GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE CO
S-1/A, 1998-02-03
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                                                               File No.333-40301

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT TO
                             
                                    FORM S-1

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT

                                      UNDER

                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY
              -----------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

                                      Texas
          -------------------------------------------------------------
         (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
            --------------------------------------------------------
            (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)

                                   75-0300900
                      ------------------------------------
                      (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

     11825 N. Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032-4572 (317) 817-3700
    -------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including
             Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)

                             Michael A. Colliflower
                    Great American Reserve Insurance Company
                          11825 N. Pennsylvania Street
                              Carmel, Indiana 46032
                                 (317) 817-3700
            --------------------------------------------------------
            (Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number,
                   Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)

                                   Copies to:

                            Judith A. Hasenauer, Esq.
                        Blazzard, Grodd & Hasenauer, P.C.
                                  P.O. Box 5108
                               Westport, CT 06881
                                 (203) 226-7866

Approximate  date of commencement  of proposed sale to the public...
As soon as practicable after the effective date.

If any of the  securities  being  registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, check
the following box ( ).

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the  Securities  Act  registration  statement  number of the  earlier  effective
registration statement for the same offering ( ).

If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the  Securities  Act,  check  the  following  box and  list the  Securities  Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering ( ).

If this Form is a  post-effective  amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under
the  Securities  Act,  check  the  following  box and  list the  Securities  Act
registration  statement number of the earlier effective  registration  statement
for the same offering ( ).

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, check
the following box ( ).

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of                      Proposed    Proposed
Each Class of                 Maximum     Maximum
Securities        Amount      Offering    Aggregate   Amount of
to be             to be       Price       Offering    Registration
Registered        Registered  Per Unit    Price       Fee

================================================================================
Individual and
Group Fixed
Annuity Contracts
and Certificates      *           *            $5,000,000        $1,475

* The maximum  aggregate  offering price is estimated  solely for the 
purpose of determining  the  registration  fee.  The amount being  
registered and  the proposed maximum offering price per  unit  are 
not  applicable  in that these securities  are  not  issued  in 
predetermined amounts or units.

==============================================================================
The Registrant hereby amends this  Registration  Statement on such date or dates
as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant  shall file
a further amendment which specifically  states that this Registration  Statement
shall  thereafter  become  effective  in  accordance  with  Section  8(a) of the
Securities  Act of  1933  or  until  the  Registration  Statement  shall  become
effective on such date as the Commission,  acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
==============================================================================

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                              CROSS REFERENCE PAGE

ITEM IN FORM S-1                                                          CAPTION IN PROSPECTUS
<S>              <C>                                                     <C>

Item 1.          Forepart of the Registration                            Face Page of Registration,
                 Statement and Outside Front                             Cross Reference Page and
                 Cover Page of Prospectus                                Cover Page of Prospectus

Item 2.          Inside Front and Outside Back                           Cover Page of Prospectus
                 Cover Pages of Prospectus

Item 3.          Summary Information, Risk                               Profile
                 Factors and Ratio of Earnings
                 to Fixed Charges

Item 4.          Use of Proceeds                                         The Annuity Contract

Item 5.          Determination of Offering Price                         The Annuity Contract
                                                                         and Purchases

Item 6.          Dilution                                                Not Applicable

Item 7.          Selling Security Holders                                Not Applicable

Item 8.          Plan of Distribution                                    Distributor

Item 9.          Description of Securities                               The Annuity Contract
                 to be Registered

Item 10.         Interests of Named Experts                              Not Applicable
                 and Counsel

Item 11.         Information with Respect to
                 the Registrant

     (a)         Information required by Item 101                        Business of Great American
                 of Regulation S-K, description                          Reserve
                 of the business

     (b)         Information required by Item 102                        Business of Great American
                 of Regulation S-K, description of                       Reserve
                 property

     (c)         Information required by Item 103                        Business of Great American
                 of Regulation S-K, legal                                Reserve
                 proceedings

     (d)         Where  common  equity   securities  are                 Not  Applicable
                 being offered, information
                 required by Item 201 of Regulation
                 S-K, market price of and dividends
                 on the registrant's common equity
                 and related stockholder matters

     (e)         Financial   statements   meeting   the                  Financial   Statements
                 requirements  of  Regulation  S-X,  as
                 well  as any  financial information
                 required by Rule 3-05 and Article
                 11 of Regulation S-X.

     (f)         Information required by Item 301                        Selected Historical
                 of Regulation S-K, selected                             Financial Data
                 financial data

     (g)         Information required by Item 302                        Not Applicable
                 of Regulation S-K, supplementary
                 financial information

     (h)         Information required by Item 303                        Management's Discussion and
                 of Regulation S-K, management's                         Analysis
                 discussion and analysis of
                 financial condition and results of
                 operations

     (i)         Information required by Item 304                        Not Applicable
                 of Regulation S-K, changes in and
                 disagreements with accountants on
                 accounting and financial
                 disclosure

     (j)         Information required by Item 401                        Directors and Executive
                 of Regulation S-K, directors and                        Officers
                 executive officers

     (k)         Information required by Item 402                        Executive Compensation
                 of Regulation S-K, executive
                 compensation

     (l)         Information  required by Item 403                       Not  Applicable
                 of Regulation S-K,  security
                 ownership  of  certain  beneficial
                 owners  and management

     (m)         Information required by Item 404                        Financial Statements
                 of Regulation S-K, certain
                 relationships and related
                 transactions
</TABLE>


   
                   Great American Reserve Insurance Company

                                                                February 9, 1998
    
               PROFILE OF THE FIXED AND VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT

THIS PROFILE IS A SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE MORE  IMPORTANT  POINTS THAT YOU SHOULD
CONSIDER AND KNOW BEFORE  PURCHASING  THE  CONTRACT.  THE CONTRACT IS MORE FULLY
DESCRIBED IN THE FULL PROSPECTUS WHICH ACCOMPANIES THIS PROFILE. PLEASE READ THE
PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY.

1. THE ANNUITY  CONTRACT:  The fixed and variable  annuity  contract  (Contract)
offered by Great  American  Reserve is a contract  between you,  the owner,  and
Great American Reserve, an insurance company.  The Contract provides a means for
investing on a tax-deferred  basis in a fixed account of Great American Reserve,
the 1, 3 and 5 year guarantee periods of the market value adjustment option (mva
option) and 36  investment  portfolios.  The annuity is intended for  retirement
savings or other long-term investment purposes.  It provides a death benefit and
guaranteed income options.

This  Contract  offers 36 investment  portfolios  which are listed in Section 4.
These  portfolios  are designed to offer a better return than the fixed account.
However, this is NOT guaranteed. Market conditions determine whether you make or
lose money.

The fixed  account  offers an interest  rate that is guaranteed by the insurance
company,  Great American Reserve. This interest rate is set periodically.  While
your  money is in the  fixed  account,  the  interest  your  money  will earn is
guaranteed  to be no less  than 3%  annually  by  Great  American  Reserve.  The
principal is backed by Great American Reserve.

The  Contract  also  offers 3 guarantee  periods of the mva  option,  each for a
different  time period and with a different  interest rate that is guaranteed by
Great American  Reserve.  Currently,  1, 3 and 5 year periods are available.  An
adjustment to the value of your Contract may apply to  withdrawals  or transfers
from the guarantee period prior to the end of the period.

You can put  money in up to 15 of the  investment  portfolios,  the 3  guarantee
periods of the mva option  and/or the fixed  account.  You can transfer  once in
each  30-day  period  during  the  accumulation  phase  without  charge  or  tax
implication.  After that, a charge of $25 per  transfer may be assessed.  During
the income phase,  you may make two transfers each year which are without charge
or tax implications.

The  Contract,  like  all  deferred  annuity  contracts,  has  two  phases:  the
accumulation  phase  and the  income  phase.  When you are  contributing  to the
Contract,  it is called the accumulation  phase.  During the accumulation phase,
earnings  accumulate  on a  tax-deferred  basis and are taxed as income when you
make a  withdrawal.  The income  phase occurs when you begin  receiving  regular
payments from your Contract.

The  amount of money  you are able to  accumulate  in your  account  during  the
accumulation  phase  will  determine  the amount of income  payments  during the
income phase.

2. ANNUITY  PAYMENTS (THE INCOME PHASE):  If you want to receive  regular income
from your annuity,  you can choose one of four options: (1) monthly payments for
a specific number of years in equal installments;  (2) monthly payments for your
life, but with payments  continuing to the beneficiary for 5, 10 or 20 years (as
you  select) if you die  before  the end of the  selected  period;  (3)  monthly
payments of a specified  amount until the principal and interest are  exhausted;
and (4) monthly  payments for your lifetime and your survivor's  lifetime.  Once
you begin receiving regular payments, you cannot change your payment plan.

During the income  phase,  you can choose to have  payments  come from the fixed
account,  the investment  portfolios or both.  Annuity payments cannot come from
the mva option.  If you choose to have any part of your  payments  come from the
investment portfolios, the dollar amount of your payments may go up or down.

3.  PURCHASE:  You can  buy  this  Contract  with  $5,000  or  more  under  most
circumstances.  You can add $500 ($200 monthly if you use the automatic  premium
check  option)  or more any time you like  during  the  accumulation  phase.  We
require at least $2,000 to be invested in a guarantee period of the mva options.
If you buy the Contract as an Individual  Retirement  Annuity (IRA), the minimum
we  will  accept  is  $2,000  initially  and  $50  thereafter.  Your  registered
representative can help you fill out the proper forms.

4. INVESTMENT OPTIONS:  You can put your money in any or all of these investment
portfolios which are described in the prospectuses for the funds:

CONSECO SERIES TRUST
MANAGED BY CONSECO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

Asset Allocation Portfolio
Common Stock Portfolio
Corporate Bond Portfolio
Government Securities Portfolio
Money Market Portfolio

THE ALGER AMERICAN FUND
MANAGED BY FRED ALGER MANAGEMENT, INC.

Alger American Growth Portfolio
Alger American Leveraged AllCap Portfolio
Alger American MidCap Growth Portfolio
Alger American Small Capitalization Portfolio

AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.
MANAGED BY AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

VP International
VP Value
VP Income & Growth

BERGER INSTITUTIONAL PRODUCTS TRUST
MANAGED BY BERGER ASSOCIATES

Berger IPT - 100 Fund
Berger IPT - Growth and Income Fund
Berger IPT - Small Company Growth Fund

MANAGED BY BBOI WORLDWIDE LLC

Berger/BIAM IPT - International Fund

THE DREYFUS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GROWTH FUND, INC.
MANAGED BY THE DREYFUS CORPORATION

DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND
MANAGED BY THE DREYFUS CORPORATION

FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES
MANAGED BY FEDERATED ADVISERS

Federated High Income Bond Fund II
Federated International Equity Fund II
Federated Utility Fund II

JANUS ASPEN SERIES
MANAGED BY JANUS CAPITAL CORPORATION

Aggressive Growth Portfolio
Growth Portfolio
Worldwide Growth Portfolio

LAZARD RETIREMENT SERIES, INC.
MANAGED BY LAZARD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Lazard Retirement Equity Portfolio
Lazard Retirement Small Cap Portfolio

LORD ABBETT SERIES FUND, INC.
MANAGED BY LORD, ABBETT & CO.

Growth and Income Portfolio

NEUBERGER & BERMAN ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST
MANAGED BY NEUBERGER & BERMAN MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED

Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio
Partners Portfolio

MITCHELL HUTCHINS SERIES TRUST
MANAGED BY MITCHELL HUTCHINS ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.

Growth and Income Portfolio

STRONG OPPORTUNITY FUND II
MANAGED BY STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
MANAGED BY STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

Growth Fund II

VAN ECK WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST
MANAGED BY VAN ECK ASSOCIATES CORPORATION

Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
Worldwide Bond Fund
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund
Worldwide Real Estate Fund

Depending  upon  market  conditions,  you can make or lose money in any of these
portfolios.

5. EXPENSES:  The Contract has insurance features and investment  features,  and
there are costs related to each.

Each year Great American Reserve deducts a $30 contract  maintenance charge from
your Contract.  Great American Reserve currently waives this charge if the value
of your Contract is at least $50,000.  Great  American  Reserve also deducts for
its  insurance  charges  which total  1.40% of the  average  daily value of your
Contract allocated to the investment portfolios.

If you take your money out of the Contract,  Great American Reserve may assess a
contingent deferred sales charge which is equal to:

No. of Years From Receipt                         Contingent Deferred Sales
   of Purchase Payment                                    Charge
   -------------------                                    ------

First Year                                                 7%
Second Year                                                7%
Third Year                                                 6%
Fourth Year                                                5%
Fifth Year                                                 4%
Sixth Year                                                 3%
Seventh Year                                               2%
Eighth Year and more                                       0%

You may be assessed a premium tax charge  which  generally  ranges from 0%- 3.5%
depending on the state.

As with other  professionally  managed  investments,  there are also  investment
charges  which  range  from  0% to  1.58%  of the  average  daily  value  of the
investment portfolio depending upon the investment portfolio.

The  following  chart is designed  to help you  understand  the  expenses in the
Contract. The column "Total Annual Expenses" shows the total of the $30 contract
maintenance  charge (which has been converted to a percentage and is represented
as .10% below), the 1.40% insurance charges and the investment expenses for each
investment portfolio.

The next two columns  show you two  examples of the  expenses,  in dollars,  you
would pay under a Contract.  The examples  assume that you invested  $1,000 in a
Contract  which earns 5% annually and that you withdraw  your money:  (1) at the
end of year 1, and (2) at the end of year  10.  For  year 1,  the  Total  Annual
Expenses are assessed as well as the contingent deferred sales charges. For year
10, the example shows the aggregate of all the annual expenses  assessed for the
10 years, but there is no contingent deferred sales charge.

The premium tax is assumed to be 0% in both examples.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 EXAMPLES:

                                         Total Annual       Total Annual        Total         Total Annual
                                         Insurance          Portfolio           Annual        At                 End of:
Portfolio                                Charges            Expenses            Expenses      1 Year             10 Years
- ---------------------------              ---------          -----------         --------      ------------       --------
<S>                                      <C>                <C>                 <C>           <C>                <C>
CONSECO SERIES TRUST

Asset Allocation                         1.50%               .75%               2.25%         $85                $255
Common Stock                             1.50%               .80%               2.30%         $86                $260
Corporate Bond                           1.50%               .70%               2.20%         $85                $250
Government Securities                    1.50%               .70%               2.20%         $85                $250
Money Market                             1.50%               .45%               1.95%         $82                $224

THE ALGER AMERICAN FUND

Alger American Growth                    1.50%               .79%               2.29%         $86                $259
Alger American Leveraged AllCap          1.50%              1.09%               2.59%         $89                $289
Alger American MidCap Growth             1.50%               .84%               2.34%         $86                $264
Alger American Small                     1.50%               .88%               2.38%         $87                $268
 Capitalization

AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE
PORTFOLIOS, INC.

VP International                         1.50%              1.50%               3.00%         $93                $328
VP Value                                 1.50%              1.00%               2.50%         $88                $280
VP Income & Growth                       1.50%               .70%               2.20%         $85                $250

BERGER INSTITUTIONAL PRODUCTS
TRUST

Berger IPT - 100                         1.50%              1.00%               2.50%         $88                $280
Berger IPT - Growth and Income           1.50%              1.00%               2.50%         $88                $280
Berger IPT - Small Company               1.15%              1.15%               2.65%         $89                $295
Growth
Berger/BIAM IPT-International            1.50%              1.20%               2.70%         $90                $300

THE DREYFUS SOCIALLY                     1.50%               .99%               2.49%         $88                $279
RESPONSIBLE GROWTH FUND, INC.

DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND                 1.50%               .30%               1.80%         $81                $208

FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES

Federated High Income Bond II            1.50%               .80%               2.30%         $86                $260
Federated International                  1.50%              1.25%               2.75%         $90                $305
Equity II

Federated Utility II                     1.50%               .85%               2.35%         $86                $265

JANUS ASPEN SERIES

Aggressive Growth                        1.50%               .76%               2.26%         $85                $256
Growth                                   1.50%               .69%               2.19%         $85                $249
Worldwide Growth                         1.50%               .80%               2.30%         $86                $260

LAZARD RETIREMENT SERIES, INC.

Lazard Retirement Equity                 1.50%              1.50%               3.00%         $93                $328
Lazard Retirement Small Cap              1.50%              1.50%               3.00%         $93                $328

LORD ABBETT SERIES FUND, INC.

Growth and Income                        1.50%               .59%               2.09%         $84                $239

NEUBERGER & BERMAN ADVISERS
MANAGEMENT TRUST

Limited Maturity Bond                    1.50%               .78%               2.28%         $86                $258
Partners                                 1.50%               .95%               2.48%         $87                $275

MITCHELL HUTCHINS SERIES TRUST

Growth and Income                        1.50%              1.58%               3.08%         $94                $336

STRONG OPPORTUNITY FUND II               1.50%              1.17%               2.67%         $90                $297

STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE
FUNDS, INC.

Growth II                                1.50%              1.20%               2.70%         $90                $300

VAN ECK WORLDWIDE INSURANCE
TRUST

Worldwide Hard Assets                    1.50%              1.23%               2.73%         $90                $303
Worldwide Bond                           1.50%              1.16%               2.66%         $89                $296
Worldwide Emerging Markets               1.50%              1.32%               2.82%         $91                $311 
Worldwide Real Estate                    1.50%                 0%               1.50%         $78                $176
</TABLE>
    
The expenses reflect any expense reimbursement or fee waivers. For newly formed
portfolios, the expenses have been estimated. For more detailed information, see
the Fee Table in the prospectus for the contract.

6. TAXES: Your earnings are not taxed until you take them out. If you take money
out  during the  accumulation  phase,  earnings  come out first and are taxed as
income.  If you are  younger  than 59 1/2 when you take  money  out,  you may be
charged a 10% federal tax penalty on the  earnings.  Payments  during the income
phase are considered partly a return of your original  investment.  That part of
each payment is not taxable as income.

7.  ACCESS  TO YOUR  MONEY:  You can  take  money  out at any  time  during  the
accumulation  phase. Every year you can take a portion of your money out of your
Contract without a contingent deferred sales charge (CDSC). This amount is equal
to the  greater of (i) 10% of the value of your  Contract  (on a  non-cumulative
basis),  or (ii) the IRS minimum  distribution  requirement if your Contract was
issued  under an  Individual  Retirement  Annuity,  or (iii)  the  total of your
purchase  payments  that have been in the Contract  more than 7 complete  years.
Withdrawals  in excess of these  amounts will be charged a  contingent  deferred
sales charge which  declines from 7% to 0% depending upon the number of complete
years we have had your payment.  After Great American  Reserve has had a payment
for 7 complete  years,  there is no CDSC charge for  withdrawals.  Each purchase
payment you add to your Contract has its own 7 year  contingent  deferred  sales
charge period.  Withdrawals  from an mva option may be subject to a market value
adjustment.  Of course, you may also have to pay income tax and a tax penalty on
any money you take out.

8.  PERFORMANCE:  The value of the Contract will vary up or down  depending upon
the investment  performance of the investment  portfolios you choose.  As of the
date of this prospectus,  the sale of the Contracts had not begun.  Therefore no
performance is presented here.

9. DEATH BENEFIT:  If you die before entering the income phase,  the beneficiary
will receive a death benefit.  The death benefit will be the greater of: (1) the
value of your Contract;  or (2) prior to age 90, the total purchase payments you
have made,  less any adjusted  partial  withdrawals,  increased by 5% each year.
Adjusted  partial   withdrawal  means  the  amount  of  the  partial  withdrawal
multiplied by the amount of the death benefit just before the partial withdrawal
divided by the value of your  Contract  just  before the partial  withdrawal.  A
partial  withdrawal  is the amount paid to you plus any taxes  withheld less any
contingent deferred sales charges.

10. OTHER  INFORMATION:  Free Look.  If you cancel the  Contract  within 10 days
after  receiving it (or whatever  period is required in your state) we will send
you whatever your Contract is worth on the day we receive your request (this may
be more or less than your  original  payment)  without  assessing  a  contingent
deferred  sales  charge.  If you have  purchased  the contract as an  Individual
Retirement Annuity (IRA) you will receive back your purchase payment.

No Probate.  In many cases, when you die, the beneficiary will receive the death
benefit without going through  probate.  However,  the avoidance of probate does
not mean  that the  beneficiary  will not  have  tax  liability  as a result  of
receiving the death benefit.

Who should  purchase the Contract?  This Contract is designed for people seeking
long-term tax-deferred accumulation of assets, generally for retirement or other
long-term  purposes.  The  tax-deferred  feature is most attractive to people in
high federal and state tax brackets. You should not buy this Contract if you are
looking for a  short-term  investment  or if you cannot take the risk of getting
back less money than you invested.

Additional  Features.   The  contract  has  additional  features  you  might  be
interested in. These include:

     * You  can  arrange  to  have  money  automatically  sent  to you  monthly,
quarterly,  semi-annually  or  annually  while  your  contract  is  still in the
accumulation  phase.  You'll  have to pay taxes on money you receive and you may
have to also pay a tax penalty.  We call this feature the Systematic  Withdrawal
Program.

     * You can arrange to have a certain amount of money automatically  invested
in investment  portfolios on a regular basis,  theoretically  giving you a lower
average  cost per unit over time than a single one time  purchase.  We call this
feature Dollar Cost Averaging.

     * Great  American  Reserve will  automatically  readjust the money  between
investment  portfolios  periodically to keep the blend you select.  We call this
feature Automatic Rebalancing.

     * You can add to your  contract  directly  from your bank  account  with as
little as $200 each month.  We call this  feature the  automatic  premium  check
option.

     * You can elect to have your fixed account interest  earnings  periodically
transferred  to one or more  investment  portfolios.  We  call  this  the  Sweep
Program.

11.  INQUIRIES:  If you need more  information  about buying a Contract,  please
contact us at:

                      Great American Reserve Insurance Company
                      Administrative Office
                      11815 N. Pennsylvania Street
                      Carmel, Indiana 46032
                      (317) 817-3700




                         THE FIXED AND VARIABLE ANNUITY

                                    ISSUED BY

                GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT F

                                       AND

                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY



This prospectus  describes the Fixed and Variable  Annuity  Contract  offered by
Great American Reserve Insurance Company (Great American Reserve).

The annuity contract has 40 investment choices - a fixed account which offers an
interest  rate  which is  guaranteed  not to be less  than 3% by Great  American
Reserve,  three guarantee periods of the market value adjustment  account option
(MVA option) and 36 investment  portfolios  listed below. You can put your money
in the fixed  account,  any of the three  guarantee  periods  of the MVA  option
and/or  the  investment  portfolios.  Currently,  you  can  invest  in  up to 15
investment portfolios at one time.

CONSECO SERIES TRUST
MANAGED BY CONSECO CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

Asset Allocation Portfolio
Common Stock Portfolio
Corporate Bond Portfolio
Government Securities Portfolio
Money Market Portfolio

THE ALGER AMERICAN FUND
MANAGED BY FRED ALGER MANAGEMENT, INC.

Alger American Growth Portfolio
Alger American Leveraged AllCap Portfolio
Alger American MidCap Growth Portfolio
Alger American Small Capitalization Portfolio

AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.
MANAGED BY AMERICAN CENTURY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.

VP International
VP Value
VP Income & Growth

BERGER INSTITUTIONAL PRODUCTS TRUST
MANAGED BY BERGER ASSOCIATES

Berger IPT - 100 Fund
Berger IPT - Growth and Income Fund
Berger IPT - Small Company Growth Fund

MANAGED BY BBOI WORLDWIDE LLC

Berger/BIAM IPT - International Fund

THE DREYFUS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GROWTH FUND, INC.
MANAGED BY THE DREYFUS CORPORATION

DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND
MANAGED BY THE DREYFUS CORPORATION

FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES
MANAGED BY FEDERATED ADVISERS

Federated High Income Bond Fund II
Federated International Equity Fund II
Federated Utility Fund II

JANUS ASPEN SERIES
MANAGED BY JANUS CAPITAL CORPORATION

Aggressive Growth Portfolio
Growth Portfolio
Worldwide Growth Portfolio

LAZARD RETIREMENT SERIES, INC.
MANAGED BY LAZARD ASSET MANAGEMENT

Lazard Retirement Equity Portfolio
Lazard Retirement Small Cap Portfolio

LORD ABBETT SERIES FUND, INC.
MANAGED BY LORD, ABBETT & CO.

Growth and Income Portfolio

NEUBERGER & BERMAN ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST
MANAGED BY NEUBERGER & BERMAN MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED

Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio
Partners Portfolio
   
MITCHELL HUTCHINS SERIES TRUST
MANAGED BY MITCHELL HUTCHINS ASSET MANAGEMENT INC.

Growth and Income Portfolio
    
STRONG OPPORTUNITY FUND II
MANAGED BY STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.
MANAGED BY STRONG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, INC.

Growth Fund II

VAN ECK WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST
MANAGED BY VAN ECK ASSOCIATES CORPORATION

Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
Worldwide Bond Fund
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund
Worldwide Real Estate Fund

Please read this  prospectus  before  investing  and keep it on file for future
reference.  It contains  important  information about the Great American Reserve
Fixed and Variable Annuity Contract.
   
To learn  more  about the Great  American  Reserve  Fixed and  Variable  Annuity
Contract, you can obtain a copy of the Statement of Additional Information (SAI)
dated February 9, 1998. The SAI has been filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) and is legally a part of the prospectus.  The SEC has a website
(http://www.sec.gov)  that contains the SAI, material incorporated by reference,
and other information regarding companies that file electronically. The Table of
Contents  of the SAI is on Page __ of this  prospectus.  For a free  copy of the
SAI, call us at (800) 824-2726 or write us at our administrative  office:  11815
N. Pennsylvania Street, Carmel, Indiana 46032.
    
INVESTMENT  IN A VARIABLE  ANNUITY  CONTRACT IS SUBJECT TO RISKS,  INCLUDING THE
POSSIBLE LOSS OF PRINCIPAL. THE CONTRACTS ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR
GUARANTEED  OR ENDORSED  BY, ANY  FINANCIAL  INSTITUTION  AND ARE NOT  FEDERALLY
INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD,
OR ANY OTHER AGENCY.

THESE  SECURITIES  HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
   
February 9, 1998
    


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                          PAGE

INDEX OF SPECIAL TERMS.......................................................ii

FEE TABLE.....................................................................1

1.  THE ANNUITY CONTRACT......................................................9

2. ANNUITY PAYMENTS (THE INCOME PHASE).......................................10

3. PURCHASE..................................................................11
         Purchase Payments...................................................11
         Allocation of Purchase Payments.....................................11
         Accumulation Units..................................................12

4. INVESTMENT OPTIONS........................................................13
         Transfers...........................................................17
         Dollar Cost Averaging Program.......................................18
         Rebalancing Program.................................................18
         Sweep Program.......................................................19
         Voting Rights.......................................................19
         Substitution........................................................19

5. EXPENSES..................................................................19
         Insurance Charges...................................................20
         Contract Maintenance Charge.........................................20
         Contingent Deferred Sales Charge....................................20
         Reduction or Elimination of the Contingent Deferred Sales Charge....21
         Transfer Fee........................................................21
         Premium Taxes.......................................................22
         Income Taxes........................................................22
         Investment Portfolio Expenses.......................................22

6. TAXES ....................................................................22
         Annuity Contracts in General........................................22
         Qualified and Non-Qualified Contracts...............................23
         Withdrawals - Non-Qualified Contracts...............................23
         Withdrawals - Qualified Contracts...................................23
         Diversification.....................................................23

7. ACCESS TO YOUR MONEY......................................................24
         Systematic Withdrawal Program.......................................24
         Suspension of Payments or Transfers.................................25

8. PERFORMANCE...............................................................25

9. DEATH BENEFIT.............................................................26
         Upon Your Death.....................................................26
         Death of Annuitant..................................................26

10. OTHER INFORMATION........................................................26
         Great American Reserve..............................................26
         The Separate Accounts...............................................27
         Distributor.........................................................27
         Ownership...........................................................27
         Beneficiary.........................................................28
         Assignment..........................................................28
         Additional Information..............................................28
         Selected Historical Financial Information...........................28
         Business of Great American Reserve..................................29
         Management's Discussion and Analysis................................37
         Directors and Executive Officers....................................37
         Executive Compensation..............................................38
         Independent Accountants.............................................38
         Legal Opinions......................................................38
         Financial Statements................................................38

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.................39

APPENDIX A
         MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT.............................................39



                             INDEX OF SPECIAL TERMS

We have tried to make this prospectus as readable and  understandable for you as
possible. By the very nature of the contract,  however,  certain technical words
or terms are  unavoidable.  We have  identified  the  following as some of these
words or terms.  They are  identified in the text in italic and the page that is
indicated  here is where we believe you will find the best  explanation  for the
word or term.

                                                                      PAGE

Accumulation Phase......................................................  8
Accumulation Unit....................................................... 11
Annuitant...............................................................  9
Annuity Date............................................................  8
Annuity Options.........................................................  8
Annuity Payments........................................................  9
Annuity Unit............................................................ 11
Beneficiary............................................................. 26
Contract.................................................................26
Fixed Account...........................................................  8
Guarantee Period........................................................ 14
Income Phase............................................................  8
Investment Portfolios...................................................  8
Joint Owner............................................................. 25
MVA Option.............................................................. 14
Non-Qualified........................................................... 21
Owner................................................................... 25
Purchase Payment........................................................ 10
Qualified............................................................... 21
Tax Deferral............................................................  8


                                    FEE TABLE

OWNER TRANSACTION EXPENSES
Contingent Deferred Sales Charge (as a            No. of Years
percentage of purchase payments)                  from Receipt
(See Note 2 below)                                of Payment          Charge
                                                  ----------          ------
                                                  First Year            7%
                                                  Second Year           7%
                                                  Third Year            6%
                                                  Fourth Year           5%
                                                  Fifth Year            4%
                                                  Sixth Year            3%
                                                  Seventh Year          2%
                                                  Eighth Year and more  0%

TRANSFER FEE (see Note 3 below)    No charge for one transfer in each 30 day
                                   period during the accumulation phase;
                                   thereafter, a fee of $25 per transfer may
                                   be charged.  No charge for the two
                                   transfers allowed during the income phase.

CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE       $30 per contract per year
(see Note 4 below)

SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES
(as a percentage of average account value)

Mortality and Expense Risk Charge          1.25%
Administrative Charge                       .15%
                                           -----
TOTAL SEPARATE ACCOUNT ANNUAL EXPENSES     1.40%

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO EXPENSES (as a percentage of the average daily net assets
of an investment portfolio)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                 Other Expenses
                                                                              (after expense
                                                                              reimbursement           Total
                                             Management            12b-1      for certain             Annual
                                             Fees                  Fees       Portfolios              Portfolio
                                                                                                      Expenses
                                             ----------            ----       ----------              --------
<S>                                          <C>                   <C>        <C>                     <C>
CONSECO SERIES TRUST (1)
Asset Allocation Portfolio (2)                  0.55%              ---           0.20%                 0.75%
Common Stock Portfolio (2)                      0.60%              ---           0.20%                 0.80%
Corporate Bond Portfolio                        0.50%              ---           0.20%                 0.70%
Government Securities                           0.50%              ---           0.20%                 0.70%
Portfolio
Money Market Portfolio (2)                      0.25%              ---           0.20%                 0.45%

THE ALGER AMERICAN FUND
Alger American Growth                           0.75%              ---           0.04%                  0.79%
Portfolio
Alger American Leveraged                        0.85%              ---           0.24%                  1.09%
AllCap Portfolio (3)
Alger American MidCap Growth                    0.80%              ---           0.04%                  0.84%
Portfolio
Alger Small Capitalization                      0.85%              ---           0.03%                  0.88%
Portfolio

AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE
PORTFOLIOS, INC.
VP International                                1.50%              ---           0.0%                   1.50%
VP Value                                        1.00%              ---           0.0%                   1.00%
VP Income & Growth                              0.70%              ---           0.0%                   0.70%

BERGER INSTITUTIONAL PRODUCTS
TRUST
Berger IPT - 100 Fund (4)                       0.00%              ---          1.00%                   1.00%
Berger IPT - Growth and Income                  0.00%              ---          1.00%                   1.00%
Fund (4)
Berger IPT - Small Company                      0.00%              ---          1.15%                   1.15%
Growth Fund (4)
Berger/BIAM IPT -                               0.00%              ---          1.20%                   1.20%
International Fund (5)

THE DREYFUS SOCIALLY                            0.75%              ---          0.24%                   0.99%
RESPONSIBLE GROWTH FUND, INC.(6)

DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND (7)                    .245%              ---          .055%                   0.30%
FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES
Federated High Income Bond                      0.01%              ---          0.79%                   0.80%
Fund II (8)
Federated International Equity                  0.00%              ---          1.25%                   1.25%
Fund II (8)
Federated Utility Fund II (8)                   0.24%              ---          0.61%                   0.85%

JANUS ASPEN SERIES
Aggressive Growth Portfolio                     0.72%              ---          0.04%                   0.76%
(9)
Growth Portfolio (9)                            0.65%              ---          0.04%                   0.69%
Worldwide Growth Portfolio (9)                  0.66%              ---          0.14%                   0.80%

LAZARD RETIREMENT SERIES, INC.
Lazard Retirement Equity                        0.75%              0.25%        0.50%                   1.50%
Portfolio (10)
Lazard Retirement Small Cap                     0.75%              0.25%        0.50%                   1.50%
Portfolio (10)

LORD ABBETT SERIES FUND, INC.
Growth and Income Portfolio                     0.50%              0.07%        0.02%                   0.59%
(11)

NEUBERGER & BERMAN ADVISERS
MANAGEMENT TRUST (12)
Limited Maturity Bond                           0.65%              ---          0.13%                   0.78%
Portfolio
Partners Portfolio                              0.84%              ---          0.11%                   0.95%

MITCHELL HUTCHINS SERIES TRUST
Growth and Income Portfolio                     0.70%              ---          0.88%                    1.58%

STRONG OPPORTUNITY FUND II                      1.00%              ---          0.17%                   1.17%

STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE
FUNDS, INC.
Growth Fund II (13)                             1.00%              ---          0.20%                   1.20%

VAN ECK WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST (14)
Worldwide Hard Assets Fund                      1.00%              ---          0.23%                   1.23%
Worldwide Bond Fund                             1.00%              ---          0.16%                   1.16%
Worldwide Emerging Markets                      1.00%              ---          0.32%                   1.32%
Fund
Worldwide Real Estate Fund                         0%              ---             0%                      0%
</TABLE>
    
     (1) Conseco  Capital  Management,  Inc., the investment  adviser of Conseco
Series  Trust,  has  voluntarily  agreed to reimburse  all  expenses,  including
management fees, in excess of the following percentage of the average annual net
assets of each listed Portfolio,  as long as such reimbursement would not result
in a Portfolio's  inability to qualify as a regulated  investment  company under
the Code: 0.75% for the Asset Allocation  Portfolio;  0.80% for the Common Stock
Portfolio;  0.70% for the Corporate  Bond  Portfolio and  Government  Securities
Portfolio;  and 0.45% for the Money Market  Portfolio.  The total percentages in
the above table is after reimbursement. In the absence of expense reimbursement,
the total fees and  expenses  in 1996 would  have  totaled:  0.95% for the Asset
Allocation  Portfolio;  0.81%  for the  Common  Stock  Portfolio;  0.77% for the
Corporate Bond Portfolio;  0.91% for the Government  Securities  Portfolio;  and
0.58% for the Money Market Portfolio.

