLEY EMERGING MARKETS
   EQUITY PORTFOLIO                     --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --    -20.55*

WARBURG PINCUS SMALL 
   COMPANY VALUE PORTFOLIO              --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     18.14*

MERRILL LYNCH WORLD 
   STRATEGY PORTFOLIO                   --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --      3.86*

MERRILL LYNCH BASIC VALUE 
   EQUITY PORTFOLIO                     --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --       --     16.05*

<FN>
- -------------------
* Unannualized
</FN>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

The performance  data in Tables 4 and 5, illustrate the growth of an investment,
and the average annual total return of the Investment Funds, respectively,  over
the  periods  shown  assuming  a  single  initial  contribution  of  $1,000  and
termination of the TSA Advantage  Contract at the end of each period on December
31, 1997, under circumstances in which the contingent withdrawal charge applies.
The values shown are also net of all other charges and expenses assessed against
the Investment  Funds.  An Investment  Fund's average annual total return is the
annual rate of growth of the Investment  Fund that would be necessary to achieve
the ending value of a contribution  kept in the  Investment  Fund for the period
specified.


                                       11

<PAGE>

Each calculation  further assumes that the $1,000  contribution was allocated to
only one Investment Fund, no transfers or additional contributions were made, no
loans,  and no amounts  were  allocated to any other  Investment  Fund under the
Contract.

In order to calculate the  performance  information,  we divide the  termination
value (defined  below) of a Contract which is terminated on December 31, 1997 by
the $1,000  investment  made at the  beginning of each period  illustrated.  The
result of that  calculation  is the total  growth rate for the  period.  Then we
annualize  that  growth rate to obtain the average  annual  percentage  increase
(decrease) during the period shown. When we "annualize," we assume that a single
rate of return  applied  each year  during the period  will  produce  the ending
value, taking into account the effect of compounding.  "Termination value" means
the Annuity  Account Value less the  contingent  withdrawal  charge,  the annual
administrative  charge and all other  charges  and  expenses  which are  applied
against  an  Investment  Fund.  See  "Part 7:  Deductions  and  Charges"  in the
Prospectus.


                                       12
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 4:
         GROWTH OF $1,000 FOR CONTRACTS TERMINATED ON DECEMBER 31, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                LENGTH OF INVESTMENT PERIOD
                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT                                      ONE             THREE            FIVE              TEN        SINCE PORTFOLIO
FUND                                           YEAR             YEARS            YEARS            YEARS         INCEPTION*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                          <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
Alliance Money Market                          963.04         1,000.26           999.13         1,240.39               --
Alliance Intermediate Government
   Securities                                  980.26         1,075.26         1,060.59               --         1,248.02
Alliance Quality Bond                          997.16         1,146.74               --               --         1,036.76
Alliance High Yield                          1,082.36         1,494.65         1,683.43         2,398.02               --
Alliance Growth & Income                     1,158.09         1,626.00               --               --         1,539.54
Alliance Equity Index                        1,211.21         1,927.72               --               --         1,890.80
Alliance Common Stock                        1,180.47         1,846.17         2,123.86         3,910.75               --
Alliance Global                              1,019.12         1,294.31         1,705.10         2,640.24               --
Alliance International                         885.74               --               --               --         1,013.26
Alliance Aggressive Stock                    1,012.29         1,528.59         1,607.67         4,307.04               --
Alliance Small Cap Growth                          --               --               --               --         1,111.19
Alliance Conservative Investors              1,034.51         1,222.26         1,211.07               --         1,592.43
Alliance Balanced                            1,050.51         1,310.07         1,262.21         2,316.68               --
Alliance Growth Investors                    1,066.90         1,417.45         1,480.58               --         2,579.12
T. Rowe Price International Stock
   Portfolio                                       --               --               --               --           939.21
T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio              --               --               --               --         1,084.34
E/Q Putnam Growth &
   Income Value Portfolio                          --               --               --               --         1,048.97
E/Q Putnam Balanced Portfolio                      --               --               --               --         1,038.49
MFS Research Portfolio                             --               --               --               --         1,048.00
MFS Emerging Growth Companies Portfolio            --               --               --               --         1,086.15
Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Equity
   Portfolio                                       --               --               --               --           897.82
Warburg Pincus Small Company Value
   Portfolio                                       --               --               --               --         1,066.45
Merrill Lynch World Strategy Portfolio             --               --               --               --           978.42
Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity
   Portfolio                                       --               --               --               --         1,053.82
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
* Portfolio inception dates are shown in Tables 1 and 2.


