PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B
497, 1996-05-02
Previous: ASSOCIATES CORPORATION OF NORTH AMERICA, 424B3, 1996-05-02
Next: BASE TEN SYSTEMS INC, S-3/A, 1996-05-02





                     PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                               SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

                                PREMIER VARIABLE

                       (A Group Variable Annuity Contract

                        For Employer- Sponsored Qualified

                       And Non-Qualified Retirement Plans)


        Issued by Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company (the "Company")


                         Prospectus dated May 1, 1996

     This Prospectus  concisely sets forth  information  about Principal  Mutual
Life Insurance  Company  Separate  Account B, Premier Variable (a Group Variable
Annuity  Contract)  (the  "Contract")  that an  investor  ought  to know  before
investing. It should be read and retained for future reference.


     Additional  information  about the  Contracts,  including  a  Statement  of
Additional Information, dated May 1, 1996, has been filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. The Statement of Additional Information is incorporated
by reference  into this  Prospectus.  The table of contents of the  Statement of
Additional  Information  appears  on page 34 of this  Prospectus.  A copy of the
Statement  of  Additional  Information  can be  obtained,  free of charge,  upon
request by writing or telephoning:


                     Princor Financial Services Corporation
                                   a Member of
                          The Principal Financial Group
                              Des Moines, IA 50392
                            Telephone: 1-800-247-4123


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


This  Prospectus is valid only when  accompanied  by the current  prospectus for
Principal  Balanced Fund,  Inc.,  Principal Bond Fund, Inc.,  Principal  Capital
Accumulation  Fund,  Inc.,  Principal  Emerging  Growth  Fund,  Inc.,  Principal
Government  Securities Fund, Inc.,  Principal Growth Fund, Inc., Principal Money
Market Fund, Inc. and Principal World Fund, Inc. The Funds' prospectus should be
kept for future reference.


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                                                           Page
Glossary of Special Terms .................................................   3
Expense Table and Example .................................................   6
Condensed Financial Information............................................   8
Summary  ..................................................................   8
Description of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company ....................  10
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Separate Account B ................  10
Deductions Under the Contract .............................................  13
     Mortality and Expense Risks Charge ...................................  13
Other Expenses.............................................................  13
     Application Fee and Transfer Fee......................................  13
     Contract Administration Expense.......................................  14
     Recordkeeping Expense.................................................  14
     Location Fee .........................................................  15
     Flexible Income Option Charge.........................................  16
     Documentation Expense.................................................  16
     Sales Charge .........................................................  16
     Special Services......................................................  16
Surplus Distribution at Sole Discretion of the Company ....................  16
The Contract  .............................................................  17
     Contract Values and Accounting Before Annuity Commencement Date ......  17
         Investment Accounts ..............................................  17
         Unit Value .......................................................  17
         Net Investment Factor ............................................  17
         Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Unit Value for All Divisions
         Except the Money Market Division..................................  18
         Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Unit Value for the Money
         Market Division...................................................  18
     Income Benefits ......................................................  18
         Variable Annuity Payments.........................................  18
              Selecting a Variable Annuity ................................  19
              Forms of Variable Annuities .................................  19
              Basis of Annuity Conversion Rates............................  20
              Determining the Amount of the First Variable Annuity
              Payment .....................................................  21
              Determining the Amount of the Second and Subsequent Monthly
              Variable Annuity Payments ...................................  21
         Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Variable Annuity
         Payments .........................................................  22
     Flexible Income Option................................................  22
     Payment on Death of Plan Participant..................................  23
         Prior to Annuity Purchase Date ...................................  23
         Subsequent to Annuity Purchase Date ..............................  24
     Withdrawals and Transfers ............................................  24
         Cash Withdrawals .................................................  24
         Transfers Between Divisions ......................................  24
         Transfers to the Contract ........................................  25
         Transfers to a Companion Contract ................................  25
         Special Situation Involving Alternate Funding Agents .............  25
         Postponement of Cash Withdrawal or Transfer ......................  25
         Loans.............................................................  26
     Other Contractual Provisions .........................................  26
         Contribution Limits ..............................................  26
         Assignment .......................................................  26
         Cessation of Contributions .......................................  26
         Substitution of Securities........................................  26
         Changes in the Contract ..........................................  26
Statement of Values........................................................  27
Services Available by Telephone............................................  27
Distribution of the Contract...............................................  27
Performance Calculation....................................................  28
Voting Rights .............................................................  28
Federal Tax Status.........................................................  29
     Taxes Payable by Owners of Benefits and Annuitants....................  29
         Tax-Deferred Annuity Plans........................................  29
         Public Employee Deferred Compensation Plans.......................  30
         401(a) Plans......................................................  31
         Creditor-Exempt Non-Qualified Plans...............................  32
         General Creditor Non-Qualified Plans..............................  33
     Fund Diversification..................................................  33
State Regulation...........................................................  33
Legal Opinions.............................................................  34
Legal Proceedings..........................................................  34
Registration Statement.....................................................  34
Experts....................................................................  34
Contractholders' Inquiries.................................................  34
Table of Contents of the Statement of Additional Information...............  34

     This  Prospectus  does not constitute an offer of, or  solicitation  of any
offer  to  acquire,  any  interest  or  participation  in the  Contracts  in any
jurisdiction in which such an offer or solicitation may not lawfully be made. No
person is authorized to give any information or to make any  representations  in
connection with the Contracts other than those contained in this Prospectus.

GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL TERMS

Aggregate  Investment  Account Value -- The sum of the Investment Account Values
for Investment Accounts which correlate to a Plan Participant.

Annual  Average  Balance -- The total value at the beginning of the Deposit Year
of all  Investment  Accounts  which  correlate to a Plan  Participant  under the
contract and other Plan assets which  correlate to a Plan  Participant  that are
not  allocated to the contract or an  Associated  or Companion  Contract but for
which the Company provides recordkeeping  services ("Outside Assets"),  adjusted
by the  time  weighted  average  of  Contributions  to,  and  withdrawals  from,
Investment  Accounts  and Outside  Assets (if any) which  correlate  to the Plan
Participant during the period.

Annuity  Change  Factor -- The factor used to determine the change in value of a
Variable Annuity in the course of payment.

Annuity Commencement Date -- The beginning date for Annuity Payments.

Annuity Premium -- The amount applied under the Contract to purchase an annuity.

Annuity  Purchase Date -- The date an Annuity  Premium is applied to purchase an
annuity.

Associated  Contract  -- An annuity  contract  issued by the Company to the same
Contractholder  to fund  the  same or a  comparable  Plan as  determined  by the
Company.

Commuted  Value -- The dollar value,  as of a given date,  of remaining  Annuity
Payments.  It is  determined  by the Company  using the interest rate assumed in
determining  the initial  amount of monthly  income and assuming no variation in
the amount of monthly payments after the date of determination.

Companion Contract -- An unregistered group annuity contract offering guaranteed
interest   crediting   rates  and  which  is  issued  by  the   Company  to  the
Contractholder  for the purpose of funding  benefits under the Plan. The Company
must agree in writing that a contract is a Companion Contract.

Contract Date -- The date this contract is effective,  as shown on the face page
of the contract.

Contract  Year -- A period  beginning  on a Yearly  Date and  ending  on the day
before the next Yearly Date.

Contractholder  -- The entity to which the contract  will be issued,  which will
normally be an Employer, an association,  or a trust established for the benefit
of Plan Participants and their beneficiaries.

Contributions  -- Amounts  contributed  under the contract which are accepted by
the Company.

Deposit  Year  --  The  twelve-month  period  ending  on a day  selected  by the
Contractholder.

Division  -- The part of  Separate  Account B which is  invested  in shares of a
single mutual Fund.

Employer -- The corporation,  sole  proprietor,  firm,  organization,  agency or
political subdivision named as employer in the Plan and any successor.

Flexible Income Option -- A periodic distribution from the contract in an amount
equal to the minimum  annual amount  determined  in accordance  with the minimum
distribution  rules  of the  Internal  Revenue  Code,  or a  greater  amount  as
requested by the Owner of Benefits.

Funding Agent -- An insurance  company,  custodian or trustee  designated by the
Contractholder and authorized to receive any amount or amounts  transferred from
the  contract  described  in this  Prospectus.  Funding  Agent  will  also  mean
Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company where the  Contractholder  directs the
Company to transfer such amounts from the contract  described in this Prospectus
to another group annuity contract issued by the Company to the Contractholder.

Internal Revenue Code ("Code") -- The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
and the  regulations  thereunder.  Reference to the Internal  Revenue Code means
such Code or the corresponding provisions of any subsequent revenue code and any
regulations thereunder.

Investment  Account  --  An  account  that  correlates  to  a  Plan  Participant
established  under  the  contract  for each  type of  Contribution  and for each
Division in which the Contribution is invested.

Investment  Account Value -- The value of an  Investment  Account for a Division
which on any date will be equal to the  number of units  then  credited  to such
account  multiplied  by the Unit  Value of this  series  of  contracts  for that
Division for the Valuation Period in which such date occurs.

Mutual Fund -- A registered  open-end  investment company in which a Division of
Separate Account B invests.

Net  Investment  Factor -- The factor used to determine the change in Unit Value
of a Division during a Valuation Period.

Normal  Income Form -- The form of benefit to be provided  under the Plan if the
Owner of Benefits does not elect some other form. If the Plan does not specify a
Normal Income Form,  the Normal Income Form shall be: (a) for an unmarried  Plan
Participant,  the single life with ten years certain annuity option described in
this Prospectus, (b) for a married Plan Participant, the joint one-half survivor
annuity option described in this Prospectus.

Notification -- Any form of notice received by the Company at the Company's home
office  and  approved  in  advance  by  the  Company  including  written  forms,
electronic transmissions, telephone transmissions, facsimiles and photocopies.

Owner of Benefits -- The entity or individual that has the exclusive right to be
paid benefits and exercise rights and privileges pursuant to such benefits.  The
Owner of Benefits is the Plan  Participant  under all contracts except contracts
used to fund General Creditor  Non-Qualified  Plans (see "Summary")  wherein the
Contractholder is the Owner of Benefits.

Plan -- The plan  established by the Employer in effect on the date the contract
is executed and as amended from time to time,  which the Employer has designated
to the Company in writing as the Plan funded by the contract.

Plan  Participant  -- A person who is (i) a participant  under the Plan,  (ii) a
beneficiary  of a deceased  participant,  or (iii) an  alternate  payee  under a
Qualified  Domestic Relations Order in whose name an Investment Account has been
established under this contract.

Qualified  Domestic  Relations Order -- A Qualified  Domestic Relations Order as
defined in Internal Revenue Code Section 414 (p)(1)(A).

Quarterly Date -- The last Valuation Date of the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth
month of each Deposit Year.

SEPARATE ACCOUNT B -- A separate  account  established by the Company under Iowa
law to receive  Contributions  under the contract offered by this Prospectus and
other contracts issued by the Company.  It is divided into a Balanced  Division,
Bond  Division,   Capital  Accumulation  Division,   Emerging  Growth  Division,
Government Securities Division, Growth Division, Money Market Division and World
Division. Additional Divisions may be added in the future.

Termination of Employment -- A Plan Participant's termination of employment with
the Employer, determined under the Plan and as reported to the Company.

Total and Permanent  Disability -- The condition of a Plan Participant  when, as
the result of  sickness  or  injury,  the Plan  Participant  is  prevented  from
engaging in any substantial  gainful activity and such total disability has been
continuous for a period of at least six months.  For contracts sold in the state
of  Pennsylvania,  the term shall have the same  meaning as defined in the Plan.
The Plan  Participant  must submit due proof  thereof which is acceptable to the
Company.

Unit Value -- The value of a unit of a Division of Separate Account B.

Valuation  Date -- The date as of which the net asset  value of a Mutual Fund is
determined.

Valuation  Period -- The period between the time as of which the net asset value
of a Mutual Fund is determined  on one  Valuation  Date and the time as of which
such value is determined on the next following Valuation Date.

Variable Annuity Payments -- A series of periodic payments, the amounts of which
are not guaranteed but which will increase or decrease to reflect the investment
experience of the Capital Accumulation  Division of Separate Account B. Periodic
payments  made pursuant to the Flexible  Income Option are not Variable  Annuity
Payments.

Variable  Annuity  Reserves -- The reserves  held for annuities in the course of
payment for the contract.

Yearly Date -- The Contract Date and the same day of each year thereafter.

EXPENSE TABLE AND EXAMPLE

     The following  tables depict fees and expenses  applicable to the aggregate
of all  Investment  Accounts that  correlate to a Plan  Participant  established
under the contract.  The purpose of the table is to assist the Owner of Benefits
in  understanding  the various costs and expenses that an Owner of Benefits will
bear directly or indirectly. The table reflects expenses of the Separate Account
as well as the  expenses  of the  Mutual  Funds in which  the  Separate  Account
invests.  The Example  below which  includes  only  mortality  and expense risks
charges and expenses of the underlying mutual funds,  should not be considered a
representation  of past or future  expenses;  actual  expenses may be greater or
lesser than those shown. See "Deductions under the Contract."



                                  EXPENSE TABLE


 Transaction Expenses                            None
 Annual Contract Fee                             None
 Separate Account Annual Expenses
   (as a percentage of average account value)
   Mortality and Expense Risk Fees               .33%*
 Annual Expenses of Mutual Funds
   (as a percentage of average net assets of the
   following mutual funds)
                                         Management    Other   Total Mutual Fund
                                           Fees      Expenses   Annual Expenses


 Principal Balanced Fund                   .60%       .06%          .66%
 Principal Bond Fund                       .50        .06           .56
 Principal Capital Accumulation Fund       .40        .02           .51
 Principal Emerging Growth Fund            .65        .05           .70
 Principal Government Securities Fund      .50        .05           .55
 Principal Growth Fund                     .50        .08           .58
 Principal Money Market Fund               .50        .08           .58
 Principal World Fund                      .75        .20           .95

   
     *   The Company has  attained an exemptive  order from the  Securities
         and Exchange Commission to permit an increase in the mortality and
         expense risks fees to .42% and intends to implement  this increase
         as of July 1, 1996.
    

     The Expense  Table  depicts fees and expenses  applicable  to the Aggregate
Investment  Account  Values  which  correlate  to a Plan  Participant  under the
Contract.  It does  not  include  expenses  billed  directly  to and paid by the
Contractholder  pursuant to a separate  service and expense  agreement  with the
Contractholder. Except as noted below, the Contractholder must pay the following
expenses  (subject to certain  adjustments;  see "Deductions Under the Contract"
and "Other Expenses"):

Application Fee and Transfer Fee

$825  Application  Fee;  Transfer Fee equal to $500 plus $3 per Plan Participant
(maximum of $1,000) if Plan records for an existing  Plan are  transferred  from
another recordkeeper.


Contract Administration Expenses

$300 + the amount  calculated by multiplying  the Annual Average  Balance by the
Expense Factor (maximum of .0035)

Recordkeeping Expenses
     (May be more or less depending on the number of Plan Participants and 
      services performed by Company.  See "Other Expenses.")

A graded scale starting at $31 per Plan Participant plus $530 (minimum of $1,150
per Plan) (This charge may be deducted from Investment Accounts of inactive Plan
Participants.) (If the Company provides  recordkeeping  services for plan assets
other than assets under this contract or an  Associated  or Companion  Contract,
the Contractholder  must pay an outside asset  recordkeeping  charge that varies
depending  on the  number of Plan  Participants  to which  such  Outside  Assets
correlate and whether  ongoing  Contributions  will be allocated to such Outside
Assets.)

Location Fee (if applicable)

$150 per quarter ($600 annually) for each additional employee group or location.

Flexible Income Option Charge

$25 for each Plan  Participant  receiving  benefits  under the  Flexible  Income
Option (This charge may be deducted  from  Investment  Accounts of inactive Plan
Participants)

Documentation Expenses
     (for Standardized Plan)

$125 for initial setup or restatement. Additional costs apply for Custom-Written
plans.

Compensation to Registered  Representative

Either 4.5% of the first $5,000 of annual Contributions  grading down to .25% of
contributions  in excess of  $500,000  or 3.0% of the  first  $50,000  of annual
Contributions grading down to .25% of Contributions in excess of $3,000,000

                                     EXAMPLE

     Regardless of whether the  Investment  Accounts  which  correlate to a Plan
     Participant are surrendered at the end of the applicable time period:

         The Owner of  Benefits  would pay the  following  expenses  on a $1,000
         investment, assuming a 5% annual return on assets:

     Separate Account
         Division          1 Year    3 Years    5 Years  10 Years


  Balanced                   $10       $32       $55        $121
  Bond                        $9       $28       $49        $110
  Capital Accumulation        $9       $27       $47        $104
  Emerging Growth            $11       $33       $57        $126
  Government Securities       $9       $28       $49        $108
  Growth                      $9       $29       $50        $112
  Money Market                $9       $29       $50        $112
  World                      $13       $41       $70        $155

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     Financial   statements   are  included  in  the   Statement  of  Additional
Information. Following are Unit Values for the Premier Variable Annuity Contract
for the periods ended December 31.

                                             Accumulation Unit Value           Number of Accumulation Units

                                            Beginning          End             Outstanding at End of Period
                                            of period       of period                 (in thousands)

     Balanced Division
<S>                                         <C>              <C>                            <C>                              
       Year Ended December 31, 1995         $  .976          $1.212                         3,317                 
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)      1.000            .976                           125
     Bond Division
       Year Ended December 31, 1995           1.012           1.232                         1,208
       Period Ended Deember 31, 1994(1)       1.000           1.012                            31
     Capital Accumulation Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1995                                 1.148           1.510                        14,824
         1994                                 1.147           1.148                        13,967
         1993                                 1.067           1.147                         7,980
         1992(2)                              1.000           1.067                            84
     Emerging Growth Division
       Year Ended December 31, 1995            .991           1.274                         1,896
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)      1.000            .991                           119
     Government Securities Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1995                                 1.066           1.265                         7,159
         1994                                 1.120           1.066                         6,431
         1993                                 1.021           1.120                         2,553
         1992(2)                              1.000           1.021                            40
     Growth Division
       Year Ended December 31, 1995           1.001           1.253                         2,860
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)      1.000           1.001                           110
     Money Market Division
       Year Ended December 31
         1995                                 1.072           1.128                         2,959
         1994                                 1.036           1.072                         1,791
         1993                                 1.013           1.036                           901
         1992(2)                              1.000           1.013                         2,969
     World Division
       Year Ended December 31, 1995            .958           1.090                         1,672
       Period Ended December 31, 1994(1)      1.000            .958                           137

<FN>
     (1) Commenced operations on October 3, 1994.
     (2) Commenced operations on July 15, 1992.
</FN>
</TABLE>

SUMMARY

     The  following  summary  should be read in  conjunction  with the  detailed
information appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus.

Contract Offered

     The group variable annuity contract offered by this Prospectus is issued by
the Company and designed to aid in retirement  planning.  The contract  provides
for the  accumulation  of  Contributions  and the  payment of  Variable  Annuity
Payments on a completely variable basis.

     The contract is generally available to fund the following types of plans:

     1.  Tax Deferred Annuity Plans ("TDA Plan"). Annuity purchase plans adopted
         pursuant to Section  403(b) of the Code by certain  organizations  that
         qualify for  tax-exempt  status under Section  501(c)(3) of the Code or
         are eligible  public  schools or colleges.  TDA Contracts are issued to
         Contractholders,  which typically are such tax-exempt  organizations or
         an association  representing such  organization or its employees.  Plan
         Participants  may obtain certain  Federal income tax benefits  provided
         under Section 403(b) of the Code (see "Federal Tax Status").

     2.   Public  Employee  Deferred  Compensation  Plans ("PEDC Plan").  Public
          Employee Deferred  Compensation plans or programs adopted by a unit of
          a state or local government and non-profit  organizations  pursuant to
          Section  457 of the  Code.  (See  "Federal  Tax  Status").  Note:  The
          contract is not currently  offered to fund  governmental  457 Plans in
          the state of New York.

     3.   Qualified  Pension or  Profit-Sharing  Plans ("401(a)  Plans").  Plans
          adopted pursuant to Section 401(a) of the Code. Participants of 401(a)
          Plans obtain income tax benefits  provided under the Code as qualified
          pension plans.

     4.   Creditor-Exempt    or    General    Creditor    Non-Qualified    Plans
          ("Creditor-Exempt"  or "General  Creditor" Plan).  Employer  sponsored
          savings,  compensation or other plans the  contributions for which are
          made without Internal Revenue Code restrictions  generally  applicable
          to qualified retirement plans. (See "Federal Tax Status").

     The contract will be sold primarily by persons who are insurance  agents of
or brokers for  Principal  Mutual Life  Insurance  Company.  In addition,  these
persons will usually be registered representatives of Princor Financial Services
Corporation,  which acts as distributor for the Contract.  See  "Distribution of
the Contract."

Contributions

     The contract prescribes no limits on the minimum  Contribution which may be
made to an  Investment  Account.  Plan  Participant  maximum  Contributions  are
discussed under "Federal Tax Status."  Contributions  may also be limited by the
Plan. The Company may also limit Contributions on 60-days notice.

     All  Contributions  made  pursuant to the contract are  allocated to one or
more Investment  Accounts which correlate to a Plan  Participant.  An Investment
Account is established  for each type of  Contribution  for each Division of the
Separate  Account  as  directed  by the Owner of  Benefits.  Currently  Separate
Account B has eight  Divisions:  a Balanced  Division,  Bond  Division,  Capital
Accumulation Division, Emerging Growth Division, Government Securities Division,
Growth Division,  Money Market Division and a World Division. The Contractholder
may choose to limit the number of Divisions  available to the Owner of Benefits,
but the  Money  Market  Division  may not be so  restricted  to the  extent  the
Division is  necessary to permit the Company to allocate  initial  Contributions
and the Capital Accumulation Division may not be so restricted to the extent the
Division is necessary to permit the Company to pay  Variable  Annuity  Payments.
Additional Divisions may be added in the future. If no direction is provided for
a particular Contribution,  such Contribution will be allocated to an Investment
Account which is invested in the Money Market Division.

Separate Account B

     Each of the  Divisions  corresponds  to one of the  Mutual  Funds  in which
Contributions  may be  invested.  The  objective of the contract is to provide a
return on amounts contributed that will reflect the investment experience of the
Funds in which the Divisions to which  Contributions  are directed are invested.
The value of the  Contributions  accumulated in Separate  Account B prior to the
Annuity Commencement Date will vary with the investment experience of the Mutual
Funds.

     Each of the Divisions  invests only in shares of a Mutual Fund as indicated
in the table below.

       Division                                Mutual Fund

Balanced Division                   Principal Balanced Fund, Inc.
Bond Division                       Principal Bond Fund, Inc.
Capital Accumulation Division       Principal Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc.
Emerging Growth Division            Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc.
Government Securities Division      Principal Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Growth Division                     Principal Growth Fund, Inc.
Money Market Division               Principal Money Market Fund, Inc.
World Division                      Principal World Fund, Inc.

Distributions, Transfers, and Withdrawals

     Variable  Annuity  Payments will be made on and after a Plan  Participant's
Annuity  Commencement  Date.  All  Variable  Annuity  Payments  will reflect the
performance of the mutual fund underlying the Capital Accumulation  Division and
therefore  the  annuitant  is subject  to the risk that the  amount of  variable
annuity payments may decline. (See "Income Benefits.")

     Generally,  at any time prior to the Annuity  Purchase  Date,  the Owner of
Benefits  may  transfer  all or  any  portion  of an  Investment  Account  which
correlates  to a  Plan  Participant  to  another  available  Investment  Account
correlating to such Plan Participant. If a Companion Contract has been issued to
the  Contractholder to fund the Plan, and if permitted by the Plan and Companion
Contract,  amounts  transferred from such Companion  Contract may be invested in
this  contract  to  establish  Investment  Accounts  which  correlate  to a Plan
Participant at any time at least one month before the Annuity Commencement Date.
Similarly, if the Company has issued a Companion Contract to the Contractholder,
and if permitted by the Plan and the Companion Contract,  the Owner of Benefits,
subject to certain  limitations,  may file a  Notification  with the  Company to
transfer all or a portion of the Investment  Account values which correlate to a
Plan Participant to the Companion  Contract.  (See "Withdrawals and Transfers.")
In  addition,  subject to any Plan  limitations  or any  reduction  for  vesting
provided  for in the Plan as to amounts  available,  the Owner of  Benefits  may
withdraw  cash  from  the  Investment   Accounts  that  correlate  to  the  Plan
Participant  at  any  time  prior  to  the  Plan  Participant's  termination  of
employment,  disability,  retirement or the Annuity Purchase Date subject to any
charges  that  may be  applied.  See  "Withdrawals  and  Transfers."  Note  that
withdrawals  before age 59 1/2 may involve an income tax  penalty.  See "Federal
Tax Status." No withdrawals are permitted after the Annuity Purchase Date.