     (2)  Conseco  Capital   Management,   Inc.,  since  January  1,  1993,  has
voluntarily  waived its management  fees in excess of the annual rates set forth
above. Absent such fee waivers, the management fees would be: .65% for the Asset
Allocation  Portfolio;  .65% for the Common  Stock  Portfolio;  and .50% for the
Money Market Portfolio.

     (3) The Alger American Leveraged AllCap Portfolio "Other Expenses" includes
 .03% of interest expense.

     (4) Berger  Associates,  the Fund's  investment  adviser,  has  voluntarily
agreed to waive its advisory  fee and has  voluntarily  reimbursed  the Fund for
additional  expenses to the extent that normal operating  expenses in any fiscal
year, including the investment advisory fee but excluding brokerage commissions,
interest, taxes and extraordinary expenses, of each of the Berger IPT - 100 Fund
and the Berger IPT Growth and Income Fund exceed 1.00%, and the normal operating
expenses in any fiscal year of the Berger IPT - Small Company Growth Fund exceed
1.15% of the respective  Fund's  average daily net assets.  Absent the voluntary
waiver  and  reimbursement,  the  Management  Fee for the  Berger IPT -100 Fund,
Berger IPT - Growth and Income  Fund and the Berger IPT - Small  Company  Growth
Fund would have been .75%, .75% and .90%,  respectively,  and their Total Annual
Portfolio Expenses would have been 7.69%, 7.70% and 8.57%, respectively.

     (5) Based on  estimated  expenses for the first year of  operations  of the
Berger/BIAM   IPT  -   International   Fund,   after  fee  waivers  and  expense
reimbursements.   BBOI  Worldwide  LLC,  the  Fund's  investment  adviser,   has
voluntarily  agreed  to  waive  its  advisory  fee and  expects  to  voluntarily
reimburse the Fund for additional  expenses to the extent that normal  operating
expenses in any fiscal year, including the investment advisory fee but excluding
brokerage  commissions,  interest,  taxes  and  extraordinary  expenses,  of the
Berger/BIAM  IPT -  International  Fund exceed 1.20% of the Fund's average daily
net assets.  Absent the voluntary waiver and  reimbursement,  the Management Fee
for the  Berger/BIAM  IPT -  International  Fund  would be 0.90%,  and its Total
Expenses are estimated to be 8.96%.

     (6) In 1996, The Dreyfus Corporation waived .03% of its management fee. The
Dreyfus Corporation does not intend to waive a portion of its management fee for
fiscal year 1997.

     (7) The Dreyfus  Corporation,  the Fund's manager,  has voluntarily  agreed
until  such time as it gives  investors  180 days'  notice to the  contrary,  to
reimburse  all or a portion of its  advisory  fee to the  extent  that the total
expenses of the Fund  (excluding  brokerage  commission,  transactions  fees and
extraordinary  expenses)  are in excess of .40 of 1% of the value of the  Fund's
average daily net assets.

     (8) In the absence of a voluntary  waiver by Federal  Advisers,  the Funds'
investment adviser, the Management Fee and Total Annual Portfolio Expenses would
have been  0.60% and 1.39%,  respectively,  for High  Income  Bond and 0.75% and
1.36%,  respectively,  for Utility.  Absent a voluntary waiver of the management
fee and the  voluntary  reimbursement  of certain  other  operating  expenses by
Federal  Advisers,  the Management Fee and Total Annual  Portfolio  Expenses for
International Equity would have been 1.00% and 4.30%, respectively.

     (9) The expense  figures shown are net of certain fee waivers or reductions
from Janus  Capital  Corporation,  the  investment  adviser  of the Janus  Aspen
Series. Without such waivers or reductions,  the total fees and expenses in 1996
would have totaled: 0.83% for Aggressive Growth; 0.83% for Growth; and 0.91% for
Worldwide Growth.

     (10)  Lazard  Asset  Management,   the  Fund's  investment   adviser,   has
voluntarily  agreed to reimburse all  expenses,  including  management  fees, in
excess of 1.50% of the average annual net assets of the Portfolio.

     (11) The Growth and Income Portfolio of Lord Abbett Series Fund, Inc. has a
12b-1 plan which provides for payments to Lord, Abbett & Co. for remittance to a
life  insurance  company  for  certain  distribution   expenses  (see  the  Fund
Prospectus).  The 12b-1 plan provides that such  remittances,  in the aggregate,
will not exceed .15%, on an annual basis, of the daily net asset value of shares
of the Growth and Income Portfolio. As of May 1, 1997, no payments had been made
under the 12b-1 plan. For the year ending  December 31, 1997, the 12b-1 fees are
estimated  to be .07%.  The  examples  below  for  this  Portfolio  reflect  the
estimated 12b-1 fees.

     (12)  Neuberger  &  Berman  Advisers   Management  Trust  is  divided  into
portfolios (Portfolios),  each of which invests all of its net investable assets
in a corresponding series of Advisers Managers Trust. The figures reported under
"Management  Fees"  include  the  total of the  administration  fees paid by the
Portfolio and the management fees paid by its corresponding  series.  Similarly,
"Other  Expenses"   includes  all  other  expenses  of  the  Portfolio  and  its
corresponding series.

     (13) Strong Capital Management,  Inc., the investment advisor of the Strong
Growth  Fund II,  has  voluntarily  agreed  to cap the  Fund's  total  operating
expenses  at 1.20%.  The  Advisor  has no current  intention  to, but may in the
future,  discontinue  or modify any waiver of fees or  absorption of expenses at
its discretion with appropriate notification to its shareholders.

     (14) All figures are  annualized.  Expenses of Worldwide  Real Estate Fund,
which  commenced  operation  in June  1997,  are  being  assumed  by the  Fund's
investment  adviser.  Without  such  assumption,  Worldwide  Real Estate  Fund's
Management Fee would be 1.00%,  Other Expenses would be 0.32% and Total Expenses
would be 1.32%.  Other  Expenses of  Worldwide  Real Estate Fund are an estimate
which assumes  $80 million in average  daily net assets,  and may be greater or
less than those shown.  Prior to April 30, 1997,  Worldwide Hard Assets Fund was
named Gold and Natural Resources Fund.

EXAMPLES:

You would pay the  following  expenses  on a $1,000  investment,  assuming  a 5%
annual return on assets:

     (a)  upon surrender at the end of each time period;
     (b) if the contract is not surrendered;
     (c) if the contract is annuitized.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Time Periods
                                                                                 1 year                  3 years
                                                                                 ------------            -------
<S>                                                                               <C>                    <C>
CONSECO SERIES TRUST

  Asset Allocation                                                               (a) $85                 (a) $123
                                                                                 (b) $23                 (b) $ 69
                                                                                 (c) $85                 (c) $123
  Common Stock                                                                   (a) $86                 (a) $124
                                                                                 (b) $23                 (b) $ 71
                                                                                 (c) $86                 (c) $124
  Corporate Bond                                                                 (a) $85                 (a) $121
                                                                                 (b) $22                 (b) $ 68
                                                                                 (c) $85                 (c) $121
  Government Securities                                                          (a) $85                 (a) $121
                                                                                 (b) $22                 (b) $ 68
                                                                                 (c) $85                 (c) $121
  Money Market                                                                   (a) $82                 (a) $114
                                                                                 (b) $20                 (b) $ 60
                                                                                 (c) $82                 (c) $114
THE ALGER AMERICAN FUND

  Alger American Growth                                                          (a) $86                 (a) $124
                                                                                 (b) $23                 (b) $ 71
                                                                                 (c) $86                 (c) $124
  Alger American Leveraged AllCap                                                (a) $89                 (a) $133
                                                                                 (b) $26                 (b) $ 80
                                                                                 (c) $89                 (c) $133
  Alger American MidCap Growth                                                   (a) $86                 (a) $126
                                                                                 (b) $23                 (b) $ 72
                                                                                 (c) $86                 (c) $126
  Alger American Small Capitalization                                            (a) $87                 (a) $127
                                                                                 (b) $24                 (b) $ 73
                                                                                 (c) $87                 (c) $127

AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIO, INC.

  VP International                                                               (a) $93                 (a) $145
                                                                                 (b) $30                 (b) $ 92
                                                                                 (c) $93                 (c) $145
  VP Value                                                                       (a) $88                 (a) $130
                                                                                 (b) $25                 (b) $ 77
                                                                                 (c) $88                 (c) $130
  VP Income & Growth                                                             (a) $85                 (a) $121
                                                                                 (b) $22                 (b) $ 68
                                                                                 (c) $85                 (c) $121

BERGER INSTITUTIONAL PRODUCTS TRUST

  Berger IPT - 100                                                               (a) $88                 (a) $130
                                                                                 (b) $25                 (b) $ 77
                                                                                 (c) $88                 (c) $130
  Berger IPT - Growth and Income                                                 (a) $88                 (a) $130
                                                                                 (b) $25                 (b) $ 77
                                                                                 (c) $88                 (c) $130
  Berger IPT - Small Company Growth                                              (a) $89                 (a) $135
                                                                                 (b) $27                 (b) $ 81
                                                                                 (c) $89                 (c) $135
  Berger/BIAM IPT - International                                                (a) $90                 (a) $136
                                                                                 (b) $27                 (b) $ 83
                                                                                 (c) $90                 (c) $136
THE DREYFUS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GROWTH FUND, INC.

                                                                                 (a) $88                 (a) $130
                                                                                 (b) $25                 (b) $ 77
                                                                                 (c) $88                 (c) $130

DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND

                                                                                 (a) $81                 (a) $109
                                                                                 (b) $18                 (b) $ 56
                                                                                 (c) $81                 (c) $109
FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES

  Federated High Income Bond II                                                  (a) $86                 (a) $124
                                                                                 (b) $23                 (b) $ 71
                                                                                 (c) $86                 (c) $124
  Federated International Equity II                                              (a) $90                 (a) $138
                                                                                 (b) $28                 (b) $ 84
                                                                                 (c) $90                 (c) $138
  Federated Utility II                                                           (a) $86                 (a) $126
                                                                                 (b) $24                 (b) $ 72
                                                                                 (c) $86                 (c) $126

JANUS ASPEN SERIES

  Aggressive Growth                                                              (a) $85                 (a) $123
                                                                                 (b) $23                 (b) $ 70
                                                                                 (c) $85                 (c) $123
  Growth                                                                         (a) $85                 (a) $121
                                                                                 (b) $22                 (b) $ 68
                                                                                 (c) $85                 (c) $121
  Worldwide Growth                                                               (a) $86                 (a) $124
                                                                                 (b) $23                 (b) $ 71
                                                                                 (c) $86                 (c) $124

LAZARD RETIREMENT SERIES, INC.

  Lazard Retirement Equity                                                       (a) $93                 (a) $145
                                                                                 (b) $30                 (b) $ 92
                                                                                 (c) $93                 (c) $145
  Lazard Retirement Small Cap                                                    (a) $93                 (a) $145
                                                                                 (b) $30                 (b) $ 92
                                                                                 (c) $93                 (c) $145

LORD ABBETT SERIES FUND, INC.

  Growth and Income                                                              (a) $84                 (a) $118
                                                                                 (b) $21                 (b) $ 65
                                                                                 (c) $84                 (c) $118
NEUBERGER & BERMAN ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST

  Limited Maturity Bond                                                          (a) $86                 (a) $124
                                                                                 (b) $23                 (b) $ 70
                                                                                 (c) $86                 (c) $124
  Partners                                                                       (a) $87                 (a) $129
                                                                                 (b) $25                 (b) $ 75
                                                                                 (c) $87                 (c) $129

MITCHELL HUTCHINS SERIES TRUST

  Growth and Income                                                              (a) $94                 (a) $148
                                                                                 (b) $31                 (b) $ 94
                                                                                 (c) $94                 (c) $148 

STRONG OPPORTUNITY FUND II                                                       (a) $90                 (a) $136
                                                                                 (b) $27                 (b) $ 82
                                                                                 (c) $90                 (c) $136
STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.

  Growth II                                                                      (a) $90                 (a) $136
                                                                                 (b) $27                 (b) $ 83
                                                                                 (c) $90                 (c) $136
VAN ECK WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST

  Worldwide Hard Assets                                                          (a) $90                 (a) $137
                                                                                 (b) $27                 (b) $ 84
                                                                                 (c) $90                 (c) $137
  Worldwide Bond                                                                 (a) $89                 (a) $135
                                                                                 (b) $27                 (b) $ 82
                                                                                 (c) $89                 (c) $135
  Worldwide Emerging Markets                                                     (a) $91                 (a) $140
                                                                                 (b) $28                 (b) $ 86
                                                                                 (c) $91                 (c) $140
  Worldwide Real Estate                                                          (a) $78                 (a) $100
                                                                                 (b) $15                 (b) $ 47
                                                                                 (c) $78                 (c) $100
    
</TABLE>

EXPLANATION OF FEE TABLE AND EXAMPLES

     1. The  purpose of the Fee Table is to show you the  various  expenses  you
will incur  directly or  indirectly  with the contract.  The Fee Table  reflects
expenses of the Separate Account as well as the investment portfolios.

     2.  Every  year  you can  take  money  out of your  contract,  without  the
contingent  deferred sales charge, of an amount equal to the greater of: (i) 10%
of the  value of your  contract  (on a  non-cumulative  basis),  or (ii) the IRS
minimum  distribution  requirement  for your contract if issued as an Individual
Retirement  Annuity, or (iii) the total of your purchase payments that have been
in the contract more than 7 complete years.

     3. Great  American  Reserve  will not charge you the  transfer  fee even if
there are more than one  transfer  in a 30-day  period  during the  accumulation
phase if the  transfer is for the Dollar Cost  Averaging,  Sweep or  Rebalancing
Programs.  We will also not charge you a transfer fee on  transfers  made at the
end of the free look period. All reallocations made on the same day count as one
transfer.

     4. Great American Reserve will not charge the contract  maintenance  charge
if the  value of your  contract  is  $50,000  or more,  although,  if you make a
complete withdrawal, Great American Reserve will charge the contract maintenance
charge.

     5. Premium taxes are not  reflected.  Premium taxes may apply  depending on
the state where you live.

     6. The assumed average contract size is $30,000.

     7. THE EXAMPLES SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A REPRESENTATION OF PAST OR FUTURE
EXPENSES. ACTUAL EXPENSES MAY BE GREATER OR LESS THAN THOSE SHOWN.

As of the date of this  prospectus,  the sale of the contracts had not begun and
the  investment  portfolios  did not have any assets.  Therefore,  no  condensed
financial information is presented.

                             1. THE ANNUITY CONTRACT

This Prospectus  describes the Fixed and Variable  Annuity  Contract  offered by
Great American Reserve.

An annuity is a contract  between you, the owner,  and an insurance  company (in
this case Great American  Reserve),  where the insurance company promises to pay
you an income, in the form of annuity  payments,  beginning on a designated date
that is at least 90 days after we issue your contract. Until you decide to begin
receiving annuity payments,  your annuity is in the accumulation phase. Once you
begin receiving  annuity  payments,  your contract switches to the income phase.
The contract benefits from tax deferral.

Tax  deferral  means that you are not taxed on earnings or  appreciation  on the
assets in your contract until you take money out of your contract.

The  contract  is a  variable  annuity.  You  can  choose  among  36 investment
portfolios and, depending upon market conditions,  you can make or lose money in
any of these  portfolios.  If you select  the  variable  annuity  portion of the
contract, the amount of money you are able to accumulate in your contract during
the accumulation phase depends upon the investment performance of the investment
portfolio(s)  you select.  The amount of the annuity payments you receive during
the income phase from the variable  annuity portion of the contract also depends
upon the investment  performance of the investment portfolios you select for the
income phase.

The contract contains a fixed account. The fixed account offers an interest rate
that is  guaranteed  to be no less  than 3% by Great  American  Reserve.  If you
select the fixed account, the amount of money you are able to accumulate in your
contract during the accumulation  phase depends upon the total interest credited
to your  contract.  The amount of the annuity  payments  you receive  during the
income phase from the fixed  account  portion of the contract  will remain level
for the entire income phase.

The contract also contains 3 guarantee periods within the MVA option. Your money
will earn interest at the rate set by Great American Reserve.  The interest rate
is  guaranteed  by Great  American  Reserve for the time you agree to leave your
money in the guarantee period. We currently offer guarantee periods for 1, 3 and
5 years. To the extent you allocate money to a guarantee  period,  the amount of
money you are able to accumulate in your contract during the accumulation  phase
depends upon the total interest credited to your contract. An adjustment to your
contract will apply to withdrawals,  transfers or  annuitizations  from the 1, 3
and 5 year guarantee periods prior to the end of the selected period.

As owner of the contract,  you exercise all rights under the  contract.  You can
change the owner at any time by notifying Great American Reserve in writing. You
and another person can be named joint owners. We have described more information
on this in Section 10 - Other Information.


                     2. ANNUITY PAYMENTS (THE INCOME PHASE)

Under the contract you can receive regular income  payments.  You can choose the
month and year in which  those  payments  begin.  We call that date the  annuity
date.  Your  annuity  date can be any date  selected by you. You can also choose
among income plans. We call those annuity options.

We ask you to choose your annuity date when you purchase the  contract.  With 30
days notice to us, you can change the annuity date or annuity option at any time
before the annuity  date.  Your  annuity date cannot be any earlier than 90 days
after we issue the contract.  Annuity  payments must begin by the earlier of the
annuitant's  90th  birthday or the maximum date allowed by law. The annuitant is
the person whose life we look to when we determine annuity payments.

You can select an annuity  option any time 30 days before the annuity  date.  If
you do not choose an annuity  option,  we will assume that you selected Option 2
which provides a life annuity with 10 years of guaranteed payments.

On the annuity date the value of your  contract,  less any premium tax, plus any
market value adjustment (which may be positive or negative), less any contingent
deferred sales charge, and less any contract  maintenance charge will be applied
under the annuity option you selected.  If you select an annuity date that is at
least 4 years after your  contract  was issued and you choose an annuity  option
that has a life  contingency  or is for a minimum of 5 years,  the value of your
contract,  less any premium tax and less any contract maintenance charge will be
applied under the annuity option you selected. A CDSC will not be deducted under
these circumstances.

During  the  income  phase,  you can  choose  to have  payments  come  from  the
investment portfolios,  the fixed account or both. Payments cannot come from the
MVA option during the income phase. If you don't tell us otherwise, your annuity
payments  will  be  based  on  the  investment  allocations  in  the  investment
portfolios and fixed account that were in place on the annuity date.

If you  choose  to have any  portion  of your  annuity  payments  come  from the
investment  portfolio(s),  the dollar  amount of your payment will depend upon 3
things:  1) the value of your  contract in the  investment  portfolio(s)  on the
annuity date, 2) the 3% or 5% (as you selected) assumed  investment rate used in
the annuity table for the contract,  and 3) the  performance  of the  investment
portfolios you selected.  You can choose either a 5% or a 3% assumed  investment
rate. If the actual  performance  exceeds the 3% or 5% (as you selected) assumed
rate, your annuity payments will increase. Similarly, if the actual rate is less
than 3%, your annuity payments will decrease.

Unless you notify us otherwise, we will pay the annuity payments to you. You can
change  the  payee  at any time  prior  to the  annuity  date.  Income  from any
distribution will be reported to you for tax purposes.

You can choose one of the following  annuity options or any other annuity option
which is acceptable to Great American Reserve. After annuity payments begin, you
cannot change the annuity option.

     OPTION 1. INCOME FOR A SPECIFIED PERIOD.  We will pay an income for a
specific number of years in equal installments

     OPTION  2. LIFE  ANNUITY  WITH 5, 10 OR 20 YEARS  GUARANTEED.  We will make
monthly annuity  payments so long as the annuitant is alive.  However,  if, when
the  annuitant  dies,  we have made annuity  payments for less than the selected
guaranteed  period,  we will then continue to make annuity payments for the rest
of the guaranteed period to the beneficiary.

     OPTION 3.  INCOME OF SPECIFIED AMOUNT.  We will pay income of a specified
amount until the principal and interest are exhausted.

     OPTION 4. JOINT AND SURVIVOR ANNUITY. We will make monthly annuity payments
so long as the  annuitant and a joint  annuitant are both alive.  When either of
these  people  die,  the  amount  of the  annuity  payments  we will make to the
survivor  can be equal to 100%,  66 2/3% or 50% of the amount that we would have
paid if both were alive.

Annuity  payments  are made  monthly  unless you have less than  $5,000 to apply
toward a payment.  In that case,  Great American  Reserve may make a single lump
sum payment to you. Likewise,  if your annuity payments would be less than $50 a
month,  Great American Reserve has the right to change the frequency of payments
so that your annuity payments are at least $50.

                                   3. PURCHASE

PURCHASE PAYMENTS

A purchase payment is the money you give us to buy the contract.  The minimum we
will accept is $5,000 when the contract is bought as a  non-qualified  contract.
If you are buying the contract as part of an IRA (Individual Retirement Annuity)
the  minimum we will  accept is  $2,000.  For each  guarantee  period of the MVA
option,  a minimum of $2,000 is  required.  The  maximum  we accept is  $500,000
without our prior approval. You can make additional purchase payments of $500 or
more to a  non-qualified  contract and $50 to an IRA contract.  However,  if you
select the automatic premium check option,  you can make additional  payments of
$200  each  month  for  non-qualified  contracts  and  $50  each  month  for IRA
contracts.

ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PAYMENTS

When you purchase a contract,  we will  allocate  your  purchase  payment to the
fixed account, the guarantee periods of the MVA option and/or one or more of the
investment portfolios you have selected. CURRENTLY, YOU CAN ALLOCATE MONEY TO UP
TO 15 INVESTMENT  PORTFOLIOS AT ANY ONE TIME.  If you make  additional  purchase
payments,  we will allocate them in the same way as your first purchase  payment
unless  you tell us  otherwise.  Currently,  the  minimum  amount  which  can be
allocated to any of the  guarantee  periods of MVA option is $2,000.  We reserve
the right to change this amount in the future.

If you change your mind about owning this contract,  you can cancel it within 10
days after  receiving it. When you cancel the contract  within this time period,
Great American  Reserve will not assess a contingent  deferred sales charge.  On
the day we receive  your request we will return the value of your  contract.  If
you have purchased the contract as an IRA, we are required to give you back your
purchase  payment if you  decide to cancel  your  contract  within 10 days after
receiving it.

Once we receive your  purchase  payment and the necessary  information,  we will
issue your contract and allocate your first  purchase  payment within 2 business
days. If you do not provide us all of the  information  needed,  we will contact
you. If for some reason we are unable to complete this process within 5 business
days,  we will  either  send back your money or get your  permission  to keep it
until we get all of the  necessary  information.  If you add more  money to your
contract by making additional purchase payments, we will credit these amounts to
your contract within one business day. Our business day closes when the New York
Stock Exchange closes, usually 4:00 P.M. Eastern time.

ACCUMULATION UNITS

The value of the variable  annuity  portion of your  contract  will  increase or
decrease   depending   upon  the   investment   performance  of  the  investment
portfolio(s)  you choose.  In order to keep track of the value of your contract,
we use a unit of measure we call an  accumulation  unit. (An  accumulation  unit
works like a share of a mutual fund.) During the income phase of the contract we
call the unit an annuity unit.

Every  day we  determine  the  value  of an  accumulation  unit  for each of the
investment  portfolios  by  multiplying  the  accumulation  unit  value  for the
previous period by a factor for the current period. The factor is determined by:

1. dividing the value of an investment portfolio share at the end of the current
period (and any charges for taxes) by the value of an investment portfolio share
for the previous period; and

2. subtracting the daily amount of the insurance charges.

The value of an accumulation unit may go up or down from day to day.

When you make a purchase  payment,  we credit your  contract  with  accumulation
units.  The number of accumulation  units credited is determined by dividing the
amount of the purchase payment allocated to an investment portfolio by the value
of the accumulation unit for that investment portfolio.

We calculate the value of an  accumulation  unit for each  investment  portfolio
after the New York Stock Exchange closes each day and then credit your contract.

     EXAMPLE:

     On Wednesday we receive an additional  purchase payment of $4,000 from you.
You have told us you want this to go to the Common Stock Portfolio. When the New
York Stock Exchange closes on that Wednesday,  we determine that the value of an
accumulation  unit for the Common  Stock  Portfolio  is $12.25.  We then  divide
$4,000 by $12.25  and credit  your  contract  on  Wednesday  night  with  326.53
accumulation units for the Common Stock Portfolio.

                              4. INVESTMENT OPTIONS

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS

The contract offers 36 investment  portfolios which are briefly described below.
You can invest in up to 15  investment  portfolios  at any one time.  Additional
investment portfolios may be available in the future.

Shares of the funds are offered in  connection  with  certain  variable  annuity
contracts  and  variable  life  insurance  policies  of various  life  insurance
companies  which  may or may not be  affiliated  with  Great  American  Reserve.
Certain  investment  portfolios are also sold directly to qualified  plans.  The
funds  do not  believe  that  offering  their  shares  in  this  manner  will be
disadvantageous to you.

YOU SHOULD READ THE PROSPECTUSES FOR THESE FUNDS CAREFULLY BEFORE INVESTING.
COPIES OF THESE PROSPECTUSES ARE ATTACHED TO THIS PROSPECTUS.

CONSECO SERIES TRUST

Conseco Series Trust is a mutual fund with multiple  portfolios.  Conseco Series
Trust is managed by Conseco  Capital  Management.  The following  portfolios are
available under the contract:

Asset Allocation Portfolio
Common Stock Portfolio
Corporate Bond Portfolio
Government Securities Portfolio
Money Market Portfolio

THE ALGER AMERICAN FUND

The Alger  American Fund is a mutual find with multiple  portfolios.  Fred Alger
Management,  Inc. serves as the investment adviser. The following portfolios are
available under the contract:

Alger American Growth Portfolio
Alger American Leveraged AllCap Portfolio
Alger American MidCap Growth Portfolio
Alger American Small Capitalization Portfolio

AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIOS, INC.

American  Century  Variable  Portfolios,  Inc.  is a series of funds  managed by
American  Century  Investment  Management,  Inc. The  following  portfolios  are
available under the contract:

VP International
VP Value
VP Income & Growth

BERGER INSTITUTIONAL PRODUCTS TRUST

Berger  Institutional  Products Trust is a mutual fund with multiple portfolios.
Berger  Associates  is the  investment  adviser  to all  portfolios  except  the
Berger/BIAM IPT -  International  Fund. BBOI Worldwide LLC is the adviser to the
Berger/BIAM  IPT -  International  Fund. The following  portfolios are available
under the contract:

Berger IPT - 100 Fund
Berger IPT - Growth and Income Fund
Berger IPT - Small Company Growth Fund
Berger/BIAM IPT - International Fund

THE DREYFUS SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE GROWTH FUND, INC.

The Dreyfus  Socially  Responsible  Growth Fund,  Inc. is managed by The Dreyfus
Corporation.  Dreyfus has hired NCM Capital  Management  Group, Inc. to serve as
sub-investment   adviser  and  provided  day-to-day  management  of  the  Fund's
investments.

DREYFUS STOCK INDEX FUND

The  Dreyfus  Corporation  serves as the Fund's  manager.  Dreyfus has hired its
affiliate,  Mellon Equity Associates,  to serve as the Fund's index fund manager
and provide day-to-day management of the Fund's investments.

FEDERATED INSURANCE SERIES

Federated Insurance Series is a mutual fund with multiple portfolios.  Federated
Advisers is the investment adviser. The following portfolios are available under
the contract:

Federated High Income Bond Fund II
Federated International Equity Fund II
Federated Utility Fund II

JANUS ASPEN SERIES

The Janus  Aspen  Series is a mutual  fund with  multiple  portfolios  which are
advised by Janus Capital  Corporation.  The following  portfolios  are available
under the contract:

Aggressive Growth Portfolio
Growth Portfolio
Worldwide Growth Portfolio

LAZARD RETIREMENT SERIES, INC.

Lazard Retirement Series, Inc. is a mutual fund with multiple portfolios. Lazard
Asset  Management,  a division of Lazard  Freres & Co.  LLC,  is the  investment
manager for each  portfolio.  The following  portfolios are available  under the
contract:

Lazard Retirement Equity Portfolio
Lazard Retirement Small Cap Portfolio

LORD ABBETT SERIES FUND, INC.

Lord Abbett Series Fund,  Inc. is a mutual fund with multiple  portfolios.  Each
portfolio is managed by Lord, Abbett & Co. The following  portfolio is available
under the contract:

Growth and Income Portfolio

NEUBERGER & BERMAN ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST

Each  portfolio of Neuberger & Berman  Advisers  Management  Trust  invests in a
corresponding series of Advisers Managers Trust. All series of Advisers Managers
Trust are managed by Neuberger & Berman Management  Incorporated.  The following
are available under the contract:

Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio
Partners Portfolio
   
MITCHELL HUTCHINS SERIES TRUST

Mitchell  Hutchins  Series  Trust is a mutual  fund  with  multiple  portfolios.
Mitchell  Hutchins Asset Management Inc.  provides  advisory and  administrative
services to the Fund. The following portfolio is available under the contract:

Growth and Income Portfolio
    
STRONG OPPORTUNITY FUND II

Strong  Opportunity  Fund  II  is  a  mutual  fund  managed  by  Strong  Capital
Management, Inc.

STRONG VARIABLE INSURANCE FUNDS, INC.

Strong Variable  Insurance  Funds,  Inc. is a mutual fund with multiple  series.
Strong Capital Management,  Inc. serves as the investment adviser. The following
series is available under the contract:

Growth Fund II

VAN ECK WORLDWIDE INSURANCE TRUST

Van Eck  Worldwide  Insurance  Trust is a mutual fund with  multiple  portfolios
which are managed by Van Eck Associates  Corporation.  The following  portfolios
are available under the contract:

Worldwide Hard Assets Fund
Worldwide Bond Fund
Worldwide Emerging Markets Fund
Worldwide Real Estate Fund

THE FIXED ACCOUNT

You can invest in the one year  fixed  account of Great  American  Reserve.  The
fixed  account  offers an interest rate that is guaranteed to be no less than 3%
annually by Great American Reserve. If you select the fixed account,  your money
will be placed with the other general assets of Great American Reserve.

THE MVA OPTION

The contract also offers three guarantee  periods of the market value adjustment
option (MVA option). A guarantee period is the period of time for which interest
is credited in the market value adjustment  option.  Each allocation or transfer
to the MVA option creates one or more new guarantee periods.  We currently offer
guarantee periods of 1, 3 and 5 years. You can allocate your purchase payment or
transfer money to any of the currently available periods.

The guarantee periods of the MVA option offer interest rates that are guaranteed
by Great American  Reserve.  Interest rates may differ from time to time because
of changes in market  conditions.  The interest rates set for a guarantee period
for new purchase  payments may be different  from the interest rates offered for
money already in the guarantee periods. We set interest rates at our discretion.
Once we set an interest rate for a guarantee  period,  it will not change during
that period.

If you do not specify a guarantee period at the time of renewal,  we will select
the same  guarantee  period  that just  finished  so long as it does not  extend
beyond the latest  annuity date. If it does, we will choose the one year period.
If there is no  guarantee  period for the same  period  available,  the one year
period will be selected. If it is not available, the next longest period will be
selected.

If you take money out (whether by withdrawal,  transfer or annuitization) of the
guarantee  period before the end of the period in excess of the free amount (see
below), an adjustment will be made to the amount  withdrawn.  This adjustment is
referred  to as a market  value  adjustment.  The market  value  adjustment  can
increase or decrease the amount you take out of your  contract.  However,  after
the first  year in a period,  you can make one  withdrawal  each year of up to a
total of 10% of the value of your MVA option in that period and no market  value
adjustment will be made to that withdrawal (free amount).