                                       13
<PAGE>


                                    TABLE 5:
  AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURN UNDER CONTRACTS TERMINATED ON DECEMBER 31, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                  LENGTH OF INVESTMENT PERIOD
                                         --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
INVESTMENT                                                                                                          SINCE
FUND                                           ONE          THREE          FIVE          TEN        SINCE FUND    PORTFOLIO
                                              YEAR          YEARS         YEARS         YEARS       INCEPTION*   INCEPTION**
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>             <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>          <C>
Alliance Money Market                        -3.70%          0.01%        -0.02%         2.18%            --           --
Alliance Intermediate Government             -1.97%          2.45%         1.18%           --           1.18%        3.34%
   Securities
Alliance Quality Bond                        -0.28%          4.67%           --            --           1.31%        0.85%
Alliance High Yield                           8.24%         14.34%        10.98%         9.14%          8.68%          --
Alliance Growth & Income                     15.81%         17.59%           --            --          11.85%        10.69%
Alliance Equity Index                        21.12%         24.46%           --            --          19.99%       18.07%
Alliance Common Stock                        18.05%         22.68%        16.26%        14.61%            --           --
Alliance Global                               1.91%          8.98%        11.26%        10.20%          7.00%          --
Alliance International                      -11.43%            --            --            --          -1.24%        0.48%
Alliance Aggressive Stock                     1.23%         15.19%         9.96%        15.72%            --           --
Alliance Small Cap Growth                       --             --            --            --           5.89%       17.10%
Alliance Conservative Investors               3.45%          6.92%         3.90%           --           3.26%        5.80%
Alliance Balanced                             5.05%          9.42%         4.77%         8.76%            --           --
Alliance Growth Investors                     6.69%         12.33%         8.16%           --           7.49%       12.18%
T. Rowe Price International Stock               --             --            --            --         -12.18%       -8.96%
   Portfolio
T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio           --             --            --            --           7.72%       12.89%
E/Q Putnam Growth &                             --             --            --            --           2.25%        7.42%
   Income Value Portfolio
E/Q Putnam Balanced Portfolio                   --             --            --            --           2.06%        5.82%
MFS Research Portfolio                          --             --            --            --           0.80%        7.27%
MFS Emerging Growth Companies Portfolio         --             --            --            --           4.17%       13.17%
Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Equity          
   Portfolio                                    --             --            --            --         -25.54%      -25.46%
Warburg Pincus Small Company Value              --             --            --            --           3.28%       10.11%
   Portfolio
Merrill Lynch World Strategy Portfolio          --             --            --            --          -7.88%       -3.21%
Merrill Lynch Basic Value Equity                --             --            --            --           0.88%        8.16%
   Portfolio
</TABLE>

- -------------------
 * Fund  inception  dates  are:  Alliance  Money  Market   (5/11/82),   Alliance
   Intermediate Government Securities (6/1/94),  Alliance Quality Bond (1/4/94),
   Alliance High Yield  (1/4/94),  Alliance Growth & Income  (1/4/94),  Alliance
   Equity Index  (6/1/94),  Alliance  Common Stock  (8/27/81),  Alliance  Global
   (1/4/94),   Alliance  International   (9/1/95),   Alliance  Growth  Investors
   (1/4/94),  Alliance  Aggressive  Stock  (5/1/84),  Alliance  Small Cap Growth
   (6/2/97),   Alliance  Conservative  Investors  (1/4/94),   Alliance  Balanced
   (5/1/84),  T. Rowe Price International  Stock (6/2/97),  T. Rowe Price Equity
   Income (6/2/97), EQ/Putnam Growth & Income Value (6/2/97), EQ/Putnam Balanced
   (6/2/97),  MFS Research  (6/2/97),  MFS Emerging Growth  Companies  (6/2/97),
   Morgan  Stanley  Emerging  Markets  Equity  (8/20/97),  Warburg  Pincus Small
   Company Value (6/2/97),  Merrill Lynch World Strategy (6/2/97), Merrill Lynch
   Basic Value Equity (6/2/97).