DESCRIPTION OF PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY (The "Company")

     Principal Mutual Life Insurance  Company is a mutual life insurance company
with its home office at The Principal  Financial Group, Des Moines,  Iowa 50392,
telephone number 515-247-5111.  It was originally incorporated under the laws of
the  State of Iowa in 1879 as  Bankers  Life  Association,  changed  its name to
Bankers  Life  Company in 1911 and  changed  its name to  Principal  Mutual Life
Insurance  Company in 1986. It is a member of The Principal  Financial  Group, a
diversified family of insurance and financial services corporations.


     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company is authorized to do business in the
50 states of the United States,  the District of Columbia,  the  Commonwealth of
Puerto Rico, and the Canadian Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia,  Manitoba,
Ontario and Quebec. The Company offers a full range of products and services for
businesses, groups and individuals including individual insurance, pension plans
and group/employee  benefits. The Company has ranked in the upper one percent of
life  insurers  in assets  and  premium  income  and has  consistently  received
excellent  ratings from the major rating firms based upon the  Company's  claims
paying  ability.  The Company has $51.3 billion in assets under  management  and
serves more than 9.3 million individuals and their families.

PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

     Separate  Account B was  established  on January  12,  1970  pursuant  to a
resolution (as amended) of the Executive  Committee of the Board of Directors of
the Company.  Under Iowa insurance  laws and  regulations  the income,  gains or
losses,  whether or not  realized,  of  Separate  Account B are  credited  to or
charged  against  the assets of Separate  Account B without  regard to the other
income, gains or losses of the Company.  Although the assets of Separate Account
B, equal to the reserves and other liabilities arising under the contract,  will
not be charged with any liabilities  arising out of any other business conducted
by the Company,  the reverse is not true.  Hence, all obligations  arising under
the  contract,  including  the promise to make Variable  Annuity  Payments,  are
general corporate obligations of the Company.

     Separate  Account B was registered on July 17, 1970 with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission as a unit investment trust under the Investment Company Act
of 1940,  as amended.  Such  registration  does not involve  supervision  by the
Commission of the investments or investment policies of Separate Account B.

     Currently,  Separate  Account B has a  Balanced  Division,  Bond  Division,
Capital Accumulation Division,  Emerging Growth Division,  Government Securities
Division, Growth Division, Money Market Division and a World Division.

     Each of the Divisions  invests only in shares of a Mutual Fund as indicated
in the table below.

           Division                                   Mutual Fund

Balanced Division                    Principal Balanced Fund, Inc.
Bond Division                        Principal Bond Fund, Inc.
Capital Accumulation Division        Principal Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc.
Emerging Growth Division             Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc.
Government Securities Division       Principal Government Securities Fund, Inc.
Growth Division                      Principal Growth Fund, Inc.
Money Market Division                Principal Money Market Fund, Inc.
World Division                       Principal World Fund, Inc.

      The  Mutual  Funds  are  diversified,   open-end   management   investment
companies.  The  investment  Manager for the Mutual Funds is Princor  Management
Corporation.  Some of the  Mutual  Funds  are also  used to fund  variable  life
insurance  contracts.  See "Eligible  Purchasers  and Purchase of Shares" in the
Funds' prospectus for a discussion of the potential risks associated with "mixed
funding."

      The investment objective of Principal Balanced Fund is to generate a total
return  consisting of current  income and capital  appreciation  while  assuming
reasonable  risks in  furtherance  of the  investment  objective.  In seeking to
achieve the  investment  objective,  the Fund  invests  primarily  in growth and
income-oriented  common stocks  (including  securities  convertible  into common
stocks), corporate bonds and debentures and short-term money market instruments.
The  portions of the Fund's  total assets  invested in equity  securities,  debt
securities  and  short-term  money market  instruments  are not fixed,  although
ordinarily  40% to 70% of the  Fund's  portfolio  will  be  invested  in  equity
securities with the balance of the portfolio invested in debt securities.

      The  investment  objective of Principal  Bond Fund is to provide as high a
level of income as is  consistent  with  preservation  of  capital  and  prudent
investment  risk.  In seeking  to achieve  the  investment  objective,  the Fund
predominantly invests in marketable fixed-income securities. Investments will be
made  generally  on  a  long-term  basis,  but  the  Fund  may  make  short-term
investments  from time to time as deemed prudent by the Fund's  Manager.  Longer
maturities  typically  provide  better  yields  but will  subject  the Fund to a
greater  possibility  of  substantial  changes  in the  values of its  portfolio
securities as interest rates change.

     The  investment   objective  of  Principal  Capital  Accumulation  Fund  is
long-term  capital  appreciation  and  growth of  investment  income.  This fund
invests primarily in common stocks but may invest in other securities.

     The  objective  of  Principal  Emerging  Growth Fund is to achieve  capital
appreciation.  The  strategy of this Fund is to invest  primarily  in the common
stocks and securities  (both debt and preferred  stock)  convertible into common
stocks of emerging and other growth-oriented  companies that, in the judgment of
the Fund's  Manager,  are responsive to changes within the  marketplace and have
the fundamental  characteristics to support growth. In pursuing its objective of
capital  appreciation,  the Emerging  Growth Fund may invest,  for any period of
time, in any industry, in any kind of growth-oriented  company,  whether new and
unseasoned or well known and established.

     Principal Government  Securities Fund has an investment objective of a high
level of current  income,  liquidity and safety of principal.  The Fund seeks to
achieve this objective through the purchase of obligations  issued or guaranteed
by the United States  Government  or its agencies,  with up to 55% of the Fund's
assets invested in Government National Mortgage Association  Certificates ("GNMA
Certificates").  Fund shares,  however,  are not guaranteed by the United States
Government.  The value of the Fund's  investments  fluctuates as interest  rates
change.  The value  rises when  rates  decline  and falls  when rates  increase.
Expected  prepayments of mortgages included in a GNMA certificate can affect the
market value of the  certificate,  and actual  prepayments can affect the return
ultimately received.

     The objective of Principal Growth Fund is growth of capital. Realization of
current  income will be incidental  to the  objective of growth of capital.  The
Fund will invest  primarily in common stocks,  but it may invest in other equity
securities.  In pursuit of the Fund's investment objective,  investments will be
made in securities which as a group appear to possess potential for appreciation
in market  value.  Common  stocks  chosen for  investment  may include  those of
companies  which have a record of sales and  earnings  growth  that  exceeds the
growth rate of corporate profits of the S & P 500 or which offer new products or
new services.  The policy of investing in securities  which have high  potential
for  growth of  capital  can mean that the  assets of the Fund may be subject to
greater risk than securities which do not have such potential.

     Principal  Money  Market  Fund has an  investment  objective  of  obtaining
maximum  current income  available from  short-term  securities  consistent with
preservation  of principal and  maintenance of liquidity by investing all of its
assets in a portfolio of money market  instruments.  This Mutual Fund invests in
United States dollar  denominated  instruments  having a maturity of 397 days or
less  that  the  Manager,  subject  to the  oversight  of the  Fund's  board  of
directors,  determines  present  minimal  credit  risks and which at the time of
acquisition  are "Eligible  Securities"  as that term is defined in  regulations
issued under the Investment  Company Act of 1940. See the Fund's  prospectus for
details.  The value of the  investments  held by this Mutual Fund may fluctuate,
although the net asset value per share is normally  expected to remain at $1.00.
However, its yield will vary with changes in short-term interest rates. Over the
last  two  decades  there  has been a  general  correlation  between  short-term
interest rates and the cost of living,  but there has been no exact  correlation
and for some  periods  such  rates  have  declined  while the cost of living has
risen.

     The  investment  objective  of  Principal  World Fund is to seek  long-term
growth of capital  through  investment  in a portfolio of equity  securities  of
companies  domiciled  in any of the nations of the world.  The Fund intends that
its  investments  normally will be allocated among various  countries.  Although
there is no limitation  on the  percentage of assets that may be invested in any
one country or  denominated  in any one currency,  the Fund intends under normal
market  conditions  to have at least 65% of its assets  invested  in  securities
issued by  corporations  of at least  three  countries,  one of which may be the
United States. Investments may be made anywhere in the world, but it is expected
that primary  consideration  will be given to investing in the securities issued
by  corporations of Western  Europe,  North America and Australasia  (Australia,
Japan and Far East Asia) that have developed  economies.  Changes in investments
may be  made  as  prospects  change  for  particular  countries,  industries  or
companies.

     Additional  information  concerning  these Mutual  Funds,  including  their
investment policies and restrictions,  investment  management fees and operating
expenses is given in the  prospectus  for the Funds. A Prospectus for the Mutual
Funds is attached to and follows this Prospectus. It should be read carefully in
conjunction with this Prospectus before investing.

     Each Division  purchases  shares of the Mutual Funds at net asset value. In
addition, all distributions made by a Mutual Fund with respect to shares held by
Divisions of Separate  Account B are reinvested at net asset value in additional
shares of the same Mutual Fund.  Contract  benefits are provided and charges are
made in effect by redeeming Mutual Fund shares at net asset value.  Values under
the  Contract,  both  before  and after the  commencement  of  Variable  Annuity
Payments, will increase or decrease to reflect the investment performance of the
Mutual Funds and Owners of Benefits assume the risks of such change in values.

     The Company is taxed as an insurance  company  under the  Internal  Revenue
Code. The operations of Separate  Account B are part of the total  operations of
the Company but are treated  separately for  accounting and financial  statement
purposes and are considered separately in computing the Company's tax liability.
Separate  Account B is not affected by federal  income taxes paid by the Company
with respect to its other operations, and under existing federal income tax law,
investment  income and capital gains  attributable to Separate Account B are not
taxed.  The Company reserves the right to charge Separate Account B with, and to
create a reserve for, any tax liability which the Company  determines may result
from maintenance of Separate Account B. To the best of the Company's  knowledge,
there is no current prospect of any such liability.

DEDUCTIONS UNDER THE CONTRACT

     A mortality and expense risks charge is deducted under the contract.  There
are also  deductions  from and  expenses  paid out of the  assets of the  mutual
funds. These expenses are described in the Funds' prospectus.

A.   Mortality and Expense Risks Charge

   
     Variable  Annuity  Payments  will  not be  affected  by  adverse  mortality
     experience or by any excess in the actual sales and administrative expenses
     over the charges  provided  for in the  contract.  The Company  assumes the
     risks that (i) Variable  Annuity Payments will continue for a longer period
     than anticipated and (ii) the allowance for administration  expenses in the
     annuity  conversion rates will be insufficient to cover the actual costs of
     administration  relating to Variable Annuity  Payments.  For assuming these
     risks,  the  Company,  in  determining  Unit  Values and  Variable  Annuity
     Payments, makes a charge as of the end of each Valuation Period against the
     assets of Separate Account B held with respect to the contract.  The charge
     is equivalent to a simple annual rate of .33%. The Company does not believe
     that it is  possible  to  specifically  identify  that  portion of the .33%
     deduction  applicable to the separate risks involved,  but estimates that a
     reasonable approximate allocation would be .22% for the mortality risks and
     .11% for the expense  risks.  The mortality and expense risks charge may be
     changed by the  Company at any time by giving not less than  60-days  prior
     written notice to the  Contractholder.  However,  the charge may not exceed
     1.25% on an annual  basis,  and only one change may be made in any one-year
     period.  The  Company  has filed an  application  with the  Securities  and
     Exchange  Commission  for an  exemptive  order to permit an increase in the
     charge to .42% and intends to implement this increase, if the order and any
     necessary approval by state regulators is obtained, subject to the terms of
     the contract regarding amendments.  Any change in the mortality and expense
     risks charge will not affect  Variable  Annuities in the course of payment.
     The Company does not believe that it is possible to  specifically  identify
     that  portion  of the  .33%  deduction  applicable  to the  separate  risks
     involved,  but estimates that a reasonable  approximate allocation would be
     .28% for the mortality  risks and .14% for the expense risks. If the charge
     is  insufficient  to cover the actual  costs of the  mortality  and expense
     risks assumed, the financial loss will fall on the Company;  conversely, if
     the charge  proves more than  sufficient,  the excess will be a gain to the
     Company.
    

OTHER EXPENSES

     The Contractholder is obligated to pay additional  expenses associated with
the  acquisition and servicing of the contract in accordance with the terms of a
Service and Expense Agreement between the Contractholder and the Company.  These
expenses are not deductible  from  Investment  Accounts which  correlate to Plan
Participants,  except that the recordkeeping  expense and Flexible Income Option
charge  attributable to inactive Plan Participants  (Plan  Participants who have
died,  retired or  terminated  employment  or who are  Totally  and  Permanently
Disabled and alternate payees under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order) may at
the   Contractholder's   election  be  deducted  from  such  Plan  Participant's
Investment  Account Values.  The expenses which the  Contractholder  must pay if
applicable,  include an application fee, transfer fee,  contract  administration
expense,  recordkeeping expense,  location fee, a Flexible Income Option charge,
documentation expense and in some cases a sales charge. As part of the Company's
policy of  ensuring  client  satisfaction  with the  services it  provides,  the
Company may agree to waive the  assessment of all or a portion of these expenses
or charges  (except for the sales  charge) in  response to any  reasonably-based
complaint from the  Contractholder  as to the quality of the services covered by
such expenses or charges that the Company is unable to rectify.  These  expenses
are described below:

A.   Application Fee and Transfer Fee

     A $825  application  fee is  charged  to the  Contractholder  in the  first
     Contract  Year.  If a Companion  Contract has been issued by the Company to
     the  Contractholder  to fund the Plan, the application fee will be assessed
     to  the  Companion  Contract.   The  total  application  fee  paid  by  the
     Contractholder  to obtain  both  contracts  will not  exceed  $825.  If the
     Company has issued an Associated  Contract to the Contractholder to fund an
     employee benefit plan administered by the Company,  the application fee for
     the contract  described in this prospectus will be waived by the Company. A
     transfer fee equal to $500 plus $3 per Plan Participant (maximum $1,000) is
     charged  to the  Contractholder  if Plan  records  are  transferred  to the
     Company  from another  recordkeeper.  The transfer fee is reduced by 20% if
     Plan data is reported to the Company in the  Company's  standard  format on
     magnetic  tapes,  modem or  computer  diskettes.  The  transfer  fee may be
     increased if Plan records are not current when transferred.

B.   Contract Administration Expense

     The Contractholder  must also pay a contract  administration  expense.  The
     contract administration expense is charged quarterly and is equal to 1/4 of
     the amount  derived by adding $300 to the amount  calculated by multiplying
     the Annual  Average  Balance at the end of each Deposit Year Quarter by the
     Annual  Expense  Factor [$300 + (Annual  Average  Balance x Annual  Expense
     Factor)]  / 4.  Annual  Average  Balance  is the  total  of all  Investment
     Accounts  under the  contract  and other Plan assets not  allocated  to the
     contract or an Associated or Companion  Contract  ("Outside Assets") at the
     beginning of each Deposit Year  adjusted by time  weighted  deposits to and
     withdrawals from the accounts or Outside Assets, if any, during the period.
     The Annual Expense Factor for the current Deposit Year is determined  using
     the total amount of all  Investment  Account  Values under the contract and
     Companion Contract,  if applicable,  and the value of any Outside Assets as
     of the last Valuation  Date of the preceding  Deposit Year according to the
     following schedule:
                                 Expense Factor
  Over         But Not Over     The Annual Expense Factor Is:     Top of Bracket

         0    $     150,000   .0035                                   .003500
   150,000        1,000,000   .0020 plus ($  225 / total funds)       .002225
 1,000,000        5,000,000   .0010 plus ( 1,225 / total funds)       .001245
 5,000,000       10,000,000   .0005 plus ( 3,725 / total funds)       .000873
10,000,000       30,000,000   .0004 plus ( 4,725 / total funds)       .000558
30,000,000                    .0003 plus ( 7,725 / total funds)

     Example:  Assume a $3,750,000  Annual  Average  Balance and  $3,500,000  
     total fund at the end of the preceding  Deposit Year. The Expense  Factor 
     is .001350  [$1,225 / $3,500,000 = .000350 + .0010 = .001350].  The 
     contract  administration  charge is $1,340.75 derived as follows:
     [($3,750,000 x .001350) + $300] / 4 = $1340.75.

     For the first Deposit Year, the date the Company receives the first deposit
     is the  date  the  Company  determines  the  Expense  Factor.  This  factor
     determines expenses for the remainder of the Deposit Year.

     The  contract  administration  expense is also  charged  if all  Investment
     Accounts  which  correlate to a Plan  Participant  are canceled  during the
     Deposit Year as a result of a withdrawal.  The amount  attributable to such
     Investment  Accounts is determined  as described  above but is pro-rated to
     the date of cancellation.

     The contract  administration  expense will be reduced by 10% if the Company
     has issued an Associated Contract to the Contractowner. In addition, if the
     Company has issued a  Companion  Contract  to the  Contractowner,  the $300
     portion of the contract  administration  expense is  pro-rated  between the
     contracts based upon the account values of each contract.

C.   Recordkeeping Expense

     The  Contractholder  must also pay a recordkeeping  expense.  The quarterly
     recordkeeping expense is 1/4 of the charge determined from the table below.
     The amount of the charge is  determined  at the end of each  quarter  based
     upon the number of Plan  Participants,  both active and inactive,  for whom
     there are Investment Accounts under the contract at the end of the quarter.
                                              Annual Expense (Benefit Report
Plan Participants                              Sent to the Contractholder)

1-19                                                     $1,150
20-49                                     $31 per Plan Participant  +     $530
50-99                                     $28 per Plan Participant  +     $680
100-299                                   $25 per Plan Participant  +     $980
300-499                                   $21 per Plan Participant  +   $2,180
500 - 999                                 $17 per Plan Participant  +   $4,180
1,000 - 2,499                             $13 per Plan Participant  +   $8,180
2,500 - 4,999                             $11 per Plan Participant  +  $13,180
5,000 and over                            $9 per Plan Participant   +  $23,180

     Example:  Assume 600 Plan  Participants  with  Benefit  Reports sent to the
     Contractholder: The expense is $14,380 [600 x $17 = $10,200 + $4,180 =
     $14,380]. This would be $23.97 per Plan Participant, per year.

     The  recordkeeping  expense  is  increased  by $3 per Plan  Participant  if
     benefit reports are mailed directly to Plan Participants' homes.

     If, instead of quarterly benefit reports, the Company provides such reports
     annually,  the recordkeeping  expense is reduced by 9%. Similarly,  if such
     reports are provided semi-annually, the recordkeeping expense is reduced by
     6%. If such  reports are  provided on a monthly  basis,  the  recordkeeping
     expense is increased by 24%.

     If  the   Company   performs   more  (or  less)   than  two   401(k)/401(m)
     non-discrimination  tests in a Deposit Year, the  recordkeeping  expense is
     increase  (reduced) by 3% for each  additional  test performed (or test not
     performed).

     The  recordkeeping  expense  is reduced  by 10% if Plan  Participant  data,
     investment  elections,  and  ongoing  Contributions  are  reported  in  the
     Company's standard format by modem, diskette or on magnetic tapes.

     If the initial Deposit Year is less than twelve months,  an adjustment will
     be made in the amount of the  charge so that the full  amount of the annual
     charge per Plan Participant will be assessed during the year.

     If all Investment Accounts  attributable to a Plan Participant are canceled
     during the Deposit Year as a result of a withdrawal, the unassessed portion
     of the full annual  charge  attributable  to the Plan  Participant  will be
     charged.

     If  the  Company  provides  recordkeeping  services  for  Plan  assets  not
     allocated to the contract or an Associated or Companion  Contract ("Outside
     Assets"),  the  Contractholder  must  pay an  Outside  Asset  recordkeeping
     expense. The annual charge is calculated based upon the following table.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Number of Plan Participants               Annual Expense                        Annual Expense
    with Outside Accounts              Ongoing Contributions               No Ongoing Contributions
     During the Quarter                 to Outside Account                  to any Outside Account

         <S>                        <C>                                  <C>                   
            1-19                     $21.00 per member + $285            $10.50 per member + $142.50
            20-49                    $18.60 per member + $318             $9.30 per member + $159.00
            59-99                    $16.80 per member + $408             $8.40 per member + $204.00
           100-299                   $15.00 per member + $588             $7.50 per member + $294.00
           300-499                   $12.60 per member + $1,308           $6.30 per member + $654.00
           500-999                   $10.20 per member + $2,508           $5.10 per member + $1,254.00
          1000-2499                   $7.80 per member + $4,908           $3.90 per member + $2,454.00
          2500-4999                   $6.60 per member + $7,908           $3.30 per member + $3,954.00
        5000 and over                $5.40 per member + $13,908           $2.70 per member + $6,954.00
</TABLE>

     The charge  calculated in accordance with the above table will be increased
     by 15% for the  second  and each  additional  Outside  Asset  for which the
     Company provides recordkeeping  services.  One-fourth of the annual Outside
     Asset Recordkeeping Charge will be billed on a quarterly basis. This charge
     does  not  apply  if  the  Outside  Assets  which  correlate  to  the  Plan
     Participant consist solely of shares of mutual funds for which a subsidiary
     of the Company serves as investment adviser.

     The Contractholder may elect to have the recordkeeping expense attributable
     to  investments   in  this  contract  which   correlate  to  inactive  Plan
     Participants  deducted  from the  Investment  Account  Values  of such Plan
     Participants. In such case, the Company will reduce the charge if necessary
     so  that  it  will  not  exceed  1% of  the  Plan  Participant's  aggregate
     Investment  Account  Values at the time the charge is made.  The portion of
     the charge  attributable to a Plan  Participant will be allocated to his or
     her Investment Account in proportion to their relative value.

D.   Location Fee

     Contractholders  may request  the Company to provide  services to groups of
     employees  at multiple  locations.  If the Company  agrees to provide  such
     services,  the Contractholder will be charged $150 on a quarterly basis for
     each additional employee group or location.

E.   Flexible Income Option Charge

     An additional  charge of $25 annually will be made for any Plan Participant
     receiving benefits under the Flexible Income Option. The charge is added to
     the  portion  of  the  recordkeeping  expense  attributable  to  such  Plan
     Participants.  If the Contractowner has elected to deduct the recordkeeping
     expense from the  Investment  Accounts of inactive Plan  Participants,  the
     Flexible Income Option Charge will also be deducted from such accounts.  If
     a Plan  Participant is receiving  benefits under the Flexible Income Option
     from a Companion Contract to which a Flexible Income Option Charge applies,
     the charge will not apply to the contract described in this Prospectus.

F.   Documentation Expense

     The Company  provides a sample Plan document and summary plan  descriptions
     to the  Contractholder.  The  Contractholder  will  be  billed  $125 if the
     Contractholder uses a Principal Mutual Prototype Plus or Standardized Plan.
     If the Company provides a sample  custom-written  Plan, the  Contractholder
     will be billed $700 for the initial  Plan or for any  restatement  thereof,
     $300  for any  amendments  thereto,  and  $500 for  standard  summary  plan
     description  booklets.  If the Contractholder  adopts a Plan other than one
     provided  by the  Company,  a $900  charge  will be made for  summary  plan
     description booklets requested by the Contractholder, if any.

G.   Sales Charge

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     A sales charge will be billed to and paid by the  Contractholder  according
to one of the following schedules:

                      Schedule A                                                      Schedule B

       Amount of Plan        Amount Payable as a                          Amount of Plan      Amount Payable as
        Contributions          Percent of Plan                             Contributions       Percent of Plan
    in Each Deposit Year        Contributions                          In Each Deposit Year     Contributions

<S>              <C>                <C>                              <C>         <C>                <C>
     The first   $    5,000         4.50%                            The first   $   50,000         3.00%
     The next         5,000         3.00                             The next        50,000         2.00
     The next         5,000         1.70                             The next       400,000         1.00
     The next        35,000         1.40                             The  next    2,500,000         0.50
     The next        50,000         0.90                             Excess over  3,000,000         0.25                  
     The next        400,000        0.60                             Excess over    500,000         0.25
</TABLE>

     The  applicable  sales charge will be determined by the Company.  The sales
     charge  described  in  Schedule B will apply for  certain  salary  deferral
     Plans.  The sales charge  described in Schedule A will apply if the Plan is
     not a salary deferral Plan or if the Plan is a salary deferral Plan subject
     to reduced  sales  expenses.  The  Contractholder  will be  notified of the
     applicable   sales  charge   prior  to  the   issuance  of  the   Contract.
     Contributions  made by the Contractholder to the contract described in this
     prospectus,  a  Companion  Contract  or any  Associated  Contract  will  be
     combined for purposes of applying the above sales charge schedules.

     The Company will not charge a sales charge to  Contractholders  who acquire
     the contract either: (1) directly from the Company upon a recommendation of
     an  independent  pension  consultant  who  charges  a fee for  its  pension
     consulting  services and who receives no  remuneration  from the Company in
     association  with  the  sale of the  contract;  or (2)  through  registered
     representatives  of the Principal  Underwriter who are also Group Insurance
     Representative employees of the Company.

H.   Special Services

     If  requested  by the  Contractholder,  the  Company  may  provide  special
     services  not  provided  as  part  of  the  contract   administration   and
     recordkeeping services. The Company will charge the Contractholder the cost
     of providing such services.