We will not apply a market value adjustment for any withdrawals in the following
situations:  (1) to pay a death  benefit;  (2) to pay fees or charges  under the
contract;  (3) amounts  which are  withdrawn  or  transferred  during the 30-day
period  before  the end of the  guarantee  period;  or (4)  when  your  contract
switches to the annuity phase if your annuity  payments begin after the 4th year
of when your  contract  was issued and you have  chosen an annuity  option  that
provides for a life contingency or is for a period of at least 5 years.

The market value  adjustment is  determined by comparing the U.S.  Treasury rate
which was in effect at the beginning of the  guarantee  period for the length of
the guarantee  period selected  versus the current U.S.  Treasury Rate as of the
date of the  withdrawal or transfer for the number of years  remaining  (rounded
up) plus .005. The U.S. Treasury Rate is the Bloomberg  published  Treasury rate
found in the Wall Street Journal or on the Bloomberg  System,  representing  the
last trade made in the Treasury market for the applicable  maturities related to
the product.  In general,  if interest  rates have dropped  between the time you
allocated your money to the guarantee period and the time you took it out, there
will be a positive  adjustment to the value of your  contract.  But, if interest
rates have increased  between the time you allocated your money to the guarantee
period and the time you took it out, there will be a negative adjustment.

The Appendix  contains more  information  regarding how Great  American  Reserve
calculates the market value adjustment, including examples.

TRANSFERS

You can  transfer  money  among the fixed  account,  the MVA  option  and the 36
investment  portfolios.  However,  you  cannot  be  invested  in  more  than  15
investment  portfolios,  the 3  guarantee  periods of the MVA option  and/or the
fixed account at any time.

TRANSFERS DURING THE  ACCUMULATION  PHASE. You can make one transfer in a 30-day
period during the accumulation  phase without charge. You can make a transfer to
or from  the  fixed  account,  the MVA  option  and to or  from  any  investment
portfolio. Transfers from a guarantee period of the MVA option before the end of
the period may be subject to an  adjustment.  If you make more than one transfer
in a 30-day period,  a transfer fee of $25 may be deducted.  The following apply
to any transfer during the accumulation phase:

     1. The minimum  amount  which you can transfer is $500 or your entire value
in the  investment  portfolio,  or $2,000 into any  guarantee  period of the MVA
option or fixed account.  This requirement is waived if the transfer is pursuant
to the dollar cost averaging or rebalancing programs.

     2. You must leave at least  $500 in each  investment  portfolio,  guarantee
period of the MVA option or the fixed account  after you make a transfer  unless
the entire amount is being  transferred.  Transfers out of the fixed account are
limited to 20% of the value of your contract every 6 months.

     3.  Your  request  for a  transfer  must  clearly  state  which  investment
portfolio(s),  the  guarantee  period of the MVA option or the fixed account are
involved in the transfer.

     4. Your  request for transfer  must clearly  state how much the transfer is
for.

TRANSFERS  DURING THE INCOME PHASE.  You can only make two transfers  every year
during the income phase.  The two transfers are free. We measure a year from the
anniversary  of the day we issued  your  contract.  The  following  apply to any
transfer during the income phase.

1. You can make  transfers  at least 30 days  before  the due date of the  first
annuity payment for which the transfer will apply.

2. The minimum amount which you can transfer is $500 or your entire value in the
investment portfolio.

3. You must leave at least $500 in each  investment  portfolio (or $0 if you are
transferring the entire amount) after a transfer.

4. No  transfers  can be made  between  the  fixed  account  and the  investment
portfolios. You may only make transfers between the investment portfolios.

This product is not designed for professional market timing organizations. Great
American  Reserve  has  reserved  the right to modify  the  transfer  privileges
described above.

TELEPHONE TRANSFERS.  You can elect to make transfers by telephone. You can also
authorize someone else to make transfers for you. If you own the contract with a
joint owner,  unless  Great  American  Reserve is  instructed  otherwise,  Great
American  Reserve will accept  instructions  from either you or the other owner.
Great  American   Reserve  will  use  reasonable   procedures  to  confirm  that
instructions  given us by telephone  are genuine.  All  telephone  calls will be
recorded  and the caller  will be asked to produce  personalized  data about the
owner  before we will make the  telephone  transfer.  We will send you a written
confirmation  of the  transfer.  If  Great  American  Reserve  fails to use such
procedures,  we may be liable for any losses due to  unauthorized  or fraudulent
instructions.

DOLLAR COST AVERAGING PROGRAM

The Dollar Cost Averaging  Program allows you to  systematically  transfer a set
amount  either  monthly,  quarterly,  semi-annually  or annually  from the Money
Market   Portfolio  or  the  fixed  account  to  any  of  the  other  investment
portfolio(s).  You cannot  transfer  to the MVA option  under this  program.  By
allocating  amounts on a regular  schedule  as opposed to  allocating  the total
amount at one  particular  time,  you may be less  susceptible  to the impact of
market fluctuations.

You must have at least $2,000 in the Money Market Portfolio or the fixed account
in order to participate in the Dollar Cost Averaging Program.

All Dollar Cost  Averaging  transfers  will be made on the first business day of
the month. Dollar Cost Averaging must be for 36-60 months. Dollar Cost Averaging
will end when the value in the Money Market  Portfolio  or the fixed  account is
zero. We will notify you when that happens.

If you  participate  in the Dollar Cost  Averaging  Program,  the transfers made
under the program are not taken into account in determining any transfer fee.

REBALANCING PROGRAM

Once  your  money  has been  allocated  among  the  investment  portfolios,  the
performance of each portfolio may cause your  allocation to shift.  If the value
of your  contract  is at  least  $5,000,  you  can  direct  us to  automatically
rebalance  your contract to return to your original  percentage  allocations  by
selecting  our  Rebalancing  Program.  You can  tell  us  whether  to  rebalance
quarterly,  semi-annually  or annually.  We will measure  these periods from the
date  you  selected.  You  must  use  whole  percentages  in 1%  increments  for
rebalancing.  There will be no  rebalancing  within the fixed account or the MVA
option.  You can  discontinue  rebalancing  at any  time.  You can  change  your
rebalancing  requests at any time in writing  which we must  receive  before the
next  rebalancing  date. If you  participate  in the  Rebalancing  Program,  the
transfers made under the program are not taken into account in  determining  any
transfer fee.

     EXAMPLE:

         Assume that you want your  initial  purchase  payment  split  between 2
         investment  portfolios.  You  want  40%  to be in  the  Corporate  Bond
         Portfolio and 60% to be in Growth Portfolio. Over the next 2 1/2 months
         the bond market does very well while the stock market performs  poorly.
         At the end of the first  quarter,  the  Corporate  Bond  Portfolio  now
         represents  50% of your holdings  because of its increase in value.  If
         you had chosen to have your holdings rebalanced quarterly, on the first
         day of the next quarter, Great American Reserve would sell some of your
         units in the  Corporate  Bond  Portfolio to bring its value back to 40%
         and use the money to buy more units in the Growth Portfolio to increase
         those holdings to 60%.

ASSET ALLOCATION PROGRAM

Great  American  Reserve  understands  the importance of advice from a financial
adviser regarding your investments in the contract (asset  allocation  program).
Certain  investment  advisers  have  made  arrangements  with us to  make  their
services  available to you. Great American  Reserve has not made any independent
investigation  of these advisers and is not endorsing such programs.  You may be
required to enter into an advisory agreement with your investment adviser to
have the fees paid out of your contract during the accumulation phase.

Great American  Reserve will,  pursuant to an agreement with you, make a partial
withdrawal  from  the  value of your  contract  to pay for the  services  of the
investment  adviser.  If the contract is  non-qualified,  the withdrawal will be
treated  like any other  distribution  and may be included  in gross  income for
federal tax  purposes  and, if you are under age 59 1/2, may be subject to a tax
penalty.  If the contract is qualified,  the  withdrawal for the payment of fees
may not be treated as a taxable  distribution  if  certain  conditions  are met.
Additionally,  any  withdrawals  for this purpose may be subject to a contingent
deferred  sales  charge.  You should  consult a tax  adviser  regarding  the tax
treatment of the payment of investment adviser fees from your contract.

SWEEP PROGRAM

You can elect to transfer  (sweep) your  earnings  from the fixed account to the
investment portfolios on a periodic and systematic basis.

VOTING RIGHTS

Great American  Reserve is the legal owner of the investment  portfolio  shares.
However,  Great  American  Reserve  believes that when an  investment  portfolio
solicits proxies in conjunction  with a vote of shareholders,  it is required to
obtain from you and other owners  instructions  as to how to vote those  shares.
When we  receive  those  instructions,  we will vote all of the shares we own in
proportion to those  instructions.  Should Great American Reserve determine that
it is no longer  required to comply  with the above,  we will vote the shares in
our own right.

SUBSTITUTION

Great American Reserve may, in the interest of  shareholders,  deem it necessary
to  discontinue  one or more of the  investment  portfolios  or substitute a new
portfolio for an existing  portfolio.  In the event that such a situation  might
occur,  you will be notified in advance.  Prior  approval by the  Securities and
Exchange Commission will be obtained before any such change is made.

                                   5. EXPENSES

There are charges and other  expenses  associated  with the contract that reduce
the return on your investment in the contract. These charges and expenses are:

INSURANCE CHARGES

Each day,  Great American  Reserve makes a deduction for its insurance  charges.
Great American  Reserve does this as part of its calculation of the value of the
accumulation units and the annuity units. The insurance charge has two parts: 1)
the mortality and expense risk charge and 2) the administrative charge.

     MORTALITY  AND EXPENSE  RISK  CHARGE.  This  charge is equal,  on an annual
basis,  to 1.25% of the  average  daily  value of the  contract  invested  in an
investment portfolio,  after expenses have been deducted. This charge is for the
insurance  benefits provided under the contracts and certain  administrative and
distribution expenses associated with the contract.

     ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGE. This charge is equal, on an annual basis, to .15% of
the average  daily value of the contract  invested in an  investment  portfolio,
after  expenses  have been  deducted.  This charge may be increased but will not
exceed .25% of the average daily value of the contract invested in an investment
portfolio,  after expenses have been deducted.  We will give you 60 days' notice
if this charge is increased. This charge is for certain administrative expenses.

CONTRACT MAINTENANCE CHARGE

During the  accumulation  phase,  every year on the anniversary of the date when
your contract was issued,  Great American Reserve deducts $30 from your contract
as a contract maintenance charge. We reserve the right to change this charge but
it will not be more  than $60 each  year.  No  contract  maintenance  charge  is
deducted  during the income  phase.  This charge is for  certain  administrative
expenses associated with the contract.

Under current  practices,  Great American Reserve does not deduct this charge if
the value of your contract is $50,000 or more.  Great American  Reserve may some
time in the future discontinue this practice and deduct the charge.

If you make a complete withdrawal from your contract,  the contract  maintenance
charge will also be deducted. The charge will be deducted if the annuity date is
other than an anniversary.

CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

During the  accumulation  phase,  you can make  withdrawals  from your contract.
Great American Reserve keeps track of each purchase payment.

Every year you can take money out of your contract, without charge, of an amount
equal  to  the  greater  of:  (1)  10% of  the  value  of  your  contract  (on a
non-cumulative basis), or (2) the IRS minimum distribution  requirement for this
contract if it was issued under an  Individual  Retirement  Annuity,  or (3) the
total of your  purchase  payments  that  have been in the  contract  more than 7
complete  years.  Withdrawals  in  excess  of these  amounts  will be  charged a
contingent deferred sales charge which equals:

No. of Years From Receipt                        Contingent Deferred Sales
   of Purchase Payment                                    Charge
   -------------------                                    ------

First Year                                                 7%
Second Year                                                7%
Third Year                                                 6%
Fourth Year                                                5%
Fifth Year                                                 4%
Sixth Year                                                 3%
Seventh Year                                               2%
Eighth Year and more                                       0%

The contingent  deferred sales charge is assessed  against each purchase payment
withdrawn and will reduce the remaining  value of your contract.  The contingent
deferred sales charge  compensates us for expenses  associated  with selling the
contract.

Withdrawals  from a guarantee  period of the MVA option may also be subject to a
market value  adjustment.  (See the Appendix for information on the market value
adjustment.)

NOTE: For tax purposes,  withdrawals are generally  considered to have come from
earnings  first.

Great American  Reserve does not assess the contingent  deferred sales charge on
death  benefits or on any payments paid out as annuity  payments if your annuity
date is at least four years after we issue your contract and your annuity option
has a life contingency or is for a minimum of 5 years.

REDUCTION OR ELIMINATION OF THE CONTINGENT DEFERRED SALES CHARGE

Great  American  Reserve will reduce or eliminate  the amount of the  contingent
deferred sales charge when the contract is sold under circumstances which reduce
its sales expenses.  Some examples are: if there is a large group of individuals
that will be purchasing  the contract or a prospective  purchaser  already had a
relationship with Great American Reserve. Great American Reserve will not deduct
a  contingent  deferred  sales  charge  when a contract is issued to an officer,
director of employee of Great  American  Reserve or any of its  affiliates.  Any
circumstances  resulting  in the  reduction  or  elimination  of the  contingent
deferred sales charge requires our prior approval.  In no event will elimination
of the contingent  deferred sales charge be permitted where it would be unfairly
discriminatory to any person.

TRANSFER FEE

You can make one free transfer every 30 days during the  accumulation  phase. If
you make more  than one  transfer  in a 30-day  period,  you could be  charged a
transfer  fee of $25 per  transfer.  We reserve the right to change the transfer
fee. The  transfer fee is deducted  from the account from which the transfer was
made.  If the  entire  amount in the  account  is  transferred,  the fee will be
deducted from the amount  transferred.  If you transfer money from more than one
account,  the charge is deducted from the account with the largest balance.  The
two transfers permitted each year during the income phase are free.

All reallocations made in the same day count as one transfer.  Transfers made at
the end of the  free  look  period  by us are not  counted  in  determining  the
transfer fee. If the transfer is part of the Dollar Cost Averaging Program,  the
Rebalancing  Program or the Sweep Program it will not count in  determining  the
transfer fee.

Transfers  from a  guarantee  period of the MVA  option may also be subject to a
market value  adjustment.  (See the Appendix for information on the market value
adjustment.)

PREMIUM TAXES

Some  states  and other  governmental  entities  (e.g.,  municipalities)  charge
premium taxes or similar taxes.  Great American  Reserve is responsible  for the
payment of these taxes and will make a deduction  from the value of the contract
for them. These taxes are due either when the contract is issued or when annuity
payments begin. It is Great American  Reserve's  current  practice to deduct for
these taxes when either annuity payments begin or upon partial or full surrender
of the  contract.  Great  American  Reserve may in the future  discontinue  this
practice  and assess the charge  when the tax is due.  Premium  taxes  currently
range from 0% to 3.5%, depending on the state.

INCOME TAXES

Great American  Reserve will deduct from the contract for any income taxes which
it incurs  because of the  contract.  At the present time, we are not making any
such deductions.

INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO EXPENSES

There are  deductions  from and  expenses  paid out of the assets of the various
investment portfolios, which are described in the attached fund prospectuses.

                                    6. TAXES

NOTE: GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE HAS PREPARED THE FOLLOWING  INFORMATION ON TAXES AS
A GENERAL  DISCUSSION  OF THE  SUBJECT.  IT IS NOT INTENDED AS TAX ADVICE TO ANY
INDIVIDUAL.   YOU  SHOULD   CONSULT   YOUR  OWN  TAX  ADVISER   ABOUT  YOUR  OWN
CIRCUMSTANCES.   GREAT  AMERICAN  RESERVE  HAS  INCLUDED  IN  THE  STATEMENT  OF
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AN ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION REGARDING TAXES.

ANNUITY CONTRACTS IN GENERAL

Annuity  contracts  are a means of setting  aside money for future needs usually
retirement.  Congress  recognized  how important  saving for  retirement was and
provided special rules in the Internal Revenue Code (Code) for annuities.

Simply  stated these rules provide that you will not be taxed on the earnings on
the money held in your annuity  contract  until you take the money out.  This is
referred to as tax  deferral.  There are  different  rules as to how you will be
taxed depending on how you take the money out and the type of contract qualified
or non-qualified (see following sections).

You, as the owner,  will not be taxed on increases in the value of your contract
until a  distribution  occurs - either as a withdrawal  or as annuity  payments.
When you make a withdrawal you are taxed on the amount of the withdrawal that is
earnings. For annuity payments, different rules apply. A portion of each annuity
payment is treated as a partial return of your purchase payments and will not be
taxed. The remaining  portion of the annuity payment will be treated as ordinary
income.  How the annuity  payment is divided  between  taxable  and  non-taxable
portions depends upon the period over which the annuity payments are expected to
be made.  Annuity payments received after you have received all of your purchase
payments are fully includible in income.

When  a  non-qualified   contract  is  owned  by  a  non-natural  person  (e.g.,
corporation  or certain other  entities other than  tax-qualified  trusts),  the
contract will generally not be treated as an annuity for tax purposes.

QUALIFIED AND NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

If you  purchase  the  contract  as an  individual  and not under an  Individual
Retirement  Annuity  (IRA),  your  contract is  referred  to as a  non-qualified
contract.

If you  purchase the contract  under an IRA,  your  contract is referred to as a
qualified contract.

WITHDRAWALS - NON-QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

If you make a withdrawal  from your contract,  the Code generally treats such a
withdrawal as first  coming  from  earnings  and then from  your  purchase  
payments.  Such withdrawn earnings are includible in income.
   
The Code also provides that any amount received under an annuity  contract which
is included in income may be subject to a penalty.  The amount of the penalty is
equal to 10% of the amount that is includible in income.  Some  withdrawals will
be exempt from the penalty.  They include any amounts:  (1) paid on or after you
reach age 59 1/2;  (2) paid after you die;  (3) paid if you become  totally
disabled (as that term is defined in the Code);  (4) paid in a series of 
substantially equal payments made annually (or more frequently) under a lifetime
annuity,  (5) paid under an immediate annuity; or (6) which come from purchase 
payments made prior to August 14, 1982.
    
WITHDRAWALS - QUALIFIED CONTRACTS

The above  information  describing the taxation of non-qualified  contracts does
not apply to  qualified  contracts.  There are  special  rules that  govern with
respect to qualified  contracts.  We have provided a more complete discussion in
the Statement of Additional Information.

DIVERSIFICATION

The Code provides that the underlying  investments  for a variable  annuity must
satisfy  certain  diversification  requirements  in  order to be  treated  as an
annuity contract. Great American Reserve believes that the investment portfolios
are being managed so as to comply with the requirements.
   
INVESTOR CONTROL
    
Neither the Code nor the Internal  Revenue  Service  Regulations  issued to date
provide guidance as to the circumstances  under which you, because of the degree
of control you exercise over the underlying investments,  and not Great American
Reserve  would  be  considered  the  owner  of  the  shares  of  the  investment
portfolios.  If this  occurs,  it will result in the loss of the  favorable  tax
treatment for the  contract.  It is unknown to what extent under federal tax law
owners are permitted to select  investment  portfolios,  to make transfers among
the investment portfolios or the number and type of investment portfolios owners
may select from. If any guidance is provided which is considered a new position,
then the guidance would  generally be applied  prospectively.  However,  if such
guidance  is  considered   not  to  be  a  new  position,   it  may  be  applied
retroactively.  This would mean that you, as the owner of the contract, could be
treated as the owner of the investment portfolios.

Due to the uncertainty in this area,  Great American  Reserve reserves the right
to modify the contract as reasonably deemed necessary to maintain  favorable tax
treatment.

                             7. ACCESS TO YOUR MONEY

You can have access to the money in your  contract:  (1) by making a  withdrawal
(either a partial or a complete withdrawal);  (2) by electing to receive annuity
payments;  or (3) when a death benefit is paid to your beneficiary.  Withdrawals
can only be made during the accumulation phase.

When you make a complete  withdrawal  you will receive the value of the contract
on the day you made the withdrawal less any applicable contingent deferred sales
charge, less any premium tax less any contract  maintenance charge plus or minus
any market value adjustment (which may be positive or negative). (See Section 5.
Expenses for a discussion of the charges and Section 4. Investment Options - The
MVA  Option  and the  Appendix  for a  discussion  of  withdrawals  from the MVA
option.)

You must tell us which account  (investment  portfolio(s),  guarantee periods of
the MVA option and/or the fixed  account) you want the  withdrawal to come from.
Under  most  circumstances,  the  amount  of any  partial  withdrawal  from  any
investment  portfolio,  guarantee  period of the MVA option or the fixed account
must be for at least $500.  Great American Reserve requires that after a partial
withdrawal is made there must be at least $500 left in your contract.

INCOME TAXES, TAX PENALTIES AND CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY TO ANY WITHDRAWAL
YOU MAKE.

SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWAL PROGRAM

The Systematic Withdrawal Program allows you to choose to receive your automatic
payments to you either monthly,  quarterly,  semi-annually or annually. You must
have at least  $5,000 in your  contract  to start the  program.  You cannot take
systematic  withdrawals  from any  guarantee  period of the MVA option.  You can
instruct us to withdraw a specific amount which can be a percentage of the value
of your contract or a dollar amount. The systematic  withdrawal program will end
any time you designate. If you make a partial withdrawal outside the program and
the value of your  contract is less than $5,000 the program  will  automatically
terminate.  Great  American  Reserve does not have any charge for this  program,
however,  the  withdrawal  may be subject  to a CDSC.  For a  discussion  of the
withdrawal charge, see Section 5. Expenses.

All  systematic  withdrawals  will be paid on the last business day of the month
(beginning with the first full month after you bought your contract).

You may not participate in the Systematic Withdrawal Program and the Dollar Cost
Averaging Program at the same time.

INCOME TAXES AND TAX PENALTIES MAY APPLY TO SYSTEMATIC WITHDRAWALS.

SUSPENSION OF PAYMENTS OR TRANSFERS

Great  American  Reserve may be required  to suspend or  postpone  payments  for
withdrawal or transfers for any period when:

     1. the New York Stock Exchange is closed (other than customary weekend
and holiday closings);

     2. trading on the New York Stock Exchange is restricted;

     3. an  emergency  exists  as a result  of which  disposal  of shares of the
investment  portfolios is not reasonably  practicable or Great American  Reserve
cannot reasonably value the shares of the investment portfolios;

     4. during any other period when the Securities and Exchange Commission,  by
order, so permits for the protection of owners.

Great American  Reserve has reserved the right to defer payment for a withdrawal
or transfer from the fixed  account for the period  permitted by law but not for
more than six months.

                                 8. PERFORMANCE

Great American  Reserve may  periodically  advertise  performance of the annuity
investment in the various  investment  portfolios.  Great American  Reserve will
calculate  performance by determining  the percentage  change in the value of an
accumulation unit by dividing the increase (decrease) for that unit by the value
of the accumulation unit at the beginning of the period. This performance number
reflects the deduction of the insurance charges and the fees and expenses of the
investment  portfolio.  It does not  reflect  the  deduction  of any  applicable
contract  maintenance charge and contingent deferred sales charge. The deduction
of any applicable  contract  maintenance  charge and  contingent  deferred sales
charge  would  reduce the  percentage  increase or make  greater any  percentage
decrease. Any advertisement will also include total return figures which reflect
the deduction of the insurance charges,  contract maintenance charge, contingent
deferred sales charge and the fees and expenses of the investment portfolio.

For periods  starting prior to the date the contracts  were first  offered,  the
performance  will be based on the historical  performance  of the  corresponding
portfolios,  modified to reflect the charges and  expenses of the contract as if
the  contract  had  been  in   existence   during  the  period   stated  in  the
advertisement.  These  figures  should  not be  interpreted  to  reflect  actual
historic performance.

Great American  Reserve may, from time to time,  include in its  advertising and
sales  materials,   tax  deferred  compounding  charts  and  other  hypothetical
illustrations,  which may  include  comparisons  of  currently  taxable  and tax
deferred investment programs, based on selected tax brackets.

 
                                9. DEATH BENEFIT

UPON YOUR DEATH

If you die before annuity  payments  begin,  Great  American  Reserve will pay a
death benefit to your  beneficiary  (see below).  If you have a joint owner, the
death benefit will be paid when the first owner dies. The surviving  joint owner
will be treated as the beneficiary.

The amount of the death benefit will be the greater of:

    (1) the value of your  contract;  or (2) if under age 90, the total purchase
    payments you have made, less any adjusted partial withdrawals,  increased by
    5% each year.  Adjusted  partial  withdrawal means the amount of the partial
    withdrawal  multiplied  by the amount of the death  benefit  just before the
    partial  withdrawal  divided by the value of your  contract  just before the
    partial withdrawal.  A partial withdrawal is the amount paid to you plus any
    taxes withheld less any contingent deferred sales charge.

The entire death benefit must be paid within 5 years of the date of death unless
the  beneficiary  elects  to have the death  benefit  payable  under an  annuity
option.  The death benefit payable under an annuity option must be paid over the
beneficiary's  lifetime or for a period not extending  beyond the  beneficiary's
life expectancy. Payment must begin within one year of the date of death. If the
beneficiary  is the spouse of the owner,  he/she can  continue  the  contract in
his/her own name at the then current value. If a lump sum payment is elected and
all the necessary requirements are met, the payment will be made within 7 days.

If you or any joint  owner  (who is not the  annuitant)  dies  during the income
phase, any remaining  payments under the annuity option elected will continue at
least as rapidly as under the method of  distribution  prior to the death of the
owner or joint  owner.  If you die  during  the income  phase,  the  beneficiary
becomes  the owner.  If any joint  owner  dies  during  the  income  phase,  the
surviving joint owner, if any, will be treated as the primary  beneficiary.  Any
other beneficiary on record at the time of death will be treated as a contingent
beneficiary.

DEATH OF ANNUITANT

If  the  annuitant,  who is not  an  owner  or  joint  owner,  dies  during  the
accumulation  phase, you can name a new annuitant.  Unless another  annuitant is
named  within  30 days of the  death  of the  annuitant,  you  will  become  the
annuitant.  However,  if the  owner is a  non-natural  person  (for  example,  a
corporation),  then the death of the  annuitant  will be treated as the death of
the owner, and a new annuitant may not be named.

Upon the death of the annuitant during the income phase,  the death benefit,  if
any, will be as provided for in the annuity option selected.

                              10. OTHER INFORMATION

GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE

Great American Reserve Insurance Company (Great American Reserve) was originally
organized in 1937. It is principally  engaged in the life insurance  business in
49 states  and the  District  of  Columbia.  Great  American  Reserve is a stock
company  organized  under  the laws of the  state of  Texas  and is an  indirect
wholly-owned  subsidiary of Conseco,  Inc.  (Conseco).  The  operations of Great
American  Reserve are handled by Conseco.  Conseco is a publicly owned financial
services   organization   headquartered   in  Carmel,   Indiana.   Through   its
subsidiaries,  Conseco is one of the nation's leading  providers of supplemental
health insurance, retirement annuities and universal life insurance.

THE SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

Great American Reserve has established two separate  accounts to hold the assets
that  underlie the  contracts.  One account,  Great  American  Reserve  Variable
Annuity  Account F, serves the variable  annuity  portion of the  contract.  The
other separate account,  Great American Reserve Market Value Adjustment Account,
serves  the  portion  of the  contract  that may be  subject  to a market  value
adjustment.  The  Board  of  Directors  of  Great  American  Reserve  adopted  a
resolution  to establish  the Separate  Accounts  under Texas  Insurance  law on
September  26,  1997.  Great  American  Reserve  Variable  Annuity  Account F is
registered  with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission as a unit  investment
trust under the Investment  Company Act of 1940.  Great American  Reserve Market
Value  Adjustment  Account is not  registered  with the  Securities and Exchange
Commission.

The assets of the Separate Accounts are held in Great American Reserve's name on
behalf of the Separate  Accounts and legally belong to Great  American  Reserve.
However,  those assets that  underlie the  contracts,  are not  chargeable  with
liabilities  arising  out of any  other  business  Great  American  Reserve  may
conduct.  All the income,  gains and losses  (realized or unrealized)  resulting
from these  assets are  credited  to or charged  against the  contracts  and not
against any other contracts Great American Reserve may issue.

DISTRIBUTOR

Conseco Equity Sales, Inc. (CES), 11815 N. Pennsylvania Street,  Carmel, Indiana
46032 acts as the  distributor  of the  contracts.  CES, an  affiliate  of Great
American Reserve, is registered as a broker-dealer under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. CES is a member of the National  Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc.

Commissions   will  be  paid  to   broker-dealers   who  sell   the   contracts.
Broker-dealers  commissions  may cost up to 8.25% of purchase  payments  and may
include  reimbursement of promotional or distribution  expenses  associated with
the marketing of the contracts.  Great  American  Reserve may, by agreement with
the  broker-dealer,  pay  commissions as a combination  of a certain  percentage
amount at the time of sale and a trail  commission.  This combination may result
in the broker-dealer  receiving more commission over time than would be the case
if it had  elected  to  receive  only a  commission  at the  time of  sale.  The
commission rate paid to the broker-dealer  will depend upon the nature and level
of services provided by the broker-dealer.

OWNERSHIP

The contract is an allocated fixed and variable deferred annuity contract.  This
group  contract  is  issued  to a  contract  holder,  for  the  benefit  of  the
participants in the group. You are a participant in the group and will receive a
certificate evidencing your ownership.  You, as the owner of a certificate,  are
entitled  to all  the  rights  and  privileges  of  ownership.  As  used in this
prospectus,  the term contract refers to your  certificate.  In some states,  an
individual  fixed  and  variable  deferred  annuity  contract  may be  available
instead,  which is identical to the group contract  described in this prospectus
except that it is issued directly to the owner.
   
Spousal joint owners are allowed with this contract (except if it is issued
pursuant to a qualified plan).  Upon the death of either joint owner, the 
surviving owner will be the designated  beneficiary.  Any other beneficiary  
designation at the time the contract was issued or as may have been later  
changed  will be treated as a  contingent  beneficiary  unless  otherwise
indicated.
    
BENEFICIARY

The  beneficiary  is the  person(s)  or  entity  you name to  receive  any death
benefit. The beneficiary is named at the time the contract is issued.  Unless an
irrevocable  beneficiary  has been named,  you can change the beneficiary at any
time before you die.

ASSIGNMENT

You can assign the  contract at any time during your  lifetime.  Great  American
Reserve will not be bound by the assignment until it receives the written notice
of the assignment.  Great American Reserve will not be liable for any payment or
other action we take in accordance with the contract before we receive notice of
the assignment. AN ASSIGNMENT MAY BE A TAXABLE EVENT.

If the contract is issued pursuant to a qualified plan, there are limitations on
your ability to assign the contract.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Great  American  Reserve  is subject to the  informational  requirements  of the
Securities   Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended.   In  accordance  with  such
requirements,  we file reports and other  information with the SEC. Such reports
and  other  information  we file can be  inspected  and  copied.  Copies  can be
obtained at the public  reference  facilities of the SEC at Room 1024, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington,  D.C. 20549, or at the regional offices in Chicago and
New York.  The  addresses  of these  regional  offices are as follows:  500 West
Madison Street,  Chicago,  Illinois 60661 and 7 World Trade Center,  13th Floor,
New York,  New York 10048.  Copies of such material also can be obtained by mail
from  the  Public  Reference  Section  of the  SEC at 450  Fifth  Street,  N.W.,
Washington,  D.C.  20549,  upon payment of the fees  prescribed by the rules and
regulations of the SEC at prescribed rates.

Registration  statements have been filed with the SEC,  Washington,  D.C., under
the Securities Act of 1933 as amended, relating to the contracts offered by this
prospectus.  This  prospectus  does not contain all the information set forth in
the  registration  statements and the exhibits filed as part of the registration
statements.  Reference  should  be  made  to such  registration  statements  and
exhibits  for  further  information  concerning  the  separate  accounts,  Great
American  Reserve and its general  account,  the  investment  portfolios and the
contract.
   