** Portfolio inception dates are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                       14
<PAGE>

COMMUNICATING PERFORMANCE DATA

In reports or other communications or in advertising  material,  we may describe
general economic and market conditions affecting the Separate Account and HRT or
EQAT and may present the performance of the Investment  Funds or compare it with
(1) that of other insurance  company separate  accounts or mutual funds included
in the rankings prepared by Lipper Analytical Services,  Inc., Morningstar Inc.,
VARDS or similar  investment  services that monitor the performance of insurance
company  separate  accounts or mutual funds,  (2) other  appropriate  indices of
investment  securities  and  averages  for peer  universes  of funds  which  are
described elsewhere in this prospectus, or (3) data developed by us derived from
such indices or averages.  The Morningstar Variable Annuity/Life Report consists
of over 700 variable life and annuity funds,  all of which report their data net
of investment  management fees,  direct operating  expenses and separate account
charges.  VARDS is a monthly reporting service that monitors over 2,500 variable
life  and  variable  annuity  funds  on  performance  and  account  information.
Advertisements  or other  communications  furnished  to present  or  prospective
Contract Owners may also include  evaluations of an Investment Fund or Portfolio
by  financial  publications  that are  nationally  recognized  such as Barron's,
Morningstar's  Variable  Annuity  Sourcebook,  Business Week,  Chicago  Tribune,
Forbes, Fortune, Institutional Investor, Investment Adviser, Investment Dealer's
Digest, Investment Management Weekly, Los Angeles Times, Money, Money Management
Letter, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Financial Planning,  National Underwriter,
Pension & Investments,  USA Today,  Investor's Daily, The New York Times and The
Wall Street Journal.

THE FOLLOWING SENTENCE IS ADDED TO THE END OF THE THIRD PARAGRAPH UNDER "PART 4:
THE GUARANTEED INTEREST ACCOUNT" ON PAGE 41 OF THE PROSPECTUS:

Equitable  reserves the right to declare  yearly  guaranteed  interest rates and
current  interest  rates with respect to the TSA  Advantage  Contracts  that are
different  than such rates as declared  and  applicable  to the other  EQUI-VEST
Contracts.

THE  FOLLOWING  PARAGRAPH  REPLACES  THE  FOURTH  PARAGRAPH  UNDER  "CHARGES  TO
PORTFOLIOS" ON PAGE 55 OF THE PROSPECTUS:

The Rule  12b-1  Plan  provides  that  EQAT and HRT,  on behalf of each of their
Portfolios, may charge annually up to 0.25% of the average daily net assets of a
Portfolio attributable to its Class IB shares in respect of activities primarily
intended  to  result in the sale of the  Class IB  shares.  This fee will not be
increased  for the life of the Contract.  Fees and expenses are  described  more
fully in the EQAT and HRT prospectuses.

THE FOLLOWING IS ADDED TO THE END OF "PART 7 : CHARGES AND  DEDUCTIONS"  ON PAGE
62 OF THE PROSPECTUS:

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               EQUI-VEST TSA ADVANTAGE CONTRACTS (SERIES 600 ONLY)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CHARGES TO INVESTMENT FUNDS

We make a daily charge at the effective  annual rate of 1.20% against the assets
held  in  each  of  the  Investment  Funds.  This  charge  is  reflected  in the
Accumulation Unit Values for the particular Investment Fund and covers mortality
and expense risk and death benefit charges of .95% and expenses of 0.25%.

The mortality  and expense risk and death  benefit  charge is comprised of 0.50%
for mortality risk, including  guaranteed death benefits,  and 0.45% for expense
risk,  although the  allocation of these charges may vary. We assume a mortality
risk by (a) our obligation to pay a death benefit that will not be less than the
total value of all  contributions  made (less any applicable taxes) adjusted for
total  withdrawals,  (b) our obligation to make annuity payments for the life of
the  Annuitant  under  guaranteed  fixed  annuity  options,  regardless  of  the
Annuitant's  longevity,  (c) our guarantees  relating to annuity purchase rates,
the actuarial basis for which can be changed only for new contributions and only
on the fifth  anniversary of the Contract Date and every five years  thereafter,
and (d) our  obligation  to waive  the  contingent  withdrawal  charge  upon the
payment of a death benefit.