SURPLUS DISTRIBUTION AT SOLE DISCRETION OF THE COMPANY

     It is not anticipated that any divisible surplus will ever be distributable
to the contract in the future  because the contract is not expected to result in
a  contribution  to the  divisible  surplus  of  the  Company.  However,  if any
distribution  of  divisible  surplus  is  made,  it will  be made to  Investment
Accounts in the form of additional units.

THE CONTRACT

     The contract  will  normally be issued to an Employer or  association  or a
trust established for the benefit of Plan Participants and their  beneficiaries.
The Company  will issue a  pre-retirement  certificate  describing  the benefits
under the contract to Plan  Participants who reside in a state that requires the
issuance of such  certificates.  The initial  Contribution which correlates to a
Plan  Participant  will be invested in the Division or Divisions that are chosen
as of the end of the Valuation Period in which such  Contribution is received by
the  Company  at  its  home  office  in Des  Moines,  Iowa.  If  the  allocation
instructions  are  late,  or  not  completed,   the  Company  will  invest  such
unallocated  Contributions  in  the  Money  Market  Division  on the  date  such
Contributions  are  received.  Subsequently,  the Company will transfer all or a
portion of such  Contributions as of the date complete  allocation  instructions
are received by the Company in accordance with the allocation specified therein.
After complete  allocation  instructions have been received by the Company,  all
current and future Contributions will be allocated to the chosen Divisions as of
the end of the Valuation  period in which such  Contributions  are received.  If
complete allocation instructions are not received by the Company within 105 days
after the initial Contributions are allocated to the Money Market Division,  the
Company  will  remit  the  Contributions   plus  any  earnings  thereon  to  the
Contractholder.  The Contractholder may limit the number of Divisions  available
to the Owner of Benefits, but the Money Market Division may not be so restricted
to the extent the  Division  is  necessary  to permit  the  Company to  allocate
initial  Contributions as described above and the Capital Accumulation  Division
may not be so  restricted  to the extent the Division is necessary to permit the
Company to pay Variable Annuity Payments.

A.   Contract Values and Accounting Before Annuity Commencement Date

     1.   Investment Accounts

         An Investment  Account or Accounts  correlating  to a Plan  Participant
         will be established for each type of Contribution and for each Division
         of Separate Account B in which such Contribution is invested.

         Investment  Accounts will be maintained  until the  Investment  Account
         Values are either (a) applied to effect Variable Annuity benefits,  (b)
         paid to the Owner of Benefits or the  beneficiary,  (c)  transferred in
         accordance  with the provisions of the contract or (d) cancelled to pay
         the recordkeeping  expenses for a Plan Participant where Termination of
         Employment,  retirement or death has occurred or for an alternate payee
         under a Qualified Domestic Relations Order.

         Each  Contribution  will be  allocated  to the  Division  or  Divisions
         designated by the Notification on file with the Company and will result
         in a credit of units to the appropriate  Investment Account. The number
         of units so credited  will be determined by dividing the portion of the
         Contributions  allocated  to the  Division  by the Unit  Value for such
         Division for the  Valuation  Period within which the  Contribution  was
         received by the Company at its home office in Des Moines, Iowa.

     2.  Unit Value

         The Unit  Value for a Contract  which  participates  in a  Division  of
         Separate  Account  B  determines  the  value of an  Investment  Account
         consisting of contributions  allocated to that Division. The Unit Value
         for each  Division for the contract is  determined on each day on which
         the net asset value of its underlying  Mutual Fund is  determined.  The
         Unit Value for a Valuation  Period is  determined as of the end of that
         period.  The investment  performance of the underlying  Mutual Fund and
         deducted expenses affect the Unit Value.

         For this series of contracts,  the Unit Value for each Division will be
         fixed at $1.00 for the  Valuation  Period in which the first  amount of
         money is  credited to the  Division.  A  Division's  Unit Value for any
         later  Valuation  Period is equal to its Unit Value for the immediately
         preceding Valuation Period multiplied by the Net Investment Factor (see
         below) for that  Division  for this series of  contracts  for the later
         Valuation Period.

     3.  Net Investment Factor

     Each Net Investment  Factor is the  quantitative  measure of the investment
performance of each Division of Separate Account B.

         For any  specified  Valuation  Period the Net  Investment  Factor for a
Division for this series of contracts is equal to

         (a)  the  quotient  obtained by  dividing  (i) the net asset value of a
              share of the underlying Mutual Fund as of the end of the Valuation
              Period,  plus  the per  share  amount  of any  dividend  or  other
              distribution  made by the Mutual Fund during the Valuation  Period
              (less an adjustment for taxes, if any) by (ii) the net asset value
              of a share  of the  Mutual  Fund as of the end of the  immediately
              preceding Valuation Period,

                                     reduced by

   
         (b)  a mortality and expense risks charge,  equal to a simple  interest
              rate for the  number of days  within  the  Valuation  Period at an
              annual rate of .33%(.42 after July 1, 1996).
    

         The amounts  derived from applying the rate  specified in  subparagraph
         (b) above and the amount of any taxes referred to in  subparagraph  (a)
         above  will be  accrued  daily and will be  transferred  from  Separate
         Account B at the discretion of the Company.

     4.  Hypothetical  Example of  Calculation  of Unit Value for All  Divisions
Except the Money Market Division

         The  computation  of the Unit Value may be illustrated by the following
         hypothetical  example.  Assume  that the  current  net asset value of a
         Mutual Fund share is  $14.8000;  that there were no  dividends or other
         distributions made by the Mutual Fund and no adjustment for taxes since
         the last determination; that the net asset value of a Mutual Fund share
         last determined was $14.7800;  that the last Unit Value was $1.0185363;
         and that the Valuation Period was one day. To determine the current Net
         Investment Factor, divide $14.8000 by $14.7800 which produces 1.0013532
         and deduct from this amount the  mortality  and expense risks charge of
         0.0000090, which is the rate for one day that is equivalent to a simple
         annual  rate of  0.33%.  The  result,  1.0013442,  is the  current  Net
         Investment  Factor. The last Unit Value ($1.0185363) is then multiplied
         by the current  Net  Investment  Factor  (1.0013442)  which  produces a
         current Unit Value of $1.0199054.

     5.Hypothetical  Example of  Calculation  of Unit Value for the Money Market
Division

         The  computation  of the Unit Value may be illustrated by the following
         hypothetical  example.  Assume  that the  current  net asset value of a
         Mutual  Fund share is $1.0000;  that a dividend  of .0328767  cents per
         share was declared by the Mutual Fund prior to  calculation  of the net
         asset  value of the Mutual  Fund share and that no other  distributions
         and no  adjustment  for taxes were made  since the last  determination;
         that the net asset  value of a Mutual  Fund share last  determined  was
         $1.0000;  that  the  last  Unit  Value  was  $1.0162734;  and  that the
         Valuation Period was one day.

         To determine  the current Net  Investment  Factor,  add the current net
         asset value ($1.0000) to the amount of the dividend  ($.000328767)  and
         divide by the last net asset  value  ($1.0000),  which when  rounded to
         seven places  equals  1.0003288.  Deduct from this amount the mortality
         and expense  risks charge of .0000090 (the  proportionate  rate for one
         day based on a simple annual rate of 0.33%).  The result (1.0003198) is
         the current Net Investment  Factor. The last Unit Value ($1.0162734) is
         then  multiplied  by the current  Net  Investment  Factor  (1.0003198),
         resulting in a current Unit Value of $1.0165984.

B.   Income Benefits

     Income  Benefits  consist of either monthly  Variable  Annuity  Payments or
     periodic payments made on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or annual basis
     pursuant to the Flexible Income Option.

     1.  Variable Annuity Payments

         The amount  applied to provide  Variable  Annuity  Payments  must be at
         least  $1,750.  Variable  Annuity  Payments  will  be  provided  by the
         Investment  Accounts which correlate to the Plan Participant held under
         the  Capital  Accumulation  Division.  Thus,  if the Owner of  Benefits
         elects Variable  Annuity  Payments,  any amounts that are to be used to
         provide  Variable  Annuity  Payments will be  transferred to Investment
         Accounts  held under the Capital  Accumulation  Division as of the last
         Valuation  Date in the month which begins two months before the Annuity
         Commencement  Date.  After any such transfer,  the value of the Capital
         Accumulation  Division  Investment  Accounts  will  be  applied  on the
         Annuity Purchase Date to provide Variable Annuity Payments. The Annuity
         Commencement  Date,  which  will be one  month  following  the  Annuity
         Purchase Date,  will be the first day of a month.  Thus, if the Annuity
         Commencement  Date is August 1, the Annuity  Purchase Date will be July
         1, and the date of any  transfers  to a Capital  Accumulation  Division
         Investment  Account will be the Valuation  Date  immediately  preceding
         July 1.

         The Annuity  Commencement  Date must be no later than April 1 of the 
         calendar  year  following  the calendar year in which the Plan 
         Participant attains age 70 1/2. See "Federal Tax Status."

         a.   Selecting a Variable Annuity

              Variable  Annuity  Payments  will be made to an Owner of  Benefits
              beginning  on  the  Annuity   Commencement   Date  and  continuing
              thereafter  on the first day of each  month.  An Owner of Benefits
              may select an Annuity  Commencement  Date by  Notification  to the
              Company.  The date  selected may be the first day of any month the
              Plan allows  which is at least one month  after the  Notification.
              Generally,  the Annuity  Commencement Date cannot begin before the
              Plan  Participant  is age 59 1/2,  separated  from service,  or is
              totally  disabled.  See "Federal  Tax Status" for a discussion  of
              required  distributions and the federal income tax consequences of
              distributions.

              At any time not less than one month  preceding the desired Annuity
              Commencement  Date,  an Owner of Benefits  may,  by  Notification,
              select one of the annuity  options  described below (see "Forms of
              Variable  Annuities").  If no annuity  option has been selected at
              least one month before the Annuity  Commencement  Date, and if the
              Plan  does  not  provide  one,  payments  which  correlate  to  an
              unmarried Plan  Participant  will be made under the annuity option
              providing  Variable Life Annuity with Monthly Payments Certain for
              Ten Years.  Payments to a married  Plan  Participant  will be made
              under the annuity  option  providing a Variable  Life Annuity with
              One-Half Survivorship.

         b.   Forms of Variable Annuities

              Because of certain restrictions  contained in the Internal Revenue
              Code  and  regulations  thereunder,   an  annuity  option  is  not
              available  under a contract used to fund a TDA Plan,  PEDC Plan or
              401(a) Plan unless (i) the joint or  contingent  annuitant  is the
              Plan  Participant's  spouse  or  (ii)  on the  Plan  Participant's
              Annuity  Commencement  Date, the present value of the amount to be
              paid while the Plan  Participant  is living is greater than 50% of
              the present value of the total benefit to the Plan Participant and
              the Plan Participant's  beneficiary (or contingent  annuitant,  if
              applicable).

              An Owner of Benefits may elect to have  Investment  Account Values
              applied under one of the following  annuity options.  However,  if
              the monthly  Variable  Annuity Payment would be less than $20, the
              Company may, at its sole option, pay the Investment Account Values
              in full settlement of all benefits otherwise available.

              Variable  Life  Annuity with  Monthly  Payments  Certain for Zero,
              Five, Ten, Fifteen or Twenty Years or Installment Refund Period --
              a Variable Annuity which provides monthly payments during the Plan
              Participant's lifetime, and further provides that if, at the death
              of the Plan Participant,  monthly payments have been made for less
              than a minimum period, e.g. five years, any remaining payments for
              the balance of such period shall be paid to the Owner of Benefits,
              if the  Owner of  Benefits  is not the Plan  Participant,  or to a
              designated  beneficiary unless the beneficiary requests in writing
              that the  Commuted  Value of the  remaining  payments be paid in a
              single  sum.  (Designated   beneficiaries  entitled  to  take  the
              remaining  payments  or the  Commuted  Value  thereof  rather than
              continuing  monthly payments should consult with their tax advisor
              to be made aware of the differences in tax treatment.)

              The  minimum  period may be either  zero,  five,  ten,  fifteen or
              twenty years or the period (called  "installment  refund  period")
              consisting  of the number of months  determined  by  dividing  the
              amount  applied under the option by the initial  payment.  If, for
              example,   $14,400  is  applied   under  a  life  option  with  an
              installment  refund  period,  and if  the  first  monthly  payment
              provided by that amount, as determined from the applicable annuity
              conversion  rates,  would be $100, the minimum period would be 144
              months ($14,400 divided by $100 per month) or 12 years. A variable
              life  annuity  with an  installment  refund  period  guarantees  a
              minimum  number of  payments,  but not the  amount of any  monthly
              payment or the amount of aggregate  monthly  payments.  The longer
              the minimum period selected, the smaller will be the amount of the
              first annuity payment.

              Under the Variable  Life Annuity  with Zero Years  Certain,  which
              provides monthly payments to the Owner of Benefits during the Plan
              Participant's  lifetime,  it would be  possible  for the  Owner of
              Benefits to receive no annuity  payments  if the Plan  Participant
              died prior to the due date of the first  payment  since payment is
              made only during the lifetime of the Plan Participant.

              Joint and Survivor  Variable  Life  Annuity with Monthly  Payments
              Certain for Ten Years -- a Variable Annuity which provides monthly
              payments for a minimum period of ten years and  thereafter  during
              the joint  lifetimes  of the Plan  Participant  on whose  life the
              annuity is based and the  contingent  annuitant  named at the time
              this option is elected,  and continuing  after the death of either
              of them for the amount  that would  have been  payable  while both
              were living during the remaining lifetime of the survivor.  In the
              event the Plan  Participant  and the  contingent  annuitant do not
              survive beyond the minimum ten year period, any remaining payments
              for the  balance  of such  period  will  be paid to the  Owner  of
              Benefits, if the owner of Benefits is not the Plan Participant, or
              to a designated  beneficiary  unless the  beneficiary  requests in
              writing that the Commuted Value of the remaining  payments be paid
              in a single sum.  (Designated  beneficiaries  entitled to take the
              remaining  payments  or the  Commuted  Value  thereof  rather than
              continuing  monthly payments should consult with their tax advisor
              to be made aware of the differences in tax treatment.)

              Joint and Two-Thirds  Survivor Variable Life Annuity -- a variable
              annuity which provides  monthly payments during the joint lives of
              a  Plan  Participant  and  the  person  designated  as  contingent
              annuitant  with  two-thirds  of the  amount  that  would have been
              payable while both were living  continuing  until the death of the
              survivor.

              Variable  Life Annuity with  One-Half  Survivorship  -- a variable
              annuity which  provides  monthly  payments  during the life of the
              Plan  Participant  with one-half of the amount  otherwise  payable
              continuing so long as the contingent annuitant lives.

              Under the Joint and Two-thirds  Survivor Variable Life Annuity and
              under the Variable  Life Annuity with  One-Half  Survivorship,  it
              would be  possible  for the Owner of  Benefits  and/or  contingent
              annuitant to receive no annuity  payments if the Plan  Participant
              and  contingent  annuitant  both died prior to the due date of the
              first payment since payment is made only during their lifetimes.

              Other Options -- Other Variable  Annuity  options  permitted under
              the  applicable  Plan may be arranged by mutual  agreement  of the
              Owner of Benefits and the Company.

         c.   Basis of Annuity Conversion Rates

              Because  women as a class live longer than men, it has been common
              that  retirement  annuities of equal cost for women and men of the
              same age will provide  women less periodic  income at  retirement.
              The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Arizona  Governing
              Committee  vs.  Norris that sex distinct  annuity  tables under an
              employer-sponsored  benefit plan result in discrimination  that is
              prohibited  by Title VII of the Federal  Civil Rights Act of 1964.
              The Court further ruled that sex distinct  annuity  tables will be
              deemed  discriminatory only when used with values accumulated from
              employer  contributions made after August 1, 1983, the date of the
              ruling.

              Title VII applies  only to  employers  with 15 or more  employees.
              However, certain State Fair Employment Laws and Equal Payment Laws
              may apply to employers with less than 15 employees.

              The contract described in this Prospectus offers both sex distinct
              and sex neutral annuity  conversion  rates.  The annuity rates are
              used to  convert a Plan  Participant's  pre-retirement  Investment
              Account Values to a monthly  lifetime income at retirement.  Usage
              of either  sex  distinct  or sex  neutral  annuity  rates  will be
              determined by the Contractholder.

              For each form of variable  annuity,  the annuity  conversion rates
              determine how much the first monthly Variable Annuity Payment will
              be for each  $1,000 of the  Investment  Account  Value  applied to
              effect the variable  annuity.  The conversion  rates vary with the
              form of annuity,  date of birth,  and, if sex  distinct  rates are
              used,  the  sex  of  the  Plan   Participant  and  the  contingent
              annuitant,  if any. The sex neutral  guaranteed annuity conversion
              rates are based  upon (i) an  interest  rate of 2.5% per annum and
              (ii)  mortality  according  to the  "1983  Table a for  Individual
              Annuity  Valuation"  projected  with Scale G to the year 2001, set
              back  five  years  in  age.  The sex  distinct  female  rates  are
              determined  for all Plan  Participants  in the same way as neutral
              rates,  as  described  above.  The sex  distinct  male  rates  are
              determined  for  all  Plan  Participants  in the  same  way as sex
              neutral rates,  as described  above,  except  mortality is not set
              back five years in age. The guaranteed  annuity  conversion  rates
              may be changed, but no change which would be less favorable to the
              Owner of Benefits will take effect for a current Plan Participant.

              The contract  provides that an interest rate of not less than 2.5%
              per annum will represent the assumed investment return.  Currently
              the assumed  investment  return used in determining  the amount of
              the  first  monthly  payment  is 4% per  annum.  This  rate may be
              increased  or  decreased  by the  Company  in the future but in no
              event will it be less than 2.5% per annum. If, under the contract,
              the actual  investment  return (as  measured by an Annuity  Change
              Factor,  defined below) should always equal the assumed investment
              return,  Variable  Annuity  Payments  would remain  level.  If the
              actual   investment   return  should  always  exceed  the  assumed
              investment  return,  Variable  Annuity  Payments  would  increase;
              conversely,   if  it  should  always  be  less  than  the  assumed
              investment return, Variable Annuity Payments would decrease.

              The current 4% assumed  investment  return is higher than the 2.5%
              interest rate reflected in the annuity  conversion rates contained
              in the contract.  With a 4% assumption,  Variable Annuity Payments
              will commence at a higher  level,  will increase less rapidly when
              actual  investment  return  exceeds  4%,  and will  decrease  more
              rapidly when actual  investment return is less than 4%, than would
              occur with a lower assumption.

         d.   Determining the Amount of the First Variable Annuity Payment

              The initial amount of monthly annuity income shall be based on the
              option  selected,  the age of the Plan  Participant and contingent
              annuitant, if any, and the Investment Account Values applied as of
              the Annuity Purchase Date. The initial monthly income payment will
              be  determined  on the  basis  of  the  annuity  conversion  rates
              applicable on such date to such conversions under all contracts of
              this  class  issued  by the  Company.  However,  the basis for the
              annuity conversion rates will not produce payments less beneficial
              to the Owner of Benefits  than the annuity  conversion  rate basis
              described above.

         e.   Determining the Amount of the Second and Subsequent Monthly
              Variable Annuity Payments

              The second and subsequent  monthly  Variable Annuity Payments will
              increase or decrease in response to the  investment  experience of
              the Mutual Fund underlying the Capital Accumulation  Division. The
              amount of each  payment  will be  determined  by  multiplying  the
              amount  of  the  monthly  Variable  Annuity  Payment  due  in  the
              immediately  preceding calendar month by the Annuity Change Factor
              for the Capital  Accumulation  Division  for the  Contract for the
              calendar month in which the Variable Annuity Payment is due.

              Each Annuity Change Factor for the Capital  Accumulation  Division
              for a calendar month is the quotient of (1) divided by (2), below:

              (1) The number which results from dividing (a) the Contract's Unit
                  Value  for the  Capital  Accumulation  Division  for the first
                  Valuation  Date in the  calendar  month  beginning  one  month
                  before the given  calendar  month by (b) the  Contract's  Unit
                  Value for such  Division for the first  Valuation  Date in the
                  calendar month  beginning two months before the given calendar
                  month.

              (2) An amount equal to one plus the  effective  interest  rate for
                  the number of days between the two Valuation  Dates  specified
                  in  subparagraph  (1) above at the  interest  rate  assumed to
                  determine  the  initial  payment of  variable  benefits to the
                  Owner of Benefits.

         f.   Hypothetical Example of Calculation of Variable Annuity Payments

              Assume that on the date one month before the Annuity  Commencement
              Date the Investment  Account Value that is invested in the Capital
              Accumulation  Division which  correlates to a Plan  Participant is
              $37,592. Using the appropriate annuity conversion factor (assuming
              $5.88 per $1,000 applied) the Investment  Account Value provides a
              first monthly  Variable  Annuity Payment of $221.04.  To determine
              the amount of the second  monthly  payment assume that the Capital
              Accumulation Division Unit Value as of the first Valuation Date in
              the preceding  calendar month was $1.3712044 and the Unit Value as
              of the first Valuation Date in the second preceding calendar month
              was  $1.3273110.  The  Annuity  Change  Factor  is  determined  by
              dividing  $1.3712044 by $1.3273110,  which equals  1.0330694,  and
              dividing  the result by an amount  corresponding  to the amount of
              one increased by an assumed  investment  return of 4% (which for a
              thirty day period is  1.0032288).  1.030694  divided by  1.0032288
              results in an Annuity  Change  Factor for the month of  1.0297446.
              Applying this factor to the amount of Variable Annuity Payment for
              the previous month results in a current monthly payment of $227.61
              ($221.04 multiplied by 1.0297446 equals $227.61).

     2.  Flexible Income Option

         Instead of Variable Annuity Payments an Owner of Benefits may choose to
         receive  Income  Benefits  under the  Flexible  Income  Option.  Unlike
         Variable  Annuity  Payments,  payments under the Flexible Income Option
         may be made  from any  Division  of the  Separate  Account.  Under  the
         Flexible Income Option, the Company will pay to the Owner of Benefits a
         portion of the Investment Accounts on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual
         or annual basis on the date or dates requested each Year and continuing
         for a period  not to  exceed  the life or life  expectancy  of the Plan
         Participant,  or the  joint  lives  or life  expectancy  of  such  Plan
         Participant and the contingent  annuitant,  if the contingent annuitant
         is the Plan Participant's  spouse. If the Notification does not specify
         from which Investment Accounts payments are to be made, amounts will be
         withdrawn  on a pro rata  basis  from  all  Investment  Accounts  which
         correlate to the Plan Participant.  Payments will end, however,  on the
         date no amounts  remain in such  Accounts or the date such Accounts are
         paid or applied in full as described below. Payments will be subject to
         the following:

         a.   The  life  expectancy  of  the  Plan   Participant  and  the  Plan
              Participant's  spouse,  if  applicable,   will  be  determined  in
              accordance with the life expectancy  tables  contained in Internal
              Revenue  Regulation  Section  1.72-9.   Life  expectancy  will  be
              determined as of the date on which the first payment is made. Life
              expectancy will be redetermined annually thereafter.

         b.   Payments  may begin any time after the Flexible  Income  Option is
              requested.  Payments  must  begin no later  than the  latest  date
              permitted or required by the Plan or regulation to be the Owner of
              Benefit's Annuity Commencement Date.

         c.   Payments  will  be  made  annually,  semiannually,  quarterly,  or
              monthly as requested by the Owner of Benefits and agreed to by the
              Company.  The  annual  amount  payable  will be the  lesser of the
              Aggregate  Investment  Account Values which  correlate to the Plan
              Participant or the minimum annual amount  determined in accordance
              with the minimum distribution rules of the Internal Revenue Code.

         d.   If the Plan Participant should die before the Aggregate Investment
              Account  Value has been paid or  applied  in full,  the  remaining
              Investment  Account Values will be treated as benefits  payable at
              death as described in this Prospectus.

         e.   Year for  purposes  of  determining  payments  under the  Flexible
              Income  Option  means the  twelve  month  period  starting  on the
              installment  payment starting date and each  corresponding  twelve
              month period thereafter.

         An Owner of  Benefits  may  request a payment in excess of the  minimum
         described above. Such payment may be equal to all or any portion of the
         Investment Accounts which correlate to the Plan Participant;  provided,
         however,  that if the requested payment would reduce the total value of
         such  accounts to a total balance of less than $1,750 then such request
         will be a request for the total of such Investment Accounts.

         The Owner of Benefits may request  termination  of the Flexible  Income
         Payments by giving the Company  Notification  (i)  requesting an excess
         payment  equal to the  remaining  balance of the  Aggregate  Investment
         Account Values which correlate to a Plan  Participant,  (ii) requesting
         that the remaining balance of the Aggregate  Investment  Account Values
         be applied to provide  Variable Annuity Payments or (iii) a combination
         of (i) and (ii), as long as the amount applied to provide an annuity is
         at least $1,750. The Company will make such excess payment on the later
         of (i) the date  requested,  or (ii) the date seven (7)  calendar  days
         after the Company receives the Notification.  The Annuity  Commencement
         Date for  amounts  so  applied  will be one  month  after  the  Annuity
         Purchase Date. The Annuity Purchase Date for amounts so applied will be
         the first Valuation Date in the month  following the Company's  receipt
         of the  Notification  or the first  Valuation  Date of such  subsequent
         month as requested.