SELECTED  HISTORICAL  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  OF  GREAT  AMERICAN  RESERVE
     INSURANCE COMPANY

     The selected historical  financial  information set forth below was derived
from the unaudited and audited  financial  statements of Great American Reserve.
Great  American  Reserve's  unaudited  balance sheet at September 30, 1997,  and
unaudited statements of operations,  shareholder's equity and cash flows for the
nine months ended  September  30, 1997 and the nine months ended  September  30,
1996 are included  elsewhere herein.  Great American Reserve's balance sheets at
December 31, 1996 and 1995,  and the  statements  of  operations,  shareholder's
equity and cash flows for the year ended  December  31,  1996,  the four  months
ended  December 31, 1995,  the eight months ended August 31, 1995,  and the year
ended December 31, 1994, and the notes thereto were audited by Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P., independent accountants, and are included elsewhere herein. The selected
historical  financial  information set forth below should be read in conjunction
with  the  financial   statements  and  notes  of  Great  American  Reserve  and
"Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis of Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations of Great American Reserve" appearing  elsewhere herein. The financial
data for all periods  reflects the effect of the  December  31, 1994,  merger of
Jefferson National Life into the Company.  This merger has been accounted for as
a pooling of  interests;  therefore,  the assets and  liabilities  of  Jefferson
National have been combined with Great American Reserve at their book values and
the  financial  data is  presented  as if the merger had  occurred  prior to the
periods presented.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       Prior basis (a)
                                                                                           ______________________________________
                                    Nine           Nine                          Four         Eight
                                   months         months           Year         months       months            Year ended
                                    ended          ended           ended         ended        ended            December 31,
                                September 30,  September 30,  December 31,   December 31,  August 31,   __________________________
                                    1997           1996            1996          1995         1995      1994      1993     1992(b)
                                    ----           ----            ----          ----         ----      ----      ----     ----   
STATEMENT OF
   OPERATIONS DATA
<S>                            <C>            <C>             <C>          <C>           <C>        <C>        <C>       <C>   
Insurance policy income.....   $     57.4     $     61.4      $  81.4      $  31.8       $  60.5    $ 98.6     $108.2    $117.6
Net investment income.......        155.3          156.5        218.4         74.2         136.4     187.9      214.5     189.0
Net investment  gains.......          6.6            0.2          2.7         12.5           7.3        .2       32.4      33.0
Total revenues..............        219.3          218.1        302.5        118.5         204.2     286.7      355.1     339.6
Interest expense on notes
   payable   ...............          -              -            -            -             -         -          -        13.9
Total benefits and expenses         170.8          186.2        261.4         92.7         159.5     225.2      260.4     272.3
Income before income taxes
   and extraordinary charge          48.5           31.9         41.1         25.8          44.7      61.5       94.7      67.3
Extraordinary charge on
   extinguishment of debt,
   net of tax...............          -              -            -            -             -         -          -         6.9
Net income   ...............         31.0           19.9         25.7         16.1          28.2      38.8       54.5      36.4
Preferred dividends.........          -              -            -            -             -         -          -          .4
Net income applicable to
   common stock.............         31.0           19.9         25.7         16.1          28.2      38.8       54.5      36.0

BALANCE SHEET
   DATA - PERIOD END
Investments.................     $2,572.6       $2,414.0     $2,382.8     $2,484.8                  $2,217.9     $2,473.8  $2,134.8
Total assets................      2,860.1        2,731.5      2,680.5      2,756.8                   2,625.0      2,751.1   2,443.3
Insurance liabilities.......      1,858.2        1,979.6      1,957.5      2,039.1                   2,150.4      2,122.0   1,956.6
Total liabilities...........      2,454.3        2,349.6      2,283.6      2,314.2                   2,260.1      2,302.6   2,074.4
Shareholder's equity .......        405.8          381.9        396.9        442.6                     364.9        448.5     368.9
<FN>
     (a)  Financial data for the period  subsequent to August 31, 1995,  reflect
          the adoption of a new basis of accounting under the "push down" method
          as a result of the  Conseco  Acquisition.  Accordingly,  data prior to
          August  31,  1995,  may  not  be  comparable  with  subsequent   data.
          Significant  accounting  adjustments  recorded  as  a  result  of  the
          adoption of the new basis include: (i) an increase of $59.0 million to
          cost of policies purchased;  (ii) a reduction of $27.0 million to cost
          of policies produced;  (iii) a reduction of $15.1 million to goodwill;
          (iv) an increase of $1.2 million to insurance liabilities; and (v) the
          establishment of a deferred income tax liability to reflect the income
          tax effects of all of the accounting adjustments.

     (b)  Financial  data  for  periods  prior  to the  IPO of CCP  include  the
          accounts  of CCP  subsidiaries,  consisting  principally  of debt  and
          preferred stock which were used to acquire Great American  Reserve and
          which were expected to be repaid from future income of Great  American
          Reserve.  Subsequent to the IPO and related refinancing  transactions,
          the notes payable of CCP and its subsidiaries  were no longer expected
          to be repaid  solely  from the net income of Great  American  Reserve.
          Accordingly, it was no longer appropriate to push down the accounts of
          CCP subsidiaries into Great American Reserve's  consolidated financial
          statements.  The impact of the July 21, 1992, capital restructuring is
          reflected in Great American Reserve's 1992 consolidated  statements of
          operations and shareholder's  equity. As a result of no longer pushing
          down  accounts  of CCP  subsidiaries  into  Great  American  Reserve's
          consolidated financial statements,  the 1992 consolidated statement of
          shareholder's  equity  reflects:   (i)  the  impact  of  removing  the
          accumulated earnings of the CCP subsidiaries,  excluding such earnings
          from  their  investment  in  Great  American  Reserve,  as a  dividend
          distribution;  (ii) the impact of removing the capital accounts of the
          subsidiaries  as a reduction  of  contributed  capital,  and (iii) the
          impact of removing the assets and liabilities of the subsidiaries as a
          contribution of capital to Great American Reserve,  which became Great
          American Reserve's common stock and additional paid-in capital.
</FN>
</TABLE>

BUSINESS OF GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

     Background

     Great American Reserve Insurance Company ("Great American  Reserve"),  with
total  assets of $2.9  billion at  September  30,  1997,  markets  tax-qualified
annuities  and  certain  employee  benefit-related  insurance  products  through
professional  independent agents.  Since August 1995, Great American Reserve has
been a wholly  owned  subsidiary  of  Conseco,  Inc.  ("Conseco"),  a  financial
services   holding   company   engaged  in  the   development,   marketing   and
administration  of annuity,  individual  health  insurance and  individual  life
insurance  products.  During 1994, Conseco effectively owned 36 percent of Great
American Reserve, through its ownership interest in CCP Insurance, Inc. ("CCP"),
a holding company organized for companies previously acquired by Conseco Capital
Partners, L.P. (the "Partnership"),  a limited partnership organized by Conseco.
Great American  Reserve was acquired by the  Partnership  in 1990.  During 1995,
Conseco's  ownership  in CCP (and in Great  American  Reserve)  increased  to 49
percent as a result of  purchases  of CCP common  stock by CCP and  Conseco.  In
August  1995,  Conseco  completed  the purchase of the  remaining  shares of CCP
common stock it did not already own in a  transaction  pursuant to which CCP was
merged with Conseco,  with Conseco being the surviving corporation (the "Conseco
Acquisition").

     Great American  Reserve was organized as a Texas  corporation and commenced
operations  in 1937.  Its main  administrative  offices  are located at 11825 N.
Pennsylvania  Street,  Carmel,  Indiana 46032, and its telephone number is (317)
817-3700.

     MARKETING

     Great American Reserve primarily utilizes independent market specialists to
distribute its products.  Great  American  Reserve does not have the fixed costs
associated with recruiting,  training and maintaining employee agents. Rather, a
relatively  small number of in-house  marketing  personnel  develop,  direct and
support  the  external   distribution  channels  through  which  Great  American
Reserve's products are marketed.

     PRODUCTS.  Great American Reserve's  collected premiums (net of reinsurance
ceded) by product  categories  for the nine months ended  September 30, 1997 and
1996,  and the years  ended  December  31,  1996 and 1995,  are set forth  below
(dollars in millions).

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                  NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1997
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
                                                        FIRST YEAR              RENEWAL                   TOTAL
                                                          PREMIUMS             PREMIUMS                  PREMIUMS
                                                       -------------       --------------         ----------------
PRODUCTS                                               AMOUNT   %          AMOUNT     %           AMOUNT         %
- --------                                               ------   ---        ------    ---          ------        --

<S>                                                 <C>          <C>     <C>                      <C>            <C>
Single premium immediate annuities.............        $ 9.2     9%       $  -        -  %        $    9.2       5%
Flexible premium deferred annuities............         12.4    11            21.5     22             33.9      16
Variable annuities.............................         76.5    71            32.9     33            109.4      53
                                                    --------   ----          ------  -----          -------   -----

       Total annuities.........................         98.1    91            54.4     55            152.5      74

Individual life................................          1.1     1            31.2     32             32.3      16

Accident and health and other..................          9.2     8            12.6     13             21.8      10
                                                   ---------  ----          ------    ---         --------   -----

          Total collected premiums.............       $108.4    100%         $98.2    100%         $206.6     100%
                                                      ======    ===          =====    ===           =====     ===
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                                          ------------------------------------------------------

                                                        FIRST YEAR              RENEWAL                   TOTAL
                                                          PREMIUMS             PREMIUMS                  PREMIUMS
                                                       ------------        --------------       ---------------------
PRODUCTS                                               AMOUNT    %         AMOUNT     %           AMOUNT         %
- --------                                               ------   ---        ------    ---          ------        --

<S>                                                  <C>        <C>    <C>                         <C>       <C>
Single premium immediate annuities.............      $  14.2    24%    $       -       -   %       $  14.2       9%
Flexible premium deferred annuities............         10.8    18            20.7     21             31.5      20
Variable annuities.............................         25.2    42            31.6     31             56.8      35
                                                    -------- -----        --------  -----         --------   -----

       Total annuities.........................         50.2    84            52.3     52            102.5      64

Individual life................................          1.6     3            34.4     34             36.0      22

Accident and health and other..................          7.8    13            14.3     14             22.1      14
                                                   ---------  ----        --------  -----         --------   -----

    Total collected premiums...................      $  59.6   100%         $101.0    100%          $160.6     100%
                                                     =======   ===          ======    ===           ======     ===
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1996
                                                       ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        FIRST YEAR              RENEWAL                   TOTAL
                                                          PREMIUMS             PREMIUMS                  PREMIUMS
                                                      ---------------    -----------------        ---------------------
PRODUCTS                                               AMOUNT   %         AMOUNT     %           AMOUNT         %
- --------                                               ------  ---        ------    ---          ------        --
<S>                                                <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>           <C>         <C>
Single premium immediate annuities.............        $17.1    21%      $   -        -  %           $17.1       8%
Flexible premium deferred annuities............         15.4    18            27.9     21             43.3      20
Variable annuities.............................         37.9    45            43.6     32             81.5      37
                                                   ---------   ----        --------  -----         --------   -----

       Total annuities.........................         70.4    84            71.5     53            141.9      65

Individual life................................          2.1     3            45.0     33             47.1      22

Accident and health and other..................         11.1    13            18.2     14             29.3      13

Guaranteed investment contracts................           .1      -              -      -               .1      -
                                                    -------- ------        ---------  -----            -------  -----

          Total collected premiums.............       $ 83.7   100%       $134.7      100%            $218.4    100%
                                                      ======   ===        ======      ===             ======    ===
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995
                                                        ---------------------------------------------------------
                                                        FIRST YEAR              RENEWAL                   TOTAL
                                                          PREMIUMS             PREMIUMS                  PREMIUMS
                                                        ------------           -----------              ------------
PRODUCTS                                               AMOUNT      %         AMOUNT     %           AMOUNT      %
- --------                                               ------     ---        ------    ---          ------      --
<S>                                                   <C>    <C>         <C>        <C>           <C>       <C>
Single premium immediate annuities.............        $29.9    38%      $   -       -   %           $29.9      14%
Flexible premium deferred annuities............         16.3    20            23.6     17             39.9      18
Variable annuities.............................         17.2    22            40.1     30             57.3      27
                                                      ------ -----         -------  -----         --------   -----

       Total annuities.........................         63.4    80            63.7     47            127.1      59

Individual life................................          1.8     2            49.3     36             51.1      24

Accident and health and other..................         11.8    15            22.6     17             34.4      16

Guaranteed investment contracts ...............          2.4     3           -         -               2.4       1
                                                    ---------   ---     ----------  -----         ---------  ------

    Total collected premiums...................       $ 79.4   100%         $135.6   100%          $215.0      100%
                                                      ======   ===          ======   ===           ======      ===
</TABLE>

     ANNUITIES

     Great American  Reserve  markets  several basic types of annuities:  single
premium  immediate  annuities  ("SPIAs"),  flexible premium  deferred  annuities
("FPDAs") and variable  annuities  which are sold through both career agents and
professional  independent  producers.  The  profitability  of annuities  largely
depends on the investment spread earned (i.e., the excess of investment earnings
over interest credited on annuity deposits), the persistency of inforce business
and expense management.

     Single Premium Immediate  Annuities.  SPIAs accounted for $9.2 million or 5
percent, of Great American Reserve's total premiums collected in the nine months
ended September 30, 1997 and $14.2 million,  or 9 percent of premiums  collected
in the nine months ended September 30, 1996.  SPIAs accounted for $17.1 million,
or 8 percent,  of Great American  Reserve's total premiums collected in 1996 and
$29.9  million,  or 14 percent of premiums  collected  in 1995.  Great  American
Reserve's  SPIAs are  designed  to provide a series of periodic  payments  for a
fixed period of time or for life, according to the policyholder's  choice at the
time of issue. Once the payments have begun, the amount, frequency and length of
time for which they are payable are fixed.  SPIAs often are purchased by persons
at or near  retirement  age who desire a steady stream of payments over a future
period of years.  The  single  premium  is often the  payout  from a  terminated
annuity  contract.  The  implicit  interest  rate on SPIAs  is  based on  market
conditions  when the policy is issued.  SPIA  collected  premiums have decreased
primarily  as a result of  decreases  in SPIAs  purchased  with the  proceeds of
redeemed annuity contracts.

     Flexible Premium Deferred Annuities.  FPDAs accounted for $33.9 million, or
16 percent,  of Great American  Reserve's  premiums collected in the nine months
ended September 30, 1997 and $31.5 million, or 20 percent, of premiums collected
in the nine months ended September 30, 1996.  FPDAs accounted for $43.3 million,
or 20 percent,  of Great American Reserve's premiums collected in 1996 and $39.9
million,  or 18 percent, of premiums collected in 1995. Great American Reserve's
FPDAs allow more than one premium payment,  usually on a salary reduction basis.
FPDAs are marketed through networks of educator market specialists  primarily to
teachers  and  employees  of   not-for-profit   institutions  as   tax-qualified
salary-reduction  retirement  programs as permitted  under Section 403(b) of the
Internal Revenue Code. A tax-qualified annuity purchased under Section 403(b) is
similar to contributions made to a 401(k) plan, but with different (and somewhat
more  generous)  rules on the  maximum  amount of  current  income  which may be
contributed by the participant on a pre-tax basis.  Generally, a participant may
elect to defer (through the purchase of a  tax-qualified  annuity under a 403(b)
plan) a percentage of includible  compensation limited by statute and subject to
a maximum of $10,000 per year in 1997.

     Great American  Reserve's FPDAs typically have a guaranteed  crediting rate
for the first policy year that exceeds the minimum annual  guaranteed rate of at
least 3 percent.  After the first  year,  the  crediting  rate may be changed at
least  annually.  The  policyholder  is permitted to withdraw all or part of the
accumulation  value,  less a surrender charge for withdrawals  during an initial
penalty  period of up to 15 years.  The initial  surrender  charges range from 5
percent to 19 percent of the first year  premium  and  decline  over the penalty
period.

     Variable Annuities.  Variable annuities accounted for $109.4 million, or 53
percent,  of premiums  collected in the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and
$56.8  million,  or 35 percent,  of premiums  collected in the nine months ended
September  30, 1996.  Variable  annuities  accounted  for $81.5  million,  or 37
percent,  of Great American Reserve's total premiums collected in 1996 and $57.3
million,  or 27 percent,  of premiums  collected in 1995. Great American Reserve
markets variable annuities primarily to the educator market. Variable annuities,
sold on a single or flexible premium basis,  differ from fixed annuities in that
the original  principal  value may  fluctuate  depending on the  performance  of
assets allocated  pursuant to various  investment options chosen by the contract
owner.  Variable  annuities  offer contract  owners a fixed interest option or a
variable rate of return based upon the specific investment portfolios into which
premiums  may be  directed.  The  popularity  of such  annuities  has  increased
recently as a result of the desire of investors to invest in common  stocks.  In
addition, in 1996, Great American Reserve began to offer more investment options
for variable  annuity  deposits and  expanded  its  variable  annuity  marketing
efforts.  Profits on variable  annuities  are derived  from the fees  charged to
contract holders, rather than from the investment spread.

     INDIVIDUAL LIFE

     Individual  life  products,  consisting  of  interest  sensitive  life  and
traditional  life  products,  accounted  for $32.3  million,  or 16 percent,  of
premiums  collected  in the nine  months  ended  September  30,  1997 and  $36.0
million, or 22 percent, of premiums collected in the nine months ended September
30, 1996.  Individual life products accounted for $47.1 million,  or 22 percent,
of Great American Reserve's premiums collected in 1996 and $51.1 million,  or 24
percent,  of premiums  collected in 1995.  Although  Great  American  Reserve no
longer actively markets these products, it continues to have a substantial block
of in-force  policies on which renewal  premiums are  collected.  These products
were sold through professional independent producers.

     Interest-sensitive   life  insurance  products  (including  universal  life
products)  provide whole life insurance with adjustable  rates of return related
to current  interest  rates.  The principal  differences  between Great American
Reserve's  universal life products and other  interest-sensitive  life insurance
products  are  policy  provisions  affecting  the  amount  and timing of premium
payments.  Universal life policyholders may vary the frequency and size of their
premium payments,  although policy benefits may also fluctuate according to such
payments.  Premium payments under the other interest-sensitive  policies may not
be varied by the  policyholders  and,  as a result,  are  designed to reduce the
administrative costs typically associated with monitoring universal life premium
payments and policy benefits.

     Individual  life products  also include whole life and term life  products.
Under whole life policies, which were the standard industry product prior to the
advent of universal  life  insurance,  the  policyholder  generally pays a level
premium over the policyholder's expected lifetime,  which exceeds the premium on
comparable  term insurance when the  policyholder  is younger but is less as the
policyholder  grows older.  These policies combine  insurance  protection with a
savings  component  that  increases  in  amount  gradually  over the life of the
policy.  The policyholder may borrow against the savings  generally at a rate of
interest lower than that available from other lending sources.  The policyholder
may also choose to surrender the policy and receive the  accumulated  cash value
rather than continuing the insurance  protection.  Term life products offer pure
insurance  protection for a specified period of time-typically  one, five, 10 or
20 years.

     ACCIDENT AND HEALTH AND OTHER

     Accident and health and other products  accounted for $21.8 million,  or 10
percent,  of premiums  collected in the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and
$22.1  million,  or 14 percent,  of premiums  collected in the nine months ended
September 30, 1996.  Accident and health and other products  accounted for $29.3
million,  or 13 percent, of Great American Reserve's total premiums collected in
1996 and $34.4  million,  or 16 percent,  of premiums  collected in 1995.  Great
American Reserve offers group dental, group disability, blanket student accident
and a limited  amount of other  health  insurance  products,  primarily  through
independent  market  specialists.  Great American  Reserve markets  accident and
health  policies  primarily  because it believes  that offering a broad range of
products  is  important  to  successfully  market  life  insurance  and  annuity
products,  although  such  accident and health  policies are also designed to be
profitable.  Group dental coverage  provides a range of benefits for dental care
and related procedures.  Disability products provide defined monthly benefits up
to specified levels in the case of disability. Student accident products provide
limited  supplemental  reimbursement  coverage to  students  for  accidents  and
sickness.  Great American  Reserve's health business is subject to the risk that
its claims  experience  deviates from the  assumptions  used in setting  premium
rates. However,  Great American Reserve has the right to change rates to correct
for adverse  experience  every six months on many group policies and annually on
all others.  Experience may be adversely affected by inflationary  trends in the
costs of medical treatment, competition-driven business cycles and the extent to
which insureds utilize covered services.

     Great American Reserve collected premiums less than $.1 million in the nine
months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, from guaranteed  investment  contracts
issued as  investment  options for  qualified  retirement  plans  maintained  by
Conseco.  Great American Reserve  collected  premiums of $.1 million in 1996 and
$2.4 million in 1995, from guaranteed  investment contracts issued as investment
options for qualified retirement plans maintained by Conseco.

     INVESTMENTS

     Conseco Capital Management,  Inc. ("CCM"), a registered  investment adviser
wholly owned by Conseco,  manages the  investment  portfolio  of Great  American
Reserve.  CCM's investment philosophy is to maintain a largely  investment-grade
fixed-income  portfolio,  provide  adequate  liquidity  for  expected  liability
durations  and other  requirements  and  maximize  total return  through  active
investment  management.  Investment  activities  are an  integral  part of Great
American Reserve's business,  since investment income is a significant component
of Great American  Reserve's  total  revenues.  Profitability  is  significantly
affected by spreads between interest yields on investments and rates credited on
insurance  liabilities.  Although  substantially  all credited rates on flexible
premium deferred  annuities may be changed annually,  changes in crediting rates
may not be sufficient to maintain  targeted  investment  spreads in all economic
and market environments.  In addition,  competition and other factors, including
the impact of the level of surrenders and withdrawals,  may limit Great American
Reserve's  ability to adjust or to maintain  crediting rates at levels necessary
to avoid narrowing of spreads under certain market conditions.

     For  information  regarding  the  composition  and  diversification  of the
investment portfolio of Great American Reserve, see "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Consolidated  Financial Condition and Results of Operations of Great
American Reserve - Investments" and note 3 to Great American Reserve's financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 1996.

     COMPETITION

     Great American Reserve operates in a highly  competitive  environment.  The
life insurance industry consists of a large number of insurance companies,  many
of which are substantially larger and have greater financial resources,  broader
and more  diversified  product  lines  and  larger  staffs  than  those of Great
American Reserve. An expanding number of banks,  securities  brokerage firms and
other financial intermediaries also market insurance products or offer competing
products,  such as mutual fund products,  traditional bank investments and other
investment and retirement funding  alternatives.  In most areas,  competition is
based  on  a  number  of  factors,   including  pricing,   service  provided  to
distributors and  policyholders,  and ratings.  Great American Reserve must also
compete with other insurers to attract and retain the allegiance of agents.

     Financial institutions,  school districts,  marketing companies, agents who
market insurance  products and policyholders use the financial  strength ratings
assigned  to an  insurer  by  independent  rating  agencies  as  one  factor  in
determining  which  insurer's  annuity  to market or  purchase.  Great  American
Reserve is rated "A (Excellent)" by A.M. Best Company ("A.M. Best"). A.M. Best's
insurance company ratings for the industry currently range from "A++ (Superior)"
to "F ( In Liquidation)". Publications of A.M. Best indicate that the "A" rating
is assigned to those companies that, in A.M. Best's opinion,  have  demonstrated
excellent overall performance when compared to the standards established by A.M.
Best and have  demonstrated  a  strong  ability  to meet  their  obligations  to
policyholders  over a long period of time. A.M. Best's rating procedure includes
quantitative and qualitative  evaluations of a company's financial condition and
operating performance.  Its quantitative evaluation is based on an analysis of a
company's    financial    performance    in   the   areas   of    profitability,
leverage/capitalization  and  liquidity.  A.M.  Best's  review  also  includes a
qualitative   evaluation   of  a   company's   spread  of  risk,   quality   and
appropriateness  of the  reinsurance  program,  quality and  diversification  of
assets,  adequacy  of  policy  or  loss  reserves,   management  experience  and
objectives, market presence and policyholders' confidence.

     Great American  Reserve has been assigned a claims paying ability rating of
"A+" from Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Company ("Duff & Phelps").  Duff & Phelps'
claims-paying ability ratings range from "AAA (Highest  claims-paying  ability)"
to "DD  (Company  is under an order  of  liquidation)."  Publications  of Duff &
Phelps indicate that the"A+" rating represents "High  claims-paying  ability." A
plus or minus  sign  attached  to a Duff & Phelps  claims  paying  rating  shows
relative standing within a ratings category.

     In  addition,  Great  American  Reserve has been  assigned a claims  paying
ability rating of BBBq from Standard & Poor's Corporation ("Standard & Poor's").
Claims-paying ability ratings from Standard & Poor's range from "AAA (Superior)"
to "R  (Regulatory  Action)".  A "BBB" is assigned by Standard & Poor's to those
companies which, in its opinion,  have adequate  financial  security,  but their
capacity to meet policyholder obligations is susceptible to adverse economic and
underwriting  conditions.  A "q"  subscript  indicates  that the rating is based
solely on quantitative analysis of publicly available financial data.

     Generally, rating agencies base their ratings upon information furnished to
them by the insurer and upon their own investigations,  studies and assumptions.
A.M. Best's ratings,  Duff & Phelps' claims-paying ratings and Standard & Poor's
claims-paying   ratings  are  principally  based  upon  factors  of  concern  to
policyholders,  agents  and  intermediaries  and are  not  directed  toward  the
protection  of  investors.  Given  the  competitive  nature  of  Great  American
Reserve's  business  and  the  increasing  focus  placed  on the  aforementioned
ratings,  Great  American  Reserve  manages its business  with the  objective of
preserving  existing  ratings and,  where  possible,  achieving  more  favorable
ratings.  There can be no assurance that any particular rating will continue for
any given period of time,  or that it will not be changed or withdrawn  entirely
if, in the judgement of the rating agency,  circumstances  so warrant.  If Great
American  Reserve's  ratings are downgraded from their current levels,  sales of
its products and the  persistency  of its in-force  policies  could be adversely
affected in a material way.

     Great  American  Reserve  believes  that it is able to compete  effectively
because:  (i) it is experienced in establishing  and  cultivating  relationships
with  independent  market  specialists  which can  respond  rapidly to  changing
customer  needs;  (ii)  it  can  offer  competitive  rates  as a  result  of the
lower-than-average  operating costs and  higher-than-average  investment  yields
achieved by applying active  investment  portfolio  management  techniques;  and
(iii)  it  has  reliable  policyholder  administrative  services,  supported  by
customized information technology systems.

     UNDERWRITING

     Underwriting  with  respect  to the  majority  of  products  sold by  Great
American Reserve (FPDAs and variable  annuities) is minimal.  Substantially  all
life  insurance  policies  issued by Great  American  Reserve  are  underwritten
individually,  although standardized  underwriting  procedures have been adopted
for certain low face-amount life insurance  coverages.  Great American Reserve's
group accident and health policies are underwritten based on the characteristics
of a group and its past claim experience.

     REINSURANCE

     Consistent with the general practice of the life insurance industry,  Great
American  Reserve  reinsures  portions of the risk assumed  under its  insurance
policies  with  other  insurance   companies   under   agreements  of  indemnity
reinsurance.  Great American  Reserve also reinsures  risks from other insurers,
which are accounted for in the same manner as direct business.

     The  policy  risk  retention  limit  on the life of one  individual  is $.5
million.  At December  31, 1996,  reinsurance  ceded by Great  American  Reserve
represented 8.3 percent of gross life insurance in force and reinsurance assumed
represented  5.3 percent of net life  insurance in force.  At December 31, 1996,
Great American Reserve's largest reinsurer accounted for less than .4 percent of
total insurance liabilities and 28 percent of total reinsurance receivables.

     EMPLOYEES

     Great American Reserve has no full-time employees. Great American Reserve's
day-to-day operations are administered by Conseco pursuant to agreements between
Great American Reserve and Conseco.

     GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION

     Great  American  Reserve is subject to regulation  and  supervision  by the
states  in  which  it  transacts   business.   State  laws  generally  establish
supervisory  agencies with broad administrative  authority,  including power to:
(i) grant and revoke  business  licenses;  (ii)  regulate  and  supervise  trade
practices  and market  conduct;  (iii)  establish  guaranty  associations;  (iv)
license agents;  (v) approve policy forms;  (vi) regulate premium rates for some
lines of business;  (vii) establish reserve  requirements;  (viii) prescribe the
form and content of required  financial  statements and reports;  (ix) determine
the  reasonableness  and  adequacy of  statutory  capital and  surplus;  and (x)
regulate the type and amount of permitted investments. Great American Reserve is
subject to periodic  examinations by state  regulatory  authorities.  Management
does not expect  the  results of any  on-going  examinations  to have a material
effect on the financial condition of Great American Reserve.

     The federal  government does not directly regulate the insurance  business.
However,  federal  legislation  and  administrative  policies in several  areas,
including pension  regulation,  age and sex  discrimination,  financial services
regulation and federal taxation,  do affect the insurance business. In addition,
legislation  has been  introduced  from time to time in recent years  which,  if
enacted,  could result in the federal government  assuming a more direct role in
the regulation of the insurance industry.

     In December 1992,  the NAIC adopted the Risk-Based  Capital for Life and/or
Health  Insurers Model Act (the "Model Act").  The Model Act provides a tool for
insurance  regulators  to determine the levels of capital and surplus an insurer
must  maintain in relation to its  insurance  and  investment  risks and whether
there is a need for possible regulatory attention.

     The Model Act provides  for four levels of  regulatory  attention,  varying
with the ratio of the company's total adjusted  capital (defined as the total of
its  statutory  capital,  surplus,  asset  valuation  reserve and certain  other
adjustments) to its risk-based  capital  ("RBC").  If a company's total adjusted
capital is less than 100 percent but greater  than or equal to 75 percent of its
RBC, or if a negative  trend (as defined by the  regulators)  has  occurred  and
total  adjusted  capital is less than 125  percent of RBC (the  "Company  Action
Level"),  the  company  must  submit  a  comprehensive  plan  to the  regulatory
authority proposing  corrective actions aimed at improving its capital position.
If a company's  total adjusted  capital is less than 75 percent but greater than
or  equal  to 50  percent  of its RBC  (the  "Regulatory  Action  Level")  , the
regulatory authority will perform a special examination of the company and issue
an order  specifying  corrective  actions that must be followed.  If a company's
total  adjusted  capital is less than 50 percent but greater than or equal to 35
percent of its RBC (the "Authorized  Control Level"),  the regulatory  authority
may take any action it deems  necessary,  including  placing the  company  under
regulatory  control.  If a  company's  total  adjusted  capital  is less than 35
percent of its RBC (the "Mandatory Control Level") the regulatory authority must
place the company under its control.  At September 30, 1997,  the total adjusted
capital for Great American Reserve was greater than twice the respective Company
Action Level.

     The Texas Insurance  Department has adopted its own RBC  requirements,  the
stated  purpose of which is to require a minimum level of capital and surplus to
absorb the financial,  underwriting, and investment risks assumed by an insurer.
Texas' RBC  requirements  differ from those adopted by the NAIC in two principal
respects:  (i) they use  different  elements to determine  minimum RBC levels in
their calculation formulas; and (ii) they do not stipulate "Action Levels" (like
those adopted by the NAIC) where corrective actions are required.  However,  the
Commissioner  of the  Texas  Insurance  Department  does  have the power to take
similar  corrective  actions if a company does not maintain the required minimum
level of capital and surplus.  Under the Texas  Regulations,  an insurer has met
RBC  requirements  if its admitted  assets exceed its  liabilities by at least 3
percent. Great American Reserve is domiciled in Texas and must comply with Texas
RBC  requirements.  At September 30, 1997, the admitted assets of Great American
Reserve exceeded liabilities by twice the required 3 percent level.

     On the basis of statutory  statements filed with state regulators annually,
the NAIC  calculates  twelve  financial  ratios to assist  state  regulators  in
monitoring the financial  condition of insurance  companies.  A "usual range" of
results for each ratio is used as a benchmark. In the past, variances in certain
ratios of Great  American  Reserve  have  resulted in inquiries  from  insurance
departments  to which Great American  Reserve has responded.  Such inquiries did
not lead to any restrictions affecting Great American Reserve's operations.

     Under  the  solvency  or  guaranty  laws of most  states  in  which it does
business,  Great American  Reserve is required to pay guaranty fund  assessments
(up to certain  prescribed  limits).  Guaranty funds are  established by various
states  to  fund  policyholder   losses  or  the  liabilities  of  insolvent  or
rehabilitated insurance companies. These assessments may be deferred or forgiven
under most guaranty laws if they would threaten an insurer's financial strength.
In certain  instances,  the  assessments  may be offset  against  future premium
taxes.  Great  American  Reserve  believes  that the  liability  established  at
September 30, 1997, is  sufficient to provide for  assessments  related to known
insolvencies. This reserve is based upon management's current expectation of the
availability of this right of offset and state guaranty fund  assessment  bases.
However,  changes in the basis  whereby  assessments  are charged to  individual
companies  or changes  to the  availability  of the right to offset  assessments
against premium tax payments could  materially  affect Great American  Reserve's
results.  Great American Reserve's statutory  financial  statements for the nine
months  ended  September  30,  1997,  include  no  expenses  as a result of such
assessments.

     FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION

     The  annuity  and life  insurance  products  marketed  and  issued by Great
American  Reserve   generally  provide  the  policyholder  with  an  income  tax
advantage,  as compared to other  saving  investments  such as  certificates  of
deposit  and bonds,  in that  income  taxation  on the  increase in value of the
product is  deferred  until  receipt  by the  policyholder.  With other  savings
investments,  the increase in value is taxed as earned.  Annuity  benefits,  and
life insurance benefits which accrue prior to the death of the policyholder, are
generally not taxable until paid.  Life  insurance  death benefits are generally
exempt from income tax. Also,  benefits  received on immediate  annuities (other
than structured settlements) are recognized as taxable income ratably as opposed
to the methods used for some other investments, which tend to accelerate taxable
income into earlier years. The tax advantage for annuities and life insurance is
provided in the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code"), and is generally followed in
all states and other United States taxing  jurisdictions.  Accordingly,  the tax
advantage  is  subject  to change by  Congress  and by the  legislatures  of the
respective taxing jurisdictions.

     Great American Reserve is taxed under the life insurance company provisions
of the Code.  Provisions in the Code require a portion of the expenses  incurred
in selling insurance  products to be deducted over a period of years, as opposed
to immediate  deduction in the year incurred.  This provision  increases the tax
for  statutory  accounting  purposes,   which  reduces  statutory  surplus  and,
accordingly,  decreases the amount of cash  dividends  that may be paid by Great
American Reserve. As of December 31, 1996, the cumulative taxes paid as a result
of this provision were $5.6 million.

     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
     OPERATIONS OF GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE

     The following  discussion  highlights  the material  factors  affecting the
results of operations  and financial  condition and resources of Great  American
Reserve.  This  discussion  should  be read in  conjunction  with the  financial
statements and notes of Great American Reserve included elsewhere herein.

      RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     The  adjustments  resulting  from the adoption of a new basis of accounting
under  the  "push  down"  method  discussed  above  under  "Selected  Historical
Financial  Information of Great American Reserve Insurance Company",  may impact
the  comparability of financial data for the periods before and after August 31,
1995.