The expense risk we assume is the risk that,  over time,  our actual  expense of
administering  the Contracts,  including  financial  accounting,  may exceed the
amounts realized from the expense charge and the annual  administrative  


                                       15

<PAGE>

expense charge.  Part of the mortality and expense risk charge may be considered
to be an indirect  reimbursement  for  certain  sales and  promotional  expenses
relating  to the  Contracts  to the extent that the charge is not needed to meet
the actual expenses incurred.

The  charge  for  expenses,  together  with  the  annual  administrative  charge
described  below,  is  designed  to  reimburse  us for our  costs  in  providing
administrative services in connection with the Contracts.

Maximum Total Separate Account Charges

   
We may change the annual rate of the daily asset  charge  imposed on the amounts
held in the Investment Funds comprising the Separate Account. We may increase or
decrease the 1.20% total Separate Account charge currently  applicable,  but may
not increase the total charge above a maximum annual rate of 2.00%. Any increase
would  only  be  made  upon  advance  notice  to you  and  would  apply  only to
contributions made after the date of the change.  Changes, if any, would reflect
differences  in costs  and  anticipated  expenses,  and  would  not be  unfairly
discriminatory.
    

CONTINGENT WITHDRAWAL CHARGE

   
No sales  charges are  deducted  from  contributions.  However,  to assist us in
defraying the various sales and promotional expenses incurred in connection with
selling the Contracts,  we assess a charge on amounts  withdrawn when you make a
partial  withdrawal,  default on a loan or terminate your Contract if the amount
withdrawn, or the defaulted loan amount, as the case may be, is in excess of the
free corridor  amount  (defined in this section) and no exception  applies.  The
amount of the  withdrawal and the applicable  contingent  withdrawal  charge are
deducted pro rata from the Investment Funds, and the Guaranteed Interest Account
should collection from the other Investment Options be insufficient.  The amount
deducted  to pay  the  contingent  withdrawal  charge  is  also  subject  to the
withdrawal charge.
    

The contingent  withdrawal  charge is equal to 6% of the amount withdrawn or the
defaulted  loan amount  during the first six  Contract  Years.  In the case of a
termination,  we will pay the greater of (i) the Annuity Account Value after the
withdrawal  charge  has  been  imposed,  as  described  above,  or (ii) the free
corridor amount plus 94% of the remaining Annuity Account Value.

   
We reserve the right to change the amount of the contingent  withdrawal  charge,
provided  that it will not exceed 6% of the amount  withdrawn  or the  defaulted
loan amount.  Applicable  regulations would not permit such a change if it would
be unfairly  discriminatory to any person. The contingent withdrawal charge will
not  exceed  applicable  regulatory  limits,  if any.  Also,  the  total  of all
withdrawal  charges assessed will not exceed 8% of all contributions made in the
first six Contract  Years.  The tax  consequences  of withdrawals  are discussed
under "Part 9: Federal Tax and ERISA Matters."
    

Free Withdrawal Amount (Free Corridor)

No  withdrawal  charge  will be applied  during any  Contract  Year in which the
amount  withdrawn is less than or equal to 10% of the Annuity  Account  Value at
the time the  withdrawal  is  requested  minus any amount  previously  withdrawn
during that Contract Year. This 10% portion is called the FREE CORRIDOR  AMOUNT.
Any withdrawal  requested that exceeds the free corridor  amount will be subject
to the  contingent  withdrawal  charge,  unless one of the following  exceptions
applies.