         An  additional  annual  charge  of  $25.00  will be made if an Owner of
         Benefits  elects to receive  benefits under the Flexible Income Option.
         This  charge  may  be  deducted  from  the  Investment  Accounts  which
         correlate  to the Plan  Participant  only if such Plan  Participant  is
         inactive. In such case, the Company will reduce the charge if necessary
         so that when combined  with any other expense being  deducted from such
         Investment  Accounts,  the aggregate of such charges will not exceed 1%
         of the Plan  Participant's  aggregate  Investment Account Values at the
         time the charge is made.  The portion of the charge  attributable  to a
         Plan participant will be allocated to his or her Investment  Account in
         proportion to their relative values.

C.   Payment on Death of Plan Participant

     1.  Prior to Annuity Purchase Date

         If a Plan  Participant  dies prior to the Annuity  Purchase  Date,  the
         Company,  upon  receipt of due proof of death and any waiver or consent
         required  by  applicable  state  law,  will pay the  death  benefit  in
         accordance  with the  provisions  of the Plan.  The amount of the death
         benefit is determined  by the terms of the Plan.  The Owner of Benefits
         may elect to either (1) leave the assets in the  contract to the extent
         permitted  by  applicable  law;  (2) receive such value as a single sum
         benefit;  or (3) apply the Investment Account Values which correlate to
         the Plan  Participant  to purchase  Variable  Annuity  Payments for the
         beneficiary if the aggregate  value of such  Investment  Accounts is at
         least $1,750.  If the beneficiary does not provide  Notification to the
         Company  within 120 days of the date the Company  receives due proof of
         death,  (i.e. a certified  copy of the death  certificate,  a certified
         copy of a decree of a court of competent jurisdiction as to the finding
         of death,  a written  statement  by a medical  doctor who  attended the
         deceased  during his last illness.),  the beneficiary  will be deemed a
         Plan Participant under the contract described in the Prospectus.

         A beneficiary  may elect to have all or a part of the amount  available
         under   this   contract   transferred   to  any   Companion   Contract.
         Alternatively,  this  contract  may  accept  all or part of the  amount
         available under a Companion Contract to establish an Investment Account
         or Accounts for a  beneficiary  under this  contract.  If the aggregate
         value of such Investment  Accounts is less than $1,750, the Company may
         at its option pay the beneficiary the value of such accounts in lieu of
         all other benefits.

         An election to receive  Variable Annuity Payments must be made prior to
         the  single sum  payment to the  beneficiary.  Annuity  income  must be
         payable  as  lifetime  annuity  income  with  no  benefits  beyond  the
         beneficiary's life or life expectancy.  In addition,  the amount of the
         monthly  Variable Annuity Payments must be at least $20, or the Company
         may at its option pay the beneficiary the value of the Variable Annuity
         Reserves  in lieu of all  other  benefits.  The  beneficiary's  Annuity
         Purchase Date will be the first day of the calendar month  specified in
         the  election,  but in no event prior to the first day of the  calendar
         month  following the date the  Notification is received by the Company.
         The amount to be applied will be determined as of the Annuity  Purchase
         Date. The beneficiary's Annuity Commencement Date will be the first day
         of  the  calendar  month  following  the  Annuity  Purchase  Date.  The
         beneficiary must be a natural person in order to elect Variable Annuity
         Payments. The election must be in writing. The annuity conversion rates
         applicable to a beneficiary  shall be the annuity  conversion rates the
         Company makes available to all beneficiaries  under this contract.  The
         beneficiary   will  receive  a  written   description  of  the  options
         available.

      2. Subsequent to Annuity Purchase Date

         Upon the death of a Plan Participant subsequent to the Annuity Purchase
         Date, no benefits will be available except as may be provided under the
         form of annuity  selected.  If provided  for under the form of annuity,
         the Owner of  Benefits  or  beneficiary  will  continue  receiving  any
         remaining  payments  unless the Owner of  Benefits  or the  beneficiary
         requests in writing that the Commuted  Value of the remaining  payments
         be paid in a single sum.

D.   Withdrawals and Transfers

     1.  Cash Withdrawals

         The contract is designed for and intended to be used to fund retirement
         Plans.  However,  subject  to any Plan  limitations,  any  restrictions
         imposed by provisions of the Internal Revenue Code or any reduction for
         vesting provided for in the Plan as to amounts available,  the Owner of
         Benefits may withdraw cash from the Investment Accounts which correlate
         to a Plan  Participant at any time prior to the Annuity  Purchase Date.
         The Internal Revenue Code generally  provides that  distributions  from
         the contracts  (except  those used to fund  Creditor  Exempt or General
         Creditor Non-qualified Plans) may begin only after the Plan Participant
         attains age 59 1/2, terminates employment, dies or becomes disabled, or
         in the  case  of  deemed  hardship  (or,  for  PEDC  Plans,  unforeseen
         emergencies).  Withdrawals  before age 59 1/2 may involve an income tax
         penalty. See "Federal Tax Status."

         The procedure with respect to cash withdrawals is as follows:

         (a)  The Plan must allow for such withdrawal.

         (b)  The  Company  must  receive  a  Notification   requesting  a  cash
              withdrawal  from the Owner of Benefits on a form either  furnished
              or approved by the  Company.  The  Notification  must  specify the
              amount to be  withdrawn  for each  Investment  Account  from which
              withdrawals  are  to  be  made.  If  no   specification  is  made,
              withdrawals  from  Investment  Accounts will be made on a pro rata
              basis.

         (c)  If a  certificate  has been  issued to the Owner of  Benefits  the
              Company  may require  that any  requests  be  accompanied  by such
              certificate.

         (d)  If the Aggregate  Investment  Account Values are  insufficient  to
              satisfy  the amount of the  requested  withdrawal  and  applicable
              charges,  if any,  the amount paid will be reduced to satisfy such
              charges.

         Any cash  withdrawal  will  result in the  cancellation  of a number of
         units  from  each  Investment  Account  from  which  values  have  been
         withdrawn.  The number of units  cancelled  from an Investment  Account
         will be equal to the amount  withdrawn from that Account divided by the
         Unit Value for the Division of Separate  Account B in which the Account
         is  invested  for the  Valuation  Period in which the  cancellation  is
         effective.

         (Special Note: Under the Texas Education Code, Plan Participants  under
         contracts  issued in connection with Optional  Retirement  Programs for
         certain  employees  of  Texas  institutions  of  higher  education  are
         prohibited from making  withdrawals  except in the event of termination
         of employment,  retirement or death of the Plan Participant.  Also, see
         "Federal  Tax  Status"  for  a   description   of  further   withdrawal
         restrictions.)

     2.  Transfers Between Divisions

         Upon  Notification,  all or a  portion  of the  value  of a  Investment
         Account which  correlates to a Plan  Participant  may be transferred to
         another  available   Investment   Account   correlating  to  such  Plan
         Participant for the same type of Contribution.
         Transfers may be made at any time before the Annuity Purchase Date.

         A transfer will be effective as of the end of the  Valuation  Period in
         which the request is received.  Any amount  transferred  will result in
         the  cancellation  of units in the  Investment  Account  from which the
         transfer is made.  The number of units  cancelled  will be equal to the
         amount  transferred  from that account divided by the Unit Value of the
         Division for the  Valuation  Period in which the transfer is effective.
         The  transferred  amount will result in the  crediting  of units in the
         Investment  Account to which the transfer is made.  The number of units
         credited  will be  equal  to the  amount  transferred  to that  account
         divided by the Unit Value of the Division for the  Valuation  Period in
         which the transfer is effective.

     3.  Transfers to the Contract

         If a  Companion  Contract  has been  issued by the  Company to fund the
         Plan,  and except as otherwise  provided by the  applicable  Plan,  the
         contract  described in this  Prospectus  may accept all or a portion of
         the  proceeds  available  under the  Companion  Contract at any time at
         least one month before Annuity  Commencement Date, subject to the terms
         of the Companion Contract.

      4. Transfers to a Companion Contract

         If a  Companion  Contract  has been  issued by the  Company to fund the
         Plan,  except as  otherwise  provided  by the  applicable  Plan and the
         provisions  of the  Companion  Contract,  an Owner of  Benefits  may by
         Notification transfer all or a portion of the Investment Account Values
         which correlate to a Plan Participant to the Companion Contract. If the
         Notification does not state otherwise, amounts will be transferred on a
         pro rata basis from the Investment Accounts which correlate to the Plan
         Participant.  Transfers  with respect to a Plan  Participant  from this
         contract  to the  Companion  Contract  will  not be  permitted  if this
         contract  has  accepted,  within the  six-month  period  preceding  the
         proposed  transfer  from this  contract to the  Companion  Contract,  a
         transfer from an unmatured  Investment  Account which correlates to the
         Plan Participant established under the Companion Contract. An unmatured
         Investment  Account is an Investment  Account which has not reached the
         end of its  interest  guarantee  period.  In all other  respects,  such
         transfers  are subject to the same  provisions  regarding  frequency of
         transfer,  effective  date of  transfer  and  cancellation  of units as
         described above in "Transfers Between Divisions."

     5.  Special Situation Involving Alternate Funding Agents

         The  contract  allows  the  Investment   Account  Values  of  all  Plan
         Participants  to be transferred  to an alternate  Funding Agent with or
         without the consent of the Plan Participants. Transfers to an alternate
         Funding Agent require Notification from the Contractholder.  The amount
         to be  transferred  will be  equal  to the  Investment  Account  Values
         determined  as of  the  end  of  the  Valuation  Period  in  which  the
         Notification  is  received.  Such  transfers  will  be  subject  to the
         contract administration expense and recordkeeping expense.

     6.  Postponement of Cash Withdrawal or Transfer

         Any cash withdrawal or transfer to be made from the contract or between
         Investment Accounts in accordance with the preceding paragraphs will be
         made (i) within seven calendar days after Notification for such payment
         or  transfer  is  received by the Company at its Home Office or (ii) on
         the  requested  date of payment or transfer,  if later.  However,  such
         withdrawal or transfer may be deferred during any period when the right
         to redeem Mutual Fund shares is suspended as permitted under provisions
         of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.  The right to redeem
         shares may be  suspended  during any period when (a) trading on the New
         York Stock  Exchange is restricted as determined by the  Securities and
         Exchange  Commission or such Exchange is closed for other than weekends
         and holidays;  (b) an emergency exists, as determined by the Securities
         and  Exchange  Commission,  as a result  of which (i)  disposal  by the
         Mutual Fund of securities owned by it is not reasonably  practicable or
         (ii) it is not  reasonably  practicable  for the Mutual  Fund fairly to
         determine the value of its net assets;  or (c) the  Commission by order
         so permits for the protection of security holders.  If any deferment of
         transfer  or  withdrawal  is in effect  and has not been  cancelled  by
         Notification to the Company within the period of deferment,  the amount
         to be  transferred  or withdrawn  shall be  determined  as of the first
         Valuation Date  following  expiration of the permitted  deferment,  and
         transfer  or  withdrawal  will  be  made  within  seven  calendar  days
         thereafter. The Company will notify the Contractholder of any deferment
         exceeding 30 days.

     7.  Loans.

         The Company  will not make  available  a loan  option for the  contract
         described in this Prospectus.

E.   Other Contractual Provisions

     1.  Contribution Limits

         The contract prescribes no limits on the minimum Contribution which may
         be  made  to  an  Investment   Account  which   correlates  to  a  Plan
         Participant. Plan Participant maximum Contributions are discussed under
         "Federal  Tax Status."  Contributions  may also be limited by the Plan.
         The Company may also limit Contributions on 60-days notice.

     2.  Assignment

         No  benefits in the course of payment  under a contract  used to fund a
         TDA  Plan,  401(a)  Plan  or  Creditor-Exempt  Non-Qualified  Plan  are
         assignable, by any Owner of Benefits, Plan Participant,  beneficiary or
         contingent annuitant and all such benefits under such contracts,  shall
         be exempt from the claims of creditors to the maximum extent  permitted
         by law.  Benefits in the course of payment for  contracts  used to fund
         PEDC plans and General Creditor Non-Qualified Plans are assignable only
         by the  Contractholder  and such  benefits are subject to the claims of
         the Contractholder's general creditors.

         Investment  Account Values which  correlate to a Plan  Participant  are
         non-forfeitable  by the Owner of Benefits;  provided,  however,  if the
         Plan  specifically  so  provides,   Investment   Account  Values  which
         correlate to a Plan Participant shall be reduced to the extent required
         by the  vesting  provisions  of the  Plan as of the  date  the  Company
         receives Notification of the event requiring the reduction.

     3.  Cessation of Contributions

         A cessation  of  Contributions  with  respect to all Plan  Participants
         shall occur at the election of the Contractholder  upon Notification to
         the  Company,  on the  date  the  Plan  terminates  or on the  date  no
         Investment  Account Values remain under the contract or at the election
         of the Company upon 60-days notice to the  Contractholder.  Following a
         cessation of  Contributions  all terms of the contract will continue to
         apply except that no further Contributions may be made.

      4. Substitution of Securities

         If  shares  of a Mutual  Fund  are not  available  at some  time in the
         future, or if in the judgment of the Company further investment in such
         shares  would  no  longer  be  appropriate,  there  may be  substituted
         therefor,  or  Contributions  received  after a date  specified  by the
         Company  may be applied to  purchase  (i) shares of another  registered
         open-end investment company or (ii) securities or other property as the
         Company should in its discretion select. In the event of any investment
         pursuant to clause (ii) above,  the Company can make such changes as in
         its judgment are necessary or  appropriate in the frequency and methods
         of determination of Unit Values, Net Investment Factors, Annuity Change
         Factors,  and Investment  Account Values,  including any changes in the
         foregoing which will provide for the payment of an investment  advisory
         fee; provided,  however, that any such changes shall be made only after
         approval by the Insurance  Department of the State of Iowa. The Company
         will give written notice to each Owner of Benefits of any  substitution
         or such  change and any  substitution  will be subject to the rules and
         regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

      5. Changes in the Contract

         The terms of a contract may be changed at any time by written agreement
         between the Company and the  Contractholder  without the consent of any
         Plan  Participant,  Owner  of  Benefits,   beneficiary,  or  contingent
         annuitant.  However,  except as required by law or regulation,  no such
         change  shall apply to variable  annuities  which were in the course of
         payment  prior to the  effective  date of the change.  The Company will
         notify any Contractholder affected by any change under this paragraph.

         The Company may unilaterally change the Contract at any time, including
         retroactive  changes,  in order to meet the  requirements of any law or
         regulation  issued by any  governmental  agency to which the Company is
         subject.  The Company may add  Divisions  to Separate  Account B at any
         time.  In  addition,  the Company  may, on 60-days  prior notice to the
         Contractholder,   unilaterally   change   the  basis  for   determining
         Investment  Account  Values,  the Net  Investment  Factor,  the Annuity
         Purchase Rates and the Annuity Change  Factor;  the guaranteed  annuity
         conversion rates; the Recordkeeping Expense and Contract Administration
         Charge;  and the  provisions  with  respect to  transfers  to or from a
         Companion Contract or between Investment Accounts.

         However,  no  amendment or change will apply to annuities in the course
         of payment except to the extent  necessary to meet the  requirements of
         any law or  regulation  issued  by a  governmental  agency to which the
         Company is subject.  In addition,  no change in the guaranteed  annuity
         conversion rates will take effect for a current Plan Participant if the
         effect of such amendment or change would be less favorable to the Owner
         of Benefits. Also, any change in the contract administration expense or
         recordkeeping  expense  will  not  take  affect  as to  any  Investment
         Accounts to be transferred  to an Alternate  Funding Agent if, prior to
         the date of the  amendment  or change is to take  affect,  the  Company
         receives a written request from the  Contractholder  for payment of all
         such Investment  Account Values to the Alternate Funding Agent and such
         request is not revoked.

         Furthermore,  the Company may, on 60-days notice to the  Contractholder
         affected by the change,  unilaterally  change the mortality and expense
         risks  charge  provided  that (a) the charge  shall in no event  exceed
         1.25%, (b) the charge shall not be changed more frequently than once in
         any one year period and (c) no change  shall apply to  annuities  which
         were in the  course  of  payment  prior  to the  effective  date of the
         change.

STATEMENT OF VALUES

     The Company  will  furnish each Owner of Benefits at least once during each
year a statement showing the number of units credited to the Investment  Account
or  Accounts  which  correlate  to the Plan  Participant,  Unit  Values for such
Investment Accounts and the resulting Investment Account Values.

SERVICES AVAILABLE BY TELEPHONE

     The  following  transactions  may be exercised by telephone by any Owner of
Benefits:   1)  transfers  between  Investment  Accounts;   and  2)  changes  in
Contribution allocation percentages. The telephone transactions may be exercised
by telephoning  1-800-633-1373.  Telephone transfer requests must be received by
the close of the New York Stock  Exchange  on a day when the Company is open for
business to be  effective  that day.  Requests  made after that time or on a day
when the Company is not open for business  will be effective  the next  business
day.

     Although  neither the Separate  Account nor the Company is responsible  for
the  authenticity of telephone  transaction  requests,  the right is reserved to
refuse to accept telephone  requests when in the opinion of the Company it seems
prudent  to do so.  The  Owner of  Benefits  bears  the risk of loss  caused  by
fraudulent telephone instructions the Company reasonably believes to be genuine.
The Company will employ reasonable  procedures to assure telephone  instructions
are genuine and if such  procedures are not followed,  the Company may be liable
for losses due to  unauthorized  or  fraudulent  transactions.  Such  procedures
include   recording   all   telephone    instructions.,    requesting   personal
identification  information such as the caller's name, daytime telephone number,
social  security number and/or  birthdate and sending a written  confirmation of
the transaction to the Owner of Benefits' address of record.  Owners of Benefits
may obtain  additional  information  and assistance by telephoning the toll free
number.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACT

     The contract,  which is  continuously  offered,  will be sold  primarily by
persons who are  insurance  agents of or brokers for the Company  authorized  by
applicable  law to sell life and other forms of personal  insurance and variable
annuities. In addition, these persons will usually be registered representatives
of Princor Financial Services  Corporation,  a Member of The Principal Financial
Group,  Des Moines,  Iowa,  50392-0200,  a  broker-dealer  registered  under the
Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934 and a member of the  National  Association  of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Princor Financial Services  Corporation,  the principal
underwriter, is paid for the distribution of the Contract in accordance with two
separate  schedules one of which  provides for payment of 4.5% of  Contributions
scaling down for  Contributions  in excess of $5,000 and one which  provides for
payments of 3.0% of  Contributions  scaling down for  Contributions in excess of
$50,000.  The Contract may also be sold through  other  selected  broker-dealers
registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Princor Financial Services
Corporation is also the principal  underwriter for various registered investment
companies organized by the Company. Princor Financial Services Corporation is an
indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.

PERFORMANCE  CALCULATION

     The  Separate  Account may publish  advertisements  containing  information
(including graphs,  charts, tables and examples) about the performance of one or
more of its  Divisions.  The  contract  was not offered  prior to July 15, 1992.
However,  shares of some of the mutual funds in which  Divisions of the Separate
Account invest were offered prior to that date.  Thus, the Separate  Account may
publish advertisements containing information about the hypothetical performance
of one or more of its  Divisions  for this contract had the contract been issued
on or after the date the mutual  fund in which such  Division  invests was first
offered.  The yield and total return figures described below will vary depending
upon  market  conditions,  the  composition  of  the  underlying  mutual  funds'
portfolios and operating expenses. These factors and possible differences in the
methods used in  calculating  yield and total return should be  considered  when
comparing  the  Separate  Account  performance  figures to  performance  figures
published for other  investment  vehicles.  The Separate  Account may also quote
rankings,  yields or returns as published by independent statistical services or
publishers and information  regarding performance of certain market indices. Any
performance  data quoted for the Separate  Account  represents  only  historical
performance  and is not  intended to indicate  future  performance.  For further
information  on how the  Separate  Account  calculates  yield and  total  return
figures, see the Statement of Additional Information.

     From  time to  time  the  Separate  Account  advertises  its  Money  Market
Division's  "yield"  and  "effective  yield."  Both yield  figures  are based on
historical  earnings and are not intended to indicate  future  performance.  The
"yield" of the division  refers to the income  generated by an investment in the
division  over  a  seven-day   period  (which  period  will  be  stated  in  the
advertisement).  This income is then "annualized." That is, the amount of income
generated by the  investment  during that week is assumed to be  generated  each
week over a 52-week period and is shown as a percentage of the  investment.  The
"effective  yield" is  calculated  similarly  but, when  annualized,  the income
earned by an  investment  in the  division  is  assumed  to be  reinvested.  The
"effective  yield"  will be  slightly  higher  than the  "yield"  because of the
compounding effect of this assumed reinvestment.

     In addition,  from time to time,  the Separate  Account may  advertise  its
"yield" for the Bond  Division  and  Government  Securities  Division  for these
contracts.  The "yield" of the Divisions is determined  by  annualizing  the net
investment income per unit for a specific, historical 30-day period and dividing
the result by the ending maximum offering price of the unit for the same period.

     Also,  from time to time,  the Separate  Account will advertise the average
annual total return of its various  divisions.  The average  annual total return
for  any  of the  divisions  is  computed  by  calculating  the  average  annual
compounded  rate of return over the stated  period that would  equate an initial
$1,000 investment to the ending redeemable contract value.

VOTING RIGHTS

     The Company  shall vote  Mutual  Fund shares held in Separate  Account B at
regular  and special  meetings of  shareholders  of each Mutual  Fund,  but will
follow voting  instructions  received from persons having the voting interest in
the Mutual Fund shares.

     The  number  of Mutual  Fund  shares  as to which a person  has the  voting
interest  will be  determined by the Company as of a date which will not be more
than  ninety  days  prior  to  the  meeting  of  the  Mutual  Fund,  and  voting
instructions will be solicited by written  communication at least ten days prior
to the meeting.

     During the accumulation  period, the Owner of Benefits is the person having
the voting  interest in the Mutual Fund shares  attributable  to the  Investment
Accounts  which  correlate  to the Plan  Participant.  The number of Mutual Fund
shares  held in Separate  Account B which are  attributable  to each  Investment
Account is determined by dividing the Investment Account Value attributable to a
Division  of  Separate  Account  B by the net  asset  value of one  share of the
underlying Mutual Fund.

     During the annuity  period,  the person then  entitled to Variable  Annuity
Payments has the voting  interest in the Mutual Fund shares  attributable to the
Variable  Annuity.  The number of Mutual Fund shares held in Separate  Account B
which are  attributable  to each Variable  Annuity is determined by dividing the
reserve  for the  Variable  Annuity by the net asset  value of one  Mutual  Fund
share.  The  voting  interest  in the Mutual  Fund  shares  attributable  to the
Variable  Annuity will  ordinarily  decrease during the annuity period since the
reserve for the Variable Annuity  decreases due to the reduction in the expected
payment period.

     Mutual  Fund  shares for which  Owners of  Benefits  or payees of  Variable
Annuities  are  entitled  to give  voting  instructions,  but for which none are
received,  and shares of the Fund owned by the Company will be voted in the same
proportion  as the  aggregate  shares for which  voting  instructions  have been
received.

     Proxy  material  will be provided to each person  having a voting  interest
together with an appropriate form which may be used to give voting  instructions
to the Company.

     If the  Company  determines  pursuant  to  applicable  law that Mutual Fund
shares held in  Separate  Account B need not be voted  pursuant to  instructions
received from persons  otherwise  having the voting  interest as provided above,
then the Company  may vote Mutual Fund shares held in Separate  Account B in its
own right.

FEDERAL TAX STATUS

     It should be recognized that the  descriptions  below of the federal income
tax status of amounts received under the contracts are not exhaustive and do not
purport to cover all situations. A qualified tax advisor should be consulted for
complete  information.  (For the federal tax status of the Company and  Separate
Account B, see "Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Separate Account B".)

A.    Taxes Payable by Owners of Benefits and Annuitants

     The  contract  offered  in  connection  with this  Prospectus  is used with
retirement programs which receive favorable tax deferred treatment under Federal
income tax law and deferred annuity contracts  purchased with after tax dollars.
Annuity  payments or other  amounts  received  under the contract are subject to
income  tax  withholding.  The  amounts  withheld  will  vary  among  recipients
depending  on the tax status of the  individual  and the type of  payments  from
which taxes are withheld.

     Contributions  to  contracts  used  to  fund  Creditor-Exempt  and  General
Creditor  Non-Qualified Plans do not enjoy the advantages available to qualified
retirement  plans,  but  Contributions   invested  in  contracts  used  to  Fund
Creditor-Exempt   Non-qualified   Retirement  Plans  may  receive   tax-deferred
treatment of the  earnings,  until  distributed  from the contract as retirement
benefits.