     NINE MONTHS  ENDED  SEPTEMBER  30,  1997,  COMPARED  TO NINE  MONTHS  ENDED
     SEPTEMBER 30, 1996

     Insurance  policy income consists of premiums  received on traditional life
products and policy fund and surrender charges assessed against  investment type
products.  This account  decreased in the first nine months of 1997  compared to
the first  nine  months of 1996 as a result of a decrease  in sales of  policies
with mortality or morbidity  risks.  Surrender  charges assessed against annuity
withdrawals  were $1.3  million  in the first  nine  months of 1997 and 1996 and
annuity  withdrawals  were  $171.7  million in the first nine months of 1997 and
$123.7  million  in the first nine  months of 1996.  Surrender  charges  did not
change  materially  in the first nine  months of 1997  despite  the  increase in
annuity withdrawals because of increased  surrenders of annuities which were not
subject to surrender charges. Increases in withdrawals were primarily due to the
increased  size of Great  American  Reserve's  annuity  portfolio  and increased
competition from higher yielding alternative investment products.

     Net investment  income includes both income earned on the general  invested
assets of Great American Reserve and separate account assets related to variable
annuities.  Investment  income earned on separate  account assets is offset by a
corresponding  charge to interest  expense on annuities and financial  products.
Excluding  investment income on separate accounts,  net investment income in the
first nine months of 1997  decreased  8.5 percent  from the first nine months of
1996, to $125.6  million.  Average  invested  assets  (amortized  cost basis and
excluding  separate account assets)  decreased to $2.1 billion in the first nine
months of 1997 from $2.3 billion in the first nine months of 1996, and the yield
earned on average  invested  assets  decreased  to 7.9 percent from 8.0 percent.
Cash flows  received  during the first nine  months of 1997 and 1996  (including
cash  flows  from the sales of  investments)  were  invested  in  lower-yielding
securities due to a general decline in interest rates.

     Net investment  income on separate  account assets in the first nine months
of 1997  increased to $29.7  million from $19.2 million in the first nine months
of 1996. Such income fluctuates in relation to total separate account assets and
the return earned on such assets.

     Net investment gains often fluctuate from period to period.  Great American
Reserve  sold  $631.2  million of  investment  securities  during the first nine
months of 1997 compared to $668.3 million in the first nine months of 1996 which
sales resulted in net investment  gains of $7.1 million in the first nine months
of 1997 compared to net investment gains of $.2 million in the first nine months
of 1996.  During the first nine months of 1997,  Great American Reserve recorded
$.3 million in writedowns of fixed maturity securities as a result of changes in
conditions  which  caused  it to  believe  that a decline  in fair  value of the
investments was other than temporary.  There were no such writedowns  during the
first nine months of 1996.

     Selling  securities at a gain and reinvesting the proceeds at a lower yield
may, absent other management action,  tend to decrease future investment yields.
Great American Reserve  believes,  however,  that certain factors would mitigate
the  adverse  effect on net  income of such  yield  decreases  as  follows:  (i)
additional  amortization  of the  cost of  policies  purchased  and the  cost of
policies  produced  is  recognized  in the same  period  as the gain in order to
reflect  reduced future yields  (thereby  reducing such  amortization  in future
periods);  (ii) interest rates credited to some products can be reduced  thereby
diminishing the effect of the yield decrease on the investment spread; and (iii)
the investment portfolio grows as a result of reinvesting the realized gains.

     Insurance  policy  benefits  and change in future  policy  benefits  relate
solely to policies  with  mortality or morbidity  features.  The increase in the
1997  period  corresponds  with  the  increase  in the  in-force  block  of such
policies.

     Interest expense on annuities and financial  products increased 4.6 percent
in the first nine months of 1997 compared to the first nine months of 1996. Such
increase  reflects  fluctuations  in charges to the account  related to separate
account  assets  described  above under net  investment  income;  and changes in
crediting  rates. The weighted  average  crediting rate for annuity  liabilities
(other than separate  accounts where the credited  amount is based on investment
income from segregated investments and excluding interest bonuses guaranteed for
the first year of the contract) was 5.7 percent and 5.5 percent at September 30,
1997 and September 30, 1996, respectively.

     Interest  expense on  investment  borrowings  in the 1997 and 1996  periods
reflect changes in investment  borrowing activities and lower rates paid on such
borrowings in 1997.

     Amortization  consists of the  amortization of cost of policies  purchased,
cost of policies produced and goodwill.

     Cost of policies  produced  represents  the cost of producing  new business
(primarily  commissions and certain costs of policy  issuance and  underwriting)
which varies with and is primarily  related to the  production  of new business.
Costs deferred may represent  amounts paid in the period new business is written
(such as underwriting  costs and first year commissions) or in periods after the
business is written (such as commissions  paid in subsequent  years in excess of
ultimate commissions paid).

     Cost of policies  purchased  represents  the cost to acquire Great American
Reserve that is  attributable  to the right to receive cash flows from insurance
contracts in force at the acquisition  dates.

     Other operating costs and expenses decreased 45 percent to $23.1 million in
the first nine months of 1997  compared to $41.9 million in the 1996 period as a
result of a reduction in costs incurred under service agreements with Conseco.

     Income tax expense  fluctuated  primarily in  relationship to income before
taxes.

     YEAR ENDED  DECEMBER 31, 1996,  COMPARED TO 1995  PERIODS  COMBINED  (EIGHT
MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1995 AND FOUR MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995)

     Insurance  policy income consists of premiums  received on traditional life
products and policy fund and surrender charges assessed against  investment type
products.  This  account  decreased  in 1996  compared to the 1995  periods as a
result of a decrease in sales of policies  with  mortality or  morbidity  risks;
partially offset by an increase in surrender charges. Surrender charges assessed
against  annuity  withdrawals  were $1.9 million in 1996 and $1.7 million in the
1995  periods and  annuity  withdrawals  were $202.4  million in 1996 and $179.8
million in the 1995 periods.  Increases in withdrawals were primarily due to the
increased  size of Great  American  Reserve's  annuity  portfolio  and increased
competition from higher yielding alternative investment products.

     Net investment  income includes both income earned on the general  invested
assets of Great American Reserve and separate account assets related to variable
annuities.  Investment  income earned on separate  account assets is offset by a
corresponding  charge to interest  expense on annuities and financial  products.
Excluding investment income on separate accounts,  net investment income in 1996
decreased  4.5 percent from 1995, to $182.8  million.  Average  invested  assets
(amortized cost basis and excluding  separate  account assets) were $2.3 billion
in 1996 and 1995, while the yield earned on average invested assets decreased to
8.1  percent  from  8.2  percent.  Cash  flows  received  during  1995  and 1996
(including  cash  flows  from  the  sales  of  investments)   were  invested  in
lower-yielding securities due to a general decline in interest rates.

     Net investment income on separate account assets in 1996 increased to $35.6
million from $19.2 million in the 1995 periods.

     Net investment gains often fluctuate from period to period.  Great American
Reserve  sold  $988.9  million of  investments  during  1996  compared to $919.7
million in 1995 which sales resulted in net investment  gains of $3.5 million in
1996  compared to net  investment  gains of $21.4  million in 1995. In addition,
Great American Reserve recorded net investment losses of $.8 million in 1996 and
$1.6 million in the 1995 periods on  writedowns  taken as a result of conditions
which caused Great American  Reserve to conclude that declines in the fair value
of certain securities were other than temporary.

     Selling  securities at a gain and reinvesting the proceeds at a lower yield
may, absent other management action,  tend to decrease future investment yields.
Great American Reserve  believes,  however,  that certain factors would mitigate
the  adverse  effect on net  income of such  yield  decreases  as  follows:  (i)
additional  amortization  of the  cost of  policies  purchased  and the  cost of
policies  produced  is  recognized  in the same  period  as the gain in order to
reflect  reduced future yields  (thereby  reducing such  amortization  in future
periods);  (ii) interest rates credited to some products can be reduced  thereby
diminishing the effect of the yield decrease on the investment spread; and (iii)
the investment portfolio grows as a result of reinvesting the investment gains.
See amortization related to net investment gains below.

     Insurance  policy  benefits  and change in future  policy  benefits  relate
solely to policies with  mortality or morbidity  features.  The decrease in 1996
corresponds with the decrease in the in-force block of such policies.

     Interest expense on annuities and financial  products increased 8.9 percent
in 1996 compared to the 1995 periods.  Such increase  reflects  fluctuations  in
charges to the account related to separate  account assets described above under
net investment  income;  and changes in crediting  rates.  The weighted  average
crediting rate for annuity  liabilities  (other than separate accounts where the
credited amount is based on investment  income from  segregated  investments and
excluding  interest  bonuses  guaranteed for the first year of the contract) was
5.5 percent and 5.6 percent at December 31, 1996 and 1995, respectively.

     Interest  expense on  investment  borrowings  in 1996 and the 1995  periods
reflect changes in investment  borrowing activities and lower rates paid on such
borrowings in 1996.

     Amortization  related to operations is affected by the Conseco  Acquisition
and the  adoption of a new basis of  accounting  under the "push  down"  method.
Amortization  related to operations in periods prior to the Conseco  Acquisition
is  comprised  of cost of  policies  purchased,  cost of policies  produced  and
goodwill  based on the  previous  balances  and bases.  Amortization  related to
operations  after the Conseco  Acquisition is comprised of  amortization  of the
aforementioned account balances, reflecting a combination of Conseco's ownership
interests  in previous  balances  and its newly  purchased  interests  using the
step-basis of accounting.

     Cost of policies  produced  represents  the cost of producing  new business
(primarily  commissions and certain costs of policy  issuance and  underwriting)
which varies with and is primarily  related to the  production  of new business.
Costs deferred may represent  amounts paid in the period new business is written
(such as underwriting  costs and first year commissions) or in periods after the
business is written (such as commissions  paid in subsequent  years in excess of
ultimate commissions paid).

     Cost of policies  purchased  represents  the cost to acquire Great American
Reserve that is  attributable  to the right to receive cash flows from insurance
contracts in force at the acquisition  dates.

     Amortization  related to net investment gains decreased in 1996 as a result
of the decrease in investment gains discussed above.

     Other operating costs and expenses increased 48 percent to $54.3 million in
1996  compared to $36.8  million in the 1995  periods as a result of costs which
were  previously  capitalized  as part of cost of policies  produced  which were
expensed in 1996 (see  discussion of amortization  related to  operations);  and
additional costs incurred under new service agreements with Conseco as described
in the notes to the financial  statements  for the year ended December 31, 1996,
included herein.

     Income tax expense  fluctuated  primarily in  relationship to income before
taxes.

     1995 PERIODS COMBINED (FOUR MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995, AND EIGHT 
MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31, 1995) COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1994

     Insurance  policy income consists of premiums  received on traditional life
products and policy fund and surrender charges assessed against  investment type
products.  This account decreased in the 1995 periods from 1994 as a result of a
decrease in sales of policies  with  mortality  or  morbidity  risks,  partially
offset by an increase in surrender  charges resulting from higher annuity policy
withdrawals.  Surrender  charges assessed against annuity  withdrawals were $1.7
million in the 1995  periods and $1.5  million in 1994 and  annuity  withdrawals
were $179.8 million in the 1995 periods and $129.8 million in 1994. Increases in
withdrawals were primarily due to the increased size of Great American Reserve's
annuity  portfolio and increased  competition  from higher yielding  alternative
investment products.

     Net investment  income includes both income earned on the general  invested
assets of Great American Reserve and separate account assets related to variable
annuities.  Investment  income earned on separate  account assets is offset by a
corresponding  charge to interest  expense on annuities and financial  products.
Excluding  investment income on separate accounts,  net investment income in the
1995  periods  increased  3.1  percent  from 1994,  to $191.4  million.  Average
invested  assets  (amortized cost basis and excluding  separate  account assets)
were $2.3 billion in 1995 and 1994,  while the yield earned on average  invested
assets increased to 8.2 percent from 8.0 percent.

     Net  investment  income on  separate  account  assets  in the 1995  periods
increased to $19.2 million from $2.3 million in 1994.

     Net investment gains often fluctuate from period to period.  Great American
Reserve sold $919.7 million of investment securities during the 1995 periods and
$586.0  million in 1994 which sales  resulted in net  investment  gains of $21.4
million in the 1995 periods  compared to net investment gains of $1.2 million in
1994. In addition, Great American Reserve recorded net investment losses of $1.6
million in the 1995  periods and $1.0 million in 1994 on  writedowns  taken as a
result of  conditions  which  caused  Great  American  Reserve to conclude  that
declines in the fair value of certain securities were other than temporary.

     The effect of net investment  gains on the amortization of cost of policies
purchased and cost of policies  produced is discussed above under the comparison
of the 1996 and 1995 periods.  Also see  amortization  related to net investment
gains below.

     Insurance  policy  benefits  and change in future  policy  benefits  relate
solely to policies  with  mortality or morbidity  features.  The decrease in the
1995  periods  corresponds  with  the  decrease  in the  in-force  block of such
policies.

     Interest expense on annuities and financial  products  increased 17 percent
in the 1995 periods over 1994.  Such  increase  reflects:  (i)  fluctuations  in
charges to the account related to investment income from separate account assets
as described  above under net investment  income;  and (ii) changes in crediting
rates. The weighted average crediting rate for annuity  liabilities  (other than
separate  accounts where the credited amount is based on investment  income from
the segregated  investments and excluding  interest  bonuses  guaranteed for the
first year of the annuity  contract) was 5.6 percent and 5.8 percent at December
31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

     Interest  expense on investment  borrowings in the 1995 periods and in 1994
reflects changes in investment borrowing activities and the higher rates paid on
such borrowings in the 1995 periods.

     Amortization  related to operations  increased 6.3 percent to $17.0 million
in the 1995 periods from $16.0  million in 1994.  Such  increase is affected by:
(i) the adoption of a new basis of accounting as discussed  above;  and (ii) the
increased  amount  of  business  in  force  on  which   acquisition   costs  are
capitalized.  See the  discussion  of  cost of  policies  produced  and  cost of
policies purchased above under the comparison of the 1996 and 1995 periods.

     Amortization  related to net investment gains increased in the 1995 periods
as a result of the increase in investment gains discussed above.

     Income tax expense  fluctuated  primarily in  relationship to income before
taxes.

      INVESTMENTS

     Great  American  Reserve's  investment  strategy  is  to:  (i)  maintain  a
predominately  investment  grade fixed income  portfolio;  (ii) provide adequate
liquidity  to meet  the  cash  flow  requirements  of  policyholders  and  other
obligations;  and (iii)  maximize  current  income and total  investment  return
through active investment management. Consistent with this strategy, investments
in fixed maturity securities,  mortgage loans, credit-tenant loans, policy loans
and  short-term  investments  comprised 82 percent of Great  American  Reserve's
investment portfolio at September 30, 1997. The remainder of the invested assets
were in equity  securities,  assets held in separate accounts and other invested
assets.  At September 30, 1997,  Great American  Reserve had invested  assets of
approximately $2.6 billion.

     Great American  Reserve is regulated by insurance  statutes and regulations
as to the type of  investments  that it is  permitted  to make and the amount of
funds  that  may be used  for any one  type of  investment.  In  light  of these
statutes and  regulations and Great American  Reserve's  business and investment
strategy,  Great  American  Reserve  generally  seeks to invest in United States
government  and government  agency  securities  and corporate  securities  rated
investment grade by established  nationally  recognized rating organizations or,
if not rated, in securities of comparable investment quality.

     The following table  summarizes  investment  yields earned over the periods
indicated:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       Prior basis
                                                                                                 ---------------------------
                                    Nine months    Nine months        Year        Four months    Eight months        Year
                                      ended          ended           ended          ended           ended           ended
                                   September 30,  September 30,   December 31,   December 31,     August 31,     December 31,
                                       1997           1996            1996           1995            1995            1994
                                       ----           ----            ----           ----            ----            ----
                                                                      (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                 <C>             <C>           <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>
Weighted average invested assets:
       As reported ..............   $2,397.9        $2,426.7      $2,417.9         $2,498.1        $2,416.5        $4,552.3
       Excluding unrealized
         appreciation
         (depreciation) (a)......    2,414.5         2,449.0       2,438.9          2,467.4         2,470.7         4,662.6
Net investment income............      155.3           156.5         218.4             74.2           136.4           367.8

Yields earned:
       As reported...............        8.6%            8.6%          9.0%             8.9%            8.4%            8.1%
       Excluding unrealized
         appreciation (depreciation) (a) 8.6%            8.5%          8.9%             9.0%            8.2%            7.9%
<FN>
(a)  Excludes  the  effect  of  reporting  fixed  maturities  at fair  value  as
     described in note 1 to the financial statements.
</FN>
</TABLE>

     Although  investment  income is a significant  component of total revenues,
the  profitability  of Great American  Reserve's  annuity business is determined
primarily by spreads between interest rates earned and rates credited on annuity
contracts.  At September 30, 1997, the average yield, computed on the cost basis
of Great  American  Reserve's  investment  portfolio,  was 7.8  percent  and the
average  interest  rate credited on Great  American  Reserve's  total  liability
portfolio was 5.7 percent.

     Actively Managed Fixed Maturities

     Great  American  Reserve's  actively  managed fixed  maturity  portfolio at
September  30, 1997,  was comprised  primarily of debt  securities of the United
States government,  public utilities and other corporations and  mortgage-backed
securities.   Mortgage-backed   securities  included   collateralized   mortgage
obligations ("CMOs") and mortgage-backed pass-through securities.

     At September  30, 1997,  the  amortized  cost and  estimated  fair value of
actively managed fixed maturity securities were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                Gross          Gross          Estimated
                                                               Amortized     unrealized     unrealized          fair
                                                                 cost           gains         losses            value
                                                                 ----           -----         ------            -----
                                                                                 (Dollars in millions)
<S>                                                        <C>                  <C>            <C>         <C>
United States Treasury securities and obligations
   of United States government corporations and
   agencies............................................... $     29.7          $   .4          $  .1       $     30.0
Obligations of state and political subdivisions and
   foreign government obligations.........................       32.9              .8             .2             33.5
Public utility securities.................................      197.2             3.2            3.2            197.2
Other corporate securities................................      873.4            17.0            5.2            885.2
Mortgage-backed securities ...............................      655.9             6.9            1.1            661.7
                                                           ----------         -------          -----       ----------

   Total..................................................   $1,789.1           $28.3           $9.8         $1,807.6
                                                             ========           =====           ====         ========
</TABLE>

     As discussed in the notes to the financial statements,  when Great American
Reserve adjusts  carrying values of actively  managed fixed maturity  securities
for changes in fair value, it also adjusts the cost of policies purchased,  cost
of policies  produced and insurance  liabilities.  These adjustments are made in
order to reflect the change in amortization  that would be needed if those fixed
maturity  investments  had  actually  been  sold at their  fair  values  and the
proceeds reinvested at current interest rates.

     The following table sets forth actively  managed fixed maturity  securities
at September 30, 1997, classified by rating categories. The category assigned is
the highest rating by a nationally  recognized  statistical rating  organization
or, as to $0.2 million  estimated  fair value of fixed  maturity  securities not
rated  by such  firms,  the  rating  assigned  by the  National  Association  of
Insurance  Commissioners  ("NAIC"). For the purposes of this table, NAIC Class 1
is included in the "A" rating; Class 2, "BBB-"; Class 3, "BB-"; and Classes 4-6,
"B+ and below":

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Percent of      Percent of
Investment                                                                                    fixed           total
  Rating                                                                                   maturities      investments
  ------                                                                                   ----------      -----------
<S>                                                                                          <C>           <C>
AAA...................................................................................       42%              30%
AA....................................................................................        6                4
A.....................................................................................       20               14
BBB+..................................................................................        7                5
BBB...................................................................................       12                9
BBB-..................................................................................        7                4
                                                                                           ----             ----

     Investment-grade.................................................................       94               66
                                                                                            ---              ---

BB+...................................................................................        1                1
BB....................................................................................        1                1
BB-...................................................................................        1                -
B+ and below .........................................................................        3                2
                                                                                           ----             ----

     Below investment-grade...........................................................        6                4
                                                                                           ----             ----

         Total actively managed fixed maturities......................................      100%              70%
                                                                                              ===               ==
</TABLE>

     Great American Reserve plans to maintain approximately the present level of
below investment grade fixed maturities. These securities generally have greater
risks than other corporate debt investments, including risk of loss upon default
by the borrower,  and are often unsecured and  subordinated to other  creditors.
Below  investment grade issuers usually have high levels of indebtedness and are
more sensitive to adverse economic  conditions,  such as recession or increasing
interest rates,  than are investment  grade issuers.  Great American  Reserve is
aware of these risks and monitors its below investment grade securities closely.
At September 30, 1997,  Great American  Reserve's below  investment  grade fixed
maturity  investments  had an amortized  cost of $105.4 million and an estimated
fair value of $107.1 million.

     Great  American  Reserve's  investment  portfolio is managed by CCM.  Great
American  Reserve and CCM  periodically  evaluate the  creditworthiness  of each
issuer whose securities are held in the portfolio.  Special attention is paid to
those securities whose market values have declined  materially for reasons other
than  changes  in  interest  rates or other  general  market  conditions.  Great
American  Reserve  considers  available  information  to evaluate the realizable
value of the investment,  the specific condition of the issuer, and the issuer's
ability to comply with the material terms of the security.  Information reviewed
may include the recent operational results and financial position of the issuer,
information about its industry, recent press releases and other information. CCM
employs a staff of  experienced  securities  analysts in a variety of  specialty
areas.  Among other  responsibilities,  this staff  compiles  and  reviews  such
evidence.  If evidence does not exist to support a realizable  value equal to or
greater than the  carrying  value of the  investment  and such decline in market
value is determined to be other than temporary,  Great American  Reserve reduces
the carrying  amount to its net  realizable  value,  which  becomes the new cost
basis;  the amount of the  reduction is reported as an  investment  loss.  Great
American Reserve recognizes any recovery of such reductions in the cost basis of
an  investment  only  upon  the  sale,  repayment  or other  disposition  of the
investment.  Great American Reserve  recorded  writedowns of investments of $0.3
million in the nine months  ended  September  30, 1997 as a result of changes in
conditions  which  caused it to conclude  that the decline in fair value of such
investments was other than temporary.  Great American  Reserve had no such write
downs in the nine months ended  September  30, 1996.  Great  American  Reserve's
investment  portfolio is subject to the risks of further  declines in realizable
value.  Great American Reserve and CCM,  however,  attempt to mitigate this risk
through the diversification and active management of its portfolio.

     Great American Reserve had no fixed maturity investment in technical
default (i.e., in default, but not as to the payment of interest or principal)
and $.3 million of fixed maturity investments in substantive default (i.e., in
default due to nonpayment of interest or principal) at September 30, 1997.

     At September 30, 1997, fixed maturity  investments  included $661.7 million
of  mortgage-backed  securities  (37  percent  of the  fixed  maturity  security
portfolio).  CMOs are  securities  backed  by pools of  pass-through  securities
and/or  mortgages that are segregated into sections or "tranches"  which provide
for  sequential  retirement  of  principal  rather  than the pro  rata  share of
principal  return which occurs through  regular  monthly  principal  payments on
pass-through securities.

     The yield  characteristics of mortgage-backed  securities differ from those
of traditional fixed income  securities.  Interest and principal  payments occur
more frequently,  often monthly,  and mortgage-backed  securities are subject to
risks associated with variable prepayments. Prepayment rates are influenced by a
number of factors  which  cannot be  predicted  with  certainty,  including  the
relative  sensitivity of the underlying  mortgages backing the assets to changes
in interest rates; a variety of economic,  geographic and other factors; and the
repayment priority of the securities in the overall securitization structures.

     In  general,   prepayments  on  the  underlying  mortgage  loans,  and  the
securities backed by these loans, increase when the level of prevailing interest
rates   declines   significantly   below  the  interest  rates  on  such  loans.
Mortgage-backed  securities  purchased at a discount to par will  experience  an
increase in yield when the  underlying  mortgages  prepay faster than  expected.
Those  securities  purchased at a premium that prepay  faster than expected will
incur a reduction in yield.  When declines in interest rates occur, the proceeds
from the prepayment of mortgage-backed securities are likely to be reinvested at
lower rates than Great American  Reserve was earning on the prepaid  securities.
As  the  level  of  prevailing   interest   rates   increases,   prepayments  on
mortgage-backed   securities   decrease  as  fewer   underlying   mortgages  are
refinanced.  When  this  occurs,  the  average  maturity  and  duration  of  the
mortgage-backed    securities   increase,   which   decreases   the   yield   on
mortgage-backed  securities  purchased  at a discount  because  the  discount is
realized as income at a slower rate and increases  the yield on those  purchased
at a premium as a result of a decrease in annual amortization of the premium.

     The following table sets forth the par value,  amortized cost and estimated
fair value of mortgage-backed  securities  including CMOs summarized by interest
rates on the underlying collateral at September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  Par        Amortized      Estimated
                                                                                 value         cost        fair value
                                                                                 -----         ----        ----------
                                                                                       (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                               <C>           <C>          <C>   
Below 7 percent............................................................       $183.0        $179.7       $179.5
7 percent - 8 percent......................................................        330.3         333.0        336.2
8 percent - 9 percent......................................................         68.4          68.4         69.7
9 percent and above........................................................         75.0          74.8         76.3
                                                                                --------      --------     --------

     Total mortgage-backed securities......................................       $656.7        $655.9       $661.7
                                                                                  ======        ======       ======
</TABLE>

     The amortized cost and estimated fair value of  mortgage-backed  securities
including  CMOs at September  30, 1997,  summarized  by type of security were as
follows:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   Estimated fair value
                                                                                              ---------------------------
                                                                                                              % of
                                                                                Amortized                      fixed
Type                                                                              cost         Amount       maturities
- ----                                                                              ----         ------       ----------
                                                                                   (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                              <C>            <C>           <C>
Pass-throughs and sequential and targeted amortization  classes............      $550.7         $555.4        31%
Planned amortization classes and accretion directed bonds..................        72.3           73.1          4
Subordinated classes.......................................................        32.9           33.2          2
                                                                               --------       --------        ---

                                                                                 $655.9         $661.7        37%
                                                                                 ======         ======        ==
</TABLE>

     Pass-throughs and sequential and targeted amortization classes have similar
prepayment  variability.  Pass-throughs  have  historically  provided  the  best
liquidity  in  the  mortgage-backed  securities  market  and  provide  the  best
price/performance  ratio in a highly volatile  interest rate  environment.  This
type of  security  is also  frequently  used as  collateral  in the  dollar-roll
market.  Sequential  classes pay in a strict  sequence;  all principal  payments
received by the CMO are paid to the  sequential  tranches in order of  priority.
Targeted  amortization classes provide a modest amount of prepayment  protection
when  prepayments  on the underlying  collateral  increase from those assumed at
pricing.  Thus,  they offer  slightly  better call  protection  than  sequential
classes and pass-throughs.

     Planned  amortization  classes and accretion directed bonds are some of the
most stable and liquid  instruments in the  mortgage-backed  securities  market.
Planned  amortization  class  bonds  adhere  to a fixed  schedule  of  principal
payments as long as the underlying mortgage collateral  experiences  prepayments
within a certain  range.  Changes  in  prepayment  rates are first  absorbed  by
support  classes.  This  insulates  the planned  amortization  classes  from the
consequences  of both faster  prepayments  (average life  shortening) and slower
prepayments (average life extension).

     Subordinated  CMO  classes  have  both  prepayment  and  credit  risk.  The
subordinated  classes  are  used  to  lend  credit  enhancement  to  the  senior
securities  and  as  such,   rating  agencies  require  that  this  support  not
deteriorate  due to the prepayment of the  subordinated  securities.  The credit
risk of subordinated  classes is derived from the negative  leverage of owning a
small  percentage of the  underlying  mortgage loan  collateral  while bearing a
majority of the risk of loss due to homeowner defaults.

     All  mortgage-backed  securities  are  subject  to  risks  associated  with
variable prepayments.  As a result, these securities may have a different actual
maturity  than planned at the time of purchase.  When  securities  having a cost
greater than par are backed by mortgages that prepay faster than expected, Great
American Reserve records a charge to investment income. When securities having a
cost less than par prepay faster than expected,  Great American  Reserve records
investment income.

     The degree to which a  mortgage-backed  security is  susceptible  to income
fluctuations is influenced by: (i) the difference between its cost and par; (ii)
the relative  sensitivity  of the underlying  mortgages  backing the security to
prepayment  in a changing  interest  rate  environment;  and (iii) the repayment
priority of the security in the overall securitization structure. Great American
Reserve  limits the extent of these risks by : (i) purchasing  securities  which
are backed by collateral with lower  prepayment  sensitivity  (such as mortgages
priced at a discount to par value and mortgages  that are  extremely  seasoned);
(ii)  avoiding  securities  whose  values are heavily  influenced  by changes in
prepayments (such as interest-only  and  principal-only  securities);  and (iii)
investing in securities  structured to reduce  prepayment  risk (such as planned
amortization   class   ("PAC")   and   targeted   amortization   class   ("TAC")
collateralized  mortgage  obligations).  PAC  and  TAC  instruments  represented
approximately 20 percent of Great American Reserve's mortgage-backed  securities
at September 30, 1997.

     If Great American Reserve  determines that it will dispose of an investment
held in the actively  managed fixed maturity  category,  it will either sell the
security or transfer  it to the trading  account at its fair value;  the gain or
loss is recognized immediately.  There were no such transfers in the nine months
ended September 30, 1997.  During the first nine months of 1997,  Great American
Reserve sold actively managed fixed maturity  securities  generating proceeds of
$631.2  million,  resulting in $7.1 million of investment  gains (before related
expenses,  amortization  and taxes).  Such  securities  were sold in response to
changes in the investment environment which created opportunities to enhance the
total return of the investment portfolio without adversely affecting the quality
of  the  portfolio  or  the  matching  of  expected  maturities  of  assets  and
liabilities.  The  realization  of gains and  losses  affects  the timing of the
amortization  of the  cost  of  policies  produced  and  the  cost  of  policies
purchased, as explained in note 1 to the financial statements.

     Other Investments

     Credit-tenant  loans are loans on commercial  properties where the lease of
the principal tenant is assigned to the lender and the principal  tenant, or any
guarantor  of such  tenant's  obligations,  has a credit  rating  at the time of
origination  of the loan of at least BBB- or its  equivalent.  The  underwriting
guidelines  consider such factors as: (i) the lease term of the  property;  (ii)
the mortgagee's  management  ability,  including business  experience,  property
management  capabilities  and  financial  soundness;  and (iii)  such  economic,
demographic  or other  factors  that may  affect  the  income  generated  by the
property,  or its value.  The underwriting  guidelines also generally  require a
loan-to-value  ratio of 75 percent or less.  Credit-tenant  loans are carried at
amortized  cost and were $97.4  million at September 30, 1997, or 3.8 percent of
total invested assets. The total estimated fair value of credit-tenant loans was
$99.5 million at September 30, 1997.

     At  September  30,  1997,   Great  American   Reserve  held  mortgage  loan
investments  with a carrying  value of $63.0  million  (or 2.4  percent of total
invested  assets) and a fair value of $66.6  million.  Substantially  all of the
mortgage loan investments were commercial loans.

     Non-current  mortgage loans were not  significant at September 30, 1997. At
September  30,  1997,  Great  American  Reserve  had a loan loss  reserve of $.9
million.  Approximately  33 percent,  21 percent  and 8 percent of the  mortgage
loans were on properties located in California, Texas and Florida, respectively.
No other state comprised greater than 7 percent of the mortgage loan balance.

     At  September  30, 1997,  Great  American  Reserve held no trading  account
securities.  Trading account  securities are investments that are purchased with
the intent to be traded prior to their  maturity,  or are believed  likely to be
disposed  of  in  the  foreseeable  future  as a  result  of  market  or  issuer
developments.  Trading  account  securities are carried at estimated fair value,
with the changes in fair value reflected in the statement of operations.

     Short-term  investments  totaled $64.2 million,  or 2.5 percent of invested
assets at September 30, 1997,  and consisted  primarily of commercial  paper and
repurchase agreements relating to government securities.

     LIQUIDITY

     Great American Reserve  generally  produces adequate cash flow from premium
collections  and  investment  income to meet its  obligations.  The  liabilities
related to insurance  policies are  primarily  long term and  generally are paid
from future  cash  flows.  Most of the  assets,  other than  policy  loans,  are
invested in bonds and other  securities,  substantially all of which are readily
marketable.  Although  there is no  present  need or intent to  dispose  of such
investments,  Great American Reserve could liquidate portions of its investments
if the need arose.

     As part of its  investment  strategy,  Great  American  Reserve enters into
reverse  repurchase  agreements  and  dollar-roll  transactions  to increase its
return on investments and improve its liquidity.  Reverse repurchase  agreements
involve a sale of securities and an agreement to repurchase the same  securities
at a later date at an agreed  upon  price.  Dollar-rolls  are similar to reverse
repurchase  agreements except that the repurchase  involves  securities that are
only  substantially  the same as the securities  sold.  These  transactions  are
accounted for as short-term collateralized borrowings.  Such borrowings averaged
approximately $47.4 million during the first nine months of 1997 (compared to an
average  of  $118.0  million  during  the  first  nine  months of 1996) and were
collateralized by investment  securities with fair values approximately equal to
the loan value. The weighted average interest rate on short-term  collateralized
borrowings  was 5.1 percent in the first nine months of 1997 and 5.3 percent in
the first nine  months of 1996.  The primary  risk  associated  with  short-term
collateralized  borrowings  is that the  counterparty  will be unable to perform
under the terms of the contract. Great American Reserve's exposure is limited to
the excess of the net  replacement  cost of the securities over the value of the
short-term  investments  (which was not material at September 30,  1997).  Great
American Reserve believes that the  counterparties to its reverse repurchase and
dollar-roll  agreements are financially  responsible  and that the  counterparty
risk is minimal.