Exceptions to the Contingent Withdrawal Charge

A  contingent  withdrawal  charge  will not apply upon any of the events  listed
below:

   o  the Annuitant retires pursuant to terms of the TSA Plan, or separates from
      service;

   o  the  Annuitant  reaches age 59 1/2 and  completes  at least five  Contract
      Years;

   o  the Annuitant dies and a death benefit is payable to the beneficiary;

   o  we receive a properly  completed  election form  providing for the Annuity
      Account Value to be used to buy a life annuity;

   o  the Annuitant  attains age 55 and  completes at least five Contract  Years
      and we  receive a  properly  completed  election  form  providing  for the
      Annuity  Account  Value to be used to buy a period  certain  annuity which
      extends  


                                       16

<PAGE>

      beyond the  Annuitant's  attainment  of age 59 1/2 and does not permit any
      prepayment of the unpaid principal prior to the Annuitant's  attainment of
      age 59 1/2;

   o  the  Annuitant  completes at least three  Contract  Years and we receive a
      properly  completed  election form providing for the Annuity Account Value
      to be used to buy a period certain annuity of at least 10 years which does
      not permit any prepayment of the unpaid principal;

   o  a request is made for a refund of an excess  Contribution within one month
      of the date on which the Contribution is made;

   o  the Annuitant has qualified to receive Social Security disability benefits
      as certified by the Social Security Administration;

   o  we receive proof  satisfactory to us that the Annuitant's  life expectancy
      is six months or less (such  proof must  include,  but is not  limited to,
      certification by a licensed physician);

   o  the  Annuitant  has been confined to a nursing home for more than a 90 day
      period (or such other period,  if required in your state) as verified by a
      licensed physician. A nursing home for this purpose means one which is (a)
      approved by Medicare as a provider of skilled nursing care service, or (b)
      licensed as a skilled  nursing  home by the state or territory in which it
      is located (it must be within the United States,  Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin
      Islands, or Guam) and meets all of the following:

      -  its main  function is to provide  skilled,  intermediate,  or custodial
         nursing care;

      -  it provides continuous room and board to three or more persons;

      -  it is supervised by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse;

      -  it keeps daily medical records of each patient;

      -  it controls and records all medications dispensed; and

      -  its primary service is other than to provide housing for residents.

   o  the Annuitant elects a withdrawal that qualifies as a hardship  withdrawal
      under the Code.

ANNUAL ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE

Except as discussed  below,  on the last  Business Day of each  Contract Year we
deduct from the Annuity Account Value an annual  administrative  charge equal to
the  lesser  of $30 or 2% of the  Annuity  Account  Value on such  Business  Day
(adjusted  to include  any  withdrawals  made  during the year).  This charge is
deducted from each  Investment  Option on a pro rata basis.  This charge will be
prorated for a fractional  year if,  before the end of the  Contract  Year,  you
surrender your Contract,  or the Annuity  Account Value is applied to provide an
annuity benefit or death benefit.  Accumulation  Units will be redeemed in order
to pay any portion of the charge  deducted from an  Investment  Fund. We reserve
the  right to  increase  this  charge in the  future to a maximum  of $65 if our
administrative costs increase.

Any  portion of the charge  deducted  from the  Guaranteed  Interest  Account is
withdrawn in dollars.

Exceptions to Annual Administrative Charge

   
For TSA Advantage  Contracts,  no charge will apply if the Annuity Account Value
is at least  $25,000 at the end of the  Contract  Year.  Also,  we may reduce or
eliminate the annual administrative charge when a TSA Advantage Contract is used
by an employer and administrative  services are performed by us at a modified or
minimum level. Any reduction or waiver shall not be unfairly discriminatory.
    

THIRD PARTY TRANSFER OR EXCHANGE FEE

There currently is no Third Party Transfer or Exchange Fee. However,  we reserve
the right to impose this fee in the  future,  but it may not exceed a maximum of
$65 per occurrence, subject to applicable law.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

At some time in the future Equitable Life may, under certain  circumstances  and
subject to applicable  law,  allow a current owner of a Series 100 or Series 200
TSA contract to exchange it for a TSA Advantage Contract.  An exchange for a TSA
Advantage  Contract  may or may not be  advantageous  to you,  based  on all the
circumstances,  including a comparison of contractual terms and conditions,  and
charges and deductions.  Additional  information  will be available upon request
from Equitable Life at such time as exchanges may be permitted.


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