     1.  Tax-Deferred Annuity Plans-- (Section 403(b) Annuities for Employees
         of Certain Tax-Exempt  Organizations or Public Educational 
         Institutions)

     Contributions.  Under section 403(b) of the Code,  payments made by certain
employers (i.e., tax-exempt  organizations,  meeting the requirements of section
501(c)(3) of the Code and public  educational  institutions) to purchase annuity
contracts for their  employees are excludable from the gross income of employees
to the extent that the aggregate Purchase Payments do not exceed the limitations
prescribed by section 402(g),  section  403(b)(2),  and section 415 of the Code.
This gross income  exclusion  applies to employer  contributions  and  voluntary
salary reduction contributions.

     An individual's  voluntary  salary  reduction  contributions  under section
403(b) are generally limited to the lesser of $9,500 or 25 percent of net salary
(or 20 percent of gross salary); additional catch-up contributions are permitted
under   certain   circumstances.   Combined   employer   and  salary   reduction
contributions  are generally  limited to approximately 25 percent of net salary.
In  addition,  for plan  years  beginning  after  December  31,  1988,  employer
contributions must comply with various  nondiscrimination rules; these rules may
have the effect of  further  limiting  the rate of  employer  contributions  for
highly compensated employees.

     Taxation of Distributions.  Distributions are restricted.  The restrictions
apply to amounts  accumulated  after  December  31,  1988  (including  voluntary
contributions  after  that  date and  earnings  on prior and  current  voluntary
contributions).  These  restrictions  require  that  no  distributions  will  be
permitted  prior to one of the following  events:  (1) attainment of age 59 1/2,
(2)  separation  from  service,  (3)  death,  (4)  disability,  or (5)  hardship
(hardship  distributions  will be  limited  to the  amount of  salary  reduction
contributions exclusive of earnings thereon).

     All  distributions  from a section 403(b) Plan are taxed as ordinary income
of the  recipient in  accordance  with section 72 of the Code and are subject to
20% income tax withholding.  Distributions received before the recipient attains
age 59 1/2  generally  are  subject to a 10%  penalty tax in addition to regular
income tax. Certain  distributions are excepted from this penalty tax, including
distributions  following (1) death, (2) disability,  (3) separation from service
during or after the year the  Participant  reaches age 55, (4)  separation  from
service at any age if the  distribution is in the form of payments over the life
(or life  expectancy)  of the Plan  Participant  (or the  Plan  Participant  and
Beneficiary),  and (5)  distributions  not in excess of tax  deductible  medical
expenses.

     Required Distributions.  Generally, distributions from section 403(b) Plans
must commence no later than April 1 of the calendar year  following the calendar
year in which the Plan  Participant  attains  age 70 1/2 and such  distributions
must be made over a period that does not exceed the life  expectancy of the Plan
Participant  (or  the  Plan  Participant  and  Beneficiary).  Plan  Participants
employed by governmental entities and certain church organizations may delay the
commencement of payments until April 1 of the calendar year following retirement
if they remain employed after attaining age 70 1/2.  However,  upon the death of
the Plan Participant prior to the commencement of annuity  payments,  the amount
accumulated  under the  contract  must be  distributed  within five years or, if
distributions to a beneficiary designated under the contract commence within one
year of the Plan Participant's death,  distributions are permitted over the life
of the beneficiary or over a period not extending beyond the beneficiary's  life
expectancy.   If  the  Plan   Participant   has  commenced   receiving   annuity
distributions prior to the Plan Participant's death, distributions must continue
at least as rapidly as under the method in effect at the date of death.  Amounts
accumulated  under a contract on  December  31,  1986,  are not subject to these
minimum distributions requirements.  A penalty tax of 50% will be imposed on the
amount by which the minimum required distribution in any year exceeds the amount
actually distributed in that year.

     Tax-Free  Transfers  and  Rollovers.  The Code  provides  for the  tax-free
exchange of one annuity contract for another annuity  contract,  and the IRS has
ruled that total or partial amounts  transferred  between section 403(b) annuity
contracts and/or 403(b)(7)  custodial accounts may qualify as tax-free exchanges
under certain  circumstances.  In addition,  section  403(b) of the Code permits
tax-free  rollovers  of eligible  rollover  distributions  from  section  403(b)
programs to Individual  Retirement Accounts (IRAs) under certain  circumstances.
If an eligible rollover distribution is taken as a direct rollover to an IRA (or
another  403(b) plan) the mandatory 20% income tax  withholding  does not apply.
However,  the 20% mandatory  withholding  requirement  does apply to an eligible
rollover distribution that is not made as a direct rollover. In addition, such a
rollover must be completed within 60 days of receipt of the distribution.

     2.  Public Employee Deferred Compensation Plans-- (Section 457 Unfunded 
         Deferred Compensation Plans of Public Employers  and Tax-Exempt 
         Organizations)

     Contributions.  Under  section  457 of the Code,  individuals  who  perform
services for a unit of a state or local government may participate in a deferred
compensation  program.  Tax-exempt employers may establish deferred compensation
plans  under  section  457 only  for a select  group  of  management  or  highly
compensated employees and/or independent contractors.

     This  type  of  program   allows   individuals  to  defer  the  receipt  of
compensation  which would otherwise be presently  payable and to therefore defer
the payment of Federal  income taxes on the amounts.  Assuming  that the program
meets the requirements to be considered a Public Employee Deferred  Compensation
Plan (an "PEDC Plan"),  an  individual  may  contribute  (and thereby defer from
current  income  for  tax  purposes)  the  lesser  of  $7,500  or 33 1/3% of the
individuals includible compensation. (Includible compensation means compensation
from the employer  which is current  includible  in gross income for Federal tax
purposes.)  During the last three  years  before an  individual  attains  normal
retirement age, additional catch-up deferrals are permitted.

     The amounts  which are deferred may be used by the employer to purchase the
contract offered by this Prospectus.  The contract is owned by the employer and,
in fact, is subject to the claims of the employer's creditors.  The employee has
no present  rights or vested  interest in the contract  and is only  entitled to
payment in accordance with the PEDC Plan provisions.

     Taxation of  Distributions.  Amounts received by an individual from an PEDC
Plan are  includible  in gross income for the taxable year in which such amounts
are paid or otherwise made available.

     Distributions Before Separation from Service.  Distributions  generally are
not  permitted  under an PEDC Plan prior to separation  from service  except for
unforeseeable  emergencies.  Emergency distributions are includible in the gross
income of the individual in the year in which paid.

     Required Distributions. Beginning January 1, 1989, the minimum distribution
requirements  for PEDC Plans are generally the same as those for qualified plans
and section  403(b) Plans  Contracts,  except that no amounts are exempted  from
minimum distribution requirements.

     Tax Free  Transfers and  Rollovers.  Federal income tax law permits the tax
free  transfer of PEDC Plan amounts to another  PEDC Plan,  but not to an IRA or
other type of plan.

     3.  401(a) Plans

     Contributions. Under Section 401(a) of the Code, payments made by employers
to purchase annuity  Contracts for their employees are excludable from the gross
income of employees to the extent that the  aggregate  Purchase  Payments do not
exceed the  limitations  prescribed  by section  402(g),  and section 415 of the
Code.  This  gross  income  exclusion  applies  to  employer  contributions  and
voluntary salary reduction contributions.

     An individual's voluntary salary reduction  contributions for a 401(k) plan
are generally limited to $9,500 (1996 limit).

     For 401(a) qualified plans, the maximum annual  contribution  that a member
can  receive  is  limited to the  lesser of 25% of  includible  compensation  or
$30,000.

     Taxation of Distributions. Distributions are restricted. These restrictions
require that no distributions of employer contributions or salary deferrals will
be permitted prior to one of the following events: (1) attainment of age 59 1/2,
(2)  separation  from service,  (3) death,  (4)  disability,  or (5) for certain
401(a) Plans, hardship (hardship  distributions will be limited to the amount of
salary  reduction  contributions  exclusive  of  earnings  thereon).  In-service
distributions may be permitted under various circumstances in certain plans.

     All  distributions  from a section 401(a) Plan are taxed as ordinary income
of the  recipient  in  accordance  with  section  72 of the Code.  Distributions
received before the recipient  attains age 59 1/2 generally are subject to a 10%
penalty  tax in  addition  to regular  income  tax.  Certain  distributions  are
excepted from this penalty tax, including distributions following (1) death, (2)
disability,  3)  separation  from  service  during  or  after  the year the Plan
Participant  reaches  age 55,  (4)  separation  from  service  at any age if the
distribution  is in the form of payments over the life (or life  expectancy)  of
the  Plan  Participant  (or  the  Plan  Participant  and  Beneficiary),  and (5)
distributions not in excess of tax deductible medical expenses.

     Required Distributions.  Generally, distributions from section 401(a) Plans
must commence no later than April 1 of the calendar year  following the calendar
year in which the Participant  attains age 70 1/2 and such distributions must be
made  over a  period  that  does not  exceed  the  life  expectancy  of the Plan
Participant (or the Plan  Participant and  Beneficiary).  Following the death of
the Plan  Participant,  the distribution  requirements are generally the same as
those  described  with  respect to 403(b)  Plans.  A penalty  tax of 50% will be
imposed on the amount by which the  minimum  required  distribution  in any year
exceeds the amount actually distributed in that year.

     Tax-Free  Transfers  and  Rollovers.  The Code  provides  for the  tax-free
exchange of one annuity  contract for another  annuity  contract.  Distributions
from a 401(a) Plan may also be transferred to a Rollover IRA.

     4.  Creditor-Exempt Non-Qualified Plans

     Certain employers may establish Creditor-Exempt  Non-Qualified Plans. Under
such Plans the employer  formally funds the Plan either by purchasing an annuity
contract  or by  transferring  funds on behalf of Plan  Participants  to a trust
established  for the benefit of such Plan  Participants  with a direction to the
trustee to use the funds to  purchase  an annuity  contract.  The Trustee is the
Contractholder  and is considered  the nominal owner of the contract.  Each Plan
Participant as a Trust  beneficiary,  is an Owner of Benefits under the contract
and is treated as the owner for income tax purposes.

     Taxation of Contract  Earnings.  Since each Plan Participant for income tax
purposes is considered  the owner of the  Investment  Account or Accounts  which
correlate  to such  Participant,  any  increase  in a  Participant's  Investment
Account Value  resulting from the investment  performance of the Contract is not
taxable to the Plan Participant until received by such Plan Participant.

     Contributions.  Payments  made by the  employer to the Trust on behalf of a
Plan Participant are currently includible in the Plan Participant's gross income
as  additional  compensation  and,  if  such  payments  coupled  with  the  Plan
Participant's  other  compensation  is reasonable  in amount,  such payments are
currently deductible as compensation by the Employer.

     Taxation  of  Distributions.   In  general,  partial  redemptions  from  an
Investment  Account  that are not received by a Plan  Participant  as an annuity
under the  contract  allocated to  post-August  13, 1982  Contributions  under a
preexisting  contract  are  taxed  as  ordinary  income  to  the  extent  of the
accumulated  income  or gain  under the  contract.  Partial  redemptions  from a
contract  that are  allocated  to  pre-August  14,  1982  Contributions  under a
preexisting  contract are taxed only after the Plan Participant has received all
of the "investment in the contract"  (Contributions  less any amounts previously
received and excluded from gross income).

     In the case of a complete  redemption  of an  Investment  Account under the
contract (regardless of the date of purchase), the amount received will be taxed
as  ordinary  income  to the  extent  that it  exceeds  the  Plan  Participant's
investment in the contract.

     If a Plan Participant  purchases two or more contracts from the Company (or
an  affiliated  company)  within any twelve month period after October 21, 1988,
those  contracts are treated as a single  contract for purposes of measuring the
income on a partial redemption or complete surrender.

     When payments are received as an annuity, the Plan Participant's investment
in the contract is treated as received  ratably over the expected payment period
of the annuity and excluded  from gross income as a tax-free  return of capital.
Individuals who commence receiving annuity payments on or after January 1, 1987,
can exclude from income only their unrecovered investment in the contract. Where
such  individuals die before they have recovered their entire  investment in the
contract on a tax-free  basis,  are entitled to a deduction  of the  unrecovered
amount on their final tax return.

     In  addition  to regular  income  taxes,  there is a 10% penalty tax on the
taxable portion of a distribution  received before the Plan Participant  attains
age 59 1/2  under  the  contract,  unless  the  distribution  is;  (1) made to a
Beneficiary  on or  after  death  of the Plan  Participant,  (2)  made  upon the
disability of the Plan Participant;  (3) part of a series of substantially equal
annuity  payments for the life or life expectancy of the Plan Participant or the
Plan Participant and Beneficiary;  (4) made under an immediate annuity contract,
or (5) allocable to Contributions made prior to August 14, 1982.

     Required  Distributions.  The Internal Revenue Code does not require a Plan
Participant under a  Creditor-Exempt  Non-Qualified  Plan to commence  receiving
distributions  at any particular time and does not limit the duration of annuity
payments.  However,  the contract provides the Annuity Commencement Date must be
no later than the April 1 of the calendar  year  following  the calendar year in
which the Participant  attains age 70 1/2.  However,  upon the death of the Plan
Participant  prior  to  the  commencement  of  annuity   payments,   the  amount
accumulated  under the  contract  must be  distributed  within five years or, if
distributions to a beneficiary designated under the contract commence within one
year of the Plan Participant's death,  distributions are permitted over the life
of the beneficiary or over a period not extending beyond the beneficiary's  life
expectancy.   If  the  Plan   Participant   has  commenced   receiving   annuity
distributions prior to the Plan Participant's death, distributions must continue
at least as rapidly as under the method in effect at the date of death.

     Tax-Free  Exchanges.  Under  Section 1035 of the Code,  the exchange of one
annuity contract for another is not a taxable transaction,  but is reportable to
the  IRS.  Transferring  Investment  Account  Values  from  this  contract  to a
Companion Contract would fall within the provisions of Section 1035 of the Code.

     5.  General Creditor Non-Qualified Plans

     Contributions.  Private taxable employers may establish  informally funded,
General Creditor  Non-Qualified Plans for a select group of management or highly
compensated  employees and/or independent  contractors.  Certain arrangements of
nonprofit  employers entered into prior to August 16, 1989, and not subsequently
modified, are subject to the rules discussed below.

     Informally  funded General  Creditor  Non-Qualified  Plans represent a bare
contractual  promise  on the part of the  employer  to pay wages at some  future
time. The contract used to informally fund the employer's obligation is owned by
the employer and is subject to the claims of the employer's creditors.  The Plan
Participant  has no present right or vested interest in the contract and is only
entitled to payment in accordance with Plan  provisions.  If the Employer who is
the  Contractholder,  is not a natural  person,  the  contract  does not receive
tax-deferred treatment afforded other Contractholders under the Internal Revenue
Code.

     Taxation of Distributions. Amounts received by an individual from a General
Creditor  Non-Qualified  Plan are includible in the employee's  gross income for
the taxable  year in which such amounts are paid or  otherwise  made  available.
Such amounts are deductible by the employer when paid to the individual.

B.   Fund Diversification

     Separate Account  investments  must be adequately  diversified in order for
the increase in the value of Creditor-Exempt  Non-Qualified Contracts to receive
tax-deferred treatment. In order to be adequately diversified,  the portfolio of
each  underlying  mutual Fund must,  as of the end of each  calendar  quarter or
within 30 days  thereafter,  have no more than 55% of its assets invested in any
one investment, 70% in any two investments, 80% in any three investments and 90%
in  any  four  investments.  Failure  of a  Fund  to  meet  the  diversification
requirements  could  result in tax  liability to  Creditor-Exempt  Non-Qualified
Contractholders.

     The investment  opportunities of the Funds could  conceivably be limited by
adhering  to the above  diversification  requirements.  This  would  affect  all
Contractholders, including those owners of contracts for whom diversification is
not a requirement for tax-deferred treatment.

STATE REGULATION

     The Company is subject to the laws of the State of Iowa governing insurance
companies and to regulation by the Insurance Department of the State of Iowa. An
annual  statement  in a  prescribed  form  must be filed by March 1 in each year
covering the  operations of the Company for the preceding year and its financial
condition  on  December  31st of such year.  Its books and assets are subject to
review or examination by the  Commissioner  of Insurance of the State of Iowa or
his  representatives  at all times,  and a full examination of its operations is
conducted  periodically by the National Association of Insurance  Commissioners.
Iowa law and regulations also prescribe permissible  investments,  but this does
not involve supervision of the investment management or policy of the Company.

     In addition,  the Company is subject to the insurance laws and  regulations
of other states and jurisdictions in which it is licensed to operate. Generally,
the insurance  departments of these states and  jurisdictions  apply the laws of
the state of domicile in determining the field of permissible investments.

LEGAL OPINIONS

     Legal matters applicable to the issue and sale of the contracts,  including
the right of the Company to issue  contracts under Iowa Insurance Law, have been
passed upon by Gregg Narber, Vice President and General Counsel of the Company.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     There are no legal  proceedings  pending to which  Separate  Account B is a
party or which would materially affect Separate Account B.

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

     This  Prospectus  omits some  information  contained  in the  Statement  of
Additional  Information (or Part B of the Registration  Statement) and Part C of
the  Registration  Statement which the Company has filed with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission.   The  Statement  of  Additional   Information  is  hereby
incorporated  by  reference  into this  Prospectus.  A copy of the  Statement of
Additional  Information can be obtained upon request, free of charge, by writing
or telephoning Princor Financial Services Corporation.  You may obtain a copy of
Part C of the  Registration  Statement  filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission,  Washington, D.C. from the Commission upon payment of the prescribed
fees.

EXPERTS

     The  financial  statements  of  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company
Separate  Account  B and  Principal  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Company  which are
included in the Statement of Additional Information have been audited by Ernst &
Young LLP,  independent  auditors,  for the periods  indicated in their  reports
thereon which appear in the Statement of Additional Information.

CONTRACTHOLDERS' INQUIRIES

     Contractholders' inquiries should be directed to Princor Financial Services
Corporation,  A Member  of The  Principal  Financial  Group,  Des  Moines,  Iowa
50392-0200, (515) 247-5711.

TABLE OF CONTENTS OF THE STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     The table of  contents  for the  Statement  of  Additional  Information  is
provided below.

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page

     Independent Auditors..................................................   3

     Underwriting Commissions..............................................   3

     Calculation of Yield and Total Return.................................   3

   
     Financial Statements:
    
       Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Separate Account B..........   5
   
          Report of Independent Auditors...................................  22

       Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company.............................  23

          Report of Independent Auditors...................................  44
    


     To  obtain  a copy of the  Statement  of  Additional  Information,  free of
charge, write or telephone:

                     Princor Financial Services Corporation
                                   a Member of
                          The Principal Financial Group


<PAGE>

                                     PART B

           PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY SEPARATE ACCOUNT B

            PREMIER VARIABLE - A GROUP VARIABLE ANNUITY CONTRACT FOR

         EMPLOYER SPONSORED QUALIFIED AND NON-QUALIFIED RETIREMENT PLANS

                ISSUED BY PRINCIPAL MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY

                       Statement of Additional Information

                              dated May 1, 1996


         This Statement of Additional  Information  provides  information  about
Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company  Separate Account B Premier Variable -
Group Variable Annuity Contracts (the "Contract" or the "Contracts") in addition
to the information that is contained in the Contract's  Prospectus, dated May 1,
1996.

         This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus. It should
be read in conjunction with the Prospectus, a copy of which can be obtained free
of charge by writing or telephoning:



                     Princor Financial Services Corporation
                                   a Member of
                          The Principal Financial Group
                           Des Moines, Iowa 50392-0200
                            Telephone: 1-800-247-4123


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                           Page

Independent Auditors ......................................................   3

Underwriting Commissions...................................................   3

Calculation of Yield and Total Return......................................   3

   
Financial Statements:
    

     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company Separate Account B............   5
   
          Report of Independent Auditors...................................  22

     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company...............................  23

          Report of Independent Auditors...................................  44
    





INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

Ernst & Young LLP, Des Moines, Iowa, serve as independent auditors for Principal
Mutual Life  Insurance  Company  Separate  Account B and  Principal  Mutual Life
Insurance Company and perform audit and accounting services for Separate Account
B and The Company.

UNDERWRITING COMMISSIONS

Aggregate  dollar  amount of  underwriting  commissions  paid to and retained by
Princor Financial Services Corporation for all Separate Account B contracts:

Year                              Paid To                          Retained by
1995                          $5,326,848.77                         $26,014.78
1994                          $2,347,858.73                         $60,600.11
1993                            $443,683.87                         $95,009.83

CALCULATION OF YIELD AND TOTAL RETURN

The  Separate  Account  may  publish   advertisements   containing   information
(including graphs,  charts, tables and examples) about the performance of one or
more of its  Divisions.  The  contract  was not offered  prior to July 15, 1992.
However,  shares of some of the mutual funds in which  Divisions of the Separate
Account invest were offered prior to that date.  Thus, the Separate  Account may
publish advertisements containing information about the hypothetical performance
of one or more of its  Divisions  for this contract had the contract been issued
on or after the date the mutual  fund in which such  Division  invests was first
offered.  The yield and total return figures described below will vary depending
upon  market  conditions,  the  composition  of  the  underlying  mutual  funds'
portfolios and operating expenses. These factors and possible differences in the
methods used in  calculating  yield and total return should be  considered  when
comparing  the  Separate  Account  performance  figures to  performance  figures
published for other  investment  vehicles.  The Separate  Account may also quote
rankings,  yields or returns as published by independent statistical services or
publishers and information  regarding performance of certain market indices. Any
performance  data quoted for the Separate  Account  represents  only  historical
performance and is not intended to indicate future performance.

From time to time the Account advertises its Money Market Division's "yield" and
"effective  yield"  for  these  contracts.  Both  yield  figures  are  based  on
historical  earnings and are not intended to indicate  future  performance.  The
"yield" of the Division  refers to the income  generated by an investment  under
the  contract in the  Division  over a seven-day  period  (which  period will be
stated in the  advertisement).  This income is then  "annualized."  That is, the
amount of income  generated by the investment  during that week is assumed to be
generated  each week over a 52-week  period and is shown as a percentage  of the
investment.  The "effective yield" is calculated similarly but, when annualized,
the income earned by an investment in the division is assumed to be  reinvested.
The "effective  yield" will be slightly  higher than the "yield"  because of the
compounding  effect  of  this  assumed  reinvestment.  Neither  yield  quotation
reflects sales load deducted from purchase  payments which,  if included,  would
reduce the "yield" and  "effective  yield." For the period  ending  December 31,
1995,  the  7-day   annualized  and  effective  yields  were  4.96%  and  5.08%,
respectively.

From time to time, the Separate  Account will advertise the average annual total
return of its various  divisions for these  contracts.  The average annual total
return for any of the divisions is computed by  calculating  the average  annual
compounded  rate of return over the stated  period that would  equate an initial
$1,000 investment to the ending redeemable contract value.