     Of Great American  Reserve's total  insurance  liabilities at September 30,
1997  less  than 7  percent  could  not be  surrendered,  51  percent  could  be
surrendered  only by  incurring  a  surrender  charge  and 42  percent  could be
surrendered without penalty.

     Great American Reserve believes that it has adequate short-term investments
and readily marketable  investment-grade  securities to cover the payments under
contracts  containing  fixed  payment  dates plus any likely  cash needs for all
other contracts and obligations.  Great American Reserve's  investment portfolio
at September 30, 1997 included $64.2 million of short-term  investments and $1.7
billion of  publicly  traded  investment-grade  bonds.  Great  American  Reserve
believes that such  investments  could be readily sold at or near carrying value
or used to facilitate borrowings under reverse repurchase agreements.

     YEAR 2000 CONVERSION

     Great American  Reserve,  like other companies,  has initiated  programs to
assure that all of the  computer  systems it utilizes  (including  the  computer
systems used by its outside  service  providers)  will function  properly in the
year 2000.  Although an  assessment  of the total  expected  costs  specifically
related to the year 2000 conversion has not been completed, the total amounts to
be  expensed  over the next three years are not  expected to have a  significant
effect on Great American Reserve's  financial position or results of operations.
Great American Reserve believes it has taken steps that are reasonably  designed
to  address  the  potential  failure of  computer  systems  used by its  service
providers  and to assure its year 2000 program is  completed on a timely  basis.
However,  there can be no assurance  that the steps taken will be  sufficient to
avoid any adverse impact.
    
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
   
Great  American  Reserve's  directors and  executive  officers as of February 9,
1998, are listed below:


                               Principal Business Occupation
   NAME                           During Last Five Years
- --------------------  --------------------------------------------

Ngaire E. Cuneo             Since 1993, Director of Conseco's principal
     (Age 47)               Insurance subsidiaries. Since 1992,
                            Executive Vice President, Corporate
                            Development of Conseco, Inc. and various
                            positions with certain of its affiliates.
                            Prior thereto, Ms. Cuneo was Senior Vice
                            President/Managing Director of GE Capital
                            from 1986 - 1992.

Stephen C. Hilbert          Since 1979, Chairman of the Board, Chief
     (Age 52)               Executive Officer and Director of Conseco,
                            Inc. Since 1988, President and various
                            positions with the Company and certain of
                            its affiliates.

Rollin M. Dick              Since 1986, Executive Vice President, Chief
     (Age 66)               Financial Officer and Director of Conseco,
                            Inc. and various positions with the Company
                            and certain of its affiliates.

Donald F. Gongaware         Since 1985, Executive Vice President, Chief
     (Age 62)               Operations Officer and Director of Conseco,
                            Inc. and various positions with certain of
                            its affiliates.


James S. Adams              Chief Accounting Officer of Conseco.
     (Age 38)
    
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Great American Reserve has no full-time employees and does not compensate any
employee, officer or director of Great American Reserve.

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
   
The financial statements of Great American Reserve as of December 31, 1996 and
1995,  and for the year ended  December 31, 1996, the four months ended December
31, 1995, the eight months ended August 31, 1995,  and the year ended  December
31, 1994, included in this prospectus, have been audited by Coopers & Lybrand
L.L.P., independent accountants, as set forth in their report appearing herein.
    

LEGAL OPINIONS

Blazzard, Grodd & Hasenauer, P.C., Westport, Connecticut, has provided advice on
certain  matters  relating  to the  federal  securities  and  income tax laws in
connection with the contracts described in this prospectus.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The financial  statements of Great  American  Reserve which are included in this
prospectus should be considered only as bearing on the ability of Great American
Reserve  to meet  its  obligations  under  the  contracts.  They  should  not be
considered  as  bearing  on  the   investment   performance  of  the  investment
portfolios.  The value of the investment portfolios is affected primarily by the
performance of the underlying investments.

   
                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                  BALANCE SHEET
                               September 30, 1997
                              (Dollars in millions)
                                   (Unaudited)

                                     ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Investments:

<S>                                                                                                          <C>
   Actively managed fixed maturities at fair value (amortized cost: $1,789.1).............................   $1,807.6
   Mortgage loans.........................................................................................       63.0
   Credit-tenant loans....................................................................................       97.4
   Policy loans...........................................................................................       80.7
   Other invested assets .................................................................................       93.6
   Short-term investments.................................................................................       64.2
   Assets held in separate accounts.......................................................................      366.1
                                                                                                           ----------

       Total investments..................................................................................    2,572.6


Accrued investment income.................................................................................       31.4
Cost of policies purchased................................................................................      119.2
Cost of policies produced.................................................................................       50.4
Reinsurance receivables...................................................................................       22.5
Goodwill (net of accumulated amortization: $12.8).........................................................       48.6
Other assets..............................................................................................       15.4
                                                                                                          -----------

        Total assets......................................................................................   $2,860.1
                                                                                                             ========
</TABLE>




                            (continued on next page)

                   The accompanying notes are an integral part
                          of the financial statements.




                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                            BALANCE SHEET (Continued)
                               September 30, 1997
                 (Dollars in millions, except per share amount)
                                   (Unaudited)

                      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Liabilities:

<S>                                                                                                          <C>
   Insurance liabilities..................................................................................   $1,858.2
   Income tax liabilities.................................................................................       44.6
   Investment borrowings..................................................................................      172.3
   Other liabilities......................................................................................       13.1
   Liabilities related to separate accounts ..............................................................      366.1
                                                                                                           ----------

         Total liabilities................................................................................    2,454.3
                                                                                                            ---------

Shareholder's equity:

   Common stock and additional paid-in capital (par value $4.80 per share, 1,065,000
     shares authorized, 1,043,565 shares issued and outstanding)..........................................      380.8
   Unrealized appreciation of securities:
     Fixed maturity securities (net of applicable deferred income taxes: $2.9)............................        5.3
     Other investments (net of applicable deferred income taxes: $.3).....................................         .5
   Retained earnings......................................................................................       19.2
                                                                                                          -----------

         Total shareholder's equity.......................................................................      405.8
                                                                                                           ----------

         Total liabilities and shareholder's equity.......................................................   $2,860.1
                                                                                                             ========
</TABLE>

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.





                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                             STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                              (Dollars in millions)
                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Nine months
                                                                                            ended
                                                                                        September 30,
                                                                                  -------------------------
                                                                                  1997                1996
                                                                                  ----                ----
Revenues:

<S>                                                                              <C>                  <C>
   Insurance policy income.................................................      $  57.4              $ 61.4
   Net investment income...................................................        155.3               156.5
   Net investment gains....................................................          6.6                  .2
                                                                               ---------           ---------

       Total revenues......................................................        219.3               218.1
                                                                                 -------              ------

Benefits and expenses:

   Insurance policy benefits...............................................         43.5                41.4
   Change in future policy benefits........................................         (2.7)               (5.5)
   Interest expense on annuities and financial products....................         93.7                89.6
   Interest expense on investment borrowings...............................          1.8                 4.7
   Amortization............................................................         11.4                14.1
   Other operating costs and expenses......................................         23.1                41.9
                                                                                --------             -------

       Total benefits and expenses.........................................        170.8               186.2
                                                                                 -------              ------

       Income before income taxes..........................................         48.5                31.9

Income tax expense.........................................................         17.5                12.0
                                                                                --------            --------

       Net income..........................................................      $  31.0              $ 19.9
                                                                                 =======              ======
</TABLE>

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.



                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                        STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
                              (Dollars in millions)
                                   (Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                         Nine months
                                                                                            ended
                                                                                        September 30,
                                                                                  -------------------------
                                                                                  1997                1996
                                                                                  ----                ----
Common stock and additional paid-in capital:
<S>                                                                               <C>                 <C>
   Balance, beginning and end of period..................................         $380.8              $380.8
                                                                                  ======              ======

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of securities:
   Fixed maturity securities:
     Balance, beginning of period........................................      $    (4.4)          $  11.8
       Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)..................            9.7             (25.2)
                                                                               ---------          --------

     Balance, end of period..............................................       $    5.3           $ (13.4)
                                                                                ========           =======

   Other investments:

     Balance, beginning of period........................................    $       (.2)          $    .6
       Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation)..................             .7              (1.0)
                                                                              ----------         ---------

     Balance, end of period..............................................      $      .5         $     (.4)
                                                                               =========         ==========

Retained earnings:

   Balance, beginning of period..........................................        $  20.7             $  49.4
       Net income .......................................................           31.0                19.9
       Dividends on common stock.........................................          (32.5)              (54.4)
                                                                                 --------            --------

   Balance, end of period................................................        $  19.2             $  14.9
                                                                                 =======             =======

       Total shareholder's equity........................................         $405.8              $381.9
                                                                                  ======              ======
</TABLE>

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                             STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                              (Dollars in millions)
                                   (Unaudited)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                        Nine months
                                                                                           ended
                                                                                        September 30,
                                                                                  ------------------------
                                                                                  1997                1996
                                                                                  ----                ----
Cash flows from operating activities:
<S>                                                                           <C>                  <C>
   Net income..............................................................   $    31.0            $   19.9
     Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
       cash provided (used) by operating activities:
         Amortization......................................................        11.3                14.2
         Income taxes......................................................         8.8                (3.2)
         Insurance liabilities.............................................      (103.6)              (28.4)
         Interest credited to insurance liabilities........................        93.7                89.6
         Fees charged to insurance liabilities.............................       (23.8)              (24.7)
         Accrual and amortization of investment income.....................          .6                  .1
         Deferral of cost of policies produced.............................       (17.9)               (8.0)
         Net investment gains..............................................        (6.6)                (.2)
         Other.............................................................       (12.3)               (1.7)
                                                                               ---------           ---------

           Net cash provided (used) by operating activities................       (18.8)                 57.6
                                                                               ---------              --------

Cash flows from investing activities:

   Sales of investments....................................................       631.2               668.3
   Maturities and redemptions..............................................        86.6                97.1
   Purchases of investments................................................      (679.5)             (718.8)
                                                                               --------             -------

           Net cash provided by investing activities.......................        38.3                46.6
                                                                               ---------            --------

Cash flows from financing activities:

   Deposits to insurance liabilities.......................................       172.6               124.7
   Investment borrowings...................................................       123.9                35.7
   Withdrawals from insurance liabilities..................................      (234.1)             (220.1)
   Dividends paid on common stock..........................................       (32.5)              (44.5)
                                                                               ---------            ---------

           Net cash provided (used) by financing activities................        29.9              (104.2)
                                                                               ---------             -------

           Net increase in short-term  investments.........................        49.4                 -

Short-term investments, beginning of period................................        14.8                19.0
                                                                              ---------            --------

Short-term investments, end of period......................................    $   64.2             $  19.0
                                                                               ========             =======
</TABLE>

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements
                                   (Unaudited)

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


     The following notes should be read in conjunction with the notes to audited
financial statements included elsewhere in this Prospectus.

     SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

     Great  American   Reserve   Insurance   Company  (the  "Company")   markets
tax-qualified annuities and certain employee benefit-related  insurance products
through professional independent agents. Since August 1995, the Company has been
a wholly owned subsidiary of Conseco,  Inc.  ("Conseco"),  a financial  services
holding  company engaged in the  development,  marketing and  administration  of
annuity,  individual  health  insurance and individual life insurance  products.
During 1994,  Conseco  effectively owned 36 percent of the Company,  through its
ownership  interest in CCP Insurance,  Inc. ("CCP"), a holding company organized
for  companies  previously  acquired  by Conseco  Capital  Partners,  L.P.  (the
"Partnership"),  a limited  partnership  organized  by Conseco.  The Company was
acquired by the  Partnership  in 1990 (the  "Partnership  Acquisition").  During
1995, Conseco's ownership in CCP (and in the Company) increased to 49 percent as
a result of purchases  of CCP common  stock by CCP and Conseco.  In August 1995,
Conseco  completed the purchase of the  remaining  shares of CCP common stock it
did not  already  own in a  transaction  pursuant  to which CCP was merged  with
Conseco,   with  Conseco   being  the   surviving   corporation   (the  "Conseco
Acquisition").

     The accompanying  financial  statements give effect to "push down" purchase
accounting to reflect the Partnership  Acquisition and the Conseco  Acquisition.
As a result of  applying  "push down"  purchase  accounting:  (i) the  Company's
financial  position  and results of  operations  for periods  subsequent  to the
Partnership  Acquisition and before the Conseco  Acquisition (the "prior basis")
reflect the  Partnership's  cost to acquire the  Company's  asset and  liability
accounts  based upon their  estimated fair values at the purchase date; and (ii)
the  Company's   financial  position  and  results  of  operations  for  periods
subsequent  to the Conseco  Acquisition  reflect  Conseco's  cost to acquire the
Company's asset and liability accounts based upon their estimated fair values at
the purchase date.

     The  unaudited  financial  statements  as of  September  30, 1997 and 1996,
reflect all adjustments,  consisting only of normal  recurring items,  which are
necessary  to present  fairly the  Company's  financial  position and results of
operations  on  a  basis  consistent  with  that  of  prior  audited   financial
statements.

     In preparing  financial  statements in conformity  with generally  accepted
accounting principles, the Company is required to make estimates and assumptions
that  significantly  affect various reported amounts.  For example,  the Company
uses  significant  estimates and assumptions in calculating the cost of policies
produced, the cost of policies purchased,  insurance liabilities,  guaranty fund
assessment  accruals and deferred  income taxes.  If future  experience  differs
materially  from  these  estimates  and  assumptions,  the  Company's  financial
statements could be affected.


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements
                                   (Unaudited)

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


     ADJUSTMENT TO ACTIVELY MANAGED FIXED MATURITY SECURITIES

     The Company  classifies  fixed maturity  securities into three  categories:
"actively  managed",  and "trading account" (which are carried at estimated fair
value) and "held to maturity" (which are carried at amortized cost). The Company
did not carry any fixed  maturity  securities in the trading  account or held to
maturity categories at September 30, 1997. Adjustments to carry actively managed
fixed  maturity  securities  at fair value have no effect on  earnings,  but are
recorded, net of tax, as a component of shareholder's equity. The following 
table summarizes the effect of these  adjustments as of September 30, 1997:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                     Effect of fair
                                                                    Balance        value adjustment on
                                                                    before          actively managed          Reported
                                                                  adjustment        fixed maturities           amount
                                                                  ----------        ----------------           ------
                                                                                  (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                 <C>                   <C>                   <C>
Actively managed fixed maturity securities....................      $1,789.1              $  18.5               $1,807.6
Cost of policies purchased....................................         128.1                 (8.9)                 119.2
Cost of policies produced.....................................          51.8                 (1.4)                  50.4
Income tax liabilities........................................          41.7                  2.9                   44.6
Net unrealized appreciation of fixed
    maturity securities.......................................           -                    5.3                    5.3
</TABLE>

     SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY

     The Company paid  shareholder  dividends of $32.5 million and $44.5 million
during the nine  months  ended  September  30, 1997 and 1996,  respectively.  In
addition,  during the first nine months of 1996, the Company forgave receivables
from Conseco totaling $9.9 million.  This transaction is reflected as a dividend
to Conseco in the accompanying statement of shareholder's equity.

     RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     The Company  operates  without  direct  employees  through  management  and
service  agreements  with  subsidiaries  of  Conseco.  Fees  for  such  services
(including  data  processing,  executive  management and  investment  management
services) are based on Conseco's  direct and directly  allocable costs plus a 10
percent margin.  Total fees paid to Conseco were $28.0 million and $32.6 million
during the nine months ended September 30, 1997 and 1996, respectively.


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

To the Shareholders and Board of Directors
Great American Reserve Insurance Company

     We have audited the  accompanying  balance sheet of Great American  Reserve
Insurance  Company (the  "Company")  as of December  31, 1996 and 1995,  and the
related  statements of operations,  shareholder's  equity and cash flows for the
year ended  December  31, 1996 and the four months ended  December 31, 1995.  We
have also  audited the  accompanying  statements  of  operations,  shareholder's
equity and cash flows of the Company for the eight months ended August 31, 1995,
and the  year  ended  December  31,  1994,  based  on the  basis  of  accounting
applicable  to  periods  prior to the  adoption  of push  down  accounting  upon
Conseco,  Inc.'s  purchase  of all  common  shares  of the  Company  it did  not
previously  own (see note 1 of the notes to financial  statements  regarding the
adoption  of  push  down  accounting).   These  financial   statements  are  the
responsibility of the Company's management.  Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

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

     In our opinion,  the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material  respects,  the  financial  position of Great  American  Reserve
Insurance  Company as of  December  31,  1996 and 1995,  and the  results of its
operations  and its cash flows for the year ended  December 31,  1996,  the four
months ended  December 31, 1995,  the eight months ended August 31, 1995 and the
year ended December 31, 1994, in conformity with generally  accepted  accounting
principles.

                                                        COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

Indianapolis, Indiana
March 14, 1997



                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                                  BALANCE SHEET
                           December 31, 1996 and 1995
                              (Dollars in millions)

                                     ASSETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            1996             1995
                                                                                            ----             ----

Investments:

<S>                                                                                       <C>               <C>
    Actively managed fixed maturities at fair value (amortized cost:
       1996 - $1,810.8; 1995 - $1,980.1)...............................................    $1,795.1          $2,030.9
    Mortgage loans.....................................................................        77.3              95.5
    Credit-tenant loans................................................................        93.4              79.4
    Policy loans.......................................................................        80.8              84.7
    Other invested assets .............................................................        89.0              37.8
    Short-term investments.............................................................        14.8              19.0
    Assets held in separate accounts...................................................       232.4             137.5
                                                                                         ----------        ----------

          Total investments............................................................     2,382.8           2,484.8


Accrued investment income..............................................................        32.9              34.0
Cost of policies purchased.............................................................       143.0             120.0
Cost of policies produced..............................................................        38.2              24.0
Reinsurance receivables................................................................        25.7              27.0
Goodwill (net of accumulated amortization: 1996 - $11.7; 1995 - $10.2).................        49.7              53.0
Other assets...........................................................................         8.2              14.0
                                                                                       ------------       -----------

          Total assets.................................................................    $2,680.5          $2,756.8
                                                                                           ========          ========
</TABLE>

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                            BALANCE SHEET (Continued)
                           December 31, 1996 and 1995
                 (Dollars in millions, except per share amount)

                      LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            1996             1995
                                                                                            ----             ----
Liabilities:

<S>                                                                                        <C>               <C>
    Insurance liabilities..............................................................    $1,957.5          $2,039.1
    Income tax liabilities.............................................................        29.8              39.0
    Investment borrowings..............................................................        48.4              84.2
    Other liabilities..................................................................        15.5              14.4
    Liabilities related to separate accounts ..........................................       232.4             137.5
                                                                                         ----------        ----------

            Total liabilities..........................................................     2,283.6           2,314.2
                                                                                          ---------         ---------

Shareholder's equity:

    Common stock and additional paid-in capital (par value $4.80 per share, 1,065,000
       shares authorized,  1,043,565 shares issued and outstanding)....................       380.8             380.8
    Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of securities:
       Fixed maturity securities (net of applicable deferred income taxes:
          1996 - $(2.4); 1995 - $6.8)..................................................        (4.4)             11.8
       Other investments (net of applicable deferred income taxes:
          1996 - $(.1); 1995 - $.4)....................................................         (.2)               .6
    Retained earnings..................................................................        20.7              49.4
                                                                                        -----------       -----------

            Total shareholder's equity.................................................       396.9             442.6
                                                                                         ----------        ----------

            Total liabilities and shareholder's equity.................................    $2,680.5          $2,756.8
                                                                                           ========          ========
</TABLE>


    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.

                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                             STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
                              (Dollars in millions)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       Prior basis
                                                                                               --------------------------
                                                                Year           Four months     Eight months       Year
                                                                ended             ended            ended          ended
                                                            December 31,      December 31,      August 31,    December 31,
                                                                1996              1995             1995           1994
                                                                ----              ----             ----           ----
<S>                                                         <C>                 <C>              <C>            <C>
Revenues:
    Insurance policy income...............................    $  81.4             $ 31.8           $  60.5         $ 98.6
    Net investment income.................................      218.4               74.2             136.4          187.9
    Net investment gains..................................        2.7               12.5               7.3             .2
                                                            ---------            -------          --------      ---------

            Total revenues................................      302.5              118.5             204.2          286.7
                                                              -------             ------            ------         ------

Benefits and expenses:

    Insurance policy benefits.............................       54.9               18.9              45.9           66.2
    Change in future policy benefits......................       (3.7)                .2              (4.3)          (1.3)
    Interest expense on annuities and financial products..      129.4               44.2              74.6          101.4
    Interest expense on investment borrowings.............        6.2                1.0               3.6            2.9
    Amortization related to operations....................       17.8                5.3              11.7           16.0
    Amortization related to investment  gains.............        2.5               10.0               4.3            2.7
    Other operating costs and expenses....................       54.3               13.1              23.7           37.3
                                                             --------            -------           -------        -------

            Total benefits and expenses...................      261.4               92.7             159.5          225.2
                                                              -------            -------            ------         ------

            Income before income taxes....................       41.1               25.8              44.7           61.5

Income tax expense........................................       15.4                9.7              16.5           22.7
                                                             --------           --------           -------        -------

            Net income....................................    $  25.7             $ 16.1            $ 28.2         $ 38.8
                                                              =======             ======            ======         ======
</TABLE>

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.



                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                        STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDER'S EQUITY
                              (Dollars in millions)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       Prior basis
                                                                                               --------------------------
                                                                Year           Four months     Eight months       Year
                                                                ended             ended            ended          ended
                                                            December 31,      December 31,      August 31,    December 31,
                                                                1996              1995             1995           1994
                                                                ----              ----             ----           ----
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>                <C>             <C>
Common stock and additional paid-in capital:
    Balance, beginning of period ..........................   $       380.8   $       380.8      $  339.7        $  339.7
      Adjustment of balance due to new accounting basis ...            --              --            41.1              --
                                                              -------------      -------------      ------         ------

   Balance, end of period .................................   $       380.8   $       380.8      $  380.8        $  339.7
                                                              =============   =============      ========        ========

Unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of securities:
   Fixed maturity securities:
      Balance, beginning of period ........................   $        11.8   $         1.3      $  (53.0)       $   33.3
        Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) ..           (16.2)           10.5          55.7           (86.3)
        Adjustment of balance due to new
          accounting basis ................................            --              --            (1.4)            --
                                                               -------------   -------------          ----         -------     

      Balance, end of period ..............................   $        (4.4)  $        11.8       $   1.3           $(53.0)
                                                              =============   =============           ===           ====== 

   Other investments:

      Balance, beginning of period ........................   $          .6   $          .6      $   (2.1)       $     (.1)
        Change in unrealized appreciation (depreciation) ..             (.8)             -            3.3             (2.0)
        Adjustment of balance due to new
          accounting basis ................................              --              --           (.6)              --
                                                               ------------    --------------         ----          -------- 

      Balance, end of period..............................    $         (.2)  $         .6       $     .6         $   (2.1)
                                                              =============   ============       ========             ==== 

Retained earnings:

   Balance, beginning of year .............................   $        49.4   $       33.3          $80.3         $   75.6
      Net income ..........................................            25.7           16.1           28.2             38.8
      Dividends on common stock ...........................           (54.4)           -            (41.2)           (34.1)
      Adjustment of balance due to new
        accounting basis ..................................            --              --           (34.0)              --
                                                              -------------   -------------         ------            ------

   Balance, end of year ...................................   $        20.7   $       49.4       $   33.3          $  80.3
                                                              =============   ============       ========          =======

        Total shareholder's equity ........................   $       396.9   $      442.6       $  416.0          $ 364.9
                                                              =============   ============       ========          =======
</TABLE>

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.



                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                             STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
                              (Dollars in millions)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       Prior basis
                                                                                               -------------------------
                                                                Year           Four months     Eight months       Year
                                                                ended             ended            ended          ended
                                                            December 31,      December 31,      August 31,    December 31,
                                                                1996              1995             1995           1994
                                                                ----              ----             ----           ----
<S>                                                         <C>               <C>                <C>             <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
    Net income.............................................  $   25.7           $   16.1           $ 28.2        $  38.8
       Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
          cash provided by operating activities:
            Amortization...................................      20.4               15.3             16.0           18.7
            Income taxes...................................      (3.9)               2.3              2.9            1.3
            Insurance liabilities..........................     (40.5)             (25.8)           (14.0)         (10.5)
            Interest credited to insurance liabilities.....     129.4               44.2             74.6          101.4
            Fees charged to insurance liabilities .........     (32.8)             (10.3)           (22.2)         (36.5)
            Accrual and amortization of investment income         3.1                3.2             (1.8)          (1.2)
            Deferral of cost of policies produced  ........     (13.2)              (3.0)            (6.6)          (9.4)
            Investment gains...............................      (2.7)             (12.5)            (7.3)           (.2)
            Other..........................................      (8.9)              (8.9)            (3.2)           5.0
                                                              ---------         ---------         ---------        ---------

            Net cash provided by operating activities......      76.6               20.6             66.6          107.4
                                                            ---------           --------          --------         ------

Cash flows from investing activities:

    Sales of investments...................................     988.9              513.2            406.5          586.0
    Maturities and redemptions.............................     101.7               60.4             57.5          118.4
    Purchases of investments...............................   (954.2)            (532.2)           (476.2)        (786.9)
                                                             --------            -------           -------        -------

            Net cash provided (used) by investing

                activities.................................     136.4               41.4            (12.2)         (82.5)
                                                             --------          ---------        --------       --------

Cash flows from financing activities:

    Deposits to insurance liabilities......................     169.8               50.8            104.4          146.0
    Cash paid in reinsurance recapture ....................       -                (71.1)               -              -
    Investment borrowings..................................     (35.8)             (36.8)            121.0         (58.3)
    Withdrawals from insurance liabilities.................    (306.7)             (71.9)           (166.3)       (171.4)
    Dividends paid on common stock.........................     (44.5)               -               (41.2)        (34.1)
                                                             ---------           ------------       --------    --------

            Net cash provided (used)  by

                financing activities.......................    (217.2)            (129.0)             17.9        (117.8)
                                                              --------           --------            --------     -------

            Net increase (decrease) in short-term

                investments................................      (4.2)             (67.0)              72.3        (92.9)

Short-term investments, beginning of period................      19.0               86.0               13.7        106.6
                                                            ---------          ---------              -------     -------

Short-term investments, end of period......................  $   14.8           $   19.0             $ 86.0      $  13.7
                                                             ========           ========              ======     =======
</TABLE>

    The accompanying notes are an integral part of the financial statements.


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


1.   SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

     Great  American   Reserve   Insurance   Company  (the  "Company")   markets
tax-qualified annuities and certain employee benefit-related  insurance products
through professional independent agents.

     The effect of the adoption of the new basis of  accounting on the Company's
balance sheet accounts on August 31, 1995, was as follows (dollars in millions):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Debit
                                                                             (Credit)
                                                                             --------
<S>                                                                           <C>
Cost of policies purchased..............................................      $ 59.0
Cost of policies produced ..............................................       (27.0)
Goodwill................................................................       (15.1)
Insurance liabilities...................................................        (1.2)
Income tax liabilities..................................................       (11.9)
Other...................................................................         1.3
Common stock and additional paid-in capital.............................       (41.1)
Net unrealized appreciation of fixed maturity securities................         1.4
Net unrealized appreciation of other investments........................          .6
Retained earnings.......................................................        34.0
</TABLE>

     The  accompanying  financial  statements  also  include  the  effect of the
December  31,  1994,  merger  of  Jefferson   National  Life  Insurance  Company
("Jefferson  National",  which was acquired by the Partnership in 1990) into the
Company.  This  merger  has  been  accounted  for  as a  pooling  of  interests;
therefore,  the assets and  liabilities  of each company  have been  combined at
their book values and the  statements of  operations,  shareholder's  equity and
cash flows have been reported as if the merger had occurred on January 1, 1994.

     The accompanying financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), which differ in some respects
from statutory  accounting  practices  followed in the  preparation of financial
statements  submitted to state insurance  departments.  The financial statements
prepared in conformity with GAAP include amounts based on informed estimates and
judgment of management,  with  consideration  given to materiality.  Significant
estimates and  assumptions  are utilized in the  calculation of cost of policies
produced,  cost of policies  purchased,  insurance  liabilities,  guaranty  fund
assessment accruals and deferred income taxes. Actual experience may differ from
those estimates. Certain amounts from the 1995 and 1994 financial statements and
notes have been reclassified to conform with the 1996 presentation.

     INVESTMENTS

     Fixed maturity  investments  are securities  that mature more than one year
after issuance.  They include bonds,  notes receivable and preferred stocks with
mandatory redemption features and are classified as follows:

     Actively  managed - fixed  maturity  securities  that may be sold  prior to
     maturity due to changes that might occur in market interest  rates,  issuer
     credit quality or the Company's  liquidity  requirements.  Actively managed
     fixed  maturity  securities  are  carried at  estimated  fair value and the
     unrealized  gain or loss is  recorded  net of tax and  related  adjustments
     described below as a component of shareholder's equity.

     Trading account - fixed maturity securities are bought and held principally
     for  the  purpose  of  selling  them  in the  near  term.  Trading  account
     securities are carried at estimated fair value.  Unrealized gains or losses
     are included in net investment gains


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     (losses).  The Company did not hold any trading account  securities  during
     1996, 1995 or 1994.

     Held  to  maturity  - (all  other  fixed  maturity  securities)  are  those
     securities which the Company has the ability and positive intent to hold to
     maturity,  and are carried at  amortized  cost.  The Company may dispose of
     these  securities  if the credit  quality of the  issuer  deteriorates,  if
     regulatory requirements change or under other unforeseen circumstances. The
     Company has not held any  securities  in this  classification  during 1996,
     1995 or 1994.

     Anticipated  returns,  including  investment  gains  and  losses,  from the
investment  of   policyholder   balances  are  considered  in  determining   the
amortization  of the  cost  of  policies  purchased  and the  cost  of  policies
produced.  When  actively  managed  fixed  maturity  securities  are  stated  at
estimated  fair value,  an adjustment to the cost of policies  purchased and the
cost of policies  produced may be necessary  if a change in  amortization  would
have been recorded if such  securities had been sold at their fair value and the
proceeds reinvested at current yields. Furthermore, if future yields expected to
be earned on such securities  decline,  it may be necessary to increase  certain
insurance  liabilities.  Adjustments to such liabilities are required when their
balances,  in addition to future net cash flows (including  investment  income),
are insufficient to cover future benefits and expenses.

     Unrealized  gains and losses and the related  adjustments  described in the
preceding paragraph have no effect on earnings, but are recorded, net of tax, as
a component of shareholder's  equity.  The following table summarizes the effect
of these adjustments as of December 31, 1996:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     Effect of fair
                                                                    Balance        value adjustment on
                                                                    before          actively managed          Reported
                                                                  adjustment        fixed maturities           amount
                                                                  ----------        ----------------           ------
                                                                                  (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                 <C>                  <C>                    <C>
Actively managed fixed maturity securities....................      $1,810.8             $(15.7)                $1,795.1
Cost of policies purchased....................................         135.2                7.8                    143.0
Cost of policies produced.....................................          37.1                1.1                     38.2
Income tax liabilities........................................          32.2               (2.4)                    29.8
Net unrealized depreciation of fixed maturities...............           -                 (4.4)                    (4.4)
</TABLE>

     When  changes  in  conditions  cause  a  fixed  maturity  investment  to be
transferred to a different category (e.g. actively managed,  held to maturity or
trading),  the security is  transferred to the new category at its fair value at
the date of the transfer. There were no such transfers in 1996, 1995 or 1994. At
the  transfer  date,  the  security's  unrealized  gain or loss is  recorded  as
follows:

     o    For transfers to the trading category,  the unrealized gain or loss is
          recognized in earnings;

     o    For transfers from the trading  category,  the unrealized gain or loss
          already recognized in earnings is not reversed;

     o    For  transfers  to  actively  managed  from  held  to  maturity,   the
          unrealized gain or loss is recognized in shareholder's equity; and

     o    For  transfers  to  held  to  maturity  from  actively  managed,   the
          unrealized  gain or  loss at the  date  of  transfer  continues  to be
          recognized  in  shareholder's  equity,  but is  amortized  as a  yield
          adjustment until ultimately sold.

     Credit-tenant loans are loans for commercial  properties which require: (i)
the lease of the principal tenant to be assigned to the Company;  (ii) the lease
to produce adequate cash flow to fund substantially all the cash requirements of
the loan;  and (iii) the  principal  tenant,  or the  guarantor of such tenant's
obligations,  to have an  investment-grade  credit rating when the loan is made.
These loans also must be  collateralized  by the value of the related  property.
Underwriting guidelines take into account such factors as: (i) the lease term of
the  property;  (ii)  the  borrower's  management  ability,  including  business
experience,  property management capabilities and financial soundness; and (iii)
such economic, demographic or other factors that may affect the income generated
by the property or its value. The underwriting  guidelines  generally  require a
loan-to-value  ratio of 75 percent or less.  Credit-tenant loans and traditional
mortgage loans are carried at amortized cost.


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     Policy loans are stated at their current unpaid principal balance.

     Short-term  investments  include commercial paper,  invested cash and other
investments  purchased with maturities of less than three months and are carried
at amortized cost,  which  approximates  fair value.  The Company  considers all
short-term investments to be cash equivalents.

     Fees  received  and  costs  incurred  in  connection  with  origination  of
investments,  principally mortgage loans, are deferred.  Fees, costs,  discounts
and premiums are amortized as yield adjustments over the contractual life of the
investments.  Anticipated  prepayments on  mortgage-backed  securities are taken
into consideration in determining estimated future yields on such securities.

     The specific  identification  method is used to account for the disposition
of investments.  The  differences  between sale proceeds and carrying values are
reported as investment gains and losses,  or as adjustments to investment income
if the proceeds are prepayments by issuers prior to maturity.

     The Company regularly evaluates investment securities,  credit-tenant loans
and  mortgage  loans  based on current  economic  conditions,  past  credit loss
experience and other  circumstances  of the investee.  A decline in a security's
net  realizable  value that is other than  temporary is treated as an investment
loss and the cost basis of the security is reduced to its estimated  fair value.
Impaired  loans  are  revalued  at the  present  value of  expected  cash  flows
discounted  at the loan's  effective  interest rate when it is probable that the
Company will be unable to collect all amounts due  according to the  contractual
terms of the agreement.  The Company accrues interest on the net carrying amount
of impaired loans.

     As part of the Company's  investment  strategy,  the Company may enter into
reverse  repurchase  agreements  and  dollar-roll  transactions  to increase its
investment return or to improve liquidity.  These transactions are accounted for
as collateral borrowings,  where the amount borrowed is equal to the sales price
of the underlying securities.

     SEPARATE ACCOUNTS

     Separate  accounts are funds on which investment income and gains or losses
accrue  directly  to certain  policyholders.  The assets of these  accounts  are
legally  segregated.  They are not subject to the claims  which may arise out of
any other business of the Company.  The Company reports  separate account assets
at market value;  the  underlying  investment  risks are assumed by the contract
holders.  The Company  records the related  liabilities  at amounts equal to the
underlying  assets;  the fair value of these  liabilities  equals their carrying
amount.

     Cost of Policies Purchased

     The cost of policies  purchased  represents the portion of the  acquisition
cost that was  allocated to the value of the right to receive  future cash flows
from  insurance  contracts  existing at the date such  insurance  contracts were
acquired.  The value of cost of policies purchased is the actuarially determined
present  value of the projected  future cash flows from the insurance  contracts
existing at the acquisition  date. The method used to value the cost of policies
purchased is consistent  with the valuation  methods used most commonly to value
blocks  of  insurance  business,   which  is  also  consistent  with  the  basic
methodology generally used to value assets.

The method used is summarized as follows:

     o    Identify the expected future cash flows from the blocks of business.

     o    Identify the risks inherent in realizing those cash flows (i.e.,  what
          is the probability that the cash flows will be realized).

     o    Identify the rate of return  necessary  considering the risks inherent
          in realizing the cash flows.

     o    Determine the value of the policies by discounting the expected future
          cash flows by the discount rate required.




                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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



     The expected future cash flows used in determining  such value are based on
actuarially  determined  projections of future premium  collections,  mortality,
surrenders,  operating expenses,  changes in insurance  liabilities,  investment
yields on the assets  held to back the  policy  liabilities  and other  factors.
These  projections  take into  account  all  factors  known or  expected  at the
valuation date,  based on the collective  judgment of the Company's  management.
Actual  experience  on  purchased  business  may vary  from  projections  due to
differences in renewal premiums collected,  investment spread,  investment gains
or losses, mortality and morbidity costs and other factors.

     The  discount  rate used to  determine  the  value of the cost of  policies
purchased  is the rate of return  required  in order to  invest in the  business
being  acquired.  In  determining  this required  rate of return,  the following
factors are considered:

     o    The  magnitude  of the risks  associated  with  each of the  actuarial
          assumptions used in determining expected future cash flows.

     o    The cost of capital required to fund the acquisition.

     o    The  likelihood  of changes in projected  future cash flows that might
          occur if there are changes in insurance regulations and tax laws.

     o    The  acquired  business  compatibility  with other  activities  of the
          Company that may favorably affect future cash flows.

     o    The complexity of the acquired business.

     o    Recent prices (i.e.,  discount rates used in  determining  valuations)
          paid by others to acquire similar blocks of business.

     After the cost of policies  purchased is determined,  it is amortized based
on the incidence of the expected cash flows.  This asset is amortized  using the
interest rate credited to the underlying policies.

     If renewal  premiums  collected,  investment  spread,  investment  gains or
losses, mortality and morbidity costs or other factors differ from expectations,
amortization  of the cost of policies  purchased is adjusted.  For example,  the
sale of a fixed maturity  investment may result in a gain (or loss). If the sale
proceeds are reinvested at a lower (or higher)  earnings rate, there may also be
a reduction  (or increase) in future  investment  spread.  Amortization  must be
increased  (decreased)  to reflect the change in the  incidence of expected cash
flows  consistent  with the  methods  used  with the cost of  policies  produced
(described below).

     Each  year,  the  recoverability  of the  cost  of  policies  purchased  is
evaluated by line of business within each block of purchased insurance business.
If current estimates indicate that the existing insurance liabilities,  together
with the  present  value of future net cash  flows  from the blocks of  business
purchased,  will be insufficient to recover the cost of policies purchased,  the
difference is charged to expense.  Amortization is adjusted  consistent with the
methods used with the cost of policies produced (as described below).

     The cost of policies  purchased related to the original  acquisition of the
Company by the  Partnership  in 1990 is  amortized  under a  slightly  different
method than that described above. However, the effect of the different method on
1996 net income was insignificant.

     COST OF POLICIES PRODUCED

     Costs which vary with and are primarily  related to the  acquisition of new
business  are  deferred  to the extent  that such costs are deemed  recoverable.
These  costs  include   commissions,   certain  costs  of  policy  issuance  and
underwriting  and  certain  agency  expenses.  For  traditional  life and health
contracts,  deferred  costs are  amortized  with  interest in relation to future
anticipated  premium  revenue  using  the  same  assumptions  that  are  used in
calculating the insurance  liabilities.  For immediate  annuities with mortality
risks, deferred costs are amortized in relation to the present value of benefits
to be paid.  For universal  life-type,  interest-sensitive  and  investment-type
contracts,  deferred  costs are  amortized  in relation to the present  value of
expected gross profits from these contracts,  discounted using the interest rate
credited to the policy (currently, 5 percent to 8 percent).



                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     Recoverability  of the unamortized  balance of cost of policies produced is
evaluated regularly and considers  anticipated  investment income. For universal
life-type contracts and investment-type  contracts, the accumulated amortization
is adjusted  (whether an increase or a decrease)  whenever  there is a change in
the  estimated  gross  profits  expected over the life of a block of business in
order to maintain a constant  relationship  between amortization and the present
value  (discounted  at the rate of interest  that  accrues to the  policies)  of
expected  gross  profits.   For  traditional  and  most  other  contracts,   the
unamortized  asset balance is reduced by a charge to income only when the sum of
the present value of discounted future cash flows and the policy  liabilities is
not sufficient to cover such asset balance.

     GOODWILL

     The excess of the cost of  acquiring  the  Company's  net  assets  over its
estimated  fair values is recorded as  goodwill  and is being  amortized  on the
straight-line basis over a 40-year period. The Company periodically assesses the
recoverability  of  goodwill  through  projections  of  future  earnings  of the
acquired  business.  Such assessment is made based on whether  goodwill is fully
recoverable  from  projected  undiscounted  net cash flows from  earnings of the
acquired business over the remaining  amortization period. If future evaluations
of goodwill indicate a material change in the factors supporting  recoverability
over the remaining amortization period, all or a portion of goodwill may need to
be written  off or the  amortization  period  shortened  (no such  changes  have
occurred).

     INSURANCE  LIABILITIES,  RECOGNITION OF INSURANCE POLICY INCOME AND RELATED
     BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

     Reserves for traditional and  limited-payment  life insurance contracts are
generally  calculated using the net level premium method based on assumptions as
to investment  yields,  mortality,  morbidity,  withdrawals  and dividends.  The
assumptions  are based on  projections  using past and expected  experience  and
include provisions for possible adverse deviation. These assumptions are made at
the time the  contract  is  issued  or,  in the case of  contracts  acquired  by
purchase, at the purchase date.

     Reserves for universal life-type and investment-type contracts are based on
the  contract  account  balance,  if future  benefit  payments  in excess of the
account  balance are not  guaranteed,  or on the present value of future benefit
payments when such payments are  guaranteed.  Additional  increases to insurance
liabilities  are made if future  cash  flows  including  investment  income  are
insufficient to cover future benefits and expenses.

     For  investment-type  contracts  without  mortality  risk (such as deferred
annuities and immediate  annuities with benefits paid for a period  certain) and
for  contracts  that permit the  Company or the  insured to make  changes in the
contract terms (such as single-premium  whole life and universal life),  premium
deposits  and benefit  payments  are  recorded as  increases  or  decreases in a
liability  account rather than as revenue and expense.  Amounts  charged against
the  liability  account for the cost of  insurance,  policy  administration  and
surrender penalties are recorded as revenues. Interest credited to the liability
account and benefit  payments made in excess of the contract  liability  account
balance are charged to expense.

     For traditional life insurance contracts, premiums are recognized as income
when due. Benefits and expenses are associated with earned premiums resulting in
their level  recognition  over the premium paying period of the contracts.  Such
recognition is accomplished through the provision for future policy benefits and
the amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs.

     For  contracts  with  mortality  risk,  but with  premiums  paid for only a
limited period (such as  single-premium  immediate  annuities with benefits paid
for  the  life  of the  annuitant),  the  accounting  treatment  is  similar  to
traditional  contracts.  However,  the excess of the gross  premium over the net
premium is deferred and  recognized in relation to the present value of expected
future benefit payments.

     Liabilities for incurred claims are determined using historical  experience
and  represent an estimate of the present  value of the ultimate net cost of all
reported  and  unreported  claims.   Management  believes  these  estimates  are
adequate.  Such  estimates are  periodically  reviewed and any  adjustments  are
reflected in current operations.

     For participating  policies,  the amount of dividends to be paid (which are
not  significant)  is  determined  annually by the  Company.  The portion of the
earnings  allocated to  participating  policyholders is recorded as an insurance
liability.


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     REINSURANCE

     In the normal  course of business,  the Company seeks to limit its exposure
to loss on any single  insured  and to recover a portion of  benefits  paid over
such limit by ceding  reinsurance to other  insurance  enterprises or reinsurers
under  excess  coverage  and  coinsurance  contracts.  The  Company  has set its
retention  limit for  acceptance of risk on life  insurance  policies at various
levels up to $.5 million.

     Assets and liabilities  related to insurance  contracts are reported before
the effects of  reinsurance.  Reinsurance  receivables  and prepaid  reinsurance
premiums  (including  amounts related to insurance  liabilities) are reported as
assets.  Estimated reinsurance receivables are recognized in a manner consistent
with the liabilities relating to the underlying reinsured insurance contracts.

     INCOME TAXES

     Income  tax  expense   includes   deferred  taxes  arising  from  temporary
differences  between  the  tax and  financial  reporting  basis  of  assets  and
liabilities.  The  effects  of a tax rate  change  on  current  and  accumulated
deferred  income  taxes are  reflected  in the  period in which the  change  was
enacted.

     In assessing the realization of deferred tax assets,  the Company considers
whether  it is more  likely  than not  that  the  deferred  tax  assets  will be
realized.  The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the
generation  of future  taxable  income  during the  periods  in which  temporary
differences  become  deductible.  If future  income does not occur as  expected,
deferred income taxes may need to be written off.

     FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

     The  following  methods  and  assumptions  were  used  by  the  Company  in
determining estimated fair values of financial instruments:

     Investment  securities:   The  estimated  fair  values  of  fixed  maturity
     securities (including redeemable preferred stocks) are based on quotes from
     independent pricing services,  where available.  For investment  securities
     for which such  quotes are not  available,  the  estimated  fair values are
     determined  using values  obtained from  broker-dealer  market makers or by
     discounting  expected future cash flows using current market interest rates
     applicable to the yield,  credit quality of the investments and maturity of
     the investments.

     Mortgage loans,  credit-tenant  loans and policy loans:  The estimated fair
     values  of  mortgage  loans,  credit-tenant  loans  and  policy  loans  are
     determined by discounting  future  expected cash flows using interest rates
     currently  being offered for similar loans to borrowers with similar credit
     ratings. Loans with similar  characteristics are aggregated for purposes of
     the calculations.

     Other invested assets:  The estimated fair values of these assets have been
     assumed to be equal to their carrying value. Such value is believed to be a
     reasonable approximation of the fair value of these investments.

     Short-term investments: The estimated fair values of short-term investments
     are based on quoted market prices,  where  available.  The carrying  amount
     reported in the balance sheet for these assets approximates their estimated
     fair value.

     Insurance liabilities for investment  contracts:  The estimated fair values
     of liabilities  under  investment-type  insurance  contracts are determined
     using discounted cash flow  calculations  based on interest rates currently
     being offered for similar  contracts with maturities  consistent with those
     remaining for the contracts being valued.

     Investment  borrowings:  Due to the short-term  nature of these  borrowings
     (terms  generally less than 30 days),  estimated fair values are assumed to
     approximate the carrying amount reported in the balance sheet.



                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     The estimated fair values of financial instruments are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        1996                            1995
                                                                -----------------               ----------------------
                                                                  Carrying        Fair           Carrying        Fair
                                                                   Amount         Value           Amount         Value
                                                                   ------         -----           ------         -----
                                                                                    (Dollars in millions)

     Financial assets issued for purposes other than trading:
<S>                                                              <C>           <C>               <C>          <C>
       Actively managed fixed maturity securities...........      $1,795.1      $1,795.1          $2,030.9     $2,030.9
       Mortgage loans.......................................          77.3          77.0              95.5        108.9
       Credit-tenant loans..................................          93.4          92.5              79.4         79.7
       Policy loans.........................................          80.8          80.8              84.7         84.7
       Other invested assets................................          89.0          89.0              37.8         37.8
       Short-term investments...............................          14.8          14.8              19.0         19.0

     Financial liabilities issued for purposes other than trading:

       Insurance liabilities for investment contracts (1)...      $1,282.1      $1,282.1          $1,346.5     $1,346.5
       Investment borrowings................................          48.4          48.4              84.2         84.2
<FN>
       ----------------------
     (1)  The estimated fair value of the liabilities  for investment  contracts
          was approximately equal to its carrying value at December 31, 1996 and
          1995,  because interest rates credited on the vast majority of account
          balances  approximate  current rates paid on similar  investments  and
          because these rates are not generally  guaranteed beyond one year. The
          Company  is  not  required  to  disclose  fair  values  for  insurance
          liabilities,  other than those for investment contracts.  However, the
          Company  takes into  consideration  the  estimated  fair values of all
          insurance liabilities in its overall management of interest rate risk.
          The Company attempts to minimize  exposure to changing  interest rates
          by matching  investment  maturities  with amounts due under  insurance
          contracts.
</FN>
</TABLE>

2.   JEFFERSON NATIONAL MERGER

     On December 31, 1994, Jefferson National was merged with the Company,  with
the Company being the surviving  corporation.  The merger has been accounted for
as a pooling of interests and,  accordingly,  the financial  statements for 1994
have been restated to include the accounts of Jefferson  National.  Certain 1994
balances for the separate companies are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Amount prior to     Jefferson
                                                                            effect of merger     National        Combined
                                                                            ----------------     --------        --------
                                                                                           (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                             <C>               <C>            <C>
   Insurance policy income...................................................   $   53.2          $   45.4       $   98.6
   Net investment income.....................................................      101.9              86.0          187.9
   Total revenues............................................................      154.1             132.6          286.7
   Income before income taxes................................................       25.9              35.6           61.5
   Net income................................................................       16.7              22.1           38.8
</TABLE>


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


3.   INVESTMENTS

     At December  31,  1996,  the  amortized  cost and  estimated  fair value of
actively managed fixed maturity securities were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                               Gross          Gross          Estimated
                                                               Amortized     unrealized     unrealized          fair
                                                                 cost           gains         losses            value
                                                                 ----           -----         ------            -----
                                                                                 (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                          <C>              <C>           <C>              <C>
   United States Treasury securities and obligations
      of United States government corporations and
      agencies............................................   $     29.9       $    .3       $    .3          $     29.9
   Obligations of state and political subdivisions........          6.1            .1            .1                 6.1
   Debt securities issued by foreign governments..........         11.6           -              .5                11.1
   Public utility securities..............................        234.8           2.4           7.0               230.2
   Other corporate securities.............................        950.1          10.9          17.6               943.4
   Mortgage-backed securities.............................        578.3           2.3           6.2               574.4
                                                             ----------       -------       -------          ----------

      Total...............................................     $1,810.8         $16.0         $31.7            $1,795.1
                                                               ========         =====         =====            ========
</TABLE>

     At December  31,  1995,  the  amortized  cost and  estimated  fair value of
actively managed fixed maturity securities were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                               Gross          Gross          Estimated
                                                               Amortized     unrealized     unrealized          fair
                                                                 cost           gains         losses            value
                                                                 ----           -----         ------            -----
                                                                                 (Dollars in millions)
<S>                                                          <C>              <C>           <C>              <C>
   United States Treasury securities and obligations
      of United States government corporations and
      agencies............................................ $     59.2          $  2.1         $  -         $     61.3
   Obligations of state and political subdivisions........        9.3              .2             .1              9.4
   Debt securities issued by foreign governments..........        8.3              .3            -                8.6
   Public utility securities..............................      351.6            11.4            2.0            361.0
   Other corporate securities.............................      888.0            34.0            6.4            915.6
   Mortgage-backed securities ............................      663.7            12.2             .9            675.0
                                                           ----------          ------         ------       ----------

          Total...........................................   $1,980.1           $60.2           $9.4         $2,030.9
                                                             ========           =====           ====         ========
</TABLE>

     Actively  managed fixed  maturity  securities,  summarized by the source of
their estimated fair value, were as follows at December 31, 1996:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                     Estimated
                                                                                     Amortized          fair
                                                                                       cost             value
                                                                                       ----             -----
                                                                                         (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                                     <C>             <C>
Nationally recognized pricing services..........................................        $1,516.7        $1,500.4
Broker-dealer market makers.....................................................           242.9           243.6
Internally developed methods (calculated based
   on a weighted-average current market yield of 10.2 percent)..................            51.2            51.1
                                                                                     -----------     -----------

         Total .................................................................        $1,810.8        $1,795.1
                                                                                        ========        ========
</TABLE>


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     The following table sets forth actively  managed fixed maturity  securities
at December 31, 1996, classified by rating categories.  The category assigned is
the highest rating by a nationally  recognized  statistical rating  organization
or, as to $23.5  million fair value of fixed  maturity  securities  not rated by
such  firms,  the rating  assigned  by the  National  Association  of  Insurance
Commissioners ("NAIC"). For the purposes of this table, NAIC Class 1 is included
in the "A" rating;  Class 2,  "BBB-";  Class 3, "BB-";  and Classes 4-6, "B+ and
below":

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           Percent of       Percent of
Investment                                                                                    fixed           total
  Rating                                                                                   maturities      investments
  ------                                                                                   ----------      -----------

<S>                                                                                          <C>              <C>
AAA...................................................................................       37%              28%
AA   .................................................................................        6                5
A    .................................................................................       21               15
BBB+..................................................................................        9                6
BBB...................................................................................       13               10
BBB-..................................................................................        7                5
                                                                                           ----             ----

     Investment-grade.................................................................       93               69
                                                                                            ----             ---

BB+...................................................................................        1                1
BB   .................................................................................        1                1
BB-...................................................................................        2                2
B+ and below .........................................................................        3                2
                                                                                           ----             ----

     Below investment-grade...........................................................        7                6
                                                                                           ----             ----

         Total actively managed fixed maturities......................................      100%              75%
                                                                                            ===               ==
</TABLE>

     Below   investment-grade   actively  managed  fixed  maturity   securities,
summarized  by the amount  their  amortized  cost  exceeds  fair value,  were as
follows at December 31, 1996:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                           Estimated
                                                                                         Amortized            fair
                                                                                           cost               value
                                                                                           ----               -----
                                                                                             (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                            <C>                                       <C>                 <C>
Amortized cost exceeds fair value by more than 15%..................................     $    3.1            $    1.7
Amortized cost exceeds fair value by more than 5% but not more than 15%.............         18.4                16.8
All others..........................................................................        111.1               113.3
                                                                                          -------             -------

         Total......................................................................       $132.6              $131.8
                                                                                           ======              ======
</TABLE>

     The Company had no fixed  maturity  investments in technical or substantive
default as of December  31,  1996.  The  Company  recorded  writedowns  of fixed
maturity  investments  and other invested  assets  totaling $.8 million in 1996,
$1.6  million  in 1995 and $1.0  million  in 1994,  as a result  of  changes  in
conditions  which  caused it to  conclude  the  decline in the fair value of the
investment  was other than  temporary.  As of December 31,  1996,  there were no
fixed maturity  investments about which the Company had serious doubts as to the
ability of the issuer to comply with the contractual  terms of their obligations
on a timely basis.  Investment  income foregone due to defaulted  securities was
$.2 million in 1996,  $.1 million in the four months ended December 31, 1995 and
$1.3 million in 1994.  There was no investment  income foregone due to defaulted
securities during the eight months ended August 31, 1995.



                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     Actively managed fixed maturity securities at December 31, 1996, summarized
by contractual  maturity date, are shown below.  Actual  maturities  will differ
from  contractual  maturities  because  borrowers  may have the right to call or
prepay obligations with or without call or prepayment penalties and because most
mortgage-backed securities provide for periodic payments throughout their lives.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       Estimated
                                                                                       Amortized          fair
                                                                                         cost             value
                                                                                         ----             -----
                                                                                           (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                                   <C>             <C>
Due in one year or less.........................................................      $      10.7     $      10.6
Due after one year through five years...........................................            102.3           103.1
Due after five years through ten years..........................................            314.7           313.5
Due after ten years.............................................................            804.8           793.5
                                                                                       ----------      ----------

       Subtotal.................................................................          1,232.5         1,220.7
Mortgage-backed securities......................................................            578.3           574.4
                                                                                       ----------      ----------

       Total ...................................................................         $1,810.8        $1,795.1
                                                                                         ========        ========
</TABLE>

     Net investment income consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Year        Four months   Eight months        Year
                                                          ended         ended           ended           ended
                                                      December 31,   December 31,    August 31,     December 31,
                                                          1996           1995           1995            1994
                                                          ----           ----           ----            ----
                                                                          (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                      <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>
Actively managed fixed maturity securities.......        $146.4          $53.9          $110.2         $157.9
Mortgage loans...................................          11.8            4.8             8.0           13.0
Credit-tenant loans .............................           7.2            1.7             4.1            3.8
Policy loans.....................................           5.0            1.9             3.5            5.2
Short-term investments...........................           2.3             .8             1.9            3.8
Other invested assets............................          11.4             .3             1.6            3.2
Separate accounts................................          35.6           11.3             7.9            2.3
                                                       --------         ------       ---------      ---------

     Gross investment income.....................         219.7           74.7           137.2          189.2
Investment expenses..............................           1.3             .5              .8            1.3
                                                      ---------       --------      ----------      ---------

     Net investment income.......................        $218.4          $74.2          $136.4         $187.9
                                                         ======          =====          ======         ======
</TABLE>

     The Company did not have any fixed maturity  investments and mortgage loans
not accruing investment income in 1996, 1995 and 1994.



                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     The proceeds from sales of actively managed fixed maturity  securities were
$938.3  million in 1996,  $512.5  million in the four months ended  December 31,
1995,  $406.0  million in the eight  months  ended  August  31,  1995 and $578.3
million in 1994. Net investment gains consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Year        Four months   Eight months        Year
                                                          ended         ended           ended           ended
                                                      December 31,   December 31,    August 31,     December 31,
                                                          1996           1995           1995            1994
                                                          ----           ----           ----            ----
                                                                          (Dollars in millions)
<S>                                                       <C>            <C>             <C>            <C>

Fixed maturities:
   Gross gains...................................         $16.6          $16.5           $14.4          $17.6
   Gross losses..................................          (9.2)          (2.2)           (2.3)          (9.3)
   Other than temporary decline in fair value....           (.2)           (.4)           (1.2)          (1.0)
                                                        --------       --------         -------        -------

     Net investment gains from fixed maturities
       before expenses...........................           7.2           13.9            10.9            7.3
Mortgage loans...................................           -              -               (.2)             -
Other  ..........................................           -              -              (1.0)          (3.1)
Other than temporary decline in fair value.......           (.6)           -               -             -
                                                        --------      --------          ---------       -----

     Net investment gains before expenses........           6.6           13.9              9.7           4.2
Investment gain expenses.........................           3.9            1.4              2.4           4.0
                                                        ---------     ---------         ---------       ------
     Net investment gains........................        $  2.7          $12.5            $ 7.3           $.2
                                                         ======          =====            =====         =======
</TABLE>

     The change in net  unrealized  appreciation  (depreciation)  on investments
consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Year        Four months   Eight months        Year
                                                          ended         ended           ended           ended
                                                      December 31,   December 31,    August 31,     December 31,
                                                          1996           1995           1995            1994
                                                          ----           ----           ----            ----
                                                                          (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                    <C>               <C>            <C>         <C>
Actively managed fixed maturities................      $(66.5)           $45.5          $164.1         $(254.9)
Other invested assets............................        (1.3)              .1             5.1            (3.2)
                                                     --------          -------       ---------       -----------

         Subtotal................................       (67.8)            45.6           169.2          (258.1)
Less effect on other balance sheet accounts:
   Cost of policies purchased....................        36.6            (26.3)          (64.1)           93.1
   Cost of policies produced.....................         4.5             (2.7)          (12.0)           27.6
   Income taxes..................................         9.7             (6.1)          (34.1)           49.1
                                                       --------          ------         -------       ----------

Change in net unrealized appreciation

   (depreciation) of securities..................      $(17.0)           $10.5         $  59.0          $(88.3)
                                                       ======            =====         =======           ======
</TABLE>

     Investments in  mortgage-backed  securities at December 31, 1996,  included
collateralized   mortgage   obligations   ("CMOs")   of   $221.6   million   and
mortgage-backed  pass-through  securities of $352.8 million. CMOs are securities
backed by pools of pass-through  securities and/or mortgages that are segregated
into sections or "tranches." These securities provide for sequential  retirement
of  principal,  rather than the pro rata share of principal  return which occurs
through regular monthly principal payments on pass-through securities.


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     The following table sets forth the par value,  amortized cost and estimated
fair  value of  investments  in  mortgage-backed  securities  including  CMOs at
December 31, 1996, summarized by interest rates on the underlying collateral:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   Par       Amortized      Estimated
                                                                                  value        cost        fair value
                                                                                  -----        ----        ----------
                                                                                        (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                              <C>           <C>             <C>   
Below 7 percent .....................................................            $209.6        $205.1          $201.5
7 percent - 8 percent................................................             247.4         241.5           240.6
8 percent - 9 percent................................................              70.9          69.7            69.3
9 percent and above..................................................              60.1          62.0            63.0
                                                                               --------      --------        --------

     Total mortgage-backed securities................................            $588.0        $578.3          $574.4
                                                                                 ======        ======          ======
</TABLE>

     The amortized cost and estimated fair value of  mortgage-backed  securities
including  CMOs at December 31,  1996,  summarized  by type of security  were as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                          Estimated fair value
                                                                                          --------------------
                                                                                                        Percent
                                                                              Amortized                of fixed
                                                                                cost        Amount    maturities
                                                                                ----        ------    ----------
Type                                                                                 (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                             <C>          <C>           <C>
Pass-throughs and sequential and targeted amortization classes...........       $458.7       $454.9      25%
Accrual (Z tranche) bonds................................................          9.6          9.7       1
Planned amortization classes and accretion directed bonds................         77.2         76.7       4
Subordinated classes ....................................................         32.8         33.1       2
                                                                              --------     --------     ---

         Total mortgage-backed securities................................       $578.3       $574.4      32%
                                                                                ======       ======      ==
</TABLE>

     The following  table sets forth the amortized cost and estimated fair value
of  mortgage-backed  securities as of December 31, 1996,  based upon the pricing
source used to determine estimated fair value:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                        Estimated
                                                                                         Amortized        fair
                                                                                           cost           value
                                                                                           ----           -----
                                                                                           (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                                         <C>           <C>   
Nationally recognized pricing services .............................................        $515.1        $511.3
Broker-dealer market makers.........................................................          52.7          52.5
Internally developed methods (calculated based on a
       weighted-average current market yield of 7.4 percent)........................          10.5          10.6
                                                                                          --------      --------

         Total mortgage-backed securities...........................................        $578.3        $574.4
                                                                                            ======        ======
</TABLE>

       At December  31,  1996,  no  mortgage  loans or  credit-tenant  loans had
defaulted  as  to  principal  or  interest  for  more  than  60  days,  were  in
foreclosure,   had  been  converted  to  foreclosed  real  estate  or  had  been
restructured while the Company owned them. At December 31, 1996, the Company had
a loan loss reserve of $.9 million.  Approximately  30 percent,  18 percent,  16
percent and 6 percent of the mortgage loan balance were on properties located in
California,  Indiana, Texas and Florida,  respectively. No other state comprised
greater than 5 percent of the mortgage loan balance.

       As part of its  investment  strategy,  the Company  enters  into  reverse
repurchase  agreements and  dollar-roll  transactions  to increase its return on
investments and improve its liquidity.  These  transactions are accounted for as
short-term  borrowings  collateralized  by pledged  securities  with book values
approximately equal to the loan value. Such borrowings averaged approximately


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


$115.3  million  during 1996 compared to $84.4 million during 1995. The weighted
average  interest rate on short-term  collateralized  borrowings was 5.3 percent
and 5.4 percent during 1996 and 1995, respectively.  The primary risk associated
with  short-term  collateralized  borrowings  is that the  counterparty  will be
unable to perform  under the terms of the contract.  The  Company's  exposure is
limited to the excess of the net  replacement  cost of the  securities  over the
value of the  short-term  investments  (which was not  material at December  31,
1996). The Company believes that the  counterparties  to its reverse  repurchase
and dollar-roll agreements are financially responsible and that the counterparty
risk is minimal.

       Investments on deposit for regulatory authorities as required by law were
$17.1 million at December 31, 1996.

       No  investments  of a single  issuer  were in  excess  of 10  percent  of
shareholder's  equity at December 31,  1996,  other than  investments  issued or
guaranteed by the United States government.

4.   INSURANCE LIABILITIES

     Insurance liabilities consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          Interest               December 31,
                                            Withdrawal     Mortality        rate            ---------------------    
                                            assumption    assumption     assumption         1996             1995
                                            ----------    ----------     ----------         ----             ----
                                                                                             (Dollars in millions)
<S>                                         <C>           <C>            <C>         <C>                <C>
Future policy benefits:
  Investment contracts................          N/A          N/A            (b)           $1,282.1          $1,346.5
  Limited-payment contracts...........         None          (a)            8%               105.3              96.7
  Traditional life insurance                  Company
     contracts........................      experience       (a)            8%               146.2             153.5
  Universal life-type contracts.......          N/A          N/A            N/A              354.4             367.6
Claims payable and other
  policyholders'  funds...............          N/A          N/A            N/A               69.5              74.8
                                                                                       -----------       -----------

       Total..........................                                                    $1,957.5          $2,039.1
                                                                                          ========          ========
</TABLE>

- --------------------
(a) Principally  modifications  of the 1975-80 Basic Table,  Select and Ultimate
Table.

(b)  At December 31, 1996 and 1995,  approximately  98 percent of this liability
     represented account balances where future benefits were not guaranteed. The
     weighted  average  interest  rate  on the  remainder  of  the  liabilities,
     representing  the  present  value  of  guaranteed   future  benefits,   was
     approximately 7 percent at December 31, 1996.

     Participating  policies represented  approximately 3.5 percent, 3.7 percent
and 3.6 percent of total life insurance in force at December 31, 1996,  1995 and
1994,  respectively,  and approximately 2.7 percent, 2.4 percent and 7.5 percent
of  premium  income  for  1996,  1995  and  1994,  respectively.   Dividends  on
participating  policies amounted to $1.9 million,  $1.8 million and $1.7 million
in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

5.   REINSURANCE

     Cost of reinsurance  ceded where the reinsured  policy  contains  mortality
risks totaled $24.6 million in 1996,  $29.1 million in 1995 and $35.3 million in
1994.  This cost was deducted from  insurance  premium  revenue.  The Company is
contingently  liable for claims  reinsured if the assuming  company is unable to
pay.  Reinsurance  recoveries  netted against  insurance policy benefits totaled
$19.4 million in 1996, $19.5 million in 1995 and $27.5 million in 1994.

     Effective  October 1, 1995,  Western  National Life  Insurance  Company,  a
former subsidiary of Conseco, recaptured certain annuity businesses ceded to the
Company  through a reinsurance  agreement.  Reserves  related to these  policies
totaled $72.8 million.  Recapture fees of $.7 million were  recognized as income
during the four months ended December 31, 1995.

 

                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     The Company's reinsurance  receivable balance at December 31, 1996, relates
to many reinsurers. No balance from a single reinsurer exceeds $7.0 million.