Assuming the  contract  had been offered as of the dates  indicated in the table
below,  the  hypothetical  average  annual total returns for the periods  ending
December 31, 1995 are:

                                       One Year      Five Year       Ten Year


   
Balanced Division                       24.18%        15.10%         11.68%(1)
Bond Division                           21.77%        10.72%         10.11%(1)
Captial Accumulation Division           31.48%        16.38%         12.03%
Emerging Growth Division                 8.59%        21.90%         16.93%(2)
Government Securities Division          18.68%        8.99%           8.91%
Growth Division                         25.20%        17.98%(3)         -
Money Market Division                    5.22%        4.02%           5.51%
World Division                          13.79%        5.72%(3)          -
    


 
(1) Period from  December  18, 1987 - December 31, 1995 
(2) Period from April 9, 1987 - December 31, 1995 
(3) Period from May 2, 1994 - December 31, 1995

<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B


                             Statement of Net Assets

                                December 31, 1995







Assets
Investments (Note 1):
   Aggressive Growth Division:
     Principal Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc. - 1,483,620 shares at net asset value of
<S>                                                                                         <C>          
       $12.94 per share (cost - $18,325,213)                                                $  19,198,047
   Asset Allocation Division:
     Principal Asset Allocation Fund, Inc. - 975,797 shares at net asset value of
       $11.11 per share (cost - $10,437,689)                                                   10,841,100
   Balanced Division:
     Principal Balanced Fund, Inc. - 1,522,049 shares at net asset value
       of $13.97 per share (cost - $20,112,401)                                                21,263,022
   Bond Division:
     Principal Bond Fund, Inc. - 1,588,119 shares at net asset value of $11.73 per
       share (cost - $18,122,886)                                                              18,628,633
   Capital Accumulation Division:
     Principal Capital Accumulation Fund, Inc. - 3,728,696 shares at net asset value
       of $27.80 per share (cost - $92,908,561)                                               103,657,763
   Emerging Growth Division:
     Principal Emerging Growth Fund, Inc. - 1,665,414 shares at net
       asset value of $25.33 per share (cost - $37,189,023)                                    42,184,948
   Government Securities Division:
     Principal Government Securities Fund, Inc. - 4,307,388 shares at
       net asset value of $10.55 per share (cost - $44,523,062)                                45,442,936
   Growth Division:
     Principal Growth Fund, Inc. - 3,049,334 shares at net asset value of $12.43 per
       share (cost - $33,989,529)                                                              37,903,233
   Money Market Division:
     Principal Money Market Fund, Inc. - 22,309,488 shares at net asset value (cost)
       of $1.00 per share                                                                      22,309,488
   World Division:
     Principal World Fund, Inc. - 2,349,081 shares at net asset value of $10.72 per
       share (cost - $23,424,723)                                                              25,182,149
                                                                                        ===================
Net assets                                                                                   $346,611,319
                                                                                        ===================
</TABLE>




<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                       Statement of Net Assets (continued)





                                                                                Unit
                                                                 Units         Value
                                                            ----------------------------
                                                            ----------------------------
Net assets are represented by:
   Aggressive Growth Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period - The Principal
<S>                                                              <C>           <C>          <C>          
       Variable Annuity                                          1,323,663     $14.50       $  19,198,047

   Asset Allocation Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period - The Principal
       Variable Annuity                                            911,657      11.89          10,841,100

   Balanced Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Personal Variable                                           327,372       1.21             395,555
       Premier Variable                                          3,316,975       1.21           4,018,252
       The Principal Variable Annuity                            1,373,157      12.27          16,849,215
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                               21,263,022
   Bond Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Personal Variable                                           101,036       1.23             124,183
       Premier Variable                                          1,207,749       1.23           1,488,447
       The Principal Variable Annuity                            1,401,301      12.14          17,016,003
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                               18,628,633
   Capital Accumulation Division:
     Currently payable annuity contracts:
       Bankers Flexible Annuity                                     10,014      17.70             177,260
       Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                          67,563       3.72             251,017
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Bankers Flexible Annuity                                    324,861      17.70           5,751,347
       Pension Builder Plus                                      9,967,305       3.41          33,981,462
       Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                       2,115,464       3.72           7,859,055
       Personal Variable                                         2,336,347       1.50           3,500,687
       Premier Variable                                         14,824,208       1.51          22,380,360
       The Principal Variable Annuity                            2,231,777      13.33          29,756,575
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                              103,657,763
   Emerging Growth Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Personal Variable                                           287,939       1.27             365,808
       Premier Variable                                          1,895,863       1.27           2,415,033
       The Principal Variable Annuity                            3,059,324      12.88          39,404,107
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                               42,184,948
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                       Statement of Net Assets (continued)





                                                                                Unit
                                                                 Units         Value
                                                            ----------------------------
Net assets are represented by (continued):
   Government Securities Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
<S>                                                              <C>          <C>          <C>           

       Pension Builder Plus                                      3,738,233    $  1.84      $    6,882,964
       Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                       1,771,981       1.92           3,407,555
       Personal Variable                                         1,889,788       1.26           2,371,868
       Premier Variable                                          7,159,023       1.26           9,053,348
       The Principal Variable Annuity                            2,023,123      11.73          23,727,201
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                               45,442,936
   Growth Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Personal Variable                                           277,708       1.25             346,944
       Premier Variable                                          2,859,893       1.25           3,582,532
       The Principal Variable Annuity                            2,619,339      12.97          33,973,757
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                               37,903,233
   Money Market Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Pension Builder Plus                                      1,327,197       1.76           2,339,446
       Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA                         439,501       1.82             797,914
       Personal Variable                                         1,143,063       1.12           1,278,235
       Premier Variable                                          2,958,777       1.13           3,335,350
       The Principal Variable Annuity                            1,370,204      10.63          14,558,543
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                               22,309,488
   World Division:
     Contracts in accumulation period:
       Personal Variable                                           159,698       1.09             173,584
       Premier Variable                                          1,672,346       1.09           1,822,554
       The Principal Variable Annuity                            2,145,969      10.80          23,186,011
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                        -------------------
                                                                                               25,182,149
                                                                                        ===================
Net assets                                                                                   $346,611,319
                                                                                        ===================




See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>



<TABLE>

<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                             Statement of Operations


                          Year ended December 31, 1995






                                                                 Aggressive        Asset
                                                                   Growth       Allocation       Balanced
                                                   Combined       Division       Division        Division
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income
Income:
<S>                                              <C>            <C>            <C>             <C>        
   Dividends (Note 1)                            $  8,765,352   $   169,797    $   363,337     $   636,546
   Capital gains distributions                     11,188,947     1,879,337        270,245         392,158
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   19,954,299     2,049,134        633,582       1,028,704

Expenses (Note 2):
   Mortality and expense risks                      2,690,588       125,688         80,633         122,571
   Administration charges                             345,587         7,043          1,214           1,975
   Contingent sales charges                           227,015         4,176          2,173           4,526
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    3,263,190       136,907         84,020         129,072
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------
Net investment income                              16,691,109     1,912,227        549,562         899,632

Realized and unrealized gains (losses) on
   investments (Note 4)
Net realized gains (losses) on investments          2,865,382       448,426         74,402         103,410
Change in net unrealized appreciation/
   depreciation of investments                     31,314,846       912,921        490,584       1,347,509
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------
                                                ==============================================================
Net increase in net assets resulting from
   operations                                     $50,871,337    $3,273,574     $1,114,548      $2,350,551
                                                ==============================================================



See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                   Capital        Emerging      Government                    Money Market
 Bond Division   Accumulation      Growth       Securities   Growth Division    Division    World Division
                   Division       Division       Division
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



<C>              <C>            <C>             <C>           <C>               <C>           <C>        

$   918,871      $  2,051,110   $   353,883     $2,482,944    $   495,175       $879,065      $   414,624
          -         8,040,992       330,442              -        257,829              -           17,944
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    918,871        10,092,102       684,325      2,482,944        753,004        879,065          432,568


    103,748           950,830       306,214        357,325        258,835        171,164          213,580
      1,284           223,785        13,050         64,967          4,604         25,185            2,480
      7,310           114,476        10,588         38,738         10,167         26,112            8,749
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    112,342         1,289,091       329,852        461,030        273,606        222,461          224,809
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    806,529         8,803,011       354,473      2,021,914        479,398        656,604          207,759



     50,961         1,908,275       241,047       (303,527)       254,149              -           88,239

    679,932        12,768,964     5,294,039      3,801,338      3,955,502              -        2,064,057
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 $1,537,422       $23,480,250    $5,889,559     $5,519,725     $4,689,049       $656,604       $2,360,055
===========================================================================================================


</TABLE>

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                       Statements of Changes in Net Assets

                     Years ended December 31, 1995 and 1994




                                                                    Aggressive        Asset
                                                                      Growth       Allocation        Balanced
                                                     Combined        Division       Division         Division
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 
<S>                                                  <C>               <C>             <C>            <C>                        
Net assets at January 1, 1994                        $137,066,766 $              $               $              -
                                                                             -              -

Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:
   Net investment income                                6,189,070       28,335         66,422         151,699
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments             145,940          316            (74)           (635)
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/
     depreciation of investments                       (9,269,736)     (40,087)       (87,173)       (196,888)
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase (decrease) in net assets resulting
   from operations                                     (2,934,726)     (11,436)       (20,825)        (45,824)
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes        162,307,213    3,729,494      3,048,277       3,914,946
   Contract terminations                              (40,138,840)      (3,855)          (100)              -
   Death benefit payments                                 (45,257)      (4,629)             -               -
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                    (98,120)      (1,190)        (1,931)         (4,660)
   Transfer payments to other contracts               (78,225,382)     (23,882)             -         (44,750)
   Annuity payments                                       (45,771)           -              -               -
   Mortality guarantee transfer                            (1,830)           -              -               -
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from principal
   transactions                                        43,752,013    3,695,938      3,046,246       3,865,536
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase (decrease)                              40,817,287    3,684,502      3,025,421       3,819,712
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets at December 31, 1994                       177,884,053    3,684,502      3,025,421       3,819,712


</TABLE>

<PAGE>



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                   Capital        Emerging      Government                    Money Market
 Bond Division   Accumulation      Growth       Securities   Growth Division    Division    World Division
                   Division       Division       Division
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<C>              <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>                <C>              <C>
$                $96,467,365   $               $29,762,953   $                  $10,836,448 $
          -                              -                              -                             -



    194,093        3,292,499       322,224       1,751,663         51,605         277,374         53,156
        267          671,701        (1,080)       (527,977)         5,584               -         (2,162)

   (174,185)      (4,877,919)     (298,114)     (3,246,941)       (41,798)              -       (306,631)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     20,175         (913,719)       23,030      (2,023,255)        15,391         277,374       (255,637)


  3,076,098       29,730,601    10,224,130      19,469,052      8,448,347      71,213,235      9,453,033
          -      (26,290,355)       (5,153)    (10,515,456)        (5,272)     (3,308,423)       (10,226)
          -          (11,029)      (14,169)         (3,039)        (4,690)              -         (7,701)
     (2,423)          (3,620)      (26,751)         (7,540)       (23,355)              -        (26,650)
    (37,501)      (9,201,231)     (235,391)     (6,409,017)      (329,097)    (61,909,148)       (35,365)
          -          (45,771)            -               -              -               -              -
          -           (1,830)            -               -              -               -              -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  3,036,174       (5,823,235)    9,942,666       2,534,000      8,085,933       5,995,664      9,373,091
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  3,056,349       (6,736,954)    9,965,696         510,745      8,101,324       6,273,038      9,117,454
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  3,056,349       89,730,411     9,965,696      30,273,698      8,101,324      17,109,486      9,117,454

</TABLE>


<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                 Statements of Changes in Net Assets (continued)





                                                                    Aggressive        Asset
                                                                      Growth       Allocation        Balanced
                                                     Combined        Division       Division         Division
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                 
<S>                                                  <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>         
Net assets at January 1, 1995                        $177,884,053  $  3,684,502   $  3,025,421    $  3,819,712

Increase (decrease) in net assets
Operations:
   Net investment income                               16,691,109     1,912,227        549,562         899,632
   Net realized gains (losses) on investments           2,865,382       448,426         74,402         103,410
   Change in net unrealized appreciation/
     depreciation of investments                       31,314,846       912,921        490,584       1,347,509
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
Net increase in net assets resulting from
   operations                                          50,871,337     3,273,574      1,114,548       2,350,551
Changes from principal transactions:
   Purchase payments, less sales charges, per
     payment fees and applicable premium taxes        283,284,033    14,908,019      7,493,760      17,579,517
   Contract terminations                              (51,871,322)     (147,494)       (76,769)       (243,855)
   Death benefit payments                                (616,609)     (111,616)       (30,363)        (22,485)
   Flexible withdrawal option payments                   (591,573)      (23,563)       (12,654)        (56,396)
   Transfer payments to other contracts              (112,300,367)   (2,385,375)      (672,843)     (2,164,022)
   Annuity payments                                       (48,233)            -              -               -
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in net assets from principal
   transactions                                       117,855,929    12,239,971      6,701,131      15,092,759
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
Total increase                                        168,727,266    15,513,545      7,815,679      17,443,310
                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  ================================================================
Net assets at December 31, 1995                      $346,611,319   $19,198,047    $10,841,100     $21,263,022
                                                  ================================================================



See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                   Capital        Emerging      Government                    Money Market
 Bond Division   Accumulation      Growth       Securities        Growth        Division    World Division
                   Division       Division       Division        Division
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>               <C>             <C>             <C>            <C>             <C>         <C>         
  $  3,056,349    $  89,730,411   $  9,965,696    $30,273,698    $  8,101,324    $17,109,486 $  9,117,454



       806,529        8,803,011        354,473      2,021,914         479,398        656,604       207,759
        50,961        1,908,275        241,047       (303,527)        254,149              -        88,239

       679,932       12,768,964      5,294,039      3,801,338       3,955,502              -     2,064,057
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     1,537,422       23,480,250      5,889,559      5,519,725       4,689,049        656,604     2,360,055


    15,702,412       37,285,598     28,874,128     24,062,104      29,628,926     92,190,303    15,559,266
      (274,508)     (34,074,636)      (420,250)    (9,547,633)       (428,438)    (6,320,639)     (337,100)
       (44,089)         (80,185)       (14,885)      (129,425)        (44,665)       (97,824)      (41,072)
       (73,005)         (87,530)       (52,968)       (96,784)        (50,522)       (85,680)      (52,471)
    (1,275,948)     (12,547,912)    (2,056,332)    (4,638,749)     (3,992,441)   (81,142,762)   (1,423,983)
             -          (48,233)             -              -               -              -             -
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    14,034,862       (9,552,898)    26,329,693      9,649,513      25,112,860      4,543,398    13,704,640
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    15,572,284       13,927,352     32,219,252     15,169,238      29,801,909      5,200,002    16,064,695
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
=============================================================================================================
   $18,628,633     $103,657,763    $42,184,948    $45,442,936     $37,903,233    $22,309,488   $25,182,149
=============================================================================================================

</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                          Notes to Financial Statements

                                December 31, 1995


1.  Investment and Accounting Policies

Principal  Mutual Life  Insurance  Company  Separate  Account B is a  segregated
investment account of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company (Principal Mutual)
and is registered under the Investment  Company Act of 1940 as a unit investment
trust, with no stated limitations on the number of authorized units. As directed
by  eligible  contractholders,  Separate  Account B invests  solely in shares of
Principal  Aggressive Growth Fund, Inc.,  Principal Asset Allocation Fund, Inc.,
Principal  Balanced Fund,  Inc.,  Principal Bond Fund, Inc.,  Principal  Capital
Accumulation  Fund,  Inc.,  Principal  Emerging  Growth  Fund,  Inc.,  Principal
Government  Securities Fund, Inc.,  Principal Growth Fund, Inc., Principal Money
Market  Fund,  Inc.,  and  Principal  World  Fund,  Inc.,  diversified  open-end
management  investment companies organized by Principal Mutual.  Investments are
stated at the closing net asset values per share on December 31, 1995.

The  average  cost  method is used to  determine  realized  gains and  losses on
investments.  Dividends  are taken  into  income on an  accrual  basis as of the
ex-dividend date.

Principal  Mutual no longer accepts  contributions  for Bankers Flexible Annuity
contracts.  Beginning in early 1996, it is anticipated that  contributions  will
also no longer be accepted for Pension Builder Plus contracts, with transfer and
withdrawal options of affected contractholders to be communicated at that time.


2.  Expenses

Principal Mutual is compensated for the following expenses:

Bankers  Flexible  Annuity  Contracts - Mortality  and expense  risks assumed by
Principal Mutual are compensated for by a charge equivalent to an annual rate of
0.48% of the asset value of each contract. An annual administration charge of $7
for each  participant's  account is deducted as compensation for  administrative
expenses.  The  mortality  and expense  risk and annual  administration  charges
amounted to $26,286 and $1,187, respectively, during the year ended December 31,
1995.  A sales charge of up to 7% was deducted  from each  contribution  made on
behalf of each participant. The sales charge was deducted from the contributions
by Principal Mutual prior to their transfer to Separate Account B.

Pension  Builder  Plus  Contracts  -  Mortality  and  expense  risks  assumed by
Principal Mutual are compensated for by a charge equivalent to an annual rate of
1.4965%  (1.0001%  for a Rollover  Individual  Retirement  Annuity) of the asset
value of each  contract.  A contingent  sales charge of up to 7% may be deducted
from withdrawals made during the first 10 years of a contract,  except for death
or  permanent  disability.  An annual  administration  charge  will be  deducted
ranging  from  a  minimum  of  $25  to  a  maximum  of  $275  depending  upon  a
participant's investment account values and the



<PAGE>


                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)


2.  Expenses (continued)

number  of  participants   under  the  retirement  plan  and  their  participant
investment   account  value.  The  charges  for  mortality  and  expense  risks,
contingent sales, and annual administration amounted to $836,135,  $131,273, and
$285,909, respectively, during the year ended December 31, 1995.

Personal  Variable  Contracts - Mortality and expense risks assumed by Principal
Mutual are compensated for by a charge  equivalent to an annual rate of 0.55% of
the asset value of each contract.  A contingent  sales charge of up to 5% may be
deducted from withdrawals from an investment  account which correlates to a plan
participant  made  during  the  first  seven  years  from  the  date  the  first
contribution  which relates to such participant is accepted by Principal Mutual.
This charge does not apply to withdrawals  made from  investment  accounts which
correlate to a plan participant as a result of the plan  participant's  death or
permanent  disability.  An annual  administration charge of $31 (1994 - $28) for
each  participant's  account  plus  0.35%  of  the  annual  average  balance  of
investment account values which correlate to a plan participant will be deducted
on a quarterly  basis.  The charges for mortality and expense risks,  contingent
sales and annual  administration  amounted to  $29,903,  $16,882,  and  $17,673,
respectively, during the year ended December 31, 1995.

Premier  Variable  Contracts - Mortality  and expense risks assumed by Principal
Mutual are compensated for by a charge  equivalent to an annual rate of 0.33% of
the asset value of each contract.  An annual  administration  charge of $300 for
each  contract  account plus .35% of the annual  average  balance of  investment
account  values  under the  contract  will be billed or  deducted on a quarterly
basis.  The  charges  for  mortality  expense  risks and  annual  administration
amounted to $117,935 and $1,813,  respectively,  during the year ended  December
31,  1995.  There  were  no  contingent  sales  charges  provided  for in  these
contracts.

The Principal  Variable  Annuity  (initially  available in 1994) - Mortality and
expense  risks  assumed  by  Principal  Mutual are  compensated  for by a charge
equivalent  to an annual  rate of 1.25% of the asset value of each  contract.  A
contingent  sales charge of up to 6% may be deducted from the  withdrawals  made
during  the first six years of a  contract,  except  for  death,  annuitization,
permanent  disability,  confinement  in a  health  care  facility,  or  terminal
illness.  An annual  administration  charge of the lessor of two  percent of the
accumulated value or $30 is deducted at the end of the contract year.  Principal
Mutual  reserves the right to charge an additional  administrative  fee of up to
0.15% of the asset value of each Division.  This fee is currently  being waived.
The  mortality  expense  risks,  contingent  sales,  and  annual  administration
amounted to  $1,680,329,  $78,860,  and $39,005,  respectively,  during the year
ended December 31, 1995.


3.  Federal Income Taxes

Operations  of  Separate  Account B are a part of the  operations  of  Principal
Mutual.  Under  current  practice,  no federal  income  taxes are  allocated  by
Principal  Mutual to the operations of Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company
Separate Account B.


<PAGE>


                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




4.  Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The aggregate units and cost of purchases and proceeds from sales of investments
were as follows:

                                                                Year ended December 31, 1995
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Units            Amount            Units            Amount
                                               Purchased         Purchased        Redeemed          Redeemed
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Aggressive Growth Division:
<S>                                              <C>               <C>                <C>           <C>         
     The Principal Variable Annuity              1,162,971         $16,957,154        201,095       $  2,804,956

   Asset Allocation Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity                678,626           8,127,343         70,172            876,650

   Balanced Division:
     Personal Variable                             334,553             385,447         11,639             14,109
     Premier Variable                            4,677,390           5,246,438      1,485,326          1,592,984
     The Principal Variable Annuity              1,080,849          12,976,336         78,060          1,008,737
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 6,092,792          18,608,221      1,575,025          2,615,830
   Bond Division:
     Personal Variable                             123,065             148,020         22,243             25,730
     Premier Variable                            1,840,967           2,123,674        663,884            722,145
     The Principal Variable Annuity              1,184,200          14,349,589         83,479          1,032,017
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 3,148,232          16,621,283        769,606          1,779,892
   Capital Accumulation Division:
     Bankers Flexible Annuity                       (2,074)            586,673         26,790            484,160
     Pension Builder Plus                        1,177,659           6,843,608      7,859,266         22,762,416
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                 1,886,220           1,378,668      5,357,391         11,244,730
     Personal Variable                           1,106,595           1,748,682        408,298            529,070
     Premier Variable                            9,404,706          13,956,170      8,547,118         10,455,522
     The Principal Variable Annuity              1,739,038          22,863,899        206,288          2,651,689
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                15,312,144          47,377,700     22,405,151         48,127,587
   Emerging Growth Division:
     Personal Variable                             292,833             348,128         18,735             22,981
     Premier Variable                            2,320,114           2,651,113        543,652            613,426
     The Principal Variable Annuity              2,252,301          26,559,212        165,780          2,237,880
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 4,865,248          29,558,453        728,167          2,874,287

</TABLE>

<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




4.  Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities (continued)

                                                                Year ended December 31, 1995
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Units            Amount            Units            Amount
                                               Purchased         Purchased        Redeemed          Redeemed
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------

   Government Securities Division:
<S>                                                <C>          <C>                 <C>           <C>           
     Pension Builder Plus                          586,364      $    1,344,275      2,795,319     $    4,747,357
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                   117,394             407,431      2,462,194          4,357,297
     Personal Variable                             724,111             966,857        408,940            483,072
     Premier Variable                            4,015,136           5,118,317      3,286,750          3,736,310
     The Principal Variable Annuity              1,576,129          18,708,169        125,206          1,549,586
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 7,019,134          26,545,049      9,078,409         14,873,622
   Growth Division:
     Personal Variable                             288,529             338,347         15,831             18,761
     Premier Variable                            3,384,751           3,805,395        634,749            707,988
     The Principal Variable Annuity              2,193,600          26,238,189        338,161          4,062,924
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 5,866,880          30,381,931        988,741          4,789,673
   Money Market Division:
     Pension Builder Plus                          259,307             585,027        928,805          1,623,965
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                    73,307             206,073      1,861,305          3,275,611
     Personal Variable                           4,808,023           5,271,738      4,407,096          4,786,833
     Premier Variable                           19,308,743          21,221,953     18,140,572         19,805,796
     The Principal Variable Annuity              6,262,716          65,784,577      5,594,373         58,377,161
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                30,712,096          93,069,368     30,932,151         87,869,366
   World Division:
     Personal Variable                             147,751             154,436          9,257             10,003
     Premier Variable                            2,079,728           2,137,579        544,500            566,419
     The Principal Variable Annuity              1,337,260          13,699,818        126,959          1,503,012
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 3,564,739          15,991,833        680,716          2,079,434
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ======================================================================
                                                78,422,862        $303,238,335     67,429,233       $168,691,297
                                            ======================================================================
</TABLE>



<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




4.  Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities (continued)

                                                                Year ended December 31, 1994
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Units            Amount            Units            Amount
                                               Purchased         Purchased        Redeemed          Redeemed
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Aggressive Growth Division:
<S>                                                <C>          <C>                     <C>          <C>             
     The Principal Variable Annuity                365,021      $    3,764,495          3,234        $    40,222

   Asset Allocation Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity                303,404           3,120,664            201              7,996

   Balanced Division:
     Personal Variable                               4,458               4,510              -                  1
     Premier Variable                              134,069             137,040          9,158              9,075
     The Principal Variable Annuity                374,366           3,932,274          3,998             47,513
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   512,893           4,073,824         13,156             56,589
   Bond Division:
     Personal Variable                                 214                 229              -                  -
     Premier Variable                               30,684              32,652             18                 27
     The Principal Variable Annuity                304,552           3,243,070          3,972             45,657
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   335,450           3,275,951          3,990             45,684
   Capital Accumulation Division:
     Bankers Flexible Annuity                        2,374             301,977         51,727            734,507
     Pension Builder Plus                        2,446,494           9,006,081      7,066,481         19,561,666
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                   949,817           3,764,900      3,969,948         11,681,145
     Personal Variable                           1,472,634           1,771,211        339,067            396,040
     Premier Variable                           10,159,761          12,414,226      4,172,940          4,837,072
     The Principal Variable Annuity                704,037           7,483,988          5,010             62,689
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                15,735,117          34,742,383     15,605,173         37,273,119
   Emerging Growth Division:
     Personal Variable                              13,841              14,069              -                  6
     Premier Variable                              122,378             124,838          2,977              2,976
     The Principal Variable Annuity              1,000,413          10,426,294         27,610            297,329
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 1,136,632          10,565,201         30,587            300,311
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


   <TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




4.  Purchases and Sales of Investment Securities (continued)

                                                                Year ended December 31, 1994
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Units            Amount            Units            Amount
                                               Purchased         Purchased        Redeemed          Redeemed
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Government Securities Division:
<S>                                              <C>            <C>                 <C>           <C>           
     Pension Builder Plus                        1,705,948      $    3,472,965      3,191,017     $    5,229,829
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                 1,343,428           2,767,254      5,104,801          8,454,316
     Personal Variable                           1,592,426           1,856,027        826,327            909,485
     Premier Variable                            6,358,242           7,432,287      2,480,866          2,736,826
     The Principal Variable Annuity                582,127           6,197,216          9,927            109,630
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                11,582,171          21,725,749     11,612,938         17,440,086
   Growth Division:
     Personal Variable                               5,010               5,023              -                  1
     Premier Variable                              109,908             110,749             17                 35
     The Principal Variable Annuity                798,340           8,399,024         34,440            377,222
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   913,258           8,514,796         34,457            377,258
   Money Market Division:
     Pension Builder Plus                          824,944           1,537,336      1,733,074          2,976,732
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                   658,567           1,300,232      1,324,777          2,327,495
     Personal Variable                           6,290,739           6,573,245      5,731,682          5,968,932
     Premier Variable                           31,282,964          32,799,567     30,393,364         31,815,309
     The Principal Variable Annuity              2,902,432          29,495,563      2,200,571         22,344,437
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                41,959,646          71,705,943     41,383,468         65,432,905
   World Division:
     Personal Variable                              21,212              21,051              8                 18
     Premier Variable                              137,240             135,769            122                151
     The Principal Variable Annuity                944,065           9,365,533          8,397             95,937
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 1,102,517           9,522,353          8,527             96,106
                                            ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            ======================================================================
                                                73,946,109        $171,011,359     68,695,731       $121,070,276
                                            ======================================================================
</TABLE>

Purchases include reinvested dividends and capital gains.