6.   INCOME TAXES

     Income tax liabilities consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             December 31,
                                                                                      -------------------------
                                                                                      1996                 1995
                                                                                      ----                 ----
                                                                                           (Dollars in millions)

Deferred income tax liabilities (assets):

<S>                                                                                  <C>                   <C>  
   Cost of policies purchased and cost of policies produced..................        $60.3                 $44.7
   Investments...............................................................         (3.3)                  8.6
   Insurance liabilities.....................................................        (19.7)                (21.7)
   Unrealized appreciation (depreciation)....................................         (2.5)                  7.2
   Other.....................................................................         (5.0)                 (7.7)
                                                                                   -------                ------
       Deferred income tax liabilities.......................................         29.8                  31.1
Current income tax liabilities...............................................           -                    7.9
                                                                                   ---------               -------

       Income tax liabilities................................................        $29.8                 $39.0
                                                                                     =====                 =====
</TABLE>

Income tax expense was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Year        Four months   Eight months       Year
                                                          ended          ended          ended          ended
                                                      December 31,   December 31,    August 31,    December 31,
                                                          1996           1995           1995           1994
                                                          ----           ----           ----           ----
                                                                          (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                       <C>            <C>             <C>           <C>  
Current tax provision...............................      $10.5          $11.9           $19.9         $20.0
Deferred tax provision (benefit)....................        4.9           (2.2)           (3.4)          2.7
                                                        -------         -------         -------       -------

       Income tax expense...........................      $15.4         $  9.7           $16.5         $22.7
                                                          =====         ======           =====         =====
</TABLE>

     Income tax expense differed from that computed at the applicable  statutory
rate of 35 percent for the following reasons:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Year        Four months   Eight months       Year
                                                          ended          ended          ended          ended
                                                      December 31,   December 31,    August 31,    December 31,
                                                          1996           1995           1995           1994
                                                          ----           ----           ----           ----
                                                                          (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                       <C>             <C>            <C>           <C>  
Federal tax on income before income taxes at
   statutory rate....................................     $14.4           $9.0           $15.6         $21.5
State taxes and other................................        .6             .5              .4            .5
Nondeductible items..................................        .4             .2              .5            .7
                                                       --------         ------        --------       -------

     Income tax expense..............................     $15.4           $9.7           $16.5         $22.7
                                                          =====           ====           =====         =====
</TABLE>

     The Company is currently being examined by the Internal Revenue Service for
the 1994 tax year.  The Company  believes  that the outcome of this  examination
will  not have a  material  impact  on its  financial  position  or  results  of
operations.



                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


7.   RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     The Company  operates  without  direct  employees  through  management  and
service  agreements  with  subsidiaries  of  Conseco.  Fees  for  such  services
(including  data  processing,  executive  management and  investment  management
services)  were based on negotiated  rates for periods prior to January 1, 1996.
Pursuant  to new service  agreements  effective  January 1, 1996,  such fees are
based on Conseco's direct and directly allocable costs plus a 10 percent margin.
Total fees incurred by the Company under such  agreements  were $44.1 million in
1996, $26.6 million in 1995 and $25.1 million in 1994.

     During  1996,  the  Company  purchased  $31.5  million  par value of senior
subordinated notes issued by subsidiaries of Conseco.  Such notes had a carrying
value of $34.7  million at  December  31,  1996,  and are  classified  as "other
invested  assets" in the accompanying  balance sheet. In addition,  during 1996,
the Company  forgave  receivables  from  Conseco  totaling  $9.9  million.  This
transaction is reflected as a dividend to Conseco in the accompanying  statement
of shareholder's equity.

8.   OTHER OPERATING INFORMATION

     Insurance policy income consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Year        Four months    Eight months       Year
                                                            ended         ended            ended          ended
                                                        December 31,   December 31,     August 31,    December 31,
                                                            1996           1995            1995           1994
                                                            ----           ----            ----           ----
                                                                           (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                         <C>             <C>            <C>            <C>    
Direct premiums collected............................       $241.3          $ 82.8         $158.6         $ 240.3
Reinsurance assumed..................................          1.7              .7            2.0             3.1
Reinsurance ceded....................................        (24.6)          (11.2)         (17.9)          (35.3)
                                                           --------        --------       --------       ---------
     Premiums collected, net of reinsurance..........        218.4            72.3          142.7           208.1
Less premiums on universal life and products without
   mortality risk which are recorded as additions to
   insurance liabilities.............................       (169.8)          (50.8)        (104.4)         (146.0)
                                                           -------        --------        -------          ------
     Premiums on products with mortality and morbidity
       risk, recorded as insurance policy income.....         48.6            21.5           38.3            62.1
Fees and surrender charges...........................         32.8            10.3           22.2            36.5
                                                         ---------        --------       --------       ---------

       Insurance policy income.......................     $   81.4          $ 31.8        $  60.5        $   98.6
                                                          ========          ======        =======        ========
</TABLE>

     The four states with the largest shares of the Company's premiums collected
in 1996 were Texas (29 percent),  Florida (19  percent),  California (9 percent)
and Michigan (7 percent).  No other state's share of premiums collected exceeded
5 percent.

     Other operating costs and expenses were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Year        Four months    Eight months       Year
                                                            ended         ended            ended          ended
                                                        December 31,   December 31,     August 31,    December 31,
                                                            1996           1995            1995           1994
                                                            ----           ----            ----           ----
                                                                           (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                         <C>           <C>              <C>            <C>  
Policy maintenance expense...........................       $37.8         $  6.5           $14.0          $19.0
State premium taxes and guaranty assessments.........         4.4            1.6             1.1            3.0
Commission expense...................................        12.1            5.0             8.6           15.3
                                                           ------        -------          ------         ------

       Other operating costs and expenses............       $54.3          $13.1           $23.7          $37.3
                                                            =====          =====           =====          =====
</TABLE>


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     Anticipated  returns  from the  investment  of  policyholder  balances  are
considered in determining the amortization of the cost of policies purchased and
cost of policies produced. Sales of fixed maturity investments during 1996, 1995
and 1994,  changed the incidence of profits on such policies because  investment
gains and losses were recognized currently and the expected future yields on the
investment of policyholder balances were affected. Accordingly,  amortization of
the cost of policies  purchased  and cost of policies  produced was increased by
$2.5 million in 1996,  $10.0 million in the four months ended December 31, 1995,
$4.3 million for the eight  months  ended  August 31, 1995,  and $2.7 million in
1994.

     The changes in the cost of policies purchased were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Year        Four months    Eight months       Year
                                                            ended         ended            ended          ended
                                                        December 31,   December 31,     August 31,    December 31,
                                                            1996           1995            1995           1994
                                                            ----           ----            ----           ----
                                                                           (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                         <C>             <C>            <C>           <C>    
Balance, beginning of period.........................       $120.0          $159.0         $173.9        $  93.0
   Amortization related to operations:
     Cash flow realized..............................        (26.2)           (9.4)         (19.1)         (30.4)
     Interest added..................................         13.1             5.0           12.7           20.8
   Amortization related to sales of fixed maturity

     investments.....................................         (2.2)           (8.3)          (3.4)          (2.6)
   Amounts related to fair value adjustment of actively
     managed fixed maturity securities...............         36.6           (26.3)         (64.1)          93.1
   Adjustment of balance due to new accounting
     basis and other.................................          1.7              -            59.0             -
                                                       -----------          ----------      ------       ----------

Balance, end of period...............................       $143.0          $120.0         $159.0         $173.9
                                                            ======          =======         =====         ======
</TABLE>

     Based on current  conditions  and  assumptions  as to future  events on all
policies in force,  approximately  9.2 percent,  9.2 percent,  8.3 percent,  7.3
percent  and 6.7 percent of the cost of policies  purchased  as of December  31,
1996, are expected to be amortized in each of the next five years, respectively.
The discount  rates used to determine the  amortization  of the cost of policies
purchased ranged from 5 percent to 8 percent and averaged 5.5 percent.

     The changes in the cost of policies produced were as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Year        Four months    Eight months       Year
                                                            ended         ended            ended          ended
                                                        December 31,   December 31,     August 31,    December 31,
                                                            1996           1995            1995           1994
                                                            ----           ----            ----           ----
                                                                           (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                          <C>             <C>          <C>              <C>  
Balance, beginning of period.........................        $24.0           $25.9        $  63.2          $30.8
   Additions.........................................         13.2             3.0            6.6            9.4
   Amortization related to operations................         (3.2)            (.5)          (4.0)          (4.5)
   Amortization related to sales of fixed maturity
     investments.....................................          (.3)           (1.7)           (.9)           (.1)
   Amounts related to fair value adjustment of actively
     managed fixed maturity securities...............          4.5            (2.7)         (12.0)          27.6
   Adjustment of balance due to new accounting basis            -                -          (27.0)             -
                                                            ---------       --------       -------        -------

Balance, end of period...............................        $38.2            $24.0         $25.9          $63.2
                                                             =====            =====         =====        ========
</TABLE>



                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


9.   STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

     Income taxes paid during 1996,  1995, and 1994,  were $18.1 million,  $19.3
million and $20.3 million, respectively.

     Short-term  investments having original  maturities of three months or less
are  considered  to be cash  equivalents.  All cash is  invested  in  short-term
investments.

10.  STATUTORY INFORMATION

     Statutory  accounting  practices  prescribed  or  permitted  for  insurance
companies by regulatory  authorities differ from generally  accepted  accounting
principles. The Company reported the following amounts to regulatory agencies:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                                                                                December 31,
                                                                                     --------------------    
                                                                                     1996            1995
                                                                                     ----            ----
                                                                                      (Dollars in millions)

<S>                                                                                  <C>             <C>   
   Statutory capital and surplus..................................................   $140.3          $156.2
   Asset valuation reserve ("AVR")................................................     28.7            26.2
   Interest maintenance reserve ("IMR")...........................................     63.1            64.7
                                                                                   --------        --------

       Total......................................................................   $232.1          $247.1
                                                                                     ======          ======
</TABLE>

     The Company had  statutory net income of $32.6  million,  $38.4 million and
$37.7 million in 1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.

     Statutory  accounting  practices  classify certain  segregated  portions of
surplus, called AVR and IMR, as liabilities. The purpose of these accounts is to
stabilize  statutory net income and surplus  against  fluctuations in the market
value  and  creditworthiness  of  investments.  The IMR  captures  all  realized
investment  gains and  losses  resulting  from  changes  in  interest  rates and
provides for subsequent  amortization  of such amounts into statutory net income
on a basis  reflecting  the remaining  life of the assets sold. The AVR captures
investment gains and losses related to changes in  creditworthiness  and is also
adjusted each year based on a formula related to the quality and loss experience
of the investment portfolio.

     The following  table compares the pre-tax income  determined on a statutory
accounting basis with such income reported herein in accordance with GAAP:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            Year        Four months    Eight months      Year
                                                            ended         ended            ended         ended
                                                        December 31,   December 31,     August 31,   December 31,
                                                            1996           1995            1995          1994
                                                            ----           ----            ----          ----
                                                                           (Dollars in millions)
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>           <C>               <C>
Pre-tax income as reported on a statutory accounting
   basis before transfers to and from and
   amortization of the IMR...........................       $40.2         $ 33.6          $ 50.2         $ 58.6

GAAP adjustments:
   Investments valuation.............................         4.9           (3.3)             .8            7.5
   Amortization related to operations................       (17.8)          (5.3)          (11.7)         (16.0)
   Amortization related to investment gains..........        (2.5)         (10.0)           (4.3)          (2.7)
   Deferral of cost of policies produced.............        13.2            3.0             6.6            9.4
   Insurance liabilities.............................         3.2            5.1             2.5            2.5
   Other ............................................         (.1)           2.7              .6            2.2
                                                          --------         --------      ----------       --------

       Net effect of GAAP adjustments................          .9           (7.8)           (5.5)           2.9
                                                         --------          --------        ---------      --------

       GAAP pre-tax income...........................       $41.1         $ 25.8          $ 44.7         $ 61.5
                                                            =====         ======          ======         ======
</TABLE>


                    GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY

                          Notes to Financial Statements

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


     State insurance laws generally restrict the ability of insurance  companies
to pay dividends or make other distributions. Approximately $32.7 million of the
Company's net assets at December 31, 1996,  are available  for  distribution  in
1997 without permission of state regulatory authorities.
    
          TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

                                                                          PAGE

Company

Independent Accountants

Legal Opinions

Distribution

Performance Information

Tax Status

Annuity Provisions

Financial Statements

                                   APPENDIX A
                             MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT

The market value  adjustment  reflects the impact that changing  interest  rates
have on the value of your money in a  guarantee  period of the MVA  option.  The
longer the period of time  remaining in the term you  selected,  the greater the
impact of changing  interest rates.  The market value adjustment can be positive
or  negative.   We  will  apply  the  following  factor  to  amounts  withdrawn,
transferred  or annuitized  from a guarantee  period in excess of the MVA waiver
amount (see below):

          (1 + A)  N/365
         [_______]        - 1
          (1 + B)

where:

   A is the  U.S.  Treasury  rate  that is in  effect  at the  beginning  of the
   guarantee period for the length of the guarantee period you selected.

   B is the  current  U.S.  Treasury  rate as of the date of the  withdrawal  or
   transfer  plus .005.  The Treasury rate period is determined by N/365 rounded
   to the next highest year.

   N is the number of days remaining in the guarantee period.

If the  Treasury  rate  is not  available  for  the  period,  the  rate  will be
determined by interpolation.  If no Treasury rates are available,  an index will
be  selected by Great  American  Reserve and which will be approved by the state
insurance commissioners.

MVA Waiver Amount:  After the first year in a guarantee period, you can make one
withdrawal  or transfer  from a  guarantee  period each year of up to 10% of the
value in that guarantee period without the market value adjustment.

EXAMPLES OF THE MARKET VALUE ADJUSTMENT:

EXAMPLE 1: FIVE-YEAR GUARANTEE PERIOD; INCREASE IN TREASURY RATE

Assume you make a $50,000  payment  allocated  to a 5-year  guarantee  period on
January 1, 1998.  The current  5-year  Treasury  rate is 6.00%,  and the current
interest rate is 7.00%. On June 13, 1999 you surrender the contract with 3 years
and 202 days,  or 1,297 days  (12/31/2002-6/13/1999)  remaining in the guarantee
period.  The current  Treasury  rate at this point is found by rounding 3 years,
202  days to the  next  greatest  year and  taking  the rate for that  guarantee
period.  In this case, we would look at the 4-year rate.  Assume that the 4-year
Treasury rate on June 13, 1997 is 6.50%.  The market value  adjustment  would be
calculated as follows:

Contract value at 6/13/1999 (529 days from the day your contract was issued):

         (529/365)

$50,000 x(1.07) = $55,151.38  MVA Waiver Amount: $ 5,515.14 (10% after year 1)
                              Amount remaining:  $49,636.24

                                       (1,297/365)

$49,636.24 x [( (1+.06)/(1+.065+.005) )            -1] =  -$1,628.83

resulting in an adjustment to the amount you withdraw as follows:

$49,636.24 - $1,628.83 + $5,515.14 = $53,522.55

EXAMPLE 2: FIVE-YEAR GUARANTEE PERIOD; DECREASE IN TREASURY RATE

Assuming the same facts as Example 1, but with a 4-year  Treasury rate as of the
date of surrender of 5.00%, the following market value adjustment would result:

Contract value at 6/13/1999 (529 days from the day your contact was issued):

          (529/365)

$50,000 x(1.07) = $55,151.38  MVA Waiver Amount: $ 5,515.14 (10% after 1 year)
                              Amount remaining:  $49,636.24

                                 (1,297/365)

$49,636.24 x [( (1+.06)/(1+.050+.005) )     - 1] = $840.99

resulting in an adjustment to the amount you withdraw as follows:

$49,636.24 + $840.99 + $5,515.14 = $55,992.37

(contingent deferred sales charges may also apply)


               If you would  like a free  copy of the  Statement  of  Additional
               Information  dated February 9, 1998, for this prospectus,  please
               complete this form, detach, and mail to:

                            Great American Reserve Insurance Company
                            Administrative Office
                            11815 N. Pennsylvania Street
                            Carmel, Indiana 46032

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


               Please  send  me a free  copy  of  the  statement  of  additional
               information  for the fixed and variable  annuity at the following
               address:

               Name: _____________________________________________

               Mailing Address: _________________________________________

                                _________________________________________

                                                     Sincerely,

                                                     ---------------------------
                                                           (Signature)









                PART II - INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

ITEM 13.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

Securities and Exchange Commission       $  
Registration Fees                            1,475
Printing                                   100,000
Legal Fees and Expenses                     70,000
Accounting Fees and Expenses                50,000
Actuarial Fees and Expenses                 50,000
Other Consulting Fees                       10,000
Miscellaneous                               20,000
                                         $ 301,475

ITEM 14.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

The Bylaws of the Company (Article VI) provide that:

The  Corporation  shall  indemnify  any  person  who  was or is a  party,  or is
threatened to be made a party, to any threatened,  pending, or completed action,
suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,  administrative,  or investigative,
by  reason  of  the  fact  that  he is or  was a  director  or  officer  of  the
Corporation,  or is or was  serving  at the  request  of  the  Corporation  as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,  partnership, joint
venture,  trust or other  enterprise  (collectively,  "Agent")  against expenses
(including  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines,  penalties,  court  costs and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
with such action,  suit or  proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner
he  reasonably  believed  to be in or not opposed to the best  interests  of the
Corporation,  and,  with respect to any criminal  action or  proceeding,  had no
reasonable  cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.  The  termination  of any
action,  suit,  or proceeding by judgment,  order,  settlement  (whether with or
without court  approval),  conviction  or upon a plea of NOLO  CONTENDERE or its
equivalent,  shall not, of itself,  create a presumption  that the Agent did not
act in good faith and in a manner which he  reasonably  believed to be in or not
opposed to the best  interests  of the  Corporation,  and,  with  respect to any
criminal  action or  proceeding,  had no  reasonable  cause to believe  that his
conduct was unlawful.  If several  claims,  issues or matters are  involved,  an
Agent may be entitled to  indemnification  as to some  matters even though he is
not entitled as to other  matters.  Any  director or officer of the  Corporation
serving in any  capacity  of  another  corporation,  of which a majority  of the
shares  entitled to vote in the election of its  directors is held,  directly or
indirectly, by the Corporation, shall be deemed to be doing so at the request of
the Corporation.

Insofar as  indemnification  for liability  arising under the  Securities Act of
1933 may be  permitted  directors  and  officers or  controlling  persons of the
Company  pursuant to the foregoing,  or otherwise,  the Company has been advised
that  in  the  opinion  of  the   Securities   and  Exchange   Commission   such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and, therefore,
unenforceable.  In the  event  that a claim  for  indemnification  against  such
liabilities  (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid
by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the Company in the successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer
or controlling  person in connection with the securities being  registered,  the
Company  will,  unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled
by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of appropriate  jurisdiction  the
question  whether  such  indemnification  by  it is  against  public  policy  as
expressed  in the Act and will be  governed  by the final  adjudication  of such
issue.

ITEM 15.  RECENT SALES OF UNREGISTERED SECURITIES

None

ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

a.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The  financial  statements  of the  Company  together  with the  opinions  of an
independent  certified  public  accountant are included in the Prospectus.

b.  EXHIBITS

    1.      Principal Underwriter's Agreement

    3.(i)   Company's Articles of Incorporation*

    3.(ii)  Company's By-laws*

    3.(iii) Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company*

    4.(i)   Individual Fixed and Variable Deferred Annuity Contract*

    4.(ii)  Allocated Fixed and Variable Group Annuity Contract*

    4.(iii) Allocated Fixed and Variable Group Annuity Certificate*

    5.      Opinion of Counsel re: Legality 

    21.     Company Organizational Chart

    23.(i)  Consent of Counsel 

    23.(ii) Consent of Independent Accountants

    24.     Power of Attorney

* Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Form S-1 filed electronically
on November 14, 1997.

ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

     1. To file,  during any period in which  offers or sales are being made,  a
post effective amendment to this registration statement:

         (i)  to include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;

         (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the
effective date of the registration  statement (or the most recent post-effective
amendment  thereof)  which,  individually  or  in  the  aggregate,  represent  a
fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement;

         (iii) to include any material  information  with respect to the plan of
distribution  not  previously  disclosed  in the  registration  statement or any
material change to such information in the registration statement.

     2. That, for the purpose of determining  any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933,  each  such  post-effective  amendment  shall be deemed to be a new
registration  statement  relating to the  securities  offered  therein,  and the
offering of such  securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     3. To remove from  registration by means of a post-effective  amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.



                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
has  caused  this  registration  statement  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned,  thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Carmel, State of Indiana
on this 2nd day of February, 1998.

                                GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE
                                INSURANCE COMPANY
                                   Registrant

                                By: DONALD F. GONGAWARE*
                                -------------------------------
                                Donald F. Gongaware, President    
                                    
Attest:

/s/JOHN J. SABL
- ------------------------
John J. Sabl, Secretary


*/s/WILLIAM P. LATIMER
- ----------------------------------
William P. Latimer
Attorney-in-fact

As required by the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration  Statement has been
signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE                                               TITLE                       DATE
- ---------                                               -----                       ----
<S>                                                     <C>                         <C>
/s/NGAIRE E. CUNEO
- ----------------------                           Director                         2-2-98                                          
Ngaire E. Cuneo

/s/STEPHEN C. HILBERT                     
- ----------------------                           Director and Chairman            2-2-98                         
Stephen C. Hilbert                                    of the Board

/s/ROLLIN M. DICK                  
- ----------------------                           Director, Executive Vice         2-2-98                              
Rollin M. Dick                                   President and Chief Financial
                                                 Officer (Principal Financial
                                                 Officer and Principal
                                                 Accounting Officer of the
                                                 Registrant)

/s/JOHN J. SABL                                  Director, Executive Vice         2-2-98                         
- ----------------------                           President, General Counsel
John J. Sabl                                     and Secretary

DONALD F. GONGAWARE*                             Director and President           2-2-98                  
- -------------------------                        (Principal Executive
Donald F. Gongaware                              Officer of the Registrant)
                       



*/s/WILLIAM P. LATIMER
- -----------------------------
William P. Latimer
Attorney-in-fact
                          
</TABLE>


                                INDEX TO EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT                                                                   PAGE

1        Principal Underwriter's Agreement
5        Opinion of Counsel re: Legality
21       Company Organizational Chart
23(i)    Consent of Counsel
23(ii)   Consent of Independent Accountants
24       Power of Attorney


                      PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER'S AGREEMENT


                      PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER'S AGREEMENT

     IT IS HEREBY AGREED by and between GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY
("INSURANCE  COMPANY")  on behalf of GREAT  AMERICAN  RESERVE  VARIABLE  ANNUITY
ACCOUNT F (the "Variable  Account") and CONSECO EQUITY SALES,  INC.  ("PRINCIPAL
UNDERWRITER") as follows:

                                      I

     INSURANCE COMPANY proposes to issue and sell Individual and Group Fixed and
Variable  Deferred Annuity  Contracts and Certificates  (the "Contracts") of the
Variable  Account to the public  through  PRINCIPAL  UNDERWRITER.  The PRINCIPAL
UNDERWRITER  agrees to provide sales service subject to the terms and conditions
hereof.  The Contracts to be sold are more fully  described in the  registration
statement and prospectus hereinafter mentioned. Such Contracts will be issued by
INSURANCE COMPANY through the Variable Account.

                                      II

     INSURANCE COMPANY grants PRINCIPAL  UNDERWRITER the exclusive right, during
the  term  of  this  Agreement,  subject  to  registration  requirements  of the
Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the provisions
of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, to be the  distributor of the Contracts
issued  through  the  Variable  Account.  PRINCIPAL  UNDERWRITER  will  sell the
Contracts under such terms as set by INSURANCE  COMPANY and will make such sales
to purchasers permitted to buy such Contracts as specified in the prospectus.

                                     III

     PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER shall be compensated for its distribution services in
such amount as to meet all of its  obligations  to selling  broker-dealers  with
respect to all Purchase  Payments accepted by INSURANCE COMPANY on the Contracts
covered hereby.

                                      IV

     On  behalf  of  the  Variable  Account,  INSURANCE  COMPANY  shall  furnish
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER with copies of all prospectuses,  financial statements and
other  documents  which  PRINCIPAL  UNDERWRITER  reasonably  requests for use in
connection  with the  distribution  of the  Contracts.  INSURANCE  COMPANY shall
provide to PRINCIPAL  UNDERWRITER such number of copies of the current effective
prospectuses as PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER shall request.

                                      V

     PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER is not authorized to give any information, or to make
any  representations  concerning  the  Contracts  or  the  Variable  Account  of
INSURANCE  COMPANY  other  than  those  contained  in the  current  registration
statements  or  prospectuses  relating to the  Variable  Account  filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission or such sales literature as may be authorized
by INSURANCE COMPANY.

                                      VI

     Both  parties  to this  Agreement  agree to keep the  necessary  records as
indicated  by  applicable  state and  federal  law and to render  the  necessary
assistance  to one  another  for the  accurate  and timely  preparation  of such
records.

                                     VII

     This Agreement shall be effective upon the execution hereof and will remain
in effect unless  terminated  as  hereinafter  provided.  This  Agreement  shall
automatically  be  terminated  in the  event  of  its  assignment  by  PRINCIPAL
UNDERWRITER.

     This Agreement may at any time be terminated by either party hereto upon 60
days' written notice to the other party.

                                     VIII

     All  notices,   requests,  demands  and  other  communications  under  this
Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given on the date
of service if served  personally on the party to whom notice is to be given,  or
on the date of mailing if sent by First Class  Mail,  Registered  or  Certified,
postage prepaid and properly addressed.

     IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this  instrument to be
signed on their behalf by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

     EXECUTED this ____ day of ___________, 1998.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                     <C>
                        INSURANCE COMPANY

                        GREAT AMERICAN RESERVE INSURANCE COMPANY



                        BY:/s/ MICHAEL A. COLLIFLOWER
                        ---------------------------------------------------
                        Michael A. Colliflower, Senior Vice President

ATTEST:
- ----------------------                                         
             Secretary

                        PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER

                        CONSECO EQUITY SALES, INC.


                        BY:/s/ L. GREGORY GLOECKNER
                        ---------------------------------------
                        L. Gregory Gloeckner, President 

ATTEST:
- ----------------------                                         
             Secretary
</TABLE>



Blazzard,  Grodd  &  Hasenauer,  P.C.
943  Post  Road  East
Westport,  CT  06880
(203)  226-7866

February 2, 1998

Board  of  Directors
Great  American  Reserve  Insurance  Company
11825  N.  Pennsylvania  Street
Carmel,  IN  46032-4572

Re:  Opinion  of  Counsel  -  Great  American  Reserve  Insurance  Company

Gentlemen:

You  have  requested our Opinion of Counsel in connection with the filing with
the Securities and Exchange Commission of a Registration Statement on Form S-1
for the Individual and Group Annuity Contracts and Certificates  (the  
"Contracts")  to  be  issued  by  Great  American  Reserve Insurance  Company.

We  have  made  such examination of the law and have examined such records and
documents  as  in  our  judgment  are necessary or appropriate to enable us to
render  the  opinions  expressed  below.

We  are  of  the  following  opinions:

     1.    Great  American  Reserve  Insurance Company is a valid and existing
stock  life  insurance  company  of  the  state  of  Texas.

     2. Upon the  acceptance of purchase  payments made by an  Owner/Certificate
Owner pursuant to a Contract issued in accordance with the Prospectus  contained
in the  Registration  Statement and upon compliance with applicable law, such an
Owner/Certificate Owner will have a legally-issued,  fully-paid,  non-assessable
contractual interest under such Contract.

You  may  use  this  opinion  letter,  or a copy thereof, as an exhibit to the
Registration  Statement.

Sincerely,

BLAZZARD,  GRODD  &  HASENAUER,  P.C.

By:  /S/LYNN  KORMAN  STONE
    __________________________
        Lynn  Korman  Stone



ORGANIZATIONAL CHART
December 31, 1997

Conseco,  Inc.,  a  publicly  traded  holding  company  which  owns  100% of the
following:

Conseco Capital Management, Inc.
Conseco Private Capital Group, Inc.
Conseco Risk Management, Inc.
Conseco Mortgage Capital, Inc.
Conseco Group Risk Management Company
Lincoln American Life Insurance Company
Marketing Distribution Systems Consulting Group, Inc.
CIHC, Incorporated
Conseco Equity Sales, Inc.
CNC Real Estate, Inc.
Conseco Entertainment, Inc.

Conseco Partnership Management, Inc. owns 100% of American Life Holdings, Inc.

Conseco HPLP is owned 99% by Conseco, Inc. and 1% by Conseco Entertainment

Conseco LLC is owned 90% by CIHC and 10% by Conseco, Inc.

Conseco Entertainment LLC is owned 99% by Conseco Entertainment Inc. and 1% by
CIHC

American Life Holdings, Inc. owns 100% of American Life Holding Company
American Life Holding Company owns 100% of American Life & Casualty Insurance
Co. which owns 100% of Vulcan Life Insurance Company

Conseco Global Investments, Inc.

Conseco Risk Management, Inc. owns 100% of the following:

Wells & Company

CRM Acquisition Company which owns 100% of Wellsco, Inc.

Marketing Distribution Systems Consulting Group, Inc. owns 100% of the
following:

MDS Securities Incorporated
BankMark School of Business
Investment Services Center of Delaware, Inc.
Bankmark, Inc.
Community Insurance Agency, Inc. (NH)
InveStar Insurance Agency, Inc. (IN)
InveStar Insurance Agency, Inc. (OH)
Marketing Distribution Systems, Inc.

MDS of New Jersey, Inc. which owns 100% of Community Insurance Agency, Inc.
(MA)

CICH, Incorporated owns 100% of the following:

K.F. Agency, Inc.

Wabash Life Insurance Company owns 100% of the following:
    Independent Processing Services, Inc.
    Philadelphia LIC owns 100% of the following:
    Lamar LIC
    Conseco LIC
    Conseco Travel Services, Inc.
    Stratford Capital Group Inc.
K.F. Insurance Agency of Massachusetts Inc.
American Life Holdings, Inc.
K.F. Agency of Texas

Capitol American Financial Corporation owns 100% of the following:

     Capitol American LIC which owns 100% of the following:

     Frontier National LIC
     Capitol National LIC

Bankers Life Insurance Company of Illinois

Jefferson  National  Life  Insurance  Company  of Texas  which  owns 100% of the
    following:

   Beneficial Standard Life Insurance Company

   American Travelers Life Insurance Company which owns 100% of the following:

                  Continental Life Insurance Company

                  United General Life Insurance Company

                  Conseco Life Insurance Company of New York
   Great American Reserve Insurance Company

Bankers National Life Insurance Company which owns 100% of the following:
   National Fidelity LIC

KP Acquisition Corp.
NACT, Inc.:

   Conseco Services LLC owns 100% of the following:

         Conseco Marketing LLC

Pioneer Financial Services, Inc. owns 100% of the following:

   PL Holdings Inc.

   National Benefit Plans, Inc. which owns 100% of the following:

                  Design Securities Corporaiton
                  Conseco Teleservices, Inc.
                  Target Ad Group, Inc.

                  Design Benefit Plans, Inc. which owns 100% of the following:
                           Continental Marketing Corporation of Illinois, Inc.
                               DBP of Nevada, Inc.
                      Design Benefit Plans of Oregon, Inc.

   Pioneer Life Insurance Company which owns 100% of the following:
                  Health & Life Insurance Company of America
                  Manhattan National Life Insurance Company which owns 100% of
                  the following:

                           Connecticut National Life Insurance Company

                            MNL Marketing Corporation

   Pioneer Sequros
   Especializados, S.A. de C.V.
   Integrated Networks, Inc.
   Administrators Service Corp.

   Direct Financial Services, Inc. which owns 100% of the following:

        Erie International Insurance Company, Inc.
        Association Management Corp. which owns 100% of the following:

                  Pioneer Savers Plan, Inc.
                  Independent Savers Plan, Inc.

        Network Air Medical Systems Inc.
        Partners Health Group, Inc.

        Personal Health Care, Inc. which owns 100% of the following:

                  Healthscope, Inc.
                  The Nations Health Plan, Inc.

        Preferred Health Choice, Inc.
        Geneva International Insurance Company, Inc.
        Response Air Ambulance Network, Inc.

        United Life Holdings, Inc.

   Markman International LLC

   United Group Holdings Inc. which owns 100% of the following:

                  National Group LIC

                      Continental Life and Accident Company

Wabash Life Insurance company owns 100% of Philadelphia Life Insurance Company

American Life Holdings, Inc. owns 100% of American Life Holding Company

Capitol American Financial Corporation owns 100% of Capitol American Life
Insurance Company

Bankers Life Insurance Company of Illinois owns 100% of Bankers Life &
Casualty Company

Bankers Life & Casualty Company owns 100% of Certified Life Insurance Company



                             CONSENT OF COUNSEL

We consent to the  reference to our Firm under the caption  "Legal  Opinions" in
the Prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement.

/S/ BLAZZARD, GRODD & HASENAUER, P.C.

Blazzard, Grodd & Hasenauer, P.C.


February 2, 1998

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


     We consent to the  inclusion  in this  registration  statement  on Form S-1
(File No.  333-40301),  of our report  dated  March 14, 1997 on our audit of the
financial  statements  of Great  American  Reserve  Insurance  Company.  We also
consent  to  the   reference   to  our  firm  under  the  caption   "Independent
Accountants."





                                          /s/COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

                                             COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
  


Indianapolis, Indiana
January 30, 1998

                            LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY

     KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, Donald F. Gongaware, a Director
and/or  Officer of Great  American  Reserve  Insurance  Company  ("Company"),  a
corporation  duly  organized  under the laws of the  State of  Texas,  do hereby
appoint Karl W. Kindig and/or William P. Latimer, or either one of the foregoing
individually,  as my  attorney  and agent,  for me, and in my name as a Director
and/or Officer of this Company on behalf of the Company or otherwise,  with full
power to execute,  deliver and file with the Securities and Exchange  Commission
all documents  required for  registration of variable  annuity and variable life
insurance  contracts,  including a market  value  adjustment  option,  under the
Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended,  and to do and perform  each and every act
that said attorney may deem  necessary or advisable to comply with the intent of
the aforesaid Act.

       WITNESS my hand this 3rd day of November, 1997.

WITNESS:


/S/ DONALD F. GONGAWARE
- -----------------------------------------
Donald F. Gongaware
Director, President
(Principal Executive Officer)


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