Money Market purchases include transactions where investment allocations are not
known at the time of the deposit.  Redemptions reflect subsequent allocations to
directed investment divisions.



<PAGE>


                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)



5.  Net Assets

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Net assets at December 31, 1995 consisted of the following:

                                                                         Accumulated Net   Net Unrealized
                                                                            Investment      Appreciation
                                                              Unit            Income       of Investments
                                            Combined      Transactions
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
   Aggressive Growth Division:
<S>                                        <C>               <C>           <C>             <C>          
     The Principal Variable Annuity        $  19,198,047     $16,585,472   $  1,739,741    $     872,834

   Asset Accumulation Division:
     The Principal Variable Annuity           10,841,100       9,858,412        579,277          403,411

   Balanced Division:
     Personal Variable                           395,555         359,859          16,939          18,757
     Premier Variable                          4,018,252       3,685,129         130,683         202,440
     The Principal Variable Annuity           16,849,215      15,107,991         811,800         929,424
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              21,263,022      19,152,979         959,422       1,150,621
   Bond Division:
     Personal Variable                           124,183         118,401           4,895             887
     Premier Variable                          1,488,447       1,397,785          50,150          40,512
     The Principal Variable Annuity           17,016,003      15,672,902         878,753         464,348
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              18,628,633      17,189,088         933,798         505,747
   Capital Accumulation Division:
     Bankers Flexible Annuity                  5,928,607       1,372,769       3,151,941       1,403,897
     Pension Builder Plus                     33,981,462      22,315,837       7,447,921       4,217,704
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                               8,110,072       5,394,422       1,747,988         967,662
     Personal Variable                         3,500,687       2,876,197         329,409         295,081
     Premier Variable                         22,380,360      18,395,190       2,038,475       1,946,695
     The Principal Variable Annuity           29,756,575      25,472,959       2,365,453       1,918,163
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             103,657,763      75,827,374      17,081,187      10,749,202
   Emerging Growth Division:
     Personal Variable                           365,808         336,153           4,506          25,149
     Premier Variable                          2,415,033       2,161,763          31,411         221,859
     The Principal Variable Annuity           39,404,107      34,039,475         615,715       4,748,917
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              42,184,948      36,537,391         651,632       4,995,925
   Government Securities Division:
     Pension Builder Plus                      6,882,964       5,704,191         991,052         187,721
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                               3,407,555       2,825,811         531,974          49,770
     Personal Variable                         2,371,868       2,174,499         165,545          31,824
     Premier Variable                          9,053,348       8,177,753         654,665         220,930
     The Principal Variable Annuity           23,727,201      21,870,768       1,426,804         429,629
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              45,442,936      40,753,022       3,770,040         919,874
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                         Principal Mutual Life Insurance
                           Company Separate Account B

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




5.  Net Assets (continued)

                                                                         Accumulated Net   Net Unrealized
                                                                            Investment      Appreciation
                                                              Unit            Income       of Investments
                                            Combined      Transactions
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
   Growth Division:
<S>                                      <C>             <C>             <C>                 <C>           
     Personal Variable                   $       346,944 $       320,239 $         5,282     $    21,423
     Premier Variable                          3,582,532       3,184,495          54,938         343,099
     The Principal Variable Annuity           33,973,757      30,003,254         421,321       3,549,182
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              37,903,233      33,507,988         481,541       3,913,704
   Money Market Division:
     Pension Builder Plus                      2,339,446       2,142,956         196,490               -
     Pension Builder Plus - Rollover IRA
                                                 797,914         727,279          70,635               -
     Personal Variable                         1,278,235       1,269,540           8,695               -
     Premier Variable                          3,335,350       3,314,495          20,855               -
     The Principal Variable Annuity           14,558,543      14,487,342          71,201               -
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              22,309,488      21,941,612         367,876               -
   World Division:
     Personal Variable                           173,584         163,826           2,034           7,724
     Premier Variable                          1,822,554       1,708,566          21,627          92,361
     The Principal Variable Annuity           23,186,011      21,301,001         227,669       1,657,341
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              25,182,149      23,173,393         251,330       1,757,426
                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         ===================================================================
                                            $346,611,319    $294,526,731     $26,815,844     $25,268,744
                                         ===================================================================


</TABLE>

<PAGE>




                         Report of Independent Auditors


Board of Directors and Participants
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company


We have audited the  accompanying  statement  of net assets of Principal  Mutual
Life  Insurance  Company  Separate  Account  B  (comprising,  respectively,  the
Aggressive  Growth,  Asset Allocation,  Balanced,  Bond,  Capital  Accumulation,
Emerging  Growth,   Government  Securities,   Growth,  Money  Market  and  World
Divisions) as of December 31, 1995, and the related statements of operations for
the year then ended,  and changes in net assets for each of the two years in the
period then ended.  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. Our procedures included
confirmation of securities owned as of December 31, 1995, by correspondence with
the transfer agent. 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 Principal Mutual Life Insurance
Company  Separate  Account  B at  December  31,  1995,  and the  results  of its
operations  for the year then ended,  and the changes in its net assets for each
of the two years in the period then ended, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.

Ernst & Young LLP

February 7, 1996


<PAGE>



                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                        Statements of Financial Position




                                                       December 31
                                                    1995         1994
                                                ---------------------------
                                                       (In Millions)

Assets
Bonds                                              $21,798      $20,626
Preferred stocks                                        93           69
Common stocks                                        1,330          914
Investment in subsidiaries                             546          501
Commercial mortgage loans                            9,794        8,901
Residential mortgage loans                             234          287
Investment real estate                               1,313        1,155
Properties held for Company use                        204          159
Policy loans                                           711          683
Cash and short-term investments                        913          485
Accrued investment income                              467          468
Separate account assets                             12,957        9,197
Other assets                                           908          672
                                                ---------------------------
Total assets                                       $51,268      $44,117
                                                ===========================
                                             
Liabilities
Insurance reserves                                $  6,297     $  6,007
Annuity reserves                                    25,770       24,311
Reserves for policy dividends                          578          583
Other policy liabilities                               748          618
Investment valuation reserves                        1,041          792
Tax liabilities                                        241          189
Separate account liabilities                        12,891        9,099
Other liabilities                                    1,494          591
                                                ---------------------------
Total liabilities                                   49,060       42,190

Surplus
Surplus notes                                          298          298
Unassigned and other surplus funds                   1,910        1,629
                                                ---------------------------
Total surplus                                        2,208        1,927
                                                ---------------------------
                                                
Total liabilities and surplus                      $51,268      $44,117
                                                ===========================



See accompanying notes.



<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                      Statements of Operations and Surplus




                                                                         Year ended December 31
                                                                    1995           1994          1993
                                                                ------------------------------------------
                                                                              (In Millions)
Income
<S>                                                                <C>           <C>           <C>     
Premiums and annuity and other considerations                      $11,940       $10,718       $  9,983
Net income from investments                                          2,651         2,520          2,369
Other income                                                            25           505             18
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Total income                                                        14,616        13,743         12,370

Benefits and expenses
Benefit payments other than dividends                                9,268         8,211          6,729
Dividends to policyowners                                              309           317            410
Additions to policyowner reserves                                    3,439         3,756          3,890
Insurance expenses and taxes                                         1,199         1,145          1,029
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Total benefits and expenses                                         14,215        13,429         12,058
                                                                ------------------------------------------

Income before federal income taxes and realized capital gains
   (losses)                                                            401           314            312

Federal income taxes                                                   140           130             48
                                                                ------------------------------------------
                                                                
Net gain from operations before realized capital gains (losses)
                                                                       261           184            264

Realized capital gains (losses)                                          2           (32)           (52)
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Net income                                                       $     263     $     152      $     212
                                                                ==========================================
                                                               
Surplus
Surplus at beginning of year                                      $  1,927      $  1,641       $  1,440
Net income                                                             263           152            212
Issuance of surplus notes                                                -           298              -
Increase in investment valuation reserves                             (249)         (131)           (43)
Increase in non-admitted assets and related items                      (45)          (51)           (59)
Net unrealized capital gains                                           326            47             57
Adjustment for prior years' federal income taxes                         -           (63)             -
Net policyowner reserve adjustments                                      1            31             18
Other adjustments - net                                                (15)            3             16
                                                                ------------------------------------------
Surplus at end of year                                            $  2,208      $  1,927       $  1,641
                                                                ==========================================

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                            Statements of Cash Flows



                                                                               Year ended December 31
                                                                          1995          1994          1993
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
                                                                                     (In Millions)
CASH PROVIDED
Proceeds from operating activities
<S>                                                                       <C>           <C>          <C>     
   Premiums and annuity and other considerations received                 $11,923       $10,711      $  9,967
   Net investment income received                                           2,723         2,509         2,421
   Benefit payments other than dividends                                   (9,277)       (8,186)       (6,700)
   Dividends paid to policyowners                                            (317)         (293)         (396)
   Insurance expenses and taxes paid                                       (1,198)       (1,159)       (1,007)
   Federal income taxes paid                                                 (125)          (67)         (119)
   Transfers for separate account operations                               (1,549)       (1,396)       (1,120)
   Other                                                                       (3)            7            (5)
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
   Net cash provided from operations                                        2,177         2,126         3,041

Proceeds from investments sold, matured or repaid
   Bonds and stocks                                                        12,028        10,951        20,072
   Mortgage loans                                                           1,276         2,043         6,852
   Real estate and other invested assets                                       70           168            37
   Tax on capital gains                                                       (22)          (25)          (29)
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
   Total cash provided from investments                                    13,352        13,137        26,932

Issuance of surplus notes                                                       -           298             -
Other cash provided                                                           793             -            85
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Total cash provided                                                        16,322        15,561        30,058

CASH APPLIED
Cost of investments acquired
   Bonds and stocks acquired                                              (13,234)      (13,709)      (22,434)
   Mortgage loans acquired or originated                                   (2,265)       (1,611)       (7,253)
   Real estate and other invested assets acquired                            (195)          (91)         (132)
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
   Total cash applied to investments                                      (15,694)      (15,411)      (29,819)

Other cash applied                                                           (200)         (135)          (72)
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Total cash applied                                                        (15,894)      (15,546)      (29,891)

SHORT-TERM BORROWINGS
   Proceeds of short-term borrowings                                          990         3,152         1,743
   Repayment of short-term borrowings                                        (990)       (3,152)       (1,743)
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
   Net cash provided by short-term borrowings                                  -             -             -
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
   Net increase in cash and short-term investments                            428            15           167

Cash and short-term investments at beginning of year                          485           470           303
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
Cash and short-term investments at end of year                          $     913     $     485     $     470
                                                                      ==========================================

See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                          Notes to Financial Statements

                                December 31, 1995


1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Principal  Mutual Life Insurance  Company (the Company) is primarily  engaged in
the marketing  and  management of life  insurance,  annuity,  health and pension
products.  In addition,  the Company provides  various other financial  services
through its subsidiaries.

Use of Estimates in the Preparation of Financial Statements

The preparation of the Company's  financial  statements and  accompanying  notes
requires  management to make estimates and  assumptions  that affect the amounts
reported and  disclosed.  These  estimates and  assumptions  could change in the
future as more  information  becomes  known,  which  could  impact  the  amounts
reported and disclosed in the financial statements and accompanying notes.

Basis of Presentation

The Company's financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting
practices prescribed or permitted by the Insurance Division of the Department of
Commerce of the State of Iowa (statutory accounting practices),  which practices
are currently  regarded as generally accepted  accounting  principles (GAAP) for
mutual life insurance companies.

Beginning in 1996,  however,  under the  requirements  of  Financial  Accounting
Standards  Board  (FASB)  Interpretation  No. 40,  "Applicability  of  Generally
Accepted Accounting  Principles to Mutual Life Insurance and Other Enterprises,"
as amended,  financial  statements prepared on the basis of statutory accounting
practices will no longer be described as prepared "in conformity with GAAP." The
Accounting  Standards Executive Committee of the American Institute of Certified
Public  Accountants and the FASB issued  authoritative  accounting and reporting
pronouncements in January 1995, effective for calendar year 1996, addressing how
mutual life insurance companies should account for certain insurance activities.
Applying  the  provisions  of  these  authoritative   accounting  and  reporting
pronouncements may result in surplus and net income that differ from the amounts
reported under existing statutory accounting practices.  The Company has not yet
determined the impact of these pronouncements on its financial  statements.  The
Company plans to issue  general-purpose  financial  statements for calendar year
1996 that follow  these  authoritative  pronouncements  and will be described as
prepared in conformity with GAAP. These  statutory-basis  financial  statements,
however, will continue to be required by insurance regulatory authorities.



<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

The National  Association of Insurance  Commissioners (NAIC) currently is in the
process of recodifying  statutory accounting  practices,  the result of which is
expected to  constitute  the only source of  "prescribed"  statutory  accounting
practices.  Accordingly,  that  project,  which is not  expected to be completed
before 1997, will likely change, to some extent, prescribed statutory accounting
practices and may result in changes to the accounting practices that the Company
uses to prepare its statutory-basis financial statements.

Subsidiaries

Investment in subsidiaries  is reported at equity in net assets  determined on a
statutory  basis  for  insurance  subsidiaries  and on the  basis of  prescribed
valuation  alternatives for  non-insurance  subsidiaries,  resulting in carrying
values  periodically  approved by the Securities  Valuation  Office of the NAIC.
Total assets of these  unconsolidated  subsidiaries  amounted to $2.6 billion at
December 31, 1995 and $2.1 billion at December 31, 1994, and total revenues were
$1,190  million in 1995,  $911 million in 1994 and $669 million in 1993.  During
1995, 1994 and 1993, the Company included $(48) million,  $(2) million and $(37)
million,  respectively,  in net income from investments representing the current
year net losses of its subsidiaries.

Investments

Investments in bonds,  short-term  investments,  and commercial and  residential
mortgage  loans are reported  principally  at cost (unpaid  principal  balance),
adjusted for  amortization  of premiums and accrual of discounts,  both computed
using the interest  method;  policy loans and  investments  in preferred  stocks
primarily  at cost;  common  stocks at market  value based on the latest  quoted
market prices;  and  investments in real estate and properties  held for Company
use generally at cost less  encumbrances and accumulated  depreciation.  For the
loan-backed  and  structured  securities  included  in the bond  portfolio,  the
Company  recognizes  income using the prospective  method which results in a new
constant  effective  yield  based  on  currently   anticipated   prepayments  as
determined by broker-dealer  surveys or internal estimates.  Properties acquired
through loan  foreclosures  with  cumulative  carrying values of $946 million at
December  31, 1995,  and $830 million at December 31, 1994,  are recorded at the
lower of cost  (principal  balance of the former  mortgage  loan) or fair market
value at the time of foreclosure or receipt of deed in lieu of foreclosure. This
becomes  the new  cost  basis of the  real  estate  and is  subject  to  further
potential  carrying value  reductions as a result of depreciation  and quarterly
valuation  determinations.  Depreciation  expense is computed  primarily  on the
basis of accelerated and  straight-line  methods over the estimated useful lives
of the  assets.  Other  admitted  assets  are valued as  prescribed  by the Iowa
Insurance  laws.  Net  realized  capital  gains and  losses on  investments  are
determined using the specific identification basis.



<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

The Asset Valuation Reserve (AVR) provides a reserve for losses from investments
in bonds,  preferred and common stocks,  mortgage loans, real estate,  and other
invested assets,  with related increases or decreases being recorded directly to
surplus.  At  December  31, 1995 and 1994,  the AVR was $1,041  million and $792
million,  respectively.  At both December 31, 1995 and 1994,  other  liabilities
include  additional   investment  reserves  of  $36  million  and  $51  million,
respectively,  of which $9 million is required by statutory accounting practices
as a provision for potential losses on specific mortgages in default. Unrealized
capital  gains and losses on  investments,  including  changes in  mortgage  and
security reserves, are recorded directly in surplus.  Comparable adjustments are
also made to the AVR.

The Interest Maintenance Reserve (IMR) primarily defers certain interest-related
gains and losses (net of tax) on fixed  income  securities  which are  amortized
into net income  from  investments  over the  estimated  remaining  lives of the
investments  sold. At December 31, 1995 and 1994,  the IMR, which is included in
other liabilities, was $109 million and $52 million, respectively.

In  connection  with  preparation  of its  statement of cash flows,  the Company
considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of one year or less when
purchased to be short-term investments.

Fair Values of Financial Instruments

The Company has  accumulated  information to disclose the fair values of certain
financial  instruments,  whether or not recognized in the statement of financial
position,  as  required  by  the  FASB.  The  FASB  excludes  certain  financial
instruments and all nonfinancial  instruments from its disclosure  requirements.
The  aggregate  fair value asset  amounts for  investments  (including  cash and
short-term investments, policy loans and accrued investment income and excluding
investment in  subsidiaries  and investment real estate) are presented in Note 2
(carrying value: 1995 - $35.3 billion,  1994 - $32.4 billion; fair value: 1995 -
$37.5 billion,  1994 - $31.9  billion).  Fair value  information for derivatives
held  or  issued  for  purposes  other  than  trading  is  presented  in Note 3.
Information  for certain of the  Company's  reserves  and  liabilities  that are
investment-type contracts (insurance, annuity and other policy contracts that do
not involve  significant  mortality  or  morbidity  risk) is presented in Note 4
(carrying value: 1995 - $21.4 billion,  1994 - $20.0 billion; fair value: 1995 -
$22.0 billion,  1994 - $19.5 billion).  Those referenced notes also describe the
methods and  assumptions  utilized by the Company in  estimating  its fair value
disclosures for financial  instruments.  Those techniques utilized in estimating
the fair values of financial  instruments are affected by the assumptions  used,
including  discount  rates and estimates of the amount and timing of future cash
flows.  Care should be exercised  in deriving  conclusions  about the  Company's
business, its value or financial position based on the fair value information of
certain financial instruments presented in the referenced notes.



<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Futures and Forward Contracts and Interest Rate and Equity Swaps

The Company uses financial futures contracts,  forward purchase  commitments and
interest rate swaps to hedge risks  associated  with interest rate  fluctuations
and uses equity  swaps to hedge risks  associated  with market  fluctuations  of
certain  unaffiliated common stocks.  Realized capital gains and losses on those
contracts  which hedge risks  associated  with  interest rate  fluctuations  are
amortized  over the  remaining  lives of the  underlying  assets,  primarily  by
including them in the IMR. Realized capital gains and losses on equity swaps are
recognized in the period incurred.

Reserves for Insurance, Annuity and Accident and Health Policies

The reserves for life, health and annuity  policies,  all developed by actuarial
methods,  are established and maintained on the basis of mortality and morbidity
tables using assumed interest rates and valuation methods that will provide,  in
the aggregate,  reserves that are greater than the minimum valuation required by
law or  guaranteed  policy cash  values.  The  cumulative  effects of changes in
valuation  bases  at  the  beginning  of the  year  for  previously  established
policyowner  reserves  are  included  as  adjustments  to  surplus.  Significant
decreases  in  valuation  bases are  approved by the  Insurance  Division of the
Department of Commerce of the State of Iowa.

The  liability  for  unpaid  accident  and  health  claims is  determined  using
statistical  analyses and case basis evaluations.  This liability is an estimate
of the ultimate net cost of all reported and unreported  losses that are unpaid.
This liability is determined using estimates of future trends in claim severity,
frequency,  and other factors that could vary as claims are ultimately  settled.
Although  considerable  variability is inherent in such  estimates,  the Company
believes that the liability for unpaid claims is adequate.  These  estimates are
continually  reviewed and, as adjustments to this  liability  become  necessary,
such adjustments are reflected in current operations.

Recognition of Premium Revenues and Costs

For life and annuity  contracts,  premiums are  recognized  as revenues over the
premium-paying  period,  whereas  commissions and other costs  applicable to the
acquisition of new business are charged to operations as incurred.



<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




1.  Nature of Operations and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)

Reinsurance

The Company reinsures certain of its risks. Reinsurance premiums,  expenses, and
reserves  related to reinsured  business are accounted  for on bases  consistent
with those used in accounting for the original  policies issued and the terms of
the  reinsurance  contracts.  Premiums  ceded  to  other  companies  (1995 - $27
million,  1994 - $21 million and 1993 - $19 million) are reported as a reduction
of premium income, and insurance  reserves  applicable to reinsurance ceded have
also been  reported as  reductions of these items (1995 - $33 million and 1994 -
$24 million).  The Company is  contingently  liable with respect to  reinsurance
ceded to other  companies  in the  event  the  reinsurer  is  unable to meet the
obligations that it has assumed.

Separate Accounts

The separate accounts presented in the financial  statements  represent the fair
market  value of funds  that are  separately  administered  by the  Company  for
contracts with equity,  real estate and fixed-income  investments.  The separate
account  contract owner,  rather than the Company,  bears the investment risk of
these  funds.  The  Company  receives a fee for  administrative  and  investment
advisory services.

Separate  account assets and  liabilities  are disclosed in the aggregate in the
statements of financial  position.  The  statements  of  operations  include the
premiums,  increases in  reserves,  benefits,  and other items  arising from the
operations of the separate  accounts of the Company.  The  statements of surplus
reflect the gain from operations and surplus of the separate accounts. Such gain
from  operations and surplus arises from the transfer by the Company of funds to
the separate accounts to facilitate their operations.

Reclassifications

Certain  reclassifications  have  been  made  to the  1994  and  1993  financial
statements to conform to the 1995 presentation.


2.  Investments

Investments  in debt  securities,  preferred  stocks,  and other fixed  maturity
instruments  are  generally  held for  investment  purposes  to  maturity,  and,
therefore,  are carried in the  financial  statements  at  amortized  cost.  The
Company's  liabilities,  to which such fixed  maturity  investments  are closely
matched,  are  long-term in nature so the Company does not expect to be required
to sell such securities prior to maturity.


<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




2.  Investments (continued)

The carrying  values and  estimated  market values of  investments  in bonds and
preferred stocks as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, are as follows (in millions):

                                                                   Gross           Gross        Estimated
                                              Carrying Value    Unrealized      Unrealized        Market
                                                                   Gains          Losses          Value
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
   December 31, 1995
   Bonds:
<S>                                              <C>           <C>                  <C>          <C>      
     United States Government and agencies       $     232     $       4            $  -         $     236
     States and political subdivisions                 230            21               -               251
     Corporate - public                              4,374           328              16             4,686
     Corporate - private                            13,877         1,332              15            15,194
     Mortgage-backed securities                      3,085           134               4             3,215
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    21,798         1,819              35            23,582
   Preferred stocks                                     93            12               -               105
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   $21,891        $1,831             $35           $23,687
                                              ===============================================================
   December 31, 1994
   Bonds:
     United States Government and agencies       $     111        $    1          $    4         $     108
     States and political subdivisions                 198             2              12               188
     Corporate - public                              3,986            74             142             3,918
     Corporate - private                            13,678           365             391            13,652
     Mortgage-backed securities                      2,653             2             166             2,489
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    20,626           444             715            20,355
   Preferred stocks                                     69             4               2                71
                                              ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   $20,695          $448            $717           $20,426
                                              ===============================================================
</TABLE>

Market values of public bonds and preferred  stocks have been  determined by the
Company from public  quotations,  when available,  or bonds have been assigned a
market rate by the Securities  Valuation Office of the NAIC.  Private  placement
securities are valued by discounting the expected total cash flows. Market rates
used are applicable to the yield,  credit  quality and average  maturity of each
security.



<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




2.  Investments (continued)

The carrying  values and estimated  market values of bonds at December 31, 1995,
by expected maturity, are as follows (in millions):

                                                                      Carrying Value   Estimated Market
                                                                                            Value
                                                                      ------------------------------------
                                                                      
<S>                                                                     <C>               <C>      
   Due in one year or less                                              $     747         $     768
   Due after one year through five years                                    6,878             7,271
   Due after five years through ten years                                   6,189             6,695
   Due after ten years                                                      3,176             3,657
                                                                      ------------------------------------
                                                                           16,990            18,391
   Mortgage-backed and other securities without
     a single maturity date                                                 4,808             5,191
                                                                      ------------------------------------
   Total                                                                  $21,798           $23,582
                                                                      ====================================
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The carrying value and estimated  market value of mortgage loans at December 31,
1995 and 1994, are as follows (in millions):

                                                       1995                             1994
                                                -----------------                 -----------------
                                                             Estimated                    Estimated Market
                                          Carrying Value      Market      Carrying Value       Value
                                                               Value
                                          -----------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                            <C>            <C>              <C>             <C>   
   Commercial mortgage loans                   $9,794         $10,129          $8,901          $8,580
   Residential mortgage loans                     234             262             287             299
</TABLE>

Market  values of  commercial  mortgage  loans are  valued  by  discounting  the
expected  total cash flows using market rates that are  applicable to the yield,
credit quality, and maturity of each loan. Market values of residential mortgage
loans are valued by a pricing and  servicing  model using  market rates that are
applicable to the yield, rate structure,  credit quality,  size, and maturity of
each loan. The carrying value for policy loans approximates the fair value.



<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




2.  Investments (continued)

Major  categories  of income  from  investments  are  summarized  as follows (in
millions):

                                             Year ended December 31
                                        1995          1994          1993
                                    ------------------------------------------

   Bonds                                $1,761        $1,622        $1,549
   Preferred stocks                          6             3             2
   Common stocks                            35            22            26
   Investment in subsidiaries              (48)           (2)          (37)
   Mortgage loans                          808           766           811
   Investment real estate                  211           179           129
   Policy loans                             48            44            44
   Cash and short-term investments          29            20             6
   Other                                    18            48             1
                                    ------------------------------------------
                                         2,868         2,702         2,531

   Less investment expenses                217           182           162
                                    ------------------------------------------
   Net income from investments          $2,651        $2,520        $2,369
                                    ==========================================

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
The major components of realized capital gains (losses) on investments reflected
in operations,  and unrealized  capital gains (losses) on investments  reflected
directly in surplus, are summarized as follows (in millions):

                                                     Realized                         Unrealized
                                             1995      1994      1993         1995      1994      1993
                                          ---------------------------------   -----------------------------
                                                    
<S>                                           <C>      <C>        <C>         <C>        <C>      <C>  
   Bonds                                      $101     $(133)     $150        $ (17)     $32      $(32)
   Preferred stocks                             (1)        -       (11)           1       (7)       11
   Common stocks                                32         6        29          398        7        23
   Mortgage loans                              (24)      (34)      (81)           9        3        41
   Investment real estate                        7         3         1            5        6        (1)
   Investment in subsidiaries                    1        32         -           (6)       6        (5)
   Other                                         4        45       (44)          (1)       -        20
                                           ------------------------------   -----------------------------
   Net capital gains (losses)                  120       (81)       44          389       47        57

   Related federal income taxes                (41)        6       (26)         (63)       -         -
   Transferred (to) from interest
     maintenance reserve                       (77)       43       (70)           -        -         -
                                           ==============================   =============================
   Total capital gains (losses)             $    2    $  (32)     $(52)        $326      $47       $57
                                           ==============================   =============================
</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




2.  Investments (continued)

Proceeds  from  sales  of  investments  (excluding  maturity  proceeds)  in debt
securities  were $6.5 billion in both 1995 and 1994,  and $11.9 billion in 1993.
Gross gains of $93 million, $53 million and $173 million and gross losses of $54
million, $213 million and $65 million in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively, were
realized on those sales. Of the 1995, 1994 and 1993 proceeds, $6.1 billion, $5.7
billion and $11.5  billion,  respectively,  relates to sales of  mortgage-backed
securities.   The  Company  actively  manages  its  mortgage-backed   securities
portfolio to control  prepayment risk.  Gross gains of $66 million,  $19 million
and $152 million and gross  losses of $17 million,  $139 million and $29 million
in 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively,  were realized on sales of mortgage-backed
securities.  At December 31, 1995,  the Company had security  purchases  payable
totaling $426 million relating to the purchases of mortgage-backed securities at
forward dates.

The  Company  has  a  revolving  credit  agreement  with  Principal  Residential
Mortgage,  Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary which conducts the Company's mortgage
banking operations,  of up to $800 million,  which had a balance of $458 million
outstanding at December 31, 1995.

Commercial  mortgage loans and corporate  private  placement bonds originated or
acquired by the Company represent its primary areas of credit risk exposure.  At
December 31, 1995 and 1994, the commercial  mortgage portfolio is diversified by
geographic region and specific collateral property type as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               Geographic Distribution                             Property Type Distribution
         ----------------------------------                   --------------------------------------
                                    December 31                                   December 31
                                  1995        1994                              1995       1994
                               -----------------------                       -----------------------
                               
<S>                                <C>         <C>       <C>                    <C>        <C>
   South Atlantic                  22%         21%       Industrial              43%        47%
   Pacific                         34          38        Office                  26         24
   Mid Atlantic                    17          17        Retail                  26         24
   North Central                   14          13        Other                    5          5
   South Central                    7           6
   New England                      4           3
   Mountain                         2           2
</TABLE>

The corporate  private  placement  bond  portfolio is  diversified by issuer and
industry.  Restrictive  bond  covenants are monitored by the Company to regulate
the activities of issuers and control their leveraging  capabilities.  Under the
NAIC bond classification system, 99.8% and 99.7% of the Company's bond portfolio
were carried at amortized cost at December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively, with
the remainder carried at the lower of amortized cost or market value.



<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




2.  Investments (continued)

Effective  December 29, 1995, the Company  entered into  short-term  equity swap
agreements  to mitigate its exposure to declines in the value of about  one-half
of its marketable  common stock portfolio.  Under the agreements,  the return on
that portion of the Company's  marketable common stock portfolio was swapped for
a fixed short-term interest rate. At December 31, 1995, there was no realized or
unrealized  gains  or  losses  recorded  on  the  equity  swap  agreements  and,
accordingly,  there was no credit  exposure.  The  unrealized  appreciation  and
depreciation of marketable common stocks  recognized in the Company's  statement
of  financial  position  were $814  million and $85  million,  respectively,  at
December 31, 1995.

Investment  real estate  includes  properties  directly owned by the Company and
investments  in  subsidiaries  include  properties  owned  jointly  with venture
partners and operated by the partners.  Joint  ventures in which the Company has
an  interest  have  mortgage  loans  with the  Company  of $2.2  billion at both
December 31, 1995 and  December  31,  1994.  The Company is committed to provide
additional  mortgage financing for such joint ventures  aggregating $304 million
at December 31, 1995.


3.  Derivatives Held or Issued for Purposes Other Than Trading

The Company uses exchange-traded  interest rate futures and forward contracts to
hedge against  interest rate risks.  The Company attempts to match the timing of
when interest rates are committed on insurance  products and on new investments.
However,  timing  differences do occur and can expose the Company to fluctuating
interest rates. Interest rate futures and forward contracts are used to minimize
these  risks.  In these  contracts,  the Company is subject to the risk that the
counterparties  will fail to perform and to the risks associated with changes in
the value of the underlying securities; however, such changes in value generally
are  offset by  opposite  changes  in the  value of the  hedged  items.  Futures
contracts  are  marked  to  market  and  settled  daily,   which  minimizes  the
counterparty  risk. The notional amounts of futures and forward  contracts ($303
million at December  31, 1995,  and $80 million at December 31, 1994)  represent
the extent of the Company's involvement but not the risk of loss.

The  Company  enters  into  interest  rate swaps to  minimize  its  exposure  to
fluctuations  in interest  rates and to correct  duration  mismatches.  The most
common use is to modify the duration of an asset or portfolio, a less common use
is to convert a  floating  rate asset  into a fixed  rate  asset.  The  notional
principal  amounts of the swaps  outstanding at December 31, 1995 and 1994, were
$599 million and $586 million, respectively, and the credit exposure at December
31, 1995 and  December 31, 1994 was $8 million.  The  Company's  current  credit
exposure  on swaps is  limited  to the value of  interest  rate  swaps that have
become favorable to the Company.  The average  unexpired terms of the swaps were
approximately three years at both December 31, 1995 and 1994, respectively.  The
net  amount  payable or  receivable  from  interest  rate swaps is accrued as an
adjustment  to interest  income.  The Company's  interest  rate swap  agreements
include  cross-default  provisions  when two or more swaps are transacted with a
given counterparty.


<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




3.  Derivatives Held or Issued for Purposes Other Than Trading (continued)

The Company  enters into currency  exchange swap  agreements to convert  certain
foreign  denominated fixed rate assets into dollar denominated fixed rate assets
and eliminate the exposure to future currency volatility on those securities. At
December 31, 1995, the Company had various foreign currency exchange  agreements
with  maturities  ranging from 1995 to 2002,  with an aggregate  notional amount
involved of  approximately  $312 million and the credit exposure was $4 million.
The average unexpired term of the swaps was approximately five years at December
31, 1995.


4.  Insurance, Annuity and Accident and Health Reserves

The carrying  values and fair values of the Company's  reserves and  liabilities

for  investment-type  insurance  contracts  (which  are  only a  portion  of the
insurance reserves,  annuity reserves, and other policy liabilities appearing in
the  statement  of  financial  position)  at  December  31,  1995 and 1994,  are
summarized as follows (in millions):
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    1995                               1994

                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Carrying Value        Fair         Carrying Value        Fair
                                                            Value                              Value
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

<S>                                    <C>              <C>               <C>              <C>       
   Insurance reserves                  $       30       $       33        $       30       $       30
   Annuity reserves                        20,989           21,524            19,714           19,168
   Other policy liabilities                   398              403               270              270
                                     ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Total                                  $21,417          $21,960           $20,014          $19,468
                                     ======================================================================
</TABLE>

The fair values for the Company's reserves and liabilities under investment-type
contracts  (insurance,  annuity and other policy  contracts  that do not involve
significant  mortality or morbidity  risk) are estimated  using  discounted cash
flow  analyses  (based on current  interest  rates  being  offered  for  similar
contracts   with   maturities   consistent   with   those   remaining   for  the
investment-type contracts being valued) or surrender values.

The fair values for the Company's  insurance contracts  (insurance,  annuity and
other policy contracts that do involve significant mortality or morbidity risk),
other than  investment-type  contracts,  are not required to be  disclosed.  The
Company does consider,  however,  the various  insurance and investment risks in
choosing investments for both insurance and investment-type contracts.



<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




4.  Insurance, Annuity and Accident and Health Reserves (continued)

Activity  in the  liability  for unpaid  accident  and health  claims,  which is
included  with  insurance  reserves in the statement of financial  position,  is
summarized as follows (in millions):

                                          Year ended December 31
                                     1995          1994          1993
                                 ------------------------------------------

   Balance at beginning of year     $   844       $   723       $   657

   Incurred:
     Current year                     2,665         2,735         2,307
     Prior years                        (24)         (105)          (37)
                                 ------------------------------------------
     Total incurred                     2,641         2,630         2,270

   Payments:
     Current year                     2,196         2,065         1,814
     Prior years                        481           444           390
                                 ------------------------------------------
   Total payments                     2,677         2,509         2,204
                                 ------------------------------------------

   Balance at end of year:
     Current year                       469           670           493
     Prior years                        339           174           230
                                 ------------------------------------------
     Total balance at end of year   $   808       $   844       $   723
                                 ==========================================


5.  Federal Income Taxes

The Company  files a  consolidated  income tax return that  includes  all of its
qualifying subsidiaries,  and has a policy of allocating income tax expenses and
benefits to companies in the group based upon pro rata  contribution  of taxable
income or operating  losses.  The Company is taxed at corporate rates on taxable
income  based on existing  tax laws.  Due to the  inherent  differences  between
income  for  financial  reporting  purposes  and income  for tax  purposes,  the
Company's  provision  for  federal  income  taxes  may not  have  the  customary
relationship of taxes to income.

Deferred  income  taxes are  generally  not  recognized  for the tax  effects of
temporary differences between income for financial reporting purposes and income
for tax purposes.  In 1993,  1994 and 1995,  however,  the Company  recognized a
deferred  tax asset and  operating  benefit  for the tax  effect of  unamortized
deferred  acquisition  costs required for tax purposes.  This deferred tax asset
was non-admitted in accordance with statutory accounting practices. In 1995, the
Company also  recognized a deferred tax liability and surplus charge for the tax
effect of unrealized gains for common stocks identified for sale in 1996.



<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




5.  Federal Income Taxes (continued)

In December  1994, a U. S. Court of Appeals with  jurisdiction  over the Company
ruled that federal law did not permit mutual life  insurance  companies to use a
negative  recomputed  differential  earnings  rate to compute  their  equity tax
liability  for the  preceding  year.  Accordingly,  the  Company  increased  its
liability for federal income taxes attributable to its equity for years prior to
1994 and  made a  corresponding  adjustment  to  surplus  in the  amount  of $63
million.


6.  Short-Term Borrowings

The Company  issues  commercial  paper to meet its short-term  financing  needs.
There were no  outstanding  borrowings at December 31, 1995 or 1994. The Company
also maintains  credit  facilities  with various banks for short-term  borrowing
purposes.


7.  Employee and Agent Benefits

The Company has defined benefit pension plans covering  substantially all of its
employees and certain  agents.  The  employees  and agents are  generally  first
eligible for the pension plans when they reach age 21. The pension  benefits are
based on the years of service and  generally the  employee's or agent's  average
annual  compensation  during the last five years of employment.  Partial benefit
accrual  of  pension  benefits  is  recognized  from  first   eligibility  until
retirement based on attained service divided by potential service to age 65 with
a minimum of 35 years of potential service.

During 1995, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Standards (SFAS) No. 87,
"Employers'  Accounting  for Pensions,"  and  accordingly  changed its method of
accounting for the costs of defined  benefit pension plans to an accrual method.
Prior  to  this  change,   the  cost  of  pension  benefits  was  recognized  as
contributions  were made to the pension trusts.  The Company's policy is to fund
the cost of  providing  pension  benefits  in the years that the  employees  and
agents are providing service to the Company.  The Company's funding policy is to
deposit the actuarial normal cost and any change in unfunded  accrued  liability
over a 30-year period as a percentage of compensation.

The pension plans' combined funded status,  reconciled to amounts  recognized in
the statements of financial position and statements of operations and surplus as
of and for the years  ended  December  31,  1995 and  1994,  is as  follows  (in
millions):



<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




7.  Employee and Agent Benefits (continued)

                                                                                      December 31
                                                                                 1995           1994
                                                                             ------------------------------
<S>                                                                               <C>           <C>   
      Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:

      Vested benefit obligation                                                   $437          $324
                                                                             ==============================
      Accumulated benefit obligation                                              $457          $338
                                                                             ==============================
                                                                             
   Plan assets at fair value, primarily affiliated mutual funds
      and investment contracts of the Company                                     $719          $581
   Projected benefit obligation                                                    661           462
                                                                             ------------------------------
   Plan assets in excess of projected benefit obligation                            58           119

   Unrecognized net (gains) losses and funding different from that assumed
      and from changes in assumptions                                               42           (23)
   Unrecognized net transition asset as of January 1, 1994                         (72)          (83)
                                                                             ------------------------------
   Prepaid pension asset (non-admitted)                                          $  28         $  13
                                                                             ==============================

Net periodic pension income included the following components (in millions):

                                                                                Year ended December 31
                                                                                 1995           1994
                                                                             ------------------------------
   Service cost                                                                    $22           $26
   Interest cost on projected benefit obligation                                    39            37
   Actual return on plan assets                                                   (144)            6
   Net amortization and deferral                                                    79           (72)
                                                                             ------------------------------
   Total net periodic pension income                                              $ (4)         $ (3)
                                                                             ==============================
</TABLE>

During 1994 and 1993, $10 million and $8 million,  respectively,  was charged to
expense and  contributed  to the trusts  previously  established  to provide for
future costs of pension  benefits.  During 1995, $12 million was  contributed to
these pension trusts. In addition,  to adjust the pension  accounting to the new
method required by SFAS No. 87 and to make the change effective as of January 1,
1994, surplus as of January 1, 1995 has been increased by $13 million. According
to the requirements of statutory accounting practices,  pension expense for 1994
has  not  been  restated  and the  1994  pension  amounts  shown  above  are for
comparative  purposes  only.  The pension asset at January 1, 1995 ($13 million)
and December 31, 1995 ($28 million) was  non-admitted as prescribed by statutory
accounting practices.



<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




7.  Employee and Agent Benefits (continued)

The  weighted-average  assumed  discount rate used in determining  the projected
benefit obligation was 7% and 8.5% at December 31, 1995 and 1994,  respectively.
Some of the trusts  holding the plan assets are subject to federal  income taxes
at a 35% tax rate while others are not subject to federal income taxes. For both
1995 and 1994,  the  expected  long-term  rates of return  on plan  assets  were
approximately  6% (after  estimated  income  taxes) for those trusts  subject to
federal  income  taxes and  approximately  10% for those  trusts not  subject to
federal income taxes. The assumed rate of increase in future compensation levels
varies by age for both the qualified and non-qualified pension plans.

In  addition,  the  Company has defined  contribution  plans that are  generally
available to all employees and agents who are age 21 or older and have completed
one year of service.  Eligible  participants  may  contribute up to 15% of their
compensation  or  $9,240  annually  to  the  plans.   The  Company  matches  the
participant's  contribution with a 50% contribution up to a maximum contribution
of 2% of the participant's compensation.  During both 1995 and 1994, the Company
contributed  $7 million to the defined  contribution  plans.  During 1993,  such
contributions totaled $6 million.

The Company also provides  certain health care,  life  insurance,  and long-term
care  benefits for retired  employees.  Substantially  all  employees  are first
eligible  for these  postretirement  benefits  when  they  reach age 57 and have
completed  ten years of service with the  Company.  Partial  benefit  accrual of
these  health,  life,  and  long-term  care  benefits is  recognized  from first
eligibility  until  retirement  based on attained  service  divided by potential
service to age 65 with a minimum of 35 years of potential service. The Company's
policy is to fund the cost of providing  retiree  benefits in the years that the
employees are providing service to the Company.  The Company's funding policy is
to deposit the  actuarial  normal cost and an accrued  liability  over a 30-year
period as a percentage of compensation.

The  postretirement  plans'  combined  funded  status,   reconciled  to  amounts
recognized  in the  statement of financial  position and statement of operations
and surplus as of and for the years  ended  December  31,  1995 and 1994,  is as
follows (in millions):



<PAGE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)



7.  Employee and Agent Benefits (continued)

                                                                                     December 31
                                                                                 1995            1994
<S>                                                                             <C>              <C>  
                                                                            -------------------------------
   Plan assets at fair value, primarily affiliated mutual funds and
     investment contracts of the Company                                         $208            $155
   Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation:
     Retirees                                                                     (83)            (71)
     Eligible employees                                                           (40)            (31)
                                                                            --------------------------------
  Total accumulated postretirement benefit obligation                            (123)           (102)
                                                                            -------------------------------
  Plan assets in excess of accumulated postretirement benefit obligation
                                                                                   85              53

   Unrecognized net losses and funding different from that assumed and
     from changes in assumptions                                                    3              29
                                                                            -------------------------------
   Postretirement benefit asset (non-admitted)                                  $  88           $  82
                                                                            ===============================
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

The net periodic  postretirement  benefit cost included the following components
(in millions):

                                                                                    Year ended
                                                                                    December 31
                                                                             1995       1994      1993
                                                                          --------------------------------
                                                                          
<S>                                                                         <C>       <C>          <C>
   Service cost                                                             $   5     $    4       $ 3
   Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit cost                     9          7         6
   Expected return on plan assets                                             (10)       (10)       (6)
   Net amortization of gains and losses                                         1          -         -
                                                                          ================================
   Total net periodic postretirement benefit cost                           $   5     $    1       $ 3
                                                                          ================================
</TABLE>

The  weighted-average  assumed discount rate used in determining the accumulated
postretirement benefit obligation was 7% and 8.5% at December 31, 1995 and 1994,
respectively.  Some of the trusts holding the plan assets are subject to federal
income  taxes at a 35% tax rate while  others are not subject to federal  income
taxes.  For both 1995 and 1994, the expected  long-term  rates of return on plan
assets were  approximately  6% (after  estimated  income taxes) for those trusts
subject  to  federal  income  taxes and  approximately  9% for those  trusts not
subject to federal  income  taxes.  These rates of return on plan assets vary by
benefit type and employee group.

The  assumed  health  care cost trend  rate used in  measuring  the  accumulated
postretirement  benefit obligations starts at 11.5% in 1995, declines to 9.5% in
2001,  and then declines to an ultimate rate of 6.5% in 2036. If the health care
cost trend rate  assumptions  were increased by 1% in each year, the accumulated
postretirement  benefits  obligation  for health  plans as of December  31, 1995
would increase by 11.8% ($10 million). The effect of this 1% increase would also
increase the aggregate of the service cost and interest  cost  components of the
net  periodic  postretirement  benefit  cost of health  plans for the year ended
December 31, 1995 by 13.5% ($1 million).


<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




7.  Employee and Agent Benefits (continued)

These  statutory  accounting  provisions  are similar to  Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 106,  "Employers'  Accounting for Postretirement
Benefits  Other  Than  Pensions,"  issued by the FASB  except  that SFAS No. 106
includes  ineligible  employees  in  the  accumulated   postretirement   benefit
obligation calculations.  The accumulated  postretirement benefit obligation for
ineligible  employees  was $77 million and $48 million at December  31, 1995 and
1994, respectively.


8.  Surplus Notes

On March 10, 1994, the Company  issued $300 million of surplus notes,  including
$200  million  due  March  1,  2024 at a  7.875%  annual  interest  rate and the
remaining  $100  million  due March 1, 2044 at an 8% annual  interest  rate.  No
affiliates  of the Company hold any portion of the surplus  notes.  The discount
and direct costs  associated with issuing these surplus notes is being amortized
to expense over their respective terms using the interest method.  For statutory
accounting  purposes,  these notes are considered a part of total surplus of the
Company. Each payment of interest and principal on the surplus notes may be made
only with the prior  approval of the  Commissioner  of Insurance of the State of
Iowa (the  Commissioner)  and only to the extent that the Company has sufficient
surplus  earnings to make such  payments.  For the years ended December 31, 1995
and 1994, interest of $24 million and $11 million, respectively, was approved by
the  Commissioner,  paid and charged to expense.  Had the accrual of interest on
surplus notes not been subject to approval of the Commissioner, accrued interest
payable on surplus  notes at both  December 31, 1995 and 1994 would have been $8
million.

Subject to  Commissioner  approval,  the surplus  notes due March 1, 2024 may be
redeemed at the Company's election on or after March 1, 2004 in whole or in part
at a  redemption  price of  approximately  103.6% of par. The  approximate  3.6%
premium is scheduled to gradually  diminish over the following ten years.  These
surplus  notes may then be redeemed on or after March 1, 2014,  at a  redemption
price of 100% of the  principal  amount  plus  interest  accrued  to the date of
redemption.  Non-insurance companies individually held over 10% of these surplus
notes  (approximately $50 million and $73 million at December 31, 1995 and 1994,
respectively).

In addition,  subject to Commissioner  approval,  the surplus notes due March 1,
2044 may be redeemed  at the  Company's  election on or after March 1, 2014,  in
whole or in part at a  redemption  price of  approximately  102.3%  of par.  The
approximate  2.3% premium is scheduled to gradually  diminish over the following
ten years.  These  surplus notes may be redeemed on or after March 1, 2024, at a
redemption  price of 100% of the principal  amount plus interest  accrued to the
date of redemption.  Non-insurance companies individually held over 10% of these
surplus  notes  (approximately  $43 million and $62 million at December 31, 1995
and 1994, respectively).



<PAGE>


                     Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company

                    Notes to Financial Statements (continued)




9.  Other Commitments and Contingencies

The Company  leases  office space and  furniture  and  equipment  under  various
operating leases. Rental expense for all operating leases totaled $48 million in
1995, $43 million in 1994 and $44 million in 1993. At December 31, 1995,  future
minimum rental commitments under noncancelable operating leases for office space
and electronic data processing equipment totaled approximately $97 million.

The Company is a defendant in various legal actions arising in the normal course
of its investment and insurance  operations.  In the opinion of management,  any
losses  resulting  from such  actions  would not have a  material  effect on the
financial statements.

The Company is also subject to insurance  guarantee  laws in the states in which
it writes  business.  These  laws  provide  for  assessments  against  insurance
companies  for the  benefit  of  policyholders  and  claimants  in the  event of
insolvency  of other  insurance  companies.  At  December  31,  1995  and  1994,
approximately  $18  million  and  $15  million,   respectively,  of  surplus  is
appropriated for possible  guarantee fund assessments for which notices have not
been received.

In 1995, the Company sold its wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Principal National Life
Insurance Company (Principal  National),  at a gain of approximately $1 million.
At December 31, 1994,  substantially all the assets ($513 million),  liabilities
($470 million),  and equity ($43 million) of Principal National were transferred
to and assumed by the Company.  This  resulted in increases in both other income
and additions to policyowner reserves of $470 million in 1994.
<PAGE>

                         Report of Independent Auditors







The Board of Directors
Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company


We have audited the accompanying  statements of financial  position of Principal
Mutual Life  Insurance  Company (the  Company) as of December 31, 1995 and 1994,
and the related  statements of operations and surplus and cash flows for each of
the  three  years  in the  period  ended  December  31,  1995.  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 Principal Mutual Life Insurance
Company at December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1995, in
conformity  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles and with reporting
practices prescribed or permitted by the Insurance Division of the Department of
Commerce of the State of Iowa.

Ernst & Young LLP

Des Moines, Iowa
January 31, 1996



© